June 9, 2024: Russian setbacks in Ukraine and anger at European NATO countries for supporting Ukraine have led Russia to strike back at European countries with a sabotage campaign. The Russians have paid criminal networks in Europe to carry out these attacks. European police and security agencies were alert to these Russian plans and arrested local criminals hired by Russian agents to carry out sabotage attacks and have made arrests. With these Russian efforts no longer secret, Russian recruiting efforts have failed because of fears that anyone who worked for Russia would be quickly identified and arrested. Since Russia invaded Ukraine, public opinion in Europe has been hostile to Russia. There have been a few railway accidents that are now being reexamined to see if they were acts of sabotage. Russian jamming of GPS signals continues to be a problem in several European countries. Russia denies any involvement but the evidence of Russian complicity grows with each incident. In this respect Russia is at war with European nations and these attacks may eventually lead to more sanctions against Russia. The economic sanctions already imposed on Russia by Western trading partners are seen by Russians as an attack on their economy. That was the intention of the sanctions but the Russians dont consider themselves deserving of such attacks. The Russians are particularly angry over oil export sanctions. Russia is still able to smuggle its oil out to foreign customers but has to sell the oil at a discount. This is because buyers fear getting hit by sanctions themselves if they are caught purchasing smuggled Russian oil. This shadow war, where no one admits they are attacking anyone, is likely to continue as long as Russia is considered an outlaw nation because of its continued aggression inside Ukraine. Economic attacks on Russia have hurt and Russian leader Vladimir Putin has openly discussed a negotiated settlement to end the Ukraine War and get Russia out from under all those sanctions. State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Zip Code In Spain, if you ask a local what they think of British tourists, they will do a long hock in their throat then spit a huge greeny on to the ground. The first Spanish Inquisition was pretty awful, and in that grand Spanish tradition, the second Spanish Inquisition will be just as bad. If we believe you are hiding that you are a British tourist, we will first roast your feet over a fire, then put you head first into a boiling pot of oil. If you then refuse to reveal you are a British tourist, then we will hang you by your genitals, even then if you refuse, well, we will then take away your beach towel, your beer money and put large rocks in your luggage, so the package tour airline charges you with vast excess weight charges. Many confess after that stage, and we kick them back to Britain, Pepe Gonzalez, a Spanish Inquisitor, revealed to the Benidorm Herald newspaper. Vayanse, cerdos Britanicos British tourists it seems are a pariah in most parts of the world, but none more so than Spain. The second Spanish Inquisition is going so well that many hotels and bars in all the holiday hotspots are now empty, and the locals and Spanish government are not receiving any valuable revenue from the British tourists any more. We are happy. Last year our bar was making 75,000 euros per month, and this year, we are making 50 euros a month if we are lucky. Some commentators say the Spaniards have shot themselves in their foot, and as I weep into my monthly account statement, I have to agree, Pedro Dago, a Benidorm bar owner said as bailiffs were breaking into his office to seize anything they could. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. REPRESENTATIVES from a range of local community and business groups came together for an information evening to mark the first steps towards developing a Kanturk Town Centre Regeneration Plan. The new plan will be developed by Cork County Council in consultation with residents and business owners in the town, as well as with the wider community who visit the town regularly. The inaugural event, which was attended by more than 40 community stakeholders, gave attendees the chance to meet with staff from the Cork County Councils Town Regeneration Office and to find out how to get involved in the plan. The next step in the project is a general survey which will help to guide the development of the project. The community survey will be made publicly available on Cork County Councils website and at Kanturk Library in the coming weeks. Deputising for the Mayor of County Cork, councillor Bernard Moynihan said that it was very heartening to see such a range of local stakeholders in attendance, showing such interest in participating in this plan and developing a shared vision for Kanturk Town. This is an excellent opportunity for the local community to work together toward growing Kanturks reputation as a great place to live, to work and to visit. Earlier this year an allocation of 30,000 was approved by the Department of Rural and Community Development for the plan, which will be used to create a community-led vision for Kanturk and to support competitive bids for national and local funding to progress projects identified. The regeneration plan for Kanturk will be developed by Cork County Council under the remit of the Town Regeneration Office, which forms part of the Governments national Town Centre First policy initiative. Future public consultation events in relation to the plan will be advertised locally. Further information on participation in the project can be made available by contacting: townregeneration@corkcoco.ie. THE company behind the proposal to build a resource recovery centre or waste incinerator on the shores of Cork Harbour in Ringaskiddy has welcomed the An Bord Pleanala confirmation it is reactivating the planning application for the project. Indaver NV, trading as Indaver Ireland, issued a brief one line statement on Friday in response to a query from The Echo following confirmation this week that letters had been sent by the planning authority to the solicitors of the campaigning group set up to oppose an incinerator in Cork Harbour 24 years ago, as well as other concerned parties informing them the application had been reactivated. Indaver looks forward to actively engaging with An Bord Pleanala during the next phase of the planning process for its Ringaskiddy Resource Recovery Facility, said a spokesperson on behalf of the company, which is based in Belgium but has locations in Cork as well as Co Meath. The project was first mooted a number of years ago. Oral hearings were held by An Bord Pleanala on the proposal in 2016 and planning permission was granted in 2018. This led to a legal challenge mounted by Cork Harbour Alliance for a Safe Environment (CHASE) which led to the quashing of the planning permission in the High Court in 2021. The judge also ordered that the planning application, rather than be set aside entirely, be sent back to the point in the planning process before the Bord Pleanala adjudication but after the oral hearings. In a statement to The Echo, a spokesperson for An Bord Pleanala said: Following a High Court Order quashing the Boards original decision on this case, the case was remitted to the Board for further consideration and determination. The spokesperson said that given the passage of time, the applicant has been required to furnish further information in relation to effects on the environment of the proposed development. The holding of an oral hearing will be at the discretion of the Board and will depend on applicants response to the further information request. 12.30am THE first councillor to be declared elected in the Cork City Council local elections has said he intends to run for Dail Eireann in the next general election. With a valid vote of 12,269 in the six-seat Cork City North West ward, Fianna Fails councillor Tony Fitzgerald topped the poll with a vote of 1,930, and was declared elected on the first count just after 10.30pm in City Hall. His election was quickly followed by that of Fine Gaels Damian Boylan, who was deemed elected on the first count with a vote of 1,872. Both men were hoisted onto the shoulders of their supporters, with chants of Boylan, Boylan narrowly drowned out by a chorus of Tony, Tony led by Mr Fitzgeralds four-year-old grandson Eoin White. Speaking to reporters, Mr Fitzgerald became emotional, and said he was thinking about his 91-year-old mother, who had gone home earlier, and his father who had passed away two years ago during the Covid-19 pandemic The former lord mayor thanked the people of the north-west for their votes, and his family and political party for their support. This was a very, very difficult, challenging election, with a lot of candidates pushed into my own parish to try and bring me down, but it didnt happen, and tonight I think the people have responded in the north-west ward to the work that Ive done over the last five years and indeed over the last 20 years, he said. He said the next council would face many challenges, and the new city would be the northside as it expanded, and he pledged that he and his party colleagues would work hard to ensure infrastructure spending was put in place for that expansion. He said the biggest issue on the doorsteps in his ward had been water quality, an important public health issue which he said needed to be addressed urgently by Uisce Eireann. Ive met a lot of people who had medical issues on this, it is an issue, its dipping into their disposable income, and its something that has to be rectified, he said. Housing maintenance had been an issue raised on the doorsteps too, he said, and work was needed to be done with City Halls housing department, while public transport was something which needed to be addressed in the area. Asked whether he would consider a run for Dail Eireann, Mr Fitzgerald checked to see whether his wife, Georgina, was within earshot before saying it was his ambition to do so. I think the north side of the city needs a Fianna Fail TD and I think Im the man, the person to do it. I think thats a platform and a springboard for me to let the party know that Im here, the people are behind me, he said. Mr Fitzgerald said that while he doesnt drink, some of his supporters would be having a few scoops, and he intended to be back in the count centre the next day to support his party colleague Dr John Sheehan. After Mr Fitzgerald had finished speaking with reporters, he was approached by his ward colleagues, Sinn Fein councillors Mick Nugent and Kenneth Collins, both of whom he warmly embraced. Mr Boylan said that the previous five years had been very tough, but to get the vote he had done had been outstanding , he told The Echo. Im delighted for myself, Im delighted for my family and for my supporters and for the people of the North West who put their faith in me five years ago and who feel that theyve got enough faith in me to let me run again. Mr Boylan said his priorities for the next council term include the provision of additional housing and improved infrastructure. After more than an eight hour wait to get the result, he was planning a modest celebration on Saturday night. I think well go home and have one pint, but at this stage, I think its sleep, the Blarney-based councillor said. 11.52pm - North East yields first elected councillors The first candidates have been elected to the North East ward. Ken OFlynn from Independent Ireland topped the poll with 3,134 votes, exceeding the quota of 1,984. Election Result - North East LEA On the first count @jmaher0 (Lab) and Kenneth O Flynn (Indl) have been elected.#elections2024 #corkcityne pic.twitter.com/lVfTGUK1Li Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024 John Maher from the Labour Party was elected with 2,005 votes. The total electorate for the ward was 32,628. Counting has concluded in the ward for the night and will resume at 10am. EARLIER THE first candidates have been elected to Cork City Council more than seven hours after the counting of votes got underway. Damian Boylan and Tony Fitzgerald have been elected in Cork North West. Election Result- Cork City North West On the first count Damian Boylan -Fine Gael and Tony Fitzgerald- Fianna Fail have been elected. #corkcitynw #elections2024 pic.twitter.com/FvMdOYPy7h Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 8, 2024 Crowds began to gather at City Hall shortly after 2pm to witness the sorting and counting of votes. Among those in attendance were members of the public, candidates and their families, and public representatives. Cllr Tony Fitzgerald is elected at Cork City Hall on Saturday 8th June 2024. Pic Larry Cummins Counting commenced just before 3pm with returning officer, Paul Moynihan, saying members elected onto the new city council will need to seize the opportunities and face the challenges the city is experiencing with the commitment that our great city deserves. In a brief speech addressing those assembled in the Concert Hall before the ballot boxes were opened, Mr Moynihan said Cork has been designated by Government as the fastest growing urban centre in Ireland supported by a multi-billion euro investment by Government. Our city is changing, Mr Moynihan said, adding that opportunities and challenges need to be met with vigour. Counting has now closed for the night at City Hall and will recommence tomorrow morning at 10am. The first candidate elected to the North West ward was Damian Boylan with 1,872 votes. The total electorate for the ward was 30,018 with and the quota was 1,753. Tony Fitzgerald was also elected on the first count with 1,930 votes. Mr Boylan said: Its wonderful. We put down a very tough five years, but to get this vote and to get across the line on the first count, its outstanding. I really dont have words to describe it. Im delighted for myself, Im delighted for my family and for my supporters and for the people of the North West who put their faith in me five years ago and who feel that theyve got enough faith in me to let me run again. Cork City North East elected councillors Ken O'Flynn - Independent - Cork North East John Maher - Labour - Cork North East Joe Kavanagh - Fine Gael - Cork North East Margaret McDonnell - Fianna Fail - Cork North East Ted Tynan - Worker's Party - Cork North East Oliver Moran - Green Party - Cork North East Cork City North West elected councillors Tony Fitzgerald - Fianna Fail - Cork North West John Sheehan - Fianna Fail - Cork North West Damian Boylan - Fine Gael - Cork North West Kenneth Collins- Sinn Fein- Cork North West Michelle Gould - Sinn Fein- Cork North West Brian McCarthy - People Before Profit-Solidarity- Cork North West 00.24am Worker's Party councillor Ted Tynan and Green Party councillor Oliver Moran have been elected to Cork City Council following the 11th count in the North East ward. Following the transfer of the surplus votes from Fianna Fail's Margaret McDonnell, Ted Tynan finished on1,803 votes with Oliver Moran reaching 1,668 votes. Sinn Fein's Christa Daley finished on 1,607 votes. As she was the candidate with the lowest number of votes she was eliminated, resulting in Mr Tynan and Mr Moran being elected without reaching the quota. Mr Moran has said he is in shock after he managed to retain his seat in the North East ward. Really, I was telling people since 1pm congratulations to them and that I didnt see it in line for me. "It was such a rollercoaster of a day, particularly in the last two hours and really all I can say is thank you to all the people who voted for me, all the people who gave me words of support and everyone who put themselves behind me tonight. 11.26pm Three candidates remain in contention for the final two seats in the North East ward following count number 10. Ten Tynan from the Worker's Party has 1,768 votes while Sinn Fein's Christa Daley has 1,587 votes and the Green Party's Oliver Moran has 1,585 votes. The surplus of votes following Fianna Fail candidate Margaret McDonnell's election to the ward is now being redistributed. She was elected after receiving 2,134 votes, exceeding the quota of 1,984. 10.25pm Fine Gael's Joe Kavanagh and Fianna Fail's Margaret McDonnell have just been elected on the ninth count in the North East ward. Both candidates exceeded the quota of 1,984. Election Results for #corkcityne. Joe Kavanagh (FG) and Margaret McDonnell are deemed elected.#LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/xYZ2SN4NI5 Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 9, 2024 Three candidates remain in contention for the final two seats: Worker's Party Ted Tynan (1,734), Sinn Fein's Christa Daley (1,574) and the Green Party's Oliver Moran (1,436). 8.56pm The three final councillors for Cork North West ward have been elected. Michelle Gould and party supporters celebrate her election at the local election count centre at City Hall, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins Sinn Fein's Kenneth Collins and Michelle Gould were elected after the tenth count- both had exceeded the quota of 1,753. Joy for Brian McCarthy, People Before Profit -Solidarity candidate as he is elected at the local election count centre at City Hall, Cork City. Pic Larry Cummins People Before Profit-Solidarity's Brian McCarthy, who had the next highest number of votes at 1,366, was also elected. Election Result #corkcitynw sees Michelle Gould (SF), Brian McCarthy (PBP) and Kenneth Collins (SF) deemed elected. pic.twitter.com/kN1IFKTFKO Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 9, 2024 Ross Lahive of The Irish People, with 1,173 votes, was eliminated following the count. 8.53pm Fine Gael's Imelda Daly has been eliminated in the North East ward following the eight count. Her 1,048 votes are now being redistributed. 7.53pm People Before Profit-Solidarity candidate Edith Busteed has been eliminated following the seventh count in the North East ward. Her 862 votes are now being redistributed. The quota to be elected in this ward is 1,984. Fianna Fail's Margaret McDonnell is currently the candidate closest to this quota with 1,804 votes. 7.16pm Green Party candidate Louise Jordan has been eliminated following the eight count in the North West ward. Her 760 votes are now being redistributed among the remaining candidates. The quota to be elected is 1,753 with Sinn Fein's Kenneth Collins currently closest to reach this with 1,424 votes. He is followed by Michelle Gould (SF) with 1,321 votes, Ross Lahive (The Irish People) with 1,104 votes, Brian McCarthy (People Before Profit-Solidarity) with 1,055 votes and Mick Nugent (SF) with 871 votes. 7.11pm UNOFFICIAL tallies for Cork City North West appear to show the final seat in the ward in contention for library protester Ross Lahive. At the seventh count, Aontu candidate Fintan Toomey was eliminated, and his 702 votes are currently being distributed. Tallies suggest that the distribution of the Aontu votes may leave Ross Lahive of the Irish People some 50 votes ahead of People Before Profit-Solidaritys Brian McCarthy. As things stand, Mr McCarthy is on 981 votes, Mr Lahive is on 885, and Sinn Feins Mick Nugent is on 827. The apparent pattern of transfers suggests to tally staff that Mr Lahive will be ahead of Mr McCarthy at the next count. Mr Lahive was one of the protesters against LGBTQI books whose actions resulted in Cork City Library closing earlier this year, something which had previously occurred when British forces burned Cork. He was also involved in an incident in which the Lord Mayors chain of office was damaged this year, during which the Lord Mayor, councillor Kieran McCarthy became a social media sensation by singing a spirited version of show tune Oh What A Beautiful Morning at Mr Lahive. 6.10pm - North West seventh count Aontu's Finian Toomey has been eliminated following the seventh count in the North West ward. His 702 votes will now be redistributed. The quota for election in this ward is 1,753. The candidate with the largest number of votes following the latest count is Sinn Fein's Kenneth Collins with 1,374 votes. 5.39pm - North East fifth count The fifth count has just concluded in the North East ward. No candidates reached the quota on this count and the candidate with the lowest number of votes, Antia Ward from The Irish People, has now been eliminated. Ms Ward's 534 votes will now be redistributed among the remaining candidates. 5.05pm - North West sixth count Counting has concluded in the sixth count in the North West ward. No candidate reached the quota on this count. The surplus of votes (27) remaining from John Sheehan's earlier election is now being redistributed as it "equals or exceeds" the difference in the number of votes between the two candidates with the lowest number of votes- Louse Jordan from the Green Party (704) and Finian Toomey from Aontu (700). 4.22pm - North West fifth count THE fifth count has just concluded for the Cork City North West ward, with no candidate reaching the quota of 1,753. Cork City North West candidate John Sheehan celebrates his re-election with supporters at the count centre at City Hall, Cork City on Sunday 9th June 2024. Pic Larry Cummins The count saw the distribution of Social Democrats candidate Saoirse Mackins votes, and the elimination of the candidate with the lowest number of votes, Independent candidate Stephen Morrissey with 574 votes, which are now being redistributed. Results of count 4 in #corkcitynw LEA sees Stephen Morrissey eliminated #LocalElections2024 pic.twitter.com/t7FFgVV9rF Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 9, 2024 So far, three candidates have been elected in the six-seat ward, Fianna Fails Tony Fitzgerald topping the poll, and Fine Gaels Damian Boylan and Fianna Fails Dr John Sheehan being elected. 4.12pm - North East fourth count THE fourth count has just concluded for the Cork City North East ward, with no candidate reaching the quota of 1,984. The candidate with the lowest number of votes, Sinn Feins Mandy OLeary Hegarty with 495 votes, has now been eliminated and her votes are being redistributed. So far, two candidates have been elected in the six-seat ward, with Independent Irelands Kenneth OFlynn topping the poll and the Labour Partys John Maher also being elected on the first count late last night. 3.44pm - Fianna Fail's John Sheehan re-elected IMMIGRATION was not a pressing issue on most doorsteps in Cork North West, a re-elected councillor has said, with bread-and-butter issues being the priority for most people. Fianna Fails Dr John Sheehan was re-elected in the north-west ward on the fourth count on Sunday afternoon, exceeding the quota of 1,753 by 19 votes. Cork City North West candidate John Sheehan celebrates his re-election with supporters at the count centre at City Hall, Cork City on Sunday. Pic Larry Cummins Dr Sheehan said he was delighted, honoured and humbled to represent the people of Cork City North West, and he thanked all who voted and all who stood for election. He said he and Tony Fitzgerald had worked hard together and it had been their honour to serve their community. I firmly believe that if you see the results throughout the city, centre candidates from Fianna Fail, Fine Gael, and the others, Labour have come back now as well, and I think thats a positive result for our society, for our city, he said. Here are the results from count 4 in #corkcitynw LEA #LocalElections2024 which saw @drjohnsheehan elected pic.twitter.com/aphV62xvlV Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 9, 2024 These are candidates who want to work, who want to do things for our city, who want to improve the quality of life for our citizens. He said the bus service had been a recurring issue in the more rural parts of the ward, with housing and housing maintenance also important issues with voters. Immigration came up very little on the doors, people are much more interested in their local communities, community facilities, and the quality of services that we can deliver for our city, he said. Dr Sheehan said he and his family and friends would celebrate by going for a few drinks. We will celebrate with our team, because no one person gets elected without a huge number of supporters and team, and it was just a fantastic honour to be part of that team, he said. 1.01pm - North East second count The second count has been completed in the north east ward following the redistribution of Ken O'Flynn's surplus votes. No candidates reached the quota on the second count. Count 2 results in #corkcityne #LocalElections2024 sees Condon and MacCarthy Morrogh eliminated pic.twitter.com/QHT7e3uNAb Cork City Council (@corkcitycouncil) June 9, 2024 While a surplus of 21 votes was available from John Maher's surplus, these were not enough to elect another candidate. The two candidates with the lowest votes have now been eliminated and their votes are being redistributed. They are Tamasin MacCarthy Morrogh (non-party) with 55 votes and Martin Condon (non-party) with 265 votes. North West second count There were no candidates elected in the second count in North West ward. Damien Boylans surplus of 119 votes is now being redistributed among candidates. Earlier THE counting of the local elections votes for the northside of the city has recommenced this morning. The first count was completed yesterday for each local electoral area. Ballot boxes were kept under seal and stored under Garda escort last night, returning officer Paul Moynihan said. A sitting councillor topped the poll in the Cork City North East ward, being re-elected on the first count on Saturday night with a surplus of more than half a quota, and has confirmed he intends to run for the Dail. The quota in the electoral area was 1,984 and Independent Ireland candidate Ken OFlynn was declared elected with a vote of 1,150. Mr OFlynns re-election came just before midnight on Saturday after a lengthy first count in Cork City Hall. Mr OFlynn told reporters he was shocked, thrilled, and very, very humbled at the result, which he said was not only the highest vote of the election, but also, he said, he had been told by officials it was the highest vote ever recorded in Cork City Council. He said it sent a clear message that the electorate in his ward trusted him, and that they believed in what he called common sense politics and that they believed that independent politicians were the future. It sends a very clear message to this government that we are coming for you, the people of Ireland are coming for you and that were are not putting up with the rubbish that is being thrown at us every day of the week," he said. Mr O'Flynn said he intended to be a candidate for the Dail in the next general election. He said that his immediate priority was to work with everyone in council, and he cited the housing emergency, the state of footpaths in the city, and he said a common goal of addressing the needs of citizens was needed. He said a new sweep of the broom was needed with the appointment of a new chief executive and he said security in the city was an issue, with many people feeling unsafe in the city centre. Mr OFlynn said the vote he had received was testament to the work he and his family had done. I knocked at every door, I listened to what people had to say, I tried to address the issues, I was frank, I was honest with people, Ive committed 16 years of service to the city, as an elected representative myself, my father, with that, add another 20 years, theres unbroken service for 30-something years, I think maybe 40 years, in our family to the city, he said. Ive earned the peoples trust, and thats something that is so sacred to me, and humbling. Labour Party councillor John Maher was also elected on the first count in the ward, with a vote of 2,005. A jubilant Mr Maher greeted reporters with the line God, did something happen, guys? He said he and his team had worked twice as hard for the people and the community as they had in the previous election and in the five years since. His partys only councillor in the previous term, Mr Maher added that his party colleagues Peter Horgan and Laura Harmon were tallying well in their wards, Cork City South East and Cork City South West respectively, and he was hopeful they could treble the Labour Partys presence in Cork City Hall. Counting was suspended overnight, and resumed at 10am on Sunday morning. AN INDEPENDENT member of Cork City Council who was re-elected with a surplus of more than half a quota has confirmed he intends to run for the Dail at the next general election. Topping the poll in the Cork City North East ward, Independent Ireland councillor Kenneth OFlynn was re-elected on the first count on Saturday night with a vote of 3,134 in a ward where the quota was 1,984, giving him a surplus of 1,150. Mr OFlynn told reporters he was shocked, thrilled, and very, very humbled at the result, which he said was not only the highest vote of the election, but also, he said, he had been told by officials it was the highest vote ever recorded in Cork City Council. He said it sent a clear message that the electorate in his ward trusted him, and that they believed in what he called common sense politics and that they believed that independent politicians were the future. It sends a very clear message to this government that we are coming for you, the people of Ireland are coming for you and that were are not putting up with the rubbish that is being thrown at us every day of the week, and thats talking about NGOs (non-governmental organisations), thats talking about ministers talking down to people rather than listening to people, Mr OFlynn said. Were sending a very strong, clear message here from Cork city to the Government that were not putting up with this rubbish anymore. He said he intended to be a candidate for the Dail in the next general election and announced that he intends to open an office in Mallow, reflecting the extension of the Cork North Central constituency which will come into effect at the next general election. Mr OFlynn said the vote he had received in the local election was testament to the work he and his family had done over the decades as public representatives. Ive earned the peoples trust, and thats something that is so sacred to me, and humbling. Labour Party councillor John Maher was also elected on the first count in the ward, with a vote of 2,005. FEMALE politicians are the first to lose their seats when the tide goes out for a party defeated Green Party candidate Colette Finn said following her elimination in the running for a seat in the citys South West ward. Ms Finn was one of six women out of 31 councillors on the last council term. Disappointed, but thats the way its goes, she said speaking to The Echo after she was eliminated on the sixth count. Part of the difficulty is people I think are just nervous of change and thats the way they see it. I certainly told them what I thought straight and possibly thats not what people want to hear at the end of the day. Ms Finn was first elected onto Cork City Council in 2019 in what was deemed a green wave for the party that year when they secured four seats. The outgoing Deputy Lord Mayor said she absolutely enjoyed her stint on council, during which time she helped form the womens caucus to promote women in politics and enhance female participation in local government. Im a long time saying we need more women in politics. Its not easy, women get more heavily criticised, theyre the first to lose their seats when the tide goes out for a party. But thats the nature of things and I suppose people have to understand that. But the gender imbalance in our politics is very problematic and I continue to bang that drum, she said. She said she believes gender quotas should have been introduced for local elections. In 2012 when the legislation was being passed, we made that argument that it needed to apply to the local elections because that gives you a pipeline of experienced people and we just could not get that over the line... and I think were suffering as a result of that, she said. Ms Finn ruled out running in the next local elections in 2029. FOR Cork soldier Patrick OConnell, World War II was a traumatic, harrowing experience - and after his death, he was even denied the basic human right of being allowed to rest in peace. The Youghal man, while briefly living in London in his early twenties, had joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers, who were dispatched to France to defend it from the Germans early in 1940. But his regiment was overrun by the 7th Panzer Division under Major General Erwin Rommel, and on May 23 - four days before the famous evacuation of Dunkirk - Patrick was captured by Nazis. After a few months in captivity, the Corkman, whose tuberculosis had previously been well-managed, suffered a flare-up and it was found to have spread to his lungs, body, and brain. In March, 1941, he underwent surgery, which failed, and he died on April 24, aged just 25. Just another victim, albeit indirectly, of the travails of war, that should be the end of the story. Except it wasnt. Back in Youghal, Patricks parents, Timothy and Mary Ellen (nee ODwyer), his older brother Daniel, 28, and younger brother, Thomas, 12, were given the devastating news he had died and been buried in the Olympischestrasse Cemetery in Berlin. What they didnt know - and what none of his family ever found out, as far as is known, is that Patrick had had his brain removed by Nazi medical researchers after his death, and had been buried without it. NAZI BELIEFS: German doctor Julius Hallervorden in his lab. He illegally, unethically arranged the removal of the brains of hundreds of dead people in World War II for medical research, including that of Cork soldier Patrick OConnell. Picture courtesy of archives of Max Planck Society, Berlin This gross indignity was illegal, unethical, and contravened the Geneva conventions regulations on the treatment and honourable burial of prisoners of war. ****** Medical experiments on both the living and the dead were not uncommon in Nazi Germany. Most infamously, Dr Josef Mengele - dubbed the Angel of Death - performed experiments on the bodies of prisoners at Auschwitz , before and after they were killed in the gas chambers. In Patricks case, his death from TB was of interest to Dr Julius Hallervorden, head of the Neuropathology Department of the Kaiser Wilhelm Institute for Brain Research. A member of the Nazi Party, he later admitted to knowingly performing much of his research on the brains of executed prisoners and participated fully in the sinister euthanasia programme run by the Third Reich. Hallervorden allegedly told one Jewish Holocaust refugee: Look here now. If you are going to kill all those people, at least take the brains out so that the material can be utilized. They asked me,How many can you examine? and so I told them... the more the better. He is thought to have illegally obtained at least 700 brains. In Patricks case, an autopsy ruled tuberculosis of the brain as the cause of death, and the organ was removed, to aid Dr Hallervordens research into the illness. The Corkmans brain was cut into sections, examined, photographed, and retained in a medical collection in the Edinger Institute in Frankfurt until at least the mid-1960s, where records are lost. It is possible the brain is still in the collection. As for Patricks body, it was exhumed and reburied in May, 1959, in the Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. His family in Youghal were asked by the British army what memorial they would like for the grave site. They chose a simple cross and the inscription In proud and ever loving memory of our dear son Patrick, R.I.P. ****** It is a harrowing story, but there may yet be a closure of sorts. This year, the Holly Bough was contacted by Dr Aisling Shalvey, of the German National Academy of Sciences in Halle, who is hoping to track down relatives of Patrick, and other families whose loved ones suffered a similar plight. Originally from Kerry, and with relatives in Douglas and Crosshaven, Aisling is a historian who, since 2016, has been working, with others both in Germany and internationally, on a project about the victims of medical research during the Nazi era. She has a database of victims, but explained: Medical records are often quite impersonal, so where possible we try to find family members to provide photographs, personal memories and details to bring some form of individuality and dignity back to these people. So far, we have found a number of victims from various backgrounds, but I was most surprised when an Irish prisoner of war was among them. When the project is finished in October, 2024, Aisling is planning a memorial service for the victims and will invite surviving family members. She has put out a call to Holly Bough readers to see if they know of Patricks surviving family, who might be able to attend that service, and reveal more about the Corkmans life. She said: In order to track down his family, I am now relying on the local connection - someone who may have played sport with him, or gone to school with him, or was a neighbour, who might have some information on the family or on Patrick himself. While this is of course a sad story, it is also heartening in some ways to know these people are not forgotten. It is our hope someone will come forward to provide us with details, and hopefully, provide some sense of closure to the family. The project is part of the ongoing healing process in Germany over the past 80 years. As late as the 1980s, body specimens that had been taken without consent were kept in the countrys teaching and research collections. Student protests and a change in the academic atmosphere of neuroscience finally put an end to the practice. However, it was clear that many of the remains were still in collections and still identifiable. Aisling added: So far, we have more than 30,000 victims in our database, many of whom have been definitively identified, and several of whom we have contacted their family members. Victims include people who were killed in the so-called euthanasia of the sick and disabled in institutions, allied prisoners of war, concentration camp victims, those who were executed for crimes such as having relationships with Jewish people, as well as psychiatric patients. Searching for Private OConnell: Can you help? HERE is what we know of soldier Patrick OConnell - and what initial research by the Holly Bough has found out. He was born a Catholic in Youghal on June 26, 1915. His older brother, Daniel, was born in 1913, and married and had children, who may still be alive. Daniel died in 1987. Patricks younger brother, Thomas, was born in 1928 and is possibly still alive. He is thought to have married a Youghal woman, Anna Whelan, and they moved abroad - possibly to the U.S. Patricks service number was 7043120, his PoW number was 7749, and his grave number in Berlin is 9.H.23. The Holly Bough reached out to veteran Youghal contributor Mike Hackett, who came up with a few nuggets of information. He said: Daniel OConnell was well known to me - he lived in McCurtainstown in the Strand - adjoining the Cosy Cafe - when I was young. A 96-year-old woman told Mike that Dans mother, Mary, had a brother, a Commander ODwyer of the British Navy, who came to live in Youghal in retirement. He was also a senior manager in the Harland and Wolff shipyard in Belfast. This may have been Engineer Commander Daniel P ODwyer, who attended Christian Brothers School, Youghal, and later lived at Carrigside, Youghal. He was awarded an OBE, and died on November 7, 1981, at Youghal District Hospital. Mike believes there are no relatives of those OConnells or ODwyers alive in the local area. Can you identify Patrick? Email hollybough@theecho.ie or aisling.shalvey@leopoldina.org (Photo: Reuters / NLD / Handout)Nobel peace prize laureates, Myanmar's pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi (R) and South African social rights activist and retired Anglican bishop Desmond Tutu (L) speak at Suu Kyi's house in Yangon, February 26, 2013. South Africa has become one of the most violent societies on earth and its citizens need to face up to changes that have taken place since apartheid and regain its spirit of compassion, says Nobel Peace Prize laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu. "Very simply, we are aware we've become one of the most violent societies. It's not what we were, even under apartheid," Tutu said on Thursday at a ceremony in Cape Town to celebrate winning the Templeton Prize. The 81-year-old peace campaigner won the $1.7 million prize for his life-long work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness to help to liberate people around the world, the John Templeton Foundation said on April 4. Tutu said South Africa became the "flavor of the month" when it officially ended apartheid in 1994 and established the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. During the last three decades of the 20th century he campaigned vigorously against South Africa's racist ideology, but showed compassion to both sides in the struggle. "We can't pretend we have remained at the same heights and that's why I say please, for goodness sake, recover the spirit that made us great." Tutu, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town was asked how the country was failing when he spoke about the violent society it is. He is known for speaking out about injustices from whatever side they come, and for his charismatic preaching peppered with heart-wrenching anecdotes. The archbishop cited rape, murder and the high number of road accidents, especially over the holiday season as being worrisome and that South Africa is one of the most unequal societies in the world. He said a lack of spirituality underpins the problem. "This is why we ought to be saying it is utterly blasphemous that we should still have people who live in shacks. It's not politics, it's religion." Tutu said it is the responsibility of everyone to see the divine in others, even in the man sleeping in the street. He said he has great faith in young people being able to deliver on this aspiration. "There is no question at all that young people know what they are looking for and almost all would say it's a spiritual thing," Tutu said. South Africa can regain its worth by spreading the spirit of compassion Tutu said. "You start at the beginning. You start with yourself and people in your immediate environment, the people you would easily dismiss." The 2012 Templeton Prize winner was Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a friend of Tutu's. (Photo: Ecumenical News / Peter Kenny)Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Desmond Tutut, the former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town speaking at the World Council of Churches in Geneva on April 20, 2008. Apartheid fighter and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Desmond Tutu, has won the 2013 Templeton Prize, normally given to academics working in the area of science and religion. The 81-year-old activist wins the $1.7 million prize for his life-long work in advancing spiritual principles such as love and forgiveness to help to liberate people around the world, the John Templeton Foundation said Thursday. "He combines the theological concept that all human beings are shaped in the image of God, known in Latin as Imago Dei, with the traditional African belief of Ubuntu, which holds that only through others do people achieve humanity which, he says, creates 'a delicate network of interdependence.'" Tutu said after being named winner of the prize in a video on the Templeton website, "When you are in a crowd and you stand out from the crowd it's usually because you are being carried on the shoulders of others." The former archbishop of Cape Town said, "I want to acknowledge all the wonderful people who accepted me as their leader at home and so to accept this prize, as it were, in a representative capacity." The Templeton Foundation noted Tutu's broad calls to common humanity began in the 1970s, when the Anglican cleric used positions within the church to focus global attention on the apartheid policies of South Africa's ruling minority. After Nelson Mandela's release from prison in 1990 and subsequent election as president in the country's first multi-ethnic democratic elections, Tutu chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. On the TRC he employed "a revolutionary and relentless policy of confession, forgiveness and resolution that helped shepherd his nation from institutionalized racial repression toward an egalitarian democracy. His deep faith and commitment to prayer and worship provides the foundation for his message of love and forgiveness. Tutu's sense of justice has not halted with the end of apartheid and he has offered trenchant criticism of South Africa's ruling African National Congress for corruption and for the moral depravity of some of its leaders. This week Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu criticised the expansion of President Jacob Zuma's home in Nklandla, in northeastern South Africa. "Who in their right minds could have approved the expenditure of more than 200 milllion rands ($22 million)? And to do it in that area, where you have this nice place standing up and just around there the squalor and poverty," said Tutu. "What is the matter with us?" Tutu has helped in peaceful solutions to conflicts in other parts of the world such as Northern Ireland and the Solomon Islands and has also been an expert for the United Nations. Tutu will celebrate the prize at an April 11 ceremony hosted by Cape Town's St George's Cathedral, where Tutu served as archbishop from 1986 to 1996. Established in 1972 by the late global investor and philanthropist Sir John Templeton, the prize is the core of the John Templeton Foundation's "international efforts to serve as a philanthropic catalyst for discoveries relating to the big questions of human purpose and ultimate reality." The 2012 winner was Tibetan Buddhist leader the Dalai Lama, who is also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate and a friend of Tutu's. Los Angeles, CAA new book, Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later, is now available in audiobook format on Google Play. This book chronicles, in extreme details, a flight of 12 small planes flying 18,000 miles around the world, while crossing the entire landmass of Russia from Helsinki to Anadyr, only seven months after the Soviet Union had voted itself out of business. Find it on Google Play by Clicking Here. During the organizational process, from March 1991 to July 1992, one of the biggest unknowns for the single and twin-engine aircraft was fuel, permission and the routing across Siberia. Many sticky issues were raised as Russia air authorities had to protect large swatches of sensitive military airspace that went over vital installations. A fascinating part of the book involves how world shaking events were swirling around the primary organizers, Marcel Large and Eric Vercesi, in their quest to achieve something never done before. Russia was in complete chaos, no one who was in charge of what and where the final decisions were coming from. Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later: 12 Planes & 22 Aviators Thru 11 Countries When the Soviet Union Fell and Russia Returned was written from 11 pilot journals, 7 of them primary, and 25 hours of video shot by the author, Michael B. Butler, who was hired to document the event for Sea Island Productions. From Santa Monica to Santa Monica via the North Atlantic, Iceland, London, Moscow and Siberia was the aviation adventure of a lifetime. Official Round the World & Across Russia Book Trailer Written using seven major pilot journals, five ancillary journals, interviews, 25 hours of videotape and what the author remembered. Pilots from California, Texas, Hawaii and Illinois in the United States and Italy, UK, Holland, Germany, and Japan participated. They rented a Soviet built IL-76T, one of the biggest aircraft in the world, to haul 10,000 galls of BP Avgas to be hand-pumped from Moscow thru Siberia. First private group of general aviation aircraft to circumnavigate across Russia & land at historic Tushino grass airfield in Northwest Moscow. Across Siberia lack of navigation aids and recalcitrant Russian air traffic controllers nearly caused aviation disasters. First private aircraft to land at Anadyr Air Force Base and ICBM nuclear launching site on Russia's Pacific Coast near Alaska. Excerpts from Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later In January 1992 the World Flight organizers were staying on a boat-hotel, on the Moscow River, for two weeks of key meetings. A time of confusing bureaucratic overflow greeted the worried organizers, twice a day all types of Russian committees turned up for meetings in the deep winter of a chilly, snow blanketed Moscow. Subjects discussed ranged from routing, airspace restrictions, permits, cultural events, fuel hauling and media coverage, which were accompanied by a blurred line of authority with little idea of who, if anyone, could make any final decisions. As the World Flight aircraft broke away from the Canadian coastline, and progress over the vital North Atlantic, the scenery was amazing and spectacular. The winds for the singles and the slow twins were as forecast; a 20-knot headwind at 10,000 feet gave Mace's twin Baron 58 a 160-knot groundspeed. Winds are also forecast to shift 180 degrees near the tip of Greenland, which means decision time will be at Cape Farewell, Prins Christian Sund. Norm passed the word down the line that Narsarsuaq was clear, which opened the way for others to divert if necessary. This was indeed welcome news for all concerned. "With our advance into Russian airspace, the cloud coverage dissipates to reveal lush forests and farmlands with very few towns in between. It is clear for sightseeing, but my previous experience tells me to look straight ahead for any and all uncalled traffic. Flight Services revealed that radar coverage in Russia is consistently poor, and this flight will be primarily in a non-radar environment with the transponder off as Russian equipment cannot acquire our transponder signal. Well inside of Russian airspace, right of the airways, Russian controllers instruct us to turn five degrees to the leftwith strong radar the Russians can give course corrections for as little as two degrees. We are in the correct spot as international airspace is above 9,000 feet, but this doesn't prevent us from actively searching for any stray Russian aircraft lurking about in this unpredictable realm. We are assigned to the R-11 airway, this will take us into Moscow by the SVIR-NDB (non-directional beacon), followed by VITESBSK-NDB." MIR in Russian means Peace, but MIR also designates the Space Station program where cosmonauts and astronauts set endurance records every day from February 1986 to March 2001. By July 1992 the MIR station had been up for six years and joint missions, with many nations, were ongoing and planned for the foreseeable future. Our group was getting a certified cosmonaut hosted tour of the MIR training facility. Participants viewed a massive room, from a glass balcony, containing two working mock-ups of the station. Vladimir Lyakhov, through Olga, educated us and answered any questions from a group that was well-informed and inquisitive. "As we near the Angara River, for the final 60 miles to Irkutsk, Brad nudges me and with a broad smile points down and off our left wing. Who is it but Doc and Janice about 10 feet above the river, they are enjoying the scenery up close in his nice Experimental Bonanza. 'Rally Bravo 3 to Rally Charlie 2. Whatcha doin' down there Doc?' Brad asks. 'Trollin' for fish,' Wisner came back in his Texas drawl. He had to ask!! A total fight time of five hours and 16 minutes brought the Spirit of Houston contingent into Eastern Siberia at 3:00 pm local time, or Central Siberia depending on the source. 120 miles north of the Mongolian border and we roll on up to find Russians, our support team, fuel, pumps and ground transportation, the best organized stop in Russia yet." "Bob Reiss, our resident intelligence expert offered his for both. The maps used on the trip were prepared by the U.S. Dept. of Defense with data obtained from satellites. Our flight map depicted grids of highways under the direct routing but nothing else; roads were leading to and from nowhere, crossing apparent wilderness and uninhabited areas. In Reiss' expert view, hidden in the center, was a top-secret facility known to U.S. intelligence but not shown on the chart, concealing from the Russians the extent of U.S. knowledge. His thesis was supported by bold letters on the map: 'CAUTION: ANY AIRCRAFT DEVIATING FROM FLIGHT ROUTE MAY BE FIRED UPON WITHOUT WARNING.' Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Later: 12 Planes & 22 Aviators Thru 11 Countries When the Soviet Union Fell & Russia Returned, Paperback ISBN: 979-8868045271, For more info go to www.MichaelButlerBooks.com and purchase copies at Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Also available on Google Play in ebook and audiobook. Media Contact: For media interviews or to request review copies contact Eric Blair Enterprises at 562-384-6697 or MichaelButlerBooks@pm.me. About the Author: Michael B. Butler, author of Round the World & Across Russia in 21 Days, 30 Years Later and co-author of Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, is also a professional photographer who has worked extensively in book and corporate PR, the latter representing premier river cruise company AmaWaterways and escorted tour company, Brendan Vacations. Various assignments included documenting 50th Anniversaries of Pearl Harbor and D-Day, the World Flight Over Russia, a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with 750 Christians, 2013, and multiple PR junkets to Ireland and Tahiti. Recruitment is underway for firms in the pig sector to employ and mentor the next generation as part of the Pig Industry Scholarship Programme (PISP). Companies wishing to help young people get a foothold in the pig sector can now apply, with the deadline set at 2 September. So far, the programme has seen more than 50 students spend their placement year within the sector, with many returning to their placement company after graduation. PISP was developed by AHDB, the National Pig Association and Harper Adams University in 2012, with recruitment now commencing again. As part of the programme, sponsoring companies get priority access to placement-seeking students from Harper Adams University. AHDB said the initiative was a 'fantastic way' for a business to show that it cared about upskilling the next generation, as well as attracting new talent. UK food producer Cranswick, which has taken part in PISP, said its students always had a positive attitude. "[They] have been happy to participate in a wide range of projects, completing them all to a high standard, and our current student is no exception shes been a great addition to the team," the firm said. Its a brilliant opportunity to give students access to not only the pig industry but the wider food industry, and show them the breadth of career opportunities available. "The students are based within a team but also get to travel through the whole business, which gives them responsibility as well as exposure to the roles in the wider food and agriculture industries. Sponsors are now needed for the 20252026 academic year, with the deadline for expressing an interest set at 2 September 2024. Harvey Weinstein has launched an appeal against his Los Angeles rap conviction. Harvey Weinstein has launched an appeal Lawyers for the 72-year-old former film producer have claimed that he didn't get a fair trial in his case in California in 2022, when he was convicted of rape and sexual assault. Weinstein was handed a 16-year jail sentence, but he's now requesting a new trial. According to Weinstein's lawyers, he "stands wrongfully convicted of sexually assaulting Jane Doe 1". In documents seen by NBC, it's also claimed that evidence was wrongly excluded from the trial and that the jury was unfairly prejudiced by testimony from other women about alleged sexual assaults that he was not charged with. What's more, Weinstein's legal team argue that Superior Court Judge Lisa B Lench made a mistake in allowing jurors to know about Weinstein's previous conviction in New York, which was subsequently overturned. In April, Weinstein's 2020 rape conviction was overturned by the New York Court of Appeals. The court ruled with a majority 4-3 vote that the movie mogul did not receive a fair trial, after they found prosecutors were allowed to call witnesses whose accusations were not the focus of the case. As a result, the ruling declared Weinstein - who will remain in prison for a separate 2022 rape conviction - had been tried on his past behaviour, not solely the crimes he had been charged with. They stated that Justice James Burke, the judge in charge of the 2020 trial, "erroneously admitted testimony of uncharged, alleged prior sexual acts against persons other than the complainants of the underlying crimes". The ruling added: "The remedy for these egregious errors is a new trial." Earl Charles Spencer is getting divorced. Earl Charles Spencer is getting divorced The 60-year-old broadcaster - who is the brother of the late Princess Diana - has split from his third wife Karen Gordon, the Countess of Spencer, after 14 years of marriage amid the strain of writing his harrowing memoir, 'A Very Private School', which recounts the physical and sexual abuse he was allegedly subjected to at boarding school. He told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: "It is immensely sad. "I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future." He also admitted the five years of work on his book had "deeply affected" him and led to him undergoing residential treatment for trauma late last year. The publication reported the earl has now grown closer to Cat Jarman, the Norwegian archaeologist he co-hosts 'The Rabbit Hole Detectives' history podcast with, alongside Rev. Richard Coles. Friends said they look very happy together but it is "early days" for the pair. Charles and Karen - who have 13-year-old daughter Lady Charlotte together - are believed to have told staff at their Althorp estate about their plans to divorce back in March. The pair married on the family estate in June 2011, a year after they first met on a blind date. Charles previously told the Sunday Times newspaper of their relationship: "Karen and I both appreciate what the other does and look after what we have. Neither of us has found happiness like this before." As well as Charlotte, the earl also has four children with first wife Victoria Lockwood and two with second spouse Caroline Freud. Canadian entrepreneur Karen has two daughters from her marriage to Hollywood producer Mark Gordon. The earl recently spoke on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg about how he had to seek counselling at a residential treatment centre last year due to the trauma of reliving the abuse during the writing of the book, which he said sparked a breakdown. Charles added: Confronting... evil is a very, well, its cataclysmic really. Ive always been intrigued by what humans are capable of doing for each other. When asked how detailing his experiences of abuse in his book had affected him, Charles said he was taken to a very dark place and added: I had endless nightmares. Jammu & Kashmir Bank had claimed a default of Rs 50 crore against Himalayan Mineral Waters, engaged in the business of manufacturing of beverages, being the corporate guarantor for the credit facilities availed by the Leel Electricals. LeeL Electricals had in May 2017 sold its consumer durable business to Havells India for a consideration of Rs 1,550 crore read more The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) has directed initiating insolvency proceedings against Himalayan Mineral Waters, allowing Jammu & Kashmir Banks plea for default of a corporate guarantee given for LeeL Electricals. The Allahabad bench of NCLT has also appointed Bhoopesh Gupta as the interim resolution professional (IRP) for this Dehradun-based firms Corporate Insolvency Resolution Process (CIRP). We are satisfied that the Applicant/Financial Creditor (J&K Bank) has proved the debt and the default, which is more than the threshold limit the application u/s 7 is found to be fit for initiation of the CIRP against the Corporate Debtor (Himalayan Mineral Waters), said a two-member bench in the order passed last Monday. Advertisement Jammu & Kashmir Bank had claimed a default of Rs 50 crore against Himalayan Mineral Waters, engaged in the business of manufacturing of beverages, being the corporate guarantor for the credit facilities availed by the Leel Electricals. LeeL Electricals had in May 2017 sold its consumer durable business to Havells India for a consideration of Rs 1,550 crore. Insolvency proceedings were initiated against LeeL Electricals by NCLT in April 2020 over a plea by one of its operational creditors. Later, NCLT passed a liquidation order in December 2021 after it failed to get a buyer. In 2015, a consortium arrangement led by the State Bank of Bikaner, Jaipur (now State Bank of India) sanctioned credit facilities to LeeL Electricals for working capital facilities of Rs 35 crore (fund-based) and Rs 15 crore (non-fund based). This was later extended to Rs 70 crore in 2017 and Himalayan Mineral Waters stood as surety for both agreements. Later in 2017, when the borrower sold its consumer durable business to Havells India, it requested the financial creditor to reduce the working capital limit to Rs 37 crore on pro-rata basis. After receiving no payment from the borrowers, the financial creditor declared the credit facilities account of the borrower to be non-performing assets (NPS) as of January 31, 2019 as per the prudential norms issued by the Reserve Bank of India. The borrower offered a one-time settlement (OTS), which was rejected by the creditor. Advertisement Since the borrower did not settle the remaining dues, the financial creditor sent a guarantee invocation notice on February 12, 2020 to all the guarantors, including Himalayan Mineral Waters, requesting payment of the liability. The matter was referred to NCLT, where Himalayan Mineral Waters contended that the working capital, consortium agreement and the deed of guarantee were executed with 12 banks forming a consortium of banks and no individual bank has any right to call the outstanding amount of the credit facility. It contended that the consortium banks will form opinions and act collectively. Rejecting it, NCLT said these arguments are not tenable and there is a clear-cut default on the part of the corporate debtor to pay the outstanding amount. Advertisement Allowing the plea, NCLT said, We are satisfied that the present application under Section 7, has been found fit to be admitted against the Corporate Debtor, M/s, Himalaya Minerals Water Private Ltd and accordingly, a moratorium is declared in terms of Section 14 of the I&B, Code 2016. BJP has strategically retained control over the four crucial ministries Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairsrepresented in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS). What are the functions of the CCS? How does this move strengthen the BJPs and Narendra Modis strategic position? We explain read more The Cabinet Committee on Security, led by PM Modi, comprised S Jaishankar, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, and Rajnath Singh. Image source: Agencies/Firstpost Bhratiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi is set to take the oath of office for a third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of India at 7:15 pm on June 9 at Rashtrapati Bhawan. There is a lot of interest over who will join Modis Cabinet and Council of Ministers. Unlike the past two terms, the BJP does not have an absolute majority in the Lok Sabha and needs to rely on coalition partners to run the government. Advertisement Despite the need to keep coalition partners happy by giving them plum portfolios, the BJP has reportedly retained control over several key ministries. Several media reports suggest that the four critical ministries represented in the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) are in the BJPs kitty. We explain why the CCS is so crucial and the potential reasons why the BJP has maintained its hold on these ministries. The four crucial ministries The four ministries that are represented in the CCS are the Ministry of Defence, Home Affairs, Finance, and External Affairs. In Modis previous administration, these ministries were led by Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S. Jaishankar, respectively. Functions of the Cabinet Committee on Security The CCS is entrusted with the highest responsibility for the nations security and strategic interests. Its functions include: Addressing matters concerning national defence Dealing with internal security threats and maintaining law and order Handling foreign policy matters that have security implications, including international security agreements Reviewing and addressing economic and political issues that impact national security Assessing and approving proposals for new posts and structures related to national security Overseeing the acquisition and procurement of security-related equipment and addressing cost overruns or changes in project scope The CCS, led by PM Modi since 2014, is the highest decision-making body in matters of defence and national security. PTI How BJP benefits by retaining control over CCS By ensuring that all members of the CCS are from the BJP, the party can maintain tight control over critical national security decisions. This centralized control reduces the risk of internal dissent and ensures that the partys strategies are implemented without opposition from coalition partners, a vital consideration in Indias fragmented political landscape. Unified national security strategy: With the CCS members all from the BJP, the party can ensure a cohesive approach to national security. This uniformity is essential for quick and effective decision-making in times of crisis. Electoral advantage: The BJPs focus on national security, defence, and strong governance resonates with its voter base. By controlling key ministries, the party can demonstrate its capability to govern effectively and make swift decisions, which is particularly advantageous in the lead-up to state assembly elections. Policy coherence: Control over the CCS ensures consistency in policy execution. This coherence is crucial for implementing large-scale projects and reforms without delays or compromises that often come with coalition governance. Strong leadership image: The BJP, under Modis leadership, has emphasized strong and decisive governance. Retaining control over the CCS reinforces this image, portraying the government as stable and capable. This strong leadership image is appealing to both domestic and international audiences. Effective narrative management: Unified control allows the BJP to manage the narrative around national security, economic policies, and foreign relations more effectively. This control is crucial for projecting a strong and decisive leadership image. Minimising policy paralysis: Coalition politics can be unpredictable, with partners having divergent priorities. By keeping the CCS within the BJP, the party minimises the risk of policy paralysis or conflicting interests, ensuring smooth governance. In a nutshell, retaining the key ministries within the CCS not only strengthens the partys internal coherence and decision-making capabilities but also enhances its public image and electoral prospects. As Narendra Modi gears up to embark on his third term, albeit dependent on a coalition, the focus on strong and unified leadership is starker than ever. With inputs from agencies Years ago, Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal, which was an ally of the Samajwadi Party, had famously said that he is not a coin who will flip. Come February 2024, his stance will change and he will join the BJP-led NDA bloc. Now, the grandson of former Indian PM Charan Singh has become a Union minister read more Jayant Singh Chaudhary is expected to become a Union minister in the third Modi government. PTI File Photo The swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi and his council of ministers is underway. With this, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has formed the government at the Centre for a third straight term. All eyes are on the division of ministerial berths among the NDA partners. While the BJP, which is the single largest party in the 18th Lok Sabha with 240 seats, will keep the bigger portion of the pie, its allies are set to be rewarded for helping it return to power for a third time. Advertisement One such ally is Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary. While he did not contest the Lok Sabha elections this time, the Rajya Sabha MP has been inducted into the Modi Cabinet 3.0. Who is he? How did his party perform in the Lok Sabha polls? Lets take a closer look. Who is Jayant Chaudhary? Born in the United States, Jayant Chaudhary comes from a political family in Uttar Pradesh. His grandfather, Chaudhary Charan Singh, was Indias fifth prime minister. Jayants father, Ajit Singh, was a former Union minister and a popular face of Jat politics in the northern state. Jayant Singh studied at Delhi University and completed a Masters in Accounting and Finance from the London School of Economics. As per an Indian Express report, he made his electoral debut in 2009 when he won from the Mathura Lok Sabha seat. The RLD, which relied on a combination of the Jat community and Muslim voters in the sugarcane belt of the Hindi heartland state, faced huge setbacks in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls due to the riots in Muzaffarnagar, a West UP district, in 2013 during Akhilesh Yadavs tenure as chief minister. At the time, the RLD lost all eight Lok Sabha seats it contested, with Ajit Singh defeated from his home turf of Baghpat and his son losing from Mathura. By the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Jayant Singh had taken control of the party from his father. For the general elections, the RLD forged an alliance with the Samajwadi Party (SP), Congress, and Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Advertisement The RLD contested on only three Lok Sabha seats from Westen UP Muzaffarnagar, Baghpat and Mathura. While it could not win any of these seats, Ajit and Jayant secured over 45 per cent of the vote share from their respective seats of Muzaffarnagar and Baghpat, the newspaper report added. Although the RLD failed to make big gains in the 2022 UP Assembly polls, it saw a revival. The RLD fought the 2022 Assembly polls in UP in an alliance with SP. PTI File Photo In May 2021, Ajit Singh passed away from a prolonged illness. Jayant took charge as the RLD president that month. As Times of India (TOI) noted, the biggest recognition for Jayant came on 20 September 2021 when members of various Khaps gathered in Baghpat and coronated him as Bade Chaudhary following his fathers death. Advertisement This title was held by Charan Singh and later Ajit Singh. The honour made Jayant the political representative of Khaps across India, TOI noted. The RLD chief is the chairman of the Kisan Trust founded by his late grandfather in 1978. Jayant had supported the protesting farmers during their yearslong agitation in 2020-21 against the Centres three agriculture laws (now scrapped). ALSO READ: Some old faces, some new: Who will be the ministers in Modi 3.0 Cabinet? Shift to NDA Despite their poll losses and the BJP becoming a dominant force in UP since 2014, the RLD-SP alliance continued to grow. The bonhomie between SPs Akhilesh Yadav and Jayant Chaudhary was visible on several occasions. Advertisement Until February this year, the RLD was a part of the Opposition INDIA bloc formed to take on the Modi-led NDA. Jayant had famously said in 2022 when the BJP reportedly approached the RLD for a tie-up ahead of UP Assembly polls, Main koi chawanni nahi jo palat jaun (I am not a 25 paise coin who will flip). The RLDs bet paid off as it increased its seat tally from one in 2017 to eight in the 2022 Assembly polls. It also improved its vote share from 1.8 per cent in 2017 to 2.9 per cent. Jayant Singhs crossover for greener pastures happened after one significant gesture this year. Advertisement In early February, the Modi government conferred Bharat Ratna, Indias highest civilian award, on the late Chaudhary Charan Singh, Jayants grandfather. Responding to PM Modis announcement, the RLD chief wrote on X, Dil jeet liya (You have won my heart). When asked if he would switch to the BJP, he told reporters, Dekhiye koi kasar rehti hai? Aaj mai kis muh se inkaar karoon aapke iss sawal ko? (Is there anything left? With which face can I deny this question today?). VIDEO | "The decision, which could not be taken by any other government, that was boldly taken by this government because of PM Modi's vision and his dedication," says RLD chief @jayantrld on Bharat Ratna to former PM Chaudhary Charan Singh. pic.twitter.com/RJbvBNOEng Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 9, 2024 Later, the RLD chief met the BJPs Amit Shah and JP Nadda and joined the NDA, officially leaving the INDIA bloc. As per the seat-sharing deal with the saffron party, the RLD contested two Lok Sabha seats Bijnor and Baghpat. It bagged both seats in Uttar Pradesh this time. And now, Jayant, who had become a Rajya Sabha MP with the SPs support, will reportedly become a minister in the third Modi government . Row over seating The SP and Congress took potshots recently after Jayant Chaudhary was spotted sitting on the benches of the Samvidhan Sadan (old Parliament) on Friday at the NDA parliamentary meeting. This came as TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U) president Nitish Kumar, Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde, LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan, Jana Sena Partys Pawan Kalyan, NCPs Ajit Pawar, JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy, HAMs Jitan Ram Majhi and Apna Dal (Sonelal)s Anupriya Patel were sitting with Modi and other senior BJP leaders on the dais. Taking a dig at the RLD chief, SP MP Rajeev Rai reportedly said, Not giving him (Jayant Chaudhary) a seat on stage is an insult to the leader who is the grandson of the greatest leader of the farmers, Chaudhary sahib. BJP is the same party that calls farmers terrorists and traitors. If Jayant Chaudhary is concerned about the respect of the farmers and his own self-respect, he should not tolerate this insult. However, the RLD played down the incident. As per India Today, RLD MLA Anil Kumar said, When has (the) INDIA bloc given us respect? Whether one sits above or below is not a big deal. One should do politics with a broad mind. One should not think about small matters. The RLD is a main constituent party of the NDA and will remain with it. With the level of uncertainty in Indian politics, only time will tell if loyalties shift or remain same. With inputs from agencies Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers will take the oath of office today at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Ahead of this historic event, some of his older ministers have been dropped to make way for new faces. Among them are Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur, and Narayan Rane read more BJP leaders and former Union Minister Smriti Irani, Anurag Thakur are likely to be omitted from the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. File image/PTI After days of hectic negotiations, the day is here. Modi Sarkar 3.0 will take its oath of office today at the swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi at 7.15 pm. As the clock winds down to the big hour, there are some very big names that havent been able to find their way on to probable list of ministers who shall be sworn in today. Notably, they werent even invited to the tea meeting being hosted by Narendra Modi at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Advertisement The names likely to be dropped from Modi 3.0 include those who were defeated in the recent Lok Sabha elections. Others have been dumped owing to coalition pressures and to accommodate faces from the BJPs allies the Telugu Desam Party, the Janata Dal-United, the Janata Dal-Secular and even the Rashtriya Lok Dal. Lets take a closer look at the names who have most likely been dropped from the new Modi Cabinet. Smriti Irani Shes been a known face in the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. In 2014, when Narendra Modi secured his first win, Smriti Irani was sworn in as one of the Council of Ministers and then handed over the human resource development ministry. Later, in 2019, after securing a huge win against Rahul Gandhi in Amethi, she was made Minister of Women and Child Development and later given charge of the minority affairs ministry. Smriti Irani was handed a bruising defeat in Amethi after Congress Kishori Lal Sharma, a loyal aide of the Gandhi family, triumphed over her by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes. File image/PTI However, this time around, it looks like there is no place for Smriti Irani. She was handed a bruising defeat in Amethi after Congress Kishori Lal Sharma , a loyal aide of the Gandhi family, triumphed over Irani by a margin of over 1.6 lakh votes. Following her loss, she had said that she would be forever grateful to people who supported her in victory and loss. However, it doesnt seem like this will be the end of the road for Irani. According to some insiders in the BJP, she may be accommodated in the Rajya Sabha as she was vocal on government policies and handled her ministry well. Advertisement Anurag Thakur If we go by the leaders who have been invited by Modi for tea before the swearing-in ceremony, then it seems that Anurag Thakur has been dropped from the Council of Ministers. Serving as the information and broadcasting minister in the previous government, Thakur was not seen at the Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modis interaction with NDA leaders. This comes as a bit of a surprise as Thakur won from Hamirpur with a margin of over 1.8 lakh votes. This was Thakurs fifth consecutive win from the constituency against Congress Satpal Raizada. However, a BJP insider told The Mint, This is the first Cabinet swearing-in, though. We will have more ministers inducted in the Modi 3.0. Advertisement Rajeev Chandrasekhar After his loss in the Thiruvananthapuram constituency to Shashi Tharoor, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, the Union Minister of State for Electronics and Information Technology, has also most likely been dropped from the Modi government. Former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar lost to Shashi Tharoor in the Lok Sabha elections. File image/PTI He was absent from the meet that Modi held hours before the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. RK Singh It seems that RK Singh, the former Union Power Minister, has also been dropped from the new Modi Cabinet. This comes after Singh lost to Sudama Prasad of CPI(ML)L by around 60,000 votes from the Arrah constituency. In Modi 3.0, it is being reported that the power ministry will most likely go to the TDP or the JD(U) and hence, Singh has been dropped. Advertisement Purshottam Rupala Purshottam Rupala, who was given the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the Cabinet reshuffle of 2021, finds no place in the new government formation. Despite winning the Rajkot seat in Gujarat with a margin of 4,84,260 votes, the BJP it appears is dropping him from the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. This could be because of the controversy he stirred during the election campaign when he remarked that erstwhile maharajas (Kshatriya kings) had succumbed to foreign rulers like the British and forged family bonds with them. His speech, which went viral on social media, offended the Kshatriya in Saurashtra and parts of north Gujarat with significant hold of different castes of the erstwhile ruling class. Advertisement After the initial protests, the Union minister had apologised, but it seems that the damage has been done. Narayan Rane A veteran Maharashtra leader, Narayan Rane has also been most likely dropped from the new government. In Modi 2.0, Rane was the micro, small, and medium enterprises minister. BJPs Narayan Rane has been dropped despite winning the Lok Sabha election from Maharashtras Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. File image/PTI Notably, Rane is another name who has been dropped despite winning his constituency. He won the Lok Sabha election from Maharashtras Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg by securing 4,48,514 votes compared to the 4,00,656 votes that Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Vinayak Raut bagged. Modi Cabinet 3.0 While there have been some exclusions, a lot of BJP leaders have been retained in the new government. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Nitin Gadkari, Mansukh Mandaviya, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Dharmendra Pradhan, Bhupendra Yadav, Prahlad Joshi, Kiren Rijiju, CR Paatil, L Murugan, Hardeep Puri, ML Khattar, Shivraj Chouhan, Gajendra Shekhawat, Suresh Gopi, and Jitin Prasada are most likely to be sworn in as ministers today. Besides these, HD Kumaraswamy, Jayant Chaudhary, Pratap Jadhav, Ram Mohan Naidu, Sudesh Mahato, and Lallan Singh from among the BJP allies will most likely be sworn in today. With inputs from agencies The new Modi Cabinet has been sworn in and the pressures of a coalition government are already unfolding. The BJP had offered the Ajit Pawar-led NCP a Minister of State with independent charge. However, the Maharashtra deputy chief minister rejected the proposal, demanding a Cabinet post for his senior leader Praful Patel read more Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar with Praful Patel. The Ajit Pawar group refused to accept the BJPs offer of Minister of State (Independent) in the NDA government. The party said it expected a Cabinet Ministers post. File image/PTI The Narendra Modi 3.0 Cabinet has been sworn in and the one very significant takeaway from the event has been how the BJP has accommodated its allies, namely the JD(U), the TDP, and the RLD among others. However, theres one ally who has been left out of the new government, finding no representation in the Modi 3.0 sarkar. And thats the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), headed by Ajit Pawar. We examine why NCP found no space in the Modi government. Advertisement Negotiation over Cabinet post It has been reported that the NCP turned down BJPs offer to accommodate Praful Patel as a minister of state with independent charge in the new NDA government. Patel, the working president of the NCP, argued that since he had already served as a Cabinet minister in the Union government in the past, assuming office as a minister of state with independent charge would be a demotion for him. There is no confusion or issue between the BJP and the NCP. Last night, we received information that we are going to get an MoS with independent charge (post). But since I have already been a Cabinet minister, I cannot take this position since it would be a demotion. We have informed the BJP leadership and they have already told us to just wait for a few days, they will take remedial measures, Praful Patel said on Sunday. #WATCH | NCP leader Praful Patel says, "...Last night we were informed that our party will get a Minister of State with independent charge...I was earlier a Cabinet Minister in the Union Government, so this will be a demotion for me. We have informed the BJP leadership and they pic.twitter.com/RlfigNH2ar ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 We have conveyed this to the BJP leadership and have been asked to wait for some days till it takes remedial measures, Patel was quoted as telling reporters before Narendra Modi was sworn in as prime minister. As per the power-sharing arrangements, the NCP was offered one post in the Council of Ministers of the NDA government led by PM Modi. BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde called on Patel, who was reportedly upset at the demotion in the Union government. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Shiv Sena (Shinde) Chief Eknath Shinde and NCP leader Praful Patel during National Democratic Alliance (NDA) meeting at PMs residence, in New Delhi. File image/PTI Maharashtra deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, who had earlier offered to resign after taking responsibility for BJPs poor performance in the state, said the Ajit Pawar-led group had wanted a Cabinet berth. We had offered one berth of minister with independent charge to the NCP but it was insistent that (Rajya Sabha MP) Praful Patels name be finalised. Due to his (Patels) experience, the NCP believed he could not be made MoS with independent charge, he said. Advertisement In a coalition government, a formula has to be drawn, which cannot be broken for one party. I can confidently say whenever Cabinet expansion takes place, the (Union) government will consider the NCP. We did try to include NCP right now, but they insisted on Cabinet portfolio, the senior BJP leader asserted to news agency PTI. Meanwhile, Ajit Pawar asserted the NCP was ready to wait but wanted a Cabinet berth. He further stated that the NCP was supporting the NDA in the interest of the nation. NCPs poor performance at the polls A member of the Mahayuti alliance in Maharashtra , comprising the BJP, Shiv Sena, Ajit Pawar s NCP contested four seats at the recently-concluded Lok Sabha elections. However, of the four, the Ajit Pawar group was able to wrest only one win Maharashtra NCP president Sunil Tatkare emerging victorious from the Raigad seat. Advertisement However, Pawars NCP had to taste defeat from the Baramati seat, which he made into a prestige battle by pitting his wife, Sunetra Pawar, against Supriya Sule , the sitting MP and daughter of Sharad Pawar. Despite all his efforts, Sule won a fourth term by more than 1,50,000 votes. And its not just Baramati. Ajit Pawar failed to win Shirur, the other Lok Sabha seat in Pune district. NCP-SPs incumbent Amol Kolhe defeated his partys candidate Shivajirao Adhalrao-Patil with a margin of over 1.4 lakh votes. Maharashtra representation in Modi Sarkar The state of Maharashtra has a good representation in Modis Council of Ministers. Even Fadnavis expressed satisfaction on the states representation, saying, There are some experienced leaders like Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal as well as young candidates like Murlidhar Mohol and Raksha Khadse who have made it to the Modi Cabinet. Advertisement Of all the ministers, five are from Maharashtra, including Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Republican Party of India (A) president Ramdas Athawale and Prataprao Jadhav from the Shiv Sena led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. While Nitin Gadkari represents Nagpur, Piyush Goyal represents Mumbai-North constituency. Raksha Khadse, daughter-in-law of former BJP leader Eknath Khadse, won from the Raver constituency. With inputs from agencies Leaders from Bangladesh, Bhutan, the Maldives, Mauritius, Nepal, Seychelles, and Sri Lanka, are present at Narendra Modis oath-taking ceremony as he assumes the position of prime minister for a third term. From major infrastructural projects with Bangladesh and Bhutan to strategic maritime collaborations with the Maldives, Seychelles, and Mauritius, we explain Indias relations with these neighbouring nations read more Narendra Modi will take oath as the PM of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9. AP Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Narendra Modi is all set to be sworn in for a third term as the Prime Minister of India on June 9. The event will be marked by the presence of dignitaries from seven countries with whom India shares profound and multifaceted relationships. These countries are Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Maldives, Seychelles, Bhutan, and Mauritius. Each of these relationships is underscored by strong economic ties, strategic cooperation, and shared national security interests. Advertisement Here, we delve into the intricate details of Indias bilateral relations with these nations. India-Bangladesh relations Indias relationship with Bangladesh is a cornerstone of its South Asian policy. Economically, Bangladesh is Indias largest trading partner in South Asia, with bilateral trade reaching approximately $15.9 billion in FY 2022-23. This robust trade relationship is complemented by significant infrastructural projects, such as the India-Bangladesh Friendship Pipeline and various railway projects under Indias Lines of Credit program. Additionally, energy cooperation is a key aspect, with Bangladesh importing 1,160 MW of power from India. Narendra Modi and his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina. Reuters Strategically, Indias involvement in the development of the Mongla Port in Bangladesh (alongside its operational rights to Chabahar Port in Iran and Sittwe Port in Myanmar) exemplify efforts to counterbalance Chinas influence in the region. Moreover, cooperation in combating illicit activities and high-level military exchanges fortify the defence partnership between the two nations. India-Bhutan friendship Diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan were formally established in 1968. Back then, Indias support for Bhutans Five Year Plans were key to this partnership. Indias commitment of Rs 5,000 crores for Bhutans 12th Five Year Plan highlighted the significant development aid provided, spanning infrastructure, health, and education. PM Narendra Modi with King of Bhutan Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck. PTI Strategically, the hydropower cooperation is a pillar of the bilateral relationship, with India assisting in the construction of major hydroelectric projects in Bhutan. Defense cooperation includes training and capacity building for Bhutanese defence personnel, ensuring robust security collaboration. High-level visits and regular diplomatic exchanges stress the mutual trust and understanding between the two countries. Advertisement India-Maldives ties The relationship between India and the Maldives has witnessed ups and downs, especially with the pro-China stance of Maldivian President Mohammad Muizzu. Despite these challenges, Indias role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean is crucial. The Maldives strategic location makes it significant for maritime security, and Indias assistance in developing infrastructure and capacity building for the Maldivian defence forces is critical. Maldives President Mohammad Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Economically, India is a major trade partner and provider of development aid. Initiatives like the India-Maldives Friendship Bridge and various housing and infrastructure projects highlight the economic cooperation. India-Mauritius ties Mauritius, with its significant Indian-origin population, shares deep cultural and historical ties with India. Diplomatic relations were established even before Mauritius gained independence in 1968. Economically, India is one of Mauritius top trading partners, with bilateral trade amounting to $554.19 million in FY 2022-23. The Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) signed in 2021 further strengthened this economic bond. Advertisement Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Jugnauth with Narendra Modi. Image source: Narendramodi.in Strategically, Mauritius plays a crucial role in Indias maritime strategy. The development of infrastructure on the Agalega islands, including a new airstrip and jetty, enhances Indias maritime capabilities and underscores its role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region. Defense cooperation includes joint exercises and capacity building, ensuring robust maritime security amid increasing Chinese presence in the region. India-Nepal relations India and Nepal share a unique relationship characterized by open borders and deep cultural ties. Economically, the trade and transit agreement facilitates significant bilateral trade. Indias investments in Nepal cover various sectors, including infrastructure, energy, and health. Hydropower projects are particularly significant, with India helping develop Nepals vast hydropower potential. Advertisement Narendra Modi and Nepalese PM Pushpakamal Dahal Prachanda. X.com/@MEAIndia Strategically, the defense cooperation includes training and capacity building for Nepalese defense personnel, enhancing interoperability between the two armed forces. Regular high-level visits and joint military exercises are vital components of this strategic relationship, ensuring stability in the Himalayan region. India-Seychelles relations Indias relationship with Seychelles is characterised by historical ties and strong cooperation in maritime security. Indias assistance in developing the infrastructure on the islands, including the Coastal Surveillance Radar System, and the gifting of Dornier aircraft for maritime surveillance, underscores this strategic partnership. High-level visits, such as Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit in 2015, have strengthened these ties. India and Seychelles have a close relationship, characterised by historical ties and strong cooperation in maritime security. PTI Economically, bilateral trade is modest but significant, with India exporting goods worth USD 64.88 million in 2022-23. Indian companies like Bank of Baroda and Bharti Airtel have a notable presence in Seychelles. Development assistance from India spans various sectors, including health, education, and infrastructure, reflecting the depth of the bilateral relationship. Advertisement India-Sri Lanka ties Sri Lankas geographic location is vital for Indias maritime security and regional influence. During Sri Lankas economic crisis in 2022, India provided extensive economic and humanitarian assistance, underscoring its role as a critical ally. Investments in Sri Lanka, such as the Trincomalee energy hub and wind projects by Adani Green Energy, are testament to the economic cooperation. Narendra Modi with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. X.com/NarendraModi Strategically, Indias support in maritime security is crucial, especially in light of Chinas growing presence in the Indian Ocean. India has also been active in helping Sri Lanka combat illicit activities through joint border management initiatives and defense dialogues. High-level visits and exchanges between military officials further strengthen the strategic partnership. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu is a three-time Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MP from Andhra Pradeshs Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency. The 36-year-old took oath as Union minister in the BJP-led NDA government on Sunday evening read more TDP's Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu is set to become a Union minister in the third NDA government. Image Courtesy: X/@RamMNK Narendra Modi has been sworn in as Indias Prime Minister in a grand ceremony on Sunday (9 June) evening. He was joined by newly-elected MPs, who also took the oath of office. Speculations were rife about who will be inducted into the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government led by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and who will face the axe. Two Telugu Desam Party (TDP) members are ministers in Modis third government. In fact, one of them has become the youngest Cabinet minister. Who is that MP-elect? Advertisement Lets take a closer look. TDP MPs to be part of Council of Ministers N Chandrababu Naidus TDP stormed to power in Andhra Pradesh in the Assembly and Lok Sabha polls held simultaneously. His party clinched 16 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in the southern state, with its allies BJP winning three and Pawan Kalyans Janasena Party (JSP) getting two. In the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls, the TDP bagged 135 out of 175 seats, the JSP 21 and the BJP eight. The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) secured the remaining Lok Sabha and Assembly seats. With the TDP emerging as the second-largest NDA constituent in terms of Lok Sabha seats, the saffron party is now reliant on Chandrababu Naidu to return to power. TDP leaders Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu and Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani are part of the NDA government at the Centre. At 36, Ram Mohan Naidu would be the youngest MP to be inducted into the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. ALSO READ: Mist fans, mini fridges and more How Rashtrapati Bhavan is preparing for Modis swearing-in ceremony Who is Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu? Ram Mohan Naidu is a three-time MP from Andhras Srikakulam Lok Sabha constituency. He won the seat with a huge margin of 327,901 votes against YSRCPs Perada Tilak. The 36-year-old was sworn in as a Cabinet minister in the NDA government. As per The Hindu, he is the youngest-ever member of the Union Cabinet led by Narendra Modi. Advertisement Ram Mohan Naidu is TDPs national general secretary and was its floor leader in the outgoing Lok Sabha. The son of former Union minister K Yerran Naidu, Ram Mohan pursued electrical engineering at Purdue University and has a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Long Island University. He was employed in Singapore when his father and senior TDP leader Yerran Naidu died in a road accident on 2 November 2012. The tragedy marked Ram Mohans entry into politics. He contested the Srikakulam Lok Sabha seat for the first time in 2014 at 26 years of age, becoming the second-youngest MP at the time. His close association with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu ensured the Srikakulam MPs rise in politics. Advertisement Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu was part of several Parliamentary standing committees. PTI File Photo As an MP, Ram Mohan was a member of various Parliamentary standing committees. He received the Sansad Ratna Award in 2020 for his exemplary performance as a member of Parliament, reported ANI. The MP-elect is also known for his progressive and pro-women views. In 2021, Ram Mohan made headlines when he sought nine days of paternity leave during the Budget Session. His move sparked conversations about gender roles in parenting. In his letter to the Lok Sabha Speaker seeking leave of absence, the TDP MP wrote then, Childcare should not solely be the responsibility of the mother. I look forward to being an equal contributor in the care and progress of our child." Advertisement As per Indian Express, he is one of the first MPs to endorse menstrual health education and sex education in Parliament. He also advocated removing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) on sanitary pads. Jayadev Galla, industrialist and a two-time TDP MP who quit politics in February, congratulated Ram Mohan Naidu in a post on X. He wrote, Congratulations to my young friend @RamMNK on being confirmed as a cabinet minister in the new NDA Government! Your sincerity and humble nature will surely be an asset to the development of the country. Wishing you all the best in your new role! Congratulations to my young friend @RamMNK on being confirmed as a cabinet minister in the new #NDA Government! Your sincerity and humble nature will surely be an asset to the development of the country. Wishing you all the best in your new role! pic.twitter.com/VkgGu8kdHB Jay Galla (@JayGalla) June 9, 2024 Advertisement Speaking to ANI, Ram Mohan Naidu said the TDP stands by its poll promise of preserving a four per cent quota for Muslims in Andhra Pradesh. He said the partys vision is to develop the state and work for the Telugu people wherever they are, in Andhra or Telangana. When asked about the TDP getting a Cabinet berth in the NDA government at the Centre, he said, After a long time, TDP will have a Union Minister. We are very happy. We have the undivided attention of the Central government. ALSO READ: Amit Shah, Rajnath, Shivraj: The candidates expected to get ministerial berths in Modi 3.0 Who else is expected to be sworn in? The other TDP MP who took oath is 48-year-old Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. He is likely to be a minister of state (MoS). Pemmasani, an NRI doctor, was one of the richest candidates in the 18th Lok Sabha elections. He won the Guntur Lok Sabha seat by defeating the YSRCP contestant by over 3.4 lakh votes. Besides the TDP, another NDA ally the JD(U) will also get ministerial berths in Modi 3.0. Senior leaders of Nitish Kumars party Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur took oath today. The Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena got a berth in the Union Cabinet. Hindustani Awam Morcha leader Jitan Ram Manjhi and JD(S) leader HD Kumaraswamy were sworn in as ministers. The LJPs Chirag Paswan and RLD chief Jayant Chaudhary got one seat each in the Modi Cabinet 3.0. Apna Dal Party chief Anupriya Patel took the oath of office. Notably, the BJP ministers in Modi 2.0 like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, S Jaishankar, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Nirmala Sitharaman and Piyush Goyal have also been retained in the new NDA government. With inputs from agencies The third consecutive NDA government has a bevy of chief ministers, with diverse experience of running governments in states. Is it a political compulsion of the BJP or a step to strengthen PM Modis slogan of cooperative federalism? read more In the new NDA government, there are seven former chief ministers, giving it a wide experience of running the administration Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath of office on Sunday for the third consecutive time, equalling the record set and held by Jawaharlal Nehru, who led his Congress party to victories in 1951-52, 1957 and 1962 national elections. Modi led his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to three successive wins in the parliamentary elections 2014, 2019 and 2024. Modis elevation from a four-term chief minister to the prime ministerial position came on the back of a nationwide groundswell in his partys favour in 2014. The BJP won 282 seats and the NDA over 300 berths in the 543-member Lok Sabha. In 2019, the BJP and NDAs strength increased in the Lok Sabha as they won more than 300 and 350 seats respectively in the House. Advertisement In the new NDA government, there are seven former chief ministers, giving it a wide experience of running the administration. Narendra Modi Narendra Modi, then a general secretary of the BJP, was sent from Delhi to Gujarat to head the state government against the backdrop of reports of public anger against the BJP rule over alleged mismanagement of the post-Bhuj earthquake rehabilitation process in 2001. The earthquake had hit on January 26, 2001, and Modi, who had coordinated the rehabilitation efforts, became the CM on October 7, 2001. This was seen as an attempt to deflect public anger against the party as it came a year ahead of the state polls, due for 2002, which the BJP won months after the post-Godhra riots. Modi led the BJP to two more state election victories in 2007 and 2012 before his elevation to national politics in the 2014 parliamentary polls. The successive Modi governments in Gujarat and later at the Centre have been credited with significant economic development first in Gujarat, which became a model known as the Gujarat Model of development, and then at the national level. As the prime minister, Modi launched initiatives like Make in India, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan, and Digital India. In 2014, Modi became the sixth former chief minister to become the prime minister. But he remains the only leader who has completed multiple terms as both the chief minister and the prime minister. Rajnath Singh Rajnath Singh served as the Uttar Pradesh chief minister from 2000 to 2002. He also served as a Union minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government at the Centre. Under Modi, Singh has served as the Union home minister in Modi 1.0 and the defence minister as 2.0. Advertisement Before becoming the chief minister, Singh had served as the education minister in Uttar Pradeshs Kalyan Singh government. His tenure as the education minister was momentous in giving a new direction to school education, particularly the way exams were conducted. He brought the Anti Copying Act, 1992. Also, in the second Vajpayee government, as the Union surface transport minister (1999-2000), Singh was instrumental in bringing out the National Highway Development Project, which has been the bedrock of highway and expressway development in the country since then. Shivraj Singh Chouhan Shivraj Singh Chouhan was a Lok Sabha member, when in 2005, the BJP leadership gave him the responsibility to lead the government in Madhya Pradesh, where remained in office uninterrupted until 2018, when his party polled more votes but fewer seats than the Congress, which formed government after 15 years. But Chouhan returned to the Chief Ministers Office (CMO) in 2020. Advertisement During his four terms as the Madhya Pradesh chief minister, Chouhan earned the reputation of being pro-women with welfare schemes such as the Ladli Laxmi Yojana and Beti Bachao Abhiyan aimed at improving the status of girls and women. He also won the Krishi Karman Award for his states performance in agriculture. Chouhan holds the record of the longest-serving chief minister among the BJP leaders. Manohar Lal Khattar Manohar Lal Khattar headed the BJPs first solo government in Haryana from 2014 to 2019, and then a coalition government from 2019 to 2024. As the chief minister, he promoted e-governance and digital initiatives, and worked on campaigns like Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao to improve the condition of girls in the state. Advertisement HD Kumaraswamy Janata Dal-Secular (JDS) HD Kumaraswamy, the son of former PM HD Deve Gowda, has served as the Karnataka CM twice 2006 to 2007 and 2018 to 2019. He is possibly the only former CM-cum-Union minister in the NDA government with a background of a film producer in Kannada film industry. Jitan Ram Manjhi Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi served as the Bihar CM from May 2014 to February 2015. Back then, he was part of the Janata Dal-United of Nitish Kumar, the current chief minister of Bihar. It was also the time when Nitish Kumar had pulled out of the NDA over his differences with the BJP following the elevation of Modi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2014 national polls. Advertisement Sarbananda Sonowal Sarbananda Sonowal led the first BJP government in Assam 2016 to 2021 as the party ended a three-term rule of the Congress in the most influential state in the Northeast. He served as the minister of ports, shipping and waterways, and of AYUSH in the second Modi government. He played a key role in the construction of the Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, enhancing connectivity in the Northeast. These leaders have had diverse and impactful careers, shaping the political and social landscapes of their respective states. Their parties claim to furthering their legacies with the aim to influence current policies and governance. Several names such as Sambalpur MP and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Samal, former state BJP president and newly elected MLA from Patnagarh KV Singh Deo, tribal leader Mohan Majhi, who has been elected from Keonjhar seat, are doing rounds read more BJP has never been in power in odisha before. File Photo The BJPs parliamentary party is likely to select the chief minister of Odisha after Narendra Modi takes oath as the countrys prime minister for the third term on Sunday, a saffron camp leader said here. After returning to the state from New Delhi on Saturday, Odisha BJP chief Manmohan Samal said, Wait for two more days.The BJP secured a majority in the elections by winning 78 of the 147-member Odisha assembly. The parliamentary party of the BJP would select the chief minister at its meeting, Samal said, adding that he does not have any idea on the next chief minister of the state. Advertisement I had gone to Delhi to attend a meeting to select the NDAs parliamentary party leader and Lok Sabha leader. All newly elected MPs from the state were present there. We also attended other party programmes arranged in Delhi, he said at the airport here. The BJP won 20 of the 21 Lok Sabha seats in Odisha. Samal also said he, as the president of the Odisha BJP, has been coordinating with all stakeholders in making arrangements for the oath-taking function.The BJP leader claimed that its parliamentary party is yet to select the next Odisha CM. On several requests by reporters, he said, Wait for two more days and you will be informed about the partys decision on the new chief minister. There are highly experienced leaders of the party at the Centre and they will take the decision keeping the interest of the state in mind. Asked whether he was in the race for the chief ministers post, Samal said, I am notI am just executing whatever responsibility is assigned to me. said Samal, who was defeated in Chandbali in the recently concluded Odisha assembly elections. Several names such as Sambalpur MP and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Samal, former state BJP president and newly elected MLA from Patnagarh KV Singh Deo, tribal leader Mohan Majhi, who has been elected from Keonjhar seat, are doing rounds. Pradhan is considered the BJPs face in the state and he belongs to the OBC category, while Singh Deo is a five-time legislator and worked as minister in the Naveen Patnaik Council of Ministers for nine years between 2000 and 2009. During this period, the BJD-BJP coalition government ruled the state. Advertisement Though Samal was defeated in the assembly polls, his supporters claimed that Pushkar Singh Dhami lost the assembly election in Uttarakhand but was chosen as the CM. During the election campaign in the state, Modi had said the party would make a bhumi putra (son of soil) the Odisha chief minister. In his post, Jaiswal maintained that India will pursue the normalisation of its ties with China based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity read more After China congratulated Prime Minister-Designate Narendra Modi for his third stint in the office, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal elucidated the importance of normalisation of ties between India and China. In a post on X, formally known as Twitter, Jaiswal thanked the Chinese foreign ministry for congratulating the prime minister after he emerged victorious in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In his post, Jaiswal maintained that India will pursue the normalisation of its ties with China based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. Advertisement Thank you @MFA_China for congratulating PM @narendramodi on his election victory, Jaiswal wrote on X, formally known as Twitter. Will continue to pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity, he added. Thank you @MFA_China for congratulating PM @narendramodi on his election victory. Will continue to pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. https://t.co/8Ths98c38k Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 8, 2024 The statement from the Indian official came hours after China extended wishes to the Prime Minister-designate. Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi, BJP and the National Democratic Alliance on the election victory. We look forward to a healthy & stable China-India relationship, the Chinese foreign ministry wrote on X. China calls for a healthy and stable relations with India While addressing a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Affairs Spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the healthy and stable relations between India and China are in the best interest of both sides. She also expressed Chinas readiness to work with India in the interest of the people of the two nations. Advertisement We noted that the results of Indias general elections have been announced. China congratulates the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, along with their National Democratic Alliance, on their victory, she averred when asked about Beijings comments on the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. A healthy and stable China-India relationship is in the common interest of both sides and is conducive to peace and development in the region and the world. China is willing to work together with India in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, focusing on the big picture and looking to the future to promote the development of relations between the two countries along a healthy and stable track, she added. Advertisement Meanwhile, Narendra Modi is scheduled to be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term. The oath-taking ceremony will take place on June 9 at 7:15 pm in Rashtrapati Bhawan. Alongside the Prime Minister, members of his council of ministers are also expected to take their oath on the same day. With inputs from agencies. Narendra Modi has become only the second Prime Minister of India after Pandit Jawahar Lal Nehru to have a third straight term read more In a feat unprecedented in decades, Narendra Modi on Sunday embarked on a third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of India. After arriving at the Rashtrapati Bhavans Forecourt in his cavalcade, Modi walked to the dais with folded hands and bowed to around 8,000 guests in attendance from across the country and leaders from seven countries in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region. Shortly afterwards, President Droupadi Murmu arrived and, following the National Anthem, Modi was called upon to take oath. Advertisement As Murmu administered to him the Oath of Office and Secrecy, Modi became only the second PM of India after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to have a third straight term. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office and secrecy to Prime Minister @narendramodi at the swearing-in-ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan. pic.twitter.com/ktoa8k0qw7 President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 9, 2024 Even though Modi has returned to power for the third time, it is set to be a much different term than the first two tenures. This time, he will lead a coalition government as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to get a majority of its own and it had to rely on support from partners in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to form a coalition government. While the BJP won 240 seats, the NDA won 292 seats well beyond the majority-mark of 272. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal-United (JD-U), both of whom joined the NDA just months before the elections, became the kingmakers for the NDA with their respective 16 and 12 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi bowing at the Rashtrapati Bhavan before taking oath (Photo: X/Narendra Modi) In the 3rd Modi Ministry, there are 71 ministers. They include 30 Cabinet ministers, five Ministers of State (Independent Charge), and 36 Ministers of State. Even as its certain that Modi will retain the Big 4 portfolios of Home, Defence, Finance, and External Affairs with the BJP and Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S Jaishankar will continue with their respective ministries, the formal allocation of portfolios has not yet been announced. Advertisement Great blend of youth & experience: Modi praises his ministers Modi has praised his Council of Ministers as a great blend of youth and experience. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said, Congratulations to all those who have taken oath today. This team of Ministers is a great blend of youth and experience, and we will leave no stone unturned in improving the lives of people. Congratulations to all those who have taken oath today. This team of Ministers is a great blend of youth and experience, and we will leave no stone unturned in improving the lives of people. pic.twitter.com/3PK3l1hG5p Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2024 Advertisement Thats indeed the case as while several veterans of the first two terms are there and are expected to retain their previous portfolios, there are several young faces as well, such as Chirag Paswan of the Lokjanshakti Party-Ramvilas (LJP-R) and Jayant Singh of the Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD). Modi has also roped in state-based veteran leaders, such as former four-time Madhya Pradesh CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, former Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar, and former Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswami of the Janata Dal-Secular (JD-S). The panoramic group photograph of PM Narendra Modis new Council of Ministers (Photo: X/Narendra Modi) There are a total of 32 fresh faces in the 3rd Modi Ministry whereas 35 ministers from the previous term have been dropped. While several of those dropped are those who lost elections like Smriti Irani and Rajeev Chandrasekhar, some who won have also been dropped, such as Anurag Thakur and Narayan Tatu Rane. Advertisement New pecking order emerges in BJP & NDA As the 3rd Modi Ministry was sworn-in on Sunday, a new pecking order emerged in the BJP. While most veterans were retained, there were some notable omissions and additions. For example, Thakur was dropped from the 3rd Modi Ministry and BJP President JP Nadda and Shivraj were inducted. Going by the hierarchy in which the ministers were sworn in, the BJPs pecking order has evolved in Modis third term. While Modi was the first to take oath, he was followed by Rajnath, who was followed by Shah and Nitin Gadkari. The new pecking order in the BJP stands as: Modi Rajnath, Shah, Gadkari, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Manohar Lal Khattar, and Piyush Goyal. Advertisement PM Narendra Modi with his ministers as a new pecking order emerges in the BJP and NDA (Photo: Youtube/Doordarshan) Notably, Kumaraswami took oath between Khattar and Goyal, putting him above many of the BJPs own ministers in the 3rd Modi Ministrys pecking order. Other prominent non-BJP ministers include Jitan Ram Manjhi of Hindustan Awam Morcha (HAM) and Lalan Singh of Janata Dal-United (JD-U). Foreign leaders present, Opposition absent While leaders from South Asian and Indian Ocean Region nations were present as guests in the swearing-in ceremony, the Opposition was only represented by Mallikarjun Kharge. He was present in his constitutional role of the Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha and not as President of the Congress party. The foreign leaders who attended the swearing-in included: President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka President Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives Vice President Ahmed Afif of Seychelles Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina of Bangladesh Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth of Mauritius Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda of Nepal Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan Leaders from the South Asian and Indian Ocean Region countries as guests at PM Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony (Photo: X/Narendra Modi) After the conclusion of the swearing-in, the leaders went to the stage to greet Modi. Later, President Murmu hosted a banquet for them at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. As she hosted them, Murmu said the invitation to the leaders from the South Asia and the Indian Ocean region was a sign of Indias Neighbourhood First policy and commitment to these regions, as per a statement from the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Droupadi Murmu hosted a banquet at Rashtrapati Bhavan in honour of the leaders of neighbouring countries attending the swearing-in-ceremony of the Prime Minister of India. The leaders who attended the banquet include President Ranil Wickremesinghe of Sri Lanka; pic.twitter.com/vo9jP8SdWp President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) June 9, 2024 Welcoming the leaders, the President thanked them for accepting the invitation for the swearing-in-ceremony of the new Government, and for joining us in this celebration of democracy. She noted that their presence on this occasion is yet another testament to the centrality of Indias Neighborhood First policy, and our SAGAR Vision for the Indian Ocean region. As stakeholders in each others progress and well-being, we count on our closest friends and neighbours to work with us to foster peace and prosperity in our region and beyond, read the statement. In a statement, IndiGo confirmed that the pilot of the Indore-Mumbai flight complied with the ATCs instructions read more Air India also reported that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff by the ATC In a shocking incident at the Mumbai airport on Saturday, hundreds of passengers experienced a very close call when an IndiGo plane landed on the same runway as an Air India jet taking off. The Directorate of Civil Aviation has derostered an Air Traffic Control official and initiated an investigation. Both aircraft may be seen using the same runway in a video that has gone viral on social media. The IndiGo aircraft is spotted landing shortly after the Air India aircraft takes off. The Air India plane took off for Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala as the IndiGo plane was traveling from Indore to Mumbai. Advertisement In a statement, IndiGo confirmed that the pilot of the Indore-Mumbai flight complied with the ATCs instructions. On Jun 8, 2024 IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. The Pilot in Command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure, the statement said. Air India also reported that the aircraft was cleared for takeoff by the ATC. AI657 from Mumbai to Trivandrum was on take-off roll on June 8. The Air India aircraft was cleared by Air Traffic Control to enter the runway and subsequently cleared for take-off. The Air India aircraft continued with the take-off movement in accordance with laid down procedures. An investigation has been initiated by the authorities to find out more on the clearance given to the airlines, the airline said in a statement. Several dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony, including Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay read more Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony, Sunday evening, representing the party as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, as confirmed by the Congress in a statement. This move comes after meeting with various leaders from the INDIA bloc took place yesterday. However, Trinamool Congress, a partner in the INDIA Bloc, will not be present at the ceremony. Several dignitaries are expected to attend the ceremony, including Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Advertisement Earlier, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) urged Rahul Gandhi to accept the position of Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Although Gandhi deferred his decision on assuming this role, Sonia Gandhi was reaffirmed as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. According to Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi is the best person to lead this campaign inside the Parliamentthe entire CWC feels that for a strong and vigilant Opposition, those committed to protecting the Constitution should be led by Rahul Gandhi. He further stated that Rahul Gandhi respects the sentiments of the CWC members and will make a decision soon. Following a comprehensive three-hour discussion on the partys electoral performance and future strategies, the CWC outlined a plan of action. It proposed the formation of dedicated committees to assess the partys performance across all states, including those under its governance. The swearing-in ceremony, where PM Modi will begin his third consecutive term, is set to occur on Sunday. He will lead a coalition government after securing a majority in two consecutive tenures independently. The third government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi has got five ministers from Gujarat read more Prime Minister Narendra Modi inducted four cabinet berths and one minister of state from Gujarat in his new government on Sunday. Gujarat 1. Amit Shah Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Born on October 22, 1964, Amit Shah was the 31st Home Minister of India since 2019 and the first Minister of Cooperation since 2021. In 2024, Shah won the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from Gujarats Gandhinagar seat with a margin of over 7.4 lakh votes against opponent Congress candidate Sonal Patel. Advertisement He was the President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from 2014 to 2020 and has been the chairman of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) since 2014. Shah was elected to the Lok Sabha, the lower house of Parliament, from Gandhinagar in the 2019 general elections. Prior to that, he served as a Rajya Sabha member from Gujarat from 2017 to 2019. A key strategist for the BJP and a close ally of Narendra Modi, Shah was also a member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly, representing Naranpura from 2012 to 2017 and Sarkhej from 1997 to 2012. In Modis ministry, he held various portfolios from 2002 to 2012, including Minister of State for Home, Law and Justice, Prison, Border Security, Civil Defence, Excise, Home Guards, Transport, Prohibition, Gram Rakshak Dal, Police Housing, Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Shah was in charge of Uttar Pradesh, Indias most significant state politically. The BJP-led NDA secured 73 out of 80 seats, boosting Shahs profile, leading to his appointment as the BJPs national president in July 2014. In the initial years, he has played a pivotal role in election campaigns across various states, securing victories in Maharashtra, Haryana, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, and Assam. However, the BJP faced setbacks in Delhi and Bihar in 2015. In 2017, Shah was credited with BJPs victories in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Gujarat, and Manipur, although the alliance with Akali Dal lost in Punjab. In 2018, the BJP lost power in Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Under Shahs leadership the following year, the BJP won 303 seats in the 2019 general elections, securing a majority. Advertisement 2. S Jaishankar Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, born on January 9, 1955, is a former Indian diplomat and politician served as the Minister of External Affairs for the Government of India since 30 May, 2019. Affiliated with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he has been a Member of Parliament in the Rajya Sabha from 5 July, 2019. Jaishankars distinguished career includes a tenure as foreign secretary from January 2015 to January 2018, making him the second diplomat ever to hold the position of External Affairs Minister after Natwar Singh. Jaishankar entered the Indian Foreign Service (IFS) in 1977. Over a career that spanned 38 years, he held numerous significant positions both in India and internationally. His roles included serving as High Commissioner to Singapore (20072009) and Ambassador to the Czech Republic (20012004), China (20092013), and the United States (20142015). He was instrumental in the negotiations leading to the Indo-US civilian nuclear agreement. Advertisement After retiring from the IFS, Jaishankar took on the role of President of Global Corporate Affairs at Tata Sons. His contributions to public service were recognised in 2019 when he was awarded the Padma Shri, Indias fourth-highest civilian award. Subsequently, he was appointed as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modis second term, officially taking office as the Minister of External Affairs on 31 May, 2019. Notably, Jaishankar is the first former foreign secretary to serve as the head of the Ministry of External Affairs. 3. Mansukh Mandaviya Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Mansukh Laxmanbhai Mandaviya, born on June 1, 1972, held the dual portfolios of Minister of Health and Family Welfare and the Minister of Chemicals and Fertilizers of India. Additionally, he represents Gujarat in the Rajya Sabha. Advertisement Hailing from the quaint village of Hanol in the Palitana Taluka of Bhavnagar district, Gujarat, Mandaviya grew up in a middle-class farming family as the youngest of four brothers. His early education began at the Government Primary School in Hanol, followed by his secondary education at Songadh Gurukul. Mandaviya pursued further studies in the field of veterinary science, obtaining a certificate in Veterinary Live Stock Inspector after his Higher Secondary Certificate. He continued his academic journey at Songadh Gurukul and Gujarat Agriculture University, where he also earned a Masters degree in Political Science from Bhavnagar University. In 2021, he advanced his academic credentials by earning a Ph.D. in Political Science from the Gujarat Institute of Development Research. Advertisement 4. CR Patil Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Chandrakant Raghunath Patil, commonly known as C. R. Patil, is a three-time Member of Parliament representing Navsari in Gujarat. This year Patil won from the Navsari constituency with a margin of 7,73,551 votes. He secured a total of 10,31,065 votes. He has been the President of the BJP Gujarat State unit since 2020 making him the first non-Gujarati to hold this prestigious position. Born on March 16, 1955, in Pimpry Akaraut village in Jalgaon district, Maharashtra, Patil completed his technical training at ITI in Surat following his schooling. Patils career in law enforcement began in 1975 when he joined the Gujarat Police as a constable, serving for 14 years. His political journey started with the BJP in 1989, and in 1991, he began his tenure at the Gujarati daily Navgujarat Times before fully immersing himself in politics. Patil is proficient in Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, and English. Patils electoral records are notable, with his 2014 victory marked by the third-highest margin in Lok Sabha history at 558,116 votes, and his 2019 win with a staggering margin of 689,668 votes, the second-largest in electoral history. His political acumen led the BJP to a historic seventh consecutive victory in Gujarat in 2022, securing 156 out of 182 seats, the highest ever for any party in the states history. This feat, however, was short of his bold promise to resign if the BJP won fewer than 182 seats. In 2013, Patil made history as the first Indian MP to achieve ISO 9001:2015 certification for quality management in the monitoring and administration of government services for his constituency, inspired by the Gujarat Chief Ministers Office, which received the certification in 2009. 5. Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya is a BJP Member of Parliament representing the Bhavnagar Lok Sabha constituency. She won the 2024 general elections by defeating Umeshbhai Makwana of the Aam Aadmi Party with a margin of 455,289 votes. Karnataka could get five ministerial positions with the shining minister being Nirmala Sitharaman. Karnataka 1. Nirmala Sitharaman Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Born on 18 August, 1959, Nirmala Sitharaman, held the dual portfolio of Minister of Finance and Minister of Corporate Affairs in the last Indian government. She is a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party and represents Karnataka in the Rajya Sabha, having served previously as a member of the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh from 2014 to 2016. Advertisement Sitharaman made history as the 28th Defence Minister of India from 2017 to 2019, becoming the second woman to hold the position. She is also the second female Finance Minister of India, following Indira Gandhi, and the first woman to serve as a full-time finance minister. Her political career in the Modi administration began as a junior minister, where she held multiple roles from 2014 to 2017. Initially, she served as the Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs and later took on the role of Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Commerce and Industry until her elevation to senior cabinet positions. 2. HD Kumaraswamy Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Haradanahalli Devegowda Kumaraswamy, born on 16 December, 1959, served twice as the Chief Minister of Karnataka, first from 2006 to 2007 and again from 2018 to 2019. Kumaraswamy also held the position of Leader of the Opposition in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly between 2013 and 2014. Currently, he is the president of the Karnataka State Janata Dal (Secular). Kumaraswamy is a Member of Parliament from Mandya and represents Channapatna in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, having been elected in 2018. His political career also includes serving as the representative of Ramanagara from 2004 to 2009 and again from 2013 to 2018. He is the son of HD Deve Gowda, the former prime minister of India and former chief minister of Karnataka. Advertisement 3. Prahlad Joshi Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Born on 27 November, 1962, Pralhad Venkatesh Joshi held the position of Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines from 2019 to 2024. He has been a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha since 2004, representing the Dharwad constituency. Joshi also served as the state president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka from 2014 to 2016 and was a member of the panel of chairpersons of the Lok Sabha from 2014 to 2018. Joshi retained the Dharwad Lok Sabha seat which he has been holding since 2004. He got 7,16,231 votes, winning by a margin of 97,324 votes over Vinod Asooti of Congress who secured 6,18,907 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections. Advertisement Joshi first gained prominence with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) during the movement to hoist the tricolour flag at Idagah Maidan in Hubli, Karnataka, between 1992 and 1994. The Supreme Court recently upheld the Karnataka High Courts decision, reinstating the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporations ownership of the maidan. He was elected to the Lok Sabha in the general elections of 2004, 2009, 2014 and 2019. On 30 May, 2019, Joshi was sworn in as a cabinet minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modis second-term government. 4. Shobha Karandlaje Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Born on 23 October, 1966, Shobha Karandlaje served as the Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare as well as the Minister of State for Food Processing Industries in the last Ccentral government. Karandlaje holds the position of vice president of the Bharatiya Janata Party in Karnataka. Advertisement In this edition of the Lok Sabha election, Karandlaje contested the election against Professor MV Rajeev Gowda of the Congress and won by a margin of 2,59,476 votes. With a background in state politics, she has previously held the role of a cabinet minister in the Karnataka government and is known to be a close ally of former Karnataka chief minister BS Yeddyurappa. 5. V Somanna Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Born on July 20, 1951, Veeranna Somanna served as the Minister of Housing and Infrastructure Development in Karnataka from August 4, 2021 to May 13, 2023. Prior to this role, Somanna represented the Govindraj Nagara constituency in the Karnataka Legislative Assembly from May 2018 to May 2023. Advertisement BJPs Somanna won the Tumkuru Lok Sabha constituency with a handsome margin of 1.75 lakh votes against Congress candidate Muddahanume Gowda. Somannas political career also includes his re-election to the Karnataka Legislative Council on June 10, 2016, securing 31 votes from BJP MLAs. Looking ahead, he has been announced as the BJP candidate for the Tumkur constituency in the upcoming 2024 General Elections. In his personal life, Veeranna Somanna is married to Shailaja and is a proud parent to three children. Maharashtra got five ministerial positions in the latest Council of Ministers in the Central government. Maharashtra 1. Piyush Goyal Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Born on June 13, 1964, Piyush Vedprakash Goyal held several key cabinet positions in the Government of India. He served as the Minister of Textiles, Minister of Commerce and Industry and Minister of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution. Elevated to the Cabinet Minister role on 3 September, 2017, Goyal is also a Member of Parliament for the Rajya Sabha, representing Maharashtra, and serves as the Leader of the House in the Rajya Sabha. Advertisement In the 2024 General Elections, Goyal emerged victorious as the BJP candidate for the Mumbai North constituency. Previously, he was the National Treasurer of the Bharatiya Janata Party and chaired the BJPs Information Communication Campaign Committee, managing the partys publicity, advertising, and social media strategy for the 2014 Indian General Elections. Goyal also held additional charge as Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs in 2018 and 2019. Before that, he served as the Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Power, Coal, New & Renewable Energy (20142017), and Mines (201617). 2. Nitin Gadkari Rank: Cabinet Portfolio: Born on May 27, 1957, Nitin Jairam Gadkari served as the Minister for Road Transport & Highways in the Government of India. He holds the distinction of being the longest-serving Minister for Road Transport & Highways with his tenure extending over nine years. Gadkari previously led the Bharatiya Janata Party as its president from 2009 to 2013. Gadkari was able to achieve a hat-trick this year as he cliched the Nagpur seat for the third time since 2014. Gadkari is renowned for his transformative work as the Public Works Department Minister of Maharashtra, where he spearheaded the construction of numerous roads, highways, and flyovers across the state. He represents the Nagpur constituency in the Lok Sabha and is a qualified lawyer. Throughout his career, he held various ministerial roles, including in Water Resources and River Development, Shipping, Rural Development, and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME). Widely dubbed the Expressway Man of India by the media, Gadkari is credited with initiating the Mumbai-Pune Expressway and has significantly advanced the development of expressways and road infrastructure in India. Advertisement 3. Pratap Rao Jadhav Rank: Minister of State (Independent Charge) Portfolio: Born on November 25, 1960, Prataprao Ganpatrao Jadhav represented the Buldhana Lok Sabha constituency in Maharashtra. Affiliated with Eknath Shindes Shiv Sena faction, Jadhav secured his seat in the 15th Lok Sabha by defeating Dr Rajendra Shingne of the Nationalist Congress Party. This year, he won the Lok Sabha election from the Buldhana constituency by securing a total of 3,49,867 votes. Before his tenure as an MP, Jadhav held various positions, ranging from Sarpanch to Member of the Legislative Assembly. He also served as a state minister in the Sena-BJP coalition government. Additionally, Jadhav is the chairman of Sharngdhar Sugar Mills. Having been elected as an MP three times from the Buldhana constituency, he continues to be a significant figure in Maharashtra politics. Advertisement 4. Raksha Khadse Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Raksha Nikhil Khadse represents the Raver Lok Sabha constituency in the lower house of the Indian Parliament. She won the seat for the third time in the latest edition of Lok Sabha elecion. Born in Khetia, Madhya Pradesh, Raksha is the daughter-in-law of Eknath Khadse, a senior leader of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in Maharashtra. She was married to Nikhil Khadse, Eknath Khadses son, until his untimely death. Raksha Khadses political journey began at the grassroots level when she was elected as the Sarpanch of Kothadi village. She later served on the Jalgaon Zila Parishad. In the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, Raksha made a significant impact by defeating Manish Jain of the NCP with a margin of 318,608 votes, securing 605,452 votes against Jains 287,384. At the age of 26, she, along with Heena Gavit, became one of the youngest members of the 16th Lok Sabha. Advertisement Raksha was re-elected in 2019 for a second term as the MP for Raver. 5. Ram Das Athawale Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Born on December 25, 1959, Ramdas Bandu Athawale leads the Republican Party of India (A), a faction that traces its heritage to BR Ambedkars Scheduled Castes Federation, established in 1999. Since 2016, Athawale has served as the Minister of State in the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, representing Maharashtra in the Rajya Sabha, Indias upper house of Parliament, since 2014. Athawales political career includes serving as a Member of Parliament in the Lok Sabha for the Pandharpur constituency from 1999 to 2009 and representing the Mumbai North Central constituency from 1998 to 1999. Additionally, he was a Cabinet Minister in the Maharashtra government from 1990 to 1995 and a member of the Maharashtra Legislative Council from 1990 to 1996. Advertisement 6. Murlidhar Kisan Mohol Rank: Minister of State Portfolio: Murlidhar Kisan Mohol has been elected as the Member of Parliament for the Pune Lok Sabha constituency in 2024. He previously served as the mayor of Pune, taking office in November 2019, succeeding Mukta Tilak. In the 2017 elections, Mohol was a corporator from the 12C ward of the Pune Municipal Corporation, representing the BJP. Fifteen Union ministers lost the recent national election. Most lost their berths in Modi 3.0, which, however, still features those who lost the Lok Sabha polls. read more Two prominent names in NDA 3.0 come from the states where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win a single seat Tamil Nadu and Punjab While several senior ministers such as Smriti Irani and RK Singh from the previous government were not considered for Modi 3.0 after they failed to secure their berths in the Lok Sabha, the third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi still has those who lost the parliamentary polls recently. Two prominent names come from the states where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win a single seat Tamil Nadu and Punjab. Advertisement L Murugan Despite an anti-climactic end of the Lok Sabha campaign in Tamil Nadu for the BJP, the state has got representation in the Union cabinet as the NDA ministers were sworn-in on Sunday in New Delhi. L Murugan, the former Tamil Nadu BJP president, was sworn in as a Union minister. Earlier in the day, current Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai, who was speculated to get a berth in the Modi 3.0 cabinet, said that despite the party failing to win any seat from the 39 in the state, it would get represented in the central government ministry. Murugan, 47, lost the Nilgiri constituency, reserved for Scheduled Castes, to the DMKs A Raja, the former Union minister, in the recent Lok Sabha polls. However, Murugan, a Rajya Sabha member since 2021, retained his seat in the Union Council of Ministers, which he had joined three years ago during a cabinet reshuffle. In the previous government, Murugan was the Union minister of state for information & broadcasting and fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying, months after he was elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha. He has been rewarded for his contribution to mobilising the BJP cadres in Tamil Nadu in the run up to the 2021 state polls through campaigns such as Vetri Vel Yatra to consolidate Hindu votes. In the subsequent election, the BJP entered the Tamil Nadu Assembly after 20 years, winning four of the 20 seats it had contested in the state in alliance with the AIADMK. Murugan himself, however, had lost the Assembly polls as well. Advertisement Ravneet Singh Bittu Ravneet Bittu, 48, entered politics after his meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in 2007, when the latter told him that he must not let the sacrifice of Bittus grandfather Beant Singh, the former Punjab chief minister, who was assassinated by pro-Khalistani terrorists in 1995. Bittu was back then running a cement production unit in Punjab. Bittu won three Lok Sabha elections for the Congress in 2009 (from Anantpur Sahib), 2014 and 2019 (from Ludhiana on both occasions). Ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, Bittu joined the BJP. He said he didnt want to remain in the Opposition camp as he wanted to contribute to the development of Punjab. Advertisement The BJP couldnt win a single seat from Punjabs 13 Lok Sabha constituencies. The BJP has preferred Bittu over big guns like Preneet Kaur, the former Patiala MP and the wife of former Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh, Hans Raj Hans and Taranjit Singh Sandhu the former diplomat. The party is aware that the number of ministers from the BJP is likely to be fewer compared to previous cabinet formations in 2019 and 2022. Additionally, the BJP will need to allocate more cabinet positions to its NDA allies, particularly from states where they have performed well electorally read more Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is contemplating appointing some of its senior Members of Parliament (MPs) as chairpersons of parliamentary committees if they cannot be accommodated in the new cabinet, according to sources in the party who spoke with ET. After falling short of a majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, BJP now faces the necessity of sharing cabinet positions with its allies in the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). The Parliament comprises 24 standing committees, with 16 falling under the purview of the Lok Sabha and eight under the Rajya Sabha. Advertisement On Friday, the BJPs state in-charge reportedly instructed state party units to compile a list of senior leaders who could potentially serve as chairpersons of parliamentary committees. Each state is required to submit two to three names for consideration, from which the party will make selections once the parliamentary session commences. The party is aware that the number of ministers from the BJP is likely to be fewer compared to previous cabinet formations in 2019 and 2022. Additionally, the BJP will need to allocate more cabinet positions to its NDA allies, particularly from states where they have performed well electorally. In states like Bihar and Maharashtra, the performance of allies was comparable to that of the BJP. In Maharashtra, the BJP is negotiating two ministerial slots for allies Shiv Sena and NCPs Ajit Pawar faction, while a decision is pending regarding RPI leader Ramdas Athawales ministerial tenure. In Bihar, the BJP is expected to settle for two ministerial positions and share five cabinet slots with allies JDU, LJP, and HAM. Sources revealed that while proposing appointments for parliamentary committee chairmanship, priority will be given to states where the BJP plans to reduce its ministerial representation. Sources further indicated that similar arrangements could be made among the NDA allies, with some of their MPs being considered for chairing parliamentary committees. State leaders have been instructed to submit their lists by the early part of next week. From the Covid-19 pandemic to the Sri Lankan economic crisis, nowhere else has India demonstrated the spirit of adage better than in its immediate vicinity read more After his famous maiden inauguration as Indias Prime Minister in 2014, incumbent Narendra Modi has begun inviting Heads of State and Government from the immediate neighbourhood for his swearing-in for the third time in a row, thus signalling a re-energised focus on his fading call for Neighbourhood First a decade ago. In fact, news reports on the invitation for neighbourhood leaders coincided with the ruling BJP-NDA naming Modi as the Head of Government for a historic third consecutive term, equaling the feat of the nations first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, decades ago. Advertisement The formal meeting of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) electing him as their parliamentary party leader, the presidential invitation for him to form a government were all to follow, indicating how Team Modi had worked backwards to ensure that the invited guests had time to re-arrange their schedule to be able to honour the Indian invitation. There is a difference, however. There is no news, at least as yet, that New Delhi intends to invite Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for the Modi 3.0 inaugural. The highlight of the Modi 1.0 inauguration was the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. This time around, his PML (N) is back in power, and PM Shehbaz is his brother. Through the past years of Pakistans economic meltdown, ordinary Pakistanis, their media columnists, and even politicians have been commenting positively on Indias economic progress since Partition and Independence, especially since the advent of the reform era in the early nineties, with pointed reference to the growth under the Modi decade. Nawaz Sharif, too, added his bit. The question is whether Modi 3.0 will herald a final negotiated settlement to the India-Pakistan imbroglio that is as old as Partition and Independence. The answer cannot be as simplistic as the question. But, yes, both nuclear powers moving in that direction without any torpedoing intervention by Pakistans military command, starting with the ISI, will be an epoch-making moment for both nations and their respective leaders. The region needs respite from the piling-up of arms, which is now possible for Pakistan, but New Delhi has no respite as long as China continues with its encirclement of India, if not brutally bludgeoning Indian soldiers, as happened at Galwan in 2020. Advertisement Cynosure of all eyes The Indian media and people have a special interest in following a prime ministerial visit from Pakistan. In its possible absence this time, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu may be the foreign dignitary to be the cynosure of all eyes in New Delhi. It is Muizzus maiden visit to India after assuming the presidency in November last year. Earlier, in his official capacity as Works Minister, he had accompanied President Mohamed Waheed Hassan Manik to Delhi at the height of the GMR controversy in 2012. This is Muizzus first visit to India. The Indian media has not stopped pointing out how his predecessors, including his estranged ideological mentor and jailed former President Abdulla Yameen, had made New Delhi their maiden overseas presidential destination, whereas Muizzu chose distant Turkey first and later China for a state visit, respectively, in December and January. That India was waiting for a suitable moment for a productive presidential visit after bilateral consultations with the new government on matters of mutual interest, including economic cooperation, has not appealed to them as reason enough for an otherwise predictable delay in Muizzus Delhi visit. Advertisement Yet, there is no denying the continued discomfort bordering on doubts and suspicions in India, as the Muizzu government is seemingly eager to take forward defence cooperation agreements with China, independent of whatever their form and content. In geo-strategic terms, even an overseas training programme, like military exercises, has multiple purposes and interpretations. In effect, the Muizzu government is keen to proceed with pending and possibly new economic programmes and developmental projects involving India, starting with debt-restructuring, the process of which New Delhi set in motion soon after the recent visit of Maldivian Foreign Minister Moosa Zameer. Yet, the future course of India-Maldives relations could be set in motion at the bilateral talks that may follow the swearing-in ceremony. Unlike when President Yameen participated in Modis maiden swearing-in ceremony as prime minister, Muizzu is visiting at a time when Modi 3.0 can involve itself in substantive talks with this visitor as also others. The joint statement, if any, at the conclusion of the prime ministers meetings with each of these neighbourhood leaders can provide some insights into the shape of things to come, both in bilateral and regional terms. Advertisement New vigour Indias foreign policy under Modi 1.0 and 2.0 was muscular and sensitive at the same time, driven by what Americans for long have been describing as supreme self-interest. Overall, these two terms were both arrival statements, good and proper, just as Nehrus foreign policy and visits were at the turn of Independence and Indira Gandhis during and after the Bangladesh War, which combined geo-political tactics with military strategy. Likewise, Pokhran I & II, under Indira Gandhi and Vajpayee, carried a message of their own: not to leave out Indias forays into space from then on. Where India needed to respond in words, New Delhi under Modi, with External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar in tow under Modi 2.0, did not hold back. Where it had to hold out, it did so with grace and poise. Thus, when it came to putting Indian interests ahead, India did not flinch from procuring Russian oil since the commencement of the Ukraine War (2022), defying the US-led Western sanctions. Advertisement EAM Jaishankar had no hesitation in telling Western Europe on a public platform that they could not continue to consider that only their problem was the worlds problem and not vice versa, as used to be the case in their era of colonialism. Thus, on issues of human rights, New Delhi did not hesitate to tick off the American ally and one-time Canadian friend, alike, though the specifics differed drastically. That has not stopped India from doing business with the US on other fronts, and so too with other western nations. This owes as much to Indias inherent strengths as a large market and manufacturing facility at the same time as to PM Modis enunciation of Indias overall philosophical approach to foreign policy, by citing the ancient one-liner, Vasudeva Kudumbakam in Sanskrit and Yadhum Oore, Yavarum Kelir in Tamil. Both imply the same: The world is one big family. Nowhere else did India demonstrate the spirit of this adage better than in the immediate neighbourhood. During the unprecedented global lockdown during Covid-19 pandemic, India rushed to provide food, medicines, and testing kits to all willing neighbours (offering them even to Pakistan), apart from financial assistance. Post-Covid, when Sri Lanka slipped into an equally unprecedented economic crisis, New Delhi was ready with food, fuel, and financial assistance of every kind. It has since stood by the pre-crisis commitments on bilateral economic cooperation, which involves massive, risk-bearing investments by the Indian public and private sectors to ensure energy security and tourism revenues in the medium and long term. Indias developmental commitments to and cooperation with other neighbourhood nations, comprising Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, are no different. Modi 3.0 may set a new phase and pace in the matter, injecting new vigour into bilateral and multilateral processes. With a fuller understanding between nations and on issues, and with inputs of every kind that India alone is capable of providing owing to its size and taken forward in the right spirit, the South Asian region could evolve into a common market where commonality among the peoples and systems, starting with the shared experience of democracy, can work wonders for individual nations and their individual citizens. Modi 3.0 can only take the initiative in the matter; it is for the rest of them all to cooperate and collaborate through a frank and full exchange of views, which, however, seems to be lacking. The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst & Political Commentator. Email: sathiyam54@nsathiyamoorthy.com. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. The current wave of criticism from the Western media highlights a significant bias, reflecting their tendency to focus on narratives that undermine PM Modis achievements while ignoring the broader democratic endorsement he received read more The Western media fail to appreciate the nuances of Indian politics and the substantial voter base that continues to support Modis vision for India. Image: PTI The world seems to have four directions: north, south, east, and the one mortifying India. Modi continues to be the prime minister of India as the nation pronounces its democratic word. Whether the world likes it or not, that is how the cookie crumbles. With this remarkable third win in a row, the Western media resorted to doing what it does bestcriticising the Indian narrative. Being the largest democratic practice in history, the Indian general elections turned global eyes towards India. The Lok Sabha elections 2024 results got front-page coverage from major international publicationsonly that they were hysterically skewed. Advertisement In the aftermath of Narendra Modis victory in the Indian general elections, Western media outlets displayed a notable bias in their coverage. This bias manifested in various forms, from the selective emphasis on certain aspects of Modis politics to a broader narrative that often overlooks the complexities of Indian democracy and the socio-political context in which Modis popularity is entrenched. Needing Help to Stay in Power, Modi Loses His Aura of Invincibility , Narendra Modi Fell to Earth After Making It All About Himself , Indias Modi, Humbled by Voters, Faces Potent Economic Struggles not one New York Times headline could simply acknowledge that Modi has won the elections without a complimentary revilement. His carefully cultivated brand has now peaked, and that he can no longer outrun the anti-incumbency sentiment that eventually catches up with almost any politician, are the remarks that The New York Times had to offer as Modi won. The front page statement in the print edition of the NYT called it a sobering result for a prime minister on the cusp of a third term. The Washington Post sees the general election results as an unexpected repudiation of Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership, further calling it a stunning setback. To call a clear mandate a stunning setback simply because the opposition coalition didnt collapse is a profoundly flawed logic. Further, it calls the election episode as the one piercing the aura of invincibility around the most dominant Indian politician in decades. The Post went to the extent of remarking, For the first time in years, Modi seemed vulnerable. Advertisement Deutsche Welle s headline was no different. It quoted a political scientist calling the elections as a personal setback for Modi. Instead of calling it a triumph, The Telegraph termed Modi as suffering from a surprise loss of majority in India election. Furthermore, the article underscored public discontent by quoting an analyst who sees the results as a sign of fatigue with the Hindu nationalist, communal rhetoric and is also a verdict on the economy. The British publication The Guardians report stated that results did not have the flavour of victory for the strongman prime minister. In addition, The Guardian quickly acknowledged that the exit poll predictions did not materialise well, heralding the opposition, saying , The INDIA coalition proved more resilient and successful than many analysts had expected, despite grappling with state agencies freezing party funds and jailing opposition leaders in the buildup to the polls. Advertisement Likewise, the Financial Times said that the voters delivered a shock to Modi. Quoting an analyst, it said, The result was a blow to a forceful leader who had dominated the political scene. Further, in another quote, FT mentioned that a certain distaste for his (Modis) hubris seems to have set in. The Economists report titled A shock election result in India humbles Narendra Modi was also critical of Modis win, stating, The idea of Mr Modi ruling for another ten years is now far less likely given his personal brand has dimmed. These narratives did not sprout of the sky post results but were woven well before. Bloomberg , in its special report, argued why the southern part of India is rejecting Modi, saying, The more progressive and successful part of the country is drifting away from the poverty-ridden north and its majoritarian leader. France24 did a report emphasising the trust deficit in Indias electronic voting system. Advertisement This wave of criticism from the Western media highlights a significant bias, reflecting their tendency to focus on narratives that undermine Modis achievements while ignoring the broader democratic endorsement he received. Such a perspective fails to appreciate the nuances of Indian politics and the substantial voter base that continues to support Modis vision for India. Influential international media so brazenly undermining a democratic exercise by one of the worlds most significant countries surfaces its highly problematic lens on India. Giving credit where it is due, Modis victory did not turn out as glorious as predicted or claimed. But that does not justify making it the major stakeholder of every story the West writes on the Indian election results. The quintessential Western journalism needs to rebrand its stories better because Indian citizens no longer succumb to buying abhorrence. Advertisement The author is an independent writer based in India. His works have appeared in Al Jazeera, Vogue India, The Hindu, Hindustan Times, and elsewhere.The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Number-wise, the BJP-led NDA 'pre-poll' alliance, which has already submitted letters of support for Modi to lead for the next five years, appears secure. Image: AP The 2024 election results have delivered a little bit of something for everyone. Analysts, especially, are enjoying a field day with 20/20 hindsight throwing up all sorts of confirmation biases. A torrent of self-projection, pet peeves and wish-casting in the name of analysis is on display. We are being told that BJP has been punished for pushing Hindutva agenda, dehumanizing Muslims, not pushing Hindutva enough, failing to create jobs, income inequality, local dissent, misreading caste equations, arrogance, laziness, complacency, infighting, wrong candidate selection, sabotage and if the commentators are based abroad, then the results are apparently a chastisement, and a rebuke of Narendra Modi for aiding Indias democratic backsliding and also against his excessive cult of personality (Fareed Zakaria in Washington Post). Advertisement Which is amusing, when you consider that voters in Uttar Pradesh were apparently disapproving of Modis cult of personality, but voters next door in Madhya Pradesh, where BJP swept the field with 29 seats out of 29, had no such issues. In short, the results are open to interpretation, and we have been treated to some really colourful ones. One aspect of the results, however, is indisputable. No one is sure whether the Modi government would be able to successfully run a coalition government. This has become the debate of the day. Even those within the BJP ecosystem suffer from this scepticism. Take, for instance, thinker, commentator and former Rajya Sabha MP Swapan Dasgupta who has contested Assembly elections in West Bengal on a BJP ticket in 2021. Writing in Open magazine, Dasgupta observes, Most important, it is my feeling that Modi wont like a situation where he is constrained by coalition pressures. If such pressures are real and lead to the government losing its elbow room, the prime minister may like to engineer a situation where he can call a premature election on terms of his own choosing. If, however, being in a coalition isnt an impedimentas it wasnt for PV Narasimha Rao and Vajpayeeit is more than likely that Modi will settle for a full five-year term. Advertisement Or, take the comments from RSS ideologue Ram Madhav, who writes in Indian Express, The victory of the Narendra Modi-led NDA for the third time will be a parliamentary record. However, the situation calls for greater accommodation and responsible politics from both sides. Mahatma Gandhi is remembered for many things. But he was the first to introduce coalition politics in the pre-Independence era. His success lay in humility and civility, qualities that the Indian polity is in dire need of. Coalitions are great levellers. Hope we witness the restoration of those virtues in our polity in the coming years. Readers may be excused from interpreting this as a message from the RSS to the BJP. There are reports and indications that all is not well between the two, and the reflection of it is evident in the election results. Advertisement Be that as it may, there is open scepticism even within the BJP ranks that Modi, who has so far ran full-majority state and Central governments (three stints as Gujarat chief minister and two as the prime minister) might be unable to cope with the uncertainties, vagaries and constraints of a coalition government that remains subject to internal pulls and pressures and requires a degree of compromise that doesnt agree with Modis personality. It is believed that Modi is too much of his own man, too ideological and inflexible to cope with sustained bargaining from allies and is not a consensus-builder in the mould of Atal Bihari Vajpayee who managed a full term with far-weaker numbers. This is not just an analytical position. Advertisement The Opposition, too, evidently believes that they are in with a chance because the NDA government led by BJP, which is dependent on TDP and JDU to form a government, will collapse sooner rather than later. Following their post-poll meeting this week, Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said We will take appropriate steps at the appropriate time to realise the peoples desire not to be ruled by the BJP government. Translation: the Opposition lacks the numbers, and is therefore adopting a wait-and-watch approach to capitalize on what they believe would be inevitable turbulence within the ruling NDA coalition. This assumption, that Modi would be unable to run a coalition government, needs to be examined threadbare. It is my contention that despite not enjoying absolute majority, the Modi-led BJP government, in alliance with TDP and JDU is likely to not only complete its full term but will also be able to implement BJPs core agendas. Advertisement Certainty in politics is the trait of fools, but past records and available evidence point to the fact that fears over Modis inability to compromise and build consensus are overblown and inaccurate. In fact, Modis journey as a politician and his career from an RSS pracharak, BJP karyakarta to leadership roles as chief minister and prime minister is testament to his ability to strike agreements, build rapport and deliver on promises while working within the constraints of his respective positions. Even a prime minister who enjoys brute majority in the Lower House cannot always have his way. Modi has had to withdraw three farm laws in 2021 facing sustained farmer protests from just one corner of India Punjab and Haryana. BJP had 303 MPs. It may be argued that coalitions require a different form of give-and-take, and sometimes the situation descends into arm-twisting. Interestingly, if we apply the lessons learnt from the UPA 1 and 2 eras, when prime minister Manmohan Singh was held at ransom over the US-India civil nuclear deal by the Left Front, one must remember that Congress, with 145 seats, led the UPA-1 which had only 218 seats in a 544-seat Parliament, and was reliant on outside support from the Left Front (59), the Samajwadi Party (39) and the Bahujan Samaj Party (19) that had lent outside support. Quite evident that such a coalition is inherently unstable, weak and volatile. In contrast, the BJP alone has won 240 seats (needing just 32 for the magic number) in the 543-seat Parliament, and would be running a pre-poll NDA alliance whose main constituents, apart from the BJP, are TDP (16) and JDU (12). Worth noting that none of these allies can put the government in trouble is they walk out on their own. Modi 3.0 would be in danger only if TDP and JDU both decide to pull the rug. Number-wise, therefore, the BJP-led NDA pre-poll alliancethat has already submitted letters of support for Modi to lead for the next five yearsappear a lot more secure. But its not always about numbers. What about the equation between the leaders? The assumption of instability also rests on the fact that JDU leader Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of Bihar, is known for making about-turns. Its reasonable to expect him to ditch BJP again, if given the right incentives. Except politics is not so simple. On Saturday, JDU claimed that it had received and turned down the offer of prime ministers post for Kumar by the Opposition INDI Alliance. For all his reputation as paltu-ram, Kumar is at a stage in his political career when he would be thinking of leaving a legacy. His best chance of doing so is to be part of a stable coalition at the Centre that may enable him to wrest some economic advantages for Bihar, and cement his legacy as the states sushashan babu (able administrator) a moniker which needs another coat of varnish. N Chandrabau Naidu, who brings a technocratic attitude to administration, wants to develop Amaravati as the peoples capital and transform Visakhapatnam into Andhra Pradeshs financial capital. Reports indicate property prices have started shooting up in Amaravati in anticipation of investments in real estate. Naidu needs money, perhaps even a special package for the state, he also needs to fend off a tough opposition in YSR Congress Party. His best bet, therefore, would be in sticking to the NDA Alliance and remaining a part of the ruling coalition. Reports emerging on Saturday indicate Naidus TDP may get as many as four berths in the upcoming Union Cabinet. The point I am making is that the two most important non-BJP constituents of the NDA Alliance have their own reasons to stick together, and it lends stability to the government. Finally, it is also a baseless assumption that Modi cant remodel himself according to circumstances. It may be argued that it is among one the core competencies of Modi, who is a generational talent among politicians and towers over his peers. Instructive, that soon after the results, at the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, the PM-designate said : I assure the people of the country that the majority they gave us to run the government, it will be our effort that we will strive towards consensus and leave no stone unturned towards taking the country forward. The word consensus, used by Modi, is significant. It indicates a full awareness of the situation at hand and a mental preparation for the changed circumstances in the road ahead. Incidentally, former Prasar Bharati CEO and writer Shashi Shekhar Vempati, in a post on X (formerly Twitter) points out that Modi had written his first book in 1978 on his experiences during the Emergency. As a 25-26 year old young activist, Modis chronicling of events reveal his ability to form and work with coalitions and alliances, and how the socialists and cultural nationalists came together to push back against then prime minister Indira Gandhis attempts to undermine democracy in India. It would only be a reckless and ignorant punter who may bet against the prime minister successfully completing his third stint at the helm, albeit one that requires a bit more tactfulness, negotiation skills and conciliation. The author is Deputy Executive Editor, Firstpost. He tweets: @sreemoytalukdar. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. While the West is ready to supply more weapons and sanction aid, now voices across the globe are pointing out a grim reality: Ukraine is unlikely to be in a position to reclaim lost territory read more Russia has now started the early phases of its anticipated summer offensive with renewed attacks in the region of Kharkiv. Over the past few weeks, Russian troops have crossed the Ukrainian border, occupying a number of villages. Though Ukraine has spent several months fortifying Kharkiv, the Russians seem to have compounded their advantages over the Ukrainian Army, whom they now intend to degrade, though it seems unlikely that they will try and enter Kharkiv. Advertisement This summer, things are heating up, and expectedly, President Volodymyr Zelensky is looking towards the West for assistance and more so for permission to cross certain red linespermitting Ukraine to use Western arms against military sites in Russia that target Ukraine. But at the same time, while the West is ready to supply more weapons and sanction aid, there are now voices across the globe that are becoming increasingly audible, pointing out a grim reality: Ukraine is unlikely to be in a position to reclaim lost territory, and hence negotiation with Russia seems to be the only solution. Russian Pressure As per RUSI, the Russian forces attacking Ukraine have now increased to 510,000 troops. This means that Russia has established significant numerical superiority over the Ukrainian Armed Forces. However, the Russians have been conducting platoon and company attacks at a number of places rather than brigade or divisional operations at a few places, though they rarely decisively overmatch Ukrainian defenders at any one location. With a huge numerical superiority, they have now stretched the Ukrainian forces across the front line and are turning a limitation into an advantage. The front in Ukraine spans almost 1,200 km. Along Ukraines northern border, near Chernihiv, Russian troops continually probe Ukrainian positions. A large concentration of troops near Belgorod, meanwhile, is threatening to push towards Sumy or Kharkiv and has made its presence felt with fire assaults. The main focus of Russian efforts has been in Donbas, but in the south, Russian troops have also been involved in skirmishes along the Zaporizhzhia front and have even conducted amphibious raids across the Dnipro River. The breadth of their attacks has fixed Ukrainian troops on the line of contact and forced Ukraine to spread out its artillery, expending munitions to break up successive Russian attacks. Advertisement In fact, Ukraines defensive lines are thin to absent. At Vovchansk, less than 40 miles north-west of Kharkiv, the first line of fortifications and mines just didnt exist," as per Denys Yaroslavsky, a Ukrainian commander. Having stretched the Ukrainians, the contours of the Russian summer offensive are now easier to discern. Russian forces are likely to pursue an offensive in Ukraine with the aim of stretching the Ukrainian forces across a wide frontline and maintaining pressure to attempt to weaken the Ukrainian defensive line. The focus seems to be on the Chasiv Yar area, where the prospects for an operationally significant advance exist, and the west front of Avdiivka, where Russian forces have been able to achieve tactically significant gains in recent weeks. There will also be a push against Kharkiv, forcing Ukraine to commit troops to defend its second-largest city. Given the size of the Russian forces in the area, these will draw in critical reserves. Russia will also apply pressure on the other end of the line, threatening Zaporizhzhia. To blunt these attacks, Ukraine will require the commitment of reserves, which in turn will deplete its offensive capability. Advertisement Once Ukraine commits its reserves in these directions, the main effort will be the expansion of the Russian push in Donbas. This axis is already making slow but steady progress. The objective is clear: to cut Ukrainian supply lines connecting Kostiantynivka and Kramatorsk. The Russians hope that once Ukraine loses these roads that give the Ukrainians the advantage of interior lines of communication, they will be able to push north and south, dividing Ukrainian artillery on one axis or the other. Russias aim will be to keep up the pressure and advance, albeit slowly along the front. As per Oleksandr Lytvynenko, the Secretary of the Ukrainian National Security and Defence Council, The Russian strategy right now is quite understandable. Theyre trying to take as much territory as they can to annihilate our forces and find our weak points. Advertisement Precision Strikes Simultaneously, the persistence of Russias long-range strike campaign means that not only is the front being stretched laterally, but it is also being extended in its depth. Compounding the challenge for the Ukrainian military is the deterioration of its air defences. The depletion of Ukrainian tactical surface-to-air missile (SAM) systems has already allowed the Russian Aerospace Forces to deliver glide bombs against Ukrainian positions. Russia is using glide bombs, along with direct-attack munitions, in volume to overwhelm Ukrainian air defence. As the Russians push closer in against a diminished air threat, the accuracy and therefore the lethality of these strikes will increase. Able to strike behind Ukrainian lines, the Russians are using them to bomb and force evictions from Ukrainian towns. More than 200 of them were reportedly used in just a week to pound Ukraines northern town of Vovchansk during Russias current advance near Kharkiv. Advertisement The diminishing Ukrainian SAM coverage has had another consequence. Prior to the full-scale invasion, Russian forces had envisaged reconnaissance and strikes allowing their troops to accurately detect and destroy targets behind the front lines. This had earlier been curtailed by the Ukrainian air defences. Now, however, Ukraine is having to save its SAMs to deter Russian aircraft. The result is that Russian UAVs are now seen far and wide over the front lines and are routinely flying over both Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. As SAM coverage shrinks, the Ukrainian military faces a trade-off. It can continue to group air defences around critical national infrastructure, such as power stations, or it can move them forward to protect the front. The persistence of Russias long-range strike campaign means that not only is the front being stretched laterally, but it is also being extended in its depth. Ukraine Needs Allies The quicker that both SAMs and artillery ammunition reach Ukraine, the more difficult it will be for Russians to progress operations. At present, there is a direct correlation between the speed of supply from Ukraines international partners of artillery ammunition and air defence interceptors and the speed of deterioration at the front. If the Ukrainian front-line troops lack sufficient means to blunt Russian attacks, Russia will be able to force Ukraine to commit reserves and then exploit the axes where troops and equipment have been thinned out. In other words, so long as Ukraine lacks resources, Russia will begin to compound its advantages. If the West are able to quickly replenish Ukrainian munitions stockpiles, help establish a robust training pipeline, and provide the necessary war waging equipment, then Russias summer offensive can be slowed down and stopped. In the medium term, however, turning the present dynamic around is up to Ukraine and cannot be resolved by its allies. Unless the Ukrainian Armed Forces expand in size they will continue to be overstretched. They need to not only replenish losses in their existing units, but also raise enough units to manage their rotations giving rest to troops who have been continually involved in combat. This will allow them to recreate reserves. Mobilising personnel for these newly raised units and ensuring that they are adequately trained is the responsibility of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. It is therefore not surprising that a new mobilisation policy has recently been announced lowering the age for conscription from 27 to 25 years. There is, nonetheless, an area where the assistance from Ukraines supporters is critical. If Ukrainian forces lack enough key enabler, artillery, air defences, electronic warfare complexes, and engineering vehicles, then the units and formations that hold the limited assets available will be fixed on the front. They cannot be rotated. Ensuring, therefore, that the Ukrainian Armed Forces can equip and train units to fight as a Brigade means that additionally mobilised personnel can be put to best use. This is an area where commitment from Ukraines partners will be crucial. The Advisor to the Ukrainian Presidents Office Mykhaylo Podolyak has stated that US-provided military aid has started arriving on the frontline but that it will take weeks for the gradual increase in US-provided military aid to reach critical volumes. He said the Russian forces currently have the absolute advantage in shells and missiles and that Russian forces will continue to try to advance along the frontline presumably to take advantage of the time before US military assistance arrives in sufficient quantities at the front. Western Dilemma The question is whether Ukraine should be allowed to use its allies weapons to neutralise Russian military bases used to fire missiles into Ukraine. Frances President, Emmanuel Macron, while discussing this issue said; We should not allow them to touch other targets in Russia, and obviously civilian capacities. How can we explain to Ukraine that they need to protect their cities . . . but that they dont have the right to attack where the missiles are coming from? Its as if we were telling them were giving you arms but you cannot use them to defend yourself, President Macron said during a press conference in Meseberg, Germany. Chancellor, Olaf Scholz, appeared to back Ukraine on the matter as well saying he agreed with the French President as long as the Ukrainians respected the conditions of the weapons suppliers, however Germany has refused to supply Taurus cruise missiles which are capable of powerful strikes on Russian positions inside Ukraine and deep into Russia. NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, has also been quoted in the Economist stating that alliance members should let Ukraine strike deep into Russia with Western weapons. On 27 May the NATO Parliamentary Assembly adopted a declaration calling for NATO states to support Ukraines international right to defend itself by lifting some restrictions on Ukraines use of Western weapons to strike Russian territory. But the White House has ruled out such a possibility for US-supplied weapons. Theres no change to our policy at this point. We dont encourage or enable the use of US-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia, said John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson. At the same time President Vladimir Putin warned of serious consequences if Russia is struck with Western weapons. The Kremlin also touched upon persisting differences in the West as per a statement by their spokesperson Dmitry Peskov to the Russian daily Izvestia we see that there is no consensus on this issue. Conclusion The outlook in Ukraine is bleak. Ukraines capacity to defend itself depends largely upon decisions taken by its Western allies. The $61 billion package of military assistance approved by the US Congress last month after months of delays has yet to stabilize Ukraines battlefield vulnerability, though it is hoped that it will correct the disparities, will provide Ukrainians a psychological boost and will give them the confidence that they have not been abandoned by their most important ally. However, if Kyivs allies do not replenish Ukrainian munitions stockpiles, help to establish a robust training pipeline, and provide the requisite wherewithal in a faster time frame, then Russias summer offensive will be difficult to blunt. The question of engaging targets on Russian soil with Western supplied weapons is of course compounding the complexities of conflict. Hopes in the earlier years of fighting that Russia could be driven back have turned into a grim struggle to stop its forces advancing deeper into the country. Unfortunately, in the wars third year, no end is in sight as both Russia and Ukraine keep fighting with the same goals. The author is a retired Major General of the Indian Army. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views. Mahmood stated that the attacker was a student of a religious seminary in the same locality and the students teacher is known for being involved in a hate speech campaign against their community read more , debris remains from an Ahmadi mosque that was demolished by an angry mob on May, 24, 2018. Source; File Image / AP Two men who belonged to the Ahmadiyya community were shot dead by a 19-year-old religious student in Phalia tehsil of Mandi Bahauddin district, Pakistan. Community spokesperson Aamir Mahmood told Dawn, that the shooting incident took place on Saturday afternoon in the same locality. There was only a 20-minute difference between the two killings. Mahmood stated that the attacker was a student of a religious seminary in the same locality and the students teacher is known for being involved in a hate speech campaign against their community. Advertisement The two victims in the case were 64-year-old Ghulam Sarwar and 30-year-old Rahat Ahmad Bajwa, Dawn reported. Mehmood mentioned that when locals informed the police about the incidents the authorities chased the suspect and arrested him immediately. The culprit confesses his crimes Mandi Bahauddin District Police Officer (DPO) Ahmad Mohyyuddin told Dawn, that police recovered the pistol after the attacker was caught. The suspect Ali Raza confessed that he killed the two members of the minority community. The 19-year-old claimed that he had listened to different speeches against the minority community on social media platforms like YouTube and Facebook which influenced him to carry out the killings. The DPO informed that the teenager wanted to kill every Ahmadi. He also mentioned that a case was registered against the suspect under terrorism charges and maintained that the police are also looking into the involvement of other people in the case. However, it is important to note that this is not the first time, Ahmadis faced persecution at the hands of radical Muslims. Who are the Ahmadiyyas? The Ahmadiyyas believe that the Messiah Ghulam Ahmad lived after Islams prophet Muhammad and insist that they are part of Islam. The minority group was declared as non-Muslim in Pakistan in 1974 by former PM Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto. Since then, the group has been facing both legal and social discrimination in the Islamic country, and the attacks on their properties have increased manifold in the past decade. It is pertinent to note that the Islamization of Pakistan, which political analysts say started during former Prime Minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhuttos government in the 1970s, went on to culminate in the 1980s under the former military dictator General Zia ul-Haqs draconian regime. Advertisement It was during Haqs era that the Ahmadis were banned from calling themselves Muslims. They were also barred from opening mosques in the country and their existing places of worship were brutally shut down or desecrated by hard-line Islamists with the support of the state. According to Pakistans National Commission for Human Rights, more than 280 Ahmadis were killed in targeted violence from 1984 to September 2023. Another 415 faced assaults, 51 Ahmadia worship places were damaged, 39 were set on fire and 18 were forcibly occupied besides 46 others that were sealed by the authorities. The atrocities go beyond Pakistan Interestingly, Pakistan is not the only Muslim-majority country where Ahmadis face systematic persecution. In South Asia itself, Bangladeshi Ahmadis also face discrimination and a similar situation also exists in Indonesia. Advertisement Most of Indonesias over 200 million Muslims are Sunnis. There are an estimated 100,000 Shiites and 400,000 Ahmadis who were declared deviant by Indonesias top Islamic body in 2008. Ahmadi leaders in Indonesia have constantly complained that the members of the community have been intimidating and terrorised since 2005 and their prayers and activities have been banned in several areas across the country. Not only this, the Ahmadis can not even get help from courts in the country if they are discriminated against on religious grounds. With inputs from agencies. This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver, Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs said on X. The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, he said read more Khalistani supporters in Vancouver put up this poster outside Indian Consulate in a deliberate attempt to mock Indira Gandhi's assassination. Source: X Promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, a minister has said after posters depicting the assassination of Indias former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi were reportedly put up by Khalistan supporters in Vancouver. An Indian-origin Canadian lawmaker also expressed concern over the issue, saying by doing so, the Khalistan supporters are trying to instil fear of violence in Hindu Canadians. This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver, Dominic A LeBlanc, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs said on X. Advertisement The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada, he said. Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards in 1984. Meanwhile, Indo-Canadian lawmaker Chandra Arya, who represents the electoral district of Nepean in the House of Commons of Canada, said: Khalistan supporters in Vancouver with posters of Hindu Indian prime minister Indira Gandhis body with bullet holes with her bodyguards turned assassins holding their guns, are again attempting to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians. This is a continuation of threats with a similar float in Brampton a couple of years back and a few months back (Gurpatwant Singh) Pannun of Sikhs for Justice asking Hindus to go back to India, Arya, the lawmaker from Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus party said. Pannun is one of the main leaders of the Khalistan movement and the legal advisor and spokesperson for Sikhs for Justice (SFJ), which aims to promote the idea of a separate Sikh state. Arya called on law enforcement agencies in Canada to take immediate action. With picture of guns readily being used to convey the message may lead to something real if this is left to continue unchallenged. The prominence of a bindi on the forehead of Indira Gandhi is to make doubly sure the intended targets are Hindus in Canada, he said. India has been asserting for a long that its core issue with Canada remained that of the space given to separatists, terrorists and anti-India elements in that country. Vigneaults unannounced visits to India came weeks before Canada arrested three Indian nationals - Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22) and Karan Brar (22) - on charges of alleged involvement in Nijjars killing. Subsequently, a fourth Indian, Amandeep Singh, was arrested by the Canadian authorities read more Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) director David Vigneault waits to testify before the Senate National Security and Defence Committee in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, April 10, 2019. File Photo. REUTERS Canadas intelligence agency chief David Vigneault paid two quiet visits to India in February and March to apprise Indian officials of the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, people familiar with the matter said. Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), is learnt to have shared information that emerged during Ottawas investigation into the killing. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus allegations in September last year of the potential involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. Advertisement New Delhi rejected Trudeaus charges as absurd. Vigneaults unannounced visits to India came weeks before Canada arrested three Indian nationals - Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22) and Karan Brar (22) - on charges of alleged involvement in Nijjars killing. Subsequently, a fourth Indian, Amandeep Singh, was arrested by the Canadian authorities. Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in Surrey on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). A government of Canada official said: We can confirm that the Director of CSIS, David Vigneault, has travelled to India but we do not comment on the nature or substance of closed-door meetings. With that said, since Canada became aware of the credible allegations, we have consistently provided all the information we can to India on the Nijjar case, through multiple channels, he said. This has also been noted by Prime Minister Trudeau and Canadas minister for public safety on the public record, he added. The official said, Canadas priorities from the start have been to ensure truth and accountability. This is in both our countries interest. In this regard, Canada continues to underscore the importance of the ongoing, independent investigation led by the RCMP. There was no comment from the Indian side when asked about Vigneaults visits. Advertisement The people cited above said besides Vigneault, some other Canadian officials also visited India this year apparently to discuss various aspects of the case related to Nijjars murder. India has officially been maintaining that it has not received any specific information relating to the case from Canada. New Delhi has been maintaining that the main issue has been that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity. In the last few months, India has been expressing concerns over the security of its diplomats in Canada and calling on Ottawa to ensure that they can carry out their responsibilities without fear. Advertisement There have been instances of pro-Khalistani elements threatening to harm Indian diplomats. Days after Trudeaus allegations last year, India asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity. Canada subsequently withdrew 41 diplomats and their family members from India. MBABANE The Transport for London (TfL), a local government body, has threatened to take Eswatini and other countries to the International Court of Justice (ICJ). This is in relation to congestion charges the Eswatini High Commission has incurred from 2003 to December 31, 2023, amounting to E18.66 million, the equivalent of 776 530.00. In its definition of the congestion charge, the local government body said it is a fee for driving in central London at certain times of the day. Its aim is to reduce traffic congestion by making people think twice before using their cars. It is a E360.45 (15) daily charge for those who drive within a specified zone in central London. It applies from 7am until 6pm Monday to Friday, and between 12pm and 6pm on weekends and holidays. There is no charge between Christmas Day and the New Years Day holidays. Managed by TfL, the congestion charge covers approximately the area from Kings Cross in the north to Vauxhall in the south, and Paddington in the west to Whitechapel in the east. All roads around the perimetre of the zone are monitored by Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. Eswatinis cars were found to have travelled in central London quite often, thus attracting the charges. CNN reports that the US embassy in London was refusing to pay more than E447.5 million (US$18.6 million) in charges from unpaid congestion fees. The US embassy has declined to pay up and is claiming diplomatic immunity from the fines, according to CNN. If it is successful in its claims for diplomatic immunity, it means Eswatini can also enjoy the same privilege.The UK Foreign Office said diplomats are expected to pay the charge, adding that they believe there are no legal grounds for diplomatic exemptions. It is understood that those who fail to pay the charge in time face a fine of E2 162.70 (90), which rises to E4 325.40 (180) if not paid within 14 days. The charge was brought in by Mayor Ken Livingstone at the following charges: E120.15 (5) a day in February 2003; E192.24 (8) in July 2005, E240.30 (10) in January 2011, E276.34 (11.50) in June 2014, E360.45 (15) in June 2020. The zone was extended west in 2007 before Boris Johnson abolished this when he became mayor in 2011. In its congestion charging embassy outstanding debt (from 2003 to 31 December 2023), the TfL said the only avenue it could explore to get the money is to send the debtors, including the United States to the ICJ. TfL is a local government body responsible for most of the transport network in London, United Kingdom. It is the successor organisation of the London Passenger Transport Board, which was established in 1933, and several other bodies in the intervening years. The total debt incurred by all the countries is 145,411,143, the equivalent of E3 448 956525.39 (E3.44 billion). TfL published details of diplomatic missions and international organisations with outstanding fines.In a statement, the Transport for London said it considered that there were no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the congestion charges, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge. TfL stated that, under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, envoys have an obligation to respect the laws and regulations of the receiving State. It says the British Government, therefore, expects all diplomatic missions to respect UK laws and regulations, which include payment of the congestion charge. We and the UK Government are clear that the congestion charge is a charge for a service and not a tax. This means that diplomats are not exempt from paying it, reads the statement from the TfL. It is understood that the majority of embassies in London do pay the charge, but there remains a stubborn minority who refuse to do so, despite its representations through diplomatic channels. We will continue to pursue all unpaid congestion charge fees and related penalty charge notices and are pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice, the TfL stated in its report published on May 20, 2024. The USA diplomats in London owe nearly E360 450 000 (15 million) in congestion charge debt with Japan and India the next two worst offenders, transport bosses have revealed. Ministers revealed in Parliament last September that foreign diplomats in London owed nearly E3.6 billion (150 million) in congestion charge debt, but the full breakdown by country has now emerged. Junior foreign minister David Rutley said at the time: We consider that there are no legal grounds to exempt diplomatic missions and international organisations from the London congestion charge, which is comparable to a parking fee or toll charge they are required to pay. Responded The Eswatini High Commission in London had not responded to our questionnaire by 7pm yesterday. Newman Ntshangase, the Principal Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, said this matter had not been brought to their attention. The principal secretary said they would reach out to the high commission in London to establish the merits of this matter that this newspaper was bringing to their attention. He said, what they knew as a general rule in international law and practice on diplomatic privileges and immunities, was that diplomatic missions are exempt from domestic taxes of this kind. The rumour mills started swirling after Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova spoke at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this week read more After years of maintaining secrecy, Russian President Vladimir Putins daughters are stepping into the public light because the Russian president is considering his mortality, said an explosive report. The rumour mills started swirling after Katerina Tikhonova and Maria Vorontsova spoke at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum this week. A former CIA agent told The Daily Beast that the daughters of the Russian leader attended the event this week, not to share insights about their professional experience but to boost their fathers image. Advertisement Remember its Putin world and we just live in it, Ronald Marks, who has 38 years of US intelligence work under his belt, told the American news outlet. Thats an extension of him his desire to recreate the Russian empire, his desire to show himself as the most powerful guy in Russia. Young daughters represent vitality for him," he furthered. What are Putins daughters pursuing? The 71-year-old Russian leader is known for being secretive about his children, rarely acknowledging their existence. However, in the last two years, Putins children have been making public appearances amid rumours of the countrys presidents dwindling health. Putins oldest daughter Vorontsova, 39, is a genetics researcher and Tikhonova, 37, a tech executive and former acrobatic dancer. Both of them boldly accepted the invitation to speak at the summit. Hes considering his mortality, Marks told The Daily Beast. Hes getting to be at that age right now where hes now looking for his legacy. And both of those kids to my understanding are pretty sharp. If those daughters can step out front and centre and represent him, I think hell take advantage of it," he added. The summit in question was hosted in St. Petersburg and Marks mentioned that it serves as an easy forum to test the womens PR ability. Both Vorontsova and Tikhonova have been brought to the forefront several times in recent years. In 2022, the United States sanctioned the daughters of the Russian leader accusing them of enriching themselves at the expense of the Russian people, the White House said at the time. Interestingly, Putin is widely rumoured to have other children. However, their identities have never been confirmed. Advertisement With inputs from agencies. Thousands of Israelis celebrated the rescue and demanded the release of the remaining captives at what has come to be known as Hostage Square in the heart of Tel Aviv. Since the assaults on October 7, the square has served as a focal point for protests and acts of solidarity read more Argamani was personally congratulated on her safe return by President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tearful phone call 245 days after being kidnapped by Hamas, 26-year-old Israeli citizen Noa Argamani has been freed and reunited with her family by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). Before being freed on Saturday, Ms. Argamani, who was abducted from the Nova music festival on October 7 of last year, had to face an incredibly difficult eight months in captivity. A massive crowd of young revellers attended the Nova music festival, which rapidly descended into chaos and terror following Hamass spectacular land-sea-air attack on Israel. Argamani and her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, were kidnapped amid the mayhem. Insane footage from the incident went viral, showing the 26-year-old Israeli citizen, in a state of desperation, being forced into Gaza on the back of a motorcycle. Advertisement Argamani was detained captive in Gaza for 245 days. Her mother Liora, who has terminal brain cancer, deteoriated she was being held captive. The daring rescue operation in central Gazas Nuseirat was executed by the IDF on Saturday. Along with freeing Ms. Argamani, this operation also rescued Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan, and Shlomi Ziv, the other three hostages. After being saved, Argamani was sent to a hospital in Tel Aviv, where she met her mother again. At the Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Centre, where Liora has been receiving treatment, there was an emotional reunion. After his daughter was transported back to Israel by military helicopter, Argamanis father, Yaakov, saw her for the first time and called the reunion the best birthday present he had ever received. Thousands of Israelis celebrated the rescue and demanded the release of the remaining captives at what has come to be known as Hostage Square in the heart of Tel Aviv. Since the assaults on October 7, the square has served as a focal point for protests and acts of solidarity. Seven of the 251 individuals whom Hamas had taken prisoner had been set free alive by Israeli forces. There are currently 116 hostages in Gaza, 41 of whom the military considers to be dead. Argamani was personally congratulated on her safe return by President Isaac Herzog and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a tearful phone call. Advertisement She was reassured by Prime Minister Netanyahu, who said, We never gave up on you for a second. Im not sure if you shared our belief, but we did, and Im happy that it came to pass. On October 7, Hamas launched a catastrophic onslaught on southern Israel that resulted in 1,189 Israeli deaths and the kidnapping of 252 captives, sparking the worst conflict in Gazas history. Israels reaction has been unrelenting; according to the Gaza Health Ministry, over 36,801 people have diedthe majority of them civilians. The 52-year-old Nobel laureate has been in jail since November 2021 over convictions related to her advocacy against the countrys draconian hijab law and capital punishment read more In an effort to curb the voices of dissent in Iran, a new trial against the jailed Nobel Peace Prize winner Narges Mohammadi opened in her absence. Mohammadis lawyer confirmed that the trial took place on Saturday after the Iranian activist refused to attend the hearing multiple times. The 52-year-old Nobel laureate has been in jail since November 2021 over convictions related to her advocacy against the countrys draconian hijab law and capital punishment. Advertisement The hearing of Ms Narges Mohammadi was held today without her presence at the 29th Branch of the Revolutionary court in the capital Tehran, said her lawyer, Mostafa Nili, on X, formally known as Twitter. Nilli stated that her client was accused of spreading propaganda against the state over her remarks on Dina Ghalibaf and on the boycott of legislative elections held in March, AFP reported. The Dina Ghalibaf tragedy Rights groups have stated that Ghalibaf, a journalist and student, was arrested after she accused Iranian security officials of putting her in handcuffs and sexually assaulting her during a previous arrest at a metro station. Following the accusation on her social media account, the Iranian judiciarys Mizan Online website said on April 22 that Ghalibaf had not been raped and that she was being prosecuted for making a false statement. It is important to note that the Iranian student has since been released. Last month, Mohammadis family called for a public trial so witnesses and survivors can testify to the sexual assaults perpetrated by the Islamic Republic regime against women. In March, the Nobel prize winner shared an audio message from prison in which she called the current climate a full-scale war against women in the Islamic Republic. Advertisement Shortly after the nationwide protest that engulfed the country, following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini, the Iranian police have intensified enforcement of the countrys Islamic dress code for women and also made significant use of the video surveillance law. Under the rules adopted immediately after the 1979 Islamic revolution, Iranian women are required to cover their hair and dress modestly in public spaces. With inputs from agencies. The event was followed by the world leaders attendance at the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on Thursday read more Left to Right: US First Lady Jill Biden, US President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron. Source: AP French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed US President Joe Biden as the POTUS commenced his highly anticipated official state visit to France. The visit was kick-started with a poignant ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe. The event was followed by the world leaders attendance at the 80th anniversary of the D-day landings in Normandy on Thursday. During Bidens visit, the two leaders are expected to discuss the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war and the crisis in Gaza, The Guardian reported. Advertisement The French and the American presidents are also expected to hold talks regarding global security and the strengthening of Nato, and policy issues including the climate crisis and naval cooperation. Macron and Biden welcome the rescue of hostages On Saturday, the leaders oversaw the placing of a large wreath at the flame of the unknown soldier underneath the Arc de Triomphe before observing a minutes of silence. Afterwards, Bidens vehicle was accompanied back down the Champs-Elysee by the mounted Republican Guard. While conducting a press briefing on the same day, both Biden and Macron welcomed the news of four hostages being rescued by the Israeli army in Gaza. We wont stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached, Biden said. He also reiterated his warning that if Russia triumphed Putin would not just stop at Ukraine. All of Europe would be threatened. Similar sentiments were echoed by Biden during the D-day commemoration. To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable, Biden said in a speech at the American cemetery in Normandy. If we were to do that, it means wed be forgetting what happened here on these hallowed beaches. We will not walk away because if we do, Ukraine will be subjugated and it will not end there. Ukraines neighbours will be threatened, all of Europe will be threatened, the US president added, describing Vladimir Putin as a tyrant bent on domination. He maintained that democracy is worth fighting and dying for. Ukraine have been calling on its western allies to provide more military resources to the war-stricken nation. On Friday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned the French parliament that 80 years after D-day, the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 meant Europe was unfortunately no longer a continent of peace. Advertisement Can this war end on the lines that exist now? No. Because there are no lines for evil: not 80 years ago, not now. And if someone tries to draw temporary lines, it will only give a pause before a new war," he added. With inputs from agencies. Following a week of intense activities, the Prime Minister had a slight illness on the afternoon of Saturday June 8, 2024 and went to the hospital for treatment, his office said in a statement. His situation is stable for the moment, it added read more Haitis new interim prime minister, Garry Conille, is in stable condition after being hospitalised for an unspecified illness on Saturday afternoon, his office said. Conille, 58, who took office just over a week ago, was rushed to hospital after suffering breathing problems, local media reported earlier. His office did not provide details on the cause of his hospitalisation. Following a week of intense activities, the Prime Minister had a slight illness on the afternoon of Saturday June 8, 2024 and went to the hospital for treatment, his office said in a statement. Advertisement His situation is stable for the moment, it added. Reuters images showed several ambulances and police officers outside a hospital in a suburb of the capital Port-au-Prince where Conille was reportedly undergoing treatment. Conille had briefly led the country over a decade ago, and was most recently a former regional director at U.N. childrens agency UNICEF. He was named interim prime minister on May 29 by a transition council with the mandate to restore stability and take back control from violent gangs. The transition council aims to hold elections before Feb. 7, 2026, as laid out in Haitis constitution, after a series of crises in the countrys leadership. President Jovenel Moise was assassinated in 2021, leaving Haiti to this day without a president, while Prime Minister Ariel Henry resigned in March this year after he left Haiti to seek support for the Kenyan security mission and was unable to re-enter the country. You are here: Arts To further safeguard China's cultural heritage, the country's top procuratorate issued studies of eight typical cases on Saturday to guide prosecutors nationwide in handling related public litigations. The Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said that these cases involved common illegal acts, such as damaging and illegally occupying cultural relics, which include historical buildings, revolutionary sites, and ancient cultural relics. One notable case involved prosecutors in Jiangsu Province, east China, who initiated an administrative public litigation case in 2023 against a township government. This action came after the local government failed to implement corrective measures suggested by prosecutors regarding the protection of a renowned 16th-century writer's tomb. Since October 2019, procuratorates nationwide have handled over 17,000 public litigation cases related to cultural heritage preservation, the SPP said in a statement. Chinese procuratorates are committed to enhancing the country's judicial legal system for cultural heritage protection, the SPP statement noted, pledging further efforts to track and recover Chinese cultural relics lost overseas. The release of the case studies coincides with China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which is observed annually on the second Saturday of June. KOREA His Majesty King Mswati III has told the Executive Vice President of SK Innovation, Ulsan Complex, Jong Hwa Kim, that the Kingdom of Eswatini is planning to build an oil refinery plant. He said currently, the country has started the preparations to build an Oil Strategic Reserve, as a first phase and would be followed by an oil refinery immediately after. The King revealed this when visiting one of Republic of Koreas first and leading oil refineries, which was founded in 1964 and has since transformed the country to become one of the leading economies in East Asia. In a true spirit of nkwe, His Majesty said in his bilateral meeting with Republic of Korea President Yoon Suk Yeol, after the Korea-Africa Summit in Seoul, he told the president about the countrys desire to build an oil refinery plant. The president recommended and arranged that the King get to visit SK Energy Innovation Complex in Ulsan, where he was to observe first-hand operations and get to engage the company on the kingdoms future plans. His Majesty the King defied a wet and cold weather condition and drove for an hour plus by road to get to the industrial park, where both Hyundai and SK Energy Innovation are based. As we are here today, we are looking at receiving you and your team of consultants back home, where you will be able to make an assessment of what we will need to do to develop such a plant. We will then return and present the findings of our study to the president to see how the kingdom can be supported. Innovation The president assured us that SK Energy Innovation is one of leading companies in this sector and we are happy to have witnessed for ourselves the good work you are doing, His Majesty the King said. The King said he viewed his visit to the company as the beginning of a new relationship between the kingdom and the Ulsan Complex. I hope from now on, we will share many ideas together. Let us work together for the good of our two countries economies, he said. The Executive Vice President Jong Hwa Kim said the SK Innovation has grown to operate the worlds largest single-site refinery and petrochemical production complex. Our complex produces 260 million barrels of petroleum, seven million tonnes of petrochemical products and 2.14 million barrels of lubricants and base oils annually. Approximately 70 per cent of our product is exported, making us a leading energy company in South Korea. We hope that todays visit by His Majesty the King marks a significant step towards fostering friendship between the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of Korea, he said. Korea sources the crude oil from the Middle East and get it processed and sold back to the world. 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. Sat Saturday 85 /53 Times of sun and clouds. Highs in the mid 80s and lows in the low 50s. Islamic Jihad: Nuseirat carnage won't change resistance's stance IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian resistance movement Islamic Jihad says that the Israeli regime's massacre in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp will not make the resistance front change its stance. The group made the remark on Saturday in a statement it issued following an Israeli regime attack earlier in the day, which left more than 200 Palestinians killed in Nuseirat, central Gaza. The regime said that it rescued four captives during its military operation. Islamic Jihad said that the regime has crossed all lines and its existence is a disgrace to humanity, Palestinian Sama news agency reported. "The Zionist regime, after being humiliated by the Palestinian resistance in the streets of Gaza over the past eight months, is proud to return only a few captives out of more than a hundred Zionist captives held by the resistance, which shows [the regime's] military, field and political inability", the movement said. The Zionist enemy and the American government are very wrong if they think that the Nuseirat massacre will change the stance of the resistance, Islamic Jihad said, urging international pressure against the US government for its complicity in the genocide against the Palestinian people. Islamic Jihad and other Palestinian resistance groups have fought the Israeli regime since the onset of the Gaza war in early October. They have time and again promised that they will continue battles to defend their land and free it from the Israeli occupation. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address D-8 nations agree there should be no more tolerance for Israeli regime: Iran IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has said that all member states of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation have agreed that there should be no more tolerance for the Israeli regime's crimes against the Palestinian people. Bagheri Kani made the remark on Saturday in an interview with Iran's national TV following an extraordinary meeting of D-8 foreign ministers in the city of Istanbul, Turkiye. The Iranian diplomat said that his country put forward several proposals including cutting political and economic relations with the Israeli regime as well as boycotting its goods as part of efforts to help the people of Gaza. "What is important is that all Islamic countries, which were present at the Saturday meeting, had the consensus that there should be no more tolerance for the Israeli regime's crimes", Bagheri Kani said. He added that the participating countries were also of the belief that all capacities inside and outside D-8 should be used for more serious action against the Israeli regime. Top diplomats from Iran, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, as well as senior officials from Egypt and Nigeria participated in the D-8 summit in Istanbul to discuss the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'Nuseirat massacre result of int'l inaction on Gaza' IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Iran's Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned the Israeli regime's massacre in Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp, blaming the carnage on inaction by world governments and responsible international bodies including the UN Security Council. "The Zionists' horrific and shocking crimes of massacring hundreds of Palestinians including women and children in the Gaza Strip's Nuseirat camp are the result of the inaction of governments and responsible international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, in the face of eight months of war crimes and the violation of international humanitarian law by the occupying Israeli regime in Gaza", Kanaani said on Saturday. The perpetuation of this inaction will result in nothing but to encourage "the criminals" to press ahead with the genocide against Palestinians, he added. The Iranian spokesman also blamed the Nuseirat massacre on the continuation of arms supplies to the regime by Europe and the US. He called on Islamic countries to get united and stand against the Israeli regime's crimes at the time when international bodies fail to defend the people of Palestine. On Saturday, the Israeli military attacked Nuseirat refugee camp, in central Gaza, to rescue four captives. Hamas miliary spokesman Abu Obeida said later in the day that some other captives had been killed during the operation. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Some Israeli captives killed during regime's attack in Nuseirat IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesman for Hamas's military wing, the Al-Qassam Brigades, has said that the Israeli regime's attack on Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp killed some of its captives. Abu Obeida was speaking on Saturday hours after the Israeli regime attacked the camp, located in central Gaza, and rescued four captives. The attack left at least 210 Palestinians dead, according to the Gaza government office. Hamas's military spokesman said that the Nuseirat attack represents a "complex war crime, and that the first to be harmed by the Israeli regime are its captives. "The enemy was able to free some of its captives by committing horrific massacres, but at the same time, it killed some of them during the operation", Abu Obeida said. The operation will pose a great danger to the enemy captives and will have a devastating impact on their conditions and lives, Al Jazeera reported. Hamas took some 250 captives, including Israeli settlers, during its unprecedented Al Aqsa Storm Operation on October 7. About half were released in a weeklong ceasefire in November. Nearly 120 captives remain in Gaza, with 43 announced dead by the Palestinian resistance group. 4194 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: Crimes in Gaza's Nuseirat shows US-Israel complicity IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Palestinian Resistance Movement Hamas has condemned the heinous crime committed by the Israeli army in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, stating that the crime reveals US-Israeli complicity. In a statement on Saturday, Hamas said that the Zionist regime's terrorist army committed a terrible massacre of civilians at the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, IRNA cited Palestinian Sama News Agency. The statement added that the US participation in the criminal operations once again proved the role of the American government's complicity in war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Hamas has urged Arab and Islamic countries, as well as all free individuals in the world, to increase pressure and escalate efforts to denounce the acts of aggression and genocide in Gaza. Gaza's Government Media Office said that the "Israeli massacre" at the Nuseirat refugee camp has killed 210 Palestinians and wounded more than 400. In another part of its statement about the Zionist regime's claim of releasing four prisoners during the Nuseirat refugee camp assault, Hamas underlined that the enemy army's declaration regarding the liberation of several prisoners after over eight months does not alter its strategic defeat in Gaza. Hamas emphasized that the resistance still holds the largest number of prisoners and can increase their numbers. Several Zionists were captured in the recent operation in the Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli regime waged its brutal war on the besieged enclave of Gaza on October 7 after Hamas carried out an unprecedented operation against the occupying entity in retaliation for its intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. The regime has imposed a complete siege on the densely-populated territory, cutting off fuel, electricity, food, and water to more than two million Palestinians living there. 3266**2050 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah targets Zionist army in northern occupied Palestine IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- Lebanon's Hezbollah announced that it conducted a drone attack on artillery units of the Zionist regime in northern occupied Palestine. According to Al Mayadeen, Hezbollah in a statement announced that it targeted Israeli army artillery units in Saneim, the occupied Shebaa Farms, with a drone. In another statement, the resistance movement announced that it successfully targeted the headquarters of Zionist officers and soldiers in northern occupied Palestine with a drone. Meanwhile, Rai al-Youm reported that Hezbollah's defense system, which was unveiled for the first time, foiled the Zionist regime's threat against Lebanon. An important incident occurred on the Lebanese front, during which the Lebanese resistance removed the Israeli fighters from the skies of Lebanon, this is a major development at the strategic level since the beginning of the conflicts on the Lebanese front with occupied Palestine, it added. Hezbollah's air defense system not only can repel fighters, but it can also deal with reconnaissance aircraft and drones and shoot them down, it noted. 9376**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Islamic Resistance in Iraq strikes 'vital' Israeli target with drones IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency Jun 8, 2024 Tehran, IRNA -- The Islamic Resistance in Iraq says it has launched another drone operation against a "vital" Israeli target over the regime's genocidal war on Palestinians in Gaza. "At dawn today, Saturday, June 8, 2024, the fighters of the Islamic Resistance in Iraq targeted a vital target within our occupied lands using drones," the Iraqi resistance movement said in a statement. It further said the operation reaffirmed the movement's support for the people of Gaza and came in response to the Zionist regime's massacres against unarmed Palestinian civilians in the besieged territory. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been carrying out retaliatory operations targeting Israeli positions ever since the occupying regime started the genocidal war on Gaza in early October last year. So far, at least 36,731 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, in the Gaza Strip. 6125**4354 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah deploys new missile in latest anti-Israeli operation Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 9:20 PM Hezbollah has deployed a new missile in its latest anti-Israeli operation in support of the Gaza Strip, which is enduring a genocidal Israeli war, and in retaliation for the Israeli regime's aggression against Lebanon's southern areas. The Lebanese resistance movement announced the operation in a statement on Saturday, identifying the projectile in question as Falaq (Dawn)-2. The operation, it added, "targeted the headquarters of the Sahel battalion in the Beit Hillel Barracks," which is located in the northern part of the occupied Palestinian territories. Following the onset of the war on Gaza, the Israeli regime began conducting sporadic attacks against Lebanon, which sparked a firefight with Hezbollah. More than 36,801 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in the war that began after Al-Aqsa Storm, a retaliatory operation staged by Gaza's resistance groups. Completing its statement, Hezbollah said, "This is the first time that Hezbollah has used Falaq-2 missiles over the course of Al-Aqsa Storm." "Like the Falaq-1 missile, Falaq-2 operates on solid fuel and has highly destructive capability," the movement added. "While Falaq-1 is 240-mm in caliber, 1.25 meters in length, and uses a 50-kilogram warhead, Falaq-2 is faster and more destructive, with its 333-mm caliber, 1.82 meter length, and 117-kilogram warhead," it noted. On Tuesday, a Lebanese lawmaker from Hezbollah's political wing said the movement was fully prepared for any possible scenarios, but ruled out the possibility of a full-scale war by the Israeli regime against the country. Mohammad Raad, head of the Loyalty to the Resistance Bloc in the Lebanese Parliament, said the regime's threats of military action against Lebanon was simply meant to improve Israeli forces' morale amid the Gaza war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli captives killed during Nuseirat air raids: Al-Qassam Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 6:45 PM The Al-Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, says a number of Zionist captives have been killed during the Israeli military's air raids on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Abu Obeida, spokesman for the brigades, said on Saturday that the Israeli regime had effectively put the lives of Israeli captives, held by Hamas since October 7, at risk when it launched the large-scale offensive on the area. "The first to be harmed by [the Israeli army] are its prisoners" Abu Obeida, said. The Israeli forces carried out numerous airstrikes on refugee camps in central Gaza on Saturday, targeting innocent and defenseless Palestinian civilians, including children, Gaza government media office said. At least 210 people were killed and more than 400 others injured during the onslaught, it said. Abu Obeida condemned the attacks in central Gaza as a "complex war crime." "The enemy was able, by committing horrific massacres, to free some of his captives, but at the same time, it killed some of them during the operation," he added. A senior Hamas official earlier described the horrific attacks as a military failure. Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters news agency that "regaining four captives after nine months of fighting is a sign of failure not an achievement." Since the Israeli war machine launched its genocidal war in Gaza, nearly 37,000 Palestinians have been killed, including more than 16,000 children. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran: Nuseirat massacre result of world bodies' inaction on Israeli crimes in Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 6:04 PM Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Nasser Kan'ani has denounced the Israeli regime's "heinous and shocking crime" at al-Nuseirat camp in central Gaza. In a statement on Saturday, Kan'ani said Israel's massacre of hundreds of Palestinian people, particularly women and children, at al-Nuseirat camp is the result of inaction by international bodies in the face of the regime's atrocities in Gaza over the past eight months. He added that global organizations, particularly the United Nations Security Council, have failed to take any action to counter the Israeli regime's war crimes and violations of all international humanitarian regulations in the Gaza Strip. "The continuation of this inaction is nothing but encouraging criminals to continue the genocide of Palestinians," the Iranian spokesperson emphasized. He lashed out at the US and European states for supplying Israel's arsenals with bombs and missiles and supporting the regime's crimes, as evident in the slaughtered bodies of Palestinian citizens and children lying in blood at Nuseirat. Kan'ani emphasized that innocent Palestinian people, especially the oppressed children of Gaza, are under the barbaric bombings and suffering from hunger, thirst, and the lack of medicine and medical equipment caused by the blockade on the Strip. He noted that the world is witnessing the absolute ineffectiveness of international organizations and assemblies in defending Palestinian people, particularly women and children. In this deplorable situation, he said, Muslim countries shoulder a heavy responsibility and must stand united to counter Israel's acts of aggression and fulfill their human, moral and Islamic responsibility. At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 injured on Saturday when Israeli military forces carried out dozens of airstrikes in the besieged territory, particularly in and around the Deir el-Balah and Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza before they retrieve four Israeli captives. The regime's forces directly targeted civilians, including children, during "a barbaric and brutal aggression" against Nuseirat camp, Gaza government media office said. At least 36,801 Palestinians, mostly children and women, have been killed and 83,680 people wounded in the war that Israel began on October 7, 2023 following a retaliatory operation by the Palestinian territory's resistance movements. The brutal military onslaught enjoys unreserved military and political support on the part of the Israeli regime's Western allies, including the United States and France. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address D-8 ministers call for immediate, unconditional end to Israeli war on Gaza Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 5:58 PM The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation has issued a key statement after a meeting in Turkey calling for an immediate end to the Israeli war on Gaza. The joint declaration issued at the end of the Extraordinary Meeting of the D-8 Council of Ministers in Istanbul on Saturday demanded "an immediate, permanent and unconditional ceasefire, the cessation of the Israeli aggression on the Palestinian people in Gaza, and the immediate implementation of the relevant UN Resolutions". It also called on countries around the world to ensure that Israel strictly complies with the provisional measures ordered by the International Court of Justice, which require the regime to immediately halt its offensive on Gaza and withdraw from the southern Gaza city of Rafah where people have sheltered from bombardments elsewhere. It reiterated that the "brutal Israeli aggression" on Gaza must end to allow the humanitarian aid to reach people in need in the Palestinian territory. The statement also called on all countries to "stop supplying weapons and ammunition to Israel that are used by its army and extremist settlers to kill the Palestinian people and destroy their homes, hospitals, schools, mosques, churches and all their properties". D-8 members Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey also called on the United States to "lift its veto on the full membership of Palestine in the UN as an independent and sovereign State". The group also condemned Israel for actions that could cause the war in Gaza to spread to other parts of the region, including "unjustifiable attacks" targeting the Iranian embassy in Syria's Damascus in April. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hamas: US complicit in Israel's massacre in Nuseirat refugee camp Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 5:06 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas has condemned Washington's complicity in Israel's horrific massacre of innocent people at Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on Wednesday. In the town of Nuseirat in central Gaza, Israel killed at least 210 people and left hundreds of others injured, during which it retrieved four Israeli prisoners. Immediately after the raid, the regime's military issued a statement, describing the massacre as a "complex daytime operation," without even mentioning the scores of Palestinians killed. Citing a Joe Biden administration official, the US news website Axios reported that a team of American hostage recovery officials stationed in the occupied territories assisted the Israeli military. In a statement on its official Telegram channel, Hamas said, "What the Nazi occupation army announced about rescuing a number of its captives in Gaza...will not change its strategic failure in the Gaza Strip." It said that "the resistance still holds the majority of captives and is capable of increasing its capture tally... civilian lives." The total number of Israeli captives still held by Hamas is now 116, of which at least 41 are dead. Hamas said US media reports about Washington's complicity in Tel Aviv's massacre of the Palestinians in Nuseirat once again prove that the Biden administration is "involved in the war crimes being perpetrated" in the besieged populated strip. According to the statement, those reports are "exposing the falsehood of its [US's] declared positions on the humanitarian situation and its concern for The resistant group reiterated its call to the international community and the United Nations "to take a genuine stance against these ongoing crimes, which disgrace humanity and occur with sound and image before the eyes of the entire world." The regime's savage military offensive has claimed the lives of more than 36,800 people since early October. Ansarullah condemns massacre Yemen's Ansarullah resistance movement also condemned "the US support for these atrocities" in Gaza. The movement said in a statement that the military carried out the massacre in Nuseirat shortly after Israel was placed on the United Nations' "shame list" of child killers. "This massacre confirms that the occupying regime is merely a reckless criminal gang that does not respect human rights or international law." On Friday, the UN added the Israeli military to the world body's annual "list of shame" that features the offenders committing deadly violations against children. It took "a genocide that killed 15,000 children and maimed and scarred thousands more" for the UN to "finally and rightly" add the regime to the list, observers say. OIC calls for investigation The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also released a statement on Saturday to condemn the horrific massacre at Nuseirat. The organization said that the ongoing Israeli aggression on Gaza represents "continued state terrorism and genocide, flagrantly violating international humanitarian law and relevant United Nations resolutions." It further called for an international investigation into the latest massacre in an effort to punish the perpetrators under international criminal law. OIC reiterated its call to the international community, especially the UN Security Council, to urgently intervene to halt the Israeli war crimes in Gaza. 'Disgrace to humanity' Joining the chores of condemnation, the Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement said Israel's very existence "is a disgrace to humanity." "If the entity... boasts about managing to recover a few captives out of more than a hundred who remain in the hands of the resistance heroes, it is nothing but an expression of its military, field, and political incapacity." The group also condemned the complicity of the US in "this horrific massacre" in Gaza, urging "the free people of the world" to increase pressure on Washington and "force it to stop this criminality." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel delusional to think it can impose truce on Hamas: Haniyeh Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 4:17 PM The Palestinian resistance movement Hamas' political leader Ismail Haniyeh says Israel's increasing use of force against the people of Gaza will not cause the resistance to accept a ceasefire deal that does not meet the demands of the Palestinians. "If the (Israeli) occupation believes that it can impose its choices on us by force, then it is delusional," Haniyeh said in a statement on Saturday. The comments came after Israel launched a massive attack on the refugee camp in al-Nuseirat area in central Gaza. An update on the number of casualties from the attack provided by the Hamas-run health authorities in Gaza showed that some 210 people had been killed and another 400 had been wounded in the brutal Israeli attack on the displaced Palestinians. Haniyeh said, however, that the attack would not dent the resolve of the Palestinian people amid efforts to force Hamas and other resistance groups in Gaza to accept conditions set by Israel and its ally the US for a ceasefire. "Our people will not surrender and the resistance will continue to defend our rights in the face of this criminal enemy," he said. Ignoring growing international condemnations of the attack on Nuseirat, Israel boasted on Saturday that it had secured the release of four captives held by Hamas for more than eight months. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri said that "regaining four captives after nine months of fighting is a sign of failure not an achievement." Israel's aggression on Gaza has left nearly 37,000 people dead. The brutal campaign started in October after Hamas and other resistance groups in Gaza carried out an unprecedented operation into the Israeli-occupied territories, killing 1,200 Israeli settlers and military forces and taking over 200 as captives. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Muslim states must cut all ties with Israel, force it to end crimes: Iran interim FM Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 3:18 PM Iran's Interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani says Muslim countries should sever all relations with Israel and take practical steps to force the regime to stop its crimes against the people of Palestine. Bagheri Kani made the announcement in an address to an extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation on Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday. He said Israel will only accept the reality when encountered with force, citing Iran's retaliatory attack against the regime -- dubbed Operation True Promise -- on April 13 as a clear testimony in this regard. He warned that the Israeli regime is resorting to the policy of collective punishment to pursue the "sinister and dangerous goal of societal collapse in Gaza by making it uninhabitable - an act that is regarded as a clear manifestation of war crimes and genocide." The Iranian interim foreign minister emphasized that solidarity among Muslim countries can forestall the continuance of Israel's crimes. He said Muslim countries and the D-8 member states alike "must marshal the entirety of their capacities to pivot all focus to that direction." "Severing the vital arteries of the Zionist regime, breaking off political and economic ties and embargoing the oil, energy, and goods of the Zionist regime are among necessary measures against its butchery and annihilation in Gaza," Bagheri Kani pointed out. He criticized the international community's inaction regarding the Zionist regime's attacks on Gaza over the past eight months "which would have otherwise put an end to these unprecedented crimes." "The current situation in the Rafah Crossing has pushed the world to the cusp of yet another humanitarian disaster," the top Iranian diplomat said. He proposed the recognition of the acknowledged right of the Palestinian people and their legitimate resistance against aggression and occupation, based on principles of international law. He also called for the establishment of a special international mission to bring Israel's crimes before international courts, as among effective measures that the D-8 members can take at this critical juncture. The D-8 member countries are expected to adopt a firm joint declaration regarding the Tel Aviv regime's devastating war on Gaza. At least 36,801 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed and 83,680 people have been wounded in Israeli attacks across the Gaza Strip over the past eight months. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address June 7: 'Axis of Resistance' operations against Israeli occupation Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 3:03 PM By Press TV Website Staff Amid Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, which has killed nearly 37,000 Palestinians so far, including more than 16,000 children, resistance groups in Palestine and across the region continue their operations against the Tel Aviv regime and its Western backers. The major operations carried out by the Palestinian and regional resistance groups on Friday, June 7, are as follows: Al-Qassam Brigades' operations on June 7: Targeted an Israeli military Merkava 4 tank with an Al-Yassin 105 shell near the Awadallah junction in Yabna camp in the city of Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip. Targeted a building where an Israeli force was holed up using a TBG shell east of the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Quds Brigades' operations on June 7: Bombed positions of Israeli soldiers and their military vehicles on the supply line on the "Netzarim" axis south of Tal Al-Hawa west of Gaza City with mortar shells. Seized control of an Israeli military Skylark drone while it was carrying out spying missions southeast of Gaza City. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigades' operations on June 7: Targeted a command and control headquarters of the Israeli military positioned in the "Netzarim" axis south of Gaza City with heavy-caliber mortar shells. Targeted a convoy of Israeli army vehicles with mortar shells on the advancement axes east of the city of Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip. Targeted Israeli regime forces penetrating east of Bureij camp with several heavy-caliber mortar shells. Engaged in fierce clashes with Israeli regime forces storming Al-Ain camp in the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, using machine guns and explosive devices. Al-Quds Brigades' operations on June 7: Targeted a group of Israeli soldiers and their vehicles infiltrating the Palestinian-Egyptian border west of Rafah with a barrage of heavy-caliber mortar shells. Targeted the headquarters of the Israeli military's Gaza Division at the "Re'im" site with a rocket barrage. Martyr Omar Al-Qasim Forces' operations on June 7: Targeted an Israeli military infantry force near the administrative building in the incursion axis in the Al-Sultan neighborhood, west of Rafah city in the southern Gaza Strip, with an anti-personnel RPG shell. Al-Nasser Salah Al-Din Brigades' operations on June 7: Targeted a gathering of Israeli regime forces stationed at the "Netzarim" axis south of Gaza City with heavy mortar shells. Al-Asifah Forces (Fatah Al-Intifada) operations on June 7: Targeted a gathering of Israeli soldiers and vehicles in the "Netzarim" axis with mortar shells. Hezbollah's operations on June 7: Western sector: Israeli artillery positions in Khirbet Ma'ar were targeted with artillery shells. A military vehicle was targeted inside the Birkat Risha site with a guided missile. Israeli soldiers in Horsh Natawa were targeted with a barrage of missiles. Yemeni military's operations on June 7: Targeted two ships belonging to companies that violated the entry ban to the ports of occupied Palestine, namely the ship (Elbella) and the ship (AAL GENOA) using several drones, ballistic, and naval missiles. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel kills 210 Palestinians in Gaza refugee camp to retrieve four captives Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 2:35 PM Israeli military forces have carried out yet another massacre at a refugee camp in central Gaza, killing at least 210 Palestinians before they retrieve four Israeli captives. Israeli forces carried out dozens of airstrikes in the besieged territory on Saturday, particularly in and around the Deir el-Balah and Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The regime's forces directly targeted civilians, including children, during "a barbaric and brutal aggression" against Nuseirat camp, Gaza government media office said. They killed at least 210 people and left over 400 others injured, it added. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas instructed Palestine's ambassador to the United Nations to request an emergency session of the Security Council following the "bloody massacre" at Nuseirat. Those injured in the air raids were taken to Al Awda Hospital in the camp and the Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah. A spokesman at Al-Aqsa hospital said the number of injured is so high that it is difficult to confirm the exact number. "Dozens of injured people are lying on the ground and medical teams are trying to save them with the simple medical capabilities they have," the health ministry wrote on Facebook. The ministry released images, showing patients, including children, who were lying in the corridors of the hospital as they were covered in blood. No Israeli official mentioned the scores of Palestinians who were massacred in the camp. Instead, the military issued a statement, saying that they "rescued four captives" from the central Gaza Strip. They were in "good medical condition" and were taken to hospital for medical checks following a "complex daytime operation" in Gaza's Nuseirat, it said. The captives were held during Hamas unprecedented operation against the occupied territories on October 7. The total number of Israeli captives still held by Hamas is now 116, of which at least 41 are dead. Senior Hamas official Sami Abu Zuhri told Reuters news agency that "regaining four captives after nine months of fighting is a sign of failure not an achievement." Al-Aqsa hospital in 'catastrophic situation' The Gaza media office said the regime's forces launched airstrikes on several other places in central Gaza on Saturday, while warning about the "catastrophic situation" of al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. It said that al-Aqsa, the only hospital in Deir el-Balah, is working on only one electric generator; if the sole generator stops, "a real disaster" will ensue. "This hospital provides health services to a million people and displaced persons, and it cannot accommodate this large number of martyrs and injuries." The government's media office called on the international community "to intervene immediately and urgently save the hospital and save the health situation" in central Gaza. It said Tel Aviv and the United States are "fully responsible for this catastrophic crime in which the blood of dozens of innocent civilians was shed." President Joe Biden of the US, who is an staunch ally of Tel Aviv, has recently acknowledged that Benjamin Netanyahu is prolonging the savage military offensive in the Gaza due to his own political considerations. He also rejected that there was evidence of Israel's war crimes during the eight-month war against Palestinians in Gaza. Israel's war on Gaza has so far killed more than 36,801 people, according the Gaza health ministry. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US hampering Afghanistan progress through its assets seizure: Iran's interim FM Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 1:47 PM Iran's interim Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has deplored the seizure of Afghanistan's national assets, arguing that Washington is hampering the progress of the country and exacerbating humanitarian situation despite having withdrawn its military forces in August 2021. Bagheri Kani made the remarks on Saturday in a message addressed to the second meeting of the Regional Contact Group on Afghanistan, which is underway in the Iranian capital Tehran and also hosts representatives from China, Russia and Pakistan. "Some three years have passed from the time when occupation forces pulled out of Afghanistan, and our neighboring country has faced various challenges since then. The acting government in Afghanistan has made achievements on some of those challenges; but problems have persisted in other spheres," the top Iranian diplomat noted. He blamed the US occupation for the ongoing problems in Afghanistan, arguing that occupation and the occupiers' disregard for economic growth constitute the root cause of many problems and challenges in the country. "Even though the occupiers have withdrawn from Afghanistan's soil, they are actually putting obstacle in the way of the country's progress through freezing the assets of the Afghan nation," Bagheri Kani noted. The top Iranian diplomat also denounced the occupiers over destruction of Afghanistan's economic infrastructure during their presence there, stating that they left behind a devastated country for its people after their pullout. The occupiers should realize they cannot shirk their humanitarian duties, and must play their part to compensate for the economic underdevelopment of Afghanistan through refraining from political interference in the country's domestic affairs, Bagheri Kani said. He further noted that regional meetings on Afghanistan, which have been held within various formats in the past several years, are the best mechanism in order to help the country shape its future and resolve its pressing problems. The interim foreign minister underscored that Iran supports any constructive initiative that helps promote peace, stability and development in Afghanistan, warning against trans-regional attempts to impact developments there as such bids are in violation of Afghanistan's territorial integrity and national sovereignty. Bagheri Kani also urged the United Nations to double down its efforts as to improvement of humanitarian conditions in Afghanistan, and help promote regional stability and security. Regional countries are the ones that suffer the most from backwardness and underdevelopment in Afghanistan, he pointed out. Bagheri Kani stressed that the Taliban should devote more efforts to ensure that an inclusive government made up of all ethnic groups is formed, and that political stability as well as economic development are achieved in the country. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Hezbollah launches drone strike against Israeli artillery position in Shebaa Farms Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 10:20 AM Fighters from Lebanon's Hezbollah resistance movement have launched a retaliatory drone strike against an Israeli artillery position in the occupied Shebaa Farms in response to the regime's ongoing war on Gaza. Hezbollah said in a statement on Saturday that it struck the newly installed military hardware in the Sana'im area with several kamikaze drones, stressing that the attack hit the designated target precisely. Earlier in the day, Hezbollah fighters targeted a group of Israeli soldiers, who had moved into the al-Raheb military base, with a salvo of artillery shells. The resistance movement emphasized that it targeted the forces with artillery shells after monitoring and observing them at the site. On Friday evening, the Lebanese resistance group struck a gathering of Israeli soldiers in the al-Tayhat Triangle region with a barrage of rockets. Hezbollah fighters also launched a rocket barrage at Israeli troops stationed in an area at Netu'a Forest and targeted an Israeli military vehicle at the Birkat Risha outpost. Previously, the group had pounded Israeli artillery bunkers in the Khirbet Maar base and a group of Israeli troops deployed nearby with artillery shells. The Israeli regime has repeatedly attacked southern Lebanon since October 7, when it launched a ferocious war on Gaza that has killed at least 36,731 Palestinians, most of them women and children. In retaliation, Hezbollah has launched near-daily rocket attacks on Israeli positions. At least 455 people have been killed on the Lebanese border, according to an AFP tally. Hezbollah has already fought off two Israeli wars against Lebanon in 2000 and 2006. The resistance forced the regime to retreat in both conflicts. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iraqi Resistance launches drone attack on 'vital' Israeli target in occupied lands Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 6:17 AM Fighters from Iraqi anti-terror resistance groups have carried out yet another operation against strategic Israeli positions in the occupied Palestinian territories. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of anti-terror fighters, claimed responsibility for the drone attack on the "vital" site in a statement published on its Telegram channel early on Saturday morning. It said the drone strike was carried out as part of the second phase of operations against the Israeli regime in support of Palestinians in Gaza and in retaliation for the massacres that the regime is perpetrating against unarmed Palestinian civilians. The coalition noted that it will continue to target and destroy important installations across the occupied lands. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq has been launching several attacks on Israeli targets ever since the occupying regime started the genocidal war on Gaza in early October. Israel has been waging an atrocious onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship after Palestinian resistance movements launched a surprise attack, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Storm, on October 7. At least 36,731 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 83,530 individuals have sustained injuries in Gaza so far. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Niamey, June 9 (UNI) The United States has begun withdrawing its troops from Niger with the departure of the first aircraft, the two countries' Defence Ministries said in a joint statement on Saturday. "The U.S. Department of Defence and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defence of the Republic of Niger announce that the withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Niger has progressed from initial preparations to redeployment. This significant transition began with the departure of a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Air Base 101 in Niamey on June 7, 2024," the statement read. Moreover, some US forces have already redeployed from Niger to their home stations after concluding their missions, the statement read. At the same time, a small contingent of US military personnel arrived in the African country to assist with the withdrawal of troops from Air Bases 101 and 201, it added. The US and Niger agreed to complete the withdrawal of US troops from the African country no later than September 15. There is an estimated 1,100 US personnel in Niger. The military pullout was initiated in March after a Nigerien military spokesperson said the country's transitional government, which took power in a coup in July 2023, had terminated the military agreement with the US with immediate effect, citing the interests of the Nigerien people. UNI/SPUTNIK AKS Sixth Parliamentary Vote In 3 Years Could Return Borisov To Power In Bulgaria By RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service June 08, 2024 For the sixth time in three years, Bulgarians will vote on June 9 in parliamentary elections as the poverty- and corruption-stricken Balkan nation seeks to end the long stretch of political instability and, perhaps, close the door on hopes for major reforms. The vote could return populist former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov to power. Polls show that his GERB party and its United Democratic Forces partner will receive the most votes with 25 percent. Borisov has led three governments over the past decade, but his support has weakened amid allegations of corruption, links to oligarchs, and attacks on media freedom. GERB's erstwhile partner in the outgoing coalition government, the reformist We Continue The Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition (CCDB, also known as the PP-DB), is seen as getting about 15 percent, down from the 24.6 percent last time as many supporters may desert the party for its previous partnering with GERB. CCDB had agreed to work with its GERB rivals on a common pro-EU platform of ensuring that Bulgaria supports Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion, but disagreements between leaders of the two parties mean a renewed coalition government appears unlikely. Among the reasons for the breakup of the CCDB-GERB partnership has been the CCDB demand for reforms in the judiciary and in the security services, alleging that they have provided cover for organized crime and that they have not done enough to counter Russian influence. GERB generally says it supports reforms but has not initiated specific changes in the judiciary or among security agencies. GERB has been supported by Delyan Peevski -- leader of the Movement For Rights And Freedoms (DPS) -- who has been sanctioned for corruption by the United States under the global Magnitsky Act. The pro-Ukraine former media mogul reportedly is one of the richest people in Bulgaria. CCDB has claimed that GERB and DPS act as one party. "Anytime we had a meeting with Borisov, Peevski was already in the room," former CCDB Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said. GERB could turn to the MRF Turkish minority party, which also has about 15 percent in the polls. The pro-Russia Revival party (Vazrazhdane) also has support. If Borisov is unable to cobble together a government, another election - the seventh in three years - is likely, observers say. A Bulgarian caretaker government led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev was sworn in by parliament on April 9 after being appointed by President Rumen Radev, who also announced the snap general elections for June 9. Following elections in April last year, Bulgaria had a joint government supported by the pro-West, reformist CCDB and Borisov's GERB. They had agreed on an 18-month government with a rotation of prime ministers -- first Denkov from CCDB and, after nine months, Maria Gabriel from GERB. Denkov stepped down on March 5 to let GERB lead the government for the following nine months, as agreed. But Gabriel failed to form a government, and on March 27 Denkov also rejected Radev's invitation to try to put together a cabinet. On March 28, the populist There Is Such A People (ITN) party also declined to attempt to form a government, thus setting up the June 9 election. The vote is being held alongside EU elections. Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states are going to the polls to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. The elections are held every five years, and each country is allotted a certain number of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in direct proportion to its population size. Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the MEPs organize into political groups in the European Parliament that align with their parties' political ideologies. Opinion polls heading into the elections for the European Parliament put the coalition of two center-right parties, GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, in first place. With reporting by RFE/RL's Bulgarian Service and AFP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/bulgaria-borisov-gerb-ccdb- elections-peevski/32984583.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbian, Srpska Leaders Urge Unity, But Avoid Mention Of Separation From Bosnia By RFE/RL's Balkan Service June 08, 2024 BELGRADE - The leaders of Serbia and Republika Srpska - the Serbian entity within Bosnia-Herzegovina - called for the unity of ethnic Serbs throughout the region during a rally in Belgrade on June 8, an action certain to anger Western leaders who have condemned any suggestions by entity officials to separate from Bosnia. The so-called All-Serbian Assembly was organized under the slogan "One People, One Assembly -- Serbia and Srpska" and produced what it called the Declaration On The Protection Of National And Political Rights And The Common Future Of The Serbian People." Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stated the language of the declaration was carefully chosen and that it focuses on Kosovo, takes into account the Dayton agreement that settled the Yugoslav war of the mid-1990s, and didn't mention separation from Bosnia. "I won't intrude on [the international community's] decisions," he said. "I only ask that you think a million times about how much we all need peace." He added, though, that Serbia "will never abandon Republika Srpska." "My only plea to you is to attempt to resolve all problems peacefully and in dialogue with all other peoples [in Bosnia] in accordance with the Dayton agreement," Vucic said. Milorad Dodik, leader of the Republika Srpska entity, said the declaration is a document that supports the interests of the Serbian nation. Dodik stated that Republika Srpska is committed to the Dayton accords but that it is possible the entity will soon have to seek Serbia's support to resolve its status. "It is impossible to live with those who so treacherously and maliciously, falsely, and secretly tried to impose genocide as a permanent feature of this nation, which it is not," Dodik told the audience at Republic Square. He added that any action will be done "peacefully." Dodik, who is friendly with Russian President Vladimir Putin, has been placed under sanctions by the United States and Britain over his efforts to undermine the Dayton peace accords, which led to the formation of a Bosnian state consisting of two entities -- a Bosniak-Croat federation and Republika Srpska -- tied together by a weak central government. The action comes amid high tensions after the United Nations on May 23 approved a resolution to commemorate the 1995 Srebrenica genocide in Bosnia annually, over strong opposition from Serbs. The resolution designates July 11 as the International Day of Reflection and Commemoration of the 1995 Genocide in Srebrenica, thus establishing an annual day of commemoration for the massacre of more than 8,000 local Bosnian Muslim men and boys almost 30 years ago. The UN resolution had sparked protests and a lobbying campaign by Serbia's president and the Bosnian Serb leadership to block the adoption of the resolution, which was sponsored by Germany and Rwanda with 32 co-sponsors, including the United States, France, Britain, and Italy. Dodik stated that "we are not a genocidal people, and this resolution does not concern us in terms of implementing it." Dodik's Belgrade visit came after he met with Putin in St. Petersburg. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/serbia-srpska-vucic-dodik-bosnia- genocide/32984578.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Rescue of Four Hostages from Gaza US Department of State Press Statement The Secretary of State June 8, 2024 We welcome the rescue of four hostages who after eight months of captivity have finally been reunited with their families in Israel. The United States will not rest until every hostage is returned home. The proposal that President Biden outlined eight days ago would bring relief to both the people of Gaza and the remaining hostages and their families through an immediate ceasefire that could lead to the release of all hostages, a surge of humanitarian assistance, Gaza's reconstruction, and an enduring end to the war. The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israel rescues 4 hostages, kills 200 Palestinians in accompanying assault By VOA News June 08, 2024 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will not give in to terror after Israeli troops rescued four hostages Saturday who had been held by Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip after they were abducted during the October 7 Hamas terror attack on southern Israel. "Israel does not surrender to terrorism," Netanyahu said. "We will not let go until we complete the mission and return all our hostages home both the living and the dead," he said while speaking after the rescue operation in the situation room. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the rescue operation Saturday was challenging. "Our troops showed so much courage operating under heavy fire in the most complex urban environment in Gaza," he said in a statement. Gallant called it "one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations" he has witnessed during his 47 years of service in Israel's defense establishment. Israeli forces rescued four hostages from central Gaza on Saturday. They had been held since the Hamas October 7 attack on Israel. More than 200 Palestinians died during the accompanying air assault, according to Hamas officials, one of the bloodiest Israeli assaults of the war. The rescue operation took place in a densely built residential neighborhood of al-Nuseirat, an Israeli military spokesperson said. "We know about under 100 (Palestinian) casualties. I don't know how many from them are terrorists," Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing with journalists. One Israeli special forces commander was also killed, he said. "Israel does not surrender to terrorism," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "We will not let go until we complete the mission and return all our hostages home both the living and the dead," he said, speaking after the rescue operation in the situation room. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said the rescue was challenging. Israeli troops operated "under heavy fire in the most complex urban environment in Gaza," he said in a statement, calling it "one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations" he has witnessed during his 47 years of service in Israel's defense establishment. Medical officials in Nuseirat called it one of the bloodiest since the war began, Reuters reported. "It was like a horror movie, but this was a real massacre. Israeli drones and warplanes fired all night randomly at people's houses and at people who tried to flee the area," said Ziad, 45, a paramedic and resident of Nuseirat, who gave only his first name. "To free four people, Israel killed dozens of innocent civilians," he said. The bombardment targeted a local marketplace and the Al-Awda mosque, he told Reuters via a messaging app. Social media footage showed the carnage, though Reuters could not independently verify it immediately. The rescued hostages are Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. They were taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation and were in good health, the military said. Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh said Saturday in a statement that "our people will not surrender, and the resistance will continue to defend our rights in the face of this criminal enemy." Al-Qassam Brigades' spokesperson Abu Ubaida said that Israel "by committing horrific massacres, was able to free some its hostages, yet it killed some others during the operation." Abu Ubaida made the statement on Telegram, and it could not be verified. Biden, Macron discuss Middle East U.S. President Joe Biden hailed the return of the four Israeli hostages. Speaking at a news conference in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, Biden said he joined his host in welcoming the return of the hostages. "We won't stop working until all the hostages come home and a cease-fire is reached," he said. In a joint news conference at the Elysee presidential palace, the two leaders pledged to work harder to prevent a regional escalation from Israel's war with the militant group Hamas in Gaza and to focus on easing tensions between Israel and Hezbollah. "We are redoubling efforts together to avoid a regional explosion, particularly in Lebanon," Macron said. Hezbollah is an Iran-backed political movement and militia in Lebanon. In a statement Saturday, the White House also expressed its support of all efforts ensuring the release of the remaining hostages, including American citizens. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan emphasized the significance of ongoing cease-fire negotiations. "This deal has the full backing of the United States and has been endorsed by countries from around the world, including the G7, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, and Qatar, as well as the sixteen countries with their citizens still being held by Hamas. They all must be released now," the statement reads. Pressure on Israel The rescue comes amid international pressure on Israel to protect civilians in Gaza. In an effort to revive the stalled cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East on Sunday. His three-day trip will include stops in Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar, where he will emphasize the importance of Hamas accepting the cease-fire proposal on the table that is nearly identical to one Hamas endorsed last month. Netanyahu is facing growing demands to embrace the deal Biden endorsed last month to end the fighting in Gaza, though Israel's far-right is threatening to collapse Netanyahu's government if he does. The October 7 terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas militants took 251 hostages, 116 of whom still remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead. So far, Israel's offensive has killed at least 36,801 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Statement from National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan on the Israeli Hostage Rescue Operation June 08, 2024 Today, Israeli security forces conducted a successful operation to rescue four hostages from the grips of Hamas in Gaza. All four were taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, and Hamas filmed the horrific abduction of Ms. Argamani for the world to see. Now they are safe and reunited with their families. We commend the work of the Israeli security services that conducted this daring operation. The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens. This includes through ongoing negotiations or other means. The hostage release and ceasefire deal that is now on the table would secure the release of all the remaining hostages together with security assurances for Israel and relief for the innocent civilians in Gaza. This deal has the full backing of the United States and has been endorsed by countries from around the world, including the G7, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, UAE, and Qatar, as well as the sixteen countries with their citizens still being held by Hamas. They all must be released now. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Benjamin (Benny) Gantz Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israels war cabinet and a popular former military chief, announced his resignation 09 June 2024. The move did not immediately pose a threat to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who still held a majority coalition in parliament, but Bibi became more heavily reliant on his far-right allies. Gantz had joined Netanyahus government shortly after the October 7 Hamas attack in a show of unity on October 7, the day Hamas led attacks on southern Israeli communities. In his resignation statement, Gantz emphasised that Netanyahu is obstructing important strategic decisions for political considerations, stressing that our withdrawal from this government comes because Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing towards real victory. The former minister in the War Cabinet also indicated that he supports the deal offered by US President Joe Biden, who asked the Prime Minister to have the courage to make it work. He told the families of the prisoners: We failed the exam and were unable to return your sons, and all efforts must be made for the deal offered to recover the kidnappers. Gantz added: The war in Gaza is long and will continue, and I call on Defence Minister Yoav Galant to be brave and make the right decisions. He also called on Netanyahu to call for elections as soon as possible and form a national investigation committee, stressing the need for elections to bring in a government of true national unity. Israeli war cabinet minister Benny Gantzs centrist party on 30 May 2024 called for holding a parliamentary vote on dissolving the Knesset, but it was unclear whether he has enough support to bring about early elections. Gantzs centrist bloc split up in March 2024, and his party did not on its own control enough seats in parliament to bring down the ruling coalition. The move followed the ultimatum that Gantz issued demanding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agree to a plan for post-war Gaza by June 8. He threatened to quit the coalition if no such plan was forthcoming. Following the rescue of four hostages, Gantz delayed by one the statement he was due to give in which he was widely expected to announce his resignation. Netanyahus right-wing Likud party countered: The dissolution of the unity government is a reward for [Hamas leader Yahya] Sinwar, a capitulation to international pressure and a fatal blow to efforts to free our hostages. It added that Israel needs unity and disbanding the government would hurt the war effort. Israels assault on Gaza has been met with widespread global condemnation as the Palestinian death toll had exceeded 36,000 and continued to mount. Generals are revered in Israel, though many who cross into political life after their military service discover that their army experience does not always prepare them for the challenges of civilian decision-making. Former Israeli military chief Lt.-Gen. (res.) Benjamin (Benny) Gantz launched himself into politics in December 2018 with opinion polls suggesting his new party, Israel Resilience, could win a signficant number of seats. Gantz was military chief of staff from 2011-15, during two wars in the Gaza Strip. According to official party registration documents, Israel Resilience aims at "strengthening the Jewish and democratic character of the state of Israel". Benny Gantz was born in 1959 to Malka, a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp, and Nahum Gantz. After World War II, his parents came to Israel on a ship of illegal immigrants and were among the founders of Kfar Ahim in the south of Israel. He was raised in the small moshav (cooperative farm) in central Israel alongside his three sisters. As a youth, Gantz attended the Or Etzion religious high school in Merkaz Shapira, and he later attended the boarding school at the HaKfar HaYarok youth village. At age 18 Gantz enlisted in the Paratroopers Brigade and served in the Airborne Nahal battalion. His first assignment was serving in the security detail for Egyptian president Anwar Sadats historic visit to Israel. He was sent to officers training course, which began his 38 years of service as an IDF commander. Ten years after his enlistment, at just 28 years of age, Gantz was appointed commander of the 890th battalion of the Paratroopers Brigade. Gantz rapidly rose through the IDFs ranks, advancing so fast that he was nicknamed the Prince. In 1979, he graduated from the IDF officer school and was positioned as company commander and later Platoon commander in the Paratrooper Brigade. At age 30, in 1989 he was appointed commander of the Shaldag Unit in the Israel Air force. In this position, he led the historic Operation Solomonthe airlift of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. His next position took him back to the Paratroopers Brigade, this time as brigade commander. In 1994 he was appointed commander of the Judea Brigade in the Judea and Samaria Division. In 1989 he was appointed commander of the Shaldag Unit in the Israel Air force. In 1994 he was appointed commander of the Judea Brigade in the Judea and Samaria Division. In 1997 Gantz left for an academic break in the United States. In 1999 he was appointed as commander of the Liaison Unit with Lebanon. In 2000 he was appointed as commander of the Judea and Samaria division. In 2000, the government decided to withdraw from Lebanon. Gantz, who was serving as commander of the Lebanon Liaison Unit, was the last IDF officer to exit Lebanon. A year later he was promoted to Major General and was appointed Commander of the IDF Ground Forces. Subsequently, he was appointed GOC Northern Command. In 2005 he was appointed as commander of the IDF Ground Forces Command. From 2007-2009 he served as the IDF Military Attache in the United States. In 2009 he was asked by the Minister of Defense and the Chief of the General staff to serve as the Deputy IDF Chief of General Staff, a position he filled until November 2010. During this period, Gantz implemented the Tefen multi-year plan in addition to leading other processes in the reserve forces, human resources, the IDF budget and numerous others. In February 2011, Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz was appointed to serve as the 20th Chief of the General Staff of the IDF, a position he held until February 2015. Gantz was an unexpected choice to be named as the IDFs chief of staff he was a compromise figure who was picked by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after two more favored candidates became mired in scandal. During his term as Chief of General Staff, Gantz commanded Operation Pillar of Defense, which opened with the assassination of mass murderer Ahmed Jabar. In July 2014, he commanded Operation Protective Edge, during which the offensive tunnels from the Gaza Strip were destroyed. The IDF was criticized for the hundreds of civilian casualties during those two wars, but Gantz defended himself by citing Hamass tactics of embedding in civilian areas and praised the IDFs efforts to avoid deaths. In late 2014, after 38 years in the IDF, Gantz completed his military service. Following his release, Gantz was involved in social activities and participated in various projects: he served as chairman the Public Advisory Board of NATAL Israel and as chairman of Yad David Ben-Gurion; he initiated and led the MadaNegev program, which exposes the children of Yeruham to the fields of science and technology, so that the program's graduates can enter the fields of robotics, technology, and innovation. In December 2018 Gantz established his own party, which he named the Israel Resilience Party (Hosen L'Yisrael), to run in the 2019 general elections. In January 2019, he announced an electoral alliance with former minister of defense and IDF Chief of Staff Moshe Ya'alon and his Telem Party. In February the two parties merged with Yesh Atid and created a united list known as the Blue and White Party (Kahol Lavan). Gantz was elected to the 21st Knesset in April 2019 as head of the Blue and White Party. Gantz is a graduate of the Command and Staff College and the National Security College, has a Bachelors degree in history from the Tel Aviv University, a masters degree in Political Science from the Haifa University and another Masters Degree in management of national resources from the NDU university in the United States. Gantz lives in Rosh HaAyin with his wife Revital, who runs the Nitzan Association's Parent Training Center, and his four children: Nadav, Noga, Nir and Noam. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russo-Ukraine War - 08 June 2024 - Day 836 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 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 analysis of imagery has identified the installation of eight barges on the southern side of the Kerch Bridge. Installation had begun by 10 May 24 and was completed by 22 May 24. These barges were placed by Russian forces in an attempt to defend the bridge and shipping channel, reducing the angles of approach for Ukrainian Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV). Previously installed barriers have been damaged by storms, reducing their effectiveness. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that 76 combat clashes have taken place so far. During the current day, Russian zagarbniki carried out 44 aviation strikes on the territory of Ukraine with the use of 52 CABs, carried out 481 kamikadze drone. Russians carried out more than 2,800 shelling on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements using different types of weapons. Ukrainian soldiers continue to give a break to the offensive actions of Russian occupiers. In the Kharkiv direction from the beginning of the day, four Russian attacks in the areas of Liptsiv, Glibokoye and Vovchansk. Eight attacks of Russian invaders in the areas of populated areas of Sinkivka, Pishchnya, Andriyivka, Grekivka and Makiyivka were repelled in the Kupiansky direction. The situation is tense - the battle near Nevsky continues. Defense forces are taking measures to stabilize the situation. For today in the direction of Russian forces lost 87 people killed and wounded, destroyed a combat armored vehicle, car and anti-tank missile complex. In the Lyman direction, Russian forces tried seven times to advance in the direction of settlements Nevske, Terni, Ivanivka, Torske and Dibrova. Six attacks repelled, the battle is ongoing in the Ivanivka area. The situation is controlled, the loss of Ukrainian positions is not allowed. In the Kramators komu direction, Ukrainian defenders stopped three Russian attempts to push out Ukrainian soldiers in the areas of Chasovoye Yar, Ivanivsky and Andriyivka. At the same time, the situation near Ivanivsky remains tense - the battle is ongoing. In the pokrovsky direction, Ukrainian grouping repelled 27 attacks of the occupiers. Twenty Russian assault attempts in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Evgenivka, Sokola, Novopokrovskog, Novoselivka First and Jasnobrodivka repelled. Seven more Russian attacks are ongoing. The situation has escalated. In particular, the zagarbniki continue to try to break through on the side of ocheretynogo on evgenivka and novooleksandrivka. Defense forces are taking measures to prevent the Russian enemy from advancing deep into Ukrainian territory. In the rest of the directions, there were no significant changes in the environment. Ukrainian defenders give a fiery impression, exhausting invaders across the line of combat confrontation. Yes, Ukrainian Air Force and Missile and Artillery units today inspected 21 personnel and military equipment concentration areas, control point, four PPOs, REB station and three Russian occupant radiolocation stations. The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that units of the Sever Group of Forces continued advancing to the depth of the enemy's defences. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of the AFU 57th Motorised Infantry Brigade and 125th Territorial Defence Brigade near Granov and Konstantinovka (Kharkov region). Six counter-attacks of the AFU 42nd Mechanised Brigade, 71st Jaeger Brigade, 82nd Air Assault Brigade, and 13th National Guard Brigade were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 180 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, three motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and two Bukovel-AD electronic warfare stations. Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 14th, 63rd, 116th mechanised brigades, and 117th Territorial Defence Brigade near Sinkovka, Petropavlovka (Kharkov region), Stelmakhovka and Chevonaya Dibrova (Lugansk People's Republic). Three attacks of the enemy's assault detachments were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 495 Ukrainian troops, two U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers, three motor vehicles, four U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzers, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, and one 122-mm D-30 howitzer. Units of the Yug Group of Forces improved the tactical situation along the front line and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 24th, 30th, 41st, 93rd, 115th mechanised brigades, 5th Assault Brigade, and 56th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Zalyznyanskoye, Grigorovka, Kalinin, Chasov Yar, and Krasnoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to more than 400 Ukrainian troops, one infantry fighting vehicle, four motor vehicles, one 152-mm D-20 howitzer, one 122-mm D-30 howitzer, and one U.S.-made 105-mm M119 howitzer. Two AFU field ammunition depots were destroyed. Units of the Tsentr Group of Forces improved the tactical situation and inflicted losses on formations of the AFU 23rd, 24th mechanised brigades, and 68th Jaeger Brigade near Yevgenovka, Semyonovka, and Umanskoye (Donetsk People's Republic). Five counter-attacks launched by assault detachments of the AFU 47th, 110th, and 118th mechanised brigades were repelled. The AFU losses amounted to up to 340 Ukrainian troops, two armoured fighting vehicles, two motor vehicles, one 155-mm M109 Paladin self-propelled artillery system, one U.S.-made 155-mm M777 howitzer, one 152-mm 2A65 Msta-B howitzer, and three 122-mm D-30 howitzers. Units of the Vostok Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 58th Motorised Infantry Brigade near Urozhaynoye (Donetsk People's Republic). The AFU losses amounted to up to 135 Ukrainian troops, five motor vehicles, and one 122-mm 2S1 Gvozdika self-propelled artillery system. Units of the Dnepr Group of Forces inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of the AFU 121st Territorial Defence Brigade and 23rd National Guard Brigade near Nikopol and Maryevka (Dnepropetrovsk region). The AFU losses amounted to up to 50 Ukrainian troops, two motor vehicles, one UK-made 155-mm AS-90 Braveheart self-propelled artillery system, and two 152-mm D-20 howitzers. Operational-Tactical Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, Missile Troops and Artillery of the Russian Groups of Forces engaged AFU manpower and hardware clusters in 104 areas during the day. Units of the Black Sea Fleet destroyed five uncrewed surface vehicles. Air defence units shot down one Mi-8 helicopter of the Ukrainian Air Force. In addition, four ATACMS operational-tactical missiles, seven HIMARS and Olkha MLRS projectiles, one Neptune anti-ship missile, and 71 unmanned aerial vehicles were destroyed. In total, 610 airplanes and 275 helicopters, 25,397 unmanned aerial vehicles, 528 air defence missile systems, 16,294 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,330 combat vehicles equipped with MLRS, 10,208 field artillery cannons and mortars, as well as 22,355 units of special military equipment have been destroyed during the special military operation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Xi meets Pakistani PM People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 08:58, June 08, 2024 BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Beijing on Friday. Pointing out that China and Pakistan are good neighbors linked by mountains and rivers, good friends who share faith and righteousness, good partners who help each other, and good brothers who share weal and woe, Xi said the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership had continuously deepened and enjoyed solid public support with a strong internal driving force and broad prospects for development. China stands ready to work with Pakistan to firmly support each other, strengthen cooperation, deepen strategic coordination, accelerate the building of an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future in the new era, and make greater contributions to regional peace, stability, development, and prosperity, Xi noted. Xi stressed that the key to the ever-strengthening ironclad friendship between China and Pakistan lies in mutual understanding, high trust, and firm support between the two sides. He thanked Pakistan for its long-term and firm support for China on issues related to China's core interests and major concerns. China will, as always, firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions, and in resolutely combating terrorism, he noted. Xi said that China is ready to promote the alignment of high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with Pakistan's development plans, carry out cooperation in agriculture, mining, and social livelihood in light of local conditions, make the high-quality development of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) go deeper and be more concrete, and help boost Pakistan's economic and social development. It is hoped that Pakistan will continue to create a safe, stable, and predictable business environment and earnestly guarantee the safety of Chinese personnel, projects, and institutions in Pakistan, Xi said. China is willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Pakistan in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, and other multilateral mechanisms, jointly promote an equal and orderly world multipolarization and an economic globalization that is inclusive and benefits all, focus on the development agenda, address security challenges, improve global governance, and safeguard the common interests of developing countries and international fairness and justice, he said. Shehbaz said that under the leadership of President Xi, China has made great achievements in poverty alleviation, anti-corruption and development, which have attracted worldwide attention. Pakistan highly appreciates and fully supports the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi, which have provided strategic guidance for solving the problems facing the world today and promoting the building of a more peaceful and better world, he said. He said the CPEC has strongly promoted Pakistan's national development and brought tangible benefits to the Pakistani people. He noted that Pakistan will learn from China's experience in governance, continue to work with China on high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and deepen practical cooperation in various fields. Shehbaz reiterated that no force can stop China's development and growth or shake the iron-clad friendship between Pakistan and China. He noted that Pakistan will continue to firmly support China's position on all issues concerning its core interests without hesitation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address China hopes U.S. will do something concrete for Africa's development: spokesperson People's Daily Online (Xinhua) 10:56, June 08, 2024 BEIJING, June 7 (Xinhua) -- China hopes the United States will contribute real money to and do something concrete for the development and revitalization of Africa, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday. Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks at a regular press briefing when asked to comment on U.S. President Joe Biden's negative comments on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Mao said the people of the BRI participating countries have the best say on the initiative. China has signed in excess of 200 Belt and Road cooperation documents with more than 150 countries and over 30 international organizations since the initiative was put forward over a decade ago. She noted that Belt and Road cooperation has brought tangible benefits to the people of participating countries and has been widely welcomed by the international community. Africa is one of the regions actively participating in the Belt and Road cooperation, Mao said. Thanks to the Belt and Road, many African countries have built their first highways, first sea bridges and first industrial parks, and Africa has seen the construction of its first disease control center with complete facilities, covering the whole continent, she added. "It is easy to criticize others in doing something, but the hard part is doing it better than others," Mao said. "We hope the United States will contribute real money to and do something concrete for the development and revitalization of Africa," Mao said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Modi's alliance officially elects him to be Indian PM for third term Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 9:06 AM India's Narendra Modi has been elected formally by members of his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to serve as prime minister for a rare and remarkable third consecutive term. Lawmakers from the alliance of 15 parties led by Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won 293 seats in the 543-member Lok Sabha (the lower house of parliament), voted unanimously for Modi to lead the coalition. "It is my good fortune that all of you from NDA have chosen me to lead," Modi said. "We have won the majority... but to run the country it is unanimity that is crucial...we will strive for unanimity." Modi later announced that he had received an invitation from President Droupadi Murmu to establish a government. "I want to assure the people of the country that in the 18th Lok Sabha also...we will work with the same pace, same commitment to fulfill aspirations of the people," he told reporters outside the president's palace. The NDA, comprising majorly of the BJP, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janata Dal (United) (JDU), the Lok Janashakti Party (LJP), the Shiv Sena, the Rashtra Lok Dal (RLD), and the Janata Dal (Secular) (JDS), praised Modi and expressed confidence in his leadership. "I am confident that whatever is left he will now complete it. We will be with him at every step," said Nitish Kumar, the chief minister of the eastern state of Bihar whose JDU party is the third largest in the NDA with 12 lawmakers. Despite the win, the BJP fell short of the 272 seats required for independent governance. Modi's party is shadowed by opposition Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) led by the country's oldest party, the Indian National Congress, which secured 232 seats. Coalition members have vowed to make changes in the policies that the BJP brought in during its last tenure. Observers and political analysts view the election results as the beginning of the downfall of Modi and the BJP. Modi's supporters credit him for transforming the country into an emerging global power since sweeping to power in 2014. His critics accuse him of eroding human rights, cracking down on freedom of the press and stoking hatred toward religious minorities. During the election campaign, Modi was accused of hate speech and peddling anti-Muslim tropes after describing Muslims as "infiltrators". "The results have shown that India has rejected this rhetoric from Modi and his people," said Hasan Salim Patel, a communications consultant and former planning editor at Al Jazeera. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address IRGC intelligence forces nab counter-revolutionary agent in northwestern Iran Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 5:42 PM The Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) intelligence forces have arrested an individual in Iran's northwestern province of Ardabil on charges of directing a disinformation campaign against the Islamic establishment, and manipulation of the public opinion. The official IRNA news agency said the foreign-based individual, whose identity was not immediately available, had manipulated the minds of ordinary people through a disinformation assault on the Islamic Revolution, spread lies, desecrated the national Iranian flag, participated in anti-Iran rallies aboard and colluded with monarchists against the Islamic Republic. The report added that the IRGC intelligence forces managed to hoax the counter-revolutionary agent into the country and capture him in Ardabil Province. He has been handed over to judicial authorities for legal action. The development comes only a few days after Iranian intelligence forces identified and arrested an individual in the same province on charges of espionage for the Israeli regime's Mossad spy agency. The fugitive was wanted by Iran's Intelligence Ministry, and was captured upon an order from the Prosecutor's Office of Ardabil Province. According to the Media Bureau of the provincial Prosecutor's Office, the Mossad agent was in close contact with high-profile Israeli intelligence officers through social media, and was gathering critical information for them under the guise of a news editor. He had traveled to several provinces in the hope of taking refuge there and finally leaving the country, before he was identified and captured during a surprise operation in Ardabil Province. Mossad reportedly decided to immediately close his user accounts and delete related information once the news about his arrest emerged. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Iran's judiciary alleges activist has ties to Israeli spy agency By VOA Persian Service June 08, 2024 Following the arrest of Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a literary editor, activist and former political prisoner, the prosecutor accused him of having "ties with high-ranking Mossad officers." Jalal Afaghi, the prosecutor in the northwestern city of Ardabil, made the accusation without directly naming Shanbehzadeh. Afaghi said the detained individual stands accused of "spying for high-ranking Mossad officers," "insulting religious sanctities," and "committing numerous acts of blasphemy." Without providing any evidence, the Ardabil prosecutor asserted that Shanbehzadeh had "contact with high-ranking Mossad officers via social media." After news broke of the editor's arrest on Tuesday, his family voiced concern about the allegations leveled against him. The Shanbehzadeh family said Thursday in a statement they were concerned for his well-being because of the seriousness of the charges he is facing. "Our primary concern is for Hossein's health, as we are unaware of the arresting authority and his place of detention," the family said. His family said the civil activist is being denied access to a lawyer and contact with his family. Abbas Shanbehzadeh had previously voiced concerns about the "ramifications of these grave accusations" against his brother, Hossein. The Ardabil prosecutor said that a legal case had been filed against this social media activist in Tehran's prosecutor's office, and based on judicial delegation, he was pursued in Ardabil province. Hossein Shanbehzadeh was arrested for adding a single period in response to a note without punctuation on Ali Khamenei's page on the social media platform X, where Shanbehzadeh uses a pseudonym. Users liked this simple period more than twice as much as the post by the leader of the Islamic Republic. The Ardabil prosecutor alleged that Shanbehzadeh intended to leave the country by passing through Ardabil and Bostanabad and ultimately reaching Urmia, which is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province. This is despite the fact that Shanbehzadeh had shared details of his trip to Ardabil, including articles and photos, on his X social media account before his arrest. Shanbehzadeh is known for writing about social and literary topics, and sharing some of his experiences from the time he spent in prison, including being flogged. In recent months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has further intensified its pressure on civil and political activists. Earlier, Pouran Nazemi, a human rights activist in Iran, shared with Voice of America the escalating pressure imposed by the Islamic Republic on the families of victims, prisoners, and political and civil activists. She said the government shows no inclination toward reform or withdrawal. Nazemi said the security pressures exerted by the Islamic Republic on activists a regardless of whether they are environmental, civil, or political activists a have reached unprecedented levels. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Israeli minister may exit from Netanyahu's coalition Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 12:03 AM Israel's war cabinet minister Benny Gantz may declare his departure from the Benjamin Netanyahu regime during a press conference, according to reports. Gantz, the leader of the centrist National Unity party, will reportedly meet with reporters on Saturday evening and announce his decision. Polls show that Gantz has a solid chance to unseat Netanyahu in case the regime crashes and early elections are called. Gantz's party recently submitted a bill to dissolve the Israeli parliament and called for fresh elections. Netanyahu's extremist coalition partners, so-called security minister Itamar Ben Gvir and finance minister Bezalel Smotrich, threatened to break up the coalition should Israel stop bombing Palestinians in Gaza. Gantz's move would likely destabilize the Netanyahu regime and exacerbate the political crisis in Israel. Gantz is seen by the US administration and many other Western and Arab governments as less crazy than Netanyahu. His departure is likely to increase US and international pressure on Netanyahu to reach a ceasefire agreement with the government in Gaza. 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. The countries proposed another proposal last month enabling cessation of the Israeli aggression and release of the rest of the captives. Hamas agreed to the proposal, which was spurned by the Israeli regime. Israel has waged the atrocious onslaught against the Gaza Strip, targeting hospitals, residences, and houses of worship since October 7. At least 36,731 Palestinians have been killed, most of them women and children, and another 83,309 individuals have sustained injuries. More than 1.7 million people have been internally displaced during the war as well. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Arakan Army treatment of Rohingya minority poses challenge to Myanmar opposition The Rakhine force, the most effective rebel army fighting the junta, vents its grievances on the battlefield. A commentary by Zachary Abuza 2024.06.08 -- Evidence of Arakan Army culpability in mass arson attacks on Rohingya homes in western Myanmar's Buthidaung township - where satellite imagery has confirmed that more than 400 homes were burnt to the ground - poses a serious challenge to the anti-junta opposition. While such attacks have ceased since the Arakan Army captured the majority Rohingya town, the rebels' double-speak both weakens the prospects of an inclusive federal democracy, and is very shortsighted for the ethnic army's leadership. As it is said, the truth is the first casualty in war, and so far here's what we know happened: On May 18, the Arakan Army captured the last remaining four light infantry battalions and two border guard police camps in Buthidaung, following a multi-month siege. Immediately, over 400 homes in Rohingya residential neighborhoods were set ablaze. There is a chance of course that some of the fires were set by the retreating junta military, who had waged a genocidal campaign against the Rohingya in 2017-18. The military seems determined to stoke inter-communal tensions as it retreats from northern Rakhine state, and "false flag" operations are part of the military's modus operandi. In a bizarre irony, the army has been conscripting Rohingya men into its depleted ranks to fight the Arakan Army, while at the same time, relying on radical groups, such as the Rohingya Solidarity Organization (RSO) and the Arakan Rohingya Solidarity Army (ARSA), operating in the refugee camps in Bangladesh to recruit fighters. Despite the military's own culpability in ethnic cleansing, they are trying to paint themselves as defenders of the Rohingya community, as the Arakan Army settles old scores. If the Arakan Army continues such attacks, they are making an alliance between the military and radical Rohingya groups including ARSA and the RSO, inevitable. While this is not surprising, it is exceptionally short-sighted in its thinking and undermines the effort to defeat Myanmar's military and establish a federal democracy. This should not come as a surprise. The Arakan Army's position on the Rohingya has been two faced. Its leader, Tun Mrat Naing, has a decade-long track record of referring to them as "Bengalis", parroting the Myanmar military's own term for the Rohingya. The arson attacks have also increased tensions between the Arakan Army leadership and the National Unity Government (NUG). Following the military coup in February 2021, the Arakan Army made a very important, if not surprising, statement in support of the NUG position that the Rohingya were a persecuted minority who were entitled to full citizenship, and that the one million refugees in Bangladesh should be repatriated. More intransigent after military gains But with military gains since the Three Brotherhood Alliance launched its offensive on October 27, 2023, the Arakan Army has become far more intransigent. Its leadership has signaled this change to their constituents, whether in social media or simply by greenlighting attacks by local units. The Arakan Army's military gains are significant. They now claim to have seized 180 military camps and taken full control of eight of Rakhine's 17 townships. While they have not moved on the state capital of Sittwe or the Chinese special economic zone in Kyaukphyu, they are controlling the roads in and out of them. Should the Arakan Army complete their capture of Maungdaw, they will have driven the military out of the entire northern region of Rakhine. While the ethnic Rakhine army has stated their intention to liberate the entire state, for now they are trying to control the three main entry points into the northern part of the state in order to consolidate their power. The military has scant deployments in southern Rakhine, meaning that the Arakan Army's takeover of the entire state is not unthinkable. The Arakan Army has proven itself to be amongst the most effective fighting forces among the ethnic armed organizations. Their battlefield advances have spread the military thin and not allowed the junta to redeploy troops to Kachin, Kayah or northern Shan states, where regime forces have suffered serious setbacks. Likewise, in eastern Myanmar, though opposition forces had to give up the border town of Myawaddy, the military has not been able to regain full control of the key Asia Highway. In short, military success has given the Arakan Army the opportunity to advance their short-term and parochial political interests at the expense of the national agenda to defeat the military. The Arakan Army's stated commitments to the anti junta opposition's long-term political goals, as stated by the NUG, should always be taken with a grain of salt. They are the only ethnic army that has flirted with independence, and their authoritarian leanings show they are hostile to democracy and any political system that would force them to share power. Prejudice with huge implications The United League of Arakan, the AA's political arm, issued a statement on May 20 that denied any culpability for the Rohingya village torchings, apportioning the blame solely on the military. Its statements since then have been largely dismissive and continue to deny the attacks, while criticizing media reporting on civilian casualties. But evidence of their culpability is mounting, underscoring the reality that the Arakan Army does not like the Rohingya population, nor does it want to see large-scale resettlement from Bangladesh. The Arakan Army's politics capitalize on Rakhine Buddhist prejudice against the Muslim community. The Arakan Army leadership is under intense pressure to renounce any violence towards the Rohingya. But the reality is that many of their troops were involved in the communal violence against them. This is simply a return to their default setting. The Arakan Army's position has larger implications. While they might have moved on from the 2017 ethnic cleansing, the international community, including the United States, has not. Earmarked in the recent $121 million in U.S. support for Myanmar, are still funds to support the quest for accountability for abuses against Rohingya. The continued persecution of the Rohingya will undermine future international aid and support for Myanmar's opposition in general, and cyclone-ravaged Rakhine in particular. What is so frustrating is that Arakan Army chief Tun Mrat Naing is arguably the most charismatic and competent of the ethnic army leaders in Myanmar. Were he to better coordinate his efforts with the NUG and wholeheartedly endorse their political aims, he would be a commanding figure in a post-conflict Myanmar. His parochialism augers poorly for a post-conflict Myanmar and puts the NUG in a very awkward position. The NUG's statement in response to the mid-May arson attacks was exceedingly diplomatic, never referencing the Arakan Army and largely pinning the blame on the junta military for stoking communal violence. But behind the scenes the frustration is clearly mounting. With such heavy strategic implications to this sectarianism, the Arakan Army has to get its priorities straight and prove themselves as responsible stakeholders. Zachary Abuza is a professor at the National War College in Washington and an adjunct at Georgetown University. The views expressed here are his own and do not reflect the position of the U.S. Department of Defense, the National War College, Georgetown University or Radio Free Asia. 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 June 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Statement between the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and the People's Republic of China Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs 1. At the invitation of H.E. Li Qiang, Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, H.E. Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan paid an official visit to China from June 4 to June 8, 2024. 2. During the visit, H.E. Xi Jinping, President of the People's Republic of China met with Prime Minister Sharif. Prime Minister Sharif held talks with Premier Li Qiang of the State Council, and met with H.E. Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress. The two sides had candid and in-depth exchanges of views on the entire spectrum of bilateral relations as well as regional situation and international landscape and reached extensive consensus on further strengthening the Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promoting practical cooperation in various areas, and on international and regional issues of mutual interest. 3. The two sides agreed that Pakistan and China are All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partners and ironclad friends, and the two countries have always understood, trusted and supported each other. Since the establishment of diplomatic ties 73 years ago, Pakistan-China relations have stood the test of changing international environment and have been as solid as a rock, and as unshakable as a mountain. The Chinese side reiterated that the Pakistan-China relationship is a priority in its foreign relations. The Pakistani side underscored that the Pakistan-China relationship is the cornerstone of its foreign policy. The two sides enjoy unbreakable strategic mutual trust, fruitful practical cooperation in various fields, and maintain close coordination on international and regional affairs. The two sides would continue to view the relationship between Pakistan and China from a strategic height and a long-term perspective, take effective measures to safeguard the common interests of Pakistan and China, promote socio-economic development and well-being of the two peoples, work together to jointly uphold regional peace, stability, development and prosperity, and accelerate the building of an even closer Pakistan-China Community with a Shared Future in the New Era. 4. The Chinese side congratulated Pakistan on holding successful general elections, and expressed best wishes for the new Pakistani government in leading the Pakistani people in their endeavors to achieve socio-economic development, prosperity, unity, stability and security. The two sides will explore avenues to deepen experience-sharing in state governance and synergize their development strategies. 5. The Pakistani side spoke highly of China's major development achievements in the New Era, and expressed good wishes to the Chinese people that under the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China, China will realize the second centenary goal of building China into a great modern socialist country in every dimension. The Pakistani side spoke highly of and supports China's all-round efforts to advance the building of a strong country and achieve national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization, believes that the Chinese path to modernization provides a new option and practical solution for developing countries to achieve independent development. 6. The two sides reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests. Both sides stressed that the authority of the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no dispute or challenge. Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China's territory, and that Pakistan firmly supports the Chinese government's every effort to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of "Taiwan independence." Pakistan firmly supports China on issues concerning Xinjiang, Xizang, Hong Kong and the South China Sea. The Chinese side reiterated its steadfast support for Pakistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, national independence and territorial integrity, in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and in its efforts to safeguard national security, stability, development and prosperity, in firmly combating terrorism, and in playing a bigger role in regional and international affairs. 7. The two sides strongly condemned the terrorist attack on the Chinese convoy of the Dasu Hydropower Project in Pakistan on March 26, 2024, and emphasized that no attempt to undermine Pakistan-China friendship and cooperation will ever succeed. The Chinese side appreciated the Pakistani side's active pursuit and conduct of the investigation and its findings, and hoped that the Pakistani side would continue to make every effort to hunt down any perpetrators and make sure they receive deserved severe punishment. The Pakistani side was committed to enhancing security forces deployment and taking more effective security measures, and making all-out efforts to ensure the safety of Chinese personnel, projects and institutions in Pakistan. The two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a "zero tolerance" attitude, and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and security through a comprehensive approach. Calling on the international community to strengthen counter-terrorism cooperation, the two sides expressed their firm opposition to double standards on counter-terrorism, and opposed the politicization and instrumentalization of counter-terrorism. The two sides stood ready to work with the international community to strengthen multilateral counter-terrorism cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations. 8. The two sides recognized that the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has been a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative. Since the launch of CPEC, the two sides have adhered to the principle of "planning together, building together, and benefiting together," and promoted the construction of CPEC to achieve fruitful results, which has changed the development landscape of Pakistan, benefited its people's well-being, and promoted the integrated development of Pakistan and China. After the successful first decade of CPEC, the two sides are committed to carrying out the eight major steps for supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, forging an "upgraded version" of CPEC by jointly building a growth corridor, a livelihood-enhancing corridor, an innovation corridor, a green corridor and an open corridor, aligning with Pakistan's 5Es Framework based on Exports, E-Pakistan, Environment, Energy, and Equity & Empowerment to better benefit the two countries and their peoples, working together to build CPEC into an exemplary project of high-quality building of Belt and Road cooperation. 9. Expressing satisfaction at the holding of the 13th CPEC's Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting (online) on May 24, 2024, the two sides agreed to expeditiously implement consensus achieved by the JCC. 10. The two sides reaffirmed that upgradation of ML-I is an important project under the CPEC framework and is of strategic significance to Pakistan's socio-economic development. The two sides agreed to implement the common understanding of the leaders of the two countries, actively explore advancing the project in a "phased manner" and start working on financing modalities. 11. The two sides recognized that the Karakoram Highway (Raikot-Thakot) realignment project is of great significance for the smooth operation of the only land-based channel between Pakistan and China. The two sides reviewed with satisfaction the important progress made in the preliminary work of the project, and signed the framework agreement of the project during this visit. 12. The two sides believed that the Khunjerab-Sost pass plays an important role in promoting trade and people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China. The two sides agreed to advance upgradation of the inspection infrastructure of the Khunjerab-Sost pass so as to realize the all year-round function of the Khunjerab-Sost pass at an early date. 13. Recognizing the significance of Gwadar Port as an important node in cross-regional connectivity, the two sides were satisfied that the New Gwadar International Airport will soon be finished, and reiterated the need to speed up the development of the auxiliary infrastructure of the Gwadar Port in order to fully realize the potential of the coastal city, especially as a transshipment hub with a shipyard. 14. The two sides put great emphasis on industry cooperation under the framework of high-quality CPEC development. The two sides signed the Action Plan for Framework Agreement on Industrial Cooperation under CPEC to strengthen industrial cooperation in various areas suited to their local conditions. China reiterated its commitment to Pakistan's industrialization, and will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan's Special Economic Zones in accordance with the market and commercial principles. Pakistan agreed to optimize its business environment and policy framework to further facilitate Chinese investment. The two sides reiterated that CPEC is an open and inclusive platform for win-win cooperation, and welcomed third parties to actively participate in the CPEC cooperation priority areas such as industry, agriculture, ICT, science and technology and mining. 15. Recognizing that mining is an important breakthrough area for industrial cooperation, both sides agreed to strengthen long-term planning for mining cooperation, promote the implementation of the Agreement to Strengthen Mining and Industrial Cooperation under the CPEC Framework collectively, and take actions such as geological survey, joint geology and minerals research and talent training. The two sides expressed their willingness to actively encourage Chinese companies to invest in the mining industry of Pakistan, and strengthen the planning of mining industrial parks, including downstream mineral processing. 16. The Chinese side expressed its willingness to strengthen cooperation with Pakistan in such areas as offshore oil and gas resources, and natural gas hydrate. The Chinese side would encourage Chinese companies to actively participate in the development of offshore oil and gas blocks of Pakistan. 17. Both sides agreed that agricultural cooperation between the two countries enjoys a bright future. The two sides would carry out practical cooperation for modernizing agriculture in Pakistan in areas such as seed technology, crop cultivation, drip irrigation, prevention and control of animal and plant diseases, agricultural mechanization, production capacity cooperation, and agricultural technology exchanges. 18. Both sides were satisfied with the outcomes reached in the second meeting under the framework of the CPEC Joint Working Group on Information Technology Industry. The two sides are willing to enhance policy coordination in related areas, and promote experience sharing and talent training. The two sides agreed to strengthen development of the Pakistan-China digital information channel, and promote the integration of information and communication technology infrastructure and develop an innovation corridor through Pakistan. 19. The two sides were satisfied with the progress in energy cooperation between Pakistan and China. The two sides reaffirmed the significance of enhancing bilateral energy cooperation, expressed commitment to further strengthening collaboration in clean energy sector,and encouraged Chinese companies to engage in hydropower and other relevant projects based on market principles and commercial operations and achieve win-win outcomes. While appreciating China's contributions to addressing power shortages in Pakistan, both sides agreed to launch a new phase of energy cooperation, by modernizing production, transmission and distribution systems to reduce line and other losses. 20. China was committed to further implementing more "small yet smart" livelihood programs in Pakistan. The two sides agreed to promptly implement post-disaster reconstruction aid projects aided by China in Pakistan at an early date. The two sides welcomed CIDCA's enhanced contributions to complementing the efforts of the Government of Pakistan in promoting socio-economic development and creating further livelihood opportunities for the people of Pakistan as envisaged under Global Development Initiative (GDI). 21. Under the framework of the Phase II of Pakistan-China Free Trade Agreement, both sides agree to conduct further consultation and actively explore concessional arrangements for mutual benefit and win-win outcomes. 22. The two sides agreed to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in the financial sector and stand ready to support each other in regional and international multilateral financial forums. The leaders expressed satisfaction on the completion of the report of Pakistan's Industrial Landscape and Suggestion to Improve its Export Capacity, and expected the report, as reference would contribute to Pakistan's industrial and export capacity. The Pakistani government identified 13 priority sectors for enhancing export oriented industry and encouraged Chinese top companies in these sectors to make investment in Pakistan. The Chinese side welcomed Pakistan to expand exports to China. Both sides also agreed to leverage the existing and new sister city agreements for better promoting economic integration and attracting investment in Pakistan in the priority sectors. Both sides agreed to further strengthen business to business exchanges with facilitation and preference. 23. The two sides recognized that collaboration in the sector of science and technology plays an important role in promoting practical cooperation between Pakistan and China. Both sides agreed to further expand inter-governmental cooperation in scientific and technological sector, and elevate collaboration among the scientific and technological communities of both countries in areas such as joint research, technology transfer, technical training, and personnel exchanges, as well as strengthening their partnership in emerging technologies including communication infrastructure, 5G, big data, and cloud computing. The two sides were willing to strengthen policy coordination in the field of artificial intelligence, deepen relevant practical cooperation, and jointly promote the development of artificial intelligence technology. The Pakistani side welcomes the Global AI Governance Initiative announced by President Xi Jinping, and China's endeavor to increase the right of developing countries in global AI governance. The two sides agreed that the international community should uphold the principle of attaching equal importance to development and security, and work together to build an open, fair and effective Al governance mechanism through dialogue, consultation and equal cooperation, so that Al technology can play a positive role in benefiting people of all countries and propel the development of human civilization. The two sides believed that the expansion and enhancement of space cooperation between the two countries will serve as a booster for Pakistan to strengthen its scientific and technological capabilities, drive economic growth, and safeguard national security. The two sides are willing to continue to deepen space cooperation for peaceful use based on equality and mutual benefit. 24. China was committed to continuing its support for Pakistan in organizing and participating in cultural and tourism exchanges in China. Both sides reaffirmed their determination to enhance practical cooperation in the fields of culture and tourism. The two sides placed great emphasis on and were committed to further enhancing bilateral exchanges and cooperation in areas such as education, sports, broadcasting, media, and think tanks, in order to contribute to the continuation of the longstanding friendship between the two countries, the promotion of their respective rich cultures, and the advancement of exchanges and dialogue among civilizations. The two sides were committed to establishing more favorable conditions for the exchange of personnel between the two countries. 25. The two sides attached great importance to climate change, expressed their commitment to actively implementing policies related to climate change, enhancing communication and coordination in the multilateral process of addressing climate change, and jointly upholding multilateralism and solidarity among developing countries. China reaffirmed its commitment to continue providing support and assistance to Pakistan and other developing countries in addressing climate change and mitigating the adverse impacts of extreme weather events. China was willing to collaborate with Pakistan in promoting the establishment of the Belt and Road International Cooperation Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and Emergency Management. China welcomed Pakistan to collaborate in establishing a fire information sharing liaison mechanism, and expressed willingness to cooperate with Pakistan to further enhance its disaster management capacity. 26. The two sides expressed satisfaction that the armed forces of the two countries maintained a high-level of strategic mutual trust, developed close coordination and promoted cooperation in the long term. The two sides underscored that stronger strategic defence and security cooperation between Pakistan and China plays an irreplaceable and critical role in maintaining peace and stability and ensuring strategic balance of the region. The two sides agreed to maintain high-level military-to-military visits and exchanges and promote cooperation in areas of joint training and exercises and military technology. 27. Both sides underscored the importance of maintaining peace and stability in South Asia, the need for resolution of all outstanding disputes, and their opposition to any unilateral action. The Pakistani side briefed the Chinese side on the latest developments of the situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The Chinese side reiterated that the Jammu and Kashmir dispute is left over from history, and should be properly and peacefully resolved in accordance with the UN Charter, relevant UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements. 28. The two sides jointly advocated an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. Both sides opposed hegemony, domineering and bullying, exclusionist approaches, opposed power politics, as well as unilateralism in all forms. The two sides reaffirmed their commitment to jointly upholding the international system with the United Nations as its core, the international order underpinned by international law, and the basic norms governing international relations underpinned by the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter, adhere to true multilateralism, work for a just and more equitable international order, safeguard the peace and stability of the region and the world. The two sides agreed to further strengthen communication and coordination in the United Nations, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and other multilateral platforms. The two sides agreed that the thought to build a community with a shared future for mankind proposed by President Xi Jinping, has guided the progress of human society, enriched the practice of global governance, and opened up a new path for the handling of international relations in a proper way. The two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. Both sides will jointly focus on development agenda, respond to security challenges, carry forward Asian values and build an open and inclusive regional architecture, so as to benefit the two peoples, maintain regional peace and prosperity and make greater contribution to peace and progress of humanity. The Chinese side reaffirmed that China always remains a firm member of developing countries. China is willing to work together with Pakistan and other developing countries, following the principles of mutual respect, equality, mutual trust, win-win cooperation, solidarity and coordination, to jointly embark on the path of fair, open, comprehensive and innovative development, promote development and prosperity of most developing countries, and strive to achieve the goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations. 29. The two sides agreed to strengthen communication and coordination on the Afghanistan issue. Both sides called for concerted efforts of the international community to positively support Afghanistan in properly addressing challenges in such areas as humanitarianism and economic development, encourage the interim government of Afghanistan to build an inclusive political framework, adopt moderate policies, pursue good-neighborliness, and firmly combat terrorism, including not allowing its territory to be used for terrorist acts. Both sides agreed to play a constructive role in helping Afghanistan to achieve stable development and integrate into the international community. 30. The two sides reiterated that the fundamental way out of the current crisis in Gaza lies in the Two-State solution and the establishment of an independent State of Palestine. The resolution adopted by the UN Security Council is legally binding, and should be enforced effectively to achieve an unconditional and lasting ceasefire immediately. The two sides called on the international community for increasing political input into the Palestinian question with a greater sense of urgency, stepping up efforts to facilitate the early resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel, and strive for enduring peace. 31. During the visit, the two sides signed 23 agreements and MOUs covering cooperation on CPEC, agriculture, infrastructure, industrial cooperation, inter-governmental development assistance, market regulation, surveying and mapping, media, film, etc. 32. Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif expressed appreciation to the Chinese government and people for the warm hospitality extended to him and the Pakistani delegation, and invited Chinese leaders to visit Pakistan and attend the 23rd Meeting of the Council of the Heads of Government of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Member States. The Chinese leaders appreciated the invitation. The two sides agreed to maintain communication on that through diplomatic channels. Islamabad 08 June 2024 105/2024 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Kinmen government urges restraint amid China drone incident ROC Central News Agency 06/08/2024 10:36 PM Taipei, June 8 (CNA) Kinmen County government on Saturday urged the Chinese authorities to stop its citizens from flying civilian drones and dropping flyers or other unidentified objects across the Taiwan-controlled islands. In a news release, Kinmen government condemned the drone operator for carrying out such actions and said it has asked the local police to investigate the case. Its statement comes after a Chinese TikTok channel livestreamed for two days in a row videos of a drone claiming to be intruding into Kinmen airspace and dropping unidentified objects, including leaflets, in the island's Mashan area. Such actions not only could have caused injury to people on the ground but also seriously endangered aviation safety, the Kinmen government said, asking that Chinese authorities to stop its citizens from engaging in such irregular behavior. The local police spotted an unidentified drone flying over the county's Police Bureau in the afternoon, but when officers were about to use their jamming guns to bring down the drone, it quickly flew in the direction of Xiaoximen and Houhu, Kinmen government said. Separately Saturday, the Kinmen Defense Command said it closely monitored the situation and the military was ready to carry out necessary countermeasures in accordance with standard operating procedures. Meanwhile, the command said the military reviewed the videos and found that the Chinese drone did not fly near a military base on Friday. (By Hung Hsueh-kuang and Ko Lin) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan ROC Ministry of National Defense 2024/06/08 PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan 1. Dateis 6 to 6 a.m. (UTC+8) Friday to Saturday, Jun. 7-8 2. PLA activitiesis 13 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels, and 4 CCG vessels operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 6 of the aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwestern and eastern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and coastal missile systems in response to the detected activities. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine fires drones inside southern Russia after gaining NATO go-ahead Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 2:38 PM Ukraine has fired drones inside southern Russia after obtaining NATO's go-ahead. Russia's North Ossetia region was targeted with Ukrainian drones for the first time ever on Saturday. Russian officials said three drones aiming for a military airfield near the town of Mozdokwere were shot down in the attack. "The attack was foiled by the Russian defense ministry's air defense forces. Minor damage and fires were recorded. No one was injured," North Ossetia governor Sergei Menyailo said. Menyailo added, "All services have been put on high alert. For the safety of citizens, we have decided to cancel all mass events in Mozdoksky district." Till last month, US-led Western suppliers of arms and ammo to Ukraine wanted Kiev not to use the weaponry to strike targets inside Russia and Kiev's attempts to hit targets on Russian territory were indiscreet. However, US President Joe Biden gave Kiev permission to fire long-range missiles supplied by the Americans at targets inside Russia. On Friday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg reiterated during a visit to new member Sweden that Ukraine had the military alliance's go-ahead to strike targets inside Russia. "There is no question that Ukraine has the right to hit targets on Russian territory." Stoltenberg claimed international law gave Ukraine the permission to attack military targets inside Russia to defend itself. "Ukraine has the right to self defense," he told a news conference with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson at a military base near Stockholm. The Kremlin said this week that Western nations supplying Ukraine with weapons to strike Russian territory will have to face Russia's response. Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Moscow could "act the same way" as the Western alliance by arming the West's enemies and inciting them to fight. Moscow launched its special military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region in 2022 to stop NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was pursuing an "aggressive line" against Russia. Western nations responded by slapping economic sanction on Russia and flooding Ukrainian forces with huge shipments of weapons and ammunition to fight Russian troops. Russia has repeatedly warned the US-led NATO alliance a continued supply of Western arms and military equipment for the Ukrainian military would only prolong the war, wasting more lives and resources. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Macron slams 'pacifists', 'spirit of defeat' on Ukraine war Iran Press TV Saturday, 08 June 2024 9:19 AM French President Emmanuel Macron has lambasted what he called the "camp of pacifists" and the "spirit of defeat" over the Ukraine war, vowing that "capitulators" will fail to end Ukrainian resistance. The French leader made the remarks during a joint press conference with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, more than 25 months after Russia waged a war against its ex-Soviet republic neighbor. "We know this camp of pacifists. It is the one of capitulators. It's the spirit of defeat. We are not like this," Macron said. He said "capitulation of the side that was attacked" could not bring peace in the conflict. "We are for peace in line with international law, but which recognizes the legitimate right of a people to resist when it is attacked. This is the only peace that counts. So the pressure we are exerting is on Russia," Macron added. In February 2022, Moscow launched its special military operation in eastern Ukraine's Donbas region to stop NATO's eastward expansion after warning that the US-led military alliance was pursuing an "aggressive line" against Russia. The West responded by imposing waves of harsh sanctions against Russia and pouring advanced arms and military hardware into Ukraine. Macron said Paris wanted to "finalize" the creation of a coalition of military instructors for Kiev in the coming days. "We will use the days to come to finalize the largest possible coalition to implement Ukraine's demand," he said. Russian authorities have warned that French instructors would become a "legitimate target" for Moscow. Macron's rhetoric jarried with Zelensky's relatively pacifist tone ahead of a peace summit which is due to be held in Switzerland later this month. "It is very important to have a fair and lasting peace. Not for an hour, not for a month, not for a year. Preferably forever," the Ukrainian leader said. The development came as NATO foreign ministers gathered in the Czech capital of Prague to prepare more arms and ammo for Kiev and decide whether to remove restrictions stopping Ukraine from using the weapons, notably long-range missiles, to strike targets on Russian soil. Russia has repeatedly warned that a continued supply of Western arms and military equipment for the Ukrainian military would only prolong the war. Macron said, "France continues to support Ukraine in all areas including on the European level by seeking to have the effective launch of membership negotiations by the end of the month." He also stressed that France wanted an "irreversible path" to NATO membership for Ukraine. Russia has time and again warned Ukraine against membership in NATO, calling the move a "purely destabilizing" measure. It has also warned the US-led military alliance against its further expansion towards the borders of the Russian Federation. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address During Paris Visit, Biden Warns That Putin Is 'Not Going To Stop At Ukraine By RFE/RL June 08, 2024 U.S. President Joe Biden, in Paris on June 8 to meet with French leader Emmanuel Macron, restated his "strong" support for Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion and warned that the Kremlin will not stop at Ukraine should it succeed with its aggression there. Russian President Vladimir "Putin is not going to stop at Ukraine.... All of Europe will be threatened. We are not going to let that happen," Biden said, standing alongside Macron. "The United States is standing strong with Ukraine. We will not -- I say it again -- walk away." Macron on June 8 hosted Biden in a state visit meant to highlight their strong partnership on global security issues. Macron told Biden in front of reporters: "I thank you, Mr. President, for being the president of the world's No. 1 power but doing it with the loyalty of a partner who likes and respects the Europeans." Biden was received in Paris with pomp, and the two presidents laid wreaths at a monument honoring unknown fallen soldiers. They also met with World War II veterans. The welcome ceremony kicked off at Paris's landmark Arc de Triomphe. The presidents and first ladies then headed toward Elysee Palace in a parade procession, where they will have a working lunch. Biden has been in France since June 5 and, along with Macron, attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6 in Normandy, before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy the following day. In his D-Day address on June 7, Biden sought to rally for the defense of democracy at home and abroad. "As we gather here today, it's not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery that day June 6, 1944," Biden said. "It's to listen to the echo of their voices. To hear them. Because they are summoning us. They're asking us what will we do. They're not asking us to scale these cliffs. They're asking us to stay true to what America stands for." In Biden's meeting with Zelenskiy -- their first since he signed legislation authorizing $61 billion in military aid for Ukraine -- the U.S. president announced a new $225 million package of ammunition shipments, including rockets, mortars, artillery rounds, and air-defense missiles. Meanwhile, Macron told a joint news conference with Zelenskiy on June 7 that he was finalizing what he described as the "largest possible coalition" of military instructors for Ukraine. Macron said Ukrainian pilots would start receiving training in the summer to use French-made Mirage 2000 fighter jets, which Paris has vowed to transfer to Kyiv. Ukraine's top commander said last week that he had signed paperwork allowing French military instructors to soon access Ukrainian training centers. Russia responded by saying they would be a "legitimate target" for Russian armed forces. Kyiv has been pushing Europe to increase military support in recent weeks after Russia began gaining ground on the battlefield, particularly in Ukraine's eastern Kharkiv region. However, White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters in a conference call on June 7 that because of a recent infusion of U.S. aid, the Ukrainians have been able to "thwart Russian advances," particularly around Kharkiv. Putin said earlier on June 7 in St. Petersburg that Russia is "ready for talks" with conditions, including taking into account the "realities of today" -- an apparent reference to Russia's illegal annexation of four regions in southeastern Ukraine and Crimea. The Kremlin leader claimed, however, that Europe is "defenseless" due to a lack of an early warning system. He said Russia has "many more" tactical nuclear weapons than there are on the European continent, "even if the United States brings theirs over." With reporting by AFP and the BBC Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/france-us-presidents-meet- ukraine/32984185.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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine and the EU Held Another Round of Negotiations on a Security Agreement President of Ukraine 8 June 2024 - 20:25 According to the instructions of the President of Ukraine and the Head of the Presidential Office, Deputy Head of the Presidential Office Ihor Zhovkva held another round of talks with Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence of the European External Action Service Charles Fries on the EU's security commitments. Today's round of talks marked another milestone in the implementation of the G7 Joint Declaration of Support for Ukraine and the preparations for the conclusion of a security agreement between Ukraine and the EU. The negotiating teams thoroughly discussed the text of the draft agreement and approved the algorithm of further actions for the near future. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We Have Already Reached Agreements with Partners on Additional Air Defense Systems for Ukraine - Address by the President of Ukraine President of Ukraine 8 June 2024 - 20:17 Dear Ukrainians! A few summaries of the day. First, the front. Today I spoke with the Commander-in-Chief - overall, about the situation. A significant outcome is that the Russian army has failed to execute their Kharkiv operation. We are currently restraining them to the best of our ability, destroying Russian units that enter our land and terrorize the Kharkiv region. The direction is reinforced. And it will be reinforced even more. There was also a report on the Donetsk directions, where the situation is the most difficult. We are also working to ensure more reserves for our army. Now, thanks to negotiations and meetings in France, we have some new solutions for Ukrainian defense - both from France and the United States. Thank you, friends! Progress has also been made in artillery - including the production of 155-caliber shells in Ukraine, and we are preparing a new manufacturing platform. Our combat aviation and electronic warfare capabilities are also being improved. I am grateful to France, and to Emmanuel personally, for his initiative and support for our proposals on the training of our warriors and the provision of brigades. Together, we are preparing a new systematic framework for training units of the Ukrainian Army. I would also like to commend our units that showed the best performance in combat this week. The Kharkiv direction - the 36th separate marine infantry brigade and the 92nd separate assault brigade. Thank you! In the Donetsk region, I thank all the soldiers and commanders of the 55th separate artillery brigade. Consistently efficient! In addition, based on this week's results, warriors of the Defense Intelligence, in particular, the "Group 13" unit and the "Shaman" special unit, deserve special mention. Well done! And our warriors of the Security Service of Ukraine - the Center of Special Operations "A", the Departments of Counterintelligence and Military Counterintelligence. Thank you! Each destroyed unit of Russian equipment, each Russian loss is a contribution to the guarantee of our independence. And one more thing. We continue to communicate as actively as possible with all our partners. At every level that can be helpful. The first Peace Summit is only a week away. There are also important meetings and negotiations with European leaders ahead - for the sake of our resilience, our protection from Russian terror. We have already reached agreements with partners on additional air defense systems for Ukraine, and some of these decisions will be implemented sooner, while others - closer to the fall. I am grateful to every leader, every state that really provides us with practical support in this regard. New security agreements for Ukraine are almost ready. Now - these months - is the time for strategic decisions. May has expanded our capabilities on the battlefield, especially at long range. June should strengthen our diplomacy and strategic perspectives - everything that can bring a just peace closer and give more strength to our Ukrainian society. And that's what it will be. Glory to Ukraine! NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address The Office of the President Hosted an Inter-Ministerial Meeting on the Ratification of the Rome Statute President of Ukraine 8 June 2024 - 13:25 Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Mudra and Prosecutor General of Ukraine Andriy Kostin held an inter-ministerial meeting on the ratification of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. The meeting was attended by representatives of the Ministry of Defense, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Security Service of Ukraine, the Defense Intelligence, and the National Police. The discussion focused on the importance of ratifying the Rome Statute to enhance Ukraine's efforts in bringing Russian criminals to justice, to strengthen Ukraine's diplomatic position, and to implement European integration and bilateral agreements. Participants agreed that there are no risks associated with ratification, as Ukraine has already recognized the jurisdiction of the Court. Moreover, the International Criminal Court complements national criminal justice systems, accepting cases only when national courts are unable or unwilling to ensure accountability for certain crimes. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine, Russia exchange drone attacks, killing dozens in Russia-held areas By VOA News June 08, 2024 Ukraine and Russia exchanged airstrikes early Saturday with Russia suffering casualties as Ukraine's drone attacks on the Russian-held Kherson and Luhansk regions left at least 28 people dead and 60 wounded. Russian airstrikes in eastern Ukraine damaged only buildings and power lines. The attacks were reported by Russian state news Tass and Ukrainian officials respectively. Initially, Ukraine's drone attacks Friday night on the small town of Sadove in the Russia-held Kherson region killed 22 and wounded 15 people, according to Moscow-backed Governor Vladimir Saldo. On Saturday, the Russian state news agency Interfax said the number of the dead had increased to 28, citing regional authorities. Russian-installed Luhansk regional Governor Leonid Pasechnik declared Saturday a day of mourning in the region, with public events canceled. Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday that it downed 25 drones over Russia's southern Kuban and Astrakhan regions, the western Tula region, and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula. Also on Saturday, Russian officials said their air defenses for the first time shot down Ukrainian drones over the North Ossetia region in the North Caucasus, about 900 kilometers (559.2 miles) southeast of the front line in Ukraine's partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region. The Ministry of Defense said that one drone had been destroyed, but North Ossetia regional Governor Sergei Menyailo reported three downed drones and said the target was likely a military airfield. Ukrainian air defense overnight shot down a Russian X-59 Russian missile and nine out of 13 Iranian-made Russian drones over four regions: the central Poltava region, southeastern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and the Kharkiv region in the northeast, Ukraine's air force said Saturday. Dnipropetrovsk regional Governor Serhiy Lysak said the overnight drone attack damaged some buildings and power lines. Biden, Macron reiterate support Ukraine was one of the topics U.S. President Joe Biden discussed with French President Emmanuel Macron during his state visit to Paris after the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings. In a joint statement, the two leaders expressed concern over weapon transfers to Russia from Iran and North Korea as well as Chinese deliveries of materials that could be used by Russia's defense industry. "Putin is not going to stop at Ukraine," Biden said alongside Macron after talks at the Elysee Palace. "All of Europe will be threatened, we are not going to let that happen." Biden said the United States "is standing strong with Ukraine. We will not a I say it again a walk away." The two leaders also discussed backing steps to restrict the transfer of Russian money through the U.S. and French financial systems and to support the use of frozen Russian assets for Ukraine's needs. The idea has drawn concerns from some countries, but a U.S. Treasury official said Tuesday the United States and its G7 partners were making progress. Biden authorizes more for Ukraine Biden has signed an additional $225 million military package for Ukraine to support its forces as they fight Russia's assault near Kharkiv, said a statement Friday. This is the sixth tranche Biden has authorized for Ukraine since he signed the national security supplemental measure. The package includes air defense interceptors, artillery systems and munitions, armored vehicles, anti-tank weapons, and other capabilities. It also will help strengthen Ukraine's air defenses that would protect Ukraine's electric grid from Russian attacks and reinforce Ukrainian capabilities across the front lines, the statement said. U.S. support for Ukraine is being promised as Ukraine's outgunned and outmanned troops struggle to fend off a renewed Russian offensive along the roughly 1,000-kilometer (621.3-mile) front line in Ukraine's eastern border regions of Kharkiv and Donetsk. Additionally, Washington and some NATO allies such as France and Germany, have softened their position to allow Ukraine to use some Western weapons for attacks inside Russia along the border in the Kharkiv region. Russian threats The Kremlin has warned that the decision could lead to a widening of the conflict in Europe that could entangle Western allies against Russia. Russian President Vladimir Putin also warned the United States and NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to fire long-range, Western-made weapons into Russia could prompt him to place similar Russian weapons in countries within range of the U.S. or its European allies. "If somebody's actions threaten our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider it possible to use all means at our disposal," Putin said, on the sidelines of the annual St. Petersburg International Economic Forum Wednesday, citing what he described as his country's security policy. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. VOA's Kim Lewis contributed to this story. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address SINGAPORE, June 09, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- OKX, a leading Web3 technology company, has issued updates for June 9, 2024. OKX Wallet Now Supports Echelon OKX Wallet is excited to announce that it has added support for Echelon, a groundbreaking gaming ecosystem that revolutionizes game economies for players and builders. Echelon assists game development studios and projects in integrating blockchain features and token incentives into games, creating new opportunities for player engagement and rewards. This integration allows the OKX Wallet Web3 community to seamlessly interact with Echelon's ecosystem, starting with Parallel TCG, the first game to leverage Echelon's tools. The integration of Echelon with OKX Wallet brings several key benefits to OKX Wallet users. They can now participate in the Parallel TCG, a free-to-play digital trading card game that uses PRIME, an Ethereum token, to power unique in-game functions and companion apps. OKX Wallet users can win PRIME through gameplay or acquire it by creating these functions and apps, opening up new avenues for earning and engagement within the gaming ecosystem. OKX Wallet remains committed to expanding its support for innovative Web3 projects, providing its users with a comprehensive and user-friendly experience across various sectors, including gaming. For more information, please visit the OKX Support Center. For further information, please contact: Media@okx.com About OKX A leading global technology company driving the future of Web3, OKX provides a comprehensive suite of products to meet the needs of beginners and experts alike. To learn more about OKX, download our app or visit: okx.com Disclaimer In his final month in office, Barack Obama issued more than 600 so-called "midnight" regulations. President Donald Trump ordered the delay and review for many of them, but at least one is so far unaffected by the new administration: a change in how states collect child support payments from poor and incarcerated parents.The new rule , which took effect Jan. 19, calls on states to set realistic child support amounts so that noncustodial parents don't accumulate debt they can't afford and get stuck in a cycle of incarceration.According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), states were increasingly imposing payment obligations without regard to parents' financial situations. This trend was contributing to the cycle of incarceration that can plague people in poverty. When parents go to jail -- in many cases, because of their inability to pay child support -- they accumulate debt that awaits them. Once they're released, it may not be long before they're back behind bars if they continue to miss child support payments.The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that finding parents in civil contempt and jailing them for nonpayment can be a violation of due process rights if the courts don't inquire first about parents' ability to pay child support.Despite that, more than a dozen states don't let parents apply for reduced payments while they're locked up. The new rule will change that. States can no longer consider incarceration as voluntary unemployment and must create guidelines for assessing parents' actual ability to pay based on earnings, income and other circumstantial evidence.With the new regulation, HHS tried to strike a balance between holding noncustodial parents accountable and recognizing that many parents miss payments because they don't have enough money. According to a 2006 federal study of nine states, 70 percent of late child support payments are owed by parents who make $10,000 or less a year. For these parents, the average child support obligation equals about 83 percent of their reported income, according to the Urban Institute.Whether the rule will be revoked by the Trump administration or Congress is unclear. Since the U.S. Senate has not confirmed a health and human services secretary, many of the political appointees who might take a position on the rule haven't joined the administration yet. For the time being, the department is moving forward with its implementation.An earlier draft of the rule did, however, have an influential opponent. House Speaker Paul Ryan introduced legislation to block the rule before it was published, complaining that Obama was using the regulatory process to usurp Congress' policymaking role. But the legislation died in committee, and Ryan's office didn't comment on the final rule.The National Child Support Enforcement Association issued a statement in support of the rule, describing it as "a culmination of ideas from a diverse and bi-partisan group" and noted that many of its comments on an earlier draft rule "were weighed carefully and addressed." The Obama administration took more than two years from announcing its proposed rule to publishing the final version in December."I think there was a broad awareness that the child support enforcement system was broken," said Rebecca Vallas, a poverty researcher at the left-leaning Center for American Progress. "It made no sense from a family policy standpoint or from a criminal justice system standpoint to be locking up noncustodial parents for their poverty."According to the most recent data, the Child Support Program collects more than $32 billion a year on behalf of roughly 16 million children. In 2015, about 65 percent of child support collections were made on time, and about two-thirds of late payments were eventually collected. While the program serves families of all economic backgrounds, it's an especially important source of income for custodial parents in poverty: In 2013, child support payments comprised more than 40 percent of poor custodial parents' total average incomes. Marko hints Ricciardo will be replaced for 2025 Daniel Ricciardo's Formula 1 adventure may be coming to a definitive end. Daniel Ricciardo, Canadian GP 2024 Red Bull RB, Red Bull's junior outfit, announced in Montreal that the energy drink company has taken up its contract 'option' on Yuki Tsunoda for the 2025 season. For the first time in my career, I was in a situation where other teams were also interested, Tsunoda, 24, said. But of course Red Bull always had priority. There was no mention of Ricciardo, who according to 1997 world champion Jacques Villeneuve has been living off his image rather than his pace for several years now. In response, 34-year-old Australian Ricciardo said he wonders if Villeneuve hit his head too often , adding that the Canadian should eat sh*t . I didn't attack him, Villeneuve hit back, according to Le Journal de Montreal. I said what the majority of people see. Indeed, even Dr Helmut Marko - Red Bull's influential F1 consultant - admitted in Montreal that Ricciardo has been significantly behind Tsunoda in 2024. Ricciardo had one good race, but the rest are not impressive so far, he added. In general, Racing Bulls is still a junior team, the 81-year-old warned. "So we have to think about what will happen in the future. There is (Liam) Lawson, of course, in the front row, but we also have (Isack) Hadjar in Formula 2 and also (Ayumu) Iwasa, in Super Formula, who is doing well. Meanwhile, the rumour mill in Montreal is suggesting that Oliver Bearman has now signed a contract to replace Nico Hulkenberg at Haas next year. As for the out-of-contract Kevin Magnussen, Haas team boss Ayao Komatsu on Friday was openly critical of the Dane's crash with Sergio Perez last time out in Monaco. There was a point where everything was under his control, where he could have made a decision to back off, which he didn't. So we spoke about all this completely openly, said Komatsu. He did it in Imola, so he needs to deliver a good, clean race weekend here. The current favourite to replace Magnussen next year is Esteban Ocon. (GMM) Max Verstappen, George Russell, Lando Norris, Canadian GP 2024 Red Bull DRIVERS 1 George RUSSELL (Mercedes) 2 Max VERSTAPPEN (Red Bull Racing) 3 Lando NORRIS (McLaren) TRACK INTERVIEWS (Conducted by Jolyon Palmer) Q: George Russell, pole position. That was a qualifying session for the ages, and you got it in a dead heat. But it wasn't a fluke. You were so quick today. George RUSSELL: Oh, amazing. It feels so good, feels so good! So much hard work back at the factory has gone into this. We said it in Monaco that we hope this is the start of something for our season, and I think it is. I've missed this feeling. Q: Yeah, it's amazing. You had such a big cheer from the crowd here. They love to see a Mercedes back on top. Where's this pace come from, George? Russell: It's awesome here. Every time we come to Montreal, it's such good energy from all the fans. And I'm excited for tomorrow. So, obviously, first step done. But obviously, now we've got our eyes on that win. Q: Can you keep Max behind you? Russell: Why not? Of course. Let's go for it. I think the car has been feeling amazing. Since we bought some upgrades to Monaco, we've sort of really been in that fight now. So, we're going for it tomorrow. Q: Alright. Best of luck. Well done, George. Well, Max, there was literally nothing in it today, but you have to settle for second place. That must be frustrating when it's a dead heat. Max VERSTAPPEN: I mean, it's how it is, right? I think overall we still had a good qualifying. The whole weekend has been still a bit tricky for us. But to be P2, Ill take it. I mean, going into qualifying, I would have definitely taken that. So that it was that close at the end, yeah, makes it really exciting for tomorrow as well. Q: And this looks like more conventional Red Bull than what we saw in Monaco. Have you felt better than last time out, able to fight tomorrow? Verstappen: I mean, I felt good in Monaco, but it was just not our track. It was not happening for us. This weekend, again, we didn't have a great build-up to today. But, yeah, I think it will be quite an interesting race with the tyres tomorrow, how they are going to fare, the weather as well. It keeps on coming in and out, the rain. So, yeah, hopefully it will be very exciting. Q: What's the plan? Attack at the start or play the long game tomorrow? Verstappen: I don't know. We'll think about it. I'm not that stressed about it. Q: Lando, two whole hundredths away from pole position. Lando NORRIS: Is that it? Q: That's it. Great lap. Norris: It's a shame. Q: Not quite enough today. But you must be happy? Norris: I'm super happy. First of all, congrats to Mr. Russell. I knew he's been quick all weekend, so congrats to him and to Mercedes. But I'm happy with third. When you're so close, you always think, could I have jumped in the car for that little bit more? But yeah, third is a good job by us, so I'm happy and excited for tomorrow. Q: It looked such a tricky session from the cockpit. A threat of rain that never really came. You had to be on it every single lap and not miss a beat. Norris: Pretty much. But that's Montreal. I think that's why we love it here. It's one of the best places to come to every year. So, yeah, I love it. I mean, it's why we're all smiling. We have a good time. It's tricky. Like, a lot of the time, you're thinking you're going to crash, half of it, but when you put a nice lap in and you end up top three, it's always a nice feeling. Q: Yeah, it was thrilling to watch. And you put some dicey overtakes last year. You've got two to make tomorrow. Norris: Yeah, two overtakes tomorrow. Easy, light work. So, no, I'm excited to see what we can do. You know, car's been great all season, especially the last three, four races. We've been on a good roll, but two very fast drivers ahead, plenty of fast drivers behind, so we'll put on a good show tomorrow. PRESS CONFERENCE Q: George, many congratulations. What a session, literally nothing to separate you and Max in the end. Start by giving us your reaction to what's just happened? Russell: Yeah, such a buzz. It's been a while since we've experienced this feeling. And, you know, so much hard work going on behind the scenes at Brackley, at Brixworth. And, you know, it's been a little while to be able to sort of get back in the fight. And we've almost felt like all of that hard work hasn't been paying off. But I think these last two race weekends has really shown that. And as I said, we've been so fast all weekend. Q3 was probably our worst session of the three. And, you know, it bodes well for tomorrow. Q: As you say, it has been a while. It's been nearly two years since you took that pole in Hungary. Were you getting impatient for it to happen again? Russell: To be honest, this weekend's been really challenging to know because of the conditions yesterday. You know you've had rain around all weekend and then this morning Lewis was absolutely flying and you know he was well ahead of me and I had to look a lot into his data to try and understand what he was doing differently. And to be honest, that helped me a huge amount. So ahead of this qualifying Im just so glad that we could pull it off because it, you know, I feel like we really deserve it for all of this hard work we've been putting in and the cars been feeling awesome this weekend. Q: Well, where is the car better this weekend? Tell us about it. Russell: Well, it always feels better when your name's towards the top of the timesheets, to be honest. But it's just turning really nicely through the corners. I think we struggled a lot with understeer before. Last year, we had a lot of oversteer and we've sort of been just trying to find the halfway house between what we had last year and what we had this year. And it feels like we're sort of dialing in that sweet spot right now. So it feels like something we've been saying for a long time, in all honesty. But you know, just really a sense of relief to actually see it translate into a pole position. Q: And tell us about the conditions. We saw you have a big moment, I think it was at Turn 4 in Q2. Russell: Yeah, huge. Q: How difficult was it out there? Russell: Yeah, it was really challenging, to be honest. All weekend, every single session and every lap it's been changing. The sun comes out, the track temperature warms up, then the clouds come in, it's spitting. And it's just really, really difficult to find that sweet spot. And my lap on the used tyre was really, really strong in Q3. And I was expecting to find about three or four tenths for the second lap on the new tyre. And it just didn't click. But it was fortunate enough that the first lap was good enough for pole. Q: So the race tomorrow, we've had very little dry running. What are your predictions? Russell: I think it's going to be a tough race for everybody, to be honest. Graining seems to be an issue. And this new track surface, nobody really knows how it's going to pan out. But we've got to go for victory. The car is genuinely really, really fast at the moment. But it's going to be a long race, I think. As soon as you fall off that cliff of the tyres tomorrow, it's going to be really difficult to recover. So, yeah, it could be a bit of a strategic game. Maybe not as extreme as we saw in Monaco last week, but maybe something similar. Q: Alright, very well done. Best of luck tomorrow. Max, let's come to you now. It couldn't have been closer between you and George. Can we start just by getting your reaction to the session? Verstappen: Yeah, I mean, in general, I think it wasn't a bad qualifying. I think what was mentioned before, probably Q3, was the weakest of the sessions for Mercedes. So, you know, being on the exact same lap time, yeah, it's great, but in hindsight, I think when you look at their pure pace, Ill take second. Because after Q2, I saw their lap times, I was like, there is no way that I can do something like that. Then, of course, there was a little bit of rain in between, like a few spits here and there. But, yeah, I mean... I think overall, just the weekend was again a bit messy from our side, just too many little issues. And then, yeah, from there onwards, we tried to, of course, find the best possible balance with the car. I think we did get a decent balance in qualifying. I was quite happy with it. But, yeah, we need to be able to just have cleaner weekends without issues. And I think that will help a bit as well. Q: Max, you say it's been a messy weekend, but how much better is the car here than it was in Monaco two weeks ago? Verstappen: Well, we're still struggling with the same things, but of course, the track layout helps compared to Monaco, where Monaco has a lot more low-speed, so it's really important to have good ride, mechanical grip. Here, of course, there's more aero involved. Of course, there are a few places still where you need to ride kerbs or you have bumpy places, but we know those limitations, so we need to just work on that. But that's why I think in general, to be P2 here is alright. Q: So what about the race? Verstappen: Yes, same, like George just mentioned, with the tyres, it's a bit tricky with the graining and maybe some rain in between. So, yes, a lot of question marks and you just need to get going and see what happens. Q: Have you been surprised by the pace of Mercedes this weekend? Verstappen: Well, I think in general, when you look at the whole grid, there are quite a few surprises, like good surprises and bad surprises. So, yeah, it just shows that everyone is closing up and it's really details that make the difference. Maybe you understand tyres better. You know, of course, certain weaknesses from your car and probably other teams have their own weaknesses, you know, so you just need to play that as well and take that into account, you know, with certain track layouts. But it's good for Formula 1. Q: Okay, very well done. Thank you. Lando, coming to you now, just 21 milliseconds off pole and you didn't even make it onto the front row. Is it frustrating to be so close yet so far? Norris: I mean, I could be in Max's position and not be on pole, but done a quick enough lap time. So I'm happy. Honestly, I'm happy with third. It's so close. So to be this close with a lap that I didn't think It was good, but not incredible. And I know George said he didn't get the most out of it, that kind of thing. Just difficult conditions, difficult track layout and challenging, which is kind of what makes Montreal what it is, and definitely probably a bit harder this year than what it's been in the past, but still rewarding to come out with a P3, even if we were only two hundredths off pole. Q: You say it's been challenging. How difficult has it been to dial in the car to this racetrack? Norris: I mean, very, because like George said, again, every lap was different. We've not done many laps in the first place. So it's tyres coming up to temperature, then dropping away, then graining, then the sun coming out, spitting again. It's been difficult just to be consistent and kind of get a nice flow. I don't think it's ever been really that circuit. you can necessarily do that, but yeah difficult to kind of pinpoint exactly what you want from the car because you want two different worlds of good ride, good kerbing and also a car that's kind of just performing at its best from an aero performance-wise. So yeah a challenge in all types, of setting up the car and also from driving. But I think it's what makes it fun around here and challenging and still, as tough as it was to turn out so close and I think from first to seventh or eighth was only two tenths, it's good to watch. Q: Are you confident of challenging for the win tomorrow? Norris: I mean, we've had great race pace the last few races. So I'm going to have to say yes. I think we're in the fight. It's so close. But you know, George has been the favourite all weekend. So they've been very quick. Mercedes has been very quick. And George has done a great job coming into qualifying. So you would say on paper they look like they have They're a bit more comfortable with where they are, you know, from the first run that they've been pretty much at the top of the time sheets and we necessarily haven't. And we've kind of progressed through the weekend a little bit more. But Sunday is always a day we've performed very well, like I said, over the last couple of months. So if we can do the same again tomorrow, then I'm excited to see what race we can put on. QUESTIONS FROM THE FLOOR Q: (Jake Boxall-Legge Autosport) A question for George, please. You mentioned that you didn't quite get it hooked up on the second lap, and Lewis didn't improve either. Was it just the nature of the conditions changing, or did you just get the most out of it on the first one? Russell: Yeah, the conditions were changing. I think we were one of the last to do our laps, I don't know when Max did his lap, but my lap in Q2 was really, really strong. My first lap in Q3 was really good, only, I think, two tenths off what I did in Q2, on the old tyre. So I was expecting to do, you know, probably three or four tenths ahead, like it's been all weekend. And the tyres just didn't quite feel right. So, you know, it shows how sensitive everything was. And that was probably the first time that it didn't quite go our way. But as I said, it goes to show how strong our pace has been this weekend. You know, Q1, we didn't need to use two sets of tyres. That was a first. Didn't really need to use two sets in Q2 either. You know, it's sort of come from nowhere, but maybe not a surprise with the upgrades we've been bringing. Q: (Stu Cowan Montreal Gazette) Max, it looks like it's going to be wet tomorrow. Is there anything you like about driving in the rain? And what makes this track maybe more difficult than others in wet conditions? Verstappen: I think all of us, we had a lot of time driving in the wet since we grew up, being from the UK and from Holland! I think in general, you are naturally a bit more confident driving in the wet. It's a bit of a different challenge. Of course, nowadays with our cars, it's quite hard to see when it's raining a lot, so we don't always get to race in the full wet conditions. If it's like a little bit of rain tomorrow, even if it comes in and out, it might actually make it really, really interesting. And I think around here, you know, the chicanes, new tarmac can make it very slippery and if you make a tiny mistake, you know, the walls are very close as well. So you have to take that into account. But yeah, hopefully we'll have an exciting race tomorrow. Q: (Ronald Vording) A question to all three. Lando, I think on Thursday you said that 26 brings the risk of bigger gaps again, the field getting spread out. Do you feel that sessions like today, which the fans love, actually prove your point that leaving the regulations stable for longer could be a consideration for the future? Norris: I mean, it's not up to me. It doesn't matter what I say. But I think you're not going to have days like today again. You're not going to have days like the last few weeks probably until 26, 27, 28, pretty much like 28, 29. So it's how it's always been. Every time there's a regulation change, there's big gaps. And even at the end of the last era, so 2020 or whatever it was, 21, things were getting closer again. You had still Red Bull against Mercedes, and everyone was getting closer. And then everything spread out again. Red Bull had their time, and now it seems like we've been able to catch up. So just as we're getting there, and I think probably looking ahead to next year already, next year should be an exciting year for everyone, just from first to last. I think it's going to be exciting. But then that's all going to go in 26. So it depends what you want. I think it's still exciting now. I know it's an exciting qualifying. There might be some benefits in the race for those regulations. There might be some things that are worse. The type of racing you're going to get is probably quite different. So it's complicated. It's not a simple answer. I don't know the answer at the same time. I don't think anyone knows exactly how it's going to pan out. Yeah, always at the end of these regulation changes we see days like today and we see closer battles between, now Mercedes up here as well. So that's four teams who are fighting towards the top. Eight cars, you're going to see different winners. And I think that's exciting for people watching, but definitely you're not going to have that in 26. So it depends if you want to kind of keep this excitement and keep this challenge that we have now, or if you want to change everything again and have another few years where it's far apart. Q: (Joost Smedema) A question to George. The last couple of years has been difficult for Mercedes to fight for pole or for podiums. Did you sense any difference during this weekend that this pole position you would be able to fight for? Russell: 100%. I think every lap we've done this weekend, the car's been feeling good. We've always been at the upper end of the timesheets. And, you know, we were talking yesterday, you know, why do we think we were so competitive on FP1, FP2, and, you know, obviously on FP3, really fast as well, so We need to see in the next races if that continues. But, you know, obviously last week in Monaco, we were a tenth from the front row here, you know, on pole. And this is the first two races we've had with the upgrades. So, yeah, time would tell. We'd only get carried away with ourselves. But, yeah, it's looking good so far. Q: (Scott Mitchell-Malm The Race) Talking about the upgrades, previous supposed breakthroughs haven't been sustainable for Mercedes, but does this feel rooted in something more real? Russell: Yeah, 100%. I think going back to what Lando was talking about, when you have a number of years with the same regulations, you sort of hone in on that sweet spot. And we've sort of been zigzagging over these past couple of years and as we've probably entered the last six months, those zigzags have narrowed and we've sort of really been able to fine-tune what it is we want from the car. And I think It just goes to show that small changes can actually bring big improvements in performance. We saw it with McLaren, I think, you know, ourselves have made a big jump as well, especially in terms of the pecking order. So as I said, let's see if this performance is sustainable. But right now I don't see any reason why not. And, you know, we think we've got more to come. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Like its siblings, the Samsung Galaxy M35 failed to impress voters in last weeks poll. Most say that there are better mid-rangers out there, which are more deserving of their money. And that includes the Galaxy A35. We thought that the larger 6,000mAh battery (1,000mAh above the A35 battery capacity) might give the M-phone a leg up. However, devices like the Galaxy M51 and M62 had 7,000mAh in their tanks, so the M35 is not impressive among its older peers. Some took issue with the slow 25W charging thats as fast as the premium Galaxy S24, though there it only has a 4,000mAh battery to fill. Pricing is a bit of an issue, but its mostly the strong competition from other mid-rangers that holds the M35 back. As mentioned, some are looking at the Galaxy A35. Someone in the comments mentioned the Galaxy M55, which can be a great deal (depending on where you live). And, of course, there were plenty of non-Samsung suggestions too. Haiti - Social : 10 adopted Haitian orphans arrived in Italy The Chigi Palace, seat of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers in Italy, confirmed that the flight which brought to Italy ten children from Haiti adopted by Italian families landed at the 31st Wing, at the Ciampino military airport ( Rome) where they were welcomed in particular by Eugenie Roccella, the Minister of Family, Natality and Equal Opportunities. A complex operation in a degraded security context in Haiti. Happy and proud to have allowed adoptive families and children to embrace each other, wrote Antonio Tajani, Vice-President of the Council and Minister of Foreign Affairs. The operation was carried out as soon as the minimum guarantee conditions were restored, in order to avoid the risk of criminal gangs attacking the orphanages. The success of this operation is the result of collaborative action between the Intelligence and Internal Security Agency (AISE), the Italian Foreign Affairs crisis unit, the Ministry of Family, Birth and Equality opportunities, the Italian Embassy in Santo Domingo, the Italian honorary consulate in Port-au-Prince and the Commission for International Adoption. The Haitian children, as Chigi reports, had been waiting for months to be able to join their Italian families, with whom they had only had contact by video. Hl/ HaitiLibre After searching for days, police found Jeferson Gabriel Gomes down a well on Wednesday morning, much to his desperate family's relief. Jeferson Gabriel Gomes was found in a 16m deep well by rescuers four days after going missing. Source: Jam Press A missing 19-year-old has been rescued after spending four days down a 16-metre deep well. Jeferson Gabriel Gomes was last seen by his mum at breakfast last Saturday when he went to a park but failed to return home. The young man who is autistic sent a message from his phone at 10am before the device lost coverage, prompting his sister Sheila Gomes da Silva to report his disappearance to the police. She said he had no physical health problems and had never gone missing before. The worried family went to all the health facilities in the area, but no one had seen Gomes. CCTV of man running before disappearance A CCTV camera caught him running along a trail in the park in Santo Andre, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo, Brazil, the day he went missing. After searching the area, local police found him down a well on Wednesday morning, much to his desperate familys relief. The shaft is located in a wooded area of the park and is 16m deep, according to local media. Firefighters were called in to carry out the rescue, and they abseiled down the hole to reach him. Source: Jam Press Jeferson, who was conscious, told the officers he had fallen down the hole on Saturday. Firefighters were called in to carry out the rescue, as reported on NeedToKnow, and they abseiled down the hole to reach him. The 19-year-old was given a hard hat and goggles before he was pulled up the deep shaft. Footage shows him covered in dirt and dust as his rescuers lay him on a stretcher. While being treated by paramedics, the teen said he felt pain in his ankle and knee and was very thirsty. Authorities say he was taken to a local hospital with a fractured leg. Jam Press Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. In H.G. Wells s novel, "The Country of the Blind," a mountaineer named Nunez falls down a mountain in the Andes and finds himself in a hidden valley isolated from the rest of the world. This valley is inhabited by a community of people who are all blind. Nunez, confident in the saying "In the Country of the Blind, the one-eyed man is king," believes he will easily dominate and rule over the blind villagers. However, his attempts to assert his superiority and to make the villagers understand the concept of sight are met with confusion and disbelief. The villagers, stuck in their own ways of understanding the world, see Nunez's talk of sight as delusional. The European Parliament increasingly looks and sounds like that fictional valley in the Andes. Isolated from the vision of realities, sanity, and common sense by a wall made of the two "H:es" of Hubris and Hypocrisy, the commission and parliament are taking Europe towards moral and financial bankruptcy. In this sea of darkness, Clare Daly and Mick Wallace are the Nunezes of the valley. The Irish MEPs have courageously and consistently called out the discrepancies, injustices, and misleadings of the commission head, Ursula von der Leyen, accurately nicknamed by Clare Daly as "Frau Genocide" for her unconditional support of the ongoing Israeli genocide of Palestinians. Every time Daly or Wallace speak, a fluent flow of common sense and wisdom is poured on the dumb majority who are blindly guiding Europe to a nuclear war and bankruptcy. Madam President, on 26 January, the International Court of Justice ruled that theres a plausible risk of genocide in Gaza. It ordered Israel to stop killing civilians. Israel continued. The legal obligations on EU Member States are very clear. The genocide conventions require states to avoid complicity, the EU common position on arms exports bans exporting arms where theres a clear risk theyll be used to violate international law, and the UN has warned that such transfers must cease. Yet, France dissembles, hiding behind secrecy and Israeli assurances, while Germany has increased its exports tenfold last year, 90% since 7 October. Ireland doesnt even ask Butcher Biden whats coming through Shannon Airport from the US on the way to the Middle East. What sort of people are ye? In 1982, arch-conservative, pro-Israeli Margaret Thatcher and Ronald Reagan stopped arms to Israel during a war. But in 2024, European Greens, Social Democrats, and Liberals are arming a genocide. Shame on ye! International law and humanity requires lethal arms to Israel must stop now, Daly said in her contribution to the plenary session on 27 February 2024. On the 23rd of April, she said: Madam President, so now weve had people in here demanding the unilateral seizure of Russian state assets to give to Ukraine when every single piece of legal advice, internal and external, has said, dont go there. Its state piracy. Its against international law. It will only invite retaliation. Its against the rule of law that ye constantly say ye stand by. But like everything else, the US, fresh from its banditry of their EUR 7 billion heist of Afghan assets, has passed a law to take Russian ones, and the EU wants to blindly follow suit. Now I know the High Representative talks about a somersault where we will just take the interest, we wont take the assets again, theft, which will be a massive own goal. And on top of that, you want the money not for Ukraines reconstruction, but for its victory. There is no victory on the battlefield. Only 10% of Europeans believe that now. Whats needed is a ceasefire and negotiations. And every day we prolong it wrecks Ukraine further. And this is the iconic speech where she coined the nickname for von der Leyen: Time and again we're asked to believe that the EU is a bastion of democracy in the face of overwhelming evidence to the contrary. Rather, it holds democracy in contempt. When citizens elect the wrong government like in Greece, the gloves come off in Brussels and that government is crushed. When citizens vote the wrong way in a referendum in Ireland, they're made to vote again. And after denouncing foreign agents laws abroad, now the commission wants one here at home. We have a defensive democracy package that has 200 NGOs ringing alarm bells because of the threat it poses to civil society. And the crowning irony of this is that this package comes from the commission of Ursula von der Leyen, a person elevated to power without a single vote from the citizens, who has spent the last two months swooping in and overriding the foreign policies of elected governments all to cheerlead a brutal apartheid regime that she calls a vibrant democracy as it pulverises a city of children. Well, my god, with defenders of democracy like that, I think I speak for many citizens of Europe when I say 'nein danke, no thanks 'Frau Genocide.' Mike Wallace, on the need for unwavering EU support for Ukraine: What does unwavering EU support for Ukraine really mean? If we were really prepared to support Ukraine, we would help to end the war. We have done nothing to bring about peace. We have opposed dialogue and diplomacy. We have supported the US-NATO proxy war from the start. We have wasted billions of EU taxpayers money on this stupid war. And wheres it going? It isnt going in Ukraines direction. Hundreds of thousands of working-class Ukrainian kids are dead for no good reason! Ukraine has been destroyed. Western corporations from the US and Europe are buying up the land on the western side of Ukraine for peanuts. This is madness! Pumping more money into Ukraine now has become a money laundering exercise at this stage to feed the military-industrial complex and just to please the US at a great expense to every citizen in Europe. This place is losing it! Big tech shamelessly tries to hide or censor speeches by these two courageous intellectuals by closing their YouTube accounts and shadow banning every tweet and posting about their critiques of the dominant narrative. Numerous celebrities and intellectuals have come out in support of Daly and Wallace. US actress Susan Sarandon calls the duo "voices for peace. In an endorsement video posted online, Sarandon said: "Right now in America it's a very pro-war time and also voices that question that are being silenced and fired and being given a very, very difficult time. "So for the last five years, when I've seen Clare Daly and Mick Wallace doing what they're doing, we can hear them around the world including in the United States, they're speaking up loud and clear for international solidarity and social justice, for peace and for the oppressed people. "I can't tell you how much - how very important - and how much that means to those of us in other places given hope by them and what they are saying to hear that kind of truth." She added: "There are very few voices for peace in places of power and we need them more than ever now especially with what's goin gong in Gaza. As the people of Ireland have been awake all along, we have high hopes that the two fighters for dignity and wisdom will be re-elected to the parliament. One can only hope that today, people in other European countries will also send more representatives who can see, to this valley of the blind. Clair Dalys speeches in the parliament can be found here, and Wallaces here. Alexis Kouros Editor in Chief Helsinki Times A PRIEST has been officially sworn in at St Bartholomews Church in Nettlebed. Rev Mark Ainsworth has already served as the priest-in-charge for five years. The ceremony was conducted by the Bishop of Dorchester, Rt Rev Gavin Collins, and also included the licensing of the new assistant priest, Rev Hugh Balfour. Churchwardens were also sworn in for the five local parishes that make up the benefices of Nettlebed and Nuffield, Bix, Nettlebed with Highmoor, Pishill, Rotherfield Greys and Nuffield. The two-hour service, which began with the ringing of the church bells, was followed by a reception at the Manor Barn opposite the church, where wine and canapes were served. Marjorie Glasgow, the Lord Lieutenant of Oxfordshire, attended the event, along with celebrity cook Mary Berry, who is a parishioner. During the service, the priests were taken to the front door of the church and handed keys before being installed in their seats at the front of the church. Parishioners presented them with symbols of their ministry such as a bible, oil, bread and wine. After Rev Ainsworth was sworn in, the congregation gave him a loud round of applause. He said: The service was profound and I found it quite moving. This is the first time, to my knowledge, that this church has seen such a significant service, with the bringing together of three aspects of ministry. Im honoured to become the incumbent priest after being the priest-in-charge since 2019. Less than five years ago, the church was at risk of being closed due to lack of church goers but over the past two years, the congregation has more than doubled in size. Rev Ainsworth said: All the churchwardens, lay volunteers and the parochial church council do an amazing job. Without them our church community would not be as vibrant as it is. Rev Balfour said: I have come from an inner city, so this is a major change for me. I am now retired so only working part time but I grew up on a farm, so it is familiar. I am very excited to work with the community here. The Bishop said: It is always an honour and a privilege to conduct services like these. What a special moment for the church. One man said he 'saw lots of groups with small kids and prams pretty much stuck in the crowd' at the event on Saturday night. Shocking video footage has captured the moment Vivid Sydney festival goers say they became 'trapped' in heaving crowds in Circular Quay. Source: X/Nick McLaren Vivid Sydney attendees have shared their concern the festival has become a bit too popular after video footage emerged of heaving crowds trying to move through Circular Quay. Numerous revellers took to social media over the weekend to express their concerns about safety, with some claiming they were left trapped following the events drone show. A clip posted by ABC journalist Nick McLaren just after 10pm on Saturday shows what appears to be tens of thousands of people tightly packed within barriers as they shuffle back to the train station. Saw lots of groups with small kids and prams pretty much stuck in the crowd, moving very, very slowly, he posted to X. He further noted it was weird how organisers had fenced off the whole of Circular Quay ferry terminal and railway station from the north and west, creating this build up. Maybe #vivid has become a bit too popular? pic.twitter.com/2QPCkI7I3U Nick McLaren (@nickpmclaren) June 8, 2024 Another online post said that amid fears of the chance of a crowd crush, someone stepped in to remove some barriers to allow the festival goers to start flowing. One attendee, Anth, said that there was a crowd crush starting to happen by the overseas passenger terminal after the 9.10pm drone show finished. Police had to step in to remove barriers because of how serious it was, he wrote, describing the scenes as absolutely dangerous. Vivid attendees said police were forced to move some of the barriers to give members of the crowd a chance to break free. Source: X/Anth0888 Vivid Sydney crowds 'disaster waiting to happen' Another man, Josh Rogers, said he had never been so scared in his life after getting trapped in the middle of the crowd. Everyone pushing from all sides with no escape, he said. Attendee Emilie said she regretted even going to Vivid. A huge crush saved by a random opening a barrier, she wrote online. Bloody lucky no one panicked. The worst crowd control. A third person described it as a disaster waiting to happen. However, others argued Vivid has always attracted throngs of people. Its been like that most years on weekendsnightmare, one woman said. It happens every year and yet no lessons are leant? another said, claiming the citys trains reached at capacity on Saturday night. Why does this happen? Shall I send you a reminder in 2025? Vivid organisers urge attendees to avoid Circular Quay The reported crowd concerns came shortly after event organisers urged festival goers to avoid Circular Quay. We are experiencing large crowds for the #vividsydney drone show this evening, Vivid Sydney posted on social media around 8.30pm. Please avoid Circular Quay. The show will also be live streamed at Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour on the big screen and on the Vivid Sydney Facebook page. Vivid Sydney, NSW Police respond to crowd concerns A Vivid Sydney spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia on Sunday the event is incredibly popular and in its 14th year is again attracting crowds of all ages. In particular, the drone shows which are held over three nights and screened throughout the festival and online draw large crowds, they said. Vivid Sydney organisers work with government partners and agencies to plan and deliver a successful and safe event, including to manage the crowds that turned out to see last night's drone show, the spokesperson continued. Event and security personnel monitor crowd flow and implement scalable measures to manage crowd flow at various points if required, particularly on the busy nights and peak periods. This includes advising visitors that certain areas have reached capacity and adjusting infrastructure to support crowd flow. Vivid attendees are encouraged to plan for their visit by keeping an eye on the festivals social media channels. We understand that a large number of people leaving a major event at the same time can be slow and challenging and are grateful to the public for their patience and cooperation, the spokesperson told Yahoo. NSW Police confirmed to Yahoo larger than expected attendees on Saturday night resulted in pedestrian traffic congestion, particularly in and around the transport hubs. However, the crowds dispersed after a short period and there were no injuries or incidents reported, a police spokesperson said. NSW Police continue to conduct a highly visible and coordinated policing response to this years Vivid event. With NCA NewsWire Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Since October 8, 2023, Israel and Hezbollah have exchanged near-daily fire at the disputed Israeli-Lebanese border. These exchanges have featured rockets and missiles fired at northern Israeli towns (several of which are now evacuated), and Israeli air and artillery strikes in Hezbollahs bastions in South Lebanon (along with sporadic deeper strikes into the Lebanese hinterland). While this exchange has killed around 400 in Lebanon, it has killed around 20 Israel Defence Forces personnel and 10 civilians. Running parallel to, and because of, the war in Gaza the steady stream of rocket fire by Hezbollah has allowed the group to work as an active deterrent one that holds its full arsenal in reserve but maintains kinetic pressure on Israel to halt its Gaza war. Israel itself has mostly remained focused on Gaza, allowing sections of its Golani Brigades and other IDF units to manage the northern border. However, as international pressure on Tel Aviv mounts, along with global criticism of the conduct of its Gaza war, the Hezbollah-Israel calculus has shown signs of potential shifts. While the intensity of the strikes has increased, Israel seems to be preparing for a limited war or a ground offensive into South Lebanon. With Benjamin Netanyahu announcing on June 5 that Israel would restore security in the North one way or the other, alarm bells have gone off in multiple capitals, including Washington, about an even wider regional war in the Middle East. Key to understanding this change is the question of where the locus of the present conflict lies in the eyes of either belligerent. Israels Hezbollah calculus The Israel-Hezbollah relationship is fundamentally antagonistic. However, both have also proved to be pragmatic actors. Even as the post-October 7 cross-border action has thrown up the highest casualty figures for both sides since their last war in 2006, there has been enough restraint built into the Israel-Hezbollah dynamic. The focus of Israeli action in South Lebanon has been to actively prevent Hezbollah from opening a second front which in any case is a historically recurring priority for Tel Aviv whenever a skirmish with Hamas in Gaza has been underway. Israeli rhetoric accompanying the constant exchange of strikes with Hezbollah (especially across November and December 2023), has been to warn the group against escalation. The key change, however, has been internal to Israel. Along with rising international pressure for a ceasefire in Gaza and an unprecedented public announcement of a potential three-phased ceasefire deal by the White House, Israels diplomatic bandwidth is declining. Even as it considers the deal pitched by Washington, Netanyahu has already long been pressured by the far-right allies of his government to cross the red lines being set internationally for Israel evident especially in Rafah. The Netanyahu government has struggled to reconcile its publicly stated objective of eliminating Hamas in Gaza and its inability to militarily fulfil that objective, even as it prosecutes a war that has killed over 37,000 in Gaza (including at least 12,000 children). Indeed, a ceasefire will imperil Netanyahus political position (as well as personal, given long-standing corruption charges) within Israel making it easier to pander to the far rights current demands. This logic now extends to the Israel-Lebanon border. While deterring Hezbollah has been an ancillary objective thus far in the crisis, Israeli far-right leaders are now defining new military objectives for the state that necessarily require conventional force-on-force action at the border. For instance, Israel's finance minister Bezalel Smotrich has called for a military takeover of southern Lebanon if Hezbollah does not withdraw beyond the Litani River (according to UNSC Resolution 1701). National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has reiterated this, explicitly calling for war. Already by late February 2024, Israel had moved its largest army division (36 Armored) from Gaza to the Lebanese border - reflecting strategic shifts. Now, making the Israel-Lebanon border an independent area of focus based on the merits of the historic territorial/political dispute between Israel and Lebanon/Hezbollah rather than the Gaza war allows Tel Aviv to present South Lebanon as a new locus in the conflict and expand its casus belli. Hezbollahs Israel calculus On November 3, 2023, almost a month after Israels war in Gaza began, Hezbollah chief Hassan Nasrallah made his first statement, addressing the conflict. In it, he unleashed the expected hostile rhetoric against Israel and committed to defending Lebanon but stopped short of committing to a wider war. In the last eight months, this characteristic has been constant in Hezbollahs rhetoric (with its intensity waxing and waning). In January 2024, Hezbollah deputy chief Naim Qassem explicitly stated that Hezbollah does not want a wider war with Israel, with the usual caveat of being prepared to respond to Israeli escalation. Hezbollahs causes for restraint have been both internal and external. Internally, the group has been navigating multiple crises within Lebanon, especially pertaining to its political position and influence, as the Lebanese economy struggles. Among other things, this led the group to exercise more restraint with Israel (even allowing a Lebanon-Israel maritime border agreement in 2022) and focus on improving its internal position, particularly after the 2019 anti-government protests and the 2020 Beirut port explosion. Externally, the group remains Irans standing deterrent against Israel, even as it shows some streaks of independence (motivated by the desire to rejig its internal image within Lebanon). This means that the group still cannot allow a non-Iran locus (Gaza) to trigger the full use of its personnel and arsenal for a conventional war. The steady exchange of rockets and missiles then, still works best for the group as it allows Hezbollah to protect its anti-Israel credentials while avoiding a larger war. For Hezbollah, the locus of the conflict remains Gaza as it continues to link its casus belli with Israels continued bombardment of the strip and the need for a ceasefire. In a February 2024 piece for Foreign Policy, columnist Steve Cook warned that the restraints that theoretically apply to Israel and Hezbollah could change, given the volatility of Middle Eastern politics. This change has now manifested through an evolution of Israels war aims. The steady intensification of its exchanges with Hezbollah can cumulatively act as its trigger for a wider war, should the political objectives of either side change at any point. Indeed, the rising casualties could drive this change muddling the difference between cause and effect. For Israel, a second locus would allow it a better national-security/territorial-integrity-based bargaining position when dealing with its allies - at a time when its war in Gaza is turning increasingly unpopular internationally. While Washington itself has warned Israel against war with Hezbollah (arguing that it will necessarily draw in Iran, and not be a limited conflict), it would be hard-pressed to blindside Tel Aviv, should war break out. Given the logic of the second locus, Israels incentives to further intensify its response to Hezbollahs attacks only grow. For Hezbollah itself, a full-fledged attack by Israel will arguably allow it to re-consolidate support for itself at home when its domestic image has taken successive hits in recent years. Key to whether this Damocles sword will fall at the Israeli-Lebanese border, is the degree to which international pressure (both public and private) for a ceasefire is successful. Internally, Israel has enough reason to cut the sword free. Bashir Ali Abbas is a research associate at the Council for Strategic and Defense Research, New Delhi, and a South Asia Visiting Fellow at the Stimson Center, Washington DC. The views expressed are personal. Aries: This week, job seekers may feel that they are having difficulties because of a lack of focus. Stay focused on your career objectives. Carefully craft your job search strategy and concentrate on the opportunities that match your skills and interests. Keep in mind that setbacks are only temporary, and with your perseverance, you can overcome any obstacle. Be optimistic and keep on going, for the right opportunity may be a short distance away. Read daily money and career horoscopes for all zodiac signs and know your fortune for today at Hindustan Times. Taurus: Investments in the past can get you high profits, and thus, you will be financially stable. Think about using these profits wisely to advance your financial goals. Even at work, you may see the fruits of your efforts as new projects or strategies introduced at work start to show results. This is the moment to display your talents and skills confidently. Review your success and plan for improvements in the future. Gemini: The workplace will be tougher this week than it was before. Nevertheless, your innate wisdom and skills will greatly help keep your position and maybe even go a step further. The challenges are opportunities for you to grow and, thus, to prove your ability and commitment. Joining forces with your co-workers and putting forward new ideas can be a way to build your reputation and also be a factor in your professional success. Cancer: This week, be careful while tinkering with your career path. The act of rushing into decisions could be the cause of unexpected setbacks. Carefully study the opportunities to check out all the possibilities. Think well before starting a new project or reacting to workplace issues. The last part of the week is when you must be careful with your money and plan everything well. The virtue of patience and the art of prudence will be your guiding light. Leo: You can expect a week of success and praise. Your efforts and perseverance will not be overlooked, and you will receive the respect and financial rewards you are entitled to. Take in the onslaught of projects and tasks with a positive attitude, being aware that you have the skills and abilities to do them well. Nevertheless, with the multiple responsibilities, organising your daily routine and sorting out the tasks is vital. Virgo: This week, you can express yourself better and demonstrate your abilities. Keep networking and be ready to meet new people; it can lead to new job opportunities. If you have been doubtful about your career choice, believe that good things will happen for you. You may observe an improvement in your relationship with your superiors this week. This newly established friendship could lead to a more secure work environment. Libra: This is the right time to tackle long-pending issues regarding promotions or salary increments. Don't think twice about starting conversations with your superiors about your contribution and growth within the company. Your effort and commitment have not been overlooked, and this is the moment to get the benefits of your work. You should be assertive yet diplomatic when presenting your case and supporting your achievements with evidence. Scorpio: This week, you will be more likely to have your career boosted by your adaptability and open-mindedness. Your talent for thinking out of the box and considering different viewpoints will be instrumental, as you can understand interesting ideas and quickly adapt your style to suit your managements objectives. Be open to new ideas and approaches, as they might be the answer to the problems you are facing in your current job. Sagittarius: This week, you may have to deal with situations where you must do more than what is stipulated to protect your professional reputation and integrity. Sticking to your norms and promises is essential, even if you must work extra hours or have additional duties. Your sacrifice will not be useless; your vigilance will help you identify the loopholes. Tackle the issues and share your concerns with your colleagues and superiors. Capricorn: This week, you may have to deal with a heavy workload, which means more responsibilities coming your way. Overcome these hurdles with a confident attitude. The ability to adjust to the new roles will give you a solid foundation for the future development of your career. Your bosses and superiors will awe your willingness to do your job efficiently. Stick to the excellent road, and you will see new opportunities knocking at your door. Aquarius: This week, you are encouraged to focus on building a dignified life. Revisit your work practices to ensure they align with your long-term aspirations. Keeping honesty in your interpersonal relationships will also boost your image and help you establish peace in your place of work. Keep an eye out for chances to learn new skills and to push yourself. Develop a positive attitude to problems and find new ways to tackle them. Pisces: Watch out for conflict or power plays with co-workers or superiors in your current position. Keep your communication peaceful, and refrain from engaging in unnecessary disputes. Issues about joint projects, tax consequences, or insurance issues may surface. Make sure that you are well-informed about these discussions. If in business, now would be an excellent time to reconsider your client relationships and budget allocation to prevent surprises. ---------------------- Neeraj Dhankher (Vedic Astrologer, Founder - Astro Zindagi) Email: info@astrozindagi.in, neeraj@astrozindagi.in Url: www.astrozindagi.in Contact: Noida: +919910094779 Akasa Air is well on the path to profitability and will fly to more international destinations, including in South Asia and Southeast Asia, according to its Co-Founder Aditya Ghosh. Representational(Akasa Air) In less than two years of taking to the skies, Akasa Air has a fleet of 24 planes and has more than 4,000 employees. Ghosh, who has donned multiple and diverse roles during his career, said that airlines are becoming more of a consumption story in India, in an interview to PTI in the national capital. Also Read | Akasa Air flight diverted to Ahmedabad due to bomb threat "We will increasingly see it as consumer-focused businesses where the learnings from e-commerce companies will help us address the needs and behaviour of consumers better in the transportation business," he said. Among other roles, he had served as IndiGo's President and Whole Time Director for ten years till 2018. When a customer-focused and employee-centric organisation is being built, it is also important to build a financially sustainable business, Ghosh said and emphasised that Akasa Air is well on the path to profitability. "I think at Akasa we are on track to profitability. We have seen operational reliability, best on time, lowest customer complaints, highest load factors, lowest cancellations," he said. Also Read | Bengaluru airport reverses controversial fee structure for vehicles entering premises after public backlash: Report The airline currently has a fleet of 24 narrow-body Boeing 737 MAX planes. "We have started flying to Doha, announced flights to Jeddah, we are going to go to more destinations in the Middle East. We will ultimately go to South Asia and Southeast Asia as well, and at the same time, go to Tier 2, 3 and 4 cities in India because there is so much potential there," Ghosh said. The airline will start flights to Jeddah from July 15. It also has traffic rights for Kuwait and Riyadh. On whether Akasa Air could have wide-body planes in its fleet, Ghosh said the business model that has consistently done well is the one which stays focused on one type of fleet. With a single type of fleet, he said there will be high asset utilisation and costs are within control but that does not mean there is no market for large full-service carriers. "At Akasa, we are very focused on textbook style, Roger Federer, Rahul Dravid style... boringly consistent. Do the basics, do them right, do them consistently," he noted. More than 200 aircraft are expected to join the airline's fleet over the next 8 years. It has placed an order for 226 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft. Also Read | This Bill Gates-backed startup is making fuel from water and Carbon Dioxide While stressing that there is enough space for well-run airlines, Ghosh said he thinks Indian aviation is at a place where the growth and success of an airline is not predicated on the failure of another. At a personal level, Ghosh started off as a lawyer and then got involved in the airline business. He is on the boards of The ePlane Company, OYO, Ras Al Khaimah International Airport and GreenCell Mobility, among other roles. Ghosh has made investments through his venture Homage Ventures. He has funded various companies, including indigenous coffee roaster Blue Tokai and healthy food products maker Wholsum Foods. "I am on a journey in pursuit of excellence and that excellence is not just in the businesses that I am involved in, personally, I am a slightly better person than I was yesterday," he remarked. Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) sold Indian shares worth over Rs.14,794 crore this month, leading to increased volatility in the Indian stock market, National Securities Depository Limited (NSDL) data shows. Indian markets are still at an all-time high despite FPIs dumping shares FPIs are currently net sellers, meaning they are currently selling more shares than buying. This was the case for three months, including June. Also Read | Stock market ahead of Lok Sabha elections: Why foreign investors sold more and more Indian shares amid low voter turnout In May, FPIs sold equity worth Rs.25,586 crore as per NSDL data, indicating a pattern of excessive selling. FPIs have sold equity worth Rs.38,158 crore over April, May and June so far, according to an ANI report. This came after they pumped Rs.35,098 crore in Indian equities during March, the highest inflows recorded in the first three months of the calendar year, 2024, according to a Mint report. Also Read | FPIs withdraw 8,600 cr from equities in April on Mauritius tax treaty, US bond yields rise The main trigger for FPIs selling has been the performance of Chinese stocks. The Hang Seng index rose 8% in the first half of May, triggering selling in India and buying in Chinese stocks in the last two months, according to the Mint article. FPIs regard Indian valuations to be very high and, therefore, capital is getting shifted to cheaper markets, Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services told ANI. There is a trend of investing in Chinese stocks since the valuations have turned very attractive, he added. Also Read | Software engg duped of 91.60 lakh in investment fraud Despite continuous selling pressure by FPIs, Indian markets are at all-time high. The BSE Sensex touched an all-time high on Friday, while the Nifty 50 index closed positively at 23,267.75, marking a gain of 446.35 points or 1.96 percent, and hitting a high of 23,320.20, according to the ANI report. JD(S) leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given him an opportunity to serve as a Minister in the new Cabinet that will be sworn-in this evening, and credited the people of "Kannada Naadu" for it. While maintaining that he has not placed a demand for any portfolio, the former Chief Minister reiterated his desire to be the Agriculture Minister. JD-S leader HD Kumaraswamy (ANI) "Under Narendra Modi's leadership a decision has been made, after discussion with BJP national President (JP Nadda), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh). They have identified me and given me an opportunity. The entire credit for this has to go to people of Kannada Naadu in my opinion," Kumaraswamy said. ALSO READ | Prajwal Revanna taken to his house for spot inspection Addressing reporters in New Delhi, he said his intention was to serve the people of the country and the state honestly, using the opportunity. "To implement Narendra Modi's vision I want to work honestly and thereby bring a good name to him and to our state. This is my resolve." The son of JD(S) patriarch H D Deve Gowda has made no secret of his desire to become the Agriculture Minister, and has repeatedly expressed it before and after the polls. By winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, the former CM has not only managed to regain the JD(S)' lost bastion, but has also successfully managed to retrieve his party's lost political relevance in Karnataka, by allying with the BJP. Kumaraswamy defeated Venkataramane Gowda (also known as Star Chandru) of the Congress by a margin of 2,84,620 votes. Noting that he has left it to the PM to decide and has made no demand for any portfolio, Kumaraswamy while replying to a question, said, "If I get it, I will be happy, because I've been interested in Agriculture since beginning." ALSO READ | BJP demands Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah's resignation over Valmiki Corporation scam "The Prime Minister has reposed faith in me, he has respect towards my father. I'm not interested in making money. Under Modi's leadership, I want to stay among people. I want to connect with people to resolve their issues, if I get such a portfolio, it will help me to serve as a Minister better," he said. Kumaraswamy asserted that JD(S) performance in the Lok Sabha polls and his win is a "revival" for the party. "Narendra Modi's leadership and Kannadigas have given me and my party a revival. Kannadiga's have accepted the BJP-JD(S) alliance and have given me the strength. I thank the people of the state, especially voters of Mandya and Bangalore Rural segments," he said. Citing health reasons for his father Deve Gowda's inability to travel to Delhi, Kumaraswamy said if he is able to successfully work and stay good to the faith that the people have reposed in him, he will be "happy". Although three-time former MP Ravneet Singh Bittu tasted defeat in Lok Sabha elections, he said been inducted into the Union council of ministers. He is the second Ludhiana MP after Congress Manish Tewari to hold the position of a Union minister. Ravneet Singh Bittu, who lost the Lok Sabha polls, has been inducted into Modi cabinet as Union minister of state. (HT File) Amit Shah, the then Union home minister, had promised that he would make his friend a bada aadmi (renowned man) by including him in the council of ministers. Bittu took oath as the state Union minister in New Delhi on Sunday. Tewari served as Union state minister of information and technology from 2012 to 2014. With Bittus induction, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) gets a Sikh face from Punjab in the Union council of ministers. His induction comes as a double delight for Ludhiana BJP workers, who celebrated the third consecutive term of Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister. Bittu was the latest dynast to switch allegiances to the BJP, joining the saffron party in March this year, just ahead of the elections. Bittu lost to Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring by a margin of 20,942 votes in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab chief minister Beant Singh, who was assassinated on August 31, 1995, by the radical organisation Babbar Khalsa International, led by Wadhawa Singh. He joined politics at the age of 33. The former MP was fielded from Sri Anandpur Sahib by the Congress in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections and defeated Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) candidate Dr Daljit Singh Cheema, bagging a vote share of over 50%. In the 2014 election, the Congress fielded him from Ludhiana after Manish Tewari had shown reluctance in contesting from the seat. Bittu polled over 3,00,000 votes (27.27%) and won from the seat. In 2019, he bagged the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat again, with 36.66% vote share. He was briefly appointed as leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha when Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary was busy in the West Bengal election campaign in 2021. He faced criticism from Congress leaders after switching to the BJP, with the Warring referring to him as a traitor during his election campaign. Although Bittu performed well in the urban areas in the 2024 general elections and managed a huge lead from five assembly constituencies, he trailed in rural segments and lost the polls. District BJP president Rajneesh Dhiman said that Ludhiana, especially the industry, would benefit from Bittus induction as Union minister. A homeless woman and her 20-year-old son were allegedly hacked to death while they were asleep under the elevated road on the Southern Bypass near Dugri on Saturday night. The Dugri police arrested the fiance of the deceased womans daughter in connection with the double murder. Police officials said that the reason behind the crime has not been ascertained yet. The victims have been identified as Pushpa Devi, 50, and her son Pardeep. (HT File) The victims have been identified as Pushpa Devi, 50, and her son Pardeep. The deceased duo were labourers and were living under the elevated road at Southern Bypass near Dugri. They used to sleep under the elevated road. Dugri station-house officer (SHO) inspector Gurpreet Singh said that the locals noticed the bodies lying in a pool of blood and informed the police. The police initiated an investigation after reaching the spot. Following an investigation, police arrested Amardeep of Manakwal, who is the fiance of Pushpa Devis daughter. According to the accused, he hacked the two victims to death with sharp-edged weapon while they were in deep sleep. After confirming the duo were dead, he escaped. The inspector added that earlier in the day, the accused had a spat with Pushpa Devi and her son. Gurpreet Singh said they were questioning the accused to ascertain the reason behind the crime. You are here: Arts As part of the celebrations for this year's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day which falls on Saturday, China has launched a nationwide initiative to promote and showcase its intangible cultural heritage. The inauguration ceremony of the initiative was held at the China Intangible Cultural Heritage Museum (CICHM) in Beijing on Friday. Five intangible cultural heritage inheritors donated their works to the museum. Across the country, more than 12,000 intangible cultural heritage promotion and exhibition events are planned to commemorate the Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, including a year-long exhibition at the CICHM. The exhibition, which opened on Friday, features over 100 national intangible cultural heritage projects and items listed on UNESCO's intangible heritage lists, including local opera materials as well as crafts such as embroidery and wood-carving. Showcased through multimedia channels, over 600 pieces including exhibit sets are on display at the museum, highlighting the vitality of intangible cultural heritage in contemporary society. This year marks the 20th anniversary of China joining UNESCO's Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage. The snake catcher said even he is still trying to wrap his head around it. The two snakes were spotted fighting in a field in Kiama, on the NSW South Coast. Source: Facebook Aussies are being urged to remain alert and vigilant after a rare sighting south of Sydney. A snake expert has described a dramatic video in which two red-bellied black snakes can be see fighting on a grassy beach-side battle field as "very unusual". The video taken in Kiama, on the NSW South Coast, shows the two snakes intertwined in a fierce encounter well after their usual period of activity which usually occurs in the warmer months has come to an end. That is very unusual and a little bit rare to see this behaviour at this time of year, Ray McGibbon from Southern Highlands Snake Catchers told Yahoo News. Its not unheard of and it has been witnessed before, but it is very interesting and very unusual to get it on camera. The snake catcher, whos been on the job for 38 years, said it was a timely reminder for Aussies to be aware that snakes could always be in the area, even when theyre meant to be hiding during the colder months. Like any time of year, when you're walking in certain areas where you may have a snake encounter, just be alert, he said. So, why were the snakes out and about? The fluctuating weather NSW has been having lately could be blamed for the unseasonable reptile action. When we get that nice winters day and it feels like spring, it sort of flicks the animals into gear thinking, Oh, its mating time again, and sometimes certain species will show signs of mating or courtship, McGibbon explained, or even combating characteristics. Which is exactly what was happening in this instance, the snake catcher believes. It is two males combatting, he said, referring to the video clip of the two red-bellies, which are one of Australias most venomous snakes. The snakes were filmed locked in a fierce battle. Source: Facebook McGibbon added he thinks the pair were likely trying to win over a female in the area. What happens in the summer or springtime is, if theres a female showing signs of being ready to mate, then the two males will come together and theyll fight to be the dominant male in the area, he said. So its unusual behaviour for this time of year. Im still trying to wrap my head around it as well. Wait, dont snakes hibernate? Not exactly, but they will go wait out the colder weather. Its a form of hibernation called brumation, McGibbon explained. So if you get a lukewarm during winter, they will come out from wherever theyre hiding, theyll get a nice blast of sun for about an hour or two, and then theyll got hide again. They won't be feeding, because there's not enough heat to digest their food and they dont want their food to rot in their gut, but they will be out there sunbaking. Then a week or two later, when the next warm day rolls around, theyll creep out from their hiding spots again. This process will repeat until spring. I do come across it quite often during the winter time whereby someones doing yard work or cleaning up and they come across a snake curled up, McGibbon added. Snake catcher Ray McGibbon said red-bellied black snakes are about the 15th most venomous in Australia. Source: Australian Museum What do you do if you spot a snake? Definitely dont go anywhere near it, according to McGibbon. You dont touch them, you dont interact with them, you leave them alone, he said. For the sake of your health, your family members health or your pets health, just leave them be and call a licensed snake catcher in your area and let them deal with it. And whatever you do, do not think you can trap it yourself. Were trained professionals and know how to understand the behaviour of these animals, the snake catcher added. We understand their movements. We understand everything about them. Yes, were not prone from being bitten, but we can avoid it. But most importantly, McGibbon doesnt want people to be afraid of these misunderstood creatures. Theres no need to fear them, he said, adding that education is the key. Its all about understanding and knowing how to behave accordingly when you have an encounter with a snake. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. A fire broke out at a popular theme-based adventure game zone in Connaught Place in Delhi. One individual was reported to be trapped inside Mystery Rooms located at Outer Circle of Connaught Place. Fire breaks out at Mystery Rooms, a theme-based adventure game zone, at Outer Circle of Connaught Place in Delhi.(screengrab / PTI) "We rushed five fire tenders to the spot. So far, no injuries were reported," DFS chief Atul Garg said. He said that a call was received at 3.22 pm from a game arcade Mystry Rooms located in Block M, in the outer circle area of Connaught Place reporting that a fire had broken out in the games area. "Fire is under control," he said adding that operations are underway The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. More details awaited. With inputs from agencies Lucknow: To enhance the physical and mental abilities of students, the state government is set to introduce the Scouts and Guides programme in primary schools from Class 1 to Class 8. Scouts and Guides units will be established in all government primary and upper primary schools across the state. (Pic for representation) Scouts and Guides units will be established in all government primary and upper primary schools across the state. Instructions have been given to set up these units before the new academic session begins. It is noteworthy that Cub & Bulbul Scouts and Guides programmes help instil high moral values and discipline in students to build their character and enhance national unity. Currently, these units are functional in most schools from Class 6 to Class 8. Now, they will also be established in schools from Class 1 to Class 5. Education director (basic) Pratap Singh Baghel has instructed all divisional assistant education directors and district basic education officers to ensure the registration of at least one unit in every council school from Class 1 to Class 5. Each unit will have 24 members. Similarly, each council school from Class 6 to Class 8 must have at least one unit with 32 members. The number of units can be increased in proportion with the number of students in the schools. Additionally, existing units must be renewed before the new session starts. Instructions have also been issued for registration of new teams and renewal of old ones ahead of the beginning of the new session. Baghel instructed that for schools without trained unit leaders, teachers would undergo a 7-day residential training programme organized by the Bharat Scouts and Guides, Uttar Pradesh organization. Initially, 50 teachers from each district will be nominated for this training. Students will be provided a set of school uniforms and a Scouts and Guides uniform funded through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) scheme. Apart from this, at least one band of Scout Guide will be prepared at the block level of each district and competition of this band organized at district and inter-district levels. Students will also be encouraged to participate in the BSG knowledge competition (2024-25) organized by the Bharat Scouts and Guides Institute at the district and state level and the best cadet competition at the district/regional level. Furthermore, the Scouts and Guides curriculum for Classes 6 to 8 will follow a fixed timetable. Several parts of Mumbai witnessed waterlogging and traffic snarls after heavy rains accompanied by thunder lashed the metropolitan on Saturday night and Sunday morning. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a Yellow alert for today and added that conditions are favourable for monsoon arrival in Mumbai within the next two days. Mumbai Rain(ANI) First showers for 10 minutes halt traffic for four hours on Mumbai-Ahm hwy Visuals show vehicles snarling after the city experienced heavy rainfall in the early hours of Sunday. The IMD has also issued a Red alert for heavy rainfall in Sindhudurg, an Orange alert for Ratnagiri, and a Yellow alert for Palghar, Thane, Mumbai, and Raigad for Sunday. It predicted thunderstorms accompanied by lightning and moderate to heavy spells of rain with gusty winds in these regions. The weather department has also predicted favourable conditions for the Southwest Monsoon to advance into the central Arabian Sea, some parts of Maharashtra (including Mumbai), and Telangana over the next 2-3 days. Mumbais stranding network prepares for the monsoon Meanwhile, the weather agency has also advised the public to take necessary precautions while venturing out today, given the adverse weather conditions. Earlier, the IMD said that the southwest monsoon has advanced into some parts of the central Arabian Sea, south Maharashtra, Telangana, some parts of south Chhattisgarh and south Odisha and some more parts of coastal Andhra Pradesh. "Southwest Monsoon has advanced into some more parts of central Arabian Sea, south Maharashtra, Telangana and some parts of south Chhattisgarh and south Odisha and some more parts of Coastal Andhra Pradesh today, 8 June 2024," it said in a post on X. Mumbais stranding network prepares for the monsoon This year's Monsoon onset was two days earlier as the usual date of the onset is on June 1. This year, Kerala experienced widespread pre-monsoon rains. (With inputs from ANI) Mumbai: The Ajit Pawar-led Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), a part of the ruling Mahayuti coalition in the state, failed to make it to Prime Minister Narendra Modis new council of ministers after senior leader Praful Patel rejected an offer to take oath as minister of state with independent charge, according to people aware of the matter. Mumbai, India - July 2, 2023: NCP leader and newly appointed Dy CM Ajit Pawar, NCP MP Praful Patel and NCP MLA and minsiter Chhagan Bhujbal addressing to media during press conference at Sahayadri Guest House, Malbar Hill, in Mumbai, India, on Sunday, July 2, 2023. (Photo by Anshuman Poyrekar/ Hindustan Times) (Hindustan Times) Patel, who was minister for 10 years in Manmohan Singh-led UPA government -- from May 2004 to January 2011 he was a minister of state (independent charge) handling civil aviation, and a Cabinet minister from January 2011 to May 2014 handling which heavy industries and public enterprises -- called the offer of the new post a demotion. ALSO READ- Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister for third consecutive time at Rashtrapati Bhavan The party is now hoping to make up the loss by bargaining harder during the expansion of the state Cabinet in Maharashtra, and to somehow have Patel accommodated whenever the Union Cabinet is expanded. The NCP, which contested four seats and won only one (Raigad constituency), registered the poorest strike rate among the states ruling alliance of the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Shiv Sena and the NCP. The biggest blow to the faction was not being able to win the Baramati constituency, where Ajit Pawars wife Sunetra lost in a prestige battle to Supriya Sule, who is Sharad Pawars daughter, representing the Nationalist Congress Party-Sharad Pawar (NCP-SP). In pics: Modi takes oath as PM for a historic third term at Rashtrapati Bhavan Ajit Pawar walked out of NCP-led by his uncle and party founder Sharad Pawar in June 2022 and was sworn in the Eknath Shinde-led state government. Later over 40 of total 54 party MLAs joined him amid the legal battle between two faction over the real party status. election commission of India ruled in favour of Ajit Pawar alloting the faction the party name and symbol. Ajit and Sharad Pawar led factions fought Lok Sabha elections against each other in Baramati, Shirur and both the seats went to the senior pawar. Despite its poor showing, the faction was pushing hard for a Cabinet berth for Patel. We received a call from BJP offering us the MoS with independent charge. I was a Cabinet minister (in the UPA government) and this would have been a demotion for me. We have been told by the BJP leadership to wait for a few days until some remedial measures were taken, Patel told reporters. The the decision to walk away from the Union council of ministers of has led to some disquiet within the NCP, with some leaders asking why the party did not choose to push Sunil Tatkare, a two-term MP from Raigad, if Patel was not willing to take the offer of MoS with independent charge. Some other leaders, however, understood the BJPs rationale. We were assured respectable representation in governments at the state and Centre. We were told by the BJP leadership that a Cabinet minister berth to us would disturb the formula finalised for the allies for the induction in the Cabinet. Alliance partners have been offered one berth per five MPs and even Eknath Shinde-led Sena has got one berth of MoS with independent charge, said a leader who asked not to be named. ALSO READ- Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar, Rajinikanth, arrive at Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Watch Shindes Sena contested 15 LS seats, and won seven. Partys seniormost and four-time MP from Buldhana, Prataprao Jadhav, has been inducted into the council of ministers. We offered them a MoS berth, but it would have a demotion for Praful Patel who was a cabinet minister earlier. It would have been difficult for us to change the formula for one alliance partner. NCP will be accommodated during the next expansion of the Cabinet, BJP leader and deputy chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said. Women and civil society organisations of Manipurs Imphal on Sunday blamed chief minister N. Biren Singh for failing to stop the violence in Jiribam district for the last four days that led to hundreds of people fleeing their homes and burning down around over 70 houses. Security forces personnel during a joint search operations in Bishnupur and Imphal East districts of Manipur on Friday. (PTI) The convenor of Imagi Meira (a womens organisation), Thokchom Sujata, told reporters in Imphal on Sunday that Biren and other state leaders need not participate in Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony and they should return to Manipur immediately to tackle the Jiribam issue within 15 days. There is no need to attend the ceremony. Prime Minister Modi has remained silent for over a year. He had no time to meet the chief minister to discuss the issue of the Manipur conflict, she said. The Meitei-Kuki conflict erupted on May 3 last year, the day Kuki people, supported by militants, launched an attack on Meitei villages. The violence reignited after a 59-year-old man was found beheaded in Jiribam on Thursday. While Manipur is burning and many innocent villagers in Jiribam are under attack by Kuki militants, no leaders from Manipur are here in Imphal. Instead of monitoring the issue, all the state leaders of Manipur, including the chief minister, governor of Manipur, Anusuiya Uikey, and the president of BJP Manipur Pradesh, Adhhikarimayum Sharda Devi are out of the station to participate in the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi for his third term as Prime Minister of India, Sujata said. She said the violence in Jiribam was reignited due to security lapses. Jiribam town located along National Highway-37 (Imphal-Silchar) has been a lifeline of Manipur. Meanwhile, the coordinator of Coordinating Body on Manipur Integrity (COCOMI), Somorendro Thokchom, said the governments willful negligence led to the recent violence in Jiribam despite repeated appeals for deploying more state forces to strengthen them in the district. COCOMI is an apex body of various civil society organisation in Manipur that has been involving in the ongoing crisis since the beginning. One Jiribam town resident, who did not want to disclose their identity, told Hindustan Times the village volunteers are on alert and Manipur police force, including state commandos, have started doing their duties. Information has been spreading that heavily armed Kuki militants are headed for Jiribam, passing through Halflong, Assam. But precautionary measures are being taken by both state forces and village defense volunteers. However, chief minister Biren Singh in a statement issued to reporters on Sunday said, The CM office has timely communicated to all concerned, including the DG (director general of police), about the possibility of security measures in Jiribam district. The chairmanship of the unified command has already been removed as of May 31, 2023. On Saturday, governor Anusuiya Uikey met chief minister Biren at the Manipur Bhawan in Delhi and took stock of the prevailing situation in Jiribam district, asking him to take all possible steps to control the situation there. Earlier, in an immediate and confidential letter by the government dated January 15, it was reported that about 200 armed Kuki-Zo militants had moved from Churachandpur and reached Phaitol village, Old Keiphundai area of Tamenglong district bordering Jiribam District. The Manipur director general of police was requested to take all necessary security measures in order to prevent any untoward incidents, as well as to respond to threats posed by the group, in view of the prevailing situation in the state. The letter was signed by the secretary to the chief minister, N. Geoffrey. A copy of the letter was sent to the chief secretary of Manipur and the Jiribam district magistrate and superintendent of police (SP). Narendra Modi is all set to take the oath for a third consecutive term as India's Prime Minister, and the nation is buzzing with excitement. Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday in Delhi, several Bollywood celebrities from Ajay Devgn to Anil Kapoor, have come forward to congratulate him. (Also read: Who will attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony?) Actor Ajay Devgn expressed his views on social media. Celebs send in good wishes Actor Ajay Devgn took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to send in his regards. Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji on his re-election! Wishing continued success in guiding India towards prosperity and greatness with his wisdom and compassion, he wrote. Actor Rishab Shetty also opted for social media route to congratulate him, writing, Congratulations to #Narendramodi on his 3rd term as Prime Minister of India. We deeply value your dedication towards the development, education, and national safety. Actor Anil Kapoor is also excited about the event. He was seen expressing his views in a video shared by ANI. When asked about the swearing-in ceremony, he said, I just want the country to prosper, and continue on the path of prosperity. It is positive. Talking about actor Anupam Kher, he has revealed that he will be attending the oath-taking ceremony. In an interview to ANI, he said that it is his good fortune that he's taking part in the oath ceremony for the third time. "In the last 10 years, the Prime Minister has run the country very well. I hope the new government under the PM's leadership will take the country ahead. We are the fifth largest economy in the world and can move up to being the third largest economy. I thank those who have invited me to this ceremony," said Anupam. Earlier in the day, actor Rajinikanth said that Modi assuming office for the third time is a big achievement and a healthy sign for democracy. I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony... It is a very historic event Assuming office for the third consecutive term is Narendra Modis big achievement, my hearty greetings to him. People have elected a robust opposition which is a healthy sign for democracy, Rajinikanth told the reporters when he was leaving Chennai for Delhi. More about the ceremony Modi will be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term today. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his council of ministers at 7:15 PM at Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt. He is the only leader after former PM Jawaharlal Nehru to have been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. According to the officials, over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers, will attend the oath-taking ceremony. Mumbai, India didnt have any moment at Cannes, says filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, stressing that the victory of independent filmmakers at the European gala is theirs alone and the government doesnt support that kind of award winning cinema. India doesn't support 'Cannes kind' of cinema, says Anurag Kashyap India won an unprecedented three awards at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival last month Payal Kapadia became the first ever director from India to win the Grand Prix for her movie "All We Imagine As Light", Anasuya Sengupta was awarded best actress in the Un Certain Regard strand for The Shameless, and FTII student Chidananda S. Naik earned the best short film award at the La Cinef section for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. I get very upset when it's said 'India@Cannes'. This is a boost a shot in the arm for a lot of independent filmmakers but their victory is their own," Kashyap told PTI in an interview here. India didn't have any moment at Cannes, not a single of those films are Indian. We need to address it the way it should be addressed. India has stopped supporting such cinema, the kind of cinema that was at Cannes, he said. He said Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light", which was also the first film from India in 30 years to feature in the main competition at Cannes known for giving a platform to new voices, received funding from a French company. The Malayalam-Hindi feature, which earned the second highest award at Cannes after Palme d'Or, is an Indo-French co-production between Petit Chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India. There were several films at Cannes with either India-set stories or Indian talent at the helm, but most were co-productions with banners from other countries. Indian-British filmmaker Sandhya Suri's Santosh and Karan Kandharis Sister Midnight were funded by the UK, while Konstantin Bojanovs The Shameless was almost self-funded. However, Chidanand's "Sunflowers..." is a production of the TV Wing One-year programme under the Film and Television Institute of India . India just likes to take credit for a lot of things, they do not support these films, and they dont even support these films to have a release in cinema, Kashyap said. In 2021, Kapadia had won an award at Cannes for the documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing but that is yet to be released in India. "Stop taking credit for it. Lets stop this fake celebration... Even if the film is released, no one will go to watch it in the theatre, the 51-year-old said. He also cited the example of Shaunak Sen's documentary "All that Breathes", which won the Golden Eye award at Cannes 2022, that didn't release on Indian screens and went straight to a streamer. Then there were independent films such as "Jaggi" and "Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar" that won awards at festivals that will eventually find home in streamers. Kashyap was also critical of the spotlight on influencers on the famed red carpet. "This obsession India has with Cannes... More than Cannes, it's about the red carpet. That's on another level. I get more angry when I hear these things... Geetanjali Rao got three awards at Cannes in 2003, I wrote an article on it, but it was not recognised, rarely anyone wrote about that here. Theres no support system here." Days after her win, Kapadia, also an FTII graduate, penned an open letter in which she pushed for a government fund for women filmmakers and under-represented sections to foster independent filmmaking while praising the Kerala government for starting a similar initiative. Kashyap, whose films such as "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Ugly", and "Kennedy" have screened at Cannes over the years across sections like Director's Fortnight and Midnight Screenings, said he was also surprised when former FTII chairperson Gajendra Chauhan took credit for Kapadia's win. Back in 2015, Kapadia was one of the students who protested against the appointment of "Mahabharat" actor-BJP politician Chauhan as FTII head. Kapadia was among the 35 students charged under various Indian Penal Code sections for offences related to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, and rioting. The chargesheet was filed in 2016, and the next court hearing is scheduled for June 26, according to the defence lawyer representing the students. "The worst part is that the man who put the case against her, and sent some students to jail, is the first man who took the credit for her and said, Im proud that I was the FTII . What is his name? Yudhishthir ji , Gajendra Chauhan said, Im so proud that she was the student when I was the head. You are the one who put the case against her," Kashyap added. The director, who will be seen in an acting role in the web series "Bad Cop", said the Indian film business focuses primarily on producing blockbuster hits. We have made many independent films, Ive seen how much support they get and don't get. At the end of the day, in India everyone is here to do business. No one wants to do good work, everyone wants to do hit work he said. Asked about critically acclaimed smaller films like Joram and All India Rank not being marketed well to reach the audiences, Kashyap said such movies cant match up to the marketing of a big film. "The pressure is on a small film too; they cant spend much on the visibility of the film. To make a small film visible around big films is very difficult. Besides those films are unable to make the recovery, you dont get good show timings, as good show timings are covered by big films, he said, lauding the South movie industry for fixing marketing and ticket pricing for both big-budget and small movies. Directed by Aditya Datt, Bad Cop stars Gulshan Devaiah as Karan, a fierce cop, trying to chase down Kazbe , a villain more powerful and deadly than him and simultaneously managing his personal relationships. The action-drama series will premiere on Disney Hotstar on June 21. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. What Kangana had said In 2022, after Wills action for which he later apologised to The Academy left people divided, Kangana took to Instagram Stories to defend the actor for slapping Chris, who was the Oscars presenter that year. Kangana had shared a picture of Will smacking Chris, and said that she would have also taken the same step if she was in Wills place. She wrote, If some idiot used my mom or sisters illness to make bunch of fools laugh I would slap him like @willsmith did bada*** move... Why has the post resurfaced? On Saturday, Kangana shared her views on the recent slap incident, slamming those who 'are ok with' what happened to her. Taking to X, the BJP leader and actor had a message for those who defended the CISF constable. Kangana tweeted, Every rapist, murderer or thief always have a strong emotional, physical, psychological or financial reason to commit a crime, no crime ever happens without a reason, yet they are convicted and sentenced to jail. If you are aligned with the criminal's strong emotional impulse to commit a crime violating all laws of the land. She added, "Remember if you are ok with breaking into someones intimate zone, without their permission touching their bodies and assaulting them then deep down you are ok with rape or murder also because thats also just penetration or stab only what big deal, you must look deeper in to your psychological criminal tendencies, I suggest please take up yoga and meditation or else life will become a bitter and burdensome experience, dont carry so much grudge, hate and jealousy please, free yourself. Reactions to the statement Reacting to her tweet, an X user wrote, "As per Kangana Ranaut, Will Smith can hit someone for making a joke on his wife but another woman cant hit her for calling her mother 100 mein baithne wali (someone worth 100)' and asking to behead her farmer father?? Hypocrisy ki seema (There should be a limit to hypocrisy) guys..." Many on Reddit also reacted to Kangana's old post. One wrote, "Perfect. Shows her hypocrisy and victim mentality when actually she is at fault!" Another said, "Arey bhai, hypocrisy ki bhi seema hoti hai (There should be a limit to hypocrisy)." One also said, "But a celebrity is not supposed to say things like this. Just because she is poor, the action was taken against her (CISF constable); what about action against her (Kangana)?" More about the slap episode The slap incident occurred on June 6, when Kangana was about to board a flight to Delhi to attend a meeting of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Kangana was allegedly slapped by a CISF constable while she was headed to Delhi. An FIR has been lodged against the constable. On the day of the incident, another video was widely shared, wherein the constable said that her mother was among the farmers holding a sit-in protest against the farm laws, which have now been repealed. She was heard saying in Hindi, Kangana had given a statement that women farmers were sitting at the farmers' protest for 100 each. My mother was also sitting there when she gave this statement. I could not tolerate the insult of my mother. Katrina Kaif, who was holidaying in London with actor-husband Vicky Kaushal has returned to Mumbai. Several pictures of the actor at the Mumbai airport on late Saturday emerged on social media platforms. (Also Read | Katrina Kaif pregnant with her first baby? Actor's representative issues statement) Katrina Kaif was spotted at the Mumbai airport. Katrina returns to India post holiday In a video shared by a paparazzo on Instagram, Katrina was seen exiting the airport gate in a black shirt and trousers under a black coat. She wore sneakers and dark sunglasses. The actor was seen smiling at the paparazzi. Before getting inside her car, she waved and smiled again at the paparazzi. Fans don't think Katrina is pregnant Reacting to the video, a fan said, "Simplicity is the best thing. She's looking so beautiful, elegant and classy. Shes glowing." A person wrote, "She's definitely not pregnant. But she is glowing. The most gorgeous actress to ever exist." A comment also read, "Always beautiful. Finally, the queen is back from her London holiday." An Instagram user commented, "Katrina is so not pregnant. What rumours and reports went rampant!" Rumours, clarification about Katrina's pregnancy Since the last few weeks several reports claimed that Katrina was pregnant. A few videos of the actor holidaying in London with Vicky Kaushal also emerged on social media platforms. A section of the people also claimed that the actor looked pregnant in a video. Later, her agency, Raindrop media, issued a statement. It said, Request all media houses to immediately stop this unconfirmed reporting and speculation." Zoom, quoting its source, reported that 'if all goes well, Katrina and Vicky will welcome their first child in the UK'. The source added that Katrina, who has grown up in the UK and owns a house in London's Hampstead, will deliver her baby in London. Katrina bacha London mein hi deliver karegi. Vicky bhi wahin hai (Yes, she is pregnant. They will welcome their first child in London itself. Vicky is already there with her). Vicky and Katrina tied the knot on December 9, 2021, at Six Senses Fort Barwara, Rajasthan. Katrina's films Katrina was last seen in Sriram Raghavan's film Merry Christmas opposite actor Vijay Sethupathi. She has Farhan Akhtar's upcoming film Jee Le Zara along with Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra in the pipeline. Malaika Arora and Arjun Kapoor are no longer together, as per a report, even though her manager denied the breakup rumours. Amid speculation around her personal life, Malaika shared an Instagram post from her recent trip to France, and the photos are a happy bunch that give a glimpse of her beach outings with friends. Also read: Malaika Arora finally addresses reports of breakup with Arjun Kapoor Malaika Arora shared photos from her recent trip to France. Malaika Arora's latest post In the pictures, Malaika soaked up the sun as she tried out local dishes, spent time with her girls on a luxury boat, and posed at beautiful locales. She wrote in her caption, "Jadore (I love France)." A fan commented on Malaika's post, "Love the pics... hottest as always." Another wrote, "Beautiful pictures." a comment also read, Hotness. Breakup rumours The reality TV judge and former VJ's Instagram post comes amid recent breakup rumours with longtime boyfriend, actor Arjun Kapoor. Malaika and Arjun, who were in a relationship for many years, have reportedly called it quits. According to a recent report, they 'respectfully parted ways' as their relationship ran its course. As per a May 31 report by Pinkvilla, multiple sources confirmed to the portal that Malaika and Arjun have ended their relationship. A source said, Malaika and Arjun had a very special relationship and both of them will continue to hold a special place in each others hearts. They have chosen to part ways and will maintain a dignified silence in this matter. They wont allow anyone to drag and dissect their relationship. The source added, They had a long, loving, fruitful relationship that has unfortunately run its course now. That doesnt mean there is any bad blood between them. They respect each other hugely and have been a pillar of strength for each other. Over the years, they have given their relationship a lot of respect. They will continue to give each other the same respect despite them deciding to part ways. Both of them were in a serious relationship for years, and they expect people to be gracious enough to give them space at this emotional time. Malaika's manager reacted to the rumours while talking to India Today. When asked whether the couple had parted ways, the manager was quoted as saying, No no, all rumours. Malaika and Arjun made their relationship official in 2018. She was married to actor Arbaaz Khan for 19 years before they parted ways in 2016. They were officially divorced in 2017. Arbaaz is now married to makeup artist Sshura Khan. Elle Pendrick, who had undergone three open heart surgeries by the time she was eight, had trouble explaining her health woes to previous partners. After four open heart surgeries, Pendrick went through her fourth with the love of her husband, Adam. Source: Supplied A 41-year-old Aussie woman, who'd undergone three open heart surgeries by the time she was eight, has opened up about dating while battling a lifelong and incurable chronic illness, revealing that one boyfriend had feared she was about to die. Elle Pendrick was born with complex congenital heart disease, but says she struggled to explain it to partners until she met her husband, Adam. The Canberra woman's condition is part of a group of defects that occur when the heart doesnt develop properly in the womb and affects the way the blood flows through the heart and rest of the body. She was just a few days old when she was airlifted to Sydney for her first operation, which at the time only had a 40 per cent survival rate. Elle Pendrink underwent her first open heart surgery at three days old. Source: Supplied Since then, Pendrick has had to have a further four open heart procedures, including when she was six, eight, 21 and 33, while she had the support of her now-husband for the last. Its a big decision in some ways to marry someone who has a lifelong and incurable chronic illness, she told Yahoo News Australia, explaining that it's very likely shell need a sixth operation any day now. But in other ways, she added, you just crack on with life. 'He thought I was gonna die' After going through three surgeries as a child, Pendrick thought she was out of the woods by the time she reached adulthood. The fourth open heart operation when I was 21 was a rude shock to be honest, as I thought I was done with treatment and that Id grown out of the heart disease I had as a kid or that it had been cured, she said. Pendrick's second and third surgeries came when she was six and eight-years old. Source: Supplied I also struggled with explaining it to loved ones and getting through the whole process, and I found it quite an awful experience overall. Her battle to communicate what she was going through also extended to Pendrick's dating life in her 20s. I recall with one ex-boyfriend, I had explained my heart condition very poorly and it wasnt until we were breaking up and I was moving home from overseas that he was like: Oh, I wanted to spend as much time with you while youre here as I know youre going to pass away in a little while. Id done such a bad job explaining it that this poor bloke thought that I was gonna die in like the next six months. From then on, I needed to really think about how I was explaining this for dating, because it wasnt okay for this poor bloke to go around thinking that his girlfriend was going to die. 'A different journey' for couple By the time Pendrick was ready to go under the knife for a fifth time when she was 33, everything was different. Shed known that she was going to need another surgery, she knew what was coming, but this time around she had her partner Adam, who could understand her complex illness and care for her when she was too unwell to care for herself. Pendrick had thought she'd grown out of her heart disease when she needed her fourth surgery at 21 (left, with her mum), and then again at 33. Source: Supplied When I met my gorgeous husband in my late 20s, we had the conversation very early on about what congenital heart disease looks like, she said, adding that beyond the surgeries, day-to-day life can be filled with fatigue. Some days Ill be really tired and wont do much, and some days I have brain fog and I cant think things through properly and Im very vague. However, she said Adam has been absolutely amazing. Husband 'incredibly supportive and understanding' The couple, who met online, when they had both just moved to Canberra, married in January, 2015. "I was pretty up front and explained that I had heart disease and would need more surgery. I knew myself pretty well and what my future with heart disease looked like so I really was honest. I have to admit that I completely underestimated how much caring a partner would need to do so didn't really outline that part of the deal well at all. "Adam is incredibly supportive and understanding. Hes just fantastic. He was really open to what our life might look like together. But he saw the potential need to be a carer much clearer than I did. "A few months in things were getting more serious and he asked really detailed questions to get a better grasp on what my condition meant for day-to-day life, and what kind of support would help the most. Id never had anyone do that, so we had to work it out together." Weve done some incredible travel, weve both gone along our career journeys, and weve got a fantastic life together. And most of the time its Elle and Adam together. Its not Adam and Elles chronic illness. Pendrick is excited about the prosect of a new minimally invasive surgery which is being researched by the Heart Research Institute. Source: Supplied New technology gives hope While Pendrick is prepping herself for the news that shell soon need a sixth surgery which will knock her out of action for six months shes hopeful that medical advances will be made before she does. Scientists from the Heart Research Institute are currently developing a world-first alternative to heart transplants and open-heart surgeries by using lab-created patches, made from a patients own cells, to replace or repair damaged areas of the heart via keyhole surgery. Its very futuristic to think that you could use your own stem cells to develop tissue that then could be inserted through a minimally invasive procedure to help people, Pendrick said. To think that I might not need a sixth open heart surgery, and to take six months out of my life because I might be able to have this minimally invasive procedure, is just incredible. It would be a dream come true for so many of us. Until then, Pendrick, who started her own business, Adulting Well, to help other people with long-term chronic illnesses, is just getting on with things. While the sun shines, she said, you have to get out and live life to the fullest. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube. Actor Rajinikanth will be attending the oath taking ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday, and will be arriving in the national capital shortly. He said that Modi assuming office for the third time is a big achievement and a healthy sign for democracy. Over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers, will attend the oath-taking ceremony. The ceremony will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt in Delhi on Sunday. Earlier in the day, he was spotted leaving for Delhi from his residence in Chennai. Shows his support for Narendra Modi As the actor left for Delhi, he spoke to reporters waiting outside the airport, and congratulated Modi. "I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony... It is a very historic event Assuming office for the third consecutive term is Narendra Modis big achievement, my hearty greetings to him. People have elected a robust opposition which is a healthy sign for democracy, Rajinikanth told the reporters. He was also asked about his expectation over the next five years, to which Rajinikanth said the governance will be good and that is what he expected. What do we know about the ceremony? Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on Sunday, June 9, after the NDA scored a majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The mega event will begin at 7:15 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt in the national capital. According to the officials, over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers, will attend the oath-taking ceremony. The guest list has been kept compact, given the ensuing G7 meeting in Italy, for which Modi will leave later in the week, reported ANI, citing sources. Following the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet for the dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Rajinikanths latest work When it comes to work, Rajinikanth has exciting films lined up for release. He will soon be seen in TJ Gnanavels Vettaiyan, which will be released in October and also star Amitabh Bachchan, Fahadh Faasil and Rana Daggubati. He will soon resume shooting for Lokesh Kanagarajs Coolie. The films announcement teaser was met with a good response. Actor Sonam Kapoor turns 39 on June 9. While she has accepted being known both for her fashion and films through the years, there was a time when she dreaded being known as a fashionista who cant act. Talking to The Quint in 2016, she made it clear that she wanted to be known as more than a fashion diva. (Also Read: Bigg Boss OTT 3: Anil Kapoor takes over from Salman Khan as host; Sonam Kapoor reacts. Watch) Sonam Kapoor turns 39 on June 9. Im every woman Talking to the publication, Sonam detailed how she would like to direct a film someday and be known for more than just what the world thinks of her. She said, Ive been writing short stories, I have concepts for three scripts and I hope to direct a film myself. I was fed up of being branded as a fashion diva who cant act. Such prejudices did affect my self-pride. During the last two years, I went through a troubled phase. I wanted to disown myself. But theres light at the end of depression. Ive smartened up. Im a homebody, Im thoughtful and I can be uber glamorous. As the Whitney Houston song goes, Im every woman. The biggest stars are fashionistas Incidentally, in 2010, Sonams I Hate Luv Storys co-star Imran Khan mentioned on Koffee with Karan that Sonam should do more movies, less magazine covers. Miffed with Imran and rejecting the fashion icon tag, she told Hindustan Times, Imran is really sweet and I like him, but I cant take someone so wet behind the ears seriously. He still has a lot to do before he makes statements like that. Fashion and acting go hand in hand. The biggest stars in the world are also fashion icons, whether Audrey Hepburn, Rekha, Sharmila Tagore or Marilyn Monroe. But I am not comfortable with tags. I cannot choose between the two Sonam finally seemed at peace when she spoke to YS Life in 2023, being known both as an actor and fashionista. When asked if she wants to be known as Sonam Kapoor the style icon or Sonam Kapoor, Indias leading actor she said, To be honest, I'm not sure I can choose between the two. I love fashion and I'm proud of the way I've been able to use my platform to promote Indian designers and craftsmanship. But I'm also passionate about my work as an actor, and I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had to play complex and challenging roles. If I had to pick one, I'd say I'd rather be known as a style icon who is also a leading actor. But really, I'm just Sonam Kapoor, and I'm happy to be known as just that. Glen Powell is the man of the hour. The Top Gun: Maverick star finally has Hollywood (and everyone else) in his hands. Delivering hit after hit, the man who once starred in Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (as most of us had forgotten) is now setting up the scene for his latest cinematic spell with back-to-back premieres, like Anyone But You, Hit Man and Twisters (upcoming). This image released by Netflix shows Glen Powell in a scene from "Hit Man." (Netflix via AP)(AP) However, the Hit Man recently found himself at the top of showbiz headlines for other reasons when he joined social media star Jake Shane on his talk show Therapuss. Although the newest Netflix sensation sat down for a deep dive therapy session with @octopusslover8 in the final weeks of May 2024, somehow, their jaw-dropping interaction is only now going viral on the Internet. Twenty minutes in, Powell got down to business; the rest was history. Asking Shane if he wanted to hear a crazy story, Glen took an unhinged page, allegedly out of the life of his sister's friend, who seemingly narrowly escaped death. Glen Powell's viral crazy story about a cannibal The Twisters star relayed how his sister's friend went on a date with a man. Though he had the looks and aura of a "super-charming" man, he allegedly turned out to be a cannibal. Also read | Will Smith surprises Bad Boys 4 moviegoers at a packed LA theatre; Fourthquel box office opening weekend projects $53M As Powell tried his best to get his alleged facts straight, he committed to the storyhe supposedly heard it through word of mouth. He told Shane how his sister's friend thoroughly enjoyed her date with this man. Later that night, they went back to his apartment, where the creepy aspect of the story settled in. She goes back to his apartment that night, and he's like, 'Hey, can I give you a massage? Powell recounted the tale. Soon after, an off-putting, ominous feeling kicked in and "She just started getting a weird vibe. She's like, something feels off..." So, he starts massaging her shoulders She's kind of just feeling like, everything's just feeling odd, Powell continued. And then, it hits the girl that she has to get out of this situation, but the person she went out on the date with gets a little weird, like, no, please dont leave.' Somewhere along those lines, the girl finally slips out, Her skin starts itching like crazy. The next day, she goes to the doctor, and he does a test on her skin. And it turns out that it's like a black market lotion that breaks down skin for human consumption. This man was rubbing lotion on her body to eat her. Ultimately, the doctor presumably asked her to share this person's address as they contemplated calling the police. Also read | Jennifer Lopez-Ben Affleck's $60M marital mansion on sale; signs of impending divorce loom on the horizon: Report They go to this guy's house and he had several girls' bodies in the house, Powell concluded. Social media reacts to Glen Powell's cannibal story: Is it real? Quickly after that, social media went into shock. And right so, netizens jumped online to express their horror-stricken responses to the alleged tale centred around a cannibal. Some couldn't seem to grasp how a lotion to prep human skin for consumption was even up for grabs in the market. A few women lauded the girl in the situation for having good instincts and possibly saving potential victims from falling prey to the madness: Who knows how many lives she saved because of her good instincts. Incredible. Nevertheless, several sceptical responses also rose to the front. An X/Twitter user wrote, How was he applying the lotion to her shoulders without having it on his own hands? Was he giving her a massage while wearing latex gloves? And her skin is itchy and based on that shes able to get a next-day doctors appointment? In America? while pointing out the possibility of it being a made-up story. It eventually got the Internet abuzz, with people speculating if the story was, in fact, real. In the meantime, a 2001 urban legend shared on Snopes, the definitive Internet reference source for researching urban legends, resurfaced. The story titled Romantic Encounter with a Necrophiliac dug into a girl's unusual medical condition that purportedly led to the discovery that she'd been intimate with a necrophiliac, who was also possibly eating corpses. Some other stories from the 2000s were also included in this Fact Check report, which led many to wonder that Powell's story was most likely just another variation of these suggested myths. Mrunal Thakur, who found fame in Tollywood with Sita Ramam and Hi Nanna, is one of the most popular actors in south India right now. Recently, there was buzz that she will debut in Kollywood soon with Raghava Lawrences Kanchana 4. However, Raghava issued a clarification on X (formerly Twitter). (Also Read: Mrunal Thakur says she lost films as parents did not approve of intimate scenes: 'I would just get scared') There were rumours that Mrunal Thakur will make her Kollywood debut with Raghava Lawrence's Kanchana 4. Just rumours On Sunday afternoon, Raghava shared a picture of him on X and claimed that all news about casting for Kanchana 4 was just rumours. He wrote, Hi friends and fans, All the information regarding Kanchana 4 and casting that are circulating around social media are just rumors. Official announcement will be made through Ragavendra Production. Coming soon! However, it looks like fans want Mrunal to be roped in for the horror comedy if the comments under his post are anything to go by. One fan wrote, Mrunal ni set chey bro, (Rope in Mrunal bro) another wrote, mrunal besttt. One fan commented, Ayyo... But please do make it happen. keep #kanchana 1 in mind while writing the script + fresh and good. Fingers crossed. I will watch 1st part tonight. 1st part was Epic. About Kanchana 4 Kanchana 4 will be the fifth film in the horror comedy series created and directed by Raghava, who also appears in the lead roles in all the movies. The first part of the series, Muni, was released in 2007, followed by the 2011 film Muni 2: Kanchana. Kanchana 2 and 3 were released in 2015 and 2019. Stunt masters Anbarivu have also commissioned a pin-off called Durga, which they will direct for the first time. Raghava, Kovai Sarala, Sriman, and Devadarshini play the lead roles in the film, which was supposed to be released this summer. Upcoming work After The Family Star with Vijay Deverakonda, Mrunal is yet to announce a new project in Telugu. She will soon be seen in Pooja Meri Jaan in Hindi. Raghava was last seen in the successful Jigarthanda Double X and will soon be seen in a film titled Adhigaram, apart from Durga. Kannada TV actors Neha Ramakrishna and Chandan Gowda took to Instagram last week to announce the news of their first pregnancy. Neha Ramakrishna and Chandan Gowda announced their first pregnancy a while back through Instagram(Photo: Instagram) Talking about the good news, Ramakrishna, who tied the knot with Gowda in 2018, shares, I wanted to try for a baby this year. So, when I found out that I was pregnant, I was pretty happy! The couple shared the pregnancy news through a fun photo shoot where they were seen holding up a creative flyer with a picture of Ramakrishnas ultrasound. Ask Ramakrishna, who is best known for her role as Gombu in Lakshmi Baramma, about the idea behind the shoot and the 33-year-old actor responds, We wanted to keep things simple and casual, instead of an outdoors shoot and an elaborate gown, which seems to be the norm these days. Besides, Chandu likes to see me in casual outfits like oversized t-shirts and denim and I went for the same. When can fans expect to see her back on the television? Ramakrishna shares, Coincidentally, whatever project I was working on, has already been wrapped up. Also, its been almost 14 years that Ive been working continuously. So, I think I really need this break. She continues, I dont have any plans on coming back to work yet but I will continue working on ads and social media promotions. Apart from this, I wont be shooting for TV serials for a while. On Instagram, the actor-couple shared their excitement of the news. They said, As we prepare to welcome a new life into our family, our hearts are overflowing with joy and anticipation. Many of you have guessed it, and yes, you were right! Our family is growing from two to three. We couldnt be more excited for this new chapter, filled with sleepless nights, endless smiles, and boundless love. Jagdalpur , Six Naxalites killed in an encounter with security forces in Chhattisgarh's Narayanpur district two days back were dreaded cadres carrying a cumulative bounty of 38 lakh, according to police. 6 Naxalites killed in encounter carried total bounty of 38 lakh: Chhattisgarh police This operation is so far the biggest attack by security forces on People's Liberation Guerrilla Army company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of the attacking force of Naxalites, the police said on Saturday. It has created an atmosphere of fear among Naxalites in east Bastar division, which is considered their strong formation, the police said. The encounter took place near Gobel and Thulthuli villages under Orcha police station limits on Friday. While police earlier said seven Naxalites were killed, they later revised the toll to six, that included three women. The deceased belonged to military company number 6 of the PLGA and east Bastar division formations of the proscribed Communist Party of India , a police official said. "The operation involving separate teams of security personnel was launched late night on June 6 on the border of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar districts based on inputs about the presence of Maoists of PLGA military company no. 6 and east Bastar division formations," Inspector General of Police Sundarraj P said at a press conference here on Saturday. Personnel from the police's District Reserve Guard from four districts, 45th battalion of the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and 95th battalion of the Central Reserve Police Force were involved in the operation, he said. "At around 3 pm on Friday, Naxalites opened fire on security personnel in the forest near Bhatbeda-Battekal and Chhotetondebeda villages. The intermittent cross firing between separate teams of security personnel and Naxalites lasted for a long time following which Naxalites escaped into the dense forest taking cover of a hill," the IG said. During a search of the site, bodies of six Naxalites clad in 'uniform' were recovered from different places along with two .303 rifles, one .315 bore rifle, 10 BGL shells, one SLR magazine, a cooker bomb, five bags, a huge cache of explosives, medicines and items of daily use, Sundarraj said. Blood stains were found at several places in the area, which indicate some other Naxalites were either killed or injured in the encounter, he said. Four of the six slain ultras were identified as Masiya alias Mesiya Mandavi , sniper team commander and platoon no. 2 section 'A' commander, Ramesh Korram , deputy commander, Sanni alias Sundari, party member, and Sajanti Poyam, who was a member of the PLGA company no. 6 under east Bastar division of Maoists, the IG said. "These four were carrying a reward of 8 lakh each on their heads. The remaining two were identified as Jailal Salaam, who was active as Bayanar area committee member and carried a reward of 5 lakh on his head, and Janani alias Janni , carrying a bounty of 1 lakh on his head," he said. Assistant Sub Inspector Kachru Ram Korram , and constables Manglu Ram Kumeti and Bharat Singh Dharal received injuries in the encounter and were airlifted to Raipur for advanced treatment and their condition was stated to be out of danger, the official said. "This operation is so far the biggest attack by security forces on company no. 6, which is considered a pillar of Naxalites' attacking force, Bayanar area committee and Aamdai area committee of Naxalites. It has created an atmosphere of fear among Naxalites in east Bastar division, which is considered their strong formation," Sundarraj said. Following the operation, Naxalite leadership active in the border areas of Narayanpur, Kondagaon, Dantewada and Bastar district was reportedly blaming villagers and their lower cadres, he added. The main objective is to protect people living in remote forests and difficult geographical conditions in Bastar division from Maoist ideology so that development and peace can be established in the region, Bastar and Dantewada Superintendents of Police Shalabh Sinha and Gaurav Rai said in the press conference. The two SPs appealed to Naxalites to shun violence and join the mainstream. So far this year, 123 Naxalites have been killed and 136 firearms recovered in 71 encounters in Bastar division, comprising Kanker, Kondagaon, Narayanpur, Bastar, Bijapur, Dantewada and Sukma districts, police said. During the same period, 339 Naxalites have surrendered in the division, they said. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for a third consecutive term at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday along with 71 ministers. The Union council of ministers sworn in along with Prime Minister Modi includes 7 women from a total of 72. There were 10 women ministers in the previous council of ministers, which dissolved on June 5. Those who did not make it to the council of ministers this time include former Union Minister Smriti Irani, Minister of State Dr Bharti Pawar, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Darshana Jardosh, Meenakshi Lekhi, and Pratima Bhoumik. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Annapurna Devi takes oath as Union Cabinet Minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government, at Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI Photo)(ANI) Here are the 7 women in the Union council of ministers in the new NDA government: Nirmala Sitharaman (BJP): A Rajya Sabha member, Nirmala Sitharaman was the Union finance minister in the previous government. Sitharaman is one of two women in the Union Cabinet. This is her third consecutive term in the Union Cabinet. Annapurna Devi (BJP): An OBC leader from Jharkhand, Annapurna Devi the second woman in the Union Cabinet. She is seen as a key figure in consolidating BJP's support ahead of the upcoming assembly elections in the state. Previously associated with the RJD, Annapurna Devi has seen a meteoric rise within the BJP ever since she joined the latter after the death of her husband. She has served as minister at the state level in Jharkhand and undivided Bihar. Savitri Thakur (BJP): Savitri Thakur (46) was sworn-in as a Minister of State on Sunday. A prominent tribal leader form Madhya Pradesh, she won from the Dhar seat in the Lok Sabha elections 2024, after being denied a ticket in the 2019 edition. Nimuben Bambhaniya (BJP): Nimuben Bambhaniya, inducted as a minister of state, is one of three women to win from Gujarat on a BJP ticket. The 57-year-old defeated Aam Aadmi Party's Umesh Makwana by a huge margin of 4.55 lakh votes in Bhavnagar constituency. The former teacher served as the mayor of Bhavnagar for two terms between 2009-10 and 2015-18 and was the vice president of the BJP Mahila Morcha's state unit between 2013 and 2021. Raksha Khadse (BJP): Minister of State Raksha Khadse (37), the daughter-in-law of former BJP leader Eknath Khadse, is a three term MP from Maharashtra. After her husband Nikhil committed suicide in 2013 after a narrow loss in the Maharashtra Legislative Council election to NCP leader Manish Jain, she contested and won the Lok Sabha elections in Raver in 2014 against Jain. She won again in 2014, by a margin of more than three lakh votes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, she won by a margin of 2.72 lakh votes against NCP nominee Shriram Patil. Khadse has a B.Sc degree in computer science. Shobha Karandlaje (BJP): Shobha Karandlaje (57), a vocal critic of religious extremism from Karnataka, previously served as the Union Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers Welfare. A close confidante of state BJP strongman B S Yediyurappa, Karandlaje is a three-time Lok Sabha member. Karandlaje won from Bangalore North Lok Sabha segment by a margin of 2,59,476, defeating M V Rajeev Gowda of the Congress, and became Bengaluru's first ever woman MP. Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal): Anupriya Patel, who returns to the Union council of minister, is a prominent leader from the Other Backward Class (OBC) Kurmi community and daughter of the late Dr Soneylal Patel, founder of Apna Dal. She was Minister of state for commerce in the previous government. She defeated Samajwadi Party's Ramesh Chand Bind by a margin of 37,810 votes in the Mirzapur seat inf Uttar Pradesh. With PTI inputs At least nine, including a child, were killed and 33 others injured after armed terrorists opened fire at a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district on Sunday evening, said officials. Police said the area has been sanitised and a search operation has been launched. (ANI) Today, a group of militants attacked a Yatri bus coming from Ransoo area of district Reasi. Due to the attack, the driver of the bus lost control and the bus fell into a deep gorge near Kanda area of Pouni. Due to the accident, nine people died and 33 others injured, said Reasi senior superintendent of police (SSP), Mohita Sharma. ALSO READ- International agencies must probe: Farooq Abdullah on terror attacks in J&K Its a clear case of terror attack. The area has been sanitised and a search operation has been launched, she said. The rescue operation was completed at the earliest and the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals, she added. The identities of dead and injured have not been ascertained yet but they probably belonged to Uttar Pradesh, the SSP said. Police said the bus was ferrying pilgrims from Shiv Khori cave shrine to Katra in Reasi district and came under attack in Teryath village in Pouni area of Reasi district, bordering Rajouri district, at about 6.10pm. ALSO READ- Poonch terror attack: 20 lakh reward announced for 2 Pakistan terrorists A statement issued by police said, The driver was hit and lost control, resulting in the bus sliding into the nearby gorge. With the help of local villagers, police evacuated all the passengers by 8.10pm. SP Reasi supervised the evacuation. The injured have been shifted to different hospitals-- District headquarter hospital Reasi (13), CHC Treyath (5) and GMC in Jammu (15). ALSO READ- Poonch attack: 200 bullets were fired. How terrorists attacked IAF convoy A joint security force temporary operation by Police, Army and the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has been set up at the site and a multidimensional operation has been launched to get at the attackers, it added. The incident happened days after a bus from UPs Hathras plunged into a deep gorge in Akhnoor area of Jammu on May 30 that left 22 pilgrims dead and 69 others injured. Arc lights bathed the facade of Rashtrapati Bhavan in a warm, amber glow as the Sunday sun set on a hot Delhi evening. At the foot of the Tuscan pillars, on a wide stage, sat President Droupadi Murmu. To her left were dozens of women and men who will govern the country in an array of ministerial roles over the next five years. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers at the swearing-in ceremony of new Union government, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Sunday. (PTI) Murmurs rippled through the audience. World leaders, veteran politicians, Supreme Court justices, business magnates, actors, musicians, dignitaries, sanitation staff, construction workers and rat-hole miners made up the 8,000-strong crowd, sandwiched between the presidential palaces imposing steps and the towering Jaipur column. ALSO READ- Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister for third consecutive time at Rashtrapati Bhavan The makeshift arena was bordered by manicured trees; the audience included many who had flown in from across the expanse of India, and indeed Asia, for the momentous occasion. Sprinkler fans whirred on overdrive as the temperature tipped past 40 degrees Celsius once again. The murmurs fell silent around 7.15pm. Narendra Modi, dressed in a white kurta and churidar, with a blue checked jacket, left his seat made his way to the lectern. Rapturous applause followed. Also read: Narendra Modi 3.0 Cabinet: 5 NDA allies, JP Nadda inducted, Smriti Irani & Anurag Thakur out. Key takeaways I, Narendra Damodardas Modi..., he began, taking an oath of office for a record-equalling third consecutive term as Indias Prime Minister, cheered on by the buoyant spectators. Over the next couple of hours, 30 cabinet ministers, five ministers of state (independent charge) and 36 ministers of state followed Modi as the contours of a National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government took shape. They swore to bear true faith and allegiance to the Constitution, to uphold the sovereignty and integrity of India, to faithfully and conscientiously discharge their duties and to do right to all manner of people in accordance with the Constitution and the law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. And as they took oath, they were watched by a galaxy of guests. ALSO READ- Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar, Rajinikanth, arrive at Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Watch Seven leaders from southeast Asia, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay and Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, attended the glittering event. The star-studded crowd also included actors Shahrukh Khan, Rajinikanth, Anil Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher and Vikrant Massey, filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani, industrialists Mukesh Ambani, his sons Anant and Akash as well as his son-in-law Anand Piramal, and Gautam Adani. Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud attended the programme with his wife. Former presidents Ram Nath Kovind and Pratibha Patil were also present, apart from senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi and a string of parliamentarians and party workers. ALSO READ- Modi 3.0: Leaders of 7 neighbouring nations attend swearing in ceremony Congress president and leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was the lone Opposition representative, as the rest of the umbrella INDIA bloc were not part of the event. Transgender people, sanitation workers from Delhi and labourers who helped build the new Parliament building were also invited. Among them was Angad Kumar Paswan (28), who worked on the Union governments ambitious Central Vista project. I am still not able to believe that I would be witnessing the grand oath taking ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, Paswan, from Garhwa district in Jharkhand, said, holding his invite up like a trophy. Around 10pm, as the dias emptied and the crowds thinned out, the warm lights lit up the solitary lectern. It was curtains on the ceremony. The stage had been set for the next five years. Bhopal, Proving wrong his detractors' claim of being sidelined after denial of CM's post for fifth time last year, BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan won Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha Lok Sabha seat for the sixth time by a record margin of 8.21 lakh votes. After 4 stints as CM, Chouhan retains grip on people's pulse; enters Union cabinet for 1st time The former four-time MP chief minister, popularly known as "mama" and "paon-paon wale bhaiya" , assiduously worked on his 'soil of the soil' image and identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers, women and children in the state. During his more than 18-year-tenure as the CM, barring 15 months of Congress rule , Chouhan transformed himself from being a shy, simple and vulnerable politician to a wily leader with a mass appeal and unparallel hard work. Having the image of a soft-spoken man coupled with simplicity, the 65-year-old leader led the BJP's campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state, presenting himself as one among the people, promising further development and no dearth of funds for populist schemes launched under his leadership. On Sunday, Chouhan became the Union cabinet minister for the first time in his more than three-decade-long political career. His induction into the Union cabinet was amply clear after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded him at a rally in Madhya Pradesh before the Lok Sabha polls. "Our brother Shivraj ji is the candidate from Vidisha. We both used to work together in the organisation, we both were chief ministers. When Shivraj went to Parliament, we were working together as the general secretary of the party. Now I want to take him with me once again." Born on March 5, 1959 in a farming family of Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai Chouhan at Jait village in Sehore district, Shivraj Singh Chouhan's political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh when he was just 13 years old. His leadership skills first came to the fore when he was elected president of the Model Higher Secondary School students' union in 1975. He participated in the underground movement against Emergency and was imprisoned in 1976-77 and also on many other occasions for political agitations and public causes. A volunteer of the RSS since 1977, Chouhan is a gold medalist in Masters of Philosophy from the Barkatullah University in Bhopal. He also served as general secretary of the BJP and president of the party's MP unit. Chouhan was first elected to the MP assembly from Budhni constituency in 1990. He was elected as Member of Parliament for the first time from Vidisha constituency the following year. He was re-elected from the seat in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Chouhan campaigned extensively for the BJP in the state where the party won all the 29 Lok Sabha seats, including Congress bastion Chhindwara, which the saffron party failed to win in 2019. Though Chouhan was not projected as the BJP's chief ministerial face in the 2023 MP assembly polls, he turned the tables in favour of his party by launching game-changer schemes like the Ladli Behna to beat anti-incumbency against his then government. In 2020, when the then Congress government collapsed, the BJP central leadership, in a surprise move, chose Chouhan as the CM for the fourth term when the COVID-19 pandemic was peaking in the state. Though the opposition Congress has linked Chouhan to the multi-crore Vyapam scam, he emerged unscathed. The CBI has given him a clean chit in the case. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A day before Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, several leaders of the INDIA bloc on Saturday cast doubts on the longevity of the BJP-led coalition government. West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee. (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party, with 240 Lok Seats, is woefully short of the majority mark. It is reliant on the support of N Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar and Eknath Shinde. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who lost the elections to Trinamool's Yusuf Pathan, said this government won't last long. "Everyone unanimously wants Rahul Gandhi to be the LoP. This government will not last long," he said on Saturday. Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee said the Opposition's alliance, which won 234 seats in the Lok Sabha, might stake a claim to form a government in the future. She said her party had adopted a "wait and watch" approach. Also read: Narendra Modi oath: How will BJP accommodate Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar's parties in Cabinet? "The BJP is forming the government undemocratically and illegally. Today, the INDIA bloc may not have staked a claim to form the government, but that doesn't mean they won't tomorrow. Lets wait for some time," she said. She said the INDIA bloc will form a government in the future. But lets see how they run the (BJP) government till then, she said. A day after the Lok Sabha results, the INDIA bloc had announced it would take "appropriate steps at the appropriate time" to realize the people's desire to not to be ruled by the BJP government. Mamata Banerjee said the NDA government is unstable because the BJP hasn't secured a majority. Live updates on Modi's oath ceremony She also demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi must step down. When asked about NDA allies JD (U) and TDP, Banerjee said, "They are our friends too. Who told you they are not with us?" Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said had Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu not supported Modi, he would not have become the prime minister. "Narendra Modi, in the 2024 elections has suffered a devastating personal loss, political defeat and a moral debacle. He is one-third prime minister because, without Naidu and Nitish Kumar, he would not have been Prime Minister," Ramesh said. Also read: Narendra Modi to take oath today amid India's 'Neighbourhood First' push: 10 points The INDIA bloc had reportedly sent overtures to NDA allies after the election results. Naidu and Nitish Kumar, who are called by poll pundits the proverbial kingmakers, however, have announced their support for Narendra Modi. The NDA is currently in a huddle over the allocation of portfolios in the government. With inputs from PTI, ANI Former Union home minister and two-term national president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Amit Shah is set to secure his seat in Modi cabinet 3.0. Amit Shah. (File Photo) In the 2024 General Election, Shah won the Gandhinagar seat from Gujarat by over 7.44 lakh votes. This is the second time that the leader has secured the Gandhinagar seat. In the 2019 election, Shah secured around 70% of votes from the Gandhinagar seat against Congress partys C.J. Chavda. He has also been termed as the Chanakya of the BJP and has played an important role in the formulation and implementation of important policy decisions in the Modi cabinet. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to prime minister-designate Narendra Modi and his cabinet ministers at 7.15pm on Sunday, at the Rashtrapati Bhavans Forecourt. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to begin his third consecutive term, one man who will undoubtedly be by his side is his closest confidant and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s master strategist, Amit Shah. Amit Shah. (PTI File Photo) Shah, who has been Modis trusted ally for decades, will once again take oath as a Cabinet minister, solidifying his role in shaping the nations policies and driving the Modi-led government development agenda forward. Follow Live Updates on Narendra Modi's Oath Ceremony Born on October 22, 1964, in the small town of Mansa, Gujarat, to a modest family, Shahs rise to the highest echelons of Indian politics is a remarkable story of determination and exceptional organisational skills. His association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) began in the early 1980s when he joined the partys student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), while pursuing his studies in Biochemistry. Shahs true potential was unleashed when he was appointed as the BJPs national president in 2014, a position he held until 2020. Under his astute leadership, the party witnessed an unprecedented surge in its popularity, sweeping the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections with resounding majorities. As the Union home minister in the previous Modi government, Shah spearheaded several crucial initiatives and policy decisions that had a far-reaching impact on national security and internal affairs. One of his most significant achievements was the abrogation of Article 370, which granted special status to Jammu and Kashmir, thereby integrating the region fully with the rest of the nation. Shah also played a pivotal role in the passage of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which aimed to grant citizenship to persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries like Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. Additionally, he oversaw the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, a long-standing demand to address illegal immigration concerns. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) took stringent measures to counter terrorism. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Shah won with a margin of 5,57,014 votes. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, his popularity reached new heights as he secured a massive victory from Gandhinagar, defeating his Congress opponent by a staggering margin of 7,44,716 votes. Shahs connection with Gandhinagar runs deep, as he has been associated with this seat for over three decades, initially as a member of the legislative assembly from segments that fell under this parliamentary constituency. The seat was previously held by BJP stalwarts like L.K. Advani and Atal Bihari Vajpayee. In the last five years as an MP, he facilitated development works worth over 22,000 crore in the Gandhinagar Lok Sabha seat. As Shah takes the oath as a Cabinet minister today, his organisational prowess, strategic insights, and close working relationship with Modi are seen as valuable assets for the governments decision-making processes and execution of its initiatives. Annapurna Devi, a homemaker whose journey into politics began with the death of her husband, a Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) legsilator in 1998, was sworn in as a Union Minister in the Narendra Modi Cabinet 3.0 on Sunday. Koderma, Jun 4 (ANI): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate Annapurna Devi shows a victory sign as she celebrates her win from the Koderma seat in the Lok Sabha elections, in Koderma on Tuesday. (ANI Photo) (Somnath Sen) She joined the Bhartiya Janata Party before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, winning the Koderma seat by a significant margin. Her rise within the BJP ranks, despite being associated with the RJD in the past, underscores her growing influence among the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Jharkhand, where she is seen as a key figure in consolidating the partys support ahead of the upcoming assembly elections. Catch all the live updates of swearing in ceremony here Born into a Bengali-speaking family in Dumka area of Jharkhand, Annapurna pursued masters degree at Ranchi University. Her political career began when she won a state assembly by-poll in 1998 and became a member of the Bihar Legislative Assembly. She served as Minister of State for Mines and Geology in the RJD government of undivided Bihar. From 2005 to 2014, she served two terms in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly. In 2012, she was appointed a cabinet minister in Jharkhand, overseeing the Ministry of Irrigation, Women and Child Welfare, and Registration. Her most significant political victory came in 2019 when she defeated Babulal Marandi of the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (Prajatantrik) by a staggering margin of 4.55 lakh votes while contesting on the BJP's ticket. Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar, Rajinikanth, arrive at Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. In 2021, Devi, once a close aide of RJD supremo Lalu Prasad, was inducted into the Union government as the Minister of State for Education on July 7. Her defection to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was a dramatic twist in her political saga. Contesting from Koderma on the BJP's ticket, she left an indelible mark. Before her unexpected shift to the BJP, Annapurna was the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) Jharkhand chief. Read: From RSS pracharak to Union Minister, former Haryana CM Khattar begins new innings Her rise within the party ranks was meteoric, reflecting her growing influence as the face of the Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in Jharkhand. OBCs constitute over 45 percent of Jharkhands population, according to the last censusa statistic that underscores her political significance. Her journey from a grieving widow to a key figure in the Union government is nothing short of a political epic, filled with unexpected turns and dramatic victories. (With inputs from PTI) Nagpur, Bela, a 9-month-old Belgian Malinois breed sniffer dog, has joined the Pench Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra to assist the forest department's patrolling team in anti-snare and anti-electrocution operations. The reserve's deputy director, Prabhu Nath Shukla, in a press release on Saturday said that after six months of training, the sniffer dog, along with two handlers, has joined the Rapid Rescue Team of Pench. The training was imparted at the Indo-Tibetan Border Police Basic Training Centre in Panchkula. Bela was part of a group of 12 other dogs trained for similar duties in various protected areas. Shukla said the training of sniffer dogs at the centre consists of three phases. "In the first phase, dogs are paired with personal handlers to build a strong and trusting bond through strategic exercises. In the second phase, the dogs learn skills related to detecting wildlife crimes, such as identifying illicit products and apprehending poachers. The final phase sharpens their skills in investigating crime scenes," he stated. The training programme was organised by TRAFFIC and WWF-India. Bela joins another sniffer dog Willy , a German Shepherd trained at the 23 Battalion Dog Training Centre in Bhopal from 2019 to 2020. Five-year-old Willy has been instrumental in finding body parts and other evidence in several poaching and wildlife death cases in the Umred Pauni Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary and Pench. Belgian Malinois breed sniffer dog joins forest dept's patrolling team in Pench Tiger Reserve Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of PM-elect Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay on Sunday lauded India's foreign policy since 2014, calling it "one of the biggest accomplishments" of the government. In an interaction with news agency ANI, Tobgay said India progressed spectacularly under the leadership of Modi. He highlighted unprecedented growth in infrastructure, manufacturing, agriculture and success in alleviating poverty and expressed hope of similar success and economic boom in the third term of Modi as India's Prime Minister. Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony of PM-elect Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay on Sunday lauded India's foreign policy since 2014, calling it "one of the biggest accomplishments" of the government. (ANI) "Well, to look forward, you look backwards and you see the last ten years, during the last ten years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India has grown spectacularly. Infrastructure, the development in infrastructure has been unprecedented- airports, roads, rails, seaways, all of that growth has been spectacular. In the area of FDI, there's been a lot of FDI, a lot of manufacturing, renewable energy, particularly solar energy, agriculture, and poverty alleviation," said Tobgay. So to see what's going to happen in Modi 3.0, you just have to look back to see what has happened. One of the biggest accomplishments has also been the foreign policy, whether it is the immediate region and neighbourhood first policy or even the successful outcome of the G20 under India's chairmanship. So I can see a lot more growth, I can see a lot more economic growth. I can see a lot more foreign policy successes under Modi 3.0..., the Bhutan PM added. ALSO READ| Narendra Modi oath: List of leaders who may be sworn in as ministers Tobgay expressed delight on the opportunity to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. He said, "Well, I'm delighted to be in India. I'm delighted to be back so soon after my last visit here. That was barely three months ago. This is indeed a very big day for India. And I'm honoured to be here representing His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan at the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji, that too for his third consecutive time." The swearing-in ceremony of Modi will be graced by the presence of thousands of high-profile dignitaries, including heads of state of several countries. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu and leaders from Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius and Seychelles will be present during the ceremony. Nine people were killed and 33 injured after a bus carrying pilgrims to Shivkhori in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi came under terrorist attack on Sunday, SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma said. Today at about 6.10 PM in Pouni area of Reasi district bordering Rajouri district, a bus carrying yatris from Shiv Khori to Katra was targeted apparently by terrorist using firearms, the Jammu and Kashmir Police said in a statement. Bus carrying pilgrims to ShivKhori In Reasi attacked The driver was hit and lost control, resulting in the bus sliding into the nearby gorge. With the help of local villagers, police has evacuated all the passengers by 8.10 pm. SP Reasi supervised the evacuation and despatched the injured to different hospitals, the police statement added. A joint security force temporary operation Hqr by Police, Army and CRPF has been set up at the site and multidimensional operation has been launched to get at the attackers. A rescue operation was launched and reinforcements from police, army, and paramilitary forces rushed to the spot, they said. The attack marks a significant escalation in violence in the region. Reasi district has been relatively untouched by terrorist activities compared to neighbouring areas such as Rajouri and Poonch. The incident took place days after 22 pilgrims including nine women and two children lost their lives and 57 were injured after a bus from UP's Hathras spun off a road and fell into a deep gorge in Akhnoor. "Anguished by the loss of lives due to a bus mishap in Akhnoor. My thoughts are with those who have lost their loved ones. I pray that the injured recover soon. Rs. 2 lakh would be given to the next of kin of each deceased due to the bus mishap. The injured would be given Rs. 50,000," Prime Minister Narendra Modi's office said in a post. Last November, at least 39 passengers were killed and 17 others injured after a bus they were travelling in veered off a mountain road and rolled 300 feet down a hill onto another road in the Doda district. According to the police, the private bus carrying 56 passengers, including the driver, had left Kishtwar at around 8:20 am on November 16 for the five-hour long journey to Jammu. However, the driver lost control of the bus at 11:50 am in Doda's Assar area. As per the police, the accident took place at Trungal in Assar on National Highway 244 (NH244) that connects Khanabal in Anantnag district to Batote in Ramban. Election Results 2024 Updates: NDA Parliamentary party leader and Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term today. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi at 7:15 PM at Rashtrapati Bhavan's forecourt. Leaders from seven neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, will be attending the mega event. Besides Hasina and Muizzu, the other leaders attending the ceremony are Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Seychelles vice president Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay....Read More Modi was elected as the NDA Parliamentary leader after a meeting of the alliance's newly elected MPs was held in the Parliament's central hall. President Murmu appointed Modi as the prime minister designate on Friday, soon after BJP chief JP Nadda submitted a letter confirming Modis election as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Apart from Modi, the council of ministers under the new NDA government will also be sworn in on Sunday evening. Senior BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh besides party president J P Nadda have been consulting the allies, including Telugu Desam Party's N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar and Shiv Sena's Eknath Shinde, to finalise their share of representation in the government. Lok Sabha elections 2024 results: According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, significantly lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress made substantial gains, winning 99 seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition and defying predictions. Bengaluru, Two-time chief minister and five-time MLA JD leader H D Kumaraswamy has once again demonstrated his political acumen by bagging a seat in the union council of ministers, despite his party joining the BJP-led NDA just last year. Since the time of its founding in 1999, the JD has never formed a government on its own in Karnataka, but has been in power twice in coalition with both national parties despite being a junior partner for 20 months with the BJP from February 2006 and for 14 months with the Congress after the May 2018 assembly polls. Kumaraswamy was chief minister on both occasions. The son of JD patriarch and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda has now managed to secure a cabinet berth by allying with the BJP, at a time when his party was fighting the "battle for survival". The 64-year-old Vokkaliga leader has made no secret of his desire to become agriculture minister. By winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, the former CM has not only managed to regain the JD's lost bastion, but also demonstrated that the party is still a force to be reckoned with in Karnataka, by allying with the BJP. Kumaraswamy defeated Venkataramane Gowda of the Congress by a margin of 2,84,620 votes. Kumaraswamy, who is also the state JD president, is a five time MLA, and until recently represented the Channapatna assembly seat. It is said that Kumaraswamy hoped that the 2023 assembly polls would yield a hung verdict and that he would emerge as kingmaker or a 'king' himself for the third time, but his dreams were dashed with his party's dismal performance and Congress's emphatic victory. With the compulsions of keeping his party afloat and to remain politically relevant in the state, Kumaraswamy had again joined hands with the BJP to forge an alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP leadership persuaded Kumaraswamy to contest from one of the three seats ceded to it, hoping that it will give momentum to his party's prospects in the other two seats and help the saffron outfit, especially in the old Mysuru region, where it is considered to be relatively weak. The plan seemed to have worked as JD won two out of the three seats it contested, and BJP in 17 out of 25 in the state, which has a total of 28 constituencies. Seen as an "accidental politician", Kumaraswamy's first love was films. A fan of Kannada thespian Dr Rajkumar, Kumaraswamy was attracted to cinema since his college days. He took up filmmaking and distribution, and produced several successful Kannada films, including 'Jaguar', starring his son Nikhil. Earlier, in the run up to 2018 assembly polls, Kumaraswamy had said, "I will be the king and not the kingmaker," and his words turned prophetic as the Vokkaliga leader occupied the chief minister's post for the second time, despite his JD finishing a poor third in the polls. It was a coalition government with the Congress. But his tenure was short-lived as the wobbly coalition government that he headed collapsed after 13 months in power. Kumaraswamy had earlier served as the CM for 20 months from 2006 as the head of a JD-BJP government. Kumaraswamy, who grew up in a political environment, forayed into electoral politics by successfully contesting the Kanakapura Lok Sabha seat in 1996. He subsequently lost both the Parliamentary and assembly elections. He was elected to the assembly for the first time in 2004, when the JD joined the coalition government led by Congress's Dharam Singh after the polls threw up a hung house. In 2006, he rebelled and walked out of the coalition with 42 MLAs, reportedly against the wish of his father, citing a threat to the party, and formed the government with the BJP, becoming the chief minister during his very first term as MLA. Under a rotational chief ministership arrangement, he helmed the state for 20 months. When the BJP's turn for chief ministership came, he reneged on the promise to transfer power, and brought down the Yediyurappa government within seven days. In the 2008 assembly poll, BJP came to power. In 2009 Kumaraswamy successfully contested the Lok Sabha polls from Bengaluru Rural. Kumaraswamy's pro farmer and rural friendly programmes like farm loan waiver and outreach to rural folk with 'gram vastavya' project under which he stayed in villages to understand their problems earned him popularity during his stint as CM. A science graduate, Kumaraswamy's wife Anitha is a former MLA. From being twice CM to now union minister, Kumaraswamy demonstrates political acumen again Chandigarh, From being an RSS worker once to being hand-picked as chief minister in 2014 to being replaced with his confidante ten years later, 70-year-old Manohar Lal Khattar has seen it all. Former Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday was sworn in as the Union Cabinet minister. He joined the Rashtriya Swayam Sevak Sangh as a permanent member in 1977 and stayed with it for 17 years before he was made a member of the BJP in 1994. In 2014, he became the MLA for the first time and was tapped to become the chief minister of Haryana by the BJP. Ten years later, in March 2024, he was replaced by his confidante Nayab Singh Saini, to allow him a chance to become a Member of Parliament. Contesting his first Lok Sabha polls from Karnal, Khattar defeated Congress's Divyanshu Budhiraja by an impressive margin of over 2.35 lakh votes. According to some accounts, Khattar is considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who he worked with in the 1990s in party organisation. Khattar, a bachelor, worked for almost 40 years as an RSS pracharak. In 1996, Khattar started working with Modi, who was then the BJP in-charge of Haryana. Coming from an agricultural background, his family arrived in Haryana from Pakistan post-Partition. His family settled at Nindana, a village in Haryana's Rohtak district. He was born in Nindana in 1954. In 2014, when the BJP formed the government in Haryana on its own strength for the first time, Khattar became the state's first non-Jat chief minister in nearly two decades, fracturing Jats' longstanding domination of the state's politics. During his first stint as chief minister , Khattar came under criticism over his handling of the February 2016 Jat quota stir, which saw large-scale violence and arson in several parts of the state. The stir was followed by a flurry of violent incidents which claimed many lives in 2017, when Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was convicted by a court in Panchkula in connection with rape of two of his disciples. For his second stint as CM, which lasted four-and-a-half years, the BJP had to take support of JJP when it fell short of majority in 2019 assembly polls. Khattar's second stay also saw his government face criticism over farmers' stir against now repealed farm laws. During his two stints as chief minister, Khattar was credited with the decision to introduce pre-qualification conditions for the candidates contesting panchayat elections and ensuring transparent recruitment. He also introduced the 'Parivar Pehchan Patra' scheme, under which the Haryana government issues every family a unique family identity. Khattar was also in great part credited for maintaining cordial relations with ally Jannayak Janta Party. However, JJP's tie-up with BJP ended after Khattar was replaced as CM. On the party's move to bring in Nayab Saini as CM in March, Khattar has maintained that the move was not sudden and that it was he who had suggested Saini's name to Modi more than a year ago. "The reality is when I had served as the chief minister for eight to eight-and-a-half years, I myself told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that in any person's life if he hands over the baton to anyone on his own will, there cannot be a matter of greater happiness. I had said this to him about myself more than a year ago," Khattar had said. Sworn in into the fresh Union Cabinet on Sunday, the BJP veteran now is set to begin his new innings as parliamentarian and a Union Minister. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Read the full story on Modern Car Collector 13-Year-Old Totals Lamborghini Huracan in Rainy Vancouver A 13-year-old driver's joyride in a Lamborghini Huracan turned into a nightmare on Vancouver's rainy streets. The vivid orange supercar, a symbol of automotive opulence, met a tragic fate on March 25 when it veered off the Trans Canada Highway and landed in a ditch, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake. Responding to the scene, officers from the West Vancouver Police Department were met with a scene of devastation, with the Arancio Xanto-colored Huracan lying totaled in the ditch. Despite the severity of the crash, the driver and their companion emerged unscathed, albeit shaken by the harrowing experience. ADVERTISEMENT The circumstances surrounding the joyride remain shrouded in mystery, with the relationship between the car's owner and the underage driver yet to be fully clarified. However, interviews conducted by law enforcement suggest a clear motive behind the impulsive decision to take the Lamborghini for a spin. West Vancouver Police Sergeant Chris Bigland expressed gratitude that no injuries were sustained in the collision, emphasizing the dangers of driving without proper experience, especially in adverse weather conditions. The 13-year-old driver now faces a litany of charges under the Motor Vehicle Act, including speeding, driving without due care, and driving without a license. Source: West Vancouver Police Department Follow us on Facebook and Twitter Baku: Azerbaijans Baku , host of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in November may end up setting the tone on two critical global issues--global conflict and climate finance . The COP29 is scheduled to be held in November at Baku stadium in Azerbaijan. (File photo) The third National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi will see new faces including Chandrakant Raghunath Patil from Gujarat, a seasoned politician with organisational skills in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). CR Patil. (File Photo) Follow Live Updates on Narendra Modi Oath Ceremony Patil was born on March 16, 1955, in Pimpri Akaraut village in Maharashtras Jalgaon. He joined the Gujarat Police as a constable in 1975 and resigned 14 years later in 1984. After his stint in the police force, Patil ventured into the media industry and started Navgujarat Times, a Gujarati daily newspaper, in 1991. Popularly known as CR Patil, his political journey began when he joined the BJP in 1989, where he initially served as the Surat city treasurer and then as the vice president for the Surat City BJP. His organisational skills paved the way for his appointment as the chairman of the Gujarat Industrial Development Corporation (GIDC), a state government-run public sector entity, in 1998 by the then chief minister of Gujarat, Keshubhai Patel. Patil was given ticket by the BJP in 2009 Lok Sabha election for the newly carved Navsari constituency seat by the then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi and he won. Patil is the incumbent member of Parliament of Navsari constituency in South Gujarat. He was selected by the then chief minister Modi for the Lok Sabha Elections 2009 when the new constituency of Navsari was created, and he won. He was re-elected from Navsari in the 16th Lok Sabha Elections in 2014. Patil is known for his ability to deliver resounding electoral victories for the BJP. In 2014 elections, he created history by gaining the maximum votes in the state and third-highest winner in the Lok Sabha in the whole country defeating Maqsood Mirza of the Congress party. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, he posted a historic win by securing a margin of 6.9 lakh votes from the Navsari constituency. In the recently concluded 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Patils dominance only grew stronger as he secured an emphatic victory with 1,031,065 votes, winning by a massive margin of 773,551 votes over his closest rival from the Congress. Patil claims to be the first MP in India to obtain ISO Certificate 9001:2015 for his office. Over the years, Patil has played a pivotal role in strengthening the BJPs organisational machinery in Gujarat and beyond. He has been a member of various influential committees, including the Standing Committee on Housing and Urban Affairs and the General Purposes Committee in the Lok Sabha, contributing his expertise and insights to crucial policy decisions. Patils contributions to the partys success extend far beyond electoral battles. In the 2017 Gujarat state elections, when the BJP faced the ire of the powerful Patidar community over caste-based reservation demands, Patil was entrusted with the crucial task of managing the partys affairs in the Surat region. While the BJP suffered setbacks in other parts of the state, Patils strategic maneuvering ensured that the party won all 12 seats in Surat, minimising the damage. BJP had a narrow win with 99 seats as compared to 77 by the Congress, its worst performance in Gujarat in over two decades of dominance. Patils astute leadership and organisational skills were further recognised when he was appointed as the Gujarat BJP president in 2020. Under his guidance, the party secured victories in all eight seats during the by-elections, further solidifying its dominance in the state. The face of the Patidar community agitation, Hardik Patel, soon joined the BJP in presence of Patil. From weaving a strategy for the tribal region where the party suffered a huge setback in 2017 elections to strengthening its hold in Saurashtra, Patil has been at the forefront, calling the shots. Recognising his leadership, Patil was appointed Gujarat BJP president in 2020. Under his guidance, the party secured victories in all eight seats during the by-elections, solidifying its dominance in the state. He played a key role in Hardik Patels joining the BJP and strategised to strengthen the partys hold in various regions, including the tribal areas and Saurashtra. During the Covid-19 pandemic, Patil courted controversy when he distributed Remdesivir injections, which were recommended for use in mild Covid-19 infections. Patil sourced the injections directly from a pharmaceutical company, raising concerns and criticism from the opposition about distributing the medication without a proper pharmaceutical license. When the top leadership decided to change the entire cabinet led by chief minister Vijay Rupani in August 2021, Patil had a significant influence on the choice of new ministers. In the 2022 Gujarat assembly elections, where the BJP won a historic 156 out of 182 seats, Patil was instrumental in the partys success on the ground. But Patils influence extends beyond Gujarat. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the BJPs organisational strategies in states like Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar, where he served as the state in-charge, contributing to the partys electoral successes. Alongside his political endeavors, Patil has also been instrumental in driving development initiatives in his adopted village, Jayapur, in Uttar Pradesh, earning praise for his commitment to grassroots development. His efforts in transforming Chikhli village panchayat under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana have served as a template for village development, even being replicated in Modis constituency of Varanasi. The simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh have not only sparked violence but also caused rifts in several political families. Siblings faced off, a son ran against his minister father, and a wife was persuaded at the last moment to withdraw from competing against her husband. Accompanied by ministers Botsa Satyanarayana, Buggana Rajendranath and Government Advisor (Public Affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy, the six candidates completed the formality on the last day of the nomination process. Earlier, YSRC president and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy handed the candidates the party's requisite authorisation in Form-B. In this family feud, YSRCP chief and outgoing chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy faced a significant challenge from his sister, Andhra Pradesh Congress chief Y S Sharmila. After her foray into politics in Telangana with the YSR Telangana Party (YSRTP) and its subsequent merger with the Congress, Sharmila took charge of the Congress in Andhra Pradesh to directly criticise her brother, often supported by her cousin Suneetha Narreddy. Read: Poor infra, debts: How Jagan lost grip over Andhra Pradesh Jagan is not the successor of YSR (Y S Rajasekhar Reddy) at all. There is no similarity between the regimes led by YSR and JaganJagans reign is marked by murderous politics, said Sharmila at Mydukuru in Kadapa district on April 8. As Congress candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, Sharmila took on her cousin Y S Avinash Reddy from YSRCP, who is an accused in the Vivekananda Reddys murder case. Though she lost, Sharmila, garnered more than 1.4 lakh votes and managed to inflict electoral damage on Avinash Reddy, who won by a margin of 62,695 votes. Avinash Reddy had the full backing of Jagan Mohan Reddy who said people of Kadapa know who killed his uncle Vivekananda Reddy. A 'conspiracy' has been hatched to 'destroy' the life of Avinash Reddy and alleged that his younger sisters Sharmila and Narreddy are a 'part' of it. Ditching Jagan Mohan Reddy backed Avinash Reddy, Y S Vijayamma, Rajasekhar Reddys wife and the mother of the siblings backed her daughter Sharmila, urging the Kadapa Lok Sabha electorate to vote for her daughter. Similarly, the Vijayawada Lok Sabha constituency saw a battle between brothers, K Srinivas and K Sivanath. Srinivas, a transport tycoon-turned-politician from the YSRCP took on his younger brother Sivanath from the TDP. Srinivas (58), the older brother, was a key TDP leader until some months ago but differences with party leaders compelled him to jump ship to YSRCP in January. Read: Chandrababu Naidu likely to revive projects abandoned by YSRCP govt Eventually, his gamble didnt pay off and Srinivas lost the battle to Sivanath, who won with a thumping margin of over 2.82 lakh votes, garnering 7,94,154 votes in total. In north Andhra region, Duvvada Vani, wife of YSRCPs Tekkali Assembly segment candidate Duvvada Srinivas, for several reasons, almost came close to competing against her husband. At the last moment, senior party leaders successfully persuaded her against doing it. Likewise, B Ravi Kumar, son of YSRCP Anakapalli Lok Sabha candidate and deputy chief minister B Mutyala Naidu contested as an independent from Madugula Assembly seat against his step-sister E Anuradha and all the three family members lost their elections. Another fallout was violence at many places that went to the extent of even ordinary people, who owed allegiance to TDP and YSRCP leaders assaulting each other in a number of places. Palnadu, Tirupati and Anantapur districts became notorious for such attacks. Despite authorities promising protection to YSRCP supporters in the wake of alleged attacks by Janasena and TDP cadres, violent incidents have not abated. Andhra Pradesh went to polls on May 13 for 25 Lok Sabha and 175 Assembly seats. The NDA alliance of TDP, BJP and Janasena won a landslide victory with a brute majority of 164 Assembly and 21 Lok Sabha seats. YSRCP has been relegated to a seemingly inconsequential position, with just 11 Assembly and four MP seats. (With inputs from PTI) Ranchi, Jharkhand Governor C P Radhakrishnan and Chief Minister Champai Soren on Sunday paid tribute to tribal icon Birsa Munda on his death anniversary, and said his life full of sacrifices is an unparalleled example of service to the nation. Jharkhand Guv, CM pay homage to Birsa Munda on his death anniversary The leaders said the valour and courage shown by the "dharti aba in fighting against British forces much before the freedom struggle was exemplary. Munda, who was born on November 15, 1875 in Jharkhand, had led a tribal uprising against the British. He died at a young age of 25 on June 9, 1900 while in custody. "Humble tribute on the death anniversary of great freedom fighter and people's leader Bhagwan Birsa Munda Ji, who sacrificed his life for the independence of the country. The great revolutionary, father of the soil, tribal pride, Lord Birsa Munda Ji's life of sacrifice is a unique example of service to nation," Radhakrishnan wrote on X. "His unwavering courage and struggle to protect the motherland will always inspire us," the governor said. Radhakrishnan paid floral tributes to the tribal warrior at his statue at Raj Bhavan, Birsa Munda Memorial Park and Museum, Birsa Chowk and the Kokar Memorial here. Taking to X, Soren said: "On the death anniversary of Lord Birsa Munda, I have the privilege of paying homage to the dharti aba along with Governor Shri C P Radhakrishnan Ji. The ideals of dharti aba, who led the 'Ulgulan against the tyranny, exploitation and oppression of the British will always show the path of patriotism and struggle against injustice to future generations." Birsa Munda shook the foundation of the British rule and led the 'Ulgulan' to protect forest, land and water, the CM said. "Our government is striving to realise your ideals and vision of Abua Dishom, Abua Raj , he added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. A three-member special investigation team was on Sunday formed in connection with the attack on Bharatiya Janata Party MP-elect Kangana Ranaut, who was allegedly slapped by a Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) constable on June 6 at the Chandigarh airport. New Delhi, June 09 (ANI): Newly elected Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kangana Ranaut arrives for Narendra Modi's oath-taking ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday.(ANI) The development took place on the day when several farmer outfits including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha took out a march in Mohali in support of Kulwinder Kaur, the CISF constable who attacked the actor-turned-politician. The farmer leaders have submitted a memorandum to Mohali's senior superintendent of police (SSP) Sandeep Garg, demanding a fair investigation into the incident, PTI reported. A three-member SIT has been formed under my leadership. There will be an impartial probe into the matter and the report will be submitted to the SSP Mohali, Mohali SP Harbir Singh Atwal was quoted as saying by PTI, adding that a woman cop will also be a member of the SIT. Farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher asserted that it should be found out what led to the incident. There should be no injustice with the woman constable, the leader told PTI. The farmer leaders have accused Ranaut of making provocative statements against the people of Punjab. Ranaut, who won her first Lok Sabha election from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, was allegedly slapped by Kaur at the Chandigarh airport on Thursday. The CISF constable was in a viral video heard slamming Ranaut over her remark on farmer protesters way back in 2020. She gave a statement that the farmers are sitting there for 100. Will she go and sit there? My mother was sitting there and protesting when she gave this statement," Kaur, who was booked under Indian Penal Code sections 323 and 341 by the Mohali Police, said. During the 2020 farmers' protest, Kangana Ranaut had allegedly misidentified an elderly woman at the protest as Bilkis Bano, a prominent figure from the Shaheen Bagh protests. The actor had claimed that the woman was "available for 100" to participate in protests. Chandigarh, Several farmer outfits, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, on Sunday took out a march in Mohali in support of the CISF woman constable, who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut. Kangana slap row: Farmer outfits take out march in support of CISF woman constable Farmer leaders demanded that a fair investigation should be conducted into the matter while asserting that there should not be any injustice with the woman constable Kulwinder Kaur. Adequate security personnel were deployed in the wake of the march, which began from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. Speaking to reporters, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that there should be an impartial probe into the matter. Asserting it should be found out what led to the incident, Pandher said that there should be no injustice with the woman constable. Farmer leaders also lashed out at Ranaut for allegedly making provocative statements against the people of Punjab. Kaur was apparently upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests. The CISF, tasked with providing security at airports, has also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. The Mohali Police has booked Kaur under Indian Penal Code sections 323 and 341 . Both are bailable offences. Ranaut, in a video message on Thursday, said she was hit in the face and abused by the constable during a security check at the Chandigarh airport, the ugly fracas breaking out two days after she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. In a video statement titled "Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab" posted on X after she landed in Delhi after the incident on Thursday, Ranaut said she was safe and fine. The constable, Ranaut had said, came towards her from the side. "She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests." "I am safe but my concern is that terrorism and extremism are increasing in Punjab... How do we handle that?" Ranaut had said. Another video doing the rounds on social media showed the agitated constable talking to people presumably after the incident. "Kangana made a statement that farmers were protesting in Delhi because they were paid 100 or 200. At the time, my mother was one of the protesters," she said in the purported video. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. L Murugan, outgoing minister of state and former Tamil Nadu president of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders who held a meeting with Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi at his residence in Delhi on Sunday, hours before the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet. L Murugan. (File Photo) Follow Live Updates on Narendra Modi Oath Ceremony Murugan (47) was the runner up in Tamil Nadus Nilgiris constituency (reserved for scheduled caste) where he lost to DMKs A Raja. In the previous Cabinet, Murugan was the Union minister of state for information & broadcasting and fisheries, animal husbandry & dairying. Murugan entered Modis Cabinet in July 2021 during a reshuffle. In February, he was elected unopposed as a BJP MP to the Rajya Sabha. In March 2020, Murugan was made the president of BJPs Tamil Nadu unit. The 2021 assembly elections were fought under his leadership when the BJP and AIADMK were allies. Murugan spearheaded the saffron partys Vetri Vel Yatra in Tamil Nadu ahead of the assembly elections to consolidate Hindu votes. Though the yatra received a tepid response, the BJP entered the Tamil Nadu assembly after 20 years by winning four seats out of the 20 that they had contested in the state. But Murugan lost in that election by a slender margin of over a thousand votes to DMKs N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj. He contested and lost 2011 assembly elections, a by-election in 2012, assembly elections in 2021 and the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Murugan has remained a steady presence alongside Modi. He was rewarded for the BJPs 2021 performance with a Cabinet berth. He was succeeded by ex-IPS officer K Annamalai as the BJP chief. Murugan and Annamalai have flanked Modi through all his road shows and public meetings in Tamil Nadu. Murugan is the Dalit face of the BJP unit in the state. Thiru L. Murugan Ji is a son of the soil of Tamil Nadu, Modi said in Tamil Nadu in February. He didnt win from the state, but we have given Tamil Nadus Dalit son a place of pride in the Ministry and sent him to the Rajya Sabha from Hindi-speaking Madhya Pradesh. Modi celebrated Pongal, a harvest festival in Tamil Nadu, at Murugans Delhi residence earlier in January. Born in Namakkal district to Telugu speaking parents who are farmers, Murugan hails from the Arunthathiyar community. As a student he was working for the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He completed his undergraduate degree in law from Dr Ambedkar Law College in Chennai and has been a lawyer practising in the Madras high court. He was also the vice chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes from 2017 to 2020. New Delhi, With the INDIA bloc parties' numbers increasing in the 18th Lok Sabha, the lower house is set to get a leader of the opposition after ten years, and opposition leaders also hope that a deputy speaker will be elected soon, a post that had been vacant for the last five years. Lok Sabha to get LoP after 10 years, opposition hopes deputy speaker gets elected The 17th Lok Sabha, which was dissolved on June 5, did not have a deputy speaker for its full term, and it was the second consecutive term of the lower house without an LoP. All eyes are set at the lower house which will get an LoP, and is also expected to have a deputy speaker, a post which usually goes to the opposition ranks. While the INDIA bloc has not yet held any coordination meeting on its strategy for the Parliament, an opposition leader said they will mount pressure that the deputy speaker's post is not left vacant this time. "The BJP government has been rejected by people, they did not elect any deputy speaker in last five years... Hope they have learnt a lesson and will elect a deputy speaker this time," a TMC leader said. The 17th Lok Sabha, in which the BJP was in an absolute majority with 303 seats, elected Om Birla as the Speaker. In a first, no deputy speaker was elected through its term of five years. As per Article 93 of the Constitution, the Lok Sabha shall, as soon as may be, choose two members to be speaker and deputy speaker so often as the offices become vacant. However, it does not provide a specific time frame. "The office of the deputy speaker is a constitutional requirement. However, a troubling trend is that legislatures, both national and state, have not filled the office of the deputy speaker. For example, between 2019 and 2024, there was no deputy speaker in the Parliament. The last Rajasthan Assembly also did not have a deputy speaker for its full five-year term," Chakshu Roy, who heads the legislative and civic engagement initiatives at PRS Legislative Research, told PTI. "Currently, the Jharkhand legislature, whose term is scheduled to end later this year, does not have a deputy speaker," he said. "Other than the constitutional requirement, the office of the deputy speaker by convention in the past on multiple occasions has gone to opposition parties. This convention not only strengthens democratic norms but also ensures continuity of the office of speaker, which can never remain vacant," he said. In the 16th Lok Sabha, M Thambidurai of the AIADMK was elected as Deputy Speaker, 70 days after the election results. Before this, the longest that the lower house had no deputy speaker was in the 12th Lok Sabha, when the House functioned for 269 days without one since election, data compiled by the PRS shows. The tenure of the 12th Lok Sabha, led by BJP's Atal Bihari Vajpayee lasted only for 13 months, from 10 March 1998 to 26 April 1999. While GMC Balayogi was elected the Speaker in the 12th Lok Sabha in March 1998, P M Sayeed of the Congress was elected the deputy speaker only in December that year. In the ninth Lok Sabha, the term of which started on 2 December 1989, Rabi Ray was elected the Speaker in December 1989, while Shivraj Patil became the Deputy Speaker in March 1991. The 18th Lok Sabha will also have an LoP for the first time in ten years. In the previous two Lok Sabhas, the largest opposition party Congress could not get the post as it did not have the requisite numbers, which is one-tenth of the strength of the House. In the 16th Lok Sabha, the Congress had 44 MPs, while in the 17th Lok Sabha it had 55. "Legislative functioning depends not only on the written rules of procedure but also on precedent and convention. The position of the leader of opposition is a critical one in our legislatures," Roy told PTI. "Their responsibility is to ensure that the voice of the opposition is effectively conveyed in legislative functioning. The position gives and recognises the opposition has a vital voice contributing to the debate. It is in recognition of this that laws have been made to give the LoP more status and also a position in selection committees of key offices," he said. The post of LoP was not recognised till 1969, when Ram Subhag Singh became the first recognised LoP of the Lok Sabha. The post received statutory recognition through the Salary and Allowances of Leaders of Opposition in Parliament Act, 1977 which defines the term 'Leader of the Opposition' as that member of the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha who, for the time being, is the leader of that House of the party in opposition to the government having the greatest numerical strength and recognised, as such, by the chairman of the Rajya Sabha or the speaker of the Lok Sabha. This time, the leader of Congress, which is the largest opposition party in the Lok Sabha with 99 MPs, will be recognised as the LoP. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Narendra Modi Oath Ceremony News: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge will attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday, June 9, news agency, citing unnamed sources, reported. .Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge (File) The Congress, in a statement, earlier said Mallikarjun Kharge, who is also the leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha, received an invite to attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. After discussing with the party and allies, Mallikarjun Kharge has decided to attend the swearing-in ceremony, the sources said. ANI earlier on Sunday reported that the invite to Mallikarjun Kharge for the ceremony was extended by Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pralhad Joshi. What about other Opposition leaders? West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who is an ally of the INDIA bloc, said she won't be attending the swearing-in ceremony, adding that she has also not been invited. "I have neither received (the invitation), nor will I go. I have already said that I wish well for the people in the country for not voting for him (PM Modi)," Mamata Banerjee said when she was asked by reporters if she would attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi. I am sorry, but I cannot wish well to an unconstitutional, illegal party for forming the government. My best wishes will be for the country, the Trinamool Congress supremo said. On Saturday, Congress leader KC Venugopal said the party leaders have not received any invitation to the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi. "So far, we have not received any information from the government. We have not received any invitation...foreign leaders have been invited. Being the principal opposition party and the INDIA bloc leadership, we have not been informed. I do not know what the mood of the government is," KC Venugopal told ANI. Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said only international leaders have been invited to the swearing in ceremony, adding that the INDIA bloc would think about attending the event if they receive the invitation. Only international leaders have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. Our leaders have not received the invitation yet. When our INDIA alliance leaders receive the invitation, we will think about it, Jairam Ramesh said. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive time at 7:15pm. Modi will equal Jawaharlal Nehru's record of becoming the prime minister of India for the third time after completing two full terms. All security measures have been put in place for the mega event. Five companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed for the security of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Lok Sabha election results 2024 The BJP won 240 seats, while the National Democratic Alliance secured 292 seats out of 543 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent the BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. Ahmedabad, For BJP leader Mansukh Mandvaiya, challenges are no deterrent as he faced one of the most gruelling tests when he took charge of the Union Health Ministry in 2021 while the country was battling the second wave of COVID-19 pandemic. Mandaviya, who proved his mettle during COVID-19 crisis, finds place in Union cabinet again The 51-year-old leader from Gujarat led from the front and oversaw the implementation of the world's largest COVID-19 vaccination programme in the country, during which more than 220 crore doses of vaccines were administered. This time, the BJP fielded the two-term Rajya Sabha member from Porbandar Lok Sabha seat in Gujarat and Mandaviya emerged victorious in his maiden general poll contest by a comfortable margin of more than 3.83 lakh votes. He became a Union cabinet minister again on Sunday. The BJP leader was earlier elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and 2018. Mandaviya is a political science postgraduate from Bhavnagar University. He has also studied veterinary science and holds a PhD from the Gujarat Institute of Development and Research, Ahmedabad. He became the Union health minister during the second Modi government in 2021, when the nation was still battling the COVID-19 crisis. He then replaced Harsh Vardhan, who was dropped from the Council of Ministers as part of a reshuffle. Mandaviya was also simultaneously given charge of the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers, replacing D V Sadananda Gowda as a consequence of a similar reshuffle. During the severe second wave of COVID-19, Mandaviya's ministries were tasked with ramping up the supply of oxygen and medicines and overseeing the vaccination programme. Born in a farmer's family in the small village of Hanol in Palitana taluka of Bhavnagar district in Gujarat, Mandaviya has been actively involved in politics since his youth days when he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the students' wing of RSS. He soon became an executive committee member of the ABVP's Gujarat unit. Mandaviya became the youngest member of the Gujarat legislative assembly in 2002. He was appointed as the secretary of BJP Gujarat in 2013 and general secretary the next year. In 2014, he was appointed as the Gujarat state in-charge of BJP's high-tech and mega membership drive campaign which saw more than 1 crore people joining the saffron party in the state. Mandaviya got his first big break in administration when the then state chief minister Narendra Modi appointed him as the chairman of Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation Limited in 2010. He was first inducted into the Union cabinet as Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Shipping and Chemicals and Fertilizers on July 5, 2016. On May 30, 2019, he was again sworn in as MoS for Chemicals and Fertilizers with the independent charge of Ports, Shipping and Waterways. Under his leadership, the Ministry of Chemicals and Fertilizers has set up more than 10,600 Jan Aushadhi stores, which provide over 850 kinds of medicines at affordable rates under the Pradhan Mantri Bharatiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana. Mandaviya has also been instrumental in rolling out the flagship Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission to make health services accessible in an efficient and safe manner and to develop the backbone necessary to support the integrated digital health infrastructure of the country. One of the major highlights during his tenure as Union minister has been the launch of Pradhan Mantri TB Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, aimed at eliminating the disease five years ahead of the SDG target of 2030. During his tenure, the Chemicals and Fertilizers Ministry in 2022 launched an ambitious scheme of converting more than 3.3 lakh retail shops of fertilisers into the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samruddhi Kendras. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Read the full story on The Auto Wire California Cops Arrest Over 50 Violent Street Takeover Participants It seems like law enforcement in many parts of the country are finally cracking down on street takeovers. While they might not be going as hard against the illegal events as we and many others would like, well take the noted progress. One of the latest examples comes via San Bernadino Sheriffs Office after it arrested over 50 people at one of the gatherings. One sheriff went really hard against street takeovers. According to KCAL, this move was made to arrest people associated with the attack on a deputy who responded to a street takeover last month. When he arrived, like weve seen so many times before, the crowd surrounded his patrol car and attacked it. ADVERTISEMENT Apparently, this time the sheriff had enough and they dropped the hammer once they felt they could scoop all the suspects up in one swoop. Once the dust settled, 56 individuals were in handcuffs. The report claims the bust was at an illegal car meetup. Were not entirely sure what that means, because oftentimes what we gearheads call a meet and what the mainstream media calls a meetup can be two very different things. This bust was codenamed Operation Consequences which is just great. There really should be more consequences for the street takeover crowd. For a long time, theyve been allowed to engage in illegal activities in California and other places with few repercussions. Some people tried characterizing the takeover events as kids just having harmless fun, but we always knew that was a lazy excuse, if not a pernicious lie. Finally, it seems public opinion is swinging more towards favoring heavy-handed treatment of takeovers and those who attend them. Authorities wouldnt disclose where the bust was made, only telling media it was done on June 1 at a vacant lot thats private property. Were just grateful San Bernadino Sheriffs Office decided to make an example out of these suspects instead of just letting the incident last month fly without consequences. Story continues Image via KCAL News/YouTube Follow The Auto Wire on Google News. Join our Newsletter, subscribe to our YouTube page, and follow us on Facebook. New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday said it has arrested a militant currently lodged in an Assam prison for his alleged involvement in the killing of four civilians in Manipurs Bishnupur district in January this year. (Representative Photo) The arrested person has been identified as Lunminsei Kipgen alias Langinmang alias Mang alias Levi, a resident of Manipur. He was taken into custody from Central Jail, Lokhra in Guwahati under the provisions of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Arms Act. An NIA spokesperson said in a statement that Kipgen is the first accused to be arrested for the gruesome killings on January 18, when armed assailants brutally murdered four civilians near the water treatment plant at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, Bishnupur. Also Read: Indefinite curfew imposed in Manipurs Jiribam after incidents of fresh violence The assailants had opened indiscriminate fire from sophisticated weapons, leading to the civilians deaths. The federal anti-terror probe agency had taken up the probe in the attack on February 9. It was found during the probe that Lunminsei Kipgen was actively involved in the attack, which was part of the ongoing ethnic unrest and violence in the northeastern state, the agency said. Previously a cadre of the Kuki militant outfit KNF(P), he joined another Kuki militant organisation - the United Kuki National Army - during the current spate of violence and participated in the killings, it added. Since May 3 last year, Manipur has witnessed clashes between the two communities, which have claimed at least 225 lives to date and uprooted around 50,000 people, many of whom are still residing in relief centres. The violence has reignited in the state in the last two days after a peaceful couple of months. Just two days after the declaration of election results on June 4, a 59-year-old man identified as S Saratkumar was found beheaded on Thursday allegedly by Kuki militants after a missing report was made at the Jiribam police station. On the same evening, in the aftermath of the incident, an irate mob set ablaze three abandoned Kuki villages located near Jiribam, which is a bordering town of Assam and Tamenglong district of Manipur. New Delhi, From Assam's 'gamosa' to traditional 'galaband', those who were sworn in as ministers in the Modi 3.0 government on Sunday, took oath in Hindi or English while also displaying the sartorial diversity of the country on the dais. President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers at the swearing-in ceremony of new Union government, at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, Sunday, June 9, 2024. (PTI) The swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Union council of ministers was held in the grand forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by many heads of state, political veterans and debutants, business tycoons and a few film stars adding a dash of stardust to the event. ALSO READ- Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister for third consecutive time at Rashtrapati Bhavan While Modi and most of the ministers took oath in Hindi, including Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Giriraj Singh and Kiren Rijiju, many chose to do it in English such as Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, H D Kumaraswamy, Sarbananda Sonowal, among others. A majority of the ministers took oath in Hindi, and some of them like G Kishan Reddy received a loud cheer when they approached the podium. Many of them who were sworn in also took oath in traditional wear or added an element of ethnicity to their sartorial choice. Sonowal sported a 'gamosa', while LJP-Ram Vilas MP Chirag Paswan wore a black 'galaband' ensemble with a tricolour-theme pocket square. Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was among those who returned to the Cabinet on Sunday, wore a black kurta-pyjama with a blue 'bundi' over it accessorised with a saffron-hue pocket square. Giriraj Singh was also donning a 'bundi' bearing a saffron shade, and Hardeep Singh Puri wore a maroon turban with a matching waistcoat. Some also wore a colourful scarf while Arjun Ram Meghwal sported his traditional Rajasthani headgear. Rijiju was donning a waistcoat with ethnic motifs. Modi equalled the feat of the first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, who won in the 1952, 1957 and 1962 general elections. Besides him, 30 cabinet ministers and five ministers of state with independent charge were sworn in as were the members of his council of ministers. Close to 8,000 people were present in the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt as Modi was sworn in as prime minister for a third consecutive term on Sunday evening. Among the attendees was MLC in Karnataka Assembly Keshava Prasad who came from Bengaluru, and sported a saffron scarf. ALSO READ- Shah Rukh Khan, Kangana Ranaut, Akshay Kumar, Rajinikanth, arrive at Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Watch "This is a historic occasion, and Modi has become a PM for the third consecutive time, so we are here. My daughter has asked me to preserve the invitation card as a memento," Prasad told PTI. Tejashree Patel, a former MLA of Gujarat, and Nirmala Wadhwani, an ex-minister in the state cabinet also attended the ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony of the Modi 3.0 government unravelled against the backdrop of the magnificent sandstone dome of the colonnaded presidential palace lit in saffron, white and green. It was the final chapter of a 44-day election that saw the Modi-led BJP come to power with 240 seats, and now dependent on its allies in the NDA. There were bugles, ceremonial guards, flowers and all the trappings of a grand spectacle as President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office. However, there were not too many opposition leaders. Congress president and Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge was present but several others skipped the ceremony. Among those present at the swearing-in ceremony were seven top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepals Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Bhutans Tshering Tobgay and Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif. ALSO READ- Modi 3.0: Leaders of 7 neighbouring nations attend swearing in ceremony In 2014, when Modi took the reins as prime minister for the first time, the leaders of regional grouping SAARC countries attended the swearing-in ceremony. In 2019, the leaders of the BIMSTEC countries attended the ceremony. Also unmissable were the several religious leaders attending the ceremony. Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan, Rajinikant, Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon also attended the event and Kangana Ranaut, the BJP's debutant MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, was there of course. Industrialists Gautam Adani, Mukesh Ambani and his family, including his sons and daughter, were there as were Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud. Former president Ram Nath Kovind also attended the event. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. The Union cabinet of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government saw many new ministers being sworn in on June 9, including a few members from the Rajya Sabha and some others who either did not contest or lost the Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi addresses a meeting with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) leaders before the swearing-in ceremony of the new Cabinet and council of ministers, at his residence in New Delhi on Sunday.(ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi made history on Sunday by taking the oath of office for a third consecutive term. He is the first non-Congress leader and the second after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve this milestone. Along with him, President Droupadi Murmu administered oath to 71 ministers. Here are the ministers who are not members of the Lok Sabha: S Jaishankar: A Rajya Sabha member elected from Gujarat twice, Jaishankar has been inducted into the Union cabinet once again. He was made the Minister of External Affairs on May 31, 2019, under Narendra Modi as Prime Minister for the second straight term. Nirmala Sitharaman: Elected twice to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka, Sitharaman, who held the portfolio of the Ministry of Finance as Cabinet Minister, has been once again inducted into the Modi 3.0 government. JP Nadda: Rajya Sabha member and national president of the BJP, Nadda was inducted into Modi 3.0 Cabinet on Sunday. Nadda has earlier served as Union health minister in Narendra Modi's first term from November 9, 2014 to May 30, 2019. Ramdas Athawale: President of the Republican Party of India (Athawale) and Rajya Sabha member, Athawale was the Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment in the previous government. The RPI(A), an NDA ally, did not field any candidate for the Lok Sabha polls from Maharashtra. Hardeep Singh Puri: Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister of housing and urban affairs, Puri was also sworn is as the minister in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. a 1974 batch Indian Foreign Service officer, Singh served as the permanent representative of India to the United Nations from 2009 to 2013 and joined the BJP in January 2014. George Kurian: An advocate and BJP state general secretary in Kerala, Kurian has been inducted into the council of ministers. He has been an organisation man within the Kerala BJP for the last four decades after he entered politics through the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). Satish Dubey: Rajya Sabha MP and Brahmin leader from Bihar's Champaran region, he represented the Valmiki Nagar seat in the Lok Sabha from 2014 and 2019. Dube gained prominence as an activist taking up the issues of sugarcane farmers. Sanjay Seth: Businessman and politician from Ranchi, Sanjay Seth is a Rajya Sabha member, who has led an extraordinarily eventful career. He was sworn in as a minister in the Narendra Modi government on Sunday. He began his political journey as a student leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in 1976 and became a parliamentarian in 2019. Ramnath Thakur: Two-time JD (U) Rajya Sabha member and son of Bharat Ratna Karpoori Thakur, Ramnath Thakur was also sworn in as the minister of state on Sunday. BL Verma: Rajya Sabha MP BL Verma was also sworn in as the minister of state on Sunday. He was the minister of state in ministry of development in north eastern region in the previous term of Narendra Modi. Pabita Margherita: Rajya MP Pabita Margherita representing Assam was sworn in as the minister of the state in the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. L Murugan: Rajya Sabha MP and former Union minister of state for animal husbandry, L Murugan was defated by DMKs N Kayalvizhi Selvaraj in the Lok Sabha polls. However, he was inducted into the Union Cabinet again on Sunday. Ravneet Singh Bittu: The 48-year-old politician and three-time MP quit the Congress party and joined the BJP just ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. He was fielded from the Ludhiana constituency but lost to Congress Amrinder Singh Raja Warring. New Delhi: The presence of leaders from the neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, at the inauguration of Narendra Modis third term as premier emphasises the importance attached by New Delhi to these countries. Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister of India for the third time at Rashtrapati Bhavan (Twitter Photo) The swearing-in ceremony was also attended by Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, whose inclusion as an invitee surprised diplomatic circles in view of the currently strained ties between New Delhi and Male. The leaders of the eight member states of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (Saarc) were invited to Modis swearing-in in 2014, while the leaders of the members of the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (Bimstec), as well as Mauritius and Kyrgyzstan, were the guests at his inauguration in 2019. Though Bangladesh has the rare distinction of being invited to all three swearing-in ceremonies, this is the first time Hasina is representing her country in 2014, Dhaka was represented by the parliament speaker as she was on a pre-scheduled visit to Japan, and in 2019, former president Abdul Hamid attended the event as she was on a three-nation tour. Bangladesh occupies a special place in Indias Neighbourhood First policy and has benefited from billions of dollars provided by New Delhi as soft loans or grants to bolster road, rail, waterway and energy connectivity. Bangladesh recently slipped from fifth to tenth spot on the list of Indias largest export destinations, but it remains the countrys largest trade partner in South Asia. Hasinas government has done a lot to work with India to address security challenges related to the strategic northeastern states, including cracking down on militant groups, and Japan has aligned its development cooperation in Bangladesh with Indias connectivity initiatives. Muizzu is on his first visit to New Delhi since coming to power in November last year on the back of an India Out campaign and taking a range of steps to move the Maldives closer to China in areas ranging from defence to trade. Within hours of taking the oath, Muizzu demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel stationed in the Maldives to operate three aircraft used for humanitarian missions. India completed the process of replacing the military personnel with civilian experts last month. While accepting Indias invitation to attend the swearing-in ceremony, however, Muizzu said he looked forward to working with Modi to strengthen relations with India and noted that bilateral ties are heading in the positive direction, as would be demonstrated by this visit. External affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while announcing Muizzus arrival in New Delhi, said on X that India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours. Sri Lanka benefited from Indian aid worth nearly $4 billion, including currency support, deferred payment of loans and lines of credit to buy food, fuel and medicines, during its economic crisis in 2022, and the two sides are now working on a range of initiatives to boost financial, energy and physical connectivity. Bhutan and Nepal are also important partners for India, especially in the context of Chinas efforts to increase its influence in the region. India has ramped up energy and physical connectivity with Nepal to counter Chinas efforts to implement projects under its Belt and Road Initiative. Tobgay, who was elected prime minister in January, has been crucial in stalling efforts by China to speed up the demarcation of disputed sections of the border with Bhutan a development that could have significant ramifications for the security of the so-called chickens neck or thin sliver of territory that unites the northeastern states to the rest of India. The external affairs ministry has said the visit of these leaders to attend the swearing-in is in keeping with the highest priority accorded to the Neighbourhood First policy and the SAGAR vision or Security and Growth for All in the Region. Modi is expected to hold separate bilateral meetings with the leaders on Sunday. On Sunday, Hasina met senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader LK Advani at his residence before holding a bilateral meeting with her Bhutan counterpart. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and former Union minister of road, transport, and highways, Nitin Gadkari, will retain his position in Modi cabinet 3.0. Union minister Nitin Gadkari (File Photo) Securing his third consecutive victory in the recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, Gadkari will be taking oath as part of the Union Council of Ministers in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government on Sunday. Gadkari won the election from Nagpur constituency in Maharashtra with a margin of around 1.37 lakh votes against Congress Vikas Thakre. In 2014, Gadkari defeated veteran Congress leader Vilas Muttemwar, while in the 2019 polls, he defeated Congress candidate Nana Patole. He has also been the longest-serving minister for road transport & highways. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his cabinet ministers at 7:15pm on Sunday at the Rashtrapati Bhavans Forecourt. New Delhi Jagat Prakash Nadda, the 63-year-old president of the Bharatiya Janata Party, was sworn in as a Cabinet minister on Sunday for his second stint in the Union Cabinet, setting the stage for an organisational rejig in the party. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader J. P. Nadda takes oath as the Cabinet Minister during the swearing-in ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Sunday. (ANI) Nadda served as Union health & family welfare from 2014-19 during the first Modi government before taking over as party chief after the 2019 Lok Sabha elections -- first as working president and then as president from January 2020 onwards. With his return to the Cabinet, a new BJP chief is expected to be elected soon since the party follows the principle of one man, one post. People aware of the matter said that meetings of party functionaries to discuss who could take over the mantle will be held in the next few days. ALSO READ- Rumblings in Mahayuti after NCP turns down MoS (Independent charge) offer Among the names doing the rounds so far are those of national general secretary Vinod Tawde, Maharashtra deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis, former Rajya Sabha MP Om Prakash Mathur, and the partys OBC morcha chief K Laxman. To be sure, given the BJPs unpredictability when it comes to appointments -- be that or Union ministers or chief ministers in states -- other leaders could also be in the fray. ALSO READ- A spectacular symphony of grandeur, culture at Rashtrapati Bhavan With elections coming up in Maharashtra and Haryana, the party is expected to make a few changes in key positions, a party functionary aware of the developments said. Many faces that were not accommodated in the government will be given positions in the party, such as (Hamirpur MP) Anurag Singh Thakur and Smriti Irani (who lost from Amethi). Naddas term as president came to an end in January, but the national executive committee extended his term till June in view of the Lok Sabha polls. The leader from Himachal Pradesh, who cut his teeth in politics as a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, the student wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, the ideological fount of the BJP, was moved to the organisation from the government after former chief Amit Shah was appointed as the Union home minister. His appointment came months ahead of the Covid pandemic, which was followed by lockdowns and disruption of everyday life. As political work came to a grinding halt in the wake of protocols that barred gatherings, it fell on Nadda to devise a way of keeping the cadre motivated even as the party adhered to the laid down rules for social distancing and public health safety to cut transmissions. ALSO- In pics: Narendra Modi takes oath as PM for a historic third term at Rashtrapati Bhavan At a time when engagement with cadre became imperative -- at a time when hospitals were overrun and migrants were walking back home due to a lack of public transport over social distancing norms -- Nadda laid down the rules through the Sangathan Hi Seva mission that aimed to ensure the distribution of food, medicines and other essentials. Through the crisis, he also oversaw elections in states such as Bihar (2020) and West Bengal (2021). Known to colleagues as a soft-spoken, non-controversial party chief, Nadda burnished his credentials as an organisational man. But electoral losses in a clutch of states, particularly his home state of Himachal Pradesh in 2022, also cast a shadow on his presidency. A second person aware of the matter said that the views of the BJPs ideological fount, the RSS, will be taken on board for picking the new president. Narendra Modi will today take oath as the Prime Minister of India at a mega event in the national capital. After having run two successive governments with massive mandates, the Bharatiya Janata Party stalwart will become the head of a coalition government. A host of foreign dignitaries, including several heads of neighbouring countries, will attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony. Narendra Modi gives a speech after staking claim to form the new union government.(AFP file photo) The Bharatiya Janata Party emerged as the single-largest party after the Lok Sabha elections. However, the party's tally of 240 seats was 32 short of a simple majority in the Lok Sabha, the lower house of the parliament. Also read: Narendra Modi oath: How will BJP accommodate Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar's parties in Cabinet? Narendra Modi's third government will rely on the support of his National Democratic Alliance partners, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, whose parties won a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats. Also read: Narendra Modi's swearing-in: 7 foreign leaders among 8,000 guests; Delhi on high alert | Top 10 Modi and his council of ministers are expected to take oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7.15 pm. Also read: Ahead of Narendra Modi's oath, Opposition's ominous warning to BJP Around 8000 people, including dignitaries from all walks of life, will attend the event. Also read: BJP leadership discusses ministerial berths Here are 10 points on Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony: Narendra Modi will today take the oath of office at a mega event in the national capital, in the presence of thousands of people, including foreign dignitaries. According to unconfirmed reports, around 30 ministers will be sworn-in at the ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhawan. An NDA delegation called on President Droupadi Murmu and a letter stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party was handed over to the President at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Around 8000 people will attend Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, including Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay and Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif. New Delhi has invited these foreign dignitaries as part of India's neighbourhood first policy. It will be the first time in Modi's political career that he would lead a coalition government. The BJP won 240 Lok Sabha seats in the recently concluded elections. The party has drawn support from its NDA allies N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP and Nitish Kumar's JD(U). Also read: Narendra Modi, council of ministers to take oath today; 8,000 people to attend event: 10 points Kumar and Naidu's parties have won a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats, making them indispensable for Modi government 3.0's longevity. So it is expected that leaders from these two parties will get representation in Narendra Modi's Cabinet. 30 ministers are likely to be sworn in today, and the strength of the full council of ministers could be between 78 and 81, reported NDTV, citing sources. The news channel reported that N Chandrababu Naidu's party may get four portfolios, while the JDU may get two berths. TDP's Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi and Daggumalla Prasad may become ministers, it added. Nitish Kumar's JDU has reportedly proposed the names of Lalan Singh and Ram Nath Thakur for the council of ministers. Thakur is the son of Bharat Ratna awardee and socialist icon, Karpoori Thakur. TDP, which has won 16 Lok Sabha seats, had reportedly demanded four portfolios and the post of the Speaker. JDU, with 12 Lok Sabha seats, wanted 2 Cabinet portfolios. The Bharatiya Janata Party is not ready to part ways with the big four portfolios -- home, defence, finance and external affairs ministers, several reports said. Some other key ministries like Railways, Road Transport, Law, Information Technology and Education may also go with the BJP, News18 reported. The BJP has reportedly told its allies that discussions on their aspirations may take place later. The party has also asked them to pare down their hopes, reported TOI. LJP-Paswans Chirag Paswan, whose party won 5 Lok Sabha seats, may also get a cabinet berth, Indian Express reported. The INDIA bloc, which surprisingly won 234 seats in the Lok Sabha elections, had reportedly sent feelers to Kumar and Naidu, as it wanted to form a government of its own. KC Tyagi, JD(U) leader, claimed that the INDIA bloc had offered Nitish Kumar the prime ministerial post. Several newly elected Members of Parliament have been called for a meeting at Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's house on Sunday morning. These MPs will likely take oath of office at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today, along with the Prime Minister-elect. Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi arrives to pay tribute to former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial Sadaiv Atal.(PTI) According to reports, the meeting will begin at 11.30 am. Meanwhile, TDP leader Jayadev Galla revealed the names of two MPs who will take oath with Modi. Galla wrote on X that MP Ram Mohan Naidu will take oath as a Cabinet minister. Another MP, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani will become minister of state in the new council of ministers. Also read: Narendra Modi swearing-in ceremony: Delhi police issues traffic advisory, several roads closed "Congratulations to my young friend @RamMNK on being confirmed as a cabinet minister in the new #NDA Government! Your sincerity and humble nature will surely be an asset to the development of the country. Wishing you all the best in your new role," Galla wrote on X. "Congratulations to Dr. @PemmasaniOnX on being confirmed as a Minister of State. Such an honour to serve the nation at the central level during your very first political stint. The people of Guntur and the entire AP are proud of you. All the best for your new role. May you bring positive changes and make a meaningful impact," he added. There has not been official statement over the nomination of these MPs as ministers. While Pemmasani is a doctor-turned-politician from Guntur, the other leader is an engineer. PM Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister of India today. N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP has extended support to Narendra Modi after the latter's BJP managed to win only 240 seats. Naidu, whose party won 16 Lok Sabha seats, has emerged as the kingmaker. JDU chief Nitish Kumar, whose party won 12 seats, has also extending support to the Modi government. Meanwhile, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Narendra Modi, saying he was the leader of Narendra Destructive Alliance (NDA). "A vastly diminished 'one-third' Pradhan Mantri, now lacking all legitimacy, has managed to get himself sworn in this evening, as the leader of the Narendra Destructive Alliance (NDA)," he said. With inputs from PTI, ANI NDA Parliamentary Party leader and Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi on Sunday paid tributes at Mahatma Gandhi's memorial Rajghat, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee's memorial Sadaiv Atal and National War Memorial ahead of his swearing-in as the prime minister later in the evening. Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi pays tribute at the War Memorial, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony as prime minister for the third consecutive term.(PTI) Follow LIVE Updates The PM-elect first visited Rajghat and paid floral tributes to the Father of the Nation. He was accompanied by former union minister and senior party leader Hardeep Singh Puri. Following his visit to Rajghat, Modi paid tributes to former prime minister and BJP stalwart late Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial 'Sadaiv Atal'. Vajpayee was the first ever BJP prime minister and is credited for the party's rise as a pillar of national politics along with veteran leaders Lal Krishna Advani and Murli Manohar Joshi. He also greeted the supporters and people gathered there as he walked towards these monuments. Later, he arrived at the National War Memorial accompanied by former defence minister and senior BJP leader Rajnath Singh, CDS Gen Anil Chauhan, Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Dinesh Tripathi, and VCAS Air Marshal* Amar Preet Singh and laid wreath. The National War Memorial was established in 2019 to honour and remember soldiers of the Indian Armed Forces who fought in armed conflicts of independent India. How will BJP accommodate Chandrababu Naidu, Nitish Kumar's parties in Cabinet? Modi will be sworn in as prime minister for the third consecutive term today. President Droupadi Mumru will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his council of ministers at 7:15 PM at Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt. He is the only leader after former PM Jawaharlal Nehru to have been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. Leaders from seven neighbouring countries and the Indian Ocean region, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, will be attending the mega event. Besides Hasina and Muizzu, the other leaders attending the ceremony are Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Seychelles vice president Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay. Modi was elected as the NDA Parliamentary leader after a meeting of the alliance's newly elected MPs was held in the Parliament's central hall. President Murmu appointed Modi as the prime minister designate on Friday, soon after BJP chief JP Nadda submitted a letter confirming Modis election as the leader of the BJP Parliamentary Party. Apart from Modi, the council of ministers under the new NDA government will also be sworn in on Sunday evening. Meanwhile, posters featuring the PM-designate have been put up across Delhi to celebrate the mega event. Posters of PM-designate Narendra Modi put up in Delhi ahead of his oath ceremony Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement and route arrangements have been made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for the oath ceremony on Sunday. Lok Sabha elections 2024 results: According to the Election Commission of India, the BJP won 240 seats, significantly lower than its 2019 tally of 303. The Congress made substantial gains, winning 99 seats. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats, while the INDIA bloc crossed the 230 mark, posing stiff competition and defying predictions. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on Sunday, June 9, after the NDA scored a majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. In view of the mega event that will begin at 7:15 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt, the Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory, alerting commuters of the closure of some roads and diversions in the national capital. Delhi Police personnel patrol Raisina Hill ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. (Arvind Yadav/HT Photo) Almost 1,100 traffic staff have been deployed. They have been briefed about all the instructions. We have done all the rehearsals. An advisory has been issued for the general public for the traffic movement, Deputy Commissioner of Police, traffic, Prashant Gautam, said, adding that proper arrangements have also been made for the foreign delegates and the heads of state who will be arriving for the oath-taking ceremony. According to the Delhi traffic police, several roads will be closed from 2 pm to 11 pm on Sunday. These include: Sansad Marg (between transport Bhawan and T-point Rafi Ahmed Kidwal Morg), North Avenue Road, South Avenue Road, Kushak Road, Rajaji Marg, Krishna Menon Marg, Talkatora Road, and Pt Pant Marg. No vehicles will be allowed to halt or park anywhere near - Imtiaz Khan Marg, Rakab Ganj Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Pandit Pant Marg, and Talkatora Road, while all DTC buses will not be allowed to ply on the surrounding roads of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Vehicles found parked on the restricted roads shall be towed away and prosecuted for improper parking and disobedience of lawful instructions. The towed vehicles would be parked in the Traffic Pit at Pandit Pant Marg towards Gole Dak Khana, the traffic police said in its advisory. Traffic diversion points (as and when necessary): Patel Chowk, Rail Bhawan, Roundabout Gurudwara Rakab Ganj, Gole Dakhana, Roundabout RML, Roundabout GPO, Roundabout Patel Chowk, Roundabout Krishi Bhawan, Roundabout Sunehri Bagh, Roundabout Gol Methi, Roundabout KGPO, and Teen Murti. Routes to avoid: Sansad Marg, Imtiaz Khan Marg, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Pandit Pant Marg, Rajaji Marg, Tyagraj Marg, and Akbar Road. Meanwhile, ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, PM Modi will visit Raj Ghat at 6:30 am, followed by a visit to the Sadaiv Atal memorial at 7 am. He will also visit the War Memorial at 7:30 am. In view of this, heavy commercial vehicles and other vehicles will not be allowed on some routes between 6:45 am to 8:45 am. The routes to avoid include - IP Marg, Bahadurshah Zafar Marg, Jawaharlal Nehru Marg, and Mahatma Gandhi Marg between IP Flyover and Shanti Van to Y-Point (Salim Garh and MGM merging). The routes on which diversions may be possible are Ram Charan Aggarwal Chowk (A Point), Delhi Gate, Rajghat Chowk Shanti Van Crossing, Y-Point Salim Garh, Geeta Colony Flyover, and Subhash Park T-Point. Security beefed up in Delhi, 8,000 guests in attendance Meanwhile, the security has been beefed up in the national capital and special measures have also been arranged for leaders from the neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region attending the high-profile event. The mega event will be attended by over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers. Seven foreign leaders from neighbouring countries will attend the eventleaders from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal, Mauritius, Maldives, and Seychellesas part of Indias Neighbourhood First policy. According to reports, PM Modi's cabinet is expected to include 27 to 30 ministers, roughly a third of whom are allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and some ministers of state. The formula shared with allies suggests a cabinet ministers post for every four to five MPs and a junior ministers post for every two. Notably, the BJP, which was seeking a third consecutive term in office and a third straight single-party majority, won 240 seats in the Lok Sabha election. However, NDA's overall tally stood at 293. On the other hand, the Congress won 99 seats in the general election, as per the ECIits best performance since 2009. The opposition alliancethe INDIA blochas a tally of 234 seats. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn-in for his third consecutive term in a glittering ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. The PMs council of ministers, comprising 71 members in addition to Prime Minister Modi, was also administered oath of secrecy and office at the event. Shivraj Singh Chouhan (left) and Rajnath Singh (File Photo) A highlight of this team is the presence of several former chief ministers. As many as six ex-chief ministers, not counting the PM himself, who was at the helm in Gujarat from October 2001 to May 2014, when he began his first term in the countrys top office, took oath as Union ministers on Sunday. Rajnath Singh: The official number two to the Prime Minister, Singh is a former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. The BJP veteran, who won the Lucknow parliamentary seat, was the Union home minister in the first Modi ministry and moved to defence in the second and previous one. Shivraj Singh Chouhan: Popularly known as Mama (maternal uncle), Chouhan, an ex-Madhya Pradesh CM was elected by a record margin from the Vidisha constituency. Manohar Lal Khattar: The first BJP chief minister in Haryana, Khattar resigned in March in the final months of his second tenure, paving the way for party colleague Nayab Singh Saini. The former won the Karnal seat. Sarbanand Sonowal: The first BJP chief minister of Assam, Sonowal made way for Himanta Biswa Sarma in 2021. He was then given the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, in the central government. HD Kumaraswamy: A former Karnataka CM, Kumaraswamy, whose father HD Deve Gowda is an ex-Prime Minister, won from Mandya. Jitam Ram Manjhi: The former chief minister of Bihar got elected from the Gaya seat. BJP leaders Basavaraj Bommai and Biplab Deb, former chief ministers of Karnataka and Tripura, respectively, also won the Lok Sabha election but have not been made central ministers. Narendra Modi on Sunday took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third term at a swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The oath was administered by President Droupadi Murmu in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan on June 9 at 7:15 pm. Narendra Modi, right, is sworn-in as the Prime Minister of India by President Draupadi Murmu, left, at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, in New Delhi, India, Sunday, June 9, 2024. The 73-year-old leader is only the second Indian prime minister to retain power for a third term. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)(AP) PM Modi on Wednesday submitted his resignation from the post of prime minister to President Murmu. His resignation came a day after the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won the Lok Sabha election 2024 with a clear majority. The Modi 3.0 cabinet will be 72 minister strong. The team includes 30 other Cabinet Ministers, 5 Minister of State with Independent Charge and 36 Ministers of State. PM Modi retained his top ministers for key cabinet positions, with multiple positions allotted to NDA allies. 8,000 guests, including national and international leaders, were invited to attend the swearing-in ceremony. The varied guest list included outgoing Parliamentarians, BJP leaders, opposition leaders, current MLAs and MLCs, celebrated doctors, lawyers, religious leaders, sanitation workers, rat-hole miners, and heads of state from neighbouring countries. International leaders such as President of Sri Lanka, H.E. Mr. Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, H.E. Mr. Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, H.E. Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, H.E. Mr. Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, H.E. Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, H.E. Mr. Tshering Tobgay were present when PM Modi was sworn in on Sunday. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will attend a Banquet hosted by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, the same evening. In the 2024 general elections, BJP secured 240 seats while the NDA alliance bagged 293 seats, securing a majority. On the other hand, the Congress won 99 seats in the general election, while the INDIA bloc bagged 234 seats. New Delhi, The NCP on Sunday turned down the BJP's offer to accommodate Praful Patel as a minister of state with independent charge in the new NDA government and said it was assured that "remedial measures" would be taken. NCP turns down MoS rank in Council of Ministers, opts to wait for Cabinet rank Patel, the working president of BJP ally NCP, argued that since he had already served as a Cabinet minister in the Union government, assuming office as a minister of state with independent charge would be a "demotion" for him. "We have conveyed this to the BJP leadership and have been asked to wait for some days till it takes remedial measures," Patel told reporters here on a day when Narendra Modi would be sworn in as prime minister. As per the power-sharing arrangements, the NCP was offered one post in the Council of Ministers of the NDA government led by PM Modi. BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde called on Patel, who was reportedly upset at the "demotion" in the Union government. The NCP has two members in the Parliament Patel in the Rajya Sabha and Sunil Tatkare in the Lok Sabha. The NCP is likely to increase its tally in the Rajya Sabha by two in the next few months. Fadnavis said the BJP had decided on a criteria for handing out ministerial berths to coalition partners on the basis of their strengths in the Parliament. "We cannot twist the criteria for one party. The NCP will be accommodated in the future whenever their will be an expansion of the Cabinet as they had requested for a Cabinet rank in the Council of Ministers," Fadnavis, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, said. NCP president Ajit Pawar said he supported the NDA and was seen at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. PTI SKU SKU MNK MNK This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text. Sofia Firdous, who is set to become Odisha's first Muslim woman legislator, has said that she keeps her identity as an Odia, Indian, and a woman, ahead of that as a Muslim MLA. Sofia Firdous (x/@sofiafirdous1) I am an Odia, Indian, and a woman first. Throughout my career and professional life in real estate, I have worked hard for women's empowerment and I will continue to do so in politics too. Being a Muslim politician is something I have never given a thought to, the Congress member, 32, told NDTV. Talking about how she ended up contesting what was her maiden election, Firdous recalled how she had only one month to prepare. Her father and senior Congress leader Mohammed Moqium, who held the Barabati-Cuttack assembly seat, was disqualified after he was convicted in a loan fraud case, a verdict upheld by the Odisha High Court in April. The Congress party then decided to field the daughter in place of the father. I am not a politician. When my father was unable to contest, a large gathering of 400-500 supporters convened at our residence. Recognising the hard work of my father and the solid base he had established in Cuttack, they (supporters) unanimously endorsed me to step into the fray, she said. However, my major fear was that people knew my father well. He lost in 2014 and then emerged victorious in 2019. So why will people vote for me and trust me so quickly? The campaigning started from 6 am till 2 pm in sweltering heat. It was then resumed from 5 pm till 9 pm. Something that really worked for me I think was the good work of my father, she added. Sofia Firdous defeated BJP's Purna Chandra Mahapatra by a margin of 8001 votes. The Congress, however, came a distant third to the BJP and BJD, respectively, winning only 14 seats in the 147-member assembly. The BJP won 78 seats and ousted the BJD, which bagged 51 seats, and lost power after 24 years. New Delhi: The INDIA bloc, a group that has 236 lawmakers in the Lok Sabha, must function cohesively and collectively both in Parliament and outside, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said at the meeting of the extended Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday as he also emphasised that people have reposed their faith back in us (the Congress) in substantial measures and we must build on it. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge with party leaders Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra after Extended Congress Working Committee meeting in New Delhi, India, on Saturday. (Vipin Kumar/HT) The Congress president, who played a key role in forming the alliance, said, I will be failing in my duty if I dont acknowledge the INDIA alliance partners, in which each party played its designated role in different states, each party contributed to the other. Our determination is that the INDIA group must continue. We must function cohesively and collectively both in Parliament and outside. In the first meeting of the extended CWC following the Lok Sabha elections, the mood was jubilant and the discussions mostly veered onto Rahul Gandhis possible role as the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Also Read | CWC passes resolution to appoint Rahul Gandhi as Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha But the Congress decided to form a panel to review the partys poor performances in some states as leaders such as former Rajasthan deputy CM Sachin Pilot asked for fixing accountability. Kharge maintained that in the Lok Sabha elections, People have spoken against the dictatorial and anti-democratic ways of the ruling party. It is a decisive rejection of the politics of the last 10 years. Its a rejection of the politics of divisiveness, hate and polarisation. Addressing the extended CWC attended by 120 of 139 members, Kharge also asked the party to continue to raise the issues highlighted during the Lok Sabha campaign. The issues that we raised in the election campaign are issues that are bothering the people of India. Our determination is that the INDIA group must continue. But the Congress chief also called for a review of the partys showing in some states and heightened efforts to improve the Congress vote share in urban centres. In big cities such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru, the Congress found little success. Also Read | No longer can: Sonia Gandhi's sharp attack on Narendra Modi's governance style While we celebrate the revival, we should pause a little as in some states we have not performed to our abilities and expectations. Further, we could not repeat our performance in states where we had previously done well in the Vidhan Sabha elections and formed the government, Kharge added, Other than this, we saw an increase in seats dominated by SC, ST, OBC, and minority voters as well as in rural areas. Going forward, we have to make our presence felt in urban areas as well. In the meeting, some leaders including Pilot, suggested that the party high command should collect data from the state-level screening committees to find out which leaders backed the candidates who lost the elections. In this way, Pilot, suggested, accountability can be fixed. Kharge told him that a committee would be formed and he would personally visit some of the states to review the results. The Congress didnt get a single seat in 10 states and UTs including Delhi, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh. After the defeat of its Rajya Sabha candidate, the party drew a blank in Himachal Pradesh, which is ruled by the Congress. Kharge called for urgent remedial measures and pointed out that these are states which have traditionally favoured the Congress, where we have opportunities which we have to harness not for our own advantage but for the benefit of our people. The Congress chief also harped on discipline and unity and said, The people have reposed their faith back in us in substantial measures and we must build on it. We accept this verdict with genuine humility. Later, addressing the press, general secretary KC Venugopal added that the Modi government created a troublesome path during the elections and the Opposition was denied a level playing field. He added that the atmosphere in the CWC is entirely different from what it was four months ago and the revival of the Congress party has started. Venugopal said, This CWC unanimously acknowledged the greater service done by our Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge Ji and former president Smt Sonia Gandhi Ji, Rahul Gandhi Ji, and Priyanka Gandhi Ji. The CWC resolution said, The verdict of the people is not just a political loss but a personal and moral defeat for the Prime Minister who sought the mandate in his name and ran a campaign anchored in lies, hate, prejudice, divisiveness and extreme bigotry. The verdict of the people is clearly against the undermining of democracy and democratic institutions that has taken place since 2014. The CWC resolution also praised Kharges sheer energy and determination, Sonia Gandhis guidance, advice and support and her interventions and said, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra was nothing short of being brilliant in UP. Kharge also praised Rahul Gandhi in his opening remarks. I want to draw your attention to the fact that wherever Bharat Jodo Yatra went we saw an increase in the vote percentage and the number of seats for the Congress party. In Manipur, we won both the seats. We also won seats in Nagaland, Assam, and Meghalaya. In Maharashtra, we emerged as the single-largest party. People from all walks of life supported the Congress party to save the countrys democracy and constitution, he said. Narendra Modi news highlights: President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar pose for a group picture with the newly sworn-in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet Ministers during a ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Sunday. Narendra Modi news highlights: Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term today at 7.15 pm. He is the first leader since former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to be elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. Alongside Narendra Modi, his council of ministers members also took their oaths....Read More Members of Parliament (MPs) who have taken oath as members of the Council of Ministers include Narendra Modi, JP Nadda, Nitin Gadkari, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. HD Kumaraswamy of JD(S) was among the allies who took oath on Sunday. Other appointees include Chirag Paswan (LJP), Ram Nath Thakur JD(U), and Jitan Ram Manji (HAM-S), Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal (Soneylal)), Rammohan Naidu (TDP), and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (TDP). Pratap Rao Jadhav of the Shiv Sena was also inducted into the council of ministers. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. These foreign heads will be present today: Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu (Arrived) Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina (Arrived) Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif (Arrived) President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth (Arrived) How are the preparations? Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement and route arrangements have been made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's oath ceremony today. Over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers, will attend the swearing-in ceremony. In addition to the leaders and state heads, more than 250 workers involved in the construction of the Parliament will also participate in the oath-taking ceremony. Where to watch live? President Murmu administered Narendra Modi's oath at 7.15 pm, and the ceremony was broadcast live nationwide. All major national television news channels aired Modi's oath ceremony live on TV and their respective social media platforms at the specified time on Sunday. Additionally, public service broadcaster Doordarshan provided live coverage of the event on both their TV and YouTube channels. The oath ceremony was also be available for live streaming on the YouTube channel and official X account of the President of India. Official number of seats that NDA bagged in LS polls The official numbers are as follows: NDA-293, INDIA bloc-234, others-16. The BJP secured 240 seats, while the NDA collectively obtained 293 out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Congress, as part of the INDIA bloc, managed to prevent the BJP from achieving a majority on its own in the Lok Sabha. Key takeaways from swearing-in ceremony 72 ministers-strong Council of Ministers sworn in. The new team includes 30 Cabinet ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 36 Ministers of State. Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his cabinet ministers at 7:15pm on Sunday Lalan is the former Janata Dal (United) national president and is a senior leader of his party. He is considered a trusted loyalist of chief minister Nitish Kumar and has served as minister in the state government. He is likely to take oath as the Union minister. Singh, 69, an upper Bhumihar caste, began his political career in 1974. Later, he got associated with the Old Janata Dal Parivar and was among the founding members of the Samata Party led by CM Kumar and former defence minister Geroge Fernandes. In his long political career, Singh, who is a four-time MP having been elected from Munger, has made his mark as a strategist, a troubleshooter, and a hard negotiator for the JD(U), which has remained in power in Bihar as well as Centre in different coalition governments. Singh has served as water resources minister and planning development minister in the state government. Last year in December, Singh had stepped down as national president of JD(U), amid speculations that CM Kumar was not happy with him for getting too close to RJD, which was an ally of the JD(U) in the Grand Alliance government that lasted from August 2022 to January 2024. CM Kumar took over as the JD(U)s national president in December 2023. Later, JD(U) realigned with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Singh fought the 2024 Lok Sabha election as a JD(U) candidate, defeating his nearest rival Anita Devi of the Rashtriya Janata Dal, by a margin of 80,870 votes. Ram Nath Thakur Another JD(U) leader, Ram Nath Thakur, 74, is a Rajya Sabha MP and son of former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur. Hailing from Karpoori Gram of Bihars Samastipur district, he was a member of the Bihar Legislative Council and became minister of sugarcane industries in RJD leader Lalu Prasads first cabinet. He was minister of revenue and land reforms, law, information and public relations from November 2005 to November 2010 during Nitish Kumars cabinet. He became a Rajya Sabha MP on April 10, 2014. He is likely to take oath as the cabinet minister in the now PM Modi-led government. Giriraj Singh BJP leader and Union minister Giriraj Singh, 71, will take oath as the minister for the third consecutive term. He was elected from Nawada to the 16th Lok Sabha and re-elected to the 17th Lok Sabha from Begusarai, a constituency he retained even in 2024. Giriraj has served as minister of rural development and panchayat raj department and animal husbandry and fisheries in the Modi 2.0 cabinet. He has also formerly served as minister of cooperative, animal husbandry and fisheries resources development in the NDA coalition government of Bihar. In the 18th Lok Sabha polls, Giriraj defeated his nearest rival Abdesh Kumar Roy of the Communist Party of India, by a margin of 81,480 votes. Chirag Paswan An actor turned politician, Chirag Paswan, 41, president of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas), and a three-time Lok Sabha MP from Bihar, comes to the 18th Lok Sabha with an enviable distinction of having a 100% strike rate for his relatively new political outfit, having won all the five seats it contested during the recently concluded general elections. He defeated his nearest rival Shiv Chandra Ram of the RJD by a margin of 1.70 lakh votes. Paswan, who himself won the Hajipur seat, carries the legacy of his father, the late Ram Vilas Paswan, a Dalit leader, eight-time Lok Sabha MP and former Union minister. Paswan was a two-time Lok Sabha MP (2014 and 2019) earlier from Jamui before he decided this year to contest from Hajipur, his fathers pocket borough, winning the seat with a margin of 1.70 lakh votes over his nearest rival Shiv Chandra Ram of the RJD. He made a debut in films in 2011 with Mile Na Mile Hum, opposite Kangana Ranaut, now a BJP MP from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. After an unsuccessful career in Bollywood, Paswan learnt the political ropes from his father before deciding to take the political plunge. He has not looked back since. Nityanand Rai A Yadav face of BJP in Bihar, Nityanand Rai, 58, started his political career as a student leader in Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and later won MLA election from Hajipur assembly seat four times. Rai, who got elected as MP for the third time from Ujiarpur in 2024, served as a minister of state (home) in the second Prime Minister Narendra Modi cabinet from 2019-24 and is considered close to former Union home minister Amit Shah. The BJP has tried to bet high on Rai by promoting him as a Yadav face in Bihar in a bid to counter RJDs traditional Yadav vote base and had given him responsibility as state president of the party in 2016. Jitan Ram Manjhi Hindustani Awam Morcha-Secular (HAM-S) founder and former Bihar chief minister, Jitan Ram Manjhi, 79, is one of the Dalit faces of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Bihar. Elected to the state assembly for the first time in 1980 as a Congress MLA, Manjhi has always occupied a prominent position in the state government. A couple of years after entering into electoral politics, he was made a minister in the then Chandrashekhar Singh government in Bihar. Manjhi was sworn in as the 23rd chief minister in May 2014 after the incumbent chief minister Nitish Kumar stepped down, owning moral responsibility for the defeat of his party in the Lok Sabha elections. However, he was expelled from the Janata Dal (United) [JD(U)] after a confrontation with Kumar. Later, Manjhi founded HAM-S and projected himself as a Dalit leader. For the first time, he was elected as member of Lok Sabha from Gaya and has been named as a minister of Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government. Manjhi defeated his nearest rival Kumar Sarvjeet of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) by a margin of 1.10 lakh votes. President Droupadi Murmu will administer the oath of office and secrecy to Modi and his cabinet ministers at 7:15pm on Sunday, at the Rashtrapati Bhavans Forecourt. Renowned sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik crafted a sand sculpture to congratulate PM-designate Narendra Modi at a seashore in Odisha's Puri, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, which is scheduled to take place today at 7:15 pm. Puri: A sand sculpture for the oath taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Puri beach in Odisha, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (PTI) The intricate sand art, created at the Puri beach, features a detailed image of Narendra Modi along with the message "ABHINANDAN MODI JI 3.0". Accompanying this congratulatory note, Pattnaik also inscribed "VIKSIT BHARAT" below the artwork. The creation has garnered significant attention, reflecting the artist's support and the public's anticipation for Modi's third term as Prime Minister. Meanwhile, posters featuring PM-designate Narendra Modi have been put up in Delhi ahead of his swearing-in ceremony scheduled to take place on Sunday. The ceremony will mark the commencement of Modi's third consecutive term as the Prime Minister of India. Under Modi's leadership, the NDA is set to form the government at the Centre once again. This is an extraordinary event as Narendra Modi is the only leader after former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who has been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath on the same day. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement and route arrangements have been made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's oath ceremony on Sunday. Several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement on Saturday said, "President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend."Apart from the leaders and state heads, more than 250 workers who were involved in the construction of the Parliament will also come to BJP leader Mansukh Mandaviya's residence at 3 pm and go to the President's house to participate in the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. Meanwhile, highlighting the significance of the event, the MEA emphasised, "The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision." Additionally, the MEA mentioned that besides participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also grace a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, later in the same evening. PM Modi's invitation to neighbouring leaders reflects India's ongoing efforts to engage with countries in the region. In 2014, he convened leaders from SAARC nations, and in 2019, he invited countries from the BIMSTEC group. Meanwhile, Congress leader KC Venugopal said that the opposition leaders have not received any information from the government regarding the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi. The BJP got 240 seats and NDA has secured 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. The Congress secured 99 seats. Samajwadi Party got 37 seats, while Trinamool Congress got 29. DMK managed to win 22 seats. Thiruvananthapuram, Ahead of the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and his council of ministers, the lone BJP MP from Kerala, Suresh Gopi, on Sunday left for New Delhi with his family. Reacting to queries from reporters while rushing to the Thiruvananthapuram international airport, Gopi said that Modi has asked him to reach the national capital immediately. The actor-cum-politician, who achieved a historic win for the BJP in Kerala by taking the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat, said he presently has no clue about what role he will be given in the new NDA government. That decision has been taken by the PM, he said. "I am obeying my Prime Minister and my Home Minister my national leaders." The actor also said that "celebrations have to go on". "It is the people's celebration. So, there cannot be any hindrance or variation of thought," the Lok Sabha MP added. On Thursday, Gopi had said that he does not want to be a minister and all he wants is that the ministries implement the projects he proposes for the welfare of the people of Kerala. On Sunday, he also reiterated what he had said earlier he would work as an MP for Kerala and the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu as well. Gopi defeated CPI leader V S Sunilkumar in an exciting fight. While Gopi garnered a total of 4,12,338 votes, Sunil Kumar had to make do with 3,37,652 votes, according to the EC figures. Congress's senior leader K Muraleedharan settled in the third position with 3,28,124 votes, it said. The result came as a rude shock for the ruling CPI-led LDF and the Congress-headed UDF, which even till the last minute rubbished the various exit polls that predicted victory for Gopi and the chances of the lotus blooming in the state. Suresh Gopi leaves for New Delhi ahead of swearing in of PM, cabinet ministers The Telugu Desam Partys (TDP) Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu on Sunday took oath as a Cabinet minister in the Narendra Modi 3.0 government at the Centre. The 36-year-old leader secured a third-time victory from Srikakula in north Andhra Pradesh in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election. He defeated Tilak Perada of YSRCP by a margin of 3.2 lakh votes. Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. (File Photo) Naidu who is the national general secretary of the TDP, is one of the youngest Cabinet members in the Modi 3.0 government. He is the son of TDP leader and former Union minister Yerran Naidu. Catch all the updates of oath ceremeony here The TDP, part of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), won a total of 16 out of the 25 seats in Andhra Pradesh in the 2024 General Elections. TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu on Sunday announced that two of its newly elected members of parliament (MPs) Ram Mohan Naidu and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani will take oath as ministers alongside Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi. The announcement was made by TDP leader Jayadev Galla, a former lawmaker. Modi was sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on Sunday at 7:15pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on Sunday, June 9, after the NDA scored a majority in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. The mega event will begin at 7:15 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan's Forecourt in the national capital. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi displays a letter from the President of India, Draupadi Murmu, inviting him to form the next central government, outside the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on June 7, 2024.(AP) According to the officials, over 8,000 guests, including various professionals and cultural performers, will attend the oath-taking ceremony. The guest list has been kept compact, given the ensuing G7 meeting in Italy, for which Modi will leave later in the week, reported ANI, citing sources. Following the ceremony, President Droupadi Murmu will host a banquet for the dignitaries at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Who are the special invitees for Modi's oath-taking ceremony? Leaders from neighbouring nations and the Indian Ocean region will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi. Several heads of state will attend Modi's oath ceremony as part of Indias Neighbourhood First policy. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay have accepted invitations to the event. Vande Bharat loco pilot Aishwarya S Menon from Chennai Railway Division and Asia's first female loco pilot, Surekha Yadav, have been invited to the event. Additionally, sanitation workers, transgender staff and labourers who contributed to the Central Vista Project will be honoured guests at the ceremony for the new government. According to media reports, rat-hole miners who assisted in rescuing 41 trapped construction workers in Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi collapsed tunnel last year have also been invited. Several distinguished religious leaders, lawyers, doctors, artists, cultural performers, and influencers will also attend the oath-taking ceremony. Reportedly, participants acknowledged by Modi in Mann Ki Baat, along with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri awardees, will be in attendance. Apart from these, outgoing Parliamentarians, BJP leaders, NEC members, and other MPs, MLAs, and MLCs will attend the event. PM Modi's cabinet is expected to include 27 to 30 ministers, roughly a third of whom are allies of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and some ministers of state. The formula shared with allies suggests a cabinet ministers post for every four to five MPs and a junior ministers post for every two. In the recently held general elections, the BJP bagged 240 seats, and the National Democratic Alliance secured a majority of 293 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. On the other hand, the Congress won 99 seats in the general election, while the INDIA bloc bagged 234 seats. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Saturday took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of the swearing-in ceremony by calling him a one-third PM. According to the Congress leader, Modi would not have become the prime minister for the third time without TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and JDU chief Nitish Kumar's support in the Lok Sabha election. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh(ANI file ) Narendra Modi, in the 2024 elections, has suffered a devastating personal loss, political defeat and a moral debacle. He is a one-third prime minister because, without Naidu and Nitish Kumar, he would not have been Prime MinisterHe has become Prime Minister with 240 seats, Jairam Ramesh said, as quoted by news agency ANI. He somehow managed to get his allies. Even the BJP MPs have not elected him as a leader of the BJP parliamentary party. He got himself anointed as head of the NDA alliance and then had a meeting of NDA MPs in the central hall, the Congress leader added. Drawing a comparison with Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Ramesh said, Nehru became PM three times in a row with a two-thirds majority and yet remained a DemocratModi is going to become the PM by not even getting 270 on his own. While the BJP emerged as the single largest party, winning 240 seats in the recently concluded Lok Sabha election, it fell short of the simple majority mark of 272 in the 543-member assembly. This led to the BJP becoming dependent on its allies - N Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP and Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar-led JD(U) - to form the next government. With the support of the allies, NDA enjoys a comfortable majority with 293 seats. On the other hand, the opposition INDIA bloc won 234 seats. Modi will be sworn in as the prime minister for the third consecutive time on Sunday evening. Over 8,000 guests, including foreign dignitaries, have been invited to the mega event. Several political parties have also been invited, however, Congress did not receive the invitation until Sunday morning. Taking a dig at Modi over the guest list, Ramesh said, Well, clearly the self-styled Vishwaguru, who has now become self-styled Vishwa Bandhu is giving priority to getting international leadersWhat's the point of attending this swearing-in ceremony? Because there is no legitimacy to Narendra Modi. The Congress leader went on to call Modi's government illegitimate and alleged the use of coercive tactics to remain in power. It is an illegitimate government. It has used money power, institutions, media, fear, intimidation and threat. I don't see this as a democratically elected government, frankly, because the mandate of the people is not for Modi, he said. (With inputs from ANI) Uttar Pradesh (UP) was pivotal in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)s tally falling. Till recently, UP was blessed with a narrative of good governance backed by the so-called two-engine perception. The bulldozer and encounter politics, odious to some but applauded by others, never got traction as an election issue. The five nyay, 25 guarantees of the Congress manifesto was backed by the Picchde, Dalit, Alpsankhyak (backward classes, Dalits, and minorities), or PDA, the outreach of the Samajwadi Party (SP), carefully crafting a non-Yadav backward profile. The results have certainly come as a shot in the arm for the two major alliance partners, but require some analysis to uncover the truth under the surface. More importantly, the apparent outcome of the alliance does not reflect any real-time performance of the parties that have dominated UP politics. The SP had contested 63 seats while the Congress was given 17. The final tally was 38 and 7, respectively. The Congress had initiated negotiations with a wishlist of 24 (mostly the surviving winners of 2009), but the SP prematurely announced a list of candidates in constituencies on our wishlist). At that stage, we were not unduly confident, there were clear signals that Muslims had turned to us in large numbers, while, in the 2019 assembly polls, 99% had voted for the SP. In the worst-case scenario, they could desert the SP completely. But we were firm that the need of the hour called for an honest alliance. We made efforts to negotiate better allocation but finally settled for what we were offered, to quickly clinch the date for a road show in Agra. Many of our leaders thought we deserved 25 seats but a sacrifice had to be made to oust the BJP. At that stage, we had one seat in UP (Rae Bareli) and the SP had five (in their alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP). Some people kept up the refrain of a tie-up with the BSP, but that was stillborn. There was no enthusiasm for the BSP amongst the SP negotiators although their partys standing at the time was a contribution of their previous election tie-up with the SP. The feel of the election turned increasingly positive with each passing phase. It must be said that, with a few exceptions, the workers of our two parties coordinated honestly despite different political cultures. The result is there for all to see. It is yet very early to look at the path ahead, given that the INDIA bloc does not look like forming a government in the near future. Working cohesively as the parliamentary Opposition can make a great difference, but will have to wait till the MPs settle down. Perhaps more important is the road ahead at the ground level in UP. We have often been at loggerheads in routine, daily politics, all of which was put on hold during the campaign. But we will have to learn to live together without obliterating our respective identities. Fortunately, we belong to the same side of the ideological divide in politics with minor differences in emphasis and perhaps, style. It would, of course, be useful if we were quickly able to define our respective understanding of socialism and secularism. There may not be much difference beyond the words that are employed. But there may be some difficulty in matching our respective assessment of the voter segment that was drawn to us although there would have been aggregation amongst voters because of the alliance. One nationwide indicator of this election is the mass movement of Muslims to the Congress with UP being an exemplar. We need to be clear that there are expectations that we must address if we want to revive a long-term relationship. This is also true about Dalits and some segments of the general castes. This has a lot to do with self-generated hopes and expectations amongst minorities as indeed with our conscious endeavour to overcome their hesitations caused by history. Similarly, Dalits and OBCs have looked at the Congress as the outspoken saviour of the Constitution. Of course, Akhilesh Yadav has consolidated the Yadav vote that the BJP was constantly trying to wean away. Sitting down to draw up lists for electoral contests is tough enough but sharing the ground after election results is far more difficult. It would not be fair to the INDIA partners if we restrict each others freedom to grow and reward our committed supporters even as we share the advantages of having fought this historic election together. There will be elections again in the future and the lessons learnt in 2024 may well show us how to deal with the road ahead. Orissa and Andhra Pradesh, even UP, have shown that political dominance cannot be taken for granted. Salman Khurshid is a Congress leader and former minister of external affairs. The views expressed are personal Amid strain in ties between India and Canada since the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada's intelligence agency chief David Vigneault quietly visited India twice in February and March this year, reported news agency PTI. The visits were aimed at apprising Indian officials of the case relating to the killing of Nijjar. Amid strain in ties between India and Canada since the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, Canada's intelligence agency chief David Vigneault quietly visited India twice in February and March this year(Bloomberg) The report says that Canada's intelligence agency chief shared information that emerged during Ottawa's investigation into the killing of Nijjar. However, Canadian authorities haven't disclosed the nature of the talks during Vigneault's India visit. Notably, Canada has been claiming India's hand in Nijjar's death. However, India has vehemently denied any role and asked Canada to provide evidence. ALSO READ| Watch: Air Canada Boeing catches fire moments after takeoff, lands safely "We can confirm that the Director of CSIS, David Vigneault, has travelled to India but we do not comment on the nature or substance of closed-door meetings," said a government of Canada official. "With that said, since Canada became aware of the credible allegations, we have consistently provided all the information we can to India on the Nijjar case, through multiple channels. This has also been noted by Prime Minister Trudeau and Canada's minister for public safety on the public record," he added. Canadian authorities have arrested four Indian nationals - Amandeep Singh, Karanpreet Singh, Kamalpreet Singh and Karan Brar on charges of alleged involvement in Nijjar's killing. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) is investigating the killing. "Canada's priorities from the start have been to ensure truth and accountability. This is in both our countries' interest. In this regard, Canada continues to underscore the importance of the ongoing, independent investigation led by the RCMP," the Canadian government offical said. Hardeep Singh Nijjar was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in Surrey on June 18, 2023. Toronto: On Thursday, Canadian ministers condemned a float featuring the assassination of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, which was part of a protest by pro-Khalistan elements staged in front of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver. Float featuring the assassination of late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, in front of the Indian Consulate in Vancouver on Thursday. In a post on X, Canadas Minister of Public Safety Dominic LeBlanc said, This week, there were reports of imagery depicting the assassination of Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in Vancouver. The promotion of violence is never acceptable in Canada. That view was echoed by the Cabinet colleague, President of the Treasury Board, Anita Anand, who stated, The use of violent imagery in relation to Prime Minister Indira Gandhi is disturbing and unacceptable as it promotes and perpetuates hate and violence. India has already made a formal diplomatic complaint in this regard to Global Affairs Canada, the countrys foreign ministry. Liberal Party MP Chandra Arya such depictions by pro-Khalistan separatists were attempting to instil fear of violence in Hindu-Canadians. He called upon Canadian law enforcement to take immediate action in this matter. With picture of guns readily being used to convey the message may lead to something real if this is left to continue unchallenged. The prominence of bindi on the forehead of Indira Gandhi is to make doubly sure the intended targets are Hindus in Canada, he added. The float was part of protests on the 40th anniversary of Operation Bluestar, when the Indian Army stored the Golden Temple complex in Amritsar to flush out Khalistani extremists including their leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The call for a lockdown of Indias mission to Canada had been given by the secessionist group Sikhs for Justice. While protests were also organized at Consulate in Toronto, such floats did not appear there, though each venue had protestors carrying Khalistan flags and shouting anti-India slogans. Gurpatwant Pannun, SFJs general counsel, warned that Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi was a target for transnational terrorism and the killing of pro-Khalistan figure Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, on June 18 last year. The float featured an effigy of Indira Gandhi, showing her riddled with bullets including through the forehead and also displayed her assassins. Last year, on June 4, a float featuring the assassination of late Prime Minister was part of a martyrdom day event in the Greater Toronto Area or GTA. Indira Gandhi was assassinated on October 31, 1984 by two of her own bodyguards at her official residence. With assassination was followed by the anti-Sikh riots in Delhi and elsewhere TORONTO: Four persons, including an alleged gangster, have been arrested by Canadian police for the murder of a 28-year-old Indo-Canadian on Friday. Toronto Police investigators work after a security guard was shot outside the Bridle Path mansion of Canadian rap star Drake, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada May 7, 2024. REUTERS/Arlyn McAdorey REFILE - REMOVING ADDRESS (REUTERS) The victim of the daylight shooting, which took place shortly before 9 am on Friday, was identified as Yuvraj Goyal, 28, a resident of Surrey in the province of British Columbia, in a release from the Integrated Homicide Investigation Team or IHIT on Saturday. Those arrested in connection with the killing were identified as Manvir Basram, 23, Sahib Basra, 20, Harkirat Jhutty, 23, all residents of Surrey and Keilon Francois, 20, who is from the province of Ontario. On June 7, as officers from the Surrey detachment of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police responded to a report of the shooting, they located Goyal, originally from Ludhiana, already deceased. At the time, investigators believed this was a targeted shooting. However, they are attempting to ascertain the motive for the killing as Goyal had no history of police contact. In other words, he was not considered to have been associated in gang activity. IHIT investigators remain dedicated to determining why Mr. Goyal was the victim of this homicide, the Teams spokesperson Sergeant Timothy Pierotti said. Officers also rushed to the scene of a vehicle that was set ablaze a short while later. That is considered a hallmark of gang-related activity. The four suspects who were taken into custody have been charged with first degree murder. One of those arrested, Harkirat Jhutty was the subject of the public warning issued by Surrey RCMP in December 2022, along with Karnvir Garcha. Police had said the alert was being sounded at the time due to a significant threat to the public posed by these individuals through their connection to criminal activity and high levels of violence, police believe that anyone connected to or in proximity to them may be putting themselves at risk. Due to their association with gang activity, the drug trade, and violent acts such as shootings, these individuals have put themselves, their families, and the community at risk, the release stated. In July 2023, Garcha, 25, was found fatally shot in the town of Coquitlam, also in British Columbia, possibly another victim of the ongoing gangland conflict in the region. In a shock move, French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he would dissolve parliament and call new legislative elections later this month after he was trounced in European elections by Marine Le Pen's far-right party. French President Emmanuel Macron(REUTERS) ALSO READ- France's First Lady Brigitte Macron faces awkward faux pas as she tries to hold Queen Camilla's hand at D-Day memorial Macron said the results were a disaster for his government, and one he could not pretend to ignore. In a high-risk political gamble, less than two months before Paris hosts the Olympics, he said lower house elections would be called for June 30, with a second-round vote on July 7. ALSO READ- Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin 'not going to stop at Ukraine' in joint presser with Macron Macron's widely unexpected decision could leave him in a nearly powerless position if Le Pen's National Rally (RN) party wins a parliamentary majority. ALSO READ- WWII veteran, 100, marries sweetheart, 96, in France after D-Day events Led by telegenic 28-year-old Jordan Bardella, the RN won around 32% of the vote in Sunday's vote, more than double Macron ticket's 15%, according to the first exit polls. The Socialists came within a whisker of Macron, with 14%. A nurse whose young daughter was murdered during the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel treated one of the four hostages rescued by Israeli troops in a complex mission on Saturday, June 8. The freed hostage, 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv, received medical treatment at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center by head nurse Mali Zender. Malis 22-year-old daughter, Noa Zender, was killed in the brutal attack, Israeli journalist Neria Kraus reported. Rescued Hamas hostage Shlomi Ziv (pictured) was treated by a nurse whose young daughter was murdered during the October 7 attack (Israeli Army/Handout via REUTERS)(via REUTERS) Mali Zenders daughter abducted from music festival where Shlomi Ziv was working security One photo shows Shlomi smiling at Mali, who had rushed to the hospital to help him and the other hostages who were rescued. Shlomi was abducted from the Supernova music festival, where he was working security on October 7 last year. Noa was killed by Hamas while she was attending the same festival. The Times of Israel reported that her body was found five days later. Hen, Noas sister, is a broadcaster with Israels Channel 13, according to New York Post. Were learning to come to terms with a new life, to deal with a new life, a life where our heart is broken, a life where there is an enormous hole at home, she said during her first newscast after Noas funeral was held. She danced and enjoyed herself with people she loved at that party until her last moment, Hen said of her sibling. Shlomi was rescued along with three other hostages Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andri Kozlov, 27. They were all saved by Israeli troops from the central Gazan city of Nuseirat. The very dangerous mission led to the death of IDF commander Arnon Zamora, whose unit played a key role in the return of the four hostages. The high-risk rescue mission was launched by Israeli special forces from the IDF, the Israeli polices elite counter-terrorism unit and intelligence unit Shin Bet in the central Gazan Nuseirat refugee camp. They targeted two buildings occupied by Hamas, where the hostages were being held captive. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg agreed Friday to testify before what's likely to be a hostile, Republican-controlled congressional subcommittee, but likely not until after former President Donald Trump is sentenced in July. FILE PHOTO: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks after the guilty verdict in former U.S. President Donald Trump's criminal trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016, at a press conference in New York, U.S., May 30, 2024. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo(REUTERS) The House Judiciary Committee chairman, U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, wrote Bragg in late May after Trump's conviction in his hush money trial, accusing him of having conducted a political prosecution and requesting his testimony at a hearing June 13. In a reply letter, the Manhattan district attorney's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, said the prosecutor's office was committed to voluntary cooperation. That cooperation, it added, including making Bragg, a Democrat, available to testify at an agreed-upon date. But the letter said the date picked by Jordan presented presents various scheduling conflicts. It noted that the Trump prosecution is not yet finished. Trump, who was convicted of falsifying records to cover up hush money paid to a porn actor during the 2016 presidential campaign, is scheduled to be sentenced July 11. Before then, prosecutors will be making recommendations to a judge about what kind of punishment Trump deserves. The trial court and reviewing appellate courts have issued numerous orders for the purpose of protecting the fair administration of justice in People v. Trump, and to participate in a public hearing at this time would be potentially detrimental to those efforts, the letter said. Bragg's office asked for an opportunity to discuss an alternative date with the subcommittee and get more information about the scope and purpose of the proposed hearing. Jordan has also asked for testimony from Matthew Colangelo, one of the lead prosecutors in the Trump case. Bragg's office didn't rule that out, but said in the letter that it would evaluate the propriety of allowing an assistant district attorney to testify publicly about an active prosecution. Jordan, an Ohio Republican, has proposed withholding federal funding from any entity that attempts to prosecute a former president. He has also railed against what he's described as the weaponization of the federal government." His committee successfully battled before to get a deposition from one former prosecutor who worked on Trump's case, Mark Pomerantz, over Braggs initial objections. That deposition, however, yielded little, with Pomerantz declining to answer many questions on the grounds that doing so could potentially open him up to a criminal prosecution for disclosing secret grand jury testimony. Asian countries should be wary that a similar trap to the one Ukraine fell into is being set in Asia, and they must be smarter than Europe. No country in Asia would willingly want to be dragged into the conflict in Ukraine. However, the US is employing similar tactics in certain Asian countries as it did in Ukraine, causing them to be cautious of China and even harbor animosity toward it. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr has clearly fallen into this trap. In fact, the situation in Asia is much more complicated than in Europe, as there are numerous disputes over territorial claims as well as maritime rights and interests. Fortunately, there is no NATO in Asia and no geopolitical conflicts between blocs have been formed. Previously, territorial disputes mostly occurred between countries on a case-by-case basis. Suddenly, however, certain countries' disputes and controversies with China have come to the forefront due to the strategic involvement of the US. In the past, the US generally took a "hands-off" approach when it came to territorial disputes in Asia. However, now whenever a dispute involves China, the US always supports the country that opposes China. It tries to portray China as a regional "bully" and encourages countries in the region to confront China. Nevertheless, the situation between China and the Philippines has been in a deadlock for many years. The Philippine warship that ran aground on Ren'ai Jiao in 1999, the day after the NATO bombing of the Chinese Embassy in Yugoslavia, is still there. China has shown restraint in its dealings with the Philippines, with the friction between the two countries focusing on the details of how the Philippines resupplied the ship. Where in the world can you find such a good-tempered "bully"? Today, the Philippines is even more shameless. Marcos is trying, with the support of the US, to scare China off with sensational behaviors over the territorial dispute. They have fabricated a false sense of victimhood for themselves. Marcos' keynote speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Friday and US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's speech on Saturday are both aimed at cajoling Asian countries. Austin denied on Saturday that NATO's expansion has caused the Ukraine crisis, and trumpeted that the US was secure "only if Asia is." He touted the importance of the extensive network of partnerships under the US Indo-Pacific Strategy, claiming that the US would do its utmost to fulfill its commitments to the Indo-Pacific region. Obviously, although there is no NATO in Asia, to serve its global hegemonic strategy of containing China, the US wants regional countries to be hostile to China following the model of NATO allies or partner countries. As a Chinese media professional who has been observing geopolitics for a long time, I really hope that Asian countries will not be dazzled by the US and will maintain their strategic sobriety. Territorial disputes are left over from history. We have never made use of our vast national resources to solve these disputes, so China is not a "bully," not to mention an "aggressor." However, if countries like the Philippines try to intimidate China with the backing of other powers, they will definitely suffer a setback and face consequences, and at that time the US will not be there to support them. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asian countries should have seen a nation influenced by the US and NATO, leading to the tragedy of war. Although the US and NATO express support and offer assistance, it is Ukraine and its people who suffer. We must not allow external forces such as the US to set the similar trap in Asia, nor should we fall into the trap ourselves. The author Hu Xijin is a Chinese media professional. (Source: Global Times About eight months after Israels war in Gaza started, a massive crowd of pro-Hamas protesters descended upon the White House, blasting Joe Bidens administrations support for the Jewish state. The demonstration was held by as estimated 30,000 pro-Palestinian protesters, who began arriving outside the Executive Mansion around noon on Saturday, June 8. At least 30,000 pro-Palestinian protesters descend upon White House (Photo by andrew thomas / AFP)(AFP) The massive protest A two-mile long red banner was unveiled by members of the Answer Coalition, one of the activist groups that participated in the protest. The banner was a reference to the red line they believe Biden has let Israel blow past when it invaded Rafah. A video of the unveiling of the banner was posted to X by the group, with the caption, Over 75,000 are in DC, and the White House is now completely encircled by #ThePeoplesRedLine! This two-mile long banner lists the over 40,000 Palestinians martyred by Israel since Oct. 7. Answer Coalition says on its website, Biden cant draw the line, but we can. On June 8, we will come together from across the country and surround the White House. Wearing red, and raising our demands high, we will show the world that we are the red line. It adds, We demand an immediate cease-fire, an immediate end to the siege on Gaza, the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners and an end to the occupation of Palestine. Another video that surfaced on X shows smoke bomb flares being ignited by some of the protesters, and then being thrown in the White House lawn. One post shows the Andrew Jackson statue outside the White House being defaced with the phrases Free Gaza and Boycott Israel Products. In the days following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel last year, fencing was erected around the compound of the White House as it was anticipated that such protests may take place. While a barrier already surrounded the grounds, the new fence constructed is a second line of defence. In preparation for the events this weekend in Washington, DC, that have the potential for large crowds to gather, additional public safety measures including anti-scale fencing have been put in place near the White House complex, a Secret Service spokesman told The Hill. Where artificial intelligence is reshaping industries and challenging established norms, Indian-American entrepreneur and AI expert Pritika Mehta offers a beacon of insight and inspiration for aspiring Indian founders who are still smashing their keyboards in a corner cubicle in Bangalore, India. Pritika Mehta gives advice on building network and staying resilient in tech capital, San Francisco(Facebook/SockSoho) With a Master's in Artificial Intelligence from the State University of New York and a wealth of experience in City by the Bay, San Francisco, Mehta has become an usher in guiding and motivating Indian entrepreneurs through her dynamic social media presence. While talking with HindustanTimes.com, the Indian-American tech geek delves into GPT-4o's transformative potential, the shifting dynamics of search technology, and the unparalleled opportunities Western Silicon Valley presents. The Butternut.AI founder shares her invaluable advice for the aspiring Indian founders who want to build in AI on leveraging networks, the importance of understanding global tech trends, and the impact AI can have on India's burgeoning startup ecosystem. For Indian founders eager to carve out a niche in the AI revolution and reach a crescendo-became tycoon, Mehta charts both a roadmap and a call of action, emphasizing the critical need to innovate, build a strong team and ship things fast ALSO READ| Indian-American entrepreneur Pritika Mehta shares tips for immigrant founders in San Francisco Mehta's roadmap for Indian entrepreneurs When asked, Founders who are churning the dreams and wanna land in the City by the Bay, what will be your message for them? The Chandigarh native replied, San Francisco is about the same size as my hometown, Chandigarh. But this small city has changed the world. ChatGPT, Uber, Airbnb, Doordash, Stripe, Dropbox, Notion - almost all products that people use everyday, originated from this special place. The kind of conversations that happen here, the innovation in the air, the investments in bold ideas and unknown founders - no other city offers it. If you drive down Sand Hill Road, you'll find the offices of VC firms. A small office with three employees would be managing $1B+. Youll meet random doctors here who invested $10k in unknown founders and made $100M from that investment. Where else does it happen? All tech trends originate here. People in the Bay Area knew about bitcoin before anyone else. Tens of thousands of people became bitcoin millionaires, just because they heard about it from friends and bought it early. On the streets of SF, driverless Waymo cars cruise along and no one bats an eyelid. Every nook and corner of SF is filled with startups. In every coffee shop, people are talking about new tech. The level of ambition and talent here is unparalleled. The ambition is supported with money, guidance and networks. ALSO READ| Satya Nadella on GPT-3.5's 'remarkable' role in helping an Indian farmer understand subsidies How Mehta continues to inspire aspiring Indian entrepreneurs through social media Mehta, who holds a Master's in Artificial Intelligence from the State University of New York, leverages her social media platforms to share knowledge and inspire aspiring Indian founders. Whether it's about shifting your mindset or securing an angel investor, she consistently shares her valuable insights through these channels. While addressing her social role, she briefly explained her very recent post- SF business trip is the rite of passage for every Bangalore VC-funded founder. Bangalore and Bay Area have a direct connection. All the good founders I know in Bangalore make a trip to the Valley - to raise money, understand tech trends, build networks, or to sell to customers, the YC alum lauded. Many Bangalore startups have one founder in the Bay Area handling sales and fundraising, while other founders and team are in Bangalore. America is the biggest software market in the world and the smartest Bangalore founders know it well (and leverage it). Youd be surprised to see that every Bangalore founder has a B1 visa, and many are in the process of applying for O1/L1/EB1. Its a normal now. Indian founders have unparalleled access to Silicon Valley, largely because so many Indians work here, Mehta said. ALSO READ| Meet Prafulla Dhariwal: Pune boy praised by OpenAIs Sam Altman for GPT-4o role The Indian-American AI expert concluded while addressing the question, Will this lead to job losses, or will it lead to more efficiency in the world? She shared, There will be short term pain and long term gain due to AI. No one is riding horses to deliver mail now, we've high end vehicles that do it. Repetitive jobs are getting eliminated but at the same time, newer jobs are being created. We will not run out of work to do but if we run out of tedious work to do, it's a net positive for humanity. Jimmy Carters grandson has revealed that the former president has had no change in his health as he spends his days in hospice care in Georgia, which he entered more than a year ago. Jimmys grandson Jason Carter told Southern Living magazine that the 99-year-old ex-commander-in-chief is experiencing the world as best he can as he continues through this process. Jimmy Carters grandson provides emotional update on ex-president's health(AP Photo) Jason is the oldest of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carters 22 grandchildren. Speaking of Jimmy remaining alive in hospice care for several months, Jason said, God had other plans. I just think none of us really understand Rosalynn Carter, whom Jimmy had been married to for 77 years, died in November last year. After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what its like for him right now, said Jason. We have to embrace that fact, that theres things about the spirit that you just cant understand. Average hospice usually stays around 70 days. However, it may be only a couple of weeks for some. Jimmys hospice journey began in February 2023. A few weeks ago, Jason visited Jimmy, watching an Atlanta Braves game and talking about Jimmys nonprofit Carter Center and the family. He asked his grandfather how he was doing. I told him, I said: Pawpaw, you know, when people ask me how youre doing I say, honestly I dont know, recalled Jason. And he kind of smiled and he said, I dont know, myself. It was pretty sweet, he added. In May, Jason had provided another update, saying Jimmy is coming to the end. People ask me how youre doing, Jason told the crowd, according to New York Post. And I say, I dont know. And he said, Well, I dont know myself.' Jason said at the time that considering the 39th US presidents circumstances, he is doing fine, but the end of his journey is near. My grandfather is doing OK. He has been in hospice, as you know, for almost a year and a half now, Jason said. Following last week's hush money trial in Manhattan, former President Donald Trump was found guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to the 2016 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels around the time of the then-presidential election. Former President Donald Trump at the Manhattan Criminal Court room Talking to the pool and in courtroom at trial in NYC May 30 2024. Mark Peterson/Pool via REUTERS(via REUTERS) The 2024 Republican presumptive nominee will be sentenced on July 11, which could ultimately send him to prison just in time for the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. However, in the meantime, Yale Law professor Jed Rubenfeld has launched a new podcast, Straight Down the Middle, arguing that the ex-president is not yet a convicted felon. Further dissecting how Trump's legal team could soften the blow of the criminal trial's verdict on the upcoming presidential elections, Rubenfeld weighed in on the options the former president has. The Constitution law professor argued that while Trump could challenge the conviction with an appeal through the New York Appeals Court system as a means to move the Supreme Court, it would take years to work in his favour and could even deal out irreparable harm. Also read | Joe Biden warns Vladimir Putin 'not going to stop at Ukraine' in joint presser with Macron Of course, that would take years, and that's a problem here It's a problem because the election will have taken place if this conviction is unlawful and unconstitutional, it could have an effect on that election, said Rubenfeld on his podcast. Yale Law professor weighs in on Trump's guilty hush money trial verdict, questions the Constitutional issues facing the conviction Considering the conviction was to be reversed on appeal years later, Rubenfeld further emphasised that the ill effects would have already transpired by then. that effect could not be undone. In legal terms, that's called irreparable harm, he added. Also, turning to surveys demonstrating a considerable surge in Trump's popularity since the guilty verdict, with many voters claiming they would still vote for the former president if he is convicted, Rubenfeld said, an unlawful conviction in this case could interfere with, and in fact decide the outcome of, the next election of the next President of the United States. Even if the conviction were to be reversed upon Trump's appeal down the line, no years-long appeal could have any effect on that, the law professor foregrounded. Furthermore, he suggested that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Juan Merchan would have already unlawfully interfered with the election and decided the outcome of the next election through unconstitutional means. Also read | Nikki Haley takes strong stand after facing ire for writing finish them on Israeli artillery shell Rubenfeld struck down the ongoing string of media reports insisting that Trump is already a convicted felon. Laying down that one is not convicted because of a jury verdict, the professor slammed the ongoing claims as not true." He explained further, You are not convicted until the judge enters that judgment of guilt. Now, in New York, it's very likely that Judge Merchan will enter that judgment of guilt against Trump on the same day that he issues sentencing. At the same time, Rubenfeld detailed how it was a very bad look for this country to criminally target a former president. He insisted, It's an especially bad look when the folks bringing the case and the judge deciding it are members of the opposing political party. Additionally, stating Trump's crime as so unclear, he alleged that the state was hiding the ball about what the actual charges are right up through the trial and into the trial. Reiterating that we're not exactly sure of what the jury found Trump guilty of, he said, "You better not be pursuing some novel legal theory where you have to hide the ball [and] it's not even clear what the charges are," he said. That could be a very dangerous precedent for this country. A very bad and dangerous precedent. Diving even deeper into members of opposing political parties supposedly criminally targeting the poll-leading candidate Trump, the Straight Down the Middle podcast creator set aside that if the involved officials were pursuing some novel legal theory that had them hide the ball while shrouding the charges in mystery, they were essentially setting a very dangerous precedent for this country. Consistently dwelling on the constitutionality of this prosecution, Rubenfeld put the onus on the federal court's reviews on the matter. He also affirmed Trump's agency here, stating that his team could make it possible by filing an action in federal court and ask the federal court to temporarily hold off the entry of the judgment of guilt until the federal courts, and maybe the Supreme Court itself, can, on an emergency basis, adjudicate the likelihood of success of these constitutional arguments. However, if that fails, Rubenfeld underlined the said irreparable harm would follow. A very dangerous mission to rescue Hamas hostages led to the death of IDF commander Arnon Zamora, who is being hailed as a hero. Zaroras unit played a key role in the return of four hostages Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andri Kozlov, 27. They were rescued by Israeli troops from the central Gazan city of Nuseirat. Hero IDF commander Arnon Zamora killed in operation that rescued 4 Hamas hostages (Israel Police) Behind every rescue mission, are Israeli men and women who risk their lives. We are devastated to share that Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, commander and tactical operator in the Yamam (National Police Counter-Terrorism Unit), who was critically wounded in the operation to rescue hostages this morning, has succumbed to his wounds, Israelis Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement Saturday on X. A true hero in life and in death, the statement added. May his memory be a blessing. Who was Arnon Zamora? Zamora, 36, who lived in the village of Sde David, near the Israeli city of Sderot, is survived by his wife Michal, two children and his parents Reuven and Ruthi, according to Haaretz. He successfully halted several Hamas terrorists from penetrating the country on October 7 last year, when he was fighting at the Battle of Yad Mordechai. He was later also involved in fighting at the Nahal Oz base and in Beeri, The Times Of Israel reported. Israeli defence minister Yoav Gallant remembered Zamora in a post on X, writing, I salute Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, Commander in the elite Yamam Unit, who fell while leading a daring operation to rescue 4 hostages held by Hamas in Gaza. He lived and fell a hero. My heart and thoughts are with his loved ones and soldiers. May his memory be a blessing. The rescue mission that saved the four hostages has now been named after the Chief Inspector Operation Arnon. A Russian nuclear-powered submarine and three other ships will stop in Havana, Cuba, next week - just a little more than 100 miles from the U.S. coast in Florida. The nuclear submarine Kazan and the other vessels - the missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov, an oil tanker and a salvage tug - will dock in the capital on June 12 and remain to June 17, Cuba's Ministry of the Revolutionary Armed Forces announced. "None of the vessels are carrying nuclear weapons, so their stop-over in our country does not represent a threat to the region," the statement said. The Cuban military said the arrival of the Russian ships is part of the "friendly" relationship between Cuba and Russia. A U.S. official told the Miami Herald that the exercises are expected to include "heightened naval and air activity near the United States" that will involve Russian planes and naval ships. It will be the first such exercise by Moscow in the Western Hemisphere in five years. "We are not surprised by it given Russia's long history of Cuban port calls," the official told the paper. "These are routine naval visits that are part of Russian military exercises, which have ratcheted up because of U.S. support to Ukraine and exercise activity in support of our NATO allies," the official said. Administration officials believe the visit is "at least in part" because a U.S. nuclear submarine docked at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base last year that angered Cuban officials. The Miami Herald reported, citing the U.S. Navy Institute, that Russian submarines have been visiting Cuba since 1969. And Russian spy ships have been sighted arriving unannounced in Havana in 2014, 2015 and in 2018. Last July, the Perekop, a Russian navy training class ship, anchored in Havana. The judge in Donald Trump's hush money case has informed lawyers about a potentially troubling social media post crowing about the former president's conviction on 34 felonies a day before it was announced. It was not immediately clear if the Facebook user, identified on the social media site as "Michael Anderson," had any relationship whatsoever to the case. The writer claimed in the message be a "cousin" of one of juror's, according to a short letter sent Friday to the defense and prosecution team by Judge Juan Merchan. A later message from one Facebook user identifying himself as Michael Anderson describes himself as a "professional s---poster," an indication his comments may not be reliable. "Anderson" added: "S---posts are generally intentionally designed to derail discussions or cause the biggest reaction with the least effort." Trump blurted out on Truth Social after news of the letter broke: "MISTRIAL." Merchan wrote to the attorneys that he "became aware" of the post stating: "My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted ... Thank you folks for all your hard work!!!!" The comment was posted beneath an unrelated post on the New York court system's Facebook page on May 29, the day before jurors found Trump guilty of falsifying business records to hide hush-money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep their relationship hidden from voters. If the post were true it could indicate a juror was leaking information to an outsider which could theaten the legitimacy of the verdit. New York Courts spokesperson Al Baker said in a statement that it's "appropriate" the "court informed the parties once it learned of this online content." Former federal prosecutor Joyce Alene said the judge took the appropriate action in the situation by alerting the lawyers ahead of a possible hearing to resolve any issues. "If it's someone posting with no basis for it as it appears, the record will be clear ... and if there's something to it, good to get it out [and] do justice," she wrote on X. The Justice is smart to advise the parties & hold a hearing on the record to resolve this. If it's someone posting with no basis for it as it appears, the record will be clear (his bio says "professional s***poster") & if there's something to it, good to get it out & do justice. https://t.co/Lb9YdQEsZA Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) June 7, 2024 There was no immediate reaction from the defense or prosecution teams. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked Friday evening in a public square in Copenhagen's old town by a man who was quickly arrested. Frederiksen suffered "minor whiplash" when the man gave her a hard shove, according to her office. Two witnesses told the local newspaper BT: "A man came by in the opposite direction and gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to fall to the side." Frederiksen did not, however, hit the ground, and sat at a nearby cafe to recover, they said. It wasn't immediately clear if she required medical treatment. Frederiksen, the leader of Denmark's largest party, the Social Democrats, had taken part earlier in an EU election event with her party's lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. The attack occurred just two days before two days before Danes head to the polls to vote in the European Union parliamentary elections. European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen called it a "despicable act, which goes against everything we believe in and fight for in Europe." The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident," Frederiksen's office said in a statement. Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke wrote in a post on X: "Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her." Soren Kjergaard, a barista who works in the Kultorvet, the public square where the assault took place, told Reuters that Frederiksen appeared a "little stressed" after the incident.. What may have triggered the attack was not immediately known or revealed. Police are continuing to investigate. The 39-year-old man arrested is scheduled due to appear at a hearing at the Frederiksberg Courthouse Saturday afternoon in connection with the incident. Four hostages seized from a music festival during the Oct. 7 Hamas raid into Israel were freed from captivity Saturday in dramatic "complex" daylight operations at two buildings in Gaza by the Israeli military. Israeli counter-terrorism units and Shin Bet agents raided the buildings in a residential neighborhood in Nuseirat and came under heavy fire as they freed hostages Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. Heavy airstrikes were conducted in the area against Hamas locations during the raids, which also involved hundreds of Israeli soldiers. Hamas health officials said about 50 Palestinians were killed. "During the operation we struck [attacked] ... threats to our forces in the area. These threats were struck from the land, air, and sea ... for us to extract our forces [and the hostages]," Israel Defense Forces spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari told reporters at a press conference on Saturday, the Times of Israel reported. Argamani, whose voice was last heard on a Hamas propaganda video in May pleading for her life, was rescued at one building, while Meir Kozlov and Zin were found at the second site. 245 days. It has been 245 days since Noa hugged her father and her mother who is terminally ill. It has been 245 days since she was dancing with her friends at the Nova festival. For 245 days, Noa was held captive by Hamas terrorists who only seek to cause pain and suffering. pic.twitter.com/uNK2HqGg8a Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 8, 2024 The four hostages, who all appeared to be in good physical condition, were transported to a hospital for further examination. Hagari said the operations had been sketched out for weeks and involved "quality intelligence and complex operational planning." The "intelligence for this operation was very complex to obtain," he said. The NASA astronaut who snapped the iconic "Earthrise" photo from the Apollo 8 spacecraft in 1968 and was one of the first three people to orbit the moon, was killed in a plane crash in Washington state, his family has confirmed. William Anders was 90. His son, Gregory Anders, told CNN on Friday that his father "passed in an aircraft incident in the San Juan Islands." The "family is devastated and grieving the loss of a great pilot," he added. The San Juan Sheriff's Office said in a statement on Facebook that it recovered the body of a man who was piloting an "older model" plane that went down off the coast of Jones Island in the San Juan Channel on Friday morning. "This is a very somber and tragic incident, and the San Juan County Sheriff's Office sends its sincere condolences and prayers to the victim and his family," the sheriff's office said in the statement. Anders flew on the December 1968 Apollo mission with fellow astronauts Jim Lovell and Frank Borman. The three were the first to orbit the moon. "We mourn the passing of astronaut Bill Anders, lunar module pilot for Apollo 8, and backup pilot for the Gemini XI and Apollo 11 flights," NASA said in a statement posted on X. "One of the first three people to travel beyond the reach of our Earth and orbit the Moon, Anders took the legendary Earthrise photo," it added. Anders took the shot aboard the spacecraft that captured the Earth with the lunar surface in the foreground. "We came all this way to explore the moon, and the most important thing is that we discovered the Earth," Anders said. Paramount, you got some splainin to do! 'I Love Lucy: The Complete Series' Blu-ray Box Set Coming November 5th! Satellite photos reportedly show parking lots full of Tesla electric vehicles as the troubled auto maker struggles to sell off its stockpile of inventory. Images and analysis from the SkyFi data company revealed a dramatic increase in the number of battery powered cars stored outside Telsa's factory near Austin, Texas, the Sherwood news website said Tuesday. The photos, shot in October 2023 and March 2024, showed one small parking lot skyrocketed from 17% to 97% of capacity, while another, larger lot went from zero to 34%, according to Sherwood. The biggest lot was 100% full, up from 99%, and a medium-size lot was 92% full, down slightly from 98%. The parking areas in question hold finished Teslas before they're shipped off to dealers, Sherwood said. A May 2024 image also reportedly showed 465 Tesla vehicles stored in a parking lot at the Chesterfield Mall near St. Louis. Last month, local TV station Fox 2 reported that Tesla was renting space there before the planned Aug. 31 closure of the shopping center for demolition and redevelopment. Tesla didn't respond to request for comment, Sherwood said. The report came two days before CNBC reported that Hertz was offering to sell about 20,000 Tesla models from its fleet of rental cars for "no haggle" prices of about $25,000 each. Although EV sales in the U.S. increased by more than 400% from 2020 to 2023, the pace has slowed and automakers are now more focused on selling hybrid models, CNBC said. In March, the automotive research company iSeeCars said prices for used EVs fell 31.8%, from an average of $43,694 to $30,904, over the past year. ISeeCars executive analyst said the dramatic decline was "largely driven" by billionaire Tesla CEO Elon Musk's "aggressive price cuts on new Teslas." In April, Tesla said its first-quarter revenues fell by 9%, the steepest drop since 2012, with Musk blaming "several unforeseen challenges," including what he called pressure on the global "EV adoption rate" and other manufacturers "pulling back on EVs and pursuing plug-in hybrids instead." "We believe this is not the right strategy and electric vehicles will ultimately dominate the market," he said during an earnings call with investors, according to a transcript posted online by the Motley Fool website. Last week, Musk was accused in a shareholder lawsuit of reaping about $3 billion in illegal profits through insider trading of the company's stock late last year. The Manhattan district attorney who presided over Donald Trump's conviction in his hush money trial agreed Saturday to testify before a Republican-led House committee but said he would not do so until after the former president is sentenced in early July, according to a report. Rep. Jim Jordan, the Republican chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wrote to Alvin Bragg a day after Trump's conviction in May, blasting the trial as a "political prosecution," and calling on the DA to testify at a June 13 hearing. Leslie Dubeck, the general counsel for the Manhattan district attorney, said in reply that the office was "committed to voluntary cooperation," the Associated Press reported. Part of the cooperation involves making Bragg available to testify "at an agreed-upon date." But Dubeck noted that the day selected by Jordan "presents various scheduling conflicts." Dubeck's letter, according to the AP, noted that Trump's prosecution is ongoing. Prosecutors will be making recommendations to Judge Juan Merchan, who presided over the trial, about what kind of punishment Trump should receive. "The trial court and reviewing appellate courts have issued numerous orders for the purpose of protecting the fair administration of justice in People v. Trump, and to participate in a public hearing at this time would be potentially detrimental to those efforts," the letter said. Jordan is also seeking the testimony of Matthew Colangelo, a former Department of Justice official who joined the DA's office in 2022 and was one of the lead prosecutors in the Trump case. The Ohio Republican said in his letter that the June hearing will be before the Select Subcommittee on the "Weaponization of the Federal Government" of the Committee on the Judiciary. It "will examine actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of federal officials, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office," the letter said. Trump was found guilty in Manhattan criminal court of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide a $130,000 hush money payment to former adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. Daniels alleges that she had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006. A 91-year-old Canadian auto parts tycoon was arrested on rape and sex assault charges involving mutiple accusers, according to reports Saturday. The allegations against Frank Stronach date from the 1980s to 2023, and authorities in Ontario asked anyone with information or who claims to have been attacked to contact them. "Obviously, this is a high-profile case. Our special victims unit is bound to protect the victims and in doing so that's why were are being vague," Peel Regional Police Constable Tyler Bell said, according to the Associated Press. "There is more than one victim but we won't confirm that number yet." Stronach was arrested Friday in the tony Toronto suburb of Aurora and charged with five counts including rape and sexual assault, Reuters reported. He was released on conditions and is due to appear in court on an unspecified date. Stronach's defense lawyer, Brian Greenspan, said he "categorically denies the allegations of impropriety which have been brought against him." He "looks forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the charges and to maintain his legacy both as a philanthropist and as an icon of the Canadian business community," Greenspan said. Stronach, trained as a took-and-die maker, became one of Canada's wealthiest people by founding the Magna International company in his garage and building it into one of the world's largest auto parts suppliers. His personal fortune was once estimated as high as $1.7 billion, but Forbes removed him from its list of billionaires in 2019. A company spokesperson said he's had no affiliation with Magna since he gave up control in 2010. "Magna has no knowledge of the investigation or the allegations that have been raised beyond what has been reported in the media," spokesperson Dave Niemiec said. Stronach was born in Austria and returned there to found an eponymous political party, Team Stronach, and mount a bid for prime minister in 2012. But the anti-establishment party won just 6% of the vote in parliamentary elections the following year, and Stronach returned to Canada and retired from politics. Like Rudy Giuliani himself, the company he has partnered with for his new coffee venture is in bankruptcy amid its own brewing financial woes. And attorneys for Giuliani's creditors have been examining where the business funds are going, the Daily Beast reported Saturday. Giuliani's business partner Burke Brands of Florida, which is already known for its Don Pablo coffee filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in December 2022 (a year before Giuliani). Then just last month the company sought to modify a court-approved plan to pay back hundreds of thousands of dollars to creditors in two large installments, and instead asked to make monthly payments, the Beast reported. Giuliani drew widespread online ridicule after he appeared in a promotional video last month for his touted new Rudy Coffee even as he struggled to fend off his creditors in bankruptcy court. He declared bankruptcy after he was ordered to pay $148 million to Georgia election workers in a defamation case he lost. He gushed that drinking his coffee would not only deliver a jolt of caffeine (except in the decaf version), but would also be fighting for "truth, justice and American democracy" by apparently putting money in his pocket. Soon after Giuiliani's coffee video was posted, news of the deal reached lawyers for the creditors of the former New York mayor, and they quickly subpoenaed Burke Brands for details of the business arrangement. Under the deal, Giuliani was to receive "80% of the net profit from each sale of Rudy Coffee," with funds not directed to Giuliani's creditors, but to a Missouri-based bank account for Giuliani Communications LLC, according to the Daily Beast. A lawyer for Burke Brands insisted that the fact both his client and Giuliani were in Chapter 11 bankruptcy was "completely coincidental." Regardless of the apparent mess, a spokesman for Rudy Coffee insisted that bags of Guililiani's coffee are already "flying off the shelves." At least 274 Palestinians were reportedly killed during the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas on Saturday, making it among the bloodiest assaults by Israel since the start of the latest Mideast war. An initially lower figure was updated Sunday by the Gaza Health Ministry. Israel acknowledged fewer than 100 Palestinian casualties but denied a Hamas claim that some hostages were killed during the daytime rescue operation and accompanying air assault on Nuseirat in central Gaza, Reuters reported. "It's a blatant lie," Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner told CNN. Another Israeli military spokesperson, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said the raid took place in the heart of a residential neighborhood where the hostages were being held in two separate apartment blocks. EXCLUSIVE FOOTAGE from the helicopter that brought Noa back home from Hamas captivity: pic.twitter.com/PQypAUwRba Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 8, 2024 Israel troops came under heavy fire and responded "from the air and from the street," Hagari told reporters during a briefing. "We know about under 100 [Palestinian] casualties. I don't know how many from them are terrorists," he said. An Israeli special forces commander was killed during the operation, according to a police statement. Palestinian paramedics and Nuseirat residents said the raid left the mangled bodies of men, women and children strewn around a marketplace and a mosque, and unconfirmed video footage posted on social media showed bodies with their entrails spilling onto bloody streets. "It was like a horror movie but this was a real massacre. Israeli drones and warplanes fired all night randomly at people's houses and at people who tried to flee the area," said a paramedic and Nuseirat resident who identified himself as Ziad, 45. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry initially said as many as 100 Palestinians were killed, without saying how many were Hamas fighters. The Hamas government media office later increased the death toll to at least 210, with many more wounded, but that figure couldn't immediately be confirmed, Reuters said. Former Republican National Committee Chair Michael Steele warned that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg needs to "stay his behind home" rather than appear before Congress as GOP politicians probe the multiple-felony hush money conviction of Donald Trump. "All this ... is the biggest punking move of the year," he said on MSNBC's "The Weekend." "If he shows up, those individuals on that committee are there for one purpose, and that is to hang him politically," said Steele, who co-hosts the program. "Sound bites are just the beginning of it." Steele argued that Bragg should not "subject" the case to a "political process" because Congress "has no authority here to call him up and ask him about his prosecution in a state matter." He also warned: "There's an appeals process. This thing isn't over. This is still going. Why would [Bragg] want to legitimize the takedown of his prosecution?" Trump was convicted of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to hide hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election. He's scheduled to return to court for a sentencing hearing on July 11, just days before the Republican National Convention. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan clearly signaled what Bragg will be facing if he appears before the Repubican-controlled House. He called on Bragg to appear before Congress regarding "actions by state and local prosecutors to engage politically motivated prosecutions of federal officials, in particular the recent political prosecution of President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney's Office." Trump and his allies have long baselessly claimed that the trial was "rigged" and orchestrated by President Biden. Trump is the only former president in history charged with or convicted of a felony. The Manhattan district attorney's general counsel, Leslie Dubeck, responded in a letter to Jordan that Bragg would testify. Bragg is "committed to voluntary cooperation" but the date of his appearance would depend on scheduling obligations, including Trump's sentencing hearing and appeals. Former President Donald Trump is set to hold a campaign rally Sunday afternoon in Las Vegas where a new billboard blasts him as a "convicted white-collar crook." The sign, paid for by the Democratic National Committee, also accuses the presumptive Republican challenger to President Joe Biden of having been a "disaster for Nevada's economy." "Now he's back. A convicted white-collar crook. Coddling billionaires, leaving workers behind," the negative campaign ad says, the Democratic National Committee reported on X. A DNC billboard knocking DJT as a convicted white-collar crook will greet him during his first visit as a felon to Sin City, for a Sunday rally. The ad hits on 2 levels, as corrupt & criminal. The party is increasingly combative in attacking his criminal & economic record. pic.twitter.com/CnDOtM7qg0 Gram2 (@b_eichman) June 8, 2024 The billboard, which alludes to the historic New York City trial in which jurors last month found Trump guilty on all 34 felony counts in the Stormy Daniels hush money case, is positioned along a highway a few miles from Trump's outdoor rally site in Sin City, according to Politico. The DNC displayed a similar message last week outside Phoenix, where Trump made his first post-conviction campaign appearance Thursday at an event held by the conservative Turning Point Action group, Axios reported at the time. The temperature that day reached a record 113 degrees and 11 people were treated at a nearby hospital for heat exhaustion after waiting in line for hours outside the Dream City Church. Sunday's temperatures in Las Vegas are expected to top 100 degrees while supporters bake in the sun. Trump's campaign has hired extra medics, brought bottled water and will let attendees carry umbrellas in an attempt to beat the heat, according to the Associated Press. President Joe Biden's national security adviser on Sunday acknowledged that "innocent people" were killed during the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages from Gaza and blamed Hamas for putting them in harm's way. Jake Sullivan told CNN host Dana Bash that American officials weren't "in a position today" to say how many people died during Israel's deadly operation in Nuseirat on Saturday. "The Israeli Defense Forces have put out one number. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put out another number," Sullivan said on CNN's "State of the Union." "But we do know this, Dana. Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number, we don't know, but innocent people were killed. And that is heartbreaking. That is tragic." The Gaza Health Ministry said at least 274 Palestinians, including 64 children, were killed the number generally being reported in the American meida and nearly 700 were wounded during the daylight raid that reportedly left mangled bodies in the streets around a marketplace and a mosque. Israel has said it was aware of fewer than 100 Palestinian casualties, and a military spokesperson on Sunday told ABC's "This Week" that "we don't know how many casualties were caused" by Israeli air strikes and troops on the ground. "I'd be very cautious at accepting any figures and numbers that Hamas are putting out," said retired Lt. Col. Peter Lerner. Lerner said that Israel forces "came under fire from a 360-degree threat" that included rocket-propelled grenades and other explosive devices, mortar rounds and AK-47 fire. "It was and is a war zone," Lerner said, addiing that "the tragedy of civilians being forced up in this is precisely because of how Hamas is battling us." During a remote appearance from France, where the president has been participating in events to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, Sullivan said Hamas was ultimately responsible for the civilian deaths. "The president himself has said in recent days that the Palestinian people are going through sheer hell in this conflict because Hamas is operating in a way that puts them in the crossfire, that holds hostages right in the heart of crowded civilian areas, that puts military emplacements right in the heart of crowded civilian areas," he said. Sullivan also said there was "only one answer to stop that from happening going forward." And that is a "ceasefire and hostage deal that ends the military operations, brings the hostages home, and puts us in a position to give the Palestinians an opportunity for a better future for their people," he said. About 250 people were kidnapped during the surprise attacks Hamas launched against Israel on Oct. 7, killing about 1,200 people and sparking the latest Mideast war. About half of the hostages were released during a weeklong ceasefire in November and about 120 remain in Gaza, with 43 declared dead by Israel and at least 16 bodies recovered by Israeli troops, according to the Associated Press. The death toll in Gaza is more than 36,700, according to the Hamas-run Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish civilians from armed fighters. A 6-year-old girl was killed by a freak accident that sent the metal shaft of a badminton racquet into her head while she vacationed with her family in Maine. Lucy Morgan was watching her siblings play badminton at a lakefront cottage in Limerick on June 1 when her 10-year-old brother's racquet broke during a downward swing, dislodging the aluminum shaft from the wooden handle, according to reports. The shaft flew through the air and pierced Lucy's skull. She was breathing but unresponsive when paramedics rushed her to a local hospital. The girl, from Hardyston, New Jersey, was then flown by helicopter to the Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she underwent emergency surgery to relieve pressure on her brain. Her pastor father, Jesse Morgan, said in blog post on his New Creation Living website that she went into cardiac arrest during the operation and was left with "no brain function" and given a "very slim chance" of recovering. Lucy died early Wednesday after four days on life support, with her father saying on Facebook that she "now sees Jesus face to face." Jesse Morgan also posted a photo of himself, Lucy's mom, Bethany Morgan, and Lucy's three siblings around her bed as they said their "goodbyes" earlier in the day. The Maine State Police called her death "such a sad, tragic situation," adding: "Our hearts break for the family," the nj.com website reported Friday. Lucy's funeral is scheduled for June 15 and will be livestreamed on the website of the Green Pond Bible Chapel in Newfoundland, New Jersey, where her dad is the pastor. An online GoFundMe appeal for donations to help her family with expenses had raised more than $124,000 as of Monday morning. North Adams Schools Preparing for Big Move, Greylock Closure NORTH ADAMS, Mass. The North Adams Public Schools is already preparing for its big move this summer. The closure of Greylock School at the end of the school year and the reconfiguring of grades between Brayton and Colegrove Park means relocating classrooms, teachers and students. Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the School Committee on Tuesday that the goal is to have everything moved by Aug. 15; all packing will be completed by June 14. "We expect that we will be vacating all classrooms and moving packing materials to staging areas located at each building," she said. Staff will be working around the summer program being held at Greylock so Brayton and Colegrove Park elementeries will be prepared for return to school. "We'll worry about decommissioning Greylock as we move into the fall." The committee authorized the use of up to $75,000 from the School Choice account to support the summer moving expenses. Committee member Richard Alcombright asked if that was going to be enough. Business Administrator Nancy Rauscher said the quotes and estimates they had received were about $75,000, "so we believe that will be more than enough." Special accounts will be set up relative to the move and then charge against them. "We have rented a U-Haul truck to help with supporting the various moves," Malkas said. "We also have some built-in salaries, seasonal salaries, with respect to custodians, facilities for technology, to again help us facilitate moving." There are also costs related to taking down and reinstalling smart boards from Greylock and Rauscher said the estimate also includes funds for principals to bring in specific staff, such as for help with libraries. To date, staff at all three schools have been working with facilities to prepare floor plans and room assignments. Each classroom being moves has 15 boxes and packing materials and teachers are being given time to pack what they need. The district is also hiring five custodial staff and a technician to help with information technology setups. Rauscher said they have the capacity to take on more help if needed. Students in prekindergarten through Grade 2 will move to Brayton; all those in Grades 3-6 will shift to Colegrove Park. "On Aug. 23 we have finalize our preparations for school opening because we will be opening on the 26th with district convocation," Malkas said. "Then in September or October we will be working through the process of decommissioning Greylock Elementary School. ... "Then the committee will have to meet and look at what needs to happen in terms of identifying the need for any supplies or equipment that might be considered surplus." Once declared surplus, the committee can decide how it wants to sell or dispose of the materials. Malkas said this needs to happen by early October because the school will not be winterized. Teachers are being told to take July off and relax because they won't be able to get into either Colgrove or Brayton, the superintendent said. "Really there's so many people involved in making this happen," she said. "Until I know that, you know, facilities is set, technology is set, the services are set ... then we'll say yes, teachers can start coming into the building and getting ready." July will also be time for the summer school program, being held at Greylock, Drury High School and Many Forks Farm in Clarksburg. Coordinator Nancy Pecor, who also manages the Adult Basic Education, gave the School Committee the rundown on some 375 hours of programming planned during the month. The annual 21st Century Summer Program runs four weeks in July four hours per day for Kindercamp and seven for Summer Science Camp. Other programming includes the Science Explorers, Imagination Station and Fitness Power with Detective Stephanie Mirante. Many Forks will host part of four-week programs for Grades 5-9 learning about crops, animals, construction and cooking. This is a collaboration between the schools, the farm and Greenagers. Drury will have two sessions of about 60 students with activities such as music, guitar, role playing, animation and Magic the Gathering. Ten high school interns will also be working with the lower grades during the summer program. Two one-week leadership camps for Grades 5-8 will be held at Windsor Lake in July and August, focusing on team building and first-responders skills and being capped off with a day at Ramblewild. Sunshine Camp will also return to Windsor Lake as well as other special education programs. The School Committee will not meet again until Aug. 27. Egremont Elementary School students brought "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" to the stage. School committee members were invited to the event. Hunter said during the performance that this event could not have been done without the support of the district and school administration and staff. PreviousNext Egremont Elementary School Pre-K Students Perform 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar' Hunter has been teaching the Reader's Theater curriculum to her students since she was a first-grade teacher. PITTSFIELD, Mass. Egremont Elementary School students in Elaine Hunter's prekindergarten inclusive classroom made their stage debut on Tuesday with a performance of Eric Carle's "The Very Hungry Caterpillar." The district administration, school committee members, and students' families gathered around the cafeteria's stage to watch as students performed the transformation of a very hungry caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly. Hunter has been teaching the Reader's Theater curriculum to her students since she was a first-grade teacher at Egremont Elementary School in 2017, and when Hunter decided to teach in the pre-k inclusive classroom this year, she brought this style of curriculum with her. Hunter said her class is made up of both "typical" and special needs students. However, the difference between teaching these students is similar. She said teaching in an inclusive classroom is about showing up and being mindful of everyone's individual and unique strengths and weaknesses. This requires writing instructional goals for each one of the students, she said "I think, what I love the most about our Reader's Theater is you will be unable to tell who is a typical student and who has special needs because they all show up on stage," Hunter said. Some students were nonverbal before Hunter's class, but during the performance, they raised their voices proudly. "There are so many incredible reasons why this [event] is so important. It helps build fluency with repeated readings of text in a safe way to involve reluctant readers and speakers, allows children the luxury of lingering over a story, acting it out many times to understand all its nuances, and allows children to demonstrate comprehension," Hunter said. All of these are essential components for success in reading, she said. "In pre-k, it has allowed the children opportunities to collaborate, practice active listening skills, encourage academic curiosity, and give them the confidence to stand before an audience," Hunter said. "In alignment with our district-mandated curriculum, it provides a meaningful way for us as educators to bring to life all the skills and concepts we teach throughout the year." When Hunter taught the Reader's Theater curriculum to her first graders, she used works by American illustrator and writer Jan Brett. This year, she wanted to find an author that would resonate with prekindergarten students and felt American author and designer Eric Carle was a good fit. Assistant Superintendent Marisa Mendonsa said the event gives the students a sense of pride and allows their families to see them perform. "I think it's a confidence booster and really helps them see themselves as kindergarten students next year," Mendonsa said. Hunter invited school committee members to the performance so that they could see what teachers do and the importance and impact of their work, especially considering the recent cuts to the school budget. School committee members were impressed with the program. Vice Chairman Daniel Elias said the "impact of the event is profound" knowing that many of the students who were nonverbal or now performing on stage in front of a good-sized crowd. Chairman William Cameron agreed. "This event clearly instilled a great deal of confidence in these kid that they can stand up and be heard for who they are. I mean it was very impressive," Cameron said. Hunter said she wanted to show the school committee what teachers do and some of the collaborative projects they implement to better their students' education. She said this is something she wants the committee to consider when they make decisions about cutting positions. Hunter said during the performance that this event could not have been done without the support of the district and school administration and staff. "I am grateful that I work in a place where my crazy ideas are valued and cherished and where my administrators are present," Hunter said. Superintendent Joseph Curtis said the performance and video reminded everyone of the true purpose of the districtthat "we're here to support our students, to educate them, to involve their families." "I think, particularly during complex times, like we are currently in relation to budget and all that we face as an educational institution today reminds us that we're here to support our students, to educate them, to involve their families, as they were all here today to see their children. It just reminds us of our true mission, vision, and core values," he added. School Committee member Sarah Hathaway said Pittsfield Public Schools Administration Center staff have worked "diligently and endlessly to choose the right curriculum." She added that the district has play-based curriculum in its preschools and data shows that the children who go through the Pittsfield Pre-K program are much better prepared for kindergarten than children who have not gone through the play-based curriculum. "So, we are very excited that we will be expanding our Pre-K program next year and over the next few years, and the governor has been very supportive with funding to help us offer more children with this experience," she said. Miao ethnic designer Axin (L) and his mother show Miao embroidery at "Chinese Design: Harmony in Diversity" during the 10th London Craft Week in London, Britain, May 13, 2024. (Xinhua/Li Ying) In May, Axin and his mother embarked on a journey spanning nearly 9,000 kilometers from their home in Guizhou Province, the hinterland of southwest China, to London. With them, they took a selection of intricate and captivating embroidery works, a heritage art of the Miao ethnic people. The craftsmanship of Miao embroidery shown by the mother-son duo, donned in the traditional dress of the Miao, enthralled visitors at the 10th London Craft Week. Axin, a designer who infuses Miao elements into his fashion line, and his mother, a master embroiderer with five decades of needlework dedication, embody a broader narrative: an age-old craft from China's remote mountains gaining modern appeal, even international acclaim, with innovative minds. The Miao ethnic people have long expressed their rich cultural heritage through needle and thread, turning garments into "books on the body." This form of art was recognized in 2006 with its inclusion on China's inaugural national list of intangible cultural heritage. For years, Guizhou, home to a significant Miao population, has prioritized preserving this heritage art by promoting it as an industry. Through efforts ranging from support for entrepreneurship and training and management of embroiderers to formulating product standards and copyright protection rules, authorities at all levels encouraged skilled artisans to turn their expertise into livelihoods. Among them is Yang Wenli from Xinren Miao Township, Bijie City. "For us Miao girls, knowing how to embroider is a basic life skill passed down through generations," said the young woman in her late twenties, reminiscing about her childhood clothes, handcrafted by her mother and adorned with exquisite embroidery. Embracing this tradition, Yang returned to her home village in 2017 after years working in coastal cities. With the backing of the local government, she then established a workshop that produces embroidered Miao attire, and introduced embroidery machines to villagers to enhance efficiency. When Yang sought to expand her business in 2021, she established a team to create original designs to meet the demands of a diverse market, offering everything from custom handmade pieces to machine-produced souvenirs like cushions, shirts, and bags. She also utilized live-streaming to explore China's burgeoning online market. What began as a single second-hand embroidery machine in Yang's home has now flourished into a 1,600-square-meter workshop employing over 20 local embroiderers. In 2023 alone, sales of its embroidered products exceeded 2.2 million yuan (about 310,000 U.S. dollars). In Guizhou, there are around 300 enterprises engaged in Miao embroidery-related businesses like Yang's company. "I hope one day our Miao embroidery will be in the spotlight of Paris Fashion Week," Yang said, an ambition shared by Axin and other young enthusiasts dedicated to injecting fresh vitality into the ancient cultural heritage. Axin has already showcased his line of garments featuring Miao embroidery on runways abroad, including in Italy and Russia. Their dream may not be far off, as Guizhou has worked to amplify the popularity and influence of Miao embroidery through the digital preservation and promotion of this heritage art form. A database providing domestic and global designers access to this rich cultural resource has been established, which contains vector graphics of around 20,000 Miao embroidery motifs, with over 12,000 registered for copyright. "Through copyright registration, we create an 'identity card' for each traditional Miao embroidery pattern, making it a purchasable and tradable virtual product," explained Han Xiaoyang from Colorful Guizhou Cultural Industry Investment Group Co., Ltd., the state-owned enterprise responsible for the project. These efforts have unleashed vast commercial potential. The company has partnered with international fashion brands, integrating 1,500 Miao embroidery patterns into over 150 products sold in 15 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, and Brazil. "By enhancing the commercial appeal of Miao embroidery and bridging the gap between international fashion and traditional craftsmanship, we are elevating Miao embroidery to the global stage, infusing this ancient craft with a new brilliance for the modern era," said Peng Yang, head of the Miao embroidery industry in Guizhou. With almost 100 million devices sold since its introduction in 2019, OPPOs Reno Series continues to help Filipinos capture professional-level images with relative ease. Renowned as the brands Portrait Expert for its astounding camera capabilities, the Reno Series evolves with the OPPO Reno11 5G, taking smartphone portrait photography to a new level. The OPPO Reno11 5G, just like its predecessors, is equally exceptional as it is designed to elevate smartphone photography to new heights with its Ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System featuring a 32MP Portrait Camera, which enables users to capture distant subjects with remarkable clarity, unparalleled depth, and detail. Uncovering the 32MP Telephoto Lens The OPPO Reno11 5G's telephoto lens is powered by the Sony IMX709 sensor, praised for its ability to capture intricate details with precision. With a 47mm equivalent optical focal length, this lens provides a natural perspective, with focus on a single subject just like a professional portrait. The telephoto lens also boasts a 1/2.74 sensor size and an f/2.0 aperture, ensuring excellent performance in different lighting conditions. Snapping photos with enhanced photosensitivity and reduced noise One of the remarkable advancements in the OPPO Reno11 5Gs telephoto lens is the implementation of the RGBW pixel arrangement. This technology enhances photosensitivity by 60% and reduces noise by 35% compared to traditional sensors. Whether you're shooting in low light or bright conditions, the telephoto lens ensures your photos are vibrant, clear, and full of detail. Zooming in on great details The OPPO Reno11 5G's telephoto lens is not just about portraits; it also excels in zoom performance. With advanced in-sensor zoom technology, users can achieve high-quality shots at up to 5x zoom. The 2x optical zoom allows for close-ups without loss of quality, making it perfect for capturing intricate details from a distance. Empowering pro-level photography experience OPPO has always been at the forefront of mobile photography innovation, and the OPPO Reno11 5G is no exception. The Ultra-Clear Portrait Camera System, which includes the telephoto lens, is designed to offer a pro-level photography experience. The Portrait Expert Engine ensures natural skin tones, accurate subject recognition, and beautiful background blur, mimicking the effects of professional DSLR cameras. Complementing the superb camera features of OPPO Reno11 5Gs telephoto is OPPOs AI Eraser tool. Removing unwanted objects from your photos has never been this easy and precise, all you have to do is encircle the objects you want to erase from the photo and click and it will be gone as if it never existed. The OPPO Reno11 5G's telephoto lens is designed to transform your photography experience, making it easier than ever to capture professional-quality images with your smartphone. The OPPO Reno11 F 5G is available for PHP 24,999 at all authorized OPPO retail stores nationwide and on OPPO's official Shopee, Lazada, and TikTok Shop channels. Wait, theres more! Loyal OPPO users can still enjoy the last days of the summer season as OPPO is extending its MyOPPO Summer promo until June 16! Its your last hurrah to play the Raining Rewards game on the app and grab exciting vouchers from partner brands such as Macao Imperial Tea, Llao Llao, McDonalds, Dominos, and Classic Savory. Youll also have more time to share your summer memories with your OPPO device and win the ultimate Vacation Starter Pack which includes two (2) Php 10,000 shopping spree from CUL-DE-SAC at Level 2 of The Podium Mall, two (2) PHP 2,000 Klook eGift Certificates, and two (2) BASH Travel Organizers. Winners will be announced on the MyOPPO App. For more information on the OPPO Reno11 Series 5G and the MyOPPO App user benefits, visit OPPO Philippines official website at www.oppo.com.ph and Facebook page. PLDT Enterprise, the corporate business arm of PLDT, has once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting government operations by enhancing internet services across COMELEC field offices in Region 6. This initiative is part of a broader collaboration aimed at ensuring robust and reliable connectivity to facilitate free, orderly, and credible elections in the provinces of Aklan, Antique, Capiz, Guimaras, Iloilo, and Negros Occidental. Innovating Elections Through Internet Connectivity: From left to right: Annabelle D. Tolentino, Relationship Manager at PLDT Enterprise; Kent De La Calzada, Corporate Relationship Management Head for Visayas at PLDT Enterprise; Atty. Dennis L. Ausan, Regional Election Director of COMELEC Region 6; and Atty. Tomas S. Valera, Assistant Election Director of COMELEC Region 6, formalize the partnership that enhances connectivity across electoral offices, ensuring robust and reliable communication for upcoming elections. In 2023, PLDT Enterprise responded to a crucial need within COMELEC Region 6, which faced challenges in maintaining effective communication and timely reporting across its field offices due to inadequate internet resources. By deploying Enterprise Broadband Static from PLDT Enterprise, these offices are now equipped to handle their daily operations more efficiently, enhancing the overall electoral process. Ensuring seamless and secure communication within COMELEC's regional operations is imperative, especially right before, during, and after the election period, said Ma. Hazel D. Amoyan, Business Head at PLDT Enterprise. Our partnership with COMELEC Region 6 is a reflection of PLDT Enterprises dedication to supporting key government functions, ensuring that every phase of the election process is underpinned by reliable and high-speed connectivity. PLDTs fiber optic infrastructure supports a multitude of tasks essential to COMELEC, including updating voter databases, internal communications, and dissemination of election-related information. This enhanced connectivity is pivotal for COMELEC Region 6, allowing them to manage data effectively and collaborate seamlessly across various municipalities. Atty. Dennis Ausan, Regional Election Director of COMELEC Region 6, remarked, The support from PLDT Enterprise has been instrumental in transforming the way our offices operate. High-speed internet is no longer a luxury but a necessity for conducting transparent and efficient elections. Through this partnership, our field offices are better equipped than ever to uphold the integrity of the electoral process. As digital transformation continues to be a priority for organizations across the Philippines, PLDT Enterprise remains at the forefront, driving innovation and reliability in digital solutions. This commitment is in line with the Philippine governments digitalization thrust and supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal No. 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure. For businesses and government agencies looking to elevate their operations through enhanced digital solutions, PLDT Enterprise offers a range of digital solutions designed to optimize efficiency, continuity, and connectivity. To learn more about these solutions, visit pldtenterprise.com. Workers at Schoellkopf Health Center, a nursing home attached to Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, have reached a tentative agreement on a one-year contract, a spokeswoman for 1199SEIU announced. The union, representing more than 70 licensed practical nurses, certified nurse assistants, unit clerks and laundry aides, said the tentative pact includes an average wage increase of 11%, retroactive to May 1. Some workers will receive up to a 34% pay hike. A vote by workers to approve the contract will be held soon, the union said. Other terms of the tentative agreement included Juneteenth and Labor Day as paid holidays, a new 10-step wage scale, and increases to pension contributions, shift differentials and dental and optical coverage, the union said. We are thrilled to have reached this tentative agreement," Grace Bogdanove, the union's vice president for Western New York nursing homes, said in the announcement. Management came to the table earnestly and collaboratively to ensure that recruitment and retention were a collective priority." Bogdanove contrasted the Schoellkopf negotiations with those at Absolut Care, which the union has accused of bargaining in bad faith. The union has called for a strike to begin Thursday morning at four Absolut nursing homes in Western New York. Dale Anderson UnaCash, an in-app and in-store financial solutions provider, is thrilled to announce a chance to win a brand new 13-inch Apple Macbook Air with its Pay It to Win It raffle promo! The promo offer is valid at all branches nationwide that are partnered with UnaCash from June 7 to August 7, 2024. With a minimum in-store purchase of 10,000 or more using the UnaCash app, customers have the opportunity to explore a wide array of mobile phones and accessories at all 29 partner merchants across the Philippines. Each purchase from any of the UnaCash partner stores unlocks one raffle entry for a chance to win a brand new 13-inch Apple MacBook Air with M3 chip! The exciting part is that with a timely first loan repayment within the promo period, customers are entitled to receive an additional raffle entry, maximizing the chances of winning! Each customer has a maximum number of two entries for the duration of the promo period. The list of participating merchants are as follows: MemoXpress, Save N Earn Wireless, ComWorks, Homeworks, Faith Glorious Fit, Laptop Factory, Siena Mobile, Practical Home, Netgear Greenhills, Alturas Group of Companies, Chellyrobert, KUM Home Center, Jhunpyo Appliances Trading, Jackman Emporium, Chris Naval Motozone, RS PC Trading, Nemie Furniture, Moto Project, Joneco Tech Marketing, WarehouseDad, TechieYard, Affordahome, MakoTek, Boss Deals, East Valley PC, KN Rider Trading, New Affordables, Ark Homes 360 and Mart One Department Store. The strengthened collaboration of UnaCash with its partner merchants adds an extra dose of excitement for every Filipino, said Sean Plantado, the channel manager of UnaCash. This marks a significant occasion for customers who support our point-of-sale loans, and to extend our gratitude to them, UnaCash would like to give back its appreciation by providing similar opportunities in the future. UnaCash reaffirms its commitment to deliver reliable point-of-sale loans to all Filipinos, which is accompanied by transparent and seamless procedures at every stage of the raffle process. Eligible entries will receive a verification message via registered email or mobile number. The grand draw will take place on August 19, 2024 at 10:00AM, with a DTI representative joining the festivities through Zoom. On August 20, 2024, the winner will be revealed through the official UnaCash Facebook page. A notification will be sent via the lucky winners registered mobile number. Once the winner presents the required verification documents, they will be invited to share the excitement through the official social media channels of UnaCash. Download UnaCash today through this link: https://unacashbnpl.onelink.me/nlxR/or0yqpr8 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy South Korea says it will restart anti-North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas in response to continuing North Korean campaigns to drop trash on the South with balloons. Following a national security meeting, the South Korean presidential office said the loudspeakers will be installed and begin broadcasts in border areas on Sunday. The move is certain to anger North Korea and potentially prompt it to take its own retaliatory military steps. North Korea over the weekend flew hundreds of trash-carrying balloons to South Korea again in its third such campaign since late May, the Souths military said, just days after South Korean activists floated their own balloons to scatter propaganda leaflets in the North. Animosities between the two Koreas have risen recently because North Korea launched hundreds of balloons carrying manure and trash toward South Korea in protest of previous South Korean civilian leafletting campaigns. In response, South Korea suspended a tension-easing agreement with North Korea to restore front-line military activities. Saturdays balloon launches by North Korea were the third of their kind since 28 May. It wasnt immediately known if any of of the North Korean balloons had landed on South Korean territory across the rivals tense border. open image in gallery This photo provided by South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff and released by South Korea Defense Ministry shows the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea near the police tape, in Seoul, South Korea, 9 June 2024 South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said that North Korean balloons likely carrying trash were moving in an eastward direction but they could eventually fly toward the south because the wind direction was forecast to change later. The Joint Chiefs of Staff advised the public to beware of falling objects and not to touch balloons found on the ground but report them to police or military authorities. After the Norths two rounds of balloon activities, South Korean authorities discovered about 1,000 balloons which were tied to vinyl bags containing manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste batteries and waste papers. Some were popped and scattered on roads, residential areas and schools. No highly dangerous materials were found and no major damage has been reported. open image in gallery South Korean soldier wearing protective gears checks the trash from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea, on 2 June 2024 ( Yonhap ) The Norths vice defense minister, Kim Kang-il, later said his country would stop the balloon campaign but threatened to resume it if South Korean activists sent leaflets again. In defiance of the warning, a South Korean civilian group led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it launched 10 balloons from a border town on Thursday carrying 200,000 anti-North Korean leaflets, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean dramas, and $1 bills. South Korean media reported another activist group also flew balloons with 200,000 propaganda leaflets toward North Korea on Friday. South Korean officials called the North Korean trash balloon launches and other recent provocations as absurd, irrational and vowed strong retaliation. South Koreas suspension of the 2018 military agreement with North Korea would allow it to restart live-fire military drills and anti-Pyongyang propaganda broadcasts at border areas, actions that are certain to anger North Korea and prompt it to take its own retaliatory military steps. North Korea is extremely sensitive to South Korean civilian leafletting campaigns and front-line propaganda broadcasts as it forbids access to foreign news for most of its 26 million people. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un is a third generation of his family to rule North Korea with an iron fist since 1948. open image in gallery South Korean soldiers dismantle loudspeakers set up for propaganda broadcasts near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, on 1 May 2018 Experts say North Koreas balloon campaign is also meant to cause a divide in South Korea over its conservative governments tough approach on North Korea. Liberal lawmakers, some civic groups and front-line residents in South Korea have called on the government to urge leafleting activists to stop flying balloons to avoid unnecessary clashes with North Korea. But government officials havent made such an appeal in line with last years constitutional court ruling that struck down a law crime. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Narendra Modi took the oath of office on Sunday to become Indias prime minister for a third consecutive term, extending his leadership for the next five years albeit with a diminished grip on power after an electoral setback. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of Mr Modi, followed by the swearing-in of top federal ministers at the presidential palace in the capital Delhi. Thousands of guests, including foreign heads of countries from seven of Indias neighbourhoods and top Bollywood celebrities, marked their presence at the ceremony in Delhi. open image in gallery Indian PM Modi takes oath alongside other cabinet ministers on Sunday ( Reuters ) Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu, Sri Lankas Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina were among the leaders who took the front seats after landing in Delhi on Sunday. Nepals prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bhutans leader Tshering Tobgay and prime minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, were also welcomed in Delhi. Mr Modis swearing-in ceremony marks the beginning of his third five-year term, making him the second prime minister in India after Jawaharlal Nehru to lead the country for three consecutive terms. Honoured to serve Bharat, Mr Modi posted on X/Twitter, minutes before he was sworn in, referring to Indias name in Indian languages. His third term holds significance as it is the first one in which he is relying on a fragile coalition with partners who are not averse to switching support after Mr Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win a majority in an electoral setback. The BJP won only 240 seats, less than 272 seats required by any political party to form a government, making Mr Modi dependent on the BJP-led alliance National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that won the most number of seats. The NDA coalition got 293 seats, some 61 ahead of the opposition INDIA alliance led by the Congress party. Mr Modi, who had made the boisterous claim of his party winning 400 seats in a sweeping victory, was forced to cut rushed deals with regional allies who gained prominence as kingmakers for giving support to the party. A new cabinet has also been sworn in and includes many new faces while retaining some of the major figures from his previous cabinet in the heavyweight portfolios. Mr Modi was followed by senior ministers in the previous government: Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Piyush Goyal, among others. Their portfolios are expected to be announced after the swearing-in. The decision on the new cabinet came after an 11-hour-long meeting at the prime ministers residence on Saturday in the presence of strategist Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda. open image in gallery Modi (C) arrives to pay homage at the National War Memorial before his oath-taking ceremony for a third term in New Delhi ( Getty ) Ahead of the highly anticipated swearing-in ceremony, Mr Modi visited and paid homage to freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat in Delhi. He paid tribute to former BJP prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and visited another BJP stalwart, LK Advani, at his residence. In the afternoon, Mr Modi also invited members of parliament who are part of the new cabinet, dubbed as Modi 3.0 in Indian media. He hosted a high tea at his residence and interacted with the ministers. The surprising election results upended widespread expectations before the vote. The populist leader has been accused by critics of leading the country with politics of polarisation and using all the power levers, including state agencies, at his disposal to target his critics. Analysts have said it is uncharted territory for Mr Modi who has always led governments with a majority even during his time as Gujarat chief minister while singularly enjoying the spotlight and relevance. The politics of coalition does not fit in well with Modis brand of assertive and go-it-alone politics, said Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute. open image in gallery Modi with the two regional leaders who have been called kingmakers for the new government ( AP ) These results show that the Modi wave has receded, revealing a level of electoral vulnerability that many could not have foreseen, said Mr Kugelman. Two regional stalwarts N Chandrababu Naidu of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal (United)s emerged as kingmakers after they were courted by the BJP to form the government. These leaders have already put forth demands, including changes in contentious laws, and more funds for their states and federal cabinet positions during negotiations on forming a new coalition government. While Mr Modi has embarked on the third term with the new government it is to be seen how the leader will navigate the pulls and pressures of a coalition government. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A woman who went missing in Indonesia was found dead inside the belly of a 20ft python. Farida, 45, a mother of four, went missing on Thursday night while she was walking through woodlands to sell food at a market in central Indonesias Sulawesi province. Her husband, Noni, 55, became suspicious after finding his wifes belongings in the forest and spotting a 20ft-long python with a ballooned up belly. The man, identified along with his wife in local media only by one name, raised an alarm among the locals. It is believed that the python bit her on her leg and coiled around her body to suffocate her before swallowing her whole. The villagers caught the python and sliced open its belly and found the woman dead inside. Suardi Rosi, head of the village of Kalempang where the family lived, said the husband looked for his wife in the forest area and found her belongings... which made him suspicious. The villagers then searched the area. They soon spotted a python with a large belly," Mr Rosi said. Several other villages then helped him to catch the python. The body of his wife was found in the stomach of a snake. She was taken away to his house before being buried, he was quoted as saying by the Daily Mail. Her husband lamented her death and said he will be forever sorry that I let my wife go out alone. Many people gathered to mourn her death after her body was brought back to the village. The incidents of humans being killed by pythons are rare but not unusual in Indonesia where several people have died in similar incidents. Last year, a farmer in Southeast Sulawesis Tinanggea district was strangled by a python. Resident killed the 8m-long python as it tried to swallow him. In 2022, a woman in Jambi province was swallowed whole by a python. Jahrah, 54, was collecting rubber from a plantation when she went missing. Locals found a swollen snake two days later and found her body. In 2018, a mother of two was eaten alive by a python. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Lando Norris felt he should have won the Canadian Grand Prix and dismissed suggestions he was unlucky with the timing of a safety car. The McLaren F1 driver started third in wet conditions on Montreals Ile Notre-Dame but came alive as the track began to dry, surging past eventual winner and world champion Max Verstappen and pole-sitter George Russell to take the lead. He was almost three seconds a lap quicker than those behind, opening up a sizeable lead when Williams Logan Sargeant hit the barriers and brought out a safety car. Verstappen and Russell pitted a lap earlier than Norris and jumped ahead of the 24-year-old. Norris ultimately recovered to finish second, ahead of Russell, in a thrilling race but disagreed with the suggestion he was the victim of bad luck as had been the case for Verstappen when the British driver won in Miami. We should have won the race today and we didnt so that is frustrating. We had the pace today, Norris said. We should have won today, simple as that. We didnt do a good enough job as a team to box when we should have done and not get stuck behind the safety car. I dont think it was bad luck like it was (for Max in Miami). This was just making a wrong call. That is on me and the team and it is something we will discuss after. We should have won today and we are at a level now where we are not satisfied with second. We want to win. It was not the timing of the safety car. I had enough time to box and we didnt box so that is just something we didnt do a good enough job with. open image in gallery Lando Norris finished second at the Canadian Grand Prix ( Getty Images ) Remarkably McLaren scored points in Canada for the first time since 2014 and are again contending for grand prix wins a year on from a miserable race here before a big upgrade which turned around their fortunes. Norris is happy with the performance of the team ahead of the next race in Barcelona and is excited by the battle out front, especially with a resurgent Mercedes appearing to have joined the scrap with the leading three teams. Lewis Hamilton finished fourth in Montreal, a place behind Mercedes team-mate Russell and one ahead of McLarens Oscar Piastri. I look forward to every track now because every place we are performing well. We will see where Mercedes are because they have clearly improved, Norris added. This weekend they have been quickest all weekend. If they are quick the next few races as well and join the fight with Red Bull, Ferrari and us it will make it even more exciting. Eight cars fighting up there is exciting for us and everyone watching. PA Sign up to our free Living Well email for advice on living a happier, healthier and longer life Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter Live your life healthier and happier with our free weekly Living Well newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Used in tangy salad dressings, meat marinades, chutneys, and rich pickles, apple cider vinegar adds necessary flavor to saucy toppings. But more than that, the potent liquid is a go-to wellness remedy for many, being used to aid digestion and lower cholesterol levels. Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is comprised of crushed apple juice thats been fermented in yeast, converting the sugars to ethanol. First, the apples are crushed and yeast is added to speed up the fermentation process, so the sugar converts into alcohol after a few weeks, WebMD explains. Then, natural bacteria break the alcohol down into acetic acid, which gives vinegar its tangy taste and odor. There are two kinds of ACV: filtered or unfiltered. Filtered ACV is clear and pasteurized, while unfiltered ACV has a thick fog of sediment. According to WebMD, most store-bought ACV is filtered. Not all ACV is offered in liquid form powders, tablets, gummies, and pills are also available for purchase. Despite the overwhelming number of users who swear by ACV effects for their overall health, is the substance beneficial? Is ACV good for you? Based on the research findings of health professionals, Healthline confirmed ACV is healthy for consumption. Specifically, the acetic acid in it. ACV contains five percent acetic acid, acting as vinegars primary active compound. Organic, unfiltered apple cider vinegar also contains a substance called mother, which consists of strands of proteins, enzymes, and friendly bacteria that give the product a murky appearance, Healthline stated, adding that mother is often considered the most nutritious part of ACV. Though most ACV bottles arent packed with minerals and vitamins, a few brands add amino acids and antioxidants. Amino acids can help with muscle recovery, immune system, muscle gain, endurance, skin, and fatigue. Antioxidants have been proven to help reduce the risk of diseases like heart disease and cancer. Aside from acetic acid, ACVs vinegar contents can help kill harmful bacteria and pathogens. Additionally, vinegar is a preservative, which means it can inhibit E Coli growth, so food doesnt spoil quickly. To date, one of the most convincing applications of vinegar is helping treat type 2 diabetes, Healthline states. To support this claim, the outlet cited a 2019 clinical study and a 2021 review of clinical trials that found vinegar consumption may have beneficial effects on the glycemic index and oxidative stress in individuals with diabetes and dyslipidemia and ACV consumption may benefit glycemic status in adults. Still, the National Centers for Complementary and Integrative Health urges individuals to consult their doctors about replacing medical treatments with this natural remedy, especially if theyre already taking medication thats meant to lower their blood sugar levels, as this could lead to hypoglycemia. open image in gallery Apple cider vinegar is offered in five different forms: liquid, powder, tablet, gummy, and pill ( Getty Images ) ACV also has weight loss benefits, increasing feelings of being full, according to Healthline, due to the vinegar concentration. Meanwhile, it can also boost skin health, according to Healthline. While the skin is slightly naturally acidic, a lot of people experience dryness and eczema, lowering the natural acidity. Using diluted topical apple cider vinegar topically may help rebalance the skins natural pH, improving the protective skin barrier, Healthline noted. However, the outlet also warned that ACV could irritate the skin depending on an individuals skin type. Healthline listed the standard dosage of ACV as one to two teaspoons or one to two tablespoons each day. Most people prefer to mix the liquid into a glass of water rather than taking a straight shot. Its best to start with small doses and avoid taking large amounts. Too much vinegar can cause harmful side effects, including tooth enamel erosion and potential drug interactions, the site stated. Health experts on TikTok, like @doctorsood, have taken to the app, claiming ACV can increase blood glucose levels and slow the breakdown of carbohydrates into sugar, which is beneficial for anyone who is pre-diabetic or has diabetes. More than that, user Doctor Sood argued ACV can augment weight loss, and one should consume a diluted tablespoon 20 to 30 minutes before a meal. Additionally, TikTok dermatologist Dr Neera told her followers that ACV can help with smelly feet, toenail fungus, and rough, dry heels. Apple cider vinegar contains malic acid, which can help exfoliate and heal rough, cracked feet and also has antibacterial and antifungal properties to help get rid of smelly feet odor, toenail fungus and athletes foot, she said in a May 20 post. However, Edwin McDonald IV, an assistant professor of medicine at the University of Chicago, clarified that theres not enough research done to confirm ACVs effect on high blood sugar or cancer. Overall, ACV is safe, Professor McDonald said. Like any supplement, ACV wont replace a healthy lifestyle. It may have some benefits to our bodies, but overall, we need more studies to truly understand the health benefits and side effects associated with ACV. Possible indigestion, lower potassium, and skin and throat burns may occur upon consumption. Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more Stay ahead of the curve with our weekly guide to the latest trends, fashion, relationships and more SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Charles Spencer, the younger brother of the late Princess Diana, is divorcing his wife Karen Gordon after 13 years of marriage. The 9th Earl Spencer announced his split from the Countess of Spencer to the Mail on Sunday on June 8. According to the outlet, their relationship became strained by the writing of his memoir, in which he revealed he was physically and sexually abused as a student at an elite boarding school. It is immensely sad, Spencer told the Mail on Sunday. I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future. The couple reportedly announced their divorce to staff at Althorp House, the Spencer family estate and Princess Dianas childhood home in Northamptonshire, England, in March. Spencer married Gordon, a Canadian philanthropist, in June 2011 after meeting on a blind date at a Los Angeles restaurant the previous year. They were married on the grounds of Althorp House, where Princess Diana is buried. Gordon is the founder of Whole Child International, a US-based non-governmental organization that works to improve the quality of care for vulnerable children. She was previously married to Mark Gordon a Hollywood producer whose films and TV credits include Saving Private Ryan, Speed, Greys Anatomy, and Criminal Minds from 1997 to 2003. Gorden shares two daughters with her first husband, as well as 12-year-old daughter Charlotte Diana with Spencer. Meanwhile, Spencer has four children with his first wife, Victoria Lockwood, and two children with his second wife, Caroline Freud. open image in gallery Earl Charles Spencer and wife Karen Spencer attend royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St George's Chapel in Windsor, UK, on May 19, 2018 ( AFP via Getty Images ) The Mail on Sunday reported that the 60-year-old royal has recently become close to Norwegian archaeologist Cat Jarman. Along with Reverend Richard Coles, Jarman and Spencer co-host the history podcast, The Rabbit Hole Detectives. Friends told the outlet that the pair look very happy together but it is early days. In his memoir released in March, titled A Very Private School, Spencer opened up about the physical and sexual abuse he was subjected to in the 1970s. As a boy at Maidwell Hall one of Britains top independent schools for children aged four to 13 Spencer was allegedly abused by a female assistant matron, an experience he recalled as incredibly traumatizing. Spencer, who joined the school when he was eight, said he was inflicted with beatings to the point of drawing blood and witnessed punishments including cutting buttocks [of young children] several times with a cane and carrying on. Other former students he interviewed revealed that they had been raped multiple times at the school, while some had lost their siblings to self-neglect. One terminally ill man stipulated a refusal to see his parents in his living will, as he could not forgive them for his experience. It killed a part of me; it killed the gentler part of me. For us to survive in that environment, a small but important part of us had to die. I think that is the essence of it, Spencer told The Times in March. Sensitivity, empathy, those sort of things must suffer, because otherwise its too raw. You can choose to make the most of it, which I think is admirable if you can do it, but the damage is still inside. Maidwell Hall School told The Independent in a statement: It is sobering to read about the experiences Charles Spencer, and some of his fellow alumni, had at the school, and we are sorry that was their experience. It is difficult to read about practices which were, sadly, sometimes believed to be normal and acceptable at that time. Within education today, almost every facet of school life has evolved significantly since the 1970s. At the heart of the changes is the safeguarding of children, and promotion of their welfare. We have been dismayed to read about the allegations of the abuse Charles Spencer suffered by an assistant matron in the 1970s. Although we have not directly received any claims from ex-pupils, considering what has been reported, the school has followed the statutory process and made a referral to the LADO (Local Authority Designated Officer). We would encourage anyone with similar experiences to come forward and contact either Maidwell Hall, the LADO or the police. Elsewhere in his memoir, Spencer reflected on his previous divorces and revealed that he sought professional help to understand his relationship patterns. When looking at the wreckage of my first and second marriages, I learned early in therapy that being sent away to boarding school at eight years of age meant that I had next to no understanding of intimacy, he wrote, per an excerpt obtained by People. In an interview with the outlet, Spencer praised his wife Karen for supporting him during the difficult process of writing his book. Karen has been supportive, he told People. I think it was very challenging for her to have a husband going through what was essentially four and a half years of the most profound therapy with very difficult undertones to it. And she supported the idea of me doing it. I think she always hoped I would come out happier and healthier, Spencer continued. And that seems to be the case very much. So, Im grateful to have her standing by me while I went through this, what I now realize was an essential process. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Border Patrol arrested Gerardo Henao 14 hours after President Joe Biden suspended asylum processing at the U.S. border with Mexico this week. But instead of being summarily deported, he was dropped off by agents the next day at a San Diego bus stop, where he caught a train to the airport for a flight to Newark, New Jersey. Henao, who said he left his jewelry business in Medellin, Colombia, because of constant extortion attempts, had one thing working in his favor: a scarcity of deportation flights to that country. Lack of resources, diplomatic limitations and logistical hurdles make it difficult for the Biden administration to impose its sweeping measure on a large scale. The policy, which took effect Wednesday, has an exception for operational considerations, official language acknowledging the government lacks the money and authority to deport everyone subject to the measure, especially people from countries in South America, Asia, Africa and Europe who didn't start showing up at the border until recently. The Homeland Security Department said in a detailed document outlining the ban that demographics and nationalities encountered at the border significantly impact its ability to deport people. Thousands of migrants have been deported under the ban so far, according to two senior Homeland Security Department officials who briefed reporters Friday on condition that they not be named. There were 17 deportation flights, including one to Uzbekistan. Those deported include people from Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Peru and Mexico. Henao, 59, said a Border Patrol agent told him about the ban after he was picked up Wednesday on a dirt road near a high-voltage power line in the boulder-strewn mountains east of San Diego. The agent processed release papers ordering him to appear in immigration court Oct. 23 in New Jersey. He casually asked Henao why he fled Colombia but didn't pursue that line of questioning. It was nothing, Henao said at a San Diego transit center, where the Border Patrol dropped off four busloads of migrants in a four-hour span Thursday afternoon. They took my photo, my fingerprints and that was it. Many migrants released that day were from China, India, Colombia and Ecuador. One group included men from Mauritania, Sudan and Ethiopia. Hello, if you are arriving right now, you have been released from immigration custody and you can go to the airport, a volunteer with a bullhorn told the migrants, directing them to a light-rail platform across the parking lot. You can go for free if you don't have money for a taxi or an Uber. Under the measure, asylum is suspended when arrests for illegal crossings reach 2,500 a day. It ends when they average below 1,500 for a week straight. Border officials were told to give the highest priority to detaining migrants who can be easily deported, followed by hard to remove nationalities requiring at least five days to issue travel documents and then very hard to remove nationalities whose governments dont accept U.S. flights. The instructions are laid out in a memo to agents that was reported by the New York Post. The Associated Press confirmed its contents with a U.S. official who spoke on condition of anonymity because it has not been publicly released. Homeland Security has been clear about the hurdles, said Theresa Cardinal Brown, senior adviser for immigration and border policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center, a Washington think tank. There's a limitation to the resources that the government has for detention and removal of people, and in particular to countries that we have a hard time removing people to because the (other) government is not cooperative," Brown said. "We can't detain them indefinitely. U.S. Immigration and Customs and Enforcement did 679 deportation flights from January through May, nearly 60% of them to Guatemala and Honduras, according to Witness at the Border, an advocacy group that analyzes flight data. There were 46 flights to Colombia, 42 to Ecuador and 12 to Peru, a relatively small amount considering that tens of thousands enter illegally from those countries every month. There were only 10 deportation flights during that period to Africa, which has emerged as a major source of migration to the United States. There was just one to China, despite the arrests of nearly 13,000 Chinese migrants. Mexico is the easiest country for removals because it's only a matter of driving to the nearest border crossing, but Mexicans accounted for less than 3 of 10 border arrests in the government's last fiscal year, down from 9 of 10 in 2010. Mexico also takes up to 30,000 people a month from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela, countries that have limited capacity or willingness to take people back. Some countries refuse to accept flights to avoid getting overwhelmed themselves, Corey Price, then-director of ICE enforcement and removal operations, said in an interview last year. We don't drive the bus on this, said Price, who retired last month. We don't decide unilaterally, OK, were sending your citizen back to you.' No, that country still has to agree to take them back. ___ Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana in Washington contributed. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Tory candidate to replace Michael Gove has boasted about moving into a home in the constituency, only for it emerge the property was seemingly an Airbnb. Ed McGuinness, a councillor who is running to be the Conservative MP for Surrey Heath, said he is now a resident of St Pauls ward. Alongside pictures of himself entering a house, Mr McGuinness said Surrey Heath residents rightly expect their MP to be a part of their community. Tory candidate posted images of himself posing with keys outside a house ( X ) Follow our politics live blog for all the latest general election updates Blaming Mr Goves last minute decision to step down when the snap summer general election was called, Mr McGuinness said it has been hard to get a place so quickly. But users on social media platform X quickly posted pictures of an Airbnb listing that appeared to show the same house. The property is described on the rental site as a light and airy self-contained annex. One said it was a bit weird to do a getting the keys shot for an Airbnb. A community note on X said: The property featured here appears on Airbnb and is therefore not indicative of the user being a resident of the local community. Moreover the availability of the property does not indicate a long-term booking has been made. At the time of Mr McGuinnesss post about the home, it still appeared to be available to book on several days in July. Ed McGuinness hopes to succeed Michael Gove, who is not standing at the general election ( PA Wire ) A spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, who are eyeing up the seat, said: From Gove giving up to a candidate seemingly camping in an Airbnb, its clear the Conservatives are running scared of the Liberal Democrats right across Surrey. To be honest, it would be the best for Mr McGuinness as he could be gone from the constituency in just a few weeks. Mr McGuinness is a former British army officer and veteran of Afghanistan. His website describes him as a political commentator, an active Conservative campaigner, a former Association Chairman and now a Prospective Parliamentary Candidate. Mr Gove, one of the longest-serving Conservative ministers and the last remaining high-profile MP from the David Cameron government elected in 2010, announced he would step down at the 4 July election after it was called. The shock announcement was a blow to the Tory Party which is facing an exodus of high-profile MPs at the election. Mr Gove, the secretary of state for levelling up, posted on X: After nearly 20 years serving the wonderful people of Surrey Heath and over a decade in Cabinet across five government departments, I have today taken the decision to step down as a Member of Parliament. Mr Gove said it was time for a new generation to lead and highlighted his time in various government roles, including as education secretary, Cabinet office minister and housing secretary. The Lib Dems believe that Mr Goves Surrey Heath seat is also up for grabs. It too was altered in the boundary review but the Lib Dems hope to overturn what was an 18,349 majority in 2019 under the old boundaries. Mr McGuinness was asked to comment. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Exclusive polling for the Independent can reveal that last weeks Diane Abbott-Labour row made no difference for 82 per cent of voters in fact, it might have boosted Labours chances. Tensions erupted in the Labour Party when the Times reported that Ms Abbott would be banned from standing for the party, following an investigation into comments she made on racism and anti-semitism. Party leader Sir Keir Starmer was repeatedly evasive on whether Ms Abbott would be able to stand as a Labour candidate in her constituency of Hackney North and Stoke Newington. After deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner spoke out in support of Ms Abbott on Sky News, Sir Keir finally said she would be free to go forward as a Labour candidate. Amidst the turmoil, hundreds of people had gathered at Hackney Town Hall to stand with Diane, while some voters expressed anger at Labours treatment of Ms Abbott. But despite concerns over shedding the Labour vote, exclusive polling data shows that 8 in 10 voters were largely unmoved by the Abbott-Starmer row, and would not be changing their voting choices. In fact, 6 per cent of voters said that Sir Keirs handling of the issue made them more likely to vote Labour. Meanwhile, 3 per cent were more likely to vote Conservative than before, and 4 per cent were less likely to vote at all. Among 2019 Labour voters, the row appeared to have a more divisive affect; 10 per cent were even more likely to vote Labour, but a further 10 per cent were more likely to abstain from voting. All this is reflected in the choice of candidates, with a view to not straying too far from this equidistance which currently represents the compass of the Labour Party. Techne UK chief executive Michela Morizzo said: Enough time has now passed since the Diane Abbott candidate selection row for me to be sure that whilst the issue attracted a lot of media attention the overall outcome has been not to affect Labour vote share in the polls. The support for Starmer comes partly from the Conservatives because of the mistakes that the Conservatives themselves have made. Starmer has to manage a very varied audience of voters at the moment and it is difficult to identify their precise characteristics. Until July 4th he must find a balance to maintain this success by making everyone happy. Let's remember that it is easier to maintain left-wing votes by moving a little to the center than vice versa, because left-wing voters have no alternatives while right-wing voters have several, starting with the Lib Dems. The latest Techne polls also show hardly any impact on Labours lead since questions arose over whether Ms Abbott could run for Labour in late May. Labour is currently polling at 44 per cent of national vote share, with a stable 24-point lead over the Conservatives. Both parties lost one point in the polls this week. At Blessed Sacrament Church in the Town of Tonawanda, Father Martin Gallagher made official the news many parishioners had already heard. The church is among 25 churches in the Diocese of Buffalo and the Northtowns slated for closure by 2025, according to an announcement made by the diocese last week. More closing recommendations are scheduled this week. Blessed Sacrament will merge with St. Pauls in Kenmore for about a year before that church could also close, according to Gallagher. I know there is hurt and I am sorry for that, I wish I could take that away, Gallagher said during his homily. And I know there is anger and I wish I could take that away. We just have to try to lift our hearts toward God as best we can, he added. Gallaghers words were met by Amens and tears shed throughout the congregation, many of whom had attended church there for several decades. As many as 75 churches in the Western New York diocese could shutter due to financial difficulties, declining attendance and a priest shortage. Blessed Sacraments expected closure is part of a nationwide trend of merging and closing Catholic churches that was accelerated when the Covid-19 pandemic hit in 2020. The Buffalo Diocese filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 after 900 people filed sexual abuse claims against it. In lawsuits, the claimants allege priests, nuns and other clergy staff sexually abused them. Staffing woes are also hitting the diocese hard. There are 115 priests available to staff 160 parishes in the Buffalo Diocese. By 2030, its expected that only 70 priests will be available, declining to 38 priests available in 2040, according to diocese projections. Additionally, nearly 60% of parishes in the diocese saw negative net operating balances in recent years with many parishes spending much of their funds on building maintenance, according to the diocese. Those statistics come as the Catholic diocese reports that fewer baptisms and marriages are occurring. 10 suburban Catholic churches in Erie, Niagara counties slated to be closed by Buffalo Diocese Ten Catholic churches in northern Erie County and southern Niagara County would close under plans revealed Friday to clergy and lay leaders in those parishes. Losing beloved Catholic institutions has become familiar in Western New York, and Tonawanda has not been immune. Blessed Sacrament was one of two Catholic schools in the town to close in 2007 the other was St. Edmund and two years later, St. Pauls School closed its doors. Earlier this year, parishioners at St. Andrews learned their church and school would be shuttered. At Blessed Sacrament on Sunday, some churchgoers said a baptism happened after Mass, leading them to wonder where such sacraments will take place if the church is closed. Its OK to get angry as long as its justified, and I think this is justified, said one of the churchs trustees. Weve done everything we possibly can to keep this parish going. The trustee declined to be named in the story after being told not to speak to the media. Gallagher told The Buffalo News that the church may try to fight the recommendation from the diocese to close Blessed Sacrament. He said the process isnt quite clear yet, but it may involve submitting a counter-recommendation with information about whether the church is financially stable and if it has steady or rising attendance. Thats something parishioner Jennie Silverman said she could support. I dont like the recommendation from the diocese, she said. I think were in a better situation financially than other parishes. So why close us down? Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Labours general election candidate for Dover and Deal has said he would not have stood for the party under Jeremy Corbyns leadership. Mike Tapp, who is fighting to replace Tory defector Natalie Elphicke in the battleground seat, told The Independent he did not feel he could trust the former Labour leader on defence and security. But the 39-year-old former soldier praised Sir Keir Starmers leadership and said now voters in the constituency understand that Labour takes this seriously. Labours general election candidate for Dover and Deal Mike Tapp with his dog, Scooby ( Mike Tapp ) Mr Tapp voted for Labour in 2019, adding that he always votes Labour. But he said: I wouldnt have stood under the previous administration Coming from a military background, defence and security means so much to me and you have to be able to trust your government on defence and security. Any wavering around the nuclear deterrent or Nato for me is unsuitable. Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign. The Independent visited Mr Tapp in the south east constituency, which sits on the front line of the small boats crisis and has been rocked by post-Brexit border chaos, with miles-long queues of lorries regularly bringing life to a standstill. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Tapp accused the Conservatives of having left Britain with open borders. And set out how stints at the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) would help him play a part in Sir Keirs drive to smash the criminal smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the English Channel. Mr Tapp set his sights on the army as soon as he left school, spending a brief stint as a window cleaner before being admitted because of a past knee injury, but eventually being let into the Intelligence Corps. Mike Tapp joined Sir Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper and Natalie Elphicke to launch Labours plans for a new Border Security Command ( Getty Images ) He did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the army to join the NCA, where he worked in counterterrorism. Mr Tapp moved from there to the MoD, also working on counterterrorism before leaving to pursue a career in politics in 2020. He was selected as the candidate in Dover and Deal two years ago and has juggled door-knocking in the constituency with working for veteran Labour MP John Spellar ever since. When it became clear Mr Sunak was calling a snap election on 22 May, Mr Tapp said it was a shock, but his campaign team were knocking on doors that evening, while he rushed down from London in time to hit the ground running the next morning. While the Mr Tapp says the biggest issues voters bring up with him on the doorstep are the cost of living and the NHS, Channel crossings are a huge issue in the constituency, with migrants arriving from France typically landing or being brought ashore in Dover. Mike Tapp accused the Conservatives of leading the country with open borders ( Mike Tapp ) We do have open borders, they are not secure, Mr Tapp said outside the Popup Cafe on Deal High Street - flanked by his eight-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback Scooby. He pointed to the fact around 400 migrants crossed the channel in 2018, while 40,000 have made the crossing since Mr Sunak first promised to stop the boats. That says it all, doesnt it? he added. Labour has promised to use new counterterrorism powers to tackle the gangs running the trade. It has also promised a new Border Security Command, which would bring together agencies including the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and MI5. Mr Tapp said voters in Dover and Deal do not want gimmicks such as the Rwanda deportation scheme at the heart of Mr Sunaks immigration plans. He said Labours plan is sensible and will have a massive impact, adding that in his own stints working against criminals and terrorists he has seen the difference those powers can make. The criminal gangs should be running scared of a Labour government, he said. Critics of the plan say it does not do enough to address the numbers of people wanting to cross the channel, and that smugglers will simply find new ways of bringing people to the UK. But Mr Tapp said it is possible to make it unviable. We are an island, and we can secure this island from that sort of migration, he added. Mike Tapp said he was not absolutely delighted by Natalie Elphickes defection ( PA Wire ) Mr Tapp said: It does not make you a bad person to not want that sort of migration, there are genuine refugees who it is important we help. And we have to understand that economic migrants crossing for a better life are not necessarily bad people but that does not mean we open the borders to everybody who wants a better life. It is horrible to say that, but we do not have the infrastructure to support open borders. Hoping to capitalise on discontent in Dover at Tory failures on immigration is Nigel Farage, who launched Reform UKs election campaign in the constituency. He unveiled Howard Cox, a former lifelong Conservative voter and motoring campaigner, as the partys candidate. But aside from a small flurry after the initial launch, Mr Tapp said the right-wing challenger party has not been mentioned on the doorsteps. He will also have to beat Conservative candidate Stephen James, who is also a veteran but has attacked Mr Tapp for never missing a chance to remind you he served in the army. I dont need to rely on my military background because Im too busy actually making a difference for veterans, Mr Jamess website states. Mr Tapp went on to deny there was any bad blood between him and the retiring MP for the seat Ms Elphicke, who he has campaigned directly against for the past two years. He said he was not absolutely delighted when he heard about the right-wingers defection to Labour, but that it sent a very clear message to Conservative voters considering switching to Sir Keirs party. Mr Tapp has worked closely with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on immigration policy and is considered one to watch if he can overturn the 13,000 Tory majority in the constituency on 4 July. Mike Tapp said a government job would be an honour but his priority is to be a strong local MP ( Mike Tapp ) He said he is ambitious, but that his first priority is to be a decent member of parliament for his constituents in Dover and Deal, adding that it would be a real honour to get a government post. One of the key problems he wants to help a Labour government address is the chaos blighting Dover and Deal due to post-Brexit border delays. He said: Two Saturdays ago it was gridlocked, it was the worst I and many others have seen. You could not get from Deal to the town centre in Dover, there were people stuck in their homes and businesses who had nobody in them. My worry is that in October it could be worse, also affecting Folkestone, Ashford and the Euro Tunnel. While polls point to a relatively comfortable win for Mr Tapp, he faces a difficult task to win over disillusioned voters. Walking along the Deal seafront in the sun on Friday, 80-year-old Ken and 76-year-old Sue said they had been turned off the main political parties, with Ken saying he will back the Green Party in the election, while Sue said she is currently not planning to vote. Ken said: The conduct has been so bad, the level of truth telling has been appalling over the years and we have seen so many broken promises from the beginning. And Sue said: I just think we have lost it we are going to hell in a handbasket. I will decide on the day. Sue said the only thing she had been encouraged by were the local and international celebrations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but she said it was bad, bad, bad for Mr Sunak to leave halfway through to film an ITV interview. But what is the alternative, the other one [Sir Keir]? He is an absolute non-entity, he hasnt got any ideas and he has only criticised the whole way through, she added. And Mr Tapp faces a challenge to keep left-wing Labour voters onside. Joanna Woodrow, 58, told The Independent she has backed the Labour Party for her entire life but considered voting Green because of Sir Keirs lurch to the political right. I am less than happy with them because I think they are moving away from their roots but I feel like I dont really have a choice, a vote for the Greens would be a wasted vote in this constituency, she said. She said her support for the party was rocked by Sir Keirs decision to welcome the constituencys former Tory MP Ms Elphicke, describing her as a dreadful woman. But, while she is lacking enthusiasm for the party, she has concluded that Mr Tapp is a reasonable bloke. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Angela Rayner has accused the Conservatives of smearing a Labour general election candidate who parachuted into Normandy to raise money for the Royal British Legion. Tory councillor Daniel Nelson is under fire after mocking Labours Southend East and Rochford candidate Bayo Alaba for being out of the country on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Follow our politics live blog for all the latest general election updates In a provocative post on X, Mr Nelson said he had been on fantastic door knocking sessions in the constituency. He said it was great to be with Tory candidate Gavin Haran in the constituency talking to residents. Angela Rayner accused the Tories of smearing the Labour candidate ( Getty Images ) And he added: Is the Labour candidate still in France? It was quickly pointed out that Mr Alaba was in France to parachute into Normandy as part of the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations. He was raising money for the Royal British Legion, a charity supporting armed forces personnel and veterans. After the jump, he said: Our jump into Sannerville marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day. This was my small homage to our forebears who gave everything for us on those beaches 80 years ago. Sir Keir Starmers top team were quick to jump to Mr Alabas defence, with Angela Rayner accusing the Tories of smearing the candidate. She said: He was parachuting into Normandy as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, to raise money for the Royal British Legion and Trust Links charities. Were proud of him. Shame on you. And shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said he was proud of Mr Alaba for putting country before party. You should be ashamed by your tweet, he told Mr Nelson. Following the backlash, Mr Nelson said he was glad Mr Alabas jump had gone well and that he had donated to the appeal. It comes just days after Rishi Sunak was condemned for skipping out on D-Day commemorations to take part in a TV interview. The prime minister came under fire for cutting short his own trip to France to snub the international portion of the celebrations. A Normandy veteran and the former head of the Royal Navy were among those who criticised him. Normandy veteran Ken Hay, 98, accused Mr Sunak of letting the country down. And Admiral Lord West of Spithead, the ex-head of the navy, said it was stupid and an own goal of the Tory leader to miss the major international ceremony. He said the prime ministers advisers should have told him to stay, adding: What a cock-up. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Tory minister has been forced to deny that Rishi Sunak will step down before the general election amid widespread anger at his D-Day snub. Work and pensions secretary Mel Stride said the prime minister will absolutely lead the Conservatives into the election. There should be no question of anything other than that," he told Sky News in an extraordinary moment. Follow our politics live blog for all the latest general election updates. It came after presenter Trevor Phillips said: Lots of people will have looked at [his D-Day gaffe] and said this is the time, would it not be a courageous and moral act for him to announced that he will now step aside to save seats which wont be if he stays for the next four weeks? Foreign secretary David Cameron took Rishi Sunaks place at the ceremony ( POOL/AFP/Getty ) Mr Stride said: A mistake has been made and the prime minister has apologised for this. Now I do know Rishi pretty well. In fact, I consider him as something of a friend. And I know that hes a deeply patriotic person who cares greatly about this country. A Normandy veteran and the former head of the Royal Navy were among those who condemned Mr Sunak for leaving D-Day commemorations early to take part in a TV interview. The prime minister skipped out on the international ceremony attended by other world leaders, including US president Joe Biden and French president Emmanuel Macron, to mark the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak using a watering can during a visit to Big Help Out project in Bishop Auckland, County Durham (Peter Byrne/PA) ( PA Wire ) Normandy veteran Ken Hay, 98, accused Mr Sunak of letting the country down. And Admiral Lord West of Spithead, the ex-head of the navy, said it was stupid and an own goal of the Tory leader to miss the major international ceremony. The gaffe has caused indignation in Tory circles, with general election candidates claiming the PM is giving Labour a free pass. Even veterans minister Johnny Mercer said the decision to leave the 80th anniversary events early was a significant mistake. And Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has said the blunder shows Mr Sunak is not fit to lead the country. He has made the biggest mistake of his political career. If it wasnt an election campaign, thered be a leadership challenge against him this week, he told the BBC. Leader of Reform UK Nigel Farage said Rishi Sunak is not fit to lead the country ( PA Wire ) A government minister being forced to insist the PM will not quit during the election campaign is a sign of the dire state of the Tory campaign. Mr Sunak has faced repeated gaffes on the campaign trail, from his rain-soaked launch in Downing Street to asking brewery workers in Wales if they were excited for the Euros, which the country has not qualified for. A new poll has set the party on course for electoral wipeout, with Labour winning a majority of 416. The Tories would be left with just 37 seats, according to the new Deltapoll survey, which puts Sir Keir Starmers party on 46 per cent compared to the Conservatives on 21 per cent with even Rishi Sunak set to lose his Yorkshire seat. Bookies hinted at a rising chance Mr Sunak quits before the election after his D-Day gaffe, with Ladbrokes putting the odds of him stepping down at 8:1. Alex Apati of Ladbrokes said: Its looking like a pretty bleak election is on the cards for the Tories, and while things may be getting worse for Rishi Sunak, wed be surprised to see him stand down as Tory leader before July 4th. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Conservatives are embroiled in a hypocrisy row over Rishi Sunaks backing drivers bill to scale back Ulez, ban pay-per-mile road taxes and crack down on Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs). The prime minister said the bill would be part of his first Kings Speech if he is re-elected on 4 July, promising to end Labours war on drivers in London and Wales. But Mr Sunak was accused of hypocrisy after it emerged his own ministers had supported many of the measures he is now railing against. Follow our politics live blog for all the latest general election updates As chancellor, Mr Sunak reportedly drew up plans to introduce a pay-per-mile road pricing system. And in 2022 one of the PMs own transport ministers, Huw Merriman, said London mayor Sadiq Khan should introduce a road pricing scheme to replace lost revenues from fuel and vehicle excise duties. Rishi Sunak railed against Labours war on drivers ( EPA ) Labour also pointed out that Mr Merriman also suggested Mr Khans Ulez expansion was a bold attempt to reduce congestion and pollution. Transport secretary Mark Harper on Friday ruled out introducing any pay-per-mile schemes and promised to reverse the London mayors unfair Ulez expansion. Former prime minister Boris Johnson introduced Ulez as mayor in 2015, calling it an essential measure that would lengthen Londons lead as the greatest city on earth. The Conservatives backing drivers bill is the partys latest attempt to shore up its core support, with Mr Sunak on course for a 1997-style election drubbing. The Tories said they will protect drivers from the draconian policies of local Labour politicians. Anti-Ulez backlash was widely credited for helping the Tories narrowly hold on to Mr Johnsons former Uxbridge and South Ruislip seat in the by-election to replace him. Ulez was introduced by former London mayor Boris Johnson ( AP2010 ) And the party hopes it can hold onto the backing of motorists counting the cost of environmental policies in the general election. But as well as top Tories past support for Ulez and pay-per-mile schemes, Labour also pointed to senior Conservatives who have previously backed LTNs. Tory chairman Richard Holden in 2022 said decisions about LTNs should be entirely a matter for local authorities such as Warrington to make. Meanwhile former transport secretary Grant Shapps touted pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements, cycle and bus only streets as examples of what people will start to see more of under his 250m Emergency Active Travel Funding plans in May 2020. Shadow transport secretary Louise Haigh told The Independent: This is rank hypocrisy from a party in total chaos. It has nothing to offer drivers but reheated announcements, gimmicks and broken promises. The Conservatives abysmal record is there for everyone to see. Britain has 100 times more potholes than craters on the moon and car insurance costs are out-of-control. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} If theres a perfect career for a serial killer, a long haul truck driver just might be it. They are often loners, living a nomadic lifestyle that involves constant travel across state lines and jurisdictions, providing easy access to an array of potential victims and allowing truckers to evade law enforcement for years. A new book by former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers offers a terrifying glimpse into the world of these Americas serial killer truck drivers. At least 850 murders along Americas highways over the past few decades have been linked to long haul truck drivers, according to the FBI Highway Serial Killings initiative. Keith Hunter Jesperson, a long haul trucker from Canada best known as the Happy Face Killer, terrorized women at rest areas and bars across the country in the early nineties, killing his conquests in at least five states during his murderous spree. In previous conversations with The Independent, he has nonchalantly recounted his tales of strangling women when they angered him and dumping their bodies, which he referred to as taking care of business. A new book by former FBI assistant director for counterintelligence Frank Figliuzzi delves into the world of Americas serial killer truck drivers ( Frank Figliuzzi ) One woman was anxious to keep moving to her destination, but Jesperson was eager to sleep. I said, Just let me have four hours of sleep and everything will be fine. he told the true-crime podcast The Lighter Side of Serial Killers. About 20 minutes later she pushed on me and I got angry and she died. Figliuzzi said his research revealed truckers jobs allow them to grab a victim in one jurisdiction, kill them in a second jurisdiction, dump their body in a third jurisdiction and be on their way before anyone has figured anything out. And Jesperson himself explains exactly how trucking helped him get rid of bodies. He worried that the victim could be linked back to him because he assumed she had a criminal record and she had used his credit card to make a call so he decided he needed to remove her identity. I thought, I can put the body under my truck, drag it down I-80 and get rid of her identification, at least her facial features or fingerprints and so forth. And thats what he did. Keith Jesperson was dubbed the Happy Face Killer ( December 2009 booking photo ) Later in the same decade, another long haul trucker Wayne Adam Ford walked into the Humboldt County Sheriffs Office in California and confessed to killing four women. He then handed over a plastic bag that contained the breast of one of his victims. And theres the Truck Stop Killer, Robert Ben Rhoades, who built a torture chamber in the back of his truck where he kidnapped, tortured, raped, and killed as many as 50 suspected victims. These men are some of Americas most notorious highway serial killers. Theyve been caught and are spending the rest of their lives in prison. But there are hundreds more who are still out there. More than 200 cases of highway murders remain active and unsolved, with the bureau making its way through a list of about 450 suspects. The book also highlights Bruce Mendenhall, who like Rhoades is known as The Truck Stop Killer or The Rest Stop Killer, and also the The Prosti-Shooter. His truck was found to contain the blood of numerous murdered women. He was convicted in one murder and is charged with the slayings of three other women at truck stops in Alabama, Indiana and Tennessee. He is still under investigation for murders in Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas. Dellmus Colvin, The Interstate Strangler, reportedly killed between 47 and 52 women, most of them women working as sex workers, for the sheer pleasure of killing, and always slept well at night, according to the book. This book started as an interest in the FBIs Highway Serial Killings Initiative but quickly became a quest to understand the cultures beneath the killings, Figliuzzi said about his book, which was released on May 28. The truckers and the trafficked, the professors and the pimps, the cops and the crime analysts took me on a journey to places I hadnt anticipated, populated by people I never knew. They allowed me into their worlds, their realities, and their stories. A map created by the Highway Serial Killings initiative is covered with red dots marking the 500 locations where bodies have been discovered along Americas highways over the past 30 years ( FBI ) Figliuzzi tagged along with a truck driver for more than 2,000 miles to understand the subculture from the inside. He found that it was mentally and physically taxing work, often tedious and solitary, and can take a toll on the drivers health. Its part of the negative side of the culture that theyre incredibly sedentary for hours on end. Theres little or no human engagement, depending on the type of trucking youre doing, Figliuzzi told The Guardian. So does the grueling work take a toll on truckers, driving them to kill? Or are people with serial killer tendencies drawn to this occupation because of the lifestyle? A certain type of personality might be attracted to long-haul trucking because of their personality since it is isolated and theyre perfectly fine with that and the lack of engagement with others, Figliuzzi told The Guardian. Does it present to them an opportunity to commit crimes, even murders, largely undetected, exploit the seams in jurisdictions grab a victim in one jurisdiction, kill them in a second jurisdiction, dump their body in a third jurisdiction and be on their way before anyone has figured anything out? Yes. According to the FBI, long-haul truckers are the ones responsible in most cases of highway homicide. Long-haul truckers exist for days or weeks at a time in a world of their own. They speak their own language, eat at their own establishments, sleep in their own rigs, Figliuzzi writes in his new book. Part cowboy, part fighter pilot, part hermit, long-haul truckers glide along the edge of a certain seam in the fabric of our societythe seam that separates their reality from ours. Frank Figliuzzi said his research revealed truckers jobs allow them to grab a victim in one jurisdiction, kill them in a second jurisdiction, dump their body in a third jurisdiction and be on their way before anyone has figured anything out ( Provided ) Another part of the focus falls on the investigators and their plan to combat the highway killings. Highway Serial Killings initiative was created by the FBI in 2009, to raise awareness among law enforcement agencies and the general public about this issue. A map on the website is covered with red dots marking the 500 locations where bodies have been discovered along Americas highways over the past 30 years. A closer look shows many of them form a horizontal trail across the south/central part of the country following Interstate 40. I-40 from Wilmington, North Carolina, to Barstow, California. Figliuzzi also spoke to women who survived terrifying encounters with truckers. He said part of his book is about understanding the victims, who overwhelmingly end up being at-risk women forced into the sex trade. The reason these cases go unsolved for decades is because these killers are exploiting gaps in jurisdiction with law enforcement, Figliuzzi told The Guardian. The victims are often transient and no one even knows theyre missing. My hope is that people will come to a greater understanding of the trap of trafficking in our society, Figliuzzi said. No one really champions the cause or speaks for these deceased victims because their lives have been snuffed out. The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekday Your briefing on the latest headlines from across the US 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 Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The pioneering psychiatric nurse who helped create the FBIs blueprint for profiling violent sexual offenders has hit back at the popular Netflix series Mindhunter and its portrayal of characters inspired by her team. Ann Burgess, who answered the Bureaus call for consultation in the 1970s as sexual violence spiked against a dearth of law enforcement expertise, told The Independent: The backgrounds of the three of us [were] totally wrong and thats a shame. Burgess was speaking in the days ahead of the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of Mastermind: To Think Like A Killer a docuseries about her groundbreaking work which will stream on Hulu in July. She said she believed the 2017 Netflix drama Mindhunter which was inspired by the work of Burgess and intrepid agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler became derailed by too much of a focus on imagined personal lives, rather than the gripping cases the trio worked on. Its no surprise they didnt get a third season, Burgess said. They got too caught up in the after-story, or whatever they were talking about, on the three of us and trying to work that up instead of staying with the cases. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a psychiatric nurse and professor at Boston College, answered a call from the FBI in 1978 to help agents understand the minds of violent sexual offenders ( Gary Wayne Gilbert for Boston College Magazine ) Burgess was particularly disappointed that Dr Wendy Carr, played by Anna Torv, was a psychologist, not a forensic nurse as Burgess was in real life. As a trailblazer in the field of forensic and psychiatric nursing, shed like the new Hulu docuseries to shine a spotlight on the profession she has helped advance. Im very hopeful that nursing, especially forensic nursing or psychiatric nursing, gets a good share of understanding, because nurses have not been well portrayed, she said. The new series follows Burgess 2021 book A Killer By Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, And My Quest To Decipher The Criminal Mind which details her work, beginning in the 1970s, alongside agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler. The pair had begun what they called a criminal personality study, conducting recorded interviews with infamous offenders such as Co-ed Killer Edmund Kemper and Chicago nurse-killer Richard Speck. Burgess helped them fine-tune their approach and methodology for data collection and analysis, creating a framework for criminal profiling that had never existed previously. A new docuseries chronicling Burgess groundbreaking work debuts on Hulu in July The trio eventually published 1992s Crime Classification Manual: A Standard System for Investigating and Classifying Violent Crimes. Burgess continues to teach courses at Boston Colleges Connell School of Nursing as well as consulting with other pioneers and experts for an elite Super Sleuths group which meets virtually once a month to pore over cold cases. Members include an old Quantico contact, a DNA expert from Maryland, an entomologist and even one of the lawyers for Adnan Syed, whose case formed the basis for the podcast Serial. Two seasons of Mindhunter aired on Netflix, dramatizing the work of Burgess and intrepid FBI agents Burgess also concedes that, while technology and methodology have advanced crime solving at a fast pace, the evolution of crime itself may be equally rapid. Who knows where well be in the next decade? she told The Independent, noting growing issues with cybersecurity and social media Theres been so much crime and reaction; will there be a difference in victim response? We dont know that. Or will there be new and different kinds of crimes that well have to look into? Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has agreed to give testimony before a House Judiciary Committee panel regarding Donald Trumps hush money trial. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying documents in 2016 to cover up a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels over an alleged 2006 affair. The former president has maintained his innocence despite his convictions. He is expected to appeal the courts ruling, and has also sought refuge by arguing he has presidential immunity even though the crimes in question took place before he became the president which will be argued before the US Supreme Court. Bragg's testimony comes at the demand of House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan, who sent a letter last month stating that the DA and Matthew Colangelo, a prosecutor on the case, participate in a House panel on 13 June. Jordan, long a Trump loyalist, described the trial as an act of "unprecedented political prosecution" against the former president, according to The Hill. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has agreed to give testimony to the House Judiciary Committee regarding Donald Trumps hush money trial ( AP ) Leslie Dubeck, an attorney representing Bragg, responded on Friday, saying the DA's office was "committed to voluntary cooperation," and that he would participate, though potentially not on 13 June due to scheduling conflicts. The prosecutors also noted that Trump's trial is still ongoing, as they have yet to give the court their recommended sentencing for the former president. Trump's sentencing hearing is set for 11 July, which is four days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, where he is expected to be named at the party's presidential nominee for the upcoming general election in November. The trial court and reviewing appellate courts have issued numerous orders for the purpose of protecting the fair administration of justice in People v. Trump, and to participate in a public hearing at this time would be potentially detrimental to those efforts, they wrote in the letter. Dubeck also asked Jordan to provide more information about the "scope and purpose" of the hearing, and for a chance to discuss a different date. While the letter specifically stated that Bragg would participate, it also said Colangelo might attend, though only after the prosecutors examined the "propriety" of the hearing, noting that the trial was still ongoing. Jordan has threatened to withhold funding from the US Justice Department for investigation into Trump, and kept to the party line by calling the trial a "travesty of justice." Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} President Joe Biden concluded his five-day state visit to France on Sunday by touring an American cemetery home to 2,200 US soldiers who fought and died in World War I. The president, who has used the visit to praise US alliances in Europe and reiterate support Ukraine in its war for Russia, laid a wreath at the chapel of Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France, outside of Paris. These soldiers were heroes, just as every American who has served this nation, Biden said during the visit, adding, The best way to avoid these kinds of battles in the future is to stay strong with our allies. Many observers saw the visit as a rebuke to Donald Trump, who skipped a planned 2018 visit to the cemetery and reportedly called the servicemen buried there suckers and losers. Trump reportedly snubbed a planned commemoration at the cemetery for the 100th anniversary of WWI, fearing his hair would become disheveled in the rain, The Atlantic reported in 2020. At the time, he reportedly told those on the trip with him, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. Trump denied making the comments about the French cemetery. John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general and Trump chief of staff, later told CNN Trump indeed mocked the dead American soldiers there. The alleged remarks echoed Trumps past controversial remarks about Sen John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who endured years of torture, about whom Trump said, I like people who werent captured. The Biden campaign, facing an extremely tight race against Trump in November, has sought to emphasize Trumps comments about the military. A recent campaign ad cuts footage of dead American servicemembers returning home in coffins with Trumps past remarks about soldiers. Elsewhere during the state visit, Biden commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France. They knew ... beyond any doubt that there are things that are worth fighting and dying for: Freedom is worth it, Biden said of the soldiers. Democracy is worth it. Americas worth it, the world is worth it, then, now and always. He also said the success of D-Day proved the unbreakable unity of allies. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} In the upscale Philadelphia suburb of Glenside last month, Senator Bob Casey turned on the charm at a campaign office opening. A lesser-known, longtime veteran of the Senate, Caseys pullover sweaters and nice-guy demeanor have earned him comparisons to another son of Pennsylvania Mister Rogers as well as the nickname Mr Pennsylvania by his state counterpart, Senator John Fetterman. But beneath this folksy, Biden-esque persona is a steely operator whos supposed to prove a critical asset to the president in the 2024 race. A New York Times/Siena College poll showed Casey has a five-point lead in Pennsylvania against Republican Dave McCormick, a sign of Caseys high name recognition and popularity. But that doesnt mean hes in for a smooth ride in November. Last month, a super PAC supporting his former hedge fund executive rival, Dave McCormick, dropped $4 million on an ad buy, and it plans to spend $30m for him overall. Republicans know the importance of knocking off Casey is that it would end the Democrats one-seat majority in the Senate. Much is at stake. But Caseys recent change of heart when it comes to his stance on abortion could be what shifts the needle. For a long time he remained one of the few anti-abortion Democrats in Congress. But he says the Supreme Courts overturning Roe v Wade in 2022 changed his mind. If they can take a 49-year right away from women, they can take a right away from workers in the same court, Casey said at a campaign speech in Glenside in May. He went on to promise that he plans to concentrate primarily on protecting womens rights and voter rights. During an interview with The Independent, he notes: I think most Americans are looking at the issue of abortion with a very stark contrast in mind, which is: Do I want to ban abortion or not? And thats where the Republican Party is. Bidens secret weapon: Bob Casey pictured with the President ( Getty Images ) Abortion rights have become a lightning rod in this years election race, and if the midterms are anything to go by, a winning issue for Democrats. In Pennsylvania a critical brick in the blue wall that Biden needs to win to regain the White House 56 percent of voters think abortion should legal in either all or most cases. Yet McCormick is anti-abortion except in very rare instances. Since the Dobbs case and its fallout, he has tried to pivot from a previously hardline stance. But in 2022, when he ran for Pennsylvanias other Senate seat, he said, I believe in the very rare instances [when abortion should be allowed], there should be exceptions for life of the mother. Now, his website says he is opposed to a national abortion ban, and supports exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother. McCormick is a former official in the Treasury Department during George W Bushs administration but he is also married to Dina Powell, Trumps former deputy national security adviser. Considering McCormicks stance, its clear that Casey is seen by reproductive rights advocates as the lesser of two evils, even if both are out of step with the more liberal views of Pennsylvania voters. A Democrat criticizing the court for ripping away Roe is not uncommon. But a Democrat with the last name Casey doing so is remarkable. Thats because along with being a staple of Pennsylvania politics, the Caseys have been the biggest opponents of abortion rights within the Democratic coalition. Like the Kennedys in Massachusetts and the Bidens once they moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware, the Caseys, a family heavily steeped in state politics, symbolized the Democratic Partys working-class Irish Catholic voting base for decades. And like many devout Catholics, the Caseys ardently opposed abortion. In 1989, Senator Caseys father, Governor Bob Casey, signed legislation in Pennsylvania that required patients seeking an abortion to wait for 24 hours after making their decision and inform either their husbands or, if they were minors, their parents. In response, Planned Parenthoods southeastern Pennsylvania arm sued. That same year, Governor Casey was prevented from speaking at the Democratic National Convention, which he claimed was because of his views on abortion. A decade later, his son continued in much the same tradition. The younger Casey ran for Senate in 2006 as a pro-life and pro-gun Democrat, blowing out incumbent Republican Rick Santorum. His stance helped him win over voters in rural and working-class counties like Berks, Beaver and Luzerne County where Democrats have struggled, as well as suburban counties like Bucks and cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Two years later he spoke at the DNC and noted during his speech that, even though Barack Obama supported abortion rights, they mutually respected each other. Casey also voted for both of Obamas Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan who leaned progressive on abortion rights, and voted against all three of Trumps nominees. In 2022, he voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the court. That same year, he went even further following the overturning of Roe, and announced he would support Democrats legislation to codify abortion rights into law. Sue-Ann DiVito, a Democratic activist and realtor based in Philadelphia, said at the Glenside event that she appreciated Caseys switch. I am very excited that hes supportive of womens rights. I believe some people evolve and we should welcome that, she told The Independent. Unsurprisingly, McCormicks campaign sees things differently. No Senator has made a more radical change to his position on abortion than Bob Casey Jr, and his extreme stance is out of step with Pennsylvania, with America, and with his own late father, Elizabeth Gregory, the Republicans communications director, told The Independent in an email. Asked by The Independent what he thought of Caseys change of heart on abortion, John Fetterman told The Independent that he believes his colleague is firmly on the side of choice and tried to paint McCormick as out of touch given the Republican hails from Connecticut. And of course, McCormick is against that, Fetterman who recently flipped a Republican seat in Pennsylvania largely due to female voter anger at the overturn of Roe v Wade continued. The two go way back: When some voters feared Fetterman could not do the job after he suffered a stroke, Casey criss-crossed the state for Fetterman. And Caseys low-key charm and family background balances out Fettermans more bolshy, hoodie-wearing personality nicely. Little wonder that Casey is seen by Joe Biden as a friend and somewhat of a secret weapon: the president affectionately refers to Bob Casey Jrs father as Bob, while he calls the currently serving Casey Bobby. The general consensus among Democrats is that winning a state in a post-Roe world now relies on putting the Fettermans of the world alongside the Caseys, and telling a story about reproductive rights that looks sensible and nuanced as opposed to highly ideological. It helps, too, that Fetterman and Casey have strong roots in the counties they intend to represent. I am always going to be 100 percent supportive of my friend and Mr Pennsylvania, Fetterman added. Especially over that guy from Greenwich. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps summer campaign stops include locations in the middle of the desert, leaving supporters standing for hours in the merciless southwest heat. But it hasn't stopped his fans from standing in line for him even if it sends them to the hospital. Nearly a dozen of the MAGA faithful in Arizona required hospitalization earlier this month while waiting to attend a Trump campaign event in Phoenix. On Sunday, 9 June, the former president will again venture out into the desert, this time bringing his revenge and resentment tour to Las Vegas, Nevada and into the Mojave Desert. With a high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (42C), the weather will once again pose a threat to lined up MAGA supporters on Sunday. This time, however, the Trump campaign has reportedly made plans to help prevent their fans from succumbing to the temperatures. The campaign has prepared thousands of water bottles in Las Vegas to hand out to supporters waiting in line for the event and for those already inside the event's security perimeter. It will also be erecting tents to provide spots for shade for those who need a break from the sun, and at least one of the tents will have air-conditioning, the New York Times reports. MAGA supporters protect themselves from the sun as they wait for Trump to appear at a rally in Las Vegas ( AFP via Getty Images ) Misting fans will be placed around the venue to help keep attendees cool, and the campaign has allowed participants to bring very small umbrellas with them for extra shade. Supporters sometimes have to wait hours before they can enter secured venues to see a president or former president speak. In most places, that's annoying. In the southwest in the summer, it's potentially deadly without preparation. Heat exhaustion which can cause dizziness, nausea, headache, and thirst, among other symptoms was what sent the 11 Trump supporters in Arizona to the hospital, and will likely be a constant thorn in the side for any campaign visiting the southwest this summer. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations' seasonal outlook calls for above normal temperatures for the next three months across the country. The number one way to battle heat exhaustion is to stay hydrated, to wear loose fitting clothes, and to protect yourself from sunburns, as sunburns affect the bodys ability to cool itself. As temperatures reach 108 degrees Farenheit (42C), a woman is tended to for heat exhaustion as supporters line up before former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a town hall event ( AFP via Getty Images ) That's of no concern to Trump, however. He has routinely downplayed the climate crisis, saying during a recent interview that the only warming that concerns him is "nuclear global warming." He also has no issue holding campaign events in extreme weather conditions. A severe blizzard forced Trump to cancel all but one of his rallies earlier this year in Iowa. Those who attended thee one remaining event had to trudge through subzero temperatures and were subjected to freezing winds while they waited in line. That time, the campaign provided a trio of buses where waiting supporters could warm themselves before heading back into the cold. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed reports that civilians appeared to have been killed during Israels mission to rescue four hostages held by Hamas over the weekend but said that the US was not in a position to verify an exact or estimated death toll from the operation. Sullivan appeared across the Sunday show circuit as the Biden administration appeared to be taking something of a victory lap on the development. He had, a day earlier, congratulated Israels government and military for the successful rescue in a statement which did not mention civilian casualties, even as initial reports across Saturday indicated that dozens of civilians had been killed in the operation. Palestinian health officials have said that more than 270 civilians were killed during the attack; IDF commanders have put their estimation at less than 100. We the United States are not in a position today to make a definitive statement about that, said the presidents national security adviser on Sunday. But we do know this, Dana, innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number we dont know, but innocent people were killed. While acknowledging that Palestinian civilians living in Gaza were going through hell, Sullivan stuck to the Biden administrations refrain: that the blame lies solely with Hamas for operating in areas tightly-packed with civilians. Every day that we see more innocent people lost is another horrible, awful, tragic day, said Sullivan. Today, Israeli security forces conducted a successful operation to rescue four hostages from the grips of Hamas in Gaza. All four were taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, and Hamas filmed the horrific abduction of Ms. Argamani for the world to see. Now they are safe and reunited with their families. We commend the work of the Israeli security services that conducted this daring operation. Israeli forces separately issued a statement denying reports that emerged on social media claiming the attack was carried out by Israeli forces concealed within aid trucks brought into Gaza by the floating pier set up by the US military to facilitate humanitarian aid shipments. On Saturday, as news of the rescue operation broke, the White House issued a statement congratulating the Israeli government. It also called on Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal with Israel, even as both governments have stated that a dissolution of the militant group is necessary as part of a path forward in Gaza. Palestinians look at the aftermath of the Israeli bombing of the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza ( AP ) Today, Israeli security forces conducted a successful operation to rescue four hostages from the grips of Hamas in Gaza. All four were taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, and Hamas filmed the horrific abduction of Ms Argamani for the world to see. Now they are safe and reunited with their families. We commend the work of the Israeli security services that conducted this daring operation, Sullivan said on Saturday. The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens. This includes through ongoing negotiations or other means. The hostage release and ceasefire deal that is now on the table would secure the release of all the remaining hostages together with security assurances for Israel and relief for the innocent civilians in Gaza. Noa Argamani with her father Yakov and a family friend Nir Givon, in Ramat Gan following her rescue ( Reuters ) Sullivan said on Sunday that Hamas has not yet responded to the latest ceasefire offer brokered in part by the United States; US officials have repeated that assertion for several days while simultaneously deflecting concerns that Israels government or at the very least important parts of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahus ruling coalition are not on board. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza continues to climb and aid agencies warn that the entire region is under severe risk of famine. Shocking images of carnage continue to spread across social media and demonstrations carry on in major cities around the globe calling for the war to end. On Saturday, one of those demonstrations took place in Washington, DC as activists formed a red line which encircled the White House with the aim of calling on President Biden to enforce his so-called red line in Rafah. The US president has said he will cut off some military assistance to Israel if a major operation takes place in the southern Gaza city. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Theres really been no change in recent months in the condition of former US president Jimmy Carter, who is currently in hospice care, accrording to his grandson Jason. Carter told Southern Living his grandfather seems to be in good spirits, but is facing a new phase of life without his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, by her side. She died in November. After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what its like for him right now, Jason Carter told the magazine. We have to embrace that fact, that theres things about the spirit that you just cant understand. In the interview, published Friday, he recounted a recent conversation in which he asked the former president what to say about how he is doing. And he kind of smiled and he said I dont know, myself, Jason Carter remembered. The former presidents grandson added that the fact that Carter is receiving hospice care in his beloved hometown of Plains, Georgia, must be a comfort. I think the fact that he and my grandmother both came from that small townits a 600 person village, reallyand its not near any interstate and it is truly out in the country and it is a fundamental part of who he is and who he has been for his whole life, he said There is no other place in the world that he would be at peace other than Plains. In November, Jimmy Carter appeared for the first time in public since entering hospice care, when he attended Rosalynn Carters funeral. At almost 100 Jimmy Carter is the oldest living former US president. Since the funeral, family members have been giving positive updates about the former presidents condition. (My grandfather) is doing OK, Jason Carter told an audience at the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy last month. He has been in hospice, as you know, for almost a year and a half now, and he really is, I think, coming to the end that, as Ive said before, theres a part of this faith journey that is so important to him, and theres a part of that faith journey that you only can live at the very end and I think he has been there in that space. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trumps latest rant against immigrants and asylum-seekers labeled people who traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to reach the US as lazy, while the former president spurred his crowd into chanting bulls***! in response to Joe Bidens efforts to address border security. The ex-president spoke in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon and railed against an executive order Biden signed this past week to address illegal border crossings. The order, signed by the president on Tuesday, allows the president to freeze the US asylum application system if illegal border crossings are occurring at an average rate of more than 2,500 per day. Last week, crooked Joe signed an executive order that is pro invasion, pro child trafficking, pro woman trafficking, pro human trafficking and pro drug dealers. It's a pro drug dealer bill, Trump said about the order, which is not a bill. What he signed means nothing. In fact, it makes it easier, in my opinion, it opens the border still further, the ex-president continued. He went on to label immigrants criminal and mentally ill, with the remainder smeared as lazy and not productive and explicitly not part of his vision to Make America Great Again. The entire world is emptying their prisons and jails, insane asylums and mental institutions. They're emptying them out into your state, but they're emptying out into all 50 states, argued Trump. Countries are dumping all of their criminals into our country, right? And also some people that are not criminals, but are not productive. Las Vegas chants BULLSH*T when Trump brings up Bidens toothless executive order on border security pic.twitter.com/DHNRK2gkhK johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) June 9, 2024 Trump has pushed his often dehumanising and insulting rhetoric aimed at immigrants to the extreme in 2024 as he campaigns for the White House a third time. The ex-presidents latest White House bid is underscored by four criminal trials, one already having reached a guilty verdict, which are costing Trump both time and money in legal fees as he mounts several legal defences. In New York this month Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of falsifying business documents to conceal a hush money scheme aimed at preventing porn star Stormy Daniels and other women from revealing alleged affairs with Trump during his presidential campaign. He has vowed to appeal, and is due for sentencing in July. While Trump could not make his charges in either New York or Georgia, where he is on trial for attempting to change the results of the 2020 election, go away he could conceivably bring an end to the prosecutions mounted by the Department of Justice were he to be elected president and sworn in before the cases concluded; the agency does not prosecute sitting presidents. Immigration has typically been seen as an area of weakness for the Biden campaign and Donald Trumps remarks on Sunday could be seen as his attempt to counter an effort by the president to paint his opponent as the one unwilling to seek compromise and usher through actual changes to Americas immigration policy beyond the surge in enforcement under Trumps first term. Biden and his party have seen an opening on the issue after Trump urged Republicans to kill a bipartisan compromise hammered out in the Senate which was centered around the main provision in his executive order. But it remains to be seen whether Democrats can effectively drive home the message blaming Republicans for the inaction on Capitol Hill. Polls of Nevada, which went for Biden in 2020, indicate that Trump holds a small lead in the state. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email 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 Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Donald Trump has executed three perfect U-turns within the last two weeks, three times acting in complete contradiction to his earlier public statements on three separate issues, his conscience cheerily untroubled. Having said he absolutely wanted to testify at his New York hush money trial, he ultimately opted out. Having once denounced TikTok as a tool of the villainous Chinese government, he joined it anyway and swiftly picked up more than 5 million followers. And having repeatedly called for Hillary Clinton to be jailed during the 2016 election, he denied ever having said it, ignoring the mountain of video evidence to the contrary. In so doing, the 45th president, current Republican presidential contender and now convicted felon inadvertently revealed a pattern of behavior that should give American voters pause for thought, exposing him, yet again, as anything but a man of his word. Heres a closer look at those three walk-backs, only the latest examples of Trump failing to live up to his bluster. Testifying The defendant baulked at the chance to testify at his Manhattan criminal trial last month despite complaining endlessly that he had no right of reply to the allegations made against him because of the gag order imposed by Judge Juan Merchan. He had also insisted on the Friday before proceedings began: Yeah, I would testify, absolutely. Thats not a trial. Thats a scam. Doing so would always have been a major risk for him, and he soon began to rein in the macho posturing and prepare the ground for anti-climax. Two weeks in, he was suddenly telling Newsmax he would only testify if its necessary. After the defense had closed its case without calling him, Trump explained to conservative radio that he feared his great past might have been used against him. Anything I did, anything I did in the past, they can bring everything up, and you know what, Ive had a great past but anything, he said, not altogether coherently. TikTok As president, Trump launched a bitter trade war with China, accusing the rival superpower of seeking to undermine Americas interests, steal its intellectual property and compromise national security, offering ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, as a prime example. As far as TikTok is concerned, were banning them from the United States, he declared in July 2020. He issued an executive order a month later that explained: TikTok automatically captures vast swathes of information from its users, including internet and other network activity information such as location data and browsing and search histories. This data collection threatens to allow the Chinese Communist Party access to Americans personal and proprietary information potentially allowing China to track the locations of federal employees and contractors, build dossiers of personal information for blackmail and conduct corporate espionage. But Trumps executive order aimed at banning TikTok in the US was blocked in the courts. Three years on, he joined the app himself, seemingly part of a strategy to target new voter demographics in this case, potential Gen-Z conservatives to back his latest tilt at the White House. Now, hes claiming that banning TikTok would just help Facebook: the true Enemy of the People. Lock her up! As the dust settled on the verdict in his criminal trial, Trump gave a friendly interview to three hosts from Fox and Friends Sunday, during which he protested his innocence and reeled off his customary complaints about the outcome being rigged, Judge Merchan being highly conflicted and so on. A more surprising line to emerge was his denial that he had ever called for Hillary Clinton to be imprisoned, something he had said repeatedly at rallies in 2016 but was now blaming on the people. Among the many commentators incensed by the lie was the late-night host Stephen Colbert, who gasped: That was your whole campaign! Stop it, we remember. We were there! In themselves, these three pivots might not appear to be of monumental importance. You could simply interpret them as the actions of a pragmatic candidate adapting to the ever-changing shape of the political landscape before him. But taken together, his opponents say, they offer a fresh reminder that Trump is, and always has been, someone prepared to say whatever is most politically expedient in the moment, with no qualms whatsoever about reneging on his promises when the earth subsequently shifts beneath him, no matter how hard his supporters have bought into the rhetoric. If Trump cannot be trusted to take a consistent line on TikTok, critics ask, why should voters believe his promise to free Evan Gershkovich from a Russian jail or any of the other vote-grabbing pledges he is currently making? For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} At least 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 people wounded in an Israeli air and ground raid on Saturday to rescue four hostages held by militants in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The operation took place inside Nuseirat, a densly packed refugee camp home to more than 85,000 refugees. Sixty-four of the dead were children and 57 were women, the Gazan government said, with Saturdays death toll said by medics to be the worst for months. The Gaza health ministrys death toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. A nurse in Al-Aqsa hospital told The Independent on Saturday: They freed four hostages and continued to aggressively and violently bomb Gaza to the point that the number of martyrs scattered in the streets reached 150 without anyone able to reach them until they finished their military operation. We have received approximately 500-600 injured until now. And after they completed their ground military operation, they then completely bombed the area where the operation occurred, and we are still receiving injuries. Palestinians help a wounded man after Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp ( AP ) There are children torn apart and scattered in the streets, they wiped out Nuseirat, it is hell on earth, Nidal Abdo, who witnessed the bombardment, told CNN. The deaths contribute to the more than 37,000 Palestinians that Gazan authorities estimate have been killed in the war, among the deadliest conflicts in the 21st century. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters under 100 Palestinians were killed, and it was unclear how many of them were militants. The operation secured the return of 26-year-old Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, aged 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, who were abducted by Hamas militants in October at the Nova musical festival being held close to the border with Gaza. Israeli rescue operation freed 26-year-old Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov, 27, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Almog Meir Jan (pictured), aged 22 ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, an Israeli police counterterrorism officer, died of wounds sustained in the operation, where Israeli soldiers came under heavy fire as they extracted the hostages from a pair of apartment buildings and brought them to a helicopter. Civil defense crews in Gaza reportedly continued to find dead and wounded people buried beneath the rubble the day after the raid, which strained what little remains of Gazas already decimated health infrastructure. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell Fontelles expressed horror at the bloodbath and reiterated calls for a ceasefire. Witnesses described the Israeli attack on Nuseirat as hell on earth ( AP ) Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling, he wrote on X on Saturday. We condemn this in the strongest terms. The complex assault deep into central Gaza on Saturday was the largest rescue operation since Hamas stormed across the border into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage, triggering the current war. The United States provided intelligence and logistical support information for the operation, The New York Times reports, citing an American official. Argamani was one of the most widely known hostages. Video footage of Hamas militants abducting her on a motorbike as she screamed for help was widely shared. Noa Argamani with her father Yakov and a family friend Nir Givon, in Ramat Gan following her rescue ( via REUTERS ) All four former hostages were transfered to a hospital for examinations and are in good medical condition, according to Israeli officials. Israeli leaders praised the bravery of the rescuers, who entered Nuseirat in the middle of the day. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday called the rescue one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations I have witnessed over the course of 47 years serving in Israels defense establishment. Freed Israeli hostage Noa Argamani celebrates father's birthday on her return Hagari, the IDF spokesman, criticized Hamas for holding the hostages in a civilian area. This was a mission in the heart of a civilian neighborhood, where Hamas had intentionally hidden among homes where there were civilians, and armed militants guarding the hostages, he said. Of the 250 hostages abducted on October 7, around half were released in a week-long ceasefire in November. Some 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under five and two men in their 80s. Saturdays operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven, including one who was freed shortly after the October attack. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. Domestic pressure is building against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to free the remaining hostages and reach some kind of ceasefire agreement ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. ) The latest rescue lifted some spirits in Israel as divisions deepen over how to bring hostages home with many Israelis urging premier Benjamin Netanyahu to embrace a ceasefire deal US announced by US president Joe Biden last month. A protest last week in Tel Aviv drew a crowd of more than 100,000. His far-right allies have threatened to collapse his government if he does. Israeli tanks advanced into two new districts on Sunday in an apparent effort to complete the encirclement of the entire eastern side of Rafah, sparking clashes with dug-in armed groups, residents trapped in their homes said. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa of the Palestinian Authority, a rival to Hamas which governs parts of the West Bank, is seeking an emergency session at the United Nations Security Council following the bloodshed in Nuseirat. Outside of direct fighting, UN agencies warn over 1m people in Gaza could face famine-level hunger by mid-July. Additional reporting by AP For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails 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 Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Four Israeli hostages, taken by Hamas from the Nova music festival, have been rescued alive from the central Gaza strip, the Israeli military has said. The release was secured after the Israeli military carried out a complex daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat, raiding two locations. The raids left 210 Palestinians, including children, dead, Gazan authorities said, according to the Associated Press. Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were all recovered on Saturday and were taken by a helicopter for medical tests before they were reunited with their families. They were all in good medical condition after being taken to the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, the Israeli military said. An Israeli military spokesperson said the operation took place in the heart of a residential neighbourhood in Nuseirat where Hamas had kept the hostages in two separate apartment blocks. Gazan paramedics and residents said the assault killed scores of people and left mangled bodies of men, women and children strewn around a marketplace and a mosque. A nurse in Al-Aqsa hospital told The Independent: Regarding what occurred here, according to the occupation, they freed four hostages and continued to aggressively and violently bomb Gaza to the point that the number of martyrs scattered in the streets reached 150 without anyone able to reach them until they finished their military operation. We have received approximately 500-600 injured until now. And after they completed their ground military operation, they then completely bombed the area where the operation occurred, and we are still receiving injuries. Noa Argamani stands with her father Yakov (right) and a family friend, Nir Givon, in Ramat Gan, Israel ( Reuters ) Argamanis abduction on the back of a motorcycle became one of the most recognisable images from the October 7 terror attacks ( Telegram ) Israel says more than 130 hostages of the 200-plus abducted by Hamas during the October 7 attacks remain in captivity, with about a quarter of those believed dead, while divisions are deepening in the country over how best to bring them home. Those injured were taken to Al-Awda Hospital in Nuseirat and Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir Al-Balah of Gaza. However, an Israeli military spokesperson put the number of casualties under 100 and said it does not have information on how many were civilians. Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the forces entered civilian areas to reach the hostages where Hamas members were also there. Hostages were locked in two separate apartments in multi-story buildings and Ms Argamani, who is one of the most recognised hostages after her video went viral, was held in a different building, he said. The IDF had received intelligence on their location, he said, adding that hostages were being moved around. Saturdays rescue comes as international pressure mounts on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday. US secretary of state Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East next week to seek a breakthrough in the apparently stalled ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. Israels offensive has killed at least 36,000 Palestinians, according to Gazas health ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures. Saturdays operation is the largest recovery of living hostages since the war erupted, bringing the total of rescued captives to seven. Two men were rescued in February when troops stormed a heavily guarded apartment in a densely packed town, and a woman was rescued in the immediate aftermath of Octobers attack. Andrey Kozlov is one of four hostages to have been freed ( Reuters ) Israeli troops have so far recovered at least 16 bodies of hostages from Gaza, according to the government. Israels prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is facing growing pressure to end the fighting in Gaza, with many Israelis urging him to embrace a deal announced last month by US president Joe Biden, but far-right allies are threatening to collapse his government if he does. It was an emotional day as the hostages met their loved ones in tearful reunions after 246 days. Almog Meir Jan reacts after being rescued ( Reuters ) Meir Jan is reunited with a relative ( Reuters ) Ms Argamani became one of the most prominent faces of the October attack after she was abducted from the Nova music festival. The video of her abduction was among the first to surface, with images of her horrified face widely shared as she was held between two men on a motorcycle. Her mother, Liora, has stage four brain cancer and in April released a video pleading to see her daughter before she dies. Ms Argamani had a phone call with Mr Netanyahu following her release, in which she reportedly said she was very excited to be free and glad to be hearing Hebrew again. Yaakov Argamani, father of Ms Argamani, said: We cant forget there are 120 hostages. We must do everything, but everything, as soon as possible to bring them home, so that their families can embrace them in happiness. Orit Meir, mother of Almog Meir Jan thanked the Israeli military in a press conference, saying: Tomorrow is my birthday so I got my present. She urged the government to also secure the release of the other dozens of captives that remained in Gaza. We want a deal now. We want them to come back home as soon as possible, she said. As fighting continues in Gaza, the Gazan health ministry said the bodies of 94 Palestinians, including children, had been taken to the Al-Aqsa Hospital. A wounded Palestinian child is treated at Al-Aqsa Hospital in Gaza ( AP ) People walk across the rubble of destroyed buildings in the Nuseirat camp in Gaza ( AFP via Getty Images ) A man rushes a wounded child towards medics at Al-Aqsa Hospital ( AFP via Getty Images ) AP said that its reporters had seen bodies being brought in from the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah areas. A baby was among the dead. Bodies were placed on the ground outside, their feet bare, as more wounded were rushed in. AP quoted a family member at the hospital saying: My two cousins were killed, and two other cousins were seriously injured. They did not commit any sin. They were sitting at home. Neighbouring Egypt and Jordan condemned the raids. Egypt denounced Israels attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp in strongest terms, with its foreign ministry calling it a flagrant violation of all rules of international law. The bloodbath must end immediately, the European Unions foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the social platform X, noting reports of civilian deaths. With reporting from agencies The AI iPhone is finally about to arrive. On Monday, at 10am local pacific time, the tech giants executives will take to a stage at its campus in California and finally give an answer to a question the world has been asking for the last 18 months. It will finally open up on what it is going to do with artificial intelligence. We have a pretty good idea of what that answer will be, from rumours, reports and gossip. It appears that Apples plan is to bring AI which it might refer to as Apple Intelligence to as many products and as much of its operating system as possible, infusing it across its technologies in subtle and not so subtle ways. That will include new tools that allow devices to summarise large and complicated data, for instance offering recaps of web pages and long message threads. Siri will be improved so that it is better to talk to and can do more with those conversations, such as operating parts of the phone. It might also include potentially more controversial plans, such as tie-ups with OpenAI and new features that require data to be sent off the device to servers elsewhere. The actual desire among normal consumers for these AI features still remains largely untested. ChatGPT might be the fastest-growing app in history, but it was free, and many people may have simply been using it for fun. Apple is in the inconvenient situation of actually having to sell its products to customers, and so has the awkward task of being a major test of whether people actually want them. It will be doing so at a tough time for public perception of AI. Some 18 months ago, when ChatGPT was still fresh, the conversation about AI was all excitement even the fears that were discussed were largely about it being simply too powerful and good, and destroying or incapacitating humanity as a result. Now, the long-promised revolution in society is yet to arrive, and describing something as being AI-powered is as likely to give the sense that it is a tawdry and potentially unethical knockoff as it being a sci-fi thrill. Apple began its current rush to infuse everything with AI in that latter market, when investors were clamouring for it to catch up and users were wondering whether they were missing out by not having Google phones. Now its products will actually arrive into a world of suspicion and cynicism, with people as likely to think that AI is going to hurt as help them. open image in gallery Apple will introduce its new AI iPhone, and give a clearer picture of what it is going to do with the technology, at this years WWDC ( Getty ) Apple has some very public and largely laudable principles that may hold it back in the field of AI. The technology is really large-scale data analysis tool, and is only as good as the information it has, but Apples very public belief that privacy is a human right means that it minimises data collection. Its commitment to security means that it is likely to want to constrain the access of any automated system. And its hardcore control of its own brand means that it will want to avoid any systems that are likely to generate offensive or even politically sensitive outputs, as AI often does. Early on, its commitment to corporate secrecy also meant that AI researchers many of whom come from a more academic context and were used to hearing their work in public were resistant to working for Apple, and it has been forced to open up a little in response. But perhaps the most notable problem it has is that it is really not all that interested in technology for its own sake at all. The company is instead interested, from a marketing perspective, in user experience: what a product does, not how it does it. That has meant that the AI breakthroughs that it does have and there are many have usually been left behind the scenes. Its first devoted AI hardware arrived in the iPhone 8 in 2017, for instance. And for nearly a decade the iPhone has offered what Apple then called proactive suggestions, so that the iPhone could for instance guess what app its owners is likely to want to use next and make it available to click on. But back then in the now unimaginable period before Dall-E and ChatGPT AI was something between scary and banal, and Apple didnt shout about it. Even at last years Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), with AI hype through Silicon Valley, Apple pointedly didnt say artificial intelligence once. Instead, it kept that old focus: using the actually much more specific and useful term machine learning, and describing the features it brought, such as improved autocorrect, rather than the technology underpinning them. None of which is to say that it hasnt been late to incorporate some AI features. It appears to have underestimated the possibilities of generative artificial intelligence, and seems to have admitted as much by scrambling to add it to its products ready for this year. It is rushing to catch up. Apple has not typically been first into product categories, but instead aims to be best. It didnt make the first smartphone, smartwatch or even virtual reality headset, but has become more or less synonymous with them in the time since. It has done much the same with AI a strategy that might have led to questions from commentators, but has also allowed Apple to let other people go ahead and make mistakes. The wisdom of that has been proven out in the last month alone. Googles AI summaries were found to be encouraging people to eat rocks. OpenAI is in trouble with Scarlett Johansson over using a voice that sounds uncannily like hers. Microsoft has faced backlash and official investigations over a feature called Recall that aims to take constant snapshots of everything you do on your computer so that it can be used by your personal AI. Even with its relatively cautious approach, Apple hasnt been free from making mistakes of its own. Last month, it announced its new iPad Pro with an ad called Crush, which showed creative tools such as musical instruments being squished in a hydraulic press, and coming out in the super-slim form of the iPad. It was intended to show that the tablet packs everything you need to make a song into a tiny form but all people saw was a piano being pulverised, at a time when artists of all kinds already feel like the technology industry is out to make them obsolete. The ad didnt even have anything explicitly to do with AI, but all of the conversations about it did. Apple quickly apologised, and pulled it. But it may have been the first taste for Apple of the dangers of AI and the pressure it is under to avoid them. Sign up to our free weekly IndyTech newsletter delivered straight to your inbox Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter Sign up to our free IndyTech newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy There might be no E3 in 2024 but summer is still a huge time in the gaming industry and the Xbox Games Showcase is Microsofts turn to show their hand in the hopes of wowing gamers. Other than Senuas Saga: Hellblade II releasing in May, it has been a very quiet period for Xbox with a lack of AAA titles since Starfield in September last year - will the Showcase give fans big things to look forward to? What is the Xbox Games Showcase? The Xbox Games Showcase is essentially THE event for Microsoft to present their games to the world, alongside leading creators and partners in the industry. When is the Xbox Games Showcase? The Xbox Games Showcase takes place on Sunday 9 June at 10am PT/ 1pm ET/ 6pm BST. How to watch the Xbox Games Showcase? There are numerous ways to watch the Xbox Games Showcase, you can sign up for reminders on the Xbox website, on the Xbox YouTube and Twitch channels or on your Xbox directly from the homepage of your console. What will be featured at the Xbox Games Showcase? This will be the first Showcase where Microsoft will also present games across Activision Blizzard and Bethesda as well as their own Xbox Game Studios. Among the big titles expected to be on show are Gears of War 6, A Starfield DLC titled Shattered Space, Microsoft Flight Simulator 2024 and Indiana Jones and The Greact Circle. What about Call of Duty? Now Microsoft owns Activision it essentially also owns the Call of Duty franchise and on June 9th, after the Xbox Games Showcase finishes there will be a Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 Direct. The Call of Duty Direct will also be an online event you can watch in all the same places and will give fans another look at the forthcoming title - Call of Duty: Black Ops 6. Microsoft has previously confirmed that Black Ops 6 will arrive day one on its Game Pass service. Sign up to Simon Calders free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discounts Get Simon Calders Travel email Get Simon Calders Travel email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight that was forced to turn around after a tire failed just after takeoff recalled the panic on the plane as travelers prepared for an emergency landing. When the flight attendants said we were going to have an emergency landing, we started to panic a little bit. People were definitely crying and screaming and trying to console one another, Julianna Donadio recalled to Fox 31. Southwest Airlines flight No 225 had just taken off from Denver International Airport around 6:30 p.m. on June 3 and was heading to Phoenix, Arizona, when the tire failed, according to the airline. Donadio, who lives in Boulder and was on her way to visit her mother, said the tire made a loud sound. We knew we blew a tire, but we didnt know what the landing gear situation was, she said. They started preparing us for crash position, so having our head between our knees, and they were informing the emergency exit line how to open the doors and operate potentially the slides. open image in gallery A United Airlines flight lost a tire in March and landed on a Toyota Corolla, destroying it ( Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved ) The crew on board the flight remained calm as they braced for impact. When we landed, everyone was cheering and clapping, the woman said. In a statement, Southwest confirmed the plane landed without incident. Southwest Flight 225 returned safely to Denver on Monday, June 3, after a tire failed during takeoff. Following standard Safety procedures, the Pilots declared an emergency prior to landing. The flight landed without incident and taxied off the runway. A separate aircraft operated the scheduled flight to Phoenix, the airline said. A similar - but more extreme - situation occurred in March when a United Airlines flight left San Francisco International Airport for Japan and lost a tire. The wheel fell off the plane and landed on a Toyota Corolla, destroying it. The plane was forced to make an emergency landing at Los Angeles International Airport, where authorities had fire engines on standby. In both cases, the aircrafts were manufactured by Boeing. The company has come under intense scrutiny after an Alaska Airlines flight in January lost a door plug at 16,000 feet. The Federal Aviation Administration grounded 171 Boeing 737 Max 9 aircrafts worldwide until they could be inspected. Some of the planes returned to the skies later that month. The Independent emailed Southwest for comment. Police in Israels city of Tel Aviv used water cannons on Saturday 8 June to disperse protesters at a rally against the government of Benjamin Netanyahu. After a peaceful demonstration of thousands demanding new elections and a deal to release the hostages held in Gaza, protesters moved to another point of the city where mounted police officers and water cannons were used to disperse them. Demonstrations against Mr Netanyahu are taking place weekly in Israel, with people demanding a different approach to the war. International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month on Friday. Kamala Harris was heckled as she gave a speech at the Michigan Democratic Party dinner in Detroit. The US vice president was interrupted when she started talking about Israeli hostages being rescued in Gaza. Im speaking right now, Ms Harris said as the heckler started to shout to the cameras in the room. I value and respect your voice, but Im speaking right now. Four Israeli hostages were rescued on Saturday 8 June in a central Gaza raid that killed 274 Palestinians. The death toll was the worst over a 24-hour period of the Gaza war for months and included many women and children. Pharmaceuticals Approval for Gileads original HIV drug was granted in the US in 2001. Photo: Getty Gilead Sciences, a US firm with a big Irish manufacturing operation, has agreed to pay $40m (37m) to settle a legal case that alleged it had delayed developing newer HIV drugs in order to boost profits of an older drug. More than 2,600 people with HIV claimed it had sold a HIV drug without disclosing harmful side effects while delaying development of a safer alternative treatment a claim that Gilead denied. The US drugmaker has had a large manufacturing facility at Carrigtwohill in Cork since 1999 which produces a substantial portion of its oral HIV drugs for 100 markets. It was claimed Gilead did not want to hurt already established TDF sales by admitting the product was unsafe Approval for Gileads original HIV drug was granted in the US in 2001. It contained a form of the compound tenofovir (TDF). Patients claimed in the US District Court for the Northern District of California that Gilead knew this substance was toxic to patients kidneys and bones. It was further claimed that Gilead had subsequently discovered a safer version of the drug called tenofovir alafenamide fumarate (TAF) that was absorbed much more efficiently than TDF but that it had delayed development of this drug because it did not want to hurt already established TDF sales by admitting the product was unsafe. In a statement, Gilead Sciences said it had reached the agreement in principle with counsel representing the overwhelming majority of plaintiffs in the federal TDF litigation that was pending in the Californian court. In no way is this settlement an admission of liability or wrongdoing Gilead entered into this agreement to avoid the cost and distraction of litigating these cases, and in no way is this settlement an admission of liability or wrongdoing, said the statement. Gilead said it expected the settlement would resolve the claims of the overwhelming majority of plaintiffs in the federal TDF litigation. However, there may be some plaintiffs in the federal TDF litigation who do not elect to participate in the settlement and there are others who are not part of this agreement. As to those plaintiffs, Gilead will continue to vigorously defend itself. "Gilead has never stopped working to improve the lives of people with HIV, it said. Sustainability The findings are contained in research by LifeSight Ireland, a multi-employer pension trust owned by global advisory firm WTW. Image: Getty Investors in Ireland are happy to invest sustainably unless it costs them in lower financial returns, higher fees or means a later retirement Thats the findings of new research by LifeSight Ireland, a multi-employer pension trust owned by global advisory firm WTW. It found that although 56pc of 2,000 members surveyed wanted their savings invested sustainably and 59pc want more information on what companies are doing to tackle climate change, just 24pc of them would choose a sustainable investment if it meant lower returns or higher fees. And only 21pc would be prepared to choose a sustainable investment if it meant retiring later. However, the survey did find that 44pc of those surveyed believe that investing in companies focused on sustainability will achieve better investment returns over the long term. Over half of investors aged between 60 and 69 said they want to invest sustainably, roughly comparable to all younger age groups. At WTW, we believe that members do not need to forego returns to invest sustainably, said LifeSight Irelands MD Maria Quinlan. The research also found that over half of respondents believe they are currently secure in their financial position and that independent financial advisers and pension providers are the most trusted sources of financial wellness advice. Fieldays is the largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere An aerial view of the Fieldays show at Mystery Creek. Photo: Getty A farmer examines an excavator at Fieldays in New Zealand. Photo: Getty Both Ireland and New Zealand have rich agricultural heritages and long-standing and trusted reputations in the sector. Next week, some of Irelands top agri-tech and agri-machinery companies will be exhibiting at Fieldays the largest agricultural show in the Southern Hemisphere, which takes place in Mystery Creek, Waikato, New Zealand from June 12-15. With a focus on quality engineering, cutting-edge technology and innovation, Fieldays is an excellent showcase platform for innovative Irish firms keen to expand in New Zealand and beyond. Many well-known Irish companies sell into the New Zealand market As well as being attended by the whole agriculture industry in New Zealand farmers, agri-businesses, research organisations, government and other industry stakeholders it also attracts international farm machinery and equipment buyers from Australia and across the broader Asia-Pacific region. New Zealand provides fertile ground for Irish machinery and technology, as equipment and technologies engineered and developed for the Irish market can be easily adapted to address similar challenges in New Zealand. Many well-known Irish companies have been selling into the New Zealand market in recent decades, and theres keen interest across the sector in this market. Irish-owned companies are increasingly delivering innovative solutions which help maximise yield and minimise environmental impact, inputs and costs, helping make farming more efficient, economical and sustainable. Irish innovations that will be of interest to New Zealand include equipment for precision farming, and technologies which automate on-farm processes and give farmers better oversight of operations. An aerial view of the Fieldays show at Mystery Creek. Photo: Getty These data-driven insights can help to inform more efficient decisions on the farm. Climate-related initiatives also create opportunities for solutions, which can help agri-businesses operate more sustainably and reduce environmental impact. Six firms will feature on the Ireland stand managed by Enterprise Ireland at Fieldays. They include established agri-machinery firms who already have a strong New Zealand presence, such as Abbey Machinery and Dairymaster, as well as Galway- based JFC Group, which will show its Evolution automatic calf feeder. Also on this years stand will be workwear and protective clothing specialists Portwest, along with animal DNA and genomic testing experts Weatherbys Scientific. Rounding out the six is Agri Data Analytics, a start-up from Offaly which has developed the Bovine Breathalyser, a device to measure methane emissions from cattle. The networking opportunities at Fieldays will further strengthen ties Partnering with local product distributors and dealers has proven to be an effective route to market for Irish firms. As well as those companies on the Ireland stand, a further 10 Irish equipment brands will be represented at Fieldays by local dealers and distributors. These include Co Mayos Agri-Spread International, which is bringing its fertiliser and lime spreaders, and StrongBo Agri-tech, which is showing its Auto Weigher livestock performance monitoring system. Other Irish-engineered kit at the show will come from McHale, Keenan, Hi-Spec, Major Equipment, Malone Farm Machinery, ProDig Attachments, Tanco Autowrap and Dromone Engineering. The networking opportunities at the show will further strengthen the ties between both countries. If you are an Irish agri-tech interested in attending Fieldays in 2025, or in exporting to Australia or New Zealand, contact Enterprise Irelands in-market team. Eoin Hughes is market advisor in agri-business & waste for Enterprise Ireland in Australia and NZ Whiskey Planners said William Grant and Sons had increased volume production at Tullamore DEW 'significantly' Tullamore DEW has indicated it could look to expand its 100-person distillery in the Co Offaly town toward the end of the decade. The owner of the Irish whiskey brand, Scottish whiskey giant William Grant and Sons, discussed the distillery's future in a planning application for a large solar farm nearby. The solar farm would provide electricity to the distillery, resulting in an annual reduction of 750 tonnes of CO2. In the document, planners said William Grant and Sons had increased volume production at Tullamore DEW significantly, with output this year nearing 13 million litres of absolute alcohol. Tullamore dew Irish whiskey This is the current theoretical maximum for the site, and this will lead to further expansion plans/considerations towards the end of the decade, the planners said. The planning document said William Grant established operations at Tullamore in 2014, building a distillery and maturation facility. It said the site was fully developed into a modern grain-to-glass facility that employs over 100 people. Bottling volumes have increased threefold since William Grant acquired the Tullamore DEW brand in 2010. The company predicts volumes will hit two million cases in 2025. Planners said William Grant had steadily increased maturation warehousing to support the increased output at the Tullamore DEW distillery. William Grant and Sons produces brands including Glenfiddich and Hendricks Gin Eleven are now in operation, and plans are in place for two more. The planning document said 500,000 casks were maturing onsite. William Grants website claims Tullamore DEW is the worlds second-largest Irish whiskey. The Scottish alcohol giant, producing brands like Glenfiddich and Hendricks Gin, bought Tullamore DEW from Bulmers cider owner C&C Group. It also bought Carolans, Frangelico and Irish Mist in the 250m deal. Quite useless The biting rejection letters of Brian Friel The Dancing at Lughnasa playwrights early years are chronicled in a new book The photo of Brian Friel used in The New York Times obituary of the writer Emily Hourican Sun 9 Jun 2024 at 03:30 In 1962, two years after giving up his job as a schoolteacher to pursue writing full-time, Brian Friel then still more of a short story writer than a playwright introduced himself to the readers of his new Irish Press column: I spend the greater part of my working day in a back room at the top of the house. It is a damp, depressing room, and I hate it very much. Luke ONeill: Everything you need to know about Ozempic and why it could soon be used to treat depression, Parkinsons and addiction The medical evacuation was carried out by the Irish Coast Guard around 296km off the south coast this morning A crew member on a merchant vessel was taken to hospital after a long range rescue mission this morning. A medical evacuation was carried out by the Irish Coast Guard on a merchant vessel around 296 km off the south coast. The long-range operation by the coast guard took place at 9am this morning, after the vessel had alerted the coast guard on Friday, reporting a crew member was seriously ill. Valentia Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre and MEDICO in Cork arranged a medical evacuation for the nearest opportunity. The vessel moved closer to the coast and rendezvoused with Rescue 115 helicopter this morning. The UK Coastguard aircraft RESCUE99 provided top cover support for the helicopter operating at long range. The Irish Coast Guard said it can confirm that the crew member was landed safely at Kerry University Hospital in the south west for medical attention later on Sunday morning and the vessel resumed passage. This is the second long-range medical evacuation coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard in recent days. On Friday, the Waterford Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter - using Cork Airport to extend range successfully completed a medical evacuation of an ill crew member from another merchant vessel. This operation was coordinated with and supported by the UK and Danish authorities following an alert from the vessel. Kinahan cartel money-launderer Johnny Morrissey has been released from a Spanish jail on bail but is no longer a key ally of the international crime syndicate led by Daniel Kinahan. The Manchester native, nicknamed Johnny Cash, was once considered a loyal servant to the cartel, even attending Daniel Kinahans 2017 wedding in Dubai but it is understood he has now become disposable to the Kinahan organised crime group. Independents show strongly in local and Euro votesSeveral candidates from migrant backgrounds win The Government parties are on course for victory in the local elections after voters put a break on Sinn Feins seemingly relentless march to power. Having spent much of the last four years polling above 30pc, Mary Lou McDonalds party is set to finish third behind Fine Gael and Fianna Fail. Based on extensive but incomplete tallies yesterday evening, Sinn Fein looks like taking up to 14pc of the local elections vote virtually matching its performance in the 2016 general election. But even though Sinn Fein will make modest gains on councils around the country, its performance will be a long way short of its own expectations. The two main Coalition parties will lose more than 100 seats between them but are going head-to-head to be the biggest party in local government with around 200 seats each out of the 949 on offer. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail also seem on course to replicate, or get close to its 2016 general election performance, when both won 25pc and 24pc of the vote, respectively. And while the Green Party is struggling this weekend, it is not facing the wipe-out that some foresaw. Eamon Ryans party is at risk of losing their two MEPs though. On a day when Independents enjoyed a mini surge, the outcome immediately sparked talk among government TDs that the date of the general election will be brought forward. A number of candidates from migrant backgrounds are set to be elected. Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said Fine Gael expect up to six immigrant candidates to get elected in the Dublin area. So for every far-right warrior on Twitter who is going to get elected therell be at least on, therell be at least one Fine Gael candidate from a migrant background in Dublin elected, so five fingers to the far-right, he said. Taoiseach Simon Harris spent yesterday monitoring events from a bunker. He is carefully assessing individual results in order to identify replacements for the 11 Fine Gael TDs who have already indicated they wont contest a general election. The mood within Fine Gael was described by sources as giddy. For months we worried about going into the Dail next Tuesday and having Mary Lou McDonald shouting youve lost your mandate. Its her mandate in trouble now, a senior Fine Gael source said. Sinn Fein activists put on a brave face, arguing that the party will be adding dozens of seats to the 81 won in 2019. But a final tally for the four Dublin local authorities were Sinn Fein expected big gains was symbolic of the crisis facing Ms McDonald. The party polled just 11pc in the capital, compared to 14pc for Fianna Fail and 19pc for Fine Gael. Tanaiste Micheal Martin insisted Fianna Fail still wants the general election to be in February or March next year, saying the results do not change my mind. But one of his ministers told the Sunday Independent the goalposts were moving. Expect it this year. The question is wholl say it first, the minister said. The subplot to the election was the rise of Independent who were the ones to gain from an overall drop in support from the main parties. There will be more than 200 Independent candidates in councils across the country once counting concludes. Former minister Kevin Boxer Moran, who lost his Dail seat four years ago believes he is now on a journey back to Leinster House on foot of a strong showing in Westmeath. I know the Taoiseach this week said there would be no election, but I think with some of the TDs being elected to Europe puts pressure on the Taoiseach to make this move sooner rather than later, he said. Among the Independents will be a small number who ran on an anti-immigration platform. The debate around the record numbers of asylum seekers arriving here hasnt resulted in a major breakthrough for those who campaigned on the issue. However, for the first time in modern Irish politics a number of local authorities will have councillors who could be considered hard right. Derek Bligh, who uses rhetoric such as unvetted, fake refugees, polled well in Fermoy and could win a seat on Cork County Council. In Dublin Malachy Steenson, an independent candidate who wants to refuse any new applications from asylum seekers, got almost 9pc of the vote in the north-inner city. And Gavin Pepper, who believes there is an ethnocide threatening Irish culture, is in the mix in Finglas. With the direction of transfers looking hugely volatility it is difficult to predict how the smaller parties will ultimately fair. The Labour Party and Social Democrats look steady and could bring a combined vote of between 8-10pc which is likely to raise further questions about a future merger that would make them a viable left-wing alternative to Sinn Fein. And on the other side of the political spectrum, Peadar Toibins Aontu is expected to make some gains. Tallies in the European election count were patchy but Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein all still expect to take three seats. Fianna Fails Barry Andrews is the likely poll topper in the capital, where Regina Doherty (FG) and Lynn Boylan (SF) are said to confident. The race for the final seat will be between former shock jock Niall Boylan, Labours Aodhan ORiordain and outgoing Green Ciaran Cuffe. In Midlands-North West, Independent Luke Ming Flanagan and Fine Gaels Maria Walsh look set to be going back to Brussels. Beyond that the final three seats are very much in play. Ireland South incumbents Sean Kelly (FG) and Billy Kelleher (FF) are considered the only certainties in Ireland South. The former security general of the Department of Finance John Moran is posed to be the first-directly elected mayor of Limerick. Counting in the contest doesnt officially begin until tomorrow but tallies show Mr Moran at 25pc of first preferences which would make extremely hard to beat. A FIRST count for the Ireland South constituency in the European Parliament election may not be concluded until Monday morning. Counting is ongoing at the Nemo Rangers GAA complex in Cork with over 600,000 ballot papers being checked. Early counting indicated that outgoing MEPs Sean Kelly and Billy Kelleher are set to be comfortably reelected. Boxes opened so far have shown strong polling for both Mr Kelly, a former GAA President and Fine Gael MEP, as well as for Billy Kelleher, a former Junior Minister and Fianna Fail MEP. With over 600,000 votes to be counted and 23 candidates on the ballot paper, a first count had been hoped for by midnight but may not now be announced until Monday morning. Elections 2024 analysis with Kevin Doyle and Jody Corcoran The final three seats are expected to be decided in a tight battle between Sinn Fein's Kathleen Funchion, Independents Mick Wallace and Michael McNamara as well as outgoing Green Party MEP Grace O'Sullivan. Early indications are that the Green Party politician is lagging behind her rivals on first preference votes and potential transfers. One of the first candidates to visit the Ireland South count centre at Nemo Rangers GAA club in Cork today was Ireland First President Derek Blighe. Mr Blighe, an anti-immigration activist, contested both the Cork Co Council and European Parliament elections. He visited the centre with family and supporters and viewed the counting of ballots. Tallies indicated he is unlikely to be elected in either election. Other politicians expected to visit the count centre later today are Billy Kelleher, Grace O'Sullivan and Sean Kelly. European Elections Ireland South The eighth count in Ireland South saw Clare-based Independent candidate Michael McNamara pick up the largest number of transfers. He secured 1,088 transfers from Independent candidate Una McGurk, bringing his total to 58,897. Ms McGurk, who is a barrister from Kenmare, Co Kerry was eliminated in this count. Her 8,328 papers will be distributed in the next count. Billy Kelleher (Fianna Fail) looks set to be elected tomorrow. He is currently on 93,959 votes and is a considerable distance away from the quota of 114,761. It will take a number of counts for him to reach the quota. He is followed by Michael McNamara (Independent) on 58,897; Cynthia Ni Mhurchu (FF) on 57,144; Mick Wallace (I4C) on 55,967; Kathleen Funchion (Sinn Fein) on 52,106 and Grace OSullivan (Green Party) on 49,289. Incumbent Sean Kelly (FG) remains the only candidate elected. He was elected in the first count. Olivia Kelleher Cllr Seamus McGrath was re-elected to his seat earning the highest number of first preference votes in the country. Finance Minister Michael McGrath, left, and his brother Councillor Seamus McGrath, right, at Cork City Hall during the count (Jonathan Brady/PA) The brother of Finance Minister Michael McGrath has said he would be open to running in the general election, following in the footsteps of his brother, after his landslide victory in Cork. Cllr Seamus McGrath, a Fianna Fail candidate in the Carrigaline Municipal District, was re-elected to his seat earning the highest number of first preference votes in the country. Mr McGrath was elected with 5,191 first preference votes at the first count shortly after 11pm on Saturday at County Hall in Cork, earning more than 2.5 times the quota for the LEA, which was 2,057 votes. "It was a fantastic vote and I was quite shocked at the level of support I received I was very overwhelmed, he told the Irish Independent. In response to the 3,000 surplus, the Mr McGrath said he is humbled. "It was late on Saturday night when I got elected so there has been no major celebrations yet, but it is a huge sense of relief and gratitude. "It is very humbling to receive such a vote but it is the recognition of hard work and it is good to see that in politics, hard work is recognised, he said. When asked if he has ambitions to follow his brother into Dail Eireann, Mr McGrath said: I have been quite open about it if an opportunity arises to have a run for the general election and to the Dail, then that is something I would be open to and would welcome. However, for now he said he intends on focusing on his role as a councillor, which he has held for the last 17 years, over four elections. Mr McGrath said despite having a brother as a minister, the Passage West harbour town natives did not come from a political family at all. "Both Michael and I got interested in politics in college in university in Cork, he said. "Our parents werent involved in the party at all. We both got involved around that time in college. Thankfully politics has been good to us, he said. He credited Passage West Town Council, where he and Michael, before being elected to the Dail in 2007, were members of, as being their stepping stone into the world of politics. "It is something we both enjoy doing and we are fortunate enough to be supported by the community in doing it, he added. Celebrations underway after new councillors elected The former County Cork Mayor thanked everyone who went to the effort of voting for him and recognised his work in the community. He put his landslide victory down to being very involved in the community on many issues, as well as supporting families and individuals. "It really boils down to being as active a public representative as possible, trying to stay accessible to everybody and trying your best on any given issue, the UCC bachelor of commerce graduate added. He credited a good and vibrant 10-week campaign, where he said he was surrounded by a group of loyal people who all pitched in and put in as much effort as they could while out canvassing and knocking on doors. "Thankfully it has worked, he added. Green Party candidate Honore Kamegni made history by becoming the first Black person to be elected to Cork City Council. Mr Kamegni was elected on the 12th count in the hotly-contested South East Ward. He ran a high-profile campaign which utilised his local knowledge as an An Post manager. Originally from Cameroon in west Africa, he has been living in Ireland for 22 years and said he now considers himself a proud Corkman. He became involved in the Green Party and was persuaded by local politicians including Councillor Dan Boyle to consider running for public office.Mr Kamegni admitted he had been targeted by racial abuse during the campaign on various social media platforms, much of it believed to have originated from far right groups overseas. However, he received strong personal support from candidates in other political parties. The Green Party candidate was targeted by a number of far right groups for abuse but he shrugged it off and insisted that the overwhelming majority of people were incredibly kind and supportive towards him. His election was hailed as evidence of Ireland's integration efforts and multi-cultural status. FINE Gael's Shane O'Callaghan topped the poll in the Cork South Central ward and was deemed elected on the first count. He was the third councillor elected to Cork City Council after the day-long count. Councillor O'Callaghan comfortably exceeded the quota of 1,528 with a first preference total of 1,870. The count was suspended for the night after he was deemed elected. Fianna Fail, Independents and Labour enjoyed strong electoral performances in Cork City Council. However, Fine Gael are battling to defend their position on the 31 seat council and are at risk of potentially losing two seats. It was a good election for Fianna Fail, the Labour Party, Social Democrats and Independents - with potential breakthroughs available in several of the council's five wards depending on late count transfers. The Social Democrats are now battling to elect their first councillor to Cork City Hall. Labour could win two extra seats if transfers break in their favour - potentially a major achievement given that the party had been reduced to just one seat on the council. Sinn Fein are unlikely to secure the hoped for gains and are battling to avoid losing a council seat. The far right are set to fail to make the breakthrough in Cork that they had hoped for with several candidates failing to achieve the first preference votes required to put them in with a chance of securing a seat, depending on transfers. There was a strong performance by Independents in the City Hall election with outgoing Lord Mayor Councillor Kieran McCarthy and Councillor Ken O'Flynn enjoying large votes. It has been a dramatic four days of recounts, shock eliminations and microphones going missing only to turn up at the local bingo It's a thumbs up from Will Paton The calmness before tomorrow's storm at the Carlow count centre Its finally all over in Carlow after over 34 hours of counting. It has been an incredibly tense four days, with two shock recounts called in the Tullow LEA. The 18 seats have now been filled across the three districts of Muinebheag, Carlow and Tullow. Muinebheag LEA: Thomas Kinsella- Fine Gael Willie Quinn- Labour Andy Gladney- Sinn Fein Daniel Pender- Fianna Fail- New Michael Doran- Fine Gael Carlow LEA: Fintan Phelan- Fianna Fail Andrea Dalton- Fianna Fail Fergal Browne- Fine Gael John Cassin- Independent Ireland Adrienne Wallace- People Before Profit Ken Murnane- Fianna Fail Paul Doogue- Fine Gael- New Tullow LEA : John Pender- Fianna Fail Charlie Murphy- Independent Will Paton- Independent Ben Ward- Fine Gael (New) Brian ODonoghue- Fine Gael Jim Deane- Sinn Fein The state of play now stands as: Fine Gael: 6 Fianna Fail: 5 Non-Party: 2 Sinn Fein: 2 Labour: 1 Independent Ireland: 1 People Before Profit: 1 Carlow County Council has remained mostly the same, bar one or two small changes. Fianna Fail lost a seat and went down to five, Sinn Fein gained one and went up to two, Independents dropped from three to two and Independent Ireland got their first councillor elected to Carlow County Council. Fine Gael stayed the same with six seats, while Labour and People Before Profit each retained one seat each. Muinebheag stayed the same party wise with just a change of face for Fianna Fail with Arthur McDonald losing his seat to younger Fianna Fail newcomer Daniel Pender. Everyone else in Muinebheag retained their seats. Next in the Carlow LEA, there were a few small changes. John Cassin retained his seat, but as an Independent Ireland councillor rather than Independent. Outgoing Carlow mayor, Fine Gaels Tom ONeil lost his seat to Fine Gael newcomer Paul Doogue. This means in the Carlow LEA, it pretty much remained the same party wise, with the only change being John Cassin moving from Independent to Independent Ireland. The Tullow LEA on the other hand is the only district that saw a change of party as Fianna Fails John McDonald lost his seat leaving his colleague John Pender as the only Fianna Fail councillor in the area. The Independents have remained the same with Charlie Murphy and Will Paton retaining their seats. Fine Gael kept their two seats with Brian ODonoghue retaining his and newcomer Ben Ward taking the retired John Murphys place. Sinn Fein won a seat in Tullow, with Jim Deane elected. Deane had previously sat on Carlow County Council, but lost his seat in 2019. He has now won it back. Only four new faces were elected and despite a good number of female candidates, only Andrea Dalton and Adrienne Wallace made it into the council as they both retained their seats. 13.50- Brian ODonoghue and Jim Deane take last two seats in Tullow after two tense recounts After over 34 hours of counting there is finally a result in the Tullow LEA. Four tense days and two recounts later, the exhausted Brian O'Donoghue (Fine Gael) and Jim Deane (Sinn Fein) were deemed elected as they took the final two seats. A disappointed Catherine Callaghan (Fine Gael) fought hard until the end, but it just wasnt enough this time as she just missed out on a seat. The final result of the Tullow LEA: John Pender- Fianna Fail Charlie Murphy- Independent Will Paton- Independent Ben Ward- Fine Gael Brian O'Donoghue- Fine Gael Jim Deane- Sinn Fein Sinn Fein's Jim Deane celebrating after four long days Brian O'Donoghue has retained his seat Fine Gael's Catherine Callaghan just missed out on a seat Tuesday 10.50am- Dramatic second recount started in Tullow as count heads into the fourth day The second recount of the Tullow LEA has started here in the Carlow count centre this morning. Following the first recount yesterday, Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue lost one single vote bringing him down from 895 to 894 votes. Sinn Fein's Jim Deane remained the same after the re-count with 893 votes. While Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan also stayed the same on 892 votes. Two seats remain with three very determined candidates vying for a spot on the council. ODonoghue is the only sitting councillor out of the three candidates, while Deane was an elected councillor previously, however he failed to retain his seat in the 2019 local elections. This is Callaghans first time running for a seat. If the recount goes her way and she is elected, she will be the first woman to hold a seat in the Tullow LEA. 16.40- Tullow drama to carry on for fourth day as second re-count announced for Tuesday More shocks in the Tullow LEA as a second re-count has been called for 10am tomorrow. It's following the announcement of the first Tullow re-count that saw Fine Gael's Brian O'Donoghue lose one single vote. O'Donoghue went down from 895 votes to 894 votes after the re-count. Sinn Fein's Jim Deane remained the same after the re-count with 893 votes. While Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan also stayed the same on 892 votes. A second re-count will take place tomorrow at 10am. Nail biting stuff in Tullow, the likes of which have never seen before in the district. History is being made right in front of our eyes. Two seats remain with three candidates determined to sit in them. Fine Gael's Brian O'Donoghue and Catherine Callaghan deep in discussion 16.25- It gets even tighter in the Tullow LEA Finally the re-count of the Tullow LEA has been announced, however the results have become even tighter. Fine Gael's Brian O'Donoghue lost one vote so went down from 895 votes to 894 votes after the re-count. Sinn Fein's Jim Dean remained the same after the re-count with 893 votes. While Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan also stayed the same with 892 votes. The candidates are now discussing how they would like to proceed with this. Who will get the last two seats? Only time will tell 14.30- No end in sight for Tullow LEA re-count With all the seats filled in the Muinebheag and Carlow LEAs, all eyes are on the Tullow LEA re-count. No end seems to be in sight for the re-count, with Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue and Catherine Callaghan and Sinn Feins Jim Deane nervously waiting to see will that recount get them elected or sent home. 13.46- Cheers and tears as final Carlow LEA seats filled on the fourteenth count Cheers erupted in the Carlow count centre as finally, the last four remaining seats on the Carlow LEA were filled on the fourteenth count. Independent Cllr turned Independent Ireland candidate, John Cassin, met the quota. However, as John Cassin's surplus was not enough for the remaining four candidates to meet the quota, the lowest candidate, Sinn Fein's Mark Callinan was eliminated, just losing out on a seat. People Before Profit's Adrienne Wallace and Fianna Fail's Ken Murnane retained their seats and newcomer, Paul Doogue, won a seat for Fine Gael. The new elected Carlow LEA: Fintan Phelan- Fianna Fail Andrea Dalton- Fianna Fail Fergal Browne- Fine Gael John Cassin- Independent Ireland Adrienne Wallace- People Before Profit Ken Murnane- Fianna Fail Paul Doogue- Fine Gael This means that the Carlow LEA will remain mostly the same. The only new Councillor is Fine Gael's Paul Doogue, with Fine Gael's Tom O'Neill losing his seat. Newcomer Paul Doogue celebrating winning a seat People Before Profit's Adrienne Wallace retains her seat Fianna Fail's Ken Murnane retains his seat 12.40- Shock as Carlow mayor eliminated The announcement of the results of the thirteenth count in the Carlow LEA was followed by a shocked silence as Mayor Tom O'Neill was eliminated. The Fine Gael councillor had been looking vulnerable since yesterday, however Cllr ONeill had stayed put in the count centre until moments before his elimination in support of his Fine Gael colleagues. No candidates were elected this round. However Independent Ireland's John Cassin is nearing to the quota of 999 with 968 votes currently. 12.23- Still only one woman elected to Carlow County Council so far Only one woman has been elected to Carlow County Council so far. Fianna Fails Andrea Dalton retained her seat in the Carlow LEA in count one. At the moment, she is the only woman elected in Carlow. However, People Before Profits Adrienne Wallace is still in the running in the Carlow LEA, while Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan could still possibly be elected if the Tullow re-count goes in her favour. 11.50- Far right candidate eliminated in count 12 of the Carlow LEA Elected: No one Eliminated: Rory Woods (The Irish People) 11.00- Carlow LEA count 11 Elected: No one Eliminated: Jolly ORock (Independent) Follow Independent Carlow on Facebook Monday 10am- Day three of counting under way in Carlow count centre The dust has settled following yesterdays drama as a shock re-count was called for the entire Tullow LEA. That re-count has now gotten under way with Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue and Catherine Callaghan and Sinn Feins Jim Deane nervously waiting to see will that recount get them elected or sent home. But why was a re-count called yesterday? In the thirteenth count of the Tullow LEA, it was down to three candidates vying for two seats. The end of the full count was in sight or so we thought. In the thirteenth count it was announced Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue on 895 votes, Sinn Feins Jim Deane on 893 votes and Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan on 892. Only three votes separated the three candidates. Just as Brian ODonoghues face lit up, thinking he had retained his seat, it quickly dropped again as Catherine Callaghan shouted re-count. The Carlow LEA candidates have also returned for yet another gruelling day of counting with only three of the seven seats filled. We hopefully will have a full list of the newly elected Carlow LEA by todays close of business. However we have learnt to expect the unexpected here the Carlow count centre so who knows what today will bring. 23.30- Whats due to happen at the Carlow count centre tomorrow? With a very eventful few hours in the Carlow count centre wrapped up for today, you may be wondering how proceedings will unfold tomorrow. At the end of day two of counting in the Carlow centre, only one of the three local electoral areas has all their seats filled. Follow Independent Carlow on Facebook The fate of the Muinebheag was decided on Saturday. The elected council consists of: Thomas Kinsella- Fine Gael Willie Quinn- Labour Andy Gladney- Sinn Fein Daniel Pender- Fianna Fail Michael Doran- Fine Gael Meanwhile yesterday (Saturday June 6), in the Tullow LEA only two councillors were elected. Those were Fianna Fails John Pender and Independent Charlie Murphy. Today Sunday, Independent Will Paton retained his seat in the Tullow LEA, while newcomer Ben Ward won a seat for Fine Gael. Just like in Tullow, only two Cllrs were elected to Carlow County Council yesterday (Fianna Fails Fintan Phelan and Andrea Dalton). Today Sunday, they were joined by Fine Gaels Fergal Browne who was also elected to the Carlow LEA. Since then, the Carlow count has been incredibly slow as no other candidates are near the quota. This has led to a situation whereby each count, candidates with the lowest amounts of votes are being eliminated. These surplus votes are being redistributed to other candidates. But as the surplus votes are very small, none of the other candidates have been massively benefitting from them, which means none of them are meeting the quota yet. Following the tenth count in the Carlow LEA, it was announced that the count was adjourned for the night and would start again at 10am on Monday. Hopefully it will move at a quicker pace tomorrow and we will have a full list of the newly elected Carlow LEA by Mondays close of business. Meanwhile in the Tullow LEA there was a shock re-count announced of the entire Tullow LEA, due to commence at 10am Monday. This means that all of the Tullow votes are to be counted again right from the start. But why was a re-count called? In the thirteenth count of the Tullow LEA, it was down to three candidates vying for two seats. The end of the full count was in sight or so we thought. In the thirteenth count it was announced Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue on 895 votes, Sinn Feins Jim Deane on 893 votes and Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan on 892. Only three votes separated the three candidates. Just as Brian ODonoghues face lit up, thinking he had retained his seat, it quickly dropped again as Catherine Callaghan shouted re-count. And with that, it was decided that an entire re-count of the Tullow LEA would take place tomorrow at 10am. Brian ODonoghue, Jim Deane and Catherine Callaghan will have to wait anxiously until tomorrow to see if the re-count does anything to solidify their chances of getting a seat. The calmness before tomorrow's storm at the Carlow count centre 21.55- Chaos in Carlow After a very slow and quiet day in Carlow, chaos has erupted in the last hour. But this chaos has now been paused until tomorrow with an entire re-count of the Tullow LEA to start at 10am and the Carlow count to resume, also at 10am tomorrow. 21.50- Sinn Feins Nicoleta Chiorean eliminated and count adjourned in Carlow LEA until 10am tomorrow In the tenth count of the Carlow LEA, no candidates were elected, while Sinn Feins Nicoleta Chiorean was eliminated. The count for the Carlow LEA has been adjourned until tomorrow at 10am. 21.44-Full re-count declared for Tullow LEA A full re-count has been declared for Tullow LEA due to take place tomorrow at 10am. With three candidates vying for one seat, Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan called for a re-check following the results of the thirteenth count in the Tullow LEA. In the thirteenth count, Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue got 895, Sinn Feins Jim Deane got 893 and Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan got 892. However, no candidate has been deemed elected in this round due to the close results with Catherine Callaghan calling for a re-count. An entire re-count of the Tullow LEA is taking place tomorrow at 10am 20.53- Fine Gael's youngest candidate in the country elected The Fine Gael voters in Carlow have chosen youth as Fine Gael's youngest candidate in the country, 21-year-old Ben Ward, was elected to the Tullow LEA on the 12th count. His parents, clearly emotional, watched on as it was announced that Ben Ward had met the quota of 1114 with 1177 votes. "I can't believe it. I'm over-the-moon. It has exceeded all of my expectations, I really can't believe," said Ben Ward smiling from ear to ear. "I think the fact I am young gives me a different perspective, and I can bring my experience of being a young person in Carlow with me into my role as councillor. It's important to have different ages represented because then we have a mix of perspectives on the council. But I suppose I always stress that I don't want to just represent young people, I'm here to represent all ages." Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan and sitting Cllr Brian ODonoghue and Sinn Feins Jim Deane will have to battle it out for the remaining two seats. Fine Gael's youngest candidate in the country, Ben Ward, celebrating being elected 20.48- Carlow LEA ninth count: Elected: No one Eliminated: Molly Aylesbury (The Green Party) 20.00- Carlow LEA eighth count: Elected: No one Eliminated: Daeln Murphy (The National Party) 19.45- Tullow LEA eleventh count Elected: No one Eliminated: Billy Nolan (Independent) We possibly could finally have another candidate elected as newcomer Ben Ward (Fine Gael) nears the quota of 1114 with 1009 votes. Fine Gaels Catherine Callaghan and sitting Cllr Brian ODonoghue and Sinn Feins Jim Deane will have to battle it out for the remaining two seats 19.20- Carlow LEA seventh count: Elected: No one Eliminated: Ruairi Doyle (Sinn Fein) 19.00- Shock as sitting Cllr John McDonald eliminated There is shock in the Carlow count centre as sitting Cllr Fianna Fail's John McDonald has been eliminated on the tenth count. This means that John Pender will be the only Fianna Fail Cllr in the Tullow LEA having been elected to the council yesterday. 18.41- Maria Ryan eliminated on Carlow LEA in the sixth count No one was elected this round, while Maria Ryan from Ireland First was eliminated. 18.03- The ninth count in the Tullow LEA: Elected: No one Eliminated: Annette McDonnell (Independent) with 405 votes 17.45- Far-right candidate eliminated in the fifth count of the Carlow LEA The fifth count of the Carlow LEA saw no other candidates elected. However, Orla Donohoe from the Irish Freedom Party was eliminated. 17.35- Is the local bingo more important than election results? There have been short delays in the Carlow Count centre as the microphone used for announcing the results disappeared only to turn up at the local bingo in Graiguecullen, Carlow Don't worry the team in the centre managed to source another microphone just in time for the eighth count in Tullow LEA. During this count, no further candidates were elected or eliminated. 16.49- Sinn Feins Ken Gahan eliminated in seventh count in Tullow LEA No one has been elected in the seventh count in the Tullow LEA. As the lowest candidate, Sinn Feins Ken Gahan has been eliminated. 16.34- No one elected to Carlow LEA in fourth count No one has been elected to the Carlow LEA in the fourth count. As the lowest polled candidate, Independent Adetula Temiola has been eliminated with 124 votes. 16.00- Finally some movement in the Carlow count centre as Will Paton elected in Tullow LEA in the sixth count Finally some action in the Carlow count centre as Independent Will Paton has claimed the third seat in the sixth count in the Tullow LEA, leaving three remaining seats still up for grabs. Will made a shock move from Labour to Independent a few months before the elections, which seems to have worked in his favour. As Independent candidate Patricia Fennelly Nolan was the lowest on the poll with 231, she has been eliminated. It's a thumbs up from Will Paton 15.30- Still no one elected in Tullow after the fifth count As the lowest candidate, People Before Profit's John Cahill has been eliminated on 202 votes. 15.15- Far-right candidate eliminated in Tullow LEA Still not much movement in the Tullow LEA as the fourth count saw no one elected. As the lowest performing candidate, Daeln Murphy from The National Party, has been eliminated with 151 votes. Daeln is also running in the Carlow LEA but is currently sat close to the bottom of the poll with no prospect of being elected unless something really shocking happens with the next transfers. 15.10- No one elected in third count in Carlow LEA Fianna Fail Andrea Dalton's surplus votes were still not enough to get any more of the Carlow LEA candidates elected. Fine Gael Fergal Browne's surplus votes will now be distributed during the fourth count. The candidates that are currently the nearest to the quota of 999 are Fianna Fail's Ken Murnane on 733 votes and former Independent Cllr turned Independent Ireland candidate John Cassin on 649 votes. 14.20- Sinn Fein's woes seem to be multiplying as the party struggles in Carlow Sinn Fein's woes seem to be spreading to other count centres around the country as the party is now struggling in Carlow. Andy Gladney managed to retain his seat for Sinn Fein in the Muinebheag LEA yesterday, however today it is looking likely that the party will struggle to get another candidate elected to join Andy. Sinn Fein's Phil Thompson has been eliminated in the Tullow LEA and Andy's daughter Aine Gladney was eliminated in the Muinebheag LEA, while the rest of the party's candidates are struggling across the Tullow and Carlow LEA's. Jim Deane in Tullow is the closet Sinn Fein candidate to a seat, however, that will only come to fruition if transfers go his way. If not, he is unlikely to be elected. The only elected Sinn Fein Cllr currently in Carlow County Council, Andy Gladney, said that Sinn Fein ran too many candidates in Carlow, which ultimately led to the party's downfall in the county. "It is what it is. Planning within the party hasn't worked out because running three Sinn Fein candidates in the Tullow LEA was a complete and utter disaster. They went outside the party to bring in people who had nothing to do with the party previously and I'm not saying that you shouldn't do that but it didn't work this time. "I feel very sorry for the Sinn Fein candidates that don't get in. Some of them spent an awful lot of money on posters and canvassing to then not get elected. It is tough. He added: "It would be great if Jim Deane could get elected in Tullow, he is an absolute gentleman. Jim was on the council with me previously for a five year term, but he lost out by 34 votes to John McDonald in 2019, so I would be hoping that he gets in because he is a great guy to work with on the council." Fine Gael and Fianna Fail currently have the most candidates elected to Carlow County Council. 13.50- Fine Gael's youngest candidate in the country is holding his own Charlie Murphy's surplus votes were not enough to get any of the Tullow LEA candidates elected in the third count. As the lowest candidate Phil Thompson from Sinn Fein has been eliminated. Independent Will Paton is close to meeting the quota of 1114 with 1066 votes. Fine Gael's youngest candidate, 21-year-old Ben Ward, is also holding his own. 11.52- Will the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael trend continue in the Carlow LEA? Cheers erupted in the Carlow count centre as it was announced that Fine Gael's Fergal Browne retained his seat with 1047 votes after the surplus from count one was re-distributed. No other candidate has met the quota of 999 yet. Fergal joins Fianna Fail's Fintan Phelan and Andrea Dalton who were both elected yesterday in the first count. It will be interesting to see if the trend of Fianna Fail and Fine Gael continues into the later counts in the Carlow LEA. Fergal Browne celebrating with his family 11.50- No one elected or eliminated during Tullow LEAs second count Fianna Fail John Pender's surplus votes wasn't enough to get any candidate elected to the Tullow LEA on the second count. The surplus votes from Independent Charlie Murphy will now be distributed out in count three. However, one question on everyones lips is: Will all three Fine Gael candidates get elected in the Tullow LEA? It possibly could happen with Catherine Callaghan, Ben Ward and sitting Cllr Brian ODonoghue holding their own. 10am- As day two of counting gets under way in Carlow heres a recap of yesterdays events It was a long day for the Carlow County Council candidates yesterday with counting going on into the early hours of the morning. The last of yesterdays results came in just after 1.30am with it then being announced that proceedings would be adjourned until 10am Sunday morning. 10am has now arrived and some weary looking candidates are slowly trickling into the count centre. The highs of yesterdays wins are now a distant memory as tiredness has clearly taken over the count centre. The first of this mornings results should hopefully inject a bit of adrenalin into the room as we prepare for some more highs, some definite lows and of course some political shocks. Of the three LEAs, only Muinebheag has all of the seats filled. Fine Gaels Thomas Kinsella soared past the post and he was the first elected councillor for Carlow County Council. Next came an emotional Willie Quinn. As the only Labour candidate across the whole of Carlow County Council, he felt the weight of responsibility heavy on his shoulders as he was determined to ensure that Labour would not become extinct in Carlow, following his colleague, Will Patons shock move from Labour to Independent only months before the election. Sinn Feins Andy Gladney retained his seat but did not seem to be happy with the party he represents saying that too many Sinn Fein candidates across the country have become populist. Newcomer and the baby of the Muinebheag candidates, Fianna Fails Daniel Pender, took the fourth seat. A shock elimination of long-time Muinebheag Fianna Fail Cllr Arthur McDonald, showed that the voters were perhaps favouring youth over experience. After over 30 years on Carlow County Council, Arthur McDonald lost out to young first time candidate, 24-year-old Daniel Pender who took the Fianna Fail vote in Muinebheag. Taking the last seat for Fine Gael in Muinebheag was long-time councillor Michael Doran. Now the focus today shifts to the Tullow and the Carlow LEAs with only the first count results announced for both areas last night. Yesterday, in the Tullow LEA, Fianna Fails John Pender and Independent Charlie Murphy were elected on the first count. This is a significant achievement for John Pender as its his eighth consecutive time being elected having served 39 years on Carlow County Council. In the Carlow LEA, it was Fianna Fail galore in the first count, as both Fintan Phelan and Andrea Dalton retained their seats. With nine of the 18 seats filled, Fianna Fail seems to be taking a slight lead in Carlow County Council with four councillors elected. Next is Fine Gael with three and Labour, Sinn Fein and Independent all have one each. Fintan Phelan celebrating with family Despite a large amount of new Independent candidates, the Carlow voters seem to be sticking with the old reliable vote of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as they have done for the last number of years. The far-right parties dont seem to have taken a hold here with their candidates finding themselves on the lower end of the poll in most of the LEAs. 1.40am- Fianna Fail colleagues Fintan Phelan and Andrea Dalton elected in first count for Carlow LEA The first count in the Carlow LEA has seen sitting Fianna Fail colleagues Fintan Phelan and Andrea Dalton elected. Fintan topped the polls with 1,678 votes followed by Andrea Dalton with 1149. None of the other candidates reached the quota of 999. After the first count in the Carlow LEA: Aylesbury, Molly (GP): 240 votes Browne, Fergal (FG)*: 893 votes Callinan, Mark (SF): 348 votes Cassin, John (Independent Ireland)*: 590 votes Chiorean, Nicoleta (SF): 238 votes Dalton, Andrea (FF)*: 1149 votes Donohue, Orla (I.F.P): 132 votes Doogue, Paul (FG): 425 votes Doyle, Ruairi (SF): 156 votes Murnane, Ken (FF)*: 562 votes Murphy, Daeln (The National Party): 157 votes ONeill, Tom(FG)*: 398 votes ORock, Jolly (Ind): 176 votes Phelan, Fintan (FF)*:1,678 votes Ryan, Maria (Ireland First): 141 votes Temiola, Adetula (Ind): 113 votes Wallace, Adrienne (PBP)*:418 votes Woods, Rory (The Irish People): 171 votes Andrea Dalton celebrating 00.14- Counting finished in the Muinebheag LEA with Andy Gladney, Daniel Pender and Michael Doran elected All five seats in the Muinebheag LEA have been filled tonight. The fourth and final count saw Sinn Feins Andy Gladney, Fianna Fails Daniel Pender and Fine Gaels Michael Doran elected and Fianna Fails Arthur McDonald eliminated. It was shock to hear longstanding councillor Arthur McDonald eliminated after over 30 years on Carlow County Council. Fianna Fails voters seem to have chosen the younger of the two Fianna Fail candidates as in the final count 24-year-old newcomer Daniel Pender was elected over Arthur McDonald. 23.20- Aine Gladney and Liam OBrien eliminated in Muinebheag LEA Sinn Feins Aine Gladney and The Green Partys Liam OBrien have been eliminated in the third count in the Muinebheag LEA. 23.00- John Pender and Charlie Murphy first elected in Tullow LEA Fianna Fails John Pender has been elected alongside Independent candidate Charlie Murphy. John Pender topped the polls with 1335 votes followed by Charlie Murphy with 1286. This is a significant achievement for John Pender as its his eighth consecutive time being elected having served 39 years on Carlow County Council. No other candidates in the Tullow LEA have met the quota of 1114. Independent Will Paton is going strong with 1,017 votes, followed next by Fine Gaels youngest candidate 21-year-old Ben Ward who has 704 votes. Next is Fine Gaels Brian ODonoghue with 631, Catherine Callaghan on 614 and Sinn Feins Jim Deane on 419. Fianna Fails John McDonald has 362, Independent Billy Nolan has 323, Independent Annette McDonnell has 254, Sinn Feins Ken Gahan on 218 and Patricia Fennelly Nolan on 185. On the bottom sits People Before Profits John Cahill on 178, Daeln Murphy from The National Party on 146 and Sinn Feins Phil Thompson on 125. John Pender celebrating Charlie Murphy and his family 22.20- Delays in Carlow A few discrepancies with votes in the Carlow Count centre have slowed down proceedings tonight. According to Carlow's returning officer, Eamon Brophy, they are aiming to have the results for the first count for the Carlow LEA tonight. He estimates that will happen around midnight and the rest of the Carlow count will then be adjourned until 10am tomorrow. Eamon also aims to have the results of the first Tullow LEA count tonight with the rest of the Tullow count also adjourned until 10am tomorrow. The counts for the Muinebheag LEA will continue in the mean time and there are hopes we will have the full results of who has been elected to Muinebheag before we head home for the night. 21-50: Co Carlows only Labour candidate re-elected to Muinebheag LEA in the second count It was an emotional day for Willie Quinn as he was re-elected to the Muinebheag LEA in the second count confirming that just one Labour Cllr will have a seat in the Carlow County Council chamber. Willie Quinn was the only Labour candidate to run in these elections with long-time Labour colleague Will Paton making a shock move from Labour to Independent a few months before the elections. Willie Quinn got in on the second count with 205 of Tommy Kinsellas surplus votes, bringing him to a total of 1,295. The other candidates still have not reached the quota of 1,183. Voters in the Muinebheag LEA dont seem to be voting on party as Willie Quinn got the highest amount of Fine Gaels Thomas Kinsellas surplus votes, despite the fact he is with Labour. Remember, Fine Gaels Michael Doran is still hoping to be elected, however he received a lower 140 surplus votes compared to Willie Quinns 205. If voters were making their decision based on party, it would have been expected that Michael Doran would have got more of the surplus votes, not Willie Quinn. Labour's Willie Quinn 19.40- Thomas Kinsella re-elected on first count for Muinebheag LEA The first of the results have been announced at the Carlow count centre for the Muinebheag LEA. Fine Gaels Thomas Kinsella has been re-elected in the first count with 1,732 votes. A quota of 1,183 has been set for the Muinebheag LEA. No other candidates have met this quota in the first round. Currently Labours Willie Quinn has 1,090 votes, Sinn Feins Andy Gladney has 1,018 and Fianna Fails Daniel Pender has 986 votes. Next is Fine Gaels Michael Doran on 943 votes, Fianna Fails Arthur McDonald on 819, The Green Partys Liam OBrien on 295 and Sinn Feins Aine Gladney on 210 votes. Cllr Kinsellas surplus votes will now be distributed. Thomas Kinsella and family celebrating the win 17.50- Sitting Labour Cllr Willie Quinn has his number 1 supporter cheering him on Sitting Cllr and only Labour candidate Willie Quinn has brought his number one supporter with him to the count centre. Lily Quinn is cheering on her grandfather hoping he can keep his seat in the Muinebheag LEA. Willie Quinn and his granddaughter Lily Quinn 17.25 Doesnt look like well get our first results by 5.30pm as first estimated by counters Early estimations indicated that the first results would start coming in for the Muinebheag LEA between 4.30pm and 5.30pm, however it has not worked out that way. Spoilt votes are currently being checked for the Muinebheag LEA so hopefully well get our first results soon. 16.50 Father and daughter duo nervously awaiting results of Muinebheag first count History has been made in the Carlow count centre today as a father is joined by his daughter on the ballot paper for the same electoral area and the same party. Sitting Sinn Fein Cllr Andy Gladney and his daughter Aine Gladney, also a Sinn Fein candidate, are both nervously awaiting the results of the Muinebheag LEA count. Although the odds do not seem to be in Aines favour this time round, her father says he is so proud to have canvased alongside his daughter. "Im very proud of Aine and all that she has achieved and it has been a great experience running alongside her for the same party and same LEA, smiled Andy. Father and daughter duo Aine and Andy Gladney at the Carlow count centre Read more History made in Carlow as dad and daughter run in the same electoral area for the same party 15.40- Two Fine Gael newcomers holding their own according to Tullow LEA tallies Two newcomers are holding their own in the Tullow LEA with Fine Gael candidates Catherine Callaghan and Ben Ward performing well according to the tallies According to tallies, Ben has 678 while Catherine has 614. On the other end of the spectrum, newcomer Daeln Murphy of The National Party will struggle as he sits on 154 according to tallies. Newcomer and People Before Profit candidate, John Cahill, has also found himself down the bottom of the tallies with 166. 14.55- Two and a half hours ahead of schedule at the Carlow count centre Things are an impressive two and half hours ahead of schedule in the Carlow count centre with the first results estimated to be announced between 4.30pm and 5.30pm. The count for the Muinebheag LEA started about 30 minutes ago. The counters are attributing the record times to the fact each LEA box is being opened separately in order of Muinebheag, Tullow and Carlow. 14:20- Counting started in Muinebheag LEA The local votes have been moved from the separation centre in St. Laurence OTooles in Askea, Carlow to the count centre in the Youth Centre in Green Lane Carlow. The Muinebheag boxes are currently open and are being counted with it expected that the Tullow votes will be counted next and Carlow last. According to the tallies for the Carlow Town LEA, its looking promising for Fianna Fails sitting Cllr Fintan Phelan who looks to be ahead with just over 21%. Next is Fianna Fails sitting Cllr Andrea Dalton with 14.48%. In Tullow, the tallymen have reported that Fianna Fails sitting Cllr John Pender seems to be taking the lead on 16.78% followed by Independent sitting Cllr Charlie Murphy on 16.44%. Finally, in Muinebheag, Fine Gaels sitting Cllr Thomas Kinsella is flying ahead with over 24% and Labours sitting Cllr Willie Quinn also seems to be performing well. 9.00- Ballot boxes have opened as counting gets under way Members of the Carlow public have had their say on who they want to represent them in Carlow County Council for the next five years. Voting finished last night and now the first of the ballot boxes have been opened here in St. Laurence OTooles in Askea, Carlow with the separation of the European and local votes under way. Follow Independent Carlow on Facebook The boxes for the local elections in Carlow will then be brought to the Youth Centre on Green Lane where the count will take place. The candidates have done all they can and now all that is left for them to do is nervously wait to see the outcome of your votes. Will the council remain largely the same or will we see some new faces take their seats in the Carlow council chamber? We will have all the live updates from the Carlow local election count here on this page so make sure to keep checking in with us. Here is a quick recap of all the candidates across the three municipal districts of Carlow, Tullow and Muinebheag who have been vying for a seat on Carlow County Council: Carlow (7 seats up for grabs) Aylesbury, Molly (GP) Browne, Fergal (FG)* Callinan, Mark (SF) Cassin, John (Independent Ireland)* Chiorean, Nicoleta (SF) Dalton, Andrea (FF)* Donohue, Orla (I.F.P) Doogue, Paul (FG) Doyle, Ruairi (SF) Murnane, Ken (FF)* Murphy, Daeln (The National Party. Also running in the Tullow) ONeill, Tom(FG)* ORock, Jolly (Ind) Phelan, Fintan (FF)* Ryan, Maria (Ireland First) Temiola, Adetula (Ind) Wallace, Adrienne (PBP)* Woods, Rory (The Irish People) Muinebheag (5 seats up for grabs) Doran, Michael (FG)* Gladney, Aine (SF) Gladney, Andy (SF)* Kinsella, Thomas (FG)* McDonald, McDonald (FF)* OBrien, Liam (GP) Pender, Daniel (FF) Quinn, Willie (Lab)* Tullow (6 seats up for grabs) Cahill, John (PBP) Callaghan, Catherine (FG) Deane, Jim (SF) Fennelly Nolan, Patricia (Ind) Gahan, Ken (SF) McDonald, John (FF)* McDonnell, Annette (Ind) Murphy, Charlie (Ind)* Murphy, Daeln (The National Party. Also running in Carlow) Nolan, Billy (Ind) ODonoghue, Brian (FG)* Paton, Will (Ind)* Pender, John (FF)* Thompson, Phil (SF) Ward, Ben (FG) *Sitting councillors What did the outgoing council look like: Carlow County Council is divided into three local electoral areas, Carlow Town Municipal District (MD), the Tullow MD and the Muinebheag MD. The council consists of 18 seats with seven seats in the Carlow Town MD, six seats in the Tullow MD and five seats in the Muinebheag MD. As there are 18 seats up for grabs, a party must have 10 councillors elected to Carlow County Council to have a majority. In the outgoing council, as chosen in the last local election in 2019, no party held a majority in the council. In some respects, Carlow County Council mirrored what national Government looks like minus the presence of the Green Party. With six seats each, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail attained the most seats in the 2019 election. The outgoing mayor of Carlow is Fine Gael Cllr Tom ONeill while the outgoing Cathaoirleach of Carlow County Council is Fianna Fails Cllr Andrea Dalton. However, unlike the Government coalition that includes the Green Party, Carlow County Council had no Green Party Councillors elected back in 2019. As Fianna Fail and Fine Gael won the most seats in 2019 in Carlow County Council, the remaining councillors from other political parties were outnumbered. The remaining six seats are were held by three Independent, one Labour, one People Before Profit and one Sinn Fein councillor. The outgoing Carlow County Council also had a number of councillors who have been serving 20-plus years as elected members of Carlow County Council. These include Fine Gaels Thomas Kinsella and Michael Doran, Fianna Fails John Pender and Arthur McDonald and former Labour but now Independent Will Paton. Fine Gael's John Murphy is the only outgoing councillor that did not stand for re-election in Carlow County Council. Moving forward to the count today and the majority that Fine Gael and Fianna Fail did enjoy in the outgoing council in Carlow could potentially come under threat. The council faces the prospect of a big switch up with a large number of Independent candidates running along with a high number of non-government parties running candidates. As with most of the country, lack of housing and tackling vacancy and dereliction was a topic that featured heavily on doorsteps in Carlow. Similarly, immigration, another hot topic both in Carlow and nationwide, has recently become an issue that has divided people in Carlow with a number of anti-immigration protests taking place in the last year. As a large amount of Carlows population live in rural areas, rural issues will always be raised. For instance, potholes and the condition of roads in rural Carlow, the lack of transport links in rural areas and also farming issues. Another big topic in Carlow is the lack of a womens refuge. Carlow is still one of nine counties without a womens refuge. A campaign for a womens refuge in Carlow started in 2016, yet it still has not been delivered. The Carlow Womens Refuge campaigners have now received a commitment from Government that a refuge will be established in 2025. However, following previous broken promises, the activists say they will keep campaigning until they finally see the doors to a Carlow womens refuge open. It will be interesting to see how these heavily featured issues on doorsteps in Carlow impacted how the votes were cast yesterday. The ballot boxes being opened up and sorting beginning at Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis on Saturday morning. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. The official first count is getting underway at Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Pat Daly (FF) was elected on the first count in Ennis. Bill Slattery of Fine Gael is elected on the first count in the Ennistymon Electoral Area. It marks a return to politics for the FG man after he narrowly lost out on a seat in 2019. Killaloe's Joe Cooney (FG) elected on the first count in the Killaloe Electoral Area with 2,815 votes. Fine Gael's Mary Howard shows her delight after retaining her seat on the second count for the Ennis LEA. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Shane Talty (FF) was elected on the fifth count in the Ennistymon LEA to retain his seat. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Good morning from Clare on Sunday, June 9 as day two of counting begins here in Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Dinny Gould (IND) is the first person elected in the Kilrush LEA. He received 1,863 votes to put him above the quota of 1,817. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Crowds in the Ennis count centre anxiously watching the Munster Senior Hurling Final on Sunday. Limerick proved too good for the Banner County on this occasion though. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan has been elected in the Shannon LEA. Rachel Hartigan of Fianna Fail, at just 21 years old, has just been elected to Clare County Council in the Shannon LEA on what was the 10th count after exceeding the quota. The state of the parties in the incoming Clare County Council now the election count is complete. 9.23pm (Sunday): Here we go. The count is complete and here is (potentially) my last update of what has been a marathon weekend. Heres how Clare County Council looks like at the end of the 2024 Local Elections: Ennis (7 seats): Pat Daly (FF) Mary Howard (FG) Paul Murphy (FG) Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) Claire Colleran Molloy (FF) Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) Tom O'Callaghan (FF) Ennis: 4 FF, 2 FG and 1SF Ennistymon (4 seats): Bill Slattery (FG) Joe Garrihy (FG) Shane Talty (FF) Joe Killeen (FF) Ennistymon: 2 FF, 2 FG Killaloe (5 seats): Joe Cooney (FG) Pat Hayes (FF) Alan O'Callaghan (FF) Tony O'Brien (FF) Pat Burke (FG) Killaloe: 3 FF, 2 FG Shannon (7 seats): David Griffin (FF) Donna McGettigan (SF) John Crowe (FG) Rachel Hartigan (FF) Michael Begley (IND) Pat O'Gorman (FF) Mulcahy (FG) Shannon: 3 FF, 2 FG, 1 SF and 1 IND. Kilrush (5 seats): Dinny Gould (IND) Ian Lynch (IND) Rita McInerney (FF) Gabriel Keating (FG) Michael Shannon (FF) Kilrush: 2 FF, 2 IND, 1 FG 9.15pm (Sunday): The count is complete in Clare and we have filled 28 of the 28 seats up for grabs. The last two seats in Kilrush - and indeed Clare County Council - have been filled and with that, Local Elections 2024 in Clare are done and dusted. Gabriel Keating (FG) and Michael Shannon (FF) have taken the last two seats and with it, all five seats in Kilrush are filled. Here's how Kilrush looks at the final standings: Dinny Gould (IND) Ian Lynch (IND) Rita McInerney (FF) Gabriel Keating (FG) Michael Shannon (FF) Kilrush: 2 FF, 2 IND, 1 FG 28/28 seats filled. The next update will give a final standings of how everything looks in the county. 8.45pm (Sunday): ELECTED. We have just had five (!) people elected in quick succession with three of these coming in the Shannon LEA while two more were also elected in Kilrush. In Kilrush, the ninth count saw Ian Lynch (FG) and Rita McInerney (FF) both elected with both retaining their seats for another five year term. In Shannon meanwhile, the final three seats were filled in one fell swoop on the 11th count and in the process, we have filled all of the 7 seats of the Shannon LEA. So without further ado, here is the how the final Shannon LEA makeup will look like for the next term: David Griffin (FF) Donna McGettigan (SF) John Crowe (FG) Rachel Hartigan (FF) Michael Begley (IND) Pat O'Gorman (FF) Mulcahy (FG) Shannon now stands at: 3 FF, 2 FG, 1 SF and 1 IND. Rachel Hartigan of Fianna Fail, at just 21 years old, has just been elected to Clare County Council in the Shannon LEA on what was the 10th count after exceeding the quota. 7.52pm (Sunday): To quote the great Anakin Skywalker from Revenge of the Sith...this is where the fun begins. You wait for an election and then two come along all at once. Rachel Hartigan of Fianna Fail, at just 22 years old, has just been elected to Clare County Council in the Shannon LEA on what was the 10th count after exceeding the quota. She is surely one of the youngest candidates in the country. Also elected in the 10th count was Fine Gael man John Crowe who retained his seat for another term. There are now 4 seats filled in the Shannon LEA with three seats up for grabs. 6.30pm (Sunday): ELECTED! Counting had finished for the eighth count in Shannon prior to the pause for the match so we have had an immediate election. Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan (SF) has become the second person elected in the Shannon LEA. She was elected on the eighth count with 1,587. The quota was 1,456. The incumbent has retained her seat. Her win now doubles SF's numbers in the council. She joins Tommy Guilfoyle who was elected to the Ennis LEA last night. Sinn Fein had only one council seat last term. They now have two. Sinn Fein's Donna McGettigan has been elected in the Shannon LEA. 6.20pm (Sunday): The match has ended and while it certainly wasnt the result entire count centre (bar one lone and very happy Garda who was cheering on every Limerick point) were hoping for, they are settling back into counting mode now. We have the not so minor matter of a recount requested by FF Cllr Cillian Murphy of the Kilrush LEA and while its realistically not going to improve his chances of getting elected hes quite a bit behind his competitors stranger things have happened. Stay tuned as we go again! 4pm (Sunday): Well, well, well. We have a re-count situation on our hands. Incumbent FF Cllr Cillian Murphy who had been eliminated on the most recent eighth count in the Kilrush LEA has called for and has been granted a full re-count. This will now take place at 6pm. In addition to this, all counting has now been paused here in Ennis to allow everyone to watch the Munster Senior Hurling Final...which has itself been delayed by half an hour. Not good news for people who had been hopeful of getting out early tonight. Crowds in the Ennis count centre anxiously watching the Munster Senior Hurling Final on Sunday. Limerick proved too good for the Banner County on this occasion though. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 3.20pm (Sunday): ELECTED! Finally on the 7th count, we have our first elected official in the Kilrush (5 seater) LEA and it's Dinny Gould (IND) who received 1,863 votes to put him above the quota of 1,817. He is the first Independent elected in Clare. Will there be more to follow? We are up and running in Kilrush! 4 more seats to be filled. Dinny Gould (IND) is the first person elected in the Kilrush LEA. He received 1,863 votes to put him above the quota of 1,817. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 2.45pm (Sunday): Its been very much a game of waiting around a lot of today with multiple counts going by now with no-one being elected. Were heading into our seventh(!) count in Kilrush without a candidate elected and onto our sixth in Shannon with only one person elected. As for who is predicted to get over the line soon, Dinny Gould (IND) should be elected fairly soon in Kilrush while in Shannon, Rachel Hartigan (FF) and John Crowe (FG) should get the nod sooner rather than later. 1.15pm (Sunday): Fianna Fail will certainly be a very happy party following these local elections with the party so far having secured (at the time of writing at 1.15pm on Sunday) 10 of the 28 seats on offer on Clare County Council. Fine Gael meanwhile, as it stands have 6 people elected (they had 8 last term) and so will be hoping to at least equal that going forward over the next few hours. Sinn Fein meanwhile had one seat on the council coming into the elections and judging by the looks of it, she has a reasonable chance of securing a seat again on the Shannon LEA. For the Greens though, its not been a good weekend as they look set to have no representatives on the council for the next term (now, mind you, they only had one sitting councillor going into these elections but still). At the moment there are no Independents elected but that will change as Shannon (where there were 3 sitting Independent councillors coming into the election) seats are filled. 12.30pm (Sunday): David Griffin of Fianna Fail is the first man elected today as he gets over the line on the first count in the Shannon LEA. He secured 1,534 votes which was above the Shannon quota of 1,456. There are six more seats up for grabs. The following are the full Shannon first count results: Clare County Council: Shannon First Count Results: ELECTED! David Griffin (FF) is elected on the First Count in the Shannon LEA with 1,534 votes. He is the first person elected in the Shannon LEA. There are six more seats up for grabs. Conor O'Brien eliminated. Shannon (7 seats) results: - Pat Barry (IND): 151 - Michael Begley (IND)*: 831 - Fursa Cavanagh (GP): 201 - John Crowe (FG)*: 1,256 - Val Gillane (FG): 818 - David Griffin (FF): 1,534 - Rachel Hartigan (FF): 1,203 - John Haugh (Aontu): 275 - Donna McGettigan (SF)*: 1,141 - Keith McNamara (IND): 548 - Tony Mulcahy (FG): 1,027 - Conor O'Brien (IND): 32 - Pat O'Gorman (FF)*: 1,183 - James Ryan (SF): 455 - P.J Ryan (IND)*: 986 Quota: 1,456 Total poll: 11,779 Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 138 Total valid poll: 11,641 No. of seats: 7 *sitting candidates 11.57am (Sunday): Weve had our first count result of the day and its from Kilrush but sadly for those hoping for maybe a speedier process today, there was no-one elected on the first count. As the candidate with the lowest number of votes, John Hill of the Irish Freedom Party has now been eliminated and his votes will now be distributed. The following are the full results from the Kilrush first count: Clare County Council: Kilrush First Count Results: NO-ONE ELECTED ON FIRST COUNT. John Hill (Irish Freedom Party) has now been eliminated. Kilrush (5 seats) results: - Dawn Bennett (SF): 490 - Therese Doohan (FG): 796 - Dinny Gould (IND): 1,310 - Susan Griffin (GP): 323 - Kevin Hassett (Independent Ireland): 448 - John Hill (Irish Freedom Party): - Gabriel Keating (FG)*: - Ian Lynch (IND)*: 1,318 - Rita McInerney (FF)*: 1,340 - Cillian Murphy (FF)*: 1,011 - Michael Shannon (FF): 1,051 - Alan Troy (FF): 982 - Joe Woulfe (FF): 497 Quota: 1817 Total poll: 10,992 Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 91 Total valid poll: 10,901 No. of seats: 5 *sitting candidates 10.20am (Sunday): With a lull in proceedings right now as counting takes place in the two remaining LEA's of Kilrush and Shannon, now seems as good a time as any to see where things stand in Clare for each of the government parties. in the county: In Ennis (7 seats) Fianna Fail are the big winners, increasing their number of seats by one to 4 while SF can also be happy having gained a seat in the area through Tommy Guilfoyle. It's as you were for Fine Gael who keep the same 2 seats. Ennis: 4 FF, 2 FG and 1SF On over to KIllaloe (5 seats), it's as you were essentially with all incumbents retaining their seats which means that Fianna Fail will again have 3 councillors for the new term while Fine Gael will have 2. Killaloe: 3 FF and 2 FG Finally, we head to Ennistymon (4 seats) and it's here where Fine Gael can be seen as the winners. They increased their seats from 1 to 2 while the Greens lost their seat after Liam Grant failed to retain his seat. It's as you were for Fianna Fail with both their candidates retaining their seats. Ennistymon: 2 FF, 2 FG That's 16 seats filled with 12 to go. 9.38am (Sunday): Good morning from Clare after a wonderful sleep after an almost 2am finish last night, we're back again counting on day 2 with all seats in Kilrush (5 seats) and Shannon (7 seats) there to be won. There's still the small matter too of the Munster Senior Hurling Final at 4pm...will we be finished counting before that or will counting be paused? Stay tuned! Good morning from Clare on Sunday, June 9 as day two of counting begins here in Treacy's West County Hotel in Ennis. Photo by Fergus Dennehy. 1.30am (Sunday): That's all for tonight from Clare folks as the last seats for Ennis (a 7 seater) are filled on the eighth count by Antoinette Baker (FF), Paul Murphy (FG) and Claire Colleran Molloy (FF), Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) and Tom O'Callaghan (FF) Here's how the Ennis LEA will look in the new term: - Pat Daly (FF) - Mary Howard (FG) - Paul Murphy (FG) - Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) - Claire Colleran Molloy (FF) - Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) - Tom O'Callaghan (FF) Now, it's time for some much needed sleep before Kilrush and Shannon counting begins tomorrow morning at 9am! 1am (Sunday): Things are moving quickly now as the final seat in Ennistymon was filled by Joe Killen of Fianna Fail on the sixth count. Mr Killeen has retained his seat for another term. The make-up of Ennistymon LEA for the next term is now as follows: - Bill Slattery (FG) - Joe Garrihy (FG) - Shane Talty (FF) - Joe Killeen (FF) Meanwhile, the final two seats in Killaloe were filled by Tony O'Brien of Fianna Fail and Pat Burke of Fine Gael. Here is the how the Killaloe LEA will look for the new term ahead: - Joe Cooney (FG) - Pat Hayes (FF) - Alan O'Callaghan (FF) - Tony O'Brien (FF) - Pat Burke (FG) All five incumbents in this LEA retained their seats. 12.25am (Sunday): After a rapid-fire series of elections, things dragged significantly here for a while with count after count going by with no-one being elected. Thankfully that is no longer the case as Shane Talty of Fianna Fail has secured the third seat in Ennistymon at the fifth count. There is now just one seat in that LEA in play. 11.08pm: Alan OCallaghan (FF) has retained his seat on Clare County Council after he was elected on the third count in Killaloe. In both Ennis and Ennistymon meanwhile, there was no-one elected on the third count. Michael Loughrey (The Irish People) and Denis Vaughan (Labour) were eliminated after Count 3 in the Ennistymon Local Electoral Area. Amanda Major (IND) was eliminated from the Ennis Electoral Area on Count 3 on 410 votes. In Killaloe meanwhile, Audrey Flynn (GP) has been eliminated from the Killaloe Electoral Area following Count 3 on 370 votes. 10.18pm: It was delight for Fine Gaels Mary Howard just now as she was elected on the second count in the Ennis LEA. She retains her seat and joins Pat Daly of FF on the council. There are 5 seats still up for grabs in Ennis. 9.50pm: Another two elections in quick succession as Joe Garrihy of Fine Gael is elected in Ennistymon on the second count while Pat Hayes was elected to the Killaloe LEA on the second count as well. Phew! Bill Slattery of Fine Gael is elected on the first count in the Ennistymon Electoral Area. It marks a return to politics for the FG man after he narrowly lost out on a seat in 2019. 9.18pm: Well, you wait all day to see someone elected and then you get three pretty much all at once here in Clare. What a rush! That's 3 of Clare's 28 Council seats filled now with Pat Daly (FF) in Ennis, Joe Cooney (FG) in Killaloe and Bill Slattery (FG) in Ennistymon all elected on the first counts. Bill was the first man elected garnering 2,244 first preference votes, well above the quota of 1,816. Joe Cooney quicky followed minutes later, getting 2,819 first preference votes in area where the quota was 1,735. Killaloe's Joe Cooney (FG) elected on the first count in the Killaloe Electoral Area with 2,815 votes. Finally, Pat Daly got 1,832 first preferences in an area where the quota was 1,473. Who will be next? Stay tuned! 5.08pm: Announcement that count is set to get underway shortly with Ennis, Ennistymon and Killaloe boxes to be counted simultaneously. 5.06pm: All boxes (33 of 33) in Killaloe have been opened and here is the state of play with five seats up for grabs: Joe Cooney (FG) - 2,623 Pat Hayes (FF) - 1,552 Alan O'Callaghan (FF) - 1,446 Tony O'Brien (FF) - 1,263 Pat Burke (FG) - 981 Matthew Moroney (Independent Ireland) - 846 Fiona Levia (SD) - 595 Dr Martina Cleary (SF) - 383 Audrey Flynn (GP) - 335 The estimated quota for Killaloe is 1,671 The total electorate was 17,593, a turnout of 56.98%. Pat Daly (FF) was elected on the first count in Ennis. 4.10pm: 26 of the 30 boxes from the Ennistymon LEA (4 seats available) have been opened and its Bill Slattery from Fine Gael, a farmer, who is out in front with 1,675 first preferences. Mr Slattery missed out on the final seal at the 2019 Local Election. Incumbent Joe Killeen of Fianna Fail is in second with 1,503 votes while his fellow incumbents Shane Talty of Fianna Fail (1,354 votes) and Joe Garrihy of Fine Gael (1,324) are in third and fourth respectively. If this translates to official results later, Fine Gael would gain a seat in the council to go with the one it already held through Joe Garrihy. 3.54pm: 42 of the 44 boxes in the Kilrush LEA have been opened - where there are five seats available - and it is Fianna Fail's incumbent Rita McInerney that will be the happiest of the area's candidates as she sits on 1,385 first preference votes. Dinny Gould, an Independent, meanwhile is in second place with 1,200 first preferences and if this was to stay the same, he could well be on his way to win himself a seat. Ian Lynch meanwhile, another incumbent, is in third place on 1,174 votes with Fianna Fail's Michael Shannon in fourth with 1,025 votes. Cillian Murphy, an incumbent, rounds out the top five with 967 first preferences. 3.35pm: There are 30 of the 33 Killaloe (5 seats available) boxes opened and so, heres how the candidates are faring as the tallies begin to draw to a close: Joe Cooney of Fine Gael has 2,331 first preference votes which puts him well ahead of Fianna Fails Pat Hayes who sits in second place on 1,571 first preferences. Alan OCallaghan of Fianna Fail finishes out the top three with 1,240. In fourth place is another Fianna Fail candidate in Tony OBrien who has 1,178 votes while in fifth place is Pat Burke of Fine Gael. If these standings stay the same for the official count, it would mean that Fianna Fail would retain three members on the council while Fine Gael would keep two. All five are current sitting councillors so the status quo would not change. Audrey Flynn of the Green Party has just 326 first preferences. 2.45pm: In Kilrush, as of 2.30pm on Saturday, there was 25 of 44 boxes opened and in a similar story to the rest of the county, its a Fianna Fail candidate leading the charge with sitting Councillor Rita McInerney having 1,008 first preference votes. She is followed closely followed by another incumbent in Cillian Murphy from Fianna Fail as well as the tallies show that he has 777 first preference votes. With all of Ennis' boxes opened (bar the postal vote), here's how things are looking (based on the tally) for candidates who are looking to grab one of the 7 seats available: Fianna Fails Daly is out in front and looks set to retain his seat with 1,748 first preference votes and he is closely followed by Fine Gaels Mary Howard who has 1,332 votes and who is also looking a safe bet to retain her seat. Paul Murphy, meanwhile, is has 1,309 first preference votes to his name and will be hopeful of keeping his seat on the council too while Clare Colleran Molloy is another she has 1,159 who can be confident of retaining her seat as well. See a full tally from Ennis below: Pat Daly (FF) - 1748 Mary Howard (FG) - 1332 Paul Murphy (FG) - 1309 Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) - 1159 Tommy Guilfoyle (SF) - 1154 Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF) - 1143 Tom OCallaghan (FF) - 984 Bridget Ginnity (GP) - 691 Hilary Tonge (SD) - 572 Seamus Ryan (LAB) - 412 Amanda Major (IND) - 376 Ruairi Keenan (IND) - 363 Jacek Kazmierz Kwasny (IND) - 92 The estimated quota in the Ennis LEA is 1,417. Meanwhile in Shannon, with almost all of the 36 boxes opened in Shannon - where there are 7 seats up for grabs - Fianna Fail's David Griffin is out in front with 1,413 votes - an impressive showing considering it's his first time running - and he and is closely followed by John Crowe of Fine Gael who looks set to retain his seat with 1,206 votes. Rachel Hartigan of Fianna Fail rounds out the top three with 1,136 votes. Donna McGettigan of Sinn Fein meanwhile looks set to retain her seat also with 1,020 first preference votes. The estimated quota in Shannon meanwhile is 1,151. Tallying is still currently taking place in the Kilrush and Killaloe boxes with Ennistymon the last to follow after that. There is also the mystery of the missing last Shannon box too which has yet to be found. There are 28 seats up for grabs on Clare County Council; seven in both Ennis and Shannon local electoral areas (LEA), five each in Kilrush and Killaloe electoral areas, and four in Ennistymon. There are 59 candidates running in the five areas and of the 28 current sitting councillors, 23 are seeking re-election. Follow Independent Clare on Facebook Follow the live blog on the Irish Independents website for all updates. Bernard Moynihan and his supporters, including brother Michael Moynihan TD, celebrate in anticipation of him being elected on the first count at Mallow Youth Centre. Photo: Sheila Fitzgerald Bernard Moynihan celebrates his election on the first count at Mallow Youth Centre. Liam Madden (FG) is held aloft by supporters after his re-election to Mallow LEA. John Paul O'Shea (FG) is hoisted into the air in celebration of his election to Kanturk LEA on the second count. Tony O'Shea is lifted into the air after it was announced that he topped the polls in Mallow LEA. Noel McCarthy of Fine Gael is held up by his supporters after his re-election to Fermoy LEA was announced. Fermoy poll-topper William O'Leary (Non-Party) is held aloft in celebration of his re-election. Mayor Frank O'Flynn was raised high in Mallow Count Centre after his election to Fermoy LEA was announced. Gearoid Murphy (FF) celebrates his re-election with his supporters at Mallow Youth Centre. Pat Hayes (FF) celebrates his re-election to Mallow LEA with family and supporters at Mallow Youth Centre. Ted Lucey (FG) celebrates his re-election to Macroom LEA on the final count at County Hall. The final councillor in the Cobh LEA has been elected after a recount of the local electoral area concluded in County Hall on Monday afternoon. Fianna Fail candidate Dominic Finn was initially deemed elected on Sunday evening following the eleventh count in the Cobh local electoral area. Mr Finn was deemed to have been elected after he narrowly held off a very strong challenge from Green Party candidate Cliona OHalloran. Mr Finn secured seven more votes than Ms OHalloran after he ended up with a final tally of 1,376 votes, while Ms OHalloran had a final tally of 1,369 votes. A recount was called however given the titanic battle for the last seat in the Cobh LEA. After the counting of all the votes again on Monday in County Hall, it emerged that the gap had widened between the two candidates and Mr Finn was duly elected. The other candidates elected in the Cobh local electoral area are Cllr Sheila OCallaghan (FF), Cllr Anthony Barry (FG), Cllr Sinead Sheppard (FG), Cllr Ger Curley (Independent) and Cllr Cathal Rasmussen (Labour Party). 2.45pm Final four seats in Midleton LEA filled The final four seats were filled in the Midleton LEA late on Sunday night. Fianna Fail candidate Patrick Mulcahy was elected following the eleventh count in the Midleton local electoral area. The well-known sports commentator had initially received a first preference vote of 1,629 and ultimately finished up with 2,036 votes. This enabled him to win a council seat at his first attempt. After Mr Mulcahy was deemed elected, he was quickly followed by three other candidates. Independent candidate John Buckley, Rory Cocking (Fine Gael) and sitting Fianna Fail councillor Ann Marie Ahern were all elected without reaching the quota on the twelfth and final count in the Midleton LEA. Overall, 16 candidates put their name forward for election and ultimately seven councillors were elected for the Midleton LEA. Independent candidate Mary Linehan Foley topped the poll after she received 2,962 votes. She was elected on the first count alongside Michael Hegarty of Fine Gael who received 2,116 votes. Sitting councillor Liam Quaide was also re-elected. The Social Democrats councillor who was elected as a member of the Green Party in 2019 ultimately garnered 2,007 votes. The party make-up of the new Midleton LEA is Fine Gael 2, Fianna Fail 2, Independents 2 and one Social Democrats candidate. Outgoing councillors for the Midleton LEA John Healy (Independent), Susan McCarthy (Fine Gael) and Danielle Twomey (Independent) did not run in the local elections. 10.25pm Liam Quaide re-elected in Midleton LEA Sitting councillor Liam Quaide has been re-elected to Cork County Council for the Midleton LEA. The Social Democrats councillor who was elected as a member of the Green Party in 2019 ultimately garnered 2,007 votes. Three councillors have been elected for the Midleton local electoral area thus far. Independent Mary Linehan Foley topped the polls after she received 2,962 votes. She was elected on the first count alongside Michael Hegarty of Fine Gael who received 2,116 votes. There are four seats still left to fill in the Midleton LEA. 10.20pm Three councillors elected in Skibbereen-West Cork LEA Sitting councillor Deirdre Kelly (Fianna Fail), Isobel Towse (Social Democrats) and Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton have all been elected in the Skibbereen-West Cork local electoral area. The three candidates were all elected on the tenth count after the distribution of Cllr Joe Carrolls votes. Social Democrats councillor Isobel Towse finished with 2,566 votes overall and her election ensured it was a very successful day for the party after Ann Bambury was elected in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA earlier today. Independent Ireland councillor Daniel Sexton finished with 2,238 votes and is the third member of the party to be elected in the West Cork MD after the Collins brothers Danny and John were elected over the weekend. Dunmanway based councillor Deirdre Kelly ultimately finished with 2,092 votes which enabled her to finish 81 votes ahead of her party colleague Padraig OReilly. The five councillors elected in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA were Cllr Noel ODonovan (FG), Joe Carroll (FF), Isobel Towse (SD), Daniel Sexton (Independent Ireland) and Deirdre Kelly (FF). 9.20pm Cllr Joe Carroll retains his seat in Skibbereen-West Cork LEA Sitting Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll has retained his seat in the Skibbereen-West Cork local electoral area. Cllr Carroll received 721 votes following the distribution of Fine Gael candidate Brian McCarthys votes. This moved Mr Carroll on to 2,995 votes and ensured he retained his seat on Cork County Council. Two candidates have been elected thus far in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA. Fine Gael councillor Noel ODonovan topped the poll after a very impressive election campaign. There are three seats left to fill in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA. Social Democrats candidate Isobel Towse and Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton seem poised to secured seats following very strong performances, while there is an intriguing race for the final seat between sitting Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Kelly and her party colleague Padraig OReilly. Cllr Kelly currently holds a slender lead of 70 votes over Mr OReilly. 9.20pm Final two seats filled in Fermoy LEA after dramatic ninth count. First-time candidate Nelius Cotter (FF) was elected as a Fermoy councillor with 2,030 votes alongside fellow first-timer Peter ODonoghue (non-party), who was elected with 1,784 votes. Labour Party candidate Diarmuid Hanley lost out to ODonoghue by 42 votes, finishing with 1,742 votes. Mr Hanley and his team discussed a potential recount of the vote with the returning officer, but this was subsequently ruled out. Mr Cotter and Mr Hanley join William OLeary (non-party), Noel McCarthy (FG), Frank OFlynn (FF) and Deirdre OBrien (FF) on Fermoy LEA. 8.57pm Full recount called for Cobh LEA A full recount has been called for the Cobh local electoral area on Monday, June 10. Fianna Fail candidate Dominic Finn was deemed elected following the eleventh count in the Cobh LEA, after he narrowly held off a very strong challenge from Green Party candidate Cliona OHalloran. Mr Finn was deemed to have been elected after he secured seven more votes than Ms OHalloran. A recount will be held however given the titanic battle for the last seat in the Cobh LEA. The candidates elected so far in Cobh local electoral area are Cllr Sheila OCallaghan, Cllr Anthony Barry, Cllr Sinead Sheppard, Cllr Ger Curley and Cllr Cathal Rasmussen. The recount will commence at 10am tomorrow morning. 8.50pm Gillian Coughlan and Marie O'Sullivan both elected to Bandon-Kinsale LEA on the eighth count Sitting councillors Gillian Coughlan (Fianna Fail) and Marie OSullivan (Fine Gael) have been re-elected to Cork County Council for the Bandon-Kinsale local electoral area. Ms Coughlan who formerly served as the Mayor of the County of Cork ultimately finished up with 2,485 votes, while Ms OSullivan who is based in Kinsale finished up with 2,211 votes. They were both elected on the eighth count. This ensures that all the seats in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA are now filled. Cllr Coughlan and Cllr OSullivan now join Cllr John Collins, Cllr Alan Coleman, Cllr John Michael Foley and Cllr Bambury as the six elected public representatives for the Bandon-Kinsale LEA. 8.10pm Caroline Cronin and Patrick Gerard Murphy both elected to Bantry-West Cork LEA on the eighth count Sitting councillors Caroline Cronin (Fine Gael) and Patrick Gerard Murphy (Fianna Fail) have been re-elected to Cork County Council for the Bantry-West Cork local electoral area on the eighth count. Ms Cronin secured 1,696 first preference votes after the boxes were opened on Saturday, while Mr Murphy secured 1,361 first preference votes. Ms Cronin who is based in Schull ultimately ended up with 2,478 votes, while Beara based Mr Murphy finished up with 2,185 votes. The election of Cllr Cronin and Cllr Murphy means that all the seats in the Bantry-West Cork LEA have now been filled. Independent Ireland candidate Danny Collins topped the poll and Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington was also successfully elected at the third attempt. Independent candidate Helen OSullivan fell just short in her bid for a council seat. She was 190 votes adrift of Patrick Gerard Murphy who held off a gallant bit from Ms OSullivan to retain his seat. 7.37pm Cathal Rasmussen and Ger Curley both elected to Cobh LEA on the ninth count. Sitting Labour Party councillor Cathal Rasmussen has retained his seat in the Cobh local electoral area after he was elected on the ninth count. Independent Ireland candidate Ger Curley was also elected on the ninth count in the Cobh LEA. Five seats have now been filled in the Cobh LEA. Mr Rasmussen and Mr Curley now join outgoing councillors Sheila OCallaghan (FF) and Anthony Barry (FG) and Sinead Sheppard (Fine Gael) as elected public representatives for Cobh LEA. Two councillors are vying for the final seat in the Cobh local electoral area with Fianna Fail candidate Dominic Finn and Green Party candidate Cliona OHalloran battling for the final seat. 7.32pm Deirdre OBrien has been re-elected to Fermoy LEA on the eighth count. The Fianna Fail candidate received a total of 2,795 votes to win the fourth seat in the constituency. Closely matched candidates Nelius Cotter (FF), Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) and Peter ODonoghue will fight it out for the remaining two seats. 7.16pm Ann Bambury elected in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA Social Democrats candidate Ann Bambury has been elected for the Bandon-Kinsale local electoral area on the seventh count. Ms Bambury initially garnered 1,800 first preference votes after the ballot boxes were opened on Saturday. She ultimately ended up with a total of 2,387 votes. Following the election of Ms Bambury four councillors have now been elected to Bandon-Kinsale LEA. Cllr Alan Coleman (Independent) and Cllr John Collins (Independent Ireland) were elected after the first count last night, while Fine Gael candidate John Michael Foley was elected earlier today. There are still two seats to be filled in the Bandon-Kinsale local electoral area. Sitting councillors Marie OSullivan (Fine Gael) and Gillian Coughlan (Fianna Fail) seem well placed to win the final two seats. 6.58pm The eighth count of Fermoy LEA is well underway. With four remaining candidates contesting the three remaining seats, the makeup of the LEA will be decided by this count. 6.37pm Finbarr Harrington elected in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA It was a case of third time lucky for Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington after he was elected to Cork County Council for the Bantry-West Cork local electoral area on his third attempt. Mr Harrington was narrowly pipped to a seat in the 2019 election after Holly Cairns secured the last seat in the Bantry-West Cork LEA by one vote. Mr Harrington garnered a very impressive 1,870 first preference votes after the ballot boxes were opened on Saturday evening and he proved very transfer friendly after the votes were distributed. He ultimately secured a total of 2,668 votes which secured his seat on the seventh count in Cork County Council. Two candidates have been elected so far in Bantry-West Cork LEA. Independent Ireland candidate Danny Collins who topped the poll and Finbarr Harrington. There are still two seats up for grabs. Sitting Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin seems well poised to retain her seat. However, the battle for the last seat will be very tight with sitting councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy and Independent councillor Helen OSullivan locked in a fascinating dual for the final seat. After seven counts, Cllr Murphy is 88 votes ahead of Ms OSullivan. 6.15pm John Michael Foley elected in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA Fine Gael candidate John Michael Foley has been elected in the Bandon-Kinsale LEA after the sixth count. Mr Foley garnered 273 votes following the distribution of Fine Gael candidate Gerard Seamans votes. This enabled him to secure an overall vote of 2,527 and exceed the quota of 2,379. The new councillor initially secured 2,194 first preference votes when the boxes were opened on Saturday evening. Three councillors have now been elected to Bandon-Kinsale LEA. Cllr Alan Coleman (Independent) and Cllr John Collins (Independent Ireland) were elected after the first count last night after they received substantial votes. There are still three seats to be filled in the Bandon-Kinsale local electoral area. Social Democrats candidate Ann Bambury seems poised to win a seat as she is currently on 2,370. The other candidates vying for seats include Marie OSullivan (Fine Gael) and sitting Fianna Fail councillors Gillian Coughlan and Sean ODonovan. 5.52pm Outgoing Fine Gael councillor Kay Dawson has been eliminated from the race for the remaining three seats in the Fermoy LEA. The seventh count saw the 1,158 votes of previously eliminated Derek Blighe (IF) distributed amongst five candidates. Independent candidate Peter ODonoghue benefitted the most, receiving 367 votes to up his count to 1,648. Deirdre OBrien (FF) is still most likely to be elected next as she holds 2,131 votes. Her party colleague Nelius Cotter has 1,695 votes while Diarmuid Hanley (Lab) sits on 1,369. As the candidate with the least votes, Dawson was eliminated and her 1,325 votes will be distributed amongst the remaining candidates in the eighth count. 5.38pm The election of Ted Lucey (FG) and Martin Coughlan (non-party) in the sixth count means that all six outgoing councillors have been re-elected in Macroom. Gobnait Moynihan (FF) topped the poll with 2,794 votes while Michael Creed (FG) was also elected in the first count with 2,593 votes. Michael Looney was re-elected in the second count with 2,584 votes and Eileen Lynch was returned in the fifth count with 2,739 votes. Ted Lucey received 2,419 votes in the final count while Martin Coughlan took 2,176 votes. 5.22pm Eoghan Fahys election in the eighth count means that all six seats have been filled in Carrigaline LEA The elected candidates are as follows: Audrey Buckley (FF): 2,110 (fourth count) Ben Dalton OSullivan (non-party): 2,315 (first count) Eoghan Fahy (SF): 2,039 (eighth count) Jack White (FG): 2,307 (second count) Seamus McGrath (FF): 5,191 (first count) Una McCarthy (FG): 2,102 (seventh count) 5.05pm Sinead Sheppard wins election to Cobh LEA on the seventh count Fine Gael councillor Sinead Sheppard has retained her seat in the Cobh local electoral area after she was elected on the seventh count. Cllr Sheppard initially received 1,497 first preference votes and she was ultimately elected with 2,116 votes. Three councillors have now been elected in the Cobh LEA after outgoing councillors Sheila OCallaghan (FF) and Anthony Barry (FG) were elected last night. There are three seats to be filled in Cobh LEA with Ger Curley (Independent), Cllr Cathal Rasmussen (Labour Party), Dominic Finn (Fianna Fail) and Green Party candidate Cliona OHalloran all competing for the final three seats. 4.45pm No candidate has been elected to Fermoy LEA on the sixth count Deirdre OBrien sits in poll position for the fourth seat with 2,245 votes. The quota is 2,358. First-time candidate Nelius Cotter (FF) holds 1,607 votes while Kay Dawson (FG), Diarmuid Hanley (Labour) and Peter ODonoghue (non-party) are all closely matched. Derek Blighe (IF) has been eliminated from the race for the remaining three seats and his 1,158 votes will be distributed in the seventh count. 4.25pm All outgoing councillors have been returned to Mallow LEA following the re-election of Pat Hayes (FF) on the seventh count Hayes was elected with 1,861 votes and joins Tony OShea (FG), Liam Madden (FG), Eoghan Kenny (Labour) and Gearoid Murphy (FF) on the local council. All five seats in the constituency have now been filled. 3.40pm No candidate elected on the fifth count for Fermoy LEA. Deirdre OBrien (FF) is closest to the quota of 2,358 with 2,131 votes. Joe OBriens (SF) 853 votes will be distributed amongst the candidates in the sixth count. Three seats remain to be filled. 3.19pm Gearoid Murphy wins election to Mallow LEA on the sixth count. The Fianna Fail councillor was re-elected to the council with 1,971 votes, which exceeded the quote of 1,958. His party colleague Pat Hayes is expected to be re-elected to the final seat in the area. This would mean that all outgoing councillors are re-elected to the LEA. 2.20pm Gearoid Murphy (FF) edges closer to election in Mallow LEA The outgoing councillor holds 1,911 votes after the fifth count and is nearing the quota of 1,958. Pat Hayes (FF) sits on 1,659 votes, and is likely to secure one of the constituencys remaining two seats alongside Murphy. 2.14pm Fine Gael candidate Noel ODonovan elected to Skibbereen-West Cork LEA Fine Gael candidate Noel ODonovan has been elected to Skibbereen-West Cork local electoral area on the fourth count. Mr ODonovan exceeded the quota after he secured enough votes from the distribution of outgoing councillor Karen Coakleys votes. The newly elected councillor ran a great electoral campaign, and he garnered 2,445 first preference votes. He ultimately secured an overall vote of 2,539 and exceeded the quota of 2,531. Noel ODonovan is the first councillor elected in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA. There are several candidates still vying for the remaining four seats. They include sitting councillor Joe Carroll (Fianna Fail), Isobel Towse (Social Democrats), Brendan McCarthy (Fine Gael), sitting councillor Deirdre Kelly (Fianna Fail), Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton, Fianna Fail candidate Padraig OReilly and sitting councillor Declan Hurley (Independent). 2.04pm The Mayor of the County of Cork, Frank OFlynn (FF), has been re-elected to Fermoy LEA on the fourth count. Following the announcement of his election, Cllr OFlynn was hoisted into the air and shouted come on the harbour!. The Mayor said he was delighted, overcome to be elected to the third seat in Fermoy. Outgoing councillor Frank Roche (non-party) has been eliminated from the race for the three remaining seats in the constituency. 1.40pm Kanturk becomes the first LEA filled in County Cork. Ian Doyle (FF) was re-elected on the eighth count with 1,855 votes, edging Becky Kealy (Aontu) by 61 votes. Doyle joins Bernard Moynihan (FF), John Paul OShea (FG), Trish Murphy (FG) on the LEA for the next five years. 1.38pm Eileen Lynch (FG) has been re-elected to Macroom LEA on the third count. 12.33pm The eighth count for Kanturk LEA will see the fourth and final candidate elected to the constituency. Ian Doyle (FF) is in poll position to be re-elected, as he currently holds 1,705 votes while his competitor Becky Kealy (Aontu) is on 1,485. The 812 votes of Sinn Feins Evelyn OKeeffe will be distributed amongst the two candidates in the eighth count. 12.23pm Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins re-elected to Cork County Council Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins has been re-elected to Cork County Council after the third count in the Bantry-West Cork LEA. Cllr Collins received a first preference vote of 2,386 and the former Mayor of the County of Cork will now forward to County Hall for another term. Three councillors have been eliminated so far in the Bantry-West Cork LEA. Aontu candidate Patrick Murphy, Green Party candidate Liz Coakley Wakefield and Fine Gael candidate Mary Lou Maguire Leahy have all been eliminated. There are four seats to be filled in the Bantry-West Cork LEA. Independent candidate Finbarr Harrington, sitting Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin, sitting Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy. Independent candidate Helen OSullivan, Fianna Fail candidate Danny Crowley and sitting Social Democrats councillor Chris Heinhold are all competing for the final three seats in the Bnatry-West Cork LEA. 12.15pm Anti-immigration candidate Derek Blighe (Ireland First) is still in the race for election to Fermoy LEA, with 951 votes after the third count. Two candidates have been elected to seats in the area and nine remain in the race for the remaining four. County Mayor Frank OFlynn (2,333 votes) is most likely to elected next, sitting just 25 votes off the quota. 11:40am The third count for Mallow LEA has not seen any candidate gather enough votes to be elected to either of the two remaining seats. 11.31am Ian Doyle (FF) and Becky Kealy (Aontu) vying for the final seat in Kanturk, but neither collected enough votes to be elected on the sixth count. 11.12am No candidate has been elected to Carrigaline LEA after the third count. 10.54am No candidate elected to Macroom LEA on the second count. on 10.10am Day two of counting set to get underway in Mallow Youth Centre. So far, Bernard Moynihan (FF), John Paul OShea (FG) and Trish Murphy (FG) have been elected to Kanturk LEA. Ian Doyle (FF) and Becky Kealy (Aontu) are set to fight it out for the constituencys final seat. In Mallow, Tony OShea (FG), Liam Madden (FG) and Eoghan Kenny (Lab) have been elected. Gearoid Murphy (FF), Pat Hayes (FF) and Melissa OBrien (SF) are challenging for the final two seats. William OBrien (Non-Party) and Noel McCarthy (FG) were elected to Fermoy LEA. Mayor of County Cork, Frank OFlynn (FF), looks likely to be elected next. Several candidates running in the area could challenge for the remaining three seats. Noel McCarthy of Fine Gael is held up by his supporters after his re-election to Fermoy LEA was announced. 3.09am: No candidate elected after the first count in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA Two candidates were eliminated: Lorraine Deane (Aontu) and Rory Jackson (Green Party) Joe Carroll (FF) 1,783 Karen Coakley (Ind) 555 Lorraine Deane (Aontu) 187 Humphrey Deegan (Ind) 853 Declan Hurley (Ind) 1,045 Deirdre Kelly (FF) 1,344 Rory Jackson (Green Party) 214 Brendan McCarthy (FG) 1,384 Evie Nevin (Labour) 450 Noel ODonovan (FG) 2,445 Barry OMahony (Ind) 647 Padraig OReilly (FF) 1,199 Donnchadh O Seaghdha (SF) 552 Daniel Sexton (Ind Ireland) 1,277 Isobel Towse (Soc Dems) 1,249 Total electorate: 15,299 Total poll: 15,299 Invalid ballot papers: 115 Valid poll: 15,184 Quota: 2,531 3.08am Two candidates elected to the Bandon-Kinsale LEA after the first count: Alan Coleman (Independent) and John Collins (Independent Ireland) Alan Colemans surplus of 132 votes will now be distributed. Ann Bambury (Soc Dems) 1,800 Alan Coleman (Ind) 2,511 John Collins (Independent Ireland) 2,380 Gillian Coughlan (FF) 1,726 John Michael Foley (FG) 2,194 Margaret Murphy OMahony (FF) 983 Clare OCallaghan (SF) 443 Sean ODonovan (FF) 1,118 Marie OSullivan (FG) 1,598 Brendan Piper (Ind) 488 Gerard Seaman (FG) 988 Stephen Spillane (Green Party) 272 Total electorate: 31,002 Total poll: 16,748 Invalid ballot papers: 102 Valid poll: 16,646 Quota: 2,379 2.24am Two candidates elected after the first count in Midleton LEA Midleton LEA ELECTED: Mary Lenihan Foley (Independent) and Michael Hegarty (FG) Edith Adams (SF) 715 Ann Marie Ahern (FF) 1,053 John Buckley (Ind) 862 Sean Buckley (Ind) 654 Paddy Bullman (Ireland First) 368 Rory Cocking (FG) 1,400 Alison Curtin (FG) 803 Clodagh Harrington (Green Party) 387 Michael Hegarty (FG) 2,116 Eileen Kelly McCarthy (Ind Ireland) 595 Mary Lenihan Foley (Ind) 2,962 Patrick Mulcahy (FF) 1,629 Michelle Neville (Ind) 147 James Peter OSullivan (The Irish People) 211 Liam Quaide (Soc Dems) 1,606 Mona Stromsoe (Aontu) 692 Total Electorate: 36,345 Total Poll: 16,357 Invalid Ballot Papers: 157 Valid Poll: 16,200 Quota: 2,026 Number of Seats: 7 1.45am No candidate elected after the first count in Bantry-West Cork LEA. The count for this area has been adjourned for the night. Bantry-West Cork No candidate elected after the first count: Liz Coakley Wakefield (Green Party): 294 Danny Collins (Independent Ireland): 2,386 Caroline Cronin (FG): 1,696 Danny Crowley (FF): 1,245 Finbarr Harrington (Ind): 1,870 Chris Heinhold (Soc Dems): 994 Mary Lou Maguire Leahy (FG): 562 Patrick Murphy (Aontu): 289 Patrick Gerard Murphy (FF): 1,361 Colum OCallaghan (SF): 258 Helen OSullivan (Ind): 1,340 Total Poll: 12,396 Spoiled: 101 Valid Poll: 12,295 Quota: 2,460 Seats: 4 1.40pm Trish Murphy (FG) has won the third seat in the Kanturk LEA following the fourth count. 1.27am Jack White (FG) has been elected to the Carrigaline LEA after the second count. 1.06am No candidate has been elected after the third count for Mallow LEA. The count for this electoral area has been adjourned for the night. 1am The third count for the Fermoy LEA is currently underway at Mallow Youth Centre. 12.59am No candidate elected after the Kanturk LEA third count. 12.25am Two candidates secure re-election in Fermoy on first count William OLeary, an Independent candidate who resigned from Fianna Fail earlier this year, topped the poll in Fermoy with 2,920 votes. Fine Gaels Noel McCarthy was also elected, with 2,624 votes. 12.15am Two councillors elected from Cobh LEA Cork County Council: Cobh First Count ELECTED: Sheila OCallaghan (FF) and Anthony Barry (FG) Cobh First Count results: Rola Abu Zeid ONeill (People Before Profit): 492 Anthony Barry (FG) 1,935 Ger Curley (Independent Ireland) 1,293 Dominic Finn (FF) 940 Peter Kidney (Independent) 357 Keith Kelly (FG) 645 Medhi Ozcinar (SF) 620 Diarmuid O Cadhla (Glor Voice of the People) 559 Sheila OCallaghan (FF) 2,202 Cliona OHalloran (Green Party) 834 Cathal Rasmussen (Labour Party) 1,541 Sinead Sheppard (FG) 1,497 Poll: 28,604 Rejected: 106 Valid Poll: 13,021 Seats: 6 Quota: 1,846 11.43pm Two seats filled in Macroom after first count. Fianna Fails Gobnait Moynihan has won re-election to Macroom LEA with a poll-topping 2,794 votes. Veteran campaigner Michael Creed (FG) also secured a seat on the first count, after he collected 2,593 first preferences. 11.07pm John Paul OShea has secured the second seat in Kanturk LEA. Fine Gaels John Paul OShea has been re-elected after he received 171 surplus votes in the second count. These votes gave him a total of 2,356 votes. His election comes shortly after it was announced his brother Tony topped the polls in the Mallow LEA. In the second count of Kanturk LEA, Trish Murphy (FG) received 195 votes to give her a total of 2,037, while Ian Doyle (FF) collected an additional 196 to give him a total of 1,396 votes. They are the candidates now most likely to fill the remaining two seats in the constituency, which has a quota of 2,284. Tony O'Shea is lifted into the air after it was announced that he topped the polls in Mallow LEA. 10.35pm Two Fine Gael representatives and a Labour Party candidate have been re-elected to Mallow LEA. Tony OShea (FG) topped the polls with 2,615 votes and his party colleague Liam Madden received 2,571 first-preferences. Labours first-time candidate Eoghan Kenny, who was co-opted on to the local council earlier this year, collected 2,239 votes. 24-year-old Eoghan Kenny (Labour Party) celebrates his election to Mallow LEA. Each candidates surplus will be divided amongst the remaining seven candidates in the race for the final two seats in the constituency. Fianna Fail candidates Gearoid Murphy (1,329 votes) and Pat Hayes (1,076 votes) are the candidates with the next most first-preference votes. Liam Madden (FG) is held aloft by supporters after his re-election to Mallow LEA. 10.30pm Bantry-West Cork LEA, Bandon-Kinsale LEA and Skibbereen-West Cork first count results are expected to be announced around midnight. We are still waiting for the results from the first count to be announced at the election centre in Clonakilty in County Cork. There is growing speculation that the results from the first count in the three local electoral areas will be announced in the Bantry-West Cork, Bandon-Kinsale and Skibbereen-West Cork around midnight. According to the early tallies Cllr Danny Collins (Independent Ireland) and younger brother of Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins will top the poll in Bantry-West Cork. The tallies also indicate that sitting Independent councillor Alan Coleman will top the poll in Bandon-Kinsale and Noel ODonovan (Fine Gael) will top the poll in Skibbereen-West Cork. 9.49pm Mallow LEA first count results are expected to be announced within the next 10 minutes. 9.20pm Fianna Fails Bernard Moynihan has been elected to Kanturk LEA on the first count. The Duhallow representative received 3,030 votes and his surplus of 746 will be distributed amongst the remaining nine candidates in the second count. Other high pollers were Fine Gaels John Paul OShea, with 2,185 votes, and his party colleague Trish Murphy, who collected 2,037 votes. 7.40pm Independent Ireland party leader hopeful his party will win a number of seats Independent Ireland party leader Michael Collins TD is hopeful his party can win a number of seats on Cork County Council. Speaking to The Corkman as he arrived at the count centre in Clonakilty on Saturday evening, Mr Collins declared himself very happy. It is early stages yet. We are happy at the moment. Obviously, there is a lot to be played out yet. Tomorrow is a big day. For now, I am extremely happy. Four candidates are going to get elected tonight, two are from Independent Ireland. That is a great start. In Europe it also looks very good for us, but it is very early stages, he said. Two brothers of the Independent Ireland party leader appear poised to top the polls in the Bantry-West Cork (Danny) and Bandon-Kinsale (John) local electoral areas respectively. Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton is also in with a good chance of winning a seat in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA after polling well. Deputy Collins is hopeful his party can win three seats. It looks very good for Danny in the Bantry electoral area and John in the Bandon electoral area. They both have exceeded a quota as it looks from the early tallies. I was hearing this on the doors. I was getting a very positive response. We are in a very serious chance of taking a third seat in the Clonakilty area. We will know more tomorrow, he added. 6.23pm Final tallies in Midleton and Cobh local electoral areas The final tallies have been completed in both Midleton and Cobh local electoral areas. Sitting Fianna Fail councillor Sheila OCallaghan recorded the highest vote in Cobh as she secured 17% of the vote. Fine Gael councillor Anthony Barry seems certain to retain his seat after he secured 15% of the vote. Sitting councillors Cathal Rasmussen (Labour Party) and Sinead Sheppard (Fine Gael) look well poised to retain their seats after they secured 12% of the vote respectively. Independent Ireland candidate Ger Curley has polled very well. Mr Curley secured 10% of the vote. Fianna Fail candidate Dominic Finn has polled well as he garnered 7% of the vote, while Green Party candidate Cliona OHalloran is on 6%. Sinn Fein candidate Medhi Ozcinar and Fine Gael candidate Keith Kelly are both locked on 5% of the vote. Rola Abu Zeid ONeill the People Before Profit candidate and Glor Voice of the People candidate Diarmaid O Cadhla are both on 4%, while Independent candidate Peter Kidney is on 3%. Overall there are 12 candidates competing for six seats in the Cobh LEA. In the Midleton LEA sitting Independent candidate Mary Lenihan Foley secured the most votes after she garnered 2663 first preference votes. Sitting Fine Gael councillor Michael Hegarty polled an impressive 1852 votes, while Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Mulcahy who is contesting his first elected secured 1503 votes. Sitting Social Democrats councillor Liam Quaide appears well poised to retain his seat after he secured 1338 first preference votes. Fine Gael candidate Rory Cocking is well poised to win a seat for his party after he received 1121 votes. Sitting councillor Ann Marie Ahern will be hopeful of retaining her seat after she secured 840 votes. Fine Gael candidate Alision Curtin secured 683 first preference votes, while Independent candidate John Buckley and Sinn Fein candidate Edith Adams garnered 663 and 610 votes respectively. Independent candidate Mona Stromose got 582 votes, while Eileen Kelly McCarthy (Independent Ireland) got 556 votes. Independent candidate Sean Buckley garnered 499 votes, Green Party candidate Clodagh Harrington got 329 votes, Independent candidate James Peter OSullivan received 182 votes and Independent candidate Michelle Neville got 125 votes. There are 16 candidates competing for seven seats in the Midleton LEA. 6.12pm Fianna Fails Bernard Moynihan was greeted with applause as he arrived into Mallow Youth Centre. The Duhallow representative is expected to be re-elected as a Kanturk councillor when the first count takes place soon. Tallies showed that Moynihan received 2,999 votes, which is 26pc of the vote in the four-seat constituency. Moynihan said that he was delighted and surprised with how many votes he received. 5.37pm The count is well underway in Mallow Youth Centre, with the results of the first count expected in an hour. 5.25pm Social Democrats party leader Holly Cairns has just arrived at the count centre in Clonakilty. The Social Democrats are running three candidates in the three local electoral areas in Bantry-West Cork, Bandon-Kinsale and Skibbereen-West Cork. The party are in contention to win seats in all the municipal districts going by the early tallies. Ann Bambury who is running in the Bandon LEA has polled very well and will be hopeful of winning a seat. Sitting councillor Chris Heinhold is running in the Bantry LEA and will be competing hard to retain his seat. There are only four seats up for grabs in this MD and Independent candidates are also polling well. Transfers ultimately will prove crucial in determining who will win the seats. Isobel Towse who is running in the Skibbereen-West Cork LEA has also polled well according to the early tallies and she will be competing hard for the final seat in this MD. There are 15 candidates competing for five seats in Skibbereen-West Cork. Voting for the three local electoral areas has yet to commence at the count centre in Clonakilty. 4.05pm Counting has begun in Mallow Youth Centre 3:58pm Macroom and Carrigaline Tallies Macroom LEA Tallies show that all six outgoing councillors in the area could be re-elected. Gobnait Moynihan (FF) hold 16pc of the vote in the LEA while her party colleague Michael Looney has 14pc. Michael Creed sits on 15pc and his Fine Gael colleague Eileen Lynch has 13pc. Ted Lucey, also Fine Gael, holds 12pc of the vote. Martin Coughlan (Ind) has 8pc of the vote. Of the four candidates hoping to challenge the status quo, Dermot Kelleher (Independent Ireland) looks to hold the most votes at 7pc. Carrigaline LEA Fianna Fails Seamus McGrath looks to be running away with the electoral area, with tallies showing that he holds 36pc of the vote. Ben Dalton-OSullivan holds 20pc of the vote while Fine Gaels Jack White has 12pc. 3.46pm Count at Mallow Youth Centre is still awaiting boxes to arrive from the local GAA club. 3.40pm Mallow, Kanturk, Fermoy Mallow LEA Fine Gaels two outgoing councillors are looking likely to be re-elected in Mallow Fine Gaels Tony OShea and Liam Madden each hold 22pc of the vote in the LEA, according to tallies. The Labour Partys Eoghan Kenny sits on 19pc and Gearoid Murphy of Fianna Fail has 11pc. Pat Hayes (FF) could secure the fifth seat in the constituency with the 9pc he currently holds. Kanturk LEA Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are looking set to retain their grip on Kanturk. Tallies show that Duhallow stalwart Bernard Moynihan (FF) currently holds 26pc of the vote in the four-seat constituency. John Paul OShea (FG) has 19pc and Trish Murphy (FG) sits on 18pc. Charlevilles Ian Doyle (FF) holds 10pc. The count at Mallow Youth Centre is due to begin around 4pm. Fermoy LEA Outgoing independent William OLeary leads in Fermoy. The former Fianna Fail councillor holds 18pc of the vote in the LEA according to tallies. Noel McCarthy (FG) has 16pc of the vote while Frank OFlynn (FF) is sitting on 13pc. Fianna Fails Deirdre OBrien has accumulated 11pc of the vote and her party colleague Nelius Cotter has 7pc. With five candidates sitting on between 5pc and 6pc, there could be a battle for this areas sixth seat. 3.23pm Bantry-West Cork, Bandon-Kinsale, Skibbereen-West Cork Bantry-West Cork LEA Early tallies are showing Cllr Danny Collins is well poised to retain his seat. Cllr Collins who is a member of Independent Ireland topped the poll in the 2019 local elections and early tallies are indicating that Cllr Collins has attracted a very strong vote once again. Sitting Fine Gael councillor Caroline Cronin is also doing well according to the early tallies. She is expected to retain her seat. Sitting Fianna Fail councillor Patrick Gerard Murphy is also doing well in the early stages and is expected to retain his seat. His running mate Danny Crowley will be in a battle to secure a second seat for the party. Two Independent candidates Finbarr Harrington and Helen OSullivan have performed well according to the early tallies and will be in contention for a seat. Mr Harrington was very unlucky in the last election as he narrowly lost out to the current leader of the Social Democrats Holly Cairns for the last seat in the MD. Overall there are 11 candidates battling for four seats in this municipal district. Skibbereen-West Cork LEA The early tallies are showing sitting Fianna Fail councillor Joe Carroll has performed very well. Cllr Carroll has received a very strong vote and seems well poised to retain his seat. Fine Gael councillors Noel ODonovan and Brendan McCarthy are both nicely poised to secure seats for the party. Mr ODonovan and Mr McCarthy have polled very strongly across the MD. Sitting Fianna Fail councillor Deirdre Kelly has also performed well and will be hopeful of retaining her seat. Independent Ireland candidate Daniel Sexton has also performed well and will be hoping transfers will propel him to County Hall. Sitting councillor Declan Hurley (Independent) will also be in contention for a seat. Again these are very early tallies and come with the health warning that there are a lot of boxes throughout the MD to be opened. There are 15 candidates competing for five seats. Bandon-Kinsale LEA In this municipal district John Collins a brother of Michael and Danny is polling very well according to the early tallies. They indicate the Independent Ireland candidate is well placed to win a seat. Long serving Independent candidate Alan Coleman is also polling strongly and is tipped to retain his seat. Fine Gael candidate John Michael Foley is also polling well and he will be hopeful of securing a seat on Cork County Council. There are a lot of Bandon candidates in this election and transfers as always will be key in deciding the ultimate shape of the LEA. There are 12 candidates vying for six seats in this LEA. 2:15 p.m. Kanturk LEA Tallies show that three of the four outgoing councillors in Kanturk could be re-elected. Local stalwart Bernard Moynihan (FF) holds 26% of the vote and looks more than likely to be the first elected to the four-seat constituency. John Paul OShea (FG) sits on 19% of the vote and Fianna Fails Ian Doyle holds 10% of the vote. Trish Murphy (FG), who is vying for the council seat left vacant by the death of her father Gerard Murphy, has 18%. News / Local by Staff reporter Mount Darwin's self-proclaimed prophet, Tanhanha Chamunorwa, has been sentenced to six years in prison for murder by Bindura regional magistrate Elisha Singano. However, Chamunorwa will serve five years as Singano conditionally suspended one year on the condition of good behavior.According to prosecutors, on January 13, Chamunorwa was hired by Track Kachenge, now deceased, to cleanse his homestead. During the cleansing ceremony, Chamunorwa allegedly administered a concoction to Kachenge, rendering him unconscious for two days.On the third day, Chamunorwa returned to the homestead, wielding an axe handle, and struck Kachenge on the head.The commotion alerted the family, who witnessed Chamunorwa allegedly expressing intentions to kill someone.The incident was reported to the police, leading to Chamunorwa's arrest. Edward Katsvairo prosecuted the case. News / Local by Staff reporter President Emmerson Mnangagwa's recent remarks about the late Ndebele King Lobengula Khumalo have sparked criticism and condemnation from various quarters.Speaking at an event in Chivhu, Mnangagwa suggested that Lobengula was "dull" and lacked innovation.Critics, including political parties, cultural leaders, and analysts, have rebuked Mnangagwa for his remarks, describing them as disrespectful and divisive.They argue that such comments risk exacerbating ethnic tensions and undermine efforts to heal historical wounds.Calls have been made for public officials to be more mindful of their language, particularly concerning sensitive historical figures like Lobengula.Mnangagwa's comments echo a previous incident where two presenters were suspended for denigrating the late Ndebele king on national television.Lobengula, the last Ndebele king, is widely regarded as a significant figure in Zimbabwean history, and his legacy remains a contentious issue in contemporary discourse. Maeve O'Connell, who will hold her seat in Stillorgan, pictured with Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Fine Gael councillor Maeve O'Connell, who will hold her seat on the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, pictured with Minister of State Neale Richmond. Lorraine Hall was congratulated by Fine Gael colleagues - Minister of State for European Affairs Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State Neale Richmond, and Killiney-Shankill candidate Jim Gildea. Fine Gael has dominated the Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council for another five years by securing 16 seats gaining three more than in the last election as all 40 seats are now filled. The last two remaining seats on the council went to incumbent Lauren Tuite from the Green Party and People Before Profits Dave OKeeffe, who was elected for the first time. Two recounts for Blackrock and Killiney-Shankill are now concluded, with no changes to the poll as a result. In this constituency, almost all sitting councillors have been re-elected as 29 out of 30 those running will keep their seats. Fine Gael representatives will occupy 40pc of the council by winning 16 seats and gaining three more than in the previous election. Some numbers remain unchanged in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown as the Green Party will keep six seats, Labour will hold five, and Social Democrats will keep one. Meanwhile, Fianna Fail lost two seats with only five councillors being elected from the party. There are five Independent councillors this year, two less than in the last election. People Before Profit gained one seat on the council by securing two. Sinn Fein didn't secure any seats in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, continuing the trend from the 2019 election when they suffered a major loss by losing all three seats. Blackrock Fine Gaels Marie Baker was elected for the fifth term by receiving almost two quotas in Blackrock. Speaking to the Irish Independent, she said shes delighted to be elected as the first person for the council. It absolutely flabbergasted me that I got that many [votes], its my fifth election, its 1,000 more votes than I got five years ago so must be getting in the right direction, she said. Michael Clark from Fianna Fail, who was previously a councillor in Killiney-Shankill, and Conor Dowling from the Green Party have won their places in Blackrock. Sitting councillors Martha Fanning (LP) and Maurice Dockrell (FG), alongside a newcomer Dan Carson (FG), have been elected on the eleventh count. Dundrum After 11 counts, Independent councillor Anne Colgan has won the last seat in Dundrum. The Green Party representative Robert Jones is the only newcomer in Dundrum as the other six councillors are re-elected. Fianna Fails Shay Brennan, an Independent candidate Sean McLoughlin, Labours Peter OBrien, Fine Gael's Jim O'Leary and Anna Grainger will keep their seats on the council. Labour's Peter O'Brien was re-elected in Dundrum. Dun Laoghaire Dun Laoghaire has been the first local electoral area to gain a full house as four candidates won a seat on the seventh count without reaching the quota: JP Durkan (FG), Mary Fayne (FG), Thomas Joseph (LP), and Justin Moylan (FF). People Before Profits Melisa Halpin, Fine Gaels Lorraine Hall, and Green Partys Tom Kivlehan will also hold their seats in Dun Laoghaire. Lorraine Hall was congratulated by Fine Gael colleagues - Minister of State for European Affairs Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, Minister of State Neale Richmond, and Killiney-Shankill candidate Jim Gildea. Glencullen-Sandyford Cheers were heard as Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown elected its first newcomer, Pierce Dargan from Fine Gael, who secured a seat on the third count alongside incumbent Green Party councillor Oisin OConnor. Labour councillor Lettie McCarthy and Non-Party Michael Fleming, who received more than two quotas, have also been re-elected. Independent Kevin Daly, who hasnt reached the quota, Kazi Ahmed from Fine Gael, and Tom Murphy from Fianna Fail have secured their seats on the eight count. Pierce Dargan got elected as the seventh Fine Gael councillor. Killiney-Shankill Labour councillor Carrie Smyth will keep her seat in Killiney-Shankill, as well as two Fine Gael councillors Jim Gildea and Frank McNamara. Independent candidate Hugh Lewis was also re-elected to the council. The last two seats in the area were taken by the Green Party incumbent councillor Lauren Tuite and People Before Profit's Dave O'Keeffe - elected for the first time. Fine Gaels Jacqueline Burke is another newcomer who secured her place in Killiney-Shankill. Stillorgan Fine Gael councillors Maeve OConnell and Barry Saul got re-elected on the first count. It comes as another Fine Gael representative John Kennedy kept his seat on the second count, which means that Fine Gael will keep half of the seats in Stillorgan. Stillorgan has been filled with Liam Dockery (FF) on the sixth count, Eva Elizabeth Dowling (GP) on the eighth count and John Hurley (SD) on the ninth count, who is the only Social Democrats candidate to be elected in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown. Speaking to the Irish Independent following her election, Maeve O'Connell said she's "absolutely thrilled" to be elected on the first count alongside her colleague Barry Saul. "We got 53pc of the vote for Fine Gael in Stillorgan, I think it's one of the best results in the country so we're very excited. "It's great to see that the hard work has paid off. We're already the biggest party in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown so if we gain another couple of seats that's really an endorsement of the party," she added. Maeve O'Connell, who will hold her seat in Stillorgan, pictured with Minister of State Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin arrived at the count centre in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, which is her own constituency. She told the Irish Independent the tallies indicated it has been a "good day for the Government and for the Greens here in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown". Catherine Martin in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown count centre. Ellen Troy of Aontu has been selected as a councillor for Castleknock Sinn Fein's first candidate has been elected to Fingal County Council representing Blanchardstown/Mulhuddart Breda Hanaphy Fine Gael representative 21-year-old Luke Corkery to represent Swords in Fingal County Council being the youngest elected individual so far Fine Gael's Siobhan Shovlin was elected on the fifth count taking the second FG seat in Castleknock, seen below celebrating her win alongside former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Counting is complete for Fingal County Council, with 40 councillors elected. Mayor of Fingal Adrian Henchy lost his seat on Fingal County Council, losing out to his party colleague who was also eliminated from the council His loss will be a tough one to bear for Fianna Fail and came as a surprise as hes served as a councillor since 2014. Sinn Fein has made a slight recovery since initial tallies warned of trouble. They have managed to gain 4 councillors in Fingal so far, despite having 15 running in the council area. There are now 7 Fine Gael councillors, 7 Independent councillors and 7 Labour Party councillors sitting on Fingal County Council. Fianna Fail now has 5 seats. The Green Party managed to gain a single seat on Fingal County Council in Howth-Malahide. Independents4Change secured 1 seat in Swords and People Before Profit-Solidarity both gaining two one in Castleknock and one in Blanchardstown. Aontu have also gained two seats on Fingal County Council which is a win for the party along with Social Democrats securing two seats. Patrick Quinlan from far-right, The National Party, has been elected to Fingal County Council serving the Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart area. Sinn Fein's first candidate has been elected to Fingal County Council representing Blanchardstown/Mulhuddart Breda Hanaphy Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart In Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart, finally after the ninth count of votes the first Sinn Fein candidate was elected to council Breda Hanaphy. On the eleventh county Labour partys Mary McCamley got her seat. On count number twelve Patrick Quinlan from far-right, The National Party, was elected to Fingal County Council serving the Blanchardstown-Mulhuddart area. After Fine Gael's first time candidate Steve O'Reilly conceded the other remaining seats went to People Before Profit-Solidarity John Burtchaell and Fianna Fail's JK Onwumereh. Independent councillor Tania Doyle celebrating keeping her seat on Fingal County Council representing Ongar Ongar The five seats are now filled for the Ongar local electoral area. Independent candidate Tania Doyle was elected on the first count. Angela Donnelly from Sinn Fein secured her seat on the seventh count. Kieran Dennison from Fine Gael, Tom Kitt from Fianna Fail, and Gerard Sheehan from Aontu were all elected on the eleventh count. Sheehan was the second Aontu councillor elected in Fingal County Council. Fine Gael representative 21-year-old Luke Corkery to represent Swords in Fingal County Council being the youngest elected individual so far Swords The seven seats are now filled for the Swords local electoral area. Dean Mulligan from Independents4Change, Darragh Butler from Fianna Fail, and Luke Corkery from Fine Gael were all elected on the first count. Independent candidate Joe Newman secured his seat on the seventh count. James Humphreys from the Labour Party was elected on the ninth count. Independent candidate Darren Jack Kelly and Marian Buckley from Sinn Fein were both elected on the tenth count. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Howth-Malahide Social Democrats councillor Joan Hopkins was elected on the first count with an outstanding performance having a surplus of 657 votes above the quota. Fine Gaels Aoibhinn Tormey was also reelected on the fifth count to take her seat again representing Howth-Malahide area. Another notable first-time candidate who gained a seat on the sixth count in Howth-Malahide was grandson of former Taoiseach Charles Haughey, Cathal Haughey. Independent councillor Jimmy Guerin got reelected on the same count. Labour party councillor Brian McDonagh also gained his seat back on the seventh count. The two remaining seats went to Green Party councillor David Healy and Fianna Fails Eoghan OBrien. Fine Gaels Anthony Lavin lost his seat. Rush-Lusk The five seats are now filled for the Rush-Lusk local electoral area. Robert O'Donoghue from the Labour Party was elected on the first count. Corina Johnston, also from the Labour Party, secured her seat on the third count. Independent candidate Cathal Boland, Eoghan Dockrell from Fine Gael, and Paul Mulville from the Social Democrats were all elected on the sixth count. Fine Gael's Siobhan Shovlin was elected on the fifth count taking the second FG seat in Castleknock, seen below celebrating her win alongside former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar Ellen Troy of Aontu has been selected as a councillor for Castleknock Castleknock First time candidate Ellen Troy with Aontu was elected in Castleknock on the seventh count alongside People Before Profit-Solidarity's Ruth Coppinger. Fine Gaels returning councillors Ted Leddy secured his seat on the first count, Labour made gains with a seat secured by John Walsh on the third count. Siobhan Shovlin from Fine Gael is also returning to her seat in Castleknock and got elected on the fifth count. Fianna Fails Eimear Carbone-Mangan got the last seat on the council replacing her party colleague Cllr Howard Mahony. Balbriggan The five seats are now filled for the Balbriggan local electoral area. Independent candidate Tony Murphy was elected on the first count. Deputy mayor of Fingal Grainne Maguire also secured her seat as an independent candidate on the seventh count. Brendan Ryan from Labour Pary got his seat on the eighth count along with Fine Gaels Tom OLeary. The final councillor elected was Sinn Feins Malachy Quinn who was elected on the tenth count. Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae tops the poll in the Kenmare Electoral Area. Photo by Tatyana McGough Tommy Griffin (FG) after he was elected on the third count. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. Mikey Sheehy is elected on the first count in Tralee. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) is deemed elected on the first count in the Kenmare Electoral Area. The Healy-Rae family celebrate as Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae tops the poll in the Kenmare Electoral area and is deemed elected. Photo by Tatyana McGough Cllr Martin Grady (Independent) has been elected on the first count in Killarney. Photo by Tatyana McGough Sinn Fein's Deirdre Ferris being raised in the air after getting elected. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. Cllr John O'Donoghue has been elected on the second count in the Killarney Electoral Area. Cllr Niall Kelleher (FF) has been elected on Count 9 in the Killarney Electoral Area. Photo by Tatyana McGough Cllr Brendan Cronin celebrating after his election to the Killarney Electoral Area. Photo by Tatyana McGough Cllr Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan with suppporters at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre following his election to Killarney Electoral Area. Anne O'Sullivan celebrates winning the last seat in the Tralee LEA with Minister Norma Foley. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. Cllr Norma Moriarty who has been elected on Count 7 in the Kenmare Electoral Area to take the third seat in the six-seater Electoral area. Photo by Tatyana McGough 10:30pm: Election 24 is finally all over in Kerry with three elected to the remaining seats in Kenmare on the 12th and final count. Two new faces Podge Foley (Ind) and Teddy OSullivan Casey (FG) are joining sitting councillor Dan McCarthy (Ind) to take the final three seats. Cllr Johhny Healy-Rae (Ind) and Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) and Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) have already been elected. Get all the reaction from our writers at the links below: 6.04pm: Count Eight is complete in Killarney and no-one has been elected. Tim Clifford of the Social Democrats has now been eliminated and his final vote 479 will be distributed. 5pm: Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) has now been elected in the Kenmare Electoral Area in the 7th count. This is the third seat to be filled out of 6 seats. Counting began on Saturday morning and is still continuing today. Her surplus of 34 votes is now being distributed. Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) and Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) were both elected on the first count. Cllr Norma Moriarty who has been elected on Count 7 in the Kenmare Electoral Area to take the third seat in the six-seater Electoral area. Photo by Tatyana McGough 4:50pm: Anne OSullivan from Fianna Fail has taken the seventh seat in the Tralee LEA, over 24 hours after the first count commenced at the john Mitchels GAA Centre. OSullivan pipped Thomas McEllistrim by just six votes following the recount. Seven votes separated the candidates when a recount was called for at 2am on Monday. The count commenced at 11am and shortly after 4:30pm McEllistrim conceded. Anne OSullivan finished on 1,251 votes, to Thomas McEllistrims 1,245 votes. 4pm: The re-examination of ballot papers in the Kenmare Electoral Area has not identified any significant errors which materially impact the results. Count 7 in now underway with the distribution of Patrick Lynes vote as he has now been eliminated. This is 1,426 votes and will take some time to sort. This is going to be another long day. 11am: Day three is underway in Killarney and a full recount underway in Killarney after Social Democrat candidate calls for the votes to be rechecked in the Kenmare Electoral Area where the party candidate Tim Clifford ran. This will take some hours this morning. There are still four seats to be filled out of six in the Kenmare Electoral Area. 2.30am Cllr Niall Botty OCallaghan and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) have been been elected in the Killarney Electoral area on the 11th and final count without reaching the quota. Cllr OCallaghan got a final vote 1,599 votes and Cllr Moloney 1,575 votes. The quota was 1,785. The final make-up of Killarney is: 7 Seats Independents (4) FF (1) Labour (1) and Kerry Independent Alliance Party (1) Cllr Maura Healy-Rae (Independent) Cllr Martin Grady (Independent) Cllr John ODonoghue (KIA) Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent) Cllr Niall Kelleher (FF) Cllr Niall Botty OCallaghan (Independent) Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) 1:22: The final frame has been set in the Listowel LEA with the remaining seats going to Fianna Fail and Sinn Fein. Tom Barry took the seat for Sinn Fein with 2,051, while Jimmy Moloney secured 1,784 votes. The final result in the Listowel LEA is: Mike Kennelly (FG), Liam Speedy Nolan, Michael Foley (FF), Michael Leane (FF), Tom Barry (SF) and Jimmy Moloney (FF). 1.05am Fianna Fail Cllr Niall Kelleher has been elected on Count 9 in the Killarney Electoral Area taking the fourth seat in the seven seater. He has surpassed the quota with a final vote of 1,804. He is the current Cathaoirleach of Killarney Municipal and his election this time around brings him to his third term. Iqbal Mahmud (Independent) has now been eliminated and his vote of 369 will be distributed as counting continues in Killarney 00.58: Full Recount called for Kenmare Electoral Area. Counting has been suspended and this will begin at 9am in the morning. 0:49: First-timer Michael Leane (FF) landed a final vote of 2,213 to take a seat for Fianna Fail in the Listowel LEA. It means a lot to me. Ive been Fianna Fail all my life and it just means so much. The people backed me and Im just delighted to have won a seat. It will be good to have two Fianna Fail, said Michael Leane. 0:37: First-time candidate Paul Daly (SF) amassed an impressive haul of 1935 votes to get elected to Tralee LEA on the twelfth count. Sam Locke (Ind) has also retained his seat with a vote of 1725. : The first Sinn Fein Candidate in the Killarney Electoral Area has been eliminated on Count 8. Caroline Kenneallys vote of 335 will now be distributed and should shake things up here in Killarney where only four seats of seven has been filled. The vote of Kamaruzzaman Abdul Kadir of 210 failed to elect anyone after his elimination on Count 7. Cllr Nialll Kelleher (FF) is now only five votes short of the 1,785 quota. 23:38: Cathal Foley (SF) has been eliminated on the tenth count of the Tralee LEA. Having secured a final result of 1,054, Foley vacates the seat he held since being co-opted to Tralee LEA after Toireasa Ferris retired in 2019, Cathal Foley was first elected to Tralee Urban Council in 1999. 23.20: It has been a long evening here in Killarney but finally a fourth seat has been filled in the Killarney Electoral Area with Cllr Brendan Cronin (IND) reaching the quota on Count 7 at Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre. There are three remaining seats to be filled and counting will continue tonight. Cllr Cronin has served 25 years on the council and is now heading for another five year term. He says the key to his long-term success is honesty and hard work. 23:05: Sonny Foran (AO) has been eliminated on the seventh count in the Listowel LEA. Foran finished on 1,084 votes. His vote is now being distributed to determine who will take the final three seats. Tom Barry (SF) 1,933, and Michael Leane (FF) 1,884 are within touching distance of being elected. Things look a little tighter for the final seat, likely to be between Jimmy Moloney (FF) 1,645, and Marion Falvey OSullivan (SF) on 1,528. 22.45 No-one elected in Count 6 in the Kenmare Electoral Area following the distribution of Cllr Michael Cahills surplus of 28 votes. Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF) now just 110 votes short of the quota. Patrick Lyne (Independent) has now been eliminated and his votes of 460 will now be distributed. 22.35: No-one elected in Killarney on Count 6. This was the distribution of the 125 votes of Alan OConnor of the Irish People Party. Interestingly 35 of these votes went to FF candidate Niall Kelleher. Cllr Brendan Cronin is now just one vote short of the quota. The countys Ukrainian candidate Natalia Krasnenkova has now been eliminated and her 157 votes will be distributed. 22.05 Another candidate has been eliminated on Count 5 in the Killarney Electoral Area. Alan OConnor of the Irish People Party is now out and his 125 votes will be distributed. Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent) is just 29 votes short of the quota of 1,785. 21.40: Two candidates have been eliminated in Count 4 in Killarney. William Leen and Dermot McGuckin both Independent candidates are out of the race and their combined 50 votes are now being distributed. They are unlikely to make any change to the current situation in Killarney where just three candidates have been elected out of the seven seats. Currently two Independent candidates have been elected and the only candidate for the Kerry Independent Alliance party has also been elected. 21:25pm: Anluan Dunne (GP) has been eliminated from the Tralee LEA after the ninth count. He finished with a final tally of 899 having received 61 votes in transfers from Sinead Donnellys final haul of 794. No one was elected on the ninth count. Anluan Dunne said he enjoyed the election campaign and will continue to offer a voice on green issues locally with an eye on contesting future elections. Its been a great experience and Im very happy with how I did. I will definitely go again, Anluan said. 21.10 Count 5 completed in Kenmare Electoral Area. No-body was elected on the distribution of the Aontu vote from Catherina OSullivan. Podge Foley (Independent) got the most from this distribution with 45 votes going to him. The surplus of Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) of 28 votes who was elected on the first count is now being distributed. 20:50pm: Thomas Harrington (SF) has been eliminated on the fifth count in the Listowel LEA. Still three seats to be filled. 20:25: The Tralee LEA is akin to the waiting game at the moment as the last three counts have passed without a candidate being elected. However, Sinead Donnelly (FG) has been eliminated on the eight count. The state of play is Paul Daly (SF) at 1,268 votes, and Sam Locke (Ind) 1,325. Both looked poised to take the fourth and fifth seats. The remaining two seats is where the battle will be fought with Angie Baily (FG) at 924, Anne OSullivan (FF) at 978, Thomas McEllistrim (Ind) 988, Cathal Foley (SF) 898, and Anluan Dunne (GP) 838. Deirdre Ferris surplus of 35 votes is now being distributed. 20.15: No-one elected in Killarney on Count 3 following the distribution of Cllr Martin Gradys surplus of 268. Cllr Niall Botty OCallaghan (IND) gained the majority of this with 61 votes and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) garnered 46 more votes but have not yet reached the quota. The surplus of Cllr John ODonoghue (KIA) will now be distributed 20.10 Still no-one elected in Kenmare Electoral area following the distribution of Oliver ONeills vote of 215. Aontu candidate Catherina OSullivan has now been eliminated and her vote of 301 will now be distributed. 19.05: No-one has been elected on count 3 in Kenmare following the distribution of votes from the Irish People party candidate. However, Oliver ONeill, from Kilgarvan, who ran mainly on a farming platform, has now been eliminated and his vote of 215 will be distributed. It is unlikely anyone will be elected on this distribution of votes either so it may take a few more counts before we see another seat filled in this electoral area. 18.20: Cllr John ODonoghue of Kerry Independent Alliance the nephew of former Cllr Michael Gleeson - has been elected on the second count in the Killarney Electoral Area with a final vote of 1,812. He garnered 238 votes from the surplus of 1,600 from Cllr Maura Healy-Rae. This was his first time contesting an election as he was co-opted to his uncles seat during this election term. Cllr Brendan Cronin gained the most from Cllr Healy-Raes surplus with 276 votes. He now stands at 1,699. Three of the seven seats are now filled in the area. The surplus of Cllr Martin Grady is now being distributed. 18:00: No candidate elected in the Kenmare Electoral Area on the second count following the distribution of Cllr Johnny Healy Rae's surplus of 1,307. The majority of his surplus votes went to Independent candidate Dan McCarthy who got 354 votes to bring his total to 1,183. 230 votes went to Fine Gael candidate Teddy OSullivan Casey to bring him to 1,384 and 112 went to Ken OSullivan of FF to bring him to a total of 932. William OBrien of the Irish People Party has now been eliminated and his 145 votes will now be distributed. The quota is 2,134. 17:28: Sinn Fein Cllr Deirdre Ferris has taken the third seat in the Tralee LEA after securing 1,723 in votes. Three of the seven seats have now been filled as Ferris received 96 transfers from party colleague Paddy Kevane, whose surplus was 386. I definitely think we have to start challenging the government and the establishment on the lack of autonomy local government has and the starvation of funding, Cllr Ferris said. One of the biggest frustrations for me is the consistent bureaucracy around grant funding for local projects, she said. The lowest remaining candidate in the Tralee LEA Mistura Oyebanji of the Social Democrats has been eliminated. Her vote of 471 will now be distributed. 16:45: Cllr Michael Foley (FG) has taken the third seat in the Listowel LEA after the second count. The Ballylongford man exceeded the quota of 2,095 having polled just 53 votes short after the first count. Foleys final vote was 2,131 after receiving what he needed courtesy of Cllr Mike Kennellys surplus. I ran a good campaign and its all thanks to my family and supporters that I got elected. They have been behind me- all the way. I have worked hard for my community, he said. 16.30pm: The results of the first count in the Killarney Electoral Area see Cllr Maura Healy-Rae (Independent), the daughter of TD Danny Healy-Rae, top the poll with 3,385 almost double the quota and with 300 more votes than 2019. Cllr Martin Grady (Independent) has also been elected on the first count with a surplus of 268 votes. Electorate: 23,159 Total Poll: 14,410 Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 132 Valid Poll: 14,278 Quota: 1,785 Number of Seats: 7 First count results: Abdul Kadir, Kamaruzzaman (Independent) 184 Cronin, Brendan (Independent) 1423 Grady, Martin (Independent) 2055 Griffin, Diarmuid (GP) 329 Healy-Dermot (FG) 653 Healy-Rae, Maura (Independent) 3,385 Kelleher, Niall (FF) 1,307 Kenneally, Caroline (SF) 248 Krasnenkova, Natalia (Independent) 146 Leen, William (Independent) 20 Mahmud, Iqbal (Independent) 304 McGuckin, Diarmuid (Independent) 12 Moloney, Marie (Labour) 1,044 OCallaghan, Niall (Independent) 1,156 OConnor, Alan (IP) 101 ODonoghue, John (KIA) 1,574 Switzer, Damien (SF) 339 The surplus of Maura Healy-Rae of 1,600 votes will now be redistributed. 3.50pm Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae (Independent) son of TD Danny Healy-Rae has been topped the poll in the Kenmare Electoral Area with 3,441 first preference votes 1,307 more than the required quota and has been deemed elected as has Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) Kerry's longest serving councillor with 2,162 first preference votes 72 above the quota The results of the first count in the Kenmare Electoral Area: Electorate: 23,922 Total Poll: 15,043 Spoiled/Invalid Votes: 109 Total Valid Poll: 14,934 Quota: 2,134 Number of Seats: 6 First count in Kenmare Electoral Area: Cahill, Michael (FF) 2,162 Clifford, Tim (SD) 434 Donnelly, Tony (FG) 770 Foley, Podge (Independent) 1,154 Healy-Rae, Johnny (Independent) 3,441 Lyne, Patrick (FG) 372 McCarthy, Dan (Independent) 829 Moriarty, Norma (FF) 1,805 Murphy, Cleo (GP) 462 OBrien, William (IP) 136 ONeill, Oliver (Independent) 158 OShea, Stephanie (SF) 431 OSullivan, Catherina (Aontu) 207 OSullivan, Ken (FF) 820 OSullivan Casey, Teddy (FG) 1,154 Quigg Damian (SF) 599 The surplus of Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae of 1307 will now be distributed 3:15: Labour Party councillor Terry OBrien has retained his seat in the Tralee LEA when elected on the third count after transfers from party colleague Ben Slimm brought him past the magic quota mark of 1,688. OBrien received 84 extra votes bringing his final tally to 1,721. The Labour candidate filled the second seat in the seven-seater Tralee LEA. The lowest remaining candidate, Eddie OGrady (Ind) has been eliminated and his surplus of 324 is being distributed. Im thrilled and very thankful to get the vote I got. I was hoping to get around a 1000 or 1,100 votes, but this is very satisfying, Cllr OBrien said. It just felt it was a very strange canvass this time around and with 16 candidates, you never know. But Im extremely happy and grateful for what I got, he said. 2:44pm: Mike Kennelly (FG) and Liam Speedy Nolan (Ind) have both been elected on the first count in the Listowel LEA. Kennelly secured 2,301 votes putting him 206 over the quota of 2,095. It was equally a bold show by Nolan who secured 2,223 votes making him the first independent in several decades to be elected to the Listowel LEA. Four seats remain to be filled in the constituency. Kennellys surplus of 206 votes is now being distributed. 1:34 Cllr Terry OBrien (Lab) is just 51 votes short of the quota following the distribution of Cllr Mikey Sheehys (FF) surplus of 426 votes. He is followed in the race for a seat by Cllr Deirdre Ferris (SF) who moved to 1,592 votes having received 32 extra votes. The lowest remaining candidates, Ben Slimm (Lab) and Ame Abdurahman (Ind), have been eliminated and their surplus of 229 votes is being counted. Its expected that Terry OBrien will be elected in the third count off the strength of fellow Labour Party member Ben Slimms transfers. 12pm: Fianna Fail Cllr Mikey Sheehy has been elected on the first count in the Tralee LEA at the John Mitchels count centre. Sheehy secured 2,114 votes and was elected to his second stint as councillor, putting him 426 votes above the quota of 1,688. The other candidates that polled well are Cllr Deirdre Ferris (SF) 1,560, and Cllr Terry OBrien (Lab) 1,537. Sheehys surplus vote of 426 is being distributed. 11.30pm TD Michael Healy-Rae has says the "next election has already begun" following a superb vote for the dynasty in Kerry the local elections. His son Jackie Healy-Rae topped the poll and was elected in the Castleisland Electoral Area yesterday and it looks like brother and sister Johnny Healy-Rae and Maura Healy-Rae, the son and daughter of TD Danny Healy-Rae, will top the poll in their respective areas and with an increased vote in all areas. "We take our job in politics very seriously. With very vote you get comes responsibility as you must keep and earn the trust of that person," he said. "What that vote tells me is that the young Healy-Rae's are working and are diligent and committed. They are what I can real politicians," said Deputy Healy-Rae. The Kilgarvan TD has also praised the performance of Liam Speedy Nolan who is a close allay of the family and who is set to be elected in Listowel. With his election and if Cllr Sammy Locke is re-elected the Healy-Rae family could be said to have representatives in all municipal districts in Kerry. "For Speedy Nolan to come along and build up a representation and take on the might of the political parties and come within .3 of 1% of heading the poll that is magnificent achievement for him. 9:26am: Counting is underway in Kerry with a Tralee first count expected by mid-morning. Events finished up near to 1am yesterday with the Castleisland LEA bringing proceedings to a close. There is a sense that a speedier finish is the order of the day. Sorting of the Listowel ballots is also underway, as is counting of votes for the Kenmare and Killarney Electoral Areas and a vote is expected in these areas around lunch-time. 0:38am: Fianna Fail candidate Fionnan Fitzgerald has taken the third seat in the Castleisland LEA. He was elected on the fifth count, thanks to a vote surplus of 257 from Sinn Fein candidate Deirdre Bell. Fitzgeralds final vote is 2,104, The final seat in the constituency went to Bobby OConnell of Fine Gael, also in the fifth count, who finished on 1,910 votes after receiving 189 from Bells distribution. The full result of the Castleisland LEA is as follows: Jackie Healy-Rae (Ind), Charlie Farrelly (Ind), Fionnan Fitzgerald (FF), and Bobby OConnell (FG). 11:05pm: No candidate reached the quota in the third count of the Castleisland LEA following the distribution of Charlie Farrellys surplus of 181 votes. 54 votes went to Bobby OConnell (FG) to bring him to 1,682, while the next highest allocation (53 votes) went to Fionnan Fitzgerald (FF) bringing him to 1,794. The lowest remaining candidates - Paul Bowler (GP) and Cait Ni Riordain (Aontu) have been eliminated and their combined vote of 311 is now being distributed. The quota is 1,936. 9.15pm: The second seat in the Castleisand LEA has gone to Independent candidate Charlie Farrelly who was pushed over the line by Jackie Healy-Raes surplus of 954 votes, of which Farrelly received 314, bringing his total vote to 2,117. Farrellys surplus of 181 votes is now being distributed as two of the four seats have been filled in the Castleisand LEA. Breandan Fitzgerald (right) commiserates with party colleague Michael O'Shea at the count centre. 8.41pm: The final seat in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA has gone to Breandan Fitzgerald of Fianna Fail. Breandan took the seat with a final vote of 1,866 that put him ahead of party colleague Michael OShea who finished on 1,596 votes. Im very proud and thankful to all who voted for me. Its a privilege to have the trust of the people in your own home area. Ive worked hard. Its part of what I am and its part of what my family has always done, Breandan Fitzgerald said. The seats filled are Robert Brosnan (SF), Tommy Griffin (FG), and Breandan Fitzgerald (FF). 8pm: Kenmare tallies are now complete and once again a Healy-Rae has topped the poll with Cllr Johnny Healy-Rae set to be elected on the first count with 23% of the vote. Two new faces are set to be elected in the area and tallies are showing one of those to be first-time Independent candidate Podge Foley with 7.6% of the vote. Also here could be Fine Gael candidate Teddy O'Sullivan Casey (7.7%) who replaced Cllr Patrick Connor Scarteen who retired this year. In the mix also is Fianna Fail candidate Ken O'Sullivan on 5.5%. Transfers as they are say are everything. Dan McCarthy (Independent) also holding on according to tallies with 5.7% of the vote and the fight is likely to be between him and Mr OSullivan for the last seat. Kerry's longest serving Cllr Michael Cahill (FF) with 34 years on the council is also set to be elected again and Cllr Norma Moriarty (FF). The estimated poll is 2,132. The electorate is 22,794 and the turn-out is 65.4% 7.20pm Killarney Electoral Tallies show no change in this electoral area with Maura Healy-Rae set to top the poll with an increased vote from last time around and with 24.2% of the vote. This time around however, Martin Grady, who co-opted to his father's seat since 2019 has taken 14.7% of the vote. This is a significant increase on his father's vote in 2010. John O'Donoghue (KIA) who was also co-opted since 2019 also polled well although lower than his uncle Micheal Gleeson's vote in 2019. Tallies are showing that Niall 'Botty' O'Callaghan (Independent) increased his vote slightly and Cllrs Niall Kelleher although only marginally and based on tallies. Cllr Brendan Cronin (Independent) and Cllr Marie Moloney (Labour) also to be elected based on tallies. The estimated quota is 1,704. The electorate is 22,266 and turn-out is 61.2% Sinn Fein's Robert Brosnan is elected. 7:09pm: Sinn Fein candidate Robert Brosnan has made the breakthrough that his party has worked towards for decades by winning a seat in the fourth count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA. With a final vote of 2,131, Brosnan exceeded the quota after transfers from Peadar O Fionnain were distributed. The surplus of Robert Brosnan will now be counted. Jackie Healy-Rae and his father Michael at the count centre. 6.56pm: Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae has been elected to the Castleisland LEA on the first count with a staggering 2,890 votes, 954 votes more than the quota of 1,936. The second highest candidate in the four-seater constituency is Charlie Farrelly (Ind) on 1,803; Fionnan Fitzgerald (FF) with 1,541, and Bobby OConnell (FG) on 1,466 votes. Jackie Healy-Raes surplus of 954 is now being distributed. 6.15pm First time candidate Liam 'Speedy' Nolan is the big news in the Listowel Electoral Area according to the tallies. The Independent candidate - a very close ally of the Healy-Rae's and long-time campaigner for the family - has garnered 15.3% of the vote. He is just behind FG candidate and sitting councillor Mike Kennelly who is set to top the poll with 15.6% of the vote. His party colleague Michael Foley (FG) is also likely to keep his seat with 14.1% of the vote. Another first time candidate for FF Michael Leane is also making news here and has outpolled sitting FF Cllr Jimmy Moloney. Mr Leane has 12% of the vote according to tallies with Cllr Moloney on 9.2%. He may struggle to keep his seat and could be in a battle with new SF candidate Marion O'Sullivan Falvey on 8.8%. Cllr Tom Barry (SF) is likely to keep his seat on 11.4% of the vote. But of course everything comes down to transfers in the end. Tommy Griffin (FG) after he was elected on the third count. Photo Mark O'Sullivan. 5:42pm: Tommy Griffin of Fine Gael has been elected to the Corca Dhuibhne LEA after the third count at the John Mitchels GAA Club in Tralee. He exceeded the quota of 1,966 after transfers from Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald gave him 197 in surplus votes to bring him to 2,041. Surrounded by family, friends, and supporters, Tommy Griffin was the first to be lifted on the shoulders as a successful candidate in the Kerry elections. Having narrowly lost out on a seat in 2019, he is happy to have gone one better this time. We did five years of work, thats what it is. We represent the people of this constituency, he told The Kerryman. From west to east, after the last election I kept going. This day I felt was a long way away at the time, but it wasnt long in coming around. I want to work and improve efficiency in the council, he said. Peadar O Fionnain of the Green Party has been eliminated on 1,242 votes. 5.20pm Final tally for Tralee Electoral area indicates that sitting Fianna Fail councillor Mikey Sheehy with 15.4% of the vote will top the poll with a significant increase in his vote from 2019 and well above the quota. Labour's Terry O'Brien also looks safe with 11.3% of the vote as does Deirdre Ferris (SF) with 10.5% of the vote. The party is likely to get a second seat with the brother of TD Pa Daly, Paul Daly, on 8.2% of the vote polling well in tallies but his win could lead to the loss of the current councillor Cathal Foley. The party ran four candidates in the electoral area but are unlikely to increase their number of seats according to the tallies at least. Independent Cllr Sam Locke is at 8.1% of the vote and likely to keep his seat. FG likely to hold a seat in the area but it remains unclear which of their two candidates will win with Angie Baily and Sinead Donnelly on similar votes though the tallies put Angie slightly ahead. In a surprising vote former FF TD Tom McEllistrim, now running as an Independent, has polled relatively well in the Tralee area taking 5.7%. There is 7 seats here but the final seat will really come down to transfers and Tommy Mac cant be ruled out just yet. The estimated quota is 1,562. The electorate is 25,473 and the turn-out is 49% 4:38pm: Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald (FG) has lost his seat after the second count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA. Tommy Griffin (FG) is still shy of the quota by 122 votes. He received just 37 from Mike Kennedys (Lab) surplus putting him at 1,844. Sinn Feins Robert Brosnan picked up 134 votes and is on 1,563. Green Party candidate Peadar O Fionnain received 119 transfers and is at 1,143. Michael OShea (FF) and Fitzgerald, Breandan (FF) are on 1,373 and 1,110 respectively. Seamus Cosai Fitzgeralds (FG) transfers are now being distributed. 3:39: The results of the first count in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA have been announced. Brosnan, Robert (Sinn Fein) 1,429. Griffin, Tommy (Fine Gael) 1,807. Fitzgerald, Breandan (Fianna Fail) 1,014. Fitzgerald, Seamus Cosai (Fine Gael) 740. Kennedy, Mike (Labour) 508. O Fionnain, Peadar (Green Party) 1,024 OShea, Michael D. (Fianna Fail) 1, 338. Electorate: 12,578. Total poll: 7,966. Total valid poll: 7,860. No. of candidates: 7. No. of seats. 3. Quota: 1,966. As no candidate has reached the quota on the first count, the transfers of the lowest candidate will be counted. Mike Kennedy of the Labour Party has been excluded. Tommy Griffin is 159 votes short of the quota. 3:08pm: Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae has said he is pleased with the tally result that looks set to easily return him as a councillor for the Castleisland LEA. Jackie arrived at the count centre shortly before 3pm ahead of the first count. I just said that I would be happy if I could hold my vote from the last time. That was my aim and youd have to be happy with that, he said. Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae. 3pm: Here is the state of play for the parties in Kerry after two completed tallies Corca Dhuibhne tallies show FG at 32% with an increase from the 2019 result while FF are at 30% in this electoral area - a decrease from their 2019 result. It has been a great day for the Sinn Fein party with a significant increase from the party's 2019 result in this area. According to tallies the party is on 19% here. The Green party has also seen an increase from 2019 result standing at 13% of the vote. It is a different state of play with the Castleisland Electoral area with Independents gaining here in this area standing at 59% of the tallied vote. All other parties have seen a decrease with FG on 15% and FF just ahead on 16% both down on 2019 results. Sinn Fein is on 8% of the vote according to the tallies. 2pm: Minister for Education Norma Foley (FF) says that the results will come down to the wire. Today reminds us that counts are a long long business. It will stretch over a couple days and it shows that ever vote counts. It really will go down the wire as we can see from the early tallies. All boxes are open now and it adds to the high tension here. There are a lot of candidates here and I admire that because personally I find the count really really trying. It is really difficult when you are a candidate. Minister for Education Norma Foley (FF) talks tallies with Killarney canidate and sitting councillor Niall Kelleher (FF) 12.22pm With counting underway in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA, early signs look particularly positive for Sinn Fein who did not win a seat in the Corca Dhuibhne LEA in 2019 but are on course to win one this time. The battle for Fine Gael representation is interesting as Tommy Griffin tallied remarkably better than his party running mate, and incumbent councillor, Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald who looks to be in trouble. A first result is expected in the early afternoon. Early predictions would suggest one seat for Sinn Fein and Fine Gael, with a battle for the final seat between two Fianna Fail candidates, Breandan Fitzgerald and Michael OShea. Green Party candidate Peadar O Fionnain is also in with shout. 11.15am The 34 Castleisland boxes have now been opened and tallied and once again Jackie Healy-Rae the son of Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is set to top the poll with 30.2% of the vote and likely to have a quota and a half when final figures are tallied It appears there is to be little change in this area with Cllr Charlie Farrelly (Independent) also set to retain his seat standing at 18.4% of the vote. Fionnan Fitzgerald (FF) is also performing well and set to retain his seat at 15.7% of the vote following closed behind FG candidate and another sitting councillor Bobby OConnell at 15.3% of the vote. Controversial candidate Michelle Keane (Independent) has polled well taken 10.1% of the vote but is unlikely to get a seat but of course transfers are what it is all about. Interestingly she polled well in Knocknogoshel where she is from but also outpolled Deirdre Bell (SF) who is from the same area. Sinn Fein had a poor performance in this electoral area at 7.5% of the vote. It has also been a bad day for the Green Party and Aontu with just over 1% of the vote each. The electorate is 15,082 and turn-out was 63.4%. The estimated quota is around 1,921, Ballot boxes are now open in Killarney Sports and Leisure Centre and tallying has begun 10.30am: All 28 boxes in the Corca Dhuibhne Local Electoral Area have now been tallied and there is set to be changes ahead. It appears likely that Tommy Griffin (FG) with 22.5% of the vote will top the poll according to tallies and win a seat. So too will Sinn Fein with their candidate Robert Brosnan, on 18.6% of the vote. They both failed to get a seat in 2019. Cllr Mike OShea (FF) has also polled well in the tallies with 17%. The Green party candidate has had a great performance with Peadar O Fionnan polling well with a current 12.9% of the vote. Both of these may end up fighting it out for a seat although transfers may not go towards the Greens. Breandan Fitzgerald (FF) is on a par with the Green party candidate at 13% and will be in the battle too. Sitting councillor Seamus Cosai Fitzgerald (FG) with 9.4% of the vote could lose his seat. Mike Kennedy, a local auctioneer, currently looks like he will be eliminated first with just 6.8% of the vote according to the tallies. He is a first time candidate. There was a 60.5% turnout in area, which has an electorate of 12,324. The estimated quota is 1,911 Tallying is continuing with the Castleisland boxes now open. Kerry has 77 candidates the largest number in living memory vying for 33 seats. News / Local by Staff reporter A student from the National University of Science and Technology (Nust) has been hospitalized at Bulawayo's Mpilo Hospital since last month following a fall from a rooftop during a film shooting assignment.Khayelihle Tshuma, a media studies student, sustained spinal injuries during the accident on April 10 while filming a clip for a film-based module.Tshuma's classmate, Gladys Mvura, expressed the emotional toll the incident had on her, stating that she struggled to sleep for the first week after it occurred.Khayelihle's father, Ernest, mentioned the significant medical expenses the family incurred due to the accident.The student's medical aid covered approximately US$1,100 for spinal surgery and US$800 for an MRI scan.Thabani Mpofu, Nust's director of communications and marketing, requested inquiries to be sent via email but had not responded at the time of publication. Minister of State Martin Heydon and supporters celebrating with Peggy O'Dwyer and Tracey O'Dwyer, both sitting Fine Gael councillors returned to their seats in Kildare. Melissa Byrne of Aontu looks on anxiously as a second recount continues in Kildare with just one vote between her and Sinn Fein candidate James Stokes. The longest local election count in the country has ended in Co Kildare with the six seats in the Newbridge electoral area being filled after four days of counting and recounting. Five of the six councillors are familiar faces as they are all returning to their seats. Peggy ODwyer and Tracey ODwyer of Fine Gael, Noel Heavey and Rob Power of Fianna Fail and Chris Pender of the Social Democrats were all voted back in. The final seat went to Tom McDonnell, an Independent running on a migration control platform. Mr McDonnell announced after his election that he would use his council seat as a stepping stone to the Dail and was intent on running in the upcoming general election. He repeated his campaign messages about wanting strict controls and vetting of migrants and said a major part of his future work would focus on securing incentives for Irish women to breed more. "Our women are only breeding 1.5 or 1.6 children. That's shocking for an Irish woman. We've great women and we want them breeding," he said. With all 40 seats in Kildare filled, the make-up of the council is as follows: Fianna Fail, 12 seats; Fine Gael 11; Social Democrats 7, Labour 5, Independents 3, Sinn Fein 1 and Independent Ireland, 1. Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and Labour have the same numbers as they had on the outgoing council but the Social Democrats gained three seats while the Green Party lost their two. The male-female ratio 65-35, the same as the outgoing council. The Newbridge count became the last to finish in the country after four recounts, centred on a battle between two of the country's youngest candidates. They were Melissa Byrne of Aontu who celebrated her 25th birthday at the Punchestown count centre on Monday, and 18-year-old student teacher James Stokes of Sinn Fein. Mr Stokes was initially one vote behind Ms Byrne on Count 10 of the first count, then went two votes ahead on the first recount. Both drew level on the second recount before Mr Stokes went one ahead again on the third. The fourth recount put him two votes ahead of Ms Byrne who accepted the outcome. 6:30pm A fourth recount in the Kildare local elections has put Aontu candidate Melissa Byrne two votes behind Sinn Fein's James Stokes in a result that mirrors the outcome of the first recount. Returning officer Eoghan Ryan is to meet the candidates shortly to see if they will accept this result but it now looks like Ms Byrne will be formally excluded. The battle for seats in the six-seater Newbridge local electoral area has been the longest in the country and the three seats still to be filled are last outstanding in Ireland. A first recount was called by Mr Stokes when he emerged one vote behind Ms Byrne. That recount put him two votes ahead of Ms Byrne. A second recount called by Ms Byrne put them level. A third put Mr Stokes one vote ahead. The fourth put him two votes ahead. If the results are accepted, the count will then proceed with Ms Byrne's exclusion and a new battle will begin between Mr Stokes and Independent Tom McDonnell who is 60 votes ahead. Three of the seats had already been filled when the first recount was called, both by Fine Gael candidates. A third seat went to Social Democrats newcomer Chris Pender and it was the distribution of his small surplus - measured at first at 24 votes, then 21, then 22 - that caused much of the differing results. The next two seats are almost certain to go to two Fianna Fail candidates, leaving Mr McDonnell and Mr Stokes relying on Ms Byrne's transfers to seal their fortunes. 8am Election drama continued overnight in Punchestown after a third recount ended in the early hours of the morning. Sinn Feins James Stokes emerged one vote ahead of Aontus Melissa Byrne in what was the fourth different result for the two Newbridge candidates since counting began in their electoral area on Sunday. Legal advice is now being sought as to how to proceed. The initial count on Sunday put Mr Stokes one vote behind Ms Byrne but a recount at Sinn Feins request put him two votes ahead. A second recount requested by Aontu put the two candidates level on 1098 votes. Legislation cited by returning officer Eoghan Ryan at that point allows for the exclusion of the candidate with the lowest number of first preference votes, in this case Mr Stokes. However a further recount was requested and granted and it continued until the early hours. It puts Mr Stokes one vote ahead but given the extraordinary flip-flopping fortunes of the two candidates over the past three days, lawyers are being consulted before any further formal declaration is made. Three seats had been filled in the six-seater electoral area, two by Fine Gael and one by the Social Democrats, Two more look certain to go to Fianna Fail, and that leaves Ms Byrne, Mr Stokes and Independent Tom McDonnell in the fight for the last place. Mr McDonnell is currently just 61 votes ahead of Mr Stokes. 8.30pm A third recount has now been called in the fight for seats in Newbridge. Returning officer Eoghan Ryan made the announcement just before 8.30pm and counting has commenced immediately. 8pm An extraordinary second recount in the Kildare local elections has ended with Sinn Fein candidate James Stokes being excluded despite having equal votes with Aontus Melissa Byrne. Returning officer Eoghan Ryan had to consult the law to divide the two when they were both left with 1,098 votes after two recounts in the Newbridge electoral area. He cited Statutory Instrument 297 of 1995 which provides instructions that in such circumstances, the candidate with the lowest number of first preferences should be excluded. Mr Stokes had 643 first preferences compared to Ms Byrnes 691. The gap had closed even more tightly over the following nine counts, however, and originally Mr Stokes was just one behind Ms Byrne after the original 10th count. Sinn Fein requested a recount and it finished with Ms Byrne two behind Mr Stokes. Aontu requested another recount and this time, when it reached the 10th count, both candidates were level. A small number of additional spoiled ballots were detected in the recounts and a small number of wrongly attributed votes. However, their impact could not be predicted until all 10 counts had been retraced for a second time. Mr Stokes, 18, and Ms Byrne, 25, embraced after the results were formally announced in what has been a rollercoaster experience for the two political novices. An 11th count is now proceeding for the first time. Three seats had already been filled when the recounts were called, with Peggy ODwyer and Tracey ODwyer of Fine Gael being elected on the first count and Chris Pender of the Social Democrats on the sixth. Two Fianna Fail sitting councillors, Noel Heavey and Rob Power, are expected to take the fourth and fifth seats with the battle now between Ms Byrne and Independent Tom McDonnell for the final seat. Mr McDonnell currently leads Ms Byrne by 62 votes. 4pm Every vote counts never rang truer than in the Kildare local elections where the fortunes of two candidates are swaying back and forth on a single ballot. Three seats were filled in the six-seater Newbridge LEA with three more to go and five candidates in contention. Two sitting candidates looked certain to take seats four and five but before proceedings got to that stage and the battle commenced for the final seat, a recount was requested by the lowest placed candidate, James Stokes of Sinn Fein. This was at the tenth count stage and he was then just one vote behind Melissa Byrne of Aontu. A recount put him two ahead of Ms Byrne who then also asked for a recount. The second recount, which has now got to the third count stage, has now put Ms Byrne just one vote behind him. Several votes have been added and subtracted along the way with the spoiled pile growing by three votes and a few wrongly attributed votes finding their rightful home. The mathematical acrobatics means the quota has now reduced by one vote although it is likely the final seats would be allocated without the winning candidates reaching it. The recount of the recount continues. 11.30 Candidates and count staff are in for another long day in Punchestown where the process of filling the final seats on Kildare County Council continues. A second recount of votes in the Newbridge local electoral area got underway at 10am this morning with three of the six seats still up for grabs. Five candidates remain in contention and it is the tiny margin between the lowest polling two that gave rise to the recounts. Just one vote separated Melissa Byrne of Aontu and James Stokes of Sinn Fein yesterday afternoon. By evening, their positions had switched with Mr Stokes two votes ahead of Ms Byrne. What happens when their final position is known will be equally intriguing. Whoever hangs on after the next elimination will be only around 60 votes below Tom McDonnell, an Independent who has been a leading figure in anti-migrant protests in Kildare and nationally. Whether he would benefit more from transfers from an eliminated candidate from Aontu or Sinn Fein is unclear. An interesting trend has emerged over the ten counts it took to get to this point, however. Ms Byrne has been picking up transfers from all parties in near equal proportions which means that if she holds on, she may benefit from Mr Stokes transfers sufficiently to enable her overtake Mr ODonnell and take last seat. If Ms Byrne is eliminated, it is not clear where her transfers are likely to go or if they could- close the gap between Mr Stokes and Mr ODonnell. As things stand, Fianna Fails Noel Heavey and Rob Power look safe for the fourth and fifth seat but there are no certainties. The recount, followed by progress to Count 11, is expected to take at least until late afternoon. 9pm A fresh recount is to begin in Kildare tomorrow morning after a first recount saw the bottom two candidates in the Newbridge LEA switch places by just two votes. Melissa Byrne of Aontu went into this afternoons recount, one vote ahead of Sinn Feins James Stokes but after almost five hours of counting, she emerged two votes behind him. After consulting with both candidates, returning officer Eoghan Ryan suspended proceedings for the evening just before 9pm, asking staff to return at 10am tomorrow. Its certainly a birthday to remember, said Melissa Byrne, who turned 25 counting ballots instead of candles in the Punchestown count centre. She and Mr Stokes, who is just 18, are the youngest candidates of the 90 to contest the 40 seats in the eight local electoral areas in Kildare. Neither seem fazed by testing the democratic process to the full and while there was plenty to divide the field and their supporters throughout the election campaign, there was unity of admiration for them. Im delighted to see it, said one veteran Fianna Fail supporter. Politics needs more young people whatever their party. 5.30pm The recount is continuing in Kildare where one vote separates the bottom two candidates after the 10th count in Newbridge LEA. Three of the six seats were filled in earlier counts by Peggy ODwyer and Tracey ODwyer, both Fine Gael, and Chris Pender of the Social Democrats. Going into the tenth count, five of the original 14 candidates remained in the running with Noel Heavey and Rob Power, both sitting Fianna Fail councillors, in first and second place. They were followed by Independent Tom McDonnell, Aontus Melissa Byrne and Sinn Feins James Stokes. After distribution of transfers, the line-up remained the same but the gap between Byrne and Stokes narrowed. Byrne now has 1,101 votes and Stokes, 1,100. Whoever is eliminated after the recount will leave another tight situation behind. While Heavy and Power look relatively safe, Tom McDonnell is just 60 votes ahead of Byrne and 61 ahead of Stokes so a distribution of transfers will determine who takes the final seat. Newbridge is the only one of the eight local electoral areas in Kildare where counting is incomplete. 12.30pm Minister of State Martin Heydon has credited a mix of the Harris bounce and quality local candidates for Fine Gaels strong performance in his home county of Kildare. The Kilcullen man who has spent much of the weekend at the count centre has been closely watching the recount in the Kildare electoral area where Fine Gaels Paddy Curran is hoping a fresh look at the figures might save his seat. As it stands, the party have 11 seats the same number as in the outgoing council but it is hoping for more. Ultimately it's down to the candidates we put forward, Mr Heydon said of his partys good results so far. The sitting councillors have really done their work in their areas and the new candidates are people who are really well-placed in their communities. And a large part of people's motivation is about a local vote on local issues. But there is no doubt that Fine Gael gained momentum during the three weeks of the campaign. I think it's the first time since 2011 where we gained support throughout a campaign as opposed to, as a government party, losing it, so Simon Harris and Government's key decisions and what Fine Gael is doing in government has resonated well with the public and that was quite evident on the doorstep. The Minister has been double-jobbing also monitoring events in Castlebar where Nina Carbery, for whom he is director of elections, is in the running for a seat in the European elections for the Midlands North West. Were hoping for a first count at around 5-6pm, he said We're dealing with partial tallies but we know Nina did really well here in Kildare, we know she did really well in Meath and in Louth which was our target for number ones. We also know she is really transfer-friendly. Maria Walsh is doing very strongly and we are right in play for two seats. Nina is probably fighting for the second seat for Fine Gale and that would be a really big win for us we are very hopeful. As it stands heading into lunchtime on Monday, 32 seats on Kildare County Council have been confirmed, five are provisional pending the outcome of the recount and three have yet to be filled. 10pm Sunday A full recount of votes in the five-seater Kildare electoral area is to begin on Monday morning after just 15 votes separated the candidates vying for the last seat. Sitting councillor, Paddy Curran (FG), requested the recount after being beaten to the final spot by Social Democrats newcomer, Pat Balfe, in the ninth count. Mr Curran had polled ahead of Mr Balfe all the way to the final count when transfers from eliminated Independent Declan Crowe pushed Mr Balfe narrowly ahead. A recount will make no difference to the early winners, Suzanne Doyle (FF) and Kevin Duffy (FG) who were elected on the first count, and is unlikely to pose a difficulty for the third past the post, Fianna Fails Brian OLoughlin who got in on the eighth count. Both Mr Balfe and Sinn Fein newcomer Shonagh Ni Raghallaigh got in on the ninth. If the results stand after the recount, it will mean a seventh seat for the Social Democrats who have been celebrating increasing their seats from four. It will also mean relief for Sinn Fein who lost sitting councillor Noel Connolly from their only seat on the council. Fine Gael still lead the league table for the highest number of seats with 11 so far while Fianna Fail has nine, the Social Democrats provisionally have seven, Labour have five, Independent Ireland has one and there are two non-party Independents. 5pm The Green Party has had had a wake-up call after a bruising local election in Kildare where it lost both its seats. Green Party Senator Vincent P. Martin, a former poll-topper in Naas and sister of deputy party leader and Minister for Tourism Catherine Martin, said the party needed to examine how it communicated it messages. He said the partys collapse in the partly rural county contrasted with neighbouring Dublin where it performed reasonably well. Communications could be better. Theres no-one loves rural Ireland more than the Greens and maybe that message didnt get across, he said. He said the party also needed to push its social justice agenda better. People get it that were for the environment but maybe we have a job of work to do to remind people of the value of social justice which underpins our party. This is a wake-up call. We have to redouble our efforts. Sitting candidates Peter Hamilton in Maynooth and Bob Quinn in Naas were both knocked out, Mr Hamilton in the first count. Patrica Foley in Clane and Peter Paul Hughes in Celbridge were also first to be eliminated in their electoral areas. Lorraine Benson in Kildare, Imran Ali in Leixlip and Ronan Maher in Newbridge were still awaiting their fate late on Sunday afternoon. Mr Martin said the party had polled at 5-6pc and would take some crumbs of comfort from that. They were one or two per cent short of making it. The challenge is to bring back that 1-2pc increase in the vote. It's very marginal and falling 1pc can have a cruel outcome. We have to take inspiration from the wins elsewhere and examine how to share the wisdom from the successes in Dublin. The other part emerging from the count with much reflection to do was Sinn Fein which was in no certainty about retaining its sole seat in the late afternoon. Meanwhile Fine Gael continued to lap up victories with eight seats secured, ahead of Fianna Fails five, the Social Democrats four and Labours four. Two Independents have so far secured seats. 1pm Counting in the Kildare local elections could run into Monday as the battle for seats heats up. Just three of the eight electoral areas have returned a final result, only three of the seven seats in Naas are filled and four areas have not yet had a first count. Seasoned observers say the pace indicates either a very long night on Sunday to complete the count or an adjournment to Monday morning. One caveat is that, so far, there have been clear margins between candidates, no disputes and no wrangling over doubtful votes. If that pattern continues, the Punchestown count centre may fully return to hosting races of an equine kind by tomorrow. The latest picture at lunchtime shows 17 of the 40 seats filled with Fine Gael taking six, followed by Fianna Fail and the Social Democrats with four each. If that pattern continues, Fine Gael would take over from Fianna Fail as the biggest party on the council. The party was one seat behind its main rival in the outgoing council. Labour has two seats and there is one Independent. All sitting councillors who entered the race have been returned apart from Peter Hamilton of the Green Party. 8.30am Counting in the local elections in Kildare resumes this morning after a flurry of late night results brought the total of councillors elected to 15. Two of the eight electoral areas, Clane and Maynooth, have now filled their five seats each while Celbridge has just one of its four left to decide. Seven-seater Naas had two of its councillors elected when counting was suspended for the night at 1am. Counting in those two areas is due to start again at 9.30am at Punchestown and will get underway in the remaining areas Athy, Newbridge, Leixlip and Kildare from about 10am. Seats secured so far break down in the following party lines: Fine Gael 5, Fianna Fail 4, Social Democrats 4, Labour 1 and Independents 1. Councillors elected so far are as follows: Maynooth Naoise O Cearuil (FF), Tim Durkan (FG), Peter Melrose (Soc Dem), Angela Feeney (Lab), Paul Ward (FF). Clane Brendan Wyse (FG), Padraig McEvoy (Ind), Aidan Farrelly (Soc Dem), William Durkan (FG), Daragh Fitzpatrick (FF). Celbridge David Trost (FF), Claire ORourke (Soc Dem), Lumi Panaite Fahey (FG). Naas Bill Clear (Soc Dem), Fintan Brett (FG). 11pm Six local election seats have now been in Kildare with two for Fianna Fail, two for Fine Gael and two for the Social Democrats. It has been a particularly good night for the Social Democrats with two candidates securing seats on first counts. Bill Clear topped the poll in Naas to reclaim his seat while in Celbridge, first-time candidate Claire ORourke was one of two councillors to be elected on the first count. Ms ORourke came second in Celbridge to Fianna Fails David Trost, bringing two new members to the council who could be described as veteran newcomers. Ms ORourke recently retired from a career in the mental health services in the HSE and in private practice so politics is a new venture but she has been involved in community action for many years. David Trost is well known for canvassing on behalf of Fianna Fail over the years but finally became the face on the poster in a move that paid off for him and the party. Polling well above quota, he had plenty of votes to spare but without a running mate, his transfers went most generously to Fine Gael first-timer Lumi Panaite Fahey. That brought her to within one vote of the quota at time of writing. Earlier, Brendan Wyse and Tim Durkan, both Fine Gael took the second and third seats on the council while Naoise O Cearuil was the first home for Fianna Fail. So far it has been a night to forget for Sinn Fein and the Green Party although there is still a long way to go with none of the four commenced electoral areas complete and four more to start on Sunday. No full count is complete for any electoral area in Kildare but already the post mortem has begun for Sinn Fein in the county. The party ran 14 candidates across the eight areas, hoping for a dramatic increase on the solitary seat it took into the election. Arriving at the Punchestown count centre, Sinn Fein TD for Kildare North Reada Cronin conceded there would be no such rise in fortunes. All the candidates are very disappointed and Im very disappointed for them, she said as the vote across the county stayed low. We listened to the people last time when they told us we didnt run enough candidates, she said of the decision to double up in most of the electoral areas which split a poor vote even further. She insisted she was pleased with the performance of a number of candidates, however, saying they had made progress and were on a sound footing for possible future outings. They hit the bar but did not get the goal in the back of the net, she said. But we ran a good positive campaign and Im very proud of them. On Monday we roll up the sleeves and get back to work. 7.30pm Kildare has its first two councillors with the election of Fianna Fails Naoise O Cearuil and Fine Gaels Brendan Wyse. Mr O Cearuil very comfortably exceeded the quota on the first count in the Maynooth electoral area and returns to the seat he first won in 2014. Mr Wyse had also had a large surplus, topping the poll in the Kildare electoral area. Their elections came minutes apart as the pace begins to quicken at the count centre in Punchestown. Distribution of their transfers is now under way. 4.30pm Kildare county council looks to get some fresh faces with newcomers set to take seats in the four-seater Celbridge electoral area. Three of the seats were left wide open after just one sitting councillor, Rupert Heather (Lab), returned to the fray. The opportunity to fill the gap was quickly seized by the Social Democrats, whose new candidate, Claire ORourke, is looking strong to take a seat. Fine Gael seem to have had a stroke of luck in finding Lumi Panaite Fahey to wear the party colours and enter the race. She too is performing very well. David Trost (FF) looks certain to take the seat vacated by his party colleague Michael Coleman and may top the poll. That would leave Labours Heather and David Monaghan (SF) the others most likely to be in with a shout. Counting has officially begun in four of the eight electoral areas Maynooth, Clane, Celbridge and Naas, with the other four scheduled to begin on Sunday morning. 1.30pm There is little sign of a Sinn Fein bounce or a swing to independents in Kildare where sitting candidates for the main parties are performing strongly. Tallying is still underway at lunchtime but with two of the eight electoral areas complete, it looks like there will be few upsets. In Maynooth, four of the five seats look likely to be held by siitting candidates, Naoise O Cearuil (FF), Tim Durkan (FG) and Angela Feeney (Lab) while Paul Ward (FF) is also looking safe. It is possible that newcomer Peter Melrose (Soc Dem) could be vying sitting Green, Peter Hamilton, for the fifth. A similar pattern is showing in Clane, also a five-seater, where sitting candidates Brendan Wyse (FG), Padraig McEvoy (Ind) and Aidan Farrelly (Soc Dem) hold the top three spots for first preferences and Daragh Fitzpatrick (FF) is in fifth. The decision of Brendan Weld (FG) not to run again leaves that seat open but at the moment FG newcomer William Durkan is polling fourth on first preferences. With 90 candidates for 40 seats and tallying continuing, there is a long way to go but Social Democrats co-founder and Kildare North TD Catherine Murphy was boldly predicting the party could gain on the four seats sit currently holds. She said predictions of an influx of independents on councils or a shift to Sinn Fein may have been exaggerated. We didnt see that trend on the doorstep, she said. Certainly people had issues and complaints but they wanted to engage with us on them. They werent looking to vote in a completely different direction. Tallying continues at the Curragh Racecourse but completed boxes will move to Punchestown where the count proper is due to begin this afternoon. Its been the best local election for Fine Gael in a long time. Ballybay Clones candidate Richard Truell summed up the optimism in the party which gained one seat and finished with six members in the new Council. The main cheers however were from the Sinn Fein camp who went against the national trend and won two more seats, ending up with eight councillors. There was wild cheering from their supporters at the count centre in Threemilehouse when the last results were declared for Carrickmacross Castleblayney, resulting in Sinn Feins new candidate Paul Gibbons winning back a seat from Fianna Fails Aoife McCooey outgoing Cathaoirleach of the municipal district. She had won by only nineteen votes five years ago when she was 22. The other Sinn Fein success saw the election in Ballybay Clones of restaurant manager Sinead Flynn. She ended up with more votes than her colleague Pat Treanor (outgoing member). He was elected at the same time as her on the seventh count without reaching the quota, ahead of the remaining candidate Olivia Larkin from Aontu. For Fine Gael, the strategy of placing two candidates in the three electoral areas paid dividends including the election of a new candidate in Monaghan Pauric Clerkin from Tydavnet. He works in the office of Minister Heather Humphreys. His colleague outgoing Cathaoirleach David Maxwell paid tribute to the role of Minister Humphreys and said she had done massive work for Co. Monaghan. For Fianna Fail it has been a disappointing result, with only one councillor elected in each of the three areas, a loss of one. The Monaghan LEA covers most of the north of the county including the county town of Monaghan and villages such as Tydavnet, Scotstown, Ballinode, Emyvale and Glaslough. Fianna Fail had one councillor outgoing in this area, Raymond Aughey a publican from Monaghan town. Having fielded two candidates in 2019 the party put three up for election this time and managed to increase their first preference share by nearly 6% from 17% to 23% (1566 votes in 2019 to 2258 in 2024, a jump of just under 700 votes. However their strategy did not succeed in bringing in an extra seat for the party. Raymond Aughey will continue to be their only representative here. I felt from the outset it was not the best strategy by party headquarters to run three Fianna Fail candidates in Monaghan and Ballybay Clones districts Senator Robbie Gallagher told the Irish Independent. His sentiments were echoes by longstanding Councillor PJ OHanlon who topped the poll in Carrickmacross Castleblayney. In their victory speeches at the count centre most of the representatives from the outgoing Council paid tribute to those who had lost their seats such as independent Paudge Connolly and Aoife McCooey. They thanked those public representatives who had retired including Sinn Feins Brian McKenna and the independent Hughie McElvaney from Corcaghan who retired after fifty years as a Councillor. His departure and the defeat of Paudge Connolly means that there will be only one independent in the new Council, Seamus Treanor from Monaghan, two less than previously. Tale of the tape: Sinn Fein 8 Fine Gael 6 Fianna Fail 3 Independent 1 Westmeath County Council has officially filled all 20 seats over its four local electoral areas. They are as follows: Moate (4 seats): Tom Farrell (FG) Vinny McCormack (FF) Liam McDaniel (FF) Johnny Penrose (Labour) Mullingar (6 seats): Mick Dollard (NP) Ken Glynn (FF) Aoife Davitt (FF) Andrew Duncan (FG) Bill Collentine (FF) Julie McCourt (SF) Athlone (5 seats): Kevin Boxer Moran (NP) Frankie Keena (FF) Aengus ORourke (FF) John Dolan (FG) Paul Hogan (Independent Ireland) Kinnegad (5 seats): Denis Leonard (Labour) Alfie Devine (FF) David Jones (SF) Niall Gaffney (FF) Emily Wallace (FG) There are only three new candidates entering the council, Devine and Jones from Kinnegad LEA, and Kevin Boxer Moran returning to local politics in Athlone LEA. From a party breakdown perspective, there are nine Fianna Fail councillors, four Fine Gael, two Non-Party, two Labour, two Sinn Fein and one Independent Ireland. The biggest change from the last council sees the loss of two Green Party seats, which have translated to two Sinn Fein seats, up from zero in 2019. Fine Gael has lost a seat, and we see an introduction of a seat going to the newest party, Independent Ireland. Former government minister, Kevin Boxer Moran has made a swinging return to local politics, easily securing his spot on the council with among some of the highest percentage of first-preference votes in the country. Were back, were back, was the sentiment expressed by Boxer Moran as he was lifted in celebration after what was seen as a landslide win for the now-councillor. His return to local government gets off to a winning start since early Saturday when it became clear that he was going to claim the lions share of the votes for the Athlone area. Across the parties and candidates, there is a real respect and sense of disbelief over Moran and his ability to mobilise voters after being away from local politics. Westmeath County Council Mr Moran told the Irish Independent: When I lost my seat a number of years ago, it was a big blow and a big hurt, put I have put it behind me. I did a great canvass, we put a huge campaign and I put in the hard work, and the people of Athlone and the surrounding areas are all supporting me. One thing I heard while canvassing was people telling me: Boxer, I hope this is your step forward and well get you back into the Dail. Thats the plan but we take nothing for granted we enjoy today. I know the Taoiseach this week said there would be no election, but I think with some of the TDs being elected to Europe puts pressure on the Taoiseach to make this move sooner rather than later. Over the last four years I have had a lot of time to think and we are going back to basics now. If the opportunity comes up to represent this great county in Dail Eireann, I will do that and I look forward to that day when it comes. Paul Kehoe TD and Cllr Ger Carthy checking some figures at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell Cllr Jim Codd pictured with his mother Anne at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell Cllr Frank Staples and Robbie Staples of Fine Gael at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell Independent councillor John Dwyer moments after he won a seat on the New Ross LEA. Discussions with Enniscorthy candidates as a potential recount is up in the air for now. 10.10 p.m. At 10.10 p.m. on Day 3, its all over here at the Wexford count centre for the 2024 local elections. On the tenth and final count in the Rosslare LEA, Lisa McDonald (FF) 1,828 and Aoife Rose OBrien (SF) 1,342 have been elected to the final two of the 34 seats on Wexford County Council. They took 164 and 97 of Jack Bardens transfers respectively. Eliminated on the final count was Joe Druhan who finished with 1,210 having picked up 287 transfers. With all seats now filled, the make-up of Wexford County Council for the next five years will be Fianna Fail (9), Fine Gael (8), Independent (6), Wexford Independent Alliance (5), Labour (2), Sinn Fein (3) and Aontu (1). 8.57 p.m. Another count completed in the Rosslare LEA. Aoife Rose OBrien (SF) predictably has taken the lions share of her party colleague Mick Roches transfers, while Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Jack Barden has been eliminated. We now have three candidates vying for two seats. Lisa McDonald (FF) is on 1,664 after taking 53 transfers; Aoife Rose OBrien (SF) on 1,245 after 424 transfers came here way and Joe Druhan (Wexford Independent Alliance) is on 923 having taken 30 transfers. Jack Barden's votes will now be distributed and Joe Druhan will be hoping for a huge favour from his Alliance running mate. We go to another count. 7.53 p.m. The eighth count in Rosslare sees Mick Roche (SF) eliminated after Simon Boyses (FF) surplus was distributed among candidates. Roche departs the race in Rosslare having also lost out in the latter stages in the 2019 locals. In terms of the two remaining seats, Lisa McDonald (FF) is now within touching distance of the finish line with 1611 votes (quota is 1713). Behind her the two WIA candidates Joe Druhan (821) and Jack Barden (816) are well placed, but Aoife Rose OBrien (821) will be hopeful of transfers from Roches surplus of 680. 6.49 p.m. Finally back in action in the Wexford Count Centre where Simon Boyse (FF), who requested the recount which began this morning, has been eliminated on the seventh count in the Rosslare District. His surplus of 648 votes will now be distributed among Jack Barden (WIA) who is on 669, Joe Druhan (WIA) 873, Lisa McDonald (FF) 1390, Aoife Rose OBrien (SF) 776, and Mick Roche (SF) 650. Those candidates will contest the last two seats in Co Wexford with expectations that the count will conclude this evening. 5.57 p.m. Still no sign of a count from Rosslare. Theyre set to resume on the seventh count with Frank Staples surplus of 70 but no movement yet. Earlier on, we were told that the count would be concluded by 6 p.m. but issues inputting the data electronically have held up the process. 2.30 p.m. Count eight has seen a flurry of activity in the Enniscorthy LEA as all remaining 4 seats have now been filled. With the distribution of Cyril Wheelocks surplus, John ORourke (IND), Barbara Anne Murphy (FF) and Jackser Owens (IND) surpassed the quota. As Sinn Fein's Colette Nolan couldn't make up the gap, Fine Gael's Pat Kehoe took the final seat. They join Cathal Byrne (FG) and Aidan Browne (FF) who were elected yesterday on the very first count. 1.05 p.m. There's been an elimination in the Enniscorthy LEA. Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Cyril Wheelock eliminated after count 7. His votes will now be distributed with Barbara Anne Murphy (FF), John ORoure (IND) and Jackser Owens (IND) all hoping they will help them to reach the quota. 12 p.m. Two of the three recounts called in Wexford last night have been withdrawn following discussions with the candidates. Cyril Wheelock (WIA) has withdrawn his request for a recount and a surplus of 9 votes from Aidan Browne (FF) will now be distributed. In Gorey, Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Jimmy Fleming withdrew his request for a full recount, meaning that Fionntan O Suilleabhain (SF) and Anthony Donohoe (FG) have now been elected to the final seats there. It leaves a Gorey line-up of Donal Kenny (FF), Nicky Boland (WIA), Darragh McDonald (FG), Joe Sullivan (FF), Fionntan O Suilleabhain (SF) and Anthony Donohoe (FG). The Rosslare recount continues. 10.50 a.m. County Returning Officer Michael Drea has just announced that full recounts will commence in both the Gorey and Rosslare LEAs. However, following discussions with candidates, it has been agreed that the transfers of Colette Nolan (SF) will be examined to establish a pattern before a decision is taken on a recount in Enniscorthy. The reason for this is that, Cyril Wheelock (WIA) who called for the recount, is hoping that transfers from Nolan would put him back in contention for a seat if she was eliminated. Just 5 votes separate them. We wait to see if well have three full recounts or two. 10.40 a.m. Its Day 3 here at the Wexford Count Centre and all of the counters have arrived to get started on an unprecedented three recounts which were called yesterday. In Enniscorthy, Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA) candidate Cyril Wheelock called for a full recount with he and Sinn Feins Colette Nolan looking to avoid the next elimination. It was a similar situation in Gorey, where WIA candidate Jimmy Fleming called for the recount with himself and Fine Gaels Anthony Donohoe locked in a battle to take the final seat there. Sinn Feins Fionntan O Suilleabhain is yet to be elected to seat five yet either, although hell be feeling most confident of the three ahead of the complete recount. Finally, in Rosslare, Fianna Fails Simon Boyse called for a recount with just a single vote separating him and Sinn Fein's Mick Roche after six counts. Just three of the five seats in Rosslare were filled at that stage. Were already a little behind schedule, as the recounts were due to commence at 10 a.m. However, a start looks imminent here at St Joseph's Community Centre. 12.35 a.m. The last two seats in the Wexford Borough go to Raymond Shannon of the Independent Alliance (1180 votes) and Catherine Biddy Walsh of Labour with 1092 votes, Vicky Clancy misses out with 986 votes. The seven seats in the Borough go to Cllr George Lawlor, Robbie Staples, Cllr Garry Laffan, Cllr Leonard Kelly, Cllr Tom Forde, Raymond Shannon, and Catherine Biddy Walsh. 11.40 p.m. Dave Ryan of the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA) has been eliminated on the tenth count in the Wexford Borough. This leaves three candidates vying for the last two seats, with Biddy Walsh of Labour on 1002 votes, Ray Shannon of the WIA on 897, and Vicky Barron (LAB) on 878. Dave Ryans surplus of 845 will now be distributed between the three remaining candidates to decide who takes the last two seats in the Borough. 10.46 p.m. One of the stalwarts of Wexford politics has bowed out of the council after 24 years. Davy Hynes of Sinn Fein has been eliminated in the Wexford Borough on the ninth count bringing an end to a long and distinguished career which saw him run as an independent, as a Labour candidate, and latterly with Sinn Fein. The two last seats in the Borough are set to go down to the wire with two Labour candidates Vicky Clancy Barron (771) and Biddy Walsh (892) fighting it out with two WIA members, Dave Ryan (801) and Raymond Shannon (758). 10.43 p.m. Even more recount drama in Wexford! A third of Wexfords six LEAs is going to a recount tomorrow. With just 29 votes separating the next two lowest candidates in the Gorey LEA, Anthony Donohoe (FG) and Jimmy Fleming (Wexford Independent Alliance), a complete recount has been called after 10 counts. Jimmy Fleming was the candidate to make the call. Recount will commence at 10 a.m. 10.15 p.m. More recount drama in Wexford as Simon Boyse (FF) has called for a full recount in the Rosslare LEA with only a single vote separating him and the next lowest candidate Mick Roche (SF). The recount will commence at 10 a.m. tomorrow (Monday) morning. 9.57 p.m. New Ross is complete with Marty Murphy (WIA), Bridin Murphy (FG), John Fleming (FF), and John Dwyer (IND) joining Pat Barden (WIA) and Michael Sheehan (FF) in the six-seater. Incumbent Michael Whelan (FF) misses out. The Co Wexford count is set to run into a third day with a full recount of Enniscorthy, two seats left to fill in Rosslare, and two in the Wexford Borough. 9.42 p.m. After a long wait, Sinn Fein councillor Tom Forde has been elected as the fifth councillor in the Wexford Borough District on count 8 and their first in this election. Fianna Fail candidate Emmet Moloney has also been eliminated on the same count, leaving five battling it out for the remaining two seats. 8.58 p.m. It's the end of the road for FIFA referee and Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Michelle ONeill as she is ruled out after the seventh count in the Wexford Borough District. Her votes will now be distributed with Tom Forde (SF) the closest to the 1,425 quota with 1,388. 8:53 p.m. Another councillor elected in New Ross. Fianna Fails Michael Sheehan makes it on count 7 to become the second past the post in a hotly contested district. He leaves John Dwyer (Ind) on 1,574 votes, John Fleming (FF) 1,629, Bridin Murphy (FG) 1,645, Marty Murphy (WIA) 1,712 and Michael Whelan (FF) 1,512 battling it out for four seats with the quota 1,753. 8.34 p.m. Joe Sullivan of Fianna Fail and Darragh McDonald of Fine Gael have been elected in Gorey on the ninth count. While Councillor Sullivan was an incumbent, Darragh is a first-time candidate and a gold medal paralympic swimmer having won the 400m freestyle for Ireland in 2012. Two seats left in Gorey with Fionntan O Suilleabhain (SF) nearest the threshold on 1594 votes ahead of Anthony Donohue (FG) on 1399. 8.10 p.m. Frank Staples (FG) elected in Rosslare via Damien Corishs (LAB) surplus. The sitting councillor exceeds the quota on count six and joins Cllrs Codd and Carthy in this tight five-seater. Lisa McDonald is likely to take the fourth seat later tonight with the last seat still being contested by Sinn Feins Aoife Rose OBrien and the Wexford Independent Alliances Joe Druhan. 7.40 p.m. With just five votes separating the bottom two in Enniscorthy Colette Nolan (SF) and Cyril Wheelock (Wexford Independent Alliance) a full recount has been called by Mr Wheelock. County Registrar Michael Drea has stated that there will be no further counting in the Enniscorthy LEA tonight and the recount will commence tomorrow (Monday) morning at 10 a.m. 7.39 p.m. Another sitting councillor has lost their seat here at the Wexford count centre. In the New Ross LEA, Anthony Connick has been eliminated after count 6. That leaves six candidates vying for five seats with less than 250 votes separating them and Anthony Connicks 1,039 votes to be distributed. The next count in New Ross will be very interesting. 7.30 p.m. Big news for the Gorey LEA on count 8. The district has a second councillor with Wexford Independent Alliance councillor Nicky Boland surpassing the quota. Sitting Fianna Fail councillor Andrew Bolger won't be making a return and he is eliminated on this count. His votes will now be distributed among the rest of the candidates. In Rosslare, Labour candidate Damien Corish is eliminated after count 5 with Frank Staples (FG) now just 10 votes away from the quota. 6.47 p.m. The good news doesnt last long for Sinn Fein as Lorraine Smyth is eliminated on the fifth count in the Wexford Borough with 283 votes. Dave Ryan (WIA) is the biggest beneficiary of Stephen Powers surplus, receiving 39 of the 150 votes on offer. Meanwhile, in Rosslare, Willie Fitzharris of Fine Gael bows out on the fourth count following Jason Murphys (NP) transfers. Joe Druhan (833) remains ahead of Aoife Rose OBrien (712) in the battle for the fifth seat. Frank Staples has edged ever closer to the quota of 1713 with his tally now totalling 1591. 6.35 p.m. The seventh count in Gorey has seen Lorna Fizpatrick of Labour eliminated with 649 votes. The big winner in this count was Sinn Feins Fionntan O Suilleabhain who received 412 transfers from party colleague Kevin Molloy and now jumps ahead of Anthony Donohue (FG), Joe Sullivan (FF), Darragh McDonald (FG), and Jimmy Fleming (WIA). The other WIA candidate Nicky Boland is within touching distance of the quota, his tally of 1619 just 22 short of the 1641 required. 6.29 p.m. Kayley Goodison of Sinn Fein has been eliminated from the New Ross race on the fifth count. She was the candidate with the least number of votes following the distribution of Harry Twomeys votes and becomes the latest member of the beleaguered party to lose out. 6.05 p.m. Count 4 has just come in for the Wexford Borough District. None of the remaining candidates have reached the quota, so Stephen Power (Irish People) is eliminated. 6 p.m. Another elimination in Wexford, this time in Gorey. Kevin Molloy (SF) has been ruled out after count six and his votes will now be distributed. Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Nicky Boland draws ever closer to the 1,641 quota with 1,590. Meanwhile, the Kilmuckridge LEA is completed. No challenge has emerged and the four councillors are Mary Farrell (IND), Pip Breen (FF), Oliver Walsh (FG) and Paddy Kavanagh (Wexford Independent Alliance) 5.40 p.m. Another elimination. This time Jason Murphy (National Party) is ruled out after count three with 146 votes. These will now be distributed among the remaining candidates with Frank Staples (FG) closest to the 1,713 quota on 1,586. 5:37 p.m. Drama in the Kilmuckridge District as the remaining two seats are filled after count four. Oliver Walsh (FG) takes the third seat of four with 1,547, while Paddy Kavanagh of the Independent Alliance has sensationally pipped sitting Fianna Fail councillor Willie Kavanagh at the post to the final seat on a margin of 1,360 to 1,224. The Fianna Fail team have 15 minutes to challenge. 5.19 p.m. Lots of candidates being eliminated in Co Wexford but not so many being elected. The fifth count in Gorey, which saw Darren McGovern of Ireland Firsts votes allocated to the remaining candidates has not resulted in anyone reaching the 1641 quota. Nicky Boland (WIA) is closest at 1475 but the next count will see the votes of the now eliminated Cillian Byrne (IND) 541 divided out. A similar story in New Ross where Harry Twomey of Fine Gael has been eliminated on the fourth count. This count saw Bridin Lyng Moloneys votes divided between the remaining candidates and although Michael Sheehan (1403) and Marty Murphy (1399) are edging towards the 1753 quota there has been no one elected in New Ross bar poll-topper Pat Barden. 4.55 p.m. Another elimination at the Wexford count centre, this time in the Enniscorthy LEA. Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Majella Wall is ruled out after count five. Her votes will now be distributed among the remaining candidates. 4.38 pm. Another candidate has been eliminated at the Wexford count centre. Darren McGovern (Ireland First) bows out after the fourth count in the Gorey LEA. 4.16 p.m. Two more candidates have been eliminated in Co Wexford with Eamonn Doyle (IND) going in the fourth count in Enniscorthy and Bridin Lyng Moloney (Labour) being knocked out in the third count in New Ross. The fourth count in Enniscorthy saw Brendan Cahill-Flynns (Green) 308 votes divided between the remaining candidates. It was Colette Nolan of Sinn Fein who received the most transfers (50), with Independent Jackser Owens (47), and Pat Kehoe of Fine Gael and Barbara Anne-Murphy of Fianna Fail receiving 38. No-one was elected in this count with Pat Kehoe, Councillors Barbara Anne-Murphy, Jackser Owens, and John ORourke, primed to take the last four seats. In New Ross the third count saw the votes of independent candidates Anne Flynn, Raymond Forte, and James Furlong allocated to the remaining candidates. Independent candidate John Dwyer fared best with 64 transfers while John Fleming (FF) and Marty Murphy (WIA) both received 51. No-one was elected in the third count in New Ross with Councillors Fleming, Michael Sheehan, Michael Whelan, and Bridin Murphy and John Dwyer and Marty Murphy (WIA) in the hunt to join poll-topper Pat Barden in this six-seater. 3.25 p.m. Three more candidates have been eliminated following a third count here at St Josephs Community Centre. In Kilmuckridge, Declan Kenny (SF) was eliminated, followed by both Green Party candidates Anne Walsh in Gorey and Brendan Cahill Flynn in Enniscorthy. 3:05 p.m. The second count in the New Ross District has seen three independent candidates eliminated. Following the distribution of Pat Bardens (WIA) excess of 147, Anne Flynn, Raymond Forte, and James Furlong have all exited the race for election in this six-seat constituency. Of Councillor Bardens surplus, John Fleming (Fianna Fail) received 30 votes, Marty Murphy (WIA) received 23, Bridin Murphy (Fine Gael) received 20, and Anthony Connick (IND) 18. No candidates have been elected on the second count with John Fleming (1348) and Marty Murphy (1315) best placed to be next over the line. 2.56 p.m. The second count in Rosslare has seen Councillor Jim Codds surplus of 742 allocated to the remaining candidates. Of that 742, the most transfers went to Jack Barden of the WIA (129) with Frank Staples of Fine Gael (118), Mick Roche of Sinn Fein and Lisa McDonald of Fianna Fail (both 95) and Aoife Rose OBrien of Sinn Fein (93) also faring well. This leaves Cllr Staples (1526) likely to be elected on the next count, with Cllr McDonald (1201) still well-positioned, and Joe Druhan (751), Aoife Rose OBrien (681), Mick Roche (578), Simon Boyse (570), and Jack Barden (569) vying for the last of the five seats. 2 p.m. Two more councillors have been elected in the Wexford Borough District after George Lawlors (LAB) surplus has been distributed. Garry Laffan (FF) took 87 of Lawlors surplus to bring him to 1,499 and Leonard Kelly took 151 to reach 1,492. Both were deemed elected on count two meaning four of the seven Wexford Borough District seats are now filled. 1.50 p.m. Second count in Gorey LEA sees little change with nobody else elected on the votes from Aisling Hudons elimination. Donal Kennys surplus of 61 will now be distributed. In Enniscorthy, Sinn Feins Alfie O Suilleabhain has been eliminated and his 284 votes will now be distributed among the remaining candidates. 1.10 p.m. The second count is in for the Kilmuckridge LEA. It saw Mary Farrell's surplus of 222 votes distributed among the rest of the candidates. Elected on count two was Pip Breen (FF) after taking 64 additional votes to hit 1,525 and surpass the quota. With the distribution of the surplus, Oliver Walsh (FG) is now on 1,421, Willie Kavanagh (FF) is on 1,116; Paddy Kavanagh (Wexford Independent Alliance) is on 973 and Declan Kenny (SF) is on 955. 12.57 p.m. Following the first count in the Gorey LEA, Donal Kenny of Fianna Fail has been elected, topping the poll with 1,702 and surpassing the quota of 1,641. We also have our first elimination. Aisling Hudson (PBP) has been ruled out after attracting just 133 votes. Likely to follow Cllr Kenny in taking a seat are Independent Alliance candidate Nicky Boland with 1,341 votes, Joe Sullivan (FF) on 1,269 and Anthony Donohoe (FG) on 1,175. The remaining two seats will be the subject of some fierce competition. Darragh McDonald (FG) has 1,065 votes; Jimmy Fleming (WIA) 977; Fionntan O Suilleabhain (SF) 854; Andrew Bolger (FF) 851; Kevin Molloy (SF) 521; Cillian Byrne (IND) 449; Lorna Fitzpatrick (LAB) 425; Darren McGovern (Ireland First) 389 and Ann Walsh (Greens) 330. Speaking after topping the poll, Cllr Kenny said: Its nice to have topped the poll. We worked hard, we had a good campaign. A decent and clean campaign. Im delighted. I think it was totally the work done over five years. I went in on a promise and I feel I delivered on my end. I worked hard and I feel I represented the people well. 12:49 p.m. Pat Barden of the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA) has topped the poll in the New Ross District with 1900 first preference votes. He has exceeded the quota of 1753 and is therefore elected on the first count. This six-seater will now proceed to a second count with John Fleming (FF) 1318, Marty Murphy (WIA) 1292, Michael Sheehan (FF) 1291, Michael Whelan (FF) 1123, and Bridin Murphy (FG) 1017 well positioned for election. Reacting to topping the poll in New Ross for the second successive election, Councillor Barden said, Im absolutely thrilled, humbled actually that people would put their faith in me, delighted, I just want to thank everybody associated with the campaign, in particular my brother Michael and his wife Kathleen, my immediate family of course and everybody in the district who supported me. Paul Kehoe TD and Cllr Ger Carthy checking some figures at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell 12:07 p.m. As predicted, the first count from the Rosslare LEA has seen a massive performance from Aontu councillor Jim Codd who well surpassed the quota of 1,713, attracting 2,455 first preference votes. Also elected on the first count was Independent Ger Carthy who attracted 1,949 votes. Jim Codds surplus will now be distributed among the other candidates. In terms of the rest of the field, Frank Staples (FG) pulled in a healthy 1,408 votes, while Lisa McDonald managed 1,106, making them both likely to join their fellow incumbents in taking a seat. There will be a major scrap for the final seat in the Rosslare District. Joe Druhan of the Wexford Independent Alliance is leading that charge with 703. Hes followed by Aoife Rose OBrien on 588; Simon Boyse (FF) on 489; Mick Roche (SF) on 483; Jack Barden (Wexford Independent Alliance) on 440; Damien Corish (LAB) on 335; Willie Fitzharris (FG) 195 and finally Jason Murphy (National Party) on 125. Im honoured beyond belief, Cllr Codd said of topping the poll. I have worked very hard for the past 5 years. Its a great honour and responsibility, one that I hope Im worthy of and one that I hope I live up to. Having lost his father during the election campaign, it was an emotional day at the count centre for him. My father passed away lately and I feel I inherited my politics and beliefs from my late father and my mother. He would be very happy today, he said. Cllr Davy Hynes at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell 12 p.m. A predicted by yesterday's tallies, both Cathal Byrne (Fine Gael) received 2275 votes and Aidan Browne (Fianna Fail) received 1617 votes - securing their seat on the council after surpassing their 1608 quota in the Enniscorthy first count. Predicted to follow and join them in the next few counts are Barbara-Anne Murphy (FF) with 1340 votes, John O'Rourke (Ind) with 1162 votes, and Jackser Owens (Ind) with 1141 votes. The final seat will be between Pat Kehoe (FG) 937, Colette Nolan (SF) 693, Cyril Wheelock (Ind) 660, Majella Wall (Ind) 597, Alfie O Suilleabhain (Ind) 276, Eamonn Doyle (Ind) 296, and Brendan Cahill-Flynn (Green) 259. Speaking to Cathal Byrne, he said he is humbled by the large amount of support for his re-election, from his team, his supporters, and his family. He also stressed the importance of getting younger people into politics, he said I am a big believer that there is a cynicism about politicians and about politics, and about elections, and if I can help, in a small way, to remind people about the importance of showing up and voting, I think that is a very good thing. 11.44am: Labours George Lawlor has topped the poll in the Wexford Borough District with 2361 first preferences. Also elected, is first-time candidate Robbie Staples (FG) who surpassed the quota with 1576 votes. The popular Labour councillor, who has been elected to the council for the fifth consecutive term, said he will continue to work for the people who have continually put their faith in him over the past two decades. "People talk about a four week campaign but for me this has been a 20 year campaign really, he said. Its been about constant work, hard work with groups, residents associations, individuals, to deliver tangible projects that will benefit the community. There are still five seats up for grabs in Wexford, with Garry Laffan of Fianna Fail (1412 first preferences) and independent councillor Leonard Kelly (1341) likely to get over the line next. Cllr Frank Staples and Robbie Staples of Fine Gael at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell 11.00am: Wexford finally has an elected councillor. Mary Farrell (Independent) has taken the first seat in the Kilmuckridge LEA having taken 1,720 first preference votes. The quota was 1,498 and as nobody else met that number, Cllr Farrells surplus will now be distributed among the remaining candidates. Im delighted and humbled by the support, Cllr Farrell said. Im absolutely overwhelmed and grateful to the constituents of the Kilmuckridge LEA for the vote they gave me. I thank them all very much and look forward to working for them over the next five years." Pip Breen (FF) drew the second highest vote from the Kilmuckridge LEA with 1,461, with Oliver Walsh (FG) on 1,371, Willie Kavanagh (FF) on 1,101; Declan Kenny (SF) on 921 and Paddy Kavanagh (Wexford Independent Alliance) on 914. It looks likely that the four incumbent councillors will hang onto their seats, meaning no change in Kilmuckridge. 9.24am: Day two is now officially under way at the Wexford local election count here at St Josephs Community Centre. Following a long day yesterday, there were some frustrations evident on the floor of the count centre that it seemed to be taking an inordinate amount of time to sort and organise ballot papers compared with other counties. Returning Officer Michael Drea called a halt at around 10.30 p.m. on Saturday night before a single count had even been returned, although count staff continue to beaver away, organising ballot papers until midnight. As candidates and their teams arrived bleary eyed this (Sunday) morning, hopes were high that things will move a lot quicker. Having said that, there were some credible fears that the count could run into Monday. In terms of what we no so far, broadly speaking, tallies show that Wexford voters appear to be favouring incumbent candidates, however, there are a few notable exceptions. The talk of the count centre, however, is the difficulties Sinn Fein are facing around the county. Theyll face a scrap to avoid any losses, while Independents and the Wexford Independent Alliance make some gains. Counting of votes at the local electioncount in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell SATURDAY 10.38pm No results will be announced in Wexford tonight. Staff will continue to sort the ballot papers until midnight but there will be no counts from the centre on day one. A long and frustrating day for candidates and staff with no one elected and a very real possibility of proceedings running into Monday. 5.38 p.m. Still working their way through the European ballot papers in Wexford, no announcement on the locals expected until 8 pm at the earliest. 4.30 p.m. The combined Fianna Fail and Fine Gael tallies are showing that Labour's George Lawlor looks set to top the poll in the Wexford Borough District with 2,233. He'll be followed by Robbie Staples (FG) on 1,518 and Garry Laffan (FF) 1,391 and Leonard Kelly (IND) 1,309. Tom Forde may well be the only Sinn Fein candidate elected in the Wexford Borough District with tallies putting him at 1,075. There's a notable drop to the rest of the field, with transfers likely to play a key part in deciding the final two seats. The tallies have Wexford Independent Alliance candidates Dave Ryan and Ray Shannon at 521 and 491 respectively. Labour's Catherine Biddy Walsh is at 486 on the tallies with Davy Hynes (SF) in a spot of bother at 468. Those in the business of predictions believe that Labour may retain their two seats in Wexford, with Vicky Clancy Barron on 448 and transfers likely to prove key. Meanwhile, the tallies have Emmet Moloney (FF) on 447; Michelle O'Neill (WIA) on 400; Lorraine Smyth (SF) on 253 and Stephen Power (Irish People) on 139. Cllr Jim Codd pictured with his mother Anne at the local election count in St Joseph's Community Centre, Wexford. Pic: Jim Campbell 3.50 p.m. Tallies from Wexford count centre have Pat Barden of the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA) topping the poll in the New Ross district with 1920 first preferences. Fianna Fail's John Fleming is next with 1341 followed by Marty Murphy of the WIA (1246) and Fianna Fail's Michael Sheehan (1243). In this six-seater, Michael Whelan, also Fianna Fail, is next with 1147 votes with Bridin Murphy next on 1002. Independent candidate John Dwyer received 992 first preferences and sitting councillor Anthony Connick received 864 first preferences, with Harry Twomey (FG) on 862 and Sinn Fein's Kayleigh Goodison on 851. Labour's Bridin Lyng Maloney received 435 according to the tallies with a trio of independent candidates Anne Flynn (148), Raymond Forte (146), and James Furlong (138) bringing up the rear. The opening of the ballot box from The Old School, Hollyfort at the Count Centre in St Joseph's on Saturday. Pic: Jim Campbell 3.30 p.m. The early combined tallies from Fianna Fail and Fine Gael from the Rosslare LEA in Wexford shows that Aontu councillor Jim Codd looks likely to top the poll with 2,423 votes, followed by Ger Carthy (IND) on 1,892. Also looking likely to retain their seats in the Rosslare LEA are Frank Staples (FG) with 1,346 and Lisa McDonald (FF) with 1,150. If indications are correct, there'll be one hell of a battle on for the final available seat, with tallies showing Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Joe Druhan to be the best of the rest with 669, followed by Aoife Rose O'Brien (SF) on 648; Simon Boyse (FF) on 516; Jack Barden (WIA) on 471; Mick Roche (SF) on 437; Damien Corish (Labour) on 327; Willie Fitzharris (FG) on 194 and Jason Murphy (National Party) on 113. 1 p.m. Combined Fianna Fail and Fine Gael tallies have sitting Fine Gael councillor Cathal Byrne (FG) topping the poll in the Enniscorthy LEA with 2,284. The tallymen have Fianna Fail incumbents Aidan Browne and Barbara Anne Murphy on 1,641 and 1,317 respectively. The tallies are showing Independents John O'Rourke and Jackser Owens going well at 1,136 and 1,127 respectively. Bringing up the rest of the field are Patrick Kehoe (FG) on 960, Colette Nolan (677), Wexford Independent Alliance candidates Cyril Wheelock (658) and Majella Wall (564), Alfie O Suilleabhain SF (285), Eamonn Doyle Ind (282), Brendan Cahill Flynn (261). 12 p.m. Tallies for the smallest of the six Wexford LEAs sees the four incumbent councillors faring best for the four seats for now. Mary Farrell (IND) looks set to top the poll with 1,679, while Pip Breen (FF) is at 1,433; Oliver Walsh (FG) is on 1,421 and Willie Kavanagh (FF) is on 1,107. The two challengers Paddy Kavanagh of the Wexford Independent Alliance and Declan Kenny of Sinn Fein are on 905 and 854 respectively. Kenny's transfers could play a big part and could potentially see Paddy Kavanagh catch Willie Kavanagh for the final Kilmuckridge seat. 11:30 a.m. The first confirmed tallies, agreed by both Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, make for good reading for sitting Fianna Fail councillor in Gorey Donal Kenny, who looks set to top the poll in the Gorey LEA. Those tallies have Kenny at 1,648 - surpassing the suggested quota of 1,642. It's likely that Wexford Independent Alliance candidate Nicky Boland will also take a seat with tallies suggesting 1,355, while according to the tallymen Joe Sullivan is at 1,256 and Anthony Donohoe on 1,209. Darragh McDonald is coming in at 1,114 in the tallies, suggesting two seats for Fine Gael is possible. FF/FG tallymen stating that "the Sinn Fein surge has failed to materialise in Gorey". Fionntan O Suilleabhain is likely to take a seat, but faces a scrap with tallies 905. Tallies are instead showing an "independent surge". FF/FG expect to see more independents fare well over the course of the day. Another Independent Alliance candidate Jimmy Fleming is coming in at 927 on the early tallies, while sitting Fianna Fail councillor Andrew Bolger is in a major scrap with 851. There's a drop in the numbers to the remaining candidates with the tallies showing Kevin Molloy at 532, Lorna Fitzpatrick at 412, Darren McGovern at 372 and Aisling Hudson at 110. The 72 candidates will battle it out for 34 seats on Wexford County Council. In terms of the six electoral areas, 14 candidates will contest 7 seats in the Wexford Borough District while there will be 12 for the 6 seats in Enniscorthy. Both the Gorey and New Ross LEAs are crowded fields with 14 candidates vying for 6 seats, as is Rosslare with 12 seeking election to the 5 seats up for grabs. The opposite could be said of Kilmuckridge with just 6 candidates competing for 4 seats. Local and European election votes been separated at the Count Centre in St Josephs on Saturday. Pic: Jim Campbell The real talking point in Co Wexford has been the emergence of a new political entity in the Wexford Independent Alliance (WIA), put together by Independent TD Verona Murphy. A level of political ambiguity exists around the WIA. While it claims to be a collection of strong like-minded independents, the 12 candidates all run under the same branding and appear to have a formidable leader in Verona Murphy who has been out on the doorsteps with them in recent weeks. Among the 12 candidates are a UEFA referee, an award-winning mental health advocate, a former Fine Gael Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, assorted business people and a candidate who has served as both a Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail councillor, as well as running as an Independent. Its noteworthy that of the seven sitting Independent councillors, only one has joined Deputy Murphys new project (New Ross poll-topper Pat Barden) which adds an unknown entity to the political landscape. The trouble that Deputy Murphys former party Fine Gael are in nationally is reflected locally in Wexford. Four of their nine sitting councillors have opted to retire from local politics, setting in motion a major reshuffle and scramble for candidates. In the Gorey LEA, FG have enlisted Paralympic gold medallist Darragh McDonald in a bid to hang onto the seat being vacated by Diarmuid Devereux. Ballot papers been sorted at the Count Centre in St Josephs on Saturday. Pic: Jim Campbell Fianna Fail will run 14 candidates in a bid to re-assert the dominance which saw them claim 12 of the 34 Wexford County Council seats last time out. The 12 sitting councillors are joined by a first-time candidate in Rosslare and a Wexford man who previously left the party for an unsuccessful independent run before re-joining ahead of this upcoming election. This election should give a good indication of where Sinn Fein actually is. While in the last General Election, poll-topper Johnny Mythen broke long-standing records with his tally of votes, prior to that he lost his seat on Wexford County Council in the local elections, leaving Sinn Fein with just two councillors until veteran councillor Davy Hynes, an Independent former Labour Party councillor, opted to join bringing them to three. Sinn Fein are running candidates in every district with a total of 11 names on the ballot paper. Labour will run six candidates across the county, half of whom are running in the Wexford Borough District. The party will be pinning a lot on the performance of serial poll-topper and heir-apparent to Brendan Howlins seat in Dail Eireann George Lawlor as he aims to pull two first-time candidates over the line with him. Ballot papers been sorted at the Count Centre in St Josephs on Saturday. Pic: Jim Campbell The Green Party has never really had a foothold in Wexford and this is reflected in its two candidates running across the six LEAs. People Before Profit have one candidate running in Gorey, while Aontu will be hoping to hang onto the seat won by Jim Codd in Rosslare who enjoys a reasonably high profile locally. Taking the Wexford Independent Alliance candidates out of the equation, there are 12 Independent candidates seeking election. Having topped the poll in Rosslare on the last occasion and in Wexford prior to the new districts establishment, Ger Carthy will be expecting another strong performance, however, the independents are certainly facing another layer of uncertainty with the addition of the Independent Alliance. With immigration being such a huge talking point nationally at the moment, Wexford is not immune. Ireland First, The National Party and The Irish People will all be represented on the ballot paper with one candidate each. In the high-tech district of Taicang, a city with less than one million residents in east China's Jiangsu Province, one can observe the influence of German enterprises at various bus stops along Nanjing East Road. Within a 4-kilometer radius, more than 40 foreign enterprises have clustered, and a leisurely ride on the No. 103 bus line offers a unique vantage point to witness the assembly line of new energy vehicle (NEV) propulsion systems on the move. Industry experts believe that many German enterprises have designated Taicang as a globally important research and development (R&D) center and production base, especially as the city is gradually strengthening innovative leadership in fields such as NEVs and high-end equipment manufacturing. The flourishing of German enterprises in Taicang showcases upbeat prospect of China-Europe cooperation in areas including the green sector. According to Zheng Yun, senior partner of Roland Berger, a global strategy consulting firm, the carbon neutrality commitments made by both China and the European Union (EU) in 2020 provided new impetus for global low-carbon development. Chinese enterprises have supported Europe's transition to sustainable battery production and use, as well as other clean circular energy sources. Leveraging long-term stable cooperative relationships already established with European car manufacturers, Chinese enterprises have begun investing in the establishment of power battery production capacity in Europe, Zheng added. Mutual benefit China-Europe cooperation encompasses a broad spectrum of initiatives in green energy transformation, energy conservation, emissions reduction, and the pursuit of green, low-carbon solutions. Ma Xiaoming, chief analyst of new energy at Nomura Orient International Securities Co., Ltd., said China has actively absorbed the EU's expertise in policy frameworks concerning carbon markets and climate finance, enriching its own strategies for a sustainable future. Additionally, China has forged partnerships with the EU to develop an array of new energy projects. The collaborative spirit is not one-sided. European firms are also heavily involved in the development of new energy endeavors within China. A strong example is the Jiangsu Dongtai offshore wind power project, jointly developed by the CHN Energy Investment Group and EDF, France's state-owned electric utility company. This project is expected to produce a staggering 1.4 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, enough for nearly two million people to use. In addition, it promises significant environmental benefits: an estimated saving of 441,900 tonnes of standard coal and a substantial reduction in emissions, including 937,500 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 1,704 tonnes of sulfur dioxide each year. Helmut Stettner, chief executive officer of Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd., describes the overall trend of the future cooperation between China and Germany in the NEV sector as "complementing each other's strengths to achieve a global lead." Audi FAW NEV Co., Ltd. is Audi's first production base in China designed specifically for pure electric vehicle models. Currently, it has fully entered the pre-mass production stage. NEV plays a key role in global sustainable development and carbon emission reduction, and addressing climate change is a common task for the global community, said Li Bin, founder of the leading Chinese electric automaker NIO. He pointed out that the opportunities for cooperation between China and Europe in green transition far outweigh their competition. Instead of creating barriers, it is better for the two sides to work together in a more open manner. This would greatly benefit the global energy transition, climate change mitigation, and sustainable development. "We believe that good products and good services should be available to users worldwide," Li noted. Since entering Europe in 2022, NIO has introduced six vehicle models to the local market and set up seven flagship locations, with the latest one opened in Amsterdam at the end of May. As one of the earliest Chinese car companies to enter the European new energy market, BYD has expanded the presence of its pure electric buses at over 100 cities in more than 20 European countries. In 2022, BYD officially began to deploy the European passenger car market and established collaborations with top-quality dealers in various European countries. According to BYD's marketing department, in December 2023, BYD announced the construction of a new energy vehicle production base in Szeged, Hungary. The project, which will be built in stages, is expected to create thousands of jobs locally. With the joint layout of upstream and downstream enterprises in the industrial chain, not only can the stability and resilience of the local supply chain be improved, but it also helps promote the exchange of new energy technology between China and Europe and drive local industrial advancement, according to the company. Healthy trade relations matter However, Ma, the analyst, warned that pure electric cars sold in Europe are facing a penetration gap based on latest data from the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. Amid the phase-out of subsidies by major European countries, consumers are increasingly choosing hybrid electric vehicles due to their cost-effectiveness. If battery electric vehicle prices rise, the penetration rate of pure electric cars may further decline. Statistical data have shown that if the EU increases tariffs by 20 percent, the number of Chinese electric cars imported into the EU is estimated to decrease by a quarter, according to Ma. "For consumers, this may lead to an increase in the price of electric cars because the internal energy, material, and labor costs of the EU are significantly higher, which are very likely to delay the EU's energy transition goals," Ma added. "So how Europe expects to survive without healthy trade relations with China, above all when it comes to green products, is a lesson that requires careful consideration given the experiences of the last five years," commented Josef Gregory Mahoney, a professor of politics at East China Normal University. News / Local by Staff reporter In June, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) consultation mission will visit Zimbabwe to evaluate the country's economic performance following the introduction of the Zimbabwe Gold (ZiG) currency.ZiG became official on April 8, 2024, backed by US$575 million in hard assets, including foreign currencies and precious metals like gold.IMF spokesperson Julie Kozack confirmed the upcoming consultations, emphasizing the focus on assessing the impact of the new currency arrangement.Some analysts view the introduction of ZiG as a transformative step, signaling Zimbabwe's determination to forge ahead despite past economic challenges. However, others, like the Institute of Security Studies (ISS), express skepticism, citing concerns over transparency and economic mismanagement.Meanwhile, the practical implementation of ZiG faces hurdles, particularly in informal trade and public transportation, where acceptance and availability of the new currency remain limited, leading to confusion and uncertainty among traders and the general public alike. Baby Pereppadan, who is a three-time councillor in Tallaght South, successfully campaigned with his son and first-time candidate Britto in Tallaght Central A South Dublin household is gearing up to have two Fine Gael councillors under the same roof with three-time councillor Baby Pereppadan winning again in Tallaght South and his son Britto winning for the first time in Tallaght Central. The older Mr Pereppadan has only one piece of advice for his son: Britto was always happy to come into politics. Now that he has made it, I want him to know that it comes with more responsibilities. Now that we both have this platform, theres a lot we need to give back to the public. Britto (24), who is in his second year as a doctor at Tallaght University Hospital, said: My biggest inspiration in politics is my dad. He moved to this country and decided to serve people. When he ran for the first time in in 2009, I was just 10. I dont think I knew what I was doing but I remember helping him hand out leaflets and knock on doors. I was much older when he ran again 2019 and it really sparked that interest in me. It made me feel like I could also dedicate my life to helping the people in our area. Baby Pereppadan, who moved to Ireland nearly 24 years ago from Kerala in India, ran for the first time in 2009 as an Independent candidate. That year, he missed out by 65 votes. He said: I moved to Ireland in 2001 to join my wife who had moved to Ireland as a nurse. We moved here on a dependant visa and Britto was just one when we arrived. I had no experience with politics in my own country, but I was always a politics buff, reading up on it whenever I could. I joined Fine Gael in 2014 because I was inspired by former MEP and junior finance minister Brian Hayes, who encouraged me to run. I worked as a distributor with a company back then and I worked with a lot of Irish people. I asked them if they would support me if I were to run for elections, and they said they would no matter what. Fine Gael hadnt won for 20 years in Tallaght South and I was able to get them that seat. Theyve always showed me support for that. When it comes to immigration, I dont think theres any other party in Ireland who supports non-nationals as much as Fine Gael. This is now my third time and I have to say, Ive gotten the best response from the Irish people. I have faced with some racism and issues during the campaign when people would rip my posters or damage them. But when I win, I have felt nothing but the overwhelming support from the people of Tallaght South. The father-and-son duo hope to answer to the people who voted for them by focusing on their main concerns safety, housing and infrastructure. I knew that things werent going to be easy because Ive seen my dad work as councillor for the last five years. Ive learnt a lot through him and I knew that going into this. I have a clear understanding of whats required for the role of councillor and what my responsibilities would be. So I knew what I was getting into going into this thanks to dad, Britto added. George Nkencho was shot dead on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin Lawyers representing the family of George Nkencho have written to the DPP asking that it outline its reasons not to prosecute gardai involved in the 27-year-olds fatal shooting. The gardai involved in the fatal shooting of Mr Nkencho were informed on April 24 they would not face criminal prosecution. Mr Nkencho was shot dead on December 30, 2020, on the porch of his home in Clonee, west Dublin, following a stand-off with gardai. The DPPs decision follows a lengthy probe by the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission (Gsoc). Phelim ONeill, the solicitor representing the family of George Nkencho and a partner at Harrington LLP in Dublin, confirmed when contacted that he has written to the DPP. The DPP is obliged to provide a reason for directions not to prosecute upon request from parties directly linked to individual cases. Once the reasons not to prosecute are received, the solicitor can request the DPP review its decision. In the aftermath of the DPPs decision Mr Nkenchos family pledged their fight for justice will continue. Gloria Nkencho, sister of George Nkencho. Photo: Gareth Chaney In a statement released to the Sunday Independent, Mr Nkenchos sister Gloria said the family are now left with more questions than answers and also outlined their hurt and disappointment over how the news of a direction of no prosecution emerged. We are deeply hurt and disappointed by the way the news emerged about the Director of Public Prosecutions decision not to prosecute the gardai involved in the death of my brother, George, Ms Nkencho, a trainee solicitor, said. Some of Mr Nkenchos siblings witnessed the shooting as they were at the front door when an armed officer opened fire. Moments before, Gloria had tried to tell gardai that she could help and that her brother had a mental illness. However, as officers tried to contain the potential for violence, she had to retreat inside. Before the shooting, gardai had tried to disarm him using a graduated policing response after he had attacked a shopkeeper, brandishing a knife at a Eurospar shop 23 minutes earlier. Garda units had arrived to the scene of that incident, and followed Mr Nkencho, repeatedly asking him to drop the knife. However, he refused, and when officers tried to approach him, he threatened them. Retired US professor David Robinson pictured at the Padraic O Conaire statue in Eyre Square in Galway This weeks Leaving Cert Irish may be filling some secondary students with dread, but US statistician David Robinson loves the idea of early exposure to the first language. Fellow north American Thomas Rusty Weise, who has been refining his blas in Galway, is similarly enthused. Both men, neither of whom has any Irish connections whatsoever, are among 1,600 candidates studying for Irish-language proficiency exams currently taking place across Ireland and in Paris. Teastas Eorpach na Gaeilge (TEG), or the European Certificate in Irish, is a graded system of proficiency for adults which has been running since 2005. Whereas there were only 22 candidates for TEG in its first year, 2005, there has been a surge in interest recently. Since December, 2,700 candidates have registered for TEG, according to Maynooth University which administers the exams. The TEG syllabus has five different levels and places a strong emphasis on speaking ability. Irish-language teacher Patricia Nic Eoin from Kinvara, explains that 35pc of the marks are awarded for the oral part of the exam. Robinson, a retired statistics professor from Minnesota, began studying online with Nic Eoin several years ago, and sat the A1 level last year. It really has widened my circle of friendship Irish has been a godsend, he says. Retired US professor David Robinson pictured at the Padraic O Conaire statue in Eyre Square in Galway I love the sound of the language, and the music and the history behind it, and I was so curious about why I felt that way that I did a DNA test, Robinson says. I found I am 80pc Scottish/English and only 10pc to 15pc Irish, he laughs. Weise, a computer engineer and physicist in his early 50s from Portland, Oregon, took his interest in Irish one step farther. When I was in secondary school and studying French, a friend and I randomly picked Irish as something we could learn ourselves and speak to each other, he says. That stuck a bug in my ear, and I made my first visit to Ireland in 2008 and decided to move here permanently. I made a promise to myself that I would work towards making Irish a living language in my life Marteen Lane from Mayo and a tour guide in Galway city, is also taking TEG exams, having studied Irish at school and as a module for an arts degree. In October 2022, on the day of my birthday, I made a promise to myself that I would work towards making Irish a living language in my life, Lane says. She signed up with Nic Eoins All About Irish live classes, and was particularly taken by the teachers use of the Father Ted television series to explain the feminine and masculine nouns. Tour guide Marteen Lane Covid-related surges in online learning, and the recent system of appointing Irish-language planning officers in weak Gaeltacht areas to run subsidised Irish classes for adults, are cited as contributory factors for the renewed interest. The language-planning officer system is run by Gaeltacht development authority, Udaras na Gaeltachta as part of the Governments strategy for Irish. Micheal MacAodha, language-planning officer in An Bruach Thoir in the Menlo area of Galway city, says he has been surprised by the enthusiasm. We dont just run classes, as we also run activities such as book clubs and music. There is no pressure to sit an exam, but some people want to measure their progress after a time, he says. Katie Ni Loingsigh, language-planning executive with Udaras na Gaeltachta, says the authority is delighted to be able to partner with the leading language planning organisations, and with Maynooth University on a pilot basis, to provide support for candidates who want to take the TEG exams in Galway this year. The Government has spent at least 880,000 to lease private jets to fly the Taoiseach and Tanaiste around the globe since last year. The massive outlay on charter aircraft came as the Governments Learjet has been dogged by reliability issues and has not been tasked with a single mission this year. Figures from the Department of Defence show 617,700 was spent on private jets last year with further expenditure of 269,461 in the first four months of this year. The most expensive flight came with a 158,000 bill as it took Tanaiste Micheal Martin from Dublin to Cairo and Tel Aviv last November for talks over Irish citizens in Gaza. However, that bill may yet be outdone by another charter flight from April when Mr Martin flew to Cairo, El Arish, and Amman as the department are still awaiting [an] invoice for that trip. The Department of Defence said that private planes had been leased on 15 separate occasions since the beginning of last year, all for trips involving either the Taoiseach or the Tanaiste. The expenditure began last May when a jet was hired at a cost of 72,000 to bring then-taoiseach Leo Varadkar to Chisinau in Moldova on an overnight trip for a meeting of EU leaders. Former taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Photo: Gerry Mooney In October, an aircraft was again chartered to take Mr Varadkar to Brussels, also for a single night, with the bill coming to 48,000. A sum of 24,700 was spent on a jet to bring the former Taoiseach to Copenhagen in November last year before a 46,249 trip to Brussels in December of last year. The bill for Mr Varadkars trip to Pristina, Podgorica, and Skopje in the Balkans in January this year came to 108,864 according to details released by the Department of Defence under Freedom of Information laws. A further 59,108 was spent in late January for an overnight trip to Zurich for the Taoiseach and 45,674 for another journey to Brussels later that month. Further bills included 70,743 for a trip to Munich in February, 97,383 for a charter to Brussels in March, and 87,576 for a jet to fly to Brussels and Warsaw in April of this year. Costs for the trips varied widely depending on what aircraft was used, with higher per hour bills when a larger delegation needed to travel abroad on official duties. In addition, some of the trips were paid for through the purchase of pre-paid flight hours meaning costs incurred last year may have been used for journeys that took place this year. The use of charter aircraft has become a regular cost because the Governments Learjet that would normally be used is no longer considered reliable. On at least three occasions, senior politicians have ended up stranded at airports abroad after the jet developed technical issues during ministerial air transport missions. The situation came to a head last December when Simon Harris, who was then Further and Higher Education Minister, arrived at Baldonnel Airport and boarded the Learjet, only to be told the 8m aircraft had suffered yet another fault, causing him to miss an important meeting in Belgium. In emails written in the aftermath of the fiasco, the secretary general of the Department of Defence Jacqui McCrum said that all confidence in the Lear is gone and the aeroplane has not been used this year. Instead, the department has been hiring charters for the Taoiseach and Tanaiste and on occasion using a smaller PC-12 aircraft for travel. The PC-12 has been tasked with four missions since the beginning of this year, with flights to Brussels, Munich, Luxembourg, and London, according to a log published to the departments website. The Government has already gone out to tender for a new 45m aircraft to replace the ailing Learjet, but military sources said that process was likely to be lengthy. In tender documents, the Department of Defence has said they are looking for an aircraft with no less than 10 seats, a range of more than 4,500 miles for trans-Atlantic travel, and the capability of being retrofitted with defensive aids if that was ever required. Asked about the costs incurred on leasing private planes, the Department of Defence said they had no further comment to make. Poet, writer and academic Gerald Dawe, who has died at the age of 72, had 13 collections of his poetry published and was a fellow emeritus and former professor of English at Trinity College Dublin. He was born in north Belfast on April 22, 1952, and in his memoir A City Imagined: Belfast Soulscapes, published by Merrion Press in 2021, he recalled: When I was in my mid-60s, I came to the realisation that the stories handed down to me by my mother as a young lad in the 1950s in Belfast made me want to write. The area he grew up in was unusually diverse for north Belfast. The woman next door was from Austria and had fallen in love with a Northern Irish soldier at the end of World War II; the family in the next house was Catholic, unlike his own, and Dawe spent a great deal of time with them. He also became friendly with Jewish families who lived nearby. However, the relaxed atmosphere was undermined with the outbreak of the Troubles and the district he grew up in became one of the most bitter interface areas of sectarian conflict. He attended Orangefield Boys Secondary School in east Belfast where he got involved in the Lyric Youth Theatre under actor, director and playwright Sam McCready (1936-2019) and also started to write poems. He moved on to what was then the New University of Ulster at Coleraine, Co Derry, where he studied English under the literary critic and novelist Walter Allen (1911-1995) and became involved in a group of poets and writers known as the Coleraine Cluster. Following graduation, he worked briefly as a librarian in Belfast before moving to University College Galway, as it was then known, where he completed a thesis on the 19th-century novelist and short-story writer from Co Tyrone, William Carleton (1794-1869). He also lectured in the Department of English. His passing represents a very significant and special loss to Irish poetry In Galway he met Dorothea Melvin who he later married and they lived in the city with their two children, Iarla and Olwen. He was appointed lecturer in English at Trinity College Dublin in 1988 and commuted from Galway until 1992, when the family moved to Dun Laoghaire. He was later appointed a fellow of TCD, professor of English and inaugural director of the Oscar Wilde Centre for Irish Writing. He retired from Trinity in 2017. He also held visiting professorships in the US at Boston College and Villanova University and received International Writers Fellowships from the Hawthornden Foundation in the UK and the Ledig Roholt Foundation in Switzerland. Dawe lived in Dun Laoghaire with Dorothea, who was chairperson of the think-tank Encounter, director of the cultural resource body Cultures of Ireland and head of public affairs at the Abbey Theatre during the late 1990s. Last October it was announced that Dawe would be the 28th recipient of the Lawrence OShaughnessy Award for Poetry which was accepted on his behalf by fellow-poet Iggy McGovern at the University of St Thomas in Minnesota last month. Dawe died at home in the care of his family in Dun Laoghaire after a long illness, on May 29, just over a month past his 72nd birthday. A celebration of his life took place in the National Maritime Museum of Ireland, Dun Laoghaire, last Thursday, where the celebrant was the Buddhist priest Reverend Myozan Ian Kilroy. I know that everybody here today will miss him terribly The attendance included President Michael D Higgins, who had previously said: His passing represents a very significant and special loss to Irish poetry and to all those who love poems. Warmly recalling their days as staff members at what was then UCG, the President said: We were fellow activists in politics in times of hope, occasional advance and disappointment. Speaking at the celebration, writer and professor of English Eve Patten said: Geralds death has undone so many of us and I know that everybody here today will miss him terribly. She expressed thanks to him from his other family at TCD, not only close friends and colleagues but also the hundreds upon hundreds of students who were fortunate enough to work with him. The long list of those paying tribute in words and music included poets Eilean Ni Chuilleanain and Gerard Smyth, actress and former TCD student Cathy Belton and Dawes daughter, Olwen, who said: Even after his cancer diagnosis in the run up to the pandemic he continued to write, publish and create. Teachers and academics have questioned the future impacts of dumbed-down school curriculums and how changes are made to Leaving and Junior Cert subjects. A senior UCD lecturer said issues flagged by science teachers before Leaving Cert biology, chemistry and physics changes were made show the agricultural science curriculum introduced five years ago must be revisited. Concerns were also raised about geography teaching being hampered by a new Leaving Cert subject, climate action and sustainable development, raising questions about how school curriculums are designed. The National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) proposed changes in biology, chemistry and physics as part of a plan which would see students conduct research investigations worth 40pc of their final grade from September 2025. These are at the centre of a row with the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (Asti) amid claims the NCCA did not share public consultation documents with council committees examining the new subject specifications. This weekend, the Institute of Physics (IOP), the professional body for physicists in Ireland and the UK, said it is concerned proposed Leaving Cert changes could significantly increase the workload of our already-stretched physics teachers. IOP chief executive Tom Grinyer said open and transparent debate was needed to ensure teachers and schools get the support they will need to implement any finalised proposals. Professor Geraldine Mooney Simmie, the director of the National Centre for STEM education at the University of Limerick (UL), EPI*STEM, said it would seem fair and transparent for the NCCA committees to have access to submissions. She said EPI*STEM submissions for each science subject were made on the basis they were contributing to all concerned parties including relevant NCCA committees. The Irish Science Teachers Association (ISTA) said it was hugely disappointing its submission wasnt shared widely with NCCA groups. The sharing of the consultation feedback seems to have been minimal and I know, for certain, that the ISTA report was not shared with individual members of the groups, ISTA chair Humphrey Jones said. Geography researchers expressed concern about how the climate action and sustainable development subject was being introduced UCD dean of agriculture Professor Frank Monohan has written to Education Minister Norma Foley highlighting that ISTAs 200-page submission on biology, chemistry and physics referred to problems with the agricultural science curriculum at least 16 times. It is clear from the report that many of the teachers of agricultural science also teach other science subjects and have genuine fears that the problems encountered in agricultural science will also be encountered in the teaching of biology, physics and chemistry, Prof Monohan told Ms Foley. In a separate letter sent to Ms Foley and the NCCA in April, 60 geography researchers expressed concern about how the climate action and sustainable development subject was being introduced. They pointed to its duplication of geography content and called for geography to be reintroduced as a core junior cycle subject. The NCCA said redevelopment of a Leaving Cert geography course is under way for introduction in 2026. A new agricultural science curriculum is also expected to be introduced then, with work on it beginning in September. Science teachers have also raised concerns about junior cycle syllabi. John Conneely, a science teacher in Co Galway who is a member of the Astis central executive council and sits on the NCCAs physics subject development group, recently told officials at UL he was concerned about junior cycle syllabi that are dumbed-down and lack academic challenge. He said the poor quality junior cycle and senior cycle syllabi being published by the NCCA concerned teachers. Mr Conneelys letter complained about a perceived conflict of interest between the NCCA and UL academics appointed by the council to assess Junior Cert curriculum changes. This was the subject of a separate row between the NCCA and Asti over contributions members of ULs team made to other council projects. UL said it was confident of the integrity of the team and rejects suggestions of any conflicts of interest. The NCCA said it was completely satisfied with the independence of the research team. A spokesman for the NCCA said the councils advice on curriculums and assessments is based on extensive research and discussion with other key stakeholders. Feedback is used to monitor the effectiveness of finalised curriculums. Arriving at consensus can, inevitably and understandably, mean that some members may be disappointed that their particular viewpoint was not incorporated more fully into the curriculum. It is our overall experience, however, that the partnership model involving many different organisations and perspectives, works well and leads to high quality curriculum specifications, he added. The Department of Education said it is satisfied the NCCA has well-established procedures supporting the development of new subject specifications. This is important because all Leaving Cert subjects are to be revised by 2029. A department spokesman said a range of educational expertise and perspectives in the NCCAs work is enhanced by extensive consultations with external stakeholders. One doctor said no one feels fulfilled at work. Photo: Getty We dont really believe in sick leave around here,' one junior doctor was told. Photo: Getty Hospital doctors have described how they are being failed by the Irish health system in a new study which captures their frustration and helplessness in their own words. A total of 28 doctors took part in the research 13 consultants, 14 junior doctors (or non-consultant hospital doctors) and one specialist. The clinicians, who had their anonymity protected in the paper, spoke of feeling exhausted, out of their depth and unsupported by the existing hospital hierarchy. Among the junior doctors, some reported a culture of feeling unable to speak out or raise a concern about crippling workloads. I never knew when I would finish work. I never knew if I would get lunch. I never knew if I could go to the toilet, said a psychiatric doctor. Its a huge problem in the HSE nobody is managing the consultants In the research into the 20 female and eight male doctors, published this month in Qualitative Research in Health, a radiology doctor said simply: There arent enough of us. That is the fundamental frustration. The study was carried out in 2021, as part of a wider research project on the retention and working conditions of hospital doctors in Ireland from 2017 to 2023. It found some doctors felt unable to voice concerns about their workload. I was told: Youre either full-on able to do all these illegal working hours, or were not signing you off your internship or your training, said one doctor working in psychiatry. A radiology doctor had a similar sentiment. Anyone who threatens to break rank and disrupt this hierarchy is quickly ostracised. One doctor said no one feels fulfilled at work. Photo: Getty One doctor working in obstetrics and gynaecology described a scene in their first week as an intern when the non-consultant hospital doctors (NCHDs) were given a speech by their superior. The consultant brought all the NCHDs into the room and said: Sick leave, we dont really believe in that around here. An internal medicine doctor reported how departments are supposed to have five or six consultants but have two. And if youre sent there, theres no way you can provide any level of competent service. Consultants mostly arent really teaching we were left to it on the wards A doctor working in emergency medicine said there was never enough time to get anything done, because of the sheer volume of patients and lack of staff. The study, which was funded by the Irish Health Research Board, observed there was a sense that those who should be supporting junior hospital doctors had in fact made things more difficult for them in some instances. There was a call for staffing after I did two 24-hour shifts in a weekend, with HR emailing me to see if I was available to do cover, said one hospital doctor working in surgery. Another working in psychiatry said consultants actively contribute to our workload. They do not monitor to ensure we are not overworked or stretched beyond clinical limitations. The study said the shortfall in the level of care the hospital doctors wanted to deliver and were expected to provide was a source of significant stress and distress to both junior and senior clinicians. They expect us to provide a level of care which simply isnt possible, said a surgical doctor. Another clinician working in A&E said it was impossible not to absorb all the misery of unmet need and then not bring it home. Some junior doctors reported feeling unsupported. I am carrying too much responsibility at the moment I had a good consultant last year so it was different, I felt I could ring them But at the moment I am way out of my depth, said a junior doctor working in psychiatry. Another young doctor in psychiatry described being left alone to face a review after their first mortality. I had my first RIP [mortality] internal review about two weeks ago there was no consultant with me in that internal review, said the doctor. Another junior doctor noted a lack of support from senior doctors. Consultants mostly arent really teaching we were left to it on the wards. Its unsafe and deeply stressful. Dr Niamh Humphries, a senior lecturer at the RCSIs Graduate School of Healthcare Management, who carried out the research, said the findings once again demonstrated the importance of listening to frontline health workers. If we want to build a stronger or a better health system in Ireland now or in the future, we need to pay attention to their working conditions. We must ensure that the health system is adequately staffed and that health workers are adequately supported while at work. Health worker wellbeing is critical to health worker retention. Put simply, if we want them to care for us, we need to care for them. The researchers pointed out that junior hospital doctors were early career doctors on precarious short-term contracts of three- to 12-months in duration. Respondents feared that raising a complaint would see them labelled a troublemaker, which would impede their medical career progression in terms of access to training and in terms of their ability to secure their next hospital post, noted the study. The study also touched on the lack of employment-related support available to consultants, once they are appointed to their role. One doctor felt consultants are very badly prepared to be leaders and to be managers. He added little work-related support or supervision continued beyond the appointment as a consultant. I think its a huge problem in the HSE nobody is managing the consultants. Nobody is asking: Are you achieving your goals? What are your goals? Are you happy at work? I was miserable, absolutely miserable at work, and I felt completely under-fulfilled. And I couldnt really work out why. The study concluded that the findings demonstrate the myriad ways in which Ireland is failing to meet the core work needs of its hospital doctors. This status quo is unsustainable: firstly, because of how damaging these working conditions are to Irelands hospital doctors and secondly, because challenging working conditions continue to drive large-scale doctor emigration, it warned. He answers criticisms of his recent trip to Tehran Bobby Sands Street in downtown Tehran wasnt much to look at but it was still important for Tadhg Hickey to see it during his recent visit to Iran, the comedian says. He was in the Iranian capital last week to speak on a festival panel about his solidarity with the Palestinians and for many this dusty avenue represents a potent symbol of resistance. How did people do such cruel things to other human beings in the name of the IRA or UVF? Believe it or not, a man I got to know shortly after coming to Dublin confessed that he had once gone to Belfast and opened fire on a group of people waiting for a bus. I often wonder why he decided to tell me. Perhaps he had just made it up and was trying to impress me, or shock me, as I was in my teens at the time, having just arrived from Co Antrim to pursue my career in journalism. If, however, it was true and I felt it was could it be that having nursed the terrible secret for many years, he felt better getting it off his chest? Perhaps, but I dont think he was having a twinge of conscience. It has been my experience since then that people who commit wanton acts of violence seldom, if ever, express regret. During the Troubles I covered many cases in the Special Criminal Court in Dublin, including the trials of those accused of killing Senator Billy Fox, Lord Mountbatten, Detective Garda Seamus Quaid, Detective Garda John Morley, Garda Henry Byrne, and Sergeant Patrick Morrissey to name but a few. I remember some of the accused throwing a handful of coins at the judges to show their contempt for the non-jury court. And even when they were found guilty they never expressed remorse for the terrible things they had done. Following the murder of Sgt Morrissey I watched gardai chasing his killers through the cornfields of Co Louth. The sergeant, who was unarmed, had followed two men after they robbed the Labour Exchange in Ardee. However, he was shot in the leg and when he was on his knees one of the raiders shot him in the eye at point-blank range. I described it at the time as an execution. How anyone could do such a thing was beyond my comprehension. Sgt Patrick Morrissey was shot dead Some of these things were also beyond the comprehension of kidnap victim John OGrady. Following the trial of Dessie OHare for the kidnapping, John and I served on judging panels for awards in the security industry and I got to know him quite well. At one of those functions he asked me out of the blue, in an almost innocent kind of way, what paramilitaries were like. It was a strange question coming from a man who had looked his kidnapper in the eye as he chopped his two small fingers off at the knuckle with a chisel. It was almost as if he was trying to look into the minds of such people, trying to understand how they could do such cruel things to other human beings while claiming to be members of the IRA or INLA fighting for a united Ireland. Carnage was caused by car bombs on both sides of the conflict, but even when it was on the scale of the Dublin-Monaghan and Omagh bombings, and included mothers and their unborn babies, few if any of the perpetrators ever had the courage to step forward, admit responsibility and say they were sorry. One particular car bombing I covered early on in the Troubles could have caused multiple casualties. However, it claimed the life of just one person and I will never forget it as she was a young woman who had reached a very special moment in her life. Instead of being married, Kathleen was buried in her wedding dress It took place on December 14, 1972, in the village of Killeter in Co Tyrone, not far from the border with Co Donegal. Nineteen-year-old Kathleen Dolan left the family pub to post her wedding invitations in the post box across the street unaware that a car bomb had been left outside the door of the pub. As her sister Siobhan later recalled, My three younger brothers and I were in a bedroom upstairs. I will never forget how, as we prayed together, a loud bang ripped through the room. We pulled the bed clothes over our heads and then there was another unmerciful explosion. Little did they know the car bomb had exploded just as Kathleen was coming back across the street, killing her instantly. Instead of being married, Kathleen was buried in her wedding dress. The bomb was believed to have been detonated by the UVF in retaliation for the killing of an off-duty UDR man in the village earlier that month. Whoever was responsible, I doubt if they ever shed a tear for Kathleen or her family. The UDR man was 27-year-old William Bogle. He was waiting in his car outside the post office with his three young children while his wife was shopping nearby. I was so dumbfounded I couldnt reply Interviewed about that terrible day, his son Gary only two-and-a-half at the time of the incident said that, according to his mother, their father got out of the car when he saw the gunmen approaching. He drew the focus away from us, said Gary but sadly lost his life in doing so. I doubt if the IRA killers ever shed a tear for him or his family either. What then of the man who confessed to me that he had shot at people in Belfast? When I came to work in Dublin, he was among those who extended the hand of friendship to me. In his mid-50s, he was a deep thinker and confided in me that he hoped one day to write a book. It must be said that quite a few people I got to know had what was known as a book under the bed, in other words one they planned to write but never got around to doing so. In any event, he invited me to go fishing with him and when the day came, we went to a small river in Co Meath. I had no experience of fishing, so he cast my line into the river for me. Like many other men of that generation he smoked a pipe, and while he sat on the bank and lit up, I lay down and began reading Ulysses. It was then he said to himself as much as to me that he had once gone to Belfast and opened fire into a group of people queueing for a bus. I was so dumbfounded I couldnt reply. Then he wondered, again in an abstract kind of way, what had happened to them. I assumed he was wondering if he had killed or seriously injured any of them. But he said no more. To this day I wonder if what he said was true, and if so, where and when it might have occurred. Somehow, I dont think it would have been during the IRA Border campaign of the 1950s, or their campaign in Belfast in the 1940s. However, sectarian violence claimed many lives in Belfast between 1920 and 1922, during the War of Independence. My fishing companion would have been 18 to 20 at that time. Could he have done it then? I could have asked him, of course, but naive as I was, the moment passed, and I didnt. And I never went fishing with him again. Tom McCaughren was security correspondent with RTE for 22 years News / National by Staff reporter Three Zimbabweans suspected of being in South Africa illegally appeared in court on Friday facing charges including murder, robbery, contravention of the Immigration Act, and possession of unlicensed firearms.Elvis Makovere (32), Amos Ngwenya (35), and Samson Mpofu (55) were remanded in custody pending legal representation after their arrest in an intelligence-led operation.The arrest followed information about a murder in Lephalale on June 3, 2024.The suspects were found in possession of firearms, including an Uzi submachine gun and a 9-mm Glock. The provincial police commissioner commended the team for their thorough investigation.This incident adds to previous cases involving Zimbabweans in South Africa, such as the recent conviction of individuals for theft of a railway line. Families urge HSE to take over insolvent facility permanently as unpublished report flags serious concerns Dublin nursing home residents step up campaign to save it from closure An unpublished report by inspectors for regulator Hiqa has highlighted their serious concerns regarding Lucan Lodge Nursing Home as its private operators ran into financial difficulties. They found only two nurses on night duty to care for up to 70 residents over three floors, according to their draft report. A director had to intervene to ensure supplies that were due to be delivered arrived at the West Dublin home. Operated by Passage Healthcare International, it was placed into provisional liquidation last week. The elderly residents are at risk of having to move if no buyer emerges and the HSE, now running the home on a temporary basis, declines to take it over permanently. Residents and their families are calling on the HSE to take over the nursing, rather than wait for another private operator to step in. The High Court heard that issues were primarily caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic Passage Healthcare originally operated two nursing homes in Dublin, Lucan Lodge and the smaller 41-bed Sally Park Nursing Home in Firhouse. The High Court heard that issues were primarily caused by the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic which lowered occupancy rates and increased costs. The owners have placed Lucan Lodge in provisional liquidation. Sally Park Nursing Home was closed in February and the company embarked on a process of examinership aimed at finding a rescue plan to allow Lucan Lodge to continue to trade. The required investment never materialised and Passage Healthcare asked Hiqa to cancel its registration for Lucan Lodge last month, forcing the HSE to take over. Provisional liquidators were appointed by the High Court on Wednesday because the company was insolvent and unable to pay its debts. The nursing home had a history of repeated non-compliance with some Hiqa regulations. It was inspected in September last year and was visited again by inspectors on February 29, just days after its owners had placed the company into examinership. According to the draft inspection report, the nursing home had committed to ensuring three nurses were on night duty but rosters showed this had happened only three times in 24 days. Inspectors observed that some residents were left in tilted positions in comfort chairs for a long period of time. A directory of residents was incomplete. Two incidents when residents required medical attention were not notified to the chief inspector. No care plan had been put in place to inform and guide staff about a resident who had absconded from the nursing home three days earlier, the draft report said. Items in a safe were found to belong to residents who had died, and no documentation to record efforts to contact the deceased residents estate. They were concerned about the operators ability to provide a safe and quality service Inspectors were told fire safety works they hoped would be completed in February will not be completed until September. Overall inspectors found management had to implement significant and sustained improvement if Lucan Lodge was to comply with national standards. They were concerned about the operators ability to provide a safe and quality service for residents. The nursing providers had responded to each of the non-compliances, including ongoing attempts to address fire safety issues, before it asked Hiqa to cancel its registration last month. Advocacy group Care Champions, which is supporting residents and families, said this weekend that as the State put the for profit nursing home model in place it must now step in to fix the problem. Residents, families and staff are pleading for the HSE to take immediate control of the nursing homes operations, said spokesperson Maria Stynes. While outsourcing care was a government policy, residents shouldnt suffer for business failures. The government must step in to protect residents rights and choices. Relocation poses a serious risk of transfer trauma, a significant human rights concern. A swift resolution is essential for these vulnerable residents. Hiqa said the inspection report from February 29 was a draft that was being finalised and it cannot comment on the contents of reports which have not been finalised. The regulator was continuing to monitor the centre to ensure the quality and safety of care for residents. A statement from the HSE said it was very conscious of the speed of this change and the urgency with which the HSE was required to take charge and acknowledge that this is a concern for residents, families and staff. It was currently assessing the nursing home and is engaging with all relevant parties to explore all options. Franz Kafka was born in Prague in July 1883 and died in Klosterneuberg, Austria, in June 1924. Photo: Getty Street named in honour of author Franz Kafka in the old town of Prague. Photo: Getty For much of his working life, writer Franz Kafka was what we would call a health and safety inspector these days, working in the government-sponsored Workers Accident Insurance Institution. That job, then as now, was viewed with suspicion and hostility by many employers and even some workers. Kafka spent long evenings writing, but published only fragments in his lifetime. Yet his posthumously published writings have proved a major influence on many literary giants, including Albert Camus and Samuel Beckett, and he gave the English language the word Kafkaesque, which evokes an enigmatic and nightmarish reality. Kafka was born a citizen of the Austrian empire in Prague in 1883, and became a citizen of the newly created Czechoslovakia in 1918. But ethnically he was throughout his short and often unhappy life a German-speaking Jew and an outsider. His life story covers a huge swathe of European culture. It also leads us wistfully to learn of the Nazis ironic role in destroying the German language in many other parts of Europe. The Kafka story brings us onwards to the untold story of the post-1945 dispersal of 14 million German speakers by brute force expulsions or coercion. This was one of the largest displacements of people in all of history, but is little known outside of Germany, where many families had direct experience of its consequences and keep a strong memory of it to this day. All these issues resurface as we contemplate the centennial of Kafkas death in June 1924. Happily, his fellow Czech Jewish writer, Max Brod, did not fulfil his friends dying wish that the bulk of his writings and papers be burned. Franz Kafka was born in Prague in July 1883 and died in Klosterneuberg, Austria, in June 1924. Photo: Getty Brod was a prolific music composer, writer and journalist in his own right. However, the world owes him a special debt for ensuring Kafkas three celebrated novels, The Trial (1925), The Castle (1926) and Amerika (1927), were published first in German and later translated into English and other languages throughout the 1930s. These writings reflect the experience of a Jew in a Gentiles world and presage the horrors of the Holocaust, in which Kafkas three sisters were murdered. The political climate that spawned Nazism was prevalent in the 1920s and Kafka was always an outsider. Yet the Prague that Kafka knew, and its wonderful cafe culture, is described as something extra-special When he studied law at Charles University in Prague, the college was already divided into Czech and German-speaking sections. Earlier, at his German-language secondary school, most of his fellow pupils were Jewish in a land that was overwhelmingly Christian. Ethnic Germans had been in what became Czechoslovakia since the 14th century, arriving by invitation of local monarchs fighting the Mongol invaders. But by 1918, the once-dominant German language was in retreat, with all street signs in Czech only and only 5pc of German-speaking inhabitants. Yet the Prague that Kafka knew, and its wonderful cafe culture, is described as something extra-special by professor of German, Karen Leeder, of Oxford University. She evokes a melting pot of Czech, German, Jewish and Yiddish language influences. Kafkas family home in Prague is the setting for his celebrated novella, Metamorphosis, in which the protagonist awakes to find himself transformed into a giant insect. This is a tale of alienation, identity and the struggle for survival. The Nazis further diminished the German language and culture, which they allegedly championed, by deporting and murdering large numbers of Jews, many of whom were German speakers, from many parts of central Europe. Revenge after 1945 for the Nazis murderous cruelty saw many German speakers from neighbouring countries being dumped on a much reduced and ruined post-war Germany, causing more untold suffering to ordinary people. Reading about Kafka leads us to those overlooked tales from history. We learn, without much surprise, of the opposition he met in his day job of trying to improve safety standards at work and reduce accident insurance claims. US president Joe Biden prepares to deliver a speech at Pointe du Hoc, near Le Bavent, France, during commemorations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Photo: Getty Washington DC partisans went to their predictable corners after the Wall Street Journal published a 3,000-word article investigating the mental fitness of US president Joe Biden. Conservatives, understandably, argued that it confirmed their prejudices around the presidents occasionally strange behaviour. Liberal allies disagreed. Within hours, the White House sent out nine responses blasting the piece as a complete and utter editorial fail. MSNBC host Joe Scarborough dismissed the slipping thesis as a Trump hit job. The same thing happened just two months ago, after special counsel Robert Hurs report uncovered evidence that President Biden wilfully retained and disclosed classified materialwhen he was a private citizen. But Hur declined to recommend prosecution, reasoning that at trial, Mr Biden would likely present himself to a jury, as he did during our interview of him, as a sympathetic, well-meaning, elderly man with a poor memory. Biden was so sensitive to the Hur criticism that he invoked executive privilege to block release of the audio recordings of Hurs interview with him, insisting that to protect his privacy a transcript must suffice. But the White House has now been forced to concede in a court filing seeking to block release of the audio that the Hur transcript was doctored. Repeated words and filler words such as um were often omitted. Even with that, the transcript shows Biden saying, for example, and, and more than 20 times. Arent the American people voting this November owed more information? One thing we know for sure: theres a long history of presidential aides lying about their bosses health. To paraphrase Winston Churchill, a leaders inner circle believes he is so precious that he must be protected by a bodyguard of lies. Woodrow Wilson, after his stroke in 1919, had his wife practically running the government behind the scenes for a year and a half. On any given day in office, John F Kennedy was using up to 12 painkillers and medications that brought on myriad side effects. His Addisons Disease was carefully hidden from the public and some doctors believe he wouldnt have survived a second term if he hadnt been assassinated. But the most egregious cover-up involved Franklin D Roosevelt (FDR) hiding the fact he was dying from the public in the election year of 1944. The year began in January with naval doctor Ross MacIntire, the presidents personal physician for 12 years, telling reporters that FDRs health was the best it had been since he started examining him. Several days later, Dr. MacIntire was promoted to rear admiral. In March, MacIntire diagnosed FDR with acute congestive heart failure, and In July told him he probably wouldnt finish a fourth term if he won it. A day later, Roosevelt announced he would run for re-election. In September, MacIntire assured the press that FDR had absolutely no organic difficulties at all. With such assurances and a few carefully staged appearances, Roosevelt won. In January 1945 a dying, drugged-up FDR left for a summit with Joseph Stalin and Winston Churchill in Yalta. In a letter, Roosevelt described his negotiating strategy to his friend William Bullitt: I think if I give (Stalin) everything I possibly can and ask nothing from him in return he will not try to annex anything and will work with me for a world of democracy and peace. We know how that turned out Stalin reneged on all his commitments and 120 million Eastern Europeans were condemned to live under communism for over 40 years. World War II historian Lynne Olson, writing in the New York Times, concludes that Roosevelts cover-up of his failing health in the 1944 campaign was an egregious deception of American voters and helped contribute to a climate of cynicism about politicians. The way to avoid deepening that cynicism is to learn from history and not take spoon-fed assurances from the Biden White House at face value. In February, the president completed his annual physical exam and Kevin OConnor, his personal physician, issued a one-page summary declaring him physically fit for duty. But, tellingly, he declined to answer any questions from reporters. White House press secretary Karine Jean Pierre admitted that no cognitive exam had been given: He passes a cognitive test every day, she claimed. Given the evidence that Biden isnt the man he used to be, that kind of brushoff is insulting. The president should have been given a cognitive test, and in any event his physical is now nearly four months old. Instead of a partisan tit-for-tat debate over whether Biden is the same as he was four years ago, the least the American people deserve is that President Biden take a serous cognitive test supervised by independent medical authorities. A failure to take the evidence seriously risks not only a collapse of trust in the White House that will affect future presidents, but the spectre of crises in a second Biden term. Children are now reading fewer books than ever, but its hardly their fault Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, the final volume of JK Rowlings childrens book series about the boy wizard, was released on July 21, 2007. Thousands of children queued at midnight to get their hands on a copy. It entered the Guinness World Records for the most copies of a novel sold within the first 24 hours, with sales of more than 10 million in the US and UK alone. Sir The uncomfortable scenes from Mayo last weekend of our Taoiseach being chased and jostled down the pathways wasnt a good look. Simon Harris had quickness of feet reminiscent of a referee trying his best to escape the clutches of not-so-enthusiastic GAA supporters. Joking aside, we are not far away from a serious incident involving one of our political representatives. Democracy needs protection. While the Burke family may not have intended any harm, the commotion caused could have resulted in an accident of sorts. Sean Burke was asking questions about his sons incarceration in jail and questions are valid to ask but it seems the Burke family are not that good at listening to other peoples voices, from our judiciary down to the least of Gods brethren. Aidan Roddy, Cabinteely, Dublin 18 What has changed for trans people? Sir Trans people have always existed, but are now facing a hostile environment, says Bernie Linnane (Letters, June 2). If this is true, one has to ask what has changed in recent times for trans people to feel such hostility? In order to help trans people overcome this hostility, we need to understand the real issues facing them. It is time for us to listen to the words of trans people and fully understand the meaning of these words. I believe the most important step is to understand what rights trans people have been denied. We can then act as expediently as possible to get these rights reinstated. How can we, as a society, help this minority when we do not know what rights are being denied? What is it that they can no longer do? What has changed recently that would cause people to feel hostility towards trans people? It cant be trans women entering single-sex spaces or female-only sports. Nor can it be the erosion of sex-based language, or the medicalisation of gender-questioning children. It has to be something else, and we owe it to all trans people to look within ourselves to find the answer. Kate Flannery, Limerick These men should let women be women Sir A luxury belief has been described as an idea that confers social status on people who hold it, but injures others in its practical consequences. Bernie Linnanes assertion that the existence of trans women does not disturb our existence is an excellent example of a luxury belief. This may be true for Ms Linnane, but many other women might disagree. Women and girls now cannot be sure they wont encounter a man who says he is a woman in toilets, changing rooms, hostel dormitories, rape crisis services and other situations where they are vulnerable. What about the women forced to share domestic violence refuges or prison cells with violent men, even convicted sex offenders, who say they are women? Or disabled, elderly or sick women needing intimate treatment who want same-sex care, but are assigned a man who says he is a woman? Or women and girls who lose prizes in sport and are put in physical danger on pitches from men who say they are women? Or lesbians who are told they are bigots if they wont date men who say they are women? (Yes, all of this is happening.) If being concerned about any of the above constitutes being obsessed with denying the rights of trans women, then it demonstrates how trans rights are in conflict with womens rights. Quite what trans rights are is never properly explained. We cant redefine women to include men and pretend there is no impact. If these men just want to live their lives in peace, how about they just let us women be? E Bolger, Dublin 9 Keep them coming, Tom, youre a tonic Sir I always enjoy Tom Gilsenans amusing letters in your paper. They are a breath of fresh air. Keep up the writing, Tom. Angela Hayes, Bennettsbridge, Co Kilkenny Trump or Biden? The US has a bleak choice Sir Donald Trump has continually sabotaged the cornerstone values of decency, respect and honesty to the extent that his shenanigans before, during and after his recent criminal convection caused relatively scant revulsion. Regrettably and contemporaneously, the sane worlds great hope in the upcoming US presidential election, Joe Biden, doesnt seem to value or indeed recognise the moral high ground. A few weeks ago, we saw the US president offer no evidence-based rebuttal of the International Criminal Court when it applied for arrest warrants for Israeli leaders Benjamin Netanyahu and Yoav Gallant and three Hamas leaders. Instead, Biden opted to criticise the prosecutor and diminish the court, reminiscent of Trumpian loathing and scorn of the justice system and those who uphold it. There are numerous other examples of Bidens iron-clad support for Israel and his shifty rhetoric of empathy with Palestinian people. Voting in the US presidential election on November 5 has all but become a choice of the lesser of two evils. The thunderous wave of this utterly bleak reality is just offshore. Michael Gannon, St Thomass Square, Kilkenny Liberate hearts and minds from racism Sir Watching the D-Day 80th anniversary events, I cant help but be saddened by the fact that large swathes of Europe liberated by brave Allied troops are once again falling under the spell of a toxic racism and xenophobia that seeks to displace democracy and common human decency. A revamped fascist ideology has re-emerged from the shadows and the rubble of a crushing defeat in that most horrific of all wars. In the months following D-Day, the advancing liberators encountered crimes against humanity that left them numb, despite all the horrors they had witnessed on the battlefield. Lets be clear about this: what they found at the camps was the result of racism unchecked. It ought to have been a lesson to us all that humankind could not possibly forget. But the passage of time has eroded the searing truth that the Nazi camps taught us. Weve all seen it in documentaries, or re-enacted in movies such as Schindlers List, and we still have those precious survivors of that dark time to attest that it really did happen. Conspiracy theorists cant silence the witnesses, yet it seems that hatred of our fellow human beings because of their skin colour or ethnicity is still with us. Worse still, it is thriving in certain districts and communities, though it never calls itself publicly what it is. We need another D-Day this time a large-scale peaceful offensive to liberate hearts and minds from the tyranny of racism. John Fitzgerald, Callan, Co Kilkenny Biddys back, and with John B to boot Sir It was with great joy that I opened last weeks Sunday Independent to find the wonderful Brighid McLaughlin had returned. Her witty warblings made my day. John B was beautifully captured, as always, with a warm, humorous slant unique to McLaughlin. Welcome back, Biddy. Chianna McCormack, Dublin 5 Sir Its nice to see Brighid McLaughlin back in the paper. She is always witty and wise. Susan Bevan, Johns Lane West, Dublin 8 Sacred Heart didnt need clothes of Pride Sir On opening your fine publication on June 2, I was greatly disappointed but not surprised by the image used on the front of Life magazine. The month of June has traditionally been dedicated to the Sacred Heart. Your image, which superimposed the Pride colours on what is a widely recognised representation of the Sacred Heart, was needless. And the really saddening thing is that Ill be cast as the villain because I flagged it. Leo O Seanain, An Droichead Nua, Co Chill Dara Keep politics out of the classrooms Sir In John Boyles letter (Teach your children about a fairer world, May 26) he argues how essential it is to teach children the important work that unions do in fighting for a more just and fairer world. During Covid, many schoolchildren experienced first-hand the work that unions do. The INTO, of which Mr Boyle is secretary general, successfully campaigned for the masking of children and prolonged school closures with little regard for childrens well-being or right to education. Boyle and other teachers are free to engage in political activism outside the classroom setting, among adults where their views may be robustly challenged. Desisting from political activism within the classroom guarantees a fairer world for children. Ann Gillanders, Maynooth, Co Kildare Group is due to report back to Minister Heather Humphreys in autumn It's illegal to own an XL bully in the UK without an exemption certificate. Photo: Getty Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphreys has asked a retired former deputy garda commissioner to prioritise recommendations on dangerous dog breeds, as she pledged to take political action in the wake of a number of canine attacks. In the past week, two separate dog attacks have made headlines. In Limerick, an attack on Tuesday led to the death of 23-year-old Nicole Morey. And in Cork on Thursday evening, an Armed Support Unit of the gardai shot a pitbull terrier after the dog attacked and injured residents. The Department of Rural and Community Development is the lead department in legislating for the control of dogs. The horrific attacks that have taken place illustrate the need for dog control Ms Humphries established a stakeholder group on dog control in response to a number of attacks earlier this year, both on people and livestock. The group is chaired by retired deputy garda commissioner John Twomey. In the aftermath of last weeks attacks, Ms Humphries contacted the chairman to request the group prioritises the issue of restricted breeds. The group will meet again later this month and is due to report back to the minister in autumn, said a spokesman. The spokesman did not respond to a query asking how many times the group has met and when exactly this year it was established. Alongside Mr Twomey, the group has 18 other members, mainly representative bodies from the canine industry including Dogs Trust, the Hunting Association of Ireland, the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Nicole Morey will be buried tomorrow The spokesman for Ms Humphreys department added: The horrific attacks that have taken place further illustrate the need to take action in relation to dog control. He said the minister has already taken a series of actions, including investing 2m in dog warden facilities, launching a public awareness campaign to remind dog owners of their responsibilities, and increasing on-the-spot fines for offences. The dog involved in the fatal attack on Ms Morey in Limerick is believed to be an XL bully. The UK banned the XL bully breed earlier this year, but officials have already received 61,000 applications for exemption certificates. According to her social media, Ms Morey was the owner of what appears to be an XL bully. In one video on TikTok, she is seen dancing with a dog in a kitchen. Her funeral will take place on Monday at the Holy Family Church, Southill, Limerick, at 11am, followed by burial afterwards at the Mount St Oliver Cemetery. Her death notice on RIP.ie said: Very deeply regretted by her mother Lisa, father Patrick, stepparents Joseph and Nicola, brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, grandparents Gerry Morey and Teresa ODonnell, cousins, other relatives and her many friends. Grow Remote, a network of volunteers which run a range of social events for remote and hybrid workers in their local communities is starting a new chapter in Gorey aimed at connecting the 1,179 remote workers in the area and creating a community. The first event will be a brunch and coffee meet-up at the T&T Bakery on Esmonde Street in Gorey at 11a.m. on Saturday, June 15. "We have one in Wexford and Enniscorthy and we're opening one in Gorey because there are over a thousand remote workers in the area. Its a great opportunity to connect and were supporting local businesses as well, said Grow Remote Gorey local leader Kittie Juhasz. Based on census figures, there are a total of 1,179 remote workers out of 5,005 workers in Gorey which is 24 per cent pf workers. In the urban areas of Gorey, there are 361 remote workers out of 1,580 workers. Furthermore, in the rural areas of Gorey, there are 818 remote workers out of 3,425 workers. Kitti is also a remote worker and had been apart of the Wexford meet-ups prior to setting up this new group. A lot of remote workers are new to Gorey and people are moving down here because of the housing crisis in Dublin and its unsustainable to travel back and forth to Dublin. They want to establish themselves here because Gorey is a vibrant town and avoid isolation because it can be quite lonely if someone is not in town, she said. The events will take place monthly at different venues around Gorey and they are also considering meeting for lunch on Fridays at the Hatch Lab. It can be any local event. Some people are interested in dog walks, painting or lunch. It can be an after work social thing or a group activity that brings people together, said Kitti. With remote and hybrid working becoming increasingly popular, it has become more challenging for people to connect with each other in person. The Gorey event aims to bring people together for social connection and to raise awareness of remote working opportunities available in the Gorey area. Kitti said she is very excited to host the first ever social event for remote and hybrid workers in Gorey. Our aim is to help people who may be feeling isolated to connect with others in their community and grow their network. We will also highlight the great remote working opportunities that are available across County Wexford today. "There will be a fun and welcoming atmosphere and the event is open to anyone who wants to learn more about remote working, to connect with other remote or hybrid workers in their area or to find out how they can get involved in the Grow Remote community, said Kitti. This is a free event and a free drink will be provided to all attendees who register. Anyone interested in attending the first event can register on Eventbrite. If you want to join the Grow Remote Gorey chapter contact Kitti Juhasz at kitti.juhasz@gmail.com. A local woman from north Wexford was shocked to be diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis eight years ago after a series of falls which were initially put down to ankle injuries. Bernadette (Ben) Fortune from Ballygarrett was diagnosed with the most aggressive form of Multiple Sclerosis when she was only 35 years old. Now almost 42 years old, she is a wheelchair user under the full-time care of her sister Jenny whom she lives with in Ballygarrett along with their sister and two nieces. After several falls, Ben saw many doctors and was told she had Primary Progressive MS (PPMS). "I had to go private to pay for an MRI in EuroMedics in Dublin and then I got the MRI done and there was nobody to read the results for me so I went up to Vincents Hospital. I got a lot of stuff done like lumbar punctures done to find out what it was, she said. Bens doctor, Professor Niall Tubridy, who is Ryan Tubridys brother, instantly suspected that Ben had PPMS when he inspected her MRI. More tests were carried out which showed lesions on her brain and confirmed her PPMS diagnosis. "Hes very good and straight to the point. He told me straight away that I have MS and as far as he knew I had the worst form of it. It affects the spine and the brain, said Ben. Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a condition that occurs when the immune system attacks the brain and spinal cord. There are three types of MS; relapsing, primary progressive and secondary progressive. Bernadette has Primary Progressive MS which affects about 10 to 15 per cent of people diagnosed with MS. Primary progressive MS (PPMS) is called this because from the first symptoms its progressive. Early symptoms are often subtle, like problems with walking, which develop over time and disability which will gradually increase. Ben began receiving treatment for her condition soon after that and had to travel to Dublin every month to get an infusion called Tysabri. She now receives a different infusion every six months which helps abate the lesions in her spine and brain. Soon after her diagnosis, Ben began using a wheelchair and though she found it to be a big adjustment, what was even more challenging was the lack of accessibility in her local town. We have to plan the whole time where were going to go. Theres no bathrooms or toilets either. It's a major issue. Youd be parking and there's someone up behind you and you cant get out of the car so you have to turn around and go home. Its horrible now, said Ben. Ben has stickers on the back of her wheelchair adapted car which ask that other drivers leave several metres of space between their vehicles, however this is often ignored. Parking, accessing shops, toilets and public transport are among a few of the major challenges she has found around Gorey. There arent enough disabled parking spaces around the town. Parking, steps and letting down ramps, footpaths. The footpaths are too high for people in wheelchairs especially on Esmonde Street and some of the shops will have tables and stuff out on the street in your way as well as polls which can be in the way of opening doors as well. There are no buses in the area of Ballygarrett either and I rely completely on the car, she said Ben. Furthermore, not enough shops in Gorey have wheelchair accessible ramps in place of their steps. Ben is calling on Wexford County Council to implement changes in Gorey Town to make it more accessible to everyone. "A Councillor would want to get into a wheelchair and try to get around Gorey to see what the issues are because there are steps into shops and you're basically looking in like an old dog because you have to sit outside, said Ben. Ben has organised Jive for MS Ireland at 8p.m. in Ballygarrett GAA complex on June 10. All of the funds raised will go towards research for MS. Musicians Stacey Breen and the Hardy Bucks as well as Stephen Bennett and Kelan Browne from further afield will perform on the night. Doors will open at 7.30p.m. and music will start at 8p.m. TD Johnny Mythen, candidate for Ireland South in the European elections, TD Kathleen Funchion, as well as local election candidates; Cllr Fionntan O Suilleabhain and Kevin Molloy were also at the meeting. Following the meeting, Cllr O Suilleabhain stated that its shocking and disgraceful that the local community and St Aidans management have had to devote so much of their energy to address these funding issues for what is an essential service for those with additional needs. "These are issues that we will continue to fight for until they're resolved. After 11 years, the 300+ service users and families and the 150 staff deserve nothing less, said Cllr O Suilleabhain. St. Aidans Day Care Centre supports people with a wide range of learning and associated disabilities to live a full life as an equal citizen. The organisation has a Service Level Agreement with the Health Service Executive and provides supports and services to adults and children with an intellectual disability. Cllr O Suilleabhain went on to say that the party in Leinster House has been raising the long-running issues of the annual shortfall in funding of approximately one million euro, as well as the issue of pay scale inequality for Section 39 staff. "This as well as the government's shortfall in funding to St. Aidans are issues that were at the heart of last year's crisis at the centre which saw respite services cut for a number of months. "Respite is a lifeline for families. We urgently need a system of multi-annual funding so that they can plan for the future. Current government policy makes it virtually impossible for them to do so, he said. Mark with his partner Emma and his parents presenting the cheque to Pat Whelehan rep for the Irish Cancer Society and Dr Sue Mung, Consultant Haematologist and the staff from St Vincents Ward, Mater Hospital Dublin. Duncannon man Mark Molloy was overwhelmed by the level of support he got from the community for his 6.5km walk and run in aid of for the Mater Hospital Foundation where he received such excellent care when he was being treated for Leukaemia and The Irish Cancer Society. Mark (36) was diagnosed with Leukaemia in May 2022 and spent almost a year in the Mater Hospital undergoing intensive medical treatment. Mark made a donation of donated 28,433 to the Irish Cancer Society and St Vincents Ward, Mater Hospital Dublin. "A huge thank you to all who donated to my GoFundMe page and to my Fun Run/Walk events, said Mark. The support for the fundraiser was overwhelming, and thanks to the generosity of all who was raised for The Mater Hospital Foundation and the Irish Cancer Society. A special thanks to all who assisted me with my fundraising activities, especially Trim GAA, Marcies Trim, St James GAA, and Hook Tourism, who helped organise and support the fundraising events. Most of all, I am really grateful to all of you who gave so generously to these two deserving charities' News / National by Staff reporter The South African National Assembly cannot form a quorum if Jacob Zuma's uMkhonto weSizwe chooses to boycott the first day of Parliament.Many so-called legal experts like Casac's Lawson Naidoo have been caught pants down in interpreting the law.The Parliamentary handbook is clear, the National Assembly must consist of between 350 and 400 members, elected every five years by citizens who are 18 years or older and who are registered on the national voters' roll. The Assembly currently has 400 members.One should be clear that a member of parliament is a person who has taken an oath of office.The first day of Parliament is to constitute the National Assembly, if the MK party withdraws its 58 members of parliament elect, then there will only be 342 individuals waiting to take the oath and these 342 individuals do not meet the threshold to constitute a quorum period.On Monday, MK Party President Jacob Zuma, stated that they may boycott the National Assembly.That is over complaints with the national elections and asking the IEC for a recount.MK has 58 MPs set to go to the National Assembly.Legal midgets like Casac's Lawson Naidoo are quoting a section that relates to a situation after every member has taken an oath of office. As part of Good Counsel College Flag Week 2024, which celebrates the legacy of Thomas Francis Meagher who raised the Irish tricolour for the first time on March 7, 1848 at 33 The Mall, Waterford, and in keeping with the values of the Thomas Francis Meagher Foundationunity, peace, freedom, and the support of charitable causesthe school community raised 2,000, which will be forwarded to the people of Gaza through UNICEF Ireland. Tesco colleagues join Diane at party, lavishing her with great gifts Diane Waters from Ballywilliam photographed with her husband Richie at her surprise 60th birthday party in Mannions. Photo; Mary Browne People travelled from across the country to join in the 60th birthday celebrations for Ballywilliam woman Diane Waters in New Ross. A large number of her Tesco New Ross colleagues joined her at Mannions, where everyone enjoyed food and cake washed down with some refreshments. Any notion of the event being a surprise didnt last long as Diane took charge of planning the night. She figured it out. How do you keep a secret from a woman! her husband Richie joked. She didnt want presents or to go away; she just wanted a night to remember with her family and Tesco colleagues and it was an absolutely brilliant night!Richie said great thought and generosity was put into the gifts lavished upon Diane, including a 250 Aer Lingus gift voucher and a 150 Dublin hotel voucher towards a holiday for Diane. They all chipped in. It was such a special night, with a great atmosphere. Many of my family made it in from Campile and former colleagues travelled from Dublin and other places. She is 18 years in Tesco and is very popular there as shes such a people person. 24 years married to Diane, Richie said she was blown away by all of the gifts, which included flowers and numerous cards. He said she thoroughly enjoyed her night and along with the cake, the presence of her colleagues and family was the real highlight. The body of a man in his 50s has been recovered from Wexford Harbour following a major search operation which began in earnest Saturday afternoon. The chilling sight of the Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter hovering above Wexford Harbour was visible from Saturday afternoon. Wexford RNLI and An Garda Siochana were both involved in the major search which was stood down Saturday evening before beginning again this morning. Members of the garda water unit made the grim discovery shortly before lunchtime. A local man, his remains were brought back to shore to his waiting family. His remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford for post mortem examination. The alarm was initially raised on Saturday when a bicycle and mobile phone belonging to the man was discovered near the waters edge. Gardai quickly stated that they had serious concerns for his welfare. Its understood that sniffer dogs were used to establish the point at which the man entered the water. When it comes to nail care and nail colour, our beauty editor has a lot on her hands this week Everywhere I go lately, nails seem to be taking centre stage as the accessory of the season. At the Fastnet Film Festival in Schull, I noticed my new BFF Daisy Edgar Jones was sporting chic, minimalist, clean girl nails. The opposite of that is neon nails, as my real-life BFF Melanie Morris was wearing at a lunch in Wilde in The Westbury, while aura nails are also a thing this is where you have a burst of diffused colour that starts from the centre of your nail. Very Sabrina Carpenter. While natural nails and French manicures will always be popular, neon is really tapping into the appetite for bright and bold shades this summer Im blaming Trinny Woodall and her love for bright, electric colour. Revolution Neon Nail Polish (5.49, boots.ie) You could give the neon trend a blast by using the 100pc vegan Revolution Neon Nail Polish (5.49, boots.ie). It comes in six highly-pigmented shades and I love the bright yellow Zesty hue. Plus its enriched with avocado oil to nourish your talons while they are popping and dazzling everyone around. For something a little more chic and classic, maybe try the Chanel Le Vernis Nail Polish (32, arnotts.ie) in shade Sun Drop. It features a high concentration of pigment and is enriched with camellia eco-ceramides to give an ultra-shiny, even lacquered finish. It also comes with a new flat, wide brush to make application easy and precise. Brides like my cousin Brid ODriscoll are going mad this summer for the 14 Day Manicure Gel Nail Polish (10, 14daymanicure.com) in Something Blue. The light, pastel blue shade from the Gentle Gels collection is designed to be fast and flawless to apply, as well as easy to remove, and is ideal for sensitive nails that are prone to irritation. Actually, its a good idea to keep your hands soft and nails fortified at all times. The Nuxe Reve de Miel Hand and Nail Cream (9.95, cloud10beauty.com) is a silky, non-greasy hand cream that contains honey, precious oils and vitamin E. It nourishes and repairs dry and damaged hands while protecting them from premature skin ageing, and best of all, it strengthens your nails. Perfectil Plus Nails Extra Support, 32.25, mccabespharmacy.com Elegant nails give a great first impression but if yours are in need of a bit of TLC, try the Perfectil Plus Nails Extra Support (32.25, mccabespharmacy.com). It has been developed to help people maintain the health of their nails, and it includes nutrients and minerals that nourish tissue in the nail matrix and bed, including selenium, copper and horsetail botanical extract. Always consult your GP before beginning a supplement. So there you go I think you will agree that Ive completely nailed it this week. Three of the best... moisturisers with SPF Medik8 daily radiance vitamin C Cream SPF 30, 80, skinshop.ie 1 Medik8 daily radiance vitamin C Cream SPF 30, 80, skinshop.ie Packed with a powerful hit of hyaluronic acid, ceramides and vitamin E, this treat deeply hydrates your face while SPF 30 will shield your skin from harmful UV rays. Amen. Skingredients Skin Shield SPF 50, 57, skingredients.com 2 Skingredients Skin Shield SPF 50, 57, skingredients.com This broad-spectrum SPF from The Skin Nerd, aka Jennifer Rock, will protect your skin and lightly moisturise it, while giving you a dewy finish and peachy tint one and done. Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50 89, dermalogica.ie 3 Dermalogica Dynamic Skin Recovery SPF 50, 89, dermalogica.ie This newbie from the much loved brand is a broad-spectrum moisturiser that blends beautifully into skin and helps to minimise the appearance of ageing, with active sunscreens to protect against UVA and UVB rays. Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes separated after she discovered messages between him and another woman, it has been reported. According to the Sun, the discovery on a computer led to the television presenters ending their 14-year marriage. Holmes and Langsford, who both formerly presented This Morning, have one son named Jack, born in 2002. They confirmed their divorce last month. Holmes also has three other children from previous relationships. Langsford has extended her leave from Loose Women due to her divorce from the GB News anchor, who has been seen with another female companion recently. Holmes reportedly took his friend to Center Parcs and to see Manchester United play, although it has not been confirmed if this was the same woman involved in the messages. A source told The Sun: Ruth was completely taken by surprise when she saw the messages. "She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated. Not only was she very upset but she was also angry. In the wake of their split, an interview from last year has surfaced in which Holmes revealed he "pined" to return to his native Northern Ireland, but Langsford "wouldn't go." Speaking to Kaye Adams for her How to be 60 podcast, Belfast-born Holmes admitted last year: I've always pined to go back to Belfast, because that's what I associate with company and friendship and craic. It has been reported that Holmes will address all rumours when he completes a frank interview on GB News. Langsfords representatives have said they do not wish to comment. Holmess representatives have also been approached for comment. Benny Gantz, who joined Israel's ruling coalition to form an emergency wartime government following the October 7 attack by Hamas, said his party would leave the government after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu failed to meet his demands. While Gantz's departure won't cause the ruling coalition to collapse, it will likely increase pressure on Netanyahu and leave him more reliant on his coalition partners. The prime minister and his allies control 64 out of the 120 seats in parliament. Voters in 21 EU countries including France and Germany were casting their ballots on Sunday in an election for the European Parliament that is expected to shift the assembly to the right and boost the numbers of eurosceptic nationalists. Ukraines battle for survival has barely figured so far in Britains election campaign. But as Rishi Sunak flies to Italy to join other world leaders at the G7 on Thursday, this ever bloodier war at the heart of Europe will be top of the agenda. LATEST | We will evaluate it when it comes closer Tanaiste responds to soldiers concerns they may not be able to come home at end of Lebanon tour News / National by Staff reporter The uMkhonto weSizwe Party (MKP) has reaffirmed its position that it would be taking, on an urgent basis, the Electoral Commission of SA (IEC) of South Africa to court over election rigging allegations, following days of speculation.The party, led by former president Jacob Zuma, intends approaching the court, seeking for the IEC to set aside the 2024 election results following objections by various parties.It will be the first time since the dawn of democracy that the IEC would be hauled before court over results. They were declared at the Results Operations Centre in Midrand last Sunday.Various political parties that contested in the elections have teamed up to challenge the outcome as null and void.Leading the charge is Zuma's MKP with, among other smaller parties, the African Congress for Transformation (ACT) led by Ace Magashule, a former ANC secretary-general who also started a splinter party.The parties had planned to file the court papers on Monday but, according to insiders, were still consulting and would be doing so "imminently".In a statement released yesterday, MKP said it would consider entering the National Assembly when it opens after the conclusion of the court process.The splinter party has made significant strides, collecting 58 seats in Parliament considering its the first time it contests elections.In recent days, reports were rife that the party was planning on boycotting the first sitting of Parliament over discrepancies and irregularities about the election process."The MK Party will only consider entering Parliament upon the conclusion of our imminent urgent court applications, where we will present sufficient evidence demonstrating that the IEC rigged the elections to the detriment of the MK Party and other parties," wrote the party's spokesperson Nhlamulo Ndhlela.He added that his organisation had noted with concern some "mischievous" media reports suggesting that its 58 members of Parliament had changed their stance regarding their decision not to attend Parliament."We want to make it clear that due to the glaring election rigging by the IEC, which led to the massive theft of MK party votes we wish to reiterate that our position remains unchanged, and that we will attend Parliament proceedings only based on the outcomes of the court proceedings," Ndhlela said.He said while the party respected its constituency and the people who elected their members in Parliament their duty was to change the "current neo-liberal Constitution and ensuring expropriation of land without compensation"."Among others, we believe that voices of all our voters, are incomplete attending the first sitting of Parliament without all our votes and voices being counted would betray our commitment to unity and democratic values where every voice and wish deserves to be heard," Ndhlela said.He further said that through the election period, MK Party had stood firm in its commitment to political integrity and expediency."Hence, we cannot stand by while crucial institutions like the IEC are manipulated for political ends. Our resolve remains strong, and we will continue to fight for the true representation of our voters in Parliament and ensure that every voter's desire find expression in Parliament," he said.However, the governing ANC, speaking at a media briefing after the announcement of the results on Sunday, said it had accepted the results as the governing party.The party's secretary-general, Fikile Mbalula, admitted that the MKP had caught them off-guard."We, as the ANC, are going to meet on Monday in order to analyse the phenomenon of the MK Party in Mpumalanga and KZN."We have got to analyse the Zuma phenomenon as it goes back to that deep analysis that we as the ANC are going to conduct. We can't do that if we start blaming structures," said Mbalula.When it comes to the impact the MKP and the Zuma factor had on the ultimate results, Mbalula said in spite of certain projections, the governing party had under-estimated its impact on the election results."We knew Zuma would get support, but not this much. Our biggest worry was the IFP in KZN and the posture other royal houses had taken as it was moving away from us and entered politics by aiding and abetting the IFP. As we went into the elections, everyone wanted us down, including the media," said Mbalula.The IEC said last week that it was not rushing the results, but were announcing them within the seven days after elections. William Anders, the former Apollo 8 astronaut who took the iconic Earthrise photo showing the planet as a shadowed blue marble from space in 1968, was killed on Friday in the US when the plane he was piloting alone plummeted into the waters off the San Juan Islands in Washington state. He was 90. Marian Robinson, who has died aged 86, was the mother of Michelle Obama, the former first lady of the United States. Marian Robinsons own father, the grandson of a slave in Georgia, had grown up in Alabama in the Jim Crow years, when he was barred from white-only toilets, buses and restaurants. In 2008 she was sitting on the sofa with her son-in-law Barack Obama when he was declared Americas first black president. Modi 3.0 Live Blog: The historic swearing-in of Narendra Modi India Blooms News Service | @indiablooms #PMModi, #ModiSwearingIn, #NDA, #NDASwearingIn, #OathTaking Narendra Modi is the second politician after Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to become Prime Minister for the third consecutive term as he takes oath on June 9 evening at 7-15 pm along with a council of ministers in the presence of heads of states from neighbouring countries. Narendra Modi on June 4 returned for a rare third consecutive term in office with his allies, but fell short of an absolute majority for his BJP (240 seats as against 272 required), in an election that gave a new lease of life to a Congress-led disparate Opposition bloc- INDIA- as the anti-Modi union halted the saffron juggernaut to under 300. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Modi's BJP garnered 293 seats while the opposition INDIA bloc bagged 234 in the 543-member Paliament. Glimpses of PM Narendra Modi's historic swearing-in ceremony Chirag Paswan joins Modi's team Kiren Rijiju takes oath Three-time MP Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu takes oath to join Modi's Cabinet Former Bihar Chief Minister and state politician Jitan Ram Manjhi joins Modi's team Piyush Goyal takes oath during the grand ceremony Several members of Narendra Modi's previous team take oath Several key members of Narendra Modi's former ministry took oath on Sunday. The prominent names include Nirmala Sitharaman,Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, S Jaishankar and Amit Shah. Former Madhya Pradesh MP Shivraj Singh Chouhan takes oath Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term PM Modi was administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu. The PM will lead an NDA coalition government of 15 political parties, including the two major partners- TDP and JD-U. President Droupadi Murmu arrives Vice President Jagdeep Dhanakar arrives in Rashtrapati Bhavan for the grand oath-taking ceremony Narendra Modi arrives in Rashtrapati Bhavan PM Modi arrives for swearing-in 72 ministers are expected to take oath today Mandi MP and Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut arrives for the swearing-in Sheikh Hasina arrives in Rashtrapati Bhavan Large number of Bollywood stars, politicians and industrialists have arrived in Rashtrapati Bhavan for evening event Rajinikanth arrives for PM Modi's historic swearing-in ceremony Mukesh Ambani, Gautam Adani in PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony Shah Rukh Khan arrives for PM Modi's swearing-in Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe in India Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi. Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay to join several neighbouring leaders to attend swearing-in ceremony of Modi PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth of Mauritius arrives in India for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony Jugnauth was one of the first foreign leaders to wish Modi after he won the polls. Several neighbouring leaders, including Maldives President Muizzu, arrive in India Several regional leaders, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, arrive in India to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for third stright term. He is arriving in India amid the recent diplomatic row between the two countries. Maldives president Muizzu arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Modi President @MMuizzu of Maldives arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Received by Secy (West) @AmbKapoor at the airport. India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours. pic.twitter.com/yAyUomJZeT Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 9, 2024 Ahead of his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday, Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi visited Rajghat, a memorial dedicated to Mahatma Gandhi, to pay his tributes to the Father of the Nation. PM Modi also paid tribute to late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Image: Narendra Modi X Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will attend Modi's swearing-in ceremony , TMC will not attend Outgoing Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Roads and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari are likely to retain their portfolios The other elected MPs likely to take oath as ministers are JP Nadda, Piyush Goyal, Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Jyotiraditya Scindia. HD Kumaraswamy JD(S) is likely to be a minister. Other potential ministers are Chirag Paswan (LJP), Ram Nath Thakur JD(U), and Jitan Ram Manji (HAM). Jayant Chaudhary (RLD), Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal -Soneylal)), Rammohan Naidu (TDP), and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (TDP). Pratap Rao Jadhav of the Shiv Sena is also likely to be a minister. Former Union Minister Smriti Irani (who lost the election from Amethi), Anurag Thakur, and Narayan Rane will not be part of the cabinet, according to media reports. All MPs who will be part of the Council of Ministers attended a tea invite at the PMs residence at 11.30 am. Shri @narendramodi meets leaders of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) ahead of the swearing-in ceremony. pic.twitter.com/aOJFSGyj8n BJP (@BJP4India) June 9, 2024 Mallikarjun Kharge with top Congress leaders/ courtesy: INC Facebook Kharge will attend in his capacity as the Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the Congress said in a statement. This decision follows consultations with several INDIA bloc leaders yesterday. Trinamool Congress, an INDIA Bloc partner, will not attend the ceremony. The extended Congress Working Committee (CWC), the highest executive forum of the grand old Indian political party, on Saturday unanimously passed a resolution to appoint senior leader Rahul Gandhi as the Leader of the Opposition in the Lower House of the Parliament. In the meeting, Gandhi, who has won from Wayanad and Raebareli, said he would think about the proposal (to become the LoP), leaders familiar with the matter said, adding that Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge, however, politely reminded him that since CWC has passed a resolution in this order, he should accept the post. India has invited several leaders from neighbouring countries to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi, who is set to become the Prime Minister for a third consecutive term on Sunday. The ceremony will take place today at 7.15 pm at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Besides Modi his Council of Ministers will also take their oaths of office and secrecy, forming part of the Prime Minister's new cabinet. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, several leaders have accepted the invitation and will arrive in New Delhi on Sunday to participate in the ceremony. Photo courtesy: File image from Facebook/Naveen Patnaik Bhubaneswar/IBNS: VK Pandian, the close aide of Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik and a bureaucrat turned politician, on Sunday said he is quitting active politics after the Biju Janata Dals loss in the Assembly elections paving the way for a BJP government in the state. Pandian made the announcement on the heels of BJP's massive victory in Odisha that saw the humiliating defeat of the BJD, which ruled the state for over two decades under Naveen Patnaik. Apologising to the BJD workers, the former IAS officer in a video message said as quoted in media, My intent of joining politics was only and only to assist Naveen Babu, and now I consciously decided to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJDs loss. The Tamil origin of Pandian was a poll issue by the BJP which ended the long rule of Naveen Patnaik in Odisha. Outgoing Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, in his first reaction after losing the Odisha assembly polls, on Saturday defended VK Pandian, saying that the bureaucrat-turned-politician was not his successor in the Biju Janata Dal (BJD). Stating that the criticism of VK Pandian, now a member of the BJD, was "unfortunate", Naveen Patnaik, who missed out on what would have been his sixth consecutive term in office, said that the people of Odisha would decide his successor in BJD. Pandian joined the party and has not held any post. He did not contest the elections. As an officer, he did an excellent job in different fields in the last 10 years, be it during two cyclones or the Covid-19 pandemic," the BJD president told news agency PTI. "He [Pandian] retired from the bureaucracy, and joined the BJD and contributed largely by doing excellent work. He is a person of integrity and honesty and should be remembered for that, the veteran leader said. This statement comes from the outgoing CM of Odisha after a section of BJD leaders and workers expressed resentment against the ex-bureaucrat Pandian, who is from Tamil Nadu. During election campaigning, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had repeatedly claimed that the-then chief minister was trying to impose a non-Odia on the people of the coastal state. In the recently concluded assembly election in Odisha, the BJP won 78 seats in the 147-member assembly, while the BJD, which had been in power since 2000, won 51 seats. Bagging just 14 seats, the Congress came third. BJP supremo Naveen Patnaik, who contested on two seats, was victorious from one (Hinjili AC) but lost the other (Kantabanji AC). Meanwhile, in the Lok Sabha polls, the BJP secured 20 of Odisha's 21 parliamentary constituencies, and the BJD won only one. Photo Courtesy: PMO India Youtube page screen grab Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third straight term to head a coalition NDA government at the iconic Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday, equalling the record of India's first PM Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. His oath of office was administered by President Droupadi Murmu at a grand ceremony which was attended by dignitaries, top political leaders, MPs of India and heads of several countries including Bangladesh, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan. Modi took oath along with 71 ministers, including 30 of cabinet rank. Besides five ministers with Independent charge, 36 Ministers of State were also sworn in. There are nine new faces in the cabinet. President, Droupadi Murmu, the Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the other members of Council of Ministers after the Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 09, 2024. Bollywood and southern stars, including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth, and country's top industrialists like Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani attended the ceremony. Followed by the swearing-in of PM Modi, other ministers, including Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, JP Nadda, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Kiran Rijiju, Piyush Goyal and Shiv Raj Singh Chouhan, were sworn in. Narendra Modi returned for a rare third consecutive term in office with his allies, but fell short of an absolute majority for his BJP (240 seats as against 272 required), in an election that gave a new lease of life to a Congress-led disparate Opposition bloc- INDIA- as the anti-Modi union halted the saffron juggernaut to under 300. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by Modi's BJP garnered 293 seats while the opposition INDIA bloc bagged 234 in the 543-member Paliament. Also read: LIVE BLOG OF THE SWEARING-IN OF MODI 3.0 In a staggered seven phase national election which concluded on June 1, the 73-year-old Narendra Modi led his National Democratic Alliance (NDA) to victory but failed to get an absolute majority for his party BJP, paving the way for the return of coalition government in India. PM Modi at the swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 09, 2024. Among the 15 coalition parties in NDA his main allies are Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal-United (JD-U). In a consiliatory note since the poll result which favoured a coalition government, Modi said: "We have won the majority ... but to run the country it is unanimity that is crucial ... we will strive for unanimity." Modi, who had banked on his government's delivery of service, welfare schemes, resolute foreign policy, leadership and vaccination during the pandemic besides the building of a Ram Mandir in Ayodhya as a symbol of a Hindu resurgence in India, failed to achieve an outright majority despite a target of 370 seats for BJP alone, but equalled the record of Nehru to return as a prime minister with coalition support for the third consecutive term. President, Droupadi Murmu, the Vice President, Jagdeep Dhankhar with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the other members of Council of Ministers after the Swearing-in Ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on June 09, 2024. List of Ministers: Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Jairam Gadkari, Jagat Prakash Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Manohar Lal Khattar, HD Kumaraswamy, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Jitan Ram Manjhi, Lalan Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, Virendra Kumar, Ram Mohan Naidu, Pralhad Joshi, Jual Oram, Giriraj Singh, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Bhupendra Yadav, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Annapurna Devi, Kiren Rijiju, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandaviya, G Kishan Reddy, Chirag Paswan, CR Patil, Rao Inderjit Singh, Jitendra Singh, Arjun Ram Meghwal, Pratap Rao Jadhav, Jitin Prasada, Shripad Yesso Naik, Pankaj Chaudhary, Krishan Pal, Ramdas Athawale, and Ram Nath Thakur, Nityanand Rai, Anupriya Patel, V Somanna, Chandra S. Pemmasani, S. P. Singh Baghel, Shobha Karandlaje, Kirti Vardhan Singh, B. L. Verma, Shantanu Thakur, Suresh Gopi, L Murugan, Ajay Tamta, Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Kamlesh Paswan, Bhagirath Choudhary, Satish Chandra Dubey, Sanjay Seth, Ravneet Singh Bittu, Durga Das Uikey, Raksha Khadse, Sukanta Majumdar, Savitri Thakur, Tokhan Sahu, Raj Bhushan Choudhary, Bhupathi Raju Srinivasa Varma, Harsh Malhotra, Nimuben Jayantibhai Bambhaniya, Murlidhar Mohol, George Kurian, Pabitra Margherita. At least ten people were reported killed and many injured when a bus carrying pilgrims fell down a gorge losing control after terrorists attacked the vehicle in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, officials said. At least 33 were injured after the bus on its way to the Shiv Khori cave temple fell into a gorge from the firing by the terrorists. "Nine pilgrims have died and 33 are injured," Vishesh Mahajan, District Magistrate of Reasi, said while another report claimed ten were killed in the attack. Resai Police on a Facebook post said: "Today a group of terrorists attacked a yatri bus coming from the Ransoo area of District Reasi. Due to the attack, the driver of the bus lost control and the bus fell into the deep gorge near the Kanda area of Pouni Reasi. Due to the accident, 09 people are feared dead and rest injured. Rescue operation was completed at the earliest and the injured have been shifted to nearby hospitals." Even while PM, Shri Narendra Modi and his NDA Govt get sworn in and heads of several countries are in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives of at least 10 Indians. We unequivocally condemn this gruesome terror attack Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 9, 2024 Police said senior officers and other forces rushed to the spot and the area was cordoned off. Search operation has been launched. Photo Courtesy: Mrunal Thakur Instagram page Director Raghava Lawrence on Sunday ended all speculation over Mrunal Thakur 's Kollywood debut and said the cast of Kanchana 4 has not been finalised. He said all guesses going on around the movie are rumours. He said the official announcement of the movie would be revealed through Ragavendra Production. "Hi friends and fans, All the information regarding Kanchana 4 and casting that are circulating around social media are just rumors. Official announcement will be made through Ragavendra Production. Coming soon!" the director posted on X. Kanchana 4 will be the fourth instalment in the horror-comedy movie series. The first movie of the series was released in 2007. Photo Courtesy:Wikimedia Commons Taiwan tracked six Chinese military aircraft, six naval vessels, and four coast guard ships around the region between 6 a.m. on Thursday (June 6) and 6 a.m. on Friday (June 7), said the country's Ministry of National Defense. Of the six Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) aircraft, one Chinese drone was detected in the southwest corner of Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ), and one PLA helicopter was tracked in the southeast ADIZ, according to the MND as quoted by Taiwan News. Taiwan soon responded to the act and sent aircraft and naval ships and deployed coastal-based missile systems to monitor PLA activity. So far this month, Taiwan has tracked Chinese military aircraft 54 times and naval/coast guard vessels 62 times, reported Taiwan News. Photo Courtesy: Pixabay A Zambian court has handed over jail terms to 21 Chinese nationals and a Cameronian citizen for their involvement in cyber crimes in the country. The gang's only female convict, Gu Tianjiao, reportedly cried "papa, papa" as her seven-year sentence was announced in the Lusaka Magistrates Court on Friday, reported BBC. According to reports, the mastermind of the team Li Xianlin and some other members received jail terms ranging between seven to 11 years. The members of the group were also fined between $1,500 and $3,000 (1,180 and 2,360) each. As per Zambian authorities, the victims belonged to nations like Singapore, Peru and the United Arab Emirates. The convicts included one female and they were aged between 25 and 51. In a statement, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission said: "These individuals, all residents of Kasangula Road in Roma Township, were arrested on April 9, 2024, by the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC), on charges related to sophisticated internet fraud schemes." "The facts of the case, as presented in court, revealed that, on 5th April, 2024, DEC officers received information about individuals operating under an entity called Golden Top Support Services Limited, suspected of engaging in cyber scams," DEC said. Investigations later found the accused had knowingly and unlawfully used the identities of other persons. "A digital forensic analysis of the seized devices showed that the accused had created fake identities using a modified version of WhatsApp web, enabling the creation of multiple accounts on a single device. These fake accounts were linked to mobile numbers registered under names of unsuspecting individuals," the statement said. "Items seized and due for forfeiture to the State in this matter include; 135 Desktop computers, one (01) laptop, 11 sim boxes, a Toyota Alphard Registration Number BAT8373, K13, 143, USD 20, including 17,000 Dinari cash, 37000 SIM cards, one (1) iPad, two (2) Pistols with 73 rounds of Ammunition and twenty-three (23) Cell Phones," the statement further said. It's 2024, and AI has become ubiquitous, with nearly everyone using it in some form. In fact, India is leading the wayaccording to a joint study by Microsoft and LinkedIn, 92% of knowledge workers in India across various sectors are integrating AI tools into their daily workflows, compared to a global average of 75%. However, an interesting trend is emerging: some workers using AI are concerned that their colleagues might see them as 'lazy' or 'frauds.' Fraud for using AI Anthropic, an AI firm, and Asana, a work management platform, recently published their latest 2024 State of AI at Work report. The survey, which involved over 5000 knowledge workers, revealed that more than a quarter of respondents expressed concerns about being seen as "lazy" if they used AI in their work. Representative image/ Freepik Additionally, 23% feared being labeled as "frauds" for utilising AI tools. Rebecca Hinds, head of Asanas Work Innovation Lab, explained in an interview with CNBC Make It that this apprehension is partly due to the lack of clear guidelines from companies regarding AI usage in the workplace. Hinds noted, "Thats where we start to see the fear of the perception of laziness, the fear of the perception of feeling like a fraud most significantly, because the organizational context is not conducive to facilitating an environment where people feel empowered to use AI." Preference for AI skills over experience On the flip side however, the Microsoft and LinkedIn study has illuminated a significant trend: there's a distinct preference for AI skills over experience. Representative image/ Unsplash In India, 80% of leaders favour less experienced candidates with AI skills over experienced candidates without them, the study found. Additionally, the report underscored a gap between willingness and clarity among businesses regarding AI utilisation for their advantage. "Ninety-one percent of leaders in India believe their companies need to adopt AI to stay competitive, yet 54% express concerns that their organisation lacks a clear plan and vision for implementation," the study revealed. For more news and current affairs from around the world, please visit Indiatimes News. As humans continue to deplete Earth's resources, experts feel that in order to prevent possible extinction colonising Mars, the only other habitable planet in our solar system, is the best possible solution. Its somewhat suitable atmosphere makes it an ideal candidate. More recently, reports of a mysterious 'hole on Mars have experts leaning in, and space enthusiasts taking copious notes. Here's what you need to know. What is this mysterious 'hole' on Mars? This pit crater could help shelter humans during expeditions | Image: NASA/JPLCaltech/UArizona via space.com Also read: 'Traffic Jam' On Mt Everest As Hundreds Of Climbers Take Advantage Of Weather Window The mysterious pit is only a few metres across and rests on a lava flow on the ancient and now-extinct volcano Arsia Mons. According to space.com, the crater possibly leads to a larger cave that could provide shelter to both astronauts and 'Martian life.' The pit was first imaged on August 15, 2022, and was positioned 256 kilometres above the surface at the time. How can it help us one day in occupying Mars? Another pit crater on Arsia Mons | Image: NASA/JPLCaltech/UArizona via space.com Also read: 'Sonam Gupta Bewafa Hai' Flashback? Man's Message On Rs 10 Note Asking GF To Elope Viral Lava flowing from a volcano often creates extensive underground tubes that channel the movement of hot material. While these tubes are commonly found along the sides of volcanoes, this one appears to be a vertical shaft. If verified, it could potentially lead to a cavern or cave system. Similar to the Moon or Earth, Mars might have empty lava tubes, known as skylights, which could offer shelter for human settlements on the planet's barren surface. An image of one such pit reveals a sidewall, suggesting it is cylindrical and may not connect to a cave. These holes, known as 'pit craters,' are prevalent on Hawaiian volcanoes. On Earth, their depths range from six to 186 meters, while the Arsia Mons pit in the image is 178 meters deep. Scientists find these pits fascinating as they could provide insights into Mars' past and help determine if microbial life currently exists on the planet. Why are humans so obsessed with occupying Mars? Screenshot from a simulated movie of Mojave Crater on Mars | Image: jpl.nasa.gov Not too long ago, as humans ate through Earth's resources, one solution experts came up with in order to save humanity from possible extinction was to occupy the only other habitable planet in our solar system: Mars. Its close proximity, perfect placement in a shared solar system and an almost suitable atmosphere made it the next best option for us. Today, with each progressive day, our obsession with the red planet only grows. Here are some highlights to get you up to speed: Chinese researchers have created an AI-powered robotic chemist that can generate enough oxygen for us to breathe on Mars. Last year, four volunteers entered a simulation, mimicking life on the red planet, for a period of 378 days so NASA could collect cognitive and physical performance data to give us more insight into the potential impacts of long-duration missions to Mars. And, finally, in another massive leap, NASA managed to produce small amounts of oxygen using its Mars Oxygen In-Situ Resource Utilisation Experiment (MOXIE) instrument, enough to sustain an astronaut for a few hours. Also read: Mysterious Deep-sea Hooked Squid, Largest Of Its Kind, Attacks Camera. Rare Footage Viral What do you think of this? Hit us up in the comments section and let us know. There's a whole lot more on Indiatimes Trending. You can also follow us on Telegram. For perspective, imagine Godzilla having a really, really bad day and opening his mouth to let out a bright jet of blue light. We've all seen the picture, we all know the image. Now, imagine a bright blue jet of light cutting across the sky in real life, minus a giant, pissed-off lizard. Earlier this year, an Airbus pilot caught such a phenomenon on his camera while flying at night and the video has to be seen to be believed. What does the viral video show? The blue jet is a form of upper atmospheric lighting | Image: Instagram Also read: Can this mysterious 'hole' on Mars help humans colonise the red planet? The video, shot from the point of view of the pilot, from the cockpit, shows flashes of lightning dancing across clouds until a bright, pink and purplish vertical jet of light pierces the dark night sky. This beam of light can be seen spanning thousands of feet, from the Earth's upper atmosphere (or exosphere) all the way up. As the video progresses, the sky turns back to black again,. the moment itself not lasting more than a few seconds. How did the internet react? Another screengrab of the video showing the super rare phenomenon Also read: 'Traffic Jam' On Mt Everest As Hundreds Of Climbers Take Advantage Of Weather Window Alexander Torres, a pilot, shared the now-viral video on Instagram writing, "Encountered a cosmic marvel! Captured the surreal beauty of a gigantic jet phenomenon during my night flight, a sight that feels straight out of a sci-fi movie! Did you know about this fascinating naturalphenomenon?" The video raked in a whopping 15.5 million views, 673K likes and comments to match. "A sprite. Very rare and this is the best one Ive ever seen!" wrote one Instagram user. "Coolest thing Ive learned today: Sprite is not just a drinkable soda but a beautiful phenomenon," was a second person's honest reaction. " Must be a boring job since they decide to film stuff out the window," joked a third. "In 50 years of flying everything from an Army helicopter, to heavy Boeing 777-300ER I have only seen 1 sprite. Over the Amazon enroute to Brazil," wrote a fourth, also a pilot, proving just how super rare these "sprites" are. Watch the viral video below Also read: Mysterious Deep-sea Hooked Squid, Largest Of Its Kind, Attacks Camera. Rare Footage Viral What do you think of this? Hit us up in the comments section and let us know. There's a whole lot more on Indiatimes Trending. You can also follow us on Telegram. In the vibrant world of Indian politics, a new leader has captured the nation's attention, 25-year-old Shambhavi Chaudhary, the youngest Member of Parliament from the Lok Janshakti Party. Winning the seat in Bihar's Samastipur Lok Sabha, she's become a household name. But who exactly is Shambhavi Chaudhary, and what's behind her rapid rise in politics? Let's take a closer look at her life, education, and financial status. Political Lineage: A Family Tradition of Leadership Shambhavi Chaudhary comes from a long line of politicians in Bihar. Her grandfather, the late Mahavir Chaudhary, was a respected Congress member and minister. Following in his footsteps, her father, Ashok Chaudhary, is a prominent figure in the Janta Dal (United) government and very close to CM Nitish Kumar. Youngest Indian MP Shambhavi Choudhary Shambhavi Chaudhary, representing LJP (R), won the Samastipur Lok Sabha seat by a big difference in votes. She got 579,786 votes, while Sunny Paswan from Congress got 392,535 votes. At just 25 years old, Shambhavi will be the youngest MP in Parliament this term. She is Ashok Chaudhary's daughter, who is a minister in the Bihar government. Education: A Path of Learning and Growth Despite her family background, Shambhavi Chaudhary has carved her own path through education. She holds a Master's degree in Sociology from the Delhi School of Economics and completed her undergraduate studies at Lady Shri Ram College. Currently, she serves as the director of Gyan Niketan School in Patna while pursuing her PhD. She is also active in social workers Financial Status: Assessing Shambhavi Chaudhary's Wealth In her nomination affidavit, Shambhavi stated that her total movable assets are worth Rs 1.2 crore. She doesn't own any cars and doesn't have any bank loans. She has liabilities Rs 33 lakh while her husband has Rs 1.42 crore. Shambhavi doesn't have any criminal cases against her. According to a report by NBT, she has 76.2 decimals of land in Patna's Bikram area . Shambhavi mentioned that neither she nor her husband owns a car or has any bank loans. She also said there are no criminal cases against her. Her assets include 76.2 decimals of land in Patna and Gold/Diamonds Mix Ornaments of 1129 Gm worth Rs 80 lakh. In her financial details, Shambhavi said she has approximately Rs 12 lakh in a Patna bank account and Rs 20 lakh in a Samastipur bank account. She also mentioned having a fixed deposit of Rs 15,000 and an LIC policy of Rs 572,000. The total value of her movable assets is reportedly Rs 1.2 crore. For the financial year 2022-23, Shambhavi's income was Rs 29 lakh. Personal Life: Beyond Politics In her personal life, Shambhavi Chaudhary is married to Saayan Kunal and is the daughter-in-law of Acharya Kishore Kunal, a former IPS officer and social activist. These personal connections add depth to her public persona. A Victory of Youth and Determination Shambhavi Chaudhary's win in the Lok Sabha elections is not just a political triumph but also a testament to the power of youth. Defeating Sunny Hazari, son of a senior JD(U) leader, highlights her campaign's strength and her role as a symbol of change. In essence, Shambhavi Chaudhary represents the promise of a new era in Indian politics. Her journey, marked by education, family legacy, and financial success, embodies the spirit of ambition and integrity in leadership. For the latest and more interesting financial news, keep reading Indiatimes Worth. Click here Round Table: Immigrants in the Crosshairs Date: Saturday, June 15, 2024 Time: 6:00 PM - 8:30 PM Event Type: Speaker Organizer/Author: Human Agenda Email: Phone: 408-460-2999 Location Details: Roosevelt Community Center 901 East Santa Clara Street San Jose, CA 95116 (Access parking lot from North 21st Street) Hot Topic Roundtable & Book Signing with Prof. Bill Ong Hing Immigration is one of the most controversial topics in the upcoming presidential elections. Where is the national debate headed, and why? Are immigrants a problem, or a solution? 6-7 PM Food & Socializing 7 PM Keynote, Response Panel, Q & A, and Book Signing Bill Ong Hing is a Professor of Law and Migration Studies at the University of San Francisco, and Professor of Law and Asian American Studies Emeritus, at U.C. Davis. He founded the Immigrant Legal Resource Center in San Francisco 1979 and helps to direct the USF Immigration & Deportation Defense Clinic. Professor Hing teaches Immigration Law & Policy, Introduction to Migration Studies, and Rebellious Lawyering. Throughout his career, Professor Hing has pursued social justice by combining community work, litigation, and scholarship. His most recent book is Humanizing Immigration: How to Transform Our Racist and Unjust System (2023). He was co-counsel in the U.S. Supreme Court asylum precedent-setting case INS v. Cardoza-Fonseca (1987) and also represented the State Bar of California before the California Supreme Court in In re Sergio Garcia (2014) involving bar membership for undocumented law graduates. Incisive and compelling, reflecting the painful wisdom and knowledge that Bill Ong Hing has accrued over the course of fifty years representing noncitizens ensnared by our profoundly cruel and unjust immigration system. Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow International dishes, delicacies & desserts brought to You by the Co-Sponsors: Alma Premium Care LLC Ambedkar King Study Circle (AKSC) Asian Law Alliance Community Agency for Resources, Advocacy and Services (CARAS) Community Solutions Human Agenda Mountain View Day Labor Center Pilipino Association of Workers and Immigrants (PAWIS) Sacred Heart Community Service San Jose Peace and Justice Center Services Immigrant Rights and Education Network (SIREN) Silicon Valley Immigration Committee (SVIC) VietUnity The Federal Capital Territory Police Command conducted a coordinated operation with other security services to target kidnappers facilities near the Abuja boundary, on Friday. SP Josephine Adeh, the commands spokesperson , confirmed this in a statement published on the X platform on Sunday. The statement read, The operatives of the FCT Police command, in synergy with the special forces of Guards Grigade and DSS hunters, in a continued effort against criminality in FCT, on June 7, 2024, at about 10am, acting on credible intelligence, stormed some identified kidnappers camps at Gidan Dogo and Kweti Forest, Kaduna State, bordering FCT, trailed and arrested four suspects: Yahaya Abubakar, 25 m of Mpape, Mohammed Mohamed 32 m of Zuba( an ex-convict), Umar Aliyu 20 and Nura Abdullahi 32, also an ex-convict at Kubwa and Zuba hills, respectively. Advertisement According to the statement, the suspects admitted to being part of a notorious bandit syndicate known as Mai One Million. A number of kidnappings and other horrific crimes in the Federal Capital Territory and its surroundings were allegedly committed by the Mai One Million gang. A gunfight was said to have occurred between the bandits and security personnel, forcing the bandits to flee. READ MORE: Nigerian Artists Contribute More To National Awareness Than Ambassadors Ali Baba Asserts The security personnel also rescued victims who were alleged to have been reunited with their families, and the illegally erected structures by the kidnappers in all the patrolled camps were decimated. In the statement, FCT Commissioner of Police, CP Benneth Igweh, praised the operations success and advised citizens to be watchful and report any suspicious activity. SEE PHOTOS: Chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission (NiDCOM), Abike Dabiri-Erewa, says over 10 teenage girls trafficked to Ghana have been rescued. The young girls between the ages of 15 and 18 were said to have been lured into prostitution in Ghana. Reacting to the development at the weekend, Dabiri-Erewa said the suspected trafficker has been arrested by law enforcement officers in Ghana. Advertisement These are young girls trafficked to Ghana for prostitution. We thank Chief Callistus, chairman, of NIDO Ghana for ensuring the arrest of the evil perpetrators, she wrote on X. READ ALSO: State Governors Are Extremely Rich, Can Afford To Pay N60,000 Minimum Wage NLC The NiDCOM chair said the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) will take up the case. Fatima Waziri-Azi, Director-General (DG) of NAPTIP, had earlier this month revealed that some orphanages in the country are under investigation over infractions that can be categorised as human trafficking. In April, troops of the Nigerian Army in Lagos arrested a suspected human trafficker identified as Olushola Areke. The suspect was accused of kidnapping one Fayoke Kunle, a 22-year-old girl. The Rivers State government has approved N19.6 billion to rebuild the demolished complex of the State House of Assembly. The approval was given at the State Executive Council meeting chaired by Governor Siminalayi Fubara, at the weekend. Advertisement Recall that on October 30, 2023, fire razed a section of assembly complex. The incident occurred during a period when the assembly moved to impeach Fubara as State Governor. The State however commenced the demolition of the auditorium in December, citing renovation purposes, amid insinuations that there was a political undertone to the incident. In a statement, Nelson Chukwudi, Fubaras chief Press Secretary, said some other contracts approved by the council included the construction of Kalaibiama/Epellema road, completion of four zonal hospitals across the State and renovation of Bonny general hospital. READ ALSO: Wike Aware Rivers Assembly Complex Couldnt Stand Test Of Time NASS Member, Abiante Others are the renovation and upgrade of the neuropsychiatric hospital, Rumuigbo, and the construction of the new general hospital at Rumuigbo in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area of the State. Permanent Secretary of the Rivers Ministry of Special Projects, Roland Obed-Whyte, said the contract to renovate the Assembly has been awarded to Monier construction company. He confirmed that the construction would cost N19.6 billion over nine months. His words: This contract has been awarded to Monier Construction Company Nigeria Limited (MCC) at the cost of N19,566, 621, 284. 24 kobo with a completion duration of nine months. This Rivers State House of Assembly Building Complex comprises about 34 ensuite offices, a storey building with an elevator, gallery, meeting rooms and conference hall. It also includes renovating and refurbishing other existing structures within the House of Assembly Complex. It also includes the provision of ambulance and other external works. DEI is unraveling at our universities. Good riddance to a failed and divisive bureaucracy. Former President Donald Trump and first son Hunter Biden may be stealing the headlines now, but theres something else that deserves your attention: the continued antisemitic and increasingly violent incidents at U.S. universities. Last week, a mob of pro-Palestinian students at Stanford University barricaded themselves inside the school presidents office. The occupation led to the injury of a police officer and extensive damage to the building. Similar instances have occurred across the country in recent weeks, with other buildings occupied and vandalized and Palestinian sympathizers blocking fellow students and professors including Jewish ones from getting to their classrooms. This disturbing behavior has wreaked havoc on campuses since Hamas' Oct. 7 attack against Israel and Israel's subsequent and ongoing retaliation in its defense. Its worth questioning what is motivating so many young people to embrace such blatant antisemitism earning them the praise of actual terrorists. Protesters gather at Columbia University on the night of April 29, 2024. More than 100 people were arrested the following night at Columbias main campus after a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators occupied the university's Hamilton Hall. One of the common denominators seems to be the ideology of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) that has become increasingly entrenched in higher education. These ugly protests have shed light on what is going on at our U.S. campuses and what college students have been learning. Luckily, states legislatures and governors are pushing back against DEI. And some universities are even revisiting DEI policies on their own accord. This Michigan university admits DEI isn't working I was pleasantly surprised recently when I read an op-ed by the president and three faculty at a public university in Michigan admitting that diversity, equity and inclusion programs have not lived up to the hype and may have directly contributed to the antisemitism witnessed on so many campuses. Conceptions of DEI that prioritize some identities over others end up promoting simplistic and sometimes harmful approaches to complex social problems, wrote Oakland University President Ora Pescovitz and the faculty leaders. Such identity-based accounts of diversity attempt to divide people into binary categories of racist versus anti-racist, white versus non-white, oppressor versus oppressed or colonizer versus colonized. Pro-Palestinian supporters from Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) rally at MIT at an encampment for Palestine at MIT in Cambridge, Mass., on April 22, 2024. While they would rather "mend not end" DEI, what the university leaders describe gets to the heart of what is happening on college campuses. To those who have paid close attention to DEIs growth on the quad, the anti-Israel sentiments on U.S. campuses arent surprising. Biden's blunder: Biden has his own 'fine people on both sides' moment. He's as wrong now as Trump was then. Timothy Minella, senior fellow at the Arizona-based Goldwater Institute, says the antisemitism on display is directly correlated to the adoption of this flawed diversity agenda. Especially the recent encampments at several prominent universities, to me they demonstrate the logical end point of this ideology, that divides the world into the oppressed and the oppressors, Minella told me recently.And I think we see that play out in these anti-Israel protests, where through this very flawed analysis, Jews become oppressors because they are allegedly in close proximity to so-called whiteness. States and some schools are kissing DEI goodbye Minella and the Goldwater Institute are helping lead this rollback of DEI at the state level. And theyre getting results. Failing the test: Using the SAT, ACT in college admissions isn't 'racist.' What else has the left got wrong? Since last year, 85 bills combating DEI have been introduced, according to The Chronicle of Higher Education. So far, at least 14 have become law, and many others are close to the finish line. These bills target DEI in different ways, from seeking to eliminate the programs and departments altogether to specifically banning diversity statements in hiring and admissions and required courses and instruction. Gov. DeSantis announces plans to defund DEI programs Florida and Texas are the largest states to lead the charge against these programs, but other states include North Carolina, North Dakota, Idaho, Utah, Wyoming and Alabama. Some universities are opting to drop DEI requirements on their own. For instance, last week, Harvard Universitys Faculty of Arts and Sciences announced it will no longer require diversity, inclusion, and belonging statements for faculty hiring. Change at Harvard: With Claudine Gay out, Harvard can double down on DEI or embrace freedom and true diversity Similarly, last month, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said it would end the policy entirely. Thats progress, and a win for free speech. Compelling future faculty or students to profess adherence to a set of controversial beliefs goes against the very nature of higher education. 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. Thats true of DEI policies in general, as they prioritize groups and not the individual. I think forcing people into these boxes is antithetical to what higher education is supposed to be about, which is the free exchange of ideas, Minella said. I do think its harmful to the educational purpose of universities. As the rise of campus antisemitism has demonstrated, the sooner U.S. universities can extricate themselves from this dangerous bureaucracy, the better. Ingrid Jacques is a columnist at USA TODAY. Contact her at ijacques@usatoday.com or on X, formerly Twitter: @Ingrid_Jacques. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why has DEI failed? Colleges retreat on a divisive ideology President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has named the M18 road in the Guzape district of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as Chinua Achebe expressway. Special Assistant to the President on Social Media, Olusegun Dada, said the President inaugurated the expressway on Saturday before naming it after the late renowned novelist. He said: President Bola Ahmed Tinubu Commissions the M18 road infrastructure in Guzape District of Abuja. Names road after Nigerian Novelist and Poet, late Professor Chinua Achebe. Advertisement READ ALSO: Wike Delivers On His Promises, Has Demonstrated Capacity Tinubu Achebe died in 2013 at the age of 83. He was a Nigerian novelist, poet, and critic who is regarded as one of the fathers of modern African literature. Recall that on Tuesday, Tinubu named the inaugurated arterial road N20 from the northern parkway to the outer northern expressway (ONEX) in the nations capital after Wole Soyinka, a famous playwright. Soyinka is the first African to win the Nobel Prize for literature. Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, had said the naming of the road after Soyinka was recommended by the FCT administration. University of the Arts students Anisha Sampson, and and Robin Barthelemy posed for a photo in the courtyard of their emergency university housing. Both will have no place to live after Aug. 10 because of the university's closure. Read more The sudden collapse of University of the Arts in the last week and a half shook Philadelphia, resulting in the resignation of the college president, three lawsuits with more possibly to come, city hearings, and a days-long student sit-in on the college steps. Advertisement But beyond the headlines and the public outcry are the quiet, continuing emergencies, the personal and professional fallout of the loss of an institution that traces its roots back 150 years, and employed about 700 people in the city. Here are a few of those stories. We dont even know if we have a place to live Anisha Sampson, 23, has lived on her own for six years, since her mother died when Sampson was 17. By this spring, she was working 40 hours a week and attending University of the Arts full time as an acting major. Then, her living situation became untenable. Sampson appealed directly to now former university president Kerry Walk, whom Sampson met walking down the street a few months ago, and was granted emergency housing on campus, guaranteed at least through Aug. 10. She had hoped to save money to get her own place. When the closure news came May 31, Sampson panicked: Would she be kicked out? Her brother, who had also worked for University of the Arts, had planned to help her pay for stable housing, but he was now out of a job and unable to help. Answers were in short supply, even as helpful staff tried to assist amid their own losses. They told me, I dont even know if you can stay on campus. We may have to move you somewhere else, Sampson said. We dont even know if we have a place to live. Robin Barthelemy is in a similar boat: The illustration major and screenwriting minor who has no family to stay with moved into emergency housing last month, after losing her job and struggling to find another one. Barthelemy and Sampson may have a lead on a place to live in West Philadelphia after they are forced to leave their UArts emergency housing, but thats subject to an interview, and they have to prove enrollment in another school. Neither is sure where theyll land. Bathelemy said shes had to beg for financial and academic help from the university in the past, and now? Im having a huge crisis, and theyre saying, Suck it up, you have to figure it out, said Barthelemy. Its a slap in the face, and they keep slapping me. For Joey Miller, who just finished his second year at University of the Arts, emergency housing for the summer was a lifeline. I just cant crash on my friends couches for the rest of my life, said Miller, a film and animation major. My plan is that I have no plan. Im just hoping that someone will step up to reopen the university. Like Miller, Barthelemy and Sampson, Kyla Klein has also been living in emergency university housing. (She also lost her job at the university library, and her free mental health help.) Worried about how long emergency housing will remain viable, Klein left Friday for Florida; shes moving into her fathers bedroom while he temporarily bunks with his girlfriend. Moving more than 1,000 miles away from the city she has grown to love and from her partner was excruciating, but she had no other option, Klein said. Klein hopes to come back to Philadelphia eventually, but isnt sure what that will look like. I havent been able to fill even out one application, Klein said. All of the students said they were both sad and furious. All Ive done is trust this schools word, and said, Heres my money and I trust that youre going to put it back in the school, Miller said. But where the hell are all these millions of dollars? No one knows whats going to happen to anything A degree in music business entrepreneurship and technology was well within reach for Jade Gilliam: She had just 18 credits to complete before collecting her University of the Arts diploma. When her school imploded, she said, enough. Shes taking a break from school. I feel very exhausted, said Gilliam. I need a break from institutions and schools and administration in general. I just feel like I dont trust it anymore, even though I love to learn. This isnt Gilliams first go-round with institutional disappointment; in 2019-20, she was a senior in high school, at Science Leadership Academy in the Philadelphia School District, a school that closed for months because of asbestos and renovations handled so poorly the districts inspector general ultimately investigated, finding a process rife with errors and danger. Gilliam was one of the students who spoke out against the districts handling of the situation. She wasnt happy with the way district officials handled the situation then, Gillam said, but at least they sat there and listened to us, and at least we knew who was in charge. Now, at University of the Arts, theres a leadership vacuum and no one has any answers, Gilliam said. Just before the closure announcement, her father received a tuition bill for a summer-session class that met exactly once. Midweek, Gilliam felt adrift. Were moving equipment and trying to organize and figure out whats here, said Gilliam. No one knows whats going to happen to anything; they completely closed lines of communication, and everyone resigned. At 22, Gilliam said shes jaded. The world has shown me nothing but the fact that administration doesnt care for its students, its teachers. The bottom of the academic totem pole When Doria Wohler heard about the University of the Arts impending closure on June 1, her first thoughts were of her students. Wohler, an adjunct faculty member teaching creative writing, had long misgivings about the university where she taught she said she thought the universitys price tag was exorbitant and often graduated students with no idea of what they should do next, but the bright, funny, quirky, often neurodiverse students she taught were enough to keep her coming back. So, soon after Walk and trustees president Judson Aaron messaged about the schools catastrophic collapse, Wohler reached out to the young people she had taught in the prior semester. She offered to help them figure out where and how to transfer to other universities. She told them she believed in them. And she had choice words for the school that had let them down. I believe the administration of this school has, for a very long time, enabled predatory practices that leave many students drowning in debt with little preparation for postgraduate life, Wohler wrote. I believe this school has depended heavily, for a very long time, on the positive intentions of its underpaid faculty and overcharged students to facilitate the sort of community and resource connecting that, at such an insanely high tuition price, should be included in the cost of attendance. I am disgusted by the careless, insidious actions of this university, and you should be, too. The messages that came back to Wohler broke her heart, she said. Youre actually the first person [aside from the first, mass message from the university] to reach out to me, one student wrote. I appreciate this show of support a lot, as weve been very much abandoned by the university at this point. It really sucks that no one cared enough to inform us all of this earlier, and Im sending you support as well, since UArts doesnt give much of a [redacted] about faculty either. Another asked for advice about another Philadelphia university. I am just still trying to wrap my head around this. I just literally cant do it. I have ONE semester left ... I am being so real right now but youre the only one that reached out and I havent heard anymore information. Like, this just isnt real???? Im also a first gen college student and I have no idea what to do or like what should my next steps be, if there are any?!' Even as she figures out her own next steps, Wohler said shell assist her students in whatever way she can. Phillys reputation as a food city has been bolstered for several years now by plaudits showered on its chefs, restaurants, and bars by national magazines and food institutions, none more prominent than the James Beard Foundation. After big wins last year, Philly was largely shut out of this years James Beard Chef and Restaurant Awards, set to be announced Monday in Chicago. But its food writers had anything but a disappointing showing on Saturday evening, when the winners of the James Beard Media Awards were announced. Advertisement Inquirer critic Craig LaBan and photographer Jessica Griffin won a James Beard journalism award for travel writing. LaBan and Griffin journeyed to Mexico last year to report a series of articles, including about Cantina La Martina chef Dionicio Jimenezs first post-pandemic trip home to Puebla and a deep dive into tequila and mezcal production led by Tequilas owner David Suro. Two other Philadelphia-based authors picked up James Beard book awards Saturday, with Suro himself and coauthor Gary Paul Nabhan winning for Agave Spirits: The Past, Present, and Future of Mezcals and South Jersey bartender Danny Childs winning for Slow Drinks: A Field Guide to Foraging and Fermenting Seasonal Sodas, Botanical Cocktails, Homemade Wines, and More. This is LaBans second James Beard Award and his sixth time nominated. He won his first award in 2000 for Best Newspaper Review or Critique. This year he was also nominated for the Craig Claiborne Distinguished Criticism Award, which went to New Yorker writer Helen Rosner. Ever camera-shy, LaBan was not present to accept the award Saturday night. Instead, former Inquirer food editor Jamila Robinson accepted on his and Griffins behalf. (Robinson is now editor-in-chief of Bon Appetit.) LaBan also serves on the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards Committee, which helps determine the nominees for the Restaurant and Chef Awards. That award ceremony, widely regarded as the Oscars of the food community, is slated for Monday. After Philadelphia scored several notable wins last year including Outstanding Restaurant (Friday Saturday Sunday), Outstanding Restaurateur (Ellen Yin), and Best Chef Mid-Atlantic (Kalayas Chutatip Nok Suntaranon) Royal Sushi chef Jesse Ito stands as the lone Philly finalist this year. Reached Sunday morning as he was readying to depart for Mondays award ceremony in Chicago, LaBan said he was grateful for The Inquirers investment in an ambitious reporting project as well as his coauthor and award recipient. Jessica was an amazing travel and reporting partner, always up for whatever crazy ride into the mountains of Michoacan the story demanded. With agave-pollinating bats whizzing past our heads in the night! Its no wonder her pictures are all so spectacular. He also thanked Jimenez and Suro for showing The Inquirer their Mexico, he said. Its such an incredible thrill to be acknowledged for a story I care so deeply about to draw the line between Philadelphias thriving Mexican community and the source of their inspiration. It shows how our great food city is an essential part of a global community. Hows this for a deal? A 1834 mansion, Pennsylvania brownstone exterior, 17 rooms, oak beams, chestnut floors, nine fireplaces. And it can be all yours for FREE. No kidding. Advertisement Theres just one catch: You have to move it somewhere else. And soon. Otherwise, she will sadly be reduced to a pile of rubble, reads the notice posted recently by Tyler Schumacher, president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Preservation Society. The offer FREE TO ANYONE WHO CAN MOVE HER! posted on the nonprofits website, may well be the real estate opportunity of a lifetime for the right person, and possibly the last chance to save a historic Delaware Valley property. The house in question is the Hood Mansion, built in Limerick by Philadelphia merchant and northern Ireland immigrant John McClellan Hood as a summer residence for his wife and their 13 children. Called the Bessie Belle, the Montgomery County property reportedly served as a stop on the Underground Railroad for enslaved people fleeing north. Relatives of Hood family owned the house into the 1980s, and the house was occupied by caretakers until 2008, according to Schumacher. Over the years, various plans for the property have fallen through, including preserving it and also razing to make way for a casino. The old house has been vandalized and graffiti scribbled on its walls. Schumachers interest in Hood Mansion inspired him to form the EPPS in 2019. The group has been helping to maintain the historic Sterling Inn property in the Poconos Wayne County, but their hopes for the Hood property have proven more elusive. Schumacher, who is the facilities site manager at Lynnewood Hall in Elkins Park, said recently that he met with the Brooklyn developer who currently owns the Hood property and plans to turn it into a warehouse center. READ MORE: Since 2020, 55 million square feet of warehouse space has sprung up in the Philly area. Heres how its reshaping jobs, traffic, and landscapes. The offer Schumacher said he initially was speaking with the developer about making arrangements to salvage certain historic elements from the property, including a monument to Washington Hood, one of the founders sons and a West Point graduate. Then the preservationist said he asked the owner about giving the house away. The developer said no. But that changed. He said, You know what, if somebody is willing to pay to have it removed, I dont have to put it on my property, and I dont have to be involved hardly at all, I will allow it, Schumacher said. So here we are. Ive been trying to find somebody who wants to take the house off the property and preserve it as a kind of last ditch effort to save the mansion from demolition. A local attorney for the developer could not be reached for comment. But word of the free-mansion-if-it-could-be-moved quickly has caused quite an online flurry thanks to a post from the Instagram account Cheap Old Houses. Schumacher, however, said he has received at least two potential inquiries. One person I heard from is interested in dismantling the house and reconstructing it elsewhere on a property not too far away, he said. The other person I just spoke with this morning. Hes interested in possibly moving the house to a property in Chadds Ford. So conversations are ongoing. We dont have anything in writing yet. The second person, he added, wants to use the house as his personal residence. The cost Moving a building the size of the Hood Mansion would be a challenge in terms of finding a feasible route, said Jimmy Stavinski, an estimator with Wolfe House & Building Movers, a company that specializes in relocating historic buildings around the country. One of Wolfes other projects was moving the old stone building section of the River House at Odettes in New Hope. Stavinski estimated that moving the Hood house would cost $700,000 to $1 million. That does not include the price of building a foundation or securing permits. But it would save the house. Its a lot of work, but it can be done, Stavinski said. When Schumacher has a firm offer from someone who wants to acquire the Hood Mansion and will move it, he said he will present it to the developers lawyer. Hes fielding interest via his groups website, easternpapreservation.org or his email, president@easternpapreservation.org. But he seemed to feel there isnt much time to waste. The house needs to be moved semi-quickly, Schumacher said. Its really whoever can get it done first. Cantina La Martina owners Mariangeli Alicea Saez and her husband, chef Dionicio Jimenez, in front of their restaurant in Kensington. They are concerned about the clean-up plan. Read more When chef Dionicio Jimenez opens the doors of Cantina La Martina on Kensington Avenue, his day begins by cleaning up trash and human feces from the sidewalk or disposing of the occasional mattress where people have been sleeping around his restaurant. He and his wife, co-owner Mariangeli Alicea Saez, were hopeful about Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers plan to clean up Kensington, where they opened their restaurant in 2022. Advertisement But since last months closure of a homeless encampment half a mile north, problems have intensified near SEPTAs Somerset Station and cost them business. The volume of open-air drug use around their restaurant has dramatically increased, crowds loiter around the clock, and weekly sales have fallen up to 60% in the last month, the couple said. We were finally reaching a point where one could feel the progress, see the difference, Jimenez, 48, said in Spanish. Then the clean-up began with what seems like no concrete action plan. Parker unveiled a five-phase strategy in April to root out Kensingtons heavy narcotics trade and stabilize the neighborhood. No timeline was set for when each phase would begin or end, and officials claimed the encampment closure was not part of the plans rollout. But that has been little solace to people dealing with the latest wave of displacement. Longtime residents and business owners have seen countless encampment closures and drug corner busts that did little more than shuffle Kensingtons problems around the neighborhood. And the result is a cycle of short-lived reprieves, where one blocks peace spells another blocks chaos. Between Somerset and Allegheny on Kensington Avenue, the fallout from the latest shutdown has left many community leaders questioning the administrations ability to deliver on its long-term stabilization plan or whether the policing alone will provide meaningful relief while waiting for the city to expand its addiction treatment infrastructure. Police said Thursday that they would deploy dozens of new police officers to the neighborhood and begin stricter enforcement of drug laws. Deputy Commissioner Pedro Rosario, the police commander overseeing the Kensington plan, acknowledged that displacement had been a significant if expected challenge over the last month, and urged residents to have patience. Its only been a month, he said. Is it as quick as some people would hope it would be? No. The displacement is a challenge everyday. But I dont want to let this community down and say were not responding to their concerns. Frustration over the last month has been compounded by what business owners, community leaders, and longtime residents called a lack of communication from City Hall. Parker name-dropped the James Beard-nominated Cantina La Martina owners in her inaugural budget address in March, citing Jimenez and Saez as an inspiration and saying their resilience is what were fighting for in Kensington. The New Kensington Community Development Corporation, Impact Services, and other nonprofit leaders told The Inquirer that theyve been left in the dark about the plan, receiving little communication from the administration. I dont think they were as prepared as they could have been, said Dianne Hoffmann, 61, the executive director of Mother of Mercy House, a Christian nonprofit that serves the neighborhood. I would think someone would call or stop by, or even have a meeting of the nonprofits that are really making a difference. Sharon Gallagher, a spokesperson for the Managing Directors Office, said that the administration has partnered with organizations in Kensington and that expectations for overnight change are unrealistic. Calm here, chaos there Along the 3000 and 3100 blocks of Kensington Avenue, metal bicycle racks now line the sidewalk where tents once sat and people openly used drugs in front of mostly vacant storefronts. The increased police activity in the area has been a welcomed sight for the remaining business owners in the epicenter of the open-air market. There is less garbage and more protection, mini-market operator Javier Nunez said in Spanish. I dont know where they all went, but its much quieter. I dont have to deal with a crowd of people lying around outside and a storefront as dirty as it was before. On the immediate blocks east and west of the Avenue, however, narcotics activity has pressed into the residential streets, with dealers handing out free samples to draw their customer base to new locations. At McPherson Square long a battleground for community control over the neighborhood crowds have also swelled in recent weeks. [The city] is saying they were going to take them and fix the area, but they have nowhere to go, said Anna, a business owner in the area who asked that her last name and business name be withheld for fear of retaliation. No one has come to tell us anything. But it doesnt even make us feel bad, because we are used to not being given any explanation. Meanwhile, fears over displacement have accelerated in nearby neighborhoods, with many bracing for another wave as more police descend on the Avenue. Reports of new homeless encampments spiked in Port Richmond, Fishtown, and East Kensington last month, according to city 311 data. At a recent community meeting in the Harrowgate section of Kensington, Shannon Farrell, president of the areas civic association, said that neighbors expected the displacement to be worse than its been so far, but she worried about people being spread out and accessing fewer resources, and turf wars breaking out between dealers. Despite the visible disorder, gun violence has plummeted citywide, including in the police district that covers Kensington. Since January, homicides are down 31% and shootings 51% compared with the same period last year, according to police data. Rosario said police have been trying to capitalize on those gains while also preventing new encampments before they start. I cant just take people off the street for no given reason, he said. Theres a process to everything. Were engaging. Weve been trying to hit them with as many resources as we can. It like feels like living in the dark Although theres been no dramatic increase in arrests, Rosario last month said increased enforcement in Kensington began when Parker took office, with officers stopping more people for long-overlooked offenses such as drug paraphernalia and public drug use. For people struggling in addiction, it has amounted to months of harassment with no clear alternatives except to keep shifting around the neighborhood. Kirsten Callahan, 29, sat at McPherson Square last week with a growing crowd of people in addiction who had been dispersed by the encampment closure. She said the latest shuffling has left her and her friends feeling like cattle. It feels dehumanizing, Callahan said, surrounded by a few close friends who look out for each other. It feels like living in the dark, living day to day by ear. Callahan and her friends try to find quiet places where they wont bother nearby families, children, and business owners. If you are a little bit better than you were the day before, she tells herself, life will move in the right direction. Back at the Cantina, news that more officers were being dispatched to the neighborhood did little to restore hope for Jimenez and Saez. After weeks of complaining about the displacement and poor communication, Councilmember Quetcy Lozada and Rosario met the owners two weeks ago and urged patience. Lozada, whose district includes much of Kensington, said Thursday that she recognized the impact of the encampment closure, and said city outreach workers were working daily to connect people who had been displaced. Rosario called the Somerset area the bane of his existence at the moment, but promised change was coming. I anticipate it to get a little worse before it will get better, he said of the next phase. Saez faulted the Parker administration for not consulting with more community leaders who have been on the ground for years. She and Jimenez knew what they were getting into opening their business under the El. Theyve weathered high insurance premiums and vendor cancellations over public safety concerns in the neighborhood. Within the last month, convincing customers to come back has been harder than ever. It feels hopeless, Saez said. This is not about bringing more police to the streets. And this is not about bringing more sanitation trucks to clean the streets. Thats just a small part of the problem. This is about how are you going to heal the crisis of drug abuse, homelessness. Staff writers Anna Orso, Ellie Rushing, and Dylan Purcell contributed to this article. World War II veteran James A. OBrien, alongside his daughter-in-law Marlene OBrien, is welcomed home after attending a D-Day anniversary observance in France. Read more Before flying to America from Normandy after attending the 80th commemoration of D-Day last week, World War II veteran James OBrien told his son Vincent that hed like to come home to a parade. Little did he know what was already being planned back in Burlington County. Advertisement I was joking, but they took me seriously, said OBrien, 99, as a flag-waving crowd of 150 family members, friends, neighbors, first responders, and fellow vets cheered his return to Pemberton Township on Saturday. The last week [I spent] touring Normandy and seeing so many crowds coming out and cheering and wishing us well, some with tears in their eyes, said the father of five, grandfather of 14, and great-grandfather of 24. And then I come home to this. This beats it all! Organized in just a few days by a handful of volunteers, the welcome included a police escort, representatives of American Legion Eden-Stanley Post 294, an honor guard of American Legion Riders, members of the Pemberton High School JROTC, and remarks by Army Command Sgt. Major Travis L. Autry. I appreciate you for all youve done when you put that uniform on, because freedom is not free, Autry said. Lilli Cook, 10, presented OBrien with a box containing 200 handmade cards from students at the Pemberton Early Childhood Education Center. This is a gift from the kids ... and I want to say thank you so much for your service, she said. OBrien, who was born in Philadelphia, moved with his family when he was 4 years old to then-rural Pemberton Township. After graduating as senior class president of Pemberton Township High School, he was drafted into the Army in September 1943 and served in A company, 65th Armored Infantry Battalion, 20th Armored Division as a rifleman and ammunition handler. He served in Europe, although not in Normandy. He returned to the United States in August of 1945 and got married two weeks later. He and his wife, Sophia, raised five children: sons Michael, James, and Vincent, and daughters Joan Craft and Anne Poole. Hes my number one favorite person in the world, said Missy Harner, OBriens granddaughter. James established OBrien & Sons Hardware in 1953, and the business is still going strong in the Browns Mills section of the township. It kind of makes you emotional because he has lived here all his life, and he loves Browns Mills, Michael OBrien said during an interview last week. The trip to Normandy has been amazing for him. Customers at the store feel like part of the family, as well, said Denise Lang, a retired corrections officer, and her daughter Atisha, who were among the first people from the community to set up chairs on Four Mill Road across from the OBrien homestead. Others nearby held handmade signs (Welcome home n thank u, You are a true hero) and gathered around the car that carried OBrien home from Philadelphia International Airport. His daughter-in-law Marlene OBrien, who is married to Michael, did the driving. She said Vincent OBrien suggested that his father apply for an American Airlines program that offered free round-trips for World War II veterans wanting to attend the 80th anniversary commemoration. James OBrien was one of about 70 who took the trip on American. We have to thank those who paved the way for us, and honor them, said Kevin James, commander of Post 294. We need to keep that tradition going. According to Marlene OBrien, when we pulled up he said, I really did get a parade. When we heard about it, we ran with it, and it became a big community event, said Hillary Vargas, one of he organizers. Im just really happy that the community really pulled together to honor him, said Michelle Walker, another of the organizers. Bottles of raw milk are displayed for sale at a store in Temecula, Calif., on Wednesday, May 8, 2024. Sales of raw milk appear to be on the rise, despite an outbreak of bird flu in U.S. dairy cows. Federal officials warn about the health risks of drinking raw milk at any time, but especially during this novel outbreak. (AP Photo/JoNel Aleccia) Read more Start your day with the Philly news you need and the stories you want all in one easy-to-read newsletter Good morning. It should be a partly sunny Sunday with a high near 82, but look out for a slight chance of mid-afternoon showers. Raw milk is a controversial commodity. Enthusiasts say its grassy and creamier than pasteurized milk, but health officials warn that consuming it is seriously risky. Still, Pennsylvania and nearby states are considering pulling back on some rules. Our main read weighs the options. Advertisement Paola Perez (@pdesiperez, morningnewsletter@inquirer.com) If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here. The U.S. Food & Drug Administration warns of serious health risks associated with the consumption of unpasteurized milk. Only three states in the country have outright banned raw products. But more states are considering loosening some rules on the production or sale of raw milk, including Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Pasteurization is the process of heating milk to destroy potentially harmful microbes. Devotees and detractors are divided on its merits, but both the FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are firmly against recommending drinking raw milk. Pennsylvania is home to nearly 5,000 dairy farms, according to the states Department of Agriculture; 115 are licensed to handle raw milk. Licensees in Pa. and other states say tight restrictions are from a much different, more dangerous time in the dairy world. And some farm owners like Layne Klein in Easton (pictured above) credit the transition to raw milk with saving their operations. Weve lost so many small dairies in this state because of the rules and regulations pasteurization requires, Bill Simmerman told our Jason Nark. Get a closer look at existing laws on raw milk and what could change. Chef Dionicio Jimenez and Mariangeli Alicea Saez, Jimenezs wife and co-owner of Cantina La Martina on Kensington Avenue, were hopeful about Mayor Cherelle L. Parkers plan to clean up Kensington. But while some areas of the troubled neighborhood seem to have benefited from the citys effort to root out the neighborhoods heavy narcotics trade, longtime residents and business owners say its not long before they see problems intensify in others. This became evident following last months clearing of a homeless encampment, which they say did little more than shuffle the neighborhoods problems. The result: a cycle of short-lived reprieves, where one blocks peace spells another blocks chaos, report Max Marin and Michelle Myers. In their own words: We were finally reaching a point where one could feel the progress, see the difference, Jimenez, 48, said in Spanish. Then the cleanup began with what seems like no concrete action plan. This is all happening as dozens of new police officers are soon expected to more strictly enforce drug laws in the neighborhood at the center of a billion-dollar heroin industry. Go deeper into the chaos and confusion impacting the latest efforts to stabilize Kensington. What you should know today Pop quiz Earlier this week, Julie brought you the good news that a raptor made a remarkable recovery and is no longer considered an endangered species in New Jersey. Which bird bounced back? A) osprey B) bald eagle C) peregrine falcon D) red-shouldered hawk Maybe you caught it in the latest Outdoorsy newsletter. Think you know it? Check your answer here. Unscramble the anagram Hint: The host of Wheel of Fortune, the longest-running gameshow in American TV history, is officially retired after hosting his final episode on Friday. KAJA PAST Email us if you know the answer. Well select a reader at random to shout out here. Cheers to Helen Duncan who correctly guessed Fridays answer: Phanatic. The beloved Phillies mascot is thrilled to be in London, and fans at home and abroad are equally ecstatic after Saturdays red-hot victory across the pond. For those tuning in from a comfy couch or at a local watch party, be advised: Sundays game starts early. Photo of the day Todays Sunday track goes like this: You can feel it in the streets / On a day like this, the heat / It feel like summer. Childish Gambino is among some of the biggest and best pop concerts coming to the Philly area this season. Also enjoying two very green things: the Phanatics fun cameo in Tierra Whacks Tiny Desk Concert, and Charli XCXs bombastic return with BRAT. Thats it for now. Thanks for starting your day with us. Have a great one. One word stood out when New York Gov. Kathy Hochul stood up last December to address a political pep rally for a radical antipollution program called congestion pricing thats cut traffic and carbon emissions in large European cities but has never been attempted in the United States. That word was courage. Advertisement From time to time, leaders are called upon to envision a better future, be bold in the implementation and execution, and be undaunted by the opposition, the Democratic governor of the nations second-largest blue state declared. Thats how you secure progress. Thats what today is all about. Hochul heaped praise on the transit leaders behind her who pushed through the plan to toll motorists who insist on driving into midtown and lower Manhattan, adding, Thats courage, thats courage. If only Hochul had reserved even a teaspoon of courage for herself. Last week, the Buffalo-area former less-than-one-term congresswoman who became governor in 2021 after her predecessor Andrew Cuomos sexual harassment scandal shocked New Yorkers by placing an indefinite pause on congestion pricing, in which cars entering the lower half of Manhattan would have been charged $15, with trucks paying more. Hochul insisted she was concerned about the citys and states economic recovery from the pandemic, that hardworking New Yorkers are getting hammered on costs. But critics of Hochuls craven flip-flop, and there are many, say everyday New York City residents are the ones getting pounded with a blunt object here. They are the ones wholl be breathing the dirty air from the cars that now wont be taken off the road. Other cities such as London, Stockholm, and Singapore that have tried congestion pricing have seen particulates and other hazardous forms of air pollution drop by 10% or more. A lot of that pollution comes from the estimated 117 hours every year that Manhattan drivers idle in stalled traffic, a gob-smacking waste of time. But the other side of the equation may prove even more devastating to Hochuls lower-income residents who depend on buses and subways. That is the loss of the funding source for an ambitious $15 billion program to radically upgrade New Yorks almost comically outdated mass transit system. The last-minute, half-baked nature of the governors announcement suggested replacing the $1 billion in lost revenue with a tax on business that seems not only ill-advised but politically impossible, with a state legislature in Albany preparing to go home for the summer. This likely fiscal meltdown means no money for a slew of worthy projects like extending a subway line into upper Manhattan, buying electric buses, and fixing ancient rail and subway lines that have been prone to commuter-stranding breakdowns. So what really happened here? Most watchers of New York politics agree that when Hochul spoke of bad timing for the program, the timing on her mind was November, when the success or failure of Democratic candidates in suburban swing districts on Long Island, north of the city, and in New Jersey and Connecticut are critical to the partys plans to win back the House. Indeed, New York Citys House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, who would become speaker in January if Dems win back a few seats, may have been Hochuls car-whisperer on the delay. Never mind that its Jefferies district constituents in Brooklyn getting screwed over here. Hochuls cowardly reversal matters for a lot of reasons that go beyond New Yorkers ability to breathe and get from place to place. For one thing, this fiasco might scare off other U.S. cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco that have also studied congestion pricing, as America runs out of time to meet the ambitious carbon-reduction goals necessary for beating back climate change. But even worse, as we rush headlong into an election when the fate of democracy is on the ballot, what voter can be inspired by the deer-in-headlights terrified look of Democrats in a bellwether state? Hochuls three years of panicked, walk-it-back non-leadership make her the avatar of a broken party. Thats a shame. Hochul is a trailblazer the only woman among New Yorks 57 governors but only on paper. Her mediocrity is a sad contrast to the states many actual pioneering female political leaders, from Susan B. Anthony and Elizabeth Cady Stanton to Shirley Chisholm and Elizabeth Holtzman. Her accidental rise to prominence was really more a tribute to geography a ticket balancer, an upstater from Buffalo perhaps a tad to the right of the not-really-that-liberal Cuomo. History has repeatedly shown that the problem with ticket balancers is the candidate never imagines they might actually leave office early. Thus, JFK bequeathed us LBJ and a protracted war in Vietnam, while Abraham Lincolns choice of Andrew Johnson put a white supremacist Democrat in charge of Reconstruction. Indeed, Hochul comes off as a modern update on Johnson, as her GOP-lite politics are often at odds with liberal New Yorkers. READ MORE: Slain cops politicized wake is a warning | Will Bunch Newsletter Before the congestion pricing flip-flop, Hochuls fear-driven, anti-progressive moves have included a (thankfully failed) push to name a center-right justice to New Yorks highest court and a lucrative new stadium deal for her hometown Buffalo Bills that even voters in die-hard Bills Country didnt support. She won passage of a state budget by agreeing to undo New Yorks innovative bail reforms that were working well despite squawking from police unions and right-wing media. Despite falling crime rates, both across New York City and in its subway system, Hochul was panicked enough by a couple of headline-grabbing incidents to send hundreds of National Guard members down into the stations initially with long guns before even the governor realized what a bad look that was. Even after her 2022 election to a full term in a year when blue-state voters rallied behind abortion rights, Hochul has largely moved in two gears: directionless, or in reverse whenever the New York Post or the local if-it-bleeds-it-leads TV stations highlight a negative story for their audience who wouldnt vote Democratic if you handed them a $100 bill entering the voting booth. Sitting in the Albany office that was home during the Great Depression to the great Democrat Franklin D. Roosevelt, the only thing Hochul has to fear is seemingly everything. You may have noticed the asterisk in the headline describing Hochul as the nations worst governor. Thats because we live in a moment when red state voters have elected like-minded leaders with hatred in their veins such as Greg Abbott of Texas who just declared open killing season on liberal protesters, and whose razor wire slashes little kids and pregnant moms or Louisianas Jeff Landry, who is filling the prisons while imposing abortion policies that Margaret Atwood would have rejected as too crazy when she was writing The Handmaids Tale. Men like Abbott, Landry, and Floridas Ron DeSantis are the most evil and openly fascist governors America has seen since the segregationist 1960s, but they are doing the warped will of their citizens. Hochul, on the other hand, is blowing a chance to work with New Yorks forward-thinking legislators and voters to make bold moves to improve peoples lives. The only thing missing is courage. That seems even worse. At the same time Hochul was flip-flopping on congestion pricing, the GOPs standard-bearer was delivering a speech at a megachurch in a broiling Phoenix, where 11 people waiting in a long line to see Donald Trump were rushed to a hospital for heat stroke. Even with the evidence literally dropping on the sizzling asphalt right in front of him, Trump continues to deny that man-made climate change is a problem, as he dangles his pro-pollution policies in front of Big Oil and hopes for a $1 billion payday. Trumps cynicism might kill the planet, but is Hochuls fecklessness that much better? You cant beat something even something horrific with nothing. Young voters forming their opinions about the American system mostly dont like Trumps authoritarianism, but some may favor an outrageous dark vision over no vision at all. Todays electorate wants leaders who can envision a better future, undaunted by the opposition. If only Kathy Hochul had listened to Kathy Hochul. READ MORE: SIGN UP: The Will Bunch Newsletter A former boxer punched a student in the face in an unprovoked attack in Cobh, Co Cork, leaving him with long-term dental damage, a sitting of Midleton District Court has been told. Inspector Tony OSullivan said the assault happened outside the Village Inn pub on Newtown Rd, Cobh, in the early hours of October 16, 2022. Friends had been watching rugby match Friends Jude McCrossan and Daniel OSullivan had attended a rugby match at the nearby Cobh Pirates rugby ground earlier that evening and had gone to Mr OSullivans home for about an hour after the game. At about 1.30am, the two students left Mr OSullivans residence and made their way towards Mr McCrossans lodgings. The court heard Mr McCrossan had moved to Cork from Co Donegal three weeks earlier to study. Mr OSullivan had intended to walk with him some of the way as he did not know the area. Man began shouting Giving evidence, Mr McCrossan said that, as they approached the Village Inn, a man standing outside began shouting at them but he could not understand what he was saying. As they passed, the man mumbled something else and Mr McCrossan turned around. The man, identified as James Mahony, aged 58, of Russell Heights, Cobh, then punched Mr McCrossan. Injuries due to punch The court saw photographic evidence of the injuries: His lip was split, there was substantial bleeding and his glasses were knocked off. Mr McCrossan also suffered a broken tooth which required 1,500 of dental work and may now need to be completely replaced. Mahony told the court Mr McCrossan had approached him in an aggressive manner and punched him in the shoulder for no reason. He said he had attended his GP and the Mercy Hospital as a result of the alleged assault. He told the court that he was a former boxer and because he was being threatened he punched both of the friends. Claim of self-defence He said: I always do for the chin. Its the natural thing for me to do to defend myself to punch him in the face. I could have kicked him in the groin or something but I always go for the chin. The court heard that Mr Mahony was collected by his daughter and went home with his wife. When he attended Cobh Garda Station for interview he complained that he was in bits and his shoulder was killing him because he had been assaulted a few days previously. Defence solicitor Don Ryan said his client was the victim of aggression and the two students had consumed far more alcohol than the few pints they claimed. He said that Mr OSullivan tried unsuccessfully to hold back Mr McCrossan who was behaving aggressively and that he had accompanied his friend because he was highly intoxicated. Mahony found guilty of assault Judge Marie Keane said Mahonys evidence was quite extraordinary and the court found his medical evidence self-serving. She was satisfied with Mr McCrossans version of events and the court found Mahony guilty of assault. Victim impact statement She remanded him on bail until July 18 to allow time for the preparation of a victim impact statement. The Kinsale Library and University College Corks strength and conditioning gym at the Mardyke are both in the running to be named Irelands favourite building or public space for 2024. The two Cork properties have been shortlisted in the Royal Institute of the Architects of Ireland (RIAI) Awards, and are through to the finals, alongside 40 other projects. Now in its 35th year, the RIAI Awards celebrate excellence in the design and delivery of buildings by registered architects. This years Public Choice Award shortlist includes homes, heritage projects, and public spaces which were plucked from over 180 entries. The shortlist is the outcome of a thorough adjudication process that included jury visits. It includes buildings and public spaces located in all corners of the country as well as one international representation with a project in Poland. According to the RIAI, this years awards have seen inspiring examples of the adaptive reuse and restoration of old buildings across residential, workplace and public buildings. Kinsale Library designed by Cork County Council architects. Picture: Jed Niezgoda/jedniezgoda.com Examples include the boarded-up shell of a 19th century grain store in Kinsales medieval town centre that was transformed into a public library and exhibition space. The new library, which is located in the James ONeill Building (Old Mill) in the heart of the town, was designed inhouse by Cork County Councils architects department. The 4.8m project was officially opened by the Mayor of the County of Cork Frank O'Flynn and Rural and Community Development Minister Heather Humphries in December 2023. Commenting on the restoration, Mr OFlynn said: The library is now ten times larger than the previous premises and has transformed the service offered to the people of Kinsale and surrounding areas. This project has also brought an historical building back to life, conserving it and redesigning it sensitively to the benefit of the entire community. Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie OSullivan added: The Old Mill was built sometime between 1840 and 1800, it was badly damaged by fire on two occasions before it was acquired by us. We now have an incredible, state-of-the-art space that is used by people of all ages. Kinsale Library designed by Cork County Council architects. Picture: Jed Niezgoda/jedniezgoda.com Elsewhere, some high-quality public housing projects have also made the shortlist. One example is Dublin City Councils Cornamona Court. The intergenerational development provides a mix of 28 houses and duplexes for families and 33 apartments for older persons. A community space and a landscaped courtyard are also provided. Voting is open until midnight on Wednesday, June 19, and the winner will be announced on by RIAI president Sean Mahon at a ceremony in the National Gallery of Ireland on Friday, June 21. Speaking ahead of the event, Mr Mahon said: The exceptional quality of entries this year underscores the significant contributions that Irish architects are making to enhance our built environment. Each project showcases a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and community, reflecting the value that thoughtful design brings to every aspect of our daily lives." You can take a look at all 42 entries and vote for your favourite here. Irish security services identified fake online accounts linked to the Russian state that were generating anti-government messages in the run up to the election, the Irish Examiner understands. Garda HQ is believed to have engaged with the social media providers about the accounts and some of them were suspended. The Garda Security and Intelligence Service only acts where disinformation is being carried out at the behest of hostile State actors. It is thought that the suspect accounts were most likely linked to the Russian state or were operated by groups backed by the countrys intelligence services. It comes as the National Cyber Security Centre separately thwarted cyberattacks from Russian hackers on the websites of State services, including Irish Rail, Bus Eireann, and voter.ie a voting register service. The Department of Communications, the centre's parent department, said it was part of an organised campaign across EU member states. A spokesman said the impact of the attacks was minimal, adding that this was mainly because the websites were prepared for potential attacks. It is understood that Garda Security and Intelligence Service was in contact with the National Cyber Security Centre in relation to the cyberattacks. Separately, it is understood that Garda HQ has been working with other European intelligence agencies monitoring efforts to disrupt processes around elections. Security officers were examining a number of suspected fake online accounts that were presenting 'anti-government narratives' It is thought that these accounts were either being operated by Russian intelligence services or by groups acting with their support. It is understood that gardai have engaged with online service providers in relation to suspected fake profiles, leading to some of these accounts have been suspended. It is thought that Garda HQ has, generally, a good relationship with the main online service providers in Ireland. The broadcasting commission, Coimisiun na Mean, has the lead role in Ireland in combating online harm and disinformation, with the Electoral Commission primarily involved in disinformation that affects the electoral process. The National Cyber Security Centre has been working closely with the Electoral Commission on election security as well as local authorities. The director of the National Cyber Security Centre, Richard Browne, said that it is imperative to guard against cyberattacks on the electoral process. Picture: Maxwells National Cyber Security Centre boss Richard Browne told the Irish Examiner last month that, while they deal with hundreds of cyber incident every year, theyve never seen anything significant affecting the electoral process. However, he said it could happen. If it did, he added, the first time would be enough as it could be very bad news, and said the imperative was to guard against it occurring. Garda HQ has been working with Coimisiun na Mean in developing an interim response mechanism until a proper Memorandum of Understanding was developed. As the State security service, An Garda Siochana is centrally involved where those behind the disinformation are potentially hostile State actors. The Department of Communications said the websites targeted were subject to distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks, where they are bombarded by online requests affecting their ability to operate. A spokesman for the department said: This activity is part of a pattern of events across the EU, and is in line with the experiences of other EU member states. The centre has been working with the websites involved, offering technical advice, guidance, and co-ordinating the response In the Netherlands, Politico.eu reported several websites belonging to Dutch political parties experienced similar attacks on Thursday. Those cyberattacks were claimed by a pro-Russian hacker group called HackNeT, via their Telegam account, Politico.eu reported. A Telegram account indicates Bus Eireanns website was among those targeted, as was that of the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland and voter.ie. It has also been reported that the European Court of Auditors' website was targeted. This site was down on Thursday afternoon, but now appears to be functioning normally. A spokeswoman for the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland confirmed an attack was made on their website on Friday. "The attempted attack was identified by our web security and monitoring system," she said. "As a proactive measure, the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland website was taken down for a short time to allow for the site attempting to carry out the attack to be blocked and checks to be carried out." The RCSI website has been restored, and we are confident that no information was compromised A spokeswoman for Bus Eireann confirmed on Saturday that their website was one of those affected in the attempted attacks. "Through working with the National Cyber Security Centre, we were able to manage the attack and take the necessary measures to ensure our site was accessible to the public," she said. A spokeswoman for Dublin Bus confirmed a cyberattack was made on their website also. "I can confirm that Dublin Bus was targeted as part of a series of failed cyberattacks on Irish websites. "Dublin Bus worked with the National Cyber Security Centre and ensured that the necessary measures were taken to mitigate the attack," she said on Saturday evening. European election candidates are bracing for a long count in Midlands North West, with battles for the last two seats likely to erupt in the coming days. Counting continued late into the night at the TF Royal Hotel in Castlebar, with a first result not expected to be completed until Monday afternoon at least. While no tallies are being carried out in the constituency, early indications have shown both Independent Luke Ming Flanagan and Fine Gaels Maria Walsh performing well, with Fianna Fail also confident in Barry Cowens showing. Despite these positive indications, Mr Flanagan said that he will only be confident about his own chances if I take the seat. Fianna Fails Lisa Chambers was in buoyant moon as she arrived at the count on Sunday evening, saying that while a seat for Mr Cowen was nailed on, the party is in the hunt for a second seat. Luke 'Ming' Flanagan said he will only be confident about his chances 'if I take the seat'. Picture: Niall Carson/PA I think were comfortably going to take a seat, from what Im hearing back. We have very incomplete tallies so its difficult to get a grasp on how exactly its going across such a vast constituency, Ms Chambers said. We seem to be in the mix for the fifth seat, potentially, given that there appears to be a decline in the Sinn Fein support base that we werent expecting. Meanwhile, the Green Partys Pauline OReilly conceded that she was unlikely to take a seat, despite tallying well in her own constituency of Galway West. 'I think were comfortably going to take a seat,' said Fianna Fail's Lisa Chambers. Picture: Niall Carson/PA The senator said that things are currently mixed for the party and that they always knew that the local and European elections would be a challenge for the Greens. With a 73cm-long ballot paper and some 27 runners and riders, Mr Flanagan believes that recounts are on the cards over the coming days. Potentially a recount at the end because I think its going to be close. All I know is that we booked a place to stay the next week in Castlebar. Mr Flanagan said that it looked as if Chris MacManus, a sitting Sinn Fein MEP, would not make it, while saying that he could not rule out Fine Gael taking home two seats. The MEP also took a swipe at Fine Gaels Nina Carberry for hiding throughout the campaign, saying that he had not seen her once since it began. He added that the Irish representation at the European Parliament is set to be significantly changed after this election, which he described as a little bit of a worry. I can tell you from my own perspective, when you initially get elected to the European Parliament, there is no book out there or no instruction manual on how to do the job correctly, Mr Flanagan said. With Fine Gael looking to do well in the constituency, veteran Mayo TD Michael Ring was quick to jump and call for Taoiseach Simon Harris to call a general election for October, rather than going to March 2025. I think Fine Gael would be well to go to the country, go to the country in October, Mr Ring said. Now is the time. One senior Fine Gael source said that the party needed to call the general election well ahead of February, saying if it repeated the mistakes of 2016 and 2020 it would be the definition of insanity. Summer has finally arrived. Families and friends up and down the country are relishing the prospect of some sunshine as they enjoy a well-earned break in Europe or further afield. But travelling brings the risk of unexpected bugs finding their way into your itinerary and turning a dream holiday into an expensive nightmare. With measles surging across Europe, it is more important than ever to ensure that you and your travelling companions are vaccinated. Hot spots for measles in Europe in the last year between April 2023 and March 2024 include Romania, where a measles epidemic has been declared with 4,773 cases, Turkey (4,698), UK (1,008) and Austria (456). Currently, measles cases in the UK are centred in and around London. Measles has a devastating effect on health, with young children most at risk of severe complications. High rates of hospitalisation and long-lasting weakening of childrens immune systems can occur with more than half of those who contracted measles in the World Health Organization European region in 2023 requiring hospitalisation, the WHO warned recently. People most at risk include infants (under the age of one), pregnant women, and those who are immunosuppressed. No one should suffer the consequences of this devastating but easily preventable disease, said WHO regional director for Europe, Hans Kluge. There are now 47 confirmed cases of measles in Ireland according to the latest official figures from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) up until June 5. Since the start of the year, there have been seven outbreaks of the disease, with between two and five confirmed cases in each outbreak. Highest proportion of cases is among young adults Surprisingly it is not just young children that are vulnerable. The latest figures show that people aged 25-34 make up the highest proportion of cases (10), followed by those aged 1519 years and those aged 10-14 years. Surprisingly, the largest upsurge of measles is among young adults due in part to misinformation in 1998 about the MMR jab which was later thoroughly debunked. See below. Picture: iStock Several of the cases involved passengers on flights that were infectious while on board and resulted in passengers and crew on board also being at risk of exposure while confined in a tight space, requiring a public health alert to be issued. These numbers are likely to rise exponentially as the holiday season kicks in, with passengers at risk of exposure as they travel back and forth across Europe and further afield. So what can travellers do to reduce their risk of infection while on holiday? The critical step is to get vaccinated. The MMR vaccine protects against measles, mumps, and rubella. Two doses are required to give the best protection. MMR vaccine is recommended to be given to babies at 12 months. It is available for free through your GP practice. Children should get the second dose of MMR vaccine when they are in junior infants at school. 'It is never too late to get the MMR vaccine, and it is recommended that older children and young adults who have not received it, or are not sure if they have, should be vaccinated as soon as possible.' The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) recommend that if a child is aged 6-11 months and travelling abroad this summer, they should be considered for an MMR vaccine before they travel because of the high incidence of measles in many countries. Maternal antibodies may compromise the effectiveness of the vaccine at this age and therefore the MMR vaccine should be administered again at 12 months, at least a month later than the initial vaccine, to ensure maximum protection. It is never too late to get the MMR vaccine, and it is recommended that older children and young adults who have not received it, or are not sure if they have, should be vaccinated as soon as possible. Younger men tend to be the cohort at greatest risk. A recent Irish study estimated that almost one in five males between 18 and 19 are non-immune and the figure is high among young adults in general, with just over 10% of people between 18 and 35 having no immunity. Misinformation in 1998 led to low levels of immunity The likely reason for the high levels of non-immunity stems from misinformation in the past about the MMR vaccine that falsely linked it to a risk of autism. For those still uncertain, the link between MMR vaccine that was originally published in The Lancet in 1998 has been entirely debunked. The Lancet completely retracted the paper in 2010. The authors were subsequently found to be guilty of deliberate fraud in that they picked and chose data that suited their case; they falsified facts. The British Medical Journal has published a series of articles on the exposure of the fraud, which is alleged to have taken place for financial gain. Scientists and organisations across the world spent a great deal of time and money refuting the results of a minor paper in The Lancet and exposing the scientific fraud that formed the basis of the paper. Appallingly, parents across the world did not vaccinate their children out of fear of the risk of autism, thereby exposing their children to the risks of disease and the well-documented complications that accompany measles infection. Those children, born around the time the paper was released in 1998, are now young adults in their mid to late 20s one of the cohorts shown to have a high rate of infection as well as a high rate of non immunity to measles. Isnt it time we corrected that and ensured all these young adults are protected with a safe and effective vaccine? What if my child is allergic to eggs? Parents are often concerned about the risk of MMR vaccine if their child has an egg allergy. MMR vaccine can be given to children with a severe egg allergy. A severe allergy to the MMR vaccine is extremely rare even in children with a serious egg allergy. The HSE states that it is not necessary to avoid the MMR vaccine if your child dislikes eggs or has diarrhoea or stomach pains after eating eggs, and you do not need to take any special precautions. If you have any doubts, talk to your doctor or nurse giving the MMR vaccine. Should I worry about other side effects of the jab? Side effects with the vaccine include the possibility (in one in ten children) of some discomfort, redness, or swelling around the area where the injection was administered, or a slight fever. Can my child spread 'mini-measles' after vaccination? One in 20 may get a rash six to 12 days later. While this is often termed mini measles, it is not contagious. The MMR vaccine does not shed, so there is no risk of spreading measles infection after vaccination. The effectiveness rate of the vaccine is pretty impressive offering good protection for 99% of people against measles. Vaccine cut Irish cases from 10,000 to 200 in two years When the vaccine was introduced in Ireland in 1985, the number of cases dropped from 10,000 a year in that year to 201 in 1987. Because measles is so infectious, the number of cases of measles and measles complications would explode rapidly if children were not given the MMR vaccine. As measles continue to surge in Europe and further afield, if you are planning to travel, check your vaccination records now. If you or your family or adult friends are not vaccinated against measles, rectify that now that so that you are all fully protected when you travel and will not have your holiday marred by a nasty and highly infectious disease that may have lifelong implications. Dr Catherine Conlon is a public health doctor in Cork Ukraine has said its forces hit an ultra-modern Russian warplane stationed on an air base nearly 400 miles from the front line, after its Western allies allowed Kyiv to use their weapons for limited strikes inside Russia. Kyivs main military intelligence service on Sunday shared satellite photos it said show the aftermath of the attack. If confirmed, it would mark Ukraines first known successful strike on a Su-57 fighter plane, a twin-engine stealth fighter lauded as Moscows most advanced military aircraft. In one photo, black soot marks and small craters can be seen dotting a concrete strip around the parked aircraft. According to the intelligence service, the strike took place on Saturday at the Akhtubinsk base in southern Russia, some 366 miles from the front line. It was not immediately clear what weapons were used, but the airfields distance from Ukraine suggests it was likely hit by drones. The strike comes after the United States and Germany recently authorised Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv. Ukraine has already used US weapons to strike inside Russia under newly approved guidance from President Joe Biden that allows American arms to be used for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. An apartment building damaged in a Ukrainian missile attack on Luhansk, the capital of Russian-controlled Luhansk region, eastern Ukraine (Russian Emergency Ministry/AP) The Ukrainian agency said the plane, which is capable of carrying stealth missiles across hundreds of miles, was among a countable few of its type in Moscows arsenal. According to reports by Russian agencies, Moscows armed forces obtained more than 10 new Su-57s last year, while 76 are set to be produced by 2028. Moscow did not immediately comment on the reports. Russias Defence Ministry on Saturday claimed its forces downed three Ukrainian drones in the Astrakhan region, home to the Akhtubinsk airstrip. Since Moscows full-scale invasion more than two years ago, Kyiv has ramped up domestic drone production and used the drones to strike deep inside Russia, including a gas terminal near St Petersburg that lies more than 620 miles north of the Ukrainian border. Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces kept up drone attacks on Russias southern border regions, according to local Russian officials. Three drones hit Belgorod province late on Saturday, damaging a power line and blowing out windows but causing no casualties. The Russian Defence Ministry said another drone was shot down over the nearby Bryansk region. Across Ukraines frontline provinces, Russian shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded at least nine others on Saturday and overnight, according to reports by regional officials. A man died and two women suffered wounds in the village of Khotimla in Ukraines north-eastern Kharkiv region, where shelling damaged the local school, a council building and a shop. Heavy battles continue in the area as Ukrainian troops try to beat back Russias invading forces after a week-long push by Moscow that sparked fears for Kharkiv and a wave of civilian evacuations. The first major estimates coming out of the European Union parliamentary elections suggest that the hard right will rise in the legislature while the centre might hold up better than expected, leaving the Greens to take the hardest hit. In Germany, a traditional bulwark for environmentalists, the Greens were predicted to fall from 20% to 12%, with more losses expected in France and several other EU nations. Their defeat could well have an impact on the EUs overall climate change policies that still stand out as the most progressive across the globe. People stand on the outside esplanade during a voting event at the European Parliament in Brussels (Virginia Mayo/AP) The centre-right Christian Democratic bloc of EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, which already weakened its green credentials ahead of the polls, dominated in the EUs most populous nation with almost 30%, beating the Social Democratic party of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, which fell to 14%, even behind the extreme right Alternative for Germany. Projections from the German public broadcasters ARD and ZDF indicated that the Alternative for Germany (AfD) rose to 16.5% from 11% in 2019. The combined result for the three parties in the German governing coalition barely topped 30%. What you have already set as a trend is all the better strongest force, stable, in difficult times and by a distance, Ms von der Leyen told her German supporters by video link from Brussels. However, the hard right, which focused its campaign on migration and crime, was still expected to lead the results in the EUs second and third most populous nations, with the party of Marine Le Pen dominating in France and Premier Giorgia Meloni tipped to consolidate her power in Italy. Voting will continue in Italy until late in the evening and many of the 27 member states have not yet released any projections. Nonetheless, exit polls and projections confirmed earlier predictions: the EUs massive exercise in democracy is expected to shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future. Helpers work on the postal ballots for the European elections in Frankfurt, Germany (Michael Probst/AP) The war in Ukraine, migration, and the impact of climate policy on farmers weighed on voters minds as they cast ballots to elect 720 members of the European Parliament for the next five-year term. With the centre losing seats to hard right parties, the EU could find it harder to pass legislation and decision-making could at times be paralysed in the worlds biggest trading bloc. I do hope that we will manage to avoid a shift to the right and that Europe will somehow remain united, voter Laura Simon said in Berlin. EU legislators have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. And they hold a veto over appointments to the powerful EU commission. These elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. A woman exits a voting booth in Paris, France (Michel Euler/AP) Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fuelled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests. Sundays voting marathon winds up a four-day election cycle that began in the Netherlands on Thursday. An unofficial exit poll there suggested that Mr Wilders anti-migrant hard right party would make important gains in the Netherlands, even though a coalition of pro-European parties has probably pushed it into second place. Casting his vote in the Flanders region, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency until the end of the month, warned that Europe is at a crossroads and more under pressure than ever. Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations Hungary, Slovakia and Italy and are part of ruling coalitions in others including Sweden, Finland and, soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy. The first official results will be published after the last polling stations in the 27 EU nations close in Italy at 11pm (2100 GMT), but a clear picture of what the new assembly might look like will only emerge on Monday. Former US president Donald Trump is scheduled to be interviewed by New York probation officials on Monday, a required step before his July sentencing in his criminal hush money case, according to three people familiar with the plan. Trump will do the interview via a computer video conference from his residence at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, the people told The Associated Press. One of Trumps lawyers, Todd Blanche, will be present for the interview. Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Las Vegas (John Locher/AP) People convicted of crimes in New York usually meet with probation officials without their lawyers, but the judge in Trumps case, Juan Merchan, said in a letter on Friday that he would allow Mr Blanches presence. The usual purpose of a pre-sentencing probation interview is to prepare a report that will tell the judge more about the defendant, and potentially help determine the proper punishment for the crime. Such reports are typically prepared by a probation officer, a social worker or a psychologist working for the probation department who interviews the defendant and possibly that persons family and friends, as well as people affected by the crime. Pre-sentence reports include a defendants personal history, criminal record and recommendations for sentencing. It will also include information about employment and any obligations to help care for a family member. It is also a chance for a defendant to say why they think they deserve a lighter punishment. A jury convicted Trump of falsifying business records at his own company as part of a broader scheme to buy the silence of people who might have told embarrassing stories about him during the 2016 presidential campaign. One 130,000 dollar (102,000) payment went to an adult film actress, Stormy Daniels, who claimed to have had a sexual encounter with Trump, which he denied. President Trump and his legal team are already taking necessary steps to challenge and defeat the lawless Manhattan DA case Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, says he is innocent of any crime and that the criminal case was brought to hurt his chances to regain the White House. Trumps campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement on Sunday that President Joe Bidens Democratic Party allies continue to ramp up their ongoing Witch-Hunts, further abusing and misusing the power of their offices to interfere in the presidential election. President Trump and his legal team are already taking necessary steps to challenge and defeat the lawless Manhattan DA case, he said. Judge Merchan has scheduled Trumps sentencing for July 11. He has discretion to impose a wide range of punishments, ranging from probation and community service to up to four years in prison. Foreign Policy in Focus is a Think Tank Without Walls connecting the research and action of more than 600 scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the United States a more responsible global partner. It is a project of the Institute for Policy Studies. FPIF publishes timely commentaries on U.S. foreign policy, sharp analyses of global issues, and on-the-ground dispatches from around the world. We also are interested in pieces that explore the intersection of foreign policy and culture, and on dispatches from social movements involved in foreign policy. By Sahar Maranlou, Royal Holloway University of London | (The Conversation) Thousands of Iranians came out on the streets to mark the funeral processions of Irans president Ebrahim Raisi in Tehran, Mashhad, and Tabriz, after he died in a helicopter crash alongside the foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian. During these processions, huge banners were put up naming Raisi as the martyr of service, while other banners carried phrases such as farewell to the servant of the disadvantaged. The status of martyr of service means his death was caused by his duty to serve the public as president. In Iran, the martyr narrative is a long-recognised concept in religious tales, politics and literature. The Iranian leadership appears to be trying to use Raisis death on May 19 and his martyrdom as a way of creating more public support in the upcoming election, and potentially prompt a higher turnout on June 28. Raisi was a political hardliner and was close to Irans supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Shortly after the crash, he was declared a martyr on Iranian state TV and was buried in his home city of Mashhad at Irans largest Shia shrine, Imam Reza. Imam Reza is Irans spiritual capital and has great significance for the countrys history, culture and politics. So the formal announcement of Raisis martyrdom at the shrine is significant. Government statements after the crash underlined how it wanted to cast Raisis death as an almost religious moment. A statement from the Iranian foreign ministry said that: The esteemed martyrs of the bitter and tragic incident sincerely gave up their blessed lives to serve Islam and beloved Iran, and they have achieved the great blessing of martyrdom in the path of honest and sincere service to the noble nation of Iran. Martyrdom as a concept is drawn from religious roots, but has a significant political and cultural role in Iran. The governments use of martyrdom expanded substantially during the Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), when around 750,000 Iranians lost their lives as soldiers or civilians. Thousands of ordinary people were hailed as martyrs for defending their country in this period. In 1980 the state established the Martyrs Foundation (Bonyad-e Sahid) to support those injured or disabled in the war and the families of the dead, by the order of the leader of the 1979 Iranian revolution, Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. Throughout the nations history, the question of who a martyr is and what their role might be has changed. New concepts of martyrdom have emerged during the past few years and have been increasingly used by both government and the opposition. For instance, protesters during the Arab Spring were hailed by some as martyrs but this was martyr status awarded by the public, rather than the government. Opponents of the regime also used the concept of martyrdom during the 2022 protests and uprising to name protesters as martyrs for their political activism against the government. In their eyes, martyrs are those who are brutally killed at the hands of the state. Martyrdom, therefore, is also an essential part of the commemoration of the protests. Martyrdom, Digital, Dream, Dreamland v 3 Positioning Raisi as a martyr and underlining his role and sacrifice comes weeks ahead of Iranians heading to the polls to vote for a new president in line with Article 131 of the constitution. Early presidential elections must be held within 50 days of a presidents death. Raisi won the last presidential election in June 2021 with 18 million of the 28.9 million votes cast, according to government figures. But public turnout was 48.8% a significant decline from the previous election in 2017. Public participation also decreased in parliamentary elections in March 2024. According to Irans interior minister, Ahmad Vahidi, only 41% of the 61 million eligible voters participated in the elections, one of the lowest turnouts since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. This might suggest public disaffection with the electoral system. But the question now is can the current leadership use the death of Raisi to encourage the public to participate in the election? And will the strategy of using martyrdom work? It is not yet clear whether the idea of political martyrdom will mobilise either fundamentalists or other political groups. But its possible that it can be used to create increased political backing for the current political power structure at the upcoming election, and possibly boost turnout. Sahar Maranlou, Lecturer in Law and Socio- Legal Studies. School of Law and Social Sciences, Royal Holloway University of London This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Jang Ki Yong is making our hearts flutter these days as he portrays the role of a single dad in "The Atypical Family." Seeing his glow, we can't help but be curious: is he dating someone? Jang Ki Yong Enchants Viewers With His Character Bok Gwi Ju in 'The Atypical Family' Jang Ki Yong brings a breath of fresh air as he portrays the role of Bok Gwi Ju, who has the ability to travel to the past to revisit his happy memories. Through this series, he charms the audience with his character as a single father, which, by the way, is his first-ever dad role since debut! "The Atypical Family" also marks his drama comeback after his military discharge. Jang Ki Yong is sharing the frame with rising actress Chun Woo Hee, who plays as Do Da Hae, his love interest. The two exhibit irresistible chemistry onscreen, which makes us ship them as they do look good together. This leaves us the question then: is he seeing someone? Jang Ki Yong Relationship 2024: Is the Heartthrob Dating Someone? From establishing good chemistry with his co-stars to showcasing his gentlemanly side on and off the screen, people are excited to know who might be the lucky woman in Jang Ki Yong's life. With his good looks and visual chemistry with his leading ladies, we can't help but ship the "Now, We Are Breaking Up" star with the actresses he works with. Through the years, the actresses linked to him were Hyeri, Jin Ki Joo, Song Hye Kyo, and Lee Sung Kyung. But as of 2024, the actor remains silent about his personal life outside the spotlight. It's hard to confirm whether Jang Ki Yong is single or dating as there have been no announcements about his romantic life. Meanwhile, the heartthrob is enjoying most of his days working. Regarding this next screen projects, nothing is confirmed yet. Catch Jang Ki Yong in the last two episodes of the weekend fantasy-romance series "The Atypical Family" on JTBC and Netflix. Here's what to expect in the upcoming episode: What can you say about the news? Share your thoughts/replies in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at KDramaStars. KDramaStars owns this article. Shai San Miguel wrote this. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - The home of Anerlisa Muigais new boyfriend Joe Kariuki was raided by auctioneers and his Mercedes Benz G-Wagon taken away. Joe, a key suspect in the multi-billion fake fertilizer scandal, has been facing financial difficulties after his bank accounts were frozen. His girlfriend Anerlisa had to fundraise money from friends to secure his release after he was given a bond of Ksh 3 million. Messages of Anerlisa begging for money from friends on WhatsApp to secure his release on bond leaked online, proving that they are having financial constraints. Joe is a shrewd businessman and a fraudster. He was jailed in Tanzania for seven years after he defrauded a businessman of Sh 13.3 million. Many people believe he fell in love with Anerlisa Muigai to milk her money. See the photo of his Mercedes Benz being auctioned. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was attacked by a man in central Copenhagen, her office has said. The 46-year-old was shocked by the incident on Friday evening, July 7 in the capitals Kultorvet square, the office said in a statement, without providing further details. Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was hit by a man Friday evening on Kultorvet in Copenhagen. The man was subsequently arrested, the statement added, according to AFP news agency. Copenhagen police also said on X that one person had been arrested and they were investigating the incident, but did not give details on the suspects identity. The assault came two days before Danes head to the polls to vote in European Union parliamentary elections, which conclude across the EU bloc on Sunday. Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Two witnesses, Marie Adrian and Anna Ravn, told newspaper BT that they had seen Frederiksen arrive at the square while they were sitting by a nearby fountain just before 6pm (16:00 GMT). A man came by in the opposite direction and gave her a hard shove on the shoulder, causing her to fall to the side, the newspaper quoted the women as saying. They added that while it was a strong push, Frederiksen did not hit the ground. According to the witnesses, the prime minister then sat down at a nearby cafe. They described the man as tall and slim, and said he had tried to hurry away but had not gotten far before being grabbed and pushed to the ground by men in suits. Another witness, Kasper Jorgensen, told newspaper Ekstra Bladet that he had seen the man after he was tackled to the ground, saying that one of what he presumed to be part of the security service had put a knee on the mans back. They had pacified him, and as he lay there, he looked confused and a little dazed, Jorgensen told the newspaper. Frederiksen was then escorted away by security following the assault. European Council President Charles Michel said he was outraged by the assault while European Parliament President Roberta Metsola urged Frederiksen to keep strong while adding in a post on X that violence has no place in politics. EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen also condemned what she called a despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe, in a statement to social media. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that an attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy. In 2019, Frederiksen became Denmarks youngest prime minister and kept the post after emerging victorious in the 2022 general election. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - A cabinet secretary who has had a fair share of scandals since being appointed was recently arrested at a Dubai airport for traveling with two million dollars in cash that he had not declared. The money was reportedly a kickback from an international company that wanted a contract and had summoned the CS to Dubai to pick up the cash. The CS, however, failed to notify immigration that he was traveling with a large sum of money and was blocked from boarding his flight. It took diplomatic efforts to enable the CS to fly to Nairobi. The money however did not make it to the CSs home as it was confiscated by influential figures who assisted him evade arrest. It now remains to be seen whether the contractors who gave the money to influence a contract they are eyeing will get what they want. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Attorney General Justin Muturi has once again defended President William Ruto's tax policies, saying the move will help raise the country's tax-to-GDP ratio. In a statement, Muturi said that the current tax levels in the country are low compared to the GDP and thus the need to raise it to the level of the economy. According to Muturi, most Kenyans have misinterpreted and misconstrued President Ruto's statement on raising the level of taxes in the country. On May 14, 2024, President Ruto intimated his plan to significantly increase Kenyas average tax rate. The proposal aims to raise the current tax rate of 14 per cent to approximately 22 per cent by 2027, noting that the initiative will play a pivotal role in realizing his vision for the country's economic future. My drive is to push Kenya, possibly this year we will be at 16 per cent from 14 per cent. "I want in my term, God willing, to leave it at between 20 and 22 per cent. "It's going to be difficul, I have a lot of explaining to do, people will complain but I know finally they will appreciate that the money we go to borrow from the World Bank is savings from other countries, President Ruto said while addressing the Harvard Business Schools Class of 2025 students at State House, Nairobi. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Saturday downplayed reports of a crisis in the UDA party. Speaking during an event in Kericho County, the DP refuted that the meeting convened by President Willaim Ruto was a crisis meeting. Gachagua explained that the meeting was a normal routine meeting that was planned for in advance. He explained the meeting was organized to allow the top leadership to discuss the ongoing party primaries and take stock of other issues affecting the party. Therefore, he called on their supporters to ignore the reports of a crisis in the party, adding that the scheduled meeting would help the party grow. Earlier, reports had alleged that the crisis meeting was convened following the fallout that has been witnessed between the allies of Ruto and Gachagua "There is no crisis in UDA. The other day when the President was leaving, he instructed me to convene the meeting and I called it. "We are talking about the party primaries and other matters of the party because we want to strengthen it. "Therefore, let nobody set the agenda for us," the DP stated. Nonetheless, he called out Kenya Kwanza leaders who were focusing on the 2032 elections. According to the second-in-command, the succession politics within the ruling coalition was hampering the administration's performance, asking his colleagues to rally behind President William Ruto. "The most important thing is for us to be united and help the President deliver on his promises. The most important business is to ensure Ruto's success," he stated. "When people start bringing debate for 2032, it brings distractions. It is necessary, unhelpful, and inappropriate." Reports of the crisis meeting emerged after Ruto's return from South Korea. The reports also came at a time when there was a growing split in the ruling party over Gachaguas one man, one vote, one shilling agenda. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - A section of Kenyans has urged Azimio Leader Raila Odinga not to bother himself anymore with Kenyans amid the high cost of living which has been exacerbated by President William Ruto and his appetite for higher taxes. According to some Kenyans, Raila should just mute and relax, or better still go on a vacation and enjoy himself and leave them to suffer under Ruto since he warned them but they never listened. This follows Railas comment on the contentious Finance Bill, 2024. In a strong-worded statement on Friday, Raila described the contentious Finance Bill 2024 as a disaster in the making. The ODM party leader observed that Kenyans were experiencing the highest tax burden since independence, adding that services had also become difficult to access. "The tax burden in Kenya is at its highest level since independence, but public services have largely remained on their knees. "As if this is not bad enough the Finance Bill 2024 proposes even more and higher taxes. It's a disaster in the making," he said. However, a large section of his audience has urged him to avoid the topic and concentrate on his African Union Commission (AUC) chairperson bid. Mainly from his support base, the users urged the former premier to shelve his fight for social justice and think about his welfare. Most reminded Raila of incidents when he's responded to outcries only to be turned into a villain. The Kenyan DAILY POST Saturday, June 9, 2024 - Controversial lawyer and barrister Miguna Miguna has blasted National Assembly Majority leader Kimani Ichung'wah for insulting villagers. On Wednesday, Ichungwah, who is also a Kikuyu Member of Parliament, castigated Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for playing ethnic politics, telling him You CANNOT build a kingdom with someone who still wants attention from the VILLAGE, But Miguna urged Ichungwah not to demean those villages or villages because it is them that form the Nation. No MULTILINGUAL and MULTICULTURAL country can be a NATION. Kenya is made up of 50 NATIONS. Each ethnic group is a DISTINCT NATION. "We should avoid the nonsensical copycat neocolonial tendencies when referring to ourselves. "We must be careful to use language that empowers. Lets avoid degrading our villages, villagers, peasants, and our nationalities. "Our cultural differences are our STRENGTH. We must embrace them, Miguna wrote on his Twitter page. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Kenyans on social media have raised an alarm over high-rise buildings being constructed near Moi Airbase. A trending photo shows several high-rise buildings being put up near the airbase, posing danger to the key military facility. On Saturday, President William Ruto broke his silence on the high-rise buildings in Eastleigh that are allegedly threatening operations at the Moi Air Base. Speaking during the 60th Kenya Air Force Anniversary, Ruto said he will engage the leadership of the County Government of Nairobi to ensure the Air Base does not lose its position. "Let me also commit that in discussions with the County of Nairobi, we will make sure that this facility does not lose its premier position," the President said. His utterances were a big shift from his pronouncements in May where he gave developers in Eastleigh the green light to construct buildings of up to 30th floors. See the photo that has sparked reactions on social media. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, June 8, 2024 - Israeli forces rescued four hostages alive from two separate locations in the central Gaza area of al-Nuseirat on Saturday, the Israeli military has reported. The four hostages, three males and one female who were kidnapped by Hamas militants from the Nova music festival in southern Israel on Oct. 7 last year, were taken to hospital for medical checks, the military said, and were in good health, according to the Israeli government. The war has resulted in the deaths of tens of thousands of Palestine while millions have been displaced. The Israeli government has also been accused of genocide and starvation of the Gazan population, charges which Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected. The hostages rescued Friday night have been identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. Israeli News 12 broadcast footage of Argamani reunited with her father, smiling and embracing him. Video of Argamani's kidnapping had circulated soon after she was dragged into Gaza by gunmen on Oct. 7. Saturday, June 8, 2024 - The Los Angeles Police Department detective, Mark Fuhrman, who discovered the bloody glove in television personality, O.J. Simpson murder case and later torpedoed the prosecution with his use of the n-word, has been barred from working in law enforcement in California. San Francisco Chronicles reported that the decision came down from California's Commission on Police Officer Standards and Training, a group that's been decertifying cops in accordance with a new law aimed at police reform. This is reportedly part of California's goal to build trust between the public and police in the wake of George Floyd. Fuhrman was declared ineligible for police work a couple weeks ago and this was linked to the O.J. case. He's barred because he is a convicted felon. Fuhrman pleaded no contest in 1996 to a felony count of perjury for lying about using a racial slur when he testified during O.J.'s trial. O.J.'s defense team infamously played a tape in court in which Fuhrman used the n-word. The audio contradicted Fuhrman's earlier testimony, specifically him denying using the slur. With Fuhrman as the cop who found the bloody glove, O.J.'s legal team called out Fuhrman's credibility by resurfacing old tapes of the detective using racist language, ultimately suggesting he might have planted the evidence. O.J.'s defense strategy worked and he was acquitted. Fuhrman's eventual felony perjury conviction made him the only person ever convicted of any crime in the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman. O.J. died in April, and in May the state moved to bar Fuhrman from future police work. It is unclear if Fuhrman is interested in being a cop again as he retired from LAPD in August 1995. He has written true crime books and become a TV and radio personality, even working as an expert for Fox News. Fuhrman is one of at least dozens of California cops who have been barred from police work under the state's 2021 decertification law. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Six suspected wildlife traffickers are to be arraigned on Monday following a multi-agency operation comprising officers from DCI HQS, Serious Crimes Unit, rangers from KWS Hqs, and Kaloleni DCI officers that saw their arrest and seizure of two pieces of elephant tusks estimated at a street value of Sh5 million and four live terrapins. The six; Makutano Kadenge Katana, William Manyaso Ngala, Suleiman Madengo Saha, Kazungu Samuel Kenga, Omar Nyae Kirongo, and Rashid Kombo Mazua were arrested at Kaloleni Shopping Center after a tip-off from vigilant citizens that there were suspected wildlife traffickers in the said area. The suspects were escorted to Mariakani Police Station awaiting transfer to Nairobi for further processing and arraignment. This successful operation underscores the power of community vigilance and cooperation in the fight against wildlife trafficking. It is also a testament to our collective commitment to preserving our precious wildlife and holding those who threaten it accountable. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Saturday, June 8, 2024 - An American familys vacation turned tragic when a shard of a badminton racket broke off and pierced their 6-year-old daughters skull, killing her. Little Lucy Morgan died Wednesday, June 5, four days after the shocking freak accident on what was supposed to be an idyllic lakeside trip in Maine. The tragedy unfolded Saturday as the Morgan family of sux from New Jersey, USA, enjoyed their last full day at their rental cottage in Limerick, Maine, according to her father Jesse Morgan, a pastor at Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway. We were eating a quick lunch by the lake and the kids decided to try badminton in the front yard. Bethany and I were relaxing in the back when we heard screaming, Morgan wrote in a blog entry titled Calamity Strikes. Due to a freak accident with a racquet that broke on a downward swing, a sharp piece had entered Lucys skull while she was sitting on the sideline and caused catastrophic injury. According to Maine State Police, she had received the unintentional injury from her 10-year-old brother. The aluminum shaft of the racket had dislodged from its wooden handle, causing the shaft to strike the girl through her head, investigators ruled. Lucy was breathing, but unresponsive as emergency services rushed her to a local hospital, which airlifted the injured girl to Maine Medical Center in Portland, according to Maine State Police. She was taken directly into the operating room, where surgeons removed part of her skull to relieve pressure. Doctors were successful in reviving the young girl, but Lucy had lost all brain function and the full ability to breathe on her own and had to supported by oxygen tanks. Doctors warned the family the little girl had a very slim chance of recovery to being a normal girl as the penetration of the racket shaft was very deep into her brain and caused immediate arterial bleeds, Morgan explained. The little girl succumbed to her injuries around 4 a.m. Wednesday, one day after she was predicted to die. Every time I looked into the rearview mirror, wishing I saw Lucy munching on some chicken nuggets after we stopped at Wendys and only ordered for 5, Morgan wrote about making the long 350-mile drive back to their New Jersey home without Lucy. According to Morgan, Lucys siblings Silas, 10, Shiloh, 8, and Atticus, 4, are struggling to comprehend the loss and are tragically blaming themselves and taking it hard. The brother who accidentally caused the fatal injury asked his grieving parents how we could ever be happy again, according to his fathers blog. We just sat on the front steps for a while crying until I finally mustered up the courage to open the door. We again collapsed in a pile on the kitchen floor crying harder as a family than we ever have, Morgan wrote. Her funeral will be held June 15 at her fathers church. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has bragged that he is the one who made William Ruto the President he is today. Speaking at Kipkok Primary School, Sigowet-Soin Constituency, during a fundraiser for the Peace and Mercy Church of Africa on Saturday, Gachagua said he stood with Ruto in the last election by delivering 4 million Mt Kenya votes. When President Ruto wanted someone to stand with him, I was there. "We campaigned for him. He is a product of our effort; our work is to support him deliver, Gachagua said. Emurua Dikirr MP Johanna Ngeno who accompanied the DP asked other leaders in the Kenya Kwanza alliance to support the second in command as he works with the President for a better Kenya. The MCAs of Kericho County and Governor Eric Mutai thanked the DP for intervening in the leadership crisis, saying that now there is peace. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - The Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) has expressed concern over the imminent increase in bread prices following tax proposals targeting bread packaging. Speaking during an interview, Job Wanjohi, who is the head of policy research and advocacy at KAM, projected that bread would increase by Ksh9 over the proposed introduction of the eco levy. Wanjohi explained that the eco levy was targeting the manufacture of plastic bags which are to store bread. According to the Finance Bill 2024, every kilogram of plastic bag will see the government impose a Ksh150 levy. Therefore, with the increase in the cost of production, bread bakers will be forced to pass done the additional cost to the consumers. "This eco levy is likely to increase prices for all plastic packaging materials, batteries, and hygiene products. "For example, the Ksh150 levy per kilogram of plastic packaging will increase the cost of a 400-gram loaf of bread by Ksh9 from Ksh65 to Ksh74," he stated. On the other hand, he also cautioned that other household items such as cooking oil will also increase because of the levy because of the indirect taxes that target them. Should the eco levy be introduced, 1 litre of cooking oil will increase by Ksh16 while powder detergents will increase by Ksh30. Initially, bread was targeted for the 16 per cent VAT. However, following an uproar, it was revealed that the decision would be reversed given that many Kenyans use bread for breakfast. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Aspiring Meru politician Rodgers Kipembe has moved on after Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi snatched his wife. Word has it that Kipembes wife left him for the controversial CS after he went broke. Kipembes marital woes were exposed to the public a few weeks ago by blogger Aoko Otieno. His wash wash business is down. His wife left him after he went broke, Aoko tweeted after she was involved in an online tiff with Kipembe. Aoko further revealed that Linturi has been financing Kipembes wife's lifestyle. Kipembe is now is dating a lady called Eunice Pendo after his wife dumped him. Eunice took to her Instagram stories and posted photos out on shopping and date with the youthful politician. Shopping feels good when the man is doing it, she captioned one of the photos. She also posted another photo on a date with Kipembe at Samaki Samaki restaurant. Eunice describes herself as a food and travel content creator on Instagram. Below are photos of Kipembes new catch, Eunice Pendo. Photos of Kipembes wife who eloped with CS Mithika Linturi. The Kenyan DAILY POST. Sunday, June 9, 2024 - A section of Kalenjin community leaders led by Marakwet West MP Timothy Kipchumba has said they will not allow Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to continue to mistreat President William Ruto. Speaking on Saturday, Kipchumba, who was accompanied by Tiaty MP William Kamket, stated that Gachagua should respect his boss and stop sowing seeds of disunity in the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance government. Kipchumba insists that Ruto is the President and there is nothing like being co-president. "William Ruto is the president of this country. "We don't have a co-president in this country. "And we, as Rift Valley leaders, shall support the president to deliver his agenda to the country," Kipchumba said. Ruto is said to have fallen out with his deputy over what political analysts stated was the attempt by people close to the President to intimidate Gachagua. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has urged leaders not to propagate politics of ethnicity. Speaking at a funeral service in Kanduyi constituency, Wetangula said the constitution enshrines Kenya as a unitary state allowing all citizens to coexist irrespective of the regions they belong, adding that Deputy President Rigathi Gachaguas sentiments of advocating for government shares are divisive. "When you start saying "my people, my people" you're Kenyans' enemy. "We want a situation where any Kenyan can stay anywhere and we build one happy family called Kenya," Wetangula said "I urge all Kenyan leaders to stop divisive politics based on ethnicity. Kenya under our 2010 constitution is a unitary state sharing power between the national government and the devolved units, Wetangula added. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has also weighed in on the one-man, one-vote, one-shilling campaign that is being spearheaded by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. Taking on his social media platform, Kindiki warned Gachagua to stop spreading tribalism with his one-man, one-vote, one-shilling revenue-sharing formula. The CS poked holes at the approach, claiming it could pose significant implications for the country's future. According to Kindiki, the approach was neither hinged on any scientific principle nor economic model. He argued that the idea was one picked from a casual political banter and that it would fail since it was unconstitutional. Proponents of the man-vote-shilling mantra neither understand its implications for Kenya's future nor do they fathom its long-term impact on the parts of Kenya they purport will benefit from it, Kindiki noted. While reiterating his take on the matter, Kindiki noted that every part of Kenya was entitled to prosperity. The destiny and success of Kenya is inextricably linked to the destiny and success of each part of Kenya. One Nation, one Flag, one People. "It will fall flat when juxtaposed with the constitutional ideals and values upon which our nation is founded." CS Kindiki's sentiments followed barely hours after the Deputy President took a swipe at those labeling him a tribalist due to his stance on the revenue-sharing formula. Gachagua argued that freedom of expression was a constitutional right and he was not an exemption. The DP referenced Azimio Leader Raila Odingas common stand questioning why the Former Prime Minister didn't face similar accusations. The Kenyan DAILY POST Sunday, June 9, 2024 - One of President William Rutos foot soldiers has urged Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to stop preaching politics of ethnicity. Since he declared his resolve to unite the Mt Kenya region and champion the one-man, one vote, one-shilling narrative in the country's revenue-sharing formula, Gachagua has been branded a tribalist and ethnic bigot by those close to Ruto. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa challenged the deputy president to give up his seat and retreat to his Mt Kenya region to politick there. According to Barasa, it is irrational for Gachagua to be only preoccupied with the wellness of Mt Kenya, his native region, despite being in the presidency, which is a symbol of national unity. "When allowed to serve as deputy president, you will not serve one region or ethnicity, you are the deputy president of the whole of Kenya. "I want to ask our deputy president respectfully, that if he is not fit to be the deputy president, he can retire and run for the Nyeri governor's seat, Mathira MP or be a village administrator in Nyeri. "We have to call him to order," fired Barasa. The Kenyan DAILY POST In Gerald Greens The Last Angry Man, Dr. Samuel Abelman is a general practitioner in the twilight of a career that spans fifty years of commitment to patients. The time is the 1950s, and the place is Brooklyn, NY. The problem is the proliferation of medical specialties. Although most of his colleagues regard specialization as a greater good because it promises better-trained physicians, Dr. Abelman sees specialization as antithetical to his mission. His mission is to practice quality medicine that improves and, sometimes, saves the lives of his patients. Specialization will compartmentalize the medical profession. He is outspoken over its impact on divide and conquer. Although many see him as a curmudgeon, the most elite physicians in Brooklyn see him as a threat. Because he holds to ideas that time has left behind, he must be silenced. In todays lexicon, this is cancel culture. Because his colleagues capitulate to elite interests in the medical profession, he is the last angry man. Bringing things forward to today, the place is Anywhere in the USA, and the problem is the proliferation of medical malpractice lawsuits. Our mission is to improve and, sometimes, save lives by practicing quality medicine. Even when practicing quality medicine, unfortunate outcomes are inevitable. Many are random events, but some are caused by medical errors. Because outcomes that are random are indistinguishable from outcomes that are medical errors, any adverse outcome from a medical intervention is assumed to be a medical error. Because a lawsuit is a way to prove that an unfortunate outcome is a medical error, there are roughly 50,000 medical malpractice lawsuits per year. Every year, 5% of all physicians are sued. Here, too, there is a greater good: physicians must pay for their mistakes. There is no denying the greater good. Doctors must only make sacrifices to protect themselves. They procure malpractice insurance. They practice defensive medicine. Some retire early. Some relocate. Some merge with integrated health systems. Some start a concierge practice. These are antithetical to our mission. Malpractice lawsuits require a burden of proof called a preponderance of the evidence. It corresponds to a baseline of 50% probability plus some arbitrary scintilla. The preponderance of evidence is a judicial standard. This is a low bar. Scintilla is intuitive and can be any value in the mind of the beholder. Even a value of 0.01% satisfies the burden of proof. Hence, the burden of proof needs only to exceed 50% probability. When a bar that low is all that is required to prove that an unfortunate outcome is a medical error, a lawsuit follows. Medical malpractice litigation leaves much to intuition. By definition, the preponderance of evidence is intuitive. So is inductive reasoning. Therefore, inductive reasoning becomes a convention in medical malpractice litigation. Inductive reasoning is the means to provide sufficient probability to warrant an inference of cause and effect. Inductive reasoning is not proof of cause and effect; it is inference. If most other decision-making requires a standard of confidence of at least 95%, and this judicial standard is just inference, there is a simple solution: deductive reasoning. It starts with scintilla. If scintilla adds some arbitrary measure to 50% probability, which is the baseline for the burden of proof, that measure could be 45%. Not only is this consistent with the purpose of scintilla, but 45% probability + 50% probability = 95% probability, which is the level of confidence science requires to determine cause and effect. A medical error causes an unfortunate outcome. Deductive reasoning is proof, not intuition. There is no judicial prohibition on deductive reasoning. In fact, a Supreme Court decision, the Daubert decision, endorses it. One side is free to use inductive reasoning, but when the other side uses deductive reasoning, for jurors, a concrete 95% confidence stands in stark contrast to 50% probability plus a scintilla. This is not a game-changer, but it surely levels the playing field. This brings me back to previous posts about my model for decision-making in malpractice litigation. Although this model has been peer-reviewed and published, it has not gained the traction it deserves. Seeking recognition, I present this model to organized medicine in the state of Maryland, where I reside. Yet, the medical society and the board of physicians dismiss it. It threatens them. I hold to an idea ahead of its time. This idea requires legal approval, and until then, I must be silenced. In todays lexicon, this is cancel culture. This recalls The Last Angry Man. Elite interests in organized medicine traditionally exploit controversy to their advantage. They always have, and they always do so under the ulterior motive of some greater good. In Dr. Abelmans time, a better-trained physician is an ulterior motive for elite interests to take a piece of the action. What results is the American Association of Medical Colleges, which includes 135 specialties and subspecialties. If left to elite interests, board certification should be a condition to practice medicine. Medical malpractice is no different. Today, the greater good is that physicians must pay for their mistakes. No one disputes this. The ulterior motive of elite interests produces an entire medical liability litigation industry worth over $200 billion per year, in which they have pecuniary interests. If left to them, commitment to pay for a mistake should be a condition to practice medicine. If, by reading these words, you regard me as the next angry man, you are wrong. I am not angry because I can protect myself. You are the next angry man. If you doubt this, wait until you are next sued or until your malpractice coverage is next jeopardized. Both are inevitable. Malpractice coverage, defensive medicine, early retirement, relocation, merging with an integrated health system, concierge medicine, and elite interests in organized medicine will not protect you. Now is the time for you to protect yourself. Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Join us for a discussion on the recent wave of resident physician resignations in South Korea and the underlying issues within the countrys health care system. Our guest, Joo-Young Lee, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, provides expert insights into the factors driving young doctors to despair and resignation. We delve into the challenges faced by essential medical fields, the impact of government policies on training quality, and the implications of societal perceptions on physician autonomy. Joo-Young Lee is a child and adolescent psychiatrist. They discuss the KevinMD article, Why South Korean resident physicians are quitting. Our presenting sponsor is Nuance, a Microsoft company. Together, Microsoft and Nuance are leveraging their rich digital technology and advanced AI capabilities to tackle some of health cares biggest challenges. AI-driven technology promises to revolutionize patient and provider experiences with clinical documentation that writes itself. The Nuance Dragon Ambient eXperience, or DAX for short, is a voice-enabled solution that automatically captures patient encounters securely and accurately at the point of care. DAX Copilot combines proven conversational and ambient AI with the most advanced generative AI in a mobile application that integrates directly with your existing workflows. Physicians who use DAX have reported a 50 percent decrease in documentation time and a 70 percent reduction in feelings of burnout, and 85 percent of patients say their physician is more personable and conversational. Discover AI-powered clinical documentation that writes itself. Visit https://nuance.com/daxinaction to see a 12-minute DAX Copilot demo. VISIT SPONSOR https://nuance.com/daxinaction SUBSCRIBE TO THE PODCAST https://www.kevinmd.com/podcast RECOMMENDED BY KEVINMD https://www.kevinmd.com/recommended GET CME FOR THIS EPISODE https://earnc.me/mvgk9n Powered by CMEfy. The Bank of Uganda building situated along Kampala Road remains cordoned off following a fire that broke out this afternoon. Christine Alupo the Bank of Uganda Director for Communication confirms the incident but says the situation is under control. She says the cause of the fire is yet to be established. Alupo however says there have been no injuries and no property is destroyed. A new public campaign was jointly launched by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Center for Women and Children's Health of the National Health Commission (NHC) and other partners on Friday to give children the best start in life. The campaign, known as "Parent with Purpose, Nurture their Future," aims to build awareness on the importance of early childhood development (ECD), and to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills and tools to give their children the best start in life, by providing nurturing care during the first six years. Early childhood, throughout the first six years of life, is an important time for shaping a child's development and setting a solid foundation for their future. As part of this initiative, a three-month digital and media campaign has started, which will provide practical advice for parents and caregivers on ECD. It will include interactive activities, such as a competition for parents to share their own experiences, and an online resource center providing information and tips. It will also be promoted in ECD centers, hospitals and health centers across China. "Early childhood development is a holistic project that requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society," said Xu Zongyu, director general of the National Center for Women and Children's Health. "We need to enable the public, especially parents, to understand the importance of early childhood development, to acquire knowledge and skills, and to take care of young children scientifically to promote their health and all-round development," Xu said. Figures from the NHC showed that in 2023, the infant mortality rate and mortality rate of children under 5 in China stood at 4.5 per 1,000 and 6.2 per 1,000, respectively, down 16.7 percent and 17.3 percent from 2020. "Every child has the right to the best start in life," UNICEF Representative to China Amakobe Sande said. "Early childhood, during the first six years of life, is a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child's development and build a firm foundation for their future through nurturing care. As these children thrive, their communities also grow and prosper, benefitting the whole of society." While the campaign is mainly targeted at parents and caregivers, UNICEF is also working with the private sector and government to advocate for policies and funding to support families. These include workplace policies, such as parental leave and flexible working, that make it easier for working parents to care for young children; and child benefits such as tax breaks and benefits for families with children. From Kilkenny to Kilkenny! Former Mayor of Kilkenny, Minnesota, USA Kevin Taafe has arrived at the count centre in Lyrath Estate, where he is catching up with pal Andrew McGuinness. Cllr McGuinness - and all the rest of us - is still awaiting the result of the first count in Kilkenny City, which got under way firs thing this morning. The pair are friends many years, and Kevin and his wife are visiting Ireland until Wednesday. Mr Taafe was excited to observe the democratic process unfold Ireland-style, and he can't have been too disappointed - with a nice long count and lots of waiting around, as is tradition. Apart from today, the highlight of his trip was a visit to Croke Park yesterday to watch the Cats beat Dublin in the Leinster Final. Kilkenny, Minnesota is twinned with Kilkenny, Ireland, with the twinning pact signed in 2013. Coincidentally, the Mayor of Kilkenny (Ireland) at the time who signed the pact in 2013 was none other than Sean O'hArgain, who today is also here at the count centre awaiting the result of the first count. He is hoping to make a return to elected office, and tallies suggest he is in with a chance. Councillor Pat Fitzpatrick has topped the poll in the Castlecomer Local Electoral Area, becoming the first elected representative for the area in this election. The Fianna Fail councillor received a huge 2,308 first preference votes, bettering his 2019 poll-topping vote of 2,249. Ireland's longest-serving female councillor Mary Hilda Cavanagh (FG) will extend her unique record of public service, having also been elected on Count 1 with 1,865 first preferences. The quota is 1,506. Fianna Fail's Michael McCarthy is a whisker away from being elected, polling 1,489. In one of the other big stories of this election, independent Maurice Shortall (1,153) looks on course to take a seat in North Kilkenny. Fine Gael's John Brennan is also in a strong position with 1,128. The biq question now is which of the area's other incumbents, Fianna Fail's Michael Delaney, who got 988, and Sinn Fein's Denis Hynes (1,020) will perform better in transfers. With fewer than 50 votes separating them, they're in a battle for their seats. Independent Ireland's Daniel Burke, who polled 354, and Stephen Delaney (TIP) who got 235, look to be well outside the running. Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick's surplus of 802 votes is now being distributed, so we'll know a lot more after Count 2. Stay posted here for all the news and updates as we get it Kilkenny Lions Club has announced details of a fundraising charity walk set to take place on Sunday, June 23. The event will commence at 12.30 pm at the Square in Freshford. The scenic walk, a little over 5km, aims to raise funds for two local causes: Prague House Freshford which is a care home for elderly people from the area and The Loop Cafe, Freshford , a very popular community run cafe in Freshford. Participants will enjoy a beautiful route that follows the right bank of the stream through a picturesque broadleaf woodland. The path leads to the entrance roadway to Upper Court Manor, continuing to Browns Wood and runs along the serene banks of the Nuenna River. This event promises to be a delightful experience for walkers of all ages and fitness levels, combining the joy of community spirit with the satisfaction of supporting worthy local causes. Children accompanied by parents are most welcome. Kilkenny Lions Club, known for its dedicated volunteer efforts and successful fundraising events, invites everyone to join this walk and contribute to the betterment of our community. Registration will take place on the day at the Square and contributions to the charities are voluntary. If you cannot attend the walk and would like to contribute you can do so at Kilkenny Lions website http://kilkennylionsclub.ie/. For more information, contact Julie Kavanagh 087-6025881 (Loop Cafe) or John Kelly 086-2692723 (Kilkenny Lions) or visit the Kilkenny Lions at http://kilkennylionsclub.ie/. Come out, enjoy the fresh air, and support Prague House and The Loop Cafe in Freshford. President Yoon Suk Yeol is set to pay state visits to Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan this week to explore expanding cooperation in critical minerals and other key sectors. Yoon will embark on the six-day trip Monday, accompanied by first lady Kim Keon Hee, and visit the resource-rich Central Asian nations through June 15, his office said. On the first leg of the trip, Yoon will arrive in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, on Monday, hold a summit with the country's President Serdar Berdimuhamedow and attend a memorandum of understanding signing ceremony. On Tuesday, Yoon will travel to Astana, Kazakhstan, for a three-day state visit that will include a meeting with ethnic Koreans and South Korean residents, and a summit with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on deepening the strategic partnership between the two countries. On Thursday, the president will head to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, also for a three-day state visit that will include a summit with the country's President Shavkat Mirziyoyev and a bilateral business forum. Principal Deputy National Security Adviser Kim Tae-hyo said Yoon's visits will help create new business opportunities for South Korean companies in the energy, critical minerals and other areas and diversify cooperation in new areas, such as climate change response and technology. During the tour, Yoon plans to announce the launch of a new initiative, called the "South Korea-Central Asia K-Silk Road," centering on a vision to jointly realize freedom, peace and prosperity, Kim said. (Yonhap) By Lee Min-hyung Businesspeople from Korea, Japan and China have shared a common view on the need for their partnerships for economic vitalization and supply chain stabilization, according to a survey conducted by a major business lobby group here, Sunday. A group of 181 business leaders from the three nations responded to the survey on the sidelines of their recent trilateral business summit in Seoul. They picked economic vitalization as the biggest potential outcome that can be generated from their trilateral economic partnerships, with more than 47 percent voting for the category. The stabilization of supply chains came in second with 41.2 percent. By region, Korea and Japan expected their economic vitalization as the key expected effect of a partnership, while more than 80 percent of Chinese businesspeople voted supply chain stabilization as the most desirable outcome of the ties with Korea and Japan. "It was confirmed that the major CEOs of the three countries have a consensus close to certainty on the necessity and positive effects of economic cooperation," Park Il-jun, executive vice chairman of the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said. "We plan to develop joint research projects to implement each country's priority tasks and expected effects identified in the survey by establishing a working-level consultative body among the three countries," he added. By Lee Yeon-woo Samsung Electronics executives purchased over 15,000 shares of the company this month, demonstrating their commitment to supporting the stagnating stock price. According to data from the Financial Supervisory Service, Sunday, six executives of Samsung Electronics bought a total of 15,490 company shares, worth 1.14 billion won ($832,063), in June. Park Hark-kyu, the firm's president and head of the corporate management office, purchased 5,500 shares at 73,700 won each on June 3. On the same day, Roh Tae-moon, head of the mobile experience business also purchased 5,000 shares at 73,500 won each. This increased Park's holding from 22,500 to 28,000 shares, and Roh's from 13,000 to 18,000 shares. Other executives followed suit. On Wednesday, Kim Dong-wook, executive vice president and head of the finance team, purchased 2,000 shares. On June 3, Jung Jae-wook, executive vice president and head of Samsung Research Artificial Intelligence Center, acquired 1,330 shares. Yoon Ju-han, an executive of the finance team, and Park Soon-chul, executive vice president and head of the support team, also bought 660 shares and 1,000 shares, respectively. Such purchase appears to reflect their commitment to defending the stock price and practicing responsible management. Samsung Electronics' stock price struggles to rebound from the 70,000 won range, in contrast to its competitor, SK hynix. From the end of 2023 to the most recent trading day, stock price of SK hynix increased by 46.64 percent, rising from 141,500 won to 207,500 won. In contrast, Samsung Electronics' stock price decreased by 1.53 percent, dropping from 78,500 won to 77,300 won. However, this month, driven by executives' stock purchases and expectations of supplying to Nvidia, Samsung Electronics' stock price has risen by over 5 percent, attempting to reach the 80,000 won level. When the company's stock price declined or its performance was poor, Samsung Electronics' executives proactively bought significant amounts of company shares. In 2022, amid the slowdown in the semiconductor industry, executives, including Vice Chairman Han Jong-hee and President Kyung Kye-hyun, collectively purchased company shares worth 12.1 billion won. LEWISTON -- A self-sufficient 12-year-old angler carefully baited his hook Saturday at Kiwanis Park Pond in hopes of a repeat of his dinner the previous night. Jameson Reed, of Lewiston, brought his own pole and tackle box to the free fishing event hosted by Idaho Fish and Game. Hes been fishing for three years, and knows his way around wrangling wiggly worms. I caught two trout last night, Jameson said as he cast his line. I made them for dinner on my own, and it was super good. Before he went fishing, the Sacajawea Middle School student found a YouTube video explaining how to cook rainbow trout. He recommends the technique: heat fry pan on medium-high, add butter and seasoning salt, and two freshly caught and cleaned fish. I really want to make that again today, said the son of Paul and Katie Reed. My Dad fishes, and he got me into this, and my grandpa was a really good fisherman. Its actually a really good way to be outside. Youre by the water, and its peaceful. Thats the kind of experience Rayanna Skalicky, an education technician with Fish and Game, was helping provide for other youngsters. She brought an ample supply of poles and bait to share and helped clean fish for families who were new to the sport. I love to fish, Skalicky said. Its an incredible pastime, especially here in Idaho. This is one of my favorite things to do, helping families or kids who dont always have an opportunity to fish. It can be expensive if you have to go out and buy gear. Another benefit of fishing is that its a great bonding experience, she said. The excited squeals of Louie Palmer, an 8-year-old Clarkston boy, proved her point. He had just caught his first fish with his grandpa, Rick Palmer. Louies first trout was a beauty. He left with two in a plastic bag after Skalicky helped clean them. I felt so excited and happy, said Louie, who was still grinning ear to ear on his way to the car. I screamed. By Lee Yeon-woo The government's ambitious project to excavate oil and gas in the East Sea is expected to face challenges in securing a budget from the National Assembly, according to sources, Sunday. While the government aims to allocate a budget of 100 billion won ($72.4 million) next year for initial drilling, the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) is putting on the brakes, first demanding the transparent disclosure of relevant information regarding the project. According to the government, a budget of 100 billion won is needed for drilling one prospective structure. Its goal is to commence initial exploratory deepwater drilling within the first half of the 2025, following sequential exploratory drilling of the four remaining prospective structures. For next year, following the usual practice, the government plans to cover approximately 50 percent of the total project cost, or 50 billion won, through the Korea National Oil Corp. (KNOC). The remaining 50 percent will be provided as government loans to KNOC. Given the significant investment and technical expertise required for deepwater development, the government plans to start attracting external investments in 2025. As KNOC is in a state of complete capital erosion, receiving government financial support and attracting external investment is crucial to the project. However, it remains uncertain whether they can obtain the consent of the National Assembly which can cut budget proposals. The DPK, which holds the majority in the Assembly, is questioning whether it is appropriate to select the U.S.-based geoscience research company Act-Geo to conduct research. They also want to know how the discussions between the presidential office and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy went, which led to the announcement of the plan directly by President Yoon Suk Yeol. "Drilling five structures is the minimum. Typically, 10 structures are drilled (in projects like this), making this a 1.2 trillion won project," Rep. Chung Chin-ook from the DPK said during a radio interview with broadcaster SBS, Friday. "Is it really feasible to entrust such a small company, almost a one-person enterprise, with a project worth 1.2 trillion won?" Chung said. "Is there really a need to rush this much?" Fifteen DPK lawmakers who were recently nominated to the National Assembly's Trade, Industry, Energy, SMEs, and Startups Committee also held a press meeting on Friday, vowing to examine every suspicion regarding the project. "The trade ministry and the KNOC have refused to submit key documents, including those related to the appropriateness of Act-Geo's selection, the bidding process, project feasibility evaluation results, the list of domestic and international advisory panels, meeting minutes and final reports," the lawmakers said. They stated that a review of relevant documents submitted by the government is needed before determining the appropriateness of the proposed budget. The ruling People Power Party refuted the claims, saying the DPK is objecting for political purposes. Pyongyang stages balloon campaign for second straight day By Kwak Yeon-soo The South Korean government decided, Sunday, to resume loudspeaker broadcasts along the inter-Korean border in response to North Koreas recent launches of trash-carrying balloons. Hours after the decision, the military announced that it had aired messages presumably critical of the North Korean regime across the border. However, it declined to provide details on the psychological warfare broadcasts, such as their timing, location and delivery methods. The presidential office convened a National Security Council emergency meeting led by National Security Adviser Chang Ho-jin to discuss ways to respond to Pyongyangs latest balloon campaign on Saturday, which was the third of its kind since late May. We will install loudspeakers against North Korea and resume the broadcasts today. The measures we are taking may be difficult for the North Korean regime to endure, but they will deliver messages of light and hope to the North Korean military and citizens, the presidential office said in a statement. We make it clear that all responsibility arising from tensions between the two Koreas lies entirely with North Korea. The government will maintain a firm readiness posture against any provocations from North Korea, it added. A senior official at the presidential office said the government cannot stay silent over North Korea's actions that are causing confusion and social anxiety. "Even if the contents of the trash balloons are not fatal, it leaves us with no choice but to take strong action because it could have a psychological impact on the public," the official said. North Korea sent a third wave of trash balloons toward the South on Saturday night, six days after it vowed to resume such a campaign if civic groups in the South launch balloons carrying anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets to the North. North Korea resumed its sending of such balloons late Sunday, according to the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). The balloon campaign comes just days after several North Korean defectors groups in the South, including Fighters for Free North Korea and Gyeoreul Unification Solidarity, sent propaganda leaflets toward the North on Thursday and Friday, respectively. We have detected about 330 balloons carrying trash coming from North Korea, and around 80 of them made it into South Korea. Plastic and paper waste were among the contents of the balloons, but no hazardous substances were discovered, the JCS said. Expert warned that resuming loudspeaker broadcasts could ratchet tensions up further on the Korean Peninsula as such activity is a key tool for psychological warfare. The loudspeaker broadcasts carry messages critical of the Kim Jong-un regime, as well as South Korean news and K-pop songs, and North Korea is extremely sensitive to such broadcasts due to the possible effects on its military and the general public. The risk of military incidents taking place along the border will grow in the future, which will unnerve residents living in the border area. The governments action will inevitably increase tensions on the peninsula, said Lim Eul-chul, a professor of North Korean studies at Kyungnam University. Yang Moo-jin, president of the University of North Korean Studies, said the move could heighten military tensions by prompting North Korea to take its own retaliatory military actions. The measure taken by the government could escalate tensions on the peninsula. North Korea may carry out military provocations in response to the government's complete suspension of the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement and President Yoon Suk Yeol's Memorial Day speech, Yang said. "Provocative acts may include stationing heavy weapons along the Demilitarized Zone, firing coastal artillery in the West Sea and its boats intentionally crossing the Northern Limit Line." Amid growing concerns over an escalation of North Korean aggression against the South, the presidential official said both the government and the military are prepared to respond to its additional threats at the maximum level. Lately, South Korea has been taking a hardline approach against the North. On Tuesday, the government warned it would take unendurable measures against the North for its trash balloons, which could include resuming loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North. The same day, Seoul fully suspended the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement, which made it possible to resume the loudspeaker broadcasts near the border. Following the suspension of the agreement, the South Korean military vowed to resume all military activities near the Military Demarcation Line and take adequate and immediate responses to North Korean provocations. The powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has warned that South Korea will face unspecified "new counteraction" by the North if it keeps sending anti-Pyongyang propaganda leaflets and playing its loudspeaker broadcasts across the border. The statement by Kim Yo-jong came after the South resumed propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts toward the North for the first time in six years, in retaliation against the North's repeated sending of trash-carrying balloons. "If the ROK simultaneously carries out the leaflet scattering and loudspeaker broadcasting provocation over the border, it will undoubtedly witness the new counteraction of the DPRK," Kim said in the English statement carried by the Korean Central News Agency on Sunday, using the acronyms for the official names of the South and the North. Kim claimed that the North had sent some 7.5 tons of "waste paper" in 1,400 balloons across the border over the weekend, arguing that they were just garbage that contained nothing related to political propaganda, unlike anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent by North Korean defectors in the South. "It is quite different from the provocative political agitation rubbish scattered by the scum of the ROK against the DPRK," Kim said, adding that the South "will suffer a bitter embarrassment of picking up waste paper without rest and it will be its daily work." Kim claimed that the North had planned to stop sending balloons, but the "situation has changed" as the South resumed loudspeaker broadcasting across the border. "I sternly warn Seoul to stop at once the dangerous act of bringing the further confrontation crisis and discipline itself," she said. Seoul's unification ministry said that the government will not permit any attempts by North Korea to incite anxiety and confusion within South Korean society. "North Korea should not make the mistake of using our rightful response as an excuse for provocation," said Koo Byoung-sam, the ministry spokesperson, during a press briefing. (Yonhap) Korea's top doctors' organization said Sunday it plans to stage a walkout and a rally later this month in protest of the medical school quota hike, amid the lingering protest by junior doctors that has lasted nearly four months. The Korea Medical Association (KMA) said it will stage a walkout and a rally on June 18, based on the result of a vote carried out last week on whether to launch collective action. More than 90 percent of the participants supported the "strong protest" of the KMA in the vote carried out from Tuesday to Friday last week, the lobby group added. "We intend to form a dedicated committee for the medical community's protest and employ every possible method to launch a comprehensive resistance," Lim Hyun-taek, who heads the KMA, said. The latest collective action came after the government finalized the admission quota hike of some 1,500 for medical schools late last month, marking the first such increase in 27 years. About 12,000 trainee doctors at general hospitals have left their worksites in protest of the government's decision to raise the number of medical school seats, causing disruptions in services at major hospitals. In an apparent effort to persuade trainee doctors to return to hospitals, the government has recently allowed them to seek jobs at other medical clinics or go back to their training hospitals by withdrawing a return-to-work order and suspending administrative steps to punish them. But junior doctors were mostly seen reluctant to return to their worksites despite the gesture. Medical professors were also seen joining the move in solidarity with junior doctors, with those from four hospitals affiliated with Seoul National University voting to launch a walkout later this month, calling for the government to fully withdraw administrative steps to punish trainee doctors. Also on Sunday, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed "deep regret" over the looming additional walkout by doctors. "It is deeply regrettable that some officials and organizations from the medical community are mentioning additional illegal collective action at the expense of people's lives," Han told reporters. "Such actions not only place heavy burdens on the emergency medical system but also scar society," he added. "I believe that the silent majority of doctors will not support the illegal collective action." Han also said junior doctors returning to hospitals will not face any disadvantages, including administrative measures. Amid slim chances of talks between the medical community and the government, pundits anticipate the country's medical services may face further disruptions should the KMA go ahead with the planned walkout. Others, however, suggest that even if the KMA initiates the walkout, local clinics are unlikely to show full support, as less than 10 percent joined the previous strike in 2020. (Yonhap) The presidential National Security Council (NSC) will hold a meeting Sunday to discuss responses after North Korea resumed sending balloons filled with trash to South Korea. NSC adviser Chang Ho-jin is set to preside over an expanded NSC meeting, as the North on Saturday floated the balloons in retaliation against South Korean civic groups' recent launch of balloons carrying propaganda leaflets across the border. The meeting comes a week after the NSC members discussed responses against Pyongyang's balloon campaigns and GPS jamming attacks in the West Sea. After the last meeting, Chang said the government will take an "unbearable action" against the North's provocations. President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday endorsed a motion to fully suspend the 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact, which would pave the way for resuming propaganda broadcasts near the border. Following the full suspension of the Comprehensive Military Agreement, the South Korean military vowed to resume all military activities near the Military Demarcation Line and its northwestern border islands for the first time in more than five years. (Yonhap) Experts endorse megacity plans but highlight practical challenges By Jung Da-hyun Local governments in Korea are aggressively advancing megacity initiatives to tackle the centralization of the metropolitan area, particularly Seoul, and to promote balanced regional development. While experts agree that ongoing discussions are crucial to addressing centralization in the country, they pointed out that local governments' plans still face significant practical challenges. Local governments are accelerating their efforts to implement megacity plans, with Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province recently signing an agreement to integrate their administrative systems by 2026. The initiative aims to enhance the competitiveness of provinces and cities facing demographic and financial decline. By increasing population and economic resources, local governments argue that metropolitan-level administrative integration can prevent overlapping projects and improve resource allocation efficiency through strategic selection and concentration. On June 4, a roadmap was unveiled for the initiation of a special act for the integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province within this year, aiming to launch an integrated local government by July 1, 2026. Discussion over the integration initiative began last month with a proposal from Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo. Hong outlined the suggestion and plan via Facebook on April 20, advocating for a new administrative system for the merged region that would be directed by the prime minister's office, similar to the Seoul Metropolitan Government (SMG), and not controlled by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety. Currently, 16 local governments are overseen by both the interior ministry and the prime minister's office, with the SMG being the sole exception, operating independently of the interior ministry. In response, the government has pledged to establish a task force to support the integration and consider providing both direct and indirect costs, along with granting special administrative and financial measures. The goal is to make the integration of Daegu and North Gyeongsang Province a model for administrative system reform. The Chungcheong area, encompassing Daejeon, Sejong, North and South Chungcheong provinces, is advancing plans to establish a special local government as a preliminary step toward administrative integration. This special local government would unite the administrative areas of the four cities and provinces, setting the stage for eventual full integration. The local leaders have also called on the government for comprehensive support in creating this special local government, with the aim of building a megacity in the Chungcheong region. As discussions about a megacity plan for Seoul, already the largest city in the country, continue, experts stated that it's better to focus on megacity initiatives in regional areas while acknowledging the practical challenges involved. Nahm Kee-bom, an urban sociology professor at the University of Seoul, supports the idea of actively discussing megacities in the provinces, particularly highlighting the potential of the Chungcheong region, which includes Sejong. "Sejong already hosts many government ministries," Nahm said. "Additionally, the Chungcheong area attracts numerous companies due to regulatory policies in metropolitan areas like Seoul." In the case of Sejong, the ruling People Power Party has proposed relocating the National Assembly to the city, further solidifying its status as an administrative hub. However, Nahm emphasized that merely having industrial complexes or administrative agencies does not guarantee that talented individuals will settle in the provinces. The presence of robust cultural infrastructure is crucial for attracting and retaining talent. He also criticized local governments for overly focusing on administrative district integration in their megacity plans. "The idea of a megacity is not about integrating administrative districts, but creating a network of industries, populations, transportation and information," he explained. "When administrative districts become too large, they can become inefficient." Jang Jae-min, representative director of the Korea Institute for Urban Policy, stressed the importance of establishing livable conditions before assigning specific roles, such as industry or administration, to a city. "Cities follow a specific development sequence. Initially, the focus should be on residential areas, followed by establishing essential amenities such as restaurants as well as educational and commercial districts," he said. Citing Sejong City as an example, he noted that despite housing most government agencies, the city lacks adequate transportation infrastructure, such as a subway system, making car travel necessary. "Transportation is the most crucial factor in achieving metropolitanization, such as megacity plans," Jang emphasized. Lee Chang-moo, an urban economics professor at Hanyang University, emphasized that strategic choice and concentration are essential for the success of the megacity strategy. He explained that the essence of a successful megacity, which can genuinely promote balanced regional development, lies in the productive interconnection of urban areas that already form cohesive city regions. This integration can create a unified urban space capable of generating substantial synergy effects. "Rather than forming a megacity coalition based solely on geographical accessibility, it should be based on the living areas of people and the potential for linking economic activities," Lee said, citing the example of Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Gov't-doctors standoff persists for over 100 days with no end in sight By Lee Hyo-jin The Korean Medical Association (KMA), the nation's largest doctors' group, announced its plan, Sunday, to launch an all-out strike on June 18, as the ongoing tug of war between the government and the medical community over a health care reform plan shows no signs of abating. The KMA's planned collective action, which would be the first of its kind since 2020, is in solidarity with thousands of trainee doctors who have been on strike since late February. According to the KMA, representing around 140,000 physicians nationwide, including those from general hospitals and private clinics, 90.6 percent of the 70,800 members who participated in the survey supported the organization's hardline stance against the government's medical reform plan. Additionally, 73.5 percent of the respondents agreed on participating in the collective action in this regard. Out of approximately 112,000 active members, 63.3 percent took part in the vote, which ran from Tuesday through Friday. Based on the survey results, the association decided to go on strike on June 18 and hold a mass rally. It noted that whether or not the strike will continue after that day depends on the government's response. The doctors' group sought public understanding of what it described as an "inevitable action to counter the government's tyranny over the medical community." "The government and the ruling party are still refusing to acknowledge their mistakes and are continuing to push ahead with flawed medical policies. Now, it is time for our 140,000 doctors to form a united front against the government and the ruling party and correct these misguided policies," KMA President Lim Hyun-taek said during a rally at the association's office in central Seoul's Yongsan District. If launched, it will be the first all-out collective action by physicians in Korea since a similar strike in 2020. In August that year, the KMA led a nationwide doctors' walkout to protest the government's plan to increase the admissions quota for medical schools, which lasted for two weeks. In a televised briefing, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo expressed deep regrets over the KMA's planned move, describing it as an "illegal action holding people's lives at stake." At the same time, he assured that trainee doctors who choose to return to work will face no penalties, stating that the government suspended administrative measures imposed on them. "The government will make sure that there will be no penalty for trainee doctors who return to work. We once again promise that those who return will not face any administrative measures," Han said during the briefing held minutes before the KMA's announcement. The prime minister also reaffirmed the government's commitment to medical reform. In late May, the government finalized its plan to increase admissions quotas at medical schools by approximately 1,500 for the 2025 academic year. This increase, although the figure was scaled down from the initial plan of 2,000, was the core component of the health care reform package. The prime minister's briefing failed to offer a major breakthrough in the ongoing stalemate, leaving the situation at a standstill or potentially worsening, considering that senior doctors are now joining the collective movement led initially by junior doctors. Lim is widely known for his staunch opposition to the government. Since he took office in May, the doctors' lobby group has refused to engage in negotiations with the government unless it completely reconsiders its medical admissions quota hike plan. As for the trainee doctors, who have been on strike for over three months, they remain steadfast despite the Ministry of Health and Welfare's June 4 announcement of withdrawing return-to-work orders imposed on them. The ministry also reversed its decision to suspend the licenses of doctors on strike who defied the return-to-work order. Since late February, over 10,000 trainee doctors nationwide have initiated a mass resignation movement to protest the government's plan to increase the medical school admissions quota starting next year. The planned increase aims to address a looming shortage of doctors. Currently, Korea has the second-lowest number of doctors per patient among OECD member nations, with 2.6 doctors for every 1,000 people. 'Stop holding us hostage' The prolonged tug of war between the government and doctors has led to widespread medical disruptions nationwide, with reduced surgeries and canceled appointments affecting numerous patients. The KMA's decision to launch an all-out strike is expected to aggravate the situation further. "We're exhausted. There's nothing we can do other than plead with doctors to refrain from launching any more strikes," said Ahn Ki-jong, head of the Korea Alliance of Patients Organization, told The Korea Times, Sunday. The organization believes that neither the government nor the doctors are prioritizing the well-being of patients, who are being held hostage in their prolonged standoff. Public fatigue over the medical standoff is reflected in recent surveys, which show that a majority of people believe that the doctors have gone too far. According to a poll conducted by the Korean Health and Medical Workers' Union in the last week of May, 85.6 percent of 1,000 respondents agreed that the doctors should return to work, while only 12 percent supported their collective action. Cabinet reshuffle should not be abused to save troubled leaders President Yoon Suk Yeols reported plan to replace several members of his Cabinet either later this month or in early July sparks soul searching about Cabinet reshuffles. The start of the 22nd National Assembly is a known reason that has motivated Yoon to contemplate replacing some of his ministers with fresh faces. Among others, six ministers including Minister of Science and ICT Lee Jong-ho and Interior Minister Lee Sang-min who were appointed by President Yoon in his first year in presidency are expected to be replaced. Yoons reason for the reshuffle, if true, makes little sense. Two years in the same jobs are far from too long to stay in the posts. If someone has been in a certain position for two years, the person may feel comfortable about doing their job, but there are still many things they need to learn. There is a lot more to catch up on, when and if the position requires job holders to demonstrate a great deal of leadership skill, as well as a thorough grasp of complex issues and ability to find solutions, like Cabinet ministers. Therefore, replacing ministers just because they were in the same jobs for two years doesnt sound necessary at all. There would be other plausible reasons that have triggered President Yoon to consider a Cabinet reshuffle in this critical time period while the ruling camp is still reeling from the humiliating election results. The best-case scenario for a sitting president will be that they appoint the right people for the right jobs and let their picks stay in the post all during their presidency. If their picks turn out to be unfit, despite thorough pre-selection screenings, the president has no other option but to replace them. Nobody would blame the leaders if a reshuffle is conducted in consideration of this principle. Despite this, however, replacing Cabinet ministers still should be minimized and taken as a last resort, because frequent reshuffles will do more harm than good. They not only hinder effective implementation of policies but also create an unnecessary leadership vacuum. In Korea, Cabinet reshuffles have been misused frequently. President Yoon and his predecessors have changed their Cabinet members when they felt the need to turn the tide in their favor. Cabinet reshuffles came when their popularity hit lows or when they were in a quagmire over disadvantageous election results or mismanagement of state affairs. This reflects that Korean politicians view Cabinet reshuffles as a chance to regain the publics trust, rather than filling crucial government posts with the most qualified people. Ministers notoriously short tenures are directly related to politically motivated reshuffles. A study finds that ministers average job retention stands at merely 14 months, meaning that the average minister leaves the post slightly a year after they took office. With this figure, policy continuity and smooth implementation of key policies are hardly expected. Frequent reshuffles also waste taxpayer money. Once a person is nominated for a certain Cabinet position, the National Assembly has to arrange a confirmation hearing to verify the nominee's qualifications, both at the professional and personal levels. A task force is set up inside the ministry to prepare for the confirmation hearing. Some nominees drop out before, during or after the confirmation hearing as their past irregularities or flawed ethics or both are made public. If this happens, the president should find another nominee. A leadership vacuum lingers in the ministry. All this translates into the spending of taxpayer money. A Cabinet reshuffle is not a remedy for troubled leaders. It should be about appointing the right people for the right jobs. Selecting well-prepared people for key positions will not only help the government spend taxpayer money wisely, but also help the appointer in this case the president have a tight grip on state affairs. The importance of placing capable, proven people in Cabinet posts cannot be overstated. Political scientist Hahm Sung-deuk shared his insight into Cabinet reshuffles to underscore why picking the right people for Cabinet posts matters for presidents. Presidents will find it easier to succeed in their jobs, if their Cabinet picks turn out to be successful. Its not that a successful president begets successful ministers. Rather the opposite may be true. The more capable the ministers, the more likely the president would succeed in presidency, he said. By Mark Peterson Call me quixotic, but I have founded, formally, the genealogical association of the future for Korea. It is actually the genealogical association of old Korea, that I am trying to revive for a framework of family history research in the future. Korea has perhaps the greatest concentration of genealogical data of any country on earth the jokbo, but its structure is tied to a patrilineal family orientation that limits its usefulness for the 21st century. What I mean is the jokbo is organized on male lines, so much so that once you start into the charts, it doesnt even include the surname of the people listed. It tells you on the cover and at the outset what the surname is, but its never mentioned again. Well, its on the border of each page, usually, but not in the text itself. Its not necessary. Everyone knows this is the Kim family from Gimhae, this is the Lee family from Jeonju, etc. Women are not excluded from the document contrary to what some people will tell you. Women are listed as wives who marry into the male line, and daughters who marry out, into other male lines. The average jokbo contains a wealth of information about both the main line of males and the side lines of females. However, this format of genealogy has not always been the record of choice in Korea. Early jokbo included female lines as well as male lines. The earliest printed jokbo was published in 1476, however, there were family lines recorded in non-published formats that date well back before 1476, back to the Silla Dynasty. Additionally, there were two differing styles of jokbo before Korea settled on the male-dominant form somewhere in the late 17th century. There was the top-down triangle, that included all descendants, male and female, and there was also a bottom-up triangle that would reckon kinship from the living person and extend upward to include his male and female ancestors. It is this bottom-up triangle that resembles the family history format used in the West today. When I speak to Korean groups, and I get to this part of the presentation, I like to ask them how many great, great grandfathers they have, gojo haraboji. Most people in most audiences say they have one one gojo ancestor. At which point, I like to point out that one has two grandfathers, right?, and two grandmothers. Those four individuals each have a father and a mother, making four great, grandfathers, and four great grandmothers. And double it again for the next generation and one has eight great, great grandfathers and eight great, great grandmothers. "Pal gojo," and "pal gojomo." It turns out that before Korea was swept up in the patrilineal organization they did reckon family history in terms of mothers lines as well as fathers lines. And they made charts of their palgojo the eight great, great grandfathers. The wives were listed on the charts as well, making it 16 ancestors at the fifth generation upward. What has that to do with today? Korea, in many ways, is abandoning the patrilineal system. Daughters now have inheritances they had them from earliest history but lost them in the late 17th century. Korea is re-examining its ancestor ceremonies daughters once hosted them as well as sons, until the late 17th century when daughters were excluded from the ceremonies that, too, had become patrilineal. Marriages today are not restricted to shijip-gada the bride going to live with the grooms family, but before the late 17th century there was equality of marriage, where one might choose to have the groom go live at the brides house jangga-gada." In various ways, the patrilineal takeover of the family changed everything. But before these patrilineal developments, Korea enjoyed a degree of egalitarianism in many areas except politics, always the domain of men. And the common genealogical structure that they knew was the palgojo-do the chart of the eight great, great grandfathers. As Korea moves into a new family structure in the 21st century, I am suggesting that they abandon the male-dominant jokbo, and re-acquire the pre-patrilineal format, the palgojodo and help Korea find its way to where it once was, and to where Western families are today, Ive founded the Palgojodo Association. To be a member, you must find all of your eight great, great grandparents. Short of finding them all, while one is researching the female lines, one can be an associate member a jun-hoewon. My goal in creating this association is to help 21st-century Koreans see beyond the strictures of the patrilineal jokbo. Im not saying Korea must go that way, Im predicting that that is the way they will go, because they did that once upon a time, and thats what is done in the West today. Its the wave of the future, and Im just trying to help my Korean friends see and understand that option. If youd like to accept the challenge and join the Palgojodo Association, look for it by that name on Facebook. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/1026879745532130) Mark Peterson (markpeterson@byu.edu) is a professor emeritus of Korean, Asian and Near Eastern languages at Brigham Young University in Utah. While early bloomers begin a vibrant show, central Idaho mountainsides have never seemed more lively. Snowmelt is rushing into alpine lakes, spilling onto slopes and ridges below. The runoff is waking iced over streams, sprouting underbrush and wildflowers that adorn almost every hill and valley. Meadows will be covered by blossoming flowers as the summer season follows. The pops of color embellish lush paths for hikers to admire. Boulder Lake on the Payette National Forest is still frozen over. The popular hiking destination east of McCall displays the snow capped peaks of Boulder Mountain, scenic cascades and striking vistas from stone-speckled cliffs. Its dense forests create an ideal environment for wildlife and vegetation to thrive. Flowers like trillium, spring beauty, Jacobs ladder, yellow avalanche lily, buttercup and more can be spotted among the thicket. Trillium Often a spring favorite among hikers, these perennial flowers are hard to miss. A part of the Liliaceae family, theyre characterized by having three petals and three sepals, coming in many colors like white, pink and red with age. Trilliums grow in well-drained, moist soil and are found in forests, according to the U.S. Forest Service website. Theyre commonly found along stream banks or in deep woods, blooming mid-spring to early summer. Where theres one, theres many. Trilliums come by the dozens and are found across North America. These flowers, though beautiful, should be left in the wild. Theyre subject to pressure from habitat loss and land-use changes, according to the United States Department of Agricultures website. Spring beauty, Claytonia lanceolata This delicate flower can barely wait for the snow to melt. Theyre one of the first to blossom after winter thaw. Spring beauty is a member of the Montiaceae family, which has five pinkish-white petals and matching stigmas. Its easy to misidentify them, as lookalikes like wood anemone and hepatica grow nearby. The plant is found in moist soil across North America, and usually below snowbanks anywhere from alpine meadows to lower foothills, according to the U.S. Forest Services website. They can bloom as early as February, but are usually found in the spring and early summer. The flowers, stems and leaves of spring beauty are edible. Theyre a go-to snack for grazing deer, bears and other animals, according to the website. By Baek Byung-yeul 3M is positioning itself as a pivotal player in the Korean market where its customers are taking a lead in the rapidly advancing electric vehicle (EV) battery and semiconductor manufacturing markets, according to Lee Jung-han, managing director of the U.S. manufacturing companys Korean unit. The company is focusing its efforts on optimizing battery performance and enhancing the efficiency of semiconductor processes, demonstrating its commitment to innovation and sustainability in these critical industries, the managing director said. "Korea is rapidly growing as a market leader in the electric vehicle battery sector on the global stage. Accordingly, various sectors such as new businesses, products, and technologies introduced by 3M Korea are focusing on batteries," Lee said during an interview with The Korea Times, June 4. "The most important issue for EV makers is battery optimization and effectively increasing the driving range per kilowatt-hour (kWh). 3M offers a variety of solutions related to battery optimization, including thermal management, thermal runaway prevention and electrical insulation." He mentioned that 3M contributes to enabling Korean clients to create competitive products through solutions like delaying swelling caused by battery runaway and installing thermal barrier solutions between batteries and battery cells. "Even though the EV battery business is going through a bit of a tough time now, I still think the future market outlook is bright. We have many components and materials that can help clients make their batteries safe and optimize efficiency. In that regard, we will continue to collaborate with battery companies to provide solutions that enable Korean companies to lead the global market and create a win-win situation," Lee said. 3M is also making significant strides in the semiconductor sector, particularly in chemical mechanical planarization (CMP), which refers to a process for removing the surface irregularities of silicon wafers in chip production. The Korea head said that 3M is leveraging its proprietary Micro-Replicated technology to increase its presence in the CMP pads market. "Our products have a significantly smoother and more uniform surface compared to competitors' products, and we can create various patterns according to the diverse needs of clients," he said. 3M's products have been highly praised by clients implementing processes below 10 nanometers. Also, in terms of the lifespan of CMP pads under mechanical stress, our CMP pads last two to three times longer than typical CMP pads." 3M Korea was established in 1977 as a joint venture between 3M and Doosan Group. In 1999, 3M acquired Doosan's stakes, making its Korean unit a 100 percent subsidiary. The chief of the Korean unit said that the Korean market holds more than just market value for 3M, saying, "Korea serves as a hub for innovation and technological advancement, providing an important platform for 3M to continue growing and evolving." "The Korean market plays a significant role in 3M's global strategy. Korean consumers demand high technology and quality, which drives 3M to continuously provide innovative and reliable products. For example, 3M has established significant partnerships in various industrial sectors in Korea. This is particularly evident in fields requiring advanced technology such as electronics and automotive," the managing director said. In a recent partnership, earlier this year, 3M signed an agreement with HD Korea Shipbuilding & Offshore Engineering (HD KSOE) to conduct a joint research project on a high-performance vacuum insulation system for liquid hydrogen storage and transportation. The agreement will see 3M's Glass Bubbles applied to HD KSOEs vacuum insulation system for liquid hydrogen storage tanks, including insulation and construction workability evaluation, demonstration and classification approval, Lee added. Tackling climate change with technology The managing director said that 3M has been developing various solutions to address global challenges such as climate change. "Examples include the world's first self-charging protective communication headset, the 3M PELTOR WS ALERT XPV, the SOAR material created in collaboration with Svante to accelerate decarbonization and the paper-based padded automatable curbside recyclable (PACR) mailer material that companies can use to automate their packaging processes," he said. 3M has set goals to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent by 2025, 80 percent by 2040 and to achieve 100 percent carbon neutrality in its facilities by 2050. He said that 3M has already achieved its global goal of increasing the use of renewable energy to 56.2 percent of total power consumption across its operations worldwide this year, therefore reaching the 50 percent target set for 2025. 'Work Your Way' system to boost employee creativity The managing director said that 3M is creating a new, innovative work culture that enhances employee creativity through a flexible working system called Work Your Way. Best known for its Post-it Notes, which were born of an accidental discovery by one of its researchers, 3M introduced the Work Your Way system in March 2022 during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, allowing employees to choose whether to work on-site, remotely or a mix of both. Lee said this new work system is based on trust and allows employees to set their work style to increase work efficiency and encourage more creativity. "This system is creating a new innovative culture based on trust. The response from employees has been very positive, and most of them are happy with this system," he said. He added that 3M Korea encourages a culture of embracing failure and learning, which has led to the creation of innovative technologies and products. "3M understands innovation involves taking risks and not all ideas can succeed. By encouraging experimentation and learning from failure, 3M fosters a more innovative and adaptive mindset," the managing director said. "In Korea, 3M is running an award program called the Penguin Award to promote a culture of embracing failure and learning." As the chief of the Korean unit, he expressed his desire to make 3M Korea the "best place to work." "Strategy and vision are important for a company, and so is core technology, but what really ties them together is people. By enabling employees to think positively and motivating them, the organization's energy level increases. An energized organization cannot fail to succeed," he said. By Lee Min-hyung Hyundai Motor has completed the acquisition of the hydrogen fuel cell business from Hyundai Mobis, in a move to unify its research and production capability for management efficiency, the automaker said Sunday. This has enabled Hyundai Motor Group to streamline the organizational structure for its hydrogen business. The acquisition was announced in February, and Hyundai Mobis has since finished transferring its fuel cell-related facilities, assets and personnel to the carmaker. Hyundai Motor will now be able to accelerate its research and production development on hydrogen fuel cells upon the completion of the acquisition, the carmaker said. We have a strong sense of duty for the hydrogen business, Hyundai Motor President and CEO Chang Jae-hoon said. We will keep expanding our hydrogen business foundation by reinforcing partnerships with the groups affiliates. We will also keep expanding our presence in hydrogen production, relevant tech development and commercial vehicles (powered by hydrogen energy). Under the drive, Hyundai Motor Group aims to become the worlds leading hydrogen value chain provider. At this years CES tech trade show in January, the company displayed its vision to establish the complete hydrogen value chain encompassing its production to storage and transportation. The group has spoken highly of major upsides of hydrogen energy, as it can reduce huge social and environmental costs thanks to its safety and nature as a circulated resource. According to the company, hydrogen energy is clean and infinite and can be produced and utilized in multifaceted ways. It also has key upsides in terms of storage and transportation, given its higher energy density than other energy sources. Hyundai Motor Group hopes to rewrite mobility history through hydrogen energy after it won a title as the worlds first automaker mass-producing hydrogen-fueled vehicles back in 2013 when it launched the Tucson ix35 hydrogen SUV. Hyundai Motor also widened its hydrogen footing into commercial vehicles with the XCIENT Fuel Cell Truck the worlds first commercial hydrogen-electric truck in 2020. The vehicle has since been recognized in major global markets such as the United States, Germany, France and Saudi Arabia for its eco-friendliness. The carmaker also aims to launch a new version of its Nexo hydrogen-electric car by 2025 and plans to diversify its hydrogen business portfolio in areas such as trams, vessels and even advanced air mobility. Hyundai Motor also shared its vision of expanding partnerships with major companies, research organizations and the government to boost its drive to build the complete hydrogen ecosystem. By Park Jae-hyuk Major gaming firms in Korea have been embroiled in intensifying disputes with their unionized workers, who protest management attempts to cut labor costs amid worsening profits, according to industry officials, Sunday. The labor union of Neople, a Nexon subsidiary that developed Dungeon & Fighter, threatened on Tuesday to take industrial action, as the wage talks ended in failure. If labor and management fail to reach an agreement after arbitration by the Jeju Regional Labor Relations Commission, the union can win the legal right to go on strike after a vote by its members. Despite Neoples handsome profits, the company offered a wage growth rate similar to those of other affiliates without offering any incentives, the union said in a statement. Between 2019 and 2013, Neoples operating profit reached 3.8 trillion won ($2.7 billion), which is larger than 70 percent of the total operating profit of Nexon Group affiliates. Company management refuted the claims, saying that the union has demanded a 9.24 percent wage increase despite an 11 percent drop in the companys annual operating profit. The wage growth rates have not differed between Nexons affiliates, as they have jointly developed games and provided services to users, a Neople official said. NCSOFTs union urged management on Wednesday to retract its planned spinoff and stop causing concerns over job security. Last month, the gaming firm asked some of its employees to leave the company and announced the spinoff plan to reduce the number of workers at its headquarters to around 4,500 from 5,000. The union attributed the companys worsening profits to the lack of leaders who can direct the development of attractive games. We are not disposable products, so we will not tolerate managements irresponsible and selfish behavior, the union said in a statement. If management ignores our request, we will take every possible measure to protect our rights, livelihoods and future. Netmarble employees formed a labor union last month, joining the workers of the nations six other gaming firms who have already organized unions. The Netmarble union belongs to the Korean Chemical, Textile & Food Workers Union under the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions, one of Koreas two largest umbrella unions. Netmarble is currently under invisible restructuring, the union said in a statement. The company has dismissed non-permanent employees before their contracts expire, disbanded several teams for some obscure reasons and frozen salaries. Turkey will impose a 40 percent additional tariff on imports of vehicles from China to halt a possible deterioration of its current account balance and protect domestic automakers, the trade ministry said on Saturday. China is facing increasing trade pressures worldwide over its growing exports of electric vehicles, which many countries claim are being heavily subsidized by Beijing to support its sputtering economy. The European Commission is expected to announce next week whether to impose provisional extra tariffs. The additional Turkish tariff will be set at a minimum of $7,000 per vehicle, with effect from July 7, a presidential decision published in the country's Official Gazette showed. "An additional tariff will be imposed on import of conventional and hybrid passenger vehicles from China in order to increase and protect the decreasing share of domestic production," trade ministry said. In a statement, the ministry also said the additional tariff decision was made taking into current account deficit targets and efforts to encourage domestic investment and production. The decision said if the 40 percent tariff calculated from the price of an imported vehicle is under $7,000 then the minimum tariff of $7,000 will be charged. In 2023, Turkey imposed additional tariffs on electric vehicle imports from China and brought some regulations regarding EV maintenance and services. The government is encouraging more production and exports to reduce the chronic current account deficit, which stood at $45.2 billion last year. (Reuters) Denmark's Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen walked away following an assault by a man in central Copenhagen on Friday and had no outward signs of harm, a local resident told Reuters. "Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was beaten on Friday evening at Kultorvet (square, red.) in Copenhagen by a man who was subsequently arrested. The Prime Minister is shocked by the incident," her office said in a statement without giving further detail. Police said on social media platform X they had arrested a man and were investigating the incident but declined to give further detail. "She seemed a little stressed," Soren Kjergaard, who works as a barista on the square, told Reuters after seeing the prime minister being escorted away by security following the assault. The assault comes two days before Danes head to the polls in the EU election. Three weeks ago, Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was seriously injured in an assassination attempt. Danish Minister of Environment Magnus Heunicke said on X: "Mette is naturally shocked by the attack. I must say that it shakes all of us who are close to her." (Reuters) Israelis on Sunday cheered the rescue of four hostages from war-torn Gaza while Palestinians counted the cost, with Hamas officials saying 274 people were killed and hundreds wounded during the daytime raid. Special forces fought heavy gun battles with Palestinian militants on Saturday in central Gaza's crowded Nuseirat refugee camp area as they swooped in to free the captives from two buildings and then flew them out by helicopters. The Israeli military said the extraction team and captives came under heavy gun and grenade fire, which killed one police officer, while Israel's air force launched strikes that reduced nearby buildings to rubble. The Hamas-run Gaza Strip's health ministry said 274 people were killed in what it labelled the "Nuseirat massacre," updating an earlier toll of 210 from the government media office which said the fatalities included many women and children, figures that could not be independently verified. The health ministry said 698 people were wounded. "My child was crying, afraid of the sound of the plane firing at us," said one Gaza woman, Hadeel Radwan, 32, recounting how they fled the intense combat as she carried her seven-month-old daughter. "We all felt that we wouldn't survive," she told AFP, condemning "this brutal occupation that will not let us live." Many Israelis shed tears of joy when they heard of the release of the four captives, all reported in good health Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41. The four had been abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas's Oct. 7 attack when video footage showed gunmen taking away Argamani on a motorbike as she cried "Don't kill me!" The army released footage of the freed captives embracing their family members, and the government press office showed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visiting them in hospital. Israel's leading dailies, Yedioth Ahronoth and Israel Hayom, showed Argamani embraced by her father on their front pages under the same simple headline: "Home." Financial newspaper Calcalist hailed a "heroic operation" that had given Israelis "a few hours of grace," while the left-leaning Haaretz daily called the rescue operation a "morale boost" for the nation. Renewed clashes Hamas's Ezzedine Al-Qassam Brigades claimed that other hostages were killed during the rescue operation, without providing details or proof, and warned that conditions would worsen for the remaining captives. "The operation will pose a great danger (for) the enemy's prisoners and will have a negative impact on their conditions," spokesman Abu Obaida wrote on the Telegram channel. Israel's top diplomat rejected unspecified accusations "of war crimes" in the operation. "We will continue to act with determination and strength, in accordance with our right to self-defence, until all of the hostages are freed and Hamas is defeated," Foreign Minister Israel Katz said. Latest fighting saw four members of one family killed when an air strike hit their house in Gaza City's Al-Daraj area, according to Al-Ahli hospital medics. Israel helicopters were also firing east of the Bureij camp, witnesses told AFP. And heavy artillery shelling from Israeli army tanks hit central and northern areas of Rafah, said officials in the southern city. The four freed hostages are among only seven that Israeli forces have managed to rescue alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 in their Oct. 7 attack. Dozens were exchanged in a November truce for Palestinian prisoners. After Saturday's rescue operation, 116 hostages remain in Gaza, although the army says 41 of them are dead. U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz were among leaders who greeting their release even as they have also called for a truce. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell welcomed the hostage release and said reports "of another massacre of civilians are appalling... the bloodbath must end immediately." (AFP) MADRID Maria Del Mar Mira, a civil servant and historian in the central Letras neighborhood of Madrid, expressed disappointment at not seeing the queues that normally form for national elections at her polling station in central Madrid. We should take this more seriously, because there are a lot of important things coming from there and the truth is it that we are taking a direction that reminds me of past and undesirable times, Mira said. Some 38 million Spaniards are eligible to vote Sunday to elect 61 members of the 720-seat European Parliament, with the conservative opposition and the ruling Socialists expected to get the most seats. Antonio Garcia Escolar, a producer and screenwriter from Madrid, also remarked on low interest in the vote, something he blamed on misinformation. We have fallen into a widespread yawn," he said. "We are asleep, because we prefer reading a headline or what a YouTuber tells us and we dont seek truthful information. Garcia Escolar did not disclose who he voted for but said his vote was "against fascism. Fascism is not something that one learns in school, it is something that is dormant and that is inside all of us, that only awakens when fear is stirred, he said. Ana Cabanas, a lawyer from Madrid, said the economy and the agricultural policies that are decided in Brussels were some of the main topics that drove her to vote. I still believe in Europe and I want to have a say in matters that affect Spanish legislation and that are decided in Europe," Cabanas said. PARIS Migration has been one of the most important issues to French voters, and the party of far-right leader Marine Le Pen is hoping for a strong showing against the centrist party of President Emmanuel Macron. Jordan Bardella, Le Pens 28-year-old protege and the current president of the far-right National Rally, gave strong performances in debates ahead of this weekends election, something that could help Le Pen as she is expected to run for the French presidency in 2027. Bardella has fiercely opposed the EU Asylum and Migration Pact, a plan backed by Macron that seeks to harmonize the management of irregular migrant arrivals among EU nations. French voters are also focused on the war in Ukraine and Gaza. Today, in the context of a war in Ukraine and the Middle East, theres a different dimension than the national one, said Francois Tivolle, who cast his ballot in Paris 11th district. BERLIN The European Parliament election gives political parties in Germany their first nationwide test since center-left Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government took office at the end of 2021. Pre-election surveys suggested that the mainstream conservative opposition, the Union bloc, can expect to remain Germanys strongest force in the EU legislature. They predict weak results for the three parties in Scholzs quarrelsome governing coalition, which has become very unpopular. The far-right Alternative for Germany can expect gains compared with the 11% of the vote it won in 2019, but its performance may be hampered by a string of setbacks in recent months, including scandals surrounding its two lead candidates for the European Parliament. Germany elects 96 of the 720 lawmakers who will make up Europe's new Parliament, the biggest single share. Voter Laura Simon said in Berlin: I do hope that we will manage to avoid a shift to the right and that Europe will somehow remain united. BUDAPEST, Hungary Many Hungarian view the election as a referendum on the popularity of Prime Minister Viktor Orban, whose illiberal policies and his support for Russia have pushed him to the margins of the European Union. While Fidesz has dominated Hungarian politics since 2010, many Hungarians are deeply dissatisfied with the direction the country is going, and hope to deal a blow to Orban by supporting one of the most formidable challengers hes ever faced. Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer and former insider within Orbans party, has built up Hungarys strongest opposition party in a matter of months and hopes to use a good showing in Sundays elections to propel himself and his movement toward defeating the prime minister in the next national ballot scheduled for 2026. Orbans governing Fidesz party is expected to win the largest share of the vote after campaigning heavily on fears that the war in neighboring Ukraine could escalate to involve Hungary directly. Hungary is set to take over the EUs rotating six-month presidency next month. WARSAW, Poland Poles are voting at a time of great insecurity for the nation, which is located along the eastern flank of both the European Union and NATO. The war just across the border in Ukraine has created fears that if Russia were to prevail, Poland and neighboring nations that were once under Moscows control could be targeted next. A migration crisis is also playing out along another stretch of the eastern border with Belarus. Poland accuses Belarus and Russia of luring large numbers of migrants to the border to create instability. The crisis has been deadly, with a migrant recently stabbing to death a Polish soldier. Dozens of migrants, if not more, have also died in the swampy forest area since 2021. Prime Minister Donald Tusk has stressed national security, promising to strengthen border controls as he seeks a good showing for his centrist, pro-EU party. On the minds of some Poles is the nature of the EU itself. In a nation under foreign rule for long spans in the past, some Poles fear that the 27-member bloc is taking away too much power from individual nations. We know that the European Union is in crisis, so maybe our elections will change something in the decision-making and efficiency of this body, said Anna Grzegorczyk-uczak, a 60-year-old architect who voted early in Warsaw. She would not say which party she voted for. SOFIA, Bulgaria Bulgarians are choosing a new parliament Sunday while also participating in European Union elections that have been overshadowed by domestic political instability and economic inequality as well as growing concern over the war in nearby Ukraine. It was Bulgarias sixth parliamentary election in three years. There were worries that voter fatigue and wide disillusionment with politicians who do not fulfill promises to fight corruption and introduce reforms could result in a low turnout and another fragmented parliament. Preliminary results are expected Monday in the voting for the 240 seats in the National Assembly and for 17 members in the European Parliament. The front-runners in the National Assembly elections were seen as the GERB center-right party led by three-time Prime Minister Boyko Borissov and the reformist coalition We Continue the ChangeDemocratic Bulgaria. After running neck and neck in last Julys election, the two rival groups sought to break the political stalemate by forming an uneasy governing coalition, but it survived only nine months. (AP) A 75-year-old American man was adrift at sea for three weeks while sailing from the Philippines to Nha Trang in central Vietnam. Quinn Richard Anthony (L) discusses his sea journey with a VnExpress reporter on the evening of June 4, 2024. Photo by VnExpress/Chau Tho On June 4 Quinn Richard Anthony spoke to VnExpress about his relief that the boats engine was functioning again. After being towed to a port in central Vietnams Quang Ngai Province the day before by local fishermen, he was keen to repair his boat and continue his travel before heading back to Hanoi to reunite with his wife Dao Thi Hieu, whom he first encountered on a trip to Hanoi in 2006 and married three years later. He had finally contacted his wife the day before after a month of being incommunicado. She told him: "Im relieved youre safe and healthy despite the boats problems." Anthony, originally from Aruba in the Caribbean, moved to the U.S. and started a career in shipping at 19. He became a captain by 30. Throughout his career, he worked for a major U.S. marine transport company, captaining large vessels. He recalled his seafaring adventures through the waters off Japan, Taiwan, Africa, the Panama Canal, and Alaska in the U.S. His long years at sea made him skilled in using navigation charts and provided him with a broad appreciation for the scenic beauty of various coastlines. After retiring as a sailor, he moved to Hanoi and began biking across Vietnam post-marriage. An avid adventurer, he was eager to embark on a lengthy sea voyage in a sailboat. "I love the sea, but my wife does not, and so I had to go alone," he said. In February he traveled to the Philippines and bought a sailboat that was over 10 meters long and equipped with a twin hull and an engine. He used the vessel to explore various islands in the Philippines before setting off for Nha Trang on April 5, a voyage of more than 1,000 km. For the journey, he packed a gas stove, rice, dry food, fishing rods, diving gear, a large sea chart, and ample paper and pens for jotting down notes and calculations. Confident in his maritime knowledge, he was certain of reaching Vietnam on schedule. The first week of his voyage went smoothly, with the wind nicely driving his boat as expected. But its direction changed suddenly, veering the boat off its path. Since he was not beholden to a work schedule, Anthony was unconcerned when the weather extended his voyage. Throughout the trip, in addition to his stored food provisions, he supplemented his provisions by fishing. A month earlier he had stopped in Thailand to stock up on food and called his wife before continuing his trip. But then his journey took a critical turn when strong winds on May 14 damaged the sail mast and the overused engine stalled and could not be repaired. Quinn Richard Anthony's boat currently docked at Sa Huynh port for repairs. Photo by VnExpress/Minh Bang "Looking at the map, I still thought I would make it to Vietnam, just to a different destination than Nha Trang, and it would take a bit longer," he says, drawing on his past experiences as a captain navigating stormy and hazardous areas. In the ensuing days he had no option but to let the wind carry the boat, with his supply of food and water dwindling. He estimated the winds direction would lead him to Da Nang instead of Nha Trang. After being adrift for almost three weeks, on June 3 he spotted a Vietnamese fishing boat and shouted and signaled to the fishermen for assistance. They approached, learned of his predicament and towed his boat to Sa Huynh Port 80 kilometers away. On arrival, border patrol officers at the port checked his health, provided him with food and water and helped him contact his wife. Local technicians are repairing the engine and replacing the sail mast. Anthony intends to sail to Da Nang and leave his boat there and return to Hanoi. Asked about his plan to sail to Nha Trang, he says he will do it when conditions are right. The dust has settled in the Mexico presidential elections of 2024, considered the country's largest election yet. In a landslide victory, Claudia Sheinbaum was elected to succeed her mentor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and we will take a look at her net worth before she even takes office. Sheinbaum made history as the first female president in Mexico's history, as well as the first one of Jewish descent. This is historic as Mexico has had a history of machismo and preferring male leaders, with a history of gender disparity and violence against women. Mexico is also majority Catholic and electing somebody of Jewish descent is quite historic, especially in Latin America. Born from a family of intellectuals, as her father, Carlos Sheinbaum Yoselevitz, and mother, Annie Pardo Cemo, were notable scientists. She followed in their footsteps as she also became one, choosing to be a climate scientist and pushing for greener policies in Mexico. She graduated with a degree in physics from the National Autonomous University of Mexico in 1989, before getting her master's degree and a PhD in energy engineering by 1995, according to Marca. It was not long before she dipped her toes into politics, though, as she was soon elected as the mayor of the country's capital, Mexico City, where she was mentored by current President AMLO. As for her Jewish background, Sheinbaum said she never practiced the relifion, nor does she consider herself being Jewish. BBC listed her at number 70 on the BBC 100 Women list not as a politician, but as a scientist, as she contributed much to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. However, thanks to her connection to the notoriously pro-oil AMLO, many of her fellow climate scientists are now divided over her. READ MORE: Mexico President-Elect Claudia Sheinbaum Unlikely To Repeat AMLO's 'Bromance' With Donald Trump, Say Analysts Claudia Sheinbaum as a Politician Although her achievements as a climate scientist have earned her global renown, she is now more known to be a politician, being AMLO's brightest student in the political arena and mayor of Mexico City. This soon propelled her to the highest office in the land. As mayor of Mexico City, one of the largest cities on the planet, Sheinbaum invested 40 billion pesos, around $2 billion, to modernize the city. She also contributed to the country's education through her "Mi Beca para Empezar" scholarship program which helped 1.2 million students across Mexico Despite being close to the big oil-loving AMLO and being accused of being his "clone" in terms of policy, Sheinbaum does differ with him over energy, as she has been pushing for alternative energy sources and greener practices. How Much is Claudia Sheinbaum's Net Worth Before She Becomes President? As the mayor of Mexico City, Sheinbaum earned between 200,000 pesos a month, with her annual salary being over $134,000. Throughout the years, she has had a very successful career in politics, academia, and environmental advocacy, according to WibliqX. As for her net worth, it is estimated to be between 5 - 10 million dollars thanks to her extensive career across various fields. READ MORE: Mexico Elections Tale of the Tape: Claudia Sheinbaum Vs. Xochitl Galvez This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: The biggest problems Mexico's first female president Claudia Sheinbaum is facing | DW News If youre heading to Disney with a kid, tween, teen or fellow #DisneyAdult, youve probably already considered a Loungefly mini backpack because theyre the it bag for any park-goer. But the best backpacks for Disney arent just themed for the occasion, like your favorite Disney snack or too-cute-for-words character, they also come equipped with the versatile, light-carry features you need to make walking (and really, its running, right?) everywhere a total breeze. Read More: What is the best backpack to use as a personal item on flights? Ospreys Daylite Commuter Backpack is a solid pick for your travels, because it can hold the essentials without going overboard and it wont weigh you down. You can grab it in 12 different colorways on Amazon and a few of them, like Jetstream Blue, Ash Blush Pink/Earl Grey and Dream Purple, are highly visible. So, you can spot them in busy crowds, long lines and up and down parade routes. The large main compartment lets you load up on all your Disney vacation and park essentials, from sunscreen and ponchos to portable chargers and character meet-and-greet autograph books. Plus, it can attach to or house other Osprey packs, like the Osprey Ultralight Collapsible Stuff Pack, so if you end up with a few extra treasures from your Disney Springs shopping spree or souvenirs from Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom, youll have plenty of places to put them. With an interior sleeve to hold your hydration reservoir and pockets for reusable water bottles on both sides, you shouldnt get thirsty in the midst of park hopping. But even if you do work up a sweat, you can get some relief via the comfortable and well-ventilated mesh-covered, die-cut foam back panel. Finally, the dual side compression straps help to cinch the backpack closer to you, distributing the weight evenly across your back, shoulders and midsection and reducing any strain or fatigue as you flit around the resort. Grab the Osprey Daylite Commuter Backpack at Amazon for $65. And keep these other top-rated daypacks in mind, if you need something a bit more budget-friendly. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Danielle Halibey can be reached at dhalibey@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. Performers kicked off the second annual Nazareth Pride in shamelessly high heels and even higher wigs to spite the heat on Saturday. It was the second year in a row the Nazareth event was not hosted in the Nazareth area. Attendees rotated through the event by the hundreds and then the dozens over several hours outside New Creation United Church of Christ in Palmer Township. Some traveled from as far as Berks and Carbon counties; some came from as near as several streets away; all came to show support and be accepted as they are, they said. One couple from Schnecksville who brought their teenagers to the event said it was the furthest theyd traveled as a family for a LGBTQ-themed event. We were surprised. Its a lot bigger than we expected, the couple said. That had a lot to do with the organizers. Saturdays Pride event featured half-a-dozen drag entertainers, a drag contest for dogs and a live DJ. With the exception of two, every vendor at the event was local, or queer-led or affiliated. Some vendors included Valley Youth House, Bradbury-Sullivan Center, The LGBTQ Business Council, Free Mom Hugs, Am Haskalah, The Swingle Family Foundation. Peace Eagle, a touring Indigenous artist, descended from the Blackfoot and Cherokee tribes also attended, and sold her artwork. One of the lead organizers, April Gabriel-Ferretti, who runs Nazareth Together, a non-profit that sponsored the Nazareth Pride, said her team had been working tirelessly to bring the controversial community gathering of LGBTQ-folks and their allies to fruition this year. When Upper Nazareth Township rescinded approval for Gabriel-Ferretti to host Nazareth Pride at Tuskes Park, Gabriel-Ferretti and her partners were forced to double their efforts, and it showed. With only a handful of volunteers to help, Nazareth Together transformed the New Creation United Church of Christ parking lot into a well-coordinated party for all who gathered. We have such a desperate need for this here Ill never stop fighting for us, Gabriel-Ferretti said. Glenn Epps can be reached at gepps@lehighvalleylive.com or glenn_epps_on X (formerly known as Twitter.com), Facebook and Threads. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe to lehighvalleylive.com today. Editors Note: Lehighvalleylive.com is offering a benefit to subscribers: Click the photo gallery to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer, and get free, print-quality downloads - as well as the option to purchase keepsakes at half the price. Phillipsburg High School students celebrated their senior banquet at the SteelStacks complex on Saturday night. Freelance photographer Tim Wynkoop was there to capture a few of the students as they arrived for the prom. Lehighvalleylive.com will be sending photographers to proms throughout the Lehigh Valley and Warren County this season. Our full coverage of proms across the region can be found at lehighvalleylive.com/prom. Check out the gallery above to see everyone dressed up for a night to celebrate. SHARE YOUR PROM PHOTOS Dont forget to tag @lehighvalleylive in your Instagram photos and @lehighvalley on Twitter - we just might highlight the best pics! Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Saed Hindash may be reached at shindash@lehighvalleylive.com. An Electric Picnic contractor employee had no driving licence and was uninsured while drunk and drug driving before crashing into a car carrying four young women in Stradbally. Dara Byrne (24) of 67 Ringsend Park, Ringsend, Dublin 4 admitted to driving without reasonable consideration while under the influence and uninsured without a licence at Loughteeog, Stradbally on September 1, 2023. Garda Ross Foy said he responded to a collision between a 191 registered Ford Focus and 232D Ford Transit van at 8.20am on the date in question. He said there were four young ladies in the Focus and the defendant had been driving the van. Garda Foy said the defendant failed a roadside drug swab. He said the driver was over the drug driving limit for cocaine and was also over legal alcohol limit when tested. Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick asked if the collision occurred in an area within the enclosures of the Electric Picnic and she asked about her clients demeanour. Garda Foy said it was just on the outskirts on a rural country road. He said the defendant was very easy to deal with on the day. More than apologetic. Ms Fitzpatrick said the defendant was a project manager looking after garda deployment at the festival. She said the man was in charge of moving barriers and had been there since 5am. He thought the road was closed off, she explained. He gave no thought that he had these substances in his system, Ms Fitzpatrick added. She said the company that employed the defendant had paid for the damage and he has undergone an internal disciplinary procedure following the incident. These are sub contractors to An Garda Siochana? asked Judge Andrew Cody. I believe they work for the Electric Picnic. They put the barriers around, Garda Foy replied. Judge Cody said an application for a licence to hold the Electric Picnic was due before the court the following day. He said the defendant was 12 times the limit for cocaine and asked about contractors providing security coked out of their heads. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client was not security and had been employed to erect barriers at the event. He is not a security worker, she said. It just happened they were erecting fencing in the garda area at the time, she explained. Judge Cody said the incident raises questions about the quality of contractor being engaged by the Electric Picnic. Ms Fitzpatrick said her client had pleaded guilty and dealt with it upfront and honestly and she noted he hadnt been fired from his job. Shows what they are willing to tolerate, said Judge Cody. Ms Fitzpatrick said the man is one of their most valued project managers who was kept on because he is a good worker. Judge Cody fined the man 500 and disqualified him from driving for two years for the driving under the influence of cocaine. He imposed a further 500 fine and two year disqualification for drink driving. Another 500 fine and two year ban was issued for not having insurance and a 250 fine was imposed for not having a licence with a further 250 fine for driving without reasonable consideration. Bolaji Adeyanju is an independent first time candidate in the 2024 local elections, hoping to represent the Portlaoise Municipal District. He spoke to the Leinster Express / Laois Live from the count centre in Kea Lew business park, Portlaoise, on Saturday evening, June 8 ahead of the actual counts getting underway. "I'm very excited. I feel privileged, it's great to want to represent the people. It's important that migrants get a voice. It's a very exciting time for our community. People who have been here for a long time have earned the right to be here. "Laois needs to reflect the people that live in it and that's why it's so important that a person representing migrants is in Laois County Council," Mr Adeyanju said. The initial tally counts had placed his vote at 3%, meaning a big climb would be needed to win a seat in the hotly contested Portlaoise district, where 20 candidates are vying for seven seats, and many sitting councillors are polling strongly. "I have to be hopeful. Without hope what am I doing here? Whoever gets in would deserve to be there. We all care about the community we live in," he said. A first time runner, he described what it was like to go door to door seeking votes. "It was the most intriguing moment. People were really respectful of the change that I'm clamouring for. People also spoke to me about their own worries, and trusted me. Laois people are amazing and the people are very accepting. He is a founding member of the Laois African Support Group and the Laois Integration Network. While Bolaji and his wife and children live in Mountmellick, he had opted to run in the Portlaoise Municipal District. "I don't think that hurt my vote. Over the years most of my work has centred around Portlaoise. But we do need to look at how we can get enough communities to feel empowered to have their own facilties," he said. "For the people who came out to vote I say thank you. Those who didn't, at least you know about me now. Going forward you will hear from me because that's what I stand for, the community," he said. Follow all the Laois Local Election updates all weekend on our Live Blog. Physical Impairment Irelands Leo Kavanagh has praised Laois County Registrar Rory Hanniffy after access was improved at Laois polling stations. The National Secretary of Physical Impairment Ireland(PII) had been highly critical of polling stations in Laois during the last referendums in March. The Laois man was very disappointed with the lack of access for people with disabilities at polling stations in Laois during the referendums on care and family on March 8, 2024. I got reports from all over the county that there was no proper polling booths for wheelchair users, Mr Kavanagh said at the time. He said there were issues nationwide but he was taken aback by the level of problems in Laois. I was amazed by the amount of feedback from my own county, he said last March. He explained he had been offered a small table with no privacy in Ballyroan. He described the move as highly insulting and said disabled people shouldnt be made a spectacle of when voting. Mr Kavanagh pointed out that one of the two referendums dealt with carers. I am not letting this go, he insisted at the time. Mr Kavanagh cited issues with disabled parking at some polling stations. I was told there were issues in Portarlington. They are all meant to have parking facilities, he said. However, after the voting had concluded in the Local and European Elections on Friday, June 7, Mr Kavanagh praised Returning Officer Rory Hanniffy. I havent heard any complaints today. I heard lots at the referendum, he said on Saturday. He explained that he had sat down with the County Register after the referendum in March and had found him very receptive to the concerns raised. A massive thanks to Rory Hanniffy, County Registrar for Laois-Offaly and his wonderful team for having at least one disability friendly Voting Quadrant installed in every polling station in both Laois and Offaly today. These quadrants are so beneficial to wheelchair users especially. Furthermore, the Mobility & Wheelchair Accessibility signage is perfect in the very busy polling stations in Portlaoise, Mr Kavanagh wrote in a message online after voting had taken place. To the individual/s who removed two of these signs, what the hell were ye playing at? Jerry and the staff in the Registrar's Office are busy enough today without having to replace stolen signs," he said. Great work folks, makes me proud to be a disabled Laois person Pleasure doing business with you all, Mr Kavangh stated. When asked about the stolen signs, Mr Kavanagh said he couldnt understand why someone would take them. You have got to worry about some people, what is going on in their heads, he remarked. Sinn Fein are to dust themselves down after early indications showed the party has not had the result it had hoped for in Irelands local elections. It comes after the public expenditure minister said the expectation that Sinn Fein would be in the next government has been shattered by early indications in the local elections. Irelands main opposition party faces a tough local election battle over the weekend, after government parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael appeared on Saturday to have polled strongly. A day after voters headed to the polls in three highly anticipated elections, the ballot boxes were opened at 9am on Saturday and counting began in the local elections. Irish voters will elect almost 1,000 new councillors, 14 members to the European Parliament and, for the first time, one citys citizens were asked to pick their mayor. Tally indications show a surge in the Sinn Fein vote has not materialised in the local elections, while the Government coalition parties are welcoming early results. Despite winning 24.5% of first preference votes in a historic result in the 2020 general election, and hovering above 30% in opinion polls for a long time, the fate of many of its candidates are now expected to depend on transfers. Despite this, Sinn Fein is expected to still make some gains on the 2019 election, where it won around 9% of first preference votes and 81 council seats out of 949. Sinn Fein TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty told RTEs Six One programme that it will make gains in some counties, but would have to dust themselves down and look at the lessons that can be learned. Its Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, said that the party still has a chance of increasing its seats across Cork city and county. Its just that we dont know how much yet, he said at the Cork City Hall count centre, adding that despite poor turnout in some core areas, were hopeful. Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin argued that his Fianna Fail party had performed far better than predicted, while public expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe said the results so far showed Fine Gael was not a spent political force. Finance Minister Michael McGrath said there had been no massive breakthrough for the far right in the Irish elections, despite concerns raised during the campaign. The early tallies show that there is a large majority of people who are willing to vote in a very different way to how extremists and the far right will make the case for, Mr Donohoe said. I think there is a very compelling narrative to be made at a very early stage in this that Fine Gael has been successful in getting out its votes, that our campaign has made a difference, and that the approach of the Government parties has been recognised by voters. Despite the strong showing for government parties so far, ministers stuck to the line that the coalition government would go the full distance to February or March before a general election is called. Asked about Fine Gaels performance compared with Sinn Fein, Mr Donohoe said: Overall, the portrayal that some have offered of Fine Gael as a tired party that narrative, that claim, has been shattered by the results that were seeing potentially coming through at the moment. And the other narrative that theres anything inevitable about Sinn Fein being in government thats been shattered too. Mr Martin said the focus would be on putting together a budget for October as his party looked to win an MEP seat in the Midlands-North-West constituency for the first time in 15 years. The idea that Fianna Fail would be coming in a distant third is completely disproven, the Tanaiste said. Ive been looking at opinion polls now for the last three years. This internet panel polling having Fianna Fail at 14% and 15% clearly Fianna Fail will be well ahead of that and will be over 20% by the time all of these counts are collated and put together. We put up a very robust performance and were holding our own compared to our performance in the general election of 2020. The full results of the elections will take days to be finalised due to Irelands system of proportional representation which allows voters to rank every candidate in each race by order of preference. The process means ballot papers are sorted and counted multiple times by hand. Counting in the European elections will not begin until Sunday morning and the results of the first tally will not be declared until after 10pm due to ongoing voting in other EU states. Irish politics is currently dominated by a housing crisis, the cost of living and migration. The coalition partnership of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party has been battling criticism domestically and on the continent over other issues including climate action, agriculture policy and defence co-operation in the EU. The polls will provide political parties with evidence of voter sentiment, having had to wait more than four years since the last nationwide elections. They are also an indicator of how new Fine Gael leader and Irish premier Simon Harris is faring, having assumed the roles around eight weeks ago after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar. While the count for the European elections has not officially begun, the segregating of the ballot papers allowed observers to get a sense of which candidates are performing well. In Dublin, incomplete tallies by noon suggested Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty were leading. Green Party incumbent Ciaran Cuffe, Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan, Labour representative Aodhan O Riordain and Sinn Fein hopefuls Daithi Doolan and Lynn Boylan will be fighting over the remaining two seats. Mr Cuffe was asked if he believed he could stay ahead of Mr O Riordain and Social Democrat Sinead Gibney, the at-risk MEP added: For the wildebeest, you just have to stay ahead of the lion. In the South constituency, Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher are considered to be in contention for re-election. Sinn Fein will be hoping to regain a seat in the region with Kathleen Funchion, while Independent TD Michael McNamara is predicted to take the fourth seat. In Midlands-North-West, there were reports of strong support for Fine Gaels incumbent Maria Walsh and her running mate Nina Carberry. Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly and Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan have also polled well in some regions across the vast constituency. In the south west, voters in Limerick city and county had the opportunity to directly elect a mayor with executive powers on long-term strategic planning. A cross-party tally from midday indicated that Independent candidate John Moran, a former secretary general at the Department of Finance, was in the lead with around 25% of the votes, with Independent candidate Helen ODonnell in second place. Here are the eight candidates competing for the four seats in the Celbridge Local Electoral area. Ballots indicated that Fianna Fails David Trost is the early favourite to top the polls as he takes a step into politics following many years of canvassing. The Social Democrats Claire ORourke is also aiming for election having lived and worked in Celbridge for over 30 years until her recent retirement, with her special areas of interest being affordable and social housing. She plans to advocate for investment in public transport infrastructure, with an emphasis on sustainable modes of transport, as well as the protection of heritage sites from inappropriate development. Fine Gaels Lumi Panaite Fahey is a solicitor and single mother of a disabled son who, if elected, wants to make changes that will impact families like her own. The Fine Gael candidate is originally from Romania, but has lived in Ireland for over 20 years. Labours Rupert Heather wants to make changes in Celbridge to account for the areas recent population growth. He is focused on the development of sustainable infrastructure to support this growth as a priority. As well as a need to enhance the social and cultural amenities that are available, on a scale that reflects its growth. Sinn Feins David Monaghan describes himself as a passionate advocate for improved public healthcare, housing and transport, along with better access to mental health services. The Green Partys Peter Paul Hughes is a Barrister at Law and his priorities lie within public transport, nature and the environment, and road safety. The Green Party candidate says he wants to see the new 30km/h speed limit implemented in his areas town and villages. Zhyan Phelan is an independent candidate who has been a community leader for over 30 years and now sees this election as her opportunity to finally enter politics. The final candidate is The Irish Peoples Daragh Toner who, via Facebook post, expressed his desire for controlled immigration and prioritising housing for Irish people. It would take a miracle to finish the first count by Sunday night in the South constituency of Irelands European elections, the returning officer has said. Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher appeared to be polling strongly as count workers sorted through ballot papers in the 10-county constituency in Irelands European election. The two incumbent MEPs also appear to be transferring well to one another over their running mates, in a sign of the strength of the coalition government of Fianna Fail, Fine Gael and the Green party. Independent Clare TD Michael McNamara, who was vocal in his opposition to the two defeated March referenda; Sinn Fein TD Kathleen Funchion; and ex-Co Wexford TD Mick Wallace are polling well behind them. Irish deputy premier Micheal Martin said that it was making for a really fascinating contest for the three final seats in Ireland South. The Green Partys Grace OSullivan said it feels like its slipping away in keeping her MEP seat in Ireland South, though she added that she was still hopeful of transfers. Ms OSullivan said there is a lot of shifting sands after the election results, and that it was possible that Irish premier Simon Harris would call an early election. Things have shifted in peoples minds, so Ive come up here to Cork and Im getting a sense that the tide is going out in a way. She said she was really disappointed with the Green Partys results in the local elections, but said voters have other things on their mind, including housing, migration and the cost of living. As the ballot papers are quite long, an initial sub-sort took place at Nemo Rangers count centre in Co Cork on Sunday. Papers with a No 1 vote on the top half of the ballot were put in one pile and ballots with a first preference on the bottom half in another. Returning officer Martin Harvey said there were around 715,000 ballot papers and 250 staff. But despite having the same number of candidates and count staff as last year, it was unlikely that the first count would be complete on Sunday. We want to just be careful, Mr Harvey said, adding that they would make the final call on whether to continue counting at around 9pm on Sunday. Irelands proportional representation system means counting could go on for days before the five seats in the 10-county constituency are filled. Count staff were seen with reams of ballots slung over their shoulder as they busily sorted papers into cubby-holes. There were very few ballots with numbered preferences all the way down, with many voters having numbered their preferences up to six at the most. One ballot paper gave Mr Kelleher a 20 with no other preferences, while another had a Star of David drawn in the middle. There were five MEPs elected to the Ireland South constituency in 2019: Mr Kelly and Deirdre Clune for Fine Gael, Mr Kelleher for Fianna Fail, Ms OSullivan and Mr Wallace of Independents4Change. The constituency which spans 10 counties, from The Burren in Co Clare, down to the Ring of Kerry and up to Bray in Co Wicklow represents around 1.2 million voters. In the last European Parliament election, Mr Kelly, a former GAA president, topped the poll with just a few votes short of the quota of 119,866. Mr Kelly, from Killarney, Co Kerry, is one of Irelands second longest-serving MEPs, having first been elected in 2009. Mr Kelleher, a former TD and junior minister, and Mr Wallace won 11.69% and 11.37% of the first preference vote respectively last time. A battle then erupted between Sinn Feins incumbent MEP Liadh Ni Riada, an Irish-speaking TV producer who ran as a presidential candidate in 2018, and Ms OSullivan, a former Greenpeace activist and surfer from Co Waterford. More than 300 votes separated the two candidates for the fourth seat, and a recount was ordered before Ms Ni Riada conceded eight days later. The distribution of her votes saw Ms OSullivan win the fourth seat and Ms Clune, a former Cork South-Central TD, take the fifth seat without reaching the quota. Sinn Fein will be hoping Ms Funchion will regain the MEP seat. Other notable candidates in this constituency for 2024 are Fianna Fails Cynthia Ni Mhurchu, co-host of the 1994 Eurovision Song Contest; Aontus Patrick Murphy, who was among a group of fishermen who opposed a flotilla of Russian warships located off the south-west coast of Ireland; and anti-immigration activist Derek Blighe. Of the 23 candidates in Ireland South, seven are independents and three are from new parties. Among the issues which will be watched closely is the performance of candidates who called for much stricter rules on immigration during their campaigns. Some parties formed in Ireland in recent months have called for clampdowns on immigration and criticised climate change policies, replicating a trend taking place in other European Union nations. The Irish premier has branded Sinn Feins performance in the council elections as an unmitigated disaster, but has refused to call an early general election despite government parties performing better than expected. It comes as the leader of Sinn Fein said she is sorry that her candidates did not perform better in Irelands local elections, amid criticism of the partys strategy in the council races. Mary Lou McDonald made the comments as vote counting continues for Irelands local and European elections. Simon Harris said that the Irish public did not want to buy what Sinn Fein were selling. Mr Harris also accused Ms McDonald of making comments that were quite insulting to the Irish people when she tried to second guess them. Speaking at the RDS count centre in south Dublin, Mr Harris said: I was very disappointed to hear her comments in relation to, maybe the people on this occasion didnt really understand this. The people of this country are sovereign. As I travelled around the country, I think the people knew exactly what Sinn Fein were selling, and they just didnt want to buy it. He added: I think what Sinn Fein needs to realise here is that the Irish people will see through the noise. The Irish people dont believe they live in a failed state. The Irish people dont believe in all of the negativity and the rah rah rah but the Irish people want is pragmatic delivery. The Irish people do want change. They want credible change. Thats the sort of change Im offering with Fine Gael and our coalition colleagues. This is the second local election that Mary Lou McDonald has had the honour of leading her party into, its the second local elections that have been an unmitigated disaster for them. They can carry out all the reviews they want, I dont get distracted by their business. Leadership issues in Sinn Fein are a matter for Sinn Fein. Asked why he would not call a general election off the back of the results, Mr Harris said: Because weve lots to do. Earlier, Ms McDonald said she was disappointed that more of her candidates were not elected. Early indications show there will be no Sinn Fein surge, while Government parties do not appear to have suffered a major electoral blow. The fuller picture of the state of play for political parties and independents will become clear throughout the evening. Commentators have noted that Sinn Feins strategy in some constituencies had led to its vote being split too much. Ms McDonald said: Clearly, we didnt get that right. She added: Its not just the number of the candidates, but the fact that in so many cases they were first-time candidates. Speaking at a count centre in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: We have made some gains, they are modest, but theyre there. It hasnt been our day. Clearly frustrations anger indeed with government policy on this occasion has translated into votes for independents and others. We have to now prepare ourselves for the general election, whenever that will happen. Well take time to reflect. Asked about whether the lacklustre result would affect her leadership, Ms McDonald said she absolutely committed to staying on in the role. I will lead this reflection and this process, she said. Irish voters have voted to elect almost 1,000 new councillors, 14 members to the European Parliament and, for the first time, one citys citizens were asked to pick their mayor. Despite winning 24.5% of first preference votes in a historic result in the 2020 general election, and hovering above 30% in opinion polls for a long time, the fate of many of Sinn Feins candidates is expected to depend on transfers. However, Sinn Fein has made some gains on the 2019 election, where it won around 9% of first preference votes and 81 council seats out of 949. Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said that the moral of the story of the Irish elections was that polling should not be taken as gospel. The Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader said that there had been 15 national opinion polls, which had Fianna Fail averaging at 16% and Sinn Fein averaging at 26.6%. He said internet polling has flaws and does not capture the dynamic of an electoral campaign, or various other factors including personality, geography and policies. Despite the strong showing for government parties so far, ministers stuck to the line that the coalition government would go the full distance to February or March before a general election is called. Mr Martin said he would not be making the error of drawing conclusions from the local election results about a future general election, saying that it would have a different dynamic and cover different issues. The full results of the European and local elections will take days to be finalised thanks to Irelands system of proportional representation which allows voters to rank every candidate in each race by order of preference. The process means ballot papers are sorted and counted multiple times by hand. Counting in the European elections began on Sunday morning and the results of the first tally will not be declared until after 10pm because of ongoing voting in other EU states. Irish politics is currently dominated by a housing crisis, the cost of living and migration. The coalition partnership of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party has been battling criticism domestically and on the continent over other issues including climate action, agriculture policy and defence co-operation in the EU. Political parties have been relying on opinion polls to judge voter sentiment for the previous four years since the last nationwide elections. The results will also be an indicator of how new Fine Gael leader and Mr Harris is faring, having assumed the roles some eight weeks ago after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar. The first results for the European elections will not be announced until polling closes in each member state late tonight. In Dublin, incomplete tallies suggested Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty were leading. Green Party incumbent Ciaran Cuffe, Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan, Labour representative Aodhan O Riordain and Sinn Fein hopefuls Daithi Doolan and Lynn Boylan will be fighting over the remaining two seats. In the South constituency, Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher are in strong position to be re-elected, but a first count is not expected until Monday morning. Sinn Fein will be hoping to regain a seat in the region with Kathleen Funchion, while Independent TD Michael McNamara is predicted to take a seat. In Midlands-North-West, there are 27 candidates fighting for five seats in the massive electoral region which spans 15 counties. Fine Gael is running former jockey Nina Carberry alongside incumbent MEP Maria Walsh, while Fianna Fail has fielded three candidates: Lisa Chambers, Barry Cowen and Niall Blaney. Doubt has been raised over Sinn Feins chances after splitting the vote with two hopefuls: current MEP Chris MacManus and Michelle Gildernew. Observers eyeballing stacks of ballots processed by first-preference determined the main contenders, by midday, were Ms Walsh, Mr Cowen and Independent candidate Luke Ming Flanagan, with Ms Carberry, Ms Chambers, Mr MacManus, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly also performing well. Speaking to reporters at the TF Royal count centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Mr Flanagan said: Theres quite a lot of candidates here who are going to get a significant amount of votes and I think its nearly odds on that were going to have some sort of a recount. All I know is we booked a place to stay for the next week in Castlebar. In the south west, voters in Limerick city and county also had the opportunity to directly elect a mayor with executive powers on long-term strategic planning. Tallies show that Independent candidate John Moran, a former secretary general at the Department of Finance, is in the lead, with Independent candidate Helen ODonnell in second place. A screen shot shows France's President Emmanuel Macron speaking during a televised address to the nation during which he announced he is dissolving the Assemblee Nationale, and calls new elections on June 30, in Paris on June 9, 2024. LUDOVIC MARIN / AFP French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved the Assemblee Nationale and called early legislative elections after his coalition finished second, well behind the far right, in the European elections on Sunday, June 9. The first round of elections for the Assemblee will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7, Macron announced in an address to the nation. The far-right Rassemblement National party obtained by far the most votes (31.5%) in France, according to the latest estimates. Macron's Renaissance coalition came in second, far beind the RN with 14.6%, ahead of the Socialists and their lead candidate Raphael Glucksmann (13.80%). The ruling coalition's score was "not a good result for the parties who defend Europe," Macron said. "Far-right parties, which in recent years have opposed so many of the advances made possible by our Europe, (...) are gaining ground across the continent." "I could not, at the end of this day, act as if nothing was happening," he said. "I decided to give you the choice (...) Therefore, I will dissolve the Assemblee Nationale tonight." After Macron's announcement, Marine Le Pen, the RN's three-time presidential candidate, "welcomed" the decision. "This historic election shows that when the people vote, the people win," she said. "We are ready to exercise power." The dissolution will be the first such move since 1997 when then right-wing president Jacques Chirac called snap legislative elections only to see the left win a majority. This left him forced to endure half a decade in "cohabitation," a term used in France when the president and prime minister come from opposing political camps. RN gains eight point The estimated results of the European elections showed two other parties appeared certain of crossing the 5% threshold required to send candidates to the European Parliament: the radical left La France Insoumise and the conservative Les Republicains. The estimates also put the Greens at 5.5%, the same score as the far-right party Reconquete! at 5.5%. The RN has now been the top-ranking party in three consecutive European elections. This year, however, it improved its tally by around eight points compared with 2019, when the same lead candidate, Jordan Bardella, had obtained 23.34 %. Read more Subscribers only 2024 European elections: Far-right Rassemblement National achieves historic success In his speech after the first estimates were published, the 28-year-old Bardella had "solemnly asked" Macron to dissolve the Assemblee Nationale and call early elections. "A wind of hope has risen in France, it is just beginning," said Bardella. "This clear message has been sent to Emmanuel Macron and the European leaders." Jordan Bardella of the far-right Rassemblement National in Paris on June 9, 2024. RN deputy chief Louis Aliot told broadcaster BFMTV that the RN would seek to win a majority in the legislative elections and make Bardella prime minister. The score of President Macron's coalition came as a disappointment, but not a surprise, after a sluggish campaign for his lead candidate Valerie Hayer, an unfamiliar face to many voters. Read more Subscribers only European elections: A look back at a French campaign dominated by domestic issues Throughout the EU's 27 member states, citizens voted over four days to elect the 720 members of the European Parliament for the next five-year term. Results began trickling in on Sunday as the last countries voted. FOUR of the 21 seats in the Limerick city metropolitan district have been filled so far - but expect a battle for the final spaces on the new local authority. In City West, Fine Gael councillors Daniel Butler and Daniel McSweeney were comfortably elected, smashing through the quota on the first count. Between them, the pair have a surplus of more than 900 to give out - and this could prove crucial as to who joins them in the seven-seater ward. Outgoing Labour councillor Joe Leddin looks on course to be elected for a sixth straight election: he had 1,226 first preference votes after count one, and is 294 off the quota of 1,520. Fianna Fail councillor, and metropolitan district leader, Cllr Azad Talukder polled fourth in City West with 1,057 votes, which puts him 463 off the quota. However, season observers have indicated he may face a nervous wait this Sunday, with fears he may not secure enough transfers to get over the line. Fianna Fail's Fergus Kilcoyne currently sits in fifth place with 838 votes after count one, but may expect a slight boost from the surplus from his neighbour in Patrickswell, Cllr McSweeney. Fellow Patrickswell woman Esther Aherne, Independent Ireland, in ninth place with 577 votes cannot be ruled out. Just behind Cllr Kilcoyne is first-time Independent candidate Maria Donoghue, who pundits have predicted will win a seat in City West. The chief beneficiary of the Fine Gael surplus could be first-time Ballinacurra candidate Michael MacCurtain, who works for Limerick Chamber. He had 626 votes after the first count - and strong vote management from Fine Gael could help him cross the line. In City North, no candidate made the quota of 1,594 on Saturday night - but Independent councillor Frankie Daly is just 41 votes away from the line. Labour's Conor Sheehan is 78 votes off the quota. Veteran councillor Kieran O'Hanlon is expected to take a seat, as is Fine Gael councillor Olivia O'Sullivan. Unlike in City West, it doesn't look likely there will be any significant surplus coming from any candidate on the northside - so it will come down to the transfers of eliminated candidates. It's set to be a real battle royale here for the final three seats with under 500 votes separating Aontu's Sarah Beasley in fifth place and Fianna Fail's Suzzie O'Deniyi in 13th position. READ MORE: Limerick students jump a major hurdle in equine careers Sinn Fein councillor Sharon Benson, in sixth spot with 727 first preference votes, will hope if her running mate Tom Collopy, in 12th with 538, is eliminated, his votes will give her a boost. Expect Independent candidates Pat O'Neill and Moyross man Dean Quinn - the two last candidates standing in 2019 - to have a say, with the pair having more than 1,300 votes between them. Saturday night's story in City East was the election on the first count of Fianna Fail's Catherine Slattery and Fine Gael's first-time candidate Peter Doyle. The pair have more than 400 of a surplus to give out, and it's expected this will help both their running mates cross the line. Cllr Joe Pond, Fianna Fail, is on the cusp of being elected, just 19 votes off making the quota of 1,608, with Cllr Slattery's transfer expected to see him returned. Labour councillor Elena Secas is just 31 votes off quota. Fine Gael's Sarah Kiely is 205 votes behind, but given the fact she is geographically located in the same part of City East as Cllr Slattery, will hope for some of her surplus of 286. After that, it looks like a battle between three candidates for two seats. Fine Gael could repeat their feat of 2019 and return three councillors in City East, with Castleconnell man Mike Murphy at 738, and hopeful of picking up some of Cllr Doyle's surplus of 119 - and if she crosses the line, a share from Cllr Kiely. Aontu's Eric Nelligan remains in with a shout with 731 votes, as does Green Party councillor Sean Hartigan, who polled 755 in terms of first preferences. An almost halving of his vote from 2019 when he topped the poll. ONE OF the most hotly contested areas within County Limerick - the Adare-Rathkeale area has now filled all of its seats. There were six seats to fill with a quota of 1,879 votes and the area saw a total valid poll of 13,152. This area saw a voter turnout, on par with other areas, at 52.02%. Fine Gael party colleagues Stephen Keary and Adam Teskey were the first two elected, both retaining their seats. There was a long wait then of another five counts for Fianna Fails Bridie Collins who got in on count six after missing out on the fifth count by just two votes. In the seventh count, having excluded the candidates with the lowest votes, Independent Irelands John ODonoghue and his party colleague Tommy Hartigan were both successful along with Fianna Fails Ger Ward. This was a big win for TD Richard ODonoghues still relatively young party - the Independent Ireland party. Cllr ODonoghue thanked his brother Richard and everyone in the background team for all of their support and hard work. The district has retained four of their seats and there are two new faces joining the mix with Hartigan and Ward. One of the shocks was the loss of long-standing Fine Gael councillor Michael Sheahan. The Askeaton native has been running in city constituencies since he got a seat in Limerick City East in 2009, but he moved over to his native homeland. He had just 961 votes. This area had also suffered the blow of two retirements in Kevin Sheahan and Emmett OBrien and losing a councillor with such a long established history like Cllr Sheahan is always going to make a big impact. Ahead of the Tesla shareholders meeting this week, electric automakers chairperson Robyn Denholm said CEO Elon Musk may leave the company if shareholders vote against his $56 billion pay package during the June 13 meeting. In a letter to Tesla shareholdersfiled with the Securities and Exchange Commissionchairperson Denholm said, Elon is not a typical executive, and Tesla is not a typical companySo, the typical way in which companies compensate key executives is not going to drive results for Tesla. Motivating someone like Elon requires something different. These votes are about fairness, respect and the future of Tesla, she wrote. Denholm stressed that if shareholders reject the pay package, Musk may take his talents elsewhere. Also Read | Why FMCG and consumption sectors should be on your radar as Modi 3.0 takes charge The Tesla chairperson said Musk may decamp to other places without proper motivation. Nor does he face any shortage of ideas and other places he can make an incredible difference in the world. We want those ideas, that energy and that time to be at Tesla, for the benefit of you, our owners. But that requires reciprocal respect, she continued. It is important to note that the company shareholders will be voting second time on the CEO's compensation after a Delaware judge voided the one earlier this year on the grounds that the approval process was deeply flawed. Also Read | Ixigo IPO: Here are 10 things to know before you subscribe to the issue In the letter to investors, Denholm insisted that the biggest remuneration deal in US corporate history is obviously not about the money because "We all know Elon is one of the wealthiest people on the planet, and he would remain so even if Tesla were to renege on the commitment we made in 2018." Musk also operates X, SpaceX, Neuralink, xAI and the Boring Co. If Tesla is to retain Elon's attention and motivate him to continue to devote his time, energy, ambition and vision to deliver comparable results in the future, we must stand by our deal," she added. Also Read | Tesla pay fight gives Elon Musk taste of karma Some Tesla investors have expressed concern about his ability to focus on Tesla. Is it more romantic to buy a diamond that formed in the bowels of the earth than one grown in a lab? Young American couples dont think so. That is awkward for diamond miner De Beers, especially now that it is looking for a new owner. Mining conglomerate Anglo American, which has been a top shareholder in the worlds best-known diamond producer for almost a century, wants to sell or separately list it as part of a radical breakup plan. The diamond industry is going through a rough patch, so the timing isnt great. Jewelry sales boomed in 2022 as consumers splurged on luxury goods, but last year they pulled back. Weak demand has sent diamond prices to 2003 levels, says Liberum analyst Ben Davis. Moreover, traditional diamonds are increasingly being challenged by lab-grown ones, which cost a fifth of the price. In April, 45% of all engagement rings sold in the U.S. had a synthetic stone, according to Edahn Golan Diamond Research & Data. It is impossible to tell whether a diamond is natural or lab-grown with the naked eye, and they have the same chemical makeup. Some thrifty grooms may be buying lab-grown stones and passing them off as the real deal. Yet the trend also reflects the different spending priorities of a new generation of couples. The average federal student-loan debt is more than $37,000, according to the Education Data Initiative. After a run-up in house values, a 10% down payment on a median-priced home has risen 45% to $43,000 compared with the end of 2019. Some couples are choosing to scrimp on the ring to splurge on a memorable honeymoon instead. Even without this upheaval, De Beers would be a difficult business to sell because of its mix of assets. It has huge mining operations, producing a quarter of global diamond supply by volume. But it also runs 40 high-end jewelry stores and is one of the most famous luxury brands in the world. De Beers has been associated with romance since its 1947 a diamond is forever" marketing campaign. No buyer is an obvious fit for all these different skills. Diamond industry analyst Edahn Golan says De Beers could attract a trophy-hunting private buyer from the Middle East or a sovereign-wealth fund, but they wouldnt necessarily have mining expertise. The government of Botswana, which jointly owns some diamond mines with De Beers, is another possibility, as is a consortium of Indian diamond buyers. Ideally for the diamond industry, a luxury goods company would buy it and use its marketing flair to make the mined stones shine to young consumers again. Cartiers owner, Richemont, has already ruled out a bid. The worlds biggest luxury company, LVMH, wants to push into fine jewelry and splashed out $16 billion on Tiffany & Co. in 2021. But luxury companies will be reluctant to get their hands and reputations dirty in mining pits. The worst outcome for the industry would be for De Beers to be sold to a buyer that wants to extract profit rather than invest in the long-term appeal of diamonds. It would be a fundamental change for the industry if De Beers was no longer the steward of natural diamonds," says market analyst Paul Zimnisky. If De Beers opts for an initial public offering, coming up with a realistic valuation will be a challenge. The diamond miner is valued at $7.6 billion on Anglo Americans books, but outside estimates range anywhere from $600 million to $4 billion. De Beers might try to pitch itself as a luxury brand rather than as an old-school miner. The company plans to more than double its number of stores worldwide to shine a brighter spotlight on its jewelry business. The two industries fetch dramatically different valuations: Miners BHP and Anglo American trade at enterprise values equivalent to roughly six times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization, compared with 13 times for Richemont. But De Beers doesnt have the high margins or earnings consistency of the best European luxury companies. Its Ebitda rose 29% in 2022 before plunging 95% to $72 million last year. No one is quite sure where its finances will settle, with the diamond industry in a funk and U.S. consumers abandoning natural stones. Assets like De Beers dont come up for sale often. Minus the mines, cash-rich luxury tycoons might snap it up for the power of the brand alone. Perhaps the company should be broken apart, just like its owner Anglo American. Natural diamonds wont necessarily be forever unless De Beers makes a good match. Write to Carol Ryan at carol.ryan@wsj.com Countries in Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the Americas are pouring billions of dollars into new domestic computing facilities for artificial intelligence, opening up a fast-growing source of sales for Nvidia and other tech companies. Governments are boosting their budgets and brandishing other incentives to encourage local companies and multinationals to build new data centers and refit old ones with specialized computer chips, mostly from Nvidia. The goal: to develop AI locally and train large language models in their native languages, based on their own citizens data. Driving the investments is a quest for more strategic self-reliance amid rising tensions between the U.S. and China that center on technology. Some countries are also seeking to safeguard their local cultureand their national securityin an AI-centric world after feeling they had been also-rans in the mobile-phone and cloud-computing revolutions. Nvidia last month said so-called sovereign AI efforts are expected to bring in almost $10 billion this year, from nothing last year. The company reported $26 billion in quarterly revenue, nearly half of which came from big cloud-computing companies that are renting access to its chips. There is a tremendous amount of anxiety among some governments about how the generative AI revolution is going to impact their economies," said Pablo Chavez, a former Google and Microsoft policy executive who is now at the Center for a New American Security. They want to have a little bit more influence and control this time around." Those efforts are turning into a windfall for Nvidia, as well as U.S. tech companies that help build and operate data centers and are looking for new sources of growth as private-sector demand for AI tools threatens to slow. Nvidia Chief Executive Jensen Huang has traveled the world in recent months to push investments in AI from governments and state-linked telecommunications and utility companies that often oversee national computing infrastructure. He met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September, followed by the prime ministers of Japan and Singapore in December and officials in the United Arab Emirates and Canada early this year. Huang went to Taiwan for a computing conference this month. You own your own data. You therefore must take that data, refine that data and own your own national intelligence. You cannot allow that to be done by other people," Huang told an audience in Dubai in February. Among the biggest spenders on sovereign AI is Singapore, whose national supercomputing center is being upgraded with Nvidias latest AI chips and where state-owned telecom Singtel is pushing an expansion of its data center footprint in Southeast Asia in collaboration with Nvidia. The country is also spearheading a large language model that is trained on Southeast Asian languages. Other big projects are taking place in Canada, which last month pledged $1.5 billion as part of a sovereign computing strategy for the countrys startups and researchers, and Japan, which said it is investing about $740 million to build up domestic AI computing power this year following a visit from Huang. Similar pushes are spreading across Europe, including those in France and Italy, where telecom companies are building AI supercomputers with Nvidias chips to develop local-language large language models. French President Emmanuel Macron last month called on Europe to create public-private partnerships to buy more graphics processing units, or the core chips used to train AI, to push its share of those deployed globally from 3% currently to 20% by 2030 or 2035. Kenya last month signed a deal with Microsoft and the United Arab Emirates-backed AI company G42 to build a $1 billion data center in the countryand to use the countrys geothermal power to train a model directly in Swahili and English. Governments now want sovereign clouds for their AI infrastructure and sensitive data, and U.S.-based tech companies are eager to build those for them," said Nu Wexler, a former policy communications staffer at Google, Meta and Twitter, now known as X. Its an enormous growth opportunity for chip manufacturers and cloud providers, but they still have to navigate a minefield of export controls and political rivalries." China is also playing a role in the sovereign AI push. It is selling data centers and AI capabilities to African countries including Egypt. But Chinas domestically produced AI chips dont currently perform as well as those from the U.S., often making the U.S. a preferred supplierdespite export licensing restrictions the U.S. has placed on sending the most-advanced technology to certain countries. For Nvidia, national pride in sovereign computing might provide a welcome counterbalance if buying by its core group of tech-company customers such as Microsoft, Amazon.com and Alphabets Google cools off, analysts say. The growth in the companys sales has decelerated in recent quarters, although analysts forecast its revenue will continue to go up. The trajectory of climbing sales to cloud-computing giants clearly cannot be sustained," said Angelo Zino, an analyst at CFRA Research, but there are other ways Nvidia could continue to profit from the AI boom. The question has been, how can they continue this momentum?" he said. Sovereign AI is a new lever out there in terms of generating higher revenue." Write to Asa Fitch at asa.fitch@wsj.com and Sam Schechner at Sam.Schechner@wsj.com India has emerged as the second-largest initial public offerings (IPO) market. With the election results announced, the continuation of existing policies is highly anticipated, which is expected to further fuel the IPO boom. India has become the 2nd largest IPO market. With election results being out, the continuation of existing policies is highly expected which will fuel the IPO boom further. We witness significant capital to be deployed in public markets & strong demand for new-age as also conventional companies," said Mahavir Lunawat, Managing Director, Pantomath Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd. - A Leading Mid-Market Investment Bank. Lunawat further added, We believe that companies with good fundamentals will go public & attract large amounts of capital from street. The upcoming Union Budget will be a crucial trigger for understanding the new governments strategy for the economy. The primary market will take a breather as only two new public issues are set to open in the coming week. In the mainboard segment, Le Travenues Technology Ltd, which is Ixigo's operator company, will launch its IPO. Meanwhile, in the small and medium enterprise (SME) section, United Cotfab IPO is scheduled to open for subscription. Here are the IPOs which will open for subscription next week - Ixigo IPO The Ixigo IPO will open for bidding on June 10 and will close on June 12. The IPO of the traveler company is a book-built issue of 740.10 crore and is a combination of fresh issue of 1.29 crore shares aggregating to 120 crore and offer for sale of 6.67 crore shares aggregating to 620.10 crore. The price band of the upcoming IPO is set at 88 to 93 per share. Axis Capital Limited, Dam Capital Advisors Ltd (formerly IDFC Securities Ltd), and JM Financial Limited are the book-running lead managers for the ixigo IPO, while Link Intime India Private Ltd serves as the registrar for the issue. United Cotfab IPO The United Cotfab IPO will be open for subscription from June 13 to June 19. The SME IPO is a fixed price issue of 36.29 crore and consists entirely of a fresh issue of 51.84 lakh shares. The price band of SME IPO is 70 per share. Beeline Capital Advisors Pvt Ltd is the book running lead manager of the United Cotfab IPO, while Purva Sharegistry India Pvt Ltd is the registrar for the issue. New Listings Kronox Lab Sciences IPO: The allotment for Kronox Lab Sciences IPO was finalized on Thursday, June 6, 2024. The IPO will be listed on BSE, NSE on June 10. 3C IT IPO: The allotment for the 3C IT IPO is expected to be finalized on Monday, June 10, 2024. The SME IPO will list on BSE SME with tentative listing date fixed as Wednesday, June 12. Sattrix IPO: The allotment for the Sattrix IPO is expected to be finalized on Monday, June 10, 2024. The SME IPO will list on BSE SME with tentative listing date fixed as Wednesday, June 12. Tang Yunpeng, a teacher at the Collaborative Research Center for Archaeology of the Silk Roads at Northwest University in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, was interacting with an international student at an archaeological excavation site in Uzbekistan via WeChat, discussing ongoing work and any recent discoveries. Tang is part of a China-Uzbekistan joint archaeological project. Since 2009, Northwest University's Central Asian archaeology team has carried out over 70 joint archaeological tasks with Central Asian countries, providing data and scientific evidence for the ancient Silk Road. "We have a driver named Navbatov Jasur in Uzbekistan who has worked with us since the start of the project," Tang said. "Jasur is not only our colleague, but also our 'comrade-in-arms.' In 2017, he celebrated his third consecutive birthday at the site, which was during the most intensive period of our archaeological excavations. We picked flowers and prepared a cake to celebrate his birthday." "From knowing nothing about archaeology to taking the initiative to help us with a pickax, his Chinese proficiency has also improved. He can even quote Confucius's famous saying, 'It is such a delight to have friends coming from afar,' and has learned to sing popular Chinese songs, which has added a lot of fun to our intense work," Tang said. Liu Zhe, a professor at the School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, is also a witness to the friendship between China and Central Asian countries. He was among the first batch of teachers sent to teach at the university's Kazakhstan branch for 10 days in April this year. The university's Kazakhstan branch, jointly established by Northwestern Polytechnical University and Kazakhstan's Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, was officially inaugurated on Oct. 12, 2023. It is a result of the educational exchanges between the two sides and a reflection of the deepening cultural and people-to-people cooperation between China and Central Asian countries. Liu has integrated artificial intelligence technology into the materials computing course. "I was touched by the students' eagerness for cutting-edge knowledge. This innovative research method was refreshing to them, prompting them to take the initiative in learning programming skills and completing their tasks," Liu said, adding that even after returning to China, he has maintained communication with the students and continues to conduct regular discussions on various topics. Some local teachers even inquired about the possibility of coming to China for an exchange period, Liu said, noting that the exchange is mutual and both sides have greatly benefited and been inspired. "While teaching, we are also learning and experiencing foreign cultures and educational concepts. This exchange allows us to complement each other's strengths in educational practices, achieving a win-win situation," he said. One year ago, the first China-Central Asia Summit in Xi'an set a new platform for good neighborliness and win-win cooperation between China and five Central Asian countries, namely, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. Statistics show that in 2023, the total import and export volume between Shaanxi and five Central Asian countries reached 5.79 billion yuan (about 799 million U.S. dollars), up 178 percent year on year. From January to April this year, this import and export volume totaled 3.2 billion yuan, marking a 205.6 percent increase year on year. Sahedov Begench from Turkmenistan currently runs two companies in Xi'an. "We hope to introduce more high-quality products from China to Turkmenistan and bring the specialties from our hometown to the Chinese market," he said. "We import electronic equipment and agricultural processing machinery from China, which are urgently needed in our market," he added. According to Begench, the China-Europe freight train is an important transportation lifeline that greatly reduces transportation time and costs while significantly improving efficiency. "I hope that through my efforts, I can contribute to the exchanges between the business and cultural communities of Turkmenistan and China. I'm very lucky to be able to study and work in China. This personal experience makes me firmly believe that in-depth and close exchanges are of great value to both countries," he said. Indian stock market: Continuing their upward trend for the third consecutive session, Indian stock market benchmarks, the Sensex and the Nifty 50, reached new closing highs on Friday, June 7. Despite a sharp 6 percent drop on June 4, market benchmarks have shown solid gains so far in June. The Sensex has risen by about 3.7 percent, while the Nifty 50 has gained nearly 3.4 percent in the first week of the month. During the session, the Sensex reached a new all-time high of 76,795.31 before closing at 76,693.36, up 1,619 points or 2.16 percent, with all components in the green. The Nifty 50 closed 469 points higher, a gain of 2.05%, at 23,290.15. Only two stocks were in the red: SBI Life, down 1.03%, and Tata Consumer, down 0.43%. On the nifty front, we are now closed at the level of 2320023300 zone. After the Lok sabha election outcome, the market has the confidence that the government will form as soon as possible. On the hope of a stable government, the market mood has bounced back to the bullish zone. At the same time, we have seen VIX also getting stable below the 20 mark after seeing a 52 high of 30+ in the last week. So we may see low volatility in the market in the upcoming days, said Ganesh Dongre, Senior Manager - Research at Anand Rathi. Stock market update On the Nifty outlook, Dogre said, As per today's chart pattern, we have seen the gap-up opening and the nifty continue its bullish trend for the rest of the day, so at the end of the day, the nifty closed in positive territory above 22200 mark. So, on the nifty front, we may see bullish momentum continue in the upcoming trading session. So nifty support stands at 2270022800 level and resistance stands at 2340023500 level. On the Bank Nifty outlook, he said, On the other hand, on the bank nifty front, we have seen a gap-up opening today and continue its bullish trend for the whole day, so for the upcoming trading session, bank nifty support will be at the 48000 level and resistance will be at the 51000 level. Anand Rathi's stock picks for today Dongre provides his expert analysis and recommendations for the Nifty 50 index. For day trading stocks, he recommends three shares to buy today Bank of Baroda, Sarvotech and HCL Tech. Stocks to buy 1] Bank of Baroda: Buy at 270 | Target Price: 283 | Stop Loss: 263 We have seen a major support in this stock around Rs.263 So, at the current juncture, the stock has again seen a reversal price action formation at the Rs.270 price level, which may continue its rally till its next resistance level of 283 so traders can buy and hold this stock with a stop loss of 263 for the target price of 283 in the upcoming weeks. 2] Sarvotech: Buy at 84 | Target Price: 90 | Stop Loss: 78 In the short-term trend, the stock has seen a bullish reversal pattern, technically retrenchment could be possible till 90 so, holding the support level of 78 this stock can bounce toward the level 90 in the short term, so the trader can go along with a stop loss of 78 for the target price of 90. 3] HCL Tech: Buy at 1430 | Target Price: 1485 | Stop Loss: 1390 We have seen a major support in this stock around Rs.1390, So, at the current juncture, the stock has again seen a reversal price action formation at the Rs.1430 price level, which may continue its rally till its next resistance level of Rs.1485 Rs.so traders can buy and hold this stock with a stop loss of 1390 for the target price of 1485 in the upcoming weeks. BERLIN Germany's unpopular governing parties sank to feeble results and the far-right Alternative for Germany made gains in Sunday's vote for the European Parliament, while the mainstream conservative opposition was the country's strongest political force by a distance, projections showed. Projections for ARD and ZDF public television, based on exit polls and partial counting, showed support for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left Social Democrats at around 14%, below the 15.8% they managed in 2019 already their worst post-World War II result in a nationwide vote. After a campaign in which Scholz played a prominent role, the Social Democrats fell more than 10 points short of their showing in Germany's last national election in 2021. Alternative for Germany, or AfD, was seen winning just over 16% of the vote for a probable second-place finish. Thats better than its showing of 11% in 2019 but still some way short of its poll ratings at the beginning of the year. The party has seen a string of setbacks since then, including scandals surrounding its two lead candidates for the European Parliament. The projections showed the environmentalist Greens, the second-biggest party in Scholz's coalition, falling from a peak of 20.5% five years ago to around 12%. Support for the pro-business Free Democrats, the third party in the quarrelsome government, was estimated at 5%. Both were significantly below their 2021 German election showings. The center-right Union bloc, now the main opposition force, was projected to win around 30%. That's underwhelming by historical standards but in line with its 2019 result and better than its showing in the last national election. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is a member of the Christian Democratic Union, the dominant party in the two-party bloc, and said she was impressed by its showing. Kevin Kuhnert, the Social Democrats' general secretary, said that this is a hard defeat for us today." He vowed that we will come back, we will fight our way out of this." AfD co-leader Tino Chrupalla told ARD that the election campaign was certainly a bit bumpy, but we are used to headwind and so it just makes us stronger. He argued that constant media fire against his party had no effect. Pointing to three state elections in September in eastern regions where the party is strong, he said that we want to win them and we will. He and co-leader Alice Weidel skirted questions about the partys lead candidates and their future. Scholz's coalition government set out to modernize Germany but has gained a reputation for constant discord as the economy, Europes biggest, struggles to generate growth. Even as they campaigned, the coalition partners argued about how to put together a 2025 budget while adhering to Germanys tight self-imposed rules on running up debt. CDU leader Friedrich Merz celebrated the Unions performance and called the projected results a disaster for the governing coalition, noting that most voters were influenced above all by domestic political considerations. It is in particular a serious defeat for the chancellor, who was on posters across the country along with his partys lead candidate for the European Parliament, Merz said. He described it as the last warning from voters before Germany's next national election, expected in the fall of 2025. The projections showed the new BSW party taking about 6% of the vote. The BSW was founded by prominent opposition politician Sahra Wagenknecht and combines left-wing economic policy with a restrictive approach to migration and opposition to weapons supplies to Ukraine. Germany has 96 of the 720 seats in the new European Parliament, the biggest number for a single country. Indian stock market: The Nifty moved up significantly after a flat closing in the previous trading session. The short-term trend looks very positive as the index closed near an all-time high. Going forward, the market remains a buy on dips as long as 23000 is not broken. On the higher end, the index might move towards 23500-23600. On the lower end, profit booking might occur only below 23000.03:40 PM. Bank Nifty Bank Nifty has shown bullish momentum, taking support near its 10-day moving average and forming a bullish engulfing candle on the daily chart. It closed near its resistance level, indicating strong buying interest. The key resistance level for Bank Nifty is 50,500, while 49,200 will act as crucial support. This setup suggests potential for further upward movement if the resistance is breached. Stocks to buy Granules: Buy at 485 | Target Price: 540 | Stop Loss: 465 The stock has recently broken out of a falling trendline on the daily chart and is approaching a strong resistance level at 480. It is trading above its crucial short-term moving average, indicating strength. Additionally, the RSI is showing bullish momentum. Given these positive technical indicators, one can consider buying the stock above 485, with a stop loss at 465 and a target price of 540. Tata Motors: Buy at 970 | Target Price: 1020 | Stop Loss: 949 The stock has given a consolidation pattern breakout on the daily chart, suggesting a rise in optimism. Additionally, the stock has moved above the critical moving average. The RSI is in a bullish crossover and rising. In the short term, the trend might remain positive with the potential to reach 1020. On the lower end, support is placed at 950. The author Rupak De is Senior Technical Analyst at LKP Securities. A fire broke out within the premises of a theme-based adventure games area in Delhi on Sunday afternoon. The incident took place at the Mystery Rooms arcade in the outer circle area of Connaught Place. Officials said that one person had been rescued with the help of firefighters after becoming trapped inside the shop. We rushed five fire tenders to the spot. So far, no injuries were reportedFire is under control, said Delhi Fire Services chief Atul Garg. According to the official, a call was received at 3.22 pm reporting that a fire had broken out in the games area. The blaze was brought under control after five fire tenders rushed to the site. No casualties or injuries were reported. Visuals taken by Hindustan Times show show smoke billowing out of the first floor window of the theme-based adventure game zone. Firemen can be seen standing atop a crane-like machine parallel to the window as they assess the situation. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. ALSO READ: Jammu & Kashmir: 10 people die as terrorists open fire at bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi The development also came mere hours after three restaurants, two shops and flats were gutted in the city. Delhi Fire Service officials said they had received a call at 5.44 PM reporting that a fire had broken out in electric wires outside a restaurant in Shaheen Bagh. It had spread to the eatery by the time fire fighting engines reached the spot. Around 18 fire tenders were pressed into service and it took one and a half hours to control the blaze. A police officer told news agency PTI that the fire is suspected to have started due to a short circuit in electric wires outside the Zaika Restaurant. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday issued a heat wave warning for parts of East India and Uttar Pradesh. The IMD said that the heatwave conditions are likely to continue over the next 5 days. The heat wave conditions were very likely in isolated pockets of Punjab, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand and Gangetic West Bengal during June 9 and 13, said the weather department in a release. Whereas, the condition is likely to prevail in Jammu division, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, West Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh during June 11 and 13. In Odisha, the heatwave conditions are likely on June 11 and 12. What IMD said - Heat wave conditions are very likely in isolated pockets of Uttar Pradesh on June 9 and 10 and heat wave to severe heat wave conditions in some parts of the region during June 11 and 13. - Hot and humid weather is very likely to prevail over isolated pockets of Odisha on June 9 , 10 and 13. On Saturday, maximum temperatures were in the range of 42-45C in many parts of East Uttar Pradesh; some parts of north Madhya Pradesh and West Uttar Pradesh, and in isolated pockets of Haryana, Delhi, Bihar and Gujarat states. These were above normal by 2-4C over these areas, said IMD. Highest temperature in Prayagraj On Saturday, the highest maximum temperature of 45.2C was reported at Prayagraj (East Uttar Pradesh). Dehri in Bihar recorded 44.4 degree Celsius, 44C in Gaya, 42.7C in Haryana's Bhiwani and 42.2C in Ridge in Delhi. Monsoon advances Meanwhile, IMD said that the Southwest Monsoon has advanced over Mumbai on June 9 against the normal date of 11th June. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi after 10 people died in a terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir. Even while PM, Shri Narendra Modi and his NDA Govt get sworn in and heads of several countries are in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives of at least 10 Indians, said Kharge in a post on X. The Congress chief further added that just three weeks ago, tourists were fired upon in Pahalgam, and several terror incidents in Jammu & Kashmir are continuing unabated. "All the chest-thumping propaganda of bringing peace and normalcy by the Modi (now NDA) Govt rings hollow," the Congress chief said. Condemning the attack, Kharge said, Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims wish and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Government & authorities should provide immediate assistance and compensation to the victims. After terrorists opened fire at the 53-seater bus, the vehicle veered off the road and fell into a deep gorge near Teryath village in Poni area. The bus was enroute from Shiv Khori temple to Katra. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad condemned the terror attack. "Prayers for the injured and condolences to the families who lost their loved ones," he said in a post on X. "It is a very unfortunate incident. Initially, what we received in reports suggested that the bus came under a terrorist attack after they opened fire at the passenger bus," Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma told ANI. At least ten people were killed and 33 others injured on Sunday after a bus carrying pilgrims plunged into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district after terrorists opened fire. The bus, carrying pilgrims on their way to Katra from Shiv Khori, came under attack in Teryath village in Poni area, according to police. The police said as many as ten people have died after the bus plunged into a gorge in Reasi district. Reasi deputy commissioner Vishesh Mahajan said, 10 people died as a bus rolled down a gorge in Jammu & Kashmir's Reasi. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost control of the vehicle and it fell into the gorge, added the police. A rescue operation was launched and reinforcements from police, army and paramilitary forces rushed to the spot, said officials. Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mohita Sharma said: Initial reports suggest that terrorists fired upon the passenger bus going from Shiv Khori to Katra. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost balance of the bus and it fell into gorge. 33 people were injured in the incident. Rescue operation has been completed. The identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet, they are not locals. Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done. Amit Shah, soon after taking oath as Union minister for the second time on Sunday, said those involved in the dastardly terror attack on pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law. Shah said he had spoken to Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, and DGP RR Swain and took stock of the situation. As Prime Minister Narendra Modi took the oath of office and secrecy for the third consecutive term at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, several former ministers missed out on being part of the new government. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, S Jaishankar, Ashwini Vishnaw, Pralhad Joshi, Giriraj Singh, Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandviya, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, are among those who were the ministers in the previous term of Narendra Modi government and also inducted in Modi 3.0 government. Also Read: PM Modi Oath Ceremony LIVE Updates These former ministers dropped Smriti Irani, the former Union Minister for Women and Child Development was among the ministers who did not become part of Modi 3.0 government. The former minister who contested from Amethi, lost the Lok Sabha seat to Kishori Lal Sharma, a close aide of the Gandhi family, by 1.6 lakh votes. Anurag Thakur, who served as the information and broadcasting minister during Modi's second term, was among the surprising omissions from the list of ministers. He retained the seat in Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency, defeating Satpal Raizada of Congress by over 1.8 lakh votes. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who was the Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology in the previous government, is also among those missing from the new government. He was defeated by Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in a close contest by just 16,000 votes. RK Singh, who held the Ministry of Power and New and Renewable Energy, is another ex-minister who has been dropped. Singh was defeated by Sudama Prasad of the CPI (Marxist-Leninist) (Liberation)'s by over 59,000 votes. Narayan Rane, who held the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Ministry in the previous term of Modi's government, is not in the new cabinet of Modi. He defeated Shiv Sena (UBT) candidate Vinayak Raut from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg constituency by 47,000 votes. General (retd) VK Singh served as Minister of State (RT&H and Civil Aviation) in the previous Modi government. However, in the 2024 elections, Singh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader who was a two-time MP from Ghaziabad, was not given a ticket. The party replaced him with MLA Atul Garg. Kapil Patil, who served as MoS Panchayati Raj during the second term of Modi government, is also among those dropped from the cabinet this time. Patil, who contested from Bhiwandi Lok Sabha seat, lost to NCP (Sharad Pawar) candidate Suresh Gopinath Mhatre by over 6,000 votes. Raosaheb Danve who held the portfolio as MoS Railways, is also not in the new government. He lost to Congress' Kalyan Vaijnath Rao Kale from Jalna constituency by over 1 lakh votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to take oath on Sunday evening with many eminent personalities in attendance. Top actors including Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar and Rajinikanth will be in attendance as Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister for a record third term. The guest list also included members of the Adani and Ambani families and several other top industrialists. Visuals shared online showed Khan and Kumar hugging each other as they arrived at the Rashtrapati Bhavan to attend the oath ceremony. Meanwhile fellow actor Anupam Kher was mobbed by a few fans soon as he exited the premises of the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The guest list with nearly 8,000 attendees also included Anil Kapoor, Rajkumar Hirani, Raveena Tandon, Vikrant Massey, and Kangana Ranaut who was recently elected to the Lok Sabha. Actor-politician Suresh Gopi the lone BJP MP elected from Kerala also attended the event. I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony... It is a very historic event. I congratulate PM Modi Ji for becoming the prime minister for the consecutive third time, Rajinikanth had said on Sunday morning after reaching Delhi. ALSO READ: Modi 3.0 takes oath: Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, among 71 ministers sworn in. Find full list here Billionaire businessman Gautam Adani attended the ceremony alongside his wife Priti and brother Rajesh Adani. Mukesh Ambani was also present along with his sons Anant and Akash and son-in-law Anand Piramal. Seating arrangements had been made for over 8,000 guests attending the ceremony. Earlier reports indicated that the guest list would also include labourers, lawyers, doctors, artists, cultural performers, and influencers. The BJP secured 240 seats in the recently concluded elections with PM Modi's re-appointment marking a historic moment in Indian politics. He now leads a coalition government with 293 seats in the Lok Sabha. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi chose continuity over radical change on Sunday, placing his trust in top lieutenants Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, S. Jaishankar and Piyush Goyal for the Union cabinet. Key allies Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United) secured one cabinet post each, as Modi took charge as prime minister for a third consecutive time, where he will head a coalition government. Apart from TDP and JD(U), other allies in the National Democratic Alliance who have secured cabinet posts include TDP, JD(U), Janata Dal (Secular), Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) and Lok Janshakti Party. Nearly 9,000 people were estimated to be present at the forecourts of the Rashtrapati Bhavan for Sunday's event, attended by politicians, businessmen, and celebrities. Those present on the occasion included vice-president Jagdeep Dhankhar, Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud, TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar. Among top ministers who continue in the cabinet, Goyal contested and won for the first time from the Mumbai (North) constituency, while Sitharaman and Jaishankar did not contest the election and are members of the Rajya Sabha. Also read: Modi 3.0 Cabinet: Who is in, who is out Two of the party's former chief ministersShivraj Singh Chauhan of Madhya Pradesh and Manohar Lal Khattar of Haryanaalso lend firepower to the new cabinet, which sees the return of BJP president J.P. Nadda as well. Nadda's new role also opens up the post for a new president for Bharatiya Janata Party, still the country's largest party despite losing its majority in the latest Lok Sabha election. The cabinet has 30 ministers, excluding the Prime Minister. Further, five ministers of state (independent charge) and 36 ministers of state took oath on Sunday. In the new cabinet with a total of 31 ministers, 19 were part of the previous government. Dharmendra Pradhan, Hardeep Singh Puri, Mansukh Mandaviya, Sarbananda Sonowal, Virendra Kumar, Pralhad Joshi, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Bhupendra Yadav, Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Kiren Rijiju, G. Kishan Reddy and Annapurna Devi have made it to cabinet. Among them, Puri and Vaishnaw are members of the Upper House and held the petroleum and natural gas, housing and urban affairs and railways, telecom and IT respectively in the previous government. Jual Oram of BJP, who was Union minister for tribal affairs in the first Modi government, has returned to the cabinet; with his induction, there are three new faces from Odisha, along with Pradhan and Vaishnaw, where BJP swept elections for the first time, and is also set to form the government after decimating the Biju Janata Dal which governed the state for around 25 years. Also read: Key bills on insurance, bankruptcy may face delays as BJP gets diminished JD(U)'s Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lallan Singh, who was chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on energy in the 17 Lok Sabha, took oath as a cabinet minister on Sunday. TDP's Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu, MP from Srikakulam, has also been inducted as a cabinet minister. Naidu, 36, is the son of former Cabinet minister K. Yerran Naidu. Chirag Paswan, national president of Lok Janshakti Party which put up a robust performance in the Lok Sabha election, winning all the five seats it contested, also joined as a cabinet minister. Chirag Paswan is the son of the former cabinet minister Ram Vilas Paswan and founder of the LJP. Jitan Ram Manjhi, leader of Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular), which won one seat in this general election, also bagged a cabinet berth. So did H.D. Kumaraswamy of Janata Dal (Secular). The latest Modi cabinet is much larger compared to the previous two NDA cabinets to accommodate the allies who are expected to play bigger role in this NDA government given that BJP has been unable to cross the majority mark on its own. With the new government in place, work would now start on the policy and on framing a full-fledged Union budget for FY25. With a weaker NDA government returning to power and no majority for the Narendra Modi-led Bharatiya Janata Party on its own, some of the ambitious major reform measures of the government may move to the slow lane. Also read: NDAs slim victory could delay far-reaching reforms: Moodys However, given the record of the NDA over the past 10 years, some of the next-generation structural reforms are expected to continue, and along with it welfare economics may receive a new focus, in a bid to cater to the demand of the allies. Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman had said that the Modi government, if voted back of power, intends to usher in next-generation structural reforms in all factors of production including land, labour, capital and digital public infrastructure to spur inclusive growth. This is the direction that the government is expected to take in its first few months. However, given the compulsion of a coalition government, the pace of these reform measures will have to be watched. Measures missed out in previous terms include land reforms to ease land availability and acquisition for industry while ensuring a proper compensation mechanism to landowners; and already introduced labour codes that may be implemented allowing flexibility in movement of workforce and generate more employment. Also read: Insurance reforms in first 100 days agenda of BJP government if voted back The 100-day agenda, which may be rolled out soon, may include 50-70 important goals and recommendations to establish the tone and intent of the new government, including those that have the highest priority, targets by Union and state ministers, and long-term targets with a rollout plan for the next 2-3 years. However, with the results being quite different from what the BJP had expected and exit polls had suggested, the 100-day agenda of the government may also be tweaked. Vietnamese professor honoured with French order of merit This is one of Frances two highest orders conferred on French citizens as well as foreign nationals for their contributions, commitments and support. At the award ceremony held on June 8, French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet lauded Huy's scientific research achievements and practical contributions to relations between the two countries, as well as between HueUMP and the Hue University, and universities and organisations in France, especially in medical and French language fields. For his part, Huy expressed his pride to receive such noble order, saying it also acknowledges contributions by the Francophone community and the Francophone medical community in Hue and Vietnam at large over the past years, he said. Over the past 30 years, he has contributed to accelerating the establishment of relations with many partners including universities, hospitals, regions and non-governmental organisations of France and the international Francophone community. He has also played a role in promoting specialised French language courses and French-Vietnamese cultural exchanges, thereby creating opportunities for young doctors to study in France for at least one year./. Delhi traffic police has issued an advisory in the wake of swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister- designate Narendra Modi, which will take place at 7:15 pm today. The vicinity of Rashtrapati Bhavan has been declared as a 'controlled' area. The Swearing-in Ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhawan, New Delhi on 09.06.2024 from 6 PM onwards. A large number of people are expected to witness the swearing-in ceremony, which may affect the traffic on surrounding roads of Rashtrapati Bhawan." the advisory states. Traffic restrictions will be in effect from 2:00 PM to 11:00 PM today and DTC buses will not be permitted to ply in the vicinity of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Also read: Delhi traffic police issues advisory for VVIP visit at Rajghat, Sadaiv Atal; check details here Road closure The following roads will be closed: Sansad Marg (between Transport Bhawan and T-point Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg) North Avenue Road South Avenue Road Kushak Road Rajaji Marg Krishna Menon Marg Talkatora Road Pt. Pant Marg Parking No vehicle will be allowed to halt or park anywhere on Imtiaz Khan Marg, Rakab Ganj Road, Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg, Pandit Pant Marg and Talkatora Road, the traffic advisory states. Traffic deversion Traffic will be diverted from the following points: Patel Chowk Rail Bhawan Roundabout Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Gole Dakkhana Roundabout RML Roundabout GPO Also read: Narendra Modi to take oath as PM for 3rd time on June 9 at 6 PM: Pralhad Joshi Commuters must avoid the following routes: Sansad Marg Imtiaz Khan Marg Gurudwara Rakab Ganj Road Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Marg Roundabout Patel Chowk Roundabout Krishi Bhawan Roundabout Sunehri Bagh Roundabout Gol Methi Roundabout GKPO Roundabout Teen Murti Pandit Pant Marg Rajaji Marg Akbar Road Tyagraj Marg Also read: Modis swearing-in ceremony tomorrow: When, where to watch Earlier a traffic advisory was issued for Sunday morning in view of VVIP visit to Rajghat, and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's memorial Sadaiv Atal. The advisory came into effect at 6:45am and security measures continued till 8:45 am today. The authorities have further declared the National Capital Territory of Delhi as no flying zone for two days-June 9 and 10. Multi-layered security Multi-layered security arrangements are in place for the mega event at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Stringent security measures are being taken including deployment of five companies of paramilitary forces. NSG commandos, drones, and snipers will also guard the premises of Rashtrapati Bhavan. Shrikant Shinde, the Shiv Sena MP from Kalyan Lok Sabha seat and son of state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who was expected to be in the Narendra Modi-led 3.0 government, is not going to be the part of Cabinet. "I believe that ours is a party of workers, and the job of giving justice to them is being done by CM Eknath Shinde here, said Shrikant. Also Read: PM Modi Oath Ceremony LIVE Updates Speaking to PTI, Shrikant said that party workers had a demand (of him being the minister) but as of today, the party needs Shrikant Shinde. "I have to work towards strengthening the party at the ground level," said Shrikant Shinde. Shrikant defeated Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) candidate Vaishali Darekar from Kalyan constituency to retain the seat by a margin of over 2 lakh votes. On Saturday, Shrikant had said that he was not interested in becoming a minister at the Centre. The Sena MP added that several other MPs who worked for the party for years should be given the opportunity. In the Lok Sabha elections, apart from Kalyan, the Shiv Sena, which fought the elections in alliance with the Bharaitya Janata Party (BJP) and NCP (Ajit Pawar) won seven seats Buldhana, Aurangabad, Kalyan, Thane, Mumbai North West, Maval, Hatkanangale. The party had contested 15 seats. The BJP bagged nine seats, while another ally Ajit Pawar-led NCP won a seat. After BJP's poor performance in the state, the Shiv Sena leader whose party is part of NDA, had said that certain situations come up sometimes but it is not permanent. "In the coming times, the situation will change. We will perform better... We will analyse the mistakes we made and win strongly the next time", Shinde told. Several farmer outfits, including the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (Non-Political) and the Kisan Mazdoor Morcha, on Sunday took out a march in Mohali in support of the CISF woman constable, who allegedly slapped actor and BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut. Farmer leaders demanded that a fair investigation should be conducted into the matter while asserting that there should not be any injustice with the woman constable Kulwinder Kaur. Adequate security personnel were deployed in the wake of the march, which began from Gurdwara Amb Sahib in Mohali. Speaking to reporters, farmer leader Sarwan Singh Pandher said that there should be an impartial probe into the matter. Asserting it should be found out what led to the incident, Pandher said that there should be no injustice with the woman constable. Farmer leaders also lashed out at Ranaut for allegedly making provocative statements against the people of Punjab. Kaur was apparently upset with Ranaut over her stance on the farmers' protests. The CISF, tasked with providing security at airports, has also ordered a court of inquiry into the incident. The Mohali Police has booked Kaur under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt) and 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint). Both are bailable offences. Ranaut, in a video message on Thursday, said she was hit in the face and abused by the constable during a security check at the Chandigarh airport, the ugly fracas breaking out two days after she was elected to the Lok Sabha from Mandi in Himachal Pradesh. In a video statement titled "Shocking rise in terror and violence in Punjab" posted on X after she landed in Delhi after the incident on Thursday, Ranaut said she was safe and fine. The constable, Ranaut had said, came towards her from the side. "She hit me in the face and started abusing me. I asked her why she did it and she said she supports the farmer protests." "I am safe but my concern is that terrorism and extremism are increasing in Punjab... How do we handle that?" Ranaut had said. Another video doing the rounds on social media showed the agitated constable talking to people presumably after the incident. (Bloomberg) -- German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats crashed to their worst-ever result in European Parliament elections Sunday, falling to third place behind the far-right Alternative for Germany. The conservative CDU/CSU alliance was on course for a comfortable win with 30%, with the AfD second at 16.2% and the SPD with 14%, according to projections from public broadcaster ARD. The other two parties in Scholzs ruling alliance the Greens and the Free Democrats also fared badly, getting 12% and 4.9% respectively. The poll out of Germany is among the first results from the election, which started Thursday and culminates Sunday, and will determine the make-up of the blocs legislative assembly. The outcome will establish which leaders have the most leverage to claim the EUs top jobs, including the presidents of the European Commission and the European Council. The poor showing for Scholzs coalition underscores the increasing difficulty the German government faces in leading European policy. Support for Scholzs ruling alliance in Berlin has dropped to record lows in recent months, with the three parties combined support currently around 35%, down from more than 50% in the 2021 federal election. CDU General Secretary Carsten Linnemann questioned whether Scholz retains the authority to lead the country and blamed the ruling coalitions policies for the rise of the AfD. He was the one on the election posters so really he should submit to a vote of confidence, Linnemann told ARD. CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz called the result the last warning for Scholzs coalition to stop bickering and get on with the business of governing. Still, at the EU level, centrist parties on the left and right are due to maintain their grip on the majority. That means a degree of continuity on key policies at a time of immense geopolitical uncertainty with Russias war on Ukraine raging to the east and China becoming ever more assertive. The EU is also confronting challenges including how to maintain fiscal sustainability while investing in a greener future, boosting the competitiveness of European manufacturing and strengthening defense capabilities amid the prospect of Donald Trumps return to the US presidency, which could impact everything from trade to environment policy. But with far-right parties in Europe slated to pick up seats compared with the last election five years ago, migration could swing to the top of the political agenda, while the EUs ambitious climate goals may face greater hurdles. In Germany, the AfD still managed to post gains despite experiencing a series of setbacks in recent weeks involving bribery and spying scandals. Alice Weidel, a co-leader of the anti-immigrant party, said one reason for the partys success is that voters have become more critical of both the EU and the euro, especially in Germanys eastern regions where it was the strongest force. After a rough start to the election campaign, we went into the final stages extremely effectively, Weidel told ARD. Kevin Kuehnert, the SPD general secretary, said the party wont be seeking scapegoats and insisted that it had been the right decision to make Scholz a central figure in the election campaign despite his relatively low approval rating. For us this is an extremely bitter result, Kuehnert said in an interview with ARD. We will have to look at where we werent good in our mobilization, he added. The promise now is that well fight back from this. Kuehnert said the priority for the coalition in coming weeks is to broker an agreement on next years budget, which has been another source of infighting in the three-party alliance. Clear Course Ricarda Lang, a co-leader of Germanys Greens, said the party cant be satisfied with its performance after its share of the vote dropped from more than 20% to 12%. There is a very different atmosphere in society today compared to 2019 and people are feeling insecure, Lang told ARD. We are committed to peace in Ukraine and in Europe and well continue to try to convince people with that clear course. Germanys next national vote is due in the fall of next year. The ruling parties are expected to fare poorly in their next major electoral test three regional ballots in September in the eastern states of Thuringia, Saxony and Brandenburg. The AfD is leading in the polls in the three states, but is unlikely to get into government as all other parties have ruled out joining it in coalition. The Alliance Sahra Wagenknecht, or BSW, which she co-founded in January after splitting from the Left party, is also much stronger in the eastern regions. It got 5.7% in Sundays vote, while the Left managed only 2.7%. In the Netherlands, Dutch conservative Geert Wilders notched significant gains on Thursday, though fell short of winning the most Dutch seats in the European Parliament. That victory was claimed by a coalition of left-wing parties. About 360 million people are eligible to vote for the 720 lawmakers who will serve in the EU assembly for the next five years, 96 of them from Germany. A majority of the 27 member nations are holding their ballots on Sunday, with results due to trickle in throughout the evening. Results from France are due after 8 p.m. local time. --With assistance from Ewa Krukowska, Piotr Skolimowski, Dara Doyle, Zoe Schneeweiss, Andrea Palasciano, John Ainger, Katharina Rosskopf, Lyubov Pronina, Megan Howard, Wout Vergauwen, Samuel Stolton and Jorge Valero. (Updates with comment from Greens, AfD starting in 11th paragraph) More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com China can attack Taiwan with little or no warning as the Xi-Jinping-led government has given up on peaceful unification, according to former US Defence official Elbridge Colby. The former Donald Trump defence official stressed that the attack could happen with little warning, reported ANI referring to Taiwan News. Elbridge Colby served as the deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development from 2017 to 2018. If Donald Trump is elected president in the US Presidential elections in November, he is likely to handle the national security office. He has also been named a possible candidate for a national security office if Donald Trump is elected president in the November presidential elections. Shift support from Ukraine to Taiwan, advises Colby As Chinese leader Xi Jinping has probably given up on peaceful unification of Taiwan, an attack could happen with little clear warning, Colby said in an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun, advising US to shift its support from Ukraine to Taiwan. He also added that the military needed to be strengthened so that the nation could be ready to deliver any immediate response against Chinese aggression. An attack could happen with little clear warning, he added, according to Taiwan News. He also hinted that the cross-strait war might involve the US, and US troops in the Asia Pacific, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, as reported by Taiwan News. In addition to advising the US to change its focus, Colby also said that Washington should not abandon Europe. However, he maintained his opinion that Europe is much more able to handle Russia on its own than Asia in case of Chinese aggression in the region. A ban on Al Jazeera's operations in Israel was extended for another 45 days by Israel's telecoms regulator on Sunday after the cabinet agreed its broadcasts posed a threat to security. A Tel Aviv court last week upheld an initial 35-day ban on Al Jazeera operations in Israel, imposed by the government on national security grounds, which ended on Saturday. In a separate ruling on a petition by Al Jazeera against the closure, Israel's Supreme Court described the measure against the Qatari-backed broadcaster channel as "precedent-setting". Also Read | Modi 3.0 cabinet: NDA allies to get 12 berths. A look at probable ministers It gave Israel's government until Aug. 8 to offer arguments for "why it should not be determined that the Law Preventing a Foreign Broadcaster from Harming National Security" is void. Al Jazeera had told the court it did not incite violence or terrorism and that the ban was disproportionate, court documents showed. The channel, which has criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza, was not immediately available for comment. Also Read | Elon Musk may leave Tesla if $56 bn pay not approved, Denholm warns shareholders The network's broadcasts on the cable and satellite companies and access to its websites will remain blocked, Israel's Communications Ministry said. "We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters," said Shlomo Karhi, adding that the law authorised him as communications minister to take such action against foreign broadcasters. "In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well," he said. Also Read | Sunak will definitely lead Conservatives into UK election, says ally Judge Shai Yaniv had said he had been provided with evidence, which he did not specify, of a long-standing and close relationship between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Al Jazeera, accusing the channel of promoting Hamas' goals. The latest salvo from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) was its supervisory action against two Edelweiss group entities, including an asset reconstruction company, after its scrutiny found areas of concern. The belief that a financial regulator like RBI should be passive is mistaken. It uses a rigorous process before taking hard decisions, engaging in a two-way dialogue with its regulated entities (REs) to articulate its concerns and provide opportunities for issue resolution. Before taking any action, the regulator carefully considers relevant submissions from the entities involved. Yet, penalized entities often express surprise, contending that RBI was satisfied with their responses before harsh steps were taken. Many of these entities happen to count former RBI officials among their advisors, consultants and board members. While RBI remains broadly predictable and steadfast in its adherence to macro policies, regulatory frameworks and supervisory objectives, it appears to avoid predictability when it comes to specific supervisory outcomes. This approach works, for it prevents undue influence on the regulator from within the financial sector. Its independence stems from the rules it goes by, although key aspects of its role being under the ambit of legislation can subject this ostensibly independent body to political forces. Looking back, RBIs resolve became clear soon after the 2018 collapse of IL&FS, with its knock-on effects reverberating throughout the financial system. This crisis was compounded by frauds that came to light at entities like Yes Bank, DHFL and PMC Bank. In response to the PMC Bank crisis, the government bolstered deposit insurance and terminated dual-regulation of cooperative banks. Subsequently, Lakshmi Vilas Bank also collapsed. In each instance, RBI faced criticism for being caught off-guard and failing to act decisively and promptly. In recent years, RBI has being putting REs to extra scrutiny. Its recent strictures on Kotak Mahindra Bank followed action taken against several others. It placed curbs on HDFC Bank back in 2020, with its dragnet extending to PayTM, Bank of Barodas app, IIFL Finance, JM Financial Products, Bajaj Finance and Mahindra Financial Services, among others; fintech players and asset reconstruction companies (ARCs) have not escaped its lens. While some may argue that some executives involved received lenient treatment, its crucial to recognize that RBI did take a firm stance that befits its institutional stature and reputation of integrity. There has been considerable market discussion on concerns of collusion among lenders, non-bank financial firms, ARCs and other entities in the practice of evergreening" loans or balance sheet washing." Can RBI confront all of them simultaneously? This is not advisable and RBIs pattern of regulatory action shows that it has opted for a systematic approach instead, targeting each class of REs separately. By focusing on one industry category at a time, RBI sends out signals that offenders will be held accountable without causing panic across the sector. Further, RBI has explicitly been communicating its expectations to the boards of REs, including their independent directors, making it clear these cant be taken lightly. Considering the risks that need mitigation, RBI has aptly chosen to enforce compliance by targeting areas where breaches could have a significant impact. While it has been imposing monetary penalties, its worth noting that such fines are often too light to serve as effective deterrents. A bigger worry for REs may be the reputational blow delivered by the publicity of punitive curbs being imposed for failing to meet RBI norms. Stopping REs from onboarding new customers until system deficiencies are rectified, for example, not only alerts customers to potential hazards, but also adversely affects the entitys financial performance. This directly impacts the top managements performance and diminishes the value of CXO stock options, thereby fostering a sense of urgency to ensure compliance, invest in remedies and address loopholes. Another tool at the disposal of RBI, albeit under-utilized thus far, is the authority to prevent the continuation of key management personnel in entities that are repeat offenders or exhibit lax practices. This mechanism enables RBI to hold boards accountable, particularly their nomination and remuneration committees. In all, the regulator has adopted a combination of specific and broad-based tools. Its imposition of higher risk weights for unsecured lending is an example of systemic risk mitigation, while its Kotak Mahindra Bank curbs are mainly aimed at cyber safety. All this should be welcomed, as a robust and effective regulatory framework is beneficial eventually to individual REs as well as the entire financial sector. An alert RBI also enhances investor confidence in the ability of REs to generate revenues and profits in a risk-controlled manner. Credit is due to the institutional responsiveness of RBI and the leadership of its governor for implementing stricter oversight and taking stringent measures in a sector grappling with disruptive technological changes and shifts in consumer behaviour. The central bank has displayed a willingness to take decisive action against large institutions, even those with significant influence. If tea leaves are to be read of its regulatory role, its conceivable that RBI will toughen its stance against any risk of regulatory capture through a network of personnel. In a fresh attack on Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Sunday called Modi paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi ahead of his swearing-in for a third time in office breath-taking hypocrisy. In a post on social media platform X (formerly twitter), Jairam Ramesh said: Aap track record dekhiye--His ideological brotherhood created such a toxic environment of hostility and hatred that it resulted in the cold-blooded murder of the Mahatma on January 30th, 1948. He never pulls up his colleagues who make Nathuram Godse into some sort of hero, he displaces Mahatma Gandhi's statue in Parliament House--not once but twice, he added. Further, Jairam said: He falsely claims that before the Attenborough film of 1982 on him, Mahatma Gandhi was not known to the world. He demolishes and destroys Gandhian institutions in Varanasi, Ahmedabad, and elsewhere. Breath-taking hypocrisy! On Sunday morning, Modi offered his tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and also offered homage at the war memorial ahead of his swearing-in as the prime minister for a third time in office. He will take the oath of office at 7:15 PM on Sunday along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. On June 5, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader. With today's swearing-in, Narendra Modi will become the only leader after former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, who has been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. According to PTI, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would be attending the swearing-in ceremony. Taking a dig at Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, Congress parliamentary party chairperson Sonia Gandhi on Saturday said that he has lost the mandate he sought and criticized him for not taking responsibility for failure. Modi 3.0 cabinet: Nationalist Congress Party (Ajit Pawar) leader Praful Patel Sunday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leadership last night offered his party a Minister of State (MoS) with independent charge. However, the party decided to wait for a few days as it would have been a demotion for meas earlier I was a cabinet minister in the union government. NCP demands cabinet ministry Meanwhile, NCP chief Ajit Pawar said, Praful Patel has served as a cabinet minister in the central government and we did not feel right in taking Minister of State with independent charge. So we told them (BJP) that we were ready to wait for a few days, but we wanted a cabinet ministry. We are going to attend the swearing-in ceremony today... Also Read | Modi 3.0 cabinet: NDA allies to get 12 berths. A look at probable ministers The NCP chief said that in the next 2-3 months, the party will have three members in the Rajya Sabha, and the total strength of the party MPs in the Parliament will increase to four. Hence, the party has demanded that it be given one cabinet ministry seat. Also Read | Modi Oath Ceremony LIVE: Stage set for Modi swearing-in, NCP objects to MoS post "We have one Lok Sabha and one Rajya Sabha MP today, but in the next 2-3 months we will have a total of 3 members in the Rajya Sabha and our number of MPs in Parliament will be 4. So we said we should be given one (cabinet ministry) seat" Pawar said. Earlier in the day, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "The Nationalist Congress Party was offered one seat from the governmentMoS Independent Charge. But their request was from their side... Praful Patel's name was finalised, and he was already a minister. Therefore, he would not be able to hold the post of MoS Independent Charge." Congress leader Rahul Gandhi lashed out at Narendra Modi on Sunday amid the NEET exam row. Party supporters also led protests in the national capital against alleged rigging of exam results. The developments came even as senior members of the BJP-led NDA prepared to take oath for a record third term. "Narendra Modi has not even taken oath yet and the scam in NEET exam has devastated more than 24 lakh students and their families. 6 students from the same exam centre top the exam with maximum marks, many get such marks which are technically not possible, but the government is continuously denying the possibility of paper leak," Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X. The National Testing Agency has however denied any irregularities. It claimed that changes made to the NCERT textbooks and grace marks for losing time at the examination centres and contributed to students scoring higher marks. Gandhi also claimed that his party had formulated a robust plan to handle what he dubbed a paper leak industry. Several parties have raised concerns about the authenticity of the national exam for medical courses. Congress leaders on Friday demanded a high-level investigation under the Supreme Court's supervision into "irregularities" in NEET for medical courses and accused the BJP of cheating youngsters and playing with their futures. We had pledged in our manifesto to give students 'freedom from paper leak' by making a law. Today, I assure all the students of the country that I will become your voice in the Parliament and strongly raise the issues related to your future, he added. While many Chinese cities are awash with tourists wearing traditional Chinese costumes posing for travel snapshots, visitors to Harbin in northeast China opt for Western-style aristocratic attire, fitting in well with the city's distinct Western heritage. Also known as Ice City, the capital city of Heilongjiang Province is embracing its long-awaited summer after an extended period of cold days that could last until mid-April. Now Harbin's centerpiece tourist attraction Sophia Church, a centuries-old Byzantine-style building, provides an ideal setting for ladies wearing seemingly opulent attire for a marvel moment in their excursions. Tourists pose for photos near Sophia Church in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Jan. 12, 2024. (Xinhua/Xie Jianfei) "Harbin's buildings combine Chinese and Western elements. A photo-shoot here gets similar images like those taken abroad, so many people are coming for immersive experiences," said photographer Zheng Yi, who has recently opened up a photo shop in the downtown. Iconic buildings such as Sophia Church stand as evidence of European migration, trade and culture that dated back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries after the construction of the Chinese Eastern Railway in 1898. Records show Harbin was once home to people from over 30 countries. The city, with over 9 million residents, now boasts 16 different architectural styles -- Byzantine, neo-classical, art deco, baroque -- and its number of historical buildings accounts for over 1,000. Yang Weidong, a researcher in city history, believes that the biggest difference between Harbin and other Chinese cities lies in its openness to foreign cultures. Yang, who grew up in the city, is exhibiting over 500 artifacts dated from 1900 to 1940 at the Harbin Museum. The exhibits capture fading city memories through copies of building leases, film posters, an American raisin wrapper, and a 1931 newspaper ad declaring the opening of the "only modern hotel in town." "Harbin generously opened its arms to foreign cultures and innovatively integrated them. The vibrant tapestry of European traditions and Oriental culture is being well preserved, honored and celebrated today. Such cultural identity has been part of the fabric of our daily lives," he said. Tourists visit a baroque style historical and cultural block in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 1, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) Harbin's historical buildings, a majority of which are found along the Central Avenue, are subject to a city-wide project that aims to create a digital database for the buildings. As part of the project, QR codes will be generated for each building so that the public can have access to its history and recent developments. To date, data on more than 580 historical and cultural buildings have been collected, according to the city's natural resources and planning bureau. The cultural fusion and diversity is also reflected in the city's culinary scene. A summer walk down the Central Avenue would not be complete without an ice cream, or gulping down a bottle of refreshing kvass, a traditional Eastern European bubbly beverage made from fermented bread. Tourists buy ice cream in Central Avenue of Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) "When I was a kid, a bottle of kvass and a piece of bread were probably the best meal," said Bian Jiang, now a marketing manager at Harbin Qiulin Beverage Technology Co., Ltd. The company's production techniques of kvass have been listed as intangible cultural heritage in Heilongjiang. Bian said the kvass for Chinese buyers is probably milder than those made for Eastern European consumers. Banking on increased demand for health benefits in drinks, sales of the beverage increased in the past few years. In 2023, the company sold 53,000 tonnes of kvass and generated 300 million yuan (about 42.2 million U.S. dollars) in revenue. "We are expanding our market outside Harbin and northeastern China to cities like Beijing and Shanghai to woo more young people," he said. Harbin's dozens of private and public museums, galleries, and cultural institutions are also dedicated to preserving and promoting its heritage. The Harbin Music Museum, home to over 1,500 Western and Chinese musical instruments, testifies to decades of inter-cultural interactions. Museum curator Miao Di said the Harbin Symphony Orchestra, established in 1908, is considered the country's first orchestral music body. "This reflects that the Chinese culture has a high level of inclusiveness and our culture has developed through blending with different cultures," Miao said. Harbin, like many Chinese metropolises, has seen significant cultural development in recent years, which reflects the city's growth and increasing global outreach. Such development has further shaped the city's identity and enriched the lives of residents. The city's cultural appeal has drawn a steady stream of tourists. During the Labor Day holiday in May, Harbin received over 6.23 million tourists, up 35 percent year on year. These tourists spent over 7.2 billion yuan, up 71.7 percent year on year. An aerial drone photo shows a light show in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, May 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) On the eve of China's Cultural and Natural Heritage Day, which falls on June 8 this year, young dancers from Harbin Ballet Troupe graced the auditorium of the Harbin Institute of Technology with renditions of Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and modern Chinese dance. The performance is part of the troupe's High Art into Schools project to showcase free high art into elementary, middle schools and higher institutions. Tarasova Aleksandra, 29, a Russian student studying for a doctorate in architecture at the Harbin Institute of Technology, said that in Harbin, she feels at home especially with the familiar ballet, art, foods, architectures, and culture. "When I finish my PhD, I plan to stay in China and work as an architecture teacher, or probably in an architecture company. By then, I would have been very familiar with the Chinese culture, too," she said. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Georgia and Azerbaijan intend to open a new customs checkpoint, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said, Trend reports. The draft agreement has already been agreed upon between the parties, and an architectural design is being prepared. The new joint customs checkpoint between Georgia and Azerbaijan will contribute to the development of the countries transit and logistics capabilities, further strengthening the regions transport and trade ties, Kobakhidze said. Winners of the Nobel prize in economics tend to sprinkle their papers with equations. Daniel Kahneman, who died on March 27th, populated his best-known work with characters and conundrums. Early readers encountered a schoolchild with an IQ of 150 in a city where the average was 100. Later they pondered the unfortunate Mr Tees, who arrived at the airport 30 minutes after his flights scheduled departure, and must have felt even worse when he discovered the plane had left 25 minutes late. In the 1970s readers had to evaluate ways to fight a disease that threatened to kill 600 people. In 1983 they were asked to guess the job of Linda, an outspoken, single 31-year-old philosophy graduate. Kahneman used such vignettes to expose the seductive mental shortcuts that can warp peoples thoughts and decisions. Many people, for example, think it more likely that Linda is a feminist bank-teller than a bank-teller of any kind. Presented with two responses to the disease, most choose one that saves 200 people for certain, over a chancier alternative that has a one-third chance of saving everyone and a two-thirds chance of saving no one. But if the choice is reframed, the decision is often different. Choose the first option, after all, and 400 people die for sure. Choose the second and nobody dies with a one-third probability. Teasing questions came easily to Kahneman, even in his sleep, according to The Undoing Project", a book by Michael Lewis. Some sprang from his teaching, which was not confined to ivory towers. He once explained the idea of regression to the mean" to flight instructors in Israels air force. The reason pilots tended to improve after a sloppy manoeuvre was not because the instructor screamed at them, but because the chances of an improvement are higher if the prior performance was unusually bad. Kahneman was a harsh grader of his own incorrigible self, attentive to his own lapses. One of his early hit papers exposed the kind of methodological muddles to which he himself was vulnerable, such as the misplaced confidence that an outlier, like a child with an IQ of 150, would not skew even a small sample. Kahneman also had a lifelongand life-preservinginterest in gossip. His childhood, as the son of Lithuanian Jews living a comfortable but edgy pre-war existence in Paris, was full of talk about other people, he once wrote. Jews in Europe had to assess others, all the time," a friend of his told Mr Lewis. Who is dangerous? Who is not dangerous?People were basically dependent on their psychological judgment." Gossip was both a source of his work and an intended target. His bestselling book, Thinking Fast and Slow", was written not for decision-makers, but for critics and gossipers". Decision-makers were often too cognitively busy" to notice their own biases. Pilots could be corrected by observant co-pilots and overconfident bosses might be chastened by whispers around the water-cooler, especially if the whisperers had read Kahnemans book. To spread psychological insight, Kahneman once tried to add a course on judgment to Israels school curriculum. He expected the project would take a year or two. It took eight, by which time the ministry of education had lost enthusiasm; a humbling example of what he and Amos Tversky, his frequent co-author, called the planning fallacy". He had more success inveigling psychological wisdom into the well-guarded realm of economics, which had clung to a thin but tidy model of human decision-making. How did he do it? One answer is that he teamed up with Tversky, whose elegant mind was as ruthlessly tidy as his desk. They incorporated the cognitive illusions they had discovered into a model called prospect theory". According to this theory, peoples well-being responds to changes in wealth, more than levels. The changes are judged relative to a neutral reference point. That point is not always obvious and can be recast: a bonus can disappoint if it is smaller than expected. In pursuit of gains, people are risk averse. They will take a sure win of $450 over a 50% chance of winning $1,000. But people gamble to avoid losses, which loom larger than gains of an equivalent size. Prospect theory translated this model of decision-making from vignettes into the language of algebra and geometry. That made it palatable to economists. Indeed, the discipline began to claim this sort of thing as its own. Applications of psychology came to be called behavioural economics", lamented Kahneman, and many psychologists discovered that the name of their trade had changed even if its content had not." The cold-hand fallacy Even as economics was rebranding psychology, Kahneman revived an older economic tradition: hedonimeters", gauges of pleasure and pain that Francis Edgeworth, a 19th-century economist, had imagined. Kahnemans hedonimeter simply asked people to rate their feelings moment-to-moment on a scale. He found that peoples ratings were often at odds with what they later recalled. Their remembering" selves put undue weight on the end of an experience and its best or worst moment, neglecting its duration. People would rather keep their hand in painfully cold water for 90 seconds than for a minute, if the final 30 seconds were a little less cold than the preceding 60. Likewise, people sign up for hectic tourist itineraries because they look forward to looking back on them, not because they much enjoy them at the time. The implications of this discovery extend into philosophy. Which self counts? Despite its manifest flaws, the curatorial self, artfully arranging unrepresentative memories into a life story, is dear to people. I am my remembering self," Kahneman wrote, and the experiencing self, who does my living, is like a stranger to me." Now his experiencing self has done its living. And it is up to the many people he touched to do the remembering for him. For more expert analysis of the biggest stories in economics, finance and markets, sign up to Money Talks, our weekly subscriber-only newsletter. 2024, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com The new head of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is already making major changes to the department with a hyper focus on improving the states child welfare system. Alex Adams, who previously served as the governors budget director, officially took his position Wednesday and on Thursday he presented to the Board of Health and Welfare new proposed rules and his vision for improving the states foster care and public adoption system that has long been plagued with issues. He also announced his new leadership team. What we are doing is not working, Adams said of the child welfare system, and therefore I dont have a problem shaking up what we are doing. Central to his overall goal is improving the ratio of foster families to children in the system. On his first day, he signed temporary rules that waive every adoption fee and adds to the definition of kin foster families who have had a relationship with a child for at least six months. He also brought rule changes to the board for approval Thursday, including one that would reduce the requirement for initiation of work on an application to become a foster parent from 30 days to one business day. These temporary rules will go into effect July 1. The only reason I changed it from 30 days to one day is I didnt think I could change it from 30 days to 30 seconds, Adams said. If somebody is willing to be part of this system, if somebody is willing to open their home to a child ... we will not be the delay. I will not let the department be the delay, we will take action as quickly as possible. He also recommended a change that, if there is one thing that needs to be purchased to meet required safety standards for example a crib, a fire extinguisher or a carbon monoxide monitor that is holding up an otherwise qualified foster parent from being able to receive a placement, the department will make the purchase. Adams also presented a repeal of Idahos existing rules around foster care and replaced them with a national model that had been developed by advocates in the area and adopted by the Administration for Children and Families under the Trump administration. The newer model, Adams said, provides more deference on decision-making to the foster parents rather than the department. While it still includes bread and butter safety requirements, Adams said, it recognizes that the foster parents are to be trusted. He said hed met with Idaho stakeholders and they were willing to make this jump. Adams said that the Child Welfare Division of the department is facing a significant budget deficit, around $22 million, and much of that is being driven by congregate care for foster children. When the department has children with complex needs for whom theres no immediate placement, the agency has been placing these youth in short-term rentals, such as airbnbs. The rentals have 24-hour staffing and cost the state around $200,000 a month. The Legislature this year approved a law to limit the use of this type of care. One way Adams wants to improve this situation is by working to increase the number of foster care families, he said. His goal is to improve the ratio of children in the system to foster families to about 1.5 in the next two years currently the ratio is 0.75. I will admit that that is an aggressive goal ... I would rather set an aggressive goal and get mostly there than set a timid goal and meet it, Adams said. He said efforts to improve the ratio will include effective prevention in the home in cases where it is safe for the children to stay there. It will also include timely termination of parental rights in situations where that is appropriate, he said. It also requires improving trust in the department and in the system. IDAHOS FOSTER CARE CHALLENGES Adams policy goals and changes were punctuated by the lone public testimony ahead of the meeting. Jerry Stafford spoke of his familys experience as foster parents, which was rife with so many problems they decided to leave the system and stop fostering. He said they fostered very young girls who were later moved around quite a bit. One of them, he said, was placed in a temporary home where her medical needs were not met. He spoke of one of the girls who was sent to live with her biological father even though he had not been present in her life to that point, and within a month the father was in jail and the girl re-entered the system. Beloved wife, mother, grandmother, aunt and friend. Charlene S. Howard, 93, died Thursday, May 30, 2024, in Lewiston. She was born in November of 1930 in Memphis, Tenn., to Carl and Hattie Savage. Following graduation from Lipscomb University, where she earned degrees in Fine Arts and Elementary Education, she was married to Bob L. Howard and lived in the beautiful Pacific Northwest until her passing. Charlene spent many years teaching both public and private elementary school level classes touching the lives and hearts of thousands of children. Charlene was also a very prolific painter using oil and watercolor mediums to create beautiful and realistic paintings of wildlife, landscapes, historic buildings, and portraits of children and adults. Early on she had the opportunity to study under Morgan Steinmetz, a retired Saturday Evening Post illustrator, and also attended classes at Portland State University. Support the CRP The Conservation Reserve Program 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 important for those who live in and enjoy the outdoors in Idaho and around the country. 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 prices paid per acre continue at levels far below the rates paid 38 years ago. The result is, 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. Forget about Nikki Haley coming out of the woodwork at the Republican National Convention to rescue the party from a bad situation. Donald Trump is doing fine with his 34 felony convictions, and Republicans couldnt be happier. They are acting as if Trump were handed his ticket to a second term in the White House, courtesy of President Joe Bidens judicial department. Of course, theres no evidence that Biden had anything to do with the New York City trial. But if Republicans say it enough, then people will start believing it. In the meantime, the former president is heading into the July convention with momentum and galvanized support, with the word conviction becoming a drinking game of sorts. Say it 34 times and that brings in about $50 million to his campaign coffers. Three of the four members of Idahos congressional delegation Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch, and Congressman Mike Simpson wasted little time making comments on social media. They blasted the judge, prosecutors and, yes, Bidens justice department, for what they viewed as a disgusting spectacle. Historically, this was the first time that a former president received a felony conviction, let alone 34. To Republicans, it might as well be 34 Olympic gold medals. David Leroy, a former Idaho attorney general and longtime politico, had plenty of thoughts about the convictions. What he saw during Trumps trial was on the level of Keystone Cops, branding the exercise as a farce. The mighty has fallen, and Im not just talking about the defendant (Trump), but the system has taken a mighty blow, Leroy told me. The convictions represent a national tragedy and makes the American judicial system a laughingstock. The people of the state of New York suffer greater injury from a single unprosecuted shoplifting case than they did from 34 business entries made seven years ago. The idea, Leroy says, was to prove that Trump was involved in election interference. In the end, it was the judge and prosecutors who were doing the interfering. They collectively devised this conviction against the leading presidential candidate five months before the November date on which the national leadership will be decided, Leroy said. The problem will not go away this week, or in July, but it will be a national scar for at least the next 24 months when these decisions wander through the New York appeals process and maybe to the U.S. Supreme Court. Lets see: This is the same Crapo who voted every chance he got to impeach and convict former President Bill Clinton for lying under oath, but acquitted Trump for instigating an insurrection and then later refused to even form an independent congressional commission to get to the bottom of it. Accusing the courts of being weaponized is not much of a stretch. Congressman Mike Simpson: It is crystal clear Democrats have weaponized our judicial system against President Trump. From the beginning Ive voiced my concerns about the political motivations of District Attorney (Alvin) Bragg. The American people are smart and can see this absurd political trial for what it is. President Trump has indicated he will appeal this verdict, and I fully support that decision. Simpson felt no shame when he signed onto Trumps big lie about a stolen election and joined Texas Attorney General Ken Paxtons attempt to keep Trump in office via machinations in the House of Representatives, a legal strategy so bogus that even arch-conservative Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, refused to participate. Why would you think doing Trumps dirty work is going to bother him now? Congressman Russ Fulcher: Donald Trumps conviction for an unnamed, victimless crime is politics at its worst. Not only was it politically motivated, but it has made a mockery of our legal system. Historically, Americas adherence to the rule of law has been a differentiator from nations run by dictators. However, this verdict has now set a precedent that American courts can be abused for political purposes. Did Fulcher just utter the phrase politics at its worst? What would you call the actions of a politician who not only telegraphed his plans to overturn President Joe Bidens election on Jan. 6, 2021, but returned to the House floor after the insurrection violated the Capitol and then voted to overturn the results in Arizona and Pennsylvania as if nothing had happened? Its tough the first time you forfeit your virtue. After that, it gets much easier. You can see why none of these fellows wants to get on the wrong side of the MAGA base. When former Maryland Gov. and GOP senatorial hopeful Larry Hogan rendered the sensible advice to respect the legal process and not pour fuel on the fire with more toxic partisanship, Trump senior campaign adviser Chris LaCivita intoned: You just ended your campaign. When former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the jury verdict should be respected, Rep. Derrick Van Orden, R-Wis., told him: Kick Rocks, coward. And when the College Republicans went off the Trump reservation by saying the outcome of this trial should be respected, Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., rebuked them. Still, you have to ask: What institutions are Idahos elected Republicans willing to defend? When will Trumps perfidy be too much? Are there any red lines left? M.T. With no candidates officially elected yet, the adjudication of doubtful votes and counting in the Longford local elections is continuing this, Sunday, June 9, in Edgeworthstown. The latest state of play from Ballymahon Municipal District, based on the tallies, indicates that candidates and their supporters will need to buckle up for the fiercest of battles to fill the final three of the six seats on offer. So the upcoming Battle of Ballymahon (and Lanesboro, Kenagh, Mostrim & Cashel!) is certainly going to liven up this count whenever it cranks into serious action. PICTURES | It may be late but they're still smiling at Longford local elections count centre #LE24 Based on the tallies, the breakdown of the first preference vote share per party is Fine Gael 34.5%, Fianna Fail 30.9%, Sinn Fein 7.9%, Independents 24.4% and The Irish People 2.3%. Fine Gael's Paul Ross has accumulated 1,305 first preferences, well excess of the predicted quota of 1,004. In 2019, Legan based Ross received a huge 1,217 first preferences and he will be elected for a third successive time this weekend. Longford #LE24: Fine Gael's Paul Ross 'utterly humbled' by fantastic poll topping achievement in Ballymahon municipal district Fianna Fail's Mick Cahill (860) and Pat O'Toole (721) look to be well on course to retain their seats. Longford #LE24: Cahill doesn't rule out prospect of Fianna Fail claiming third seat in Ballymahon That's three of the six seats accounted for. Now here's where the serious fight begins. Almost incredibly, there are six candidates who are separated by just 93 votes ; ranging from Independent Mark Casey on 629 down to Fine Gael's Colm Murray on 536 and the four candidates in between are Sean Mimnagh (Fianna Fail) 588, Martin Skelly (Fine Gael) 582, Gerald Farrell (Independent) 580 and John Rooney (Sinn Fein) 558. Longford #LE24: Under pressure Colm Murray predicts 'a real dogfight' in battle for final three seats in Ballymahon That's six candidates well and truly in the hunt for the final three seats so the Ballymahon count which required a recount in 2019 is poised to go down to the wire once again. Keep up to date wit OUR ELECTION LIVE BLOG HERE BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has issued a statement on the so-called parliamentary election held in the Tskhinvali region of Georgia, Trend reports. The statement emphasizes that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan reaffirms its support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity and does not recognize the parliamentary election held in the Tskhinvali region of Georgia on June 9, 2024, or their outcomes. Stay up-to-date with more news at Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. "Azerkhalcha" OJSC took part in the 15th International "Oriental Carpets" Conference held in Istanbul. The main theme of the conference was "Oriental Carpet Studies 2024: The Past and Future of Carpet Weaving and Carpet Collection". The conference focused on two main areas: "Historical carpets and textiles" and "Contemporary art, design, and new production". The Scientific Committee received 76 proposals from 4 continents and 20 countries, and selected 26 presentations, with Professor Walter Denny as the keynote speaker. The sessions took place on June 7 and 8, 2024. Emin Mammadov, Chairman of the Board of Directors of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC and a Honored Art Worker, participated in the conference, which has been organized every four years since 1976 to support the development of carpet weaving worldwide. This conference unites leading countries in the field. On June 8, Mammadov spoke at the conference on "Continuous development of cultural heritage in Azerbaijani carpet weaving - based on three examples", discussing the activities of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC as the leading and largest carpet producer in Azerbaijan. He also highlighted the company's focus on protecting cultural heritage, adapting to modern times, meeting modern interior design requirements while staying true to ancient roots and traditions. The collaboration of "Azerkhalcha" OJSC with young domestic and foreign specialists and the positive results achieved were also mentioned. One of the main topics of the conference was the first National Carpet Festival of Azerbaijan, organized in Icherisheher on May 4-5, 2024, with the support of various organizations including "Azerkhalcha" OJSC. At the end of the event, a captivating video from the National Carpet Festival was shown to the audience. The opening session on June 6 will be conducted by renowned scientist Professor Walter Denny. The theme of the session is "Conservation and new technological frontiers in carpet research." The final panel, titled "The Future of Tradition," will be led by Reyhan Polat. The panel will focus on the innovative system of carpet presentations in museums, the use of artificial intelligence in creating new designs and patterns, and recent practices in natural dyeing and weaving. Other sessions will cover traditional areas typically addressed at ICOC (International Churches of Christ) conferences, including Anatolian Carpets from the Seljuk and Ottoman periods, Central Asian textiles and felts, archaeological finds, new museum collections, and technical aspects of carpet weaving structures. Compared to previous conferences, the 15th ICOC conference saw an increase in applications from young professionals in the field and from carpet manufacturing companies. A Boston man is facing an animal cruelty charge in connection with a dog that was found abandoned on a highway in Revere late last month. Dorchester resident Derek Fletcher, 40, was identified as a suspect in the case based on tips from the community, Revere police said in a Facebook post. He was charged out of Chelsea District Court. Read more: Revere police investigate after dog is found abandoned on Route 1A Ocean View Kennel Owner Lisa Cutting said previously that the female pit bull mix had been found on Route 1A around 1:10 a.m. on May 29. The woman described the dog who has been named Miracle as sweet but emaciated, and said she was tied to a guard rail. Revere police thanked Cutting for helping care for the dog. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest. Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Doreen WadeCourtesy Doreen Wade Age: 66 Community: Salem Her story: Doreen Wade is the president and founder of Salem United Inc., where her mission is to preserve, protect and build Black history. In leading the nonprofit, Wade wears many hats, as an educator, historian, researcher, curator, and activist mostly all focused on Negro Election Day history and the first Black voting system. Wade traces Negro Election Day back to Lynn, Massachusetts, in 1639, where enslaved Africans engaged in joyous festival activities and democratically elected their own leaders. The occasion was celebrated in various locations throughout history, and today, its observed as a Massachusetts state holiday on the third Saturday of July. As a child, Wades mother carried on the tradition by going to Salem Willows Park in Salem each year with neighbors, friends and family to commemorate Negro Election Day. Wade wouldnt learn the meaning behind the yearly gathering until she was an adult, and the discovery would lead her to forming Salem United Inc. Through her advocacy work, she has spoken about the holiday before the Massachusetts House and Senate, and successfully saw Gov. Charlie Baker sign a state proclamation for the holiday into law. Wade has used her lifetime of career skills in finance, fundraising, and as an executive director and owner of an online magazine company to keep the story of Negro Election Day alive. In her words: You must go into this work with the mindset that No weapons formed against me shall prosper, because as rewarding as this work is, it is not without pain.... Practice PERSISTENCE.... only confidence and persistence will get you through the hard days. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. The U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service has issued a health alert regarding a frozen curry chicken product that was sold at Walmart stores nationwide. The product was misbranded and contains allergens that werent listed on the product packaging, it said. The product which was labeled as Wow Bao Thai-style Curry Chicken may actually contain teriyaki chicken bao products, according to the health alert. Teriyaki-style foods contain soy and sesame, but these allergens are not listed on the product as required by the food safety service. The problem was discovered when a consumer notified the manufacturers that a Wow Bao product labeled as containing Thai-style curry chicken contained pouches of the companys teriyaki chicken, according to the food safety service. Some mislabeled frozen Wow Bao-brand Thai-style Curry Chicken actually contains teriyaki products, which have allergens not listed on the product label, according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service.U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service There have been no confirmed reports of allergic reactions caused by the mislabeled product. Even so, the food safety service is urging consumers not to eat the product and to instead throw it away or return it to the store they bought it from. The affected product is no longer being sold, so the food safety service did not issue a recall. The frozen chicken was packaged on March 20, 2024, has a used by date of April 12, 2025 on the side of the box and the number P-40001 inside the USDA inspection mark. Anyone who may have had a health complication as a result of eating the product should see a healthcare professional. Consumers with questions about the public health alert can contact Wow Bao Vice President Brandon Tammaro at 734-904-8627 or contactus@wowbao.com. Some mislabeled frozen Wow Bao-brand Thai-style Curry Chicken actually contains teriyaki products, which have allergens not listed on the product label, according to the U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service.U.S. Food Safety and Inspection Service Anyone with food safety questions can call the toll-free USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline at 888-MPHotline (888-674-6854) or send a question via email to MPHotline@usda.gov. A North Attleborough man has pleaded guilty to charges related to stealing over $1 million in precious metals from his Rhode Island employer and selling them to metals dealers in Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts U.S. Attorneys Office. Benjamin Preacher, 54, pleaded guilty to one count of interstate transportation of stolen goods and one count of engaging in unlawful monetary transactions in federal court on Thursday, the U.S. Attorneys office said in a press release. In 2018, Preacher began working as a manufacturing supervisor for a luxury items manufacturer that made gold, silver and platinum jewelry, the U.S. Attorneys office said. Between March 2020 and November 2023, he used his position to steal precious metals from the companys facility in Rhode Island and sell them to metals dealers in Canton and West Bridgewater, Massachusetts. Preachers sales to the Canton dealer alone amounted to over $1 million, the U.S. Attorneys office said. They included a March 2020 sale of 18-carat gold during which he garnered over $50,000 and a January 2022 platinum sale during which he garnered nearly $40,000. Preacher was identified as a suspect on March 1, 2024, when his employers security cameras recorded him stealing a piece of white gold valued at roughly $2,200, the U.S. Attorneys office said. During a search of his home on March 14, authorities found and seized more precious metal scraps. Authorities arrested and charged Preacher in March 2024. A judge scheduled his sentencing for Sept. 18. The charge of interstate transportation of stolen goods provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of the monetary gain or loss whichever is greater. The charge of unlawful monetary transactions provides for a sentence of up to 10 years in prison, three years of supervised release and a fine of up to $250,000 or twice the amount of the laundered funds. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest. Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Rayla Campbell stands before the Scituate lighthouse. (Courtesy photo)Courtesy photo Rayla Campbell Age: 41 Community: Brockton Her story: Campbell grew up in the South Shore of Massachusetts with a strong sense of truth and common sense. Since then, she has worked to be a conservative African American voice in politics, advocating for policies that align with principles of freedom, individual responsibility and limited government. Campbell ran for the Massachusetts Secretary of State but lost the election in 2022. She became the party nominee and endorsed candidate in 2022 and was the first African American woman to make the statewide ballot, according to Campbell. Prior to that race, Campbell ran as a write-in candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2020 but ended up not getting on the ballot. Without a foundation of shared values, our society has become increasingly fragmented, giving rise to racism and intolerance. The resurgence of racism and division is a stark reminder of the profound impact of this shift. The principles that once bound us together as a nation seem to be fading into the background, she said. As an influencer, Campbell said she also works to highlight the triumphs of African American individuals as agents of change and progress rather than victims of oppression including figures such as Frederick Douglass or Elizabeth Freeman. Campbell said she remains optimistic about creating positive change in the world and dedicated to speaking out against corruption. In her words: Constructive dialogue can help bridge divides. Lead by example, and stay resilient, political advocacy can be challenging and often met with opposition. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. MassLive recently asked readers to identify people they consider Black leaders in Massachusetts, working to make a difference in politics, education, business, the arts or another area of interest. Profiles of these leaders will be published leading up to the Juneteenth holiday on June 19. These are people our readers have identified as inspirational, who may be doing good acts for their communities. They are being recognized for their accomplishments, leadership and commitment to inspire change. Mohamed Sanusie TraoreSebastian Restrepo Mohamed Sanusie Traore Age: 42 Community: Quincy His story: Mohamed Sanusie Traore also known as the Uber Hero is known for rescuing a mother and daughter who were trapped in a car after it crashed in Revere in September 2022. He was working as an Uber driver when it happened. Traore was driving along Squire Road on his way to Logan Airport when saw the car flip onto its side, WBZ-TV reported at the time. He pulled over and soon heard a woman screaming for help. She was trying to open one of the cars doors to escape, but was unable to, so he lifted it for her. It was then that Traore noticed that the womans young daughter was also trying to escape, the news station reported. He called for help, but no one came, so he lifted the door with one hand and pulled the girl out with the other. Less than a minute after Traore freed the mother and daughter from the car, it burst into flames, he told MassLive. All the while, onlookers were filming the scene with their phones. The feeling of saving human lives was transformative for Traore. He considers it a pivotal moment that changed the trajectory of his life. That event inspired me to become an agent of change, reminding us all about the power of human connections and compassion, he wrote. Now, Traore works to educate the public especially young people about whats known as the bystander effect. The Encyclopedia Brittanica describes it as the inhibiting influence of the presence of others on a persons willingness to help someone in need. Research has shown that, even in an emergency, a bystander is less likely to extend help when he or she is in the real or imagined presence of others than when he or she is alone, according to the Encyclopedia. Traore wants people to think of helping others first when they see a dangerous situation even if that just means calling 911. When you see someone in trouble, instead of filming or ignoring them, ask yourself what can you do to help, he wrote. Originally from Guinea in West Africa, Traore credits his parents for his selfless actions during the crash. Their legacy of empathy and compassion guides every step of my path, offering care and support to those who cross my path, he wrote. In his words: Life is the only gift that, once it is taken away, you can never have it again. If you save one life, its like you have saved every human beings life. Were always open to hearing about more inspiring people. If youd like to suggest someone else who should be recognized, please fill out this form. NORTHAMPTON A 24-hour demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank called Up All Night for Palestine settled onto the front lawn of the Unitarian Church at 220 Main St., next door to City Hall early Saturday morning. Jewish Voice for Peace organizer Molly Aronson, who also organized a 25-mile march from Northampton to Springfield last fall, said she felt compelled to launch another demonstration against what she called genocide in Gaza at the hands of Israeli forces and with what she says is the complicity of the Biden Administration. When Joshua Croke of Worcester graduated from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 2014, one of the first things they did was get involved in helping the citys LGBTQ+ community. Croke, who uses they/them pronouns, told MassLive they always considered themselves biased towards action. My recently adopted mission is to make queer a joyful norm, Croke said. Norm in this case meaning that we can exist as our authentic selves safely and that our cities are built to celebrate the diverse identities and cultures that are present within them. As part of their mission, Croke, 33, launched a new podcast this year titled Queer for Cities. The program, available on all podcast platforms and broadcasting on Wednesdays at 6 p.m. and Sundays at 11 p.m. on WICN, features interviews with members of the LBGTQ+ community throughout Massachusetts who have been involved in city planning. Each episode explores queer life and influence in Massachusetts and New England Cities and features conversations about how cities and towns can be more equitable and inclusive for those in the community, according to the Queer for Cities website. The podcast currently has three episodes, with a fourth one in production, Croke said. Croke told MassLive it is their belief that municipalities, school committees and elected officials must do more to ensure LBGTQ+ residents can live freely and be able to go to school, go to work, have a home or even be themselves without facing discrimination. Croke said that while cities and towns in Massachusetts have broader protections for the LGBTQ+ community compared to other states, the LGTBQ+ community still faces hardships. They cited a 2020 study conducted by the Williams Institute that found young adults aged 18-25 who identify as LGBTQ+ are more than twice as likely to be homeless than non-LGBTQ+ people. The study found that up to 45% of homeless youths identify as LGBTQ+. In Worcester, some LGBTQ+ students have faced policies banning transgender students from expressing their identity and other restrictions on LGBTQ+ expression at the hands of the Diocese of Worcester, Croke said. You are more likely to be houseless if your are LGTBQ+ in Massachusetts, Croke said. You are more likely to be unemployed, you are more likely to face discrimination in the workplace. Croke said the challenges that the LGBTQ+ community as well as other marginalized groups face are the result of city leaders not including input from them when making decisions related to schools, housing, healthcare and a variety of other policies. With this new podcast, Croke aims to seek out those voices and find out what policies cities can implement that would liberate LGBTQ+ residents and build a cities where they truly are included. This is a mission that goes beyond Worcester, Croke said. Were imagining inclusive ways of living alongside each other. A way that values and centers the individual, communal and cultural needs for everyone. A positive response David Ginsburg, the general manager of Worcesters NPR affiliate WICN, told MassLive that he is impressed with Crokes program. Ginsburg said he has worked with Croke on their previous program, Public Hearing, which focused on affordable housing, transportation and education in gateway cities such as Worcester. Its a very well produced show, Ginsburg said of Queer for Cities. Its important enough to broadcast not just for the LGBTQ+ community but for all of our listeners who may not be as familiar of some of these issues that people in this community face. MG Xiong, the director of programs of the Massachusetts Transgender Political Association and guest on Crokes first episode, said they, too, were impressed with the quality of Queer for Cities. Josh is an incredibly impactful individual that has made me overzealous to be on the podcast in the first place, Xiong said. Thats the type of work and engagement I position myself in. Croke said they love podcasts because they allow them to explain and share their ideas. Their first podcast, Experience This Podcast, was launched in 2019. The podcast focused on technology and its impact on people. The show was picked up by WICN, making Croke a regular voice on the station ever since. I started doing podcasts years ago when the medium was more emergent, Croke said. I just really loved the format of audio as a way to tell stories, share ideas and talk about issues. A decade of activism Croke said their new podcast is the latest chapter in their story as an activist for the past 10 years. Crokes activism began in 2014 after they graduated from WPI. Upon graduating, they began connecting with Worcesters LGBTQ+ community and started helping set up events such as Airspray a monthly queer dance pop-up at the Electric Haze hookah bar. They also have been involved in Pride Worcester, advocating on behalf of those who identify as trans or queer and LGBTQ+ community members who are Black, Indigenous or People of Color (BIPOC). In 2019, Croke founded Love Your Labels a nonprofit organization that supports LGTBQ+ youth through art, fashion and Design. With this nonprofit, Croke aimed to help youths who identify as queer and transgender have a chance to express themselves through their work and not be ashamed of their identities. I founded Love Your Labels to advocate for and support queer and trans youth in the city and work to build environments that are affirming safe spaces where they can thrive, Croke said. Crokes activism extends into topics beyond the LGBTQ+ community as well. In 2016 they became a board member of the Worcester Education Collaborative and in 2018, Croke founded Action! by Design a consulting studio focusing on community and economic growth through creative arts, media and design. David Webb, a Worcester resident and member of the LGBTQ+ community, told MassLive that Crokes impact in the city has been positive, resulting in more voices from marginalized groups being heard. Webb, who identifies as bisexual, said that Croke has made the city a better place. Joshua has given a voice and platform to so many people, Webb said. Theyve been inspirational to me, showing how much can be accomplished just by saying an idea loudly so others can agree that its a good idea. For Croke, their mission never stops as they not only seek solutions to help those who are LGBTQ+ but use those solutions to create cities and towns where being gay, lesbian, transgender, bisexual, non-binary, and queer is a joyful norm. This is the main driver of Queer For Cities, Croke said. Unearthing the stories of LGTBQ+ people in our fight for space and rights to exist authentically as our selves everywhere. INDEPENDENT councillor Richard Finn has been re-elected to Mayo County Council. Cllr Finn took the second of six seats on Claremorris Municipal District Council when he exceeded the quota of 1,954 on the third count to reach a total of 2,047 votes. His surplus will now be distributed among eight remaining candidates to decide the next four councillors to be elected in the Claremorris Local Electoral Area. Ballinrobe-based Fianna Fail councillor Damien Ryan is now just 53 votes shy of the quota and looks certain to retain his seat. Likewise, Ballinrobe-based Fine Gael councillor Michael Burke is still in the running with 1,726 while Fine Gael's Alma Gallagher from Ballyhaunis is going well with 1,536 votes. She is expected to receive a large transfer from Ballyhaunis-based Fianna Fail candidate Stephen Nolan, who has 901 votes as it stands. Tom Connolly (Fine Gael) and Paul Lawless (Aontu) neck-on-neck with Mr Lawless on 1,325 and Cllr Connolly on 1,319 votes. Cllr Patsy O'Brien was the first councillor from the area to be elected after he was elected on the first count with 2,739 first preference votes. Despite a drop in his 2019 vote, the former Fine Gael councillor comfortably exceeded the quota to be re-elected as an Independent. Eamon Phelan (Sinn Fein), Sandra Sweetman (Independent), Aron Ceallaigh (The Irish People) and Geraldine Kelly (Independent) have been eliminated. You can follow the latest updates on the Mayo County Council elections on our live blog. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. Castlebar After a mammoth count which went through the night, Independent candidate Harry Barrett has returned to local politics after he was elected in the early hours of Sunday morning. The count in Castlebar only ended at 8am which saw Barrett claim a seat at the expense of Fianna Fail councillor Martin McLoughlin who lost his seat with Fine Gael councillor Donna Sheridan holding off Independent Stephen Kerr for the seventh and final seat. Earlier, Independent councillor Michael Kilcoyne and Fine Gael's Ger Deere were returned to Mayo County Council after exceeding the quota on the first count. With 19 candidates in the field, there was a number of counts through the night before incumbant councillors Al McDonnell (FF), Blackie Gavin (FF), Cyril Burke (FG) were elected and later joined by Barrett, who was a former Labour town councillor in Castlebar and Sheridan. Claremorris Aontu have won their first seat on Mayo County Council with Knock-based candidate Paul Lawless taking the final seat in the Claremorris Electoral Area at the expense of Claremorris-based Fine Gael councillor Tom Connolly. Robeen-based former Fine Gael councillor, Patsy O'Brien topped the poll as an Independent winning a seat after exceeding the quota on the first count. He was joined later in the count by fellow Independent, Richard Finn and by first time Fine Gael candidate Alma Gallagher who claimed the seat in Ballyhaunis by party colleague John Cribbin who retired after 25 years in local politics. The final two seats were won by Ballinrobe-based candidates Michael Burke (FG) and Fianna Fail's Damien Ryan who were returned to Mayo County Council. Belmullet Counting in Belmullet is due to begin at 10am in the Ruby Room of the TF Royal in Castlebar and if the tallies are to be believed there will be no change with the three sitting councillors expected to be elected. Gerry Coyle (FG) and Achill councillor Paul McNamara will head the poll while Belmullet-based Fianna Fail councillor Sean Carey looks like he has enough votes to hold off the challenge of Sinn Fein candidate Rosaleen Lally and Pat Chambers (FG). The results of the first count should be around lunchtime. Swinford The official count for the Swinford Electoral Area is expected to begin at 2pm this afternoon but with the boxes all tallied, only a handful of votes are expected to separate Fianna Fail's Aiden Forkan and Sinn Fein's Gerry Murray who are both tallying at 20 percent. They are followed by Fianna Fail's John Caulfield and Fine Gael's Neil Cruise who are both coming in at 18 percent and closely followed by Swinford-based Sinn Fein candidate John Sheahan on 17 percent and Fine Gael first-time candidate Antionette Peyton on 11. Just four seats are up for grabs and with just 92 votes separating Caulfield, Cruise and Sheahan in the tallies, this contest is set to go down to the wire. Ballina Counting in Ballina is not expected to begin until later this afternoon but sitting councillors Mark Duffy (Ind) and John O'Hara (FG) look set to battle it out to top the poll with tallies putting them on 18 and 16 percent of the vote respectively. Fianna Fail newcomer David Alexander is also showing strongly with 8 percent and sitting Cathaoirleach Michael Loftus (FF) is on 11.9. Independent Joe Faughnan who hopes to capture Seamus Weir's seat in Knockmore is on 10 percent followed by long-standing Fianna Fail councillor Annie May Reape on 9.1 while sitting Fine Gael councillor Jarlath Munnelly is struggling on 7.8. Alexander had a particular strong showing in both Killala NS boxes attracting 184 first preference votes in two boxes. There are six seats on offer. Sinn Fein are highly unlikely to take a seat with their two candidates Una Morris and Antonio Caffola attracting less than 6 percent of the tally vote between them. Westport The official count will begin later this evening but tallies show that Independent Ireland candidate Chris Maxwell is expected to top the poll and win a seat on Mayo County Counci. Fine Gael councillor Peter Flynn is expected to follow him on the council but there will be a battle royal for the final two seats with sitting councillors Brendan Mulroy (FF), Christy Hyland (Ind) and John O'Malley (Ind) along with first time candidate Keira Keogh (FG) all in contention. If tallies are correct, Mulroy and O'Malley are on 14 percent each are both slightly ahead of Hyland and Keogh who are both on 13 percent with just 160 votes separating the four candidates. A full recount of Swinford Local Electoral Area has been ordered after just five votes separated Cllr John Caulfield (Fianna Fail), Cllr Neil Cruise (Fine Gael) and John Sheahan (Sinn Fein) after the fifth count. Independent candidate Sean Forkin also alleged that ballot boxes had been 'tampered with overnight'. A full recount for the Swinford Local Electoral Area has been announced for tomorrow morning (Monday, June 10). John Condon, Returning Officer for Mayo, agreed to a full recount of votes in the Swinford Local Electoral Area following a request from Sinn Fein candidate John Sheahan, who finished just one vote shy of Cllr Neil Cruise (Fine Gael), Cllr Adrian Forkan (Fianna Fail) and Cllr John Caulfield (Fianna Fail), who were elected without reaching the quota. The count for the Ballina Local Electoral Area, which had been scheduled to take place tonight (Sunday), will now take place tomorrow at 10am. Further details on the re-count for the Swinford Local Electoral Area (LEA) will be announced tomorrow (Monday). The decision to order a recount followed the distribution of Cllr Gerry Murray's (Sinn Fein) votes. The incumbent Charlestown-based councillor was the first to be elected in the Swinford LEA he exceeded the quota of 1,744 on the third count. Cllrs Cruise, Forkan, Caulfield and Mr Sheahan were called to a meeting with Mr Condon following a long delay in distributing his surplus of 74 votes. Cllr Murray's surplus was then distributed to give Cllr Forkan 1,668, Cllr Caulfield 1,641, Cllr Cruise 1,637, and Mr Sheahan 1,636, leaving just five votes between the latter three. Under the circumstances, I think that a recount is a reasonable request, Mr Condon told those gathered in the Velvet Room in the TF Royal Theatre and Hotel in Castlebar. Sean Forkin, an Independent candidate who was eliminated on the first county after receiving 99 first preferences, alleged publicly that ballot boxes had been 'tampered with overnight' after being taken away from a count centre. His remarks drew gasps and laughter from those gathered, before Mr Condon responded: I have acceded to request for a recount, and as far as Im concerned, were concluded here this evening. I will announce the details of the count in the morning. His remarks were greeted with a round of applause from those gathered. When questioned by The Mayo News afterwards, Mr Forkin said that he had evidence of ballot boxes being tampered with but failed to produce any. Fine Gael's Antoinette Peyton, Tommy Horan of Aontu, and Marion Gordon of The Irish People were also eliminated before the fifth count took place. June is Pride Month and we have just had our Mayo Pride this bank holiday weekend in Westport. In celebration of Pride, New Island publishers based in Dublin have just released a wonderful book entitled 'Reeling in the Queers - Tales of Irelands LGBTQ past' by Paraic Kerrigan. It is based on the format of RTEs TV programme 'Reeling in the Years', looking at the timeline of Queer Irish History for the years 1974 to 2024. Kerrigan divides the story into fourteen chapters, telling the stories that most of us wont know about; the stories of normal people who did extraordinary things at grass roots level to progress LGBTQ liberation in Ireland. Pride today has become a very significant event across Ireland. Dublin Pride attracts 60,000 to 80,000 people every year, a long way from the first Pride march in 1985 with 50 to 100 people in attendance. Pride in Ireland began as part of the wider international gay and lesbian liberation. In New York in 1969, the Stonewall Riots were a response to continual police raids on Stonewall Inn, part of a network of illegal gay clubs and after hours bars. The riots continued for 6 days and represented a watershed moment that encompassed years of activism and agitation. The following year, events were organised in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles on the last Saturday of June to commemorate that watershed moment and the theme of the event was 'Gas Pride'. Phil Moore is someone most of us will not have heard of but if your life was touched by hers you will not forget it. It is so poignant and beautiful that Padraic's book starts with her story. Phil was a mother of two from Derry in 1989, one of which told her when he was 16 years old that he was gay. She was in the audience of a special edition of the Late Late Show featuring a debate around homosexuality and whether it should be decriminalised. The Irish Government had just been mandated to do so after David Norriss campaign for Homosexual Reform was successful in the European Court of Human Rights a year earlier in 1988. Various concerned groups were claiming it isnt normal, children were impressionable, an aberration and on it went. She couldnt stand the idea of her son being called an aberration and intervenes bravely in the debate. She declared: When you are talking about my child, he is wonderful and perfectly normal. It is nothing that he can grow out of, because if a mother says that to a child, it means youre not accepting him. Phil went on to set up a 'Parents Enquiry Line' which provided invaluable support to parents. She attended a meeting with the newly formed Gay and Lesbian Equality Network who was lobbying newly appointed Minister of Justice Maire Geoghegan-Quinn to change the law. She spoke to Geoghegan-Quinn mother to mother about the plight that young people go through with their parents. So taken was the Minister by her that she herself became a key advocate for change and on June 24, 1993, she passed the legislation that finally decriminalised homosexuality. Theres also the story of the first Pride demonstration on June 27, 1974 where people were so horrified to see overt declarations of homosexuality that the number 46A bus nearly crashed into the railings of St Stephens Green. A truck with two men parked outside the Ministry of Justice office to deliver a new carpet, one of which declared 'Jaysus Mick, Queers' and the other one grabbed a placard and walked with them. Theres the story of Rock Hudson who in 1968 on a weeks visit to Dublin frequented incognito Bartley Dunnes Pub, a gay friendly establishment on St Stephen's Street. In the eighties, I loved that pub; everyone was welcome; gay, punk, hippie. All of the fourteen chapters in the book tell a wonderful story of what can be achieved when we become agents of change, when we inspire and create a culture that embraces diversity and acceptance. This book is for us all. by Danielle Oster , June 7, 2024 AT&T and Tribeca announced writer/director Lilian T. Mehrel as the winner of the seventh consecutive Untold Stories program at the Tribeca Festival today, awarding the filmmaker a $1 million sponsorship to produce her film, Honeyjoon. AT&T described Honeyjoon as a darkly comedic travel film about a Kurdish-Persian mother named Lela and her diaspora daughter June, who take trip to the Azores archipelago off the coast of Portugal following a recent loss. Introduced in 2017 as a collaboration between AT&T and Tribeca, the Untold Stories mentorship program was designed to connect up-and-coming filmmakers from historically underrepresented backgrounds to opportunities for advancement by providing resources necessary to bring their stories to the screen. advertisement advertisement In a statement, Mehrel thanked AT&T, Tribeca, and the greenlight committee who made the selection for the award, adding, To be seen for my distinct blend of humor, heart, and cinema, and to get to do what I love on this level, is a dream come true. The announcement is the culmination of the Untold Stories event at the 2024 Tribeca Festival, which saw the film winning out over a group of four other finalists. Participants pitched their Untold Stories film ideas to a greenlight committee of film industry talent that included actors Yvette Nicole Brown, Daveed Diggs, Cynthia Erivo; playwright and TV writer Tanya Saracho; and director So Young Shelly Yo, 2022 Untold Stories winner. AT&T Assistant Vice President of Sponsorships Sabina Ahmed told Marketing Daily the program has received almost 2,000 submission over the course of its existence, with over 430 submissions for this years program -- eclipsing last years record. In partnership with our colleagues at Tribeca, we review every single script and application and bring forward those compelling stories that truly feel untold. During the pitch event, we evaluate their casting vision, forecasted budget, filming location and more to determine which film will be granted $1 million and move to production, she explained. Attracting more submissions isnt the only way Untold Stories has evolved over the years. To bring in more of the finalists perspective, we began including previous Untold Stories winners to our Greenlight Committee. They offer a fresh filmmakers point of view because theyve been in the finalists shoes, Ahmed told Marketing Daily. This years finalists all fall under the dramedy genre, which is pretty unique, with many of the films written and produced by women. In addition to the $1 million prize, Mehrel will also get the chance to premiere her feature film at the 2025 Tribeca Festival. As part of her year-long mentorship, AT&T and Tribeca will also assist her with the development, production, and marketing of the film, alongside offering consultations with film industry experts. by Tanya Gazdik , June 9, 2024 GM's Tarshena Armstrong addresses the conference. Photo credit: Tanya Gazdik, MediaPost General Motors is on track to reach its goal of 8% of its advertising placed with Black-owned media by 2025. That's according to executives from the automaker who were on hand at the Black Owned Media Weekend in Detroit, hosted by the Black Owned Media Equity and Sustainability Institute. The nonprofit emphasizes the importance of Black owned media in the industry and best practices for building a sustainable future. The event brings together Black media owners/publishers for actionable insights tied to business longevity, authentic community-building and resource sharing. General Motors was one of the sponsors along with Danone, Discover and media companies including Nativo, My Code and She Media. advertisement advertisement Speakers included three prominent GM executives: Shenan Reed, global chief media officer; Tarshena Armstrong, director, diversity marketing and development; and Brianne Boles-Marshall, diversity media strategy and investment lead. GM made significant changes to its model for partnering with diverse media in 2021 and launched a diverse incubator fund in which GM will allocate $50 million over 10 years to support and scale diverse marketing companies. The moves were made after GM came under pressure from media mogul Byron Allen for its spending practices. Boles-Marshall indirectly addressed that shift prompted at least in part by Allen. "A few years back, we had an opportunity to be introspective about how we're showing up in the media landscape, Boles-Marshall told the audience. The benefit about introspection is that you get to uncover what you're doing really well, but you also get to uncover where you can do better. So, in uncovering what we could do better, we understood that our investments needed to come up a level. GM started out at 1% of its media buys with Black-owned media in 2021. We wanted to increase and make sure that we got to 2% at 2021, she said. "So, we exceeded that goal, and then we wanted to double down on that going into 2022 and increase that to 4%, which we exceeded that goal. And all of this has been in service of margining ourselves to 8% Black-owned media investment by 2025. in order for us to invest more, we need to increase inventory to invest in. And that's where we're looking to all of you for help. Reed says it is her goal that GM becomes more transparent with potential Black-owned media partners so that they understand if they are being turned down and what they need to do to turn the no into a yes. It's not really a no, it's a, Not now, but this is how. Go do this. Follow these steps, go to this place. If you can do this, then I'm here and come back and let's talk, Reed says. Armstrong talked about GMs goals of transforming its portfolio toward an all-electric future. And in order for GM to thrive, we must ensure that our diverse-owned audience, our Black-owned audience is part of this journey with us, Armstrong told the audience. One thing that I do at General Motors is to earn cultural capital. This cultural capital is something that you earn. It cannot be bought, and that's why we are here today. We anchor everything that we do within General Motors with our deeds, our deeds with the community, because it's what's most important. We're striving to be the most inclusive company in the world. The Black-Owned Media Weekend was held in Tulsa, Oklahoma the last two years. The decision to move it to Detroit this year stems in part from GMs support, says Rhonesha Byng, founder and CEO Her Agenda and one of the co-founders of the institute, which organized the event and also administers the funding from GM for an accelerator to support Black-owned media. The accelerator is unique in that it supports diverse media across the board, across all categories, Byng says. So that was something that was really emphasized by GM. They wanted to make sure that it was opening up the door across different categories. In 2021, Byng and co-founder DeVon Christopher Johnson went on a listening tour to talk to brands and ask what their challenges were in spending with Black-owned media, A lot of people go to that lack of scale, she says. How do you fix lack of scale? You can't really fix a scale with just a media buy. It has to be some type of upfront investment, upfront capital. So this accelerator solves for that because we distribute grants as well. So everyone in the cohort gives a $25,000 grant, and that allows them to re-invest in their growth and their infrastructure. GM's Brianne Boles-Marshall addresses the conference. Photo Credit: Tanya Gazdik, MediaPost GM's Shenan Reed speaks on a panel at the conference. Photo credit: Tanya Gazdik, MediaPost TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, June 9. Uzbekistans trade turnover volume with Kyrgyzstan amounted to $224.2 million from January through April 2024, Trend reports. As per data from Uzbekistans Statistics Agency, this figure is 32.4 percent less compared to the same period last year ($332.1 million in JanuaryApril 2023). Uzbekistan's exports to Kyrgyzstan totaled $153.5 million from January through April 2024, a 36.6 percent decrease over the same period the previous year ($242.1 million in JanuaryApril 2023). Uzbekistans imports from Kyrgyzstan reached $70.6 million from January through April 2024. This figure has decreased by 21.5 percent year-on-year ($90 million in JanuaryApril 2023). Meanwhile, Uzbekistan's foreign trade turnover volume amounted to $20.9 billion from January through April 2024, six percent greater than the previous year ($19.7 billion in JanuaryApril 2023). The largest trade turnover volume was recorded with China ($3.9 billion) during this period. Russia ranks second with a total trade turnover volume of $3.8 billion, followed by Kazakhstan ($1.2 billion). Trusted Source Brain tumor - Symptoms and causes Go to source Trusted Source #Braintumours can often mimic #psychiatric symptoms, showing up as #aggression, #confusion, altered behavior, irrelevant speech, #apathy, emotional instability, or disorientation. #worldbraintumorday Altered Behavior Could Indicate Brain Tumor Danger Brain tumor - Symptoms and causes - (https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/brain-tumor/symptoms-causes/syc-20350084) Erratic mental health symptoms such as aggression, confusion, altered behavior, and persistent headaches may indicate a potential risk of a brain tumor ).Brain Tumour Day is observed every year on June 8 to raise awareness about the debilitating disease that can make it hard for people to learn, plan, make decisions, concentrate, and make decisions. Brain tumours are abnormal uncontrolled growth of cells in the brain . They can be malignant or non-malignant.Dr Kersi Chavda, Consultant Psychiatry, P.D. Hinduja Hospital & Medical Research Centre, Mahim told IANS that very often the signs and symptoms of a brain tumour mimic a mental illness ."Memory problems like difficulty with short-term memory and forming new memories; changes in behaviour or personality; difficulty understanding or producing speech; vision problems; persistent headaches; and loss of coordination and balance are some of the symptoms of brain tumour that mimic psychiatric issues," he added.Dr Ashish Srivastava, Head of Neurosurgery at Dharamshila Narayana Hospital, told IANS that often people do not pay attention to these symptoms of brain tumors, which can lead to severe consequences later."Be alert about the changes happening in your body. Gradually increasing headaches, frequent headaches, not getting enough sleep, difficulty in thinking and understanding, blurred vision, difficulty seeing distant objects, feeling sluggish and tired, and problems in performing daily tasks are symptoms that point towards a brain tumour," he warned.Other common symptoms include vomiting , nausea, paralysis , vision loss, and walking difficulties. MRI and CT, as well as PET scans, can detect brain tumors. "Brain tumors which are non-cancerous can be treated with radiotherapy techniques like CyberKnife or Gamma Knife if less than 3.5 cms," Dr Anshu Rohtagi, Senior Consultant, Department of Neurology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, told IANS. Further, advanced technology like MRI-guided laser ablation and laser interstitial thermal therapy can help not only locate tumours in the brain but also precisely destroy the tumour cells with heat or lasers, she added.Source-IANS Trusted Source 3 in 4 Americans Under 65 Are Worried About Future of Medicare Go to source Trusted Source #Mentalhealth challenges are a growing concern for #Americans, with over one-quarter (28%) reporting a decline in their mental well-being over the past three years. #Medicare #healthinsurance Concerns Mount Over Threats to Medicare and Social Security Advertisement Advertisement 3 in 4 Americans Under 65 Are Worried About Future of Medicare - (https://westhealth.org/news/3-in-4-americans-under-65-are-worried-about-future-of-medicare/) Concerns regarding Medicare's potential insolvency among those under 65 have heightened, with 73% now expressing apprehension about its availability when needed, up from 67% in 2022, as per the recent West Health-Gallup 2024 Survey on Aging in America (). The most significant increase in worry occurred among individuals aged 50 to 64, rising by 13 percentage points to reach 74%. Additionally, a greater percentage of adults express apprehension about the future of Social Security, with 80% of those under 62 and 86% of individuals aged 40 to 49 fearing its absence once they become eligible.According to the annual Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report released last month, there is cause for concern. Medicares hospital insurance trust fund is forecast to be depleted in 2036 and Social Securitys trust funds are expected to run dry in 2035, making the programs unable to pay full benefits to retiring Americans.Threats to Medicare and Social Security loom large, and people are worried policymakers wont do enough to protect and strengthen them, says Timothy Lash, President, West Health, a nonprofit focused on healthcare and aging. These safety net programs are part of the fabric of aging that millions of older Americans rely upon, so any potential disruption or question mark around them is cause for alarm and deserving of greater attention and action from policymakers.Most Americans do not think the government prioritizes issues affecting older adults. When asked in the survey how much the government prioritizes issues affecting older Americans, 74% say not very much or not at all. This sentiment is felt by 80% of those 65 and older. Over half (57%) of Americans report they are either somewhat more likely (37%) or much more likely (20%) to support a candidate for public office that makes issues affecting older Americans a top priority. This sentiment increases with age, peaking at 77% among those aged 65 and older.Two-thirds of Americans feel the country is not prepared to address the overall needs of its increasingly older population. By 2034, the U.S. Census Bureau projects that there will be more Americans aged 65 and older (77 million) than under the age of 18 (76.5 million), a first in U.S. history and making up nearly a quarter of the entire population.The fact that such a large percentage of U.S. adults observe little prioritization of issues affecting older Americans underscores the extent to which such prioritization could influence voting preferences, particularly among those already eligible for the federal safety net programs and those that will be soon, says Dan Witters, Research Director of the Gallup National Health and Well-Being Index.But the Survey on Aging in America finds its not just the future people are worried about theyre struggling now. An estimated 72.2 million or nearly one in three adults Americans have not sought needed healthcare in the last three months due to the cost, including 8.1 million Americans aged 65 and older. Nearly one-third (31%) are concerned about their ability to pay for prescription drugs in the next 12 months, up significantly from 25% in 2022. This concern is rising even faster among older Americans, who experienced an 11-point increase from 20% to 31% in the last two years.Among older Americans, those aged 65 and above, one fifth report that their mental health has worsened (21%) compared to just 17% that said it improved.Americans are clearly worried about what the future holds for them as they grow older. Will Social Security and Medicare still be around? Will they be able to afford their medical bills? Will the government help address their concerns? says Shelley Lyford, Chair and CEO, West Health. The answer to all these questions should be yes, and policymakers should act quickly to give Americans something to vote for and less to worry about.Source-Eurekalert Highlights: A study discovered that teenagers diagnosed with internet addiction exhibit changes in brain transmission Excessive internet use affects adolescent brains differently than adult brains China was the first to classify internet addiction as a public health concern Trusted Source Overview on brain function enhancement of Internet addicts through exercise intervention: Based on reward-execution-decision cycle Go to source Trusted Source Did You Know? The brain's executive function network, which is crucial for tasks like planning and impulse control, can be significantly altered by excessive internet use, much like the effects of substance addiction! #internetaddiction #teenhealth #brainresearch #medindia The brain's executive function network, which is crucial for tasks like planning and impulse control, can be significantly altered by excessive internet use, much like the effects of substance addiction! #internetaddiction #teenhealth #brainresearch #medindia Advertisement Side Effects of Adolescent Internet Addiction Advertisement Diagnosing Internet Addiction Advertisement First Country to Recognise Internet Addiction Overview on brain function enhancement of Internet addicts through exercise intervention: Based on reward-execution-decision cycle - (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36816421/) Teenagers who spend a lot of time on social media frequently complain about being unable to focus on crucial chores such as homework or spending meaningful time with loved ones. A new study offers an objective perspective on these complaints, revealing that youth diagnosed with internet addiction have changes in brain signals that are crucial for controlling attention and working memory ).The study discovered that excessive internet use can cause considerable behavioral addiction by altering the brain's executive function network, which governs attention, planning, decision-making, and impulse control. "The behavioural addiction brought on by excessive internet use has become a rising source of concern since the last decade," the researchers stated.They described internet addiction as a continuous fascination with the internet, withdrawal symptoms when offline, and forsaking relationships for increased internet time.Max Chang, the study's first author from University College London, detailed how internet addiction causes significant harm or pain in people's lives. The authors emphasized the importance of understanding its impact on adolescent brains, which differ from those of adults.Internet use has skyrocketed, with adolescents spending an increasing portion of their waking hours online. This has resulted in an upsurge in adolescent internet addiction. Teens with internet addiction revealed significant abnormalities in brain areas involved in executive skills when compared to their peers.These disruptions may make behaviors requiring these functions more difficult, potentially impairing development and well-being.Interestingly, all of the neuroimaging studies that fit the authors' criteria for age range and formal diagnosis of internet addiction were conducted in Asia, even though there are numerous cases of internet addiction in the Western world.The DSM-V (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition), the standard classification of mental disorders in the United States, does not yet contain online addiction, but it does list internet gaming disorder China was the first to recognize internet addiction as a public health concern.Max Chang emphasized that understanding the mechanics underlying internet addiction is still a developing science. Observing biomarkers such as functional connectivity might assist bridge the gap between brain activity and behaviour.Chang advised parents who are concerned about their children's internet addiction to search for signs of withdrawal from relationships. He equated online addiction to substance and gambling illnesses, claiming that it rewires the brain, making it more difficult to reject internet-related stimuli.In addition to addressing internet addiction, other underlying mental health issues must be addressed. Preventive interventions include minimizing screen time, taking breaks, and avoiding doom scrolling.Source-Medindia Trusted Source A disease-associated gene desert directs macrophage inflammation through ETS2 Go to source Trusted Source Each year, over 25,000 individuals receive an #InflammatoryBowelDisease diagnosis. Exciting news as researchers uncover potential treatment targets for this condition. #IBD #Crohnndisease #ulcerativecolitis Genetic Editing Reveals Essential Role of ETS2 in Inflammatory Bowel Disease Advertisement Advertisement A disease-associated gene desert directs macrophage inflammation through ETS2. - (https://www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07501-1) Scientists have uncovered a novel biological pathway that serves as a primary instigator of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and associated disorders, offering potential targets for existing medications. Their findings, published indelve into a 'gene desert'a segment of non-coding DNApreviously associated with IBD and various autoimmune conditions ().About 5% of the worlds population, and one in ten people in the UK, are currently affected by an autoimmune disease , such as IBD, the umbrella term for Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis . These diseases are also becoming more common, with over half a million people living with IBD in the UK as of 2022, nearly double the 300,000 previously estimated.Despite increasing prevalence, current treatments do not work in every patient and attempts to develop new drugs often fail due to our incomplete understanding of what causes IBD.They found that this gene desert contains an enhancer, a section of DNA that is like a volume dial for nearby genes, able to crank up the amount of proteins they make. The team discovered that this particular enhancer was only active in macrophages, a type of immune cell known to be important in IBD, and boosted a gene called ETS2, with higher levels correlating with a higher risk of disease.Using genetic editing, the scientists showed that ETS2 was essential for almost all inflammatory functions in macrophages, including several that directly contribute to tissue damage in IBD. Strikingly, simply increasing the amount of ETS2 in resting macrophages turned them into inflammatory cells that closely resembled those from IBD patients.The team also discovered that many other genes previously linked to IBD are part of the ETS2 pathway, providing further evidence that it is a major cause of IBD.Specific drugs that block ETS2 dont exist, so the team searched for drugs that might indirectly reduce its activity. They found that MEK inhibitors, drugs already prescribed for other non-inflammatory conditions, were predicted to switch off the inflammatory effects of ETS2.The researchers then put this to the test, and discovered that these drugs not only reduced inflammation in macrophages, but also in gut samples from patients with IBD.As MEK inhibitors can have side effects in other organs, the researchers are now working with LifeArc to find ways to deliver MEK inhibitors directly to macrophages.James Lee, Group Leader of the Genetic Mechanisms of Disease Laboratory at the Crick, and Consultant Gastroenterologist at the Royal Free Hospital and UCL, who led the research, said: IBD usually develops in young people and can cause severe symptoms that disrupt education, relationships, family life and employment. Better treatments are urgently needed.Using genetics as a starting point, weve uncovered a pathway that appears to play a major role in IBD and other inflammatory diseases. Excitingly, weve shown that this can be targeted therapeutically, and were now working on how to ensure this approach is safe and effective for treating people in the future."Christina Stankey, PhD student at the Crick, and first author along with Christophe Bourges and Lea-Maxie Haag, said: IBD and other autoimmune conditions are really complex, with multiple genetic and environmental risk factors, so to find one of the central pathways, and show how this can be switched off with an existing drug, is a massive step forwards.Volunteer participants from the NIHR BioResource, with and without IBD, provided blood samples that contributed to this research. The research was funded by Crohns and Colitis UK, the Wellcome Trust, MRC and Cancer Research UK, and the researchers worked with collaborators across the UK and Europe.Ruth Wakeman, Director of Services, Advocacy and Evidence at Crohn's & Colitis UK said: "Crohn's and Colitis are complex, lifelong conditions for which there is no cure, but research like this is helping us to answer some of the big questions about what causes them. The more we can understand about Inflammatory Bowel Disease, the more likely we are to be able to help patients live well with these conditions. This research is a really exciting step towards the possibility of a world free from Crohn's and Colitis one day." Lauren Golightly is 27 years old and was diagnosed with Crohns disease in 2018 after experiencing stomach cramps, blood in her poo and irregular bowel habits.She said: "Crohns has had a huge impact on my life. Ive had a rocky road since diagnosis, with many hospital admissions, several different medications and even surgery to have a temporary stoma bag. One of the hardest things about having Inflammatory Bowel Disease ( IBD) is the uncertainty around it. I still experience flare-ups and can still spend quite a bit of time in hospital. Learning about this research is so exciting and encouraging. I am hopeful this could potentially make a difference for myself and so many other hundreds of thousands of people living with IBD.Source-Eurekalert The Diamondbacks announced this morning that theyve designated left-hander Logan Allen for assignment. Lefty Tommy Henry was recalled to the majors in a corresponding move to replace Allen on the clubs active roster. Allen, 27, is not to be confused with the 25-year-old Guardians left-hander of the same name despite the fact that he too was once a fairly well-regarded prospect in Clevelands farm system. Acquired from the Padres in the three-team blockbuster that sent Yasiel Puig and Franmil Reyes to Cleveland, Trevor Bauer to Cincinnati, and Taylor Trammell to San Diego, Allen pitched only briefly for Cleveland in the majors prior to the 2021 season, where he struggled badly with a 6.26 ERA in 50 1/3 innings of work across 14 appearances (11 starts). The peripherals matched that lackluster performance. Allen struck out just 16.7% of batters faced while walking 7.7% and allowing an eye-popping 22.2% of his fly balls to leave the yard for home runs. Even with a solid 45.1% groundball rate, those brutal results and the peripherals that indicated they were largely deserved left the Guardians to part ways with Allen in May of 2022. He was initially claimed off waivers by the Orioles, although he struggled through just three appearances with Baltimore before they too designated him for assignment. This time, he passed through waivers successfully and was assigned outright to the minors. The lefty spent a few months in the Orioles minor league system before eventually getting released and signing with the Rockies on a minor league deal that August. He remained in Colorado into the 2023 season but was released in mid-July, though he found a job with the Mariners just weeks later. Across four organizations and two seasons, Allen struggled badly at the Triple-A level with a 5.77 ERA in 110 2/3 innings of work and never sniffed the majors after he was outrighted by the Orioles. Nonetheless, Allen was able to find a minor league pact with the Diamondbacks this winter. Unlike his past minor league deals, this time Allen found some success with a 3.00 ERA in 12 innings of work with the clubs Triple-A affiliate in Reno. That was enough for the Snakes to decide to call Allen up to the majors as a long relief option in mid-April. Hes made 12 appearances for the Diamondbacks since then, often pitching as many as three or four innings at a time, and had generally impressed with a 3.67 ERA and 3.84 FIP through his first 11 outings as a Diamondback. Unfortunately, the lefty was torched for six runs on six hits (including a home run) and a walk in one inning of work against the Padres last night, a disastrous outing that ballooned his ERA to 5.46 and his FIP to 4.31. With Arizona in need of a fresh arm and Allen out of option years, that left Arizona to DFA him in order to get Henry, who has acted as optionable starting pitching depth for the Diamondbacks since his debut in 2022, onto the roster. Arizona will now have one week to either trade Allen or attempt to pass him through waivers. If Allen clears waivers successfully, the Diamondbacks would be able to outright him to the minor leagues, although hed have the right to reject such an assignment as a player who has already been outrighted previously in his career. Its not inconceivable that a pitching-needy team would be willing to look past Allens rough outing against San Diego last night and take a chance on him based on his previous 11 appearances, although its also possible the leftys shake results both at Triple-A and in the majors prior to joining the Diamondbacks could turn otherwise intrigued clubs away. JACKSON, MI -- The Jackson County Animal Shelter, 3770 Spring Arbor Road, has many pets available for adoption. Here are two of them. Aloe is a 2-year-old American Staffordshire mix who was surrendered by her owner due to housing issues. She has really pretty markings with a white stripe that goes up both thighs. Aloe is friendly and has some dog friends she plays with at the shelter. When outside, she is curious and a sniffer. If she sees water she is either jumping in it or drinking it. It would not take long for this smart girl to learn some basic commands as she is treat motivated. Kitti is the name, but this cute tiger cat is actually 6-years-old. He was found near Ella Sharp Park. Kitti has been declawed on his front feet, so he is looking to be an indoor pet. He is great with dogs and likes to cuddle. You will love his big green eyes, pink nose and white chin. He is very mellow and also very friendly. Cat adoption fees are $60 for one cat, $80 for two, which includes applicable tests, vaccinations and spay/neutering. Visiting the shelter is always best, but other adoption resources include online applications at https://www.co.jackson.mi.us/2302/Our-Adoptable-Animals, faxing 517-780-4750 or emailing animalshelter@mijackson.org. The shelters current hours are 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. More information is available on the shelters Facebook page. See more pets available for adoption at Petango.com. Want more Jackson-area news? Bookmark the local Jackson news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Jackson daily newsletter. BAY CITY, MI A little more than a decade ago, Brian Martindale read a story in The Bay City Times about a child who needed a kidney transplant a little girl he didnt know and was inspired to help. Martindale was a match and donated a kidney to Jessica Schwerin. It was a life-saving procedure for the then 10-year-old girl and a life-changing event for him. Hes now executive director of the nonprofit Kidneys for Kids on a mission to connect other would-be living donors with children who need kidneys. Im able to show people that kidney donation is very safe, and you can do it for a child as young as 2, Martindale told MLive/The Bay City Times earlier this year. This summer, Martindale is setting out on a driving tour of the United States to spread his message. His 2024 Driving for Life trip to promote living kidney donation kicks off Monday, June 10. The 10,000-mile tour will include media interviews in nearly two dozen cities, ending in New York City where Martindale will do a live interview on a major network, he said. Hell be joined on TV by families with children who need kidney transplants. This years tour will be his third such trip, and hell be driving a Chevrolet Equinox donated by Garber Automotive Group. Last years tour was a 7,000 mile cross-country trip. So far, our trips and advocating have helped to match 11 adult donors to children, he said. In addition to embarking on a longer driving tour this year, Martindale is working with Kidneys for Communities to encourage would-be donors to register and find out if they could be the match someone has been waiting for. Now, somebody can test to be a living kidney donor as easily as doing a swab test, Martindale said. We hope its very successful this year to produce many more matches for child across the country, as well as in Michigan. Martindale said his organization has also begun working with Michigan adults awaiting kidney transplants, helping to recruit living donors and providing grant services for people of all ages. According to the National Kidney Foundation, of the 123,000 Americans currently on the waiting list for a lifesaving organ transplant, more than 101,000 need a kidney, but only 17,000 people receive one each year. Every day, 12 people die waiting for a kidney in the U.S. For more information, visit kidneysforcommunities.org and kidneysforkids.org. And click here to learn more about becoming a living donor. Want more Bay City- and Saginaw-area news? Bookmark the local Bay City and Saginaw news page or sign up for the free 3@3 daily newsletter for Bay City and Saginaw. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Iran will continue to insist on the peaceful use of nuclear energy in accordance with international law, member of the Iranian parliament Mohammad Saleh Jokar said, Trend reports. According to him, Great Britain, France and Germany are proposing to impose sanctions against Iran on the board of directors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Jokar said Iran will use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes until its national interests are realized. In January 2016, a Comprehensive Joint Action Plan on the Iranian nuclear program was implemented between Iran and the 5+1 group (USA, Russia, China, UK, France and Germany). In May 2018, the United States announced its withdrawal from this plan and in November of the same year imposed sanctions against Iran. Iran has announced that there will be no restrictions on the Iran nuclear deal in 2020. At the end of 2020, the Iranian parliament decided to implement a strategic plan in the nuclear field with the aim of lifting sanctions. According to the decision of the Iranian parliament, Iran has suspended the implementation of additional steps and an additional protocol provided for in the nuclear agreement. At the same time, the IAEA control mechanism decreased by 20-30%. DETROIT -- The Detroit Tigers are bringing right-handed reliever Miguel Diaz back to the organization. Diaz was signed to a minor-league contract and will presumably report to Triple-A Toledo in the coming days. Diaz was designated for assignment by the Tigers at the end of spring training after failing to make the Opening Day roster. He was claimed off waivers by the Houston Astros and pitched briefly for the big-league club before being designated for assignment again. This time he cleared waivers, became a free agent and re-signed with the Astros on a minor-league deal. His stint with Triple-A Sugar Land did not go well. Diaz allowed 15 runs on 20 hits in 14 innings, striking out 10 and walking five. He was released by the Astros on May 27. Diaz, 29, received a September call-up to Detroit in 2022 and 2023. After he allowed just one earned run in 14 innings last September, the Tigers decided to carry him on the 40-man roster through the winter and give him a chance to compete for a job in 2024. A native of the Dominican Republic, Diaz was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 Rule 5 Draft and then traded to the Padres, where he made his big-league debut despite having no upper-level minor-league experience. After missing most of two seasons with knee injuries, he pitched well in 2021, posting a 3.64 ERA in 42 innings, striking out 46 and walking 19. When the Padres let him go after the 2021 season, he signed a minor-league deal with the Tigers and spent most of the last two seasons with Triple-A Toledo. Based on a true story, The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story premieres Saturday June 8 at 8 p.m. on Lifetime. Three options to watch it, including for free: Immediately after the movie, the documentary Beyond the Headlines: The Tanya Kach Story with Elizabeth Smart premiers Saturday June 8 at 10 p.m. on Lifetime. About the Movie Tanya Kach (Jordyn Ashley Olsen) was fourteen and at risk, struggling with an unhappy home life and the victim of bullying at her new school. Feeling isolated and lonely, she is befriended by Tom Hose (Robert Baker), the schools security guard, who manages to lure Tanya to his home, where he held her captive and sexually abused her for over a decade. Convinced he had Tanya brainwashed and that she would never attempt escape, Tom eventually allows her to take on a part time job. Out from under Toms watchful eye, Tanya finally finds the courage to take a dangerous step toward freedom. About the Documentary Immediately following the movies premiere, Lifetime will debut Beyond the Headlines: The Tanya Kach Story with Elizabeth Smart. The documentary will follow executive producer Elizabeth Smart as she meets the real-life Tanya Kach, who at 14-years old vanished from a Pittsburgh suburb. Watch The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story Saturday 8/7c on Lifetime. Watch Beyond the Headlines: The Tanya Kach Story with Elizabeth Smart the documentary immediately follow the movie. Saturday 10/9c. Where to watch: Starring: Billboards Latin Women in Music Awards air Sunday, June 9 at 9 p.m. ET on the Telemundo network. Billboard: Mujeres en la Musica Latina) Telemundo 9 p.m. Sunday Stream the event for free with a trial from Fubo. About the event: The two-hour music special, which celebrates Latin female artists proactively working for positive change, inclusion, and gender parity in the music industry, as noted in the press release, will once again be hosted by Mexican actress and TV host Jacqueline Bracamontes. Produced at Telemundo Center in Miami, this event captures the essence of Latin culture through dynamic musical showcases and special acknowledgments from leading Latin female artists. It will also be available for simultaneous streaming on the Telemundo app and Peacock. The recipients of this years honors will be revealed at a later time. Bracamontes holds a prominent position in Latin American television. She has anchored Telemundos broadcasts of prestigious events such as Miss Universe, the Billboard Latin Music Awards and the Latin American Music Awards. Additionally, she has helmed programs such as the dance competition Asi se Baila and starred in the popular primetime series La Suerte de Loli. Tune in to watch the Billboard Latin Women in Music Awards Sunday, June 9 at 9/8c. Where to watch the Latin Women in Music Awards: SONOMA, CA -- For the second time this year, the NASCAR Cup Series hits the road course as they head west to deal with the high speeds at Sonoma Raceway in the Toyota/Save Mart 350. Watch NASCAR on FuboTV (7-day free trial) It was a crazy finish at the end of last weeks race at the World Wide Technology Raceway. It looked as if Christopher Bell had the checkered flag already in his hand, but as the white flag was in the air, his No. 20 car ran out of gas. That allowed 2022 Daytona 500 winner Austin Cindric to steal the victory, just the second of his Cup Series career. The race saw another great finish from Denny Hamlin. A second-place finish from the veteran driver helped build the gap between him and Kyle Larson--who wrecked at Gateway. Hamlin comes into Sunday with a 21-point lead on Larson. Rochester Hills native Brad Keselowski also picked up a notable finish. Just a few weeks removed from his first win in years, punching his ticket to the postseason, Keselowski ended up third last Sunday, and currently sits ninth in drivers points. Races at Sonoma have seen various drivers head to victory lane. Martin Truex Jr. has won the 350-mile race four times in his career, and he would love to make it five and scratch his name into the playoff picture. Daniel Suarez, Kyle Busch, and Kyle Larson also won at the exciting road course. NASCAR CUP SERIES Toyota/Save Mart 350 When: Sunday, June 9 Time: 3:30 p.m. ET Where: Sonoma Raceway (Sonoma, Calif.) Channel: FOX Stream: FuboTV (Free Trial), Sling, DirecTV Stream Check out the NASCAR standings and results here BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. US and French Presidents Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron called on the ruling party of Georgia to return to the Euro-Atlantic path, the joint statement of the heads of state says, Trend reports. "The United States and France reaffirm their commitment to supporting the Georgian people in their Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The presidents called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to respect the wishes of the public and return to the Euro-Atlantic path," the document noted. The heads of state expressed support for the establishment of a just and lasting peace in the South Caucasus, based on respect for international law, as well as the principles of sovereignty, inviolability of borders and territorial integrity. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Yemen's Houthi rebels fired ballistic missiles at the Royal Navy HMS Diamond destroyer in the Red Sea, the Houthis said in a statement, Trend reports. They said the strike was "precise" but did not say whether the ship was damaged. In addition, the Houthis said they attacked two commercial vessels, the Tavvishi container ship in the Arabian Sea, as well as the Norderney, which was carrying various types of cargo and sailing under the flag of Antigua and Barbuda. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. The European People's Party (EPP), which includes the current President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, secured first place in the European Parliament election, Trend reports. Preliminary results were announced by the European Parliament's press service in Brussels. The EPP won 181 seats, maintaining its leading position in the European Parliament. The Socialists and Democrats party came in second with 135 seats, followed by the New Europe party in third place. BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 9. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will visit Moscow on June 10-11, the Turkish Foreign Ministry says, Trend reports. According to the ministry, Hakan Fidan will also take part in the session of the BRICS+ foreign ministers in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod. "Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkiye Hakan Fidan will visit the Russian Federation on June 10-11, 2024. The minister will hold bilateral meetings in Moscow, and will also take part in the BRICS+ session, which will take place on June 11 on the sidelines of the meeting of BRICS foreign ministers in Nizhny Novgorod," the ministry said. Flash An aerial drone photo taken on May 21, 2024 shows China Coast Guard (CCG) vessel Huayang (R) conducting a drill with another CCG vessel in the South China Sea. [Photo/Xinhua] Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the South China Sea disputes, stressing that interference from external parties will only make things worse. Anwar's statement represents the common aspiration of most of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region, according to analysts. However, for its own interests, the United States is stirring up conflicts and divisions in the region, while the Philippines, supported by the United States, provokes disturbances in the South China Sea. Say no to turmoil Malaysia has been "rather successful" in dealing with the South China Sea issue diplomatically, "because we are deemed and seemed to be really neutral in the engagement," Anwar said on Thursday at the 37th Asia-Pacific Roundtable held in Kuala Lumpur. He reiterated that the issue must be resolved among ASEAN member countries and China, without the interference of external parties. "There should not be involvement with other parties because it will be deemed to be more complex and will complicate the matter," he said. Analysts believe Asia's prosperity has largely benefited from long-term peace and stability in the region, and ASEAN countries are unwilling to see turmoil in the South China Sea. "My main message over the past few years has been consistent, and this year will be no different -- we must avoid a physical conflict in Asia. Because we can all agree, that neither Asia nor the world can withstand a third geopolitical shock," said Ng Eng Hen, defense minister of Singapore, at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue. Prabowo Subianto, president-elect of Indonesia and current minister of defense, said at the dialogue that real security comes through very good relations between close neighbors. "This is part of our Asian culture. We must be close, friendly with our immediate neighbors," the president-elect said. Vietnam is willing to work with China to implement the high-level consensus between the two countries, properly manage differences, actively promote maritime cooperation and consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during a visit to China in April. The generally friendly and increasingly close relations between China and ASEAN and between China and individual ASEAN member states must not be clouded by the South China Sea issue, said Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia. Unwilling to be pawn of the U.S. The United States is trying to encircle China by strengthening relationships with regional allies, said Koh King Kee, president of the Center for New Inclusive Asia, a non-governmental Malaysian think tank. Clear about the intentions and consequences of the U.S. actions and unwilling to be pawns of the United States, most ASEAN member countries remain vigilant against the U.S. efforts to draw them into a coalition to contain China and have clearly refused to take sides. Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, said that Southeast Asia will never take sides in the competition between the United States and China. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also said on many occasions that Singapore would not pick a side between China and the United States; instead, foreign policy should focus on Singapore's interests. "Why must I be tied to one interest? I don't buy into this strong prejudice against China, this China-phobia," said Anwar in an interview in February with the Financial Times in Penang, his birthplace in northern Malaysia. Experts from ASEAN countries have also criticized the Philippines' provocations in the South China Sea. The military operations conducted by the Philippines, the United States, and their allies have compromised security in the ASEAN territory, intensifying regional strains, said Muhammad Syaroni Rofii, a lecturer from the School of Strategic and Global Studies at the University of Indonesia. The confrontational approach taken by the Philippines aligns very well with the U.S. strategy to contain China, said Koh, adding that U.S. military activities in the South China Sea undermine regional peace and stability and pose a serious threat to the security of regional countries. "It (the Philippines) thinks that by completely siding with one side, it would have an ally, when in fact it is inevitably becoming a pawn to be used. It is also an approach that goes against the general ASEAN diplomatic strategy," Goh Choon Kang, a former member of Singapore's parliament, wrote in an opinion piece. Managing differences Experts from ASEAN countries believe that the South China Sea issue should be resolved by the regional countries themselves, without the involvement of external forces. "The Philippines has engaged with external countries like the United States and Japan regarding the South China Sea. They don't prefer any peaceful solution or play any constructive role. They try to make the problem even bigger, even worse. The United States and its allies try to stop China from rising and try to contain China and encircle China," said Kin Phea. "It is essential for members of ASEAN, which may have varying attitudes, to collectively prioritize regional stability. The issue can be solved peacefully and be managed through non-military means as long as all parties concerned remain engaged in serious dialogues and consultations," he said. "I don't agree with the current administration's approach to the South China Sea," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. "You really have to use diplomacy," she said. "Diplomacy would mean negotiation, communication, and continuous communication, continuous negotiation." Scientists studying the impact of Cyclone Ilsa on seabirds have said that up to 90% of the birds could be lost "in the blink of an eye" in the future. After this particular storm hit Bedout Island in the western part of Australia in April 2023, several populations declined by 80-90%. ADVERTISIMENT According to a new study, an increase in the number of tropical cyclones due to global warming could lead to a sharp decline in seabird populations. The results of the observations were published in the journal Communications Earth & Environment. The level of losses could be unsustainable for populations as the frequency and intensity of cyclones increases due to global warming, and extreme winds, heavy rains and huge waves disrupt their breeding cycles. Seabirds are crucial for the conservation of tropical reefs. Scientists warn that the loss of birds could put further pressure on ecosystems. Jennifer Lavers, the author of the study, said that Bedout is a small island in a remote area of Australia, but this particular location can demonstrate the results needed to study the consequences. Studies of the area over three months make it clear that recovery will be slow and likely to be interrupted by the next cyclone. ADVERTISIMENT "More than 20,000 birds were lost in an instant," she said. The researchers used aerial and ground surveys to estimate mortality of three species: Brown Booby (Sula leucogaster), the Lesser Frigatebird (Fregata ariel), and an endemic subspecies of Brown Booby (Sula dactylatra bedouti). This happened within a few months after the storm. At least 20,000 birds died on the 17-hectare Bedout Island, mostly breeding adults. The Bedout's shearwater is not found anywhere else. The example of this island, according to experts, has wider significance for seabirds around the world. ADVERTISIMENT While tropical cyclones have a serious impact on wildlife populations, including seabirds, they are a normal occurrence. It is predicted that they will become more frequent and stronger in the face of warming, which will disrupt the ability of seabird populations to recover. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All CAA push gives Matua leader Shantanu Thakur second term in Modi govt OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Former CMs Shivraj Singh Chouhan, ML Khattar begin new innings as Union ministers Follow us on: Bhupender Yadav, S Jaishankar likely to be part of Modi 3.0 cabinet; Annamalai ruled out Follow us on: Lok Sabha to get LoP after 10 years, opposition hopes deputy speaker gets elected OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Modi's govt 3.0 cabinet to hold first meeting on Monday evening You are already a Moneycontrol Pro user. OK Follow us on: Kangana Ranaut shows off her Member of Parliament identity card with fans Farida Jalal reveals YRF didn't cast her after 'Dil Toh Pagal Hai', says, 'I am hurt, people shift loyalties to an extent that you dont remember me ever' A new study has found that during sleep, some neurons not only recreate the recent past but also predict future experiences. This discovery is one of a number of findings from a study of sleep and learning published in Nature by a team of experts from Rice University and the University of Michigan. ADVERTISIMENT The study offers an unprecedented look at how individual neurons in the hippocampus of rats stabilize and adjust spatial representations during rest periods after the animals have run a maze for the first time. In particular, the researchers tracked spiking, a pattern of neuronal activation that plays a role in consolidating new memories and marks which parts of a new experience should be stored as memories, Nature writes. "Certain neurons fire in response to certain stimuli. Neurons in the visual cortex fire when presented with an appropriate visual stimulus. The neurons we are studying show a preference," Kamran Diba, an assistant professor of anesthesiology at Michigan and co-author of the study, told ScienceDaily. Sleep is crucial for memory and learning: science has quantified this long-held intuition by measuring the performance of memory tests after sleep rather than after a period of wakefulness or even sleep deprivation. ADVERTISIMENT A few decades ago, scientists also found that neurons in the brains of sleeping animals that were allowed to explore a new environment just before resting fired in a way that reproduced the trajectories of the animals during the exploration. This finding is consistent with the knowledge that sleep helps new experiences crystallize into stable memories, thus suggesting that the spatial representations of many of these specialized neurons in the hippocampus are stable during sleep. However, the researchers wanted to see if there was more to the story. The researchers trained rats to run back and forth on an elevated track with liquid rewards at both ends and observed how individual neurons in the animals' hippocampi "spike" in the process. By calculating the average frequency of spikes over many laps back and forth, the researchers were able to estimate the neuronal field of location, or the area in the environment that a particular neuron "cares" about most. ADVERTISIMENT "The critical point here is that the place fields are estimated based on the animal's behavior," Kamran said, emphasizing the difficulty of assessing what happens to place fields during rest periods when the animal is not physically moving through the maze. The scientist explained that they spent a long time deciding how to assess neuronal preferences outside the maze, for example during sleep. As a result, they solved this problem by linking the activity of each individual neuron to the activity of all other neurons. This was the key innovation of the study: the researchers developed a statistical machine learning approach that used other neurons being fired to determine where the animal dreams of being. They then used these dream positions to estimate the spatial tuning process for each neuron in their data sets. ADVERTISIMENT "The ability to track neuronal preferences even without a stimulus was an important breakthrough for us," Diba admitted. The study is an example of the advances in neuroscience that have been made possible over the past few decades by technological advances in the development of stable, high-resolution neural probes, as well as computing power supported by machine learning. In light of these advances, Kamran said that brain science is poised to make significant progress in the future. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Follow us on: Hrithik Roshan backs the post against CISF constable who slapped Kangana Ranaut at Chandigarh airport Katrina Kaif waves and greets paparazzi in chic black ensemble as she returns to Mumbai after her London vacay, netizens say shes not pregnant Follow us on: Taylor Swift swiftly responds to help a fan in distress during her latest concert OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Coca Cola plans to invest Rs 700 crore in greenfield plant in Telangana Follow us on: 27 OBCs, 15 SC/STs, 11 allies, ex-CMs: What does Modi's new Cabinet look like Follow us on: 'DMK was the first to foresee the hazards of NEET': MK Stalin OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Hardeep Singh Nijjar killing: Canada's intelligence chief made unannounced visits to India twice this year The Large Binocular Telescope (LBT), located on Mount Graham in Arizona, has captured an image of Jupiter's moon Io thanks to its resolution, adaptive optics, and sophisticated instruments. This is the highest resolution photo ever taken by a ground-based device. ADVERTISIMENT The image revealed surface features as small as 80 km in size. The spatial resolution was previously reserved for spacecraft. These include NASA's Juno mission, which took some of the most stunning images of Io's volcanoes. These images were captured thanks to LBT's new SHARK-VIS instrument and the telescope's adaptive optical system. In the article "Observation of Ios Resurfacing via Plume Deposition Using Ground-based Adaptive Optics at Visible Wavelengths with LBT SHARK-VIS", American astrophysicists published images of the space object. The scientists used the SHARK-VIS camera mounted on the LBT to capture Jupiter's moon Io. This is a high-contrast optical coronagraphic imaging instrument developed and built at the INAF Astronomical Observatory in Rome. ADVERTISIMENT The SHARK-VIS image was so rich in detail that it allowed researchers to identify the area around the Pele volcano, located in the southern hemisphere near the equator (and named after the Hawaiian deity associated with fire and volcanoes). The photo shows the deposition of the plume, which was formed as a result of the eruption of the neighboring Pillan Patera volcano. NASA's Galileo spacecraft observed a similar sequence of eruptions during its exploration of the Jovian system between 1995 and 2003. However, this was the first time an Earth-based observatory took such detailed images. Experts saw deposits of dark lava and white sulfur dioxide from the eruption partially covering the red, sulfur-rich deposit. Before SHARK-VIS, it was impossible to observe such surfacing phenomena from the ground. ADVERTISIMENT Jupiter's moon Io in the solar system Io is the most distant of Jupiter's largest moons (the so-called Galilean moons), which include Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Ever since NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft flew through the Jovian system in 1979, scientists have been fascinated by the moon and its volcanic features. Together with Europa and Ganymede, Io is in a 1:2:4 orbital resonance. Europa makes two orbits for every orbit of Ganymede, and Io makes four. Due to the interaction with these satellites and Jupiter's powerful gravity, Io's interior is constantly bending, forming hot lava that erupts through the surface. The telescopes have taken infrared images that have revealed the hot spots caused by the eruptions, but they are not sharp enough to see surface details or identify the locations of the eruptions. By observing eruptions on Io's surface, scientists hope to gain insight into the tidal heating mechanism responsible for Io's intense volcanism. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Follow us on: Heatwave spell likely in northwest, heavy rainfall across South-West coast of India: IMD OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All IMD issues alert for Mumbai, Thane, Raigad; severe waterlogging in various areas OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All New MPs meet PM Modi amid speculation of cabinet appointments in NDA government: Report OTHERS OTHERS Follow us on: My Account or or Hello, Login All Developing countries call on US to lift Palestinian UN veto Follow us on: Israel rescues 4 hostages taken in Hamas' October 7 attack, and 210 Palestinians are reported killed The United States and France support Ukraine in its fight against the aggression of the Russian Federation. In this way, these countries demonstrate to the world the strength of its allies. ADVERTISIMENT This statement was made by US President Joe Biden. He said this on Saturday during a joint speech with French President Emmanuel Macron after the French-American talks. "This week, we have once again demonstrated to the world the power of allies, what we can achieve when we act together. This is what the relationship between France and the United States illustrates. We see this in Ukraine: our two countries support the Ukrainian people as they fight Putin's brutal aggression," the American leader said. Biden reminded that he had announced new security assistance to Ukraine worth $225 million the day before. This is the sixth aid package provided by the United States since the adoption of the National Security Act earlier this year. "I wish we could have done this six months earlier, but we have achieved this by providing Ukraine with an additional $61 billion in assistance," he said. ADVERTISIMENT The U.S. President thanked France and European allies for their leadership in supporting Ukraine, noting that the EU has provided more than $107 billion since the beginning of the full-scale war. "We know what would happen if Putin succeeded in conquering Ukraine. Putin will not stop at Ukraine. It's not just about Ukraine, it's about much more than Ukraine. The whole of Europe is under threat. We will not allow this to happen. The United States stands with Ukraine," he said. As a reminder, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken assured that Ukraine would receive strong support at the NATO summit in Washington. This will contribute to the Euro-Atlantic integration of our country. Earlier, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said that there are currently two countries that are skeptical about Ukraine's prospects for NATO membership. According to him, these countries are afraid of some kind of escalation from Russia. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! On Saturday, June 8, an up-to-date Su-57 multi-role fighter jet was destroyed at the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation. Satellite images confirm that the enemy aircraft was hit. ADVERTISIMENT The fighter jet was attacked at an airfield located 589 kilometers from the front line. This was reported by the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Satellite images show that the Su-57 was hit between June 7 and 8. On the 7th, the fighter jet was still intact, but the next day, craters from the explosion and characteristic fire spots appeared near it, which resulted from the fire damage. The DIU noted that the most modern fighter jet of the terrorist country Russia, the Su-57, is capable of using X-59 and X-69 missiles for strikes. At the same time, the Russian Aerospace Forces have few units of these combat aircraft in service. ADVERTISIMENT Characteristics of the Su-57 The terrorist country began operating the Su-57 in 2022. According to Russian propagandists, a total of 15 units of the fighter jets were produced, including prototypes. However, the Russians have up to 10 of these fighters in operable condition. The Russian Federation claims that the Su-57's electronic system is fundamentally new, differing from the traditional airborne radar. The fighter is equipped with a powerful radar and weapons inside the fuselage, which makes the aircraft invisible. The Su-57 fighter is equipped with a 30-mm 9-A1-4071K air cannon, which was first tested in 2014. The main weapons of the aircraft are cruise missiles X-59 and X-69. Interestingly, the Russians developed the Su-57 jointly with Indian experts. However, in 2018-2019, India withdrew from this project because it was convinced that Russia did not have the appropriate technology. ADVERTISIMENT Among those who met Russian troops in Kyiv region in late February were soldiers from the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine. Among them was a group of scouts who distinguished themselves in Afghanistan in 2021, led by a soldier with the codename "Shaman". ADVERTISIMENT The warrior recalls that in Hostomel and Bucha, at the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, the Russians behaved "like rats". Shaman's memoirs were published by The Globe & Mail in an article about Ukraine's military intelligence. The representative of the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, nicknamed "Shaman," who was born in the Ukrainian Donbas, is only 30 years old. In the summer, he participated in a mission in Kabul, Afghanistan. The warrior describes those he worked with as "people who knew no fear and were ready to go anywhere." In February 2022, all of these soldiers met the invaders in Kyiv, Kharkiv, and Donbas. ADVERTISIMENT Shaman was among them. The day before the full-scale Russian invasion began, he gathered a group of 12 scouts and created a unit that would later become known as the Shamanbat. They were distinguished by their patches with a stylized white skull on a black background. This newly formed group was sent by the DIU leadership to defend the Gostomel airfield, the capture of which was particularly important for the Russians, as it would allow them to move tanks and other armored vehicles to the suburbs of the capital for a further attack on Kyiv. At dawn on February 24, the Shaman fighters received confirmation that the double agent's information about the occupiers' plans for Gostomel was reliable. And when the DIU's special forces saw the enemy, they opened fire. Several weeks of fierce fighting followed, and eventually the Kyiv region was de-occupied. That was the first time the world's crimes of the invaders on the territory of Ukraine were revealed: the pages of the world's media published gruesome photos from the de-occupied areas in the north of Kyiv region and described the bodies of Ukrainians tortured to death in the settlements, burned cars in which civilians tried to leave the war zone, mass graves with people of different ages and genders. ADVERTISIMENT "The reaction of the Russians in Gostomel and Bucha was dictated by their fear. It was the reaction of a cornered rat that had no control or power. It was just chaos, and they were causing maximum damage, just killing everyone around them," says Shaman. Earlier, the DIU announced the defeat of the latest Su-57 in Russia . Satellite images show that the Su-57 was hit at the Akhtubinsk airfield in Astrakhan region on June 7-8. On the 7th, satellite images show that the fighter jet was still intact, but the next day, craters from the explosion and characteristic fire spots appeared near it, caused by the fire damage. Subsequently, Russia de facto confirmed the destruction of the aircraft, throwing a tantrum over the "first combat loss of a Su-57 in history." Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber . Do not fall for fakes! ADVERTISIMENT Conor here: While the after-the-fact advice from the following piece might be helpful, it sure would be better if our government could prevent this from happening in the first place. How is it possible that Magellan devices used for more than half of all blood lead tests in the US over a four year period were defective and the FDA didnt know? The first sentence of the FDA Mission: The Food and Drug Administration is responsible for protecting the public health by ensuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, and medical devices; and by ensuring the safety of our nations food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. Maybe Im missing something, but its hard to see how the agency can perform those tasks if the safety system relies on companies whose profits are dependent on the success of their products to swiftly disclose problems. Maybe the FDA system should be on trial as well. While that isnt happening, the FDA is instead exploring the use of AI technologies to facilitate our internal operations and regulatory processes, which could benefit both agency experts and the public by streamlining workflows and facilitating high quality, novel medical products more quickly reaching the patients who need them. So theres that. One piece of good news from the Magellan case, the settlement does not affect the DOJs ongoing prosecution of three former Magellan employees who no longer work for the company. Those three employees are the former CEO, COO and director of quality assurance and regulatory affairs who are charged with wire fraud, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to defraud an agency of the U.S. and introduction of misbranded medical devices into interstate commerce with intent to defraud and mislead. Each of the charges carries a potential fine of up to $250,000, and those for wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, could result in jail sentences of up to 20 years. By senior correspondent Julie Appleby. Originally published at KFF Health News. A company that makes tests for lead poisoning has agreed to resolve criminal charges that it concealed for years a malfunction that resulted in inaccurately low results. Its the latest in a long-running saga involving Massachusetts-based Magellan Diagnostics, which will pay $42 million in penalties, according to the Department of Justice. While many of the fault-prone devices were used from 2013 to 2017, some were being recalled as late as 2021. The Justice Department said the malfunction produced inaccurate results for potentially tens of thousands of children and other patients. Doctors dont consider any level of lead in the blood to be safe, especially for children. Several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., and Flint, Michigan, have struggled with widespread lead contamination of their water supplies in the last two decades, making accurate tests critical for public health. Its possible faulty Magellan kits were used to test children for lead exposure into the early 2020s, based on the recall in 2021. Heres what parents should know. What Tests Were Affected? The inaccurate results came from three Magellan devices: LeadCare Ultra, LeadCare II, and LeadCare Plus. One, the LeadCare II, uses finger-stick samples primarily and accounted for more than half of all blood lead tests conducted in the U.S. from 2013 to 2017, according to the Justice Department. It was often used in physician offices to check childrens lead levels. The other two could also be used with blood drawn from a vein and may have been more common in labs than doctors offices. The company first learned that a malfunction in its LeadCare Ultra device could cause inaccurate lead test results specifically, lead test results that were falsely low in June 2013 while seeking regulatory clearance to sell the product, the DOJ said. But it did not disclose that information and went on to market the tests, according to the settlement. The agency said 2013 testing indicated the same flaw affected the LeadCare II device. A 2021 recall included most of all three types of test kits distributed since October 27, 2020. The company said in a press release announcing the resolution that the underlying issues that affected the results of some of Magellans products from 2013 to 2018 have been fully and effectively remediated, and that the tests it currently sells are safe. What Does a Falsely Low Result Mean? Children are often tested during pediatrician visits at age 1 and again at age 2. Elevated lead levels can put kids at risk of developmental delay, lower IQ, and other problems. And symptoms, such as stomachache, poor appetite, or irritability, may not appear until high levels are reached. Falsely low test results could mean parents and physicians were unaware of the problem. Thats a concern because treatment for lead poisoning is, initially, mainly preventive. Results showing elevated levels should prompt parents and health officials to determine the sources of lead and take steps to prevent continued lead intake, said Janine Kerr, health educator with the Virginia Department of Healths Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program. Children can be exposed to lead in a variety of ways, including by drinking water contaminated with lead from old pipes, such as in Flint and Washington; ingesting lead-based paint flakes often found in older homes; or, as reported recently, eating some brands of cinnamon-flavored applesauce. What Should Parents Do Now? Parents can contact their childs pediatrician to determine if their child had a blood lead test with a LeadCare device and discuss whether a repeat blood lead test is needed, said Maida Galvez, a pediatrician and professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York. During an earlier recall of some Magellan devices, in 2017, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that patients be retested if they were pregnant, nursing, or children younger than 6 and had a blood lead level of less than 10 micrograms per deciliter as determined by a Magellan device from a venous blood draw. The 2021 recall of Magellan devices recommended retesting children whose results were less than the current CDC reference level of 3.5 micrograms per deciliter. Many of those tests were of the finger-stick variety. Kerr, at the Virginia health department, said her agency has not had many calls about that recall. The finger-stick tests are not that widely used in Virginia, said Kerr, adding that we did get a lot of questions about the applesauce recall. In any case, she said, the best course of action for parents is to talk with a health care provider. GA Court of Appeals puts Fani Willis election interference case ON HOLD until after November elections The Georgia Court of Appeals (GCA) has ordered that the election interference case by Fulton County District Attorney (DA) Fani Willis against former President Donald Trump be put on hold until after the 2024 presidential election in November. In a June 5 ruling, the GCA issued a temporary stay on the proceedings until it resolves whether Willis should be allowed to remain as the prosecuting attorney. Trump attorney Steven Sadow praised the GCA's decision, saying it "properly stayed all proceedings against [his client] in the trial court pending its decision." In December, Sadow argued in court that the trial should be postponed until after the 2024 election in November an argument the appeals court sided with in its June 5 decision. It also serves as a ruling in favor of an appeal filed by Trump, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani and their co-defendants in the case. The appeal asks the GCA to overturn a decision by Fulton County Judge Scott McAfee that allows the progressive DA to remain on the case despite having engaged in ethical breaches. The GCA will hear the appeal to disqualify Willis from the case on Oct. 4. A panel of three magistrates Judges Todd Markle, Trenton Brown and Benjamin Land will decide on whether the progressive DA should remain on the election interference case. Sadow expressed confidence in presenting arguments to the three appeals court judges, emphasizing Willis' misconduct. The development in the Peach State follows a Manhattan jury finding Trump guilty of 34 counts of business records falsification during his hush money trial, presided by Judge Juan Merchan. Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg, another progressive prosecutor, was responsible for the guilty verdict on Trump something many of his allies have denounced as rigged. (Related: Donald Trump found GUILTY on all 34 charges in blatantly rigged New York trial, could be sentenced to 20 years in prison.) 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. Biased Fani Willis should be out of the case In January, co-defendant Michael Roman a former aide to the Trump White House revealed that Willis had engaged in a clandestine romantic relationship with Fulton County prosecutor Nathan Wade. The DA had appointed Wade to serve as a special prosecutor on the election interference case. Roman filed a motion accusing Willis of financially benefiting from her personal relationship with Wade. The motion, which Trump and his co-defendants later adopted, also presented evidence that Willis had violated state legal and professional ethics. The two denied any wrongdoing, with both acknowledging that they had been in a relationship and that Willis did not benefit financially from it. McAfee heard the motion and ruled that Willis could remain as a prosecutor on the case provided that Wade stepped down. The special prosecutor resigned on the same day the judge handed down his ruling. According to NBC News, "the case had been considered highly unlikely to go [to] trial before Nov. 5" when Americans head to the polling places and cast their votes. The GCA's June 5 ruling came a day after District Judge Aileen Cannon reworked the schedule for his classified documents case. Originally scheduled on May 20, the trial was suspended "indefinitely" given the "myriad" legal issues in the case she still has to work through. This further lessens the chances that the case presided by Cannon and brought forward by Special Counsel Jack Smith could go to trial before Election Day as well, NBC News added. Visit Trump.news for more stories about former President Donald Trump's legal battles. Watch Breanna Morello talking about the GCA taking on the case to disqualify Fani Willis from the Trump election interference proceedings below. This video is from the MyPodcastDropped2320 channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Fani Willis ILLEGALLY recorded a phone call to kick off Trump investigation. Report: Fulton County DA Fani Willis SECRETLY COLLUDED with House J6 Committee. Former Fulton County employee exposes DA Fani Willis' alleged misuse of nearly $500K in federal funds. UPDATE: Judge Cannon unseals MORE unredacted documents exposes THREATS from Smith's office. Atlanta attorney Fani Willis hired SECRET LOVER as special prosecutor in Georgia racketeering case against Trump. Sources include: TheNationalPulse.com NBCNews.com Brighteon.com WSJ admits Biden showing signs of COGNITIVE DECLINE during closed-door meetings President Joe Biden has been showing signs of cognitive decline during closed door meetings, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported. Journalists Annie Linskey and Siobhan Hughes elaborated on this in a June 4 article, citing "interviews with more than 45 people over several months." The interviewees involved both Republican and Democratic officials who either participated in meetings with the chief executive or were briefed on them contemporaneously. Most GOP interviewees attested to Biden's poor performance, while some Democrats also attested to this decline. One instance went like this: "When Biden met with congressional leaders in the West Wing in January to negotiate a Ukraine funding deal, he spoke so softly at times that some participants struggled to hear him, according to five people familiar with the meeting. He read from notes to make obvious points, paused for extended periods and sometimes closed his eyes for so long that some in the room wondered whether he had tuned out." The WSJ journalists also recounted another instance in February that happened at the Oval Office. Biden had been with House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) at the time, according to six people. The president reportedly claimed that a recent policy change by his administration that jeopardizes some major energy projects was "just a study" worrying Johnson, who had been concerned that Biden's memory had slipped about the details of his own policy. Even former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) pointed out Biden's inconsistent demeanor during negotiations to lift the debt ceiling last year. According to him and two other individuals familiar with the talks, Biden had loose and spontaneous exchanges with GOP lawmakers on some days, but mumbled and relied on notes on other days. 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. "I used to meet with him when he was vice president. I'd go to his house," McCarthy said in an interview. "He's not the same person." White House to the rescue "The 81-year-old Biden is the oldest person to hold the presidency. [But] his age and cognitive fitness have become major issues in his campaign for a second term, both in the minds of voters and in attacks on him by Republicans," the WSJ piece stated. Despite this, the White House and top aides said Biden remains a sharp and vigorous leader. The White House also mentioned that the president's doctors have found him fit to serve and that his recent annual physical exam showed no need for a cognitive test. Federal officials also dismissed many of the negative accounts from those who have met with Biden, merely dismissing them as motivated by partisan politics. (Related: Republican lawmakers call on Biden to take cognitive test IMMEDIATELY.) "Congressional Republicans, foreign leaders and nonpartisan national security experts have made clear in their own words that President Biden is a savvy and effective leader who has a deep record of legislative accomplishment," said White House Deputy Press Secretary Andrew Bates. "Now in 2024, House Republicans are making false claims as a political tactic that flatly contradict previous statements made by themselves and their colleagues." Linskey and Hughes also mentioned that the White House kept close tabs on some of the WSJ's interviews with Democratic lawmakers. When asked about this, Bates answered: "We thought it was important that all perspectives be represented [against] false and politically motivated claims." But even though the White House insists that Biden is still fit to serve as chief executive, Americans beg to differ. A WSJ survey of voters in seven battleground states conducted in March found that only 28 percent believe Biden is better suited for the presidency both physically and mentally. In contrast, 48 percent believe former President Donald Trump is better suited for the role. Check out JoeBiden.news for similar stories. Watch Laura Ingraham explaining why Biden's decline also marks the decline of America below. This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Survey: 71% of Americans believe Joe Biden is TOO OLD for a second term. COVER-UP: White House chief doctor deems Biden fit to work, but omits cognitive test. Biden's cognitive decline is now painfully obvious to the world, yet Dems continue to deny it. Doctors urge Biden to take MENTAL COMPETENCY test following increasing evidence of president's cognitive decline. DOJ special counsel report describes Biden as having "diminished faculties" and "faulty memory" proving critics right that he is in a state of COGNITIVE DECLINE. Sources include: WSJ.com Brighteon.com Joe Rogan endorses communist utopian philosophy with UBI handouts to the masses who wont have to work American commentator Joe Rogan advocated for a communist utopian theory, wherein Americans who lose their jobs because of the advent of artificial intelligence and other advancements in technology, will be given a hefty amount of free money via a universal basic income (UBI) system. He suggested the amount of $200,000 a year per person UBI is a concept of a government program in which every citizen receives a set amount of money regularly. The goals of a basic income system are to alleviate poverty and replace other need-based social programs that potentially require greater bureaucratic involvement. In a recent episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience," he sat with Billy Carson, author and founder and CEO of streaming TV network 4BiddenKnowledgeTV. The two tackled the rapid rate of AI in media and how robots could take over the jobs of Americans. "They just released this ChatGPT and other robotics on humanity, which is great. It's going to do a lot of good for us," Carson continued. "But at the same time, if you're going to replace somebody's job, you have to then take away their financial responsibilities. You can't expect them to still have the financial responsibilities and take away the job, so that's going to be the conundrum. I'm waiting to see how that's going to pan out." Rogan replied saying that people should not worry because there's enough money in the country to support those who lose their jobs to technological advancement. "Just imagine the entire country just gets a free $200,000 a year [per person]; you're never going to have to worry about food. You're never going to have to worry about a place to live. You're good," he said in the podcast. "You've got $200,000 a year because everything's automated and everything's done by the government, then you're going to have to find something. You're going to have to find a purpose." 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 podcaster suggested that free wages could give people the freedom to explore their true passions, whether that's in the arts, other areas of creativity or continuing to work. "Wouldn't that be better than work?" he said. "Because for most people, there's a great satisfaction in working and accomplishing a hard day's work. You get your paycheck, and you feel like you've accomplished something." He further implied that with this approach, people will just get free money because robots control everything. "No more jobs," he said. "The heads of future industries wouldn't have to pay a salary to these robots, only repair costs and management costs." Meanwhile, critics believe that Rogan, whose podcast boasts 14.5 million subscribers on Spotify, laid out a vision that is essentially the communist utopia depicted in the popular science fiction franchise Star Trek, where capitalism and money have been abolished and the issue of resource scarcity has been overcome. Watch the full episode of the "Joe Rogan Experience" featuring Billy Carson below. AI godfather advocates UBI to the UK government Renowned technology expert Geoffrey Hinton, the computer scientist who was tagged as the "godfather" of artificial intelligence (AI) recommended that the British government consider adopting a UBI for adult Britons. "I was consulted by people in Downing Street and I advised them that UBI was a good idea," Hinton shared with the BBC. According to him, the AI revolution will mostly benefit the rich. Regular employees such as blue-collar workers and those in jobs that can be automated could lose their means of income. "That is going to be bad for society," Hinton warned. He said he feared that AI could become an extinction-level threat to humans in the next five to 20 years. He warned about the growing use of AI chatbots, saying that "a form of that is just better than biological intelligence." Hinton also pointed out that the competition to develop products rapidly meant there was a risk tech companies "can autonomously decide to kill people" by increasing their dependence on AI. (Related: Billionaire Elon Musk says AI will eventually replace nearly all human workers.) Analysts say it would be extremely costly and divert funding away from public services, while not necessarily helping to alleviate poverty. Meanwhile, a U.K. government spokesman said there were "no plans to introduce a universal basic income." Hinton is the pioneer of neural networks, which form the theoretical basis of the current explosion in artificial intelligence. He used to work at Google but left the tech giant so he could talk more freely about the dangers of unregulated AI. Visit FutureTech.news to read more news related to AI. Sources for this article include: TheNationalPulse.com Newsweek.com BBC.com Judge orders Steve Bannon to report to prison on July 1 to begin serving sentence for ginned-up crime for which no Democrat is ever prosecuted A federal judge has ordered former White House Chief Strategist Steve Bannon to report to prison on July 1 to begin serving a sentence In July 2022, Bannon was found guilty on two counts of contempt of Congress for defying subpoenas sent by the House J6 Select Committee. Because of this, he was sentenced to four months behind bars. Bannon appealed the case, however prompting his sentence to be put on hold. But U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols of the District Court for D.C. ruled on June 6 that Bannon should serve his jail sentence at the soonest, ordering the erstwhile advisor to former President Donald Trump to report to prison on July 1. The magistrate argued that he did not believe the "original basis" for his stay of the imposition of Bannon's sentence existed any longer, following an appeals court rejecting Bannon's appeal and upholding his conviction. (Related: Steve Bannon sentenced to hard prison time for high crime of ignoring Jan. 6 committee subpoena in latest proof that DoJ is corrupt.) The host of "Bannon's War Room" was originally sentenced in October 2022, but it was put on hold pending appeal. His lawyers made their case to a three-judge federal appeals court panel in November of the following year. However, the appeals court upheld Bannon's conviction in May. Federal prosecutors soon filed a motion asking Nichols to order Bannon to report to prison. They argued that there was "no legal basis" for the continued stay of the sentence after his conviction was upheld which the magistrate's June 6 ruling sided with. Despite this, NBC News said he could still appeal Nichols' ruling ordering him to report to prison. 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. Bannon wasn't the only one slapped with jail time for defying the J6 Committee's subpoenas. Former White House Office of Trade and Manufacturing Policy Director Peter Navarro was also sentenced to four months in jail and fined $9,500. The economist is set to be released on July 17. Trump blasts Bannon's sentence, calls it a "tragedy" "Bannon's lawyers argued that the sentence should be stayed until they appeal it to the full appeals court and the Supreme Court. Any delay, of course, would benefit Bannon if Trump is elected president in November and decides just as he did on the last day of his presidency on Jan. 20, 2021 to pardon Bannon on federal criminal charges," NBC News wrote. "The defendant chose allegiance to Trump over compliance with the law,"Assistant U.S. Attorney Molly Gaston told jurors during closing arguments in Bannon's trial in 2022. Gaston now serves on the team of Special Counsel Jack Smith. Meanwhile, Trump himself condemned the sentence on Bannon in a post on Truth Social, calling it a "total and complete American tragedy." He suggested that instead of his former chief strategist, members of the Jan. 6 Select Committee should be prosecuted instead. Bannon is set to go on trial on separate state charges in New York later this year. This trial involves allegations that he defrauded donors who gave money to build a wall on the southern U.S. border. While he has entered a not guilty plea to this trial, Bannon had been charged in the same alleged scheme by federal prosecutors before Trump pardoned him. The former chief strategist was unfazed when he entered the courthouse in Washington, D.C. on June 6. Bannon looked calm and stayed smiling as Nichols announced his decision. In contrast, Bannon's lawyer David Schoen started to raise his voice. The lawyer denounced the decision and called it "contrary to our system of justice." He continued: "You're sending a man to prison who thought he was complying with the law. We don't do that in my system." Head over to Fascism.news for similar stories. Watch this report from "The Charlie Kirk Show" about Steve Bannon being ordered to report to prison on July 1. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Owen Shroyer: Steve Bannon's prison sentence is a political persecution, a total sham. Bannon: Conservative leaders lack 'the fing balls' to stop 'cultural collapse of the West.' 'LOCK THEM UP': Steve Bannon puts 'illegitimate' Biden regime on blast in epic CPAC speech. Steve Bannon sounds alarm: U.S. Govt. now targeting free speech of citizens; DHS bulletin labels dissidents "domestic terrorists." Sources include: NBCNews.com Brighteon.com Republican legislator slams reporter who suggested Congress probes are political retaliation against Joe Biden Rep. Scott Perry, a Republican from Pennsylvania, recently schooled a journalist who implied that the congressional inquiries the Congress was holding were political revenge on President Joe Biden . A video of the incident posted on X immediately went viral. "What actual evidence do you have as opposed to allegations to show to the American public that would merit an actual impeachment inquiry of Joe Biden and prove that today isn't just about some of you..." the reporter's question started. Perry briefly interrupted as he was able to predict the reporter's intent "Oh, I don't know," he said in a sarcastic tone. The reporter kept talking but the rest of the question was inaudible in the video except for the last part. "...McCarthy for the sake of exacting political revenge for the impeachment of Donald Trump?" the reporter finished asking. The GOP congressman started his answer with: "This isn't about political revenge, we have the bank accounts, we can see Ma'am, you can see that the homes the Bidens own cannot be afforded on a congressional or Senate salary." Perry continued arguing that it's not normal for family members to receive millions of dollars from overseas interests or to have twenty shell companies. "These things are not normal and it alludes to not only just widespread corruption but money laundering if not influence peddling itself," he pointed out. To further argue that the congressional hearings are not political retaliation against Biden's family and they warrant investigation, Perry cited how in 2018, then-former Vice President Biden boasted about how he was able to influence the Ukrainian government to take down ex-Ukrainian Prosecutor General Viktor Shokin. 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. During a Council on Foreign Relations panel, Biden said he threatened to withhold $1 billion worth of Congressionally-approved assistance for Ukraine if the then-Ukrainian president would not fire the prosecutor. "'I'm leaving in six hours. If the prosecutor is not fired, you're not getting the money.' Well, son of a b----, he got fired," said Biden. "And they put in place someone who was solid at the time." (Related: EXPLOSIVE REPORT: Unearthed emails show Hunter Biden helped coordinate takedown of ex-Ukrainian Prosecutor Shokin.) During a tell-all interview with Fox News, Shokin confirmed he was fired at Biden's insistence because of his investigation into Burisma. "I have said repeatedly in my previous interviews that [former Ukrainian President Petro] Poroshenko fired me at the insistence of Biden because I was investigating Burisma," he said. "[Poroshenko] understood and so did Biden that had I continued to oversee the investigation, we would have found the facts about the corrupt activities that they were engaging in." Burisma is a holding company based in Kyiv, for a group of energy exploration and production companies. Presidential son Hunter Biden served on the company's board from April 2014 until he left the position in 2019. A copy of an unclassified Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) record indicated that a confidential human source was told that the younger Biden held a position on the board of directors so he would "protect us, through his dad, from all kinds of problems." House Speaker Mike Johnson appoints Perry to the House Intelligence Committee Meanwhile. Perry has also been recently appointed to the House Intelligence Committee by House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson. "I am humbled by his confidence in me, my service to our Nation, and my experience in this arena," Perry said in a statement. "I look forward to providing not only a fresh perspective, but conducting actual oversight not blind obedience to some facets of our Intel Community that all too often abuse their powers, resources, and authority to spy on the American people." Perry's office has released a press statement touting his military service and his role serving on the Foreign Affairs and Oversight Committees, which he said provided him the "informed and unique perspective" needed to serve on the intel committee. Perry, former chairman of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, will have oversight of federal intelligence agencies, including the FBI. That same agency seized Perry's cell phone in 2022 as part of the investigation into attempts to overturn the 2020 election. In December 2023, a federal judge ruled that he must disclose nearly 1,700 records from his cell phone to the investigation being conducted by special counsel Jack Smith. He was one of two Republicans appointed to the intelligence committee last week, with the other being Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-TX). The two will fill the vacancies left by Reps. Chris Stewart (R-UT) and Mike Gallagher (R-WI), resigned from office in 2023 and 2024, respectively. Perry is now the third member of Pennsylvania's House delegation to serve on the committee, joining Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick and Chrissy Houlahan of the 1st and 6th districts, respectively. The Pennsylvania congressman, who is seeking his seventh term in November, is being challenged by Democrat Janelle Stelson for the seat in south-central Pennsylvania. Stelson was recently named to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program, an effort aimed to boost Democrats in competitive districts. Check out BidenCrimeFamily.news for more news related to the illegal business dealings of the first family. Watch the video below where Sen. Ron Johnson talks about the Biden family's corruption since 2013. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Joe and Hunter Biden used Sandy Hook memorial service visit to forge secret $10 million-a-year deal with China. Joe Biden's brother James ADMITS president received $40,000 check that used funds from a company tied to the CCP. Sources include: InfoWars.com PennCapital-Star.com Brighteon.com Putin asks why U.S. didnt investigate what happened to American journalist Gonzalo Lira who died in Ukrainian custody Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Ukraine tortured an American journalist to death and called out the government for failing to investigate what happened to him. The comments were made during a press briefing in St. Petersburg when Putin was asked about the killing of a French journalist in a missile strike. After saying he would facilitate an investigation, he took the opportunity to chide President Biden for his handling of the death of American journalist Gonzalo Lira. Putin said: They tortured an American journalist to death in a Ukrainian prison, and the U.S. is not even asking what happened to him. No one went to the trouble of asking what actually happened. Lira had been jailed since May of 2023 in Ukraine after being accused of justifying Russias military operations against Kiev. The dual American-Chilean citizen, who had moved to Ukraine in 2010, had a collapsed lung and pneumonia at the time of his death in a Kharkiv hospital. He had previously claimed he was tortured in prison by other inmates, which included beatings, sleep deprivation and other abuses. Lira criticized Zelensky, Biden and Harris The 55-year-old, who was born in California, had been a vocal critic of authoritarianism in Ukraine and believed the conflict there was a proxy war the U.S. was waging against Russia. He was arrested on charges of "production and dissemination of materials justifying Russias armed aggression against Ukraine." Tucker Carlson and Elon Musk were among those calling for him to be released. Posting on X after his death, Carlson wrote: "Gonzalo Lira was an American citizen, but the Biden administration clearly supported his imprisonment and torture. Several weeks ago we spoke to his father, who predicted his son would be killed." 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. Although the U.S. State Department confirmed his death, it did not release any information about his incarceration. His father said that he had been tortured by the Ukrainian government and said American officials did nothing to help him. He believes it may be because in addition to criticizing the Zelensky government, he also criticized Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. Lira's father claims journalist was tortured and extorted I cannot accept the way my son has died. He was tortured, extorted, incommunicado for 8 months and 11 days and the US Embassy did nothing to help my son, he said in an email, adding, The responsibility of this tragedy is [with] the dictator Zelensky with the concurrence of a senile American President, Joe Biden. My pain is unbearable. The world must know what is going on in Ukraine with that inhuman dictator Zelensky. A handwritten letter by Lira to his sister, which is believed to be his final written correspondence, outlined the neglect he dealt with during his incarceration. He detailed severe edema and double pneumonia, which he said the prison ignored for two months. He added that the swelling in his lungs was so bad that he would pass out due to shortness of breath following minimal activity, or even just talking for 2 minutes. According to Putin, more than 30 Russian journalists have been killed in the combat zone since the conflict began more than two years ago, and they havent been given the chance to investigate what happened to these individuals. Sources for this article include: RT.com HelsinkiTimes.fi Under intense pressure from pro-pharma shills, Stockholm University retracts controversial study linking COVID jabs to CANCER External pressure from "concerned" scientists and members of the public reportedly resulted in a major study about Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) "vaccines" and cancer being retracted by Stockholm University in Sweden. Research by Dr. Hui Jiang and Dr. Ya-Fang Mei linking COVID injections to cancer had to be pulled, authorities say, because it upset some people, including one scientist who questioned the "social relevance" of the paper. This same scientist claimed the science contained in the paper was "hacked by anti-vaccinationists." The research team from Umea University, also in Sweden, published their findings in the peer-reviewed journal MDPI Viruses back in October 2021 at the height of the Trump regime's Operation Warp Speed mass injection scheme. A video about the study that was posted to YouTube not even a month later quickly amassed more than 1.4 million views. "Any cell that has spike protein in it, if it needs its DNA repaired ... then spike protein can reduce the DNA repair," explained Dr. Mobeen "Been" Syed, the medical educator who put together the YouTube video. "Cancer cells are the cells where the DNA has escaped the repair." (Related: Croatian pathologist Ivana Pavic recently discovered that cancer risk among fully vaccinated patients aged 15 through 59 is 52 percent higher compared to unvaccinated cancer risk.) Stockholm University bullied researchers into retracting study According to independent journalist Rebekah Barnett, an investigation into the research was commenced just three days after the YouTube video from Dr. Been was posted. Email exchanges obtained by Barnett under Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests show that entrenched establishment scientists were livid about the revelations being made. Human knowledge is under attack! Governments and powerful corporations are using censorship to wipe out humanity's knowledge base about nutrition, herbs, self-reliance, natural immunity, food production, preparedness and much more. We are preserving human knowledge using AI technology while building the infrastructure of human freedom. Use our decentralized, blockchain-based, uncensorable free speech platform at Brighteon.io. Explore our free, downloadable generative AI tools at Brighteon.AI. Support our efforts to build the infrastructure of human freedom by shopping at HealthRangerStore.com, featuring lab-tested, certified organic, non-GMO foods and nutritional solutions. According to the official "science," the claims made in the study generated too much "publicity," which is how the ball got rolling to get the paper retracted. Even though there was nothing false about the findings, they rocked the boat too much to be allowed to persist in the scientific literature. Dr. Mei reportedly informed Barnett that she never actually consented to the retraction. Stockholm University basically forced Dr. Jiang, the study's lead author, to retract it against his will. "Stockholm University initially decided to retract the paper without the authors' consent, a clear violation of academic ethics," Mei said. "Stockholm University asked the first author, Hui Jiang, to retract it, and they began to formalize the process. This is an illegal retraction. I have reported to the editorial office that the retraction process is incorrect, and I strongly disagree with it." Mei vehemently contested the retraction to co-author Jiang on Feb. 1, 2022, just a few days before Jiang formally submitted his coerced retraction request. "I absolutely not [sic] accept this retraction," Mei wrote in a FOIA-released email to Jiang. In a May 2022 retraction notice, the reason provided for the retraction was "an improper experimental design with the potential to significantly affect the integrity of the resultant experimental data." "Both the chosen construct of the spike plasmid that contained a C-terminal fused with 6xHis tag and use of a GFP reporter system under overexpression conditions in the protocol were identified as having the potential to introduce significant ambiguity regarding the nature of the reported observations," the retraction notice further reads. Mei responded to this by calling the excuse "unjustified," adding that the allegations were "unfounded." "I strongly disagree (with the retraction notice), because the experiments have a control sample: Nucleoprotein containing 6Histag and GFP report, which localizes in the cell plasmid rather than in the nucleus," Mei said. "Therefore, the notice contains incorrect information. I never signed the retraction notice." There is never a good reason to get injected with Big Pharma "vaccine" chemicals. Leran more at ChemicalViolence.com. Sources for this article include: GreatGameIndia.com NaturalNews.com The command of the Russian occupation forces is redeploying an unspecified number of soldiers to the border with the Kharkiv region of Ukraine. It is not yet clear whether it plans to immediately use them for combat operations in this area or simply to strengthen the northern group of forces to bring it closer to its planned final strength. ADVERTISIMENT This is stated in the report of the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) that indicated which elements the enemy is bringing to the Ukrainian border. The analysts emphasized that the aggressor country still lacks the strength to conduct large-scale offensives in several areas of the front. They recalled the words of Apti Alaudinov, commander of the "Akhmat" Chechen special forces, who said in an interview with propagandists that the Russian authorities decided to move their units to the Kharkiv direction from unspecified areas in late May. He said that his men from the Kashtan (formerly Kamerton) unit are currently operating there. The spokesperson for the Khortytsia group of Ukrainian troops, Lieutenant Colonel Nazar Voloshyn, confirmed that the occupiers from this Russian "special forces" act as blocking units. That is, the enemy uses them as specialized disciplinary units that kill Russians in the event of an unauthorized retreat in the international border area. Therefore, it is possible that the Russian military command deployed Akhmat forces to the Kharkiv region solely for this purpose, not to conduct offensive operations. ADVERTISIMENT Voloshyn also emphasized that the Russian Armed Forces command is increasing the grouping of troops in the border area by redeploying units of unspecified regiments and brigades from other parts of the front, in particular from the occupied part of Kherson region. According to him, it intends to involve unspecified units of airborne troops and additional formations of the 11th and 44th Army Corps (both from the Leningrad Military District) in the offensive in unspecified areas of the border zone. The ISW reports that these elements of the terrorist army are currently conducting offensive operations in the north of Kharkiv region, and a battalion of the 98th Airborne Division of the Russian Federation is operating in the border area of the Kursk region of the Russian Federation. ADVERTISIMENT On June 8, the Ukrainian National Resistance Center also stated that the Russian military command was redeploying unspecified units and drone operators from the Kherson direction to the Kharkiv direction. It is noted that when the Russian Federation launched offensive operations on May 10, there were about 35,000 occupants near the border as part of the Northern Group of Forces. However, it was previously stated that the Russian army command sought to concentrate at least 50,000-70,000 personnel there by early May. "It is unclear whether Russian troops have changed the planned final size of the northern group of troops since the start of the offensive in the north of Kharkiv region. But a Russian blogger said on June 6 that the command had only allocated about 15,000 personnel for this purpose," ISW noted. ADVERTISIMENT According to analysts, Russia is recruiting 30,000 new soldiers a month. This was confirmed by Russian dictator Putin himself, who said on June 7 that 160,000 occupiers had joined the ranks of his terrorist army in 2024. It is also noted that the Russian army has used its partial success along the entire front to determine the pace of fighting in Ukraine in recent months, but this has resulted in losses roughly equal to or slightly less than the pace of formation of its new forces. To maintain this "balance," the aggressor needs to avoid intensifying offensive operations for a long time, and this is impossible given the ratio of losses and recruitment of new soldiers only. Therefore, the ISW continues to believe that the planned Russian reserves of the operational and strategic level are unlikely to be ready to act as a first echelon breakthrough force or a second echelon force capable of conducting effective large-scale general military attacks. ADVERTISIMENT "These limited operational and strategic level reserves are likely to be insufficient to support a simultaneous major offensive effort in several directions. The Russian military command will have to choose one main sector during the expected summer offensive if it intends to use these reserves for a large-scale offensive," the analysts concluded. As reported, Bloomberg wrote that the Russian army has achieved only limited success on the battlefield during several months of active offensive operations. Now, the troops of the aggressor country, the Russian Federation, are beginning to lose their advantage and the time for a significant breakthrough is quickly running out. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Democrat Texas Rep. Lee discloses PANCREATIC CANCER diagnosis, is seeking conventional toxic medical therapies as treatment U.S. Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX) has revealed that she has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is undergoing treatment for it. "My doctors have confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer. I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year," the 74-year-old congresswoman said in a statement. "I am confident that my doctors have developed the best possible plan to target my specific disease. The road ahead will not be easy, but I stand in faith that God will strengthen me." (Related: Pancreatic cancer rates skyrocket as Covid jabs and boosters send toxic spike protein prions into vital organs, including the pancreas, fueling turbo cancer.) Lee, who has represented Texas' 18th congressional district for 30 years, added that she will "likely be occasionally absent from Congress." The congresswoman nevertheless emphasized that her office will continue to deliver services that her constituents in the Lone Star State "deserve and expect." "I am committed to working with our congressional leadership, including [House Minority] Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) and the [House] Speaker [Mike Johnson (R-LA)] to serve this nation and be present for votes on legislation that is critical for the prosperity and security of the American people. By God's grace, I will be back at full strength soon." Lee did not provide details on the severity of the cancer or what her treatment would be. According to the Mayo Clinic, pancreatic cancer is not often found in the early stages and tends not to present symptoms until it has advanced. 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. Rep. Lee no stranger to cancer recovery The congresswoman is no stranger to cancer, having been diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011. She underwent treatment for the medical issue including surgery, chemotherapy and radiation and managed to make a full recovery. The following year after being diagnosed, Lee announced that she was cancer-free. Since then, her work in Congress has included securing millions of dollars in increased funding for breast cancer research. "I look forward to having many more years to enjoy my family, friends and to serve our community and nation. I now intend to be an even more vigorous advocate and supporter for cancer research and improved care," she wrote in a statement after ", I am regretful and hope you will judge me not by something trotted out by a political opponent, that worked to exploit this, and backed by extreme Republican supporters on the very day that polls open but from what I've delivered to Houstonians over my years of public service," the congresswoman wrote in a statement. Prior to her stint in Congress, the Democrat served as a judge before being elected to an at-large Houston City Council seat in 1989. Lee had represented the 18th congressional district, which includes parts of Houston, for almost three decades. She unsuccessfully ran for Houston mayor last year, but lost to then-State Sen. John Whitmire, also a Democrat. This year, she faced a primary challenge for her congressional seat but won that contest easily. The Texas congresswoman re-introduced the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2024 last month to reduce deaths related to police violence. She explained: "This bill will finally hold law enforcement accountable for misconduct and separate them from the majority of those endowed with the ethic of just and equitable public safety. It will also improve training, practices, and transparency to rebuild." Visit Cancer.news for similar stories. Watch this video about natural ways to address pancreatic cancer. This video is from the Conners Clinic channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Cancer-fighting herbs: Queen Annes lace found to be effective against skin and cervical cancer. Just four types of cancer made up half of the 1.96 million cancer cases in the U.S. in 2023. STUDY: COVID-19 spike proteins help cancer cells survive and RESIST chemotherapy. Study: Bitter melon shows promising results in fighting 6 CANCERS commonly found in women. Expecting windfall from wave of cancer patients, Pfizer leases huge property in San Diego for research and development of cancer drugs. Sources include: En-Volve.com Brighteon.com Antarctica is the frozen landscape that we know today, located on Earth's southern hemisphere or the planet's southernmost region, called the geographic or terrestrial South Pole. Being the least-populated continent, Antarctica has been a site of scientific research and the natural habitat of various animals, including albatrosses, seals, penguins, blue whales, marine snails, and the Antarctic krill. With towering glaciers and vast ice sheets, the southern "white continent" is widely known for its unique and dreamlike icy sceneries. However, Antarctica had not always been an environment with extreme cold temperatures. During the onset of the Eocene Epoch around 56 million years ago, it had a green landscape attached to ancient South America and Australia before it shifted southward and became isolated. One of the many pieces of evidence showing ancient Antarctica was different from the one we know in modern times has been revealed recently. In a June 2024 study, researchers, including from Germany, Ireland, and the United Kingdom, mentioned the discovery of a lost river in Antarctica that flowed approximately 44 million to 34 million years ago and was potentially home to giant penguins. Antarctica: Current Situation In recent years, multiple reports and studies have shown that many of Antarctica's glaciers are melting amid rising global temperatures associated with climate change and global warming. While the icy continent is very remote, it can still impact ecosystems and societies worldwide. This far-reaching repercussion is due to the risk of further sea level rise caused by unprecedented ice melt. According to the organization Antarctica and Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC), the "Antarctic ice sheet is shrinking." This is because the recorded ice loss is greater than the amount of new snowfall precipitation, a phenomenon that has been occurring for decades already. Based on surveys of the continent's ice sheet, these natural icy structures are declining at an accelerating rate, the ASOC adds. Also Read: World's First Polluted River From 7,000 Years Ago Found Lost River of Antarctica Long before the arrival of humans, Antarctica was once home to a unique biodiversity and ecosystems due to a milder climate that the continent once had. Scientists believe that a proof of a habitable ancient Antarctica can be determined through unearthing of its prehistoric environments and even fossils, which includes dinosaur fossils discovered by scientists in its central Transantarctic Mountains during the early 90s. In a study published in the journal Science Advances on Wednesday, June 5, researchers revealed their discovery of a lost river of Antarctica, which they described as a massive "transcontinental river system." This ancient river existed in West Antarctica during the Eocene, and the discovery was made possible even with extensive ice coverage that prevented scientific inquiry of the continent's unglaciated greenery. Evidence laid out by the new research shows that a green Antarctica existed after the extinction of non-avian dinosaurs 66 million years ago and before the evolution of modern human life. Between 44 million to 34 million years ago, the unnamed Antarctic river system flowed amid a temperature climate, according to one of the study authors Cornelia Spiegel, from the University of Bremen in Germany. Related Article: Fossilized Skull of Gigantic River Dolphin Unearthed in Peru In an extraordinary event that has captured the attention of marine biologists and beachgoers alike, a rare hoodwinker sunfish, typically found in the southern hemisphere's temperate waters, has been discovered washed ashore on the northern coast of Oregon. This remarkable find not only adds to the intrigue of marine life but also challenges previously held beliefs about the species' habitat range. A Surprise Visitor from the Deep The seaside town of Gearhart became the center of an unusual occurrence when a 7.3-foot hoodwinker sunfish, known scientifically as Mola tecta, was found on its beach. The Seaside Aquarium, upon receiving reports of the beached fish, quickly responded to the scene. The sunfish, characterized by its flat, round body, was a sight to behold against the backdrop of Oregon's picturesque coastline. Scientific Significance and Global Interest The discovery has sparked global interest, with marine experts and enthusiasts flocking to the site for a glimpse of the rare creature. Marianne Nyegaard, the New Zealand-based researcher who identified the hoodwinker sunfish as a distinct species in 2017, confirmed the identity of the fish from photographs. This event marks a significant moment in marine biology, as it may represent the largest specimen of the species ever recorded. The hoodwinker sunfish's unexpected visit to the northern hemisphere has raised questions about its migratory patterns and adaptability to different oceanic conditions. The species, previously thought to inhabit only southern temperate waters, has now been found in the northern Pacific, suggesting a broader range than scientists had understood. Also Read: Mysterious Fish With Human-like Teeth Leaves Beachgoers in Fear in North Carolina More About the Hoodwinker Sunfish The hoodwinker sunfish, scientifically named Mola tecta, is a fascinating marine creature that has recently drawn attention due to its rare appearance on the northern hemisphere shores. Here's what we know about this elusive giant: Scientific Discovery and Classification Mola tecta was first described in 2017 by marine scientist Marianne Nyegaard, making it the first new species of sunfish identified in over 130 years. It belongs to the family Molidae and is closely related to the more widely known ocean sunfish (Mola mola). The species name "tecta," which means "hidden" in Latin, reflects how the fish had evaded identification by blending in with other sunfish species for a long time. Physical Characteristics The hoodwinker sunfish has a distinctive flat, almost symmetrical oval shape, with a smooth body contour and no prominent bump. It lacks spines in its fins and a real caudal fin (tail fin). Instead, its scales have evolved into small spines. The fish exhibits countershading, with a darker color on the dorsal side compared to the ventral side. Adult hoodwinker sunfish are slimmer and sleeker than their relatives, lacking a protruding snout and lumps along the tail fin. They can reach up to 3 meters in length and weigh as much as two tonnes. Habitat and Distribution Initially, Mola tecta was thought to inhabit only the temperate waters of the Southern Hemisphere, particularly near Australia, New Zealand, Southern Chile, and Southern Africa. However, recent findings, including the one on Oregon's coast, suggest that their range might be broader, possibly extending to the northern Pacific Ocean Conclusion:A Call to Preserve Our Oceans The arrival of the hoodwinker sunfish on Oregon's shores is a reminder of the ocean's mysteries and the importance of preserving its ecosystems. As climate change continues to impact marine habitats, such rare occurrences highlight the need for continued research and conservation efforts to protect these enigmatic giants of the sea. This event underscores the dynamic nature of marine life and the ever-evolving understanding of our planet's biodiversity. It serves as a call to action for environmental stewardship and a celebration of the wonders that lie beneath the waves. Related article: "Ugliest Thing Ever" - Mysterious Deep-Sea Creature Leaves Fisherman in Awe in Australia Ian McKellen talks about reprising Gandalf role in 'Gollum' movie V eteran Hollywood star Ian McKellen, known for his portrayal of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, has spoken about reprising his role of the wizard in the upcoming film 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'. McKellen talked about reprising his role, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the film set to be directed by Andy Serkis and slated for a 2026 release. He said that he has "heard stirrings in Tolkien land" and that, due to his role in 'Player Kings', he hasn't "shaved in months." "But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan," he said, jokingly responding to The Times of London when asked if he would be interested in reprising his role, "If Im alive." Earlier this year, in an interview with Deadline, filmmaker Peter Jackson talked about why focusing on Gollum was interesting, reports deadline.com. "The Gollum/Smeagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, while his Smeagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic," Jackson said. "I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike because theres a little bit of both of them in all of us. We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didnt have time to cover in the earlier films." He added: "Its too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien." Ian McKellen talks about reprising Gandalf role in 'Gollum' movie Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! The command of the Russian occupation army is going to open officer training departments in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. They will train future recruits for the enemy's electronic warfare units ADVERTISIMENT The corresponding "starting points" will operate on the basis of higher education institutions. This was reported by the National Resistance Center. In fact, civilian universities will train officers for the army of the aggressor country. Local gauleiters have already reported this to their superiors from the Kremlin, promising to organize such departments any day now. It is known that the training will be based on a shortened program, while graduates of the course in electronic warfare are promised "good contract positions" in the Russian Armed Forces. It has also been established that from now on, universities in the "young republics" occupied by Russian troops will introduce mandatory subjects on drone control. "Demilitarization in practice. National Resistance Center reminds all those who cooperate with the occupiers that they will be identified and held accountable," the NRC said. ADVERTISIMENT Earlier, it was reported that in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, the invaders and collaborators began to train "bailiffs". They even invented a special "university" for this purpose. As reported earlier, the "administrations" in occupied Kherson region are forcing public sector employees to donate blood for the Russian military. To do this, the occupiers send a mobile blood donation complex to district centers. Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Biden, Macron pledge support to Ukraine at start of state visit P resident Joe Biden pledged continuing US support to Ukraine on meeting French President Emmanuel in Paris on Saturday at the start of a state visit. Biden said that the US was firmly on the side of Ukraine and other allies. Macron also said France would continue its support for Ukraine for as long as it was necessary. Before the two leaders met, the US administration had, however, made clear that the US would not participate in Macron's plan to send military trainers to Ukraine. Speaking on Friday evening, Macron said he had held discussions with NATO leaders on sending military trainers to Ukraine and that several had agreed with his plans, which would be finalised "in the days ahead." Biden has said that no US personnel will be sent to the war zone, and the White House made clear on Friday evening that nothing had changed in this regard. The issue was not mentioned when Biden and Macron met on Saturday. Brief statements were issued, and no questions were allowed. An official White House statement said: "Reflecting on their historical relationship and recalling the price for peace and freedom paid by past generations in both countries, the presidents reaffirm their commitment to a Europe, whole, free, and at peace." Macron expressed confidence in that agreement on the use of interest earned on frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv. France and the US are aiming for all G7 members to approve a loan of $50 billion. While the US has backed the idea, European members of the G7 have shown caution amid hopes that a decision could be taken at a pending G7 meeting in Italy. Biden and Macron welcomed the announcement from Israel that four more hostages had been freed in the Gaza Strip. Biden said that the US would not cease working until all the hostages were released and a ceasefire arranged. Macron said that the number of dead and injured after nine months of war was unacceptable. He added that the fact that Israel was not opening all border crossings to humanitarian aid could not be tolerated. Earlier, Macron welcomed Biden with full military honours at a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A military choir and a band provided by the National Gendarmerie played as aircraft flew overhead. The two leaders laid a wreath and held a minute of silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which lies under the national monument in the centre of the French capital. In the evening, Biden and Macron emphasised the solidarity and friendship between their two countries at a state banquet held at the Elysee Palace. "We are allies. We will remain allies," Macron said in his speech. Biden's state visit offered "an opportunity to celebrate the untrammelled vitality of our alliance and this very special relationship between our two nations and, indeed, our love for freedom," Macron added. Biden highlighted how France and the US have been there for each other throughout history when it comes to securing each other's freedom. "You were with us to help us secure our freedom, and we were with you 170 years later... to do the same. And ever since, we've remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership," Biden said, referencing the US gaining independence in 1776 and the end of World War Two. "We stand at an inflection point in history," Biden continued. "The decisions we make now will determine the course of our future for decades to come. "We have a lot of opportunity but a lot of responsibility. And it gives me hope to know France and the United States stand together now and always." Macron said that being "united in spite of our differences when the main values are at stake" is the common thread of the unshakeable transatlantic bond between Washington and Paris. Macron was Biden's first guest on a state visit in 2022. The US president has been in France since Wednesday, attending ceremonies in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Biden, Macron pledge support to Ukraine at start of state visit Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Ajay Devgn wishes PM Modi continued success in guiding India towards greatness A head of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, actor Ajay Devgn wished him success for continuing to guide the country towards prosperity and greatness. Congratulating him on his record third term as Prime Minister, Ajay wrote on X: "Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi ji on his re-election! Wishing continued success in guiding India towards prosperity and greatness with his wisdom and compassion. After serving two full terms, Prime Minister Modi would be equal to former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru for the record of becoming India's Prime Minister three times. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured 240 seats while the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured 293 seats out of 543. Ajay, who was last seen in 'Maidaan', is gearing up for the release of 'Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha', directed by Neeraj Pandey. The film also stars Tabu, Jimmy Shergill, Shantanu Maheshwari, and Saiee Manjrekar. 'Auron Mein Kahan Dum Tha' follows a couple whose love story spans 23 years. He is also set to appear in Rohit Shettys 'Singham Again', the fifth instalment of the director's Cop Universe and a sequel to 'Singham Returns'. Additionally, Ajay has also 'Raid 2' and 'De De Pyaar De 2' in the pipeline. Ajay Devgn wishes PM Modi continued success in guiding India towards greatness Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! China-Bangladesh defence trade: Story so far O ne month ago, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China announced its plans to conduct a joint military exercise with the Bangladesh Armed Forces, named China-Bangladesh Golden Friendship 2024. This unprecedented exercise in the history of China-Bangladesh bilateral relations will focus on UN peacekeeping counter-terrorism operations. The training will adopt an integrated methodology, covering areas such as clearing terrorist camps, rescuing hostages and anti-hijacking measures. The defence relationship between China and Bangladesh was significantly strengthened with the signing of a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement in 2002, positioning Beijing as the first to forge such an extensive defence pact with Dhaka. Over the past decade, China has become a major defence ally to Bangladesh, making it the second-largest recipient (11 per cent) of Chinese arms exports globally from 2019 to 2023, following Pakistan. Additionally, Bangladesh ranked 26th among the world's top arms-importing countries (0.9 per cent) during the same period, with 72 per cent of its arms imports sourced from China. Clearly, like the economy, defence trade forms a critical component of the China-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. With the upcoming joint military exercise on the horizon, it is crucial to examine the recent developments in China-Bangladesh defence relations. For the fiscal year 2022-2023, Bangladesh allocated a defence budget of $3.8 billion, representing 1.1 per cent of its GDP. The predominant influence of China in Bangladesh is manifested through its substantial imports of military hardware, with approximately 86 per cent of the military imports sourced from China. Over the past decade, Bangladesh has expended around $2.9 billion on the acquisition of defence equipment from China, including naval guns, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems, and corvettes. Since 2006, the majority of small arms -- over 1600 rifles and 4,100 pistols -- have been procured from Beijing. The intensification of Bangladesh's defence cooperation with China coincided with its maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar. During this period, in 2016, Bangladesh purchased two Type 035G class (Ming class) submarines from China at a discounted rate of $203 million, under the China-Bangladesh submarine deal, laying the foundation for its inaugural submarine base. A year subsequent to this acquisition, Poly Technologies, a Chinese state-owned defence contractor, secured a $1.2 billion contract to construct Bangladeshs first submarine base in Coxs Bazaar, named 'BNS Sheikh Hasina'. Operational since the previous year, the base is equipped to house six submarines and eight warships simultaneously. China is also reported to be involved in training Bangladeshi submariners in the operational management of the submarine base. Sheikh Hasina remarked that ships traversing the Bay of Bengal could also seek assistance from the base, hinting at the potential for future Chinese naval visits. In 2018, Bangladesh entered into a military agreement with China, which included the procurement of K-8W intermediate training jets. The subsequent year, China transferred two Type 053 (Jiangwei-II) frigates to Bangladesh after their decommissioning from the Chinese navy, which were renamed BNS Umer Farooq and BNS Abu Ubaidah in Bangladesh Navy service. To further enhance defence supplies, Bangladesh imported 36 F-7BGI aircraft from China in 2021, regarded as the most sophisticated model available. According to the US Defence Departments 2023 annual report, the Chinese Armed Forces are likely contemplating establishing additional overseas bases and access points in countries such as Bangladesh, reflective of Chinas role as a major supplier of naval vessels to Bangladesh. Despite the robust defence cooperation with Beijing, Dhaka, along with several other Asian nations reliant on Chinese arms exports, has encountered quality issues with Chinese-supplied arms. In 2021, trainer aircraft and naval frigates delivered to Bangladesh developed serious defects. The K-8W training jets, for instance, failed post-delivery tests due to problems with firing ammunition shortly after delivery. Tragically, in 2018, two pilots lost their lives when a K-8W jet crashed shortly after take-off. Consequently, further deliveries of these jets, as stipulated in the 2018 agreement, have been postponed due to these recurring malfunctions. In 2022, the Bangladesh Army expressed dissatisfaction with military supplies from Beijing. Notably, the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), one of Chinas primary state-run arms export organisations, faced rejection of its tank ammunition supply to Dhaka as it was untested. Additionally, Norinco encountered challenges in providing spare parts for tank repair and maintenance. Furthermore, the $3 million HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missiles supplied by Chinas Precision Machinery Import Export Company (CPMIEC) were also found to have equipment defects shortly after delivery. The two Ming-type submarines procured at a discounted rate from Beijing also failed to meet operational expectations, revealing multiple defects such as non-functioning gun systems and navigation radars during transit. A significant challenge for Dhaka is the shortage of trained personnel to address the issues associated with military equipment. Additionally, Beijing has demonstrated a lack of accountability for repairing the defective parts supplied, leaving Dhaka to bear the additional costs. The substandard performance of Chinese-supplied military technology has imposed additional burdens on purchasing nations, which often depend on Chinese arms exports due to their cost-effectiveness. However, due to the consistently poor quality and performance of its military components, Chinese arms exports experienced a decline of 5.3 per cent between the periods 2014-18 and 2019-23, now comprising 5.8 per cent of global arms exports. Technological incompatibility with Chinese-supplied equipment represents another substantial hidden cost for buyer countries such as Bangladesh. Furthermore, Chinese weapons, apart from falling below certified standards, have not been tested in combat situations. Despite the cost advantages of Chinese arms exports, the lack of transparency and accountability in defence contracts regarding the supply of defective equipment has negatively impacted its share in global arms exports due to the financial burdens placed on purchasing countries. For Bangladesh, which relies heavily on Chinese arms exports, equipment defects represent a significant concern as they are likely to impair the overall performance of its defence forces. Consequently, it is imperative for Dhaka to diversify its defence trade to mitigate the challenges posed by Chinese-supplied equipment. The joint military exercise, though seemingly more crucial for Beijing to demonstrate its soft use of hard power, is also vital for Dhaka. As China aims to achieve military modernisation, this joint exercise with Dhaka is perceived as an attempt to rehabilitate its global reputation concerning the quality of its military technology. China-Bangladesh defence trade: Story so far Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! Suresh Gopi gets his 66th birthday gift early, sworn in as Union Minister A few weeks before his 66th birthday, actor-turned-BJP leader Suresh Gopi, who won a stunning victory in the Thrissur constituency to give his party its first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Kerala, was sworn in as a Union Minister in the 3rd Prime Minister Narendra Modi government on Sunday. With over 250 films under his belt in a career which began in the mid-1980s and got him the tag of the "angry young man of Malayalam films", he went on to collect the best actor award at both the state and national level once each. Gopis tryst with politics began with his closeness to the legendary four-time Congress Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and a few times, his name was in the reckoning as a Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha elections and then for a Rajya Sabha berth, but on both occasions, it failed to materialise. After Karunakaran bowed out of active politics and Oommen Chandy came in, but Gopi never enjoyed the same chemistry with him and bid goodbye to the Congress. It was in 2014 that he got a surprise invite from PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi and from that day onwards, there was a new chemistry between the two, culminating - a decade later - in a call summoning him to Delhi. His closeness with PM Modi who he terms his "political god" got closer during the term of Gopis term as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. While many thought that Gopis political career had ended after his term finished and he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly polls from Thrissur, Gopi was not one to sit idle, telling IANS that no one should forget that the BJP has invested in him and hence, he has a responsibility and was ready to do whatever the party asks him. During the fag end of 2023, it was more or less clear that the BJP would field Gopi from Thrissur and it became more definite when Modi flew down to attend his elder daughters wedding at the famed Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor. With Gopi staying put at Thrissur since January, he managed to get an early start to his election campaign and remained unfazed when it was revealed he would face veteran politicians - sitting Congress MP from Vadakara K. Muraleedharan and former State Minister and popular CPI leader V.S. Sunil Kumar. He ultimately floored both to win the seat by over 72,000 votes. On Sunday, Gopi, who will turn 66 on June 26, came out of his house in the morning and got into his car to rush to the airport, telling the waiting media that he was leaving for Delhi. "He (PM Modi) decided and I am obeying. He has asked me to reach Delhi," he said, replying: "I dont know anything else", to query whether he would be a cabinet minister. Suresh Gopi gets his 66th birthday gift early, sworn in as Union Minister Post your comments Found this article helpful? Spread the word and support us! ALS patients received better care if they were treated by a neurologist, a new study published in PLOS One has found. But researchers found that Black, older and socially disadvantaged ALS patients were less likely to see a neurologist, raising concerns about equity in treating the deadly disease. Patients who were treated by neurologists were more likely to receive interventions endorsed by the American Academy of Neurology. This study highlights the importance of neurologist care for ALS patients and the need to overcome barriers and provide care that is more equitable for ALS patients. Life expectancy in ALS is short, with average survival two years after diagnosis and only 10 percent survival after five years. Interventions that improve survival and quality of life are critical for the care of these patients." Brad Racette, MD, FAAN, Chair of Neurology at Phoenix's Barrow Neurological Institute and senior author of the study Barrow Neurological Institute joined the study with Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg. In 2009, the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) published practice parameters for ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) patient care with evidence-based interventions that improve ALS patients' survival and quality of life. These recommended interventions include prescription of riluzole, early feeding tube placement and non-invasive ventilation. Using Medicare claims, the study reviewed 8,575 ALS cases between 2009 and 2014 and only 3,676 (42.9 percent) saw a neurologist during the five-year follow-up period. The cohort was composed primarily of non-Hispanic White beneficiaries (86.7 percent) with an average age of 68.1 years. Slightly more than half (54.5 percent) were male. The study found that those patients who saw neurologists after their diagnosis were more likely to receive care consistent with the AAN practice parameters than those who did not. The study found that of all Medicare beneficiaries with ALS, 26.7 percent received a feeding tube, 19.2 percent received non-invasive ventilation and 15.3 filled a riluzole prescription between diagnosis and death or end of follow-up. Patients with ALS who saw a neurologist were much more likely to receive each of these interventions than patients who never saw a neurologist. Black beneficiaries were less likely to receive care from a neurologist than non-Hispanic White beneficiaries. Beneficiaries in a disadvantaged area were less likely to receive care from a neurologist compared to beneficiaries in an advantaged area. Neurologists provided care that was consistent with evidence-based guidelines far more often than non-neurologists, the study determined. Dr. Racette said that as interventions are likely more effective in the early stages of the disease, and utilization of non-invasive ventilation and feeding tubes can lead to improved survival and quality of life, it is critical for providers who take care of ALS patients to be aware of evidence-based ALS practice parameters. "The difference between the care received by ALS patients who were treated by a neurologist and those who did not see a neurologist was dramatic," Dr. Racette said. "Our study highlights the importance of receiving specialist care for ALS patients and provides evidence that may guide health policies and education efforts in the U.S. "This is of critical importance as the aged population continues to increase; the treatment disparities presented here may continue to worsen without efforts to mitigate them, in particular for Black and disadvantaged beneficiaries," Dr. Racette said. By studying mutations in yeast and human cells, Johns Hopkins Medicine scientists say they have found that biochemical bonds between fats and proteins in the mitochondrion, the cell's powerhouse, play a crucial role in how our cells produce energy. The study results, published June 5 in The EMBO Journal, shed new light, researchers say, on the way the altered mitochondrial membranes found in people with metabolic diseases such as Barth syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that weakens the heart, fail to enable cellular power production. Metabolism is a set of biochemical reactions central to making energy to fuel life and to getting rid of substances a body no longer needs. Metabolic diseases include forms of high cholesterol that run in families. Approximately one in three adults have some form of a metabolic syndrome, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Building on previous research, the Johns Hopkins scientists sought to better understand the interaction of two components in the mitochondrial membrane: cardiolipin, a fatty compound, or lipid, and proteins that transport the building blocks of adenosine triphosphate, or ATP, an energy molecule made by the mitochondria that fuels cell metabolism. "Down the line, a better understanding of protein-lipid interactions could help researchers find new therapeutic targets for a wide range of metabolic diseases, including Barth syndrome," says senior author Steven Claypool, Ph.D., professor of physiology at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. He says previous studies suggested it's likely that protein-lipid interactions in mitochondrial membranes play an important role in regulating mitochondria's powerhouse activities. The researchers conducted their experiments in samples of yeast with mutations, or alterations, in a mitochondrial membrane protein called AAC and samples of human cells that modeled a person with a mutation of the protein ANT1 who was diagnosed with metabolic disease, symptoms of which include weakness in the heart and skeletal muscles, exercise intolerance and hyperlactatemia, or elevated lactate levels in the blood. The protein in yeast, AAC, is the equivalent of ANT in humans, Claypool says. Looking at three areas where cardiolipin binds to the AAC proteins in yeast, Claypool and his colleagues found that when they introduced mutations into AAC2 to disrupt these interactions, cardiolipin could no longer bond to the protein, which weakened its structure and lowered its function. Similarly, in the cell model of the person with mutations in ANT1, the protein's structure was weakened, limiting its ability to transport ATP across the mitochondrial membrane. These findings indicate that when the interaction between cardiolipin and proteins break down, the entire process that makes mitochondria our powerhouse is disrupted." Nanami Senoo, Ph.D., first author, postdoctoral fellow in Claypool's lab Claypool says few studies have detailed individual protein-lipid interactions, and many more experiments will be needed to "understand the full complement of mechanisms and roles that these interactions have in the membrane." Mitochondrial membranes contain a lot of proteins, many of which associate with lipids. "This discovery opens up new possibilities for understanding the complexities of how our cells produce energy," Claypool says. "In the future, we plan to explore how other protein-lipid interactions contribute to energy production." Other scientists who contributed to the study are Matthew G. Baile, Oluwaseun B. Ogunbona, James A. Saba, Teona Munteanu, Yllka Valdez, Kevin Whited and Macie S. Sheridan of Johns Hopkins; Dinesh K. Chinthapalli, Bodhisattwa Saha, Abraham O. Oluwole, Dror Chorev and Carol V. Robinson of University of Oxford; Vinaya K. Golla, Nathan N. Alder and Eric R. May of University of Connecticut. Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health (R01HL108882, R01HL165729, R35GM119762, T32GM007445 and T32GM136577), the American Heart Association, the Uehara Memorial Foundation, the Barth Syndrome Foundation and the Royal Society Newton International Fellowship. For the sake of peace in Ukraine, allies and partners should continue to support the country as it resists the Russian invaders. Ukraine also needs to be supported in its diplomatic efforts, particularly at the Peace Summit in Switzerland. ADVERTISIMENT This was stated by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He also addressed Russian dictator Vladimir Putin with a warning that "Ukraine will not allow anyone to bring itself to its knees." "One thing is clear in the 800 days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine: Russia with its imperial plans will not achieve its goals. Ukraine will not allow anyone to bring itself to its knees or to dictate the terms of surrender. Putin must realize that he will not be able to win this brutal war," Scholz said. The German Chancellor emphasized that peace for Ukraine should be concluded on fair terms. This is what the international community should work for. Scholz has already scheduled a series of meetings for next week to find ways to "make peace for Ukraine fair." In particular, on June 11-12, Berlin will host a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction, where the country's economic revival after the war will be discussed. Scholz will also attend a meeting with the G7. And finally, the Peace Summit in Switzerland. According to the German Chancellor, he plans to convince representatives of Asia, Africa and South America of the need to work together to "make Russia understand the need to comply with international law and the UN Charter and to stop its war." ADVERTISIMENT As reported, at the Peace Summit in Switzerland, scheduled for June 15-16, it is important to show that the whole world supports the end of the war in Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on not to let Russia prevent this. As a reminder, in late May, China officially announced that it would not participate in the Global Peace Summit. It says that its holding does not meet Beijing's requirements, namely that a representative of the aggressor country Russia should participate in the conference. Only verified information is available on OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Toronto has unveiled a significant association between the use of photo filters on social media and increased symptoms of muscle dysmorphia among adolescents and young adults in Canada. This study, which analyzed data from 912 participants from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors, emphasizes the growing concern over the impact of digital image manipulation on body image and mental health. The research reveals that the use of photo filters, commonly found on apps like Snapchat, Instagram, and TikTok, is linked to greater muscle dysmorphia symptomatology, a condition marked by an obsessive preoccupation with muscularity, body dissatisfaction, and social and functional impairment, particularly among boys and men. It was clear in our study that frequent use of photo filters is associated with higher levels of muscle dissatisfaction and overall muscle dysmorphia symptoms. Notably, gender plays a significant role, with boys and men who use photo filters exhibiting greater drive to increase their muscularity and social and occupational functioning challenges compared to girls and women in the study." Kyle T. Ganson, PhD, MSW, lead author on the study The findings highlight the critical need for awareness and interventions targeting the negative effects of photo filter use on body image. With the rising popularity of social media platforms that encourage digital image manipulation, it is crucial to address how these technologies influence self-perception and mental health, particularly among vulnerable youth populations. "Our study sheds light on the often-overlooked impact of photo filter use on muscle dysmorphia, especially among boys and men," says Ganson. "As digital image manipulation becomes more advanced and widespread, it is essential to understand and mitigate its potential harm on body image and mental health." The study calls for further research to explore the mechanisms driving the association between photo filter use and muscle dysmorphia. Additionally, there is a need for media literacy programs that educate young people about the potential risks of digital image manipulation and promote healthier body image practices. Researchers at the University of Michigan are finding that many patients may be encountering significant barriers to cancer care, even from their first phone call to a clinic. Patients attempting to access cancer care must go through several different levels of communication, both before their initial appointment with a physician and throughout their treatment. Making those first calls to learn more about available cancer care services or to schedule an appointment at a clinic is an important step toward beginning their treatment journey. Racial and ethnic disparities have been observed in the outpatient visit rates for specialist care, including cancer care. However, we know very little about patients experiences at the critical step of attempting to access new clinic appointments for cancer care. Debbie Chen, M.D. Researchers set up simulated patient calls and studied whether each caller was able to access cancer care that meant whether the caller was provided with a clinic appointment date or scheduling information. Using standardized scripts, the simulated patients spoke in one of three languages English, Spanish, or Mandarin and inquired about a new clinic appointment for colon, lung, or thyroid cancer care. The simulated patients called 479 clinic phone numbers, which were provided by the hospital general information staff at 143 hospitals in 12 states. Researchers found that access to new patient appointments for cancer care was poor for all simulated patient callers in the study only 41.5% of the 985 total calls were successful. Even the simulated English-speaking patient caller encountered challenges and were successful in accessing cancer care in only 61% of calls. About one-quarter of the 985 calls ended early due to workflow barriers, which included calls going to a voicemail that did not provide adequate information, or being on hold for over half an hour. In addition, researchers found that access to new patient appointments for cancer care was worse for non-English speaking patients. The simulated Spanish- and Mandarin- speaking patient callers accessed cancer care in only 36% and 19% of the calls, respectively, far less than their English-speaking counterpart. Nearly 50% of the calls made in Spanish or Mandarin ended due to language barriers when simulated patient callers were hung up on in response to asking Speak Spanish? or Speak Chinese?, or disconnected when the automated message did not provide language-specific instructions but required input to continue. Even after getting connected to interpreter services, some callers were unable to receive further assistance. "Our study highlights existing barriers that patients may encounter when attempting to access a new clinic appointment for cancer care and illustrates how this access point functions as a gatekeeper to cancer care services, with many patient populations, including patients with limited English proficiency, unable to even get in the door to see a physician for their cancer care Chen said. Thus, interventions focused on mitigating these barriers are necessary to increase access to cancer care for all patients. This study was supported by the University of Michigan Rogel Cancer Center (Discovery Award to Dr Chen), National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (grant No. T32DK007245 to Dr Chen), and National Cancer Institute (grant No. K08CA273047 to Dr Chen). The leading carrier Air India Express has been hitting headlines for all the bad reasons. From a shortage of staff to cancellation of flights, the airline saw it all in the last few days. Now, the flight from Dubai to Calicut airport was diverted to Kochi in the small hours of Saturday. It has been reported that the AI flight, which was carrying 173 passengers on board, landed at Cochin International Airport here around 2.47 am. The decision was taken due to bad conditions in Kozhikode, airline sources said. Later, the flight from Kochi to Calicut airport at around 9.30 am after nearly seven hours, according to the sources, Delhi zones Ved Lahoti bagged the first rank in the JEE (Advanced), the results of which were declared on Sunday. Bombay zones Dwija D Patel became the female topper with an all-India rank of 7. Ved secured 355 out of 360 marks while Dwija scored 332. Two out of the top 10 are from the Delhi zone, four are from Madras zone, three from Bombay and one from Roorkee. Unlike last year, when six out of the first 10 toppers were from the Hyderabad zone, candidates from this zone could not make the top 10 this time. A total of 1,80,200 candidates appeared in both papers in the Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced), of which 48,248 have qualified including 7,964 female candidates. A total of 29,639 candidates from the scheduled castes appeared for the test, of which 13,835 qualified. A total of 13,935 candidates from the scheduled tribes wrote the papers, of which only 5,087 qualified. Besides, a total of 158 foreign candidates took the test, of which only seven have qualified, as per the results announced by IIT-Madras that was the organising chair this year. Other toppers including Aditya from the Delhi zone, who secured AIR 2, scored 346 marks. Bhogal Palli Sandesh with 338 marks from the Madras zone bagged AIR 3, followed by Rhythm Kedia (337 marks) from Roorkee at AIR 4 and Putti Kushal Kumar (334 marks) from Madras at rank 5. The sixth and seventh positions were bagged by Rajdeep Mishra (333 marks) and Dwija (332 marks) both from the Bombay zone with Koduru Tejeswar (331 marks) from Madras ranked eighth, Dhruvin H Doshi (329 marks) from Bombay in the ninth position and Alladaboina SSDB Sidhvik Suhas (329 marks) from Madras with AIR 10. Who are the toppers? Dwija based out of Gujarats Rajkot is the only female candidate featuring in the top 10. She was also the only girl to top the JEE (Main) with a 99.99 percentile. Back in February, when the Main results were announced, she had said she wanted to opt for computer science engineering at IIT-Bombay. We knew she will make it to the top 50, but that she has achieved rank 7 was unexpected. We are thrilled with her result. She will be the first engineer in the family, while the rest of us have been more inclined towards science. She wants to get admission in IIT-Bombay to study computer science; mathematics has always been her favourite subject, Dwijas mother Kiran Patel told News18 over the phone. The criteria for being in the rank list is based on the maximum aggregate calculated as a sum of the marks obtained in mathematics, physics and chemistry. Candidates have to satisfy subject-wise as well as the aggregate qualifying marks to be included in a rank list. The maximum aggregate marks are 360 (180 each in Paper 1 and Paper 2). The process for Joint Seat Allocation (JoSSA) will start from June 10 for admissions to the 23 IITs across India. This is based on the results of the JEE (Advanced). Seven IITs organise this exam every year in rotation. The JoSAA is a joint counselling session for admission to IITs, NITs, IIITs and other government-funded engineering colleges in India. While for admission to the IITs only the JEE (Advanced) scores are considered, for admissions to NITs, IIITs and other government-funded institutions, JEE (Main) rank is the criteria. If a candidate qualifies for both Main and Advanced, they can fill all the choices of institutes and, depending on the course or discipline for which their rank is admissible, they will be given admission. Stay ahead with all the exam results updates on News18 Website. Bihars Rajiv Ranjan, popularly known as Lalan Singh, stands out among the list of newly elected MPs invited to the oath-taking ceremony on Sunday, and is likely to be inducted into the Modi 3.0 cabinet. A seasoned politician and veteran MP from the JD(U), he has weathered significant political turbulence. Despite being a confidant of Bihars chief minister Nitish Kumar, the 69-year-old leader was rumoured to be on the verge of quitting the party in protest of the decision by his boss to switch allegiance from the INDIA bloc to the NDA last December. There was much speculation that he might resign and join the rival RJD, led by Lalu Prasad Yadav. But, his journey from being a BJP-baiter to joining the Narendra Modi-led cabinet has been politically fascinating. Journey from BJP-baiter to Union Cabinet The Bhumihar leader has always been Nitish Kumars strength, as this community in Bihar is known to have wide political influence despite its small size when compared to Yadavs and other dominant castes. Senior politicians of the state said the community is one of the most vocal and has its own ecosystem to control political highs and lows as well as motivate other caste groups. In December, amid wide speculation that he may resign from the post of JD(U)s national president, he denied these claims made by a section of the media and termed them faltu khabar (nonsense) in an exclusive interaction with News18. The rumours came three days ahead of the central committee meetings of the JD(U). Does anyone have a copy of my resignation letter? From where did they come to know things that even I dont know. This is absolute nonsense, he had said then. Claims and counter-claims over an alleged rift between Lalan and Nitish Kumar made headlines six months ago as the political equations changed in the following months. He was fielded by the JD(U) in Munger and is now a third-time MP from the seat. Resilient and loyal JD(U) leader Lalans previous victories came in 2009, 2019 and 2024, but when he lost in 2014, Nitish nominated him as an MP in the Rajya Sabha, while later he was also appointed the partys national president. He belongs to the influential Bhumihar community of his state, and has demonstrated resilience and loyalty to his party. His perseverance and patience through political turbulence has now positioned him for a significant role in the new cabinet, marking a notable chapter in his political journey. According to sources, out of all the JD(U) MPs in the list of probables, Lalan is likely to be the one to get a cabinet berth with independent charge. The power of Bhumihar Government records show that Bhumihar, a small Hindu caste group consisting around 3 to 4 per cent of the population, wields a strong influence over Bihars caste equations. It is a prominent upper-caste community primarily involved in agriculture and landholding. Bhumihars are considered part of the Brahmin varna in the traditional Hindu social hierarchy and are known for their significant socioeconomic and political influence in the region. They claim descent from Brahmin priests who took up agriculture and became landowners. Over time, they established themselves as one of those distinct landholding communities in Bihar. The caste group is believed to have played a significant role in state politics, as they have produced several prominent political leaders and have considerable clout in governance. At least six MPs from Bihar are likely to make it to the Union Cabinet as Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes oath for the third straight term on Sunday. Of these six MPs, four are from NDA partners JD(U), LJP and HAM, while two are senior BJP leaders Giriraj Singh and Nityananda Rai, both of whom held cabinet berths in Modi 2.0 as well. The list of names reflects PM Modis fine caste balance in a state that has given the party 30 seats this Lok Sabha election. The list of probable ministers includes Rajiv Ranjan Singh aka Lalan Singh, a Bhumihar leader and ex-national president of the JD(U). Next comes Ram Nath Thakur, son of Karpuri Thakur who is believed to be Bihars champion of socialist justice and was posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna last year. Karpuri Thakur was the undisputed leader of the marginalised and the fountainhead of Bihars OBC politics, who reformed the socialist politics and culture to become the voice of Dalits and the backward communities in the state. He was also the backbone of the socialist movement in the state. The list also includes Chirag Paswan, chief of the LJP (Ram Vilas). The son of the late Ram Vilas Paswan, Chirag Paswan is now an accepted leader of the Paswans with absolute control over five seats. The last of the allies in this probable list is Jitin Ram Majhi, the chief of HAM and former chief minister of the state. This seems to be another important milestone for Manjhis Mushahar community, which is among the lowest of the low in the caste hierarchy and account for around 2% of Bihars voters. Bihars Caste-Calculus Talking to News18, a senior BJP leader from Bihar said the party not only accommodated the allies, but addressed the caste-politics in Bihar. The names that you are seeing on the list, who are expected to get cabinet berths, have their own caste-equations with the party. Bihar has been a state which votes on caste lines. And it did not change, the senior BJP leader said. The INDIA blocs campaign mentioning caste census and the alleged caste discrimination in politics impacted the voters. We have got good numbers in Bihar, but due to the same caste equations we faced a drubbing in Uttar Pradesh. So bringing the fine balance among the castes seems to be more important now than it used to be earlier, he added. The caste and sub-caste communities need to see how they are represented in the new cabinet, he further said. Emboldened by an increased vote share in Kerala, the BJP is set to have its first elected central minister from the state. Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi, hailed as a giant-slayer for his victory in Thrissur in coastal Kerala, has been called for the swearing-in ceremony, News18 has learnt. Gopi is expected to secure a cabinet berth in Modi 3.0 after defeating advocate and CPM candidate VS Sunilkumar by 74,686 votes. Kerala has seen BJPs Rajya Sabha members being inducted as central ministers, but this is the first time ever that a Lok Sabha member of the saffron party may get a cabinet portfolio. The BJPs vote share in the state shot up by around 2% from 15.6% in 2019 general elections to 17.6% in 2024. Another senior BJP leader from Kerala and former central minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar had lost by a thin margin of around 16,000 votes in Thiruvananthapuram to Congress candidate Shashi Tharoor. Overall, the BJP saw a rising support base in the state, especially in coastal Kerala. Suresh Gopi is the first big star from the Malayalam film industry to join the BJP. Gopi has worked in around 250 movies. The veteran actor has previously campaigned for LDF and UDF alliances as well. In April 2016, he was nominated by the President of India under the category of eminent personalities and became an MP in the Rajya Sabha. In October 2016, he officially joined the BJP. Rise of Saffron in Kerala Kerala is one of the few states where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has experienced a substantial rise. From a modest vote share of around 10% in the 2014 general elections, the party increased its share to approximately 15% in 2019. This steady growth underscores the BJPs expanding influence in a state traditionally dominated by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the United Democratic Front (UDF). In Kerala, it has always been a fight between the RSS and the Communists. Later, it took a different shape with Congress being another strong and influential political power in the state. Getting an elected member as a central minister looks like a milestone for us. This will motivate our cadres. Suresh Gopi been fighting elections for some time now and lost two major elections. But he never gave up. He fought back and won. This is important for our cadre, said a senior RSS functionary based out of Kerala. Two flights came dangerously close to each other on a runway of the Mumbai airport on Saturday evening. Very Close call today at VABB. @IndiGo6E tries to land while an aircraft is still on the roll on RW27. #AvGeek pic.twitter.com/tbHsDXjneF Hirav (@hiravaero) June 8, 2024 A flight belonging to carrier IndiGo landed on the Runway 27 of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport while an Air India flight was still taking off. The near miss incident involved two Airbus A320neos. The IndiGo flight 5053 was flying in from Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport (IDR) and was landing on Runway 27 while the Air India flight 657 was taking off for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport (TRV), aviation news outlet Simple Flying said in a report. Their report said that the Air India Airbus was able to get airborne and was able to take off without incident but was likely unaware of the other plane approaching it from behind. On Jun 8, 2024, IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. The Pilot in Command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure, IndiGo said in a statement to the aviation news outlet. On November 17 last year, two IndiGo planes came dangerously close to each other. This happened as they were climbing out of Delhis Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. At least 9 people were killed and 33 were injured after a bus carrying pilgrims fell into a deep gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district on Sunday following a suspected terrorist attack. The bus, carrying pilgrims on their way to the Shiv Khori temple, came under attack in Teryath village in Poni area, the officials said citing initial reports. The bus was allegedly attacked multiple times and several empty rounds of bullets were also found at the spot. Due to the attack, the bus driver lost control and fell into the deep gorge. The rescue operation was completed at the earliest and the injured ones have been shifted to nearby hospitals. Senior officer of police and other forces rushed on the spot and area was cordoned off. SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma said, Initial reports suggest that terrorists fired upon the passenger bus going from Shiv Khori to Katra. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost balance of the bus and it fell into gorge. 33 people were injured in the incident. Rescue operation has been completed. The identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet, they are not locals. Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done. PM Modi Takes Stock To Situation Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken stock of the situation and has asked the Lt. Governor of Jammu and Kashmir to constantly monitor it. Taking to X, the J&K LG said that those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. He added, Honble PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance, he added. Reactions Pour In On Raesi Tragedy Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that the culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law. Taking to X, Shah said, Deeply pained by the incident of the attack on pilgrims in Reasi, J&K. Spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and the DGP, J&K, and inquired about the incident. Deeply pained by the incident of the attack on pilgrims in Reasi, J&K. Spoke to the Lieutenant Governor and the DGP, J&K, and inquired about the incident. The culprits of this dastardly attack will not be spared and will face the wrath of the law.The local administration is Amit Shah (Modi Ka Parivar) (@AmitShah) June 9, 2024 Defence Minister Rajnath Singh stated that the attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely reprehensible. The attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely reprehensible. My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this heinous act against pilgrims. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. Rajnath Singh ( ) (@rajnathsingh) June 9, 2024 The Congress party took to their official X account and expressed its condolences to the grief-stricken family. - 10 Congress (@INCIndia) June 9, 2024 Former Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad also condemned the militant attack on the pilgrim bus in Ransoo, Reasi. Strongly condemn the militant attack on the pilgrim bus in Ransoo, Reasi. The bus driver lost control, resulting in a fall into the gorge, with 9 feared dead and many injured. This inhumane act deserves the strongest condemnation. Prayers for the injured and condolences to the Ghulam Nabi Azad (@ghulamnazad) June 9, 2024 Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed his deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hoped for the speedy recovery of the injured. Calling the incident cowardly, he said that the incident brings out true picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. - , - Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 9, 2024 Senior Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge also condemned the gruesome terror attack on our people and deliberate affront to National Security. Even while PM, Shri Narendra Modi and his NDA Govt get sworn in and heads of several countries are in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives of at least 10 Indians. We unequivocally condemn this gruesome terror attack Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) June 9, 2024 Jammu Kashmir National Conference leader Omar Abdullah also condemned the attack and said that it is unfortunate to see areas that had previously been cleared of all militants see a return of militancy. Terrible news from Reasi in J&K where 10 yatris have reportedly lost their lives & many more are injured after a terror attack on a bus. I unequivocally condemn this attack. It is unfortunate to see areas that had previously been cleared of all militants see a return of https://t.co/cNJ1FZ2lhP Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) June 9, 2024 (with PTI inputs) Jailed radical Sikh preacher and MP-elect Amritpal Singh will write to the Punjab government, seeking a temporary release from the detention in a jail in Assam to take oath as the member of parliament, his counsel Imaan Singh Khara said on Sunday. In a day or so, he will write to seek temporary release under Section 15 of the National Security Act that deals with the temporary release from detention, he said. Amritpal, the chief of the Waris Punjab De outfit, is currently lodged in Assams Dibrugarh jail along with nine associates under the NSA. Having fought the 2024 Lok Sabha electoral battle as an Independent, he won from the Khadoor Sahib Lok Sabha seat after he defeated Congress candidate Kulbir Singh Zira. Amritpal won by a margin of 1,97,120 votes. He polled 4,04,430 while Zira got 2,07,310. His parents Tarsem Singh and Balwinder Kaur arrived in Assam on Saturday to meet him. Amritpal, who styled himself after slain Khalistani militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, was arrested in Mogas Rode village on April 23 last year following an over a month-long manhunt. The Khalistan sympathiser had escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances. The Punjab Police had launched the crackdown after the February 23 Ajnala incident last year in which Amritpal and his supporters, some of them brandishing swords and guns, broke through barricades and barged into the police station on the outskirts of Amritsar city, and clashed with police for the release of Lovepreet Singh Toofan, one of his aides. He and his associates were booked under several criminal cases related to spreading disharmony among classes, attempt to murder, attack on police personnel and creating obstructions in the lawful discharge of duty by public servants. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation on Sunday announced that the second part of the coastal road will be open for the public from Tuesday onwards. The second underground tunnel of the Dharmaveer Swarajya Rakshak Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Mumbai Coastal Road (South) will be visited by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on June 10. The northbound tunnel will then be opened from June 11 after an inspection by the Chief Minister and other dignitaries. The northbound route will be open for traffic from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m for five days a week, i.e., Monday to Friday, and will remain closed on weekends due to the rest of the projects work. The coastal route will enable travel from Marine Drive towards north to Bhulabhai Desai Marg, Barrister Rajani Patel Chowk (Lotus Jetty), and Vatsalabai Desai Chowk (Haji Ali Chowk). The BMC is also trying to open the phase up to Bindumadhav Thackeray Chowk by July 10, to make it easier to travel north through the Mumbai Coastal Road Project. What Is The Mumbai Coastal Road Project? The 10.58-km coastal road that connects south Mumbai to Worli has 8 lanes on the surface, and in the tunnel, it has 6. There will be a dedicated lane for buses. The two tunnels of this coastal road, each measuring 2.072 kilometres in length with an internal diameter of 11 metres, are being constructed between Priyadarshini Park and Girgaon Chowpatty. The project also includes a 4.35 km road on reclamation and 2.19 km of bridges. The excavation of the southbound tunnel commenced in January 2021 and concluded in January 2022. Subsequently, the boring of the northbound tunnel began in April 2022 and ended in May 2023. The tunnels are fortified with a 375-mm-thick concrete cover, featuring fire protection boards. Estimated to cost approximately Rs 12,700 crore, after completion this his will be Indias first undersea road tunnel. Started in 2018, this project has been also regarded as one of the most expensive projects of the BMC. Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third time at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday. President Droupadi Murmu administered the Oath of Office to Narendra Modi. Took oath as Prime Minister at the ceremony earlier this evening. I look forward to serving 140 crore Indians and working with the Council of Ministers to take India to new heights of progress, PM Modi wrote in an X post after the ceremony. Took oath as Prime Minister at the ceremony earlier this evening. I look forward to serving 140 crore Indians and working with the Council of Ministers to take India to new heights of progress. pic.twitter.com/xx1e5vUP1G Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 9, 2024 Narendra Modi Oath Ceremony LIVE news here Along with Modi, 71 Ministers also took oath as part of the Union Cabinet. Led by the Prime Minister, the new Team includes 30 other Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 36 Ministers of State (MoS). The first Cabinet meeting will take place on Monday at 5:00 pm. The oath ceremony was attended by several global leaders including President of Sri Lanka Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay. Before the swearing-in ceremony, PM Modi Modi started the day by paying tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. He also visited the Sadaiv Atal Memorial and laid a wreath at the National War Memorial. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) emerged as the single-largest party in the Lok Sabha elections 2024 by securing 240 out of 543 seats. However, the party fell short of a simple majority in the Lok Sabha by 32 seats. With the support of key allies, N Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar, whose parties won a total of 28 Lok Sabha seats, the NDA was able to cross the majority. On Friday, the NDA Parliamentary meeting had elected Narendra Modi as the leader of the alliance, following which, he met with President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan to stake claim to form the government. Narendra Modi, on Friday, had said that the next five years were going to be very useful for India in the global environment. During this tenure of 10 years, India has emerged as a Vishwabandhu for the world. Its maximum advantage is starting now. And I am sure that the next 5 years are going to be very useful for India in the global environment as well. The world is going through many crises, many tensions, disasterswe Indians are fortunate that despite so many big crises, we are today known as the worlds fastest-growing economy. We are also being praised in the world for growth, he had said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took stock of the situation arising out of the terror attack on pilgrims in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir in which nine people were killed. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the prime minister directed him to constantly monitor the situation and ensure all possible help to the affected families. The Honble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi took stock of the situation and directed me to constantly monitor the situation and to ensure all possible assistance to the families, Sinha said in a post on X. The Lieutenant Governor said that security forces have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists and those behind the attack will be punished soon. I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces & JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists, he said. All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. Honble PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance, he added. Nine people were killed and 33 injured as terrorists struck a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi district on Sunday evening, opening fire on the vehicle which fell into a gorge, a senior police officer said. The attack occurred on the bus en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus, a 53-seater, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire at aound 6:15 pm. Healing from a broken heart is a slow process, but adopting certain habits can help ease the pain. Although it may seem like an easier to avoid emotions and pretend everything is alright, it can intensify your misery. Whether you were left behind by the other person or had a mutual breakup, every person experiences separation differently. Initially, theres shock, disbelief and anger, followed by awkward attempts to reunite. Then comes the intense emotional moment where someones mental health becomes unstable. In life, you dont know when a heartbreak will happen but you can control how to handle the pain and move forward. As per psychologist and psychotherapist, Doris Wolf explains, Heartbreaks feel like an entire design of life has failed. In my experience, it can be helpful for the person to know theyre going through a temporary process. In this article, discover ways to heal a broken heart and support yourself through the recovery process. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with the members of his new cabinet, is set to take oath at a swearing-in ceremony scheduled for today, June 9, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi will be the first three-term Prime Minister after Congress stalwart Jawaharlal Nehru. To witness this historic moment, several Bollywood stars have turned up, including Shah Rukh Khan and Akshay Kumar. Among them were also Anil Kapoor and Vikrant Massey. Vikrant Massey who is present in Delhi for the special occasion told ANI, This is a historic third term I am looking forward to the next 5 years with the NDA government The government has worked in the last 10 years. I have witnessed change India is a big country and the change doesnt happen overnight, it requires time. #WATCH | Delhi: Actor Vikrant Massey says, "This is a historic third term I am looking forward to the next 5 years with the NDA government The government has worked in the last 10 years. I have witnessed change India is a big country and the change doesn't happen https://t.co/ECkiguK7JM pic.twitter.com/YTDC2gWGqK ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Megastar Rajinikanth also arrived at Rashtrapati Bhavan and interacted with the media, I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony It is a very historic event. I congratulate PM Modi Ji for becoming the prime minister for the consecutive third time #WATCH | Delhi: Actor Rajinikanth says, "I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony It is a very historic event. I congratulate PM Modi Ji for becoming the prime minister for the consecutive third time" pic.twitter.com/zdcrdZ2kSm ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Anil Kapoor also expressed his elation as he reached the venue in a car. He shared, Bas desh tarakki kare aur karta rahe. Positive(Hope the nation prospers and keeps prospering. Positive. #WATCH | On PM-designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, Actor Anil Kapoor says "I just want the country to prosper." pic.twitter.com/gxnWd4lve8 ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Popular lyricist and chairperson of the Central Board of Film Certification(CBFC) Prasoon Joshi was also spotted in a video shared by ANI. He was seen with Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, Parmarth Niketyans Swami Chidanand Saraswati and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran at Rashtrapati Bhavan. #WATCH | Uttarakhand CM Pushkar Singh Dhami, lyricist Prasoon Joshi, Parmarth Niketyan's Swami Chidanand Saraswati and AMMK leader TTV Dhinakaran at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/MJnkDZytZk ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan also made his way to the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi for the Prime Ministers swearing-in ceremony. The actor was seen wearing a black outfit for the occasion. He tied his long tresses into a neat ponytail and completed his look with a pair of sunglasses. SRK, Akshay Kumar, Rajkumar Hirani, Kangana Ranaut were among the many Bollywood stars invited. In a video shared by ANI, Shah Rukh was also seen greeting businessman Gautam Adani. Over 65 ministers are likely to take the oath, going by the visual of the meeting Modi held with his likely council of ministers. The decisions on the new cabinet were taken after a meeting at the Prime Ministers residence yesterday. Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nirmala Sitharaman, and S Jaishankar, who held home, defence, finance and external affairs ministries respectively in the outgoing government, besides its other senior members such as Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw and Hardeep Singh Puri will be part of the new government. Veteran actress Farida Jalal recently shared her disappointment with esteemed filmmakers Yash Chopra and Karan Johar, alleging that both made her promises they failed to keep. Despite a personal call from Yash Chopra that led her to accept a minor role in Dil To Pagal Hai, she said Yash Raj Films did not offer her further opportunities. This was particularly painful after her well-received role in Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, where she was informed that Aditya Chopra didnt want her for Dil To Pagal Hai, even though he wasnt the director of that film. In an interview with India Today, Farida revealed that Karan Johar was aware of the situation and reached out to her for a small part in Student of the Year. Although she agreed, the promise did not materialize, leaving her feeling hurt and overlooked. Im very hurt, Ill say it loud and clear. They were beginners, and we were there to hold their hands. At a certain point, an actor also needs to be held, she expressed, emphasizing the need for mutual support in the industry. Reflecting on her experience with Yash Chopra, veteran actress Farida Jalal recounted a poignant conversation. He called me out of the blue, and said, Dil Toh Pagal Hai mein role hai, Adi bolta hai we mustnt talk to Farida ji, but I put my foot down and said only Farida will do this role. Yash Chopra even pointed to Anupam Kher as an example of an actor who embraces roles of all sizes, irrespective of screen time. Farida described how deeply Yash Chopras words resonated with her when he expressed a desire to maintain their professional relationship. He said that he would like our professional relationship to go on, and that stuck with me. He said, You must do this film, and you should always say yes when Adi or I call you. I want this relationship to continue. I loved that line I was so happy when he said he wants our relationship to never end. I did one scene in that film, I went all the way, she reminisced, underscoring the profound impact of his heartfelt promise. Farida Jalal also expressed her disappointment in the industrys broken promises. YRF didnt honor their commitment, she said. What happened? I was ready to continue the relationship. But if you cast somebody else instead of me, it hurts. I didnt think twice when he made the very big jumla about relationships Farida mentioned that both Yash Chopra and Karan Johar sent her video messages when she appeared on Farooq Shaikhs talk show Jeena Isi Ka Naam Hai, and she reciprocated with boxes of chocolates. Unfortunately, this did not reignite their professional partnership. Farida also shared a story about feeling let down by Karan Johar. One fine day, Im in my car, and I get a call from Karan. He said he wants me to do the dadis role, and I said, Of course Ill do it, Karan. He said, I told them in the office to not call you, Ill call you myself. Why did he say that? Because he knew, he knew that weve wronged her in many ways. I said, You understand, dont you Karan? This is what I needed. One phone call. Acknowledging that shifting loyalties are part of show business, Farida did not shy away from expressing her pain. Im hurt, Im hurt. Its a deep wound, itll always hurt, she admitted. Most recently, Farida was seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansalis debut streaming series, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Kangana Ranaut has won the Lok Sabha elections 2024 from the Mandi constituency and has reached New Delhi to attend the oath-taking ceremony. Kangana has dropped her look for the day on social media. It has gone viral. The actress-turned-politician looks gorgeous in a pristine white saree and minimal makeup. Many other Bollywood celebrities including Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Vikrant Massey, and Anupam Kher have reached Rashtrapati Bhavan. Taking to her X handle, Kangana shared the look in which she looked stunning in a white saree and jewellery. She opted for minimal makeup. Fans also reacted. ANI also shared the video in which she is seen reaching at the venue for the oath ceremony. Recently, the newly-elected Member of Parliament, Kangana Ranaut was travelling to New Delhi on June 6 when she was slapped by an on-duty female CISF constable at the Chandigarh Airport. The female CISF staff identified as Kulwinder Kaur was unhappy with Kangnas comment on Punjab ladies during the farmers agitation against the three farm laws, suggesting they participated in the protest for money. The lady constable was then arrested. Watch the video here: My oath day look, howz it ? pic.twitter.com/VgKGJof69S Kangana Ranaut (Modi Ka Parivar) (@KanganaTeam) June 9, 2024 #WATCH | BJP MP-elect Kangana Ranaut attends the oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/vOaLU9036v ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Later, Kangana issued a video statement to talk about the incident and questioned terrorism in Punjab. Namastey dosto! I have been getting a lot of phone calls from the media and my well-wishers. I am safe, I am perfectly fine. What happened at the Chandigarh airport today was during the security check. When I left after the security check, the CISF personnel hit me on my face. She abused me. When I asked her why she did it, she told me that she supports farmers protests. I am safe but my concern is, how do we handle terror in Punjab? she said. So far, several actors including Anupam Kher, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Suman, Adhyayan Suman, Urif Javed and Devoleena Bhattacharjee have come out in support of Kangana Ranaut, condemning the unfortunate incident. Bollywood actress Katrina Kaif made her first public appearance since she sparked pregnancy rumours. The actress landed in Mumbai on Saturday night. Katrina was said to be in London, where she was spending time with family and husband, actor Vicky Kaushal. In videos shared by paparazzi on Instagram, Katrina Kaif was seen making a stylish exit from the airport. The actress wore an all black outfit consisting of a loose black tee, a pair of comfy black pants and a cape. She left her hair loose while completing her look with a pair of sunglasses. She smiled for the cameras and waved goodbye when she got into her car. Check out the video below: Rumours of Katrinas pregnancy emerged after a video of her and Vicky surfaced on social media. In the clip shot from across the street, the couple appeared to be walking together in London. Katrinas oversized coat caught fans attention, with many speculating that the actor is pregnant and has left the country to avoid media attention. To top it off, a new report in Times Now.com/Zoom has claimed that Katrina is going to deliver her baby in London. Yes, she is pregnant. They will welcome their first child in London. Vicky is already there with her, a source told the media portal. Meanwhile, Katrinas representative agency, Raindrop, has called the reports surrounding her pregnancy unconfirmed. Request all media houses to immediately stop this unconfirmed reporting and speculation, Katrinas agency said in a statement. On the work front, Katrina was last seen in Merry Christmas, which released earlier this year. The actress will next be seen in Jee Le Zaraa, directed by Farhan Akhtar. The film will also star Alia Bhatt and Priyanka Chopra. While the film was announced in 2021, it has been delayed for a while now. However, a new report claimed Farhan has decided to revive the project. Farhan Akhtar and the officials at Excel are exploring the possibilities of reviving Jee Le Zaraa. While Jee Le Zaraa was put on the backburner before proceeding to the pre-production stage, the team at Excel was continuing to give the final touches to the script. The film was put on the back burner due to date issues and not completely called off, as its a pet project for all the stakeholders from the producers to writers and director. The script is completely in place and the team is now looking to revive the project, a source told Pinkvilla. The source continued, During her visit to India, Farhan Akhtar met Priyanka Chopra as well to restart the conversation of Jee Le Zaraa. He has been in touch with Katrina Kaif and Alia Bhatt too. The trio is working out on the combination dates with a positive intent of bringing the film back on track. Tamil superstar Rajinikanth left for New Delhi to attending swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi. The actor was spotted at the Chennai airport, talking to the media about his travel plans. Through the media, he congratulated PM Modi on his third win. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as PM consecutively for the third time. This is a very big achievement. My wishes to him, he said, as reported by ANI. Rajinikanth also acknowledged INDI Alliances wins. People have also elected a strong opposition in this Parliament election. It will lead to a healthy democracy. I received an invitation for Chandrababu Naidus swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh CM. I will update you about going there, he said. Upon landing in Delhi, Rajinikanth spoke with the media yet again and said, I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony It is a very historic event. I congratulate PM Modi Ji for becoming the prime minister for the consecutive third time Chennai, Tamil Nadu: Actor Rajinikanth leaves for Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi.He says, "Narendra Modi will be sworn in as PM consecutively for the third time. This is a very big achievement. My wishes to him. People have also elected a pic.twitter.com/ENxlk3I440 ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 #WATCH | Delhi: Actor Rajinikanth says, "I am going to take part in the swearing-in ceremony It is a very historic event. I congratulate PM Modi Ji for becoming the prime minister for the consecutive third time" pic.twitter.com/zdcrdZ2kSm ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Besides Rajinikanth, Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut is also expected to attend. The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for 7:15 PM, will be held in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan under tight security, including five companies of paramilitary personnel, NSG commandoes, drones, and snipers. Following the ceremony, BJP President JP Nadda is expected to host a dinner for all NDA leaders and party officials. Rajkummar Rao has extended his congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his historic third consecutive win. He took to social media to share his support for the Prime Minister. Earlier, Ajay Devgn, Anupam Kher, Rajinikanth, and others too congratulated PM Modi. Taking to his X handle, Rajkummar Rao wrote, My heartiest congratulations to our esteemed PM Shri @narendramodi ji on this historic third consecutive win. May our country continue to flourish under your exemplary leadership. God bless you sir. @PMOIndia. Taking to his X handle, Ajay Devgn wrote, Congratulations to Prime Minister @narendramodi Ji on his re-election! Wishing continued success in guiding India towards prosperity and greatness with his wisdom and compassion. Take a look here: My heartiest congratulations to our esteemed PM Shri @narendramodi ji on this historic third consecutive win. May our country continue to flourish under your exemplary leadership. God bless you sir. @PMOIndia pic.twitter.com/uPljtijdHz Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) June 9, 2024 Tamil superstar Rajinikanth congratulated PM Modi on his third win. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as PM consecutively for the third time. This is a very big achievement. My wishes to him, he said, as reported by ANI. Rajinikanth also acknowledged INDI Alliances wins. People have also elected a strong opposition in this Parliament election. It will lead to a healthy democracy. I received an invitation for Chandrababu Naidus swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh CM. I will update you about going there, he said. Besides Rajinikanth, Bollywood star Kangana Ranaut is also expected to attend. The swearing-in ceremony, scheduled for 7:15 PM, will be held in the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan under tight security, including five companies of paramilitary personnel, NSG commandoes, drones, and snipers. Following the ceremony, BJP President JP Nadda is expected to host a dinner for all NDA leaders and party officials. On the work front, Rajkummar Rao is currently seen in Mr & Mrs Mahi. He has also films lined up in his kitty. He has recently wrapped the shoot of Vicky Vidya Ka Woh Wala Video, directed by Raaj Shaandilyaa. He will be sharing screen space with Triptii Dimri. The retro drama will be releasing on 11 October 2024. Flash This photo taken on June 8, 2024 shows a building and a vehicle damaged during Israeli attacks in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. [Photo/Xinhua] Israeli forces on Saturday rescued four hostages from the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip, where, according to Palestinian sources, a bloody Israeli assault took place, killing at least 210 people and wounding more than 400 others. Khalil Al-Dakran, director of al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, told Xinhua that many wounded Palestinians were sent to the hospital, with some of them later confirmed dead. In a statement on Saturday, Hamas armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades denounced the Israeli assault in the Nuseirat area as "a complex war crime." Ismail Haniyeh, head of the Hamas political bureau, also condemned the deadly Israeli strike, stressing that the Palestinian people "will not surrender, and the resistance will continue to defend their rights." The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said this hostage rescue operation had been planned for weeks and was jointly carried out by the army with the police's elite unit and the intelligence body Shin Bet, noting that a police officer was killed during the operation. The rescued hostages were identified as Noa Argamani, 25, Shlomi Ziv, 40, Almog Meir Jan, 21, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, all of whom were abducted last October by Hamas while attending the Nova festival, an outdoor music event, in a rural area near the Gaza-Israel fence. IDF spokesman Daniel Hagari said the four were located in two buildings at the heart of the Nuseirat camp. In videos released by the government, Israeli President Isaac Herzog and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Argamani over the phone. Following the rescue of the four, 120 Israeli hostages remain held in Gaza, including 43 feared dead, according to the Israeli army. "We will do everything to get them back," Hagari vowed. In the wake of the operation, Israel's wartime cabinet minister, Benny Gantz, postponed his expected resignation announcement planned for Saturday evening. On May 18, Gantz threatened to resign from Netanyahu's government on June 8 if the cabinet did not formulate an action plan to secure Gaza war goals, including the return of hostages and the elimination of Hamas. In a statement on Saturday evening, Netanyahu urged Gantz not to step down, stressing, "We must remain united in the face of the great tasks ahead of us." Gantz replied in a video, saying, "The challenges Israel faces remain as they were, and therefore, I say to the prime minister and the entire leadership, even today, we must look responsibly at how it is right and possible to continue from here." Meanwhile, on Saturday night, tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Israel's Tel Aviv for the release of the remaining hostages and against the government. The police declared the demonstration illegal and announced the arrest of 10 protestors on suspicion of violating public order, according to a police statement. Earlier in the day, Israel's state-owned Kan TV news reported that the Israeli wartime cabinet approved a pilot plan presented by Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to replace the rule of Hamas in Gaza. According to the plan, the Israeli army will "protect" several areas in northern Gaza and allow the presence of local leadership and the entry of humanitarian aid trucks. The deadly conflict between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas has raged for eight months since its start on Oct. 7, 2023. It erupted as Israel launched a large offensive in Gaza after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel from Gaza in a surprise attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to the Palestinian enclave. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 36,801, with 83,680 people injured, as updated by the health authorities in Gaza on Saturday. KYODO NEWS - Jun 9, 2024 - 11:14 | All, Japan The Japan Self-Defense Forces recently began trialing the use of the Starlink satellite internet service offered by American aerospace company SpaceX to give deployed crew of its maritime branch's vessels access to the web for personal use. Two Maritime Self-Defense Force training ships have been equipped with Starlink antennas, which link up with over 6,000 low-orbit satellites, allowing smartphones and other web-enabled devices to connect and access high-speed internet in remote areas. The MSDF said it aims to install the Starlink system on about 90 percent of its surface vessels in the next three years as it endeavors to attract young recruits with benefits like access to the internet during off-duty hours, a perk that would be especially valuable for personnel on long missions. The service's data-downloading speed tops out at 220 megabits per second, according to KDDI Corp., a major Japanese telecom company that provides the Starlink service in partnership with the U.S. space firm founded by Tesla Inc. CEO Elon Musk. The system is capable of allowing several connected devices to stream video at the same time, it said. Currently, most crew serving on vessels can only send emails twice per day from sea to recipients who are registered in advance, according to the MSDF. During the two ships' training mission that started last month, the MSDF will examine the service's communications capacity at sea and the durability of related equipment, as well as the possibility of adopting the service for official operations. A decision to use a service provided by a private company in official operations does not come without risk, however, with Musk already having come under fire for Starlink's role in the Ukraine war. Since SpaceX launched Starlink internet service for maritime customers in July last year, the MSDF had been considering introducing it to some of its ships. Japan's SDF face growing security challenges represented by China's rapid military buildup and North Korea's missile and nuclear programs, but the country's low birthrate, among other factors, has been threatening its efforts to attract new recruits. The training ships, the Kashima and the Shimakaze, plan to tour 11 nations across the world, such as South Africa, Italy, Turkey, Britain and the United States, during their 175-day voyage, with about 570 people including around 190 MSDF officer candidates aboard. Related coverage: China deploys robot dogs during military exercise with Cambodia China wary of SpaceX's Starlink service during Taiwan contingency Elon Musk's Starlink helps communications in quake-hit central Japan Bollywood actress Raveena Tandon was attacked last week after a group of women claimed she and her driver assaulted three women, allegedly including an elderly lady. A shocking video has surfaced online showing the actress being attacked by a group of women. Almost after a week, since the incident, the actress made her first public appearance for an event in town. Earlier last week, on Saturday, Raveena Tandon was attacked while she was trying to defend her driver. The actress was accused of assaulting three women, including a senior citizen, after her driver allegedly hit them with her car. However, the CCTV footage clarified that the accusations are wrong. Raveena is yet to issue a formal statement. However, she shared the statements made by the police officials investigating the incident. A senior Mumbai Police official told Mid-Day, The complainant gave a false complaint in the alleged video. We checked the entire CCTV footage of the society and found that the actresss driver was reversing the car from the road into the society when this family was crossing the same lane. The family stopped the car and told the driver that he should check if people are behind the car before reversing. This argument started between them. This argument escalated into abusive language, and actress Raveena Tandon arrived at the spot to check what had happened with her driver. The actress tried to protect the driver from the mob; however, the mob started abusing her. Both Raveena Tandon and the family went to the Khar police station and gave written complaints. Later, they both also submitted letters stating they did not want to register any complaints, the official said. Nobody was injured in this incident. We checked the CCTV footage, and the car did not hit anyone, he concluded his statement. Raveena shared the statement on her Instagram Stories to clear the allegations against her. A source had also shared the details of the incident with News18 on Sunday. The way this episode has been portrayed is wrong. CCTV footages from around the area prove that a group of women came outside Raveena Tandons home in the evening and they were the ones who started shouting at and fighting with the driver. She joined them just to protect her driver, the insider told us. Ananya Panday surely knows how to make heads turn. Her noteworthy approach towards fashion often wins hearts, which allows her to dish out major fashion goals. Having said that, she recently glammed up in an all pink ensemble. Ananya looked drop-dead gorgeous in a shimmery little pink dress, flaunting her curves. Finding the right balance between elegance and charm, Ananya was a complete vision to behold. She completed her look with kohl-rimmed eyes and left her wavy locks lose. She donned a diamond-studded earrings and flashed her million-dollar smile. Have a look at the photos: On the work front, Ananya Panday was last seen in Kho Gaye Hum Kahan, co-starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Adarsh Gourav. Her portrayal in the film was loved by fans. The actress is set to star in the TV series Call Me Bae alongside Varun Dhawan and Vir Das. The storyline revolves around a billionaire fashionista who, following a scandalous controversy, is disowned by her ultra-rich family and navigates life independently. Ananya is also part of projects like Control, Battle Thy Seeds, Darbadar, Shankara, The Untold Story of C Sankaran Nair, and Run for Young. Ananya Panday has been grabbing headlines after it was reported that she and Aditya Roy Kapur have parted ways. Well, none of them have confirmed it but the news is going viral. Reportedly, the actors broke up almost a month ago, and their break-up has shocked their close friends. A close friend of the two actors told the Bombay Times that, That they broke up almost a month ago. They were going quite well, and the breakup came as a shock to all of us. They are cordial with each other. Ananya is trying to move on; of course, theres hurt. She is spending time with her new furry friend. Aditya is also trying to deal with the situation maturely. Aditya and Ananya were dating for almost two years. Last month, the latter took the internet by storm with her cryptic post. That post hinted that theyd broken up. If it is truly meant for you, it will come back to you. It will leave only for the sake of teaching you the lessons you could only learn on your own. If it is truly meant for you, it will return even if youve pushed it away, even if youre in denial, even if you assume something so beautiful could never be truly yours because if its truly meant for you, it is never not a piece of you. It is never not intricately tied into the depths of your soul, read the quote shared by Ananya on her handle. She captioned it as Monday Manifesting alongside a thank you, an evil eye, and a blue butterfly emoji. While Sundays are all about good food, no workouts and being lazy, Bollywood hunk Shahid Kapoor thinks otherwise. The actor gave fans a glimpse of his gym session as he sent out Happy Sunday wishes. Shahid shared a picture of his weekend activity on Instagram, showing a barbell with heavy weights. He also flaunted his biceps. Notably, the actor has always been a fitness freak, as he looks forward to following his fitness regime and working out regularly. A few weeks ago, Shahids wife, Mira Rajput, shared a gym selfie with the actor, showing the two of them working out together. While Mira can be seen clicking the mirror selfie, Shahid did not fail to flex his muscles. You complete me, she wrote on Instagram. In addition to this, there are many other pictures and videos of the actor on social media that give glimpses into his workout routine. His sculpted six-packs, as seen in many of his films, showcase his dedication to his work and physical fitness. On the work front, Shahid Kapoor was recently seen in Amit Joshi and Aradhana Sahs Teri Baaton Mein Aisa Uljha Jiya, opposite Kriti Sanon. Following its theatrical release, the film is now also streaming on OTT at Amazon Prime Video. TBMAJ, however, opened to mixed reviews from audiences and critics. The story revolves around a robotics engineer named Aryan, who unassumingly falls in love with Sifra, a highly intelligent robot. However, their story takes a turn after Aryan discovers Sifras original identity. Following his latest outing, Shahid is now shooting for Rosshan Andrrews Deva. Also featuring Pooja Hegde, the film is slated for release in theatres later this year. He also has another high-octane action film titled Ashwatthama: The Saga Continues. The film was announced earlier this year at the Prime Video Presents event. To be directed by Kannada filmmaker Sachin B Ravi, the film will be available for streaming on the OTT platform after its theatrical release. According to reports, the film will focus on the immortal warrior Ashwatthama from the mythological epic Mahabharata. As the mystery of a legendary figure thrust into the chaos of the present day unravels, the film explores the inner psyche of an immortal being, revealing how he perceives the world he has witnessed for thousands of years, the official plot-line read. Sidharth Malhotra and Kiara Advani are undoubtedly one of the most loved couples in BTown. They enjoy a massive fan following and dont shy away from expressing their love for each other. The couple were spotted returning to Bombay on Sunday early morning as they stepped out of airport. Not just that, they even dished out major style goals. Sidharth and Kiara were seen dressed in comfy casuals. While Sidharth donned an olive white T shirt teamed with grey jacket and pants, Kiara on the other hand kept it cool in a white pullover with jeans. Both also wore masks. Have a look at the video: Kiara Advani married Sidharth Malhotra on February 7 last year year in the presence of their close friends and family members in Rajasthan. They fell in love with each other while shooting for their hit film Shershaah. The couple later hosted a mega star-studded reception later in Mumbai. Later, in an interview with News18 Showsha, Kiara opened up on life post her wedding and how it has made her appreciate her mother more than ever. For the first time, Im running a home. I used to live in my parents home. My mum did it all and weve so much respect and value for her right now. But its lovely and a beautiful phase. Im very, very happy, she said. Sidharth and Kiara have a huge fan following. Their fans are waiting to see them on screen together once again after Shershaah. Well, last year in March it was reported that the couple will be seen in a rom-com which will be directed by Karan Johar. However, after that, there was no update. Recently, in conversation with ETimes, the Yodha actor shared an update on the same. He opened up on his already announced rom-com film with Kiara Advani. Sidharth said, Oh yeah, thats very much on the table. We cant say for sure, but we were very interested in working together and finding the correct script combination, where both of us justify our roles. Also, the audience gets to see us after Shershaah, which we got a lot of love for. It is about getting the correct elements in place. In a recent discussion with Film Companion during her visit to Cannes, France, Kiara Advani talked about her experience working with her husband, Sidharth Malhotra. She remarked, I feel like Shershaah gave us a lot of love as a couple. So theres a certain excitement, and people want to see us together. However, she emphasized their mutual respect for each others space as actors. While they are both excited about the prospect of working together again, she clarified that any script they consider must appeal to them individually, Ive never really thought of it like, As a couple, how does this work? I think were individual people first and actors first so thats how we would go about looking for something. But yeah, we would love to work together, but it has to excite us equally, she added. The controversy surrounding the web series Show Stopper has intensified as MH Films, the production house backing it, has filed a police complaint against actor Digangana Suryavanshi, alleging cheating and criminal breach of trust under IPC Section 420 and Section 406. The complaint asserts that she falsely claimed to secure Akshay Kumar and his company as presenters for the project. Furthermore, MH Films has issued a defamation notice to actor Rakesh Bedi and Suryavanshis fashion designer, Krishan Parmar. Theyve been accused of making false public statements about OTT platforms unwillingness to collaborate, which allegedly damaged the projects reputation. They also reportedly misled the media by stating that the project was shelved and payments were withheld. Speaking to News18 Showsha earlier, Show Stopper director Manish Harishankar had said, I just want to state on record that all the speculations and rumours made about the payments are not true. In fact, we have hundred percent cleared the lead actors payments and the productions payments are also clear by 90-95 percent. Advocate Falguni Brahmbhatt, representing MH Films and Harishankar also confirmed these developments. She also noted that Suryavanshi allegedly attempted to extort a significant amount of money in cash, threatening serious consequences for Harishankar if her demands were not met. This threat has been reported to the police, who have been requested to take action based on the complaint. In a report to the police, Harishankar stated, during the making and after the completion of the said web series, the proposed accused kept telling me that she knows superstars like Akshay Kumar, Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, and as she has personal relations with them, she would be in a position to rope in such popular actors to be the presenters of the said web series initially. Suryavanshi reportedly flew down to Ajmer along with one of Harishankars staff member and editor Biren Mohanti on MH Films expense where she met Kumar. My editor carried the iPad, which contained entire footages of the web series She insisted that that he should handover the iPad with the entire 16 episodes of the web series. After that, she told my editor to wait outside (hotel room) as she said that she will go alone and have a meeting with Akshay Kumar, and on the pretext of showing the footage/clips of the web series, she took the iPad from my staff and till date has never returned us back, the director stated in the report. He added that he presumes she has transferred the valuable material pertaining to the web series and may have misused the same for her personal benefits. Apparently, Suryavanshi also demanded about six crores from the production house stating that this amount has to be paid to Kumar as full final payment towards naming being used in the series as a presenter. On a related note, Zeenat Aman is all set to make her onscreen comeback with Show Stopper. Shot across Bhopal, Indore and Mumbai, the web series is based on the taboo subject of bra fittings and how almost 80 percent of women in the world end up wearing the wrong sized bra for the entire duration of their life which leads to serious health concerns. Touted to be a matured love story, it will see Aman and Kiran Kumar along with Zarina Wahab, Shweta Tiwari and Sourabh Raaj Jain in pivotal roles. Sokhela Tayang, 44, lives alone in Malogam village, Arunachal Pradesh. Her parents died some years ago, and her estranged husband, Janelum, moved to another village. Sokhelas village is just a hill away from China. On April 19, a team of Indian election officials and security personnel trekked 40 km through mountainous terrain with heavy polling equipment to collect her lone vote from the 52-Malogam polling station, set up just for her. About 3,500 km across the breadth of Bharat, another set of election officials travelled two days in a bus and trekked through the dense forests of Gujarats Gir home to the endangered Asiatic lion to set up a booth in Banej for another lone voter. They ensured that Hindu monk Mahant Haridasji Udasin, who lives in the jungle, is not excluded from the democratic process. From the highest polling station at tiny, icy Tashigang in Himalayas Spiti Valley where 62 voters get inked at 15,256 feet to Warshi in Ladakh where just a family of five (Rinchen, 23, her parents, and grandparents) vote, the Indian democracy goes to unthinkable lengths to ensure that not one of the 969 million voters, representing 1.4 billion Indians collective political will, get left out. Eligible Indian voters comprise more than 10 per cent of the worlds population. And yet, numbers are not really what makes this mahayagna jaw-dropping. It is the scale of superhuman physical effort, million ant-cities of detailing, managing surreal diversity, and keeping every bully in the gully in check. Today, the Narendra Modi-led BJP won a diminished but historic third mandate against a reviving Opposition. But the bigger win today is that of Indias democracy. Just to cast its vote, it braved landslides in the Northeast which killed three dozen in Cyclone Remal and the 52.9-degree centigrade heatwave which killed 15 in Delhi. This year, 2024, more than 70 nations are going into general elections. But India, with 97 crore eligible voters, was not only the largest in terms of population, it had more than 2,600 parties contesting. At least 1.8 crore first-time voters and 19.47 crore voters between 20 and 29 years got inked. And as gender wars rage in the West, 48,000 third-gender voters quietly participated in the Indian elections, along with 82 lakh people with disabilities and 2.2 lakh citizens who are over 100 years old. The Election Commission of India did an outstanding job keeping the 10.5 lakh polling stations bloodless (except a few places in Mamata Banerjee-ruled West Bengal). Even Kashmir saw the highest voter turnout for the first time in the last three decades since 1996 at 38 per cent, with Anantnag-Rajouri recording 54.3 per cent. And while the Indian Opposition kept viciously attacking the efficacy of electronic voting machines (EVM) and went silent after it discovered to its surprise that it had done better than the last time 55 lakh EVMs efficiently did their job. Bharat had invited the largest-ever group of 75 international delegates from 23 countries to witness the miracle of her democracy first-hand. They praised the transparency of the process, initiatives like Green Polling Stations, and the use of technology like the randomisation of EVM-VVPATs. When Narendra Modi takes oath as Prime Minister for the third successive time, the faceless Indian election officials, security personnel, and voters who make the largest magna of democracy happen every single time will smile from the shadows. 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. Over the last five years, fate threw everything it had to test Modi. A scourge of biblical proportions called Covid-19, two wars one in Ukraine and another in Israel and a potentially destabilising axis of malevolence forged between politicians and farmer unions. Most leaders would have bucked under the combined weight of such a set of variegated challenges. Many appear to have, in the UK and US, for instance. But Modi, battered and bruised, has pulled through. Which is why it would be a little unfair to solely rely on time-worn phrases like Hindutva polarisation and personality cult to explain the historic outcome we are living through. Modi as an idea What does it mean to vote for Modi? The Opposition will tell you that support for Modi is a vote for the decanting of democracy. A veritable plunge into a fascist maelstrom of swirling animosities, cruelties, and oppressions. Indians have, of course, been there once before. In 1975, when Indira Gandhi plunged India into an autarky. But the people almost immediately exacted a punishing revenge. Indira Gandhi was banished. Why then would the masses elect to imprison themselves all over again, only this time, in Modis alleged gulag of tyranny? The Opposition suggests that the people have no choice in the matter, hypnotised as they are by Modis Hindutva. The Opposition has gone on to insinuate that the election has been stolen. Surely, the Opposition can spot the contradiction. The BJP can only steal what they dont have, which only proves that the voters werent under the influence of any dark lord. If the Opposition was being truly honest, it would admit that it didnt make an impression because its message essentially boiled down to promising the masses a wealth transfer at pitchfork point. Who wants a handout? In sharp contrast, Modi presented a compelling idea. He went to the people advocating the need to pivot away from the outlook of whom he described as wittering deracinated Nehruvian modernists. Through his panch prans, Modi announced himself to the voters as a crusader for the reclamation of Bharat. A land liberated from the congeries of Westernised narratives that dismissed any legitimate appreciation of the grandeur of Hindu civilisation as anti-secular. Yet, Modi isnt a Hindu revisionist. Modi called upon the citizens to redefine our heritage in a modern way while embracing ancient values in a modern context. The Guarantor Of Providence As for his economic vision, Modi has embraced wealth creation. The NDA has provided incentives to enable rapid growth. The returns are ploughed back to evolve an empowering welfare net. Over the last ten years, Modi has used a democratised digital public infrastructure to distribute without favour, cash, food, cooking gas, insurance, and MSP to the needy. The digital X-ray has allowed Modi-care to gift low-income communities houses and toilets connected to water and electricity sources. 25 crore Indians have been lifted out of indigence. That Modis efforts have found wide acceptance is borne out by the breadth of his victory. Messiah Of the Audacious It takes audacity to shrug off adversity in India. Audacity is kindled by self-belief. Self-belief is linked to a sense of accomplishment There is no satisfaction in living on a hand-out. Modis empowering welfarism has brought new converts to the BJPs door. The Ruler of All Realms Notwithstanding the emergence of cracks in the BJPs rainbow social coalition, especially in UP and Maharashtra, the BJP has attracted new voters in 32 new seats spread across 11 states and UTs. In some of these regions, the BJP was never a viable option for voters before 2024. Brand Modi has found acceptance beyond the BJPs traditional catchment area the Hindi heartland. Modis acceptability now transcends the length and breadth of India. Without exaggeration, the fact is that more Tamils, Malayalis, Telegus and Odias have voted for the BJP and its Southern allies than ever before. A total of 39,465,778 voters voted for the BJP in the south. This far exceeds the total number of voters who picked the Congress in the south despite the BJP contesting fewer seats in this geography. Clearly, even on the back of a diminished mandate, Modis family has grown, which only underlines his acceptability. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect News18s views. Six MPs from Maharashtra were on Sunday inducted into the Modi 3.0 coalition government, with BJP securing four berths, and allies Shiv Sena and RPI (A) getting one each. Notably, the NCP led by Ajit Pawar declined the BJPs offer of Minister of State (MoS) with independent charge, insisting on a cabinet berth for Praful Patel. There were 8 ministers from Maharashtra belonging to the BJP and its allies, in the second term of the Modi government in 2019-24. This number came down to six on Sunday. In the new cabinet, BJP MPs Nitin Gadkari and Piyush Goyal were retained as Cabinet ministers. Raksha Khadse, BJPs lone woman MP from Maharashtra, and first-time MP Murlidhar Mohol were sworn in as Ministers of State. Among BJPs allies, RPI (A) chief Ramdas Athawale was retained as an MoS with independent charge, and Prataprao Jadhav from Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde also took oath as an MoS with independent charge. The NCP, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, refused the MoS offer, demanding a cabinet berth for Rajya Sabha member Praful Patel due to his experience. Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis said coalition formulas must be respected, assuring that the NCP would be considered in future cabinet expansions. We had offered one berth of the minister with the independent charge to the NCP but they wanted (Rajya Sabha member) Praful Patels name to be finalised. Due to his (Patels) experience, the NCP believed he could not be made MoS with independent charge, said Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis. He said in a coalition government, a formula has to be drawn, which cannot be broken for one party. I can confidently say whenever cabinet expansion takes place, the (Union) government will consider the NCP. We did try to include NCP right now, but they insisted on cabinet portfolio, the senior BJP leader said. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Ajit Pawar asserted the NCP was ready to wait but wanted a cabinet berth. The eight ministers from Maharashtra who were part of the Modi-led government from 2019-24 included Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Narayan Rane, Bhagwat Karad, Raosaheb Danve, Bharti Pawar and Kapil Patil- all from BJP, while Ramdas Athawale was from RPI (A). In the recently held Lok Sabha elections, BJP fared poorly as it could win only 9 seats, compared to the 2019 tally of 23 constituencies out of the total 48. Shiv Sena led by Shinde bagged 7 seats and Ajit Pawar-led NCP just one. Gadkari, Goyal, Khadse, and Mohol won from Nagpur, Mumbai North, Raver, and Pune Lok Sabha constituencies, respectively in the recent elections. Notably, the BJP didnt re-induct Narayan Rane in the Union cabinet though he won from Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg LS constituency. Three other Union ministers Raosaheb Danve, Bharati Pawar, and Kapil Patil- all belonging to BJP- lost the elections. VK Pandian, a close of former Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, on Sunday announced that he is leaving active politics after the Biju Janata Dals humiliating loss in the state Assembly elections. Pandians decision came days after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a landslide victory in the polls and decimated the BJD, which ruled Odisha for over two decades, to just 51 seats in the 147-member Assembly. Pandians Tamil origin became one of the talking points of the BJPs poll campaign with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressing that the BJP Chief Minister nominee would be someone who is born in Odisha and speaks Odia. The BJP had also alleged that Pandian will take over as Odisha CM if the BJD wins again citing Naveen Patnaiks health. I Am Sorry: VK Pandian In a video message, Pandian apologised to the BJD workers and leaders and said, My intent of joining politics was only and only to assist Naveen Babu, and now I consciously decided to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJDs loss. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to lakhs and lakhs of Biju parivar members with whom I am associated. I will always keep Odisha in the core of my heart and my guru Naveen Babu in my breath. I pray to Lord Jagannath for their prosperity, he added. Additionally, Pandian, who had joined the Odisha Chief Ministers Office 12 years ago, said that it was an honour for him to have worked for Naveen Patnaik. The experience, the learning I had from him is for a lifetime. His expectation from me was to implement his vision for Odisha, and he successfully crossed many milestones in health, education, and poverty reduction, he said. Unfortunate: Naveen Patnaik On Pandians Criticism On Saturday, Biju Janata Dal supremo and former Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik defended Pandian after his partys shocking defeat in the state Assembly election and called his aides criticism unfortunate. The former Chief Minister also asserted that the latter did an excellent job without even holding any posts and talked about role played by Pandian during crises such as cyclones and the COVID-19 pandemic. There has been some criticism of Pandian. This is unfortunate. He joined the party and has not held any post. He did not contest the elections from any constituency, Patnaik said. Further clearing air on his successor talks, the BJD chief said, I have always clearly said when asked about my successor that it is not Pandian. I repeat that the people of Odisha will decide my successor. A total of 71 took oath as ministers in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Cabinet at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday, days after the NDA returned to the power winning majority in the Lok Sabha elections. There was a dozen of minister from BJP allies while the rest were from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Union Ministers like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, S Jaishankar and Nirmala Sitharaman have been retained in the NDAs third term while Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur have been dropped. The Prime Ministers new team includes 30 other Cabinet Ministers, 5 Ministers of State with Independent Charge and 36 Ministers of State (MoS). These ministers represent 24 States, as well as all regions within states. The maximum number of nine ministers are from Uttar Pradesh followed by eight from Bihar. As many as 27 ministers are from OBC, 10 from SC, 5 from ST, five from minorities. 43 ministers are serving 3 terms or higher in Parliament and 39 having been Ministers in Government of India before bring a wealth of central experience in the government. Ministers also include multiple former CMs, 34 having served in State legislatures, and 23 having worked as Ministers in States. State-wise List of Union Ministers State Name Gujarat (Gujarat) Amit Shah (BJP) S Jaishankar (BJP) Mansukh Mandaviya (BJP) CR Patil (BJP) Nimuben Bambhania (BJP) Odisha Dharmendra Pradhan (BJP) Jual Oram (BJP) Ashwini Vaishnaw (BJP) Karnataka Nirmala Sitharaman (BJP) HD Kumaraswamy (JDS) Pralhad Joshi (BJP) Shobha Karandlaje (BJP) V Somanna (BJP) Maharashtra Piyush Goyal (BJP) Nitin Gadkari (BJP) Pratap Rao Jadhav (Shiv Sena) Raksha Khadse (BJP) Ram Das Athawale (Republican Party of India) Murlidhar Mohol (BJP) Goa Shripad Naik (BJP) J&K Jitendra Singh (BJP) Himachal JP Nadda (BJP) Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan (BJP) Jyotiraditya Scindia (BJP) Savitri Thakur (BJP) Virendra Kumar (BJP) Durgadas Uikey (BJP) Uttar Pradesh Rajnath Singh (BJP) Jayant Choudhary (RLD) Jitin Prasada (BJP) Pankaj Chaudhary (BJP) BL Verma (BJP) Hardeep Singh Puri (BJP) Anupriya Patel (Apna Dal-Soneylal) Kamlesh Paswan (BJP) SP Singh Baghel (BJP) Kirti Vardhan Singh (BJP) Bihar Chirag Paswan (Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas) Giriraj Singh (BJP) Jitan Ram Manjhi (Hindustani Awam Morcha) Ram Nath Thakur (JDU) Lalan Singh (JDU) Nityanand Rai (BJP) Raj Bhushan Choudhary (BJP)Satish Dubey (BJP) Arunachal Kiren Rijiju (BJP) Rajasthan Gajendra Singh Shekhawat (BJP) Arjun Ram Meghwal (BJP) Bhupender Yadav (BJP) Bhagirath Chaudhary (BJP) Haryana ML Khattar (BJP) Rao Inderjit Singh (BJP) Krishan Pal Gurjar (BJP Kerala Suresh Gopi (BJP) George Kurian (BJP) Telangana G Kishan Reddy (BJP) Bandi Sanjay (BJP) Tamil Nadu L Murugan (BJP) Jharkhand Chandrashekhar Choudhary (AJSU) Annapurna Devi (BJP) Sanjay Seth (BJP) Chhattisgarh Tokhan Sahu (BJP) Andhra Pradesh Dr. Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani (TDP) Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu (TDP) Srinivasa Varma (BJP) West Bengal Shantanu Thakur (BJP) Sukanta Majumdar (BJP) Punjab Ravneet Singh Bittu (BJP) Assam Sarbananda Sonowal (BJP) Pabitra Margherita (BJP) Uttarakhand Ajay Tamta (BJP) Delhi Harsh Malhotra (BJP) KYODO NEWS - Jun 9, 2024 - 19:25 | All, Japan A 24-year-old completed a solo round-the-world yacht voyage on Saturday, breaking the record for the youngest Japanese to achieve the feat that was set 30 years ago. Hirotsugu Kimura, a former Maritime Self-Defense Force member, reached his goal off Wakayama Prefecture, western Japan, after 231 days. The challenge to complete the trip without port calls and taking on supplies was his second attempt after one in 2022 was marred by mechanical failure. Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, Kimura said the reality of his achievement was slowly setting in. "My sense of happiness and relief at achieving my goal is getting stronger," he said. Marine adventurer Kojiro Shiraishi set the previous record in 1994 at the age of 26 years and 10 months. Shiraishi at the time was also the youngest person in the world to circumnavigate the globe by yacht. Regarding future plans, Kimura said he intends to keep on striving not just for himself. "I want to cooperate with people who take on challenges and continue to be their supporter." His record drew praise from Japanese adventurer Kenichi Horie, 85, who became the oldest person to complete a solo, nonstop voyage across the Pacific in 2022 at age 83. "I hope he can one day aim to be the oldest person to sail nonstop around the world," the veteran sailor said at a ceremony to mark Kimura's return to port. Kimura, a native of Oita Prefecture in southwestern Japan, belonged to a sailing club at senior high school and dreamed of following in the footsteps of Shiraishi, according to a website created by his supporters for the round-the-world voyage. He served as an MSDF submariner prior to joining an industrial waste treatment company in 2020 that supported his circumnavigation bid. Kimura departed from Nishinomiya in Hyogo Prefecture on Oct. 22 and headed south in the Pacific, rounding Cape Horn in Chile and skirting the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa and then Australia before returning to Japan. After the hectic parleys over NDAs third historic term, BJP leaders, including Smriti Irani and Anurag Thakur, were found notably absent from the finalised Cabinet lineup. Narendra Modi on Sunday took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term at a swearing-in ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. Irani, the sitting Women and Child Development Minister, lost the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradeshs Amethi to Congress loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma. Meanwhile, Thakur, who won the general election from Himachal Pradeshs Hamirpur, was also not retained in the Modi 3.0 Cabinet. He held the sports, and information & broadcasting portfolios in the second term of the Modi government. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who lost to Congress leader Shashi Tharoor in a close contest from Keralas Thiruvananthapuram, has also been dropped from the new government. Notably, senior party leaders like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Nirmala Sitharaman and Mansukh Mandaviya took oath as the Union ministers again in the Modi Cabinet 3.0. Heres a list of ministers, who are likely to get dropped in Modi Cabinet 3.0: Whether youre travelling for work or a family vacation, the last thing you want to worry about is making packing mistakes. It is crucial to remember what items are allowed on the flight and can pass through airport security smoothly. While there is plenty of information online about prohibited items, travellers on Reddit recently shared some funny, weird and surprising stories about things that were confiscated by airport security. Some responses are humorous, while others are almost too bizarre to believe. Taking to a subreddit, a user asked, Confiscated objects at the airport. What is your most interesting, funny or weird story about objects that were confiscated from you at the airport? The Redditor shared their own experience, claiming the strangest item they were forced to leave behind was a pot of honey. The thread was filled with numerous comments, as people shared their unique airport incidents. Someone wrote, Coming back from Iceland we had about $50 worth of their magnificent cheese spreads in our carry-on. The Reykjavik security security took them. We found more in the airport after security, so we bought a shitload. That shitload was confiscated in Dallas when we changed planes. My wife cried for an hour. It was a bad day. Another person shared, They confiscated a candle from me. A CANDLE! If you think that was weird, this one will shock you. A passenger shared that he had a copy of Dante Alighieris Inferno which was confiscated. November 2001 at the Charlotte Airport, I was reading suspicious material that was held for inspection. It was Dantes Inferno I was reading for a class. I had a grenade-shaped cologne called Spicebomb. They took it away when I was leaving Gatwick, a comment read. Another wrote, Poop-paper. On the way to New Zealand, they asked me to open my carry on. On top of my bag, theres a bundle of paper saying POOP on it. They said its an animal product and poses dangers to the NZ environment so they confiscated it to be destroyed. The lady was nice and didnt fine me. An individual shared, LA airport security insisted that we were importing food from outside the US. They kept us waiting for 2 hours and emptied our huge suitcase. Finally they got to a dry tangerine that must have travelled in a corner of that suitcase for the last 5 years and proudly confiscated it. One more added, Saddest confiscated item was some awesome slime when I was a kid probably, 11-12 and it was my only souvenir that I chose for myself at the Smithsonian space museum in DC. CAIRO: The main hospital in Sudans al-Fashir city has been attacked and put out of service, Doctors Without Borders (MSF), which supports the facility, told Reuters on Sunday, while local volunteers blamed the incident on the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The city, in the Darfur region of northwestern Sudan, is home to more than 1.8 million residents and displaced people, and is the latest front in a war between the Sudanese army and the RSF which began in April 2023. The RSF, which has taken over the capital Khartoum and most of western Sudan, is also seeking to advance further within the centre, as United Nations agencies say the people of Sudan are at imminent risk of famine. Some 130,000 people have fled their homes in al-Fashir as a result of the fighting in April and May, the United Nations has said. The RSF did not respond to a request for comment. MSF did not say who had attacked the hospital, the only hospital in al-Fashir capable of handling what it describes as daily mass casualty events. From May 10 to June 6, some 1,315 wounded arrived at the facility and 208 people have died there, but many people are not able to reach the hospital due to the fighting, MSF said. Michel-Olivier Lacharite, head of MSF emergency operations, told Reuters that the hospital had previously started evacuating patients after being impacted by fighting three times since May 25. The al-Fashir Emergency Response Room, a volunteer group, said on Sunday that RSF fighters raided the hospital on Saturday, killing and injuring several people and looting medicine and an ambulance and forcing the hospital to shut. An eyewitness told Reuters he saw people evacuating the hospital, and other eyewitnesses said the RSF had launched missiles at the hospital and its vicinity. A separate attack on Saturday on the Abu Shouk camp to the north of the city impacted another medical centre, injured more than 30, and killed at least two, the camp committee and a volunteer said. A report last week from The Yale Humanitarian Research Lab said some 40 settlements outside the city have been struck with arson attacks since March. Local residents have blamed the RSF for the attacks. Leaving the city has proven dangerous, as residents say those fleeing have been attacked and even killed on the main RSF-controlled road out of the city. Most of those leaving have taken routes either south to Zamzam camp, or west to the Tawila and Jebel Mara areas, which are controlled by armed groups, including the faction of the Sudan Liberation Army headed by Abdelwahid Mohamed Nour, an aid worker and residents said. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony. #WATCH | Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu arrives in Delhi to attend Prime Minister Designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony today. PM-Designate Modi will take the Prime Minister's oath for the third consecutive term today at 7.15 pm. pic.twitter.com/fm1mWrIb8N ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Leaders from nearby countries and the Indian Ocean region will gather as honoured guests at the swearing-in ceremony which will take place later in the evening. It is also Muizzus first visit to India after he became the island nations president on November 17 last year. The invitation by New Delhi to Muizzu and his acceptance to attend the swearing-in ceremony as an honoured guest is significant because ties between India and Maldives have been frosty of late. The ties came under severe strain since November last year when Muizzu, who leans towards China and campaigned on the India Out plank, took charge as Maldivian president. Few hours after he took his oath as the President of Maldives he demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. The Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month. President @MMuizzu of Maldives arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.Received by Secy (West) @AmbKapoor at the airport. India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours. pic.twitter.com/yAyUomJZeT Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) June 9, 2024 President Mohamed Muizzu of Maldives arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X, greeting the leader. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe and Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay are also attending the ceremony. KYODO NEWS - Jun 9, 2024 - 22:00 | All, World, Japan Some 40 Japanese nationals living in Taiwan threw their support behind earthquake-ravaged Hualien County as they embarked on a two-day tour there through Sunday to help promote the local tourism industry. The group led by Kazuyuki Katayama, Japan's de facto ambassador to Taiwan, met with the self-ruled island's Vice President Hsiao Bi-khim, who expressed hope that more Japanese people will visit the northeastern county affected by the April 3 quake that killed 18 people, tilted buildings and triggered landslides. He said the trip was aimed at encouraging Hualien residents, adding that participants will share their travel experiences on social media in hopes of promoting the local tourism industry. "It is my first time visiting Hualien. I'm absolutely thrilled," said Katayama, chief representative of the Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association Taipei Office. The tour members enjoyed whale watching and distributed tissues and flags carrying uplifting messages to local residents. Hsiao, who formerly served as a legislator representing Hualien, thanked Katayama for his actions in support of the county. She said Japan and Taiwan "help each other in times of difficulty," adding, "We also want to share the beautiful scenery" of Hualien. With the Taroko National Park, a main tourist attraction, closed due to the quake, the county has seen a slow recovery in its tourism sector. Only about 15 percent of rooms available at accommodation facilities were booked during the three-day Dragon Boat Festival holiday through Monday, a local tourist association said. Related coverage: Japan firm offers technology to detect sinkholes after Taiwan quake Strong aftershocks rattle Taiwan but no casualties reported Taiwan quake death toll rises to 16, Tsai vows speedy recovery NewsCenter1 Today Meteorologist/Multimedia Journalist Originally a Sioux Falls native, Sam came to Rapid City and fell in love with the Black Hills. She decided that she wanted to make western South Dakota her home. Recently, Sam graduated from the School of Mines with an M.S. in Atmospheric Sciences and is very excited to share her love of the weather at NewsCenter1. A Native American activist convicted in the 1975 murders of two FBI agents will make his case for parole on Monday for the first time in 15 years, in a hearing his lawyer says is "probably his last chance." Leonard Peltier's release has been supported over the years by Pope Francis and the Dalai Lama, as well as Nobel Peace Prize winners Nelson Mandela and Bishop Desmond Tutu. But the FBI has reiterated its opposition, NBC News reports. "We must never forget or put aside that Peltier intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions," Director Christopher Wray said in a statement Friday. Jack Coler and Ron Williams had gone to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota with a warrant to arrest a man in the theft of cowboy boots on June 26, 1975, FBI files indicate. They were shot at close range after a shootout began. Dozens of people took part in the shooting, but Peltier was found to be the only person who had a gun that used the type of bullets that killed the two agents. The federal government had withheld a ballistics report showing the bullets didn't come from his weapon, according to filings by Peltier later. Two co-defendants who claimed self-defense were acquitted. A retired federal prosecutor involved in the case after the trial has urged President Biden to commute Peltier's sentence. "He has served more than 46 years on the basis of minimal evidence, a result that I strongly doubt would be upheld in any court today," James Reynolds wrote. The FBI points out that the conviction "has withstood numerous appeals to multiple courts, including the US Supreme Court." Peltier's case Monday before the US Parole Commission in Florida also will cite his declining health, including diabetes and partial blindness suffered in a stroke. The federal Bureau of Prisons "does not say he is a danger," said Peltier's attorney, Kevin Sharp. "This is about have they extracted enough retribution." Native News Online urges parole in an opinion piece here. (More Leonard Peltier stories.) Iran's Guardian Council on Sunday approved the country's hard-line parliament speaker and five others to run in the June 28 presidential election following a helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others. The council again barred former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a firebrand populist known for the crackdown that followed his disputed 2009 reelection, from running, the AP reports. The council's decision represents the starting gun for a shortened, two-week campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once floated as a possible successor for the 85-year-old cleric. The selections by the Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Khamenei, continued the practice of not accepting a woman or anyone calling for radical change. The most prominent candidate remains Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Qalibaf, as a former Guard general, was part of a violent crackdown on university students in 1999. He also reportedly ordered live gunfire to be used against students in 2003 while the country's police chief, per the AP. Other candidates include Saeed Jalili, former Jalili, former senior nuclear negotiator, who ran in 2013, and registered in 2021 before withdrawing to back Raisi. Tehran Mayor Ali Reza Zakani also withdrew in 2021 to back Raisi. Mostafa Pourmohammadi is a former minister of justice. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Raisi's vice president, ran in 2021 and came in last. Masoud Pezeshkian is the only reformist candidate among a slate of hardliners and is not seen as having much chance. The council disqualified Ahmadinejad, the firebrand, Holocaust-questioning former president who challenged Khamenei toward the end of his term. It also blocked former speaker of parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a conservative with strong ties to the relatively moderate former President Hassan Rouhani. Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati and Eshaq Jahangiri, who was vice president under moderate President Hassan Rouhani, were also disqualified. (More Iran election stories.) Benny Gantz, a centrist presence in Israel's emergency government, resigned on Sunday over Benjamin Netanyahu's management of the war in Gaza. The defection fractures, but appears unlikely to immediately break, the prime minister's ruling coalition. Gantz had said he would quit if there was no postwar plan in place by Saturday. "Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing to the real victory," the opposition leader said in a televised statement to the nation, per the New York Times . "Therefore, we are leaving the emergency government with a heavy but complete heart." Gantz was one of three voting members of the war cabinet, with Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, both members of the Likud Party. In his statement, Gantz urged Gallant to resign as well, per the Washington Post. On Saturday, the prime minister had urged Gantz to stay, per CNN. "We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us," Netanyahu posted on Telegram. "I call on Benny Gantzdo not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity." The government is now made up of members of the right-wing Likud, two far-right parties, and two ultra-Orthodox factions. The National Unity party was not part of Netanyahu's coalition, which still has 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset. But the prime minister already was facing increasing pressure to end the fighting in Gaza and secure the return of Hamas' remaining hostages, from allies including the US as well as the captives' families. "The snowball has started to roll,"said Gayil Talshir, a political scientist at Hebrew University. "Gantz's move is not going to directly put an end to this coalition, but the coalition is beginning to collapse in on itself." (More Israel-Hamas war stories.) We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) ROME, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Polls in Italy have opened at 3 p.m. local time (1300 GMT) on Saturday, as Italians are taking part in the European Union (EU) election aimed at choosing the next parliament. Over 51 million people here (including some 3 million new young voters) are eligible to cast their ballot to choose 76 Italian lawmakers out of total 720 Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) making the European assembly. Italian voting stations will close at 11 p.m. local time on Sunday. Overall, the process across the 27 EU member states is taking place over 4 days (June 6-9), involving an estimated 360 million voters. After being elected, the MEPs will have to choose the next president of the European Commission, which is the block's executive body. As such, the results of this vote will shape the EU's political path for the next five years. RIGHTWING FAVORITE The result of the Italian vote is seen as among the crucial ones, as Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's right-wing party Brothers of Italy (FdI) is projected to be the favorite in the country, and major opinion polls at EU level forecast a historic surge of rightwing forces across the continent. The largest political families in the EU are the conservative European People's Party (EPP), center-left Progressive Alliance of Socialists and Democrats (S&D), liberal Renew Europe, and center-right European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group, to which Meloni's FdI belongs. The ECR group is however expected to break from far-right parties that include France's National Rally, and German Alternative for Germany among others, and back moderate conservative forces. In this case, ECR's lawmakers will be crucial in order to forge a stable majority in the next assembly in Brussels. MAIN TOPICS IN DEBATE In Italy, the other main parties running are center-right Forza Italia, center-left Democratic Party, far-right and euro-sceptic Lega, and the populist Five Star Movement. Global geopolitical issues, and especially the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, have been at least as important as domestic and European topics in the debate this time. Meloni confirmed Italy's position in favor of supporting Ukraine, and the same was for the Democratic Party, which is projected as the likely second-largest Italian force in this vote. Other key issues dominating the Italian campaign have been migration, the need for more investments in the national health system, and a proposal by the government to amend Italy's constitution to allow citizens to directly choose the prime minister. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) A woman casts her vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) This photo shows ballots and a ballot box at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) This photo shows ballots at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) A man prepares to vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) This photo shows ballots at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) People prepare to vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) People prepare to vote at a polling station in Rome, Italy, June 8, 2024. The voting for the European Parliament elections started in Italy on Saturday. (Xinhua/Li Jing) AFP | Stockholm, Sweden The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Sweden is embarking on a colossal four-year project to safeguard a nearly 400-yearold warship that is the centrepiece of its famous Vasa Museum. The ship, one of Stockholms main tourist attractions, sank on its maiden voyage in 1628 and remained at the bottom of the sea until it was salvaged in 1961. We want Vasa to be preserved for the future, project manager Peter Rydebjork told AFP. Despite the long delicate recovery operation, the ship started to deteriorate faster once it emerged from the sea after three centuries, he said. In one of the most embarrassing naval calamities ever, the Vasa capsized only 15 minutes into its maiden voyage because of a design flaw, costing the lives of several dozen crew members. Stopping the movement - After being protected by mud and the brackish waters of the Baltic Sea for three centuries, preserving it while on display at one of Stockholms most popular museums has proved more complicated. The wood has contracted over the years, and the ship is being compressed due to gravity. It is also tilting slightly to port. We have to stop the movement, Rydebjork said. Work on building a new support structure began in April to replace the fragile current one. The first phase of the project, dubbed Stotta Vasa (Support Vasa), is to stabilise the wreck. Then comes the creation of a structure to support its weight and finally the ship will be righted. A Bulgarian citizen votes during the elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 9, 2024. Bulgarians went to polls on Sunday to vote in the elections for the National Assembly and the European Parliament. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) A Bulgarian citizen votes during the elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 9, 2024. Bulgarians went to polls on Sunday to vote in the elections for the National Assembly and the European Parliament. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) Bulgaria's President Rumen Radev votes during the elections at a polling station in Sofia, Bulgaria, June 9, 2024. Bulgarians went to polls on Sunday to vote in the elections for the National Assembly and the European Parliament. (Xinhua/Lin Hao) Tourists with floral head decorations walk in the ancient Sanfangqixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys) area in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 7, 2024. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) Tourists visit a street in the ancient Sanfangqixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys) area in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 7, 2024. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) Tourists pose for selfies in front of a heart-shaped tree on a street in the ancient Sanfangqixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys) area in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 7, 2024. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) A studio for lacquer specialty artwork of Fuzhou is pictured in Lianjiang Village in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 6, 2024. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) Tourists visit the Yan Fu academy in the ancient Sanfangqixiang (Three Lanes and Seven Alleys) area in Fuzhou, southeast China's Fujian Province, June 7, 2024. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) A drone photo taken on June 7, 2024 shows a view of Linpu Village in Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) A drone photo taken on June 4, 2024 shows the aerial view of Fuzhou City, southeast China's Fujian Province. The municipal government of Fuzhou has taken various measures in recent years to protect ancient buildings and structures in the city, which are important heritages of great historical and cultural values. For their parts, these sites also serve as tourist attractions and help boost local tourism sector. (Xinhua/Lin Shanchuan) DAR ES SALAAM, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Around 1.1 million Burundian refugees sheltered in camps in western Tanzania have been voluntarily repatriated to their country since 2017, a Burundian official said Saturday. Theophile Ndarufatiye, permanent executive secretary at Burundi's Ministry of the Interior, Community Development, and Public Security, said about 100,000 Burundian refugees were still sheltered in Nduta and Nyarugusu refugee camps in Kigoma region, western Tanzania. Ndarufatiye made the remarks in a meeting with Tanzania's Minister for Home Affairs Hamad Masauni, which was also attended by officials from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. The two officials agreed that the remaining Burundian refugees should be repatriated voluntarily by Dec. 31, 2024. Ndarufatiye thanked the government of Tanzania for accommodating Burundian refugees since time immemorial. The voluntary repatriation exercise of Burundian refugees started in September 2017 after leaders from Tanzania and Burundi expressed satisfaction over peace restoration in Burundi. Maximilian Rodio sees drag queens as superheroes. They use makeup and garments as armor, Rodio, president of Hammonton Pride, told NJ Advance Media. They are out there for political and social reasons. They are there to protect the community. Rodio is one of the creators of Drag is Not a Crime, an art exhibit that debuted last week at the Noyes Museum of Art at Stockton University Galleries at Kramer Hall in Hammonton. It will feature a collection of visual artwork, fashion designs, photography and performance pieces, and it seeks to dismantle prejudice and stereotypes surrounding drag culture, a statement from the university said. We hope to educate people that drag is an important cornerstone of the gay community, Rodio said. Ive lived in Hammonton my whole life. I never even thought this would happen. To have an opportunity to do it in my own community is something special. The free exhibit runs through Sept. 19. Rodio said it blends history with glamor to educate and entertain. He said it also highlights the importance of diversity, acceptance and self-expression. The exhibit explores the history of drag artists and invites visitors to question preconceived notions about gender, identity and beauty, Michael Cagno, the executive director of the Noyes Museum said in a news release for the opening. It focuses on the history of drag, particularly from South Jersey, Atlantic City and Hammonton, Cagno told N.J. Advance Media. We do not shy away from relevant topics. Were not looking to change minds, but were looking to educate. A law restricting drag performance on public property was signed last year in Tennessee, but it was blocked by a federal court ruling. Several other states have tried and failed to pass similar laws. June is gay Pride Month and coincides with the anniversary of violent riots in New York City in 1969 after police arrests at a gay club called Stone Wall. New Jersey is one of the safer states for the queer communities, Rodio said. " But we hope to educate people that drag is an important cornerstone of the gay community. Its metaphorical. It creates a female illusion. Kramer Hall is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. For more information, call 609-626-3805. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism you rely on and trust. Bill Duhart may be reached at bduhart@njadvancemedia.com. When Mayor Steve Fulop first announced the Centre Pompidou x Jersey City, it was pitched as a mission to return Journal Square to being the heartbeat of New Jersey with arts and culture. Economic impact reports, however, project the proposed satellite location of a renowned Paris art museum could also become an expensive burden for nearby property owners, yielding higher taxes without much direct benefit. Joro spiders, those scary-looking critters that can apparently fly through the air when their giant webs are lifted by the wind, have been making big headlines in recent weeks mainly because of predictions that the creepy crawlers might make their way into New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania as early as this summer. While the news may send shivers up the spine of people who get the willies just thinking about spiders, experts say theres nothing to worry about. They say theres no evidence the Joro spiders have moved anywhere close to our region of the country, and even if they did, it could take years for them to get established and multiply in big numbers. On top of that, even though these spiders are venomous, experts say the level of toxins they would transmit if they bit a human would be very small and likely harmless. Whether or not that eases your fear, here are several facts about Joro spiders, also known as parachuting spiders. What are Joro spiders? This 8-legged critter (which is a type of arthropod, so its technically not an insect) has the scientific name of Trichonephila clavata. It belongs to a group of spiders known as orb weavers because they can spin highly organized webs shaped like a wheel. The males are small, but the females are much larger, with bright yellow markings. When fully grown, the female spiders body can grow up to an inch long and its legs which are black with yellow stripes can span up to 3 to 4 inches. So stretched out, its diameter can be as large as a human palm. Adult male Joro spiders are much smaller and duller in color compared to females, with a body length of only 0.3 inches, the Penn State Extension notes. The males are typically light brown, with lateral stripes that are dark brown. Some experts say large "flying" Joro spiders might move into New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as early as the summer of 2024. Pictured here is a female Joro spider.NJ Advance Media | Canva Why are they called Joro spiders? This spider got its name from a mythological creature a Japanese spider demon known as Jorogumo. Why are they called parachuting spiders? The Joro spider is known for spinning large, intricate, wheel-shaped webs some as wide as 10 feet that can be lifted into the air by gusts of wind. Researchers say this allows these pests to travel to different locations miles away, make new colonies, multiply, then move again to other locations. The process of the webs flying through the air is commonly known as ballooning, and sometimes called kiting. Where did Joro spiders originate? Experts say the Joro spider is native to China, India, Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam. Its first confirmed sighting in the United States was in northern Georgia in 2013 or 2014. Researchers believe the spider likely hitched a ride on a shipping container or a potted plant that originated from Asia. Some experts say large "flying" Joro spiders might move into New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as early as the summer of 2024. Pictured here is a female Joro spider.NJ Advance Media | Canva Which states have these spiders? Experts say the Joro spider has been seen in large numbers in northern Georgia and has spread to areas of Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee during the past few years. One Joro spider was found in Oklahoma, but it didnt get there by flying through the air on a web. It reportedly traveled in a car with a graduate student from the University of Georgia. Recent sightings have been reported as far north as Maryland and West Virginia. But as of early June, there have been no confirmed sightings of Joro spiders in New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania or Delaware. Will Joro spiders spread to northern states? Researchers from the University of Georgia released a study in February 2022 saying Joro spiders can tolerate cold temperatures, so they may eventually make their way up and down the eastern United States including northern states. Its inevitable. Were going to get them, Russ Sieb, owner of NJ Pest Control, based in northern New Jersey, told NJ Advance Media in early June 2024. Its not a matter of if, its a matter of when. When will the spiders arrive here? No one knows for sure. Some experts say it likely will take several years for the Joro spiders to make their way up to Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania or New York through natural means and perhaps as long as five to 10 years to get up to New England. However, they note these spiders might be able to spread to northern states much sooner than that if they hitch a ride on cars, trucks or shipping containers or if they get carried by the winds of a strong storm. Experts from the Penn State Extension say these spiders have been spreading only about 10 miles per year since they first arrived in Georgia. At that rate, they may reach southeastern Pennsylvania in 35 years and northwestern Pennsylvania in 60 years by natural means, the Penn State Extension says. However, spiderlings (baby spiders) are capable of moving tens to hundreds of miles via ballooning, so a storm blowing in the right direction at the right time of year may move them in large jumps. The Penn State Extension also notes the spiders arrival time in northern states could be pushed up by accidental human transport. During recent weeks, some experts predicted the Joro spiders could start to appear in northern states like New York and New Jersey as early as this summer. Others said its more likely to happen later in 2024. Some experts say large "flying" Joro spiders might move into New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania as early as the summer of 2024. Pictured here is a female Joro spider.NJ Advance Media | Canva Can Joro spiders survive harsh winters? Experts say its not known for certain whether Joro spiders or their eggs can survive long, harsh winters. But the researchers in Georgia determined the Joro is more likely than similar types of spiders to survive brief periods of freezing temperatures. They also said these spiders are able to create colonies and thrive in most areas of Japan, which has a very similar climate to the U.S. and is approximately the same latitude. It looks like the Joros could probably survive throughout most of the Eastern Seaboard here, which is pretty sobering, Andy Davis, one of the researchers, said. Can Joro spiders hurt people or animals? Because they have tiny fangs and are not known to be aggressive, Joro spiders are relatively harmless to people and pets, making their presence more of a nuisance than dangerous, according to a report by the University of Georgia. Joros wont bite unless cornered, and their fangs are often not large enough to break human skin. If a person happens to get bit by a Joro spider, they may get localized redness and swelling, Sieb said. If you happen to be allergic, hypersensitive to things, then you might have a bigger reaction. Can Joro spiders harm trees or plants? At this time, experts say theres no evidence Joro spiders will cause damage to trees or plants. They seem to be merely an aesthetic annoyance because they spin huge webs that can stretch across landscaping, porches, lawn furniture and power lines. What do Joro spiders eat? Joro spiders tend to eat various insects, including stink bugs, yellow jackets and mosquitoes, and they also feed on other types of arthropods, such as lady beetles (better known as ladybugs). Michael Raupp, an entomologist from the University of Maryland, says Joro spiders will also feed on a pest that has been threatening grapevines, other agricultural crops and some types of trees in New Jersey and other eastern states during the past several years the spotted lanternfly. So that may be one good thing about these scary-looking spiders. Note: Parts of this report were originally published in March 2022 and have been updated for this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Len Melisurgo may be reached at LMelisurgo@njadvancemedia.com or on X at @LensReality. A majority of New Jerseyans approve the legalization of Psilocybin a psychedelic drug derived from a certain variety of mushrooms for treatment to reduce depression and anxiety, according to a recent poll by the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University. Fifty-five percent of state residents support legalizing the treatment under a doctors supervision, while 20% oppose and 24% are unsure, poll results showed. The effects of this treatment are comparable to the effects of more traditional pharmaceutical drugs used to treat depression, like selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, medications, the researchers said. After more than a decade of sturdy improvements in Newark schools, we are now seeing a tragic reversal of that trend. Test scores have collapsed under Gov. Phil Murphy: More than 80 percent of district third graders cant read on grade level. At five district schools, just one third grader passed the state reading exam last Spring. At five other schools, just three third graders passed. Yet last week, the superintendent of Newark, Roger Leon, was bragging about how well the district is doing, living in a make-believe world. By any objective measure, the progress that Newarks schools are making is undeniably incredible, he said through a spokeswoman. Really? Overall, only 29% of Newark students can read on grade level and just 15% are doing math at grade level, according to state tests last Spring. In both reading and math, those scores went up just two percentage points over the previous year, and the third grade reading scores didnt budge from 19% proficiency; there was no improvement. This is alarming, and it is a crisis, Vivian Cox Fraser, the president & CEO of the Urban League of Essex County, told us last week. And because it is a crisis, we need everybody engaged in it. We need an entire, community response. But Leon and other Newark school officials appear uninterested in holding the district accountable, and sadly, the Murphy administration is doing almost nothing to fix this, sending more and more money and hoping for the best. Instead of sending in the cavalry to rescue Newarks kids, he is looking the other way, as his depleted Department of Education checks boxes and takes even these failing schools off the federal watchlists. In October, the superintendent instructed members of the school board to award the district the highest possible scores on the system for triggering state oversight, known as QSAC, and tried to wriggle out of improvements. Our job is not to say, oh, it shouldnt really be less than 100 points, Leon maintained at a school board meeting. Thats the states job. Thats the job of people who dont want the district to demonstrate greatness. And the DOE emphasizes that even Newark schools with alarming test scores no longer meet the federal criteria for state oversight. Like Hawkins Street School, where just one out of 64 third graders passed the state reading exam last Spring; George Washington Carver, where just one out of 50 third graders passed, or Rafael Hernandez, where just three out of 40 third graders passed. The federal criteria are deeply flawed, but that doesnt handcuff the state. Murphys DOE could intervene in these schools on its own, but its not. In fact, critics say Murphy has underfunded the team that is charged with turning around failing schools, the Office of Comprehensive Support, shrinking it from 70 people to a tiny fraction of that. Is this true? How many staffers does it have now? Neither the governor nor the DOE would answer that simple question, saying its a personnel issue. Were still awaiting a response to these questions under the Open Public Records Act, but dont count on it thats the transparency law that Murphy gutted last week, over an outcry from public watchdogs. Yes, the governors budget has increased state aid to schools in Newark and other districts, but without accountability, what good will the money do? This is a district that over an 8-month period sent staffers and school board members to countless sunny places like Palm Springs, Orlando, Puerto Rico, Last Vegas, New Orleans and Honolulu for conferences; in October, it sent 19 school officials to a luxury waterfront hotel in San Diego. It was also looking to spend more than $4 million to create a museum, while kids cant read. What we are witnessing is the sudden reversal of a significant and dramatic policy success in Newark under state control, which raised performance over more than a decade citywide. It expanded successful charters and opportunities for kids: In 2018, Black students in Newark were four times more likely to attend a school beating the state average than they were in 2006. It boosted the districts proficiency ranking too. When compared to other low-income cities and towns in New Jersey, the districts average test score rank improved from the 36th percentile to the 64th in reading, and from the 33rd to the 50th in math with most of those strides happening between 2014 and 2018. And while the pandemic has been a hardship, its not an excuse. Newarks academic decline started before the pandemic began. Its student performance fell deeper than many other districts. And its lagging recovery has been among the worst in the state, Harvard economist Thomas Kane and other researchers found trailing other low-income cities like Camden, Elizabeth, Jersey City, and across the river, Philadelphia. Philly kids are now almost back to where they were in math before the pandemic and a little above where they were in reading. The charter schools in Newark are also doing a much better job at catching kids up: In the 2022-2023 school year, their low-income students beat the state average in reading outperforming their much wealthier peers. Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz, a political ally of Leon, did not respond to our inquiry about the districts performance. But Leon, who became superintendent in 2018, sent us a statement claiming that Newark is a truly high performing district, and that other districts throughout New Jersey are learning from Newarks example. The district has opened nine new schools, he said, student enrollment has increased to an all-time high, chronic absenteeism is at an all-time low, average daily attendance is soaring, graduation rates are the highest in decades, hundreds of high school students are earning associates degrees and college scholarships are off the charts, students are going to prestigious colleges, and student achievement across district schools is the highest ever. Certainly, the district may have improved on some metrics. But the overall attitude here is one of denial. A 2% improvement in district reading and math scores over a year is not incredible, notes Fraser, who called this underwhelming. In your inquiries to multiple sources who have shared your questions with us, it is clear that you are trying to create a story where there is none, Leon told us, going on to add: The facts here speak for themselves. And, ultimately, they do. Can children in this district read? Can they do basic math? The numbers dont lie. Newark is falling tragically short, and with the superintendents Trumpian mindset and the governors disengagement, why believe anything will change for these kids? Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. Senior Airman Roger Fortson, a Black man, was alone in his off-base apartment in Fort Walton Beach, Florida, on May 3, talking on the phone with his girlfriend. Suddenly, there was furious knocking on his door. Nervous, he retrieved his licensed handgun and then opened the door with the gun facing downward by his side. Okaloosa County Deputy Sheriff Eddie Duran was standing there with his weapon pointing at Fortson, who did not move. Without any command to drop his gun, Duran shot and killed Fortson. The deputy was fired earlier this month. Paul Ryan has seen enough. The former speaker of the House and vice presidential nominee has had a sometimes contentious relationship with Donald Trump, but hes made up his mind on who hell support in November. Not Trump. Character is too important for me, Ryan told Yahoo Finance earlier this week. [The presidency] is a job that requires the kind of character [Trump] doesnt have. He added: Democracy is being tested in two very specific ways. One within, with our polarization eating each other alive. ... The second one is from [the outside], from authoritarian regimes who are basically saying they got the mojo, they can make the decisions faster, they can beat democracy. Ryan, who left office in 2019, said last year that he hoped that another Republican nominee would gain enough momentum to overtake Trump after the first primaries. Ryan represented southeastern Wisconsin in Congress for 20 years, the last four as speaker. If the race is between Trump and President Joe Biden, Ryan said at the time, I think Biden wins. But hes not throwing his support behind the presumptive Democratic nominee. Ryan told Yahoo Finance he plans to write in a Republican candidate. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @MatthewArco. As a onetime federal prosecutor, Gurbir S. Grewal spent a fair amount of time in courtrooms over the years. But little could have prepared him for his appearance in New York last week, this time as a key witness in the corruption trial of U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, where he was called to recount a still shocking meeting he had with the once-powerful Democrat when Grewal was then serving as New Jerseys attorney general and the states top law enforcement officer. The extraordinary meeting of foreign ministers of Developing 8 (D-8) countries held in Turkiye's Istanbul Saturday called for an immediate and unconditional ceasefire in the Gaza Strip. XIAMEN, June 8 (Xinhua) -- China has seen new progress in the development of its marine economy and promoted cooperation and partnership in international maritime governance, an official said here on Saturday. The country has made constant efforts to improve the protection and development of marine resources, said Sun Shuxian, vice minister of natural resources and head of the State Oceanic Administration, at a ceremony in Xiamen, east China's Fujian Province, to mark the World Oceans Day. Official data showed that China's marine economy accounted for about 8 percent of its GDP during the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025). In 2023, the economic aggregate of China's marine industry reached 9.9 trillion yuan (about 1.39 trillion U.S. dollars), playing a key role in stabilizing economic growth. In the first quarter of this year, the container throughput for foreign trade at China's ports increased 11 percent year on year, due to the rebound of external demand and a relatively low base a year earlier, according to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources. To promote the development of a marine community with a shared future, China has signed cooperation agreements with more than 50 countries and international organizations, said the vice minister. Looking ahead, China will advance the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road, facilitate in-depth bilateral and multilateral cooperation with coastal countries, and fully participate in the formulation and implementation of mechanisms and rules for international maritime governance, Sun said. Students and school leavers interested in a career in clinical Microbiology or Cellular Pathology can become a Micro Detective this month at a pair of events hosted by the Royal Devon University Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The two career events will offer a unique opportunity to discover how lab scientists make a difference in patients' lives through fun activities and the chance to meet the expert team. School, college, and university students considering their options, career changers, and people simply curious about Pathology, are all encouraged to come to the events being held in Exeter and Barnstaple. Attendees are invited to step into the shoes of a microbiologist and solve a case using their detective skills. Unravel the series of clues in hands-on challenges to understand the amazing work that microbiologists carry out. Amy Denman-Johnson, Microbiology Service Manager at the Royal Devon said: These events have been created to give people a chance to understand the hidden role Biomedical Scientists plays in patient care. We are keen to help students understand more of the career options and routes available as well as to experience first-hand what it is like to be a Micro Detective! There will also be opportunities to quiz the scientific team about the work they do, the course options and qualifications needed, as well the different career pathways to become a Biomedical Scientist, Healthcare Science Assistant or Consultant. Dont miss the opportunity to become a Micro Detective and solve the clues at the fun, interactive careers events at the Royal Devon on: Ten years ago, when clearing out my parents home of 50 years, I had no idea what I was getting into, let alone what I was doing. I had never been to an estate sale, now I was going to have one. I took a week off from my job in Florida, flew to California and dove headfirst into the quicksand, a paralyzing quagmire of family history, memories, sentiment, legend, and surprise-filled boxes, and all laced with my own guilt for being so ill-prepared to handle it all. But I couldnt wallow. Though I had no earthly notion what anything should sell for, I made wild stabs at pricing so I could meet the goal of clearing out the house to get it on the market. The proceeds would help pay for my elderly parents long-term care. I get PTSD just thinking about it. The memories of this life-altering ordeal came flooding back this past week as I talked with Melissa Sullivan, owner of The Posh Peacock, an estate sales company serving greater Orlando. Where was she when I needed her? Sullivan fell into the world of estate sales four years ago after working in IT for 25 years. Ready for a career change, she started helping a woman who had a small, private estate sale company, but no technical skills. She didnt accept credit cards, and didnt have a website, said Sullivan, who fixed that. Shortly after, the woman died of cancer. Sullivan kept the business going and growing. Today, Posh Peacock, handles about 25 sales a year. Knowing services like hers exist to clear out family homes and turn material objects into cash and freedom just makes me so happy. My soul feels lighter because I now know I can stop worrying about all those jam-packed homes out there threatening to fall like avalanches onto the heads of adult children. Though an estate sales company can be just what a family needs, some intrepid types want to tackle the sales themselves, which has its own rewards. Either way, I found Sullivans insider information useful. Though too late for me, maybe these takeaways can help you: Marni: Who are your clients? Melissa: Two-thirds of the homes we clear belong to people downsizing or moving into assisted living. One third belong to someone who has passed. If the owner has died, we sell every item in the house after family members take what they want. For downsizers, we assess what theyre taking with them to see if enough remains to justify an estate sale, the equivalent of about four rooms of furniture, plus household goods. Marni: What if downsizers want to hold their own estate sales? Mellisa: You dont need an estate sales company. Families who want to do this themselves can follow the same process we do. Empty all cupboards, closets and drawers. Separate out trash. Set aside what you want to keep or give to someone. Everything else you can sell or donate. The two most difficult parts of the job are pricing and having enough help to make sure items dont walk away. Many pricing tools are available now. One is WorthPoint.com(https://www.worthpoint.com) an app that lets you look up items and find suggested pricing. Looking up eBay sold prices is another good resource. Marni: How do you prevent theft? Melissa: We dont allow purses or backpacks inside. We also group small items together near the jewelry counter, which is staffed constantly, and have staff trained to watch every exit. Marni: How much does the average sale gross, and what is your cut? Mellissa: The usual split is 60 percent to the client, 40 percent to the estate sales company. Most homes we liquidate gross $12,000 or more. In that case, the homeowner would get $7,200, and we would get $4,800. That goes for staffing, which runs about $2,500, advertising, and art consultants or appraisers we bring in to help us price collectibles. Marni: How long does the process take? Melissa: We are in and out in a week. Day one, six-to-eight workers go through the house, and inventory everything. Then we clean and polish merchandise, so it shows well, and stage the sale, creating vignettes so the house looks like a boutique. Over the next few days, we price and photograph items to promote the sale online. Friday the sale starts. On Saturday, prices drop 25 percent (on art and collectibles) to as much as 50 percent, and on Sunday we discount by 60 percent. Monday, anything left goes to a local charity and the client gets a donation receipt. Marni: Whats worth more than people expect, and whats worth less? Melissa: Clothing, especially vintage clothing, costume jewelry and tools sell really well. Tools hold their value because no one cares if they look old. Coins and stamps dont go for as much as they used to. And I still remember how heartbreaking it was to tell one woman that her collection of over 200 Madame Alexander dolls in their original boxes wasnt worth much. Marni: How can owners help? Melissa: We welcome any appraisal or other information they have about their valuables. Most important is that they take anything they do not want sold off the premises, or buyers will find it. Marni: What should those wanting to hire an estate sales company look for? Melissa: Ask what they do with items left after the sale. The company should donate them and give you a receipt so you can write off the donation. However, some companies take possession, resell the items and take all the profit. Its a chronic problem in the industry. Make sure the company you hire has sufficient liability insurance. Also ask about any extra fees beyond the commission. Marni: What do you wish more people knew? Melissa: For some of their beautiful furnishings, like living room sets, they will be lucky to get 20 percent of what they paid. This is where research tools can help. I learned early on that you will make more money if you lower your prices slightly. Price too high and items will sit, then go for much less. DHAKA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A three-day fruit fair in Bangladesh, organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, concluded here Saturday. This edition of the fair, themed "Fruits, Nutrition, and Smart Agriculture for a Wealthy Bangladesh," opened on Thursday. Eight government institutions and 55 private institutions from across the South Asian country participated in this year's fruit fair. A total of 63 stalls displayed different types of fruit and fruit cultivation technology. Visitors learned about different techniques of fruit cultivation and bought various types of chemical-free fruit. Former Agriculture Minister Md Abdur Razzaque, also the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Ministry of Agriculture, called for efforts to increase the output of fruits. According to the Department of Agricultural Extension, the total production of fruits stood at 1,50,33,000 tonnes in the country in fiscal year 2022-23. This past week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of LaPorte County celebrated the end of its first full school year of operating eight Clubs across Michigan City, LaPorte, Westville and Kingsford Heights. From academics to the arts, from volunteerism to career exploration, Boys & Girls Clubs of LaPorte County provided local children with opportunities to discover their skills, passions and potential at eight different locations around LaPorte County. Its newest club previously known as the Brighton Street Club moved to its current home at Hailmann Elementary School in January, and already has more than 50 registered club members. In total, the clubs served approximately 540 children through its 2023-2024 afterschool programming, at no cost to participants. Each location offered a diverse weekly schedule designed to promote Academic Success, Character and Citizenship and Healthy Lifestyles. Stepped-Up STEM, locally developed and funded through a grant from Howmet Aerospace Foundation, introduced club members to science, technology, engineering and math concepts through a series of messy, hands-on projects and experiments. The club was also an approved provider for Indiana Learns, a high dosage tutoring program with a maximum ratio of four club members to one staff member. The club's free programs are funded through grants, donations and special events. The organizations Phase 3 programming expansion has been made possible thanks in part to support from the Health Foundation of LaPorte. From now through June 20, a supporter has agreed to match all Annual Campaign contributions up to $5,000. Donations can be made at www.bgclpc.org/give/ or by mail to 321 Detroit St., Michigan City, Indiana, 46350. It has been a fantastic school year at all of our clubs, said Michelle Shirk, BGCLPC Chief Executive Officer. Our team is truly grateful to our club families, team members, partners and supporters for helping us make our vision of expanded programming a reality," Shirk said. "We would greatly appreciate your continued support as we gear up to serve more than 400 children through our free summer camps in Michigan City and LaPorte. Thank you for helping us make a difference." GALLERY: The Times Photos of the Week Boys & Girls Clubs of LaPorte County is a member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, a nationwide affiliation of more than 5,000 autonomous Club organizations. For more information about BGCLPC and its programming,visit www.bgclpc.org. CROWN POINT After five days of testimony from law enforcement, forensic experts, multiple witnesses and the defendant himself, a Lake Criminal Court jury found Drew Carter III, 46, guilty of murder, kidnapping and two criminal confinement charges in connection with the 2019 death of Jessica Flores and kidnapping of Melina Cottrell. Jurors left to deliberate around 6 p.m. Friday and arrived back in the courtroom around 11 p.m. to deliver their guilty verdict. He was also found guilty on multiple firearm enhancements. Carter, who had been out of jail on a personal recognizance bond since January 2023, was taken into custody following the conclusion of the trial. Carter's sentence will likely result in life in prison. His sentencing hearing is set for July 17. Jessica Flores Jessica Flores, 36, of South Chicago Heights, was murdered on Feb. 25, 2019 by Drew Carter III, 46, who is looking at a lengthy prison sentenc The final day of trial afforded testimony from Lake County sheriff's Detective Kristopher Adams and Carter himself. Adams said he worked on the now-defunct Lake County Metro Homicide Task Force in 2019 and was alerted of Flores and Cottrell's disappearances after he learned police in South Chicago Heights were looking for the two women, who had last been seen Feb. 25 in a white 2010 Nissan Altima in Gary. Chicago police had discovered a white 2010 Nissan Altima burned on the city's south side the day after the women went missing. Deputy Prosecutor Eric Randall asked him for more details how he conducted the investigation. He said tracked down Cottrell's mother and was eventually led to Cottrell about 12 days after the killing. Cottrell, the sole witness of the homicide, told Adams what she witnessed on the night of the murder. Adams said he recruited people for a search party and used drones and ATVs to look for Flores in woodsy areas near where Flores was last seen. At that point, Adams said they knew they were "looking for a body." The two searches yielded negative results. Adams said he sent Carter's cell phones in to forensic experts to extract data, where he discovered pictures of Flores on the phone from sent a few days before the murder. He said Carter's phone also included seven searches made between March 3 and 12 of a Times article related to the search for Cottrell and Flores. During cross-examination, defense attorney Mark Gruenhagen asked Adams if these searches could be because he was a concerned friend, not a killer trying ensure his victim's body was not found. "Did he research how to get blood out of Nissan Ultima?" Defense attorney Mark Gruenhagen asked. "Were there any photos or messages where he threatened to harm her?" Adams said no to both questions. Her skull was found approximately a year later in Gary's Brunswick Park by a city worker. Brunswick Park is on the other side of the railroad tracks from the home Flores, Cottrell and Carter were seen at earlier in the night. Gruenhagen moved for a directed verdict, or a ruling directly from judge, after Adams' testimony. He said the state did not have enough evidence to prove the case. "When you take it as a whole, the only evidence regarding the shooting came from that witness," Gruenhagen said in reference to Cottrell. "It is completely out of believability." Randall said this was not true. He also argued this was "not the stage" to take the right render a verdict away from the jury. Lake Criminal Court Judge Natalie Bokota agreed. When Carter took the stand, he testified he met Flores by chance in a parking lot in 2018 and described her as a "firecracker." They began an intimate relationship shortly after meeting, but he broke up with her once he found out that she was using drugs. They remained on good terms, however. He told jurors multiple times he had a "special bond" with Flores. He denied killing her or hurting Cottrell. "Why would I hurt her?" Carter asked. "I've got a bond with Jessica." Carter said that he hadn't even sat inside the Nissan which he was accused of burning. "I never even touched it," he said. When asked why he did not worry initially about Flores going missing, he said that she often took off for weeks at a time. Randall asked Carter if he remembered the last time he saw Flores before she died. Carter said he did not remember. "The night you shot her?" Randall asked. "I didn't shoot her," Carter said. Cottrell testified Wednesday that she met Carter for the first time the day of Flores' death at the home of George Heath, whom she knew as "Sacks," at his home on the 3100 block of West 22nd Avenue in Gary. She said she and Flores left the home with Carter during the night and Carter shot Flores after they got into an argument. When Cottrell tried to escape, she said he tackled her, put her in the Nissan and took her to the Morton Street house. They had a failed sexual encounter and once Carter fell asleep, she was able to escape, she said. She said she didn't immediately go to the police after the killing because she was scared of Carter because he told her he had killed someone else that day. At some point in the night, she said, Carter told her and Flores he was was looking for a woman by the nickname of "Little Debbie," whom he had allegedly gone to the home to find and kill. The woman, whose real name was "Pam," was killed a few days later, Cottrell said. Police previously said the Flores homicide was linked to six other fatal shootings around the same time. No charges have been filed in the other killings. It was an overwhelming feeling of instant relief when the guilty verdict was read in, Ebony Flores, sister-in-law of Jessica Flores, said in a message on behalf of the family. All the sadness and pain weve been carrying around just rippled through us in that moment. Tears poured out as individuals and collectively as a Family. Cries of prayers finally answered and the best closure we could ask for, Ebony Flores said. It was very rewarding to finally have justice for our Jessica. It was empowering, but for Jessica, because it gave her claim back to her own life. Purdue University Northwest Chancellor Kenneth "Chris" Holford says he couldn't be more excited to take the helm of the university now with all that is occurring at the institution. In the world of higher education that moves relatively slowly, he says PNW is pivoting fast to meet the needs of changing student demographics and workforce needs. "We're a transforming changing institution in a landscape that just doesn't really change quickly," Holford said in an interview with The Times. The Times recently spoke with the campus leader as he enters his sixth month leading PNW. Holford assumed the role of chancellor in January after previously serving as PNW's provost and vice chancellor of academic affairs. He began his career at the former Purdue North Central now PNW's Westville campus nearly 25 years ago teaching biology. Eventually, Holford moved up to become the dean of the College of Sciences, and the founding dean of the College of Engineering and Science when PNW formed in 2016. Holford said he believe one of the advantages he had going into the chancellor search process last year was his familiarity with the institution, the students, and the surrounding communities and K-12 school systems. "I think that one of the fundamental parts for me has been the relationship that faculty in this institution develop with the student body and genuinely care about helping them find that next step ... they need to improve themselves and move themselves (up) in the workforce," Holford said. 'Wasted no time' Last month, PNW was named a Hispanic-Serving Institution by the U.S. Department of Education, a designation the university has been pursuing for over a year. In order to be considered an HSI, a college or university must have at least 25% of its undergraduate full-time students self-identify as Hispanic or Latino. The designation allows schools to be eligible for several federal programs and grants. Holford said they wasted no time submitting grant applications, applying for the federal funds within a week of earning the HSI designation. He said the federal grants are a huge benefit to the university, as they are typically meant for student support. With a majority of PNW students considered first-generation and also working while attending classes, Holford said the university looks to federal funds to help put in place a support system to assist in student success. The chancellor emphasized his desire for students in the Region to be provided the same educational opportunities that students in other areas of the state have. "We recognize we have a diverse student body, what is it going to take for us to help all of our students to be equally successful," Holford told The Times. Addressing a looming cliff In recent years, experts have raised alarms about an impending "enrollment cliff." The idea is that around 2025, the sharp population drop caused by the Great Recession, as well as already declining birthrates in the U.S., will leave fewer prospective students for colleges and universities. Many of these experts also predict that regional campuses such as PNW and liberal arts colleges in the Midwest and Northwest will be impacted the most by this enrollment drop. However, while this enrollment cliff has garnered attention more recently, Holford said the university has been monitoring the declining student population in Northwest Indiana for at least the past eight years. As a result, they have been to prepare for possible enrollment drops from a budgetary perspective. Holford said it's equally concerning the college-going rate in Northwest Indiana, which has either dropped or remained stagnant in recent years, meaning there have been fewer prospective students in the area, and of those students, fewer of them are choosing to go to college. Despite the in-state student declines, the chancellor said since PNW has been able to keep its tuition prices manageable, the university has become attractive for out-of-state students and has received an influx of students, mainly from just across the state line in Illinois. And while numerous colleges and universities across the country have announced plans to cut academic programs or jobs due to, in part, static enrollment number, Holford said he doesn't anticipate PNW having to cut academic programs for at least the next few years given they have been fiscally attentive. Looking ahead When Holford first arrived at PNW, the university was predominantly offering associate degrees. Fast forward to today, it is now a doctoral-granting institution. Holford said he's excited for several things as he looks ahead into the future. Some of those things include PNW offering a master of social work degree beginning in fall 2025 as it looks to address the mental health needs in Northwest Indiana. Additionally, as it looks to expand its footprint in the entrepreneurship and commercialization space, the university is expected to launch its Roberts Impact Lab in downtown Hammond this fall. The facility will assist entrepreneurs looking to develop commercial products who may not have all the necessary resources. While Holford would like to see PNW continue to grow its research footprint and position itself to be a much more integral role in the success of local industries and manufacturing, he has one priority above all else. "My ultimate goal is to try to ensure that students that come to this institution and graduate ... are the most sought after when it comes to filing jobs in those particular spaces," said Holford. Close Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honorees Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., Diane Kavadias Schneider and Jeff Strack pose for pictures Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. hugs his former professor Pat Obi following his introduction Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honorees Diane Kavadias Schneider and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. chat Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. While holding his trophy, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. pretends to take a bite of his Hall of Fame cookie Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Diane Kavadias Schneider speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Jeff Strack speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. As Purdue Northwest Chancellor Chris Holford looks on, right, Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Holding his trophy, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. chats with former Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. PHOTOS: PNWs 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honorees Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., Diane Kavadias Schneider and Jeff Strack pose for pictures Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. hugs his former professor Pat Obi following his introduction Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honorees Diane Kavadias Schneider and Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. chat Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. While holding his trophy, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. pretends to take a bite of his Hall of Fame cookie Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Diane Kavadias Schneider speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Honoree Jeff Strack speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. As Purdue Northwest Chancellor Chris Holford looks on, right, Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Purdue President Mung Chiang speaks Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. Holding his trophy, Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. chats with former Purdue Northwest Chancellor Thomas Keon Thursday at Purdue Northwest's 2024 Alumni Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The state transportation agency is expanding Indiana's worksite speed camera enforcement "pilot" program even before it launches later this year. The Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) enacted an administrative rule Wednesday authorizing the use of speed cameras to monitor and ticket motorists exceeding the reduced speed limits in a potentially unlimited number of highway worksites across the state. That rule, approved April 26 by Republican Attorney General Todd Rokita and May 2 by Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb, appears to conflict with the strict limit on worksite speed camera enforcement included in the 2023 Indiana statute, approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly, that establishes the "worksite speed control pilot program." House Enrolled Act 1015 specifies INDOT "may operate and monitor not more than four worksites in a single calendar year." INDOT's administrative rule, however, gives the transportation agency the power to "operate and monitor not more than four worksites at any given time in a single calendar year." The phrase "at any given time" in the rule means instead of just trying out speed enforcement cameras by deploying them at an annual total of 4 long-term road construction projects or very dangerous worksites, INDOT instead can regularly move its speed enforcement cameras around to different worksites throughout the year so long as no more than four camera systems are operating at once. And that's exactly what INDOT intends to do. INDOT spokeswoman Natalie Garrett said only using the camera systems for speed enforcement at a total of four worksites a year would artificially prevent the state from fully utilizing the systems, since most worksites are in place only for a few days, weeks or months. "Worksite safety is of paramount importance, both for the motoring public as well as road workers. Moving the worksite speed control systems around the state to different locations, but limiting the total number to four worksites at any given time, will assist to achieve the goal and purpose of the statute worksite safety for all," Garrett said. "As work concludes at one worksite, INDOT will reutilize the system on a new worksite." That's not the deal now-former state Sen. Jon Ford, R-Terre Haute, promised his Senate colleagues when he successfully led the effort to advance the measure out of the chamber by a 31-17 margin just five votes more than the minimum 26 votes needed to win Senate approval. "It's limited to four worksites per calendar year," Ford said. "It is a very narrow pilot program that I think could help save lives." Though state Sen. Aaron Freeman, R-Indianapolis, who voted against the proposal, seemed to anticipate during the April 3, 2023, Senate debate on the legislation that expansion of worksite speed camera enforcement would be coming sooner, rather than later. "I've served in this chamber seven years. I've yet to see a study that doesn't do something else. Every time a bill passes, a well-intentioned member of the Senate or member of the House gets up and says, 'This is where it ends. It won't go any further than this.' Y'all, if you believe that I have property with a really good Realtor in Arizona that's got a beautiful oceanfront view. That's never happened in this chamber and it's not going to happen with this," Freeman said. On the other hand, state Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie, the House sponsor of the speed camera law, insisted Tuesday he consistently intended to allow the four camera enforcement systems to be used at any given time, so long as no more than four are operating at once. "Only four can be active was always the intent," Pressel said. "The idea is just to get people to slow down and pay attention. That's been my goal all along." Pressel said he's not expecting the Hoosier State to go beyond four worksite speed camera enforcement systems any time soon. The law also does not permit the use of speed cameras outside of worksites on interstate or U.S. highways, or any red-light enforcement cameras. "The thought has never been to continue these on and go from four to it's wide open. That's not going to happen. This is Indiana," Pressel said. "This gives us an opportunity to take a look at actual statistics to make sure that this is a way to bring speed down in those (work) zones." In fact, speeding in worksites will be more tolerated under the law since INDOT speed cameras can't even click a photo of the license plate of an offending vehicle until the motorist exceeds the reduced speed limit by at least 11 mph. Speeding motorists nabbed by a camera also get off with a warning for a first violation, a $75 fine for the second and a $150 fine for each subsequent violation, with no risk of losing their license. In contrast, a motorist exceeding the reduced speed limit in a highway work zone by even 1 mph currently can be stopped by a police officer and fined $300 for a first violation, $500 for a second violation and $1,000 for each subsequent violation along with facing the possibility of losing their driver's license. The speed camera law requires signs be placed ahead of the worksite warning drivers of the camera enforcement and mandates workers must actually be present in the worksite for tickets to be issued. In addition, INDOT has to conduct a public information campaign prior to deploying the cameras. The statute also directs each speed camera warning or ticket be issued to the registered owner of the vehicle, regardless of who actually was driving. Tickets can be contested through INDOT, but only if the owner provides the name, age, address and telephone number of the person who was driving the owner's vehicle, or clear and convincing evidence the vehicle was stolen or sold prior to the violation occurring. It remains to be seen whether a lawsuit challenging the INDOT rule will be filed after someone is ticketed by a speed enforcement camera operating at a fifth, or subsequent, worksite in a single calendar year. Meet the 2024 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation State Sen. Dan Dernulc, R-Highland State Sen. Lonnie Randolph, D-East Chicago State Sen. Dave Vinzant, D-Hobart State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. State Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso State Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell State Sen. Mike Bohacek, R-Michiana Shores State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond State Rep. Earl Harris Jr., D-East Chicago State Rep. Ragen Hatcher, D-Gary State Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso State Rep. Pat Boy, D-Michigan City State Rep. Chuck Moseley, D-Portage State Rep. Mike Aylesworth, R-Hebron State Rep. Mike Andrade, D-Munster State Rep. Vernon Smith, D-Gary State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville State Rep. Kendell Culp, R-Rensselaer State Rep. Julie Olthoff, R-Crown Point State Rep. Jim Pressel, R-Rolling Prairie Editors note: This article was updated on June 10 with a statement from the National Park Service. Thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters in Washington converged around the White House on Saturday, urging President Biden to stop all military aid to Israel and calling for an immediate cease-fire in Israels war in Gaza. Holding signs calling Mr. Biden a liar, the protesters, mostly clad in red and bearing Palestinian flags, marched around the block of parkland where the White House sits. They spilled across two six-lane boulevards, pushing out tourists, whose faces showed variations of confusion, anger or intrigue. The police presence was heavy, and the U.S. Park Police used pepper spray against a protester at least once. Mr. Biden was not at the White House but in France, where he joined President Emmanuel Macron for a state dinner in Paris on Saturday night. But the dissenting voices in the American capital highlighted the challenges he faces domestically as he tries to carve out a narrow position that both supports Israels right to defend itself against Hamas and calls for a quick cessation of hostilities. The pro-Palestinian activists outside the White House, who were highly critical of the Biden administrations response to the war, encouraged a key portion of Mr. Bidens base young and nonwhite voters to reconsider their support for the president ahead of the election this fall. Beneath the crystal chandeliers of the gilded reception hall of the Elysee Palace, opened in 1889 with a party for 8,000 people, President Emmanuel Macron of France hosted President Biden on Saturday night at a state dinner intended to celebrate a very old alliance and demonstrate that the bond is greater than its intermittent frictions. Mr. Biden, addressing the French leader as Emmanuel, rose from a long table adorned with a bouquet of pink peonies and roses to say that France was our first ally, and that is not insignificant. He cited a book titled The Pocket Guide to France that he said was distributed to the American forces who, eight decades ago, fought their way up the Normandy bluffs through a hail of Nazi gunfire to wrest Europe from tyranny. No bragging, Mr. Biden quoted the guide as saying, the French dont like that! The book urged U.S. solders to be generous it wont hurt you and said the French happen to speak democracy in a different language, but we are all in the same boat. That same boat of 1944 has repeatedly been invoked during Mr. Bidens five-day visit to France as still existing today in the form of joint French and U.S. support for Ukraine in a battle against Russia defined as pivotal for the defense of European liberty. We stand together when the going gets tough, Mr. Biden said. On a sunny morning, deep in the forests of western Ukraine where the war barely reaches, 16,000 cans of a new energy drink, Volia, rolled off the assembly line every hour at the Morshynska beverage factory. Several hundred miles east, driving toward the front line, the sweating coolers at the minimarts and gas stations are loaded with Volia and an array of other energy drinks: Burn, Monster, Non Stop, Hell, Pit Bull and of course the eye-widening veteran of them all, Red Bull. By the time one reaches the trenches, where thousands of troops are dug in, trying to survive, the supremacy is complete: Ukrainian soldiers will pass up coffee, Coke, even water in favor of the liquid jolt they need to keep going. In the morning, when I wake up, I drink an energy drink. When I head out on patrol, I drink an energy drink. Before an attack, I drink an energy drink, said one Ukrainian soldier who identified himself by his call sign, Psycho, for security reasons, according to military protocol. RIYADH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia announced on Sunday a 1.7 percent year-on-year decrease in real gross domestic product (GDP) for the first quarter of 2024, mainly due to an 11.2 percent year-on-year drop in oil activities during this period. The findings were part of a report released by the Saudi General Authority for Statistics, which also revealed that seasonally adjusted real GDP grew by 1.4 percent compared to the previous quarter. According to the report, non-oil activities continued their upward trend, expanding by 3.4 percent year-on-year, while government activities rose by 2.0 percent year-on-year. The report highlighted that economic diversification is a pillar of Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, with non-oil activities contributing a significant 50 percent of the GDP during the period, demonstrating the country's success in building a more diverse and resilient economy. Israelis briefly breathed a collective sigh of relief on Saturday, when the military announced it had rescued four hostages who were held in Gaza for eight months after being captured in the Oct. 7 attack led by Hamas. The four hostages were taken at the Nova music festival on Oct. 7 and were rescued in an operation in the town of Nuseirat in central Gaza early Saturday. The mission left scores of Palestinians, including women and children, dead. News of the rescue raised renewed questions about the fate of those who remain in captivity and a proposed cease-fire deal. How many hostages are still being held in Gaza? Roughly 120 captives remain in Gaza. The Israeli military has confirmed that at least 30 of them have died. Earlier this month, the Israeli military informed the families of four hostages that they were dead and that their bodies were being held by Hamas. In May, the military recovered the bodies of nine hostages, and the families of two Thai citizens who had been captured were informed that their bodies were still being held in Gaza. Will Israel undertake more rescue operations? Dozens of proposed rescue missions have not gone forward for fear the hostages or soldiers would lose their lives in the process, according to Israeli defense officials. Israeli troops have managed to rescue only seven living hostages in three separate military operations. In December, Israeli troops accidentally fired on and killed three hostages in Gaza who were trying to reach safety. Shopping center landlords have found themselves in a wholly unfamiliar position: For the first time in 20 years, demand for retail space outstrips supply. That demand has soared recently and, after years of muted construction and a purge of weak-performing properties, met a retail market with less available space. Properties that survived the purge signed up tenants that would draw more shoppers and give them more reason to linger. That meant more restaurants and venues that promote recreational experiences, like ax throwing and, more recently, pickleball. It also meant less space for traditional retailers that werent performing as well, like bookstores and apparel brands. Because of those moves, theres not as much redundancy from tenants, and landlords are creating much more robust tenant mixes, said Barrie Scardina, president of Americas retail services, agency leasing and alliances for Cushman & Wakefield, a real estate firm. We are seeing some of the most productive occupancy recorded in the last 10 years. Shopping center vacancy is the lowest it has been in two decades, at 5.4 percent, Cushman & Wakefield said in a recent report, and the edge in lease negotiations has shifted from tenants back to landlords. In the last few months, Gov. Kathy Hochul has privately exchanged anxieties about moving forward on congestion pricing with business leaders, political advisers and, in her telling, a great number of ordinary New Yorkers in diners. But she never shared them with the group that would be most affected by the program: the public at large, which had every reason to believe that the new tolling structure would be in place in Manhattan later this month. The move to abandon a plan that was decades in the making jolted lawmakers, real estate leaders, transit advocates and other stakeholders. The governor said she was reluctant to deter people from driving to New York City when its economic recovery was still fragile; critics called it an election year ploy to help Democrats in suburban districts where congestion pricing is notably unpopular. Ms. Hochuls announcement was particularly jarring given her past championing of the plan. Indeed, as recently as this year, the governor stressed the need to get vehicles off the road a dissonance that has fed a sense of duplicity and a feeling of betrayal among those who considered her an ally. Former President Donald J. Trump, who was convicted last month on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, is expected to have a virtual interview with a New York City Probation Department official on Monday, three people with knowledge of the matter said. The interview is required as the agency prepares a sentencing recommendation for the judge in the case. Mr. Trump will be in his home at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla., for the virtual meeting his first with a probation official since he became the first U.S. president to be convicted of a felony. A jury in Manhattan found him guilty on May 30 in a hush-money case stemming from a payment that Mr. Trumps then-fixer, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels, a porn star who said she had a sexual encounter with Mr. Trump in 2006. The payment came in the final days of Mr. Trumps 2016 presidential campaign, and the creation of 34 false business records to cover up Mr. Trumps reimbursement of Mr. Cohen came in early 2017, after he was elected. Its high school graduation season. Time to cheer the teenage achievers (especially the overachievers) and send them off to campus adventures and incipient adulthood. This year, though, I want to talk about the other graduates. The ones without honor society stoles or academic medals or college plans. The ones who still dont know what they could or should do, who taste a tinny dread when the band strikes up Pomp and Circumstance. Im talking about students who flailed academically, never discovered any particular talent, drifted unnoticed in the halls. The kids who got into trouble and now think of trouble as their natural habitat. The poor kids, the dwellers in volatile homes, the abusers of substances. The college rejects and even the high school dropouts. If I could give all those kids a graduation gift, it would be this plain but important truth: Everything can still be fine. Not easy, necessarily, but fine. This is almost certainly true, no matter what seemingly hopeless mess they have made of their affairs or bleak vision theyve developed of their abilities and future. Virtually all American 18-year-olds have more options and more time than theyve been led to believe. Teenagers biographies (whether promising or ominous) should not be interpreted as dispositive proof of years to come. This is clear to me now, having lived long enough to watch old friends rebound from seemingly ruined lives to happy, stable and prosperous adulthoods, and on the other end, noticing that some of my most promising classmates fizzled out on contact with the world beyond our little town. There are plenty of kids, of course, who turn out more or less the way youd expect. But the whole process strikes me as infinitely less predictable than suggested by the mechanical churn and sort of the K-12 assembly line. To the Editor: Re Delving Into the Archaeology of Music (Science Times, May 21): Virtually all our achievements as a species depend upon humans working together. One human alone, in a state of nature, is a medium-sized animal struggling for survival (and with no use for music). Working in tandem, we produce homes, towns, cities, factories and all the rest. Music is a vital part of that process. Most traditional music is highly functional. Its used for religious ceremonies, community events, family gatherings, dancing, courtship and labor (keeping workers in sync). Sometimes, as in the case of the Scottish bagpipe, it plays a role in battle. Music is like an intangible thread tying us together. Anything that facilitates human cooperation confers a major survival advantage. Its no wonder that music, like language, is universal among us. David Goldberg New York To the Editor: I was interested to read the latest research into music using big data, as your article reports. My late father, David Epstein, a conductor and a professor of music at M.I.T., did a lot of research into musical performance that pointed to how and why music taps into some fundamental human abilities, across cultures. This week, the leaders of the Presbyterian Church in America are gathering in Richmond, Va., for their annual General Assembly. The Presbyterian Church in America is a small, theologically conservative Christian denomination that was my familys church home for more than 15 years. It just canceled me. I am now deemed too divisive to speak to a gathering of Christians who share my faith. I was scheduled to speak about the challenges of dealing with toxic polarization, but I was considered too polarizing. I was originally invited to join three other panelists on the topic of how to be supportive of your pastor and church leaders in a polarized political year. One of the reasons I was invited was precisely that Ive been the target of intense attacks online and in real life. The instant my participation was announced, those attacks started up again. There were misleading essays, vicious tweets, letters and even a parody song directed at the denomination and at me. The message was clear: Get him off the stage. You know you have a credit score. Did you know that you might also have a driver score? The score reflects the safety of your driving habits how often you slam on the brakes, speed, look at your phone or drive late at night. While you can see your credit score, you will have a harder time finding out what your driving score is. But auto insurance companies can get it and that could affect the rate you pay. For the last two decades, auto insurers have been trying to get people to enroll in programs, commonly called usage-based insurance plans, that monitor their day-to-day driving so rates better reflect the actual risk. But privacy-minded consumers have been reluctant to sign up. So the industry has taken a different tack, getting data about how people drive from automakers or from apps that drivers already have on their phones. Experts say most people have no idea the insurance industry can track them this way. The saloon is there. So are the dusty cowboy hats, the freshly laid railroad tracks and the Native American headdresses. But while Dark Noon basks in these hallmarks of Hollywood westerns, it examines them through new eyes, leaving no triumphalist cliche unquestioned. Virtually every scene in this collaboration between a Danish director and a South African theater company (at St. Anns Warehouse in Brooklyn in previews before opening June 17) ends with at least one bullet-riddled corpse on the parched red earth of the set. Many of the dead are female or Indigenous. It is a western town, Nhlanhla Mahlangu, the co-director and choreographer, said of the archetypal tumbleweedy community that rises up over the course of the action, but it is all the settlement towns of South Africa as well. We are also talking about the shootings in our country. Nearly all of the plays seven actors piled into an increasingly crammed green room with Mahlangu to discuss the work after their final performance at Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, S.C., and they agreed about these similarities. So much of our own lives are connected to these tropes, said Mandla Gaduka, a cast member. A landslide in the Teton mountains destroyed part of a highway that links Idaho with Jackson, Wyo., forcing the authorities to close the road indefinitely on Saturday just as the area was entering its summer tourism season. No one was injured when a section of the Teton Pass catastrophically failed, the Wyoming Department of Transportation said in a statement on Saturday. The highway west of Jackson had been closed to traffic before the road gave way, and crews were working to build a detour around a section where a crack had appeared in the surface days earlier. The department said it expected a long-term closure. Gov. Mark Gordon of Wyoming said in a separate statement that geologists and engineers would develop a long-term solution to rebuild the roadway. Even a short closure would pose major logistical challenges for the area, in part because the road serves Jackson Hole, a major tourism hub in Teton County. Travel and tourism is Wyomings second-largest industry, according to the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board, and the county took in about $1.7 billion in travel-related spending in 2022. Primary school students have free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) YANGON, June 9 (Xinhua) -- As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. Students and parents expressed gratitude to the donors for the free meals program, highlighting the positive impact on their daily lives and education. Thoon Wati Htet, a third-grade student at Basic Education Primary School (42) in Hlaingtharya Township, had lunch provided by the CFRD on Thursday. "Today, we had chicken curry for lunch. I enjoy both chicken and pork curries. I feel happy and grateful to the donors. When I grow up, I want to become a school teacher," she said happily while enjoying her meal. Khant Hmu Ko Ko, 10, another third-grader from the same school, also shared on Thursday, "I feel thankful to the people who donated the food. These meals are great for students like us who are facing some challenges. And they taste delicious too." Ko Shwe War Tun, project manager of the CFRD's Smiling Children Program, the free meal program for the students, said they provide free lunch to over 5,000 primary school students from 10 basic education schools in Yangon for the whole academic year. "The purpose of the program is to provide good nutrition to students, create job opportunities, and improve students' learning capacity," he said. "We work in cooperation with respective township education offices. We provide breakfast with traditional snacks and lunch with one type of curry and a vegetable," he added. The program will cover all the primary school students from 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township and is slated to continue for the next three academic years, he said. Not only the students but also their parents are happy and grateful to the donors for the student nutrition program. "I'm very happy. Sometimes, we don't have regular meals and have to skip some. Now, I don't need to prepare a lunch box for my daughter. I also wish the donors happiness and health. My daughter is my youngest of five children," said Daw Nwe Nwe Win, 49, a mother of a second-grader from the school. Another parent, Khin Thida Hlaing, told Xinhua that it is a tough time for them because of rising commodity prices. "I'm grateful to the donors and wish them prosperity and more donation. I have two children. Some parents here find it hard to prepare lunch boxes." Daw Khin Htay Yee, 70, a grandmother of a fifth grader, said, "I'm very happy. My grandchild is in grade five. Especially for families without a father or mother, it is difficult to prepare lunch for the students. I wish the donors success and a long life." The headmistress of the school, with 600 students, also thanked the donors for the free meals for her students. "Because of the free lunch program, school attendance and learning rates have improved a lot," she said. "Now, my poor students can learn without worrying about their meals. I'm very happy for them. They are the bright stars of our nation's future," she added. Primary school students prepare to have free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Primary school students have free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Primary school students prepare to have free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Primary school students prepare to have free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Staff members dispense free meals provided by the China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD) for primary school students in Yangon, Myanmar, June 6, 2024. As Myanmar's 2024-25 academic year begins on June 3, the CFRD is providing free meals to primary school students across 10 schools in Hlaingtharya Township of Yangon Region. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Here are some of the presidents most repeated yarns. Connecting with his audience through hyperbole What Was Said In our last debate, when I was 29 years old, the first question he was asked at the debate was, Do you have any regrets, Senator Boggs? And he said, No. Then we came to the very end of the debate, where I spoke and then he was to conclude. He stood up, and he said, You know, I was asked if I had any regrets. I said no, but I have one: Had Joe Biden gone to the Naval Academy when I appointed him, hed still have seven months left on and wouldnt be able to run. in a May commencement speech at the United States Military Academy Mr. Biden has repeatedly recounted this tale to graduating cadets at various military academies and to families of service members: In high school in the 1960s, he had been nominated to attend the United States Naval Academy by Senator J. Caleb Boggs of Delaware, his Republican opponent in his first Senate race. Mr. Boggs, Mr. Biden sometimes adds, later lamented that Mr. Biden had declined to accept the nomination in a 1972 debate. It is an anecdote that dates as far back as 2010, when Mr. Biden said in a speech that Mr. Boggs had considered him for the academy. One of the suspects in the mass shooting in Sacramento that killed six people in 2022 died in a county jail on Saturday, his lawyer said. The suspect, Smiley Martin, 29, was one of three people charged in the April 2022 shooting that also injured 12 people. The authorities said at the time that it was the worst mass shooting in the California capitals history. Mr. Martin, who faced murder and firearm charges in connection to the shooting, had pleaded not guilty. He was being held in Sacramentos main county jail while preliminary hearings on his case proceeded. A final count of votes released over the weekend suggests Mexicos leftist governing party and its allies would capture large majorities in Congress, potentially enabling the coalition to pass sweeping changes to the Constitution. The official tally from elections last week showed that the party, Morena, and its partners appeared on their way to clinching a two-thirds supermajority in the lower house of Congress. In the Senate, it seemed that the coalition would fall short of a supermajority but by a small number of seats, analysts said, meaning it would likely need to attract the support of only a few opposition legislators to alter the Constitution. Building those alliances is relatively easy to achieve, said the partys president, Mario Delgado, in an interview. We are now a dominant force, Mr. Delgado added, by the decision of the people. The final makeup of the legislature is still unclear because a share of seats in the Mexican Congress are appointed via a system of proportional representation in August. Legal challenges could also affect how seats are allocated. Frances president calls for new elections after E.U. vote President Emmanuel Macron of France, dealt a crushing defeat by the extreme right in European elections, dissolved the lower house of Parliament yesterday. He called for legislative elections beginning on June 30. Macrons decision was a measure of the devastating nature of the European Parliament election results. His centrist party was poised to finish with about half the support of Marine Le Pens far-right National Rally, which is set to become the leading French party. The rise of nationalists and demagogues is a danger for our nation and for Europe, Macron said. After this day I cannot go on as though nothing has happened. Early projections for the European Parliament elections, held by 27 countries in the E.U., appeared to show strong gains for several far-right parties. If confirmed, the results would amount to a powerful gauge of voter dissatisfaction and a stinging rebuke for the political mainstream. Here are live results. Voters in Belgium handed a victory to a conservative Flemish nationalist party, disproving polls that had predicted a sweep to first place by Flemish secessionists, preliminary results showed on Sunday. The New Flemish Alliance, a party that seeks greater autonomy for the Dutch-speaking northern half of Belgium, was poised in the national elections to become the countrys largest. The results will bring relief to the countrys political establishment, which had long been bracing for a victory by the far-right party Vlaams Belang. With more than 90 percent of the votes counted nationwide on Sunday evening, the New Flemish Alliance was set to secure 17 percent of the national vote, with Vlaams Belang trailing with 14 percent. There is trolling. And then there is presidential trolling. President Biden on Sunday wrapped up a five-day visit to France by making a point to visit a cemetery for American soldiers killed in World War I. That, of course, is the kind of thing that presidents typically do. But this particular cemetery was the same one that President Donald J. Trump was supposed to visit in 2018 before canceling, citing the rain, and touching off a political furor. For Mr. Biden running against Mr. Trump again visiting the cemetery was meant to send a message to voters back home. America showed up, he said. America showed up. Mr. Biden was talking about the United States military during World War I. But he might as well have been talking about Mr. Trumps refusal to show up six years ago. Asked directly what he was trying to say about his rival in this years presidential race, Mr. Biden paused for a moment. Casting ballots in 27 countries, voters largely backed centrists in European Parliament elections, but far-right parties made serious inroads in France and Germany. Partial results made public late Sunday showed that centrist political groups were poised to lose some seats, but still maintain a clear majority of more than 400 seats in the 720-seat assembly. Even so, the outcome seemed likely to steel the far right as a disruptive force and unsettled the blocs mainstream establishment. More than 300 million voters in the 27 countries that make up the European Union are heading to the polls to elect the new European Parliaments 720 members. But in casting their ballots theyll do more than that. The new balance of power in the Parliament will shape the next five years of important European policies at home and abroad, including on climate, migration, Ukraine and the Middle East. The Parliament approves or rejects E.U. legislation, including the blocs $1 trillion-plus budget and the blocs top leadership. It also says yea or nay, by simple majority in a secret ballot, to the appointment of the president of the E.U. executive branch, the powerful European Commission. In the 2019 election, Ursula von der Leyen, a conservative, came dangerously close to being rejected as the European Commission president, securing the Parliaments approval by just nine votes. This time, Ms. von Leyen, likely to be designated as president for a second five-year term, could face worse odds. As with many incumbents, she is criticized for her handling of the last five years crises. Tents seen in southwest Gaza in May Tents seen in April Area analyzed Where New Tent Cities Are Rising in Central Gaza A growing area of central Gaza is filling up with tents, satellite imagery shows, as Palestinians who fled south to Rafah to escape danger have picked up their possessions and moved yet again in search of safety. Mid April Late May Area where tents are visible Med. Sea Med. Sea Deir al Balah Deir al Balah GAZA STRIP GAZA STRIP Khan Younis Khan Younis Many left Rafah for central Gaza beginning in early May GAZA STRIP Area shown Rafah Rafah Mid April Late May Area where tents are visible Med. Sea Med. Sea Deir al Balah Deir al Balah GAZA STRIP GAZA STRIP Many left Rafah for central Gaza beginning in early May Khan Younis Khan Younis GAZA STRIP Area shown Rafah Rafah Source: Satellite imagery from Planet Labs. April imagery was captured between April 3 and April 20. May imagery was captured between May 18 and May 30. Most Gazans in Rafah began leaving in early May, after the Israeli military, preparing for its ground operation in the south, issued evacuation orders for the eastern part of the city. But another exodus began toward the end of the month, after an Israeli strike that local authorities said killed dozens of people at a displaced camp. Israel said the strike targeted a Hamas compound. An attack at the nearby area of Al-Mawasi two days later killed 21 more people sheltering there, Gazan officials say. Israel has insisted that it has not attacked the areas it has designated as "humanitarian zones," where evacuating Gazans have been instructed to go. In all, more than one million Gazans nearly half the territorys total population have now fled Rafah, according to the United Nations. Many have been displaced repeatedly. When the Israeli military issued its evacuation orders for Rafah in early May, it instructed Palestinians to go to a humanitarian zone that it designated along the Gazan coast. The zone extends from south of Khan Younis to Deir al Balah in the north. Some people sheltering in western Rafah also began packing up, even though the area was not named in the evacuation order. In satellite imagery captured late last month, few tents could be seen there. April 20 Hundreds of tents Before evacuation orders were issued for eastern Rafah May 26 Still some shelters present Area cleared since April After evacuation orders, but before May 26 strike in western Rafah May 30 No more shelters GAZA STRIP Area of image After strike in western Rafah Source: Satellite imagery from Planet Labs As Rafah emptied, Palestinians fled to coastal areas in the governorates of Khan Younis and Deir al Balah, an area that roughly aligns with the humanitarian zone declared by the Israeli military. The pace of resettlement sped up in the aftermath of the deadly strike that killed dozens in the camp for displaced people. April 18 New cluster of tents Before evacuation orders were issued for eastern Rafah May 25 Tents spread across area After evacuation orders, but before May 26 strike in western Rafah May 30 New tents since May 25 GAZA STRIP Area of image After strike in western Rafah Source: Satellite imagery from Planet Labs Even before Israel began its ground operation in Rafah, many Palestinians had sought shelter in central Gaza, near Deir al Balah. But some of the coastline remained largely empty. Now, tents and temporary shelters fill nearly 12 continuous miles of coastline, stretching from near Wadi Gaza in the north toward the border with Egypt in the south. With space at a premium, some people have been forced to pitch their tents just meters away from the waves. A Limerick woman has set up a fundraiser after her puppy was mauled by two dogs. Charlotte Ryan Doyle set up a fundraiser for her eight-month-old miniature Daschund, Winston, who was attacked by two other dogs on Sunday, June 2. Our eight-month-old miniature dachshund Winston unfortunately was mauled by two German Shepherds and left with a high vet bill from the multiple surgeries, medication and other things needed to keep Winston alive. "It started out with what we thought were laceration wounds, but after X-rays and vet exam, we were told that unfortunately he suffered internal injuries. On Sunday evening, his lacerations were stitched up and he was prepped for surgery. After receiving anaesthetic, his heart stopped for 5 minutes. Because of this, his surgery had to be postponed, she explained. On Monday, the family took Winston home. The pup then had a check-up on Wednesday, followed by surgery on the Friday. Today, we brought him in for his surgery as scheduled to operate on the hernia he received from the dog attack that could not be operated on earlier in the week. When opened, there was a lot more internal damage done. They discovered it was infected and producing a lot of fluid, she said. Now, Winston is at risk of sepsis and needs to stay in the vet, where he can get his dressings changed every four hours and to be given IV antibiotics. It is a miracle he has survived through it all, the vet has said he is a fighter. If we thought he could not have been saved, we would have put him down, but hes battling through it all and loving the attention. We were not prepared to for this high costing emergency but at the end of the day, he is a part of our family, we love him very much and want the best for his recovery, she added. ADDIS ABABA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Africa is encountering a host of challenges in its mineral sector, with a lack of systematic geological mapping being one of the major ones, hampering the continent from exploring its rich mineral reserves, UN experts said. A team of experts from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) on Saturday said that Africa holds at least a fifth of the world's metal reserves that are crucial for energy transition including those metals needed for the manufacturing of electric cars. "Africa boasts some of the largest reserves of world minerals but lacks a systematic geological mapping, which could unveil a much larger resource base and reserves," said Clovis Freire, UNCTAD's Commodity Research and Analysis Section chief, in an interview with Xinhua. He said Africa presents a promising landscape for potential investment in the extraction and processing of critical energy transition minerals, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo holding about 48 percent of global cobalt reserves and South Africa having about 90 percent of platinum group reserves. "There is a need for detailed geological surveys and advanced exploration techniques to identify unknown or underexplored mineral deposits, which could offer significant opportunities for new mining ventures and investment across the continent," Freire said. According to data obtained from UNCTAD, demand for critical energy transition minerals such as lithium, cobalt and copper could increase almost fourfold by 2030. The expert said as the climate emergency intensifies, demand for critical energy transition minerals will continue surging as they will be needed for renewable energy technologies like solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles. Rachid Amui, another expert of UNCTAD, said that African countries heavily rely on a traditional model where they export raw mineral resources with no or minimum value addition, capturing a small share of benefit within the commodity value chain. "The traditional mining and trading practices have generated small revenues, minimum employment opportunities, little tax revenues and export earnings for mineral-exporting countries in Africa," he said. Amui said African countries also face inadequate infrastructure such as poor transportation networks that often hinder easy movement of minerals from extraction sites to export points. "Many mining sites in Africa are located in areas with unreliable and insufficient energy infrastructure, which can disrupt mining operations and increase costs," said Amui, noting that the shortage of finance, skilled labor and technical expertise has hindered mining operations across the continent. According to Amui, limited access to advanced mining technology is another significant challenge, often leading to reduced productivity and increased environmental impacts, further complicating the process of tapping and exporting Africa's mineral resources. It is time for a general election, a Fine Gael TD has said. Early indications from the ongoing counts of European and local elections suggest that Government parties do not appear to have suffered a major electoral blow. Speaking to reporters at the TF Royal count theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Michael Ring said the party has had a great election. Asked if he would support an early general election, the Mayo TD said it was a decision for the Taoiseach but added: I think Fine Gael would be well to go the country. Go to the country in October, not wait. We had two winter elections and I dont ever want to see a winter election again. After Christmas, bad weather, people in bad form and credit bills coming in in February. Now is the time. The general election must be called by March next year but senior Government ministers have publicly said that the coalition should run its full term. Fine Gael appears to have had a Harris hop in the polls after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar as leader of the party earlier this year, leading to Simon Harris taking over that position as well as the role of Irish premier. Mr Ring said: Lets call a spade a spade. We were in a bad place a few months ago and nobody thought we would lift the party again and people actually thought wed have to reorganise after the general election, but thats not the case. Now, I have to say that and I am going to be honest if there had have been a leadership battle, I would have voted for Paschal Donahoe. But I have to say Simon Harris has really, really, really impressed me. Hes done a superb job. Mr Ring said he had recently canvassed with the new party leader when he was interrupted by the Burke family, which has staged a number of protests. We were being followed but he has them steps. He was running all over the place and I tell ya, even the Burkes couldnt catch him. During a slump in opinion polls, several high-profile party TDs have previously indicated that they will not run in the next general election. Asked if he expected them to reconsider, Mr Ring said: Guys might start thinking again. Mr Ring refused to confirm whether he himself would run in the general election: When I make that decision, youll be the first to know. He added: I havent made up my mind. But if I go see I lost a half stone in this campaign. And there were days I had three candidates with me; morning, after dinner, in the evening. They were all half my age, but I had them killed by the evening. So Im ready for action whenever the action comes. Also speaking in Castlebar, Fianna Fail junior minister Dara Calleary said there was a need to be careful. Local elections are very different from national elections. We stood here in this count centre in May 2019 and then we came back six months later to a very different result. So lets not get carried away. He added: The energy of the last few weeks goes in now to getting ready for that general election whenever its going to be. Getting our policies ready, our candidates elected, getting team out there. And what people want is us to focus on their problems, not on political parlour games. Asked if it should be sooner rather than later, Mr Calleary replied: Way above my pay grade but I want a budget done still a lot of issues, cost of living is still a major for people. At 9am on Sunday, June 9, the Irish Coast Guard conducted a long-range medical evacuation from a merchant vessel approximately 160nm off the south west coast. The evacuation was conducted by the Shannon-based Irish Coast Guard Rescue 115 helicopter with support from the UK Coastguard RESCUE99 aircraft. The merchant vessel had contacted the Irish Coast Guard on Friday, 7 June, reporting a seriously ill crew member. Following a link call coordinated by the Valentia Coast Guard Rescue Coordination Centre between the vessel and MEDICO Cork, it was determined that a medical evacuation was required at the earliest opportunity. After proceeding to within range of the coast the vessel rendezvoused with Rescue 115 helicopter approximately 160 nautical miles from the SW coast. The UK Coastguard aircraft RESCUE99 provided top cover support for the helicopter operating at long range. The Irish Coast Guard can confirm that the crew member was landed safely at Kerry University Hospital in the SW for medical attention later on Sunday morning, and the vessel resumed passage. This is the second long-range medical evacuation coordinated by the Irish Coast Guard in recent days. On Friday, the Waterford Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter using Cork Airport to extend range successfully completed a medical evacuation of ill crew member from another merchant vessel. This operation was coordinated with and supported by the UK and Danish authorities following an alert from the vessel. Fianna Fail is in the mix for two seats in Midlands-North-West, a party candidate has said. Counting of ballots in Irelands European Parliament elections got under way on Sunday after votes were cast on Friday. The first results are not expected until Monday, but unofficial and incomplete tallies have provided some insight into the likely outcome. In Midlands-North-West, there are 27 candidates fighting for five seats in the massive electoral region which spans 15 counties. The 73cm-long ballot paper was described as like a toilet roll by a local politician on Sunday. Because of a rising population in Ireland, the constituencys boundaries have been expanded and its voters will elect one more MEP compared with 2019. The current four MEPs are independent Luke Ming Flanagan, Fine Gaels Colm Markey and Maria Walsh, and Sinn Feins Chris MacManus. Mr Markey was withdrawn and Fine Gael has selected Irish Grand National-winning jockey Nina Carberry in his stead a move seen as a celebrity candidature. She will compete among the 27 total runners and riders in the contest, including unsuccessful presidential election candidate and entrepreneur Peter Casey as well as former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly. Sinn Fein is also fielding its former MP Michelle Gildernew, who is among the candidates saying they will be a voice for Northern Ireland in a post-Brexit European Parliament. Elsewhere, the Fianna Fail campaign has been marred by infighting, as border region hopeful Niall Blaney accused the party leadership of throwing him and Mayo representative Lisa Chambers overboard in favour of Barry Cowen, who brings strong name recognition to the table. The main contenders appeared to be Mr Flanagan, Ms Walsh, and Mr Cowen, with Ms Carberry, Ms Chambers, Mr MacManus, Peadar Toibin and Mr Mullooly also in the running. Speaking to reporters at the count centre in Castlebar on Sunday, Mr Flanagan said he expects the count to last a number of days. He said: Theres quite a lot of candidates here who are going to get a significant amount of votes and I think its nearly odds on that were going to have some sort of a recount and potentially a recount at the end because I think its going to be close. So I predict all I know is we booked a place to stay for the next week in Castlebar. Mr Flanagan predicted that Mr MacManus may be in difficulty to regain his seat with Sinn Fein. Mr Flanagan said: Theyre going to struggle to take a seat in this constituency, which is extraordinary when you look at some of the opinion polls from just over a year ago. He said he would not rule out Fine Gael securing two seats in the constituency. Asked if this was evidence that picking celebrities as candidates is a successful strategy, Mr Flanagan said: Apparently it does. And not only that, hiding a candidate during a campaign works if Nina Carberry gets elected because I have never, ever in my life met Nina Carberry. However, it was observed during that count that Ms Carberrys transfers were regularly going to Fianna Fail candidates rather than Ms Walsh. Mayo TD for Fine Gael Michael Ring said he was very hopeful the party could secure two seats. Asked about anecdotal evidence that transfers were not always staying within Fine Gael, Mr Ring said there was no question that some voters were thinking local. Mr Ring also criticised the length of the ballot paper, saying: It was like a toilet roll, so it was. It was a disgrace. Ms Chambers said she was confident that Mr Cowen will comfortably take a seat for Fianna Fail, adding she herself was also in the mix for the fifth and final spot against Sinn Fein candidates and Ms Carberry. Asked about her concerns about the public row between the Fianna Fail candidates, she added: Im not really concerned because whats done is done. She added: Ill be honest, I thought two candidates was the right strategy. However, she said she had to trust the decision of the party strategists. BEIRUT, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Farmers and civil defense units in south Lebanon were struggling on Sunday to contain the massive wildfire ignited by the shower of Israeli flares against Hezbollah targets that fell on farmlands and villages. Thick smoke filled the air along the hilly Lebanese-Israeli border after a day of intensive exchange of fire between the Lebanese military group and the Israeli army. On Saturday, flares and shells were launched in "unprecedented" numbers and intensity from the Israeli side, causing big bushfires and incurring huge losses on farmlands and livestock, Lebanese Civil Defense sources in southern Lebanon told Xinhua. "The fires covered large areas extending from Naqoura in the west to the Shebaa Heights in the east, for a distance of about 100 km and a depth of 4 km north of the borderline," said the sources. On Saturday, a rescue team formed by the civil defense, the Lebanese army and the United Nations Interim Force In Lebanon took under control a large fire in the southeast village of Mays al-Jabal. "While putting out the fire, several mines that the Israeli army had planted along the border line exploded," the sources said. Rabih Issa, a local Civil Defense commissioner, said their crew protected hundreds of homes overnight in four southeast villages. Still, he worried that the wildfires could spread to other areas anytime. "Strong northern winds, hot weather, and drought are major obstacles to firefighting efforts, And we also face the Israeli army's indiscriminate bombing," he noted. Lebanese official National News Agency on Saturday accused Israel of using incendiary phosphorus shells in Saturday's artillery bombardment on the outskirts of the town of Alma al-Shaab, causing fires in the forest that spread to nearby homes. Lebanese Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan told Xinhua that they will "take samples of the soil bombarded with white phosphorus to scientifically assess the extent of its impact on the agricultural sector." According to the Lebanese Agriculture Ministry's estimate by March 3, over 803 fires were reported since the ongoing conflict broke out along the border region on Oct. 8, 2023, in which around 55 border towns and villages have been affected. It said the area of completely burned lands exceeded more than 2,150 dunams (215 hectares), the area of affected lands -- forest and agricultural -- was 6,000, and more than 55,000 old olive trees were burned. In the past week, the Israeli side of the border area also witnessed erupts of fire after Hezbollah attacks. The Israeli police said a large fire breaking out in northern Israel Monday night consumed some 4,000 dunams (400 hectares) in the northern region, attributing the blazes to rocket fire from southern Lebanon. The private newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported another fire in the Israeli town of Metula on Thursday due to an anti-tank rocket fired from southern Lebanon. GAZA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- During its operation to release four hostages in the central Gaza Strip, the Israeli army had killed several other hostages held there, Hamas armed wing Al-Qassam Brigades said on Saturday. In a statement, Al-Qassam denounced the Israeli military operation in the Nuseirat area in central Gaza as "a complex war crime," saying "the first to be harmed by it" were Israeli hostages. "The operation will pose a great danger to the enemy's prisoners and will have a negative impact on their conditions and lives," Abu Obaida, spokesperson for Al-Qassam, said in the statement. At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on Saturday in central Gaza, where the Israeli forces rescued four hostages kidnapped by Hamas into the strip last October. The Israeli army, police, and intelligence body Shin Bet said in a joint statement that their fighters had attacked "a terrorist structure" in the region and freed four Israeli hostages. It noted that the kidnapped persons were rescued alive from two separate areas in the heart of Nuseirat. Following the rescue of the four, 120 Israeli hostages remain held in Gaza, including 43 feared dead, according to the Israeli army. Israel's attacks on central Gaza are the latest development of the deadly conflict between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas which began on Oct. 7, 2023, after Hamas militants stormed southern Israel from Gaza in a surprise attack, killing around 1,200 people and taking about 250 hostages back to the Palestinian enclave. Students pose for photos outside a national college entrance examination site in Harbin, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Xinhua/Zhang Tao) Students walk out of a national college entrance examination site in Lengshuijiang, central China's Hunan Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Xinhua/Chen Zhenhai) A student hugs a family member at a national college entrance examination site in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Photo by Lu Dehua/Xinhua) Students walk out of a national college entrance examination site in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) A student hugs a family member at a national college entrance examination site in Nanchang, east China's Jiangxi Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Photo by Bao Gansheng/Xinhua) A student and family members pose for a photo at a national college entrance examination site in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Photo by Zhang Xiaofeng/Xinhua) Family members of students wait outside a national college entrance examination site in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 9, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Sunday. (Xinhua/Tao Liang) A student hugs his mother after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Luo Xincai/Xinhua) A family takes selfies outside a national college entrance examination site in Shuifu City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Di Tingxiu/Xinhua) A parent holding a toy sunflower waits outside a national college entrance examination site in Suining City, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Liu Changsong/Xinhua) A student celebrates after finishing the national college entrance examination in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Zhang Zhengju/Xinhua) Family members of students wait outside a national college entrance examination site in Tengchong City, southwest China's Yunnan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Gong Zujin/Xinhua) A parent sends a bunch of flowers to her daughter at a national college entrance examination site in Jiaozuo City, central China's Henan Province, June 8, 2024. China's annual national college entrance examination, also known as Gaokao, started on Friday. The exam in some regions has ended on Saturday. (Photo by Cheng Quan/Xinhua) Switzerland's Federal Council announces new 20-year licenses for all casinos starting in 2025, marking a significant regulatory shift. In a landmark decision, Switzerland's Federal Council has decided to renew and issue new 20-year licenses for all existing and some newly approved casinos starting in 2025, heralding a significant development in the Swiss gambling industry. Regulatory Refresh On May 22, 2024, the Swiss Federal Council announced its decision to issue fresh licenses to all casinos nationwide, effective from 2025. This move comes as current permits expire at the end of 2024. The new licenses will last 20 years, providing long-term stability for operators. This decision follows comprehensive discussions at the Swiss casino industry delegate meeting. Expansion and Association The announcement was also accompanied by the approval of new casinos in Prilly and Winterthur. Winterthur is set to replace the existing facility in Schaffhausen, which did not reapply for its license. Furthermore, all casinos, including the newly licensed ones, are now unified under the Swiss Casino Association, enhancing collaboration and representation of the sector at a national level. Industry Impact and Growth Gerhard Pfister, president of the Swiss Casino Association, highlighted the significance of these new licenses, noting that they affirm the government's confidence in the industry's ability to operate responsibly and contribute significantly to regional economies. This restructuring comes when the Swiss land-based casino sector has seen a slight decline in revenue. However, online casino platforms reported substantial growth, signaling a shift in player preferences towards digital platforms. Financial Contributions and Future Projections Despite the challenges faced by land-based venues, which saw a marginal decline in gross gaming revenue (GGR), online casinos have experienced a robust increase. In 2023, land-based casinos generated CHF 623 million in GGR, a slight decrease from the previous year, while online platforms saw a 14.3% increase, totaling CHF 286 million in GGR. The casinos also contributed more in taxes year-over-year, with CHF 409.3 million going towards public coffers, supporting vital national projects like the AHV pension system. Broader Implications The Federal Council's proactive approach to renewing and extending casino licenses is seen as a strategic move to safeguard and stimulate the gambling sector in Switzerland. This decision is expected to encourage more sustainable and innovative growth within the industry, aligning with broader economic development goals. Additionally, the Loterie Romande, a major public lottery in Switzerland, reported a record net profit, contributing significantly to social causes, further underscoring the gambling sector's role in national welfare. This comprehensive overhaul of casino licensing in Switzerland marks a new era for the gambling industry, promising enhanced operational standards and significant economic contributions in the coming decades. Pro-Palestinian protests continue on college campuses Police arrested dozens of people at pro-Palestinian demonstrations at Yale and NYU Monday as the war in Gaza reverberates ... (Image by YouTube, Channel: CBS News) Details DMCA Picture of college students at Yale University in support of Palestinian's first week of June, 2024 Let's get to the nub of how things really are in this country. Freedom of speech in America (and some countries in the EU) is a mirage. If one disagrees with "official" policy they are demonized. If they don't condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin as the new Hitler they're considered a Putin apologist. If they question democracy in Ukraine-which is laughable as it's the most corrupt country in Europe-they're against democracy in that country. If they're against sending arms and $billions each year to Israel they're labeled as an anti Semite, even though it's a country that supports apartheid. And if they support the Palestinian's that are under siege in Gaza they're condemned as a defender of Hamas. What happened to abiding by the 1st Amendment of the Constitution which for the uninitiated reads, "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people to peaceably assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances." Apparently the "authorities" act with impunity believing they won't be challenged even as they ignore the Constitution. Yet when the people rise up and legally challenge them, which is their Constitutionally protected right to do so, the authorities brutally crack down on them. So this America of the land of the free and the home of the brave are merely sweet sounding words that have no meaning when the Constitution, the law of the land, is disrespected and ignored. That's the reality if anyone cares to look. It's as if the uniparty/deep state just indicted itself and then pleaded "not guilty" by reason of insanity. New York state criminal court judge Merchan's jury instructions, celebrated by the uniparty as a historic achievement, leave no other conclusion. click here First off, let's look at what Trump was just "convicted" of. He was effectively convicted of thirty-four counts of conspiring with himself to promote his own election. I didn't know that was a felony. Not even in New York. But here we are. Here is what the jury allegedly found Trump "guilty" of: They found that he committed the state-law felony of "falsifying business records in the first degree." Thirty-four times over. To be guilty of that, Trump must have falsified a business record with the intent to defraud, and that intent to defraud must have included an i ntent to commit "another crime". Merchan told the jury two things concerning this issue: That they did not need to find that, in falsifying business records, Trump intended to defraud any individual or group in particular, just as long as they found that he intended to defraud anyone at all, and That they did not need to find that Trump actually accomplished the commission of this "other crime" - just that he "intended" to accomplish it (in his own head). This "other crime" that the jury must have found Trump "intended" to commit was a conspiracy to promote his own election "by unlawful means". The charge then lists the following items of possible "unlawful means" the jury was instructed to choose from: Violation of a federal election statute that prohibits excessive campaign contributions. Another falsification of some "other" business record (i.e. other than the one(s) he was found guilty on), or Any violation of any tax law, whether state or federal. Merchan's charge further instructed the jury that their findings regarding which of these "unlawful means" of promoting his own election Trump was guilty of did not have to be unanimous. And here is the biggest judicial fraud of them all: THE JURORS WERE NOT GIVEN A COPY OF THE CHARGE TO READ FROM AS THEY DELIBERATED. As lengthy (55 pages long) and as complex as this charge is, these jurors had to remember every element of each alleged crime and properly apply it to the facts as to each of the thirty-four alleged business record falsification, and they had to do this purely by memory. They were allowed to ask the judge re-read this charge back to them as many times as they wanted or needed, but they were not allowed the basic courtesy of having the written charge in front of them as they deliberated whether each alleged count checked all the required boxes before they could find Trump guilty. The key to remember is that the jury finding Trump guilty of "intending" to employ at least one of these "unlawful means" to promote his own election was an absolute requirement for a guilty verdict on each count. If the jury had found that he did not employ any of these unlawful means, then Trump could not have been found guilty of that felony. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Steven Sahiounie, journalist and political commentator The Israeli military continues with severe artillery shelling in Rafah and the use of quadcopters to chase people. At least 20 people were killed inside their tents as they were trying to flee within the past 24 hours. At least 31 Palestinians have been killed across Gaza since early on Wednesday, as the Israeli military continues, ignoring calls from the international community and aid groups to stop. Israel committed a second massacre against civilians in tents in Rafah, in less than 30 hours after its first horrific massacre on May 26, when Israeli aircraft bombed tents, killing 45 Palestinians, including three elderly people, nine children, and 12 women. The Euro-Med Monitor field team documented the killing of seven civilians, including four women, after Israeli aircraft once again bombed displacement tents west of the city of Rafah on May 28. The new targeting shows Israel's insistence on ignoring all international positions that denounced Sunday's massacre. Israel continues to commit the most heinous crimes against Palestinian civilians in the Gaza Strip with the intention of eradicating them, in flagrant and egregious violation of international law and the International Court of Justice (ICJ) rulings. Barely functioning hospitals across Gaza are dealing with an influx of injured people. The Palestine Red Crescent Society (PRCS) has recovered the bodies of two of its paramedics who were killed in Rafah last night. During the war on Gaza, Israeli attacks have killed at least 493 healthcare workers, including nurses, paramedics and doctors, with many more injured. How can Israel get away with it? Israel can get away with mass-murder because the world's super power, USA, defends and excuses them of accountability. The arrogance of Israel's protection under the wing of the US State Department allows them to deny 6 million Palestinians of their human rights, and self-determination, which is a right ensured under the universal declaration of human rights, which the US is a signature on. It would appear the signature of the United States of America means nothing. Why did the world stop Apartheid in SA but not Israel? For decades, the world watched the apartheid government in South Africa. The US and other freedom-loving nations put sanctions on South African goods, such as diamonds. In the end, apartheid was dismantled in South Africa because the white supremacist government could not survive economically while so isolated from global commerce. It was the economy that broke the back of the South African apartheid government. Israel has an apartheid system of government, and the UN has reported their findings in the past. The entire world recognizes that Israel is an apartheid state. There is a thriving Boycott-Divest-Sanction (BDS) movement, but it has not gained a strong enough stature to break the Israel economy, as was the case in South Africa. Is Israel worth supporting? Israel is a very small country in the Middle East. They don't produce oil and gas like some of their rich neighbors. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). State Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington Washington D.C. West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Puerto Rico US Virgin Islands Armed Forces Americas Armed Forces Pacific Armed Forces Europe Northern Mariana Islands Marshall Islands American Samoa Federated States of Micronesia Guam Palau Alberta, Canada British Columbia, Canada Manitoba, Canada New Brunswick, Canada Newfoundland, Canada Nova Scotia, Canada Northwest Territories, Canada Nunavut, Canada Ontario, Canada Prince Edward Island, Canada Quebec, Canada Saskatchewan, Canada Yukon Territory, Canada Postal Code A man who pointed what appeared to be a firearm at Vancouver police died Saturday afternoon when one officer fired at the man. The fatal shooting happened around 3 p.m. just west of the Interstate 5 bridge near Vancouvers waterfront after two officers responded to a report of a man walking around with a loose German shepherd who had bitten at least one person. That person required medical attention for bite wounds, police said. When the officers found the man who has not been identified they saw the dog try to bite another person, according to a press release from Vancouver police. The officers then approached the man, and he displayed what appeared to be a firearm and pointed it at one of the officers, according to a press release from the Clark County Sheriffs Office, which is leading the investigation of what happened. One officer then shot the man, and he died at the scene. No officers were injured, according to police. Authorities took the dog to a shelter. The Vancouver officers who also have not been identified are on leave. Police have not said if the object that appeared to be a gun was, in fact, a gun. Beth Slovic is a deputy editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com. Our journalism needs your support. Subscribe today to OregonLive.com/subscribe. Police arrested eight pro-Palestinian protesters who attempted to block the Portland Rose Festivals Grand Floral Parade on Saturday, according to a news release from the Portland Police Bureau. The pro-Palestinian protest began small outside the Oregon Convention Center on Northeast Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard at around 8:30 a.m., slowly accruing people as the morning went on. Police on bikes lined up in between the protest and the parade. As the parade started passing through, the protest which had grown to about 50 people continually chanted, While youre watching, bombs are dropping. Some held Palestinian flags. Others held paper poppies, which protesters said were linked to Armistice Day, commemorating the end of World War I. At one point, a woman allegedly splashed a drink at police, according to the release. Around 11:15 a.m., several protesters passed the police line, jumping into the street and laying on the ground in front of the 234th Army Band. After pausing for a moment in front of the protesters, the band marched around them. Police then detained some protesters. The release said the same woman who splashed her drink allegedly threw a can with liquid in it at officers during the arrests causing no injuries. Police arrested her about 30 minutes later. -- Andrew Miller covers business news. Reach him at 971-803-2954; amiller@oregonian.com The buzz around Portland Public Schools this week should have been all about the districts hiring of a new superintendent, Kimberlee Armstrong. Currently the deputy superintendent of Evergreen Public Schools in Vancouver, Armstrong brings an impressive background and compelling personal experience to the role. Her hire is good news for a district thats struggling with declining enrollment, insufficient funding, inequitable educational outcomes and lingering tensions from last falls teachers strike. Unfortunately, thats been overshadowed by drama courtesy of the Portland teachers union, which has turned up the dial on its promotion of pro-Palestinian stances amid the war in Gaza. In recent weeks, the union hosted an information session where organizers not only encouraged educators to teach and advocate for Palestine, but also sold t-shirts sporting the highly controversial slogan From the river to the sea. The union also posted pro-Palestinian teaching materials for educators on its website, including links to lesson plans providing a simplistic, one-sided view of the longstanding conflict between Israel and Palestine. As The Oregonian/OregonLives Aimee Green reported, materials offered lesson plans aimed at students as young as kindergartners, encouraging them to write a prayer to Allah and including a workbook depicting a distraught child who talks about fleeing Palestine because a group of bullies called Zionists stole their land and hurt many people. Its unlikely that many teachers used these materials, particularly when theres core curriculum they need to be covering in this shortened school year. But the Portland Association of Teachers advocacy for slanted instruction of such a multilayered, deeply-contested conflict has understandably angered many parents, teachers and Jewish organizations who trust teachers to educate students, not instill in them their own political beliefs. Theres no place for proselytizing in public schools. Period. Theres no reason to boil down this complicated international conflict into a good-vs-bad narrative to kindergartners. Telling students only one side, glossing over disputed facts and refusing to recognize the legitimacy of competing voices and experiences is an abdication of an educators duty to teach. Considering the social influence and grading authority that teachers have on students, its also an abuse of the communitys trust already frayed from the teachers strike last year that shut down schools for nearly all of November. Educators are supposed to help students learn how to evaluate information, ask questions, research thoroughly and develop their own opinions, even if they diverge from teachers. Educators should understand that helping students explore the many reasons behind a conflict helps promote the nuanced analysis and decision-making that supports healthy communities. Instead, some of the materials pushed by the union appear designed to spread pre-determined viewpoints, not spark honest inquiry. Hamas Oct. 7 massacre and kidnapping of Israelis, as well as Israels response a months-long military assault that has killed tens of thousands of civilians are nothing short of devastating and a grievous affront to our humanity. There are multi-party international efforts, including by the Biden Administration, to reach a deal that provides some measure of relief in the midst of horrific suffering. Theres room for thoughtful discussion and learning, particularly for high school students, but reducing competing perspectives into bumper-sticker-sized ideas does not help anyone make sense of this tragic period in time. The teachers union has also exacerbated the situation with its contradictory stances. Initially, when confronted with community pushback, the union appeared to pull much of the offending material. Union president Angela Bonilla told The Oregonian/OregonLives Green that some of the materials had not been reviewed prior to posting them on the website as their process requires. Yet, as Green reported, at least some materials were simply moved to a different location on the unions website. To maintain trust with the community, the union should pull the links, not just shift them around. It should also conduct a full review of how this happened. And the teachers who make up the union membership should press the associations leaders to come clean with the public about its mistakes. Already, several have expressed concerns regarding the actions the union has taken. The decision by a local organization to take a position on the war in Gaza even if it conflicts with a groups mission or ability to fulfill it is not limited to the Portland Association of Teachers. The Oregon Food Bank has also dismayed longtime supporters with its decision to champion a reductive view of the war in Gaza the first time it has taken a stance on an international issue. As a spokeswoman said in an email, our efforts to date have not eliminated hunger and its root causes until we do, there is more to learn, more new to introduce. But as organizations look to go in such new directions, they should look carefully to see whos following. The publics trust and confidence should not be so easy to leave behind. -The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The following is a summary of published science and technology news of China. TRAIN A meter-gauge train rolled off the production line on Friday at CRRC Zhuzhou Locomotive Co., Ltd in central China's Hunan Province. It is the third generation of meter-gauge train independently developed by the China Railway Rolling Stock Corporation (CRRC) for Malaysia's Electric Train Service (ETS). It will be placed into operation on the west coast of Malaysia, with a total line length of about 950 kilometers. The ETS3 train will greatly increase the passenger capacity and operational efficiency in the local rail transit network, promoting the modernization of Malaysia's rail transit. JETLINER China's homegrown regional jetliner, the ARJ21, launched its first air route to Central Asia on Friday, according to Commercial Aircraft Corporation of China, Ltd. (COMAC), its developer. The aircraft was operated by Chengdu Airlines. It took off from Kashgar Prefecture in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region at 10:38 a.m. on Friday and arrived in Khujand in Tajikistan more than two hours later, COMAC said. The opening of the air route will further promote exchanges between Kashgar and Khujand in fields including economy, culture and tourism, contributing to the development of the "Air Silk Road," according to COMAC. REJECTIONS Major electric vehicle (EV) battery makers CATL and Gotion High-Tech have rejected U.S. lawmakers' allegations of connections to "forced labor." In a statement posted online on Friday, CATL said it is in strict compliance with all applicable laws and regulations with respect to its operations and business activities in the United States. Gotion High-Tech said that any allegations suggesting it engages in forced labor or is related to forced labor are completely unfounded and absolutely false. John Schrag Schrag is co-founder of Oregon News Exploration. He served as executive editor of Pamplin Media Group from 2016-2023 and managing news editor of Willamette Week from 1996-2005. He lives in Forest Grove. The first email hit my inbox Monday morning with the subject line Wow! Pamplin sold? and a one-sentence question: What are you hearing? It came from a journalist at a Portland newsroom curious about what I knew about the sale of Pamplin Media Group, where I had worked for 18 years. (The answer: not much.) The second query, from another journalist, came shortly after, by text: Who the (bleep) are Carpenter Media? The reports that Pamplin, Oregons largest locally-owned media organization, had been sold to the Mississippi-based Carpenter Media Group was followed only hours later by an announcement from EO Media, the states second-largest locally owned news shop in Oregon: It, too, is for sale. The news shook reporters and editors who have watched some of Oregons most storied local publications, including the Medford Mail Tribune, the Salem Statesman Journal and the Eugene Register Guard, gutted in recent years by out-of-state owners. I see last Mondays developments as very different, and not just because Im a pint-half-full kind of a guy. New ownership will certainly present challenges but also huge opportunities for communities that rely on existing local news sources, as well as for those underserved by the media. Three years ago, a group of veteran Oregon journalists began discussing ways to address the decline of local news. That led a handful of us to start Oregon News Exploration. With donations from business, labor and civic leaders, matched by the Oregon Community Foundation, we set out to find out where Oregonians get their local information and what they think about it. A series of statewide surveys and focus groups found some troubling trends: Rural residents feel that statewide news organizations fail to accurately represent their views and cater to an urban, and more liberal, audience. Oregonians of color dont see their life experiences reflected in local news . More than three-fourths say their communities are negatively impacted by the lack of culturally informed coverage. People who prefer to get news in a language other than English struggle to find basic information and often feel alienated from civic life. All this leads to a reliance on social media, where misinformation thrives . So, where do I see hope? Our research also found that Oregonians are more likely than most U.S. residents to trust their local news -- trust increases when they regularly see journalists in their communities. And our conversations with journalists across the state showed a collaborative spirit and united commitment to preserve local news. We also see hope outside of Oregon, where more than 500 nonprofit news organizations are filling information gaps in a variety of creative ways. Newsrooms from Spokane to Atlanta are hiring community members to attend public meetings and report back to their communities. Journalists from Memphis to Oakland have started new digital news sites to reach audiences who have not been traditionally served by the media. In Oregon, the Fund for Oregon Rural Journalism is training young journalists, Underscore News is providing in-depth reporting of indigenous communities, The Lund Report goes deep on health care, Street Roots is shining a spotlight on homelessness and the Agora Journalism Center is continuing its statewide listening sessions on local information needs in underserved areas. After three years of research, Oregon News Exploration has developed a new, scalable model to empower underserved communities. We plan to hire journalists and community members to provide fact-based information through small local news networks. Nationally, philanthropic groups are showing their appreciation for the value of local news. A group of national foundations recently put up half a billion dollars to support a local news initiative, and in many areas, from central Pennsylvania to central California, local campaigns have sprung up to address specific local needs. Most importantly, theres a growing recognition outside of Oregon that trusted local information is as important a community asset as public parks, safe streets and clean water. Because without accessible information, Oregonians struggle to find the information they need to live their best lives. And theyre more likely to depend on polarizing national news narratives and social media to shape their views of their communities, which our research tells us makes them more distrustful of civic leaders. In many regions around the country, support for local news was fueled by a cataclysmic event: the collapse of a major metropolitan daily newspaper. In Oregon, weve been spared that, but its come at a cost: a lack of urgency to address the growing information gaps we first identified four years ago. Oregons journalism landscape is about to change. We can either sit back and hope for the best or come together and chart a new path to ensure that all Oregonians, regardless of their race, income or zip code, have trusted sources of local information. Sign up for our free Oregon Opinion newsletter. Email: On the 80th anniversary of D-Day, I reflected on the three specific places I have had the honor to visit that commemorate the ultimate sacrifices made by many; the unimaginable courage of the combatants; and the horror regular citizens endured during World War II. One, the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam, and two different American Military Cemeteries one near Florence, Italy, the other being celebrated on D-Day in Normandy, France. My visits to each made swallowing a bit of a challenge and teared the eye. Row upon row of Americans from different parts of the country, some native, others immigrants. Christians, Jews, Muslims and atheists. Native Americans, Caucasians, Asians, African Americans and Hispanics buried side by side, men who paid the ultimate price for an ideal democracy. These cemeteries signify the sacrifice of Americans who defeated a scourge on humanity, authoritarian Nazism. Those who served, past and present, have my heartfelt thanks. The fight for democracy is always worth it. The Lifetime Channels movie based on a real story called The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Koch Story premieres tonight, Saturday, June 8 at 8/7c on Lifetime. The movie tells the true-crime story of a 14-year-old girl who was kidnapped and held captive in a security guards home. To watch it live as it premieres tonight, tune in for free with Philo (free trial), or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). Dont have cable? You can watch The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story for free with Philo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). For a sneak peek, check out the official video trailer provided below. What is the Lifetime movie about? Is it based on a true story? The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story is a new Lifetime movie based on the true story of a girl named Tanya Kach struggling with being bullied at her new Pittsburgh school. When she turns to her security guard as a friend and confidant, he takes advantage of her and ends up kidnapping her, keeping her captive in an upstairs room, and sexually abusing her for over ten years. After Kach is allowed by her captor to get a part time job, she finally finds the bravery to orchestrate her escape. Watch it all unfold for free with a trial of Philo. You can watch the trailer preview here. After the movie premiere, watch Beyond the Headlines: The Tanya Kach Story with Elizabeth Smart where producer Elizabeth Smart, a kidnapping and sexual abuse survivor, will meet with the year Tanya Kach, now 42 years old in a telling documentary. Who is Elizabeth Smart? Elizabeth Smart is an American child safety activist and commentator for ABC News. She is known for being a kidnapping survivor and gained national attention when she was abducted from her bedroom in Salt Lake City, Utah at only 14 years old. She has since spoken out about her experiences, written a book, and continues to campaign on behalf of child safety. HOW TO WATCH What: The Girl Locked Upstairs: The Tanya Kach Story When: Saturday, June 8 at 8/7c TV Channel: Lifetime Watch live streaming online: You can watch this Lifetime original movie on demand for free with Philo (free trial) or with DirecTV Stream (free trial). MORE TOP STORIES FROM AMY LEONA HAVIN Pride Month is a time of festivity, recognition, and advocacy for the LGBTQ community. It's a time to reflect on the progress made towards equivalency and to punctuate stories that reverberate with different gestures. For teens, streaming platforms like Netflix offer a treasure trove of content that not only entertains but also educates and inspires. For teens and parents who want to binge-watch movies related to this month's celebrations, here are five top picks for teens to watch during Pride Month, each with unique perspectives and sincere stories. 5 Pride Month Movie Recommendations "Bros" is a groundbreaking Netflix movie that stands out for its LGBTQ cast and crew. Directed by a queer filmmaker and starring LGBTQ actors, it tells the story of two men navigating the complications of ultramodern connections. With humor, heart, and authenticity, "Bros" sheds light on the happiness and challenges of love, commitment, and the journey of self-discovery. Teens will appreciate its relatable characters and genuine depiction of the LGBTQ community and its people. 2. The Prom Another Pride Month movie recommendation is "The Prom." This movie is a musical comedy-drama that follows the journey of a high school girl who wants to take her gal to the hop, facing resistance from the academy administration. With the help of a group of Broadway stars, she stands up for love, acceptance, and addition." The Prom" is a feel-good movie that celebrates diversity and encourages teens to embrace their true authenticity. 3. Never Have I Ever "Never Have I Ever" is a coming-of-age Netflix series that tackles a wide range of motifs, including artistic identity, grief, fellowship, and love. Among its different cast of characters is Fabiola, a high school pupil navigating her journey of coming out as gay. The series beautifully portrays the challenges and triumphs of LGBTQ youth, offering a relatable and authentic representation of their experiences. Teens will find comfort and alleviation in Fabiola's story of self-acceptance and adaptability. 4. Do Revenge "Do Revenge" is a dark comedy with important communication about standing up to bullies and reclaiming one's power. The film follows two high school scholars who form a doubtful alliance to take down their persecutors. Eleanor, one of the main characters, is openly queer and faces demarcation and importunity from her peers." Do Revenge" is a facetious and empowering story that highlights the significance of solidarity, courage, and embracing one's identity. While not initially a Netflix product," Love, Simon" is available on the platform and remains a cherished favorite among teens. It tells the story of Simon Spier, a high school student navigating the challenges of coming out as gay while falling in love online. "Love, Simon" is a sincere and affirming film that captures the universal themes of love, fellowship, and acceptance. Its relatable characters and poignant liar make it a must- watch for teens during Pride Month and beyond. These five pictures and shows on Netflix are perfect for teens looking to celebrate Pride Month. They give a blend of comedy, drama, and love, all while pressing important LGBTQ themes and characters. By watching these picks, teens can enjoy amusing stories that also promote love, acceptance, and the festivity of diversity. Whether it's through horselaugh, music, or sincere moments, these flicks and series offer precious assignments and a sense of belonging for LGBTQ teens and their abettors. Happy Pride Month! New Mexico police have had an 11-year-old charged from alleged accusations of multiple crimes such as shootings and burglaries. In Albuquerque, New Mexico, a juvenile is arrested on allegations of a violent month-long crime spree involving car burglaries and shootings. Despite the arrests made for the crimes, the locals in the area continue to raise concerns regarding the safety of their community against crimes committed by the youth. An 11-Year-Old Charged by the New Mexico Police Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina expressed his disappointment on social media, stating that it's disheartening to see an 11-year-old be arrested for multiple crimes they've committed, ranging from burglary to shooting an arm. He added that this armed individual's behavior was escalating, and he posed a significant danger to the community. The arrest took place late Thursday, according to a police statement on Friday. Chief Medina expressed relief that the young suspect was apprehended without the use of force. Medina added that, despite his young age, the suspect is considered very dangerous due to his use of a firearm and his escalating violence. The juvenile was reported to be receiving an extensive list of severe charges. They include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, conspiracy, shooting at or from a motor vehicle, shooting into an occupied dwelling, aggravated battery, unlawful possession of a weapon by a minor, nonresidential burglary, criminal damage to property over $1,000, and conspiracy to commit a fourth-degree felony. For now, it is still unclear if the boy has selected legal representation. New Mexico Police Reveals Detailed Timeline of Events The police have released a timeline outlining the crimes committed by the 11-year-old suspect. On May 5, an auto was stolen in the northeast part of the megacity and recovered an hour later. On May 12, a woman reported that four children were throwing stones at her hearthstone, trying to break windows, and one of the stones struck her leg. On the same day, the police received a report from a 12-year-old girl calling that a group of boys were throwing rocks at her home. The frequenter linked some of the boys as members of a group known as the "Kia Boys," notorious for their conditioning in the area. In another incident, Albuquerque police responded to a marketable burglary where an auto was seen driving in rear and crashing into the frontal security door of a business. This incident resulted in over $15,000 in theft and damages, with the car tagged as stolen. On May 29, a man communicated 911, claiming he'd been shot at by four boys in a blue Kia after he brazened them outside his home. The boys allegedly left but returned shortly after and shot at the man with a 9-mm, as evidence found at the scene implies. Ongoing Investigation and Arrest The crime spree continued on June 1, when police were advised to a firing where a man was shot in the hand. A 9-mm handgun was recovered at the scene. Through substantiation statements, victim accounts, and surveillance videotape, investigators were able to identify the juvenile suspect and secure an arrest warrant. Chief Medina emphasized the graveness of the situation, noting that the boy's violent behavior posed serious trouble for public safety. The community remains in shock as authorities work to address the underpinning issues contributing to similar early felonious behavior. As the investigation continues, the focus will be on understanding the factors leading to this disturbing chain of events and preventing similar incidents in the future. We attended church today in the Salzburg Ward. It was really fun for me to again sit in German-language sacrament and priesthood meetings, as I did so many times so many years ago during my mission in Switzerland. I had the chance to speak in Arabic for a while, too; the missionaries had an investigator with them who comes from Damascus, Syria. He seems a pleasant young man. My wife and I devoted two or three hours in the afternoon to some pressing matters related to the forthcoming Six Days in August film. (Its been difficult to find spare moments.) Then, in the early evening, some of us attended Vespers at the Stift Nonnberg, partway up the hill toward the famous fortress of Salzburg. Stift Nonnberg is a Benedictine convent or abbey in fact, the oldest continuously-maintained nunnery in German-speaking Europe, having been founded in either 712 0r 715 AD. (It also happens to be the place where Maria von Trapp was a postulant and, accordingly, it was a filming location for The Sound of Music.) We never saw the nuns, of course. But we heard their beautiful monophonic singing, which seemed both unearthly and entirely appropriate for that very old stone church with its striking late-Gothic winged altar.. Now, though, Im going to share some photos that Jeff Bradshaw sent to me today from Africa specifically, from the Democratic Republic of the Congo where hes working on the Interpreter Foundations Not by Bread Alone film project. He titled todays post Bricks on bikes, A humble meetinghouse, Unit History Tool Training, and the Three Nephites. Ive fallen terribly far behind in sharing Jeffs photographs. But Ill catch up a little bit right now, and Ill use his captions: A potpourri of experiences yesterday and todayculminating in the three Nephites! Looking at Jeffs photos, I find myself excitedly recalling a couple of passages from the Prophet Joseph Smith: The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done. Brethren [and sisters], shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren [and sisters]; and on, on to the victory! Let us, therefore, as a church and a people, and as Latter-day Saints, offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness [Doctrine and Covenants 128:22, 24; emphasis added] Posted from Salzburg, Austria The in-person turnout for the FAIR conference in Rome a week ago was, frankly, disappointing although, already about a day after it had concluded, I was told that its online viewership was in the range of roughly eight hundred. Attendance in person at todays conference in Salzburg see the program here was probably about fifty or sixty, and the streaming audience was larger than that (although I dont yet know how much larger it was). The audience here in Austria was much more engaged, it seems to me, than last weeks audience. Or, as one of our group observed, they were far more in the FAIR space than the attendees in Rome were. We even had a woman in attendance today who came all the way from Hungary via an overnight bus. FAIR put on a roughly analogous program some years ago, with presentations in both Rome and Milan. Ive been told that attendance in Milan was excellent, although the event was on a weekday; attendance in Rome, by contrast, was sparse. Im not sure why that would be. One contributing factor, Im sure, is that getting to the Rome Temple complex is relatively difficult and/or expensive from the city of Rome itself. Its rather easier from other parts of Italy, since its outside of the main Roman urban area but then, those are the very people (in Florence, say, or Naples or Genoa or Padua or Venice or Bologna) who would be most likely to simply stream a FAIR conference from their homes. Which, of course, they cant do for temple attendance. Scott Gordon has told a simple story at both of the conferences thus far that I think is worthy of sharing further because of the wisdom it contains. I hope that he wont mind my doing so here. He tells of a man an acquaintance, I think who had reached a point in his marriage where he was seriously moving toward divorce. He had decided that he didnt love his wife and that their marriage had been a terrible mistake. But an acquaintance (possibly his attorney) suggested that he make a note of one thing every day that he appreciated about his wife. He decided to make the effort. At first, it was extremely difficult for him to find even one thing to admire or respect about her. But he dutifully persisted with the exercise. She had, for example, done the dishes. The next day, he noted that she had prepared lunch for their children. Gradually, it became easier for him to recognize good qualities in her and to see the good things that she had done. One day, while her husband was away, the wife found the ledger or notebook in which he was recording his notes, and she began to follow his example in a ledger of her own. Every day, she would jot down a note about his good qualities and the good things that he did. Today, twenty or thirty years later, they are still married. Moreover, they regard themselves as the very best of friends. The moral of the story, as Scott tells it, is that if we look for the good, were very likely to find it. And, similarly, if were looking for the bad, we will find the bad, as well. He applies that moral to our attitudes toward the Church and to our relationship with it. I strongly, strongly concur. This isnt true, of course, of all those who have left the Church or who are disaffected from it, but it certainly is true of some of the critics whom Ive observed over the years: Some are unwilling ever to see anything positive or valuable in the Church. They insist on seeing only the negative (whether real or imagined) in Church leaders, Church history, and even, yes, in any of us who defend the Church or advocate its claims. And, obviously, if they insist upon looking for things to criticize, they will definitely find things to criticize fairly or unfairly, justly or unjustly. It reminds me of a little story that my father used to tell. I found it corny when I was young, but Ive come to appreciate it much more as Ive matured (or, at least, grown older). Im sure that many of you are already familiar with it: In some distant time and place, a wise old man used to sit at the gate of a city. One day, a young traveler came to the gate and asked him what kind of people the citizens of the city were. What were they like where you come from? inquired the old man. They were shiftless, liars, cheats, drunks, and thugs. It was a terrible place, and Im glad to be away from it! The wise old man shook his head sadly. The people in this town are exactly the same, he said. Later, a second traveler paused by the gate to ask the same question. What are the residents of this city like? Once again, the wise old man asked this second traveler, What kind of people did you just leave behind? The second traveler answered, Oh, it was a wonderful city. In fact, I hated to leave it. The people were good and kind, honest and hardworking. The old man smiled and said, The people in this town are exactly the same. I had nothing to do with organizing this current series of three European FAIR conferences I was simply invited to participate in them but I think that Ill say something about how theyve happened, at least as I understand the story: A very generous American couple with the means and with strong ties (including, but not limited to, both youthful and senior missions) to Italy came forward with the idea of sponsoring a FAIR conference in Rome. (They previously sponsored the conferences in Rome and Milan mentioned above, and I think that there have been other such events that they have supported.) If Im not mistaken, FAIR didnt approach them; they approached FAIR. (And they were with us in Rome this time, too.) And, since we would already be over here for the Rome conference, they kindly also covered similar events in Salzburg (today) and Goteborg (a week from today). Its not a matter, as my admirers over at the Peterson Obsession Board like to imagine, of my wringing money out of hapless donors in order to fund a European vacation for me. Just to be clear. Posted from Salzburg, Austria Someone criticizing your religion is fair game. It has to be this way. We live in the most religiously diverse culture in the history of humanity. We have to be able to compare and contrast, and to point out why we find our way to be the best way, at least for us. We need to be free to call out religions that insist people must believe things that arent true, and to criticize religions that have been harmful to us and to others. I never want to live in a place that arrests people for humiliating religious feelings. If someone wants to criticize Paganism, thats fine. But could they at least put some effort into it? Last week I came across what may be the laziest criticism of Paganism Ive ever seen. On The Irish Catholic website Mary Kenny wrote a piece titled Boring boring paganism. Most of it is not about Paganism its an obituary of sorts for someone who recently died (wonder how his family feels about having that for the title of his obituary?). Her criticism of Paganism takes all of three short paragraphs. Heres most of it: Its not that I consider Pagan spirituality necessarily wicked, but it is mostly very boring. Where are the cathedrals? Where are the exquisite manuscripts? Who is the Michaelangelo of Pagan art? Who is the Mozart of its music? Where are the philosophers, the theologians, the intellectuals? Where are the saints? Very early on my Pagan journey (so sometime in the early 1990s) I came across a TV talk show that had a Wiccan high priestess and a particularly nasty Catholic priest on at the same time. The priest kept hammering if Wicca is such a great religion, where are your hospitals? As though building hospitals is the primary goal of every religion, and as though a new religious movement with perhaps a hundred thousand adherents at the time (using the broadest possible definition of Wicca) should have the same facilities and infrastructure as largest and richest denomination of the largest and richest religion in the world. There are fair criticisms of Wicca and Paganism, and then there are lazy criticisms. Just because youre ignorant of something doesnt mean it doesnt exist Where are the Pagan cathedrals? Do you mean the temples your religious ancestors destroyed, or the ones they stole? Pagans invented theology and philosophy, at least as we understand it in the West. Go read Brendan Myers The Earth, The Gods And The Soul for a survey from ancient times to today. Dr. Myers is a pretty good philosopher himself, and we have others. Theres only one Michaelangelo, but if someone was willing to sponsor one of our better contemporary Pagan artists for four years (the time it took Michaelangelo to paint the Sistine Chapel) Im sure they could turn out something truly amazing. Unfortunately, none of us have the wealth and power of a 16th century pope. The smaller work our artists do such as the statue of the Morrigan by Joe Laudati pictured above is awesome. Rosaleen Nortons paintings arent for everyone, but theres no question theyre brilliant and influential. And Pamela Colman Smith is finally getting the credit she deserves for her artwork in the Waite-Smith Tarot deck. We have some very good Pagan music, and my friends whove been to concerts by Heilung and Wardruna tell me they compare favorably to any symphony. Spending any more time rebutting Mary Kennys ridiculous claims would be as lazy as her original piece. Instead, I want to spend the rest of this post talking about why Paganism is anything but boring. Nature is wonderful This is where I need to clearly state that Paganism is not one religion, but rather a movement of many different religions. While some modern Pagan religions are not Nature religions, many are including mine. And Nature is wonderful. The Universe is 14 billion years old and it contains (as best we can tell at the moment) 1024 stars. Many of those stars have planets. Our planet is 4.5 billion years old and is home to over 8 million species, of which we are only one and one of the newer ones. We are so young and our lives are so brief. And yet in all this seemingly-infinite vastness, here we are, a part of it all, contemplating it all. Our seasonal celebrations on the Wheel of the Year keep us connected to the Earth and its rhythms and cycles. We make pilgrimages into wild places and we step outside into our back yards to watch the squirrels, listen to the birds, and talk to the trees. We follow the monthly cycles of the Moon and we feel its power, just as our ancestors did hundreds and thousands of years ago. We were not placed on the Earth we grew out of the Earth. The Earth is quite literally our Mother, and there is no more genuine religion than honoring, respecting, and caring for the Earth. Magic and witchcraft are amazing Some Pagans are naturalists who dont believe in magic. Others follow a tradition that considers magic to be impious. But for most of us, magic and witchcraft are part of our heritage as humans. Magic is, in the words of Aleister Crowley, the science and art of creating change in conformance with will. Witchcraft is in my own definition magic that is unauthorized by mainstream authorities and generally considered transgressive. But how we define magic and witchcraft is far less important than how we practice them. Because we have magic, we always have hope. Not the passive hope that someone will come rescue us, but the hope of agency the understanding that no matter how bad things get, there is always something we can do to make them better. Because we have witchcraft, those who are denied access to official sources of power are not powerless. Most importantly, you need no ones permission to practice magic and witchcraft. You dont even have to believe in it (although that helps). You just have to do it. Do the spells and do them right and the results will come. Im an engineer by profession and Im skeptical by nature, but eventually I had so many successes it was easier to believe in the reality of magic than to keep trying to rationalize it all away. The results have been and continue to be amazing. Divination is brilliant Divination is and this is my definition again obtaining information through non-ordinary means. I prefer Tarot for divination, but others read runes or stones or tea leaves, or read omens in Nature. There are many forms of divination. Divination shows us what will be, not what must be. It tells us where were going. If you like that, keep doing what youve been doing. If you dont, make a change and go somewhere else instead. Divination will show us what were missing. It isnt a very good map, but its an excellent set of headlights it helps you see the major obstacles youll encounter on your way. And divination allows us to ask questions of the Gods and spirits, and then get answers. How does divination work? Sometimes a God or spirit tells us the answer. Sometimes we already know the answer and divination helps us get out of our heads so we can see it. Other times we connect to a source of knowledge and find what we need. What divination cant do is tell us what we should do. Never hand over your agency to a deck of cards or the spirits who may or may not be behind those cards. Instead, use the information you find through divination to make good, conscious, well-informed decisions. Like any tool, divination can be misused or overused. But when its used properly, its brilliant. The Gods are awesome The Gods and my relationships with them are the foundation of my Paganism. Cernunnos has been a part of my life since before I knew who he was. Danu doesnt say much, but what she does say is critically important. The Morrigan is one of the most active deities of our time and I am honored to be a part of her work in this world. Several other deities are part of my regular prayers and worship, even though I have no oaths with them. And as someone who has served as a priest in a public setting for many years, Ive had occasion to work with and for numerous others. The Gods are awesome in a literal sense: they inspire awe. Whatever we are as humans, they are much, much more. They are always good (thats one of the definitions of a God) but good doesnt mean nice. Sometimes they relate to us in ways we struggle to understand. They are not helicopter parents and they are not vending machines. They do their own things for their own reasons and they arent big on explaining themselves. At the end of the day it comes down to one thing: my life is better with the Gods in it than it was before I begin following them. They are awesome. Some of our not boring things arent so great I would not be telling the whole truth if I didnt mention that some of the things that make Paganism anything but boring arent so great. We have our problems with things like gatekeeping and aesthetics over substance. We argue, sometimes constructively but too often in ways that get personal. And we have our problems with predators and abusers in our community something the Catholic Church is very familiar with. But youll find these problems in pretty much every religion. Thats because they arent Pagan problems or Catholic problems, theyre human problems. And for all that our religions are divinely inspired, they remain human institutions, filled with humans in all our flawed glory. Im happy being Pagan I cant think of a single religion I find boring. Some are offensive and harmful (fundamentalism of any variety), some are grounded in cultures too different for me to fully appreciate, and some simply dont speak to me in a spiritual sense. But I find all of them interesting and many of them fascinating. Im happy finding the Divine in Nature, and in understanding that Im connected to all that is. I enjoy magic and witchcraft, and they have been very helpful to me at critical points in my life. Divination doesnt have all the answers or really, any of the answers but it provides information that helps me find the answers myself. And I love the Many Gods, especially those who are active in my life. This path is deeply meaningful for me and for many others. It isnt for everyone no religion is. There are things about modern Paganism that are worthy of criticism (the same is true for every other religion) and we ignore thoughtful criticism to our detriment. But the best response to lazy, ill-informed criticism is to simply keep doing what weve been doing: being the best Pagans we can be, and having fun while doing it. Prosecutors have indicated their decision to call nine witnesses to testify in a case against Yahuza Osumanu, the man who allegedly robbed several individuals, including former Second Lady, Matilda Yaaba Amissah-Arthur. The Office of the Attorney General, last Thursday, filed a third and final batch of disclosures which they will be depending on to prove the guilt of the lone robber. The court presided over by Justice Lydia Osei Marfo has subsequently adjourned the case to June 20, 2024 to enable the prosecution to serve the documents on the defence counsels. The court will hold a case management conference on the next sitting date to set out modalities and timelines for the trial, including the manner in which the witnesses would be called, and how much time the defence lawyers would need to cross-examine prosecution witnesses. Yahuza Osumanu has been charged with 22 counts of robbery and four counts of money laundering, and he has pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The lone robber who had been on the radar of the police for a series of robberies at Tesano, Airport Residential Area, Ridge and Cantonment, all in Accra, was arrested on December 13, 2023, following coordinated police efforts. Court documents say his modus operandi includes targeting wealthy individuals whose homes he breaks into and robs them at gunpoint. The accused, according to court documents, entered the home of the former Second Lady on December 5, 2023 wielding a gun, and threatened to kill her if she did not comply with his instructions. Yahuza Osumanu is accused of assaulting Mrs. Amissah-Arthur by strangling her and hitting her head repeatedly on the ground while demanding for more booty, leading her to lose consciousness momentarily. The accused, according to court documents, succeeded in robbing the helpless woman of her money totaling USD$2,200, GH3,000, and 50. He also made away with a gold watch valued at GH20,000 and necklaces valued at GH5,000. He also stole a safe from the room but could not carry it out of the house as he was spotted by a security guard on his way out, and he abandoned it. In all, he is accused of successfully robbing his five victims of jewelries, including Rolex watches, Cartier watches, gold watches, among others, all totaling $236,000 and GH25,000. He also made away with cash sums totaling GH6,500, 3,500, $2,200 and 50. All the robberies, according to court documents, were captured on CCTV camera, and the accused is said to have admitted to being the one in the footage. The court has denied a bail application filed by his lawyer on ground that it was not convinced the accused would avail himself for the trial if granted bail, given the gravity of the allegations against him. I am of the considered opinion that looking at the nature of the accusations against the accused and the nature of evidence, I am inclined to believe that he will not avail himself to stand trial when granted bail. At best, the initial stages he can appear in court but when the trial proceeds that is where he will jump bail, Justice Lydia Osei Marfo held. The judge assured an expeditious trial and ordered that the accused should remain in custody unless there appears to be a delay from the prosecution. Source: dailyguidenetwork.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has described as false and fabricated claims by a section of the media that the assembly has been cited for expenditure breaches by the Auditor-Generals Department. It also denied assertions that the assembly had admitted undertaking activities that were contrary to what were planned or budgeted for. A statement signed by the KMA Finance Officer, David Adjei Abbam, said contrary to speculations in the media, the management of Assembly received queries from the Auditor-General office for clarification on specific issues. It said as with established procedures, it was given 30 days to respond to the query, which was complied with satisfactorily with documents and all appropriate evidence. The statement expressed surprise that some elements would decide to leak the query letter to the media without the response offered by the assembly, all geared towards generating the impression as though something untoward had occurred at the assembly. It added that the Auditor General was yet to issue or release its final report on the issues raised in the Management letter as well as the KMA's responses. It described as inappropriate and irregular some media houses going ahead to publish queries without the responses provided, adding that natural justice and professional journalistic ethics demanded that in matters of such nature both sides must be heard. The statement said until the Auditor-General issued the final report, KMA and its management could not be accused of any infractions regarding misapplication of funds as alleged by the newspaper publication. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video ZHENGZHOU, June 9 (Xinhua) -- To the roaring of a combine harvester, Xie Guobing, a seasoned harvester driver in central China's granary province of Henan, effortlessly and leisurely, tapped on his cellphone before starting the large machine, with row upon row of golden wheat rippling behind him. Two hours later, standing beside freshly harvested wheat emitting a rich cereal aroma, the 55-year-old noticed a finish button pop up on his cellphone application, displaying the precise measurement of the area reaped by the machine. Xie and countless other farmers and agricultural workers in Henan are readying themselves for the burgeoning wave of digitalization and intelligentization, which serves as the latest and seemingly the most powerful engine to propel the development of agriculture after mechanization. This application used by Xie was developed in collaboration between the Henan provincial agricultural machinery and farmland development center and the National Institute of Agro-machinery Innovation and Creation (CHIAIC). It is the mobile version of the Henan agricultural machinery cloud platform. "We usually use this feature when harvesting for large grain producers," said Xie while demonstrating the application to Xinhua. "It's accurate and eliminates the need for manual measurement." He added, "It has many other functions as well. For instance, if a farmer doesn't have a harvester, he can search for the nearest one, click 'contact driver,' and make a call directly." On the desktop version of this cloud platform, various pages display the locations of harvesters, agricultural machinery repair points, service centers, and grain dryers, providing real-time monitoring of the province's wheat harvesting progress. According to Zhao Huawei, director of the agricultural machinery department at the Henan provincial agricultural machinery and farmland development center, the platform was developed in 2022 and requires the installation of a smart terminal for the BeiDou position system on agricultural machinery. "We initially conducted a two-year pilot program in cities like Luohe and Xinyang, and this year, we are rolling it out across the entire province," Zhao said. "Its primary function is for emergency responses in agriculture," Zhao explained. "For instance, if rain is forecasted in a specific area, we can promptly dispatch harvesters to accelerate the harvest and ensure grain dryers are ready. Additionally, it provides information, measurement, and maintenance services to harvester drivers and connects farmers with available drivers. Another key function is monitoring the harvested area across the province." Henan is the largest wheat-producing province in China, accounting for one-quarter of the national output, with a planting area of over 85 million mu (about 5.67 million hectares). The large-scale mechanized harvesting usually takes around 13 days. This year, an estimated 200,000 combine harvesters were racing against time to complete the harvest. Completing such a large-scale wheat harvest in a short period, especially given adverse weather conditions like rain, requires not only maximizing the utilization of harvesters but also ensuring efficient machinery maintenance, in a digitalized and intelligentized manner. At the Weichai Lovol intelligent agriculture service department in Dengzhou, computer screens display real-time data on this leading agricultural equipment maker's operating combine harvesters, including model, location and factory information. Detailed information on the usage and stock levels of various parts is clearly visible, with alerts for low inventory levels. Dai Jiwei, a harvester driver from Heze City in neighboring Shandong Province, encountered an issue while harvesting wheat in Dengzhou City, Henan Province, when a circlip on his harvester went missing. But, fortunately, this situation allowed him to experience firsthand how advancements in intelligent agriculture helped resolve the problem within one hour. After receiving Dai's phone call, a maintenance engineer arrived at the site within half an hour with the appropriate parts for his harvester model. In just 20 minutes, the engineer replaced the circlip and the belt, getting Dai and his harvester back to work. "Combine harvesters produced in recent years are equipped with positioning systems," said Zhang Linhao, head of the service department. "This not only aids local authorities in allocating agricultural machinery but also facilitates rapid maintenance services." By utilizing satellite remote sensing, the Internet of Things, and big data technologies, agricultural authorities can precisely predict the optimal wheat harvest period, providing valuable information services for large-scale mechanized harvesting, according to the Dengzhou intelligent agriculture center. Additionally, through computer data calculations, a big data model of wheat yield per mu has been established, achieving a prediction accuracy of 93 percent. "I've used six harvesters over the years, and each generation is better than the last, from 65 horsepower to 220 horsepower, from harvesting 80 mu a day to 150 mu a day. Now, with the smart terminal installed, many tasks can be completed through my cellphone. It's incredibly convenient," said Xie, enjoying his 21st year of driving a harvester. The Majority in Parliament is challenging the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) to a debate between their respective presidential candidates, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia and John Dramani Mahama, on issues to better inform the electorate ahead of the December general election. The caucus is of the view that with the 2024 presidential and parliamentary polls fast approaching, the opposition party has activated its propaganda machinery to confuse the voting public. Majority Leader, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, at a press conference in Accra yesterday said the governing New Patriotic Partys presidential candidate, Dr Bawumia, is ready to take on the NDCs Mahama on the big debate on the issues that affect Ghanaians. Let us argue and make statements based on facts. The NDC minority is engaged in political mischief (and they must be stopped in their tracts). What matters to the Ghanaian people is issues of their welfare. I challenge them to get on board and lets have the big debate. Our leader is ready to engage their flag bearer on issues of governance to better the lot of the Ghanaian, and that is what they should be ready for, Mr Afenyo-Markin, MP, Effutu, said. Mr Afenyo-Markins challenge was predicated on what he said had become the vile propaganda of the opposition party ahead of the December 7 polls; a propaganda he said was sabotaging the economy. The minority last week accused the government of signing multi-year contracts without recourse to the Public Financial Management Act. If you read Section 33 of the Public Financial Management Act, when you commit as a covered entity, when you commit to signing a multi-year contract, which is a contract that spans years, you first have to go to the Ministry of Finance and you have to come to Parliament. So let me use this opportunity to send a strong warning and signal to all these agencies that when you do so you breach the Public Financial Management Act and it comes with consequences including imprisonment, so I think that they should take note and follow the law and do what is proper, Minority spokesperson on Mines and Energy, John Jinapor, had alleged. But Mr Afenyo-Markin said the Minority had misread and misinterpreted the law. The contract in question must be an international transaction. That is where our colleagues should pay attention. It does not mean that every contract with a multi-year value should come to parliament. So they should stop misleading the public. They should stop peddling falsehoods. Every government engages the private sector. The object of that is to create space for economic growth. In his view, such posture scares away investors and Ghana would be the loser at the end. So if you recklessly scare off the businessmen and where you know that what you are putting out is not true, what you are trying to do is to sabotage the economy. So I would want to encourage them that we know its an election year but lets argue on facts. Lets put out the facts, he stated. Source: Ghanaian Times Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Professor Smart Sarpong, as Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Social Research at the Kumasi Technical University (KsTU) has stated that the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, when choosing a running mate must choose someone who is charismatic enough to maximize his votes. According to the academician, the flagbearer must consider choosing a running mate from the partys World Bank. There has been a clarion call for the flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party to choose his running mate from the Ashanti region, which is the stronghold of the NPP. Professor Sarpong explained that, party members calling on the Vice President to choose a running mate from the Ashanti region are looking at a running mate who has the capacity to mobilise votes for the party come December 7, 2024, when the general election will be held. He said, for the purposes of maximizing votes, among the factors that he has to consider will include the partner that will help him maximize his votes. I am sure for those who call for a running mate from Ashanti are mindful of the fact that it has for a long time been a stronghold of the NPP and perhaps nominating a vice from that region can contribute to whipping up the interest of the voters to come out and vote for the NPP. That will be the main reason. Apart from that anybody who can play that complementary role very well irrespective of which region he comes from provided he can complement the flagbearer and qualifies by age and by other standard definitions can be nominated. The people who are calling for a running mate from Ashanti region are looking at the numbers and who can whip up the voters to come out and vote from the Ashanti. Speaking on TV3s Ghana Tonight, Prof. Smart Sarpong, urged the vice president to consider a running mate who can appeal to the youth, who happen to be the majority of voters, adding that, such a running mate will add complementary votes to the NPPs ticket. If the running mate is an inspirational person, if the running mate has charisma, if he is able to go down there and mobile votes and he appeals to the people most especially the youth, the person can add some good amount of complementary votes to the ticket of the flagbearer." He further added, Apart from him being an Ashanti, he has to pick somebody who is very charismatic, somebody who can appeal to the youth population, somebody who is down to earth. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Joyce Bawah Mogtari, special aide to former President John Mahama, has called for the resignation of Attorney-General Godfred Yeboah Dame following the trial judge's advice in the Ato Forson ambulance case. A High Court Judge, Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe, has advised the Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to recuse himself from the ambulance procurement case involving Dr Cassiel Ato Forson and Richard Jakpa. Reacting to this, Madam Mogtari took to her X handle and wrote: Should Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame not find refuge in the guidance of the Judge, having literally crossed the red line and brought the unusually mute Ghana Bar Association (GBA) into utter chaos. For the very first time in the annals of our nascent Democracy, an Attorney General of Ghana has been directed by Court to recuse himself from a trial. This must certainly be causing some serious ripples in the corridors of power. AG Dame should resign honorably, no dishonorably I beg your pardon. This dishonorable, deplorable conduct should not be tolerated MiLady. Should Attorney General Godfred Yeboah Dame not find refuge in the guidance of the Judge, having literally crossed the red line and brought the unusually mute Ghana Bar Association ( GBA) into utter chaos. For the very first time in the annals of our nascent Democracy, an Joyce Bawah Mogtari (@joyce_bawah) June 6, 2024 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. Featured Video The Managing Director of the InterCity STC and a member of the Dr. Bawumia campaign team, Nana Akomea has disclosed that the Vice President and the flagbearer for the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia becomes jittery anytime his past tapes are replayed to him. According to him the Vice President becomes totally unhappy when his old videos are replayed to him. Speaking to 3 FMs Johnnie Hughes on Thursday, June 6, Nana Akomea said, Bawumia is not happy when he was asked, How does Dr. Bawumia feel when his tapes are being played back to him? Speaking further, he opined that, every politician who was unable to deliver on his mandate will be uncomfortable when his old tapes are played back to him. "But if we play John Mahamas tapes in 2012 and 2013 and so on he will not be happy, so Bawumia is not happy," he said. Speaking on the election 2024, Nana Akomea posited that, the main contender, John Dramani Mahama, who is the flagbearer of the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), had the opportunity to serve as President, hence the next mandate should be given to Dr. Bawumia, because he has what it takes to transform Ghana, making it a safe haven for businesses to flourish. He further pointed that, Dr. Bawumia has life transforming and innovative policies that is best fit for the Ghanaian economy much more than the policies of the NDC and its flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama. But the difference is that, John Mahama was in charge, it was his government, and he had the mandate of the country as President. The Executive authority in this country is vested in the President. Bawumia has never been President, he clarified. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Upper West Regional chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Saanbaye Basilide Kangbere, popularly known as (Chairman Heavy Weight), has died at his home in Adjringano in Accra. Kangberee passed away on Friday, 7 June 2024. Dr Kangberee (76) has not been well in recent times. It is reported that he has been battling with a renal health issue. In 2022 as the incumbent Upper West Regional chairman of the NPP, he was reelected after beating his main contender, Alhaji Mahama Toyina, by a slim margin contrary to earlier concerns about his defeat. The Upper West Region delegates of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) two years ago (29 May 2022) retained Dr Saanbaye Basilide Kangbere, the incumbent regional Chairman to lead the party in the region for the additional four years (2022 to 2026). Dr Kangbere polled 130 votes out of a total of 242 valid votes cast, while his contender, Mr Mahama Toyiba had 112 valid votes. The first Vice Chairman position went to Mr Adul-Rahman Aziz who had 157 votes, while Mr Muhammed Aziz Gado had 84 votes to emerge second vice chairman. His death will come as a blow to the NPP as it prepares for the 2024 presidential and parliamentary elections. The NPP lost some grounds in the Upper West Region during the 2020 elections and was looking forward to recovering the lost grounds in the December 2024 general elections. The first vice chairman of the NPP in the Upper West Region, Mr Adul-Rahman Aziz, is expected to assume the role of Chairman of the NPP in the Upper West region following the death of the incumbent regional chairman. Source: Asaaseradio Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video It is National Rose Day, one of a succession of holidays on the wine calendar. Rose is probably the oldest known type of wine, dating back as far as 600 BC, according to some historians. Rose wines are generally made from red grapes and are versatile wines that complement a variety of foods. A rose wine generally will also be lighter in color than red wine and deeper in color than white wine, although that can vary greatly depending on the process, grapes and the winemakers whims. You can find roses that range from sweet to bone dry and from still wines to sparkling. A vast majority of wineries offer one rose as part of their portfolio. Thats what Melanie Natoli found when she arrived at Cana Vineyards and Winery in Middleburg, Virginia, in 2015, she told PennLive in an interview a couple of years ago. Its a conversation that took place in the wake of her winning the 2022 Virginias Governors Cup for a 2019 vintage of a red blend she makes called 2019 Unite Reserve. One just didnt cut it, she said at the time. It often seems like producers and consumers alike recognize a great big world of white wine and a great big world of red wine and between those worlds will sit one bottle of pink wine, she said. The world of rose is so much bigger than that and its my mission to show and share it with as many people as I can. Says Melanie Natoli of winning the Virginia Governor's Cup in 2022: 'I believed in myself and what I was doing. Winning the Governors Cup is validation.' Cana now offers three roses, made from Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc grapes. My intention is to present three distinct, well-crafted roses to push out the boundaries of the rose space, she said. Fast forward to June 2024, as rose sales nationally continue to buck some of the current trends and continue to rise. The global rose wine market size had a value of approximately $3.27 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach top $5 billion by 2032, according to the data from one research firm. Not that Natoli needed another reason to continue throwing her heart and soul into her three roses. Rose is my heart and greatest passion as a winemaker, she said in a Thursday email. It is a wine that can bring so much joy through varying shades of pink showcasing the best of red and white wine attributes. For that reason, it can be a very challenging wine to craft, but the reward is always worth it. I am driven to produce high-quality rose to introduce consumers to how much rose has to offer: intense aromatics, refreshing acidity, layered flavors, full mouthfeel, and long finish. Rose has enjoyed great popularity, but not always the respect it deserves. The pavilion at Cana Vineyards & Winery of Middleburg, Virginia, which is open Thursdays through Mondays. Now, that doesnt mean there havent been a few tweaks to the process at the northern Virginia winery this New Jersey native now calls home. While shes making the same three roses, she said she has altered the production plan for the 2023 Rose of Cabernet Franc. It was all fermented and aged five months on the lees in barrel, she said. After experimenting with a small piece of the 2022 vintage in oak, I knew I wanted to take it further. I used three puncheons for this vintage 1 new French, 1 second fill French, and 1 acacia. The use of barrel and short lees aging has created more structure, depth, and weight on the palate. Carefully selecting the large format barrels has allowed me to maintain the fresh acid and support the beautiful fruit in this wine. Melanie Natoli, the winemaker at Cana Vineyards, won the Virginia Governor's Cup in 2022 for her red blend called Unite Reserve.Cana Vineyards Facebook page The goal, she continued, is to create a premium and age-worthy rose. it was bottled later in spring and is now resting in the bottle for an early fall release. There are a bunch of high-quality roses being made from New York down to North Carolina, too many to mention here. But peeking at the list of recent awards, here are a few that have shown up as best in class or with a gold medal. Best New Jersey rose 2023: William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill (2022 Reserve Grenache Syrah Rose) Best New Jersey rose 2022: William Heritage Winery, Mullica Hill (2021 Rose) Virginia Governors Cup 2024, gold medal: Eastwood Farm and Winery, 2022 Rose 2023 THE Rose Competition: 2022 JOLO Pink from JOLO Winery & Vineyards 2024 Maryland Comptrollers Cup: best rose, Port of Leonardtown Winery, 2023 Vintners Select Rose 2022 Maryland Governors Cup, best in class, rose: Cabin Vineyard, Breeze 2021 2023 Pa. Sommelier Judgment: best rose: Mazza Vineyards, 2022 Rose 2023 New York Wine Classic, best rose: Wolffer Estate Vineyard, 2022 Estate Rose Marian Robinson, the mother of former first lady Michelle Obama and who lived in the White House as First Granny, died May 31, 2024. We knew Mrs. Marian Robinson as a devoted mother and grandmother with a fierce and unconditional love for her family. With the blessing of friendship, we felt that love ourselves with every quiet smile or warm embrace she shared with us. She believed, like we do, that family is the beginning, middle, and end. She moved into the White House to be there with her family when they needed her the most, and in so doing, she served her country right alongside them. Her life is a reminder that we are a great nation because we are a good people. I send deepest love to Michelle, Craig, Barack, Kelly, and the six irresistible grandchildren who she helped to raise and so loved, and in whom her kind and gentle spirit lives on. May she rest In peace with her beloved Fraser. May God bless Mrs. Marian Robinson. Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fl. By Mark Stevenson and Maria Verza, The Associated Press MEXICO CITY Amid Mexicos heat wave and drought, suffering birds are getting air-conditioning and monkeys with heatstroke are being rescued by non-governmental groups. The government, meanwhile, has been more preoccupied with cooling down animals at state-run zoos, giving lions frozen meat popsicles. Its not the only frosty treat: One rescue group is feeding distressed owls with rat carcasses shipped in frozen from Mexico City. A heat dome, an area of strong high pressure centered over the southern Gulf of Mexico and northern Central America, has blocked clouds from forming and caused extensive sunshine and hot temperatures all across Mexico, as well as in the United States. Much of the impact on wildlife is being felt in central and southern Mexico, because while temperatures are also high in the north, it is mostly desert and the animals there have some coping mechanisms for extreme heat and drought. On the steamy Gulf coast, an animal park has set up air-conditioned rooms for eagles, owls and other birds of prey. In the south, howler monkeys continue to fall dead out of the trees with heatstroke. Deaths now probably number over 250. In the southern state of Tabasco, the few monkeys that can be saved from dehydration and heat stroke are mostly being saved by NGOs like the Biodiversity Conservation of The Usumacinta group. Known by its initials as COBIUS, the group has saved and stabilized 18 of the monkeys. Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo, the head of the group, has been accompanying teams of biologists and veterinarians out into the jungle to look for ailing monkeys. Many times, they get there too late. Yesterday we lost three of the animals, Pozo said as he bounced in a truck along a rural road in the southern Gulf coast state of Tabasco, the worst-hit area. We went out to rescue them. We couldnt stabilize them. The monkeys mid-sized primates known for their roaring calls were too far gone with a kind of severe fluid loss as Mexico grapples with drought along with heat. A baboon inspects a frozen treat in its enclosure at the Chapultepec Zoo as staff work to keep the animals cool amid a continuing heat wave and drought, in Mexico City, Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo)AP As of May 31, the Environment Department acknowledged that a total of 204 howler monkeys had died, 157 of them in Tabasco. Pozo said the number in Tabasco alone has since risen to 198, suggesting the nationwide toll is now near 250. The only rescue plan or program is the one our organization is doing, Pozo said. Amid budget cuts for many environmental agencies, the government now has to rely on NGOs. In a statement, the Environment Department said, Federal environmental authorities have attended to reports of these events, in a coordinated approach with civic groups and academics. It said the government has provided food, lodging and water for the NGO teams and sick animals. The department says tests indicate the primates are dying of heat stroke, but adds that the drought has caused a lack of water in the streams and springs in the areas where the monkeys live and that appears to also play a role. Some NGOs are struggling to pay for the care and are calling for donations, like the Selva Teenek, a non-profit wildlife park in the jungled region of La Huasteca, farther north. On May 9, temperatures in that area soared to around 120 degrees (50 Celsius), and rescuers and staff brought in 15 birds of various species that were found lying on the ground. This had never happened before, said Laura Rodriguez, the parks veterinarian. One hundred percent of the animals ... they needed rehydration. Some were so dehydrated we couldnt give them water orally. Ena Mildred Buenfil, leader of the animal rescue group Selva Teneek, said birds like the howler monkeys are simply dropping dead. The birds started having problems, and some of them literally started dropping dead in flight, Buenfil said. Some of the most affected were the newborns ... people sent photos to us of dozens of dead parrots on the ground. The birds were suffering from heat stress, dehydration and malnutrition, simultaneously. Rescuers had to get them out of the heat, give them water and feed them. That included a shipment of frozen dead rats from Mexico City. The adult (owls) need rats. Fortunately, we have rats, Buenfil said, but noted the staff has to thaw them a bit to skin them and remove their innards before they can be given to the birds. A veterinarian feeds a young howler monkey rescued amid extremely high temperatures in Tecolutilla, Tabasco state, Mexico, Tuesday, May 21, 2024. Dozens of howler monkeys were found dead in the Gulf coast state while others were rescued by residents who rushed them to a local veterinarian. (AP Photo/Luis Sanchez)AP Since then, dozens of more birds and a few bats, lynxes and and coyotes have been found alive but suffering, and have also been brought in to the Teneek park. The situation got so crowded in the three rooms that have air-conditioning at the park that the staff had to put up sheets or curtains to separate the birds of prey from other birds that are their prey. Several birds died, but some species like the kinkajous that roam the park - only need the air-conditioning during the day, and are let out at night. Others, like the ant eaters, can get by with the breeze from a fan. The lions at Mexico Citys Chapultepec zoo got a frozen treat of blood and animal bones mixed with water. Alberto Olascoaga, the head of the capitals zoo, said the animals like it and it helps hydrate them. They play with the popsicle. They lick it, they break it up, they bite it, and they are getting refreshed and drinking this cold water as it melts, Olascoaga said. Claudia Sheinbaum, the environmental scientist who won the June 2 presidential election to succeed Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, offered some hope that testy relations over how to deal with the plight of wildlife might change when she takes office Oct. 1. I have spent my whole life studying the environment, it is part of my cause, she wrote in her Instagram account Wednesday. Associated Press video journalist Martin Silva in Mexico City contributed to this report. SACRAMENTO, United States, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A new study by researchers at Stanford and Yale Universities has raised concerns about the reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) tools used for legal research, urging lawyers to be cautious about AI outputs. The study, titled "Hallucination-Free? Assessing the Reliability of Leading AI Legal Research Tools," examined different AI tools lawyers use for legal research to assess the potential for generating false information, known as "hallucinations." Lawyers are increasingly using AI tools to assist their legal practice. However, the large language models used in these tools are prone to "hallucinate" and thus pose risks to their practice, said the authors of the study published on Stanford University's website. Some companies that make these AI tools claim they have fixed this problem, but the researchers found their claims "overstated." The study tested popular tools from LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters and found they made mistakes 17 percent to 33 percent of the time. According to the study, some "hallucinations" happen when AI tools cite non-existent legal rules or misinterpret legal precedents. The study, citing previous research, showed that as of January 2024, at least 41 of the top 100 largest law firms in the United States have begun to use AI in their practice. The authors called on lawyers to supervise and verify AI-generated outputs while urging AI tool providers to be honest about the accuracy of their products and provide evidence to back them up. "Feeling Vindicated": Brek Schutten Wins WSOP $25,000 High Roller for $1,405,641 Connor Richards Editor & Live Reporter U.S. Copy link Call an ambulance! But not for Brek Schutten, because the ICU nurse and accomplished poker player won his first World Series of Poker (WSOP) bracelet by taking down Event #21: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em (6-Handed) for $1,405,641. The second-ever $25,000 six-handed event drew 272 runners, a nearly 30% increase from the 207 players who played last year's inaugural event, for a prize pool of $6,392,000. The field included many of poker's biggest names like Phil Ivey, Daniel Negreanu and Erik Seidel. But the last player standing inside Horseshoe and Paris Las Vegas was Schutten, who has plenty of experience battling with poker's most accomplished in between hospital shifts. Schutten won a World Poker Tour (WPT) title in 2021 and finished runner-up in the WSOP $50,000 High Roller a year later. This time around, Schutten defeated heads-up opponent Tyler Stafman, who had just $203,810 in live earnings before picking up the career-best score of $938,775. Tyler Stafman The victory was redemption for Schutten, who told PokerNews he was feeling vindicated. I got second to Jake Schindler and just had those regrets ever since," he said in a winner's interview. "Certain hands go through your mind all the time and you never know if youre going to get back to a high roller final table, let alone heads-up, let alone win the thing. Event #21: $25,000 High Roller No-Limit Hold'em (6-Handed) Final Table Results Place Player Country Prize 1 Brek Schutten United States $1,405,641 2 Tyler Stafman United States $938,775 3 Michael Rocco United States $639,620 4 Taylor von Kriegenbergh United States $444,766 5 Brandon Wilson United States $315,771 6 Masashi Oya Japan $229,002 2024 World Series of Poker Hub Bookmark this page! All you need to know about the 2024 WSOP is here. Click here "I Love These Fields" The final table also included Michael Rocco (3rd - $639,620), Taylor von Kriegenbergh (4th - $444,766), Brandon Wilson (5th - $315,771) and Masashi Oya (6th - $229,002), all of whom were looking for their maiden bracelet. After spending most of Day 2 as one of the chip leaders but entering the final table on Day 3 as a short stack, Schutten's focus was solely on winning the tournament. I was more concerned about winning the bracelet than the ICM for pay jumps and stuff, so I think that helped to be able to put my chips in when I felt like I had the best hand and hope for the best." Schutten said he's focusing more on poker than nursing right now but still working a few shifts here and there. Brek Schutten I love these fields. I love playing against the best in the world. Its just a great experience and its good to know that I can win a tournament with this field. Now that he has a bracelet and WSOP title, is Schutten thinking about going for the Triple Crown? I have not played an EPT before, Ive actually never been to Europe. But maybe. Havent thought about it yet, but it might be possible. Day 3 Action Much of the action took place yesterday on Day 2, including Dylan Destefano bubbling in painful fashion, Alex Foxen six-bet jamming with a non-premium holding and Paul Jager being three-outed by the same card in nearly back-to-back hands. There were 12 players who advanced to Day 3 and Justin Saliba was quickly out the door as his king-queen couldn't hit against the pocket fives of Kevin Rabichow. It took several hours, but Rabichow was next out after running ace-jack into the pocket queens of Stafman. Kevin Rabichow The eighth-place elimination of Chongxian Yang, whose pocket tens were pipped by the fishhooks of von Kriegenbergh, set up an unofficial final table of seven inside the Horseshoe Event Center. After a break to set up the stream, the seven players returned and battled for several hours before losing Ognyan Dimov as his king-nine couldn't hold up against the queen-jack of Schutten. Next out was Oya, whose king-jack never pulled ahead of von Kriegenbergh's pocket nines as he fell in sixth place for $229,002. Wilson, who maintained a chip lead throughout both Day 1 and Day 2, couldn't continue his domination and went out in fifth before the fourth-place elimination of von Kriegenbergh as he ran queen-ten into the ace-queen of Rocco. Rocco was next to go as he jammed seven-three into the ace-seven of Stafman. The high-stakes pro was clearly disappointed after his close call of winning a bracelet and gave some emotional words to PokerGO's Jeff Platt after his elimination. Michael Rocco Schutten had the heads-up chip lead but Stafman managed to double multiple times to stay in contention. In the final blow, Stafman's ace-nine was dominated by Schutten's ace-queen and couldn't improve. Schutten's wife supported him on the rail and posed for a winner's photo with the newly minted bracelet winner. Brek Schutten That does it for PokerNews' coverage of the $25,000 High Roller. Be sure to check out the 2024 WSOP Hub for coverage of other events and news. Share this article House Oversight Committee Chair Rep. James Comer (R-KY) admitted that his criminal referrals are about setting Trump up to prosecute President Biden and his family. Comer said when pressed on Fox News by Maria Bartiromo about why he hasnt issued criminal referrals for the crimes that he alleges the Bidens have committed: Were just beginning, Maria and a lot of those crimes that the Bidens have committed. The statute of limitations has run out. That was one of the complaints that the IRS whistleblower said when we had him testify in our committee, but were gonna deal with those and were gonna deal with Joe Biden. Remember, this is an investigation of Joe Biden, Hunter Biden, Jim Biden, and Devin Archer. These are all all witnesses in an investigation of Joe Biden. This was always about Joe Biden. Now were gonna do everything we can to hold Hunter Biden and, and all the different shady associates accountable. This is just the beginning, but the next step will be accountability for Joe Biden. I think everyone thats kept up with this investigation will be very eager to see what the next step is. This is the first step, these criminal referrals, everything that, that we refer to the Department of Justice is within the Statute of limitations. In fact, theres a five-year statute of limitations. So if Merrick Garlands Department of Justice doesnt take this up in an appropriate manner, then the next administration and a new attorney general certainly can the investigations already be done. With these criminal referrals, we published a 60-page report of nothing but hard evidence that no one has made a comment in disputing anything we provided in the evidence. Video: James Comer admits he is making criminal referrals so that Trump can prosecute the Bidens, Theres a five-year statute of limitations. So if Merrick Garland doesnt take this up in an appropriate manner, then the next administration and a new attorney general certainly can. pic.twitter.com/6SGnkGUKLl Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) June 9, 2024 Comer never says what crimes President Biden supposedly committed, because he has no evidence of any crimes. Instead, he keeps claiming that an investigation that is over a year and a half old is just getting started and keeps trying to string Fox News viewers along with teases about more information coming. Since Chair Comer has failed with Bidens impeachment, he will set up a potential Trump administration to get revenge on Biden by issuing a series of criminal referrals. Comer is setting the stage for political prosecutions, and his abuse of House oversight power has taken an even darker turn. A Special Message From PoliticusUSA If you are in a position to donate purely to help us keep the doors open on PoliticusUSA during what is a critical election year, please do so here. We have been honored to be able to put your interests first for 14 years as we only answer to our readers and we will not compromise on that fundamental, core PoliticusUSA value. [wpedon id=344887 align=center] Voting will begin at 7 a.m. Tuesday and close at 7 p.m. in the statewide primary races. Who can vote? All South Carolina residents registered to vote by May 10 can cast ballots in the primary. The Palmetto State does not have closed primaries, meaning anyone from the most conservative voter to the most liberal can vote in either the Democratic or Republican primary, but not both. What races will be on the ballot? On some Aiken County voters' ballots will be Democratic races in the Second Congressional District, Senate District 40 and House District 82. Republican races include the Second Congressional District, House District 81, County Council District 4 and Aiken County sheriff. David Robinson faces Daniel Shrief in the Democratic Second Congressional District race. Incumbent Joe Wilson faces Hamp Redmond in the Republican Second Congressional District primary. The Second Congressional District includes Aiken County, Barnwell County and most of the Columbia suburbs. The winner of the Democratic primary will face the winner of the Republican primary in the November general election. The district is considered safely Republican. Incumbent Brad Hutto faces Kendrick Brown in the Senate District 40 race. The district includes eastern Aiken County and parts of five other counties. The winner will face Republican Sharon Carter in the general election. The district is considered safety Democratic. And incumbent Bill Clyburn faces Brian "Ryan B" Doyle in House District 82. House District 82 includes most of Aiken's Northside, part of northern Aiken County and parts of Edgefield and Saluda counties. The winner will face Suzy Spurgeon in the fall. The district is considered to be a swing district. One of the Charleston areas oldest industrial employers has all but vanished from the face of the region since last summer. But WestRock Co., or Westvaco to many old-timers, still maintains a sentimental if suddenly fleeting grip on the Lowcountry economy. The connection is set to fade further into the ash heap of history. Shareholders will vote this week whether to approve the sale of the longtime paper and packaging manufacturer to another multinational that plans to move the home office across the ocean. The $11.1 billion tie-up with Smurfit Kappa was announced late last summer, shortly after WestRock shut down its landmark North Charleston mill after a continuous 86-year run off Virginia Avenue. If investors approve the cash-and-stock acquisition, which is likely, the new Dublin-based parent will go by Smurfit WestRock, marking the sixth name change for the onetime West Virginia upstart that was created during Grover Clevelands presidency. Its also the latest turn for a company that had maintained exceedingly close ties to the Charleston economy that date back to the Great Depression. The business was run by the same family for six generations, starting with William Luke, who established the Piedmont Pulp & Paper Co in 1888. The company was incorporated later as West Virginia Pulp & Paper, which then became Westvaco and then MeadWestvaco, following the 2022 buyout of Mead Corp. The mashed-up WestRock name emerged nine years ago, after Georgia-based Rock-Tenn Co. stepped in as the new owner and when the Luke family reign came to an end. Even before the 2015 sale, change was in the air at the company, as thick as the pungent smell of money that the North Charleston mill released into the air. Under longtime CEO John A. Luke Jr., who took the reins from his father in 1992, Westvaco bought out a major rival in Mead and started pruning businesses as it expanded globally. The company shifted its focus to high-end consumer packaging materials, specialty chemicals and real estate, including large-scale industrial parks and the mammoth Nexton master-planned community near Summerville Tourists enjoy the face-changing performance of Sichuan Opera in Neijiang, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 9, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Photo by Tang Mingrun/Xinhua) Children play at a water park in Tengzhou, east China's Shandong Province, June 9, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Photo by Li Zhijun/Xinhua) Tourists visit the Xuan paper cultural park in Jingxian County, east China's Anhui Province, June 9, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Xinhua/Zhang Duan) Children visit Chongqing Natural History Museum in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, June 9, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Photo by Qin Tingfu/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo taken on June 9, 2024 shows people having fun at the Fantawild Adventure in Shenyang, northeast China's Liaoning Province. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Xinhua/Long Lei) Tourists enjoy the view of the zigzag watercourse of the Yellow River in Ruoergai County of Aba Tibetan-Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Sichuan Province, June 8, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Xinhua/Wang Xi) This photo taken on June 9, 2024 shows tourists rowing boats at Luyang Lake wetland park in Yangzhou, east China's Jiangsu Province. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Photo by Meng Delong/Xinhua) Tourists visit Mingsha Mountain and Crescent Spring scenic spot in Dunhuang, northwest China's Gansu Province, June 9, 2024. People enjoy the 3-day holiday of the Dragon Boat Festival, also called Duanwu Festival, which falls on June 10 this year, via various activities across the country. (Photo by Zhang Xiaoliang/Xinhua) If you have a hummingbird feeder in your yard, youre probably enjoying watching the hummers sipping nectar to fuel up for their long migration south in the coming weeks. But did you know that nectar makes up only a small percentage of a hummingbirds diet? Up to 80% of it comes from insects Read moreCommentary: Protect insects, protect birds Its easy to miss the significance of Gov. Henry McMasters attempts to help rescue the South Carolina Republican Party which he played such a huge role in building into a behemoth from the anarchists who have made a name by blaspheming its most loyal supporters. Injecting himself into several House Republican primary races isnt just out of character for Mr. McMaster, as The Post and Couriers Alexander Thompson and Max White report. Its out of character for any S.C. governor. Although then-Gov. Nikki Haley targeted Republican senators she didnt like, other governors in both parties have religiously steered clear of primaries, or at the very least of supporting anyone challenging an incumbent. (Gov. Carroll Campbell once made headlines for making a snide remark about an incumbent House member who was facing primary opposition, after that representative blocked one of his priorities.) We suspect that, like us, the tipping point for Mr. McMaster was when the self-styled Freedom Caucus used a last-minute parliamentary maneuver to kill the most important bill of the 2024 session a measure to merge six uncommunicative, overlapping health agencies into a single department controlled by the governor. This plan to finally put the governor in charge of the until-now autonomous public health sector is what the chaos sowers call creating a health czar. (Little-known fact: Three of the caucus members who claim that S.915 should be killed because of language about power in public health emergencies are co-sponsors of a bill that contains the very same language, which in both cases is simply included to show what's in current law.) While Mr. McMasters efforts are encouraging, whats not encouraging is the progress thats been made to revive S.915, which a caucus member stopped from clearing a procedural hurdle in the final hour of the regular legislative session last month. Without that intervention, House and Senate negotiators would have gone into conference committee and, by now, worked out the insignificant differences between the two versions of this landmark legislation. PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-09 17:08:59 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 333 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / June 9, 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. www.schallfirm.com Office: 310-301-3335 info@ schallfirm.com SOURCE: The Schall Law Firm PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-09 11:54:54 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 632 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / June 9, 2024 / Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC, a nationally recognized law firm, notifies investors that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Harbor Diversified, Inc. ("Harbor Diversified" or "the Company") (OTC:HRBR) and certain of its officers.Class Definition:This lawsuit seeks to recover damages against Defendants for alleged violations of the federal securities laws on behalf of all persons and entities that purchased or otherwise acquired Harbor Diversified securities between May 10, 2022 and March 29, 2024, inclusive (the "Class Period"). Such investors are encouraged to join this case by visiting the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR Case Details:According to the Complaint, Harbor Diversified describes itself as "a non-operating holding company that is the parent of a consolidated group of subsidiaries, including AWAC Aviation, Inc. (AWAC'), which is the sole member of Air Wisconsin Airlines LLC (Air Wisconsin'), a regional air carrier. Harbor is also the direct parent of three other subsidiaries: (1) Lotus Aviation Leasing, LLC (Lotus'), which leases flight equipment to Air Wisconsin, (2) Air Wisconsin Funding LLC (AWF'), which provides flight equipment financing to Air Wisconsin, and (3) Harbor Therapeutics, Inc. (Therapeutics'), which is a non-operating entity with no material assets." The Complaint alleges that Harbor Diversified made materially false and/or misleading statements because the Company misrepresented and failed to disclose the following adverse facts pertaining to the Company's business, operations, and prospects, which were known to Defendants or recklessly disregarded by them. Specifically, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that:(1) Harbor Diversified's financial statements from May 9, 2022 to the present were misstated due to improper revenue recognition;(2) Harbor Diversified lacked adequate internal controls; and(3) as a result, Harbor Diversified's statements about its business, operations, and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all times.The truth began to emerge, according to the Complaint, on March 29, 2024, when Harbor Diversified filed with the SEC a current report on Form 8-K in which it announced that certain of its previously-issued financial statements would need to be restated as a result of improper revenue recognition. Further, Harbor Diversified disclosed a material weakness in its internal controls that has the company's management evaluating "appropriate remediation actions." On this news, according to the Complaint, the price of Harbor Diversified stock fell by $0.28 per share, or14.25% , to close at $1.73 on April 1, 2024.Therefore, the Complaint further alleges that as a result of Defendants' wrongful acts and omissions, and the precipitous decline in the market value of the Harbor Diversified's common shares, investors have suffered significant losses and damages.What's Next?A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to review a copy of the Complaint, you can visit the firm's site: bgandg.com/HRBR or you may contact Peretz Bronstein, Esq. or his Client Relations Manager, Nathan Miller, of Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC at 332-239-2660. If you suffered a loss in Harbor Diversified you have until July 8, 2024, to request that the Court appoint you as lead plaintiff. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff.There is No Cost to YouWe represent investors in class actions on a contingency fee basis. That means we will ask the court to reimburse us for out-of-pocket expenses and attorneys' fees, usually a percentage of the total recovery, only if we are successful.Why Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC is a nationally recognized firm that represents investors in securities fraud class actions and shareholder derivative suits. Our firm has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors nationwide.Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes.Contact:Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLCPeretz Bronstein or Nathan Miller 332-239-2660 | info@ bgandg.com SOURCE: Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman, LLC PR-Inside.com: 2024-06-09 02:10:14 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 463 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Teachers Negotiations 2023QUEBEC,QC / ACCESSWIRE / June 8, 2024 / Today, the Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers (QPAT) and the Federation des syndicats de l'enseignement (FSE-CSQ) signed a provincial agreement with management on the working conditions of the teachers they represent. It comes into force tomorrow, June 9, so the provisions can be applied as soon as possible for the next school year. The government must also pay teachers' salary increases retroactive to April 1, 2023, within 60 days of the official signature."We would like to thank and congratulate our seasoned negotiating teams, who worked tirelessly to avoid the pitfalls that areinherent in an exercise such as this," said FSE-CSQ President Josee Scalabrini and QPAT President Steven LeSueur.The settlement reached by the FSE-CSQ and the QPAT includes an increase in steps 1 to 15 of the salary scale, along with the general parameters of salary increase of 17.4% over five years as negotiated at the central table for all workers in all sectors. It also includes $74 million in support for classroom composition and several measures to lighten the workload, such as the possibility of teleworking for one-quarter of all pedagogical days, the addition of classroom assistants, and the automatic recognition of a minimum of one hour of support per week (not included in the timetable) as part of the educational workload for all elementary teachers.Although the settlement does achieve some gains, both the FSE-CSQ and the QPAT agree that there is still work to be done to improve teachers' working conditions.The North's negotiations drag onThe FSE-CSQ and the QPAT firmly denounce the particularly long delays in negotiations for teachers belonging to the Association of Employees of Northern Quebec (AENQ-CSQ)."The needs of Northern Quebec's schools are so significant that we need to pick up the pace of negotiations, to quickly respond to the major issues that have an impact both on staff's living and working conditions and on the students' learning conditions," said Ms. Scalabrini and Mr. LeSueur.ProfileThe Federation des syndicats de l'enseignement brings together 34 unions representing over 95,000 teachers at 52 school service centres and school boards across Quebec. Its membership includes teaching staff from all sectors: preschool, elementary, secondary, vocational training and adult general education. It is affiliated with the Centrale des syndicats du Quebec (CSQ) and the Front commun.Comprising ten unions, the QPAT represents more than 8,000 teachers in all educational sectors of Quebec's nine English-language school boards and the Centre de services scolaires du Littoral. It negotiates in collaboration with the FSE-CSQ and the Front commun. It is a member of the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF).Information:Sylvie Lemieux, FSE-CSQ Press Attache418 563-7193 / lemieux.sylvie@fse.lacsq.org Julie Montpetit, QPAT Communications Advisor514 249; -9653 / julie_montpetit@ qpat-apeq.qc.ca SOURCE: Quebec Provincial Association of Teachers Nigeria has suffered environmental degradation from operations in its oil and gas industry for almost 70 years, which began when Shell first found oil in commercial amounts in present-day Bayelsa State. A new law by the European Union placing a methane emissions limit on all fossil fuel imports from 2030 has added to pressure on Nigeria to do more to check gas emissions, recorded in the country principally through gas flaring. Nigerias oil industry, which began when a British joint operation with the Dutch triggered the discovery, has since been marked by litigations and community protests, human rights abuses and twists and turns at the level of regulation. Even with the Petroleum Industry Act stepping up sanctions for companies that flare gas beyond approved levels, gas flaring has not meaningfully diminished. Nigerias push to monetise natural gas that is being wasted and burnt off in the course of extracting crude has not moved the needle either, over seven years after regulators introduced the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme. In defence of the practice, energy firms say gas flaring and venting is done for safety and maintenance purposes. They say volatile pressure is often exerted during oil and gas extraction and processing, which can trigger an explosion. They argued that the gas saved from flaring is not really commercially significant, although findings are pointing to the contrary. With natural gas prices at historic highs, gas flaring is an extraordinary waste of money in addition to its negative impacts on climate change and human health, states the International Energy Agency (IEA) on its website. Nigeria and resource waste The World Bank estimates that the gas flared by Nigeria reduced by 45 per cent over 10 years, from a peak of 9.6 billion cubic metres in 2012 to 5.3 billion cubic metres in 2022. Viewed more closely, that is an illusion of progress. 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 Considering that the countrys oil output shrank by half within the period, the volume of gas flared declined broadly in proportion to oil production, the World Bank admitted, suggesting that the decrease is not a marker of deliberate gas-flaring reduction efforts after all. Moreso, gas-flaring intensity, which weighs the volume of flared gas over a period in proportion to the volume of oil produced using certain base measurement units of each of the two, was near its highest in 2022, the same year within that timeframe when the flaring volume was at its lowest. The 5.3 billion cubic metres of natural gas oil companies flared in Nigeria in 2022 can fill 177 million units of 12.5 kg cylinders. If Nigerians were grouped into a family of four, that volume could provide each family with three cylinders of cooking gas. Methane, the colourless, odourless gas that is the chief component of natural gas, is the second biggest contributor to global warming after carbon dioxide and has been responsible for a third of net warming since the Industrial Revolution. Oil and gas account for a quarter of all emissions. Methane normally accounts for between 80-90 per cent of all the components of natural gas, with hydrocarbons such as butane, ethane and propane making up the rest. Taming the monster Grave health conditions like cancer, asphyxiation and diverse cardiovascular, neurological and respiratory complications have similarly been linked to methane emissions, which have been largely ignored for long across the world. Gas flared by oil companies affects even conception. Weve seen very high prevalence of infertility among couples that reside in Port Harcourt, a study conducted in 2018 stated. We have seen birth defects, babies being born with abnormalities, Bieye Briggs, a public health physician and environmental rights activist told PREMIUM TIMES. We have seen unexplained miscarriages. We have seen cardiovascular diseases on the increase. We have seen kidney failures that require kidney transplants. We have seen sudden cardiac arrests, he added. Those downsides have bred a global urgency driving environmentalists and climate action advocates to demand more focused efforts towards methane control, recently compelling some governments to resort to stringent measures to tame the monster. Legislators at the European Union approved a law last month placing a methane emissions limit on all fossil fuels entering member countries from abroad onwards from 2030. Additionally, the regulation is asking operators to hand in their plans for methane leak detection and repair to appropriate national authorities within nine months after the new law takes effect. A first leak detection and repair survey of already-operating sites must also be conducted within 12 months. Reducing methane emissions is not only climate action but also improving air quality and increasing energy sovereignty in the EU. Extending the rules to include imports will have an impact worldwide, said Jutta Paulus, the co-lead negotiator for the EU Parliament. Pascal Canfin, her fellow negotiator, said: This is the first EU law aiming to reduce methane emissions. Until now, methane was a blind spot in our climate policies. Now we are not only tackling domestic methane emissions but also those from our fossil fuels imports! The law builds on an earlier Global Methane Pledge, a deal reached in 2021 by participant countries to voluntarily take steps aimed at a joint effort to pare down methane emissions by a global minimum of 30 per cent from 2020 levels by 2030. More than 155 countries have since signed up to the campaign. Rapid cuts in methane emissions from fossil fuels could avoid up to 0.1 C in global temperature rise by mid-century greater than the emissions impact of immediately taking all cars and trucks in the world off the road, the IEA says. Nigeria, Africas largest oil producer, ranks ninth among the top 10 methane-emitting countries in the world, with leakage and flaring as the chief sources of emissions. In terms of the top countries with a bad name for energy-related emissions, Nigeria takes the seventh spot. The energy sector contributes half of Nigerias total methane emissions, according to IEA data, while agriculture, waste and other sources contribute 31.5 per cent, 13.5 per cent and 5.5 per cent respectively. It implies that, apart from methane emissions from the energy industry, those from agriculture are another big monster that regulators must tame for the country to achieve its climate ambitions. EUs new rule and Nigerias gas supply plans The tall order by the EU on methane limits on fossil fuel imports suggests that Nigeria needs to make swift concerted efforts to cut down on its energy-related methane emissions for its oil and gas to be accepted by EU countries from 2030, lest it attract heavy penalties. As of 2022, Nigeria accounted for 14 per cent of the EUs gas imports, with a total LNG exports of 9.4 billion cubic metres that year. As of last November, Nigerias oil exports to the EU had risen to 730,000 barrels per day. The EUs move can undermine Nigerias recent efforts to strengthen trade relations with the economic bloc by scaling up its gas supply. Such actions include laying a gas pipeline from Nigeria to Europe, through North Africa. The Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project, a joint venture between Niger, Nigeria and Algeria, planned to run from Nigeria to Algeria as a way of diversifying gas supplies to the EU, has hit balustrade on the way. The planned 4,128-kilometre gas pipeline has been in the works for over 20 years. Nigeria committed more than $1 billion on its section, but the project now faces a bleak future. Following the latest coup in Niger, the West African country formed the Alliance of Sahel States with Burkina Faso and Mali, which in January pulled out of the Economic Community of West African States. That rupture in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Niger stands in the way of the Trans-Sharan gas pipeline project. Last October, the EU announced a plan to buck up its LNG exports from Nigeria between 2023 and 2037, underscoring the role it expects Nigeria to play in its energy transition plans as it looks away from Russia, its previous major supplier now at war with Ukraine. This means that as the EUs new rule enters into force in 2030, the last seven years of that gas supply plan will be executed under a stringent regime that could force Nigeria to take methane emissions control more seriously. Nigerias quest to expand its market share of the EU gas market and even sustain the current level must have compliance with the unions methane emission limits as a cornerstone for that ambition to fly. A bigger gas pipeline project, the 5,600-kilometre Trans-Africa pipeline, has also been proposed and would run across 13 West African countries from Nigeria to Morocco but the execution is still far away. The $13 billion project is expected to serve as an alternative to the stalled Trans-Saharan gas pipeline project, while also helping plug the supply gap that the EUs shift from Russian gas has created. However, Nigerias push to cut methane emissions to meet the EUs new stringent rule and further its ambition of continuing gas supply to the bloc in 2030 and beyond will come at an elevated cost. The IEA has estimated that Nigeria needs $1.5 billion to reduce methane emissions in its oil and gas industry between 2023 and 2030. It expects oil and gas companies to contribute $300 million, the national oil company (NNPCL) $700 million and other investors $500 million during the period. The new rule requires operators to detect and fix new leaks, hand in a methane leak detection and repair programme to the relevant national authorities nine months from the date the regulation takes effect, and also execute a first leak detection and repair survey of existing sites within 12 months. Mr Briggs has joined in calling on the likes of ExxonMobil and Shell to clean up the mess that has turned the Niger Delta into one of the worst places to live on earth before actualising their plan to exit onshore operations and shift their investment to deep water. He said the corporations must be made to decommission their old assets appropriately and pay compensation to the host communities before they quit. Of course, the government is aware that gas flaring is highly toxic to the health of the people. But they care less, Mr Briggs said. They will look the other way because they want to make money off the oil companies. Its a bad business. Its bad politics from government and the regulators of the oil and gas industry. Regulators keep mum The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the industry watchdog responsible for monitoring the environmental impact of companies activities in the midstream and downstream sectors, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES inquiries. Questions sent to the regulator on its plans to meet the new EUs leak, detection and repair rule and hold erring energy companies accountable for misleading emissions data were unanswered for over two weeks. In like manner, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the countrys regulator of the upstream sector, did not respond to PREMIUM TIMES questions on measures it is putting in place to fix leaks and meet other requirements of the EU rule. Victoria Ikefe, the corporate communications manager of the government agency, acknowledged the questions but said the questions would be sent to the relevant team for comment, but no response has been received over two weeks later. The IEA has identified venting (deliberate, direct release of gas into the atmosphere) as the single biggest contributor to methane emissions in Nigeria, accounting for 68 per cent of all emissions. Fugitive emissions (unintentional release of gas into the air through leakage or defective equipment) and flaring account for 19.3 per cent and 11.5 per cent respectively. Currently, fugitive methane emissions have largely been unaccounted for in companies data. Most oil companies dont carry out routine checks on machinery, which would have helped spot leakages, meaning their methane emissions estimates are marred by inaccuracy. Seplat Energy, one of the countrys biggest indigenous energy companies, says it has adopted enhanced methane leak detection & repair. We are also developing the capability to measure and then manage the companys Scope 3 emissions as far as possible, the company said in its latest sustainability report. We also witnessed a 33% reduction in methane emissions. We engaged a third-party consultant to assess our operations and determine the source(s) of methane emissions, it added. Data from regulators and other independent stakeholder bodies are required to verify Seplat Energys claim. Verifying oil & gas companies methane emission data against other sources is becoming increasingly necessary, considering that recent developments have shown deliberate efforts by such companies to conceal or give misleading emission data. A report published last year showed that the methane emissions data provided by Shell was controversial and misleading. A recent satellite image investigation states that energy companies operating in the US, the UK, Germany and Norway seem to have installed devices capable of preventing researchers from identifying methane, carbon dioxide emissions and pollutants at industrial facilities involved in the disposal of unprofitable natural gas, known in the industry as flaring. Nigeria could be big on regulation but implementation and enforcing compliance has always been a big issue for regulators. From 2018 to 2019, monetary sanctions issued by the government for illegal gas-flaring jumped to $308 million from $15 million, the Oil and Gas Audit Reports published by the Nigerian Extractive Industry Transparent Initiative showed. By 2020, that had fallen to $257 million. That Nigerias gas-flaring intensity barely changed between 2012 and 2022 implies that penalties from regulators may not have been strong enough to achieve deterrence. The government announced rules to curtail methane emissions in November 2022 after setting a target of 61 per cent emission cut for its oil & gas industry a year earlier. Some key components of the regulation align with the new EU rule, meaning diligent enforcement of the guidelines could help meet the demands of the European Union come 2030. The EU rule also requires operators to repair all the components discovered to be leaking methane above certain levels instantly after a leak has been identified or no later than five days after. NOSDRA is taking several urgent measures to reduce fugitive methane emissions, particularly, the Satellite-Based Emissions Tracker (SMET) is being developed to serve as a Top-Down Measurement Reporting and Verification (MRV) system tool that will help track and reduce fugitive emission across gas pipelines, Idris Musa, the director general of National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), told PREMIUM TIMES. This will serve as a tool to detect, measure, and quantify emissions from assets that can be coupled with Bottom-Top emission data tracking to meet the approved levels set by the EU law, he added. Nigerias gas pipelines crisscross the Niger Delta and in some cases are placed above the ground without being buried as they would have been in other parts of the world like the US where pipelines are buried at least 18 inches below the ground. That has made them easy targets for vandals and thieves. The agency told PREMIUM TIMES it is implementing stricter penalties for pipeline vandalism, increasing physical and digital security measures on above-ground pipeline assets and exploring the possibility of burying pipelines to mitigate environmental risks and deter theft. Last October, Nnamdi Anowi, the general manager in charge of production at the Nigeria Liquefied and Natural Gas Limited, said oil thieves were mistaking their gas pipelines for oil pipelines, causing them to breach the conduits, which allowed vast amounts of gas to spew into the atmosphere. The trend is aggravating the incidence of methane emissions through leaks, a development regulators need to pay more attention to. Heavy leaks and gas pipeline explosions are commonplace in the region, the latest being a blast on a gas pipeline belonging to the Nigeria Agip Oil Company in Rivers State in January. The required outlays for abatement measures are less than the market value of the additional methane gas captured and sold or used, the IEA says Around 40 per cent of todays methane emissions from fossil fuels could be avoided at no net cost, the Paris-based agency added. NOSDRA said it is investing in new technologies for leak detection, adding that its MRV system would help boost monitoring & surveillance systems along pipelines. Collaboration with stakeholders and regulators is crucial for NOSDRA as the environmental regulatory agency of the oil and gas sector to effectively implement methane emissions capture initiatives in line with the new EU regulation, NOSDRA said in response to a question about the agencys plan for methane capture. It is setting sights on forging synergies with gas operators, research institutes and international organisations to develop elaborate strategies for methane capture, utilisation and abatement. Nigeria, IOCs and the resource curse Capturing methane is important for electricity generation and has proven to be particularly useful as fuel for ovens, turbines, water heaters and automobiles. A 2023 study conducted by Oxford Policy Management Nigeria Limited and titled Nigerias Super-emitter Flares named assets and oilfields including Agbami, Oso, Unam, Edop, Yoho, Usan and Erha, operated by Chevron, ExxonMobil and Total among the top ten gas-flaring sites in Nigeria. Assets operated by Eni, Addax and Shell also featured among the top 22 gas-flaring sites in the country. The study revealed that just five of the assets operated by Chevron, ExxonMobil, Total, Eni and Shell, collectively flared about 3.2 billion cubic metres of natural gas in 2017. Have they (oil companies) first accepted that there is pollution there, whether its air pollution, whether its pollution of the rivers and the farmlands? When you do not believe or take responsibility for your actions or inactions, how then can you be responsible enough to provide solutions? said Mr Briggs who, besides being a prominent figure in public health in the Niger Delta, is also a strong voice in environmental rights advocacy. They are not interested in the development of the region. It is the conspiracy of the West. And why will they want to do that? Of course, its far cheaper for them to flare the gas than using it to power gas turbines that will provide electricity for the people of Niger Delta, he said further. READ ALSO: Dangote Refinery set for petrol sales start after ending rift with oil suppliers Nigerias annual flared gas can produce 600,000 metric tonnes of LPG per year and generate 2.5 gigawatts of electricity, indicating the supreme role such big oil companies play in positioning Nigeria as one of the most miserable victims of the resource curse in the developing world. More than half of Nigerias population lacked access to electricity as of 2020, while those that currently do are at the mercy of frequent blackouts and gravely limited hours of electricity supply. According to statistics provided by Nigerias NOSDRA and the Gas Flaring Tracker satellite of the World Bank, oil companies throughout the nation, including Shell, have flared about $3.9 billion worth of gas in the last four years. Yet, residents of the Niger Delta, Africas most prominent oil-producing region where nearly all the flares happen, are practically as impoverished as they were in the 1950s when Shell first discovered oil there, according to the book Wealth and Poverty in the Niger Delta: A Study of the Experiences of Shell in Nigeria. Support for this report was provided by the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development through its National Resource and Extractive Programme Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Senate leadership yesterday described the 650,000bpd Dangote Petroleum Refinery as the ninth wonder of the world but came hard on those who were skeptical of the completion of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, describing them as dream killers. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who led the leadership of the 10th Senate on a tour of the Refinery in Lagos said detractors of the refinery have all been silenced and that indeed, previous governments have been put to shame with the completion of the project. Mr assured Mr Dangote that the National Assembly would continue to support and protect the refinery because it is one project Nigeria and indeed Africa should own and protectt jealously. Commending Aliko Dangote for completing the construction of the largest single train refinery in the world in record time, the Senate President said Mr Dangote deserved all the accolades for this feat noting that the businessman succeeded in a country that spent 14 years to complete the residence of its vice president. The Senate President said, They told us in Abuja that Dangote Refinery is farce but we have come here and see for ourselves that the refinery is alive and running. Dangote has put to shame a lot of people. They are wondering how it will be possible for a single individual to accomplish what a whole nation could not accomplish; what 240 million people could not maintain; what a continent could not do and then one person will build 650,000bpd project. They keep wondering how one person can succeed where nations have failed; where continent has failed. But Dangote has done it. It is highly commendable. We came to see the refinery because we in the current senate believe in the Nigerian dream. We didnt come as a doubting Thomas but we came because we believe the project, we came to rekindle the hope of Nigerians and the Nigerians can do spirit. Mr Akpabio said Nigeria failed to make refineries function in Kaduna, Port Harcourt and Warri, but that Mr Dangote and his team proved that it is possible to dream and achieve in Nigeria. 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 said the shame that came with the discovery of oil in Nigeria in 1958 has been removed by Mr Dangote alluding to a report that India does not have oil but owns refineries from where the country exports refined products. Describing the refinery as unbelievable, Mr Akpabio, who was sandwiched by other senators, comprising Suleiman Barau, the deputy senate resident; Opeyemi Bamidele, senate leader and a host of other members of upper legislative chamber, said the Senate and the entire National Assembly would come up with a robust legislation that would protect the project and others like it. He said, Mr. Dangote, I pity you a lot because even your friends will envy you simply because they will keep wondering how can you succeed when nations, and continents have failed? Now that we have seen for ourselves, we are here to announce our own endorsement of this major project. It is also shocking to see that we produce sufficient fertilisers for Nigeria and enough to be exported. As I said we will do our report and we will speak to Mr President to put a stop to fertisliser import to Nigeria. You will hear from us soon. Also speaking, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, said it is a privilege that the refinery happened in our time, our state and our country. People talk about dreams, but only few can make it happen. Dangote has put Lagos State and the whole of Nigeria on the world map of excellence. I am happy the senate came to see for themselves; Dangote was not ready to rest after successfully building the largest cement factory chain in Africa, second largest sugar refinery in the world. With investment like this, I can assure you that we are on the right path to meet the projected GDP of $1trn by 2030. You have the key to the city, I have given you long time ago and I am happy you are using it very well, Governor Sanwo-Olu stated. In his remark, Mr. Dangote explained that the visit could not have come at a more auspicious time than now just as the organization is in the process of bringing the various units of this complex integrated refining processes on stream, an eagerly awaited move. He stated further that the Dangote Refinery produces a wide range of high-quality petroleum products, including premium motor spirit (petrol), diesel, kerosene, and jet fuel, all meeting the highest international standards (Euro V Grade). The efinery, apart from adding value to our crude oil, will yield 900,000 KTPA of Polypropylene and 36,000 KTPA of Sulphur and carbon black as by products. The refinery will help boost Nigerias economic growth, with the creation of thousands of direct and indirect jobs. During the construction stage, it supported over 150,000 jobs, made up of mostly Nigerians. These Nigerians in the process acquired various skills that are still useful in other construction projects. The capacity of the refinery is enough to satisfy domestic demands for refined products. The Refinery will export about 50 per cent of its production thereby generating foreign exchange for the country. It will lead to growth in adjacent sectors such as logistics, shipping, engineering, and servicing. ALSO READ: Nigerian govt to grant full operating licence to Dangote Refinery The Refinery has the requisite capacity to provide energy security both by providing a ready home for our crude and in ensuring steady availability of petroleum products for all. Nigerians will also get to partake in the financial returns once we list the Refinery on the NGX. We are thus making an important contribution to this administrations plan to grow our GDP to $1 trillion. Our group is at the vanguard of job creation and employment generation in Nigeria. We are the biggest employer of labour after the Federal Government. Dangote Cement sustains about 70,000 (Seventy thousand) direct and indirect jobs across Africa, while the Refinery, Petroleum Chemical Complex and Fertiliser will be able to create over 150,000 (One hundred and fifty thousand) direct and indirect jobs. We have remained one of the biggest contributors to government coffers as our three subsidiaries, Dangote Cement, Dangote Sugar Refinery and NASCON Allied Industries paid a total of N788.98 billion as tax and N276 billion in VAT in three years. We envision in Nigeria the equivalent of Jamnagar in India where crude oil refining is the backbone of specialised industrial zones, transportation networks, and ancillary industries, contributing to the overall industrialisation of the region. Or Saudi Arabias Jubail Industrial City, which is also undergirded by large scale petrochemical complexes. The Legislature has a great role to play in this. Globally, the Legislature plays a great role in protecting and supporting domestic industry. I am sure that the members of the 10th National Assembly are more than equal to the task. Supporting the Refinery secures the benefits. It will ensure energy security. As co-creators of value, we appreciate and acknowledge your consistent efforts in ensuring the enactment of vital laws promoting a conducive business environment in the nation, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A new public campaign was jointly launched by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the Center for Women and Children's Health of the National Health Commission (NHC) and other partners on Friday to give children the best start in life. The campaign, known as "Parent with Purpose, Nurture their Future," aims to build awareness on the importance of early childhood development (ECD), and to equip parents and caregivers with the knowledge, skills and tools to give their children the best start in life, by providing nurturing care during the first six years. Early childhood, throughout the first six years of life, is an important time for shaping a child's development and setting a solid foundation for their future. As part of this initiative, a three-month digital and media campaign has started, which will provide practical advice for parents and caregivers on ECD. It will include interactive activities, such as a competition for parents to share their own experiences, and an online resource center providing information and tips. It will also be promoted in ECD centers, hospitals and health centers across China. "Early childhood development is a holistic project that requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society," said Xu Zongyu, director general of the National Center for Women and Children's Health. "We need to enable the public, especially parents, to understand the importance of early childhood development, to acquire knowledge and skills, and to take care of young children scientifically to promote their health and all-round development," Xu said. Figures from the NHC showed that in 2023, the infant mortality rate and mortality rate of children under 5 in China stood at 4.5 per 1,000 and 6.2 per 1,000, respectively, down 16.7 percent and 17.3 percent from 2020. "Every child has the right to the best start in life," UNICEF Representative to China Amakobe Sande said. "Early childhood, during the first six years of life, is a critical window of opportunity to shape the trajectory of a child's development and build a firm foundation for their future through nurturing care. As these children thrive, their communities also grow and prosper, benefitting the whole of society." While the campaign is mainly targeted at parents and caregivers, UNICEF is also working with the private sector and government to advocate for policies and funding to support families. These include workplace policies, such as parental leave and flexible working, that make it easier for working parents to care for young children; and child benefits such as tax breaks and benefits for families with children. American star actor and media personality Nick Canon is in the news for insuring his testicles for $10 million, Billboard is reporting. Over the years, Nick has built a reputation for being fertile, having fathered 12 children with his women. The well-known comedian has children from various relationships, including twins Moroccan and Monroe with ex-wife Mariah Carey, sons Golden Sagon and Rise Messiah Cannon and daughter Powerful Queen with Brittany Bell, twins Zion Mixolydian and Zillion Heir and daughter Beautiful Zeppelin with Abby De La Rosa. He also has a son, Legendary Love, with Bre Tiesi and a daughter, Onyx Ice Cole, with LaNisha Cole. Additionally, Cannon is the father of two children with Alyssa Scott: son Zen, who sadly passed away at five months old in December 2021 after battling brain cancer, and daughter Halo Marie Cannon, born on 14 December 2022. This reality has been a part of his life, often used for humour, but he has embraced it all. It has never hindered him, as he has remained a dedicated father and co-parent to all five women. The news of this unique insurance policy came to light when Dr Squatch, a Mens personal care brand, revealed that they had collaborated with Nick to secure a $10 million insurance policy through MMA/Momentous Insurance brokerage. Testicle insurance Based on information from Billboard, the Los Angeles-based company used its Ball Valuation Tool to evaluate Nicks value, bestowing upon him the prestigious title of Most Valuable Balls in the World. The brand further utilised the information as a promotional strategy for their new Ball Care Line. 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 Dr Squatchs Ball Valuation Tool prompts customers to complete a survey containing inquiries regarding size, bedroom prowess, hygiene, grooming habits, and any past incidents. The responses provided are then utilised to calculate the worth of the individuals testicles. In response to the declaration, the 43-year-old public figure remarked: Critics may suggest that its time for me to cease expanding my family and retire my exceptional sperm, but I am reaffirming my commitment to these valuable assets and my prospective offspring. He also thanked Dr Squatch for giving him the honourary title. He said, Youre Giving my balls the credit they deserve and hooking me up with the protection I need to keep this family tree rolling! Nick is not the first celebrity to insure a body part. Mariah Carey, his ex-wife and mother of two of his 12 children, had $35 million insurance policies on her legs and her voice. Rihanna also insured her legs for $1 million through Gillette. The late Tina Turner had a $3.2 million policy on her renowned legs. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Vera Anyim, the Dunamis Church congregant who went viral on 14 April when Pastor Paul Enenche questioned her academic achievement as she shared her testimony, will be in our faces for a long time as she isnt giving up on her resolve to remain a celebrity in the real sense of the word. An overnight celebrity, Ms Anyims life has drastically transformed since she captured the headlines, but not without unexpected turns and challenges, marking her journey to prominence. In an exclusive interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Ms Anyim, who is related to Pius Anyim, a former President of the Senate of Nigeria, discussed her initial reaction to the situation and how she deals with fame. Excerpts: PT: Can you describe your initial reaction when you realised you had become a viral sensation overnight? Vera: I didnt expect it or know what was happening. That day was my birthday. I didnt know what was happening because I went home after that church service to celebrate my birthday. After my birthday when I came back from my birthday, friends started to call me, and that was when I knew what was happening. It was precisely on Monday that I learned that my name was going viral. The very first day that the thing happened, I was not happy, but as a child of God, I didnt need to hurt myself; I had to hold myself. 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 PT: Is it true that you should have graduated from the university four years prior? Vera: Between 2019 and 2024, there was a time while I was in university when I felt very sick. It took me about four years, so I could not graduate with my friends. I became seriously sick in my right leg. I was in my 500 level and wanted to write my project. I was supposed to graduate in 2019. In 2018, I was supposed to finalise my project and take outstanding courses. In 2019, I became ill. I had severe leg pain and arthritis that had been with me for months. After that period, it came back in 2021, and it was hooking me; it always came at the end of the year. I was supposed to graduate in November, and some of my seniors were trying, too. PT: Was the B.Sc. in law an error on your part? Vera: What they (the university) told me is that they have a B.Sc. in law. As I said earlier, the arthritis delayed my graduation, but my supervisor was happy to see me graduate. My project topic was actually Peacekeeping in the Nigerian Police Force. PT: How did it feel to be suddenly recognised by people? Did you expect this reaction when you shared your testimony? Vera: I wasnt expecting such a response. I felt bad initially; I regretted sharing the testimony; I felt ashamed; I am a timid person; I felt so bad; and as a person, I was not happy, but I tried to control myself. There were other testimonies I was supposed to share, but I was shut down and had to return to my seat. People online saw what happened the next day fully. I wasnt thrilled, but I always encouraged myself with the word of God, and I held on to God at that time. My close friend there said she would never climb the altar if she were in my shoes. Some will say they will go and kill themselves; some will say they will never go to church again, but mine was not like that. I didnt cancel my birthday; I was so excited that I removed my mind from it. PT: Have you always wanted to be a celebrity? Vera: I have not always wanted to be a celebrity. I am only the kind who likes to associate with people, take pictures, make them laugh with gifts, and be happy. But I was thrilled and excited when this fame came. Some congratulated me in my office, church, and community, and I am easily recognised everywhere I go. People beg me, some send me messages seeking assistance, and some say they dont have money for school fees. It is not as if they want to give me a gift; they want me to give them something. PT: How has your approach to social media changed since you became famous? Vera: Yes, there have been changes. I mainly interact with Facebook, but I am concerned about people who clone my personality online; about 37 of them are faking my name and picture, and its wrong for my engagement. I only have two accounts. But for now, I am not using so much social media to avoid doing something stupid. PT: What were some of the most memorable social media interactions with your fans? Vera: Some prayed for me to go higher in my journey. I see those heartfelt prayers, I see encouragement, and I go through them, and it gladdens my heart. PT: How do you handle both positive and negative feedback? Vera: For negative feedback and hate speech, the truth is that there is no human being on earth who does not have haters, and there is no human being who doesnt have lovers. But I always understand that those who like me are more than those who hate me. I see those commentssome insult and say all manner of things. Some have even called to threaten. I delete or block them. I dont need to respond; its best not to meditate on these negative comments. I dont have time for bad energy. PT: How has this journey from obscurity to fame changed you? Vera: The changes I have experienced are because I have been made famous. When I go around, people easily recognise me. The situation has made me go viral and meet certain people I never expected to meet. Like the man who invited me to Port Harcourt, it was my first meeting with the phone CEO, and it was good to meet them. PT: How do you feel about how you are perceived by the public now, before fame? Are there any misconceptions youd like to address? Vera: I am not who they think I am. I am not bad, and I dont have bad intentions toward Nigerians. PT: Your testimony led to some controversy at Dunamis Church. How did you cope with the public scrutiny and criticism that followed? What lessons did you learn from that experience? Vera: I have learned a lot of lessons. When things are happening around you, people you think would be helping you will be the ones to speak against you. Whenever things are happening, I always focus on God. The devil wanted to bring embarrassment to my name, but it was turned around, for Gods sake. I didnt think of negativity. PT: How have your fans and the public responded to your plea for assistance with accommodation? How did you handle the backlash and misunderstandings? Vera: People said various things, but some said they would stand by me. Not everyone will stand by you when you cry out. Negative commenters have nothing to offer, but I only pay attention to the positive feedback. PT: Youve expressed your plans to meet Davido and Sabinus. What is the motivation behind this desire? Vera: I never said I wanted to meet with Davido; bloggers mentioned that. I have never even considered meeting Davido or Sabinus; it was not on my page, and I am not the one. Bloggers are the ones who pushed those statements, but when it is time, I will speak against those acts. PT: What are your long-term goals now that you have a platform and a growing audience? How do you plan to leverage your fame for future opportunities? Vera: If I had my way, I would do so. I would like to monetise my page. PT: Youve expressed concerns about your safety and need for better accommodation. Vera: Regarding the safety call and concerns, I have not yet received support from Nigerians, and I have not received any threats. PT: Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you are excited about that you can share with us? Vera: My project is to help homeless children and women. I have intended to do this since day one. I have struggled and suffered to make it in life, and if I see somebody else in that state, I would want to lend a helping hand. For those who cannot pay their school fees, the less privileged, I would like to help those categories one day and give hope to the hopeless. That has been my priority. I want to impact homeless children and women. Nobody helped me get to where I am today, from the primary level to this level. Even when I had a family to support, nobody did. Thats why I would use my strength in this project. Then, my mom would struggle to buy books and pay school fees; no one helped us. Many of my family members right now are surviving through me. Right now, I am the Joseph of my family. PT: Why do you describe yourself as the Joseph of your family? Vera: We usually plant Okro on my side, but my father is late. I would go and farm so hard. When we uproot cassava and rice, we sell them, and from the profit, we buy books. I have sold groundnuts, fried them, tied them to nylon, and then sold them to get N1 and N2 to pay my way through school. I used to hawk Moi Moi and groundnuts and walk far to hawk for people to buy. PT: Where do you see yourself in the next five years? What are your aspirations, both personally and professionally? Vera: I believe my story will change within the next five years. I would then proceed to do other things, but I would also like to fulfil my ministry assignment. PT: Can you share an aspect of your life or personality that you feel is often misunderstood or overlooked by the public? Vera: Many people dont know I am a pastor, and people dont know I am into ministry. I have been pastoring for five years; many of my pastoring friends know this. I have been doing ministry outside Dunamis church, although I have been there for two years. There are people God has led me to pray for in my ministerial journey, and theyve gotten results. That is my mandate. PT: We have read reports which say you have a son. How true is that? Are you married? Vera: Concerning the speculation of my marital status, to be sincere, I dont have a son, and I am single, so I know people are lining up. If I had a child, I would be proud of that child. PT: What advice would you give to those aspiring to become celebrities? Vera: Have a heart of forgiveness, no matter what has happened. While you go on your fame journey, prioritise love for others, too. Always have patience. No matter what goes on in life, always have patience. Hold on to God, and you will never make a mistake about your desired status. But when you make mistakes, be ready to correct them. PT: What are the most important things to consider on this journey? Vera: Dont follow the ways of worldly people. I dont want to look into clubbing life or how people womanise. Clubbing is not so significant compared to helping the underprivileged. Focus on the things of God. PT: What message do you have for your supporters who have stood by you through your journey? How do you plan to give back to the community that has supported you? Vera: I want to thank my supporters for standing by me. I also pray that God will protect them in times of trouble. I want to promise them I will not fail and make them proud and happy. My communitys giveback is to help the less privileged. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Movie Title: Alls fair in love Language: English Running time: 1 hour 54 minutes Release date: 2024 Streaming platform: Prime Video Producer: Glory Obichukwu, Esse Akwawa, Deyemi Okanlawon Director: Kayode Kasum 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 Cast: Deyemi Okanlanwon, Timini Egbuson, Buhle Samuels, Ireti Doyle, Lateef Adedimeji, Juliet Ibrahim, Kunle Bantefa, Venita Akpofure. Fewer mistakes are likely to occur where there are no secrets in devoted friendships. In recent times, people have not cherished the gift of true friendships, and they end up losing a brother or sister because of fighting over a woman or even money. All is Fair in Love, directed by Kayode Kasum, highlights the delicate balance between love and friendship. It suggests that falling in love should not jeopardise a strong bond while also cautioning against the danger of keeping secrets, which can ultimately lead to ones downfall. It stresses the uncertainty of knowing someones true intentions, emphasising the importance of not sacrificing valuable friendships because of love. The film centres on two friends and business partners who become brothers and are trying to take their business international; in the process of achieving that, they get caught in a love triangle with a woman sent to coax them into making a costly mistake that would ruin their business. Plot The movie begins with news breaking on fashion week spotlighting Demi and Kanla, who owns a fashion company in Lagos, and an announcement that the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) has just brought down a significant money syndicate across Africa. The news says several vital suspects have been arrested, while the mysterious ring leader known as Chief is still not found. Demi, a fashion entrepreneur, lost his mum at a young age and ever since then his relationship with his father has been shaking. His father, Mr Holloway, seems to have issues with his son and his friend Kanla, whose parents are dead. Due to their strained relationship, Demi refuses to take his fathers help to invest in his company. Kanla, Demis business partner and best friend, supports his decision to deny his fathers help to fund their business. Kanla defends Mbali, a beautiful woman he meets at the bar, from a man trying to disturb her. They both engage in a conversation and go out to buy suya. The next day, Demi also encounters this same woman at a restaurant. She gives Demi good advice for his business, and in the twinkle of an eye, she stands up and leaves without Demi noticing. An interview is happening to get the best consultant for the brand, and all the highly recommended candidates that show up for the interview do not impress them until Mbali steps in to be interviewed. Both men are surprised to see her sit right in front of them to be interviewed. She sweeps them off their feet with her compelling responses. Kanla and Demi are happy they have found the best fit for the job. Mbali resumes work, and these two best friends start falling in love with her. She notices it and flirts with both men, leveraging her beauty and intelligence. Demi, who values his friendship with Kanla, tells her to pick Kanla if she loves him but that he loves her. She picks Demi and pleads that they keep their love a secret until the investors contract she proposes is signed. Surprisingly, she does the same with Kanla. Unknown to Demi and his business partner that Mbali is dating both of them, he visits the hotel with a flower to surprise Mbali. He finds Kanla with Mbali outside the room. The men are on the verge of fighting because of Mbali, but on getting home, they meet the police, who make them realise she is not worth it. The police reveal to them that Mbali is dating both of them and that shes working for a woman named Chief, the CEO of LUAN Investment Group. The group invests in thriving businesses by sharing or lending money to them. Then, they later kill the point man for the money laundering group, the company is shut down, the owner goes to prison, and the laundered money is forfeited. The police come up with a plan. After executing the plan, Demi and Kanla call Mbali to the office and pretend they havent caught her. Kanla tells her to pick between them, but she tries to outsmart them and says she loves both. They ask her to invite Mr Vincent over for their upcoming event and that if he sees their designs, he will be willing to accept 15% shares. Mbali tells Chief about this, and she agrees but does not feel good about the plan, so Chief creates a plan B. Demi and Kanla find themselves in the hands of Chief. She kidnaps them as plan B since they did not sign the contract at the event; instead, they are offering 5%. In an attempt to make them sign the contract, she kidnaps them and tells them to sign off 50%. Amid this drama, the police apprehend the ring leader, Chief and other culprits. Mbali invites the men for lunch to apologise and let them know she is serving her time. Demi and his father reconcile and decide to go on a family vacation with Kanla inclusive. Character Analysis Deyemi Okanlanwon plays Demi, the only son of Mr Holloway and a friend of Kanla. Okanlanwo did justice to his role as a mature lover boy, showing genuine emotions that could be transferred to the audience. Timini Egbuson portrays Kanla, Demis friend and business partner. He falls in love with Mbali and puts his friendship with Demi to the test. As usual, Egbuson nailed his role but has the potential to do better. Buhle Samuels, a South African actress, plays Mbali, the lady who works for Chief to attract investors and get them to sign a contract. She later takes over the company from the original owners by putting them in trouble. Her performance is commendable, given her facial expressions, body language, and excellent articulation. Venita plays Demis one-time sex partner who wants more than just sex. Her performance is commendable despite the few scenes she appears in. However, her role is unnecessary and does not add much value to the movie. Adedimeji Lateef plays Rasheed, a tailor at DK Fashion Company. His role brings a little comic relief to the movie. He portrays a typical Nigerian who is frustrated but has to work and say YES to every command of his boss. Movie Analysis The movie has a good storyline but lacks depth and suspense. The end of the film was predictable. Although the movie has great potential, it did not hit as expected. For instance, capturing Chief should have been more difficult, not that easy, and the conflicts between Demi and his father should have been more intense. The movie quality and sound were top-notch, as were the picture and video angles. The actors overall performance is commendable and genuine because nothing looked forced, and nobody looked reluctant to act. Kudos to the stylist who styled Kanla and Demis outfits. They came off as fashion entrepreneurs from their outfits and swag. Now showing on Prime Video Verdict 6/10 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was taken to the hospital with a minor whiplash injury after a man hit her in central Copenhagen, her office said. Ms Frederiksen is safe but shaken by the incident, the office said, adding that her scheduled engagements on Saturday were cancelled. Eyewitnesses told Danish media that the 46-year-old prime minister was assaulted on Kultorvet square in the capitals historic centre on Friday but had been able to walk away from the scene. Police quickly arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the incident. According to local media, the suspect later appeared in a pre-trial custody hearing in a Copenhagen district court. The man denied that he had anything against Ms Frederiksen, saying she was a really good prime minister and that he had been surprised to run into her on the street. Police investigating the assault do not believe that the attack was politically motivated. 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 Local media reported that the man was drunk and under the influence of other drugs at the time and that he was a Polish citizen who had been resident in Denmark for a long time. Condemnation poured in from across Europe. Shocked to hear about the violence against my friend Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of our ally Denmark. I strongly condemn all violence against our political leaders, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on the social media platform X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron denounced it as unacceptable and wished the leader a quick recovery. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted a get-well message on X. Dear Mette, I wish you a speedy recovery, he said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X: Democracies must be free from intimidation and threats. I strongly condemn any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy, wrote Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on X. The incident comes as the EUs 27 countries elect more than 700 members of the European Parliament during four days of voting that began on Thursday. Voters in Denmark would go to the polls on Sunday. There have been at least two attacks on politicians in Germany in the immediate run-up to the elections. Earlier, on 15 May, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and seriously injured. (dpa/NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Amidst the mineral riches of Oyo State lies a shadowy truth: illegal mining thrives. In the heart of Olode Village, located in the capital Ibadan, where clandestine extraction persists, caution is currency, and outsiders are treated with suspicion. But their wariness is not only to keep the environmentally damaging illegal mining hidden, they are also trying to conceal an even worse dangerous reality illicit use of explosives. Without authorisation, miners are storing and trading explosives used for blasting in the extractive industry, PREMIUM TIMES investigation finds, a pattern of violation that underscores how compromised law enforcement and regulatory failure can produce a fatal cocktail of a sort that rocked Ibadan, southwestern Nigeria, this year. On the evening of 16 January, an explosion rocked Ibadan, the Oyo State capital. According to the state government, five lives and properties worth billions of Naira were lost to the explosion linked to the activities of illegal miners who stored Water Gel Type Based Explosive in a duplex on Number 8b, Reverend Aderinola close, Old Bodija, Ibadan. Four months after the explosion, the government has yet to fully explain what happened and there are still questions about the identities of the said illegal miners and how they were able to circumvent the law enforcement and regulatory process that should have detected and prevented their violation. A months-long investigation by PREMIUM TIMES revealed how Meduret Resources Nigeria Limited illegally stored explosives in the property at Bodija, a dense residential and business district, and used the same property as the base for trading in the dangerous materials. Government and industry sources say others are involved in the criminal act. Although Meduret has nine valid Small Scale Mining Leases (SSML) to mine Gold and Tourmaline in Iwajowa Local Government Area of Oyo State till 2028, the company neither applied for nor received a permit to buy explosives, the mines inspectorate department told PREMIUM TIMES in a Freedom of Information reply. The use and purchase of explosives without a permit is a breach of the Explosives Act of 1964 and the Terrorism, Prohibition, and Prevention Act of 2022. 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 Widely circulated pictures and videos of the incident scene and environs showed an incredible spectacle of destruction. A miner from Mali, Camara Mamadou, was the occupant of the house where explosives were stored, according to findings from interviews with the property manager, neighbours and mining colleagues. Mr Camara is the one occupying 8b (unit of the twin duplex) with one other person, and then there is a lady in the Boys Quarters, the property manager told PREMIUM TIMES. Further investigation involving CAC searches showed Mr Mamadou is also a Meduret director. With the help of his wife, Ramatu, and other associates, Mr Mamadou illegally purchased, transported, and stored explosives in his home, neighbours and government sources familiar with the Ibadan explosion investigation said. Although Mr Mamadou left for his hometown in Mali about two years ago to treat his kidney disease, his black market business where he sold explosives to end users ran smoothly, thanks to his wife, who is now on trial. In its Freedom of Information reply, the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development stated that there are only 11 companies licensed to import and sell explosives in Nigeria. They are: Solar Nigachem Limited, intrachem Limited, Dynatrac Nigeria Limited, Duwan Company Limited, Tuntise Investment Limited, Universal Chemical and Explosives, Co. Limited, Nigerian Development Construction Company, Gatamitech Nigeria Limited, Dynocraft Limited, Explo-tech Nigeria Limited and Gamla Pyrotechnic Limited. But even if Mr Mamadou or any other entity were to buy from these companies, they would need a permit from the Mines Inspectorate. Secret deals and Sloppy officials The Mining Cadastral Office and the Mines Inspectorate are crucial agencies in Nigerias mining sector. The former deals with the administration of mineral titles while the latter is responsible for granting licenses to companies involved in the manufacturing, sale, purchase, or import of explosives. These licenses require specific documentation. For instance, if a mining company wants to purchase explosives, they must provide the following documents: Tax Identification Certificate, CAC Registration Certificate, Article & Memorandum of Association, Attestation of Non-Conviction of Criminal Offence, Three Years Current Tax Clearance Certificate, and Evidence of Correspondence with the Foreign Laboratory where the analysis will be conducted. Additional documents required include Evidence of Adequate Explosive Storage Facilities, Monthly Returns on Explosives for the Three Preceding Months, Monthly Returns on Mineral Production (Quarries) for the Three Preceding Months, Evidence of Royalties Payment for the Three Preceding Months, and Evidence of Receipt and Usage of Previous Permits. As soon as we grant the permit to buy explosives, we will send it to NSA, and also a copy to DSS and the Inspector General of Police. We also convey the approval to the Federal Mines Officer in charge of the state where the blasting will take place, an official at the Mines Inspectorate told PREMIUM TIMES. At the point of purchase, the Anti-Bomb Explosive Ordinance Department of the Nigeria Police Force and the mining officer in the state are tasked with ensuring the safe transportation and storage of the explosives. The mining officer would also document the quantity of explosives stored and used by the company. These details form part of the information documented in the companys explosives returns. Documents posted by an X user, Joshua Oyeshola from debris at the explosion site suggested that Meduret in the past applied for and received permits to buy explosives in 2015 and 2017. But in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, the head of Mines Inspectorate, Ajeyede Ganiyu, said that Meduret may have been issued a permit in the past. However, current records of the department indicate that the company in the past five years neither applied for nor was it issued a permit to buy explosives. He also explained that a permit to buy explosives is valid for just two months. So, how did Meduret obtain explosives without a permit to buy and why didnt the mines inspectorate query the source of the companys explosives, as it had neither applied nor received a permit to buy/use explosives? He (Camara Mamadou) doesnt have a record in our ministry, Since hes not in our record, he cannot get an explosive permit officially. But its possible he got it illegally from any source. We dont know how he got the explosives, maybe he is into illegal operations, Mr Ganiyu said. Another mining regulatory official, who sought anonymity because they hadnt been cleared to speak to the press, tied the disregard for regulations to corruption. The source suggested that Mr Mamadou was into the sale of explosives and was able to bribe law enforcement officials to look away. All the security agencies are with him. They all know him. He bribes his way. You know in Nigeria anything goes, once you tip some necessary people, you can go about your business, the official stated. PREMIUM TIMES could not, however, find evidence of bribery linked to Mr Mamadou although that view was shared by many other sources in the mining sector. The national president of Women in Mining in Nigeria (WIMIN), Janet Adeyemi, corroborated the regulatory official in an interview with PREMIUM TIMES. The whole thing boils down to corruption, Ms Adeyemi said, explaining that the only way a miner could have transported and stored explosives of such magnitude was by compromising government and security officials who had failed in their oversight duties. In a sane country, quite a number of people should have resigned. Most times, these procedures are not followed. Nobody monitors anything. A professor of Economic Geology at the University of Ibadan, Gbenga Okunola, explained that Mr Camaras ability to illegally buy, transport and use explosives, is a matter between the security agencies, and of course, the mines inspectorate officers. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, a former miner, who admitted to having operated illegally, explained that some miners work in collusion with staff of licensed companies to access explosives illegally. To fight the problem of compromised staff stealing and selling explosives illegally, Biodun Abu, CEO of Intrachem Limited and chairperson of the Association of Commercial Explosives Dealers, said the manufacturers have implemented systems such as Close Circuit Television (CCTV) in their factories, coding of explosives and escort of these explosives during transportation to the end-users. During a meeting held after the Ibadan explosion, the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, emphasized the importance of manufacturers taking measures to prevent suspected leakages from their factories. Additionally, he advised them to be vigilant and guard against any illegal production and sale of explosives by their employees. One of the duties of the Anti-Bomb Explosive Ordnance Department of the Nigeria Police Force is to escort explosives during transportation and ensure proper storage as approved. PREMIUM TIMES contacted the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, with the findings of the investigation. However, calls and messages sent to his known mobile number went unanswered. No contact information for Meduret is publicly available but we visited the registered address listed on the Cooperate Affairs Commission (CAC) website. However, a printing shop and not a mining company operated on Number 47, Gbadebo Street, Mokola Ibadan, Oyo State. A shop owner in the area told PREMIUM TIMES that Meduret vacated the shop many years ago. A visit to Ayetoro-Ile community in Iwajowa Local government, a known mining site of Meduret, revealed that the mining company had stopped operation in the area about five years ago. Illegal Mining Thrives Miners are naturally attracted to Oyo State due to its rich deposits of minerals such as lithium, which is critical for energy transition, as well as marble and gemstones like rubellite, tourmaline, and spessartite garnet. According to the state government, this guarantees an annual production output of approximately $3.8 million. However, illegal mining dominates the operations in the state. Olode village, located in Ibadan, is one such location. Even after the Bodija explosion in February, illegal miners continue to use explosives for their extractive operations. In fear of being exposed, the miners and community members in Olode village are cautious of outsiders. However, we were able to gain rare access to document the activities of the illegal miners. Barely 20 minutes in Olode, a blast was heard. A worker at the mining site confirmed that explosives are used regularly during blasting; a core activity in any mining process. However, these explosives are acquired through illicit means. Illegal miners depend on black market operators like Mr Mamadou and his associates to undertake mining activities. After using explosives to blast the rocks, workers used diggers to break the rocks into smaller pieces. Wearing the simplest safety gear, the workers began the gruelling task of separating sand and stones from the precious minerals. The illegal miners extract minerals such as feldspar and aquamarine. Since these minerals are not accounted for, Nigeria loses badly needed revenue. According to the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative, the country loses as much as $9 billion annually to the activities of illegal miners and smugglers of gold. Explosives black market Illegal miners and other end-users of explosives provide a juicy market for black market operators like Mr Mamadou. Documents seen by this reporter indicate that licensed retailers and manufacturers of explosives sell Dynogel, a strength cap-sensitive explosive, which comes in either water gel or packaged emulsion form, for N2,500 per one. But buyers from them would require documentation such as the approval of the Mines Inspectorate. In contrast, black market dealers sell at N3,500 per unit, making a profit of N1,000 for each quantity sold, but requiring no documentation. Giving details of how the operation works, a former miner explained that illegal miners are willing to pay extra as they do not have a permit to buy explosives. The source further stated that the quantity of explosives they need is often small, so the black market is the only viable option. A senior security analyst at SBM Intelligence, Confidence MacHarry, said there is a need for the government to review relevant legislation and close all loopholes. He stressed that the enforcement of mining and explosives laws must not be compromised. Agencies which have been tasked with managing public safety through regulation and compliance do not simply do their job for various reasons that border on corruption, incompetence and negligence. So people who are charged with these things have to sit up to their responsibilities and the people at the top are supposed to hold them accountable, should work to hold them accountable, Mr MacHarry said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The contractors handling the $10 billion NLNG Train-7 gas project in Bonny Island, Rivers State, have denied a committee of the National Assembly access to the project details, stating they are acting on instructions from the management of Nigerian LNG Limited (NLNG). The joint committee of the National Assembly on Gas is in a running battle with Saipem Contracting Limited, an Italian-owned company, and Daewoo Engineering and Construction Limited over the projects details. However, the two contractors have maintained a gag order, citing a non-disclosure agreement signed with NLNG. PREMIUM TIMES obtained documents showing that NLNG, in which Nigeria holds a 49 per cent stake, instructed the two contractors not to disclose the contract details to the lawmakers, setting up a potential showdown between the federal legislature and NLNG. According to the documents, NLNG not only instructed the contractors not to provide the lawmakers with any information regarding the project but also questioned the committees power to embark on the probe. NLNG is an incorporated joint venture owned by four entities: NNPC Limited, on behalf of Nigeria, owns 49 per cent of the company; Shell Gas B.V. holds 25.6 per cent; TotalEnergy Gaz and Electricite Holdings has 15 per cent; and Eni International N.A.N.V. S.ar.I owns 10.4 per cent. The company currently operates six LNG trains. In 2019, the shareholders of the company made the final investment decision for the Train-7 project to expand its gas production capacity from 22 million tonnes per annum to 30 mtpa. The Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) contract was awarded to a consortium of Saipem, Chiyoda, and Daewoo. 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 Genesis of battle The battle between the committee, co-chaired by Jarigbe Jarigbe, the chairman of the Senate Committee on Gas, and Nicholas Mutu, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Gas, and NLNG started in March when the lawmakers wrote letters to all the concerned parties in the project, requesting the project details and asking them to appear before the lawmakers for an investigative hearing. The first letter, signed by Messrs Jarigbe and Mutu and dated 27 March, was sent to NLNG, Daewoo, Saipem, the Minister of State for Gas, and others. In the letter, the committee requested access to the contractual agreement signed with NLNG and details of the variations made on the project. The committee also scheduled a hearing for 18 April. The purpose of the briefing is to gain clarity on various aspects of the project, including but not limited to the contractual agreements between Daewoo Company and NLNG. Specifically, we request access to the contractual agreement signed with NLNG, as well as any variations requested and subsequently granted on the cost of the project, the letter reads. The committee added, Your expertise and first-hand knowledge of the project will be invaluable as the joint committee assesses its impact on our national gas infrastructure and economy. Additionally, your input will aid us in identifying potential areas for legislative support or intervention to ensure the successful execution of this vital project. Highly placed sources in the committee told this paper that Saipem Managing Director Michele Poggi appeared before the committee on 21 May but refused to provide the requested information, which infuriated many lawmakers, who interpreted his (Poggi) action as disrespectful to Nigerias parliament and government. The lawmakers subsequently adjourned the session until 5 June and sent another set of letters to the contractors, NLNG, the minister, and others. In the letters, the lawmakers reiterated the demands made in the previous letters. Do not give committee any information NLNG The contractors, through the managing directors Mr Poggi for Saipem and TacWon Jung for Daewoo responded to the committee in separate letters, stating they are bound by the non-disclosure agreement they signed with NLNG not to share the contents of the EPC contract with anyone, including the committee. Meanwhile, the contractors stated that they sought NLNGs consent to share the contract details with the committee. However, NLNG mandated them to decline the request. PREMIUM TIMES observed that the responses from Messrs Jung and Poggi were identicalthe letters were verbatim, with only the address and signature differing. In the letter, NLNG instructed the contractors to decline the request, stating that the lawmakers actions are not in accordance with the law and might trigger confidentiality concerns. We respectfully reiterate that the disclosure of the EPC Contract Agreement, as well as details of any variation requests concerning the NLNG Project, is not within our sole discretion as the contract specifically contains confidentiality provisions that forbid the disclosure of its contents and other project information to the authorities without NLNGs express written consent. In compliance with the contract provisions, we had notified NLNG of the joint committees request and forwarded copies of your letter to NLNG. However, NLNG has withheld its consent to the disclosure on the basis of a legal opinion rendered by their external solicitors, according to which the invitation and request for documents by the joint committee are not by the law and might trigger confidentiality concerns, the letter reads in part. Furthermore, NLNG challenged the limits of the National Assemblys and its committees investigative powers, stating that the investigative authority of the lawmakers is not unlimited. Moreover, according to NLNG, the investigative power of the National Assembly is not at large but is circumscribed as recognised and endorsed by the courts. In light of the foregoing, NLNG declined to give its consent to provide or disclose to the joint committee any information or documentation related to the NLNG project and directed us to share their concerns with the joint committee. Counter moves In the letter, NLNG instructed the contractors to demand a resolution of the House and Senate that gave the joint committee the authority to investigate the project. Therefore, the contractors are asking for gazetted copies of the resolution. Given the above, considering the provisions of section 88 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that regulate the terms and conditions under which the National Assembly exercises its powers, we will appreciate your obliging us with the gazetted copy of such a resolution or as published in the National Assemblys journal as prescribed by law. We believe that this may go a long way in reassuring us of the constitutionality of the powers being invoked by the joint committee. We are, therefore, regrettably unable to provide the relevant information, notwithstanding our general disposition to support the joint committee in its law-making efforts. We assure you of our continued commitment to operate within the ambit of the law and appreciate your understanding of our constraints in this instance, the letter reads. PREMIUM TIMES was unable to confirm if a motion to investigate the NLNG Train-7 project was moved in either the House or Senate. Meanwhile, Order 20 Rule 58 of the standing rules of the House of Representatives gives the House Committee the power to oversee the NLNG. The contractors and NLNG are scheduled to appear before the committee again on Thursday. This paper learned from reliable sources within the committee that the last sitting was adjourned to allow the committee to adequately respond. A committee member, who did not want to be named because he was not authorised to speak, said members are keenly watching how the co-chairmen of the committee, Messrs Jerigbe and Mutu, would respond to NLNGs stance, stating that anything other than the full application of the legislative power of the National Assembly will be met with protest from members. The lawmaker stated that any attempt to sweep this investigation under the carpet will be resisted. The committees options could involve seeking the permission of the two chambers to issue a warrant of arrest against everyone involved to compel their appearance. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the government of President Bola Tinubu over the failure to publish spending details of the loans obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa YarAdua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. The suit was filed against the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, and the Debt Management Office (DMO). In the suit number FHC/L/CS/353/2024 filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Lagos, SERAP is asking the court to direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the loan agreements obtained by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa YarAdua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari. SERAP is also asking the court to direct and compel the Tinubu government to publish the spending details of any such loans, including the interests and other payments so far made on the loans. In the suit, SERAP is arguing that No one should be able to pull curtains of secrecy around decisions on the spending of public funds which can be revealed without injury to the public interest. Democracy requires accountability and accountability requires transparency. SERAP also argues that The Tinubu government should make it possible for citizens to have access to the agreements and spending details to judge whether their government is working for them or not. According to SERAP, The information may help to explain why, despite several billions of dollars in loans obtained by successive governments, millions of Nigerians continue to face extreme poverty and lack access to basic public goods and services. 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 SERAP is arguing that Nigerians right to a democratic governance allows them to appreciably influence the direction of government, and have an opportunity to assess progress and assign blame. SERAP is also arguing that The accountability of government to the general public is a hallmark of democratic governance, which Nigeria seeks to achieve. The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers Kolawole Oluwadare and Andrew Nwankwo, read in part: Publishing the loan agreements would improve public accountability in ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs). Nigerians are entitled to information about what their government is doing in their name. This is part of their right to information. Publishing the agreements and spending details would allow the public to see how and on what these governments spent the loans and foster transparency and accountability. Publishing the loan agreements signed by the governments of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo, Umaru Musa YarAdua, Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari, and widely publishing the agreements would allow Nigerians to scrutinise it and to demand accountability for the spending of the loans. According to Nigerias Debt Management Office, the total public domestic debt portfolio for the country is N97.3 trillion ($108 billion). The Federal Governments debt is N87.3 trillion ($97 billion). Nigeria paid $6.2 billion in 2019 as interest on loans while the country paid $6.5 as interest in 2018. Nigeria also paid $5 billion as interest on loans in 2017 while the country paid $4.4 billion as interest in 2016. For 2015, the interest paid on loans was $5.5 billion. Substantial parts of the loans obtained by successive governments since the return of democracy in 1999 may have been mismanaged, diverted or stolen, and in any case remain unaccounted for. Persons with public responsibilities ought to be answerable to the people for the performance of their duties including the management of the loans obtained between May 1999 and May 2023. The Tinubu government has a responsibility to ensure transparency and accountability in how any loans obtained by the Federal Government are spent, to reduce vulnerability to corruption and mismanagement. The Freedom of Information Act, Section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution, article 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights and Article 19 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights guarantee to everyone the right to information, including to copies of the loan agreements obtained by successive governments since 1999. By the combined reading of the provisions of the Constitution of Nigeria, the Freedom of Information Act 2011, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, there are transparency obligations imposed on the Tinubu government to widely publish the agreements and details of the projects on which the loans were spent. The Nigerian Constitution, Freedom of Information Act, and the countrys anti-corruption and human rights obligations rest on the principle that citizens should have access to information regarding their governments activities. No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit. Kolawole Oluwadare SERAP Deputy Director Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, says Nigerians no longer need to travel abroad for legislative training given the standard of facilities and professionals at the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS). Mr Akpabio, who said this when he visited the institute on Friday in Abuja, described the institute as Nigerias Cambridge and Harvard Universities. With this infrastructure, Nigerians no longer need to travel overseas for legislative training; this is our own Cambridge and Harvard, Mr Akpabio said. Meanwhile, the Director-General of NILDS, Abubakar Sulaiman, unveiled NILDSs latest publication,25 Years of Democracy and Development in Nigeria. during the Senate Presidents visit. The publication, which features a foreword by Mr Akpabio, chronicles Nigerias democratic journey and development since 1999. Nigeria returned to democratic governance in 1999 after several years of military rule. From 1999 to date, the country has experienced 25 years of democracy without a break. 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 Accompanied by the Senate Leader, Opeyemi Bamidele; Osita Ngwu, Asuquo Ekpenyong, Abiru Adetokunbo, Mr Akpabio commended the efforts of the management of the institute In a similar development, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Maimounatou Ibrahima, has sought NILDS assistance in the area of capacity development of parliamentarians and their support staff during a visit to the institute. The DG of the institute, Mr Sulaiman, a professor, assured the Institutes readiness to provide its services to the ECOWAS Parliament, emphasising the institutes commitment to advancing the overall well-being of the sub-region. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, has reaffirmed the federal governments commitment to enforcing insurance policy for mine workers in Nigeria. Representing President Bola Tinubu on a condolence visit to Niger State Governor, Umar Bago, in Minna, Mr Alake conveyed the Presidents sympathies following the recent mine pit collapse in Galadima Kogo, Shiroro Local Government Area. I bring the condolences and sympathies of Mr. President to the families of victims, those injured, the entire community, and the government and people of Niger state on the mine pit collapse. It is unfortunate and avoidable. Though we learned the disaster was due to heavy downpours, we are committed to intensifying the monitoring of mining operations to ensure conformity to environmental standards, Alake stated. The minister commended the state government for swiftly mobilising emergency rescue operations in collaboration with federal agencies, stressing that all efforts must be made to rescue those still trapped. To enhance safety measures and relieve miners and their families in the event of accidents, Mr Alake declared that insurance policies for miners across the country will be enforced. The minister also emphasised the federal governments stance that remediation plans must accompany mining licence applications, stating that irresponsible mining operations that threaten the environment and communities will no longer be tolerated. We must also put in place contingency plans to mitigate the impact of natural disasters on mining sites. For instance, we are making installing support pillars under shafts mandatory. This practice is common in other countries, he added. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Governor Bago expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for the condolence visit. He emphasised the need for a concerted effort between the federal government and subnationals to ensure mining companies comply with safety standards. He advocated the strengthening of collaborative measures to enhance periodic monitoring and evaluation of the environmental impact of mining operations to minimise the recurrence of the unfortunate incident. Citing the preponderance of commercially viable critical minerals in the state, Governor Bago appealed to the federal government to focus on making the state the pivot of developing the nations mining sector. Governor Bago accompanied the minister to visit recuperating victims at IBB Specialist Hospital. On behalf of President Tinubu, he announced a donation of N50 million to assist affected patients and families. *Segun Tomori* Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development. 7th June, 2024. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print A group, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), has described the proposed minimum wage of N62,000 as grossly inadequate to cater for the welfare of workers in Nigeria. The federal government and organised private sector proposed the N62,000 minimum wage, which the workers, under the auspices of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC), have rejected with a counter-demand of N250,000. Meanwhile, the governors, through the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF), have raised the alarm on the implications of the proposal. The governors said they cannot pay N60,000 minimum wage. HEDA, in a statement by its Chairman, Olanrewaju Suraju, slammed the governors for rejecting the proposal and called on all governments at every level to prioritise workers. The current economic realities make the proposed wage of N62,000 by the federal government to the labour union grossly inadequate to meet the basic needs of workers and their families, Mr Suraju stated. While criticising the governors for rejecting the N62,000 proposal, HEDA said the tripartite committee must consider the long-term implications of the minimum wage on the future of the country. Its hypocritical for governors accused of looting billions of naira from the states and, considering the increased federal allocation received in recent months, to claim they cant afford a living wage for workers, Mr Suraju said. 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 The tripartite committee of the government must consider the long-term implications of their negotiations on Nigerias future. The current economic realities and the rising cost of living in Nigeria demand a more comprehensive approach to minimum wage negotiations. Furthermore, the history of corruption and embezzlement among governors and other public officials must be taken into account to ensure that workers are not short-changed, the statement said. Minimum wage negotiations Negotiations are ongoing between Nigerian labour unions and the government on what should be the new minimum wage. Last week, the unions went on a nationwide strike, shutting down the countrys power grid, airports and other sectors to demand a living wage from the government. They, however, suspended the indefinite strike on Tuesday after the government invited them for negotiations. The talks so far have not yielded results. They have not presented any different thing yet, the Nigeria Labour Congress said Thursday. Labour leaders have promised to force another shutdown from next week if the government does not agree to a minimum wage. Last week, the federal government increased the proposed national minimum wage from N60,000 to N62,000, while organised labour has lowered its demand from N494,000 to N250,000. The two parties have not agreed on a figure yet, but the Chairman of the tripartite committee, Bukar Aji, said the two recommendations would be sent to the president for action. Another major obstacle in the wage negotiations is the stance of state governors. Any new minimum wage agreed to would be binding on all state governments. But the governors say they cannot even pay the earlier N60,000 proposed by the governments negotiating team. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Discover the new-and-improved Hongjiannao Lake, home to a happy group of rare and endangered birds known as the relict gulls. To see this beautiful creature up-close, we invite you to Shaanxi Province to check out the largest desert freshwater lake in China The Coalition for Whistleblowers Protection and Press Freedom (CWPPF) has condemned the alleged attack on a journalist by two security guards attached to a branch of First City Monument Bank (FCMB) in Umuahia, Abia State. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the journalist, Emmanuel Nwazue, who works at Afia TV, was assaulted by the security guards while he was monitoring the indefinite strike declared by the labour unions. Mr Nwazue told this newspaper that the security guards attacked him and damaged his gadget while he was interviewing some residents about the industrial action last Monday. The journalist said he was only rescued by some passers-by and witnesses. Violation of human rights In a statement on Friday, the CWPPF said the incident amounted to a blatant violation of his (the journalists) fundamental human rights and also disregard for the constitution of Nigeria. The group insisted that the Nigerian constitution empowers journalists to inform Nigerians and hold governments accountable. Such a condemnable act from the security guards is totally unacceptable, the statement said. 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 The CWPPF asked the FCMB to thoroughly investigate the incident and discipline the security guards who allegedly attacked the journalist. We also demand a public apology to Mr Emmanuel Nwazue from FCMB. Attacks on journalists in the course of their duty have no place in a democracy and must be shunned by all, the group said. FCMB silent When contacted on Thursday, the Group Head, Corporate Affairs of the FCMB, Diran Olojo, asked Adeola Aladejokun, another staff member of the Corporate Affairs Unit of the bank, to respond to enquiries from PREMIUM TIMES. READ ALSO: Attacks on journalists by state actors continue under Tinubu Mr Aladejokun promised to comment on the incident at 4 p.m. on Thursday. He would call back an hour after and ask for more time to respond but failed to do so several days later. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print President Bola Tinubu says his administration is prioritising people-focused development by providing essential infrastructure and amenities that will improve the quality of life of citizens. President Tinubu made the remarks at the inauguration of engineering infrastructure in Guzape District Lot II. Minister Nyesom Wike has provided exceptional leadership at a trying time for the country. It has been a very challenging time for us in the country. We are still retooling and rejigging our financial system to bring prosperity and relief to the people of this country. You have demonstrated the capacity to build a team, lead a team, and deliver on promises. I commend you, well done. To all of you here, to the District Head of Guzape, and the representatives, litigation is not the answer. Compensation is the answer. Development that is focused on the people for economic prosperity and benefits is what we should pursue. Of what value is a swathe of land that is blocked by hills and rocks, and that is inaccessible. Let us talk to our people and come together to help build Nigeria, the president said. 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 President Tinubu, who commended the contractor handling the project, Gilmor Engineering Limited, emphasised that his commitment to providing infrastructure across the country is not for personal enrichment or aggrandizement. I stand here as president; I do not have a plot of land here (Guzape District). But I have the peoples support and the mandate to deliver good quality of life and a living environment. That should be enough for all of us to share in the joy of commitment, dedication, perseverance, and the little gifts God has endowed us, the president said. In his remarks, the Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, explained that the contract initially awarded in 2003 at the cost of N14 billion was divided into Lots 1 and 2 to Messrs Dantata & Sawoe Construction Company Nigeria Limited and Messrs Gilmor Engineering Limited. Dantata had left the site for long. We had to bring them back after the president approved a memorandum to that effect, Mr Wike said. The minister disclosed that the development of the district, which covers 32km of road, had been fraught with litigations, which, however, did not deter the progress of the project. He said shortly before the present administration assumed office, the cost of the project was revised to N18.17 billion. Mr Wike commended the president for not abandoning the project owing to his belief in government as a continuum. Since I assumed office as FCT Minister in August 2023, you have never interfered with our work. We are sincerely happy that you gave us the free hand to work, he said. The FCT minister, who appealed to the president to name major roads in Guzape District after literary giants, Chinua Achebe and JP Clark, hinted that the diplomatic area in the district will be completed within one year. In a project overview, the Executive Secretary, FCDA, Shehu Ahmad, said the area being developed, Guzape District Lot II, is an urban fringe area covering 620 hectares, with 129 hectares encumbered by village settlements. He said the entire district, Lot 1 and Lot 2, was designed to provide residential, commercial, and recreational facilities covering an entire area of 1,070 hectares of land. The Lot 1 area covers an area of 450 hectares, whereas the Lot 2 covers 620 hectares, the FCDA executive secretary said. Ajuri Ngelale Special Adviser to the President (Media & Publicity) June 8, 2024 Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Oil driller Oando Plc said it partook in the closure of a $925 million accordion arranged and coordinated by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) for Project Gazelle, a crude oil-backed forward-sale finance facility sponsored by Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPCL). An accordion allows a borrower to increase the maximum limit permitted on a loan facility or add a term loan to an existing loan agreement. Under the accordion arrangement, Oando contributed $550 million through its subsidiary Oando Trading according to a statement seen by PREMIUM TIMES, while other parties raised the remaining $375 million, all summing up to $925 million. NNPCL last year helped the Nigerian government source a $3.3 billion crude oil prepayment loan from Afreximbank through a special purpose vehicle called Project Gazelle Funding Limited. Repayment is to be made with a pre-agreed number of barrels of crude oil in addition to an interest element of 11.85 per cent annual yield. The proceeds of the facility, NNPCL said, would help provide short to mid-term solutions to perennial dollar scarcity in the Nigerian foreign exchange market. Sahara Energy Resource Limited also participated in the latest accordion arrangement. 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 As a proudly indigenous company our ambition has always been to use our platform to support the sustainable development of the nation, Oandos CEO Wale Tinubu said. Against this backdrop, Project Gazelle will be instrumental in realizing the Federal Governments efforts to boost the countrys socioeconomic indices. Afreximbank acted as mandated lead arranger, bookrunner and facility agent for the deal. The latest accordion arrangement raises the total amount disbursed so far to $3.175 billion, Afreximbank said in a separate statement. The facility reaffirms our commitment to assisting our member states in their efforts to achieve economic growth and stability, Benedict Oramah, president of Afreximbank, said. This funding will greatly support the attainment of Nigerias short and long-term economic development priorities, he added. The original facility, the Afreximbank chief said, is the biggest crude oil-backed facility in Nigeria and one of the largest syndicated debts raised on the continent. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Troops of the Nigerian army have killed six suspected members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its armed militant wing, Eastern Security Network (ESN), in Abia State, South-east Nigeria. IPOB is a group seeking the independent state of Biafra, which it wants to be carved out of the South-east and some parts of South-south Nigeria. The spokesperson of Operation Udo Ka of the Nigerian army, Jonah Unuakhalu, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. How it happened Mr Unuakhalu, a lieutenant colonel, said the six suspects were killed on Saturday when troops of Operation Udo Ka of the Nigerian army conducted a clearance operation at a suspected IPOB/ESN camp in Igboro Forest in Arochukwu Local Government Area of the state. During the intelligence-led operation, troops encountered Improvised Explosive Devices along its axis of advance, and one soldier sustained minor injury from the fragment. The (suspected) terrorists feeble firefights were adequately subdued with superior firepower that led to the neutralisation of six members of the criminal terrorist group, he said. The spokesperson said other members of the group fled through nearby bushes with gunshot injuries, adding that blood stains were seen along their escape routes. 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 explained that the troops carried out the operation to arrest those behind the 30 May killing of five soldiers in Obikabia Junction in Aba, the commercial hub of the state. Destruction of camps Mr Unuakhalu, also the spokesperson of the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, said the troops destroyed all suspected IPOB camps around the area during the operation. The spokesperson said the troops recovered three locally fabricated rocket-propelled grenade launchers and two locally fabricated artillery guns with tripod and its bombs. He said other items recovered include dane guns, Biafran flags, as well as Toyota Tundra and Hilux vehicles, which were already burnt in one of the camps. Mr Unuakhalu said the Joint Task Force Operation Udo Ka has called on the residents of Abia State to continue to cooperate with security agencies by giving credible and timely information that will help to track down criminals in the state and South-east. Background Some gunmen, on 30 May, attacked and killed five soldiers in Aba. The gunmen were said to be enforcing a sit-at-home order declared by IPOB across the South-east to mark the annual Biafra Day celebration. The killing of the soldiers elicited condemnations from across Nigeria. In its first reaction, the Nigerian army vowed to retaliate against the killing of the soldiers. Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State was among the first to condemn the attack. Mr Uzodinma asked security agencies to track down those who killed the soldiers. President Bola Tinubu also vowed that his administration would come down heavily on those responsible for the killing of the soldiers. On his part, a former Vice-President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, said with the killing of the soldiers, it is now time for a political solution to be explored for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the detained IPOB leader. The Abia State Government later announced that they had placed a N25 million bounty on the killers of the five soldiers. The government subsequently increased the offer to N30 million and also promised to take up the responsibility of supporting the families of the slain soldiers. Barely 24 hours after the killing of the soldiers, residents of the Aba Area accused the Nigerian army of harassment and indiscriminate arrest. The army would later say that those arrested had been released. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) has secured the release of seven Nigerian pilgrims arrested by the Saudi police in Mecca for failing to carry their Nusuk identity cards with them. NAHCON coordinator in Mecca, Aliyu Tanko, disclosed this to journalists on Saturday. The arrests occurred at various locations in the city between Monday and Saturday. The commission had warned pilgrims against performing the hajj without the Nusuk ID card. The Saudi Authorities arrested seven of our pilgrims at different instances. They immediately took them out of Mecca to Jeddah and detained them. When we got the information we swung into action and secured their release from the authorities, Mr Tanko said. The coordinator said NAHCON has been calling on all pilgrims to carry their Nusuk card everywhere they go to avoid arrest. 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 One of the victims told journalists in Mecca that she lost her Nusuk card earlier given to her but she has requested for another one. I lost my Nusuk card earlier given to me on arrival. Although I requested another one, I am yet to get it. It was during this period that I got arrested. PREMIUM TIMES observed that more Saudi police officers have been stationed at a strategic location along the Kaaba holy site. The Nusuk ID card The Nusuk pilgrims card was introduced by Saudi authorities in April this year. According to the Saudi Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, the card aims to raise the efficiency of operational procedures for the upcoming hajj season to make the pilgrimage much easier and simplified as well as to bring down instances of performing hajj in an illegal way. It is designed to be easy to read automatically. The card facilitates hajj workers to identify and verify the identity of each pilgrim, and also helps prevent unauthorised individuals from entering the holy sites, thus ensuring the safety and security of all pilgrims. READ ALSO: NAHCON urges Nigerian pilgrims to obtain Nusuk card or risk Hajj exclusion Punishment for defaulters According to the Saudi authorities, any pilgrim caught without the Nusuk card will serve a jail term of 10 years, pay a fine of 10,000 Saudi riyal and be banned from future hajj for a period of 10 years. Over 47,000 pilgrims have been airlifted to Saudi Arabia by NAHCON out of about 65,000 expected to perform this years Hajj from Nigeria. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Tragedy struck the Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board as two of its pilgrims died in Madina, Saudi Arabia, just 48 hours after their arrival. Executive Secretary of the Board, Abdulsalam Abduladir, said in a statement on Sunday in Madina that Salisu Mohammed died in a public hospitals intensive care unit after suddenly falling ill. He said Hawawu Mohammed died in an apparent suicide by falling from her apartments rooftop as confirmed by Saudi authorities. The pilgrims have been buried according to Islamic rites in Madina. The board expressed heartfelt condolences to the families and submitted to the will of Allah. Read full statement Kwara State Muslim Pilgrims Board sends heartfelt commiserations to the families of two of our pilgrims who returned to their Lord in Madina, Saudi Arabia. Saliu Mohammed, who arrived with Batch 3 of the state contingent, died in an intensive care unit of a public hospital in Madina after suddenly falling ill; while Hajia Hawawu Mohammed (Batch 9) also died following what Saudi authorities have investigated and found to be an unfortunate suicidal episode from the rooftop of her apartment in Madina. 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 The pilgrims board deeply regrets these sad events, but submits totally to the decree and ultimate knowledge of Allah in all affairs. The board sends profound condolences to their families and asks Allah to grant them comfort and forgive the deceased. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print State creation re-echoes at House of Reps After years of agitation to increase the number of states in the South-east, a bill to create an additional state in the region was introduced in the House floor last week. The bill, sponsored by Ikenga Ugochinyere (PDP, Imo), seeks to create Orlu State and fulfill the demand for an additional state in the South-east. The region, unlike others that have a minimum of six states, has only five. Therefore, the creation of an additional state could balance the region, except for the North-west, which has seven states. Mr Ugochinyere, who represents Ideato North South Federal Constituency of Imo State, seeks to carve the new state out of Imo, Abia, and Anambra States, with Orlu as the state capital. The bill seeks to amend the 1999 Constitution by inserting a new paragraph immediately after the Ondo State paragraph and before the Osun State paragraph, to read as follows: State Orlu, Capital City Orlu. Although state creation bills are frequently introduced in the National Assembly, no civilian government has created a new state since the creation of the Mid-Western region in the First Republic. The ninth National Assembly considered requests for the creation of 20 new states. 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 In the current 10th Assembly alone, there are also requests for the creation of states. Oluwole Oke (PDP, Osun) presented three bills for the creation of Oke-Ogun, Ijebu, and Ife-Ijesa states. However, the process for altering the constitution to create a state is challenging and includes a referendum to be conducted by INEC in accordance with Section 8 of the document. Minimum wage vs living wage On Tuesday, the House spent hours debating the National Living Wage bill without reaching a consensus on what the ideal figure should be. The House urged the federal government to consider a living wage instead of a minimum wage for Nigerian workers. This resolution was the outcome of a motion of urgent public importance moved by the minority whip, Ali Isa (PDP, Gombe), on Wednesday during plenary. The House urged the government to redirect the focus of the ongoing negotiations from fixing a new minimum wage to fixing a realistic living wage for Nigerians. Speaking in support of the motion, the Deputy Minority Leader, Aliyu Madaki (NNPP, Kano), said the constitution makes provision for the welfare of Nigerian workers by the government. What we want is provided for by the constitution. If you look at section 16, Mr Madaki said. Also speaking in support of the motion, the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), criticised the governments focus on the minimum wage. But at the end of the long debate, the lawmakers did not provide any figures or define what a living wage is. Mass Exit of Multinational Corporations Another issue that caught the attention of the lawmakers was the exit of multinational corporations from Nigeria. The lawmakers spent quality time on the motion to halt the exit of the companies from Nigeria. In the end, the Green Chamber resolved to set up a special committee to halt the trend. The yet-to-be-constituted committee is to probe the cause of the mass exit of the companies and devise means to halt the trend. The decision followed a motion moved by Babajimi Benson (APC, Lagos) concerning the exit of Kimberly-Clark, an American multinational consumer goods and personal care corporation. This is the second time the House has moved to probe this trend within the last four months. In February, the House moved a similar motion, but no action has been taken thus far. South-east Development Commission The South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill passed for the third reading in the House on Thursday following the consideration of a joint committee report. The session, chaired by Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu, adopted the report submitted by the Minority Leader, Kingsley Chinda. The Commission, if signed into law by President Bola Tinubu, would help in rebuilding the South-east geopolitical zone, similar to the North-East Development Commission (NEDC). However, this bill is coming amid calls for the review of existing ministries, agencies, and departments (MDAs) to cut down the cost of governance. Some months back, President Tinubu announced plans to implement the Steve Oronsaye report with a view to cutting down the cost of governance. Meanwhile, a bill for the creation of the South-East Erosion Control Commission (SERCC) was also introduced on Wednesday by Emeka Chinedu. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sabelo is a pioneer in the field of decolonial studies. His scholarship presents a compelling analysis of the enduring consequences of colonialism in Africa and puts forth a strategic plan for genuine emancipation by means of decolonial processes. One of the critiques put forth by Ndlovu-Gatsheni revolves around the notion of the coloniality of power. He posits that colonialism extended beyond mere physical dominance and sought to establish dominance over the production of knowledge (epistemology). My friend is 56. I was discussing with Professor Chris Isike of the University of Pretoria how Professor Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni will shape his intellectual future, post-decolonial studies. I argued that it would soon lose steam, but Professor Isike corrected me: the tropes of anti-colonial scholarship are endless. I dropped my line of argument. Whether he continues with the decolonial epistemology or another major theme, Sabelo will ultimately emerge as one of the pantheons of African intellection. Prominent figures such as Kwame Nkrumah, Jomo Kenyatta, Nelson Mandela, Nnamdi Azikiwe, Julius Nyerere, and Obafemi Awolowo are recalled when one discusses nationalism, but does nationalism remain confined to the realm of politics alone? Nationalism can be defined as a collective awareness of national identity that prioritises the advancement of a particular culture and interests over those of other countries or supranational organisations. According to this definition, Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a prominent figure in the annals of African nationalism due to his significant contributions to the development of the concepts and theories essential for the progression of a decolonial educational and epistemological framework. These theories elevate Pan-Africanism; they undermine neocolonialism. Sabelo is a pioneer in the field of decolonial studies. His scholarship presents a compelling analysis of the enduring consequences of colonialism in Africa and puts forth a strategic plan for genuine emancipation by means of decolonial processes. One of the critiques put forth by Ndlovu-Gatsheni revolves around the notion of the coloniality of power. He posits that colonialism extended beyond mere physical dominance and sought to establish dominance over the production of knowledge (epistemology). By imposing their own as superior, colonial powers marginalised and delegitimised existing African knowledge systems. As a result of the enduring effects of this epistemic violence in postcolonial Africa, Eurocentric knowledge is frequently glorified. Hence, Ndlovu-Gatsheni advocates for Decoloniality as a remedy. Sabelos intellectualism is aimed at reawakening African nationalism to the point where regaining their position in global politics would not be the norm but rather the precursory stage. Fundamentally, inciting that interest serves to clear the minds of individuals and disillusion them by disclosing the precise strata of programming that have permeated their consciousness and, fortuitously, led to the near self-hatred that has come to characterise numerous endeavours. Decoloniality necessitates a thorough re-assessment of knowledge production and the dismantling of colonial power structures within academia and society, surpassing mere political independence. The attainment of epistemic freedom Africas entitlement to construct its knowledge frameworks grounded in its distinct historical, cultural, and experiential contexts is necessary for this purpose. The prospective transformative impact of Ndlovu-Gatshenis work on the African continent is its central significance. Through the advocacy of decoloniality, he grants African scholars the ability to reclaim their intellectual autonomy and contest the hegemony of Western knowledge systems, which may result in the generation of knowledge that is more pertinent to the unique requirements and obstacles faced by Africa. Decolonial approaches in education, for instance, have the potential to reinvigorate pre-colonial knowledge systems, while simultaneously cultivating novel knowledge that tackles present-day African concerns. The attainment of political independence does not automatically equal liberation, says Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni. According to him, the mere attainment of political independence failed to completely liberate Africa from the enduring consequences of colonialism. He believes that decoloniality is the secret to the genuine liberation and future prosperity of Africa, by arguing that decolonisation necessitates the deconstruction of the power structures that govern epistemology. From his arguments, it is evident that Eurocentric knowledge institutions are not optimally suited to tackle the distinctive challenges faced by Africa, thereby giving epistemic freedom leverage as the capacity of Africa to develop its knowledge frameworks that are more pertinent to its requirements and context. 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 Similarly, the establishment of the Africa Decolonial Research Network (ADERN) is another additional significant contribution made by Ndlovu-Gatsheni. This platform facilitates the cooperation of African scholars engaged in decolonial theory and research. ADERN functions as an essential forum for contesting the prevailing Eurocentric perspectives in the field of African studies. Ndlovu-Gatsheni advances his mission through his prolific writings. Literary works such as The Decolonial Mandela and Epistemic Freedom in Africa examine the application of decolonisation across diverse fields. Sabelos scholarly pieces stimulate scholars in the Global South to engage in a discerning evaluation of their fields of study and contemplate alternative systems of knowledge. Beyond academia, Ndlovu-Gatshenis work has a significant influence. Through the advocacy for epistemic freedom, he grants previously colonised societies the agency to reclaim their intellectual heritage and cultivate knowledge that is tailored to their challenges and requirements. Sabelos intellectualism is aimed at reawakening African nationalism to the point where regaining their position in global politics would not be the norm but rather the precursory stage. Fundamentally, inciting that interest serves to clear the minds of individuals and disillusion them by disclosing the precise strata of programming that have permeated their consciousness and, fortuitously, led to the near self-hatred that has come to characterise numerous endeavours. Africans continue to be underrepresented in all fields of knowledge, not due to their inherent backwardness or incapability to generate high-quality ideas but rather because the majority of the impetus for their thought processes comes from external actors whose interests and concerns are parasitic and predatory. Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a major name in academia. As an academic who arduously critiques the enduring repercussions of colonialism on African civilisations, his works have encouraged Zimbabwe to move beyond inherited structures and develop a novel path forward. However, Sabelos influence transcends the borders of Zimbabwe. Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni has also done tremendously well in the academic community in Zimbabwe, specifically in the fields of history and political thought. His activities centre on the Ndebele people during the pre-colonial and early colonial periods, providing insights into their social organisation, political systems, and reactions to colonialism. The outcomes of his experimentation with the Zimbabwean experience are particularly noteworthy: they demonstrate that the current situation in Africa, which appears to reflect leaders reluctance to implement positive changes on the continent, is a manufactured product processed by unrestrained universalists, who persistently manipulate and distort reality to programme the minds of the people. These contributions aid not only in further understanding Zimbabwes history alone but also that of the whole of Africa as a continent. Sabelo Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a major name in academia. As an academic who arduously critiques the enduring repercussions of colonialism on African civilisations, his works have encouraged Zimbabwe to move beyond inherited structures and develop a novel path forward. However, Sabelos influence transcends the borders of Zimbabwe. His extensive body of work, which comprises more than two decades and surpasses one hundred publications, enriches the discourse surrounding decolonisation, African development, and the generation of knowledge in the Global South. Ndlovu-Gatshenis research promotes a scholarly reassessment of the way Africa is examined and comprehended. He advocates for the integration of African knowledge systems and perspectives. His stature in academia is evidenced by being the Chair of Epistemologies of the Global South at the University of Bayreuth, among other prestigious positions he has held. Also, academic discourse is enriched by his research in numerous fields, including decoloniality, postcolonial theory, and the politics of knowledge production. Fundamentally, Ndlovu-Gatsheni is a frontrunner in the effort to decolonise academia in Africa and advocate for epistemic liberty throughout the continent. His contributions pave the way for a more inclusive and African-centred approach to knowledge production by challenging the status quo. Sabelo, expect the critique of your work in four years when we gather to discuss The Sabelo at 60 Conference. Baba Falola will deliver the Keynote Address. Toyin Falola, a professor of History, University Distinguished Teaching Professor, and Jacob and Frances Sanger Mossiker Chair in the Humanities at The University of Texas at Austin, is the Bobapitan of Ibadanland. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The jettisoned anthem did not produce the level of corruption ravaging our country and neither will the colonial anthem heal our land. It is the correction of our leadership deficit for it to radically reduce corruption and deftly handle the hostile external dynamics that can start to cure our underdevelopment and the failure in putting Nigerians on the path towards utmost freedom. A song associated with a nation only started when human beings started having the emotionally possessive idea of being organised within a territory or a span of territories united as one, with a strong feeling of competitive patriotism. In effect, such a song, generally dubbed an anthem, is not a fundamental need of human beings. At the core of fundamental needs of humanity, are having access to air, water, and food. Of course, other needs that human existence has come to accept as fundamental rights for being alive as individuals and collectivities are embodied in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. A flag, and an anthem, as inspiring instruments do not provide air, water, nor put food on the table of people in a nation. Nonetheless, with nations competing with one another, either in wars, production, sports, etc., national anthems have become musical compositions that creatively express the identity and values of a nation towards patriotism. Hence, national anthems have, over time, come to serve as rallying calls for nations; but a national anthem is a means and not an end. According to Wikipedia, there are claims that the oldest national anthem is the lyrics of the Japanese Kimigayo, recorded in the Heian period (794-1185) as a poem but without music accompaniment until 1880. The Dutch Wilhelmus was written in the period 1568-1572 and also has a claim of being the first anthem, even though it was more of a popular hymn over the years and got designated as a national anthem only in 1932. The French La Marsellaise, which was properly designated as a national anthem at the French National Convention in 1796, may snatch the pride of being number one over Great Britains God Save the Queen, that had been a popular patriotic song used at royal ceremonies for a long while, but was only described as a national anthem in 1825. Nonetheless, the nineteenth century saw the spread of national anthems across Europe and the Americas, often in response to wars of independence, unification movements, and the establishment of new states. Many Asian and African countries, upon independence from European powers, were either bequeathed with or they commissioned national anthems, thereby abandoning God Save the King or Queen, as the case may be. In this plethora, some countries have anthems without lyrics: Spain and Kosovo being examples. Some like Denmark and New Zealand have at least two national anthems. Which anthem is played at an occasion is enunciated in protocols and both may even be played at the same occasion. A good number of countries have changed their respective anthems over time. Australia, in the manner of a pendulum, changed from God Save the Queen to Advance Australia Fair from 1974 to 1976, only to re-embrace God Save the Queen from 1976 to 1984, and returned to Advance Australia Fair from 1984 till date. In 2018, Canada decided to change the lyrics of its national anthem in order to be gender-neutral. African countries have not been left out of changes to their national anthems. Ghanas first national anthem, God Bless Our Homeland, adopted in 1957, was changed to the current Lift High the Flag of Ghana when the country became a Republic on 1 July, 1960. In 1997, South Africa changed its anthem to reflect the new post-apartheid era. The anthem combined parts of Nkosi Sikelel iAfrika and Die Stem van Suid-Afrika, to represent unity and reconciliation among diverse cultures. In 1994, Zimbabwe abandoned its Ishe Komborera Africa anthem and adopted Simudzai Mureza wedu WeZimbabwe. The new anthem was inspired by the countrys aspiration to have a distinct national identity that was different from the pan-Africanist anthem adopted by many other countries. Thus, Zimbabwe left South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia that continued to share anthems. In a slightly different situation, following the 1994 genocide in Rwanda, the countrys previous anthem was considered divisive and was dropped. In 2001, a new anthem, Rwanda Nziza, was adopted. There is a strong position that the change is a result of a personal vendetta between PBAT and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which made Tinubu seek to erase the recent national anthem as one of the legacies of then General Olusegun Obasanjo. With an executive pocketed legislature, the wish of PBAT is always a done deal and this is worrying for Nigerias future. In effect, Nigerias changing of its national anthem is a political decision that is not a big deal. But the question for Nigeria, like in other countries, is whether there are any cogent reasons for this swift and sudden change? Put another way, the main issue remains why there was a change in Nigerias national anthem on 29 May, when President Bola Ahmed Tinubu (PBAT) signed a bill that restored the old anthem Nigeria inherited at independence? The bill had been introduced at plenary on 22 May by the Senate leader, Opeyemi Bamidele of the ruling party, and it was quickly passed for the first, second and third readings within minutes. Senator Opeyemi Bamidele, did not provide a convincing argument for this change. He stated at the Senate plenary that: You will also agree with me that those who were around in the 60s and the late 70s, would attest to the fact that the Anthem played quite a significant and crucial role in shaping Nigerias national identity and unity, as well as engendering a high sense of value and personal belonging amongst the citizenry. It was symbolic of Nigerias rich cultural heritage and nationhood. In retrospect, the anthem served as a regular and constant reminder of our journey as a nation and provoked feelings of nostalgia and fond memories of the countrys early years. The speedy manner of the passage of the bill in the House and the Senate gave the impression of strong vested interests. PBAT had, in the past, advocated for the adoption of the old national anthem in place of the current one; that was in 2011, when he was the leader of one of the main opposition parties. Abandoning the post-independence anthem, which arguably evoked a strong spirit of patriotism and brotherliness, to compose a very drab replacement, is far less inspirational, Tinubu had said during a speech at the Nigerian Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies, Kuru, Jos, Nigeria. During the presidential campaign, candidate Tinubu also expressed the hope to return to the old anthem. 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 There is a strong position that the change is a result of a personal vendetta between PBAT and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, which made Tinubu seek to erase the recent national anthem as one of the legacies of then General Olusegun Obasanjo. With an executive pocketed legislature, the wish of PBAT is always a done deal and this is worrying for Nigerias future. So, it is understandable when, in his normal cavalier style, Godswill Akpabio, the president of the Senate, while addressing PBAT as he prepared to address the joint session of the National Assembly to mark his first completed year in office, noted: Of all the significant things you have done, I think one of the most important is to take us back to our genealogy; the genealogy of our birth. That though we may belong to different tribes, though we have different tongues, in brotherhood we must stand. Whether in the field of battle or politics, we must hail Nigeria. The best place to start this revolution is the National Assembly, where we have the elected representatives of the people. Akpabio seemed to have suggested that this was a first year in administration gift to PBAT. Floating around on social media has been the justification that the 2014 National Conference under President Goodluck Jonathan had called for a reversion to the old national anthem. If this were to be the case, the question is why PBAT is not prioritising many of the salient constitutional issues put forward at the time as needing changes too. Maybe soon the full pictures and reasons will unravel. Which Nigerians complained to the Assembly that a new national anthem is needed? Nigerians are facing serious socio-economic problems, corruption and insecurity challenges, and the National Assembly rather prioritised, through a rush, a retrogressive move to reintroduce a colonial anthem. Change should be progressive and not retrogressive. Prioritising the change of one national song for an older one does not show national seriousness. It does not demonstrate leadership. The abiding concern is whether the changing back to the old anthem is a national priority at the end of PBATs first year in office. There is the concern also about why this change was undemocratically rushed through the National Assembly within a week, as if Nigerians, at large, did not deserve consultations because they already have elected occupants in the Assembly. It would have been been great if the National Assembly was addressing Nigerias leadership deficit and the current inability to radically reduce corruption, repossess thefts of the national patrimony, with a boost on the gross national production. Which Nigerians complained to the Assembly that a new national anthem is needed? Nigerians are facing serious socio-economic problems, corruption and insecurity challenges, and the National Assembly rather prioritised, through a rush, a retrogressive move to reintroduce a colonial anthem. Change should be progressive and not retrogressive. Prioritising the change of one national song for an older one does not show national seriousness. It does not demonstrate leadership. Furthermore, there are words in the old anthem that are problematic. For instance, the Yoruba, Igbo, Fulani, Ijaw, Ibibio, Hausa, Tiv, Idoma, etc., are described as tribes. These are nationalities that are respectively bigger than many European states that are accepted as nations. It is denigrating and insulting to the national psyche to refer to Nigerias different nationalities as tribes. In Anthropology, a tribe is a band of people with rudimentary organisational structures, though larger than a family. Are the English a tribe? Definitely, one cannot call the Yoruba, who are of the magnitude of well over 50 million people in the larger world, with sophisticated pre-colonial structures, as a tribe. If we have the luxury of wanting a change of anthem, it would have been useful to call on all Nigerians to compete on the lyrics and the tune for a new song. It is retrogressive to lazily and lackadaisically drop what Nigeria has had since 1978, for some vague reasons, and replace it with what the colonial powers bequeathed. This is more so when the teaming unemployed youth of Nigeria were born into the use of Arise O Compatriots that was not only written by Nigerians but recognises Nigerias history, including its unfortunate civil war that all agree should not be repeated. The brotherhood that PBAT is emphasising in the colonial bequeathed anthem did not prevent the 1967 to 1970 civil war that had the tremendous loss of the lives of brothers and even sisters. The jettisoned anthem did not produce the level of corruption ravaging our country and neither will the colonial anthem heal our land. It is the correction of our leadership deficit for it to radically reduce corruption and deftly handle the hostile external dynamics that can start to cure our underdevelopment and the failure in putting Nigerians on the path towards utmost freedom. Singing to a national anthem can be a rallying call on citizens to make sacrifices in the interest of all with respect to international competitions, including wars. But the patriotic zeal only evinces the desired loyalty of being ready to die for ones country if governance is of a quality of performance that puts the core of material and human rights needs of people on the table. Babafemi A. Badejo, a former deputy special representative of the UN Secretary-General for Somalia , is currently a legal practitioner and professor of Political Science and International Relations at Chrisland University, Abeokuta. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print It is perplexing to understand the rationale behind retrenching such highly qualified and integral personnel among several others in that bank, especially considering the ongoing appointments of external consultants. If retaining and promoting the best within the service is not prioritised, what justifies these replacements with outsiders? Upon completing the routine security check, we ascended to the impressive Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) complex in Abuja. Led to a spacious yet modest hall where an event was unfolding, we found seats beside a woman modestly dressed in a Muslim Hijab. She greeted us warmly and invited us to sit beside her. Her humility and warmth immediately put us at ease. We initially assumed she was a guest or another participant at the briefing. However, as we discussed the media industry, she listened intently, nodding in agreement. When she finally spoke, her insightful comments on disruptive technologies and their impact on the communication industry left us in awe. Her deep knowledge spanned online streaming services, virtual events, and redefining audience engagement through innovation, leaving us with a profound respect of her expertise. She elaborated on how blockchain, 5G networks, and Artificial Intelligence facilitate and secure faster connectivity and interactive experiences, with enhanced royalty management. Beyond aiding in content generation and personalisation, she noted that media production is becoming increasingly democratised. Moreover, she schooled us on the latest technological tools for fact-checking, cybersecurity, and digital journalism all without a trace of arrogance or pomposity. As the event concluded, we offered our printed business cards. In response, she shared her digital business card. Scanning the QR code revealed her identity: Hajiya Rakiya Shuaibu Mohammed, the director of Information Technology at the Central Bank of Nigeria. This position speaks volumes about her expertise and influence in the field. Curiosity drove me to search for her profile upon leaving. What I uncovered was astounding. Despite not being a celebrity tech expert paraded on social media or television, she is an extraordinary IT specialist. Former CBN Governor Godwin Emefiele described her as such, having promoted her from Head of Information Security Management after a rigorous selection process. In his remarks at the eNaira Hackathon Grand Finale in Abuja in 2022, Emefiele, the then CBN Governor, credited the success of Africas first central bank digital currency partly to Hajiya Rakiya. He admitted to underestimating her suitability for the Director of Information Technology position, initially preferring a male candidate. He said, I must single her out. When she was considered for the director role, I initially doubted. I was thinking.. Im sorry, ladies, please forgive me. I said a lady IT Director? I went back and began to read her CV. She is a First-Class computer science graduate, a brilliant erudite lady from Northern Nigeria, and a chartered accountant. I said you could not have a better person as head of IT for Central Bank of Nigeria. Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later Her academic and professional accolades are extensive. Rakiya was the Head Girl of the Federal Government Girl College, Bakori, and the Best Graduating Student in 1982. She obtained a First-Class degree in Computer Science from Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in 1987, followed by a Masters degree in Information Systems Engineering from the University of Manchesters Institute of Science and Technology (UMIST) in 1994. She has also attended executive education programmes at Harvard University and Oxford University. Rakiyas professional journey spans over 25 years across the financial, telecommunications, and technology sectors. Before her promotion to IT Director at the CBN, where she spearheaded and implemented the Industry Security Operation Centre (NFICERT) and Africas first Digital Currency, Rakiya had headed the System Services and Information Security Management (CISO) Division of the bank, where she modernised the IT infrastructure and introduced innovative solutions like video conferencing. She had developed and implemented robust information security strategies, maintaining ISO 27001 certification and ensuring zero major security incidents. Previously, she was Head of Strategy and IT at Galaxy Backbone Plc (2009-2011), CIO at Premium Pension Limited (2005-2008), Deputy General Manager (IT) and CIO of NITEL (2003-2005), and Head of Branch Banking Systems in the Northern Region of Continental Merchant Bank (1988-1995). She holds numerous certifications, including the Lean Process Practitioner, Certified IT Business Manager, Certified Chief Information Security Officer (CCISO), Certified Enterprise and Solution Architect, Certified IT Governance Professional (COBIT, CGEIT), Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA), Chartered Accountant (ICAN) and a honorary membership of the Certified Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN). On 16 May, she made an outstanding presentation to the CBN board on maximising the utility of current IT facilities. However, a week later, despite her impressive background, certifications, and contributions to the bank, Rakiya has become one of the victims of an inexplicable spate of officers retrenched by the current CBN Governor, Olayemi Cardoso. Here is a woman who has contributed immensely by ensuring increased revenue, reduced costs, and improved security in various organisations she had worked for and is just being retired due to political exigency. It is perplexing to understand the rationale behind retrenching such highly qualified and integral personnel among several others in that bank, especially considering the ongoing appointments of external consultants. If retaining and promoting the best within the service is not prioritised, what justifies these replacements with outsiders? Yushau A. Shuaib is the author of Award Winning Crisis Communication Strategies. yashuaib@yashuaib.com Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Hong Kong students and guests pose for a group photo at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) HONG KONG/SHANGHAI, June 9 (Xinhua) -- For Halifee Kwok, a sophomore at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST), nothing could be more memorable and exhilarating than being taken high up to the sky in a Chinese homegrown C919 passenger jet. This was the maiden cross-border chartered flight by a C919 airliner. On June 1, a round-trip flight carried Kwok and 100-plus other students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. "It's so cozy, with super smooth landing!" she told Xinhua. In the case of C919, experiencing is believing. "It's cool to sit in the cabin and see the water coming down on you and see it slide through the porthole and fuselage!" Eyes wide open, Kwok was amazed by a water salute on the plane's historic arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport, a rarely-watched scene and a "first" for her. This water salute was not the only highlight. Prior to their flight from Hong Kong to Shanghai, students were blown away by a cabin decorated with neon lights flickering right above their seats upon their boarding. Cheng Tan Yuet, a student from Hong Kong University, said she had "never experienced such a dreamy flight." During the approximately 2-hour flight, the cabin activated spray cooling to keep the air fresh and the temperature pleasant. "It feels comfortable here, the food tastes great, and the air smells fresh," said another HKUST student Geri Tang. Students on board the flight also praised the comfort of the C919, saying that the spacious aisle as well as seats pre-equipped with pillows and blankets are "sleep-friendly." As the flight surprises them with many "firsts," the homegrown large jetliner also carries on it the dreams of these aspiring young students and many more. In mid-December 2023, China's 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. "We were deeply moved by the spectacle of residents and tourists watching from both sides of Victoria Harbor and were determined to facilitate such a charter flight so that Hong Kong youth could have the opportunity to experience it first-hand," said Henry Yeung, head of the Hong Kong-Shanghai Youth Association. "Taking a C919 to Shanghai for an internship this year will help Hong Kong youth feel the development of the Chinese mainland more directly and seize new opportunities," Yeung said. "This trip to Shanghai may help shape my career choice," said Hong Kong student Woody Chan Baak Qiu. Chan is not engaged in biomedicine majors, but he wrote "medicine" as his career preference for the internship, hoping that his personal interest in this field can take root with the bountiful opportunities in Shanghai. "An internship at the airport is my top choice," said Halifee Kwok. On June 3, she stood out among a group of students to earn an internship in airport service management at the Shanghai Hong Kong Airport Management Co. Ltd.. "My mentor is very patient with me, and I understood on Day One all my scope of business throughout the internship. I'm good at serving others, and I hope to gain more from this internship at the airport," she said. This is the first time for Kwok on a distant journey away from home for weeks. As a liberal arts major, she cherished deeply this precious opportunity to make her love for the sky a reality, "I dream of soaring into the sky like the C919!" "I chose Shanghai two years in a row, but with different internship focuses to enrich my experience," said Pang Tsz Ho, a business major from Lingnan University, Hong Kong. Pang will be practicing in a trading company to better prepare for his career. Pang spent his childhood on Cheung Chau Island before moving to Tung Chung with his family. "My home was very close to the Hong Kong International Airport. Growing up by the sea, we are not afraid of 'hanging wind balls' (Hong Kong tropical cyclone warning signals). There was almost a 'wind ball' this time, but we believed in C919, it would definitely be safe and sound." "The whole flight was smooth. Staying on board a large domestic airliner, I felt particularly proud of being Chinese!" said Pang, commenting on the journey passing from rains to sunshine. At the end of the journey, plane models, greeting cards with the signature of the captain and hand-painted cartoon portraits of the crew welcoming everyone on board were also a part of making their day. "I will keep this card by my bed," one of the students told Xinhua excitedly. A C919 jetliner lands at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. Xinhua/Chen Duo) Hong Kong students pose for a photo before boarding a C919 jetliner bound for Shanghai at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) Hong Kong students get off the C919 jetliner at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) A C919 jetliner carrying Hong Kong students receives a ceremonial water salute on its arrival at the Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport in Shanghai, east China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. (Xinhua/Liu Ying) Guests attend a see-off ceremony at the Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, south China, June 1, 2024. On June 1, a round-trip flight by a C919 airliner carried more than 100 students from Hong Kong to Shanghai for a weeks-long internship and exchange program. (Xinhua/Chen Duo) The common people of Nigeria must continue to pray that the Wikes and El-Rufais will continually meet their waterloos in the Fubaras and Sanis they install. It is only through this that the governors will learn their bitter lessons. Except in Lagos where succession politics is sustained with a huge miasma of metaphysics and corruption, there is scarcely any state of the federation where the predecessor godfather governors are not regretting their choices today. Yesterday, General Sani Abacha clocked 26 years in the grave. Abachas sudden expiration in the thick of his maximal and maniacal rule reminds Nigerians, especially those who were old enough in 1998 when he died, of how human beings should never play god. Abacha ruled with an iron fist, after his seizure of power. He summarily executed dissidents and political opponents, while those who held other views disappeared without trace. A very interesting equation was when he ordered the deaths of Generals Oladipo Diya and Abdukareem Adisa for plotting to sack him. As Epo Akara, the Ibadan Awurebe musical lord, sang, death will kill the chanter and the enchanter. The three of them died their own deaths and alighted from lifes moving bus immediately they got to their bus-stops. Abacha was however credited with several economic feats, especially his standing up to the IMF and other Western power blocs. He also filched Nigeria of billions of dollars, which he kept in Switzerland and other jurisdictions like Lichtenstein, the United Kingdom and the United States. After Abachas death, many other Nigerian leaders have been playing god. Post-succession battles in Nigerias Fourth Republic between governors and their successors are those of men who play god. Their exploits can best be depicted in anecdotes. Those battles have thrown up more moral questions than political ones. Should successor governors be loyal to their predecessor-benefactors at the expense of the people? Today, a post-succession battle is raging in Kaduna State. It is between El-Rufai and his anointed successor, Uba Sani. Whether muffled or loud, post-succession battles can be found in many one-year governments that took over from incumbents in 2023. From Rivers to Akwa Ibom, Cross River to Zamfara, proteges are becoming the falcons that have refused to hear the lullabies of falconers. In pre- and post-colonial Yoruba society, folklores, fables, among others, helped to tame greed, as well as any tendency to play god. Suchlike stories helped to shape the moral man in Africa. His cosmology was governed by anecdotes, lore and mores, which prescribed moral codes. For centuries, folklores sustained the associational and moral forte of Africa. Anecdotes that restrained a potential emperor from treading the path of ruination were told to children, even in their infancy; the same was told about petty thieves who came to ghastly ends. For instance, the destructive end of greed was foretold in pre-colonial Yoruba society in the emblematic story of Tortoise and the scalding hot porridge. He had cupped the porridge, while it was being cooked, and covertly put it on his head, which burnt his scalp. An example is the anecdote told of a young wretched fisherman called Apejalodo. Set in an African Yoruba village, the fisherman was ravaged by failure on all fronts. He was unable to catch enough fish over the years to rescue him from the pangs of lack. One day, however, as he threw his fishing hook into the river, it caught one of the largest fish he had ever seen. Excited, Apejalodo pulled his awesome catch up the river bank and proceeded to yank it off the hook. As he attempted to carry it to the basket, the fish began to speak like a human being. Apejalodo was at first afraid and ran away from the river bank. He, however, eventually pulled himself together, approached his queer hunk of a catch and listened to the sermon of the strange fish. Singing Apejalodo, mo de, ja lo lo, ja lo lo (Fisherman, here I come) the fish pleaded to be rescued from the harrowing pain of the hook by the fisherman. It promised that if he spared its life, in lieu of this rescue, the Apejalodo should ask for whatever he wanted in life. Excited, Apejalodo lets it off the hook, having asked for wealth. Truly, by the time he got home, the ragged clothes on him and his wife had become a very big damask agbada and aran respectively. The couples wretched hut had also transformed into a big mansion. Both of them subsequently lived the life of unimaginable splendour. After a few years, the couple however remained barren. The wife entreated Apejalodo to go fishing again and ask his fish friend to rescue them from the social shame of non-procreation. As he threw his hook into the river, Apejalodo caught the strange fish again and the earlier process was repeated. This time, he asked for a child and the strange fish granted it. Over the years, Apejalodo magisterially summoned the fish through the same process and the fish kept bailing the couple out. Then one day, as Apejalodo and wife were waking up from their magnificent bed, a blinding and intruding ray of the sun meandered into their bedroom. Enraged, Mrs Apejalodo couldnt understand the diffidence of the sun. Couldnt it respect the privacy and majesty of the richest couple in the land? She angrily entreated Apejalodo to go meet his fish friend and ask that they be given the power to control the sun and the insolent temerity of other impertinent celestial forces. Succession politics in Nigerian states have always been chaotic and deadly battles. They seem to have taken their cues from coups detat planned by military despots. Nigerias earliest encounter with succession politics was the self-succession bids of military rulers. And it happened on 1 October, 1974. On that day, Yakubu Gowon, who emerged Nigerias military leader after the July, 1966 coup, which ousted the first military regime, said the handover date to civilians he had earlier offered was unrealistic. Off Apejalodo went to the river bank, threw his fishing hook into the river and again invoked the strange fish. And Apejalodo made his plea. The fish was peeved by the fishermans greed and audacity: You were nobody; I made you somebody and you now have everything at your beck and call. Yet, you want to compete with God in majesty and you will not allow even a common sun to shine and perform the illuminative assignment God gave it on earth! The fish angrily stormed back into the river and as Apejalodo, downcast, walked back home, his old torn and wretched dress suddenly came back on him, his mansion reverted to the hut of the past and the couples latter wretchedness was more striking than the one of yore. 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 Make no mistake about it: Nasir El-Rufai is brilliant and bold. He matches his heart of a lion with the cold calculation of a deadly viper. Ever since he surreptitiously gained public attention as General Abdulsalami Abubakars economic adviser in 1998, up to being the Director General of the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) in 1999, the god who sat by the furnace to cook the broth of Nasirs destiny didnt appear ready to leave the furnace. The short-statured Nasir El-Rufai rose to become one of the most powerful Turks in the civil space, leaving no one in doubt that he would play consequential roles in the then emerging Fourth Republic. He later became minister of the FCT, as was unorthodox during his tenure. El-Rufai was profiled as cold-hearted as a cobra. Decisions that scared the rest of humanity were his forte. He mowed down thousands of houses and evicted landlords in the neighbourhood of 800,000 from their homes. He, however, restored sanity to an otherwise chaotic Abuja Master plan. One of the demolitions that marked him out as fearless was the house of his partys National Chairman, Senator Ahmadu Ali, which he brought to the ground. Nasir was dead to adversity, cavalierly dismissed court suits, and the tomes of blackmails and threats to his life that were as rife as mushrooms in a farm plantation. As governor from 2015 to 2023, clips of his infrastructural Midas touch in Kaduna State surfaced as commendable examples for the republic. International organisations commended him for adhering to due process. But El-Rufais heart was sculpted with pebbles. As his power assumed limitless proportion, mounted and majesty quadrupled his height in the power calculus, he acquired the command of gods. Like a god that he thought himself to be, Nasir determined who lived and who deserved to meet their creator. He made seismic social and political pronouncements capable of ruining national edifices, especially on religion. He demolished thousands of houses of friends and foes, most notable being that of Senator Othman Hunkuyi, who represented Kaduna North in the Senate. In what was seen as the audacity of power, Nasir disengaged over 21,000 school teachers after they failed a competency test that his government set. In one fell swoop, he showed the door to 4,000 local government employees, a figure perceived to be high in a slightly over 100,000 staff council. These were a tip of the iceberg in tough, brutal, brave and suicidal decisions Nasir made in public service. Many claimed he took those decisions due to ego and a sense of personal consequence. To show how much grip he had on the governance structure in Kaduna State, notwithstanding the deadly decisions he took, Nasir still succeeded in producing a successor in Senator Uba Sani who, it appears, is becoming his nemesis in power today. Succession politics in Nigerian states have always been chaotic and deadly battles. They seem to have taken their cues from coups detat planned by military despots. Nigerias earliest encounter with succession politics was the self-succession bids of military rulers. And it happened on 1 October, 1974. On that day, Yakubu Gowon, who emerged Nigerias military leader after the July, 1966 coup, which ousted the first military regime, said the handover date to civilians he had earlier offered was unrealistic. He announced an indefinite postponement of the handover. This became one of the justifications for his overthrow on 29 July, 1975. Then came General Ibrahim Babangida. His self-succession bid has been likened to a woman who periodically changes her mind about going to the market. Babangida deliberately scuttled his own transition to civil rule programmes, altering the calendar and sacrificing huge national resources in the process. He engaged in a roulette of banning and unbanning politicians, before finally annulling the June 12 election. His military successor, General Abacha, also romanced self-succession by sponsoring groups underground like the Youths Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA), to covertly campaign for his presidency in 1998. In the current Fourth Republic, a civil government that toyed with self-succession was that of President Olusegun Obasanjo who, in early 2005, got his supporters to move to amend the Nigerian constitution for an extension of presidential and gubernatorial term limits to three, from its present two. Though opposed to it in the open, Obasanjo was said to have bribed legislators to vote for the alteration of the constitution. However, on 16 May, 2006, the federal parliament effectively nipped it in the bud. If Abiola looks back from the grave, would he be happy with those who claim he was their democratic progenitor? A government that is almost a coalition of NADECO activists and Abacha progenies is an odd assortment. Will Abiola be happy that the Lagos Landlord is waking Abacha from the dead by making Atiku Bagudu, Abachas bagman and the Chagouris, the goggled Generals financiers, the main engine room of his government? Perhaps, Colonel Frank Omenka will soon become the Chief of Army Staff? In this republic, the graveyard of governor godsons fighting their godfather-predecessors to a standstill is filled with carcasses. They enter Government Houses hunchbacked by their predecessors, but no sooner do these anointed godsons shut the gates on their godfathers. And the bubble bursts, while the cookies begin to crumble. Some of the crumbled cookies were immediate, while many others took a longer time to get shattered into smithereens. In Lagos, the Tinubu-Raji Fashola experiment, which many saw for almost four years as a matrimony worthy of example, exploded towards the end of the first term. The godfather was the de facto governor, determining the barometer of politics, its financing and what prebends to give to political hirelings in the distribution of the largesse of power. Not until the re-election campaign of Fashola in 2011 did the cracks begin to get noticeable, revealing the godfather/godson as proverbial seeds in a walnut pod. You remember the cryptic phrase, may your loyalty never be tested? The godson was between the devil and the deep blue sea. In many other states at this time, the matrimonies suffered ruptures almost immediately. James Ibori succeeded in making his first cousin, Emmanuel Uduaghan, his successor in Delta. The godfather continued to reap the dividends of his investments in the godson. I am told that Uduaghan surreptitiously did in his cousin, Ibori, even while serving his term in the UK slammer. In Enugu, Sullivan Chime was still governor-elect when he started to undo all that his mentor and godfather put in place. He spent eight years trying to pull down the Ebeano political structure that midwifed him. Orji Kalu suffered same fate in Abia, where his erstwhile chief of staff, TA Orji, who was in the EFCC custody while his election was taking place, eventually emerged governor. Orji spent his years in government firing ballistic missiles at Kalu, who spent billions of state funds to skew the process in his favour. This was replicated in virtually all the states, even in the 2015 and 2019 elections, where anointed godsons, having mutated to becoming godfathers themselves, attempted to foist their own godsons as successors. For example, Chimes godson, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, eventually turned out his political pallbearer. In Anambra, Peter Obi, while shopping for a godson, sidestepped the generally accepted sewer-minded political class, and walked into the supposedly sane banking hall in search of an urbane, corporate world executive. He got Willie Obiano. Less than a year after, the strange, somber-looking Obiano had transmuted from the gentleman who couldnt hurt a fly into a stone-hearted political principality, who strenuously presided over Obis political funeral and nunc-dimitis. The same was replicated in Kano, where Umar Ganduje, erstwhile lickspittle of Rabiu Kwankwaso, became a hydra-headed monster who eventually swallowed his ex-boss. The story of political betrayal, otherwise known as attempts by political godsons to be men of their own, has transfigured dangerously ever since. The two examples that are shattering the roof of political discussions today are those of Nyesom Wike/Fubara and El-Rufai/Sani. After openly announcing that his government met multiple billions of naira in debt in the state, Sani held a town hall meeting where he announced that he inherited a lean treasury, which made payment of salaries herculean. In April, a 13-man ad-hoc committee of the State House of Assembly, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Henry Danjuma, set up to probe El-Rufais administration, began to investigate all the finances, loans and contracts awarded under El-Rufai. Last Wednesday, that committee submitted its report and indicted El-Rufai and a few of his appointees of siphoning N423 billion of state funds. El-Rufai, however, described the outcome of the probe as false and scandalous. What may, however, be troubling is the allegation that Sani is merely the fly dancing on top of the river. And that the one beating the drum may actually live in Aso Rock. This will be disturbing because El-Rufai deserves his comeuppance from inside Kaduna, where he played god, and not from external manipulators. In Rivers, Wike met his match in a deadly power user, Fubara, who seems to have exorcised the ghost of Wikes flippancy and public irritancy. Many people have falsely looked at the spats in post-succession governors battles of the Fourth Republic from the moral lens. Which it is not. The spats arise simply from the fact that governors, who ab initio were themselves bereft of power like Apejalodo who lacked money, chose to play god. The common people of Nigeria must continue to pray that the Wikes and El-Rufais will continually meet their waterloos in the Fubaras and Sanis they install. It is only through this that the governors will learn their bitter lessons. Except in Lagos where succession politics is sustained with a huge miasma of metaphysics and corruption, there is scarcely any state of the federation where the predecessor godfather governors are not regretting their choices today. This Wednesday also marks the 31st anniversary of the June 12 struggle. The present inheritors of the struggle must step back and do a rethink of June 12. How much of the life abundant, which MKO Abiola envisioned, are the people in Aso Rock bringing the way of the Nigerian people? Would MKO have reserved a bragging right in the thick of a weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth economy that we have today? If Abiola looks back from the grave, would he be happy with those who claim he was their democratic progenitor? A government that is almost a coalition of NADECO activists and Abacha progenies is an odd assortment. Will Abiola be happy that the Lagos Landlord is waking Abacha from the dead by making Atiku Bagudu, Abachas bagman and the Chagouris, the goggled Generals financiers, the main engine room of his government? Perhaps, Colonel Frank Omenka will soon become the Chief of Army Staff? Festus Adedayo is an Ibadan-based journalist. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print With President Tinubu reputed to be a champion of restructuring in the saddle, it is hoped that concrete steps will be taken to reinvent the house that Lugard built and make it an enduring edifice. That will be the ultimate legacy. Happy Democracy Day 2024! This house must not fall, I wrote in my column of 1 January, 2014, published in Daily Trust to mark 100 years of the amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria. I have always believed that if we run an inclusive system, which allows all parts to retain their cultural identities and achieve their potentials, while also identifying with a larger unifying umbrella, then we have a chance of strengthening the house that Frederick Lugard built. The least one would expect is that all parts of the country would subscribe to the same set of general values e.g. responsible parenthood, compulsory primary/secondary education, girl child education, equality of citizenship and acceptance of the supremacy of the constitution. If we aspire to be one country in deed and truth, then we generally shouldnt have any problem subscribing to those values. North/South But we hardly agree about anything. Most times, it is possible to correctly predict the southern position on an issue and the northern position. This is in spite of the fact that there is no such thing as a Southern Nigerian political structure, nor is there one for the North. Both areas have fiercely independent minority groups who resent being lumped together with the majority, as if they were mere appendages. However, the political elite on both sides pretend to speak for the totality of the people in their geographical area. Thus, one man will stand up and say, The North will not tolerate this, or his counterpart in the South will make a similar boast. So, while the elite play their games, there is hardly a national consensus on anything. In the raging debate over the best way to restructure the country, the southern position (generally) is that Nigeria cannot make progress without dismantling the present system and designing a new mode of governance agreed upon by all the ethnic nationalities in the country, while the general northern position is to retain the status quo which, all agree, is skewed in favour of the North. 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 Normally, both sets of self-appointed leaders would have been expected to arrange a formal meeting where they can share and interrogate each others ideas and the rationale for such. But, in these climes, it appears that political points of view are cast in concrete. That is what makes many Naijamaniac patriots fear that Lugards house may not endure after all. Multicultural countries that have attained nationhood did not get to that point by decreeing unity. They negotiated it in a spirit of give-and-take. The cry for restructuring cannot be stopped by decreeing compliance with unitarism. It is going to be difficult to coexist, I think, if some states of the federation have not yet domesticated the Child Rights Act. So far, 34 of the 36 States of the Federation have fully domesticated the Child Rights Act, which deals with issues of child abuse, child labour, and forced marriage, among others. If children from a non-compliant state, where they are abandoned to roam the streets, are exported in thousands to a state which values the rights of children, would that be our fair idea of unity? Leo Tolstoy captures the scenario beautifully: I sit on a mans back choking him and making him carry me, and yet assure myself and others that I am sorry for him and wish to lighten his load by all means possible except by getting off his back! Why the Fear? Some people have asked: Are political leaders in the North afraid of restructuring? An outspoken member of that privileged group, Senator Shehu Sani did not shy away from answering the question. He listed four reasons: (i) The North see it (restructuring) as a South-West agenda. (ii) They fear that its only about control of oil resources. (iii) The fear of loss of political patronage, territory and economic privileges. (iv) Opportunism and lack of political will and courage by the past and present governments. It is going to be difficult to coexist, I think, if some states of the federation have not yet domesticated the Child Rights Act. So far, 34 of the 36 States of the Federation have fully domesticated the Child Rights Act, which deals with issues of child abuse, child labour, and forced marriage, among others. If children from a non-compliant state, where they are abandoned to roam the streets, are exported in thousands to a state which values the rights of children, would that be our fair idea of unity? Recently, there was an outcry against the spectacle of weather-beaten and scantily clad street urchins literally germinating out of alleyways and streets and spilling into the Lagos-Badagry expressway in the Okokomaiko axis of Lagos. Many residents took to the social media to decry the unprecedented increase in the population of the children and appeal to the state government to clear the public space of the distressing sight. Actually, the incidence of child beggars in Lagos cant be described as entirely new. For many years, beggars, mainly from the northern states of the country and some from Niger, Chad and other countries in the Sahel region, have made Lagos their destination of choice in their quest for alms. The adults carry their children in tow and sometimes use them to blackmail or embarrass passersby. What has made Lagos residents uneasy is the sudden upsurge in the population of those children and they are crying out as they did last year. The PUNCH newspaper investigated the outcry and reported that the child beggars, aged between six and 15, had become a menace in areas such as Okokomaiko, Agege, LASU-Iyana Iba, Alaba Rago, Oshodi, Berger, Seven Up and Ikeja, among others. Democracy Day 2024 comes up this week. Without doubt, the issue of restructuring and its many features such as the establishment of state police, fiscal reorganisation and unbundling of the centre will take on added energy as Nigerians from all walks of life make their feelings known. Prominent politicians all over the country are also likely to seize the opportunity to outline their ideas. They could be seen harassing passersby. They stain peoples clothes and sometimes pilfer from them. One female commuter who lived around the old Toll Gate area complained that, There are usually about 50 beggars on the pedestrian bridge. These beggars are always in a queue, like a gathering of soldier ants, she said. It is difficult to judge who is filthier between them and their nursing mother counterparts begging for alms with their babies. Whatever anybody says in trying to rationalise this scandalous state of affairs, whereby mere children are transported to urban centres to seek alms instead of being in school, decent members of society will continue to insist that the innocence and future of children should not be destroyed through the tolerance of irresponsible parenthood. It is no longer fashionable to hide behind religion in justifying the mass production of children without any plans of rearing them to responsible adulthood. Advancing Democracy Democracy Day 2024 comes up this week. Without doubt, the issue of restructuring and its many features such as the establishment of state police, fiscal reorganisation and unbundling of the centre will take on added energy as Nigerians from all walks of life make their feelings known. Prominent politicians all over the country are also likely to seize the opportunity to outline their ideas. Already, there is a bill in the National Assembly seeking to ban the open grazing of animals, so as to prevent the destruction of farmlands, which often leads to conflict. Kano State under former Governor Ganduje was one of the earliest builders of ranches during the Buhari era. Katsina State under Governor Masari also announced a similar plan. Other states should emulate them. As Masari himself said, The issue of animals wandering endlessly without control, grazing without properly mapped grazing routes should be over. Opposition leader and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar x-rayed the cold shoulder given to the issue of restructuring by the Northern elite: Our current constitution does indeed concentrate too much power and resources at the centre At some point our leaders and representatives will come together, discuss and work out a framework for restructuring our federation The restructuring that I have been calling for involves changes to the allocation of powers, responsibilities and resources among the states or zones and between them and the Federal Government. It is clear to me that the resistance against restructuring is based on three interrelated factors, namely dependency, fear and mistrust. With President Tinubu reputed to be a champion of restructuring in the saddle, it is hoped that concrete steps will be taken to reinvent the house that Lugard built and make it an enduring edifice. That will be the ultimate legacy. Happy Democracy Day 2024! Wole Olaoye is a Public Relations consultant and veteran journalist. He can be reached on wole.olaoye@gmail.com, Twitter: @wole_olaoye; Instagram: woleola2021. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The operatives of the FCT Police command in collaboration with the special forces of Guards Brigade of the Nigerian Army and DSS hunters, on Friday, stormed some identified kidnappers hideouts and arrested four suspects. FCT Police spokesperson, Josephine Adeh, a superintendent of police, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday. She listed the hideouts as Gidan Dogo and Kweti Forest, Kaduna State bordering the FCT. The suspects are Yahaya Abubakar, 25 m of Mpape, Mohammed Mohamed 32 m of Zuba (an ex-convict), Umar Aliyu 20 and Nura Abdullahi 32 also an ex-convict at Kubwa and Zuba hills. Ms Adeh said the police stormed the kidnappers camps at about 10 a.m., acting on credible intelligence. She stated that the suspects have all confessed to the membership of a notorious bandit syndicate known as Mai One Million responsible for kidnappings and other crimes in the territory. The suspects freely confessed to being members of a notorious bandit syndicate with the name Mai One Million, responsible for a series of kidnappings and other heinous crimes in FCT and its environs, she said. 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 Ms Adeh also said some kidnapped victims were rescued while the illegally erected structures by the kidnappers in all the patrolled camps, were all decimated. Read the full statement: SECURITY IN FCT: POLICE STORMS BANDITS HIDEOUTS, ARREST SUSPECTS, DISLODGES CAMPS. as CP intensifies coordinated operations in suspected bandits routes and camps. The operatives of the FCT Police command, in synergy with the special forces of guards brigade and DSS hunters, in a continued effort against criminality in FCT, on June 7, 2024, at about 10:00 am, acting on credible intelligence, stormed some identified kidnappers camps at Gidan Dogo and Kweti Forest, Kaduna State, bordering FCT, trailed and arrested four suspects: Yahaya Abubakar, 25 m of Mpape, Mohammed Mohamed 32 m of Zuba( an ex-convict), Umar Aliyu 20 and Nura Abdullahi 32 also an ex-convict at Kubwa and Zuba hills respectively. The suspects freely confessed to being members of a notorious bandit syndicate with the name Mai One Million, responsible for a series of kidnappings and other heinous crimes in FCT and its environs. The coordinated operation, occasioned a shootout between the bandits and the security operatives, forcing them to scamper to safety and victims rescued. The illegally erected structures by the kidnappers in all the patrolled camps were all decimated. While the rescued victims have since been reunited with their families and loved ones, the commissioner of police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igweh, psc, mni, lauded the effort of the security operatives in the fight against criminality in the Nations Capital. He further reiterates the commands unflinching commitment to ensuring the security and safety of the residents of FCT. He therefore urges the residents to be vigilant and take advantage of the police emergency lines in reporting suspicious activities through: 08032003913, 08028940883, 08061581938, and 07057337653 PCB: 09022222352, CRU: 08107314192. SP Josephine Adeh, Anipr, Police Public Relations Officer, For: The Commissioner of Police, FCT, Abuja. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Olam Agri in Nigeria, a leading agribusiness in food, feed and fibre, has set the pace in promoting the African continents rich cultural diversity. The business marked Africa Day 2024 with vibrant festivities on Friday, 30 May 2024 across its locations and the headquarters, in the country. Africa Day is celebrated on 25th May annually. It is dedicated to celebrating the continents vast cultural heritage. It also focuses on highlighting the continents economic potential while stimulating assertive actions towards achieving wider prosperity and unity across countries. This years theme which emphasised education as a critical lever for spurring growth on the continent was complemented by Olam Agris unique driving focus, Embrace Africas Richness, Diversity, and Spirit. Led by its Country Head, Anil Nair, the agribusiness hosted its staff members to a celebration that showcased its African origin, diverse workforce, hospitality and commitment to promoting the unique cultural heritage of its host markets. The celebration featured dance troupes performing to the rhythm of African drums, cultural dances, convivial exchanges and local games. Employees dressed in different local attires ranging from the famous Babban Riga and Juanni to the hand-woven Aso-Oke and Agbada, Isiagu, Akwette and various other traditional styles extending to the wider African culture. The staff members participated in sessions targeted at fostering team bonding, received exciting gifts, danced to popular local songs and were treated to tasty local cuisine. Mr Anil said, As a business that was founded in Nigeria over 30 years ago, we are proud of our African origin. This continent is fertile. Our driving focus continues to include promoting the rich cultural heritage on the continent, creating an inclusive workforce and channelling investment towards actualising the economic potential across the market through massive employment generation and development of the agricultural value chain. We are proud of the cultural diversity on the continent and the unique giftedness of the population who represent a dynamic force on the global scene. We believe this continent offers greater hope. Hence, we will continue to collaborate with stakeholders across the continent to feed the visions of achieving a well-nourished and prosperous Africa, he added. Olam Agris African operations are spread across Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Cote dIvoire, Chad, Ghana, Mozambique, Nigeria, the Republic of Congo, Senegal and South Africa. Earlier in the year, the Top Employers Institute a global authority on recognising excellence in People Practices certified Olam Agri as a Top Employer for a 4th consecutive year in eight countries, including Australia, Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, Cote dIvoire, Mozambique, and South Africa. 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 Olam Agri is a market leading, differentiated food, feed and fibre agri-business with a global origination footprint, processing capabilities and deep understanding of market needs built over 33 years. Olam Group is a leading food and agri-business supplying food, ingredients, feed, and fibre to 20,200 customers worldwide. The companys value chain spans over 60 countries and includes farming, processing, and distribution operations, as well as a global network of farmers. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Police Command in Kaduna State on Saturday said its operatives arrested six suspects for committing various crimes and recovered five vehicles. The commands spokesperson, Mansir Hassan, confirmed the arrest in a statement issued in Kaduna. Mr Hassan said, At about 0310 hours on Thursday, while conducting a routine patrol near the Agoro Level Crossing area, a team from the Tudun Wada Division in Zaria, intercepted a suspect identified as Babangida Sani, 37, from Faskari Local Government Area in Katsina State. He said the suspect was travelling from Jos to Faskari and had boarded a commercial motorcycle en route to the Flyover Garage. During the search, the officers discovered an AK-47 rifle in the suspects possession. The motorcycles driver, upon witnessing the search, fled the scene but was promptly arrested and taken into custody by the officers, he said. Mr Hassan also disclosed that on Tuesday, at 1800 hours, the Anti-Car Theft Unit of the commands Criminal Investigation Department acted swiftly on a tip-off and recovered two abandoned vehicles. 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 They are a Toyota Matrix (Reg No: DKA 321 TT) and a Toyota Camry LE (Reg No: KGK 114 AA), in Mogadishu, Kaduna. He added that the following day, on Wednesday, at about 1215 hours, a white Toyota Hilux van (Reg No: GWA 845 CY), reported stolen from Karji Junction, was also recovered at Yazid Hotel on Ali Akilu Road, Kaduna. Mr Hassan said, Further investigations led to the arrest of three suspects: Saad Abdullahi, Salihu Musa, and Usman Zubairu Ganu, all from Zamfara State. They were found in possession of two additional vehicles, a Honda Accord (Reg No: RBC 143 MQ) and a Mercedes Benz (Reg No: BKD 137 SB), also suspected to be stolen. The spokesperson said on Wednesday, at about 2105 hours, the DPO Millennium City Division received a report from the Sabon Gida vigilante group in Maraban Rido village, Sabo Area of Responsibility. Consequently, they arrested three armed men on a motorcycle seen heading through a known bandits route towards the Eastern Bypass. He said the suspects were suspected to be carrying concealed rifles. Acting swiftly on this information, the DPO mobilized a combined team of police patrol officers, a military strike force, and local vigilantes. An ambush was set at strategic locations, leading to the interception of the suspects near Kakura 2 Village along Umar Musa YarAdua Way. Two of the suspects managed to escape, but the motorcycle rider, identified as Buhari Madaki, 26, was captured along with his red Jincheng motorcycle. Upon questioning, Madaki was unable to provide a satisfactory explanation for taking the dangerous route late at night, Mr Hassan said. He said a discreet investigation was ongoing on the incidents. Mr Hassan said the Commissioner of Police in Kaduna, Ali Dabigi, has assured the public that the command remained committed to maintaining safety and security within the state. He also appreciated the cooperation of the public in these efforts. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print The Katsina State Government said it has collected N4.08 billion as Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) in the first quarter of 2024. The Chief Press Secretary (CPS) to Governor Dikko Radda, Ibrahim Kaula, announced this in a statement on Sunday in Katsina. According to him, the figure indicated a 227 per cent increase compared to the N1.79 billion generated during the same period in 2023. He attributed the feat to the administrations unwavering commitment to plugging leakages in the states financial system. Mr Kaula added that Mr Raddas administration had strategically positioned the state to not only exceed its current capacity but also to shatter revenue projections. Estimates indicate that the state is poised to surpass the N20 billion mark in internal revenue generation for the year 2024. A feat that seemed unimaginable in previous years when the range hovered between N10 billion and N14 billion, he said. Mr Kaula added that at the heart of this financial renaissance lies Mr Raddas visionary Building Your Future policy document, a blueprint that had paved the way for groundbreaking initiatives. 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 listed the initiatives to include the State Treasury Single Account (TSA) and the recently implemented E-tax billing system. These reforms have not only streamlined tax and revenue collections but have also fostered an inclusive environment, ensuring that no stone is left unturned in the quest for economic growth. One of the key catalysts for this extraordinary success has been the administrations unwavering commitment to plugging leakages in the states financial system. By identifying and addressing these vulnerabilities, Gov. Raddas team has effectively stemmed the tide of revenue loss, paving the way for an unprecedented influx of resources, he said. According to the CPS, Mr Raddas overarching objective is to empower the state to achieve fiscal self-sufficiency. This will enable it to offset its monthly and annual wage bills solely through internally generated revenue by the year 2027. Mr Kaula expressed confidence that at the current pace of progress, that ambitious goal may be realised even sooner than anticipated. He said, The state government had set an example for others to follow, proving that with undeterred commitment and innovative solutions, even the most daunting obstacles could be overcome. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print NEW YORK, June 9, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- The global alumni management software market size is estimated to grow by USD 109.1 million from 2024-2028, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of over 4.81% during the forecast period. Rise in demand for efficient alumni network program is driving market growth, with a trend towards rise in the integration of alumni management software with CRM. However, availability of open-source alumni software poses a challenge. Key market players include 360Alumni, Almabase Inc., Almashines Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Anthology Inc., Anubavam Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Blackbaud Inc., Coherendz India Pvt. Ltd., Ellucian Co. LP, EverTrue Inc., Fonteva LLC, Hivebrite, Insala Inc., OmniMagnet LLC, PeopleGrove Inc., PeoplePath GmbH, Raklet Inc., Regpack Inc., Saviance, TrueDialog Inc., and WildApricot Inc.. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global alumni management software market 2024-2028 Get a detailed analysis on regions, market segments, customer landscape, and companies - View the snapshot of this report Forecast period 2024-2028 Base Year 2023 Historic Data 2018 - 2022 Segment Covered Deployment (Cloud-based and On-premise), End- user (Universities, Schools and colleges, and Educational foundations), and Geography (North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa) Region Covered North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key companies profiled 360Alumni, Almabase Inc., Almashines Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Anthology Inc., Anubavam Technologies Pvt. Ltd., Blackbaud Inc., Coherendz India Pvt. Ltd., Ellucian Co. LP, EverTrue Inc., Fonteva LLC, Hivebrite, Insala Inc., OmniMagnet LLC, PeopleGrove Inc., PeoplePath GmbH, Raklet Inc., Regpack Inc., Saviance, TrueDialog Inc., and WildApricot Inc. Key Market Trends Fueling Growth The integration of CRM software with alumni management systems is a significant trend in higher education. This combination offers a comprehensive view of student interactions, from recruitment to alumni relations and fundraising. Notifications for alumni events are sent via email and SMS. CRM integration enables personalized recruiting campaigns and donor relationship building. It also enhances communication channels, data analysis, and department coordination, contributing to market growth. The Alumni Management Software market is experiencing significant growth with various features being trending. These include custom technicals for communication, adaptability to modern technologies, and comprehensive alumni databases. Uses of these software solutions include fundraising, networking, and event management. Companies are focusing on providing fun and engaging features to increase user engagement. Additionally, cloud-based solutions are becoming increasingly popular due to their accessibility and ease of use. Proactive communication and analytics are also key trends in this market. Overall, the Alumni Management Software market is evolving to meet the needs of educational institutions and organizations in managing their alumni relationships effectively. Research report provides comprehensive data on impact of trend. For more details- Download a Sample Report Market Challenges Open-source alumni software solutions, such as Bitrix24, are gaining popularity in developing economies due to their affordability and ease of use. These solutions allow small-scale alumni associations and clubs to manage their operations without significant investment. This trend is reducing revenue in the global alumni software market as more end-users adopt these cost-effective options. The Alumni Management Software market faces several challenges in implementing and optimizing systems. These include ensuring secure and consistent access to comprehensive data, such as contact information and educational backgrounds. Additionally, integrating various features, like communication tools and event management, can be complex. Compatibility with different devices and systems is also a concern. Furthermore, keeping up with advancements in technology and maintaining an intuitive user interface are ongoing challenges. Lastly, ensuring data privacy and security is crucial in managing alumni information. Addressing these challenges requires continuous effort and collaboration between software providers and their clients. For more insights on driver and challenges - Download a Sample Report Segment Overview Deployment 1.1 Cloud-based 1.2 On-premise End-user 2.1 Universities 2.2 Schools and colleges 2.3 Educational foundations Geography 3.1 North America 3.2 Europe 3.3 APAC 3.4 South America 3.5 Middle East and Africa 1.1 Cloud-based- The global alumni management software market is experiencing significant growth due to the widespread use of the Internet and cloud computing. Cloud-based deployment offers numerous advantages, such as no need for additional hardware or software, easy access from remote locations, and decreased upgrading and maintenance costs. This model's popularity is driving market growth, particularly in emerging countries in APAC and MEA. Cloud-based software also provides flexible scaling options and effective data backup systems, making it the dominant segment in the market. For more information on market segmentation with geographical analysis including forecast (2024-2028) and historic data (2018 - 2022) - Download a Sample Report Research Analysis The Alumni Management Software market caters to the needs of educational institutions by providing advanced solutions for managing alumni networks. These systems offer various features such as fundraising initiatives, networking opportunities, and a feeling of community. Integration of technology expedites procedures, allowing for strong alumni networks to be built and maintained. Events, updates, donor administration, and donor relations management are essential components of these systems. Analytics management tools provide valuable insights through data management and reliable records, enabling effective alumni involvement and preference tracking. Universities benefit from mobility and mobile accessibility, with cellphones and mobile apps facilitating constant engagement. Market Research Overview The Alumni Management Software market encompasses solutions designed to help educational institutions and organizations effectively engage, manage, and connect with their alumni base. These software solutions offer features such as alumni directories, event management, communication tools, fundraising capabilities, and analytics for data-driven insights. They aim to streamline alumni relations efforts, foster community engagement, and provide valuable services to both the institution and its alumni. The software may also include mobile applications, social media integration, and customizable branding to enhance the user experience. Table of Contents: 1 Executive Summary 2 Market Landscape 3 Market Sizing 4 Historic Market Size 5 Five Forces Analysis 6 Market Segmentation Deployment Cloud-based On-premise End-user Universities Schools And Colleges Educational Foundations Geography North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa 7 Customer Landscape 8 Geographic Landscape 9 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 10 Company Landscape 11 Company Analysis 12 Appendix About Technavio Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contacts Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com/ SOURCE Technavio 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 Tel Aviv, June 9 : Following the release of four hostages from the Gaza Strip, tens of thousands of people once again protested in Israel in favour of an agreement with Hamas for the release of the 120 remaining abductees. Tens of thousands gathered at the main rally in the coastal city of Tel Aviv on Saturday, Israeli media reported. Thousands of anti-government protesters also gathered in Haifa and Jerusalem to demand a hostage deal and new elections. Protests also took place in Caesarea, Beersheba and many other places in the country. For months, there have been repeated mass protests in Israel against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government and in favour of the release of the hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip. In a speech, the son of a man killed in captivity asked his father for forgiveness for the failure of the country and of Netanyahu to free him and the other hostages from captivity. The army had recently announced his death and that of three other hostages. There were clashes with police in Tel Aviv when protesters attempted to block a motorway, according to reports. The police also used water cannon on the protesters. According to the military, there are still 120 Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip. However, it is feared that the majority of them are no longer alive. The US, Qatar and Egypt have been indirectly mediating between Israel and Hamas for some time to achieve a ceasefire and an exchange of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Last week, US President Joe Biden unexpectedly presented details of a draft agreement to end the war in three phases. --IANS/DPA khz ADEN, Yemen, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Houthi group in Yemen announced on Sunday that it had carried out strikes targeting a British naval destroyer and two commercial ships in the Red Sea and the Arabian Sea. In a televised statement broadcast on the group's Al-Masirah channel, Yahya Sarea, the military spokesman for the Houthis, said that their forces had launched an operation against the British warship HMS Diamond in the Red Sea, hitting it "accurately" with a number of ballistic missiles. Sarea said that Houthis launched a combined missile and drone attack and directly hit two commercial vessels, Norderney and MSC Tavvishi, in the Arabian Sea, claiming that the two violated the group's maritime shipment ban on Israeli ports. He declared that the Houthi forces' "operations will not stop until the aggression stops and the siege on the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip is lifted." Earlier in the day, an official from the Yemeni government Coast Guard reported that a Liberian-flagged container ship, identified as the MSC Tavvishi, had been hit by a Houthi missile attack while sailing in the Gulf of Aden, approximately 70 nautical miles southwest of the temporary capital Aden. The official stated that the ship was struck in the stern section, causing a fire, but no casualties were reported among the crew. Since November 2023, the Houthi rebels have been conducting military operations in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait, targeting vessels they claim are Israeli or bound for Israel, in retaliation for the ongoing conflict between the Israeli military and the Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas) in the Gaza Strip. In response to the Houthi naval attacks, the United States and Britain launched a joint military operation in January 2024, involving airstrikes and missile strikes against Houthi targets in various areas of Yemen. This prompted the group to expand its targeting to include American and British commercial and military ships in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, further escalating the conflict in the strategic region. Copenhagen, June 9 : Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was taken to the hospital with a minor whiplash injury after a man hit her in central Copenhagen, her office said. Frederiksen is "safe but shaken" by Friday's incident, the office said, adding that her scheduled engagements on Saturday were cancelled. Eyewitnesses told Danish media that the 46-year-old Prime Minister had been able to walk away from the scene. Police quickly arrested a 39-year-old man in connection with the assault on Kultorvet Square in the capital's historic centre. He later appeared in a pre-trial custody hearing in a Copenhagen district court. The man denied that he had anything against Frederiksen, saying she was "a really good Prime Minister" and that he had been surprised to run into her on the street. Police investigating the assault do not believe that the attack was politically motivated. The Danish news agency Ritzau reported that the man was drunk and under the influence of other drugs at the time and that he was a Polish citizen who had been a resident in Denmark for a long time. Condemnation poured in from across Europe. "Shocked to hear about the violence against my friend Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of our ally Denmark. I strongly condemn all violence against our political leaders," NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg wrote on the social media platform X. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called it a "despicable act which goes against everything we believe and fight for in Europe," while French President Emmanuel Macron denounced it as "unacceptable" and wished the leader a quick recovery. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz posted a get-well message on X. "Dear Mette, I wish you a speedy recovery," he said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X: "Democracies must be free from intimidation and threats." "I strongly condemn any form of violence against democratically elected leaders in our free societies," Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo said. "An attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy," wrote Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson on X. The incident comes as the EU's 27 countries elect more than 700 members of the European Parliament during four days of voting that began on Thursday. Voters in Denmark go to the polls on Sunday. There have been at least two attacks on politicians in Germany in the immediate run-up to the elections. And on May 15, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and seriously injured. --IANS/DPA khz Tehran, June 9 : The second meeting of the regional contact group for Afghanistan was held in the Iranian capital Tehran, the media reported. Special representatives of Iran, China, Russia and Pakistan attended the meeting held at the Iranian Foreign Ministry's Institute for Political and International Studies on Saturday, the official news agency IRNA report said. In a message sent to the meeting, Iranian caretaker Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani said that the US should release Afghanistan's assets, which had previously been frozen, Xinhua news agency reported. He added nearly three years had elapsed since the US troops' withdrawal from Afghanistan, the country was still struggling to solve outstanding problems in economy and development. Bagheri Kani noted that although Afghanistan's caretaker government had managed to attain achievements in tackling certain challenges, the freezing of the country's assets had hindered post-war recovery. Speaking at a press conference following the meeting in Tehran, Hassan Kazemi Qomi, the Iranian president's special envoy on Afghanistan affairs, said the participants highlighted the necessity to resolve Afghanistan's issues through regional dialogue and cooperation. He noted that addressing issues such as fighting terrorism and improving humanitarian conditions relied on regional cooperation. Among the other issues discussed during the meeting were ensuring common borders' security and those about Afghan refugees, said Kazemi Qomi. He added the US, "which faced a failure in Afghanistan after 20 years of occupation," should be held to account for the country's current problems. The US troops pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 after 20 years of occupying the country following waging a war against it in 2001 on the pretext of fighting terrorism. Jerusalem, June 9 : Israeli Wartime Cabinet Minister Benny Gantz postponed his expected resignation announcement following a rescue operation in the Gaza Strip in which four Israeli hostages were released. On May 18, Gantz announced that he would resign from the government on June 8 if the cabinet did not formulate an action plan to secure goals, including the return of the hostages held in Gaza and the defeat of Hamas, Xinhua news agency reported. The rescue operation was carried out by Israeli forces in collaboration with the police's elite National Counter Terror Unit and the Israel Security Agency, while at least 94 Palestinians were killed in airstrikes in the same area. The hostages, 25-year-old Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, 40, Almog Meir Jan, 21, and Andrey Kozlov, 27, were abducted while attending the Nova festival, an outdoor music event in a rural area near the Gaza-Israel fence. The Israel Defense Forces spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the four were located in proper medical condition in two buildings at the heart of Gaza's Nuseirat refugee camp. Ramallah, June 9 : Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas has instructed Palestine's envoy to the UN to request an emergency session of the UN Security Council to discuss the repercussions of the Israeli attacks on the central Gaza Strip, the media reported. Abbas is engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts with Arab and international stakeholders to convene the emergency session, the aim of which is to address the "ongoing Israeli aggression" against the Palestinian people and compel Israel to comply with the resolutions of international legitimacy, the Palestinian official news agency WAFA said on Saturday. He emphasised the urgent need for international intervention to halt the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in Gaza and the West Bank, adding that Israel continues to exploit "international silence and US support" to "perpetrate crimes," according to the report. On Saturday, at least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in Israeli airstrikes on central Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported. Since its onset last October, the deadly conflict between Israel and Gaza-ruling Hamas has led to 36,801 Palestinians killed and 83,680 others injured in the strip, local health authorities said in an update earlier on Saturday. Cairo, June 9 : The Egyptian Air Force, along with its counterparts from other friendly states, continued to carry out airdrops of humanitarian aid over the north of the Gaza Strip, said the Egyptian military. The international operation to airdrop aid to Gaza continued from June 3 to June 8, aiming to ease the suffering of the people in the Palestinian enclave "in light of the obstacles and difficulties preventing sufficient entry of aid into the sector," according to a statement released on Saturday by the Egyptian army. Egypt joined in March a coalition of several Arab and Western states to airdrop relief supplies to northern Gaza, Xinhua news agency reported. Aid delivery to Gaza has faced great challenges since the closure of the Rafah border crossing between Egypt and Gaza, a vital entry point for aid trucks into the strip, after the Israeli army seized control of the Palestinian side of the crossing in early May. Egypt has been demanding Israeli withdrawal to resume the crossing's operations. The country has been making intensive efforts, in cooperation with international and regional powers, "to take serious steps to ensure a permanent ceasefire in Gaza and the opening of all land crossings to fully deliver humanitarian aid to the enclave," the army noted in the statement. Israel has launched a massive offensive against Gaza-ruling Hamas in retaliation for a Hamas surprise attack on southern Israeli towns on October 7 last year, during which about 1,200 Israelis were killed and more than 200 were taken as hostages. The eight-month-long Israeli offensive has left 36,801 Palestinians killed and 83,680 others injured, the Gaza health authorities said in an update on Saturday. The Israeli attacks also reduced large swaths of the enclave to ruins and caused a devastating humanitarian crisis in the area. Tehran, June 9 : Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. In a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry, Kanaani denounced Israel's killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the attacks as a "horrendous and shocking crime". The "crime" perpetrated by Israel was a consequence of the "inaction" of governments and relevant international organisations in the face of eight months of "war crimes and violations of all international laws and regulations as well as international humanitarian law" by Israel in Gaza, said the Spokesman. He blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive, Xinhua news agency reported. At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes on Saturday in central Gaza. Khalil Al-Dakran, director of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah city in central Gaza, told Xinhua that a large number of wounded Palestinians were sent to the hospital due to intense Israeli bombing on the Nuseirat camp and the city, some of whom have been confirmed dead. The Israeli army has been waging a large-scale offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, killing nearly 1,200 people. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 36,801, with 83,680 people injured, as updated by the health authorities in Gaza on Saturday. Paris, June 9 : French President Emmanuel Macron has urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for a political solution while meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden, who is on a state visit to France. "After nine months of conflict, the situation in Rafah, and the human toll, are unacceptable," Macron said on Saturday at a joint press conference. "It is intolerable that Israel is not opening all the crossing points to humanitarian aid, as the international community has been demanding for several months," he added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. Biden said they would continue to work for the return of all hostages to their homes and a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden's state visit comes two days after he participates in the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in France. New Delhi, June 9 : Firmly backing New Delhi's 'neighbourhood first' doctrine and the significant constructive role that India has played in international affairs over the past 10 years, several top leaders and distinguished guests from the region will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. The attendance of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif and a host of other leaders along with top diplomats at the landmark event will once again showcase India's growing stature on the world stage. Since 2014, India has given the highest priority to its like-minded and long-standing strategic partners, consolidating relationships which are based on the principles of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'Five S' vision of Sammaan (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity) articulated by PM Modi. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Prime Minister Modi after the BJP-led NDA's third straight victory in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, was also one of the first distinguished guests to set foot in New Delhi on Saturday for the swearing-in ceremony. Both leaders share an excellent personal rapport and have repeatedly acknowledged the significant improvements achieved in the lives of the people of both countries in the last decade. In 2019, then Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi as Hasina was unable to travel in person because of a prior commitment. However, in 2021, PM Modi chose Bangladesh for his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, travelling to Dhaka for a two-day visit in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events - Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's War of Liberation. Since then, the two leaders have pledged to continue working together to further deepen the historic ties and realise their dream of having a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who has termed Sunday's swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi as a "historic event", is also looking forward to further strengthening the close relations between the two countries during his visit. After he was presented PM Modi's invitation by India's High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar on Saturday, Muizzu noted that the bilateral relations are heading in a "positive direction", as would be demonstrated by his visit. Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan also strongly believes that PM Modi's third term will not only strengthen bilateral relations, but also help in strongly addressing the "multiple global and regional challenges" that confront both the nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Similarly, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will be arriving in New Delhi by Sunday afternoon, has emphasised that, as the closest neighbour, the island nation is looking forward to further strengthening its partnership with India. The BJP-NDA victory, he said on June 4, demonstrates the confidence of the Indian people in the progress and prosperity under the leadership of PM Modi. The presence of top leadership from Nepal, Mauritius and Bhutan at the swearing-in ceremony will further cement the deep-rooted cultural and civilisational bond that India shares with these countries. In 2019, then Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli, Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Thai Agriculture Minister (special envoy of Prime Minister of Thailand) and many other leaders from the BIMSTEC grouping attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. In 2014, when PM Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the first time, leaders from the SAARC member states travelled to New Delhi to attend the oath ceremony. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also attend a banquet to be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. New Delhi, June 9 : With the mercury showing no signs of relenting, sitting in the cool confines of your home with a book might just be the best exchange for stepping out in the scorching heat. Starting with this weekend, IANS will put out a curated selection of four books that cater to different sections of readers. We begin with a list that spans political history, an actual cop adventure, a spiritual retreat, and anecdotes from Bollywood of a different generation. Prakash Singh, Memoirs of a Top Cop: Unforgettable Chapters (Rupa; Rs 395) Dubbed an "icon" by the former Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, retired BSF director-general and prolific writer Prakash Singh did much for the nationas security in his official capacity. "Politics without the police is impotent. Police without politics would lack a sense of direction". With this statement, Singh offers his readers glimpses of the foundations of our police setups, before delving into other functional aspects of policing. From uneasy equations with politicians to combating insurgency and securing the states in the northeast, to defending the borders in Punjab and J&K, to trans-border operations, the top cop's autobiography also traces traces his journey as an IPS officer. A ringside view of the engrossing world of law enforcement explained in the words of a seasoned officer, this book is an insightful account of not only combatting insurgency and executing trans-border operations in the constant effort to secure the nation, but also of treading the tight rope the connects the police system and the politicians and their interests. With regard to introducing reforms in police and its far-reaching impact on the society, Singh's take-home message is that the person donning the uniform also powers through his personal realm, given the complexities of our citizenry. William Gould, Santosh Dass and Christophe Jaffrelot, Ambedkar in London (Rupa; Rs 995) Here's a well-documented chronicle of the lesser-known time of life in London of the man hailed as the father of India's Constitution. B.R. Ambedkar's political ideas have not ceased to inspire and mobilise people to this day. His views on caste, labour, women, education, and people's rights and representation have resonated not only in the country, but also around the world. This compilation explores Ambedkar's London-based studies and publication in the early 1920s, allowing for a periscopic view of the global significance of Ambedkaras ideas. William Gould concludes that Ambedkar is immortalised as a single historical figure whose "wider political significance is unmatched". The co-authors of the book are: William Gould, Professor of Indian History at University of Leeds; Santosh Dass, a former civil servant and human rights campaigner who has been calling for the outlawing of caste-based discrimination in the UK; and Christophe Jaffrelot, Professor of Indian Politics and Sociology, Kingas College, London. Swami Mukundananda, Spiritual Secrets From Hinduism: Essence of the Vedic Scriptures (Rupa, Rs 295) India stands out in the world map as the land of spirituality and divinity, sparking curiosity and fascination for its ancient knowledge system, especially Hinduism. Ancient rishis and sages are said to have had wisdom revealed to them and the build-up of knowledge that thus took place has enriched the heritage of India. Sages and scholars put together their wisdom in sacred texts, which we know as the Vedic scriptures. Also included in this body of knowledge, apart from the Vedas, are the Puranas, epics such as the Ramayana and Mahabharata, the Brahma Sutras, and similar texts. In the quest for the ultimate reality and "absolute truth", many have been drawn to India and several people even dedicafed their lives to this land. The understanding of 'Hinduism' that seems to largely prevail among the masses, however, is arguably vague. Bringing clarity to the discourse, this book helps one understand the essence of the Vedic scriptures. The author, Swami Mukundananda, a product of IIT Delhi and IIM Calcutta, is a globally acclaimed spiritual guru and authority on mind management. He renounced his earlier life of social and material success and embraced monkhood. Sameer Anjaan and Shuja Ali, Lyrics by Sameer: Stories Behind the Iconic Songs (Rupa, Rs 295) For an entire generation, Sameer Anjaan is synonymous with popular Bollywood numbers, most notably the title track of 'Dhoom'. But who knew that Shravan (of the music director duo Nadeem-Shravan) had first refused to let a debutant Ajay Devgn enter the recording studio because he was convinced that he wasn't "hero material". Only after Sameer intervened did Shravan relent and allowed the now-acclaimed actor in. Also, the immensely popular title track of 'Dhoom' would never have seen the light of day but for Sameer, because Aditya Chopra had rejected its signature tune! As interesting as the stories of Bollywood films are, the stories behind the making of those stories are just as interesting and intriguing. With up to 50 such stories woven around some of the topmost hits of Sameer, and the recounting of disagreements between music composers and film directors, the co-authors, one of whom is the lyricist himself and the other, accomplished screenwriter and director Shuja Ali, provide exclusive glimpses of the making of some of Sameer's most iconic compositions in over three decades. Sameer Anjaan holds a Guinness World Record with more than 640 films and 4,500 songs to his credit, and is the recipient of multiple laurels, including three Filmfare trophies and the Shaheed Bhagat Singh Award. New Delhi, June 9 : Here is a guide to the week ahead for you. This is your forecast for June 10-16. Aries This week, you will have a great urge to bring some order and structure into your life. Your main concern will be to provide comfort in your home and to work on your domestic stability. It is a perfect time to clean up, sort through, and rearrange your living environment and make it as comfortable as possible. However, avoid being too rigid or a stickler for rules and procedures. As change is inevitable, one should not resist change when it is necessary for growth. If you are a job hunter, then this week may be a good one for you to search for employment that has something to do with real estate, construction, or homes and properties. Your determination and practical approach will be valued by potential employers. Tip of the week: Structure your life Taurus This week, the stars may make you more talkative and interested in learning than usual. This is the best time to do things that tick your brain, for instance, reading, writing, or even taking a short course. But do be careful with your choice of words, as there is a possibility of misinterpretation or miscommunication during this time. Breathe and be selective when using words that may lead to confrontations. For those who are working, this week is a perfect time to strengthen your interpersonal communication with co-workers and managers. Be willing to listen to others be open to the ideas of others and be able to discuss these ideas with others. You will be more articulate, and therefore it will be an excellent time to sell new ideas or projects to your team or organization. Tip of the week: Learn something new Gemini For Gemini, this week is perfect for reflecting on your finances and what you consider valuable. List all your sources of income, expenditures, and assets. Think about how to increase your income, cut expenses, and optimize what you already have. As for the outlook, your resourcefulness and adaptability will stand you in good stead. However, be careful with impulse buying or any financial decisions that can lead to losses. It is wise to do your homework and consider the long-term implications before making major money decisions. For singles, this week may be an excellent time to get attracted to potential partners with similar values and interests. Start talking to people and let your curiosity be your guide. Tip of the week: Increase your resources Cancer This is a week of introspection and self-improvement. Stay focused on your needs and try to do something that will be beneficial for your health. If you are not sure about what you want, be honest with yourself and make a plan to get it. It is also an opportune moment to begin new endeavours or to make alterations in oneas lifestyle. Self-confidence will be your strength this week, so believe in yourself. Your leadership skills will be noticed at work, and you might find yourself promoted to a higher rank or given more responsibilities. This time should be used to show what you are capable of and to try to achieve your career aspirations. Do not engage in office politics and concentrate on your work. Tip of the week: Be honest with yourself Leo This week, the planetary positions suggest that you may feel a bit of a lack of energy and motivation. Do not put too much pressure on yourself a" you are allowed to take things easy. Participate in activities that will assist you to relax such as going for nature walks or doing arts and crafts. By the end of the week, your energy should be high. Early this week, you may experience some conflicts at the workplace because of misunderstandings or ambiguity. Do not act impulsively. Talk to your colleagues about it so that everyone is on the same page. Some of your ideas will start to take off by the end of the week as a reward for your hard work. Tip of the week: Take things easy Virgo This week, you will be in a more sociable mood than usual. Utilize this energy to go out and meet people, go to a party, or join a group or association of some kind that you are interested in. However, do not overwork yourself, and make sure to take care of yourself as well as possible. This is a good period for social contact and finding a partner, especially in romantic relationships. Go to a party or engage in a club activity that you are interested in. Your approach is quite realistic and pragmatic, which can be considered a plus when it comes to attracting partners. Try to keep in touch with your friends and family members, even if you just call them or meet them occasionally. Tip of the week: Do not overwork yourself Libra This week you might be more goal-oriented and determined, particularly in matters concerning your career or reputation. Employ this energy to work hard and display your skills. However, do not let your personal relationships suffer for the sake of success and the attainment of your goals. Stay busy and spend time with your family. Learn to be patient and diplomatic especially when dealing with people.If you are still out there searching for a job, this is the best time to apply for the jobs and attend interviews. Emphasize your interpersonal skills in communication, negotiation, and teamwork. Your communication skills and friendly personality will also come in handy in making new friends. Networking and socialising can also result in potential prospects. Tip of the week: Display your skills Scorpio This week, you may experience a powerful urge to learn new things and venture out into the unknown. You should be more open to new experiences. This could be through travelling, going to college, or even just expanding your horizons through books and interacting with different cultures. Do not suppress this curiosity and do not let it become a source of anxiety, but rather use it as a motivation for self-development. Be ready to make new connections and do not shut out any possibilities. It is also important to note that planning for a vacation or doing something that you have not done before can be helpful in committed relationships. This feeling of discovery together can help rekindle the flame in your relationship. Tip of the week: Be curious for new ventures Sagittarius This week, you may experience a desire to explore the deeper aspects of life and the unknown. You may find yourself attracted to subjects such as the occult, spirituality, or psychology. However, it is crucial to be rational and not overemphasize the issue or go to the opposite extreme. Moderation is key. Those employed may have an opportunity to work on projects involving analysis or dealing with shared resources. But be careful with the power conflicts or political games in the workplace. Pursue and uphold the highest standards of integrity and ethical practices. This week, you may be inclined to focus on the more profound aspects of your interactions with your relatives. It is good to engage in discussions and get to know each other better and learn from each other. Tip of the week: Explore the unknown Capricorn This week, you will need to communicate with people and establish close connections with them. Your main concern will be the mutual understanding, the willingness to compromise, and the ability to find a middle ground in your relationships. This is a favourable period for signing contracts or reaching a compromise with the help of words rather than force. This is a good time to find new potential partners through friends or business acquaintances. Your interpersonal skills will be enhanced, and you will be more outgoing, friendly, and approachable, which will help you to make new friends easily. Use this time to improve your interpersonal interactions, communicate more, and create a positive atmosphere in your personal and working life. Tip of the week: Find a middle ground Aquarius This week, you may feel a strong need to pay special attention to your daily activities, health, and workplace. Pay more attention to your routines and make improvements where needed. This is the best time to make a change for the better, for instance, to start exercising or to change the type of food you eat. Further, you may also feel more focused on details and willing to optimize your work processes. This week, your hard work and commitment will be appreciated by your superiors or other employees. This is a good chance to prove that you are a hardworking, responsible, and detail-oriented person. If you have been planning to approach your workplace with new ideas or changes, this could be the best time to do so. Tip of the week: Start a new physical routine Pisces This week, you might be more artistic and fun-loving than usual. It is advisable to use this energy in hobbies, leisure activities, and time with children or loved ones. However, do not be too indulgent with pleasures or be too indulgent with yourself. Work hard and play hard: It is important to have a balanced lifestyle. This week, singles may feel more self-assured and desirable, which is beneficial for dating and forming new connections. However, do not be quick to be drawn by passion or fall in love too easily, or get into relationships too soon. For those in committed relationships, go out and plan for some fun and romantic activities with your partner to help rekindle the flame and make your relationship stronger. Tip of the week: Work hard, play hard (Neeraj Dhankher is an Astrologer with proficiency in Vedic, KP, and Nadi Astrology. He is the Founder and CEO of Astro Zindagi. The observations are made by the writer based on his analysis) Students pose for a group photo with their teacher after the exam at a national college entrance examination site in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, June 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) YINCHUAN, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Tian Yong, 35, has for many years voluntarily aligned his schedule with the gaokao, which is China's national college entrance examination, to provide "one-on-one" free transportation for examinees. This year's gaokao kicked off on Friday. It is a pivotal gateway for millions of Chinese students to potentially enter university and pursue higher education. To ensure his availability during this period, Tian often goes to great lengths. "I either request time off, shift my schedule around, or dip into my annual leave," he said. Tian, who is from northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, has participated in the Green Ribbon volunteer service for the 10th time this year. As in previous years, Tian has been reaching out to students and parents who have signed up for this service. Tian makes sure he is well-acquainted with their home addresses and exam locations in advance of their gaokao commitments. "I usually arrive at a student's home half an hour early, with water and milk on hand. I also chat along the way with them to help ease their nerves," Tian said. To help students reach their exam locations safely and on time, volunteer drivers like Tian have become increasingly common in China while local police, transportation, health, power and other departments across China have also guarded the students during gaokao over the years. The Green Ribbon volunteer service in the city of Yinchuan, Ningxia, has gathered 2,500 vehicles this year, including taxis, ride-hailing cars, and private cars, according to service organizer Xie Shuangyi. Students can ride for free in these volunteer cars, which display green ribbons, by showing drivers their exam admission tickets. Shao Mengqi, a 47-year-old taxi driver and member of the Green Ribbon team, also dedicates herself to transporting students during gaokao each year. She takes a complete break from her regular business to focus solely on this mission. Over the 11 years since this service began, members of the team have provided free rides to around 118,000 students, according to Xie. His phone number has remained the same for more than 10 years, and is available online for those in need. "These days are extremely busy," he said. "I get over 100 calls a day -- all from students seeking rides." Li Tiao, 17, a student at Ningxia Art Vocational College, has successfully secured this "one-on-one" exam transport service. With her home located far from the exam venue, she must remain at school until the exams conclude. Still, it takes her half an hour to travel from school to the exam venue by bike. She was pleasantly surprised that a single phone call was able to assist her. "My parents are tied up with work, so they can't be there for me during the exams. Having volunteer drivers to shuttle me around makes me feel both warm and blessed. I shared this with my parents, and it eased their minds, too," she said. Over the years, Tian Yong has ferried many students like Li Tiao, who attend exams alone. To ensure their timely return for meals and rest, he often acts as a "guardian," waiting outside the exam venue alongside parents. "I grew up in a less privileged family, and many people ended up supporting me during my schooling. I always want to pay it forward whenever possible," Tian said. "Accompanying these students during gaokao feels very meaningful. Many even send me gratitude letters after receiving their results." In the summer of 2020, Tian transported a high school girl whose parents were unwell, and whose brother suffered from a congenital disease. When she secured admission to Shanghai Maritime University through her efforts, Tian and his wife decided to assist her financially, offering her 2,000 yuan (about 281.27 U.S. dollars) annually until she graduates. "We stay in touch regularly. She's graduating this year, and I've encouraged her to pursue further education," Tian said. "She calls me 'brother' and now I have another sister." Seoul, June 9 : South Korea's top automaker Hyundai Motor and its sister company Kia captured the largest share of the US market for electric vehicles (EVs) in the first five months of 2024, data showed on Sunday. The two carmakers accounted for 11.2 per cent, or 48,838, of the 437,246 EVs sold in the US market over the January-May period, according to data compiled by the Korea Automobile Manufacturers Association. This marks a sharp rise from 6.8 per cent in 2023 and 10.6 per cent in 2022. In 2020, Hyundai and Kia only accounted for 3.2 per cent of the US EV market, reported Yonhap news agency. The two carmakers' combined share was 40.5 percentage points behind the US giant Tesla, narrowing from the 73.2 percentage point difference tallied in 2020. EVs also made up nearly 40 per cent of the eco-friendly models sold by Hyundai and Kia in the US over the five-month period. The ratio was estimated at 17.2 per cent in 2020. Los Angeles, June 9 : Veteran Hollywood star Ian McKellen, known for his portrayal of Gandalf in 'The Lord of the Rings' and 'The Hobbit' trilogies, has spoken about reprising his role of the wizard in the upcoming film 'The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum'. McKellen talked about reprising his role, created by J.R.R. Tolkien, in the film set to be directed by Andy Serkis and slated for a 2026 release. He said that he has "heard stirrings in Tolkien land" and that, due to his role in 'Player Kings', he hasn't "shaved in months." "But there is no script, there is no offer, there is no plan," he said, jokingly responding to The Times of London when asked if he would be interested in reprising his role, "If Iam alive." Earlier this year, in an interview with Deadline, filmmaker Peter Jackson talked about why focusing on Gollum was interesting, reports deadline.com. "The Gollum/Smeagol character has always fascinated me because Gollum reflects the worst of human nature, while his Smeagol side is, arguably, quite sympathetic," Jackson said. "I think he connects with readers and film audiences alike because thereas a little bit of both of them in all of us. We really want to explore his backstory and delve into those parts of his journey we didnat have time to cover in the earlier films." He added: "Itas too soon to know who will cross his path, but suffice to say we will take our lead from Professor Tolkien." New Delhi, June 9 : Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin presented the keynote speech at the 2024 SPIEF Energy Panel. Organised with the support of Rosneft oil company, the Energy panel was held during the XXVII St Petersburg International Economic Forum. Rosneft CEO Igor Sechin presented the keynote speech titled "Energy transition and phantom barrels: Abandon hope, all ye who enter here. Not everyone will be taken to the bright future of the global energy industry!" He presented an analysis of the current situation in the energy market, which is experiencing an imbalance. In his speech, the head of Rosneft paid special attention to the energy transition, which, despite the efforts of its adherents, is failing. According to him, despite about $10 trillion invested in the energy transition over the past two decades worldwide, alternative energy sources have failed to replace traditional fuels. Currently, wind and solar power provide less than 5 per cent of the world's energy production, and electric vehicles account for about 3 per cent. Over the same period of time, oil, gas and coal consumption grew by a cumulative 35 per cent, while their combined share of the global energy mix remained unchanged. Huge investments made over the past decades in the development of alternative energy sources have not led to the displacement of fossil fuels from the energy market, and the green transition strategy in its current form cannot ensure the sufficiency, availability and reliability of energy sources, Igor Sechin emphasised. The Rosneft chief also noted the need to find new opportunities and ways to develop the global energy sector within the framework of a multipolar world. Developed countries have made the greatest contribution to the climate crisis, accounting for the majority of emissions, he added. Citing data from the UN and non-governmental research institutes, Igor Sechin said that developed countries account for 65 per cent of the cumulative emissions produced over the last 200 years, while the world's 10 per cent wealthiest population is responsible for half of all carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Meanwhile, the richest 1 per cent of the world's population accounts for twice as much carbon dioxide emissions as the poorest 50 per cent, and the entire continent of Africa produces less than 4 per cent of the world's emissions. Further, Igor Sechin underlined that the energy transition should be well-balanced and focused on addressing the interests of the majority that will ensure the growth of energy consumption in the coming years, that is, developing countries. He also noted that to achieve energy security, it is necessary to ensure the sufficiency, affordability and reliability of energy sources. Aggressive promotion of the "green agenda" actually means declaring an energy war on the majority of the world's population, and overcoming energy inequality is impossible without reliable supplies of oil and gas, said the Rosneft CEO. He noted that the developing countries in Asia and Africa, which are yet to overcome energy poverty, will drive the demand for electricity. By 2030, demand growth in developing countries is expected to account for 95 per cent of global consumption growth in aggregate, due to a high population growth in these countries. In such a scenario, a reduction in global consumption of fossil resources would automatically mean that the problem of hunger and energy poverty would not only persist but also worsen. On one hand, giving up oil will mean giving up the modern way of life, on the other hand, for many countries, increased oil consumption means access to the benefits of civilisation, Igor Sechin said. He added that the highest growth in oil demand is expected in Asian countries, which are Russia's main trading partners. India's economy has made significant strides in recent years. Since 2010, energy demand has grown by 45 per cent, making the country the third largest energy consumer in the world. Over the next five years, India is projected to continue its strong economic momentum and become one of the top three largest economies in the world with a GDP of $5 trillion, and by 2050 will overtake the US in terms of the size of the economy. India's end-use energy consumption is set to grow by 90 per cent by 2050 -- one of the fastest growth rates in the world. Despite the increasing pressure from sanctions, Russia is retaining its role as one of the leaders in the global energy sector. Taking into account the influencing factors, Russia continues to realise its energy development potential and strengthen its position in the global energy market. Recently, the President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin emphasised the importance of reorienting Russian exports to the fast-growing markets of the Asia-Pacific region. Igor Sechin reminded that the turnaround of Russian energy exports to Asia-Pacific markets began with the construction of the ESPO pipeline (the Eastern Siberia Pacific Ocean pipelines) and investments in India's oil and gas sector long before the European markets were closed to Russia. Currently, the Asia-Pacific region accounts for more than 80 per cent of Russian oil exports, and it is already evident that the reorientation of supplies has fully justified itself, Igor Sechin said. Now that the failure of the "green transition" concept is evident, we have to develop a new strategy for a reliable and secure energy supply tailored to the needs of developing countries, the Rosneft CEO said. Paris, June 9 : President Joe Biden pledged continuing US support to Ukraine on meeting French President Emmanuel in Paris on Saturday at the start of a state visit. Biden said that the US was firmly on the side of Ukraine and other allies. Macron also said France would continue its support for Ukraine for as long as it was necessary. Before the two leaders met, the US administration had, however, made clear that the US would not participate in Macron's plan to send military trainers to Ukraine. Speaking on Friday evening, Macron said he had held discussions with NATO leaders on sending military trainers to Ukraine and that several had agreed with his plans, which would be finalised "in the days ahead." Biden has said that no US personnel will be sent to the war zone, and the White House made clear on Friday evening that nothing had changed in this regard. The issue was not mentioned when Biden and Macron met on Saturday. Brief statements were issued, and no questions were allowed. An official White House statement said: "Reflecting on their historical relationship and recalling the price for peace and freedom paid by past generations in both countries, the presidents reaffirm their commitment to a Europe, whole, free, and at peace." Macron expressed confidence in that agreement on the use of interest earned on frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv. France and the US are aiming for all G7 members to approve a loan of $50 billion. While the US has backed the idea, European members of the G7 have shown caution amid hopes that a decision could be taken at a pending G7 meeting in Italy. Biden and Macron welcomed the announcement from Israel that four more hostages had been freed in the Gaza Strip. Biden said that the US would not cease working until all the hostages were released and a ceasefire arranged. Macron said that the number of dead and injured after nine months of war was unacceptable. He added that the fact that Israel was not opening all border crossings to humanitarian aid could not be tolerated. Earlier, Macron welcomed Biden with full military honours at a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A military choir and a band provided by the National Gendarmerie played as aircraft flew overhead. The two leaders laid a wreath and held a minute of silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, which lies under the national monument in the centre of the French capital. In the evening, Biden and Macron emphasised the solidarity and friendship between their two countries at a state banquet held at the AlysAe Palace. "We are allies. We will remain allies," Macron said in his speech. Biden's state visit offered "an opportunity to celebrate the untrammelled vitality of our alliance and this very special relationship between our two nations and, indeed, our love for freedom," Macron added. Biden highlighted how France and the US have been there for each other throughout history when it comes to securing each other's freedom. "You were with us to help us secure our freedom, and we were with you 170 years later... to do the same. And ever since, we've remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership," Biden said, referencing the US gaining independence in 1776 and the end of World War Two. "We stand at an inflection point in history," Biden continued. "The decisions we make now will determine the course of our future for decades to come. "We have a lot of opportunity but a lot of responsibility. And it gives me hope to know France and the United States stand together now and always." Macron said that being "united in spite of our differences when the main values are at stake" is the common thread of the unshakeable transatlantic bond between Washington and Paris. Macron was Biden's first guest on a state visit in 2022. The US president has been in France since Wednesday, attending ceremonies in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. --IANS/DPA sd/svn New Delhi, June 9 : Taking swift action, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) de-rostered the Air Traffic Control (ATC) staff involved in a near-miss incident at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Saturday morning, an official said on Sunday. The potentially disastrous situation unfolded when an inbound IndiGo flight attempted to land at Runway 27 while an Air India flight was still in the process of taking off. The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday, involving IndiGo flight 5053 arriving from Indore's Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport and Air India flight 657 departing for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport. A video circulating on social media captured the tense moments of the event. The footage shows the Air India flight accelerating down the runway, seemingly unaware of the IndiGo flight descending towards the same runway. The proximity of the two aircraft highlighted a severe lapse in coordination. As the IndiGo flight approached closer to the ground, the Air India flight managed to take off just in time, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic collision. Sources indicate that the pilots of the Air India flight were likely unaware of the impending danger posed by the landing aircraft. The aviation watchdog's decision to de-roster the ATC staff is part of a comprehensive investigation into the incident. An official from the DGCA said, "We have initiated an inquiry to determine the root cause of this grave error and to implement measures to prevent such occurrences in the future. The safety of passengers is our utmost priority." Meanwhile, IndiGo said that the flight from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. "The Pilot in Command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions. At IndiGo, passenger safety is paramount to us, and we have reported the incident as per procedure," said the airline spokesperson. New Delhi, June 9 : Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers. Upon arrival, Tshering Tobgay was welcomed by Secy (West) Pavan Kapoor, and the Sri Lankan President received a warm welcome from OSD (ER & DPA) P. Kumaran at the airport. Earlier, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrived in the national capital to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi is set to take oath as the leader of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7.15 p.m. Security has been enhanced, and Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory regarding the diversion and restrictions on surrounding roads of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Meanwhile, Section 144 CrPC has been already imposed in the national capital. Additionally, air-to-ground surveillance is operational in Delhi to ensure the safety of the guests. Several top leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region will be attending PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony, keeping in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, a government official confirmed on Saturday. Additionally, the leaders who will be participating in PM Modi's oath ceremony include Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', among others. New Delhi, June 9 : As Narendra Modi is set to take oath as Prime Minister on Sunday, the tech industry hailed his record third term, saying that this continuity will promise stability, consistency and effectiveness in governance, taking the country closer to 'Vision India@2047'. Congratulating PM Modi on winning the Lok Sabha elections for the third time, Agendra Kumar, Managing Director, Esri India told IANS, with the new government "we can expect the use of satellite imaging, GIS, GeoAI and digital twins to support the developmental initiatives of the government for both, urban and rural economies". "Technological progress and innovation have been key areas of focus for PM Modi," he added. Paritosh Prajapati, CEO of telecom gear maker GX Group, said that under PM Modi's leadership India has witnessed major reforms in the last couple of years and the continuation of the new government will set those reforms into action. Manufacturing has been a major sector where the automobile, electronics, and pharmaceutical sectors have been growing extremely fast. "India as a stage now, we see a huge impact in the coming year and the ministry will drive it forward for new transformation and bring prosperity in every sector and every person in the country creating new opportunities, new jobs and new goals," Prajapati said. In addition, Ritesh Malik, founder of Innov8 and a serial investor, said that in the last 10 years, the country has witnessed significant growth. "In the next five years, our ecosystem, ease of doing business, Startup India, Make in India Mission, will keep on growing the economy of the country," Malik added. Kolkata, June 9 : Trinamool Congress Lok Sabha leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, on Sunday, said he received a call from outgoing Union Minister Pralhad Joshi extending an invitation to him to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Sunday evening. Talking to media persons in Kolkata before leaving for New Delhi, Bandopadhyay said, "Joshi called me up last night. He requested to attend the swearing-in ceremony. However, our party has decided to not attend the programme. So there is no question of going there." When asked why he was going to the national capital, Bandopadhyay said he was going for the registration of the newly-elected party MPs. "The elected MPs need to undergo a registration process. Today is the last day for it. But the Parliament is open on Sunday for that purpose. That is why I am going to New Delhi. I am not going for the swearing-in ceremony," Bandopadhyay said. On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her decision to appoint Bandopadhyay once again as the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary party leader in the Lok Sabha. Claiming that he deserves to be in that position, Bandopadhyay said that he has been leading the Trinamool Congress Parliamentary team since the beginning. "I am a six-time Parliamentarian. This is a record in itself. So these things are natural for me," Bandopadhyay said. On Saturday, the Chief Minister said that the opposition INDIA bloc might stake a claim to form the government at the Centre shortly. "Today the INDIA bloc has not made any claim (to form the government). But that does not mean that it will not stake a claim in the future. Right now, we have taken a wait-and-watch stand. The country needs change," she said. Bengaluru, June 9 : Karnataka BJP chief B.Y. Vijayendra on Sunday said that he was hopeful of getting five to six ministerial posts for the state. "We are hopeful... The party workers are celebrating at the booth levels. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will take special care of Karnataka state," said Vijayendra. Speaking to reporters in Delhi on Sunday, Vijayendra said, "The people have decided to make Narendra Modi the Prime Minister for the third time. The Modi leadership enjoys popular support. The people of the state have voted for the BJP-JD(S) alliance." "Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra (his brother) is an eligible candidate to get a Central portfolio. The party will take the final call on cabinet berths. We will abide by the party's decision," he stated. Former CM and BJP Central Parliamentary Committee Member B.S. Yediyurappa, who is in the national capital said, "I don't know how many cabinet posts will be given to Karnataka." Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra stated that he has not demanded a cabinet post. Many former ministers and senior leaders have been elected to Parliament this time, he added. Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar said that Narendra Modi is becoming Prime Minister for the third consecutive term. "The opposition is daydreaming about forming the government at the Centre. We will work unitedly," he said. Former CM and JD(S) state President H.D. Kumaraswamy said that he has had an opportunity to work with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "This victory is dedicated to the people of Karnataka. I will not disappoint Prime Minister Modi and will retain his trust. If I am given the post of cabinet minister, I will work for the people. I will be happy if I am given the Union Agriculture portfolio," he said. Kumaraswamy further said that his party JD(S) has been rejuvenated in Karnataka. Meanwhile, Bengaluru Rural BJP MP, son-in-law of former PM H.D. Deve Gowda, Dr C.N. Manjunath said that he was happy that former CM Kumaraswamy (his close relative) is becoming a Central minister. The development has instilled confidence among the JD(S) leaders and party workers, he added. New Delhi, June 9 : In a crackdown on traffic violations, the Delhi Traffic Police have booked 16,859 offenders for defective number plates so far this year, a staggering increase from the 4,363 violations recorded in 2023. The officials said that this dramatic rise represents a surge of nearly 286 per cent in prosecutions compared to the previous year. Delhi Traffic Police has undertaken a thorough analysis of the top ten traffic circles, including Civil Lines, Mayur Vihar, Khajuri Khas, Sadar Bazar, Narela, and Gandhi Nagar with the highest number of challans issued for defective number plates in 2024. "This investigation has pinpointed the specific regions where traffic violations are most prevalent. By identifying these areas, focused enforcement strategies have been employed to enhance compliance with traffic regulations," said the official. The official said that in addition to on-ground enforcement, there has been a concerted effort to raise public awareness about the importance of proper number plates. "Campaigns through social media and collaboration with automobile associations have been launched to educate vehicle owners on the legal requirements and the potential penalties for non-compliance," said the official. "Vehicle owners are urged to check their number plates for compliance and make necessary corrections promptly to avoid penalties," the official added. International students learn to weave five-colored bracelets at Tianjin University in north China's Tianjin Municipality, June 6, 2024. (Xinhua) TIANJIN, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Rolling bamboo leaves into a funnel-like form, stuffing it with sticky rice and various other fillings, and then bundling it all up with a string, Timothy Hutagaol successfully made a delicate zongzi under the guidance of Chinese tutors. "Creating zongzi is a new venture for me, proving somewhat harder than making dumplings, but I bet self-made zongzi tastes superior," said Hutagaol, an Indonesian student at Tianjin University in north China's Tianjin Municipality. Zongzi, also known as sticky rice dumplings, is a traditional delicacy that Chinese people eat on the day of the Dragon Boat Festival, which will be celebrated on June 10 this year. Hutagaol was just one of over 60 international teachers and students at Tianjin University, from countries including Indonesia, Russia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Mongolia, to participate in a zongzi-making event organized by the university's School of International Education on Thursday. "Zongzi commemorates Chinese renowned patriotic poet Qu Yuan, who was also a minister of the State of Chu during the Warring States Period (475 BC-221 BC). It expresses good wishes for auspiciousness and well-being," said Sun Shuo, a Chinese student at the university. She highlighted the cultural significance of zongzi while demonstrating steps to make zongzi to the international participants. Today, people also wrap various other fillings like egg yolk, sweetened bean paste and pork in zongzi to cater to consumers' evolving tastes, Sun added. Shishir Sharma, who hails from Nepal, is a teacher in the School of Pharmaceutical Science and Technology at Tianjin University. Living in China for nearly 10 years now, he has found many unique delicacies linked with Chinese traditional festivals, which beautifully and tastily represent China's profound history and culture. Sharma said he could truly feel and understand Chinese people's commemoration of the sage and aspirations for better lives while tasting Zongzi. "Feasting after laboring gives a particularly delightful taste," said Mroivili Faouzia, a student from Comoros. In addition to preparing zongzi, other celebratory activities, such as making sachets and weaving five-colored bracelets, were also introduced to the international participants. "I love the centuries-old traditions of the Dragon Boat Festival, which reflect Chinese-style romance," said Russian student Bitsaeva Liudmla, who hung her own handmade sachet on her backpack. She is also eager to participate in dragon boat racing. "The Dragon Boat Festival is the first Chinese festival to be included on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage List. By hosting this event, we hope to offer international friends an immersive experience of Chinese folk customs, promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding," said Li Qiang, dean of the School of International Education at Tianjin University. An international student from Indonesia (R) makes zongzi under the instruction of a tutor in north China's Tianjin Municipality, June 6, 2024. (Xinhua) International students display zongzi and fragrance sachets at Tianjin University in north China's Tianjin Municipality, June 6, 2024. (Xinhua) Mumbai, June 9 : Actor Anil Kapoor, who is receiving a lot of positive responses for his work in the recently released film 'Savi', shared a heartfelt message for his daughter Sonam Kapoor on her birthday. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, Anil posted a series of pictures featuring Sonam with the family and her son Vayu. The actor penned a sweet note for his daughter, calling her a woman who can do it all. Anil wrote: "Happy Birthday, Sonam! @sonamkapoor My firstborn! You've always been so special to me. Watching you grow into the wonderful person you are today has been a true blessing. Seeing how you handle everything with such grace and strength -- whether it's being an amazing mom to Vayu, a loving wife, or the caring daughter and sister you are -- fills me with pride every single day." He further mentioned, "Your ability to balance everything and still shine so brightly is truly inspiring. You are the woman who can do it all, and you do it with such style and heart. Wishing you a year filled with joy, success, and all the love you deserve. Love, Dad." Meanwhile, on the work front, Anil is set to host the upcoming third season of the streaming reality show 'Bigg Boss OTT 3' after replacing Salman Khan. Sonam's mother, Sunita, also wished her daughter on her special day by sharing several pictures of the actress on Instagram. She wrote in the caption: "Happiest bday to my darling daughter. To my first born, may you always be surrounded by the people you love and may all gods bounties be showered on you and I pray happiness finds you wherever you go. Love you so much, thank you for all that you do. May you stay as warm, generous, giving, empathetic and kind as you are, love you beta." Actress Karisma Kapoor also took to the Stories section of her Instagram to share a throwback picture with Sonam. She wrote: "Happy birthday, darling Sonam. Love ya." Actor Arjun Kapoor also shared a picture and wrote: "Happy Birthday to the one person who has always been by my side from literally the day I born with all her (heart emoji) and unconditional love!!! Sonam Kapoor OMG it's ur bday!!! New Delhi, June 9 : As the Congress Working Committee passed a resolution requesting Rahul Gandhi to become the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, it remains to be seen whether he will accept the role. He will decide soon, as per the party General Secretary K. C. Venugopal, who also said that he (Rahul Gandhi) is "fearless and courageous." For donning the hat of LoP, being responsible is a far greater criterion than anything else. The LoP is essentially a Member of Parliament who is the leader in that House of the party in Opposition, having the greatest numerical strength and the requisite 10 per cent of total seats in the House. As per the mandate of the post, the MP holding the position will be a member of crucial committees, including Public Accounts, Public Undertakings, Estimates, and Joint Parliamentary Committees. The post entitles being a member of various selection committees responsible for appointing heads of statutory bodies like the Central Vigilance Commission, the Central Information Commission, CBI, NHRC, Election Commission, the Lokpal and others. In the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas, Congress, despite being the biggest party in the Opposition, failed to get the LoP status as its tally was below the requisite 10 per cent criterion, both in 2014 and 2019. In the outgoing Lok Sabha, Congress, with 52 seats had the maximum number among the Opposition but failed to get the LoP status. At that time also, there was a clamour for Rahul Gandhi to become the party's leader in Lok Sabha. But he refused and named Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury as the leader of the Congress Party in the Lower House. Now, with an improved mandate in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, the Congress will rightfully claim the position of LoP. The number of 99 is more than enough to get the status and is also something for Rahul Gandhi to show for his sustained fight against the Modi-led BJP government. More than the 99 successes, Congress is elated over the fact that together with other INDIA bloc partners, it has been able to stop BJP from achieving the magic figure of 272. This sense of achievement has given the Grand Old Party a new vigour and Rahul Gandhi is being urged by its leaders to take the government head on. The first step towards this is accepting the post of LoP, the party feels. Whether Rahul Gandhi accepts the post is something to be watched over. In the past, he has been involved in situations that have led to controversies and he being labelled irresponsible. Who can forget the scene when he tore the printout of an ordinance in 2013 and opposed his own government (Manmohan Singh was the PM then) during a press conference in the national capital? In March 2023, a Gujarat court had sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years imprisonment after he was found guilty in the "Modi surname'' criminal defamation case during a speech at a 2019 campaign rally. The Supreme Court later reinstated him to his seat. In 2018, after his speech during a no-confidence motion in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi hugged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and later winked at his fellow party members. On July 8, 2017, Rahul Gandhi, who was then Congress Vice President, met Chinese envoy to India, Luo Zhaohui, amid escalated border tensions. The party initially denied the meeting but later admitted after the Chinese embassy put out a press release. And Gandhi took to (then) Twitter saying: "It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese ambassador, ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE & the Bhutanese ambassador." If Rahul Gandhi agrees to be the LoP, for every customary meeting with a foreign dignitary, he will have to take a briefing from the Ministry of External Affairs. Will he follow the drill? Also, being the LoP, he will have direct communication with the government and the PM. He will have to take rebuttals and make instant replies based on facts. The post requires maturity, a certain calmness, and accuracy in statements. Being LoP for Rahul Gandhi will bring other challenges for him like maintaining high attendance which he has not been able to do in previous sessions. He will have to be present in the House all days of the session. His attendance in the House has been below average. Even his participation in debates and raising questions have been way below average. The Congress wants Rahul Gandhi to take responsibility this time. But, for the Gandhi scion, who after a stint at the party's top post, has largely stayed away from direct responsibilities, the "shall I or shall I not" decision will not be that easy. (Deepika Bhan can be contacted at deepika.b@ians.in) Kolkata, June 9 : Journalist-turned-politician and Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha member Sagarika Ghose has said that she has declined the invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony on Sunday evening. She has made it clear that the decision not to attend the programme was "personal" and was promoted by her thought that the opposition did not accept the moral legitimacy of the swearing-in of Narendra Modi, who, according to her, has lost the mandate of the people. "Respected @rashtrapatibhvn. Thank you for your kind invitation. I regret that since we in the Opposition do not accept the moral legitimacy of the swearing in of Shri @narendramodi who has lost the mandate of the people, I have made a personal decision not to attend," said Ghose in a message posted on her official X handle, where she also attached the invitation letter. However, her comments that not attending the function was her "personal" decision has created minor ripples in the political circles in the state, when on the same morning the leader of Trinamool Congress' Parliamentary party in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay clearly said that not attending the swearing-in function is the decision of his party leadership. Bandopadhay also clearly said that although he received a call from outgoing Union Minister Pralhad Joshi extending an invitation to him to attend the swearing-in ceremony on Sunday evening, he will abide by the party's decision of not attending the same. On Saturday, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her decision to appoint Ghose as the deputy leader of the party in the Upper House of the Parliament. Bhubaneswar, June 9 : Ahead of the swearing-in ceremony, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday morning paid tributes to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee at his memorial 'Sadaiv Atal'. PM Modi was seen wearing the trademark Kurta Pyjama along with a traditional handwoven Sambalpuri stole of Odisha highlighting a shift of focus towards the eastern state that played a vital role in the emergence of Bharatiya Janata Party as the single largest party. The Sambalpuri clothes including Sarees and other dress materials are traditional handwoven textile that reflects the artistic traditions, skilled craftsmanship and cultural aesthetics of Odisha. It is pertinent here to mention that the party workers as well as leaders are also buoyed by the emphatic win in Odisha assembly polls that ended the 24-year rule of Naveen Patnaik-led Biju Janata Dal. The excitement in the party can be gauged from the fact that PM Modi on Friday began his speech at the Central Hall of the Old Parliament with Jay Jagannath chants. "When I think about Lord Jagannath, I believe that he is the God of the poor," he said at the meeting of the newly elected MPs of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance. PM Modi, who led the aggressive and successful election campaign against the Biju Janata Dal during the just concluded polls, asserted that Odisha will be the growth engine in the developmental journey of India for the next 25 years. This apart, the "Jai Jagannath '' chant had also replaced "Jai Shree Ram" during PM Modi's address to party workers at the BJP headquarters in Delhi after results were announced on June 4. Notably, the BJP swept the Lok Sabha elections in Odisha by registering a win in 20 seats out of the total 21 parliamentary constituencies of the state. The party is also going to form the government in Odisha for the first time since Independence. The party won 78 out of the 147 assembly segments of the state ending the 24-year rule of Naveen Patnaik. Meanwhile, all eyes in Odisha are on the swearing-in ceremony to know how many elected MPs from the state get ministerial berths in the Modi-3.0. Bengaluru, June 9 : JD-S President H.D. Kumaraswamy is all set to be sworn in as a Union Cabinet Minister in Modi 3.0 government on Sunday. Kumaraswamy won the Mandya Lok Sabha seat with a thumping margin of 2.84 lakh votes against Congress candidate Venkaramane Gowda, a close associate of Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar. Kumaraswamy polled 58.34 per cent (8.51 lakh) votes against Gowda, who received 38.85 per cent (5.67 lakh) votes. Kumaraswamy (65) has single-handedly defended his party and family after the surfacing of an alleged obscene video scandal involving his nephew Prajwal Revanna. In 2005, JD-S was part of the coalition government with Congress in the state under Chief Minister N. Dharam Singh. However, on February 3, 2006, Kumaraswamy ditched the coalition government along with his 42 MLAs and formed the government with the help of the BJP. This was the first time that Kumaraswamy became the Chief Minister and also the first time the BJP came to power in South India. However, the BJP-JD(S) government fell on October 9 2007. He became the Chief Minister for the second time when he headed the Congress-JD(S) coalition government from May 23, 2018, to July 23, 2019. Kumaraswamy started his career as a film producer and entered politics during the 1996 general election. He won his seat successfully. In the following years, he successfully took over the charge of his party in the state. Kumaraswamy is known for his aGrama Vastavyaa and aJanata Darshana programmes. He began the aGrama Vastavyaa programme to stay at a common manas house in a village with the intention of taking the administration to the peopleas doorstep. The programme earned him immense popularity and was continued by other parties as well. The project of Belagavi Suvarna Soudha gained momentum during Kumaraswamyas tenure as Chief Minister. His decision to waive the loans of farmers in 2018 also earned him accolades. He also played an instrumental role in implementing aGreater Bengaluru,a through which 100 wards of Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) were merged with 7 City Municipal Councils, one Town Municipal Council, and 111 villages around the city to form a single administrative area. New Delhi, June 9 : Lauding the Indian-origin engineer Ashok Elluswamy, who was the first recruit of Tesla's Autopilot team, Elon Musk on Sunday expressed gratitude towards him, saying that "without him and our awesome team, we would just be another car company looking for an autonomy supplier that does not exist". This comes after Elluswamy, in his detailed note, said that Musk has been the key driver of AI and autonomy at Tesla. "He has always pushed us to achieve great things, even when such ideas were seemingly impossible at the time," it added. Later, the tech billionaire quoted Elluswamy's post on X and wrote, "Thanks Ashok! Ashok was the first person to join the Tesla AI/Autopilot team and ultimately rose to lead all AI/Autopilot software". "Btw, I never suggested that he say anything and I had no idea he wrote this until I saw it 10 minutes ago," he added. Elluswamy, in his note, shared an instance that goes back to 2014, when "autopilot started on a ridiculously tiny computer". "Back in 2014, Autopilot started on a ridiculously tiny computer that only had about 384 KB of memory and puny compute (didn't even have native floating point arithmetic). He asked the engineering team to implement lane keeping, lane changing, longitudinal control for vehicles, curvature, etc," the engineer wrote. "Many, even in the team, thought that the request was crazy. Nonetheless, he never gave up and pushed the team to achieve this very difficult goal. In 2015, beyond all odds, Tesla shipped the world's first Autopilot system. The second closest such product only came to market many years later," he added. Mumbai, June 9 : Actor Imran Khan recently shared how one of his stories was stolen by the executives of a television channel. The actor revealed that after returning to India in 2005, following the completion of his studies, he aspired to become a director and writer, with acting not initially on his mind. He created a folder of his stories and went in "cold" (without telling anyone about his industry connections) to pitch to a television channel. Imran told Humans of Bombay that while the channel appreciated his ideas, he never heard from them again. It wasn't until one of his actress friends mentioned being cast in a role with the story bearing a striking resemblance to the outline of the script that he submitted. The actor said: "I went to meet her, and when she gave me the script, it bore a striking resemblance to the outline of my story. So, they took my pitch and expanded it to make an episode. I tried to call those guys and get in touch with them but could never catch a hold of them to ask them, 'What did you guys do?'" This experience not only changed something in Imran but also led him to meet Abbas Tyrewala, with whom he later collaborated on his debut movie, 'Jaane Tu... Ya Jaane Na'. Imran decided to screen test for a film, thinking that if he succeeded as an actor, he would have name recognition and could leverage his acting credentials to make the movies he wanted. The film has its own journey, Imran shared that the film had a three-year journey in the making and was initially produced by Jhamu Sughand, who was working on Anurag Kashyap's 'Gulaal' and 'Johnny Gaddaar'. However, when Jhamu Sughand's production company encountered difficulties, Imran took the film and asked his uncle, Aamir Khan, to help them find a producer. Aamir took a pause and said, "You know, I'm a producer." Imran then told him that he is more of a serious film producer, having made films like 'Lagaan' or 'Taare Zameen Par'. However, Aamir said that he would like to hear the narration after six months, and if he likes it, he will produce it. New Delhi: One month ago, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China announced its plans to conduct a joint military exercise with the Bangladesh Armed Forces, named 'China-Bangladesh Golden Friendship 2024'. This unprecedented exercise in the history of China-Bangladesh bilateral relations will focus on UN peacekeeping counter-terrorism operations. The training will adopt an integrated methodology, covering areas such as clearing terrorist camps, rescuing hostages and anti-hijacking measures. The defence relationship between China and Bangladesh was significantly strengthened with the signing of a comprehensive defence cooperation agreement in 2002, positioning Beijing as the first to forge such an extensive defence pact with Dhaka. Over the past decade, China has become a major defence ally to Bangladesh, making it the second-largest recipient (11 per cent) of Chinese arms exports globally from 2019 to 2023, following Pakistan. Additionally, Bangladesh ranked 26th among the world's top arms-importing countries (0.9 per cent) during the same period, with 72 per cent of its arms imports sourced from China. Clearly, like the economy, defence trade forms a critical component of the China-Bangladesh bilateral relationship. With the upcoming joint military exercise on the horizon, it is crucial to examine the recent developments in China-Bangladesh defence relations. For the fiscal year 2022-2023, Bangladesh allocated a defence budget of $3.8 billion, representing 1.1 per cent of its GDP. The predominant influence of China in Bangladesh is manifested through its substantial imports of military hardware, with approximately 86 per cent of the military imports sourced from China. Over the past decade, Bangladesh has expended around $2.9 billion on the acquisition of defence equipment from China, including naval guns, anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missile systems, and corvettes. Since 2006, the majority of small arms -- over 1600 rifles and 4,100 pistols -- have been procured from Beijing. The intensification of Bangladesh's defence cooperation with China coincided with its maritime boundary dispute with Myanmar. During this period, in 2016, Bangladesh purchased two Type 035G class (Ming class) submarines from China at a discounted rate of $203 million, under the China-Bangladesh submarine deal, laying the foundation for its inaugural submarine base. A year subsequent to this acquisition, Poly Technologies, a Chinese state-owned defence contractor, secured a $1.2 billion contract to construct Bangladesh's first submarine base in Cox's Bazaar, named 'BNS Sheikh Hasina'. Operational since the previous year, the base is equipped to house six submarines and eight warships simultaneously. China is also reported to be involved in training Bangladeshi submariners in the operational management of the submarine base. Sheikh Hasina remarked that "ships traversing the Bay of Bengal could also seek assistance from the base," hinting at the potential for future Chinese naval visits. In 2018, Bangladesh entered into a military agreement with China, which included the procurement of K-8W intermediate training jets. The subsequent year, China transferred two Type 053 (Jiangwei-II) frigates to Bangladesh after their decommissioning from the Chinese navy, which were renamed BNS Umer Farooq and BNS Abu Ubaidah in Bangladesh Navy service. To further enhance defence supplies, Bangladesh imported 36 F-7BGI aircraft from China in 2021, regarded as the most sophisticated model available. According to the US Defence Department's 2023 annual report, the Chinese Armed Forces are likely contemplating establishing additional overseas bases and access points in countries such as Bangladesh, reflective of China's role as a major supplier of naval vessels to Bangladesh. Despite the robust defence cooperation with Beijing, Dhaka, along with several other Asian nations reliant on Chinese arms exports, has encountered quality issues with Chinese-supplied arms. In 2021, trainer aircraft and naval frigates delivered to Bangladesh developed serious defects. The K-8W training jets, for instance, failed post-delivery tests due to problems with firing ammunition shortly after delivery. Tragically, in 2018, two pilots lost their lives when a K-8W jet crashed shortly after take-off. Consequently, further deliveries of these jets, as stipulated in the 2018 agreement, have been postponed due to these recurring malfunctions. In 2022, the Bangladesh Army expressed dissatisfaction with military supplies from Beijing. Notably, the China North Industries Corporation (Norinco), one of China's primary state-run arms export organisations, faced rejection of its tank ammunition supply to Dhaka as it was untested. Additionally, Norinco encountered challenges in providing spare parts for tank repair and maintenance. Furthermore, the $3 million HQ-7 short-range surface-to-air missiles supplied by China's Precision Machinery Import Export Company (CPMIEC) were also found to have equipment defects shortly after delivery. The two Ming-type submarines procured at a discounted rate from Beijing also failed to meet operational expectations, revealing multiple defects such as non-functioning gun systems and navigation radars during transit. A significant challenge for Dhaka is the shortage of trained personnel to address the issues associated with military equipment. Additionally, Beijing has demonstrated a lack of accountability for repairing the defective parts supplied, leaving Dhaka to bear the additional costs. The substandard performance of Chinese-supplied military technology has imposed additional burdens on purchasing nations, which often depend on Chinese arms exports due to their cost-effectiveness. However, due to the consistently poor quality and performance of its military components, Chinese arms exports experienced a decline of 5.3 per cent between the periods 2014-18 and 2019-23, now comprising 5.8 per cent of global arms exports. Technological incompatibility with Chinese-supplied equipment represents another substantial hidden cost for buyer countries such as Bangladesh. Furthermore, Chinese weapons, apart from falling below certified standards, have not been tested in combat situations. Despite the cost advantages of Chinese arms exports, the lack of transparency and accountability in defence contracts regarding the supply of defective equipment has negatively impacted its share in global arms exports due to the financial burdens placed on purchasing countries. For Bangladesh, which relies heavily on Chinese arms exports, equipment defects represent a significant concern as they are likely to impair the overall performance of its defence forces. Consequently, it is imperative for Dhaka to diversify its defence trade to mitigate the challenges posed by Chinese-supplied equipment. The joint military exercise, though seemingly more crucial for Beijing to demonstrate its soft use of hard power, is also vital for Dhaka. As China aims to achieve military modernisation, this joint exercise with Dhaka is perceived as an attempt to rehabilitate its global reputation concerning the quality of its military technology. Mumbai, June 9 : Anupam Kher, who is busy with his directorial 'Tanvi The Great', will attend Prime Minister Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony in Delhi on Sunday. The actor took to his Instagram and shared a picture of the official invitation from the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. "As a citizen of India, this will be my third opportunity to attend the oath-taking ceremony. This is very special. But the bigger thing than that is that the prime minister is #SameToSame. The dialogue will also be the same this evening!!! I am Narendra Modi. All hail! Jai Hind! #PrimeMinister @narendramodi," the actor said. Recently, the actor supported actress Kangana Ranaut as she was slapped by a female CISF constable at the Chandigarh airport. "A woman resorting to physical violence against another woman, exploiting her position, is entirely unjustifiable," the actor said. New Delhi : MPs at Parliament House during the winter session of Parliament. Image Source: IANS News Bhopal, June 9 : Jyotiraditya Scindia, who was the Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel in the previous NDA government, is set to be retained in the Union Cabinet as the NDA council of ministers takes oath under Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday evening, sources said. Jyotiraditya Scindia's political journey begun after his father and senior Congress leader Madhavrao Scindia died in a plane crash in 2001. He contested the ensuing Lok Sabha bypoll on a Congress ticket from family bastion Guna and won against BJP's Rao Deshraj Singh Yadav by a margin of over 4.5 lakh votes. He was re-reelected in 2004 from Guna and was inducted into the Union Cabinet in 2007 as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry in the first tenure of the UPA government led by Manmohan Singh. A member of the erstwhile royal family of Gwalior, Scindia (53) scored a hat-trick from Guna in 2009. In 2014, he won again from Guna but the UPA lost power to the BJP-led NDA. In fact, Guna and Chhindwara were the only two seats out of the 28 in Madhya Pradesh that the Congress managed to win in 2014. However, Scindia faced a major setback in 2019 when he lost the Lok Sabha elections against BJP's K.P. Yadav from his family bastion by a margin of 1,25,549 votes. It was a humiliating defeat as it was the first time that any Scindia family member lost from their pocket-borough Guna. A year earlier in 2018, the Congress led by Kamal Nath, Scindia, and Digvijaya Singh ousted the BJP from power in Madhya Pradesh. However, the Congress government did not last long as in March 2020, Scindia along with his 22 loyalist MLAs joined the BJP, ending the tenure of the Kamal Nath-led Congress government in Madhya Pradesh, and paving the way for Shivraj Singh Chouhan's return as the CM for a fourth term. In 2021, the BJP made Scindia a Rajya Sabha MP and handed him the Civil Aviation and Steel portfolios in the second term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He was also rated among the top performing ministers in PM Modi's Cabinet. This year, Scindia fought his sixth Lok Sabha elections, but the first on a BJP ticket, and won against Congress' Rao Yadavendra Singh Yadav by a margin of over 5 lakh votes. Interestingly, Rao Yadavendra Singh Yadav is the son of Rao Deshraj Singh Yadav whom Scindia defeated in 2001 to launch his political career. Like Scindia, Yadavendra also switched sides from the BJP to the Congress before the Assembly election held in November last year. A graduate from the Harvard University, Scindia did his MBA from the Stanford University. BEIJING, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim has called for diplomatic engagement to resolve the South China Sea disputes, stressing that interference from external parties will only make things worse. Anwar's statement represents the common aspiration of most of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries to maintain peace and stability in the South China Sea and the region, according to analysts. However, for its own interests, the United States is stirring up conflicts and divisions in the region, while the Philippines, supported by the United States, provokes disturbances in the South China Sea. SAY NO TO TURMOIL Malaysia has been "rather successful" in dealing with the South China Sea issue diplomatically, "because we are deemed and seemed to be really neutral in the engagement," Anwar said on Thursday at the 37th Asia-Pacific Roundtable held in Kuala Lumpur. He reiterated that the issue must be resolved among ASEAN member countries and China, without the interference of external parties. "There should not be involvement with other parties because it will be deemed to be more complex and will complicate the matter," he said. Analysts believe Asia's prosperity has largely benefited from long-term peace and stability in the region, and ASEAN countries are unwilling to see turmoil in the South China Sea. "My main message over the past few years has been consistent, and this year will be no different -- we must avoid a physical conflict in Asia. Because we can all agree, that neither Asia nor the world can withstand a third geopolitical shock," said Ng Eng Hen, defense minister of Singapore, at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue. Prabowo Subianto, president-elect of Indonesia and current minister of defense, said at the dialogue that real security comes through very good relations between close neighbors. "This is part of our Asian culture. We must be close, friendly with our immediate neighbors," the president-elect said. Vietnam is willing to work with China to implement the high-level consensus between the two countries, properly manage differences, actively promote maritime cooperation and consultation on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea, and safeguard peace and stability in the South China Sea, said Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son during a visit to China in April. The generally friendly and increasingly close relations between China and ASEAN and between China and individual ASEAN member states must not be clouded by the South China Sea issue, said Kin Phea, director general of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, a think tank under the Royal Academy of Cambodia. UNWILLING TO BE PAWN OF THE U.S. The United States is trying to encircle China by strengthening relationships with regional allies, said Koh King Kee, president of the Center for New Inclusive Asia, a non-governmental Malaysian think tank. Clear about the intentions and consequences of the U.S. actions and unwilling to be pawns of the United States, most ASEAN member countries remain vigilant against the U.S. efforts to draw them into a coalition to contain China and have clearly refused to take sides. Kao Kim Hourn, secretary-general of ASEAN, said that Southeast Asia will never take sides in the competition between the United States and China. Singaporean Prime Minister Lawrence Wong also said on many occasions that Singapore would not pick a side between China and the United States; instead, foreign policy should focus on Singapore's interests. "Why must I be tied to one interest? I don't buy into this strong prejudice against China, this China-phobia," said Anwar in an interview in February with the Financial Times in Penang, his birthplace in northern Malaysia. Experts from ASEAN countries have also criticized the Philippines' provocations in the South China Sea. The military operations conducted by the Philippines, the United States, and their allies have compromised security in the ASEAN territory, intensifying regional strains, said Muhammad Syaroni Rofii, a lecturer from the School of Strategic and Global Studies at the University of Indonesia. The confrontational approach taken by the Philippines aligns very well with the U.S. strategy to contain China, said Koh, adding that U.S. military activities in the South China Sea undermine regional peace and stability and pose a serious threat to the security of regional countries. "It (the Philippines) thinks that by completely siding with one side, it would have an ally, when in fact it is inevitably becoming a pawn to be used. It is also an approach that goes against the general ASEAN diplomatic strategy," Goh Choon Kang, a former member of Singapore's parliament, wrote in an opinion piece. MANAGING DIFFERENCES Experts from ASEAN countries believe that the South China Sea issue should be resolved by the regional countries themselves, without the involvement of external forces. "The Philippines has engaged with external countries like the United States and Japan regarding the South China Sea. They don't prefer any peaceful solution or play any constructive role. They try to make the problem even bigger, even worse. The United States and its allies try to stop China from rising and try to contain China and encircle China," said Kin Phea. "It is essential for members of ASEAN, which may have varying attitudes, to collectively prioritize regional stability. The issue can be solved peacefully and be managed through non-military means as long as all parties concerned remain engaged in serious dialogues and consultations," he said. "I don't agree with the current administration's approach to the South China Sea," said Anna Malindog-Uy, vice president of the Manila-based think tank Asian Century Philippines Strategic Studies Institute. "You really have to use diplomacy," she said. "Diplomacy would mean negotiation, communication, and continuous communication, continuous negotiation." Gurugram, June 9 : Rao Inderjit Singh, who secured his sixth consecutive win from the Gurgaon Lok Sabha seat by defeating Congress candidate Raj Babbar, has become the first Haryana politician to reach Parliament for the sixth time. Singh also holds the record of getting the highest vote share of 60.34 per cent in the Gurgaon Lok Sabha constituency. He also created the record for getting the highest number of votes in the 2019 elections. The veteran Ahir leader started his political career in 1977 at Jatusana Assembly (now Kosli). In Jatusana, which was the traditional seat of his father Rao Birender Singh, he was fielded as the political heir of his family. The people here gave Rao Inderjit a strong entry into politics. After reaching Chandigarh in 1977, Singh never looked back and from here he reached Chandigarh as a member of the Haryana Legislative Assembly four consecutive times from 1977 to 1982, 1982 to 1987 and 1987 to 1991 and again from 2000 to 2004. From 1986 to 1987 he was given the responsibility of Minister of State (Independent Charge), Planning Food and Civil Supply in the Haryana Government. From 1991 to 1996 he was a Cabinet Minister in the state government. He also handled important departments like Environment and Forest and Medical and Technical Education. His father Rao Birender Singh made him the Lok Sabha candidate in his stead in 1998 for the Mahendragarh Lok Sabha seat. Rao reached the threshold of Parliament by winning the very first election and became a member of the 12th Lok Sabha. Although he faced defeat in the very next election i.e. in the 1999 polls, he avenged it in 2004. From 1998 to 1999, Rao was also a member of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Science and Technology, Environment and Forests. In 2004, he was again elected to the 14th Lok Sabha from Mahendragarh seat. In May 2004, he was made the Union Minister of State for External Affairs. He continued to perform this responsibility till 2006. From February 2006 to 2009, Rao was the Union Minister of State for Defence Production. In the delimitation held in 2008, Gurgaon was again brought into existence as a Lok Sabha constituency. After the 1971 election, it was merged with Mahendragarh and its major part Faridabad was made a separate Lok Sabha constituency. After the delimitation, the election for the 15th Lok Sabha was held in 2009 and despite the change in the constituency, Rao won on Congress ticket. This was his third term as a Member of Parliament. On 31 August 2009, he was made the Chairman of the Parliament's Standing Committee on Information Technology. In May 2014, he contested the 16th Lok Sabha elections from Gurgaon on BJP ticket and won his second consecutive election from this constituency and third as an MP. From 27 May 2014 to 9 November 2014, he was made Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) Planning, Statistics and Program Implementation and Planning. In May 2019, he entered Parliament as an elected member of the 17th Lok Sabha, scoring a hat-trick of victory from the Gurgaon seat. This was his fifth term as an MP. From June 2019 till the dissolution of Parliament, he remained Union Minister of State (Independent Charge), Planning, Statistics and Program Implementation. Agartala, June 9 : A Bangladeshi smuggler was killed when BSF troopers opened fire after being surrounded by a gang along the India-Bangladesh border in Tripura's Sepahijala district on Sunday, officials said. BSF officials said that during routine patrolling at Kalamchera along the India-Bangladesh border, the Indian border guards challenged a group of men, who were trying to smuggle goods from the Indian side, but did not pay any heed and instead, got aggressive and tried to encircle a BSF personnel with an intent to assault him and snatch his personal weapon. Sensing imminent danger to life and government property, the BSF trooper fired one round from his PAG (pump action gun) in self-defence, then a brief scuffle ensued during which constable Rajeev Kumar, sensing a threat to his life and weapon, was compelled to fire one round from his INSAS rifle, leaving a Bangladeshi smuggler, identified as Anwar Hussain, 35, dead, at a point about 150 yards inside the Indian territory. Hussain is a resident of Mirpur in Bangladesh's Comilla district. A BSF spokesman said that a similar incident occurred on June 2 in the same area where the same Bangladeshi smuggler brutally assaulted a BSF constable, attempted to drag him towards the Bangladesh side, and also snatched his personal weapon (PAG) and radio set. The BSF remains firmly committed to maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Bangladesh border and continues to work closely with Border Guards Bangladesh (BGB) for this purpose, as per an official statement. New Delhi, June 9 : Continuing its role as a 'Vishwa Bandhu' (global friend), India is expected to raise the development concerns facing the Global South and challenges facing the world at the two-day BRICS Foreign Ministers' Meeting starting in Russia's Nizhny Novgorod from Monday. Taking place immediately after the formation of Modi 3.0 in New Delhi, this would also be the first meeting of BRICS foreign ministers since the expansion of the grouping was formalised in January. To be chaired by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, the meeting will see the participation of India's External Affairs Minister, South Africa's Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Naledi Pandor, Brazil's Minister of Foreign Affairs Mauro Vieira, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi besides foreign ministers of other member states and countries invited from the Global South and East. While Monday's meeting will be the traditional stand-alone Foreign Ministers' Meeting at which all foreign ministers of the countries that are members of BRICS are expected to be in attendance, an expanded meeting will take place on Tuesday with the participation from 15 countries invited by Russia. The meetings are expected to discuss current geopolitical issues and improve the global governance system with an emphasis on increasing the role of developing countries. The outcomes of the Foreign Ministers' Meeting will feed into the 16th BRICS Summit scheduled to take place in Kazan in October. Several bilateral meetings are also planned to take place on the sidelines of the two-day event. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been spotlighting India's growing profile and emergence as a 'Vishwa Bandhu' in a divided world. In his first comments after staking a claim to form a government for the third consecutive time, PM Modi said on Friday that the time has come to reap the benefits of all the hard work done in the last 10 years to raise India's profile on the global stage. "A distinct global image has been built in the last 10 years as India has emerged as a Vishwa Bandhu. Its maximum advantage will begin now. I am fully confident that the next five years will be extremely useful for the country as far as the global environment is concerned," he said while speaking outside Rashtrapati Bhavan after meeting President Droupadi Murmu. A separate section titled 'Modi ki guarantee for Vishwa Bandhu Bharat' in the BJP's 2024 elections manifesto mentions how the Modi government has made Bharat "a reliable, trusted and dependable voice globally" in the last 10 years. "Today, the world believes that Bharat is the mother of democracy. Our diaspora around the world feels empowered and connected. Our civilisational values, thoughts, wisdom and traditional knowledge have found a place of pride at the world stage. We will strengthen our position and conduct our policies to further our national interests with the spirit of Vishwa Bandhu," states the BJP 'Sankalp Patra'. It mentions further consolidation of India's position as a voice of the Global South by using Prime Minister Modi's visionary 5S approach of samman, samvad, sahyog, shanti and samriddhi. New Delhi, June 9 : Praising a new study by University of Oxford researchers, who found that the Viagra drug, also called Sildenafil, has the potential to prevent dementia (memory loss), Delhi-based doctors on Sunday said that this is a pathbreaking trial linking "Sildenafil with improvement in vascular dementia". According to Dr. Rajeev Mehta, Senior Psychiatrist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, is a type of dementia that affects thinking, memory and day-to-day behaviour due to conditions that damage blood vessels and disrupt blood flow to the brain. "India has a high burden of cognitive disease impairment due to vascular disease. It is important to note that in vascular dementia, memory deficiency or forgetfulness occurs in steps," Mehta said in a statement. The research showed that Viagra (Sildenafil), mostly used for erectile dysfunction, has the capability to open minute blood vessels of the brain, thus improving blood flow and resulting in improvement of memory loss. As per an article in Science Direct, the burden of vascular contribution to cognitive impairment and dementia is substantially high in India. There are about 5.3 million dementia patients in India and nearly 40 per cent are estimated to be due to vascular dementia. Dr.Jitendra Nagpal, Chairman, The Institute of Mental Health, Moolchand Hospital said that further comprehensive multi-centric trials are needed to substantiate these findings. However, any benefits to chronic suffering from such dementia would be a welcome step in cognitive recovery. "Besides increasing age, vascular dementia can also happen with stroke, wherein blood supply to part of the brain is suddenly cut off or reduced. This damages and eventually kills brain cells. There is narrowing and blockage of the small blood vessels inside the brain," Nagpal mentioned. In India, Sildenafil is available in the strength of 25mg to 100 mg and is commonly available across chemist's shops, costing roughly Rs 25 per tablet. New Delhi/Bengaluru, June 9 : Senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi (62), was sworn in as a Union Minister on Sunday during the oath taking ceremony of the third term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. In the previous government, Joshi held the Mines, Coal, and Parliamentary Affairs portfolios. Joshi, who shares a close proximity with the BJP's central leadership, is also considered to be close to the Sangh Parivar. In the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections, he was elected for the fifth straight term from Dharwad in Karnataka after defeating Congress' Vinod Asooti by 97,324 votes. Joshi is married to Jyothi Joshi and the couple has three daughters. An industrialist-turned-politician, Joshi did his BA from the K.S. Arts College in Hubballi. A staunch follower of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Joshi first contested as a BJP candidate from Dharwad North in 2004. The constituency was later renamed as Dharwad after a delimitation process, with Joshi winning the seat in each of the successive elections. Joshi came to the limelight during the Idgah Maidan row in Hubballi, which drew national attention in the early 1990s. In 1994, six persons were killed in police firing in Karnataka, a development which played a major role in the rise of the BJP in Dharwad, northern Karnataka and in the rest of the state subsequently. Joshi was at the forefront at that time as the President of the Rashtra Dhwaj Gourav Rakshana Samiti. He also actively participated in the campaigns demanding the hoisting of the tricolour at the Idgah Maidan. Joshi became the Dharwad district chief of the BJP in 1995 and continued to hold the post till 1998. After serving as a member in various committees, Joshi was appointed as the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas in September 2014. He went on to become the Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal, and Mines in the NDA Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2019. Joshi, who also has a book titled aSadhaneya Sankalpaa in Kannada to his credit, was a member of the Parliamentary delegation at the 63rd session of the UN General Assembly in December 2008, where he spoke on atrocities against women and children. Jammu, June 9 : At least 10 people were killed on Sunday in an alleged terror attack on a bus in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, sources said. According to sources, gunmen fired at the bus carrying pilgrims back from Shiv Khori temple to Katra town in Reasi district. The incident happened at Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus lost control and fell into a gorge after suspected terrorists fired at the bus. Rescue and relief operations were immediately started as army, police and paramilitary officials rushed to the spot. Further details are awaited. Patna, June 9 : Patna Police has arrested two persons for murdering the son of a sub-inspector in Gopalganj, an official said on Sunday. Gopalganj SP Swarn Prabhat identified the accused as Akash Kumar and Vikas Kumar. He said that they were arrested from Phulwaria village under the same police station. Gopalganj SP said that the Patna Police recovered the body of the son of a sub-inspector living in the neighbourhood of Sudish Yadav, the father of the accused. "The youth was brutally murdered. A case has been lodged against Akash and Vikas in Shastri Nagar police station for the murder," the SP said. He said that the Patna Police took action in Phulwaria village with the help of local police. "After the arrest, Police brought them to Patna," Gopalganj SP said. New Delhi, June 9 : Priti Adani, Chairperson of Adani Foundation, on Sunday congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic third term for the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Priti Adani, wife of Gautam Adani, Chairman of the Adani Group, said the country has touched new heights in the last 10 years under PM Modi's visionary leadership. "Congratulations to PM Modi on taking oath for the historic third term. Under his able leadership, the country has touched new heights of progress in the last 10 years," said Priti Adani. "We are confident that the 'Viksit Bharat' initiative will move forward at double the pace in the coming years," Priti Adani added. The swearing-in of PM Modi, along with his Council of Ministers at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, marked the beginning of Modi 3.0, the third straight term for BJP-led NDA. An educationist and a qualified doctor, Priti Adani has been treading a path hitherto less travelled in the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) space. Priti Adani has been spearheading Adani Foundation, her brainchild, passionately for two decades now ensuring that the Adani Group helps transform the lives of as many people as possible. At present, the Foundation is helping uplift more than 3.4 million people annually across 18 states. New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 9 : A few weeks before his 66th birthday, actor-turned-BJP leader Suresh Gopi, who won a stunning victory in the Thrissur constituency to give his party its first-ever Lok Sabha seat from Kerala, was sworn in as a Union Minister in the 3rd Prime Minister Narendra Modi government on Sunday. With over 250 films under his belt in a career which began in the mid-1980s and got him the tag of the "angry young man of Malayalam films", he went on to collect the best actor award at both the state and national level once each. Gopias tryst with politics began with his closeness to the legendary four-time Congress Chief Minister K. Karunakaran and a few times, his name was in the reckoning as a Congress candidate in the Lok Sabha elections and then for a Rajya Sabha berth, but on both occasions, it failed to materialise. After Karunakaran bowed out of active politics and Oommen Chandy came in, but Gopi never enjoyed the same chemistry with him and bid goodbye to the Congress. It was in 2014 that he got a surprise invite from PM-in-waiting Narendra Modi and from that day onwards, there was a new chemistry between the two, culminating - a decade later - in a call summoning him to Delhi. His closeness with PM Modi who he terms his "political god" got closer during the term of Gopias term as a nominated member of the Rajya Sabha. While many thought that Gopias political career had ended after his term finished and he lost the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 Assembly polls from Thrissur, Gopi was not one to sit idle, telling IANS that no one should forget that the BJP has invested in him and hence, he has a responsibility and was ready to do whatever the party asks him. During the fag end of 2023, it was more or less clear that the BJP would field Gopi from Thrissur and it became more definite when Modi flew down to attend his elder daughteras wedding at the famed Sree Krishna temple at Guruvayoor. With Gopi staying put at Thrissur since January, he managed to get an early start to his election campaign and remained unfazed when it was revealed he would face veteran politicians - sitting Congress MP from Vadakara K. Muraleedharan and former State Minister and popular CPI leader V.S. Sunil Kumar. He ultimately floored both to win the seat by over 72,000 votes. On Sunday, Gopi, who will turn 66 on June 26, came out of his house in the morning and got into his car to rush to the airport, telling the waiting media that he was leaving for Delhi. "He (PM Modi) decided and I am obeying. He has asked me to reach Delhi," he said, replying: "I donat know anything else", to query whether he would be a cabinet minister. VIENTIANE, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A grand event has been held in Lao capital Vientiane to celebrate the recognition of Laos' traditional craft of Naga motif weaving by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity. The event, held from June 6 to 9, showcased the Naga motif in Laos through displays, a fashion show featuring the traditional Lao skirt sinh adorned with the motif, as well as performances of songs and traditional Lao dance, as reported by Lao National Radio on Sunday. The Naga motif weaving enjoys a special position in Laos, being highly esteemed and unique. It is a product of creativity, reverence, and meticulous craftsmanship, reflecting the intertwining of such elements in the daily lives of the Lao people. The intricate process of weaving a single motif can span several days. Lao textiles serve as a medium for visual storytelling, skillfully incorporating symbols and motifs inspired by legendary creatures and natural images. These elements not only add aesthetic value but also convey information about an individual's background, marital status, and ethnic heritage. The Naga is a mythical, serpent-like creature that lives in rivers. Lao people believe that Naga are ancestors that watch over them. In February 2024, the Lao Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism received a certificate from UNESCO over the Lao traditional Naga motif weaving after the latter's official inscription of the textile pattern on its representative list of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity in 2023. Bengaluru, June 9 : Senior BJP leader from Karnataka, Pralhad Joshi (62), was sworn in as a Union Minister on Sunday during the oath taking ceremony of the third term of the NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. He is all set for another significant role in the Union Cabinet led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Pralhad Joshi, in Modi 2.0, held the Mines, Coal, and Parliamentary Affairs portfolio. "It is a matter of pride and happiness to become Cabinet minister for the second time," he stated. "I would like to thank Prime Minister Narendra Modi, party leadership, party workers and voters who elected me," Pralhad Joshi said. Supporters and family members of Joshi started celebrations in Dharwad following the swearing in ceremony. Pralhad Joshi is also considered to be close to the Sangh Parivar. He was elected for the fifth consecutive term from the Dharwad Parliamentary seat and won with a margin of 97,324 votes against Congress candidate Vinod Asooti. Pralhad Joshi is married to Jyothi Joshi and has three daughters. An industrialist turned politician, Joshi studied BA at K.S. Arts College in Hubballi. A staunch follower of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Pralhad Joshi got an opportunity to contest as the BJP candidate from Dharwad North in 2004. Pralhad Joshi has remained undefeated in the Dharwad Lok Sabha seat since 2004. The Dharwad North seat was renamed Dharwad after delimitation. Joshi has also published a book titled 'Sadhaneya Sankalpa' in Kannada. He is fond of Hindustani classical music and plays chess, badminton, and carrom. Pralhad Joshi participated as a member of the Indian Parliamentary delegation at the 63rd session of the General Assembly, UN, in December 2008 and spoke on atrocities against women and children. He also participated as a member of the Indian Parliamentary delegation in April 2012 and spoke on the need for a "Genuine Political Settlement" to the Tamil issue in Sri Lanka. New Delhi/Thiruvananthapuram, June 9 : Along with Suresh Gopi, BJP's first-ever MP from Kerala, state General Secretary George Kurian was on Sunday inducted as a minister in the third Narendra Modi government. His wife Annamma could not hide her happiness at his elevation. Hailing from Kottayam, Kurian is a no-frills BJP leader and is known for his soft-spoken style and being a popular BJP representative on TV news channels. He started his political life as a student activist with the student wing of the Janata Party in 1977 and in 1980, joined the BJP with which he has been ever since. In 2017, Kurian was appointed as the Vice-Chairman of the National Minorities Commission. Though based in Kottayam, he has worked in Delhi, being the officer on special duty to the then Minister of State for Railways O. Rajagopal in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government during 1999-2004. There were no early indications that Kurian would become a Union Minister, as apart from Gopi, there were other names that were being speculated on. However, TV channels then found out Kurian was present at the meeting held at PM Modias residence on Sunday. "No, never did we think that my husband would get a ministerial berth. He is yet to call me and all that I have heard is from the media. Nevertheless, I am overjoyed and my happiness is at its peak," Annamma said. "He has got a reward for his unstinting hard work. More than being a BJP leader, he has been working hard for the civil society. I too have served in the Military Nursing Service," she added. Asked if she was sad about not witnessing the swearing-in ceremony in person, Annamma said: "No, why should I be sad? I am happy that he has got his reward. There is no celebration as I am all alone in my house." added Annamma. The couple have two children - one working in Canada and the other a medical student in Georgia. Kurianas ministerial post is being seen as an outreach to the Christian community. Kurian is not an MP and will now be inducted into the Rajya Sabha from some state. New Delhi, June 9 : Soaking up the vibrant atmosphere while attending the historic swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday, top diplomats from several countries lauded the magnificent culmination of India's impressive electoral process. "True honour attending the oath-taking ceremony of the new government. A culmination of an impressive electoral process in the world's largest democracy. Wishing the new government success in leading India to even greater achievements. Israel stands with India. Jai Hind," Naor Gilon, Ambassador of Israel to India, posted on X. Ambassador Gilon, who had earlier said that India's holding the world's largest election was a triumph of democracy, also posted several photographs and videos from the event from his social media account. Singapore's High Commissioner Simon Wing to India took a photograph with the flags of both nations before leaving for the swearing-in-ceremony. "On my way to the NDA 3.0 and Modi 3.0 swearing in ceremony. The people of India have spoken. May the Gods bless India with peace and prosperity," he said and also posted photographs from the event. Denmark's Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane stated that he had also attended Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first swearing-in-ceremony in 2014. "Ready for the swearing-in-ceremony of the Prime Minister of India and the Union Council Ministers 2024. Attended the same in 2014," he posted on X before leaving for Rashtrapati Bhawan. May-Elin Stener, the Norwegian Ambassador to India, also took to social media, congratulating India on completing the world's largest democratic election. "Representing Norway at swearing in of new Indian govt led by Narendra Modi. We look forward to continuing strong and robust bilateral relations in areas including blue economy, energy, trade, investments, environment, climate and more!" she posted on X. British High Commissioner to India, Lindy Cameron termed it an "honour" to attend the swearing-in ceremony. "An honour to attend the swearing-in ceremony for Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Cabinet at Rashtrapati Bhawan," said Cameron. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third consecutive swearing-in ceremony was also attended by leaders from the neighbouring countries. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay were present at the venue as PM Modi and the Council of Ministers were administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also attend a banquet hosted by President Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after the ceremony. New Delhi, July 10 : There was jubilation among the new ministers, BJP leaders, and NDA allies as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in for his third term on Sunday, as they wished him the best in his endeavour to take India further on the path of development and glory. Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, in whose state the BJP swept all 29 seats, said that the swearing-in of PM Modi again for the third term, represents new history being written for the country, and all the people are happy. "Our chest swells to 56 inches in pride on the occasion," he said. Madhya Pradesh Minister and senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya said that they were all full of pride on the occasion and "believe India will again become the Vishwa Guru". Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said: aIt is a historic moment. I congratulate Prime Minister Modi for taking oath for the record third time. All the people of the country are happy for this is what they desired. I congratulate the new ministers, the party workers, the NDA allies and the people of the country." Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai said Chhattisgarh wished the new PM Modi government all the best. Asked how he was feeling after after PM Modi was sworn in for the third time, Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Swami Rambhadracharya said: "Modi ji is, was and forever will be my friend." Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas chief Chirag Paswan, who has been made a Union Cabinet Minister, said that he will strive to fulfil PM Modi's vision and is committed to the government's success. Asked if he remembered his father and long-time Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan now, he said he thought of him a lot on this occasion. Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary, who will be a Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) in the new government, said: "...Personally this is a very historical moment and the responsibility that has been given to me, I'll assure I'll fulfil it and to safeguard constitutional values." TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, who is set to take over again as the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, said: "We are very happy. We are proud of him (Prime Minister) Modi. It is an important day in the history of India. Now, the whole world is watching us. India will progress under Narendra Modi ji." Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan said: "When Modiji became PM for the first time in 2014, we wanted that he become PM for 15 years... that has now become a reality." Asked to comment on the PM, in the NDA meeting, terming him "Aandhi" instead of "Pawan", he only smiled and said he did not how to respond to that. Union Minister Giriraj Singh, who returns as minister, said: "We all are with Modi ji in his mission of Viksit Bharat." BJP's former Haryana unit chief O.P. Dhankhar said that the third Narendra Modi government began with an impressive swearing-in ceremony and he was happy the state has got good representation with three senior leaders - former Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Union Minister Rao Inderjit Singh, and Krishan Pal Gurjar. New Delhi/Guwahati, June 10 : Sixty-one-year-old Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader from Assam, Sarbananda Sonowal, on Sunday was sworn-in as Cabinet minister again in Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government. Sonowal was first accommodated in the Union government following the BJP's spectacular performance in Assam in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. An All Assam Students Union (AASU) leader, Sarbananda Sonowal joined the regional outfit Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) in 1999 after a seven-year long stint as the student body president between 1992-99. He also held the post of Chairman of the North East Students' Association (Northeast Student Union) from 1994 to 2004. He was elected an MLA from Moran Assembly constituency in 2001 election. Three years later, Sonowal defeated Congress heavyweight Paban Singh Ghatowar from Dibrugarh Lok Sabha constituency to enter the lower house of the parliament as an MP for the first time. A post graduate in English literature, the senior BJP leader earned a law degree from Dibrugarh University. Sonowal also completed the Bachelor of Journalism course from Gauhati University. Born in an Assamese Hindu family, he did his schooling at Don Bosco High School in Dibrugarh district. Sonowal rose to immense popularity after he took the issue of Bangladeshi infiltration in Assam to the Supreme Court and the apex court in 2005, struck down the controversial Illegal Migrants (Determination by Tribunal) Act, 1983, as unconstitutional and termed Bangladeshi infiltration an "external aggression" and observed that "the Bangladesh nationals who have illegally crossed the border and have trespassed into Assam or are living in other parts of the country have no legal right of any kind to remain in India and they are liable to be deported". However, despite that, he lost the Lok Sabha polls to Ghatowar in 2009. Sonowal left AGP in 2011, joined the BJP and he was made the state president of the party. He was instrumental in BJP's surprisingly good performance in Assam in the Lok Sabha polls in 2014. Sarbananda Sonowal defeated then Union Minister and Congress candidate in Lakhimpur Parliamentary constituency, Ranee Narah. Post 2014, BJP was eyeing to oust the Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government from the power in Assam and Sonowal was again sent to state politics by the top brass of the BJP. In 2016, the first-ever BJP government was formed in Assam and Sonowal was made the Chief Minister in the state. He led the BJP to retain govt in Assam in 2021 state assembly polls defeating the grand alliance formed by Congress and Badruddin Ajmal's party AIUDF. However, after the poll results, he resigned as Chief Minister and proposed Himanta Biswa Sarma's name as his successor. Sonowal was brought back to the Centre and he became a Union Minister of ports, Shipping and Waterways and Minister of AYUSH in the second NDA government led by PM Narendra Modi. The BJP fielded Sarbananda Sonowal in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls from Dibrugarh constituency. He comfortably defeated the united opposition candidate and another former AASU leader Lurinjyoti Gogoi by a margin of 2,79,321 votes. On Sunday evening, Sonowal first took oath as a Union Minister from the northeast region followed by MP from Arunachal Pradesh, Kiren Rijiju. Kolkata, June 10 : The BJP's Bengal state chief Sukanta Majumdar and present minister Shantanu Thakur are the state's representatives in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's third government which was sworn in on Sunday. Majumdar was elected again from Balurghat in South Dinajpur district and Thakur is also a two-time Lok Sabha member from Bangaon Lok Sabha constituency in North 24 Paraganas district and was the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways in the second Modi government. Majumdar, a PhD in Botany and a college teacher by profession, was elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time from Balurghat in 2019, the year when BJP marked its best-ever electoral performance in West Bengal winning 18 out of 42 Lok Sabha constituencies in the state. Having close associations with RSS from a very young age, Majumdar's popularity as MP rose after several railway projects were established there following his persuasion. After the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections, BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh, who held the post for two terms, stepped down and Majumdar succeeded him. Thakur's rise in politics as a BJP leader was quite meteoric considering that he hails from a family integrally linked with ruling Trinamool Congress for quite some time. He is the son of Mamata Banerjee cabinet minister Manjul Krishna Thakur and the nephew of former Trinamool MP from Bangaon, late Kapil Krishna Thakur. The Thakur family is popular as the founding family of Matua Mahasangha, the biggest association of Matuas, a backward-class community coming to West Bengal as refugees from neighbouring Bangladesh. In 2019, Thakur was elected from Bangaon, defeating sitting Trinamool MP and family member, Mamata Bala Thakur, the widow of Kapil Krishan Thakur. A graduate in English literature and holding an advanced diploma in hospitality management, he is credited with the success of strengthening the organisational network of BJP in the Matua bastion of Bangaon. It is perceived that his repeated victory from Bangaon was triggered to a great extent by the recent notification on CAA by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs which created euphoria among the Matua community in the state. Udhampur : Rescue operation underway after a bus rolled down a gorge after a suspected terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. Image Source: IANS News Jammu, June 10 : Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha has condemned the terror attack on a bus in Reasi on Sunday. The L-G extended his condolences to the family members of civilians who had lost their lives in the terror attack. He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi reviewed the situation and directed L-G Sinha to constantly monitor the situation and to ensure all possible assistance to the aggrieved families. The L-G posted on X: "I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces & JKPolice have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists." "PM Narendra Modi Ji took stock of the situation and has asked me to constantly monitor the situation. All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. Hon'ble PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance." New Delhi, June 10 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasised that in his third term, India will continue to work for the peace, progress and prosperity of the region in close partnership with the countries, even as it pursues its goal of having a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047. Prime Minister Modi's assurance came during his meeting with the visiting leaders following the swearing-in ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Sunday. Leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) participated in the ceremony as honoured guests. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay attended the ceremony as Prime Minister Modi and the Council of Ministers were administered the oath of office by President Droupadi Murmu. Leaders of Maldives, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan were accompanied by Ministers. The leaders congratulated Prime Minister Modi for taking oath as the Prime Minister of India for a historic third consecutive term. Thanking them for gracing the occasion, the Prime Minister reaffirmed India's commitment to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR Vision'. "PM Modi called for deeper people-to-people ties and connectivity in the region. He further added that India would continue to amplify the voice of the Global South in the international arena," said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The leaders also attended a banquet hosted by President Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The President while welcoming them and conveying her wishes to Prime Minister Modi in the service of the nation, said that India's democratic exercise was not only a moment of pride for its people but an inspiration to millions around the world. "The participation of leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region on the momentous occasion of the swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers underlines India's deep-rooted bonds of friendship and cooperation with the region," the MEA added. Paris, June 10 : French President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday that he will dissolve the Parliament and hold snap elections, following his party's clear defeat by the far-right National Rally in European Parliament elections earlier in the day. Elections to the National Assembly are to take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, Macron added. He said the challenges faced by France required clarity and the people deserved respect. "At the end of this day, therefore, I cannot pretend that nothing has happened," he added. "The decision is serious and difficult, but it is above all an act of trust, trust in you, my dear compatriots," the President said, adding that he trusted the French people to make the best decisions in their interest and that of future generations. The National Rally in France is set to beat Macron's Renaissance by a wide margin in the country's European Parliament elections, according to broadcasters' projections after voting had ended. The populist, eurosceptic National Rally party, whose figurehead is Marine Le Pen, received 31.5 to 32.3 per cent of the vote, while Macron's pro-European camp only received around 15.2 to 15.4 per cent, broadcasters France 2 and TF1 reported on Sunday after the polls concluded. "Emmanuel Macron is a weakened President tonight," National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said earlier on Sunday evening, calling for new elections. "This unprecedented defeat for the ruling power marks the end of a cycle and the first day of the post-Macron era," he added. The Socialists came third with 14 to 14.2 per cent, just behind Macron's centrist bloc, according to the projections. The extreme right-wing Reconquete (Reconquest) party was at 5.3 to 5.5 per cent. Voter turnout was higher than five years ago at around 52 per cent. Sunday's voting also sets the scene for presidential elections in 2027. Macron, who won a run-off election against Le Pen twice, will not be able to run again after two terms in office. It is unclear who the centre-right forces will send into the race and who will stand a chance against Le Pen. Sunday's results are a huge blow to Macron's government, which has already lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly, France's lower House of Parliament. National Rally's landslide victory entrenches a trend that already emerged in 2019 when the party came narrowly ahead of Macron's camp in the last European elections. Marine Le Pen, the daughter of the movement's far-right founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, has successfully rebranded the party initially known as the National Front, presenting a far more moderate image in recent years to increase its appeal to centre-right voters. Elections to the European Parliament have taken place across the 27-country bloc over the past four days, with nearly 360 million people called upon to vote. While the vote does not directly impact national politics, as it only determines who sits in the EU legislature, domestic political issues tend to dominate voters' choices. --IANS/DPA khz STUTTGART, Germany, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Amid a sluggish global economic recovery, German executives voiced their dedication to enhancing their market presence in China during a promotion event for the China International Import Expo (CIIE) held in Stuttgart. German enterprises are leveraging the CIIE to align their development with the demands of the Chinese market, according to the executives at the event, which gathered about 150 Chinese and German officials, business representatives, and trade delegates. "Since joining the CIIE in 2018, we have successfully introduced the concept of deep cleaning into the Chinese market and led the market positioning of several of our products, unlocking new opportunities," said Tobias Wahl, board chairman of the Hawk brand at Karcher Group, at the promotion event. Germany's Karcher Group, a leader in the cleaning industry, has participated in the CIIE for six consecutive years. Over time, the expo has spurred Karcher to continuously boost its investments in China. "In recent years, Karcher has maintained a double-digit growth in the Chinese market. Our cumulative investments in China have reached 2 billion yuan (276 million U.S. dollars), accelerating our transition from exhibitors to investors," said Wahl, adding that the group has expanded and optimized its factories and integrated high-quality industry resources to advance localization strategies. He added that this year, the company will showcase many pioneering products, featuring green, intelligent, and innovative concepts, at the 7th CIIE. Preparations for the 7th CIIE are well underway and German enterprises lead Europe in both the number of exhibitors and the exhibition space. Seventy-five companies have signed up, covering more than 26,000 square meters at the venue, according to Wu Zhengping, deputy director general of the China International Import Expo Bureau. Currently, renowned German companies such as Siemens, Bayer, SAP, Mercedes-Benz, and Volkswagen have confirmed their participation at the event. "Bayer deems the Chinese market pivotal within its global strategic landscape, with the import expo serving as a crucial conduit for Bayer to engage with the market dynamics, facilitate exchanges, and cultivate collaborations across various fronts," said Zhang Lei, vice president of communications at Bayer China. "By committing early to the import expo, Bayer underscores its unwavering dedication and confidence in the Chinese market. We anticipate further leveraging its platform to expedite the realization of our innovative endeavors," said Zhang. Walter Doring, chairman of the Academy of German Hidden Champions, highlighted China's remarkable achievements in development and innovation, which, he said, has opened up new cooperation prospects for Germany. So far, over 90 percent of some 500 leading German enterprises have engaged in partnerships with China, said Doring, adding that collaboration with China is indispensable for any enterprise aiming to lead the global market. In a survey conducted by the German Chamber of Commerce in China among German enterprises about their future prospects, most respondents believed that within the next five years, they will have a bright and prosperous future in the industry, according to Michael Schumann, chairman of the Board of the German Federal Association for Economic Development and Foreign Trade. More than half of the companies surveyed are planning to expand their investment in China, Schumann said in an interview with Xinhua. German companies have significantly increased their investments in China lately. According to China's Ministry of Commerce, German investment in China increased by 48 percent in the first quarter of this year. In January, German luxury carmaker Audi AG launched pre-mass production at its first production base for purely electric vehicles in China. In March, a Mercedes-Benz and BMW joint venture was established in Beijing, aiming to build at least 1,000 supercharging stations and around 7,000 high-power charging piles by 2026. And in May, Volkswagen (China) Technology Co. held a groundbreaking ceremony for its third-phase project in Hefei, capital of east China's Anhui Province. BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The China National Traditional Orchestra is scheduled to hold a concert at the National Center for the Performing Arts in Beijing on Monday to celebrate the 2024 Dragon Boat Festival. During the two-hour show, performers will captivate the audience with classic pieces such as "Military Hardware" and "Bosom Friend." The former will feature a pipa quintet, while the latter will involve a guqin, which is a plucked seven-string Chinese musical instrument. The performance will be led by Liu Sha, lead conductor of the China National Traditional Orchestra, who is renowned for his support, commissioning and interpretation of original compositions by emerging Chinese musicians. His remarkable accomplishments have earned him widespread recognition within the music community. Founded in 1960, the orchestra has been dedicated to creating the new through the old, all while sticking to tradition. Committed to the advancement of China's national music heritage, the orchestra actively fosters the creative revitalization and progressive evolution of China's rich traditional culture. The Dragon Boat Festival is one of China's major traditional holidays, falling on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar. It falls June 10 this year. 'The West has always opposed a strong nationalist leader in India and Narendra Modi is no exception.' 'The West prefers weak leaders who are amenable to Western pressure and Mr Modi's independent stance is not to the liking of the West,' asserts Colonel Anil A Athale (retd). IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with US President Joe Biden. Photograph: Kenny Holston/Pool via Reuters In the 18th century as the European 'gunpowder' empires were expanding and conquering large swathes of Asia and Africa, they invented the myth of the 'White Man's Burden'. Ruthless economic exploitation and slavery was justified as moral since the West was civilising the savages. In the 21st century the fable of the White Man's burden has been replaced by the West's 'duty' to safeguard and protect democracy and human rights worldwide. While the erstwhile White Man's burden theory was used to colonise the minds of the willing 'Natives', the current version of the West as a guardian of democracy is used to influence and interfere elections in other countries. Setting narratives has been part of the Western agenda for long. Our generation, the immediate post-Independence born, recall how we were brainwashed by Hollywood movies. Cowboy 'Westerns' regularly portrayed Red Indians as savage and villains. We gullibly applauded their massacres. WWII movies showed the Germans and Japanese as bumbling fools or worse. On the eve of General Elections 2024 in India, leading media houses, think-tanks and sundry NGOs in the West spread misinformation about India's electoral process, the judiciary and administration. The West put India at par with countries like China, Iran or Russia that are virtually one party States without an iota of evidence. The local comprador elite then picked up this garbage and amplified it. Why is the emperor without clothes doing it? Let us check some historical facts. This should come as no surprise to any Indian who is cognisant of the past. IMAGE: Modi greets supporters at the Bharatiya Janata Party headquarters, June 4, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Indira Gandhi, even before the Emergency, was invariably dubbed as a dictator Even Jawaharlal Nehru did not escape this fate. Mr Nehru's non alignment policy was called 'immoral' by then US secretary of state John Foster Dulles during the Cold War. Americans had forgotten their own 'neutrality' in the Anglo French wars of the 19th century, despite French help during the American War of Independence. The West has always opposed a strong nationalist leader in India and Narendra Modi is no exception. The West prefers weak leaders who are amenable to Western pressures on issues ranging from Ukraine to the Middle East. Mr Modi's independent stance is not to the liking of the West. What about the West's own record on democracy and equality? The 'ownership' of democracy that the West trumpets from the rooftops is a false narrative. India granted equal voting rights to all its citizens on the day it became independent on August 15, 1947. The so-called 'original' democracy, Britain, granted full voting rights to the Catholics of Northern Ireland only in 1968. The USA gave full voting rights to Blacks only in 1963! With what face do these countries preach to India about equality before law? The deriding of the Indian electoral system based on EVMs is another strand of this narrative. The West is loath to acknowledge that India is far ahead in the digital revolution. India records more digital financial transactions than the whole world put together. Some readers may remember a former finance minister mocking the digital payment plans by asking how a street vendor would use it. In 5 years Indians have given a resounding thumbs up to digitisation and it is a common sight to see ordinary folk using digital platforms. Contrast this with the American elections of 2000, when George W Bush won Florida state and votes were declared void on the basis of punching marks. The West ought to learn from India how to conduct a free and fair election and stop lecturing us about our systems. IMAGE: Modi being garlanded by Telugu Desam Party Chief N Chandrababu Naidu during the National Democratic Alliance Parliamentary Party meeting at Samvidhan Sadan, June 7, 2024 as Janata Dal-United President Nitish Kumar, Bharatiya Janata Party President J P Nadda, senior BJP leaders Amit A Shah and Rajnath Singh, Jana Sena Party Chief Pawan Kalyan, Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, Nationalist Congress Party leader Ajit Pawar, Apna Dal (Soneylal) leader Anupriya Patel look on. Photograph: ANI Photo In any democracy a third consecutive win is difficult. Such victories have generally been won on the back of soldiers. Indians seem to have forgotten how Mr Nehru timed the liberation of Goa in December 1961 on the eve of the 1962 general elections. Indians of my generation remember the excitement generated in the Bombay North East constituency where the clash between V K Krishna Menon and a combined Opposition candidate Acharya J B Kriplani was a referendum on Mr Nehru. I recall the catch line by the Parle soft drinks company: 'Go for Gold Spot and Vote for Menon'. The Congress won the 1962 election due to the euphoria created by the Goa liberation. Margaret Thatcher won her second term in the aftermath of the Falkland War. Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 1999 and Mr Modi won successive terms due to the Kargil War and the Balakote air strikes. In the absence of such an issue it was to be expected that India would revert to the 30 year-long set pattern of coalition governments. This article is not peddling a conspiracy theory and the election results truly reflected popular will. The idea to draw attention to the malicious attempts to undermine India at various levels by the Deep State in the West. Thanks to peace in Kashmir since the abrogation of Article 370 and the peaceful integration of Kashmir into the Indian mainstream, the West has lost a major pressure point. Poverty, malnutrition and religious freedoms are the new Kashmir' for the West. Western and sometimes even United Nations institutes post false or illogical data. According to some of these surveys most Indian children are malnourished and most Indians go hungry. The height weight ratios or food consumption is compared with Africans or Europeans, who are naturally large. If one is to apply the so-called standards to India, all of us go hungry every day. While travelling in the US, Russia and Africa, the biggest problem I have faced is that their standard portions are so large that an Indian invariably ends up over eating... it is not in our culture to waste food. If Indians are to consume food on an American or African scale, most of us will die of obesity! Let us be more confident and proud of our institutions of democracy and take Western motivated criticism with a ton of salt. Colonel Anil A Athale (retd) is a military historian whose earlier columns can be read here. Feature Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com Modi has proven to be a past master in the art of political survival. This means that learning to navigate the choppy waters of coalition government will be an art he will not take long to master, argues Shyam Parekh. IMAGE: A National Democratic Alliance delegation called on President Droupadi Murmu, June 7, 2024 and a letter stating that Narendra Modi had been elected leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party Parliamentary Party was handed over to the President. Letters of support from NDA constituent parties were also handed over to the President. Photograph: ANI Photo One question is puzzling everyone. Will Narendra D Modi deliver a strong and stable government in his third term, without losing a decisive edge that would let him have a free hand? Will his reign be muted and leashed by the coalition partners? Economic prosperity of the country depends a lot on the stability of the government. Will it be impacted? Or will he cock a snook and continue to have his way? 1991 : Congress Initially led by Rajiv Gandhi and after his death, by P V Narasimha Rao, won 232 seats in the 10th Lok Sabha. The BJP emerged as the main Opposition with 120 seats. : Congress Initially led by Rajiv Gandhi and after his death, by P V Narasimha Rao, won 232 seats in the 10th Lok Sabha. The BJP emerged as the main Opposition with 120 seats. The Congress tally was 40 short of an absolute majority of 272 seats, required to form the government. Rao formed a minority government with external support from the Janata Dal and the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha. After one year, in 1992, after Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir elections, the Congress tally improved to 244 seats. Rao's government completed full five years of its term and brought in economic liberalisation that changed India forever. In spite of many controversies in his time, including the demolition of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya, his government remained firmly in power. 2024 : The Narendra Modi-led BJP gets 240 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha and the tally along with its partners in the National Democratic Alliance stands at 293 seats. : The Narendra Modi-led BJP gets 240 seats in the 18th Lok Sabha and the tally along with its partners in the National Democratic Alliance stands at 293 seats. The Congress gets 99 seats and the tally along with its partners in the INDIA Bloc stands at 232 seats. IMAGE: Modi welcomed by NDA leaders on his arrival for the NDA Parliamentary Party meeting, June 7, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The 18th Lok Sabha election results declared on June 4, 2024 seemed unprecedented and shocked almost everyone. The question that everyone wants answered is whether Prime Minister Modi in his third term can give a government as stable as he did in the previous two terms? It is natural to have this question as the BJP secured 63 and 42 fewer seats respectively than its 2019 and 2014 election tally. In previous terms, having crossed the half-way mark of 272 seats, Modi enjoyed a clear majority in Parliament. Which means the survival of his government was not dependent on coalition partners. This situation did not allow the coalition partners much bargaining power and they could not keep the government under a leash. This allowed the PM to act as he willed, without the fear of loss of support in the Lok Sabha. But with the BJP getting only 240 seats, it will fall short of 32 members when it has to prove its majority in Parliament, or pass bills that require at least 273 votes. It will have to depend on the support of its coalition partners to achieve this numerical strength in the Lok Sabha. And history is witness that most governments are left vulnerable to the whims and fancies and arm twisting by coalition partners when they seek their support at times when it matters the most. IMAGE: Modi pays respect to the Constitution of India. Photograph: ANI Photo Will the 40-odd member parties' strong NDA -- with 15 of its constituent parties with at least one elected member in the 18th Lok Sabha -- allow Modi to exercise freedom in decision making. The numbers clearly indicate that N Chandrababu Naidu's Telugu Desam Party with 16 seats and the Janata Dal-United with 12 seats will be the BJP's two biggest supporters to keep the NDA in power. But if one of these two members of the alliance threaten to withdraw support, the rest of the NDA constituents still have sufficient strength to keep the NDA in power. The issue of the government's stability will come into the picture when the prime minister has to prove his majority in the Lok Sabha in case of a no confidence motion against his government or when he wishes to push through major bills, or when he wants to introduce bills that warrant a change in the fundamental federal structure of the Constitution. Looking at Modi's four terms as Gujarat chief minister or two terms as prime minister, one thing that emerges is that he has always enjoyed an absolute majority and ruled on his own strength. This will be his first experience of ruling with borrowed support. IMAGE: Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu in conversation. Photograph: ANI Photo Modi has consistently proven all political calculations and expectations wrong, time and again. He has proven to be a past master in the art of political survival. This essentially means that learning to navigate the choppy waters of coalition government will be an art he will not take long to master. Also, defections and re-elections in the future can change the balance of power in the BJP's favour in the Lok Sabha in the next five years. The government's stability would be a factor of concern only when the Modi government tries to bring in major reforms. Are they likely? From Modi's victory address to the BJP party after the election results, it is clear that by using the term 'bade fainsle', he is indicating a plan for drastic steps in his third tenure. Some of the major Constitutional amendments will require a special majority in Parliament -- of more than two-third members and ratification by at least 50% of the state legislatures. IMAGE: Modi being felicitated by Naidu and Pawan Kalyan. Photograph: ANI Photo If he manages to keep the tried and tested NDA coalition together, the rest should be easy. Another advantage he will enjoy in the third term will be an increased number of states and Union Territories ruled by the BJP and NDA governments. It will be easier for Modi to bring in drastic changes. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Engagement with neighbours is a strategic imperative, and not an option, asserts Rup Narayan Das. IMAGE: Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina arrives to attend Prime Minister designate Narendra Modi's swearing-in ceremony, New Delhi, June 8, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo It was very much expected that Prime Minister elect Narendra Damodardas Modi would extend invitations to the leaders of major South Asian countries for his swearing in ceremony on Sunday commensurate with India's policy of 'Neighbourhood First'. Engagement with neighbours is a strategic imperative, and not an option. One can choose one's friends, but not one's neighbours. It augurs well that most world leaders including US President Joe Biden, Russian President Vladimir Putin, UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and leaders of the South Asian countries including Dr Mohamed Muizzu of the Maldives have congratulated Modi for his victory in the general elections to the Lok Sabha. Modi had invited leaders of South Asian countries for his first swearing in ceremony in May 2014. He invited leaders of BIMSTEC countries along with the Mauritius prime minister and the president of Kyrgyzstan for his second swearing in 2019. While these thoughtful gestures reflect India's tradition and cultural moorings of partaking good times and bad times with near and dear ones, it is laden with strategic intent at a time when China's foot print in the region including in the Indian Ocean Region has become conspicuous. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi with Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu on the sidelines of the COP28 Summit in Dubai, December 2, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Of particular strategic importance is the invite to President Muizzu and his consent to grace the swearing-in ceremony. Muizzu was elected President of the island nation IN November 2023 on an orchestrated 'India Out' campaign, believed to have been backed by China in its grey zone tactics of winning a war without fighting. Since his election, Muizzu has pursued a hardline stance towards India and asked Indian military personnel posted in the archipelago to leave the Maldives. Presumably this was at the behest of Beijing. Departing from the traditional policy of visiting India first, Muizzu chose to visit China first after his election and signed critical defence deals much to India's chagrin. Prime Minister Modi's visit to the picturesque Lakshadweep Island in April this year and the display of his pictures in the blue logons in the social media unfortunately evoked critical comments in Maldives including by some politicians. The boycotting of the Maldives by Indian tourists in response to snide remarks on Modi affected the Maldives tourism industry and its economy. Now Maldives is in push back mode trying to repair the damage. Its foreign minister visited India last month and held discussion with External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar. What further exacerbated the strained relations between India and the archipelago nation is that Muizzu's pro-China People's National Congress trounced the pro-India Maldives Democratic Party in the election held in April this year for its Parliament. The Maldives Democratic Party follows an 'India First' policy. Even in Maldives' fragmented domestic politics, there is a groundswell of goodwill for India. Realising all these dimensions, India has responded to the evolving dynamics very prudently and in a statesman-like manner by refraining from making any irresponsible statements. India didn't curtail its developmental assistance to the Maldives in its budget allocation in the last budget. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu presents a RuPay card to Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth during her three-day visit to Mauritius, March 12, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Ahmed Afif, the vice-president of the Seychelles, a strategically important island nation, is also attending the swearing-in ceremony. Sri Lanka, yet another littoral State in the Indian Ocean, is reaching out to India. Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe is attending the swearing-in ceremony. The Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa had attended Modi's first swearing in ceremony in May 2014. In recent times, China's footprint in the Indian Ocean Region has been increasing posing threat to India's security interest. In April this year, when India issued a long no fly zone notice over the Bay of Bengal for ballistic missile tests from the Abdul Kalam island off the east cost of Odisha, the Indian Navy kept a close vigil on China's 'research ' vessels in the IOR. These research vehicles are equipped with large antennae, advanced sensors and electronic equipment to track the trajectory of ballistic missiles as well as electronic snooping. In deference to India's sensitivity, Sri Lanka has imposed a year-long moratorium on foreign research ships including Chinese vessels. China has already executed a 99-year lease of Hambontota port in Sri Lanka with the State entity Merchants Ports Holding. The port envisages building oil and gas terminals, berths and port facilities, like Gwadar port in Pakistan. Though China and Sri Lanka claim the port is merely a commercial venture, its future use as a strategic asset for China cannot be ruled out. Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth is also gracing the swearing-in ceremony. Besides close cultural and ethnic ties with India, Mauritius occupies an important position in India's security matrix in the Indian Ocean Region. In February this year Modi and his Mauritian counterpart together inaugurated a new airstrip and a jetty in the Agalega islands, boosting Mauritius's capability to curb illegal activities in its vast exclusive economic zone. IMAGE: Sheikh Hasina being received at Delhi airport on her arrival. Photograph: ANI Photo Bangladesh President Sheikh Hasina, who was recently re-elected, is also gracing the event. Besides, cultural, linguistic and historical convergence, Bangladesh is also a very important strategic partner of India. China is also engaged in Bangladesh in a big way through its Belt and Road Initiative including in developing ports. Bangladesh is also experiencing the debt burden of China. The leaders of two important land locked neighbours -- Nepal and Bhutan -- are also participating in the swearing in ceremony. China's penetration to the Himalayan kingdom in recent years has created some anxiety in India. Beijing's growing footprints in India's neighbourhood is not devoid of security implications. Taking advantage of the political slugfest in Nepal and the unease relations with India, Beijing has deepened its engagement with Nepal. Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda''s presence and meeting with Modi during his visit to Delhi is likely to boost India's relationship with Nepal. IMAGE: Modi and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay inaugurates the Gyaltsuen Jetsun Pema Wangchuck Mother and Child Hospital in Thimphu, March 23, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Bhutan Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay's presence at in the swearing in ceremony is no less significant. In India's Neighbourhood First outreach, Modi's first visit abroad after he became prime minister in 2014 was to Bhutan; he also visited Bhutan in February. The Himalayan Kingdom occupies important position in India's security. Bhutan and China are making progress in their boundary talks. New Delhi is watchful of the progress which may have security implications for India. The attendance of leaders of India's neighbours is Modi's first major diplomatic engagement before he travels to Italy to participate in the G-7 meeting in mid-June. Dr Rup Narayan Das is a former senior fellow at the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses and also Indian Council of Social Science Research. Views expressed are personal. Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com Unfortunately, the best man does not always win, but I feel enriched by the experience of the campaign and getting to know Rajeev Chandrasekhar, says Ambassador T P Sreenivasan. IMAGE: Rajeev Chandrasekhar during his election campaign at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, April 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo I am grateful to those who congratulated me when Rajeev Chandrasekhar was leading by more than 20,000 votes and to commiserate with me when he lost to Shashi Tharoor by 16,077 votes. As an independent former diplomat, my engagement in the political arena, though devoid of any formal party affiliation, saw me deeply involved in two significant campaigns for the Lok Sabha seat from Thiruvananthapuram. Shashi Tharoor won when I campaigned for him in 2009 and he won again when I campaigned for another candidate in 2024. The only difference is that his majority in 2009 was nearly a lakh and in 2024 was only 16,077. IMAGE: Shashi Tharoor addresses a press conference in Patna, May 24, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo I am disappointed that Rajeev did not win, because Kerala lost an opportunity to embrace a person with the experience of an entrepreneur, a wizard in technology, a visionary and someone committed to serve his home state. He can do well in Delhi or Silicon Valley, but we lost an opportunity to save Thiruvananthapuram from stagnation. IMAGE: Rajeev Chandrasekhar visits a fish market in Kovalan as part of the election campaign ahead of Lok Sabha Polls, in Thiruvananthapuram, April 19, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo When Rajeev Chandrasekhar was named as the NDA candidate, I was asked whether I would chair the NDA election committee on invitation. When Chandrasekhar came to Thiruvananthapuram, mine was the first home he visited and over lunch I pledged him support and agreed to be the chairman of the NDA election committee. Throughout the campaign, I played a strategic role, from accompanying Chandrasekhar and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during the nomination process to moderating key sessions, where he engaged with selected constituents from different walks of life. I also led the drafting of the candidate's Vision Statement, focusing on feasible and impactful promises, aligning with the principle of delivering on commitments. A significant part of my contribution was the rapid production of a biography of Chandrasekhar's achievements in technology, education, development, welfare of military veterans and his role as a minister in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Union council of ministers. The book, Rajeev Chandrasekhar: A Success Story gave the voters a clear idea of the qualities of THE head and heart of the candidate. IMAGE: Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra D Modi flanked by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, right, the BJP candidate for Thiruvananthapuram, and V Muraleedharan, left, the party nominee for Attingal, April 15, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo The main reason for Chandrasekhar's appeal was his personality, particularly his calmness of demeanour, his clear vision and charisma. He went virtually everywhere he could go and there were many who volunteered to host him to meet others. He had a number of people he brought along, but he won the loyalty of everyone and all of us worked as a team. He refused to be dragged into discussions on religion and caste and focused on what is required for the constituency. The assurance that 'Inikaryamnadakkum', (now things will be done) made a big difference. If only he had come to Thiruvananthapuram at least a month earlier, he could have increased his vote strength to the point of victory. Unfortunately, the best man does not always win. But I feel enriched by the experience of the campaign and getting to know Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Janata Dal-Secular leader H D Kumaraswamy on Sunday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given him an opportunity to serve as a Minister in the new Cabinet that will be sworn-in this evening, and credited the people of "Kannada Naadu" for it. Photograph: @hd_kumaraswamy/X While maintaining that he has not placed a demand for any portfolio, the former Chief Minister reiterated his desire to be the Agriculture Minister. "Under Narendra Modi's leadership a decision has been made, after discussion with BJP national President (JP Nadda), Home Minister (Amit Shah) and Defence Minister (Rajnath Singh). They have identified me and given me an opportunity. The entire credit for this has to go to people of Kannada Naadu in my opinion," Kumaraswamy said. Addressing reporters in New Delhi, he said his intention was to serve the people of the country and the state honestly, using the opportunity. "To implement Narendra Modi's vision I want to work honestly and thereby bring a good name to him and to our state. This is my resolve." The son of JD-S patriarch H D Deve Gowda has made no secret of his desire to become the Agriculture Minister, and has repeatedly expressed it before and after the polls. By winning the Mandya Lok Sabha seat, the former CM has not only managed to regain the JD(S)' lost bastion, but has also successfully managed to retrieve his party's lost political relevance in Karnataka, by allying with the BJP. Kumaraswamy defeated Venkataramane Gowda (also known as Star Chandru) of the Congress by a margin of 2,84,620 votes. Noting that he has left it to the PM to decide and has made no demand for any portfolio, Kumaraswamy while replying to a question, said, "If I get it, I will be happy, because I've been interested in Agriculture since beginning." "The Prime Minister has reposed faith in me, he has respect towards my father. I'm not interested in making money. Under Modi's leadership, I want to stay among people. I want to connect with people to resolve their issues, if I get such a portfolio, it will help me to serve as a Minister better," he said. Kumaraswamy asserted that JD-S performance in the Lok Sabha polls and his win is a "revival" for the party. "Narendra Modi's leadership and Kannadigas have given me and my party a revival. Kannadiga's have accepted the BJP-JD-S alliance and have given me the strength. I thank the people of the state, especially voters of Mandya and Bangalore Rural segments," he said. Citing health reasons for his father Deve Gowda's inability to travel to Delhi, Kumaraswamy said if he is able to successfully work and stay good to the faith that the people have reposed in him, he will be "happy". BJP leader Amit Shah in a poll rally last month had asked people of Ludhiana to send Ravneet Singh Bittu to Parliament, promising them that he will make him a 'bada aadmi' (a big man). Even though he lost from the Ludhiana parliamentary seat, Bittu became a minister of state in the third Narendra Modi-led cabinet. Bittu, 48, lost to Congress candidate and state unit chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat by a margin of 20,942 votes. Bittu is the grandson of late Beant Singh, who was assassinated in August 1995 when he was the Punjab chief minister. Bittu is a three-time MP -- twice from Ludhiana and once from Anandpur Sahib, both times on a Congress ticket. He defected to the BJP this March, leaving several Congress leaders surprised. At the time of joining, Bittu had praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, saying that they have a lot of affection for Punjab and want to do a lot for the state. The BJP later fielded him from the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat. During election campaigning, Bittu called Shah his friend, in turn, Shah promised to make Bittu a bada aadmi. "Isse (Bittu) Ludhiana se Delhi ki sansad mein bhejiye, isko bada aadmi banane ka kaam main karunga (send him from Ludhiana to Parliament in Delhi, I will make him a big man)," Shah had said in the Ludhiana rally. The BJP's move to induct Bittu as a minister in the Modi cabinet assumes significance as the saffron party seeks to spread its footprint in Punjab. In the just concluded 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP did not win any of 13 seats and even lost its stronghold Gurdaspur and Hoshiarpur. However, the vote share of BJP, which went solo in the Lok Sabha polls, doubled to 18.56 per cent, as compared to 9.63 per cent in 2019. Bittu was first elected as an MP from the Anandpur Sahib Lok Sabha constituency in 2009. He was elected MP from Ludhiana in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Bittu performed well in the constituency's urban assembly segments but he could not get a lead in rural assembly segments, which led to his defeat. Throughout the campaign, BJP candidates in Punjab faced protests from farmer groups. Bittu is the son of late Swaranjit Singh, who was one of five children of Beant Singh. His cousin Gurkirat Singh Kotli is still in Congress. Bittu, known for his strong views against pro-Khalistan leaders, had even opposed the demand for the release of Balwant Singh Rajoana, a convict in the assassination case of his grandfather. Several Sikh bodies have been demanding the release of many Sikh prisoners. In 2021, when the farmers' protest against the now-repealed laws was in full swing, Bittu was assaulted, pushed around and had his turban pulled off in what he called a "murderous attack" at the Singhu border during a 'Jan Sansad' programme. His vehicle was also damaged in the attack at the Guru Tegh Bahadur Ji Memorial where he had gone with Congress's leaders Gurjeet Singh Aujla and Kulbir Singh Zira to attend the event. His political rivals have always accused him of being inaccessible to people. Telugu Desam Party leader Ram Mohan Naidu will be sworn in as a cabinet minister and another party MP, Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani, as a minister of state in the new Modi government, a party leader has confirmed. IMAGE: Telugu Desam Party (TDP) supporters celebrate outside party office, in Amaravati on Tuesday. Photograph: ANI Photo TDP leader and industrialist Jayadev Galla posted congratulatory messages to the two leaders amid indications that other allies such as Ram Nath Thakur and Lalan Singh of the JD-U, Chirag Paswan of the LJP-R, Jitan Ram Manjhi of HAM-S, Jayant Chaudhary of the RLD are being considered as ministers. An aide of Manjhi claimed that he has been informed that he will be inducted in the government. Sources have said that allies will get representation in the government in which the BJP is expected to keep key portfolios like home, defence, finance and external affairs. BJP bigwigs like Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Piyush Goyal and Jyotiraditya Scindia are being seen as natural choices for cabinet berths besides S Jaishankar. However, there has been no official comment from the BJP on its ministerial choices. Former chief ministers like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Basavaraj Bommai and Sarbananda Sonowal are among other obvious contenders in an exercise in which the BJP will have to factor in its shock losses in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra to recover its ground. Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is expected to meet his ministerial choices before the oath-taking ceremony in the evening. Jitin Prasada was once considered as among Rahul Gandhi's 'young Turks' and was a minister in successive Manmohan Singh governments but defected from the Congress to the BJP in 2021, where he has again established himself as a prominent Brahmin face of Uttar Pradesh. IMAGE: BJP leader Jitin Prasada sworn-in as Union minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: ANI on X The 50-year-old returned to the Centre on Sunday after he took oath as a member of the Council of Ministers led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. His father Jitendra Prasada was a Congress veteran whose fortunes plunged following his decision to contest against Sonia Gandhi for the post of party president in 2000. Prasada, who joined the BJP before the 2022 UP Assembly elections and was made an MLC, holds the Public Works Department (PWD) department in the Yogi Adityanath government. He won from the Pilibhit Lok Sabha seat this time where the party replaced Varun He defeated his nearest rival Samajwadi Party's Bhagwat Saran Gangwar by a significant margin of 1,64,935 votes. The Prasada family had been associated with the Congress for three generations. Jitin Prasada had served as a Union minister twice in the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government. In 2001, Prasada became the Indian Youth Congress general secretary. He won his first election to Lok Sabha in 2004 from the Shahjahanpur seat that his father Jitendra Prasad once represented. In his very first tenure as an MP, he was inducted as minister of state and was one of the youngest ministers in the Manmohan Singh government. He was minister of steel during his first term (2004). He won a second term in the 2009 polls from the Dhaurahara seat after the Shahjahnapur seat went under delimitation. He held several portfolios, including as Minister of State for Human Resource Development, during the second Manmohan Singh government. However, he was in the political wilderness for some time after losing the 2014 Lok Sabha elections and three years later the UP Assembly elections (2017), besides facing defeat in the 2019 parliamentary polls. After the poll debacle, Prasada's decision to join the BJP was seen as a well-calculated political gambit at that time. Before joining the BJP, he had formed the Brahmin Chetna Parishad and tried to establish himself as a Brahmin leader. He travelled across Uttar Pradesh in 2020 and raked up issues pertaining to the Brahmin community and has also been vocal about them. In 2021, Prasada was made the incharge of the Congress campaign in West Bengal, where his party fared badly. He had studied at the Doon School and later pursued a degree in commerce from the Shri Ram College of Commerce in Delhi University. He completed his MBA from the International Management Institute in New Delhi. During elections, Prasada's campaign focused on the work done by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government in the last 10 years and often called himself a 'doot' (messenger) of Modi in his election meetings. Four years after three journalists and a group of residents in North-East Delhi's Bhajanpura area accused each other of assault, the police have questioned one of the scribes in the case. IMAGE: Kindly note that this image has been posted for representational purposes only. The journalist, Prabhjit Singh, who works with Caravan magazine, was served a notice on June 3 and asked to join the probe on June 7, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) Joy Tirkey said Singh joined the probe at Bhajanpura Police Station on June 7 and his statement was recorded. Further investigation in the matter is underway, he said. Giving details of the case, the officer said on August 11, 2020, at about 3 pm, a PCR call was received at Bhajanpura police station about an altercation involving some media-persons. According to the journalists, the incident occurred when they had gone to report a story in Bhajanpura. Both parties filed separate complaints against each other, after which two separate FIRs were registered, the police said. Singh had alleged that a woman reporter accompanying him was assaulted and molested by some persons at Subhash Mohalla in Bhajanpura, the officer said. He said Singh did not mention the names of the accused in his complaint. A woman resident also had filed a written complaint regarding the incident alleging Prabhjit Singh and his two fellow reporters including Shahid Tantray assaulted her and her husband. He said the complainant also alleged the trio did "negative reporting" promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. The officer said the woman resident's statement was recorded before a magistrate but the woman reporter has not joined the investigation so far. Caravan in a statement said it was a "worrying" development and neither it nor the named journalists were informed of any such FIR for four years. It said that on August 11, 2020, a mob assaulted three journalists working with it -- Shahid Tantray, Prabhjit Singh and a woman journalist -- in northeast Delhi's Subhash Mohalla neighbourhood. The journalists were subjected to communal slurs and threatened with murder; the woman reporter was sexually harassed, the magazine alleged. "These are shocking and worrying developments. The allegations in the FIR are absolutely false and fabricated. For four years, neither The Caravan nor the named journalists were ever informed of any such FIR," it said. "Although our complaints were filed on the day of the incident itself, the police did not register our FIR until three days later, on 14 August 2020. The police have informed us that our FIR is being considered a 'counter FIR'," it added. "We have joined the investigation and intend to comply fully with the due process of law. We will exercise our rights under the law to challenge these false accusations and have them dismissed," the statement added. GAZA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, said on Sunday that the Israeli army killed three hostages, including an American citizen, during its operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza Strip on Saturday. A video clip released by the Al-Qassam Brigades on their Telegram account showed images of three bodies, with their identities undisclosed and faces covered, displaying bloodstains. In the video, the brigades conveyed a message in Arabic, Hebrew, and English, saying, "Your hostages will only be released in exchange for our prisoners." There has been no immediate response from Israeli authorities to these developments. Israeli forces announced on Saturday that they rescued four Israeli hostages who were kidnapped by Hamas into the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7 last year. At least 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 others injured during the Israeli operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp, Hamas-run health authorities said on Sunday. After leading the Bharatiya Janata Party as its national president for more than four years, JP Nadda returned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers on Sunday. IMAGE: BJP Chief JP Nadda takes the oath as a Cabinet minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Photograph: Video grab The 63-year old took oath as a Cabinet minister, becoming the sole representative from Himachal Pradesh in the BJP-led government. It is not yet known which ministry will be assigned to him. He served as Union health minister in Modi's first term from November 9, 2014, to May 30, 2019. Nadda, who holds a degree in law, started his political journey with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He became president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing, in 1991. He held various key positions in the BJP, headed its election campaign in a host of states -- from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab. He also served as a minister in BJP's governments in his home state of Himachal Pradesh. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and made a member of the BJP's parliamentary board in 2014 when Amit Shah took over as party president. After the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Nadda was made the BJP's working president. He was later elevated to the position of BJP president in January 2020 after Shah, the then BJP chief, was appointed as Union home minister. Nadda took over as BJP chief at a time when the party was witnessing vigorous challenges from a united opposition in assembly elections in several states amid signs that it needed to rework its electoral strategy. Despite its overwhelming win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP suffered several defeats in assembly polls since 2018, except in Haryana where it formed a government in an alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party. The BJP won new allies and strung up a series of impressive assembly wins on Nadda's watch. During his term as BJP chief, the party consolidated its strongholds and expanded its footprints despite some occasional setbacks. With his term coming to an end in June, the low-key leader from Himachal Pradesh would have liked to demit office on the high of having achieved yet another impressive Lok Sabha poll win but the BJP's victory in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls came with reduced numbers. The party fell short of a majority on its own as it won just 240 seats in the parliamentary polls. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats, setting the course for a third consecutive term as prime minister for Modi despite the opposition's resurgence. Nadda is considered within the party an epitome of political correctness, with his manners unfailingly polite in public and his attacks on rivals never triggering any unseemly controversy. He enjoys warm relations with Modi, who was for a long time in charge of the party's affairs in Himachal Pradesh. He was trolled during the Lok Sabha poll campaign, but despite the tactics by his rivals, action hero Suresh Gopi rose to national stardom in cinema style on June 4, winning the Thrissur seat on a BJP ticket and scripting history for the saffron party in Kerala. IMAGE: Suresh Gopi is administered the oath of office and secrecy by President Droupadi Murmu, New Delhi, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo In other words, the saffron party's decades-long struggle in Kerala -- a state historically dominated by the Left and the Congress -- and marked by numerous challenges since the Jan Sangh days, finally yielded fruit in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls through Gopi. Post-victory also, Gopi's political career saw cinematic twists, with his initial reluctance to accept a ministerial berth in the government, citing his commitment to the people of Thrissur and agreements he had signed for a couple of movies, one of which is produced by the company of megastar Mammootty, whom he affectionately calls Mammookka. He had returned to Kerala after attending the NDA MPs' meeting two days ago, but he got a call from Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday, asking him to reach Delhi immediately. "He (Modi) decided. I obeyed," Gopi said before rushing to the airport with his family. Known for his 'mass' performances in action and drama films, Gopi's nearly decade-long efforts helped him turn the BJP's long-held dream into reality by winning the central Kerala constituency of Thrissur by a thumping margin of nearly 75,000 votes. The common workers as well as the top brass of the BJP are elated by the national film award winner's poll victory from the Thrissur Lok Sabha seat. The constituency holds a special place in Narendra Modi's heart, as it is home to the Guruvayur Lord Krishna temple, a famous Vaishnavite shrine he visited soon after assuming office as prime minister for the second consecutive term in 2019. Thrissur witnessed a three-way contest for the Lok Sabha polls, with major candidates from the Congress, BJP, and CPI locked in a neck-and-neck battle. Modi's two visits to the district this year prior to the announcement of the poll date -- one for attending a rally of the BJP Mahila Morcha and another to take part in the wedding of Gopi's daughter -- and a third one for campaigning for the NDA candidates in Thrissur and other nearby constituencies emphasised how much significance the saffron party attached to this key seat. Thrissur, often referred to as the cultural capital of Kerala, is known for its vibrant mix of urban and rural populations. The constituency boasts significant Hindu, Christian, and Muslim communities, contributing to its rich cultural and religious diversity. Gopi's campaign in the seat was marked by controversies, with the CPI-M-led LDF and the Congress-led UDF targeting him for his cinema-style approach to reaching out to minorities, particularly the Christian community, who constitute a significant vote base in Thrissur. Violence in Manipur and the alleged attacks against Christians in other parts of the country, especially in BJP-ruled states, were the main topics highlighted by both fronts to target the BJP and its candidate Gopi in the seat during the campaign. Gopi's visit to the famous Lourde Matha Church in Thrissur city with his family and the presentation of a golden crown to the idol of St Mary during his daughter's wedding were used by his opponents to attack him, alleging that it was not made of the yellow metal but copper. The actor and his family countered the propaganda against him by singing a melodious Christian devotional song in an album, winning the hearts of many. Gopi was also trolled by his opponents for visiting a mosque and participating in breaking of the fast on a Ramadan eve during his election campaign. Born in southern Kollam district, Gopi, a household name in Malayalam cinema, transitioned into politics with his nomination to the Rajya Sabha. After an unsuccessful bid for the Thrissur seat in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and a defeat in the Thrissur assembly seat in the 2021 assembly polls, Gopi geared up for another run in 2024. Despite the previous setbacks, Gopi, known for his philanthropic activities, made positive interventions in the lives of the people of the Thrissur constituency. His celebrity status helped Gopi effectively connect with a cross-section of society, making his campaigns vibrant and engaging. Known for his assertive and dynamic roles in movies such as Kaliyattam, for which he won the national award in 1998, the actor brings the same enthusiasm to his political actions. Close to Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, Gopi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2016, where he served until 2022. His tenure as a Rajya Sabha member allowed him to advocate for development and cultural nationalism, aligning closely with the saffron party's core ideology. The action hero's public speeches and interactions reflected his perceived straightforward personality, appealing to both his fans and the electorate. There were instances of fans turning into political foes after he strongly advocated for the BJP government's programmes while criticising the works of the Congress and Left in the state. He took on the UDF candidate, senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan, and Left leader and former Kerala minister, CPI's Sunil Kumar, in Thrissur this time, going on to win from the constituency. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge would be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the prime minister on Sunday evening, sources close to him said. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge was probably the lone opposition leader, who attended the swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as the prime minister on Sunday evening. Though an invite was sent to some other opposition leaders too, Kharge was among those who attended the prime minister's oath-taking ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Modi took oath as the prime minister for the third time in a row on Sunday evening. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath to him at a function attended by several dignitaries, including some heads of state of neighbouring countries. None of the opposition leaders attended the oath-taking of Modi and his cabinet and Kharge represented the INDIA bloc there. TMC leader Sagarika Ghosh posted her invitation letter on X earlier and said that she would not be attending the ceremony. "Respected @rashtrapatibhvn. Thank you for your kind invitation. I regret that since we in the Opposition do not accept the moral legitimacy of the swearing in of Shri @narendramodi who has lost the mandate of the people, I have made a personal decision not to attend," she wrote on X. Another TMC leader said, "Our leader (Mamata Banerjee) has already announced, we are not attending the swearing in." Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, arrived in Delhi on Sunday to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and the Union council of ministers. IMAGE: Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu arrives in Delhi, June 9, 2024. Photographs: ANI Photo Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay also reached Delhi for the ceremony where Modi will take the oath for the third straight term along with his ministerial colleagues. Bangladesh President Sheikh Hasina and Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif arrived in Delhi on Saturday. Among the foreign leaders, Muizzu's visit has assumed greater significance as it came against the backdrop of the ties between India and the Maldives witnessing significant strain. It is Muizzu's first visit to India after he became the island nation's president on November 17 last year. The swearing-in ceremony is scheduled to start at 7:15 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. "President @MMuizzu of Maldives arrives to a warm welcome in New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on 'X'. "India and Maldives are maritime partners and close neighbours," he added. On Saturday, Muizzu said he looked forward to working with Modi to further strengthen the close relations with India, noting that the relationship between the two countries is heading in the "positive direction". The ties between India and the Maldives came under severe strain after Muizzu, known for his pro-China leanings, took charge of the top office. Within hours of his oath, he had demanded the withdrawal of Indian military personnel from his country. The Indian military personnel were replaced by civilians earlier this month. After the arrival of Tobgay, Jaiswal said the visit would "further strengthen close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan." IMAGE: Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth is greeted on his arrival in New Delhi, June 9, 2024. On the visit by Wickremesinghe, the MEA spokesperson said India and Sri Lanka are civilisational partners and enjoy strong and enduring bilateral ties. Nepal PM Prachanda was the last one to arrive in Delhi. "The visit reflects the unique India-Nepal ties and will also provide further impetus to our multifaceted relationship," Jaiswal said on 'X'. "The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision," the Ministry of External Affairs said. India has been cooperating with the countries of the Indian Ocean region under the broader policy framework of SAGAR or Security and Growth for all in the Region. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the foreign leaders will also attend a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu. Modi is likely to hold separate bilateral meetings with the foreign leaders. The leaders of regional grouping SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) countries attended Modi's first swearing-in ceremony when he took the reins as the prime minister after a massive electoral victory for BJP. Leaders of the BIMSTEC countries attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony in 2019 when he became the prime minister for the second consecutive term. This time, though the BJP could not get a majority on its own in the recent Lok Sabha polls, the party-led alliance secured 293 seats out of 543. The majority mark in the lower house is 272. Meanwhile, Bangladesh PM Hasina called on BJP patriarch LK Advani at his residence. As Modi takes guard for a third term with trusted and seasoned hands around him, the BJP is hopeful that he will prove his detractors wrong and continue to fuel the party's expansion horizontally and vertically with his inventive policies in government and new set of ideas in politics with the core of Hindutva, development and welfarism remaining intact. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi signs documents after taking the oath of office for a third straight term. Photograph: President of India Prime Minister Narendra Modi scripted history on Sunday as he took the oath of office for a third straight term, becoming the first non-Congress leader and second after Jawaharlal Nehru to achieve the feat that few thought possible for a Bharatiya Janata Party leader until he shook up national politics in 2014. His third term, which always appeared inevitable, did not come with the massive mandate he and his party had been claiming with their typical bravado, as the Congress and its allies in the INDIA bloc fought a doughty rearguard battle to shock the BJP in its strongholds like Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is, however, a tribute to his towering political presence that the BJP's third-best tally of 240 seats is being seen as a disappointment by the party's ardent supporters and projected as a "moral defeat" by the Congress whose own tally of 99 seats, its third worst, is being hailed by the opposition party. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance has won 293 seats, which Modi has noted is the biggest success for any pre-poll alliance when a single party did not get a majority. Despite the challenges thrown by the polls, Modi, 73, remains the fulcrum around which Indian politics is bound to revolve in the coming years, while he himself will have to negotiate the sharp bends and blind turns of coalition politics for the first time since he entered the electoral politics as Gujarat chief minister in 2001. Since leading the BJP for the first time in the Gujarat assembly polls in 2002, held in the shadow of the riots in the state following the Godhra train burning incident, Modi has never looked back, remaking the substance and sentiments of politics like few before him. While his detractors had written him off politically in 2002, he has gone from strength to strength, becoming a winning mix of Hindutva and development for his party. He has been since leading his party to victory and power in 2002, 2007 and 2012 in Gujarat, and then in 2014 and 2019 at the Centre. It is though different this time as the BJP has lost majority on its own. The prime minister is facing the strongest opposition since he first took office in 2014. Critics have also questioned his ability to set the political agenda on his terms after the opposition dented the BJP in several states, not the least in the saffron citadel of Uttar Pradesh where the SP-Congress alliance trumped the BJP-led combine. Having seen the vagaries of politics during over a decade and a half of tenure in the BJP's organisation, Modi has presented a picture of unflappable confidence in analysing the results, making no allowances for the opposition's surprise successes in parts of the country. That the BJP has scored an almost clean sweep of Lok Sabha polls in Odisha and won a majority in its assembly for the first time besides doubling its tally of MPs in Telangana and opening its account for the first time in Kerala, underscores the durability and wide resonance of his appeal, BJP leaders have pointed out. As Modi takes guard for a third term with trusted and seasoned hands around him, the BJP is hopeful that he will prove his detractors wrong and continue to fuel the party's expansion horizontally and vertically with his inventive policies in government and new set of ideas in politics with the core of Hindutva, development and welfarism remaining intact. He will soon be tested in another set of elections, this time in assembly polls in Haryana and Maharashtra, the two states where the BJP has suffered setbacks and contests are due around October. Bharatiya Janata Party's National Democratic Alliance partners have got five cabinet ministerial berths in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as against none in the outgoing government, given the party's dependence on allies for a majority in the Lok Sabha. IMAGE: President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar pose for a group picture with the newly sworn-in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Council of Ministers during a ceremony, at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo While the outgoing council of ministers had two ministers of state from BJP's allies -- Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal-Sonelal and Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India-Athawale -- this time, there are two ministers of states with independent charge and four ministers of state (MoS). H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular, Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh of the Janata Dal-United, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas took oath as cabinet ministers on Sunday at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prataprao Jadhav of the Shiv Sena and Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal took oath as MoS with independent charge. There were no MoS with independent charge from BJP's allies in the second Narendra Modi government. While Athawale and Patel have been retained as ministers of state, new representatives from allies among junior ministers include Ramnath Thakur of the Janata Dal-United and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of the Telugu Desam Party. The BJP had absolute majority in the previous two terms -- the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas -- which reflected in the council of ministers with only a few alliance partners being given space. In the first Modi cabinet, formed after the BJP came to power in 2014 with 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, four cabinet berths went to allies. Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party was given the consumer affairs ministry, Ashok Gajpati Raju of the Telugu Desam Party got the civil aviation ministry, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal became the food processing minister and Anant Geete of the Shiv Sena was the heavy industries and public enterprises minister. Four MoS positions had also gone to BJP allies in the first Modi government, including in the human resource development ministry for Rashtriya Lok Samta Party leader Upendra Kushwaha. Telugu Desam Party's Y S Chowdhury became MoS in the science and earth sciences ministries in November 2014. Ram Das Athawale of the RPI-A became MoS in the social justice ministry and Patel of the Apna Dal-S MoS in the health ministry in the July 2016 reshuffle in the council of ministers. Among them, the two ministers from the Telugu Desam Party resigned in March 2018 over their party's demand to give special status to Andhra Pradesh. A week later, the Telugu Desam Party quit the NDA. In December 2018, Kushwaha resigned from the ministry and left the alliance, accusing Modi of not fulfilling his election promises for Bihar. In the second Modi government, when the BJP came back to the Lok Sabha with an improved tally of 303, all together seven leaders from allied parties served in different ministerial positions over its five year tenure. Soon after winning, it gave ministerial berths to allies such as the Lok Janshakti Party, Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Paswan was given the consumer affairs ministry, a position that he held till his death in October 2020. Harsimrat Badal was again given the charge of the food processing Ministry, which she held till September 2020, when she resigned in view of the farmers' protest. The Shiromani Akali Dal later left the alliance. Arvind Savant of the Shiv Sena was made the heavy industries and public enterprises minister, but he resigned in November 2019 amid an ongoing power tussle between the BJP and his party following 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. As the Lok Janshakti Party split in two factions after Ram Vilas Paswan's death, Pashupati Paras, his brother, was given the food processing ministry in July 2021. He resigned just ahead of the 2024 general elections as the BJP came to a seat-sharing agreement with LJP-RV, the faction led by Ram Vilas's son Chirag Paswan. Ramchandra Prasad of the Janata Dal-United was made the minister for steel in July 2021, and continued on the post till 6 July 2022. In the second Modi cabinet, Athawale held the post of MoS Social Justice and Patel was the MoS Commerce. Canada's intelligence agency chief David Vigneault paid two under-the-wraps visits to India in February and March to apprise Indian officials of the case relating to the killing of Khalistani extremist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, people familiar with the matter said. Image only for representation. Photograph: Lars Hagberg/Reuters Vigneault, the director of the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS), is learnt to have shared information that emerged during Ottawa's investigation into the killing. The ties between India and Canada came under severe strain following Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's allegations in September last year of the 'potential' involvement of Indian agents in the killing of Nijjar. New Delhi rejected Trudeau's charges as 'absurd'. Vigneault's visits to India came weeks before Canada arrested three Indian nationals -- Karanpreet Singh (28), Kamalpreet Singh (22) and Karan Brar (22) -- on charges of alleged involvement in Nijjar's killing. Subsequently, a fourth Indian, Amandeep Singh, was arrested by the Canadian authorities. Nijjar, who was declared a terrorist by India, was shot dead outside a gurdwara in British Columbia in Surrey on June 18 last year. The murder is being probed by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). A government of Canada official said: "We can confirm that the Director of CSIS, David Vigneault, has travelled to India but we do not comment on the nature or substance of closed-door meetings." "With that said, since Canada became aware of the credible allegations, we have consistently provided all the information we can to India on the Nijjar case, through multiple channels," he said. "This has also been noted by Prime Minister Trudeau and Canada's minister for public safety on the public record," he added. The official said, "Canada's priorities from the start have been to ensure truth and accountability. This is in both our countries' interest. In this regard, Canada continues to underscore the importance of the ongoing, independent investigation led by the RCMP." "Given the ongoing police investigation by the RCMP's Integrated Homicide Investigation Team, we refer you to the RCMP for questions on evidence regarding the Hardeep Singh Nijjar case," he said. There was no comment from the Indian side when asked about Vigneault's visits. The people cited above said besides Vigneault, some other Canadian officials also visited India this year apparently to discuss various aspects of the case related to Nijjar's murder. India has officially been maintaining that it has not received any specific information relating to the case from Canada. New Delhi has been maintaining that the main issue has been that of Canada giving space to pro-Khalistani elements operating from Canadian soil with impunity. In the last few months, India has been expressing concern over the security of its diplomats in Canada and calling on Ottawa to ensure that they can carry out their responsibilities without fear. There have been instances of pro-Khalistani elements threatening to harm Indian diplomats. Days after Trudeau's allegations last year, India asked Ottawa to downsize its diplomatic presence in the country to ensure parity. Canada subsequently withdrew 41 diplomats and their family members from India. The Nationalist Congress Party on Sunday turned down the Bharatiya Janata Party's offer to accommodate Praful Patel as a minister of state with independent charge in the new National Democratic Alliance government and said it was assured that 'remedial measures' would be taken. IMAGE: Nationalist Congress Party leader Praful Patel addresses a press conference in Mumbai. Photograph: ANI Photo Patel, the working president of Bharatiya Janata Party ally NCP, argued that since he had already served as a cabinet minister in the Union government, assuming office as a minister of state with independent charge would be a 'demotion' for him. "We have conveyed this to the BJP leadership and have been asked to wait for some days till it takes remedial measures," Patel told reporters in New Delhi on a day when Narendra Modi was sworn-in as prime minister for the third time. As per the power-sharing arrangements, the NCP was offered one post in the Council of Ministers of the NDA government led by Modi. BJP leaders Devendra Fadnavis and Vinod Tawde called on Patel, who was reportedly upset at the 'demotion' in the Union government. The NCP has two members in the Parliament -- Patel in the Rajya Sabha and Sunil Tatkare in the Lok Sabha. The NCP is likely to increase its tally in the Rajya Sabha by two in the next few months. Fadnavis said the BJP had decided on a criterion for handing out ministerial berths to coalition partners on the basis of their strengths in the Parliament. "We had offered one berth of minister with independent charge to the NCP but it was insistent that (Rajya Sabha MP) Praful Patel's name be finalised. Due to his (Patel's) experience, the NCP believed he could not be made MoS with independent charge," he said. "In a coalition government, a formula has to be drawn, which cannot be broken for one party. I can confidently say whenever cabinet expansion takes place, the (Union) government will consider the NCP. We did try to include NCP right now, but they insisted on cabinet portfolio," the senior BJP leader asserted. NCP president Ajit Pawar said he supported the NDA and was seen at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi. Speaking to reporters in Delhi, Ajit Pawar asserted the NCP 'was ready to wait' but wanted a cabinet berth. "We have one Lok Sabha member (Sunil Tatkare) and one Rajya Sabha MP (Praful Patel). In the coming months, we will have two additional Rajya Sabha MPs. We will have four MPs (then). We should (then) get a cabinet berth. We are ready to wait but want a cabinet berth," Pawar said. While Patel said there is no 'problem in the alliance' on this issue, party chief Ajit Pawar asserted the NCP was supporting the NDA in the interest of the nation. The Ajit Pawar-led NCP, part of the ruling alliance in Maharashtra along with the BJP and the Shiv Sena, performed poorly in the Lok Sabha polls, managing to win just one seat (Raigad) from the four it contested. It also lost the prestige battle in Baramati, where Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar was trounced by sitting NCP-SP MP Supriya Sule. A strategist and a quintessential political leader with grassroots connect, Rajnath Singh is credited with expanding the Bharatiya Janata Party's organisational network in the Hindi heartland state of Uttar Pradesh in the 1990s and the subsequent decades. IMAGE: BJP leaders Narendra Modi and Rajnath Singh before taking the oath during the swearing-in ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Photograph: ANI Photo Hailing from the Chandauli district of the politically crucial state, Singh is known as a moderate face and is widely respected by leaders cutting across party lines. The 72-year-old Singh, whose illustrious political career spanned over five decades, on Sunday took oath as a member of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Cabinet. Long seen as a protege of BJP patriarch Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Singh started his political career as a student activist with Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and went on to become the BJP national president in 2005. The senior BJP leader was elected for another term as the party president in January 2013. In the Lok Sabha polls, Singh retained the prestigious Lucknow constituency. In the first tenure of Prime Minister Modi, Singh served as Union home minister. As the defence minister since 2019, he initiated several path-breaking measures to strengthen India's combat readiness along the border with China as well as boost the country's defence manufacturing. Under his leadership, the defence ministry pursued an aggressive policy to enhance infrastructure along the frontier region that significantly helped faster military mobilisation in sensitive sectors. His tenure as the defence minister also saw India ramping up its maritime prowess in the strategic waterways in the Indian Ocean region. Born on July 10, 1951, in a farmer's family at village Babhora in Tehsil Chakia of Varanasi district (now district Chandauli) in Uttar Pradesh, Singh received his basic education in his native place and completed his MSc in Physics from Gorakhpur University. He worked as a lecturer of Physics at KB Post-Graduate College Mirzapur. Singh became the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh karyavah (general secretary) of Mirzapur city in 1972 and served as the organisational secretary of ABVP Gorakhpur division from 1969 to 1971. He entered politics in 1974 and in 1977, he was elected as an MLA in the Uttar Pradesh Assembly. Singh was elected as MLC for Uttar Pradesh Legislative Council in 1988 and became Education Minister in 1991. Singh became a member of the Rajya Sabha in 1994. On November 22, 1999, he became the Union Surface Transport Minister in the Vajpayee government. Singh became the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh on October 28, 2000, and was twice elected as MLA from Haidargarh constituency in Barabanki. On May 24, 2003, he became Union Minister of Agriculture. Singh assumed charge as BJP national president on December 31, 2005, a post he held till December 19, 2009. In May 2009, he was elected MP from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Proving wrong his detractors' claim of being sidelined after denial of chief minister's post for fifth time last year, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan won Madhya Pradesh's Vidisha Lok Sabha seat for the sixth time by a record margin of 8.21 lakh votes. IMAGE: : BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan being sworn in as a Union minister by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Sunday. Photograph: ANI Photo The former four-time MP chief minister, popularly known as 'mama' (maternal uncle) and 'paon-paon wale bhaiya' (foot soldier), assiduously worked on his 'soil of the soil' image and identified himself with the socio-economic concerns of farmers, villagers, women and children in the state. During his more than 18-year-tenure as the CM, barring 15 months of Congress rule (in 2018), Chouhan transformed himself from being a shy, simple and vulnerable politician to a wily leader with a mass appeal and unparallel hard work. Having the image of a soft-spoken man coupled with simplicity, the 65-year-old leader led the BJP's campaign in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls in the state, presenting himself as one among the people, promising further development and no dearth of funds for populist schemes launched under his leadership. On Sunday, Chouhan became the Union cabinet minister for the first time in his more than three-decade-long political career. His induction into the Union cabinet was amply clear after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded him at a rally in Madhya Pradesh before the Lok Sabha polls. "Our brother Shivraj ji is the candidate from Vidisha. We both used to work together in the organisation, we both were chief ministers. When Shivraj went to Parliament, we were working together as the general secretary of the party. Now I want to take him with me (to Delhi) once again." Born on March 5, 1959 in a farming family of Prem Singh Chouhan and Sundar Bai Chouhan at Jait village in Sehore district, Shivraj Singh Chouhan's political journey began with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) when he was just 13 years old. His leadership skills first came to the fore when he was elected president of the Model Higher Secondary School students' union in 1975. He participated in the underground movement against Emergency and was imprisoned in 1976-77 and also on many other occasions for political agitations and public causes. A volunteer of the RSS since 1977, Chouhan is a gold medalist in Masters of Philosophy from the Barkatullah University in Bhopal. He also served as general secretary of the BJP and president of the party's MP unit. Chouhan was first elected to the MP assembly from Budhni constituency in 1990. He was elected as member of Parliament for the first time from Vidisha constituency the following year. He was re-elected from the seat in 1996, 1998, 1999 and 2004. He won his fifth Lok Sabha election with an impressive margin of over 2,60,000 votes. In the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, Chief Minister Mohan Yadav and Chouhan campaigned extensively for the BJP in the state where the party won all the 29 Lok Sabha seats, including Congress bastion Chhindwara, which the saffron party failed to win in 2019. Though Chouhan was not projected as the BJP's chief ministerial face in the 2023 MP assembly polls, he turned the tables in favour of his party by launching game-changer schemes like the Ladli Behna to beat anti-incumbency against his then government. In 2020, when the then Congress government collapsed, the BJP central leadership, in a surprise move, chose Chouhan as the CM for the fourth term when the COVID-19 pandemic was peaking in the state. Though the opposition Congress has linked Chouhan to the multi-crore Vyapam scam, he emerged unscathed. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has given him a clean chit in the case. An Israeli fighter jet is seen above Kiryat Shmona, near northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on June 9, 2024. Two members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah were killed and three civilians injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages, Lebanese military sources said. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) BEIRUT, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Two members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah were killed and three civilians injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages, Lebanese military sources said. The sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said one Hezbollah member was killed in an Israeli airstrike on the southeastern Lebanese village of Houla, while the other was killed in an airstrike on the village of Aitaroun. According to the sources, two civilians were injured in Israeli airstrikes in the village of Aita al-Shaab in southern Lebanon, while the third civilian was injured in Israeli artillery shelling in the southeastern village of Kafr Kila. Hezbollah said in a statement that it launched surface-to-air missiles at an Israeli warplane that violated the airspace of southern Lebanon on Sunday. According to the Lebanese military sources, the Lebanese army has monitored the launch of surface-to-air missiles towards four Israeli F-16 warplanes, prompting one of the Israeli aircraft to release dozens of thermal balloons to protect the plane from the missiles. Tensions along the Lebanon-Israel border escalated on Oct. 8, 2023, following a barrage of rockets launched by Hezbollah towards Israel in solidarity with Hamas' attack on Israel the day before. Israel then retaliated by firing heavy artillery toward southeastern Lebanon. Since the beginning of the confrontations, 512 people have been killed on the Lebanese side, including 327 Hezbollah members and 96 civilians, according to figures released by Lebanese security and medical authorities. An Israeli fighter jet is seen above Kiryat Shmona, near northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on June 9, 2024. Two members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah were killed and three civilians injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages, Lebanese military sources said. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) An Israeli fighter jet is seen above Kiryat Shmona, near northern Israeli border with Lebanon, on June 9, 2024. Two members of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah were killed and three civilians injured on Sunday in Israeli airstrikes on Lebanese villages, Lebanese military sources said. (Photo by Gil Cohen Magen/Xinhua) This photo shows an Israeli warplane releasing thermal balloons to protect the plane from Hezbollah rockets in Marjayoun, Lebanon, June 9, 2024. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) This photo shows an Israeli warplane releasing thermal balloons to protect the plane from Hezbollah rockets in Marjayoun, Lebanon, June 9, 2024. (Photo by Ali Hashisho/Xinhua) Odisha's outgoing chief minister Naveen Patnaik's close aide and senior Biju Janata Dal leader V K Pandian on Sunday announced his withdrawal from active politics in wake of the regional party's defeat in the Lok Sabha and assembly polls. IMAGE: Outgoing Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik with his close aide V K Pandian. Photograph: ANI Photo In a video message, the bureaucrat-turned-politician said, "Now I consciously decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone in this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play the Biju Janata Dal's loss. My apologies to the entire Biju Parivaar including all the 'karmis' for this." Pandian said his only intention to join politics was to assist Patnaik and that is why he did not contest the elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party stormed to power in Odisha, ending the 24-year rule of the BJD, by winning 78 seats in the 147-member assembly. The Patnaik-led party, on the other hand, bagged 51 seats, while the Congress won 14 constituencies, the Communist Party of India-Marxist one. The BJD failed to win any of the Lok Sabha seats in the state, with the BJP bagging 20 and the Congress one. He said, "I will always keep Odisha in core of my heart and my Guru Naveen Babu in my breath." You are the owner of this article. BRATTLEBORO A Westminster man was sentenced to 22 months in jail, with credit for time served, and a 15-year term of probation. Jason Muxlow, 45, received the sentence Wednesday in Windham Superior Court, Criminal Division, after pleading guilty to three felony counts of possession of child sexual abuse material in August 2023. By the time of the hearing, he had already finished his sentence. For probation, Muxlow will need to complete sex offender programming and have no contact with minors. His access to the internet will be restricted. If Muxlow violates the terms of his probation, he faces six to 15 years in jail. He also is required to register as a sex offender for 10 years after he is discharged from probation. Westminster man pleads guilty to child pornography possession BRATTLEBORO A Westminster man who has spent close to the last two years in jail pleaded gu Muxlow was arrested by the Vermont Attorney General's Vermont Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force after Google reported that his internet addresses were trafficking in child sexual abuse material. The materials showed children as young as 5 years old, including one with the child and an animal having sex, court records stated. An investigation by the task force resulted in Muxlow being arrested at his home on Atkinson Road in Westminster. He also has a criminal record in Florida for similar child pornography charges. The task force "investigates cases of child sexual exploitation occurring over the internet, including the production and online distribution of child sexual abuse materials," according to a news release from the Office of the Vermont Attorney General announcing details about the sentencing. The task force also provides forensic examination services, technical assistance, law enforcement training, and public education and outreach. "Every child deserves a safe childhood," the news release states. The AG's Office noted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as a resource for reporting online exploitation of children and providing support. Those who left under the British National (Overseas) passport program are cut off by Hong Kong government policies. In April 2023, Hong Kong Watch found that Hong Kongers were being denied access to up to 2.2 billion (US$2.8 billion) of their hard-earned Mandatory Provident Fund retirement savings. Fast forward one year, and the number has only increased to over 3 billion (US$3.8 billion). This act of transnational repression is placing an unnecessary financial and mental strain on an estimated tens of thousands of Hong Kongers in the UK and Canada who moved abroad under British National (Overseas) (BNO) passports, set up to allow a permanent residence pathway for them. The Mandatory Provident Fund (MPF) is a compulsory retirement savings scheme for the people of Hong Kong. Hong Kongers can ordinarily withdraw their entire account early if they make a statutory declaration that they have departed Hong Kong permanently with no intention of returning to resettle. However, the Mandatory Provident Fund Authority, which oversees the provision of MPF schemes, released a statement in March 2021 saying that because the BNO passport was no longer recognised by the Hong Kong government as a valid travel document and proof of identity as of Jan. 2021. This means that those trying to withdraw their savings early cannot rely on the BNO passport or visa to support an application for early withdrawal of their funds. A protester raises his British National Overseas passports during a candlelight vigil to mark the 31st anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, in Hong Kong, June 4, 2020. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) Despite this, the MPF-related legislation, regulations, and terms of the deeds governing entitlement to MPF benefits in Hong Kong remain unchanged. Under the MPF trust deed, trustees including those based overseas like HSBC, Standard Chartered, Manulife and Sun Life, have a legal obligation to release MPF to beneficiaries who are able to provide evidence of their right to reside in a foreign country. There is no reason that a BNO passport or visa should be denied under this deed. However, the latest research from Hong Kong Watch includes case studies detailing how Hong Kongers continue to be denied access to their MPF on the grounds that they hold a BNO passport or visa. This includes many Hong Kong families in the UK, from a single mother who is unable to afford a heater for her son due to being denied 57,000 (US$70,000) worth of her MPF, to a family of five that is unable to afford a wheelchair accessible property for their severely disabled child due to the withholding of their MPF. Individual hardship Others with withheld savings struggle to adapt to their new environments for financial reasons, to assist relatives in escaping from increasing repression in Hong Kong, and to start desired business ventures in the UK or Canada. Since 2021 and as recently as last month, Hong Kong Watch has documented numerous rejection letters from MPF trustees to Hong Kongers denying the early withdrawal of their MPF on the grounds that the BNO visa or passport is not a valid form of identification per the Hong Kong governments lawless declaration. I have spoken with a Hong Konger who has 90,000 (US$114,000) frozen in MPF assets, and another who had obtained Canadian permanent residency and was still denied access to their MPF by Manulife for simply arriving in Canada with a BNO passport. The latter case is especially concerning, particularly after Manulifes Global Head of Government Relations for Canada, Maryscott Greenwood, testified before the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration on Monday and claimed that Manulife had never denied a Hong Konger access to their savings on the basis of holding a BNO visa. Having seen a written transcript of a call between the Hong Konger who was denied access to their MPF and Manulife, in which Manulife said, even if you hold Canadian PR, its ineligible to withdraw the fund as a BNO passport holder, this is simply not true. Maryscott Greenwood, Manulifes global head of Government Relations for Canada, testifies via video before the Canadian Parliaments Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration, June 3, 2024. (Image from Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration video) Sun Lifes Head of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Laura Hewitt, also testified in the hearing. It was unfortunate but unsurprising that despite having productive meetings with Hong Kong Watch prior to the hearing, both Manulife and Sun Life executives delivered cautious, pre-prepared answers and repeatedly failed to respond to direct yes or no questions from the Canadian Parliament. Fortunately, members of the Canadian Parliament including Tom Kmiec, Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe, Greg McLean, Paul Chiang, Faycal El-Khoury, and Jenny Kwan, who is herself a prior BNO visa holder, were not satisfied with these non-answers. The MPs pressed the business representatives on why they have withheld Hong Kongers own savings from them since 2021. Tom Kmiec asked both companies: Why are you still operating in an autocratic, totalitarian regime that is dominated by Beijing? The question remains unanswered. Tasks for London and Ottawa The next UK government should vow to provide clarification to UK-based MPF trustees that the BNO visa is intended to lead to permanent settlement and British citizenship to show their support for Hong Kongers in Britain. London should also pledge to raise and condemn this form of transnational repression with their counterparts in Hong Kong. On the campaign trail, the future UK government has the opportunity to present these pledges to 140,000 eligible Hong Kong BNO voters. The Canadian government should work with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada to change the designation of BNO passport and visa holders from GBN )Great Britain) to CHN (China) or HKG (Hong Kong) on Canadian permanent residency cards to prevent further retaliation from the Hong Kong government. A man waves to family members before leaving for the United Kingdom at the Hong Kong International Airport, June 30, 2021. (Tyrone Siu/Reuters) With a current backlog of 9,000 permanent residency applications for Hong Kongers in Canada, this will only become a greater administrative issue in the near future if IRCC labels the nationality of these people as GBN and GBN becomes a lever for transnational repression. The backlog of permanent residency applications from 2023 should be cleared within the next two months, and the designation on those applications should be changed to CHN or HKG, depending on what is best for the Hong Kong community in terms of maintaining their distinctive identity while preventing future retaliation from the Hong Kong government. The ongoing withholding of Hong Kongers savings is not only a form of financial abuse, but an act of transnational repression that is affecting the ability of generations of Hong Kongers to build a strong foundation for their new lives as they flee from the cessation of their rights and freedoms at home. It is beyond time for governments to respond with intervention, not least because the release of these savings would inject large sums into the UK and Canadian economies. Megan Khoo is a research and policy advisor at the international NGO Hong Kong Watch. Khoo, based in London, has served in communications roles at foreign policy non-profit organizations in London and Washington, D.C.. The views expressed here do not reflect the position of Radio Free Asia. 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." BAGHDAD, June 9 (Xinhua) -- An Iraqi court on Sunday issued death sentences to seven drug dealers, including a foreigner. "The Central Criminal Court issued a verdict to execute seven drug dealers, including a foreigner, who were convicted of trafficking narcotic substances," said a statement by the media office of the Supreme Judicial Council, without specifying the nationality of the foreigner. The statement noted that the convicts were sentenced to death for importing and exporting narcotic substances from neighboring countries. The chaos and conflicts that have engulfed Iraq since the U.S. invasion in 2003 impeded Iraqi governments from effectively addressing the threat of drugs. In May 2023, Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia' al-Sudani underlined the importance of waging "a war on drugs," saying that drug dealing remains one of the main ways of financing terrorism, and the circulation of drugs flourishes in the shadow of terrorism. YEREVAN -- Archbishop Bagrat Galstanian has called on his supporters to stage nonstop street protests to force the ouster of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian's government over its territorial concessions to Azerbaijan. Addressing thousands who gathered for another rally in central Yerevan on June 9, Galstanian said street protests in the Armenian capital would commence on June 10 and will last for four days -- during which he urged the National Assembly to convene a special session on the government's resignation and the formation of a new government. The outspoken head of the Tavush Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church said that nonstop street protests were needed to "impose our will." "I am ready for that. There is no way to retreat or deviate from it," he declared. "Now is the time. Either it is now or never. Falsehood must be eliminated from our home." Galstanian stressed that the movement's demand remained the resignation of the Pashinian government, but he did not rule out discussions on "all possible options of political solutions." Galstanian did not clarify whether he meant a no-confidence vote in Pashinian when he spoke about a special meeting of parliament on the government's resignation. Earlier, he claimed to have enlisted the support of two opposition factions to initiate such a process. Pashinian, whose Civil Contract party has a two-thirds majority in parliament, has rejected the opposition demand for his resignation over a recent border deal with Azerbaijan that saw Armenia hand over four abandoned villages that used to be part of Soviet Azerbaijan but have been controlled by Armenia since the first Armenian-Azerbaijani war in the early 1990s. Pashinian allies in parliament have also ruled out that any of them would break ranks to support the protest leader's bid to have a vote of no-confidence initiated by the opposition. Under Armenia's constitution, at least one-third of lawmakers can initiate a no-confidence vote against the prime minister in parliament, provided they also name a candidate who will replace him or her. Earlier, Hayastan and Pativ Unem -- opposition factions in parliament associated with the former presidents of Armenia, Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sarkisian -- said they would support the bid. They will need the support of the only nonaligned lawmaker to initiate the process, which, in order to succeed, will require a majority vote in the legislature dominated by Civil Contract. At the same time, the no-confidence motion requires the name of a candidate for prime minister. Galstanian has said he would be that candidate. The Armenian Constitution bars dual citizens from serving as prime minister. Galstanian, who is a dual citizen of Armenia and Canada, said he would not violate the constitution but did not explain how he was going to surmount that legal obstacle. Earlier, his supporters did not rule out that it would have to require an amendment to the constitution. The current anti-government movement began in the northeastern province of Tavush in April as Armenia and Azerbaijan began the demarcation process of their heavily militarized border following an agreement announced by Yerevan and Baku on April 19. The demarcation, which was formally completed on May 15, alters the boundary in a way that affects the infrastructure of a number of Armenian border villages, which the Armenian government has pledged to fix within weeks. Local populations have expressed fears of possible further Azerbaijani attacks after the Armenian military withdrawal from their positions held for over three decades. But the Pashinian government insists that having a demarcated border in itself is an assurance against further conflict. At least 22 people were killed and 117 others injured in Israeli strikes on Beirut, the Lebanese Health Ministry reported on October 10 after an Israeli strike on a school sheltering Palestinians in Gaza killed dozens of people. Lebanon's state news agency NNA reported two evening air raids in central Beirut. The first targeted an eight-story building and the second a four-story building that completely collapsed as a result of the strike, NNA said. A Lebanese security source quoted by Reuters said at least one senior Hezbollah figure was targeted in the attacks, which were the third on Beirut since Israel started a military campaign in southern Lebanon last month targeting the Iran-allied Hezbollah militia and sparking fears of an all-out regional war. Hezbollahs Al Manar TV reported after the strikes that an attempt to kill Wafiq Safa, a top security official with the group, had failed. It said that Safa had not been inside of either of the targeted buildings. Hezbollah kept up rocket fire into Israel on October 10. The military said several drones heading toward Israel were intercepted. Earlier on October 10 an Israeli strike on a school in the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 people, Palestinian medical officials said, while a separate Israeli strike hit UN peacekeeper headquarters in southern Lebanon, prompting Italy to summon the Israeli ambassador. The Israeli military said it carried out a "precise strike on terrorists" who had a command and control center embedded in the school. "This is a further example of the Hamas terrorist organization's systematic abuse of civilian infrastructure in violation of international law," a military statement said. The Palestinian militant group Hamas, which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States and the EU, has denied such accusations. People who had been sheltering at the school said the strike hit a meeting of aid workers and injured 54 other people. Israel has continued to strike at what it says are militant targets across Gaza as it battles Hamas militants even as the war broadened to include Hezbollah in Lebanon amid rising tensions with Iran. In a separate incident on October 10 the UN peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon said an Israeli tank fired on its headquarters in the town of Naqoura, hitting an observation tower and wounding two peacekeepers. The nationality of the injured peacekeepers was not released. The UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL said in a statement that Israeli forces also fired on a nearby bunker where peacekeepers were sheltering, damaging vehicles and a communication system. The Italian Defense Ministry summoned Israel's ambassador in protest, and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto told a press conference that "hostile acts committed and repeated by Israeli forces against the base...could constitute war crimes." Crosetto added that Italy has asked for an official explanation "because it was not a mistake." The French Foreign Ministry said that while no French solider was injured in the incident, it also demanded an explanation. The Israeli military announced earlier on October 10 that it had eliminated another important Hezbollah member as it kept up its attacks against the Iran-backed group. Adham Jahout, a member of Hezbollah's Golan Terrorist Network was killed in an air strike in the area of Quneitra in Syria, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) said. Jahout was relaying intelligence from Syrian regime sources to Hezbollah and facilitating operations against Israel in the Golan Heights, the IDF said. Israel annexed the Golan Heights after capturing them from Syria during the 1967 Middle East war. The annexation has not been recognized by most countries. Separately, the Israeli military said on October 10 that it had eliminated two Hezbollah commanders in southern Lebanon and its warplanes attacked munitions depots in the Beirut area and in southern Lebanon. It did not immediately reveal the identities of the two commanders. Hezbollah, a militant group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon, is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, while the European Union blacklists its armed wing but not its party, which has seats in the Lebanese parliament. The latest strikes came as the United States, Israel's main ally, warned against bombardments in Lebanon similar to those that caused large-scale destruction in Gaza as Israel retaliated against Hamas following the U.S.- and EU-designated terrorist group's deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, that left more than 1,100 people dead. Israel's bombardment of central and northern Gaza in recent days has killed dozens of people and trapped thousands in their homes, Palestinian officials say. "There should be no kind of military action in Lebanon that looks anything like Gaza and leaves a result anything like Gaza," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told journalists on October 9. The warning came after U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized in a call on October 9 with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the border. The United States warned Israel on October 9 against launching a military action in Lebanon like the one it has conducted in Gaza, and U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized in a call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the need for a diplomatic arrangement for the return of both Lebanese and Israeli civilians to their homes on both sides of the border. Biden also condemned Iran's ballistic-missile attack on Israel on October 1, a White House statement said. Biden "affirmed Israel's right to protect its citizens from Hezbollah, which has fired thousands of missiles and rockets into Israel over the past year alone, while emphasizing the need to minimize harm to civilians, in particular in the densely populated areas of Beirut," the statement said. SOFIA -- Former Prime Minister Boyko Borisov's center-right GERB party appears to have won snap parliamentary elections, according to exit polls in Bulgaria's sixth such vote in the past three years, although it remains uncertain whether any party can cobble together a governing coalition. Exit polls by Alpha Research and Gallup International gave GERB about 25 percent of the vote, far ahead of the second- and third-place parties in a contest on June 9 that could bring the populist leader -- who has been accused of corruption by the opposition -- back to power. The exit polls showed several other groups trailing GERB, including the party's erstwhile partner in the outgoing coalition government, the reformist We Continue the Change-Democratic Bulgaria coalition (PP-DB), which was third at 14.3-15 percent. The Movement for Rights and Freedoms (DPS) was second in the polls at about 16 percent. DPS has traditionally represented the Turkish and Muslim population in the country but is now led for the first time by an ethnic Bulgarian, Delyan Peevski, who has been hit by sanctions for corruption by the United States and Britain. The pro-Russia Revival party (Vazrazhdane) had around 14 percent. The former communist Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) had just over 7 percent and the populist There Is Such a People just under 6 percent. Official results were just beginning to trickle in after midnight. Borisov earlier on June 9 expressed doubts that any party or coalition will be able to form a new government based on early indications of voting. "From the morning voting, I do not see how a government can be formed after these elections," Borisov said after casting his ballot on June 9 in Bankya, a small town outside of Sofia. He added that it did not appear likely that his GERB party would be in line for enough parliamentary seats to do it with any one potential partner and neither would the opposition with its allies. "Either it's just us [GERB] or nobody, so there is no mathematics in this case," said Borisov, who declined to say who GERB would potentially nominate for prime minister. As of 4 p.m., voter turnout for the parliamentary elections was 20.44 percent, election officials said, down from 27.3 percent in the April 2023 election. Turnout for a simultaneous European Parliament vote was 20.89 percent, down from 39.8 percent the last time, although that count was taken an hour later at 5 p.m. Preelection polls showed that GERB and its United Democratic Forces partner would receive the most votes, with 25 percent, potentially returning Borisov to power. Regardless of the outcome, Borisov is likely to remain an influential figure and potential power broker in the country. Borisov has led three governments over the past decade, but his support has weakened amid allegations of corruption, links to oligarchs, and attacks on media freedom. The reformist PP-DB coalition was seen in preelection polls as getting about 15 percent, down from the 24.6 percent last time as many supporters may desert the party for its previous partnering with GERB. PP-DB had agreed to work with its GERB rivals on a common pro-EU platform of ensuring that Bulgaria supports Ukraine's battle against the Russian invasion, but disagreements between leaders of the two parties mean a renewed coalition government appears unlikely. Among the reasons for the breakup of the PP-DB-GERB partnership has been the PP-DB demand for reforms in the judiciary and in the security services, alleging that they have provided cover for organized crime and that they have not done enough to counter Russian influence. GERB has been supported by DPS leader Peevski, who has been hit by sanctions for corruption by the United States under the Global Magnitsky Act, a move then matched by Britain. The pro-Ukrainian former media mogul is reportedly one of the richest people in Bulgaria. PP-DB has claimed that GERB and DPS act as one party. "Anytime we had a meeting with Borisov, Peevski was already in the room," former PP-DB Prime Minister Nikolay Denkov said. Borisov said that GERB would not partner solely with DPS to form a coalition. GERB could turn to the MRF Turkish minority party, which also has about 15 percent in the polls. If Borisov is unable to cobble together a government, another election -- the seventh in three years -- is likely, observers say. "We are weary of elections, and we want some stability and some prosperity for the country," pensioner Margarita Semerdzhieva, 72, told AFP outside of a polling station in Sofia. "I am voting for a better future," Antoaneta Hristova, 55, a marketing professional, told Reuters. "But, to be honest I think we are heading into more elections -- seven in three years. We have been the laughingstock of Europe for a long time." A caretaker government led by Prime Minister Dimitar Glavchev was sworn in by parliament on April 9 after being appointed by President Rumen Radev, who also announced the snap general elections for June 9. Following elections in April last year, Bulgaria had a joint government supported by the pro-West, reformist PP-DB and Borisovs GERB. They had agreed on an 18-month government with a rotation of prime ministers -- first Denkov from PP-DB and, after nine months, Maria Gabriel from GERB. Denkov stepped down on March 5 to let GERB lead the government for the following nine months, as agreed. But Gabriel failed to form a government, and on March 27 Denkov also rejected Radev's invitation to try to put together a cabinet. On March 28, the populist There Is Such a People (ITN) party also declined to attempt to form a government, thus setting up the June 9 election. The vote is being held alongside EU elections. Between June 6 and June 9, voters in all 27 EU member states went to the polls to elect 720 members of the European Parliament amid concerns by many leaders of a rise in far-right support in several countries. The elections are held every five years, and each country is allotted a certain number of members of the European Parliament (MEPs) in direct proportion to its population size. Voters elect national parties, but after the elections, the MEPs organize into political groups in the European Parliament that align with their parties' political ideologies. Opinion polls heading into the elections for the European Parliament put the coalition of two center-right parties, GERB and the Union of Democratic Forces, in first place. With reporting by AFP and Reuters Hungarians elected members of the European Parliament on June 9, simultaneously with local elections. RFE/RL asked voters in Budapest about the ruling Fidesz party's campaign suggesting that its political rivals would draw Hungary into war. Billboards with slogans "Peace" and "Stop war" featured photos of people whom Prime Minister Viktor Orban portrays as archenemies -- the country's opposition leaders alongside Budapest-born U.S. billionaire George Soros. BUDAPEST-- Hungarians on June 10 are awaiting the results from the crucial European Parliament and municipal elections, as initial figures showed signs of weakness for authoritarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his right-wing Fidesz party amid a major challenge to their nearly-15-year grip on power. Early results put Fidesz and its allies at 44.2 percent in the European Parliament voting, with Peter Magyar's center-right Tisza party second at 30 percent -- a result that, if confirmed, would be far higher than preelection surveys suggested. Still, Orban hailed his party's victory following the vote. "Today, we defeated the old opposition, the new opposition. And no matter what the opposition will be called the next time, we will defeat them again and again," Orban said, according to AP. Elections officials reported record high turnout, with more than 57 percent of registered voters casting ballots at 10,199 polling stations. Orban's Fidesz party was facing one its strongest challenges since gaining power, with Magyar, a lawyer and onetime Orban ally, having gained an increasing number of supporters since coming into prominence this year as a critic of the prime minister's government. After polls closed, the 43-year-old Magyar told supporters that his party's strong result marked the end of an era. Today, the future has begun in Hungary. Magyar -- founder of the new Respect And Freedom (Tisza) party -- said in a Facebook post that the party was confident it had achieved a "historic" result, even if it didn't come out on top this time. "We will see historic figures, which will provide a very good basis for taking back our homeland step by step, brick by brick, in the next parliamentary election," he said. In comments to the BBC, Magyar said: We have a new situation. A new opposition party able to defeat this government at the next general election in Hungary. He later told a news conference that Tisza will accept the results -- no matter how "disgusting it is that the governing parties spend tens of billions on propaganda." Orban's Fidesz party is not affiliated with any group in the European Parliament, but it hoped to benefit in the election from a rise in far-right sentiment across the continent. The number of far-right lawmakers in the European Parliament increased sharply after the vote, according to initial projections. However, Fidesz is projected to get 11 seats, down from 13. Magyar's party has presented itself as a more centrist alternative to Orban's brand of illiberal populism and is likely to gain about seven seats in the EU legislature. Magyar has said he will join the center-right European People's Party (EPP), which is set to be the largest grouping in the European Parliament. Orban has angered many leaders in the European Union with his authoritarian policies, his opposition to aiding Ukraine, and his close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Orban, however, has claimed that casting ballots for the opposition would draw Hungary directly into the war in neighboring Ukraine and precipitate a global armed conflict. WATCH: RFE/RL asked voters in Budapest about the ruling Fidesz party's campaign suggesting that its political rivals would draw Hungary into war. Support for Fidesz in the latest pre-election polls ranged from 44 to 48 percent. Tisza party had 23 to 29 percent -- but many observers say Fidesz's victory was not assured, given the strong showing for a movement that only came into being a few months ago. Gabor Toka, a research professor at Central European University and author of the Vox Populi election guide, told RFE/RL before the vote that surveys may not be totally accurate and that pollsters "ask people who respond in one way but may not vote accordingly later." "There are many people who decide at the last minute who they will vote for. "When the political situation really changes from week to week, it is of great importance exactly when the snapshot -- i.e. the survey -- was taken," he said. The election was also a test for the controversial Sovereignty Protection Office (SZH), established in February and which has waded into the campaign to publicly denigrate individuals and groups and criminalize candidates over accusations of foreign funding and influence. "This agency is all set up to prevent nasty surprises for Orban in the upcoming elections," Kim Lane Scheppele, a Princeton University professor and expert on authoritarian regimes and Hungarian politics and law, told RFE/RL. Orban said victory in the elections "is needed" and predicted that Fidesz would receive "reinforcements" from every European country and be able to form a pro-peace European coalition in Brussels. He also commented on the U.S. presidential election, saying that Americans in November will have "a chance to elect a pro-peace president," referring to presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. Orban, who has repeatedly said Ukraine cannot win, said the war "has no solution on the battlefield" and reiterated his call for negotiations to end the full-scale invasion Russia launched in 2022. Magyar, a longtime political insider in the Fidesz party, has served in the Foreign Ministry and in Hungary's permanent representation to the EU. Until 2023, he was married to Judit Varga, a prominent Fidesz member and the former justice minister. He gained attention in February when his ex-wife became embroiled in a case in which a man was pardoned after being found guilty of being an accomplice in a case involving child sexual assault. The scandal claimed the political careers of the president, Katalin Novak, and Varga, who announced that she was retiring from political life. Magyar in early May told supporters that changes were coming to the country that current leaders will be unable to prevent. "Change can be stopped for a few days, a few weeks, but no one in history has ever stopped it and neither can they," Magyar said on May 4. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and the BBC One year ago, Hamas -- the U.S.- and EU-designated Palestinian terrorist group that controls the Gaza Strip -- carried out an unprecedented attack on Israel, the deadliest in the countrys history. In response, Israel launched an aerial bombardment and ground invasion of the Palestinian enclave to destroy Hamas and rescue the 251 hostages taken by the group. Israel has expanded its war in recent weeks by invading Lebanon and launching air strikes targeting Hezbollah, the armed group and political party that controls much of southern Lebanon. RFE/RL spoke to Lior Yohanani, manager of quantitative research at the Israel Democracy Institute, a Jerusalem-based independent research center, which on October 7 released a wide-ranging survey of Israeli public opinion after one year of war. RFE/RL: Can you explain what your study found as to how Israelis view the past year since Hamas's October 7 attack? Lior Yohanani: Well, I think Israelis still don't see October 7 as an event that's over. Sure, the actual horrific events of that day ended, but Israelis are still living with the consequences. There are two main aspects to this. First, since October 7, Israel has been in this multifront war that doesn't seem to have an end in sight. And then, of course, there is the issue of the hostages still being held in Gaza. So, we're seeing a sharp drop in people's sense of personal security. Almost three quarters of the public feel less safe compared to before October 7, and that's despite a year of war and some significant military achievements. On the flip side, we're also seeing that most people say their lives have returned to normal when it comes to things like work, media consumption, and family and social gatherings. Another thing we're noticing is that the Israeli public is giving pretty low marks to all the political and military leaders for the performance since October 7. For example, almost two-thirds of Israelis are rating Prime Minister [Benjamin] Netanyahu's performance since then as poor or not good. RFE/RL: How has Israel's involvement in a two-front conflict, in both Gaza and Lebanon, as well as a confrontation with Iran affected public opinion among Israelis? Yohanani: It's tough to answer that question, because we're at the point where things could go in a few different directions. In the last few weeks, we've seen a major escalation in the conflict with Hezbollah in Lebanon, and just last week, Iran launched nearly 200 ballistic missiles at Israel, which Israel is expected to respond to. In a survey we just did recently, we asked whether Israeli society and the military could handle fighting on two or more fronts for an extended period of time, and the results were pretty striking. Over 70 percent believe that yes, both Israeli society and the military can handle that kind of prolonged fighting. So, while the situation is complex and evolving, there seems to be a strong sense of resilience and capability among Israelis, even in the face of these multiple threats. But of course, public opinion could shift depending on how events unfold in the coming weeks or months. RFE/RL: Is there support for Netanyahus response to October 7? Is there debate in Israeli society, as well as political circles, over Netanyahus strategic choices? Yohanani: First of all, it's important to say that the Israeli public has largely supported significant military operation against Hamas in Gaza. That said, the Israeli discourse around the October 7 events, the ongoing war, and especially toward Prime Minister Netanyahu, is very polarized between right-wing supporters on the one hand and left and center supporters on the other. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term." So, on the left and the center, there is a high level of distrust and suspicion toward Netanyahu and his government. For instance, Netanyahu's apparent reluctance to pursue a deal for returning the hostages in exchange for ending the fighting in Gaza is seen by large parts of the public, even on the right, as resulting from Netanyahu's dependence on far-right, ultranationalist members of his government who refuse any compromise or ceasefire. Now for a long time, Netanyahu and his ministers argued that only significant military force would lead Hamas to compromise and release the hostages. Now, with military attention and resources shifting to the north, people are asking, where is this massive military force that was supposed to bring the hostages home? One question we have asked several times since October 7 in our polls is what should be the main goal in Gaza: Dismantling Hamas or bringing back the hostages? And as time goes on, public opinion is increasingly supporting the return of hostages. In our current survey, 62 percent saw bringing the bringing back the hostages as Israel's main goal, while only 29 percent pointed to dismantling Hamas as the primary objective. RFE/RL: How do ordinary Israelis see the question of the remaining hostages amid the continued protests by the hostages' families? Yohanani: As I mentioned before, most of the public supports a deal to release the hostages, even if it means ending the war and withdrawing the military forces from Gaza. There's this widespread feeling that we've left the hostages behind, and that's really hitting at our sense of solidarity, which is a deep and fundamental value, I think, in Jewish history in general and in Israel society in particular. At the same time, the campaign run by the Hostages And Missing Families Forum has become very politicized. Many right-wing supporters see it as weakening Israel. As time goes on, we're seeing more and more harassment of protesters who support bringing the hostages back. There are cases of passersby cursing, even hitting and throwing eggs, at hostages' families. In our latest survey, we asked about the effectiveness of the protests and actions taken by the hostages' families. Despite most of the public feeling empathetic toward the hostage issue, only less than a third think these actions are actually helping to advance a deal for the hostages' release, while almost 40 percent think they're actually hurting the cause. So, you've got this complex situation where people want the hostages back, but there is disagreement and some backlash about how to make that happen. RFE/RL: Can you explain the reasons behind the apparent contradiction in views regarding prioritizing a negotiated return of the hostages, or destroying Hamas? Yohanani: You're right to point out that apparent contradiction. Let me break it down a bit. As I mentioned earlier, a clear majority of the public sees a deal to release the hostages as the main goal. But there is a big gap between political camps on this issue. In the center and left, about 80 percent support the deal for the hostages' release, while the opinions on the right are evenly split. So, for most of the left and center, the fighting in Gaza has run its course. They feel most military objectives have been achieved, and Hamas's military power has been significantly weakened. From their perspective, continuing the fight now only puts the hostages at greater risk. It's important to know that about half of the right-wing also shares this view of prioritizing the hostages' release, but the other half of those on the far-right thinks dismantling Hamas is more important. Why? For a couple of reasons. First, there's a security stance that Hamas must be wiped out and not allowed to recover. There is also a very strong sentiment of revenge, with minimal consideration for the cost, whether it's the lives of the hostages, soldiers, let alone innocent civilians in Gaza. Another significant component openly discussed in religious nationalist circles is the return of Jewish settlement to the Gaza Strip after Israel evacuated Jewish settlements from there in 2005. RFE/RL: Is there public confidence that Israel will ultimately be able to remove the threat of Hamas and Hezbollah and come out of this conflict with greater prospects for a peaceful and stable near-term future? Yohanani: Right now, the Israeli public isn't showing a lot of optimism. In our current survey, when we asked people if they're optimistic or pessimistic about Israel's future, we found more pessimists, 48 percent, than optimists, 45 percent. I also think it's important to note that a peaceful future, as you put it, or peace in general, isn't really a common concept in the current Israeli discourse. I would say the hope of Israelis is that the military actions against Hezbollah and Iran will lead to a situation where Israel's existence isn't in question, and that Israeli military superiority will prevent events like October 7 from happening again. So, it's less about peace in the traditional sense, and more about security and deterrence. People are hoping for a future where Israel can exist without constant threats, rather than expecting a harmonious relationship with its neighbors in the near-term. A pro-government nationalist rally was held in Serbia's capital, Belgrade, on June 8 alongside a joint session of the Serbian cabinet with the leadership of Bosnia-Herzegovina's Serb-led entity, Republika Srpska. The entity's president, Milorad Dodik, addressed the crowd. While some participants in the rally hope that Bosnian Serbs unite with Serbia in one state, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic stressed that the declaration adopted at the joint cabinet session didn't call for Serbs to secede from Bosnia. The declaration, however, disapproved of the UN General Assembly resolution that established an international memorial day for the 1995 killings of Bosnian Muslims near the town of Srebrenica. The resolution calls the massacre "genocide," a term that the Serbian and Bosnian Serb leaders reject. ISLAMABAD, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Seven soldiers were killed when terrorists targeted security forces in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, an army statement said on Sunday. The Inter Service Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistani military, said that an improvised explosive device exploded near a vehicle of the security forces in Lakki Marwat district of the province, killing seven army personnel, including a senior officer. A clearance operation was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area, the statement said. KYIV -- Halfway through the annual Book Arsenal Festival, Ukraine's biggest publishing event, Anastasia Yehorova had already bought 11 books. Among them: Zero Point, a novel by soldier Artem Chekh; Tara Westover's Educated, an award-winning memoir about growing up in a Mormon family; and Rebecca Yarros's Fourth Wing, a romantasy bestseller. Yehorova, a 31-year-old IT project manager whose husband serves in the military, buys five times more books than she used to before Russia's full-scale invasion. The choices have grown much wider and better in recent years, she explains. "But the real reason I buy more than I can read is because I am afraid that the Russians will force us to flee again...and that we won't be there anymore -- and neither will Ukrainian books," she said, an existential concern amid a war that is, for Ukraine, existential. With a hip new bookstore opening in Kyiv every other month and unexpected bestsellers rocking the market, readers and publishing industry insiders alike speak of a spike in demand for books. Like a broader blossoming of the arts in Ukraine, the book boom is tied to the war, a response to the Russian aggression that continues to target Ukrainian culture and kill its creators. This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing. Click to reveal This image contains sensitive content which some people may find offensive or disturbing - Click to reveal Firefighters work to extinguish a fire as a lifeless body lies under the rubble after a Russian missile hit a large printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on May 23. A week before the festival, on May 23, a Russian S-300 missile struck the Factor Druk printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city and the target of a relentless campaign of missile and bomb attacks for many weeks now. The strike killed seven employees, wounded 17 people, and destroyed 50,000 books as well as the printing equipment at the plant. "We received a lot of support, but the damage cannot be undone," Olena Ryba, the editor in chief of Vivat, which is Ukraine's third-biggest publishing house and is owned by Factor Druk, told RFE/RL. Vivat's losses amount to 5 million euros ($5.4 million) and the overall capacity of Ukraine's book publishing industry will be reduced by 30-40 percent as a result of the attack, she said. From the first day of the full-scale invasion, February 24, 2022, Russian forces have been destroying Ukrainian cultural sites, looting galleries and museums in occupied territory, and killing artists in attacks at the front and across the country. The body of Volodymyr Vakulenko, 49, a children's book author, poet, and translator, was found in a mass grave in the Kharkiv region after Ukraine recaptured the area from Russian forces in September 2022. Viktoria Amelina, 37, a novelist and war crimes researcher, was killed by a Russian missile in July 2023.Maksym Kryvtsov, 33, a poet and a soldier, was killed by an artillery strike in January 2024. According to the state-run Ukrainian Book Institute, Russia has ruined 154 libraries in Ukraine, damaged over 750 more, and destroyed more than 1.8 million books. In the occupied territories, it says, Russian authorities have been confiscating Ukrainian books, in some cases burning them, and have brought some 2.5 million copies of Russian books to libraries and schools. Books burned by the Russian bombardment of Kharkiv were laid out among the stands of some 100 publishers who set up shop at the four-day festival at Kyiv's Mystetskiy Arsenal, a huge late-18th-century neoclassical complex that used to serve as an ammunition storehouse and now hosts cultural events. The theme of the festival was "Living on the Edge." Despite the tense situation on the front and the danger of Russian attacks across Ukraine, a defiant mood and a sense of early-summer enthusiasm prevailed among visitors who waited in a long line to get into the book fair and attended packed public discussions and art events. "The full-scale war, and before that the pandemic, created a wild demand for cultural events, especially offline," Yulia Kozlovets, the Book Arsenal Festival director, told RFE/RL. She said that about 35,000 people visited. According to Kozlovets, the Ukrainian reading public has changed over the past two years, with more young people seeking Ukrainian-language books and more readers looking for highbrow literature. "The war has ultimately liberated Ukrainian culture from an inferiority complex," she said. This shift might have not occurred without a "political decision" to pass a law banning the import and distribution of books from Russia and Belarus in June 2023, Rostyslav Karandeyev, the acting culture minister, told RFE/RL. For decades, the huge Russian publishing industry undermined Ukrainian competitors and Russian-language books dominated the scene, he says. The war has provoked a period of soul-searching and steered many in Ukraine to rethink their identity, says Oleksiy Erinchak, an IT entrepreneur who founded a sprawling three-story bookstore called Sens (Sense) on Kyiv's main thoroughfare, Khreshchatyk Street, in February. Many are transitioning from Russian to Ukrainian and need books for immersion in the language, he adds. Russia's invasion has fueled a burgeoning demand for books written by soldiers and veterans, history books, and Ukrainian classics. But over time, interest in psychological literature, general nonfiction, and lighter fiction has returned, according to Ilona Zamotsna, co-founder of the Kyiv-based publishing house Vikhola. At the same time, some categories are in crisis -- most notably children's books, which is suffering because of a mass exodus of educated mothers and children. In fact, insiders say that the situation in the publishing industry is not as rosy as it may seem to Ukrainians admiring the rising variety and quality of books and the new trends in layout, design, and printing. The publishers are encountering "massive challenges" and "there is hardly a boom in a quantitative sense," Oleksandra Koval, the head of the Ukrainian Book Institute, told RFE/RL. Last year, Ukrainian publishers doubled their revenues compared to 2022 and exceeded the figures of 2021 by more than one-third, but the number of books printed was just 55 percent of 2021 output. "The increase in revenue can largely be explained by the rise in book prices," she said, adding that some 30 book companies suffered war damage in addition to Kharkiv's Factor Druk, one of the biggest full-cycle printing houses in Europe. Since the start of the full-scale invasion, the average price of a book in Ukraine has increased by 37.5 percent, according to data from five top publishers compiled by the media outlet Liga.net. Publishing also suffers from a shortage of qualified personnel because many have left the country or are fighting the invasion, Erinchak says, and the industry was underpopulated to begin with. "Years of Russian publishers' dominance left the Ukrainian market underdeveloped; it was a business built on enthusiasm, and now we need to innovate to survive," he said. The Ukrainian state has done too little to support culture and publishing for decades, Karandeyev says, and the wartime economic straits make it difficult to change that now. Nonetheless, according to Karandeyev, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will soon sign off on a Culture Ministry project that would hand about 900 hryvnyas ($22) to every Ukrainian turning 18 to spend on books through the government app Diia. Civil society is also doing its part. A group of volunteers in Kherson, a southern city continually battered by Russian troops stationed across the Dnieper River, opened a "book shelter" where people can read and exchange books in a safe space. Another group, called Kulturniy Desant (Cultural Landing), enables donors to send books to soldiers on the front lines. To some, the wartime fashion for reading is a form of escapism restricted to a narrow bubble, while some see it as a crucial attempt to "decolonize" Ukrainian culture. Others compare the current literary ferment to the so-called "executed renaissance," the generation of Ukrainian language poets, writers, and artists killed by the Soviet regime in 1920s and 1930s. Yaryna Chornohuz, a 29-year-old marine infantrywoman whose collection of free-verse poems titled "dasein: defense of presence" won this year's prestigious Shevchenko National Prize, keeps two boxes from DJI Mavic drones full of books at the positions to which she is deployed. Her copy of Milan Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness Of Being is stained with blood, she says. To her, the wartime wave of literary creativity is something "very painful." "I could not open my book after it was published. It was written as I watched many of my brothers and sisters in arms dying," she told RFE/RL. She dedicated it to them, she said, "so that they and our experience are not forgotten." TASHKENT -- Uzbekistan's gaping power deficits and the government's desperate attempts to plug them are hardly a secret these days. Only last week, President Shavkat Mirziyoev welcomed Russian leader Vladimir Putin to Tashkent for a two-day trip that turned into three days of talks, with Moscow's energy assistance to its Central Asian ally topping the bill. Alongside confirmation that Moscow's nuclear energy giant Rosatom will build a small power plant in the country, the trip brought a pledge from Putin to nearly quadruple pipeline capacity next year, potentially upping Gazprom's annual natural gas exports to the country to 11 billion cubic meters. Just a few years ago, Uzbekistan was a net energy exporter. But given a rapidly growing population of around 35 million and a growing economy, Tashkent's dependency on imports -- and Russia -- looks set to deepen. One way to offset that dependence somewhat would be to make good on a stated ambition to expand the share of renewable energy to 40 percent of Uzbekistan's total by 2030. And officials have certainly been talking a good game when it comes to green energy -- not least to institutional partners who have lent billions of dollars to fund the effort. But the findings of a recent investigation by RFE/RL's Uzbek Service into the country's ostensibly booming solar power sector raise questions about how this campaign is being executed -- with weak infrastructure and the familiar allegations of corruption seemingly bogging down the government's lofty ambitions. The Solar Power Project And Its Secretive Subcontractors Uzbekistan currently has at least $13 billion of renewable energy projects on the go. The Sherabad Solar PV Park in Surxondaryo Province, currently being built with money from the Asian Development Bank, is one of many being funded with institutional debt. The principal contractor for the $260 million, 457-megawatt (MW) project is Masdar, a company from the United Arab Emirates that specializes in renewables. The agreement for the Sherabad solar project was struck in 2021, becoming Masdar's fifth project in the country at the time and second only behind the 500 MW wind farm in Zarafshan in terms of generating capacity. Mirziyoev personally visited the site to kick-start construction on June 1 of that year. But beyond Masdar and the roughly 94,000 homes that the company expects the plant to power, there are at least two other beneficiaries of the project -- subcontractors Hex Solar and Osmon-Energy. The engagement of these two companies on the Sherabad project is not mentioned in publicly available documents. But RFE/RL's Uzbek Service received copies of documents that appear to confirm that Hex Solar is the main subcontractor to build the facility. Public records show Hex Solar was registered on January 1, 2020, at 863 Nukus Street in Tashkent. An RFE/RL reporter who travelled to that address was unable to find the company's office, however. A LinkedIn profile of a company with the same name provides another address -- in Russia's southwestern Astrakhan region. LinkedIn users who listed Hex Solar as a place of work, such as engineer Baxtiyar Kasimov, indicate ongoing duties at "Nur Sherbad Solar PV 500 MW." A second document seen by RFE/RL attests to a subcontracting agreement reached between Hex Solar and Osmon-Energy. That document states that Osmon-Energy has "experience in the required field of work and has completed work of the same type and level or above the required level." Yet Osmon-Energy was incorporated even more recently than Hex Solar -- just two days after construction began on the project slated for completion in 2026. In the subcontracting agreement from that month seen by RFE/RL, the sum transferrable to Osmon-Energy for its work is 45.8 billion soms ($3.6 million) -- quite a windfall for a days-old firm. An RFE/RL reporter who visited the Tashkent address for Osmon-Energy listed in the agreement was unable to find any trace of the firm. But a source employed by the company confirmed its existence and claimed Osmon-Energy was making very healthy profits from the Sherabad Solar PV Park subcontract. "Employees are paid in cash. This makes it easy to embezzle money," the source, who requested anonymity, told RFE/RL. "And they are paid at a very low rate. So, let's say [Osmon-Energy] charges more than $700,000 for every 10 megawatts installed -- they will pay workers only $18,000 [from that]." The source added that Osmon-Energy was far from the only overnight company to win big from subcontracting "around 30 major [solar power] plants" being built in Uzbekistan. Userbay Seitrzaev, one of three men listed as a founder of Osmon-Energy (Abduzhalil Baimukhamedov and Olimjon Ibragimov are the others), denied any accusation of corruption when contacted by RFE/RL, insisting that construction work at Sherabad was under "strict control." Hex Solar's founder as per official company documents is a Chinese citizen, Cui Xiao. RFE/RL was initially unable to reach Cui for its investigation published in Uzbek last month. When contacted by RFE/RL with questions on the findings of the investigation -- and about whether his business was linked to Russia -- Cui said: "We are preparing a lawsuit against you. We can have discussions in court." Masdar did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the subcontracting arrangements. New Solar Plants, Old Grid At the same time, experts have questioned the quality and productivity of Uzbekistan's new solar energy plants. In an interview with the private media agency Anhor.uz this year, Ivan Butuk, director of marketing and digital transformation for the company Energy Eco Sources, said that most new solar stations in the country had been installed incorrectly. "[Some] 20-30 percent of those that I encountered were assembled with serious errors or were incomplete. That is to say that, while part of the equipment was missing, they were presented by contractors and owners as finished." Butuk said the plants should be shut down and rebuilt for several reasons. "They should be stopped immediately and reinstalled.... In addition to being a waste of the money invested, they are only 40 percent safe, inconvenient to use and maintain, and do not produce enough energy for their [installed capacity]," he told Anhor.uz. The Sherabad solar power plant suffered a setback in January of this year. Photos and videos shared on social networks showed solar panels apparently damaged beyond repair by strong winds on January 28. Two days later, the Uzbek Energy Ministry acknowledged that 91 panels had been destroyed, but noted they had not been fully installed and were easily replaceable. Other experts say that Uzbekistan's ability to harness the power of the sun -- the country enjoys roughly 300 sunny days per year -- is severely compromised by its aging electrical grid. According to the recent calculations of one Tashkent-based research group, 62 percent of Uzbekistan's power-distribution networks, 74 percent of its substations, and half of its transformers are some 30 years old. Two years ago, a 100-MW-capacity $100 million solar power plant built by Total Eren -- a daughter company of French energy giant Total -- started work in the Tutli neighborhood of Nurobod, a district in Samarkand Province. The plant was supposed to provide energy to more than 80,000 households. Yet residents of Tutli told RFE/RL that they are still suffering the same power outages as before. Nurobod's district administration responded to such complaints with a statement saying the power plant was connected to the main power grid and that the Tutli microdistrict was not slated to receive electricity from the plant directly. Another enemy of solar power in Uzbekistan is climate change. Because while Uzbekistan is edging toward a hotter, drier climate, it is also suffering from dust storms with growing regularity. Dust and sand can significantly reduce the output of solar facilities, while ramping up servicing costs. This is something Uzbek authorities cannot prevent. As for human factors, the government has "a chance to make it right" in the words of Kerry Adler, CEO of SkyPower, a North American energy company. Adler witnessed the very beginning of the authorities' drive for renewables in 2017, when Mirziyoev personally invited him to invest in the country. In an interview with VOA in 2020, Adler explained that a lack of government guarantees had prevented his company's slated $1.3 billion investment in a network of solar power plants from ever getting off the ground, despite what the businessman claimed was initial investment of $10 million in project preparation. "We will never participate in any corrupt activities. We will not pay for a contract, nor would we even give a gift, nor will we make a promise," Adler said then, without directly accusing anyone of requesting a bribe. "And I think that this is a country, from what I understand from people who have lived there and done business there, that historically has come from a different type of a culture." Four years after the interview, SkyPower's project has still made no progress. Written by Chris Rickleton based on reporting by Mehribon Bekieva of RFE/RL Uzbek Service MEP Luke 'Ming' Flanagan visited the count centre in Roscommon earlier this evening, where said he is pleased with the initial tallies in the European election. Some of them are loose enough, but my vote is up in Galway from 15% to 17%. The big, big success for me, if the tallies are correct, is Donegal. Apparently I'm averaging in around 20% there, he said. He said it looked like he topped the poll in Sligo and a close second in Leitrim. The big imponderable is the east side of the country. Kildare and Meath they make up 28% of the constituency and we have no information from there yet, he said. In terms of the local election, he expressed disappointment at the lack of female candidates in Roscommon. It looks like in the Roscommon Electoral Area that we are going to end up with six men. Sure, men are great, Im a man myself but it would have been great to have a bit of variety, he said. I dont think it is representative of what our county is about anymore. And he called for a 50/50 split in terms of gender representation in politics. He believes that a general election will be held after the budget. The current government will take money out of one of your pockets and put it in the other. Youll go hey Ive new money in my left pocket, but youll want to check your right. The neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu Considered to be one of the most important Romanian physicians, Gheorghe Marinescus name is linked to the birth of neurology in this country. Gheorghe Marinescu o viata dedicata muncii, stiintei, progresului sursa foto fbmuzeulmunicipiuluibucuresti Steliu Lambru, 11.08.2024, 14:00 Considered to be one of the most important Romanian physicians, Gheorghe Marinescus name is linked to the beginning of the study of mental illnesses and the birth of neurology in this country. He was born in Bucharest in 1863 and died in 1938, aged 75, also in Bucharest. He studied medicine in Bucharest and in 1889 left for Paris to further his studies at the clinic of the famous French neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot. He also went on study trips to Germany, Great Britain, Belgium and Italy. In 1897 he is awarded the title of doctor in medicine from the Faculty of Medicine in Paris. Most of his research is published in French magazines. He returned to Romania at the beginning of the 20th century and was elected member of the Romanian Academy and appointed professor at the Faculty of Medicine in Bucharest, while also working on the neurology ward of Colentina Hospital. The Bucharest City Museum has four collections that used to belong to physicians: that of the microbiologist Victor Babes, of the pathologist Nicolae Minovici, the radiologist George Severeanu and the neurologist Gheorghe Marinescu. An exhibition dedicated to Gheorghe Marinescu was hosted by the Sutu Palace which houses the Bucharest City Museum. Psychiatrist and professor of medicine history Octavian Buda said Marinescu had a complex career and his legacy is fundamental for the Romanian school of neurology: In essence, Gheorghe Marinescu concerned himself with what we would today call neuroscience. As a psychiatrist and historian of medicine, I have published several articles about Gheorghe Marinescu that also had international exposure. And I found myself finding it hard to explain what he did, because he used to conduct fundamental research in areas associated with neurology. These had to do with neuronal architecture, using very modern instruments for those times and trying to understand how the human brain works and many others. Marinescu trained in the best intellectual and scientific environments when he studied in the West. One of his teachers was the eminent neurologist Jean-Martin Charcot, who inspired many generations of famous physicians. Octavian Buda noted the overwhelming influence of Charcot on his students, including Marinescu: If you ask me who is the Romanian physician who is best-known internationally, its hard to say. But if we open a book of international history of neurology well find the name of Mr Charcot, who led neurology in Paris, and who was a big success in cultural salons, as well. Everyone was fascinated with his personality, because he used photography and cinema, something which also influenced Marinescu. Charcot was a spectacular interface of Parisian and international scientific culture at the end of the 19th century. None other than Sigmund Freud was among those ecstatic about Mr Charcots courses. Marinescu never met Freud, but was influenced by the courses in medicine, psychology and psychopathology. Charcot was among the inventors of modern medicine. He can be criticised today for some of his ideas, but was a magnetic figure who built a whole school around him. And in that group was also Marinescu, the hard-working student from Bucharest, who was comfortable working with histological lamellae and analyse them in detail. After his return to Romania, a country that was modernising at a fast pace, Marinescu became a role model for the next generation of Romanian neurologists. Octavian Buda: Being a physician and having studied in Paris, he was feared by politicians. He was also quote intelligent, knew how to draw a line, and was part of a truly remarkable medical elite. So these objects that we have from him and his research, which was very detailed and very technical, reveal to us a man who wanted to stay abreast with what was new in his field and a man who was known internationally. He adapted many things from our university culture. We also see a man who was upset with the reality of his times. We can also see him as the witness to a society that was very civilised and very eager to import technology and culture. The exhibition project at the Bucharest City Museum features documents and objects that belonged to the doctor, including the projector he used in his study of mental illnesses that caused limb movement disorders. 2024 European and local elections exit polls According to exit polls, in Romania, PNL and PSD, the two parties in power, won the European Parliament elections with 54% of the votes. Photo: Facebook/mae Newsroom, 09.06.2024, 22:23 ELECTIONS European and local elections were held in Romania on Sunday. According to the Curs Avangarde exit polls, made public after the voting, the alliance formed by the two parties in power the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party won by a wide margin, of 54%, the European Parliament elections. Next comes the nationalist party AUR (the Alliance for the Union of Romanians) with 14% and ADU (the United Right Alliance) with 11%. The Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania received 5% of the votes. The votes of the diaspora were not taken into account. In the local elections, Nicusor Dan, the mayor in office supported by ADU, won a new mandate for Bucharest, with 45% of the votes, way ahead of his Social-Democratic contender, Gabriela Firea, who only got 24%. Voter turnout for the European Parliament was 52.36%, and for the local elections 49.99%. Romania will be represented in Brussels by 33 MEPs. Its a busy election year in Romania in 2024, with presidential and parliamentary elections to come next, in September and December, respectively. (EE) European and local elections 2024 Romania holds both European and local elections on the same day. Photo: Facebook/mae Newsroom, 09.06.2024, 20:35 ELECTIONS European and local elections are taking place today in Romania. Almost 19,000 voting stations have been set up in Romania for the countrys around 19 million voters. Voting started at 7 am and will end at 10 pm. By 8 pm, almost 46% of voters had already cast their ballots in the local elections and almost 48% in the European elections. According to the Permanent Electoral Authority, a total of more than 207,000 candidates are running in the local and European elections. The two largest parties in Romania, the Social Democratic Party and the National Liberal Party, which are also in government together, have joint candidates for the European Parliament, where Romania is represented by 33 MEPs. The ruling coalitions main rivals are the United Right Alliance (formed by the Save Romania Union, the Peoples Movement Party and the Force of the Right), the populist and ultranationalist Alliance for the Union of Romanians and the Democratic Union of Ethnic Hungarians in Romania. A record 915 voting stations were set up abroad for Romanian voters wishing to cast their ballots for the European elections, mostly in Italy, Spain and Great Britain, countries with large ethnic Romanian communities. More than 185,000 people had voted abroad by 8 pm, Romania time. The foreign ministry recalls that Romanian citizens who have the right to vote and who reside or are temporarily abroad on election day can cast their vote at any Romanian voting station abroad based on a valid Romanian ID card. Its a busy election year in Romania in 2024, with presidential and parliamentary elections to come next, in September and December, respectively. (EE) A contestant takes part in the 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) BERLIN, June 9 (Xinhua) -- The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. Nearly 100 experts and scholars, Chinese teachers, students learning Chinese, and enthusiasts of Chinese culture attended the event. The competition for secondary school students consists of three parts -- a keynote speech, a Chinese knowledge question and answer segment, and a talent display. Contestants shared their love for China through personal stories, reflected on the benefits and insights gained from learning Chinese, and explored the theme "Dream Chinese, Live Up to Your Youth." Their performances included singing, ink painting, Chinese dance, instrumental music, and other artistic displays. The Chinese show for primary school students featured self-introductions and talent performances. "Chinese Bridge" is a platform for Chinese learners worldwide to showcase their proficiency, exchange learning experiences, and test their skills, which has become a prominent symbol of Chinese culture since its inception in 2002, said Guo Jinqiu, counsellor from the Chinese Embassy in Berlin. Corinna Nienstedt, head of the state office of Hamburg, said that China and Germany need to deepen their mutual understanding, and language is the best way to achieve this. "Hamburg is home to over 500 Chinese-funded enterprises and has a rich tradition of learning Chinese," she said. "In the future, Hamburg aims to further develop its 'Chinese capabilities' and encourage students to begin learning Chinese as early as possible." A contestant performs calligraphy during a talent display in the 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A contestant takes part in the 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A contestant performs tea art during a talent display in the 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A contestant performs calligraphy during a talent display in the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A contestant performs calligraphy during a talent display in the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) A contestant performs during a talent display in the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Hamburg, Germany, June 8, 2024. The 17th "Chinese Bridge" language proficiency competition for middle school students and the 4th "Chinese Bridge" show for primary school students in Germany were held Saturday in the city of Hamburg. (Xinhua/Ren Pengfei) Oceanside native and Palomar College broadcasting instructor and radio station manager Zeb Navarro was appointed last week to be the new Oceanside city clerk. Navarro, 38, will fill less than two years remaining in the term of Zack Beck, who left the part-time job Dec. 31 to become the full-time city clerk in Escondido. Navarro was one of three applicants for the vacancy. Its a true honor to be selected, Navarro said Thursday. Im excited to get to work and serve the citizens of Oceanside. Navarro holds masters degrees from San Diego State University and California State University Monterrey Bay, and is completing a doctorate in education. He was active in local political issues in high school, and ran unsuccessfully for the Oceanside City Council in 2000. Councilwoman Esther Sanchez said Navarro made an impressive presentation to the City Council during the candidate interviews Wednesday, and that with his experience he would do a good job managing the city clerks office, its budget, and other duties that go with the job. He spoke really, really well, she said. He wowed me. The two other candidates for the city clerk appointment were Brandon Jones and Thomas Schmiderer. Jones, 23, was not present for the City Council interviews Wednesday. His experience includes work for elected officials and on political campaigns in San Diego. Schmiderer, 34, is a full-time records manager in the Oceanside city clerks office. He participated in the interviews, but some council members expressed concerns that it could present a possible conflict of interest for him to hold both the city clerk and the records handler jobs, as he intended. Schmiderer said the office could be reorganized to make the records manager responsible to the city manager, instead of the city clerk. That may avoid a legal conflict of interest, Sanchez said, but some council members were concerned that it still could be a problem. Councilman Jack Feller cast the only vote against Navarros appointment, saying that it would be better to have someone who would be available at all times in the office. Navarro said that he has no intention of running for another elected office such as city council or county supervisor, but in 2020 he would like to run for a full four-year term as city clerk. However, that opportunity could disappear. Council members asked city staffers Wednesday to prepare a report on the possibility of placing a measure on the ballot on 2020, either in March or November, to make both the city clerk and city treasurer positions appointed instead of elected. The council will discuss the report at a future meeting and decide whether to place it on a ballot. If the measure goes to voters in March, and is approved, it could be effective before the November 2020 election. In the long run, the city could save a lot of money on election costs if the city clerk is appointed instead of elected, said Councilman Chris Rodriguez. Of 18 incorporated cities in San Diego County, only four Oceanside, Carlsbad, La Mesa and National City elect their city clerk and the rest appoint the position. The clerks many duties include organizing city council agendas, staff reports and minutes, overseeing local elections, maintaining campaign expense and economic interest statements, and overseeing other official records. philip.diehl@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @phildiehl ALGIERS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on Saturday signed a presidential decree convening the electorate ahead of the presidential elections scheduled for September, the Algerian presidency said in a statement. On March 21, Tebboune announced plans to hold early presidential elections on Sept. 7, following a meeting with the speakers of the parliament's upper house, the Council of the Nation, and lower house, the People's National Assembly, as well as other high-ranking officials. Tebboune was elected in December 2019 for a five-year term and can run for a second and final term in accordance with the Algerian constitution. However, the president has not yet made any public announcement regarding a second term. ARUSHA, Tanzania, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania will host the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition in the port city of Dar es Salaam from March 5 to 7, 2025. The conference, themed "Unlocking Investment in Future Energy: The Role of Petroleum Resources in the Energy Mix for Sustainable Development in East Africa," will offer a wide range of technical presentations reflecting developments in the oil and gas industry in East Africa and around the world, said the East African Community (EAC), a regional bloc based in Arusha, Tanzania, in a statement Saturday. The conference will also provide a forum for discussing the legal and policy framework and the overall business environment prevailing in the region. "It allows stakeholders in the oil and gas sector to interact with EAC senior government officials and decision-makers," read the statement. Given the importance of energy in realizing this vision, the EAC member states have agreed to cooperate in the joint exploration and development of energy resources within the region and promote investment within the sector. They seek to promote the optimal exploitation of both renewable and non-renewable energy sources for the mutual benefit of East Africans, according to the statement. The EAC is an intergovernmental organization composed of eight countries, namely the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Somalia, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, with a combined population of more than 300 million. The Financial Mail on Sunday's Midas column called attention to silver producer Adriatic Metals , arguing that its shares may "prove rewarding for the adventurous punter". Its boss, Paul Cronin, had managed to take the miner, which was based in Bosnia and Herzegovina, from the exploration phase through to production in only seven years. Cronin was also looking at a potential second mine in Serbia, as well as elsewhere on the Continent, that could help Europe cut its reliance on Chinese and Russian commodities. Annual demand for silver meanwhile had grown by around 200m ounces since 2014, the second-highest figure ever, but supply was about unchanged. Hence, as stores of the metal shrank, prices were seen jumping from $30/oz. at present to $35/oz. by the end of 2024 and to above $50 by December 2025. Long-term predictions meanwhile suggested a price of almost $350/oz. by 2030. The Sunday Times's Lucy Tobin told her readers to 'buy' shares of Pets at Home. Last September the Competition and Markets Authority had launched a review of the 5bn veterinarian industry, resulting in the shares erasing around a quarter of their value, she mused. But she judged the risks from that review to be limited. Indeed, the business had "significant" growth potential left vet and grooming services. Tobin noted research from Liberum regarding the company's new single distribution centre, which the broker's analyst, Wayne Brown, was akin to an Amazon Prime for every pet. The new centre would also give the business access to more client data, Brown added. However, Tobin conceded that a share price recovery might not materialise in 2024 as Britons might not be ready yet to splash out. Hence, he thought the shares were "alarmingly cheap". STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Dining closures of the pandemic are a distant memory from four years ago. Now, business appears to be booming on Staten Island. Here are some news bits upon which to feast while we watch the typical ebb and flow of the food and drink realms around us. 1.) Blue Pearl is opening this month The seafood-centric eatery will focus on sushi, raw bar fare and some landlubber items. It will open sometime this month at 37 Navy Pier Ct. in Stapleton at Urby. The late Genevieve Benoit and Diane Buglioli, founders of the Harvest Cafe in New Dorp Beach which aims to reopen after some repairs. (Staten Island Advance/ Jan Somma-Hammel) =Staff-Shot 2.) Harvest Cafe closed temporarily Harvest Cafe seeks a new temporary home while it is repaired from water damage. A Very Special Place which runs the restaurant will pay rent for a short-term stay as a guest in another borough kitchen. For inquiries, send inquiries to khepsen@avspny.org. or call 718-987-124 X1046. 3.) Killsboros new facility is canning beer Right now, the dynamic borough brewery is shifting from 60 Van Duzer St., Stapleton a microbrewery in Craft House of Stapleton to bigger digs at 814 Richmond Terr. That structure under renovation is the former Brighton Supply Co. The building will open sometime this summer with an atrium seating area and adjoining tasting room. - Thursday morning's street renaming ceremony at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Westcott Boulevard unveiled "Alfonso Campitiello Way," honoring Campitiello's contributions to the community. (Staten Island Advance/ Priya shahi)Priya Shahi 4.) Alfonsos is still kickin indefinitely Recently, the bakerys awnings came down temporarily for cleaning. But the notable change sparked fear of a rebrand. With the bakery on the market and its land also for sale separately, baker and owner Anthony Campitiello assures hes going anywhere just yet. The bakery operates daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Sundays til 5 p.m.) except Mondays when it takes a siesta. 5.) Osteria Santinas backyard is finally open The al fresco section includes a pizza oven and barbecue along with a bar area. Co-owner Rocco Berardi is proud of the space which took a while to build out. The restaurant will further expand the patio next door with the acquisition of additional land. Long-time Staten Islander remember this 502 Jewett Ave. as Spain. Rendering of the future Lighthouse Point from the North Shore Action Plan, which the New York City Economic Development Corporation published Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. (Courtesy: NYCEDC) 6.) Seaside restaurant collection is still in the works The serial restaurant opener Peter Botros had plans to develop an artisan marketplace, restaurant and catering hall at the base of a St. George high-rise in development known as Lighthouse Point. Botros said of project first announced five years ago, We still have plans for the historic grounds at Lighthouse Point. Our project is part of Phase Two of the developers plans. And he hopes for some more news in June. 7.) Patrizias Taverna opened at The Boulevard. After almost a year build out, Patrizias of Brooklyn in Eltingville presents a more casual, eclectic version of itself. Meet the Taverna in New Dorp rounding out The Boulevard shopping complex, a confluence of Greek and Italian fare between the bar and a family-friendly dining room. The restaurant can be found under Alamo Drafthouse Cinema. Chef Margarito Flores at the Annadale Diner with Steve Bakousis (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) 8.) Annadale Terrace celebrates 10 years Steve Bakousis is over the moon over his decade at the restaurant he personally built. From a humble, Greek immigrant to a most happenin dude with the one of the busiest borough eateries, he gave away food and drinks this weekend to celebrate. Verde's Pizza and Pasta in Travis (Staten Island Advance/Pamela Silvestri) 9.) A new pizzeria opened on Staten Island. Big news heres another parlor. Says a rep for the Travis restaurant, Verdes at 4085 Forest Ave., We just opened a new store on Forest Avenue called Verdes on Forest. We took over the Old J & B Pizza location. Verdes sister restaurant is now at 2220 Forest Ave., Mariners Harbor. Three people were airlifted to a Camden County hospital Saturday after the car they were in became airborne outside an iconic South Jersey restaurant, authorities announced. An SUV was traveling south in the right lane of Route 73 in Winslow Township at about 11:58 a.m. when before approaching the intersection of West Fleming Pike the car veered onto the shoulder and then off the roadway, police said in a press release. The vehicle drove onto the property of Mr. Bills Richmans Ice Cream & Burger Co. right off Route 73 and West Fleming Pike and collided with landscaping materials, causing the vehicle to become airborne, authorities said. The car then hit a traffic light before it stopped, police said. The driver is a 65-year-old woman from the Mays Landing section of Hamilton township. All three passengers are also from Mays Landing and are in their 60s and 70s. Police didnt say which three of the four occupants were injured. Taylor Augustine, the 22-year-old manager of the restaurant that doubles as an ice cream shop, said when the crash happened she was shocked. There were about 20 customers being served outside and another 30 people inside. Augustine, who has worked for Mr. Bills for about a year, was outside as well interviewing a potential new staff member. So, my back was turned from the actual accident ... Oh, it was loud. It sounded kind of like a tow truck falling over. Thats what I thought it was at first, Augustine told NJ Advance Media on Saturday evening. Augustine said she rushed over with customers. Its our lunch rush so it was pretty busy at the time, she added. Our cook was here and he was the one who actually got a crowbar to help (a) guy out of the car. In the end, three of the four occupants in the SUV were airlifted to Cooper University Hospital in critical condition, according to police. There was some damage to a concrete decoration located on the business parking lot outside, Augustine said. However, as of 6 p.m. a tow truck had already removed the damaged SUV and there were no other signs a crash had happened. Customers were once again being served. This was my first time experiencing this, said Augustine, who was nonplussed after the sudden crash. I had to write out the incident report and get the camera footage for the police officers. She then got back to finishing that interview. I told her, she said, referring to the job candidate, this doesnt really happen. Usually. NJ Advance Media staff writers Steven Rodas and Jeff Goldman contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Taxpayers who are eligible for the School Tax Relief (STAR) credit can now officially opt into the direct deposit instead of staying near the mailbox each month in anticipation for a check. STAR Credit Direct Deposit is the fastest and easiest way to receive your STAR credit payment, New York State Department of Taxation and Finance Acting Commissioner Amanda Hiller said. The statewide launch of this program builds on a successful pilot of the program in Nassau and Suffolk counties last year. It works hand-in-hand with other changes were making to improve the STAR program for homeowners. The STAR credit offers New York homeowners some reprieve on property taxes, with up to hundreds of dollars available for those who enroll, depending on eligibility requirements. To apply for the STAR credit, you must be a homeowner of one of the following, according to New York State Department of Taxation and Finance website: Houses, including farmhouses and manufactured houses The owner-occupied portion of apartment buildings Condos Co-op apartments If you check the homeowner box, youre already on your way. There isnt an age requirement for the basic STAR credit, either. As for the 2024 income requirements, applicants cannot exceed $500,000. That figure applies to the combined incomes of only the owners and owners spouses who reside at the property, the website detailed. Keep in mind that for 2024, your income will come from your 2022 tax return. Once youve been approved, you can register for the direct deposit online. The amount of savings varies by school district, but most recipients save hundreds of dollars each year through the STAR program, a written statement explained. CANBERRA, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Australian authorities have issued a warning to internet users over a rise in hidden viruses that give cybercriminals remote control of their devices. In a statement released on Sunday, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) urged online users to protect themselves from a surge in the use of Remote Access Trojans (RATs) by criminals. RATs are a form of malicious malware that can be embedded in downloadable email attachments or video game add-ons or modifications. Once a RAT has been downloaded, the malware can covertly take unauthorized control of a victim's electronic device to conduct surveillance and steal sensitive personal information. Chris Goldsmid, Acting Assistant Commissioner of the AFP, said that authorities have identified an increase in cybercriminals attempting to target Australians and people around the world through the use of RATs. "These viruses, known as RATs, are the tools of cybercriminals and are built to spread and take over a victim's device, just like a plague," he said. "This type of cyber offending can evolve into extreme and malicious forms of data theft and victim manipulation, with criminals using stolen data to commit extortion or financial crimes." The AFP in April charged an Australian man after he allegedly developed and sold a RAT to customers on a hacking forum. Police are investigating a suspected car theft incident that escalated into an accidental death in the Bronx, the New York Daily News reports. According to the report, deputies attempted to pull over a 19-year-old man for driving a stolen car at about 1:30 a.m. The location of the traffic stop or the mans identity could not be immediately provided by police to the New York Daily News. Police told the outlet that the suspect sped off and the car broke down at Broadway and W. 207th St. in Inwood. The man then ditched the car and ran along the Henry Hudson Parkway toward the city-bound upper level of the George Washington Bridge, cops described to the outlet. The man seemingly misjudged a gap as he fled and fell onto Riverside Drive below, cops said. EMS transported the unknown male to Harlem Hospital, where he died of his injuries, cops said, according to the outlet. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Lilo, an African Penguin, captivated hundreds of children and their caretakers at the Staten Island Zoo in West Brighton, showcasing her big personality during the Penguin Pointers program on World Ocean Day Saturday morning. Lilo, an ambassador penguin from New Jerseys Jenkinsons Aquarium, made appearances three times throughout the morning and afternoon in the popular presentation, for which she is trained. Editors Note: The author of this article is a Curtis High School student who participates in the Advance/SILive.com High School Journalism Immersion program. The initiative is designed to help young people explore the world of community journalism. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Students from Curtis High School traveled to Albany during this past school year to garner support for the Student Journalist Free Speech Act, which would limit the amount of censorship for student journalists in New York state. The school partnered with New Voices New York, a non-profit organization dedicated to giving student journalists access to their First Amendment rights, enabling them to share stories that matter to their classmates and communities. The 14 Curtis students who traveled to Albany were part of a group totaling 50 students from six schools who all lobbied for the Student Journalist Free Speech Act on Feb. 28. Student journalism is the threshold for not only future journalists, but future adults. If students are being censored now and prevented from growing as creative reporters and writers, we are being put at a disadvantage as citizens, said sophomore Arijeta Demirovic, explaining why lobbying for the bill is important. Curtis High School students Diana Valentino, left, and Arijeta Demirovic, right, are pictured with Assemblymember Sam Pirozzolo. (Courtesy of Haris Jafri)sia The Student Journalist Free Speech Act, sponsored by Assemblymember Donna Luprado (D-Endicott) and Sen. Brian Kavanagh (D-Manhattan), aims to give students more control over content published in school newspapers, seeking to protect the free press rights of youth journalists. I think its important to fight for the bill, as we arent trying to issue more power to the student journalists to censor and hide what people really have to say goes against what journalism is as a whole, said Curtis sophomore Haris Jafri. The bill was first introduced as a way to uphold the rights given to students in the 1969 Supreme Court student speech case, Tinker vs Des Moines. This decision recognized the First Amendment rights of students in public schools. The Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court decision in 1988 revoked those rights by letting schools dictate what is and isnt allowed to be reported on by students. The Student Journalist Free Speech act would ensure that the Tinker standard is upheld and would counteract the Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court decision. Jasmine Ducette, who is a junior at Curtis High School, said the trip was a great experience, getting to speak to legislators and feel overall important being passionate talking about a topic. The commitment to lobbying in Albany required a lot of hard work and dedication. There were times during the trip where the doors to a senators office were closed, and students didnt even get a chance to speak about the Student Journalist Free Speech Act. Overall, the student lobbyists were able to make 145 office visits in two-and-a-half hours. They were even able to pick up four commitments to co-sponsor the bill. I really liked interacting with the new people, meeting senators and realized how nice they were while also staying professional It was also fun talking to the other parties there fighting for their own bill, recalled Haris. Arijeta, who attended the trip both this year and during her freshman year, spoke about the importance of advocacy as an American. Speaking up for rights that pertain to myself and my peers changes my outlook of my life from a passive to active stance, she explained. Mike Simons, of New Voices New York, addresses the press regarding the Student Journalist Freedom of Speech Act. New Voices New York is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving student journalists access to their First Amendment rights. (Courtesy of Haris Jafri)staten island advance Haris, who also attended the trip last year, added: This trip helps me realize that all good things take time, and if you want something you have to put in work for it to prosper Cadence Turner, a journalism teacher at Curtis who chaperoned the trip, spoke about the impact of the experience on her students. The trip to Albany was a great way for my students to understand how state politics work from the inside, she said. I think they came away from the trip realizing that their voice matters. The Senate committee that uncovered the PwC tax scandal is due to release its final report this Wednesday, but it will not end the fallout that has already torn the consulting firm in two and sent shockwaves throughout the entire industry. The tax office now faces fresh scrutiny over allegations it actively attempted to derail the investigation that led to former PwC partner Peter Collins being banned in 2022 for sharing sensitive government tax plans with other partners and potential clients. The PwC tax scandal has put the behaviour of the tax office under the microscope. Credit: Aresna Villanueva The scale of the scandal was revealed in May last year when the Senate committee released a cache of emails revealing the brazen attempt to use confidential government tax plans to cultivate fresh business from notorious corporate tax avoiders like Google and Facebook. This was triggered by queries from Senator Deborah ONeill. Fresh concerns were raised last month when government agencies, including the Australian Tax Office (ATO), replied to questions on notice from Senator Barbara Pocock. At intervals, the netting backdrop transforms into a spectral world, illuminated by strange lights. Glowing designs resembling dharis dance headdresses float across the stage, representing spirits who foresee the coming flood. For these spirits, symbols of memory and tradition, displacement is a kind of death. When the islands are gone, they ask, will all be forgotten? Choreography is one of the stronger elements of Gurr Era Op, with the trio frequently working in tight unison and engaging variations. The three central dance sections are tense and muscular, expressing controlled anger through hunched postures and yet thrusts of the arms and neck. Gurr Era Op is a moving and generous performance. Credit: Prudence Upton In fact, dance and movement permeate the entire performance. There are fragments of totem animal dances the tiger shark and stingray, the dingo and the crocodile and expressive gestures to illustrate the descriptions of food and eating (kai kai). In fact, at every moment, the women seem to be dancing remembering island rhythms even as they shift around the scenery. A notable moment occurs when the house lights come on and Gela invites audience members to share their own experiences of memories of place. Its a moment in which the show might have transformed. The invitation, however, was not taken up during the Wednesday show, despite the generally positive atmosphere. Perhaps this reluctance hints at something in the background of this show: a national habit of forgetfulness? The performers describe settler Australians as essentially displaced, people from elsewhere, and urge the audience to stand up for those soon to be displaced by climate change. And yet, if were so complacent about our own displacement, what empathy can we offer? This may explain the darker elements of this production and apocalyptic tone of the final scenes, where a sea wall of fishing cages is built. Theres anger and determination in this show, but a sort of fatalism as well. Still, Gurr Era Op remains a moving and generous performance. There are glimpses of paradisethe crystal waters and white sands and of a deep shared love for a living culture. Reviewed by Andrew Fuhrmann THEATRE 8/8/8: Rest Rising Festival, Arts Centre Melbourne, until June 9 I know Arts Centre Melbourne intimately, but not until spending an entire night there at 8/8/8: Rest have I truly fallen in love with the place. 8/8/8: Rest is the second instalment in a sprawling 24-hour theatre trilogy. Credit: Amelia Dowd Lets face it, the Arts Centre is no Sydney Opera House. It never will be, and like most Melburnians, I regard it with a mixture of affection and pity. The squat brutalist exteriors. The kitsch spire, vaulting into the heavens. And the plush, almost mobsterish opulence (straight from the greed is good phase of mid-80s capitalism) decorating the warren of theatres underneath. Architecturally, it tests the boundaries of aesthetic coherence, as does 8/8/8: Rest, an eight-hour, site-specific durational performance set within its womb-like embrace. This is the second instalment in a sprawling 24-hour theatre trilogy from Harriet Gillies, Marcus McKenzie and collaborators, split over eight hours each of work, rest and play. It kicked off with 8/8/8: Work at last years Rising festival, which explored the exploitation and absurdity of contemporary workplace culture from 9 to 5 (and in a signature irony, sometimes made the audience feel like unpaid interns). 8/8/8: Rest might pose an even tougher challenge for those who arent night owls or insomniacs. Credit: Amelia Dowd 8/8/8: Rest might pose an even tougher challenge for those who arent night owls or terrible insomniacs. The piece runs from 9pm to 5am, interrogating the commodification of sleep among other things while keeping you up all night. It begins with corporate satire. Audience members don lanyards and become delegates at a conference of sleep experts where almost everything that can go wrong, does. Short lectures on the latest scientific research are often waylaid: one speaker takes DMT and wafts into a pre-verbal trance onstage, while dodgy corporate entertainment (reworked by a childrens entertainer for an adult audience) is needed to cover serious misconduct from the conferences chief corporate sponsor. As we approach midnight, however, the conference dissolves, the audience gets monogrammed Snuggies to wear, and we step into a surreal, dreamlike night journey, where the Arts Centre itself speaks to us, where swamp creatures roam and paintings come to life, and where the logistical nightmare of making a show of this scale at the Arts Centre is comically exposed. Loading The last part is as bizarre as any of the surrealist physical theatre in the show and involves an extended sequence (which seems to use verbatim email exchanges between artists and staff) that re-enacts the ordeal of removing an Alice in Wonderland puppet exhibition from the Arts Centre foyer. The saga of the vitrines (glass display cases for the puppets) unleashes a Kafka-like maze of bureaucratic absurdity and perhaps in a sign of things to come, shows how inseparable work and rest can be right at the point where sleep deprivation starts to bite. Its like a lucid dream, and the piece only gets more hallucinatory as the wee hours start to stretch towards dawn. 8/8/8: Rest does have mercy on us. A beanbag-strewn sleep and meditation space has been arranged so you can nod off if you desire, while insomniacs can party at an impromptu rave, elsewhere in the building. There are longueurs, of course, but this is an intricate and provocative investigation of how we approach the third of our lives we should spend asleep. Its also a triumph of site-specific performance. This is Arts Centre Melbourne as youve never seen it before: an iconic ugly duckling, dreaming its a swan. Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead THEATRE Collaborator Daniel Kitson, Rising Festival, Lawler Studio, until June 23 Full disclosure. I performed in this show and may have a conflict of interest. My part was small, its true. I only had one line, Wankers!, and you might think that isnt much to work with, but I really inhabited the role. It was a strong showing. Primal. Almost a tour de force, if I can say such a thing without raising the suspicion of false modesty. Daniel Kitsons show, Collaborator, takes aim at audience participation. I did have an unfair advantage, of course. Theatre critics? Were just so accustomed to dealing with that level of nuance. A gift of a line in the right hands, Wankers!, and its easy to speak from the heart when youve suffered workplace exposure to questionable levels of audience participation for years. Its the theatrical equivalent of asbestos requires proper handling and my cameo was deeply felt, as Im sure the rest of the 170-odd strong cast of Collaborator would agree. Stand-up comedian-turned-theatre artist Daniel Kitson hates audience participation as much as anyone, so the perverse bastard has gone and written a play about it with up to 200 parts. Collaborator moves beyond critique and comedy into a style of experimental participatory theatre that creates an instant sense of community. Each part has its own script, handed out among spectator/participants at the start of the show and, although you can elect a non-speaking role if your aversion is total, there are so many roles to fill that everyone is basically coerced into joining the debacle. Fear not. Most parts are micro, and you might get a chance at a scripted heckle, or to show off your Kitson super-fandom, as the play unfolds. Theres only one named role, Kitsons antagonist Keith, played by the first audience member dragooned into assisting. Keith is a reluctant collaborator, and hes not alone in his ambivalence. Loading Incessant interjections, often making a problem of the plays dubious gambit, keep deferring the start of the show, and Kitson soon has a rebellion on his hands, with Keith leading the charge. Collaborator may be a touch anaemic as a critique of audience participation, though it raises many issues: power dynamics between performer and audience, questions of consent and implied consent, its use in stand-up comedy and the commodification of schadenfreude, the potential for exploitation and so on. What it doesnt acknowledge is that audience participation is the norm in many performance traditions; that sitting down in polite silence to passively watch a play is a style of theatre influenced by class and culture and history, and even that tradition is more honoured in the breach than the observance. It probably spends too much time pre-empting criticisms (including this one) to delve too far into the philosophy and ethics underlying a complex, hugely variable aspect of live performance, but its fun. Kitson is a fun wanker, and its amusing to watch his self-reflexive wit ping-ponging through the audience as each of us gets a moment in the limelight. In the end, though, Collaborator moves beyond critique and comedy into a style of experimental participatory theatre that creates an instant sense of community a neat antidote to the fear and loathing audience participation can inspire. Reviewed by Cameron Woodhead MUSIC Kirill Gerstein Musica Viva, Melbourne Recital Centre, June 11 American pianist Kirill Gerstein makes an interesting study in the push-and-pull between introvert and extrovert elements in pianistic performance. Returning to Australia after five years, Gerstein still projects a quiet gravity as he quickly acknowledges applause and then proceeds to pour out music with his own unique brand of thoughtful pianism. In this eclectic program predominated by dazzling romantic favourites, there were plenty of calls for extrovert showmanship that were met with varying degrees of intensity. Opening with Chopins Polonaise-Fantaisie in A-flat major, Op. 6, Gerstein seemed more at ease in its grand, mystical opening than in its ensuing passionate stream of consciousness. Kirill Gerstein performs at Melbourne Recital Centre, June 11 2024. Credit: James Grant Faures late, intensely personal Nocturne No.13 in B minor, Op. 119, with its many well-rendered shadings of colour and texture, also sat well with Gersteins intellectual inner world. It was preceded by an equally thought-provoking contemporary take on the French masters music: Apres-Faure No.3: Nocturne by jazz pianist Brad Mehldau. Poulencs extremely varied Three Intermezzi underlined Gersteins chameleonic versatility, while Liszts Polonaise in E major, S. 233 No.2 left the audience in no doubt as to his pyrotechnical capabilities. Combining just the right proportion of military swagger to romantic swoon, here was a masterclass in technical and expressive control. Similar accolades were merited for Schumanns Carnival of Vienna, Op. 26 that concluded the official program. In between came a slightly studious account of Chopins Fantaisie in F minor, Op. 49 and Liza Lims specially commissioned Transcendental Etude, with its poetic transcendence alluding to the plight of Iranian women through a sound world of overtones and nervous, knotty textures. Two encores, Kreislers Liebeslied Waltz arranged by Rachmaninov and Chopins Waltz in A-flat major, Op. 42, had Gerstein in a more relaxed, show-off mode, sending the audience away happy but still pondering the multi-faceted nature of Gersteins art. Reviewed by Tony Way MUSIC OneFour: The Get Back Tour Rising Festival, Festival Hall, June 8 On the left of the stage, a sign stating Welcome to Mt Druitt sits behind the beat-up, graffitied front end of a car. A short film plays scenes of individuals fleeing the police, of burning buildings, men throwing cash in the air and a mob holding burning sticks. The crowd has their phones poised and ready to capture controversial rappers OneFour as they burst on stage to deafening cheers. Formed in 2014 in western Sydney, OneFour are praised as pioneers of Australian drill music, a subgenre of hip-hop noted for its minimalistic production and explicit lyrics akin to gangsta rap. OneFour performs at Rising. Credit: Richard Clifford Its rare for the group to tour, in large part due to long-term issues between the group and authorities in particular, the NSW police, which have claimed their material can incite violence. The issues and the impact on OneFours commercial success is well-documented in the 2023 Netflix film, OneFour: Against All Odds. Even the groups founder, Jerome J Emz Misa, expressed his apprehension about their Rising festival gig going ahead. Performing at Rising were three members of the original group: J Emz, Spencer Spenny Magalogo and Salec Lekks Sua. Current member Dahcell Celly Ramos was recently charged over an alleged knife threat and former member Pio YP Misa (J Emzs brother) has become an ordained priest. Loading J Emz leads most of the crowd engagement and storytelling across the set. The crowd turns on their phone torches, illuminating the space as he performs Heartless solo, a softer ballad that was co-written with YP. You guys know the situation, he says in his introduction. He later dedicates Welcome To Prison to those incarcerated right now. Due to their limited performance opportunities, you could tell the group gave their all to make the most of it. Bounding across the stage, they spit impassioned lyrics that document inter-gang postcode tensions and the members own hardships and religious upbringings. OneFours ongoing struggles to overcome the barriers of race and class ingrained in Mount Druitts social fabric are evident throughout their show: in the gunshot sound effects from the on-stage DJ, in the screens content with images of violence as well as the lyrics of their music. Even J Emz mentions at one point, were not making it out of the trenches. Due to their limited performance opportunities, you could tell OneFour gave it their all. Credit: Richard Clifford Loading Advertisement FoodMasterChef Recap We finally find out who makes the top 10, one of MasterChefs most meaningless achievements The contestants take on a confusing plant-based challenge in an effort to avoid elimination. And everyone says umami a lot. Ben Pobjie June 9, 2024 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This recap appears in the MasterChef 2024 recap collection. See all stories . The Bible specifies that Sunday is the day of rest, but every week MasterChef disobeys God, and this week is no exception. Thanks to her saucy skills, Sumeet is the only one allowed to obey the divine rules, but the rest of the field must today fight it out to avoid elimination. Even more excitingly, those who survive will be in the top ten, one of MasterChefs most meaningless achievements. The amateurs arrive at the kitchen to find their challenge hidden by a huge curtain, symbolic of the veil of mystery that hangs over all who dare to essay this arcane art known as cooking. Andy explains to them that everyone loves meat. Jean-Christophe mentions that he, personally, thinks meat is great. Everyone agrees that meat is the best. Weve got a juicy twist for you, says Andy rather disgustingly. The curtain draws back to reveal No meat at all! Well played, M. Night Shyamalan. There are tables full of fruit and vegetables before them. The task is to cook a delicious vegetarian dish, or, as that is technically impossible, to cook a vegetarian dish that doesnt make the eater clinically depressed. Even worse, there are no eggs or butter or cream, meaning that the amateurs have not just been deprived of meat, but of the best three things in the world that arent meat. The judges meet to mock the amateurs pain. Sofia declares her hatred of cauliflower steaks. Poh says umami to fulfil her contractual obligation to say it at least once a day. Advertisement Sav is feeling very confident, because she is Sav and finds it impossible to shake the feeling she is inherently a better person than everyone else. She is making a shepherds pie with jackfruit, which obviously is awful, but its a vegetarian challenge, so its not like making something not-awful is an option. Flavour is my game and my name, says Sav, but she is lying: her name is Sav. Sofia declares her hatred of cauliflower steaks. Poh says umami to fulfil her contractual obligation to say it at least once a day. Darrsh reveals he has an advantage, as he dated a vegan for three years. Its uncertain if he mentions this as a comment on his strategy, or as an attempt to win the judges sympathy. He is taking inspiration from fried chicken and waffles not by leaving immediately and going out for dinner, but by cooking vegetables. Meanwhile Australian Josh admits that he is a butcher and plants dont work for me he finds it almost impossible to cook anything which has never felt pain. Hes making a beetroot burger, so it looks like hes given up on life entirely. Every amateur knuckles down and gets to work making silk purses out of sows ears or rather, not out of sows ears, which is the whole problem. Its Nats first cook without an immunity pin, which has stressed her out so much shes talking too fast for humans to understand. Shes cooking mushrooms or asparagus or daffodils or something. Elsewhere, American Josh is making a steak out of carrots, which is ground for sectioning under the Mental Health Act. Andy and Jean-Christophe tell him hes an idiot, but Josh is not taking any advice from men who dont even have the guts to grow a gigantic moustache. Advertisement Tension is high. Sav begins smoking her potatoes, and who can blame her: you need something to steady your nerves, right? Todays a plant-based challenge, but theres a lot at STEAK! Darrsh cackles, proving hes spent far too much time with Alex. Australian Josh is fixated on proving his bread rolls, not realising the existence of bread rolls was established by scientists centuries ago. Sofia and Poh visit his bench to inform him that its literally impossible to make vegetables taste like meat and the entire challenge is a farce. Energised by the new knowledge that nothing in life matters, Josh attacks his beets with the vigour of the truly nihilistic, repeating umami, a word he just learnt today, over and over in joyous delirium. From the balcony, Sumeet calls Go Josh, but doesnt specify which one, sparking a brawl on the floor. Darrsh takes out his waffles and declares himself happy with his hot maple, and youve got to wonder whether, if Darrsh were less handsome, that sentence would sound less sexual. Harry is even happier with his seafood-based dish, with ingredients all taken directly out of a fishs stomach. They taste like tuna! he giggles, inexplicably believing this to be a good thing. Meanwhile Sav is feeling good, solemnly promising us all that she is very smart, and proving it by irretrievably burning her spice mix. I cannot be the Sri Lankan who goes home because I burnt my spices, she says, but I think shes underselling herself she can do anything! Advertisement The challenge ends, and with a funereal air of grim inevitability, the judges brace themselves for the nightmare of tasting. Darrsh is confident. Australian Josh is uncertain, but is still saying umami so hopefully that helps. American Josh is happy, but hes serving a carrot steak, so where that happiness comes from god only knows. Sav serves her shepherds pie with jackfruit and severely burnt spices. It is tiny and miserable. The judges love it. Australian Josh serves his beetroot burgers, saying umami once more for luck. Hes scared, but he shouldnt be: hes not the one who has to eat it. The burgers are slimy and gross. The judges hate them. Sofia says umami regretfully. Poh agrees that in the end, umami. American Josh serves his carrot steak with carrot jus. It is skin- crawlingly nasty. The judges hate it. I dont think its the right dish for this challenge, says Andy a carrot steak would ideally have been served during a cheese souffle challenge. Darrsh serves his fried chicken that is actually fried mushrooms with waffles that arent really waffles. Its a grotesque parody of food. The judges love it. The thought of meat didnt even enter my mind, says Poh, which is weird because she then says how much like chicken it was. Advertisement The bit players of the episode Gill, Alex, Mimi, Lachlan and Harry serve their bits. They are both repulsive and forgettable. Finally, here is Nat, with her deep fried mushrooms. Its pretty nauseating, but it has the one quality that the judges most value in a dish: it was cooked by Nat. Give it up for American Josh everybody. Ten In the end, the judges have myriad options when it comes to punishing failure, but although Australian Joshs beet burgers were indeed a crime against nature, American Joshs carrot steak is deemed more unforgivably offensive to decent humans. Thus, in a stunning blow against US cultural hegemony, American Josh goes home. The top ten is thus set in stone: Australian Josh, Sumeet, Sav, Mimi, Darrsh, Harry, Lachlan, Nat, Alex and Gill. Everyone agrees that vegan food is inherently wrong and makes a pact never to make it ever again, sealing the promise with the solemn word of power, umami. Tune in on Wednesday, when MasterChef features actual food again. Collection MasterChef 2024: The Ben Pobjie episode recaps Thousands of students have been accused of cheating and paying others to do their work as the record number of misconduct cases forces universities to beef up their investigation departments. The large-scale return of international students has reignited fears of a cheating black market linked to visa fraud, while forensic IT advances have helped investigators find more cheating students. The University of Sydney recorded a 1000 per cent increase in serious academic cheating in two years. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer Australias higher education watchdog, Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA), has warned that cheating companies run by criminal syndicates are becoming more aggressive in their pursuit of students and are even making threats against investigators. New figures reveal Sydney University recorded a 1000 per cent increase in serious academic cheating referred to the registrar between 2021 and 2023, with extra resources needed to get through a backlog of cases. A business owner who was hoping to participate in last weekends Teneriffe Festival agrees the event has lost its community roots. Matthew Hibberd, who runs Truffle Discovery Centre in Stanthorpe, ran a street stall at last years festival and applied again this year. He said there was zero communication from event organisers who did not respond to his application. Hibberd feels the event has changed from a family-friendly festival. Last weekends Teneriffe Festival Credit: Facebook We attend festivals and markets every weekend and I expected probably less alcohol and better behaviour and less crowd numbers packed in like that, Hibberd said of last years event. Its a great success story for the event, but I think its morphing into something other than a community event. It felt like a concert ... If theyre not going to have a community, family-friendly festival ... they may as well move it to Riverstage and have it there. However, Hibberd supported expanding the footprint of the festival. We want crowds and we want trade but I also dont want to be there to the detriment of local businesses. PHNOM PENH, June 9 (Xinhua) -- A Thai cargo ship sank in sea off Sihanoukville in southwestern Cambodia on Sunday, and all 10 crew members were rescued timely, Cambodia's National Committee for Maritime Security said in a news release. The accident happened at around 12:00 p.m. at noon local time when the vessel, shipping 53 containers, was traveling from Thailand to the Sihanoukville Autonomous Port, the news release said. The ship sank when it was hit by torrential rain and strong wind as well as high waves at a point near Koh Rong Island, it said. "All 10 Thai crew members were rescued timely by a nearby fishing boat," it added. According to the news release, the ship was named Chiang Laan, which is 49 meters long, 15 meters wide and 3.2 meters deep. A three-month-old baby has died days after a car crash that killed his mother north of Brisbane. The baby boy was travelling with his mother on Caboolture River Road in Upper Caboolture on Friday afternoon when their car crashed into a tree. A baby has died days after a crash in Caboolture. His mother had died at the scene. Credit: Nine News Vision of the crash showed the white SUV wrecked, and on its side against the tree. The 33-year-old woman was unable to be saved, and died at the scene, while the baby was rushed to the Queensland Childrens Hospital with critical injuries. Former premier Mark McGowan has made it onto Australias highest honours list almost one year to the day since his shock retirement from politics, and from the public eye. The popular 30th Premier of Western Australia, revered for his tough stance on COVID-19 border closures, has been thrust back into the spotlight after being appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent achievement and merit of the highest degree in service to Australia. Mark McGowans hardline policies during the pandemic resulted in celebrity-like fandom in WA and gained him a record-breaking 90 per cent approval rating. The former Labor leader and member for Rockingham is one of six Australians and the only one from WA to be appointed the Companion in the 2024 Kings Birthday Honours. He joins a short list of former WA premiers with the AC title, including Colin Barnett (2023), Geoff Gallop (2008), Richard Court (2003) and John Tonkin (1977). Prominent American politicians and military leaders have rallied behind an influential Australian think tank known for its hawkish views on the Chinese Communist Party and defence policy as the Albanese government considers overhauling government funding for national security research. Prime Minister Anthony Albaneses department in February commissioned former Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade head Peter Varghese to review national security strategic policy work. Lieutenant-General Stephen Sklenka said the Australian Strategic Policy Institutes work had helped shape his thinking on strategic issues in the Indo-Pacific. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Australias strategic policy community has since been abuzz with speculation the review was driven in part by a desire to rein in the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, a Canberra think tank established in 2001 and led by former Liberal Party staffer and public servant Justin Bassi. Officials from the Chinese embassy in Canberra included government funding for anti-China research at the institute on an infamous list of 14 grievances provided to journalists from Nine News and this masthead in 2020. To every yin, there is a yang; or as The Byrds once suggested (borrowing from the King James Bible), theres a time for every purpose under heaven. So, upon arriving in Penzance after a five-hour train ride from London, I was desperate to do some laundry. Visiting a laundromat while travelling can be a pleasure, not a chore. Credit: iStock Travelling light has many benefits: while toting only a cabin-luggage-sized backpack, you can zip through airports and walk to hotels from train stations. But this flexibility means you have to do laundry regularly, and that chore was on my to-do list as I stepped out of Penzance railway station. Then I stopped, transfixed by what met my eyes. On one corner of the nearby intersection was a laundrette and opposite that was a pub. It was a match made in heaven. I turned around, walked back to the train station loos and re-dressed, braving the breezy Cornish day in an outfit which consisted of (in its entirety) a fleece jacket, black trousers, and boots without socks. Everything else was going in the wash. Then, having put on a load at the Suds & Surf, I stepped across to the Longboat Inn. Under the guidance of the barman, I ordered a local brew from the St Austell Brewery, which I sipped while chatting with another couple of travellers visiting Cornwall. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- On Tuesday, June 4th, 2024, the Deputy Minister Plenipotentiary, the Honourable Gracita R. Arrindell and her delegation, together with representatives from the other Dutch islands as well as the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs, attended a meeting in The Hague hosted by Felix Fernandez-Shaw (Deputy Director General for International Partnerships (INTPA) of the European Commission. The focus of the meeting was to inform the Dutch Caribbean representatives of the European Unions (EU's) Global Gateway Investment Agenda for the Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) region. The EUs Global Gateway is a 300-billion-euro investment facility of which 45 billion euros has been allocated to EU-LAC cooperation to support infrastructural projects in the region, among others, in the areas of green transition, inclusive digital transformation, human development and resilience in the health sector and vaccine development. Various Caribbean countries have already tapped into this facility. Fernandez-Shaw made use of the opportunity to discuss and seek support for two possible collaborations between the EU and the Dutch Kingdom. One focuses on financing infrastructure to enhance the interconnectivity between the LAC region and the EU, while the other addresses the creation of a plan of action for the sargassum challenge faced in the region. The representatives present shared their initial views on the proposals brought forward by Fernandez-Shaw. Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell thanked Fernandez-Shaw and his colleagues for taking the time out to host the meeting and inform those present of the opportunities that the Global Gateway facility offers. Minister Plenipotentiary Arrindell agreed that tackling the issues being addressed in the two proposed collaborations between the EU and the LAC region are indeed relevant for Sint Maarten. Minister Arrindell shared that together with her team she will be looking into gathering support for these, as well as various other projects that Sint Maarten consider as high priority. The Minister Plenipotentiary considers the Global Gateway facility as an instrument in advancing the national development of Sint Maarten. The Minister will continue to explore all avenues for the benefit of Sint Maarten. A woman casts her vote for the European Parliament elections at a polling station in Wavre, Belgium, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) BRUSSELS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Belgians were called to cast ballots for a new federal parliament, regional parliaments, and members of the European Parliament all on Sunday. Polling stations were opened from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. for paper ballots, and until 4 p.m. for electronic voting. Technical difficulties with voting computers have delayed the opening of some polling stations but were not expected to cause major problems, according to local media reports. Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo cast his vote early in the morning. Despite being relatively well-placed in the polls, his party, Open VLD, has been losing ground. All of Europe is voting to elect the members of the European Parliament allocated to each country. In Belgium, there are 22 seats. Thousands of candidates are in the running, representing a wide range of parties from traditional formations to populist and ecological movements. Due to the economic, social, and administrative aspects of the three regions of Belgium (Flemish Region, Walloon Region, and Brussels-Capital Region) and the three linguistic regions (Dutch, French, and German), forming the federal government is usually a lengthy negotiation process: from 2010 to 2011, Belgium set a record of 541 days without a government. A man casts his vote for the European Parliament elections at a polling station in Wavre, Belgium, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) People wait to vote for the European Parliament elections at a polling station in Wavre, Belgium, June 9, 2024. (Xinhua/Zhao Dingzhe) Somalia says 5 soldiers killed in battle with jihadists Mogadishu, June 8 (AFP) Jun 08, 2024 Somalia's government said five of its soldiers died in a battle in which they killed nearly 50 fighters from the Islamist militant group Al-Shabaab Saturday, about 350 kilometres (215 miles) north of the capital Mogadishu. Government troops and supporting militia forces got word of an attack planned by Al-Shabaab in Ceeldheer, in the Galgadud region, set an ambush and "destroyed" them, said a statement. Their forces killed at least 47 members of the militant group while losing five soldiers in the battle, said the authorities. They said airstrikes were also carried out against the Al-Shabaab forces. Al-Shabaab claimed responsibility for the attack on Ceeldheer. Local resident Mohamed Hussein told AFP by telephone: "There was heavy fighting in Ceeldheer town this morning after Al-Shabaab attacked the town from several directions. "It was very hard to say who is in control a while ago but now we can see that the Somali government forces are in full control," he added. Another local man, Hassan Gutale, said: "There were at least six heavy explosions and fighting that lasted several hours." Elected in May, 2022, Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud vowed to wage "total war" against the Islamist group. Al-Shabaab has been waging a deadly insurgency against the fragile central government in Mogadishu for more than 16 years. Although driven out of the capital by an African Union force in 2011, they still have a strong presence in rural Somalia. They have carried out repeated attacks against political, security and civilian targets, mostly in Somalia but also in neighbouring countries including Kenya. Somalia's beleaguered federal government has joined forces with local clan militia against the Islamists, retaking swathes of territory in central Somalia in an operation backed by an AU mission known as ATMIS and US air strikes. But the offensive has suffered setbacks, with Al-Shabaab earlier this year claiming it had taken multiple locations in the centre of the country. Seven Pakistan soldiers killed in bombing: army Islamabad, June 9 (AFP) Jun 09, 2024 Seven Pakistani soldiers were killed on Sunday when their vehicle was bombed in a northwest region bordering Afghanistan, according to the military. The six enlisted men and one officer were killed by an "improvised explosive device" in Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said in a statement. A senior police officer stationed in Lakki Marwat told AFP that "the explosion completely destroyed the vehicle". "We have received information that the vehicle came under fire after the blast," he added, speaking on condition of anonymity. Mountainous Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has long been a hive of Islamic militant groups including the Pakistani Taliban and the local chapter of the Islamic State group. "Lakki Marwat is one of the districts in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa most affected by terrorism," the senior police officer told AFP. No group immediately claimed responsibility for Sunday's attack. The Pakistani Taliban -- known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) -- is the most active militant group in the area and regularly targets security forces. Attacks have spiked in Pakistan since the Taliban returned to power in neighbouring Afghanistan in August 2021. Last year, 29 suicide attacks were registered -- the most since 2014 -- killing 329 people, according to the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies. Islamabad accuses Kabul's new rulers of failing to root out militants sheltering on Afghan soil as they prepare to stage attacks on Pakistan. The Taliban government has repeatedly denied the allegations, and said it will not allow Afghan territory to host foreign militants. However analysts say the TTP share a common lineage and ideology with the Afghan Taliban. In January 2023, the TTP was linked to a mosque suicide bombing in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial capital of Peshawar which killed more than 80 police officers. In September, Pakistan said four troops were killed during a cross-border raid by "hundreds" of TTP fighters in Chitral, an area popular with domestic tourists. Israel army says senior commander resigns over Oct 7 attack Jerusalem, June 9 (AFP) Jun 09, 2024 Israel's army said Sunday that a senior commander had resigned over what he called his failure to prevent the October 7 attack by Palestinian militants. "The commander of the 143rd Division, Brigadier General Avi Rosenfeld, informed his commanders today of his intention to end his service in the (Israeli army)," said a statement by the military. "The officer will finish his duties in the near future." Rosenfeld wrote in a resignation letter released by the army: "Everyone has to take responsibility for their part, and I am the one responsible in Division 143." "On October 7, I failed my life's mission: to protect the envelope," he wrote, referring to the southern Israeli communities on the border with Gaza. In April, Israel's military intelligence chief, Major General Aharon Haliva, became the first high-ranking official to step down for failing to prevent the attack that shocked Israel and the international community. In his resignation letter, Haliva, who served in the force for 38 years, took responsibility for failing to prevent the attack. "The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with," he wrote. The bloodiest ever Gaza war broke out with the October 7 attack on southern Israel that resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 37,084 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the territory's health ministry. PARIS, June 8 (Xinhua) -- French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for a political solution, while meeting with his United States counterpart Joe Biden, who is on a state visit to France. "After nine months of conflict, the situation in Rafah, and the human toll, are unacceptable," Macron said at a joint press conference. "It is intolerable that Israel is not opening all the crossing points to humanitarian aid, as the international community has been demanding for several months," he said. Biden said they would continue to work for the return of all hostages to their homes and for a ceasefire in Gaza. Biden's state visit comes two days after his participation in the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in France. People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) A woman in traditional Estonian folk costume takes part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) People in traditional Estonian folk costumes take part in a dance celebration in Johvi, Estonia on June 8, 2024. More than 1,200 folk dancers from about 100 troops took part in the celebration. (Photo by Sergei Stepanov/Xinhua) And she defended her boss, stating: Douglas Ross always leads from the front you can see that by his leadership in the Scottish Parliament. It was only last month due to Douglas Ross that Humza Yousaf had to resign. * FIRST NAME * LAST NAME * EMAIL Your email address * PASSWORD Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number Show * YEAR OF BIRTH You must be at least 18 years old to create an account 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922 1921 1920 1919 1918 1917 1916 1915 1914 1913 1912 1911 1910 1909 1908 1907 1906 * Required fields I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice CREATE ACCOUNT I'LL TRY LATER Already have an account? SIGN IN By clicking Create Account you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. The letter added: These Westminster cuts will be made even worse because the Labour Party also wants to continue imposing a hard Brexit, which has removed Scotland from the worlds largest single market, wiped 40 billion of tax receipts from the UK economy and which the OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility) estimates will inflict a 4% hit to GDP. The news has sparked an outpouring of grief from his loved ones and fans of his science programmes and films, which included the BBC series Trust Me, Im A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain, and the BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, where he revealed tips to help improve your health. BEIJING, June 9 (Xinhua) -- China's commerce ministry has called on China and the European Union to handle economic and trade frictions properly through dialogue and consultation, advocate win-win cooperation and welcome healthy competition. Efforts should be made to accommodate the legitimate concerns of both sides and avoid the escalation of trade frictions, the ministry said. It has held symposiums with Chinese-funded enterprises and business associations in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Greece. Some business representatives have expressed concerns that the EU has been continuously suppressing Chinese enterprises on the grounds of so-called fair competition. Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said that accusations of "unfair competition" against China are groundless, and that fair competition is the consensus of all countries and the cornerstone of international exchange, and it cannot be defined by a few countries. True fair competition means striving to improve oneself, rather than tripping up others. It should be open, cooperative, equal and mutually beneficial, rather than exclusive. It also means following rules that have international consensus, rather than breaking or tampering with them at will, he said. China advocates win-win cooperation, but it neither evades nor fears competition. It welcomes healthy competition, and opposes vicious competition designed to contain and suppress, Wang said. In response to concerns over the EU's anti-subsidy investigation of Chinese electric vehicles, which has affected cooperation between Chinese auto companies and their European counterparts, Wang said that the right way for the two sides to get along is to expand cooperation and achieve win-win results amid healthy competition. He made the comments during a recent visit to a joint venture between China's Chery Automobile and Spain's Ebro-EV Motors in Barcelona, Spain. He expressed the hope that the European side will abandon trade protectionism and return to the correct path of dialogue and cooperation. He also said that he hopes the enterprises involved in the joint venture will overcome their difficulties to make their work an important project of economic and trade cooperation between China and Spain, and between China and Europe. The police received 665 reports of electoral incidents in the last 24 hours, 14% of which are being verified, but there were no cases of incidents involving the security of polling stations, spokesperson of the Ministry of Interior (MAI) Monica Dajbog said on Sunday morning. The police enforced 97 fines, worth more than 100,000 lei, and 242 warnings. In addition, criminal cases were filed for 107 possible offences. According to the MAI official, the voting process began in normal conditions throughout the country. "Approximately 42,800 police, gendarmes, firefighters, border police and workers from other structures are mobilised throughout the country to protect polling stations and maintain public safety both in the vicinity of polling stations and within the localities," the source said. Teams made up of MAI employees have the mission to conduct emergency investigations in case of reports of non-compliance with the law in the electoral context. More than 1,600 police officers are carrying out traffic activities and checks, including checks on how people are transported. Air support will be provided by IGAv aircraft. MP Biro Rozalia, who is running for mayor of Oradea, said that she voted on Sunday for a safer future and a better life for Oradea citizens. She cast her vote immediately after the polls opened. "I voted for a European Parliament that makes decisions for the citizen and focused on the family. I voted for a safer future and a better life for Oradea citizens, for a family-friendly city, for a city of entrepreneurs and a city of partnerships," Biro Rozalia told AGERPRES. Leader of the Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) women and of the Women's Organisation of the European People's Party (EPP), Biro Rozalia was accompanied to the polling station by her husband, Biro Barna, and their two children - Bernadett, a law student in Cluj, and Barna, a medical student in Targu Mures. Moreover, the candidate for mayor of Oradea was accompanied to the polling station by her father, nonagenarian Fazakas Janos, present this time as well as in previous elections. The mayor of Cluj-Napoca, Emil Boc, voted on Sunday for a city like in the developed countries, and for a strong Romania and Europe. "I voted so that good things continue to happen in Cluj-Napoca. I voted for a city like the ones we see in the developed countries, because if we want a developed country, then we must first of all have cities like in the developed countries, and Cluj is about to be a city like that, for its people should be happy to live in a city that offers them conditions as close as possible to those in the European Union. I also voted for a team that was able to bring Cluj to the level of development it is today and that has the maturity and experience to know what to do next to maintain it. I also voted for a strong Romania in Europe and for a strong Europe, because only a strong Europe can continue to ensure peace, freedom of movement and access to prosperity," said Emil Boc upon leaving the polling station. He was accompanied to the polling station by his wife Oana, as well as members of the PNL (National Liberal Party) Cluj, including the president of the organization, MEP Daniel Buda. Emil Boc voted at section no. 49 hosted by the IT High School "Tiberiu Popoviciu" in Cluj-Napoca. ZAGREB, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The traditional Chinese Duanwu Festival was celebrated here on Saturday as the Croatia-China Cultural Foundation (CCCF) distributed 192 boxes of Zongzi, the traditional Chinese rice pudding, to the local Chinese. The 192 boxes of Zongzi for distribution were provided to the CCCF by the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation, as the majority of Chinese in Croatia, as well as Europe, are from the province, according to Ye Suixiong, president of the CCCF. "The Zongzi, although small, embodies the care and love of our hometown and motherland for the overseas Chinese in Croatia," Ye told Xinhua, adding that the CCCF will do its utmost to live up to the expectations of the Zhejiang Province and convey the care and blessing to every Chinese in Croatia. This was the second time that the CCCF, entrusted by the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Affairs Office and the Zhejiang Provincial Overseas Chinese Federation, to organize such an activity in Zagreb to celebrate the Duanwu Festival. This traditional Chinese festival, which falls on June 10 this year, has a history of over 2,000 years and is celebrated across China and around the world to commemorate Qu Yuan (about 340-278 BC), a patriotic Chinese poet who is known today for his patriotism and contributions to classical verse. For his part, Wang Peng, minister-counselor at the Chinese embassy in Croatia, expressed his blessings for the local Chinese on the occasion of the traditional Chinese festival. "I hope these Zongzi from China can help everyone relieve their homesickness on this occasion and feel the care and love from the motherland," Wang said. Over one week before the scheduled event, the CCCF conducted extensive publicity and notification in the local Chinese circle and the WeChat group and received enthusiastic responses from the local Chinese. "What a great news!" a Chinese replied in the WeChat group of local Chinese, while another acclaimed, "Superb!" with more people applauding the event by giving thumbs-up signs. For Jin Yuhao, a Chinese student who has been studying at the Zagreb School of Economics and Management for two years, the tasteful Zongzi will make him less homesick this year, although an old Chinese poem says that one is often more homesick on festive occasions. "This event makes me deeply feel the care and warmth of the motherland, so this year's Duanwu Festival is particularly warm and meaningful for me," he said. The Mayor of Constanta, Vergil Chitac, on Sunday got fined for a second time by the Permanent Electoral Authority for non-compliance with AEP decisions, the Constanta County Electoral Office reports. Chitac was sanctioned because he did not provide five separate ballot boxes in some polling stations in the municipality of Constanta, but only three such ballot boxes, which were divided into compartments. For the same irregularity, the mayor of Constanta got fined by theAEP representatives on Saturday. Bucharest General Mayor Nicusor Dan said on Sunday upon leaving the polling station that he voted for "realism" and "honesty" in public life, and also against the "real estate mafia." "I voted for honesty in public life, for realism in public life, because it is important for politicians to tell us where we are and what we can realistically do, and I voted against the real estate mafia. I want to urge people to go out and vote, because this is a moment when they decide the direction in which we will go," said Dan. He added that during the day he will be at the City Hall, and later he will make more statements, depending on future developments. To a remark about the fact that it is one of the warmest days in which elections were held, the general mayor replied laughingly: "Yes, this is something above my pay grade." Dan is running for re-election as an independent backed by the United Right Alliance. MEP Iuliu Winkler (Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania, UDMR, EPP) said on Sunday in Hunedoara that he voted for more European funds, less bureaucracy and for the European Union institutions to "work for the people and not in the service of ideologies", but also to obtain a regulation on the rights of "autochthonous minorities" in the European community. "I voted with a lot of confidence and hope for more EU funds and less bureaucracy. For a change in the European Union, especially in the European Commission - where we want the European Union institutions to work for the people and not in the service of ideologies. I voted for a regulation on the rights of autochthonous minorities in the European Union in the near future," said Winkler. The MEP urged voters to exercise their right to vote. "I voted with hope and I urge all those who have to vote today, all voters in Romania, to go and exercise their right to vote because if they decide not to vote, then they will let others decide on their behalf," concluded Iuliu Winkler. MEP Victor Negrescu voted on Sunday in Sebes, Alba County, for "a generational shift in politics" and for "a Romania represented with professionalism at European level." "I voted for a Romania represented with professionalism at European level. I rejected scandal and extremism with my vote. At the same time, I voted locally for a generational shift in politics, for new people of good faith, who can do more for Alba, better for the people.". Negrescu is the coordinator of the Alba chapter of the Social Democratic Party (PSD). NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana called on Sunday on Romanians and particularly on young first-time voters to turn out in as large numbers as possible, because this is an important moment in national and European history. "I have come to fulfill my civic duty to vote in these highly important elections. My call is for Romanians to turn to the vote in as high numbers as possible, this is extremely important. A special thought for the over one million young men and women who are to cast their ballot for the first time - it is very important that they take this first step towards democratic and civic involvement and, even if - regrettably - we didn't have a more structured debate for the European elections, I hope that the Romanian diaspora too reports to the polls in high numbers to vote for the European Parliament," Geoana, who voted at the Bucharest 'I.L. Caragiale' National Highschool, said. His advice to the voters was "to look at those they want to invest with their vote beyond political colors, to look at their quality, if they are efficient, if they are serious." "The future holders of local office and the Romanian MEPs we elect today are in fact the first set of political leaders the Romanians are called to invest in this super-hectic electoral year. We are practically at the beginning of a new political cycle," Geoana added. The NATO senior official expressed his hope that the new team will do its duty towards the country, regardless of political hue, ideology, or any other criterion. "Come to vote in as many numbers as possible. It is important, it is a very complicated moment in the European, world and national history. We must all get involved and decide on our own destiny," Geoana concluded. National Liberal Party (PNL) candidate for mayor of Bucharest Sebastian Burduja said, at the exit polls, that he voted for the future, for change, for the citizens of Bucharest, who want more from this city. "I call everyone to vote, it is a right and I am convinced that, at the end of these days, we will all have things to celebrate and very pleasant surprises for this city and its wonderful people," said Burduja, after voting at a polling station at the Police Academy. He added that he trusts the people of Bucharest, has met many of them and felt they wanted "something different." "This I think is the victory of this day - the hope in the hearts of the people of Bucharest. From tomorrow, we get to work - we win and keep fighting," Sebastian Burduja said. National leader of the National Liberal Party (PNL) Nicolae Ciuca said on Sunday, upon exiting the polling station, that he voted for Romania's development, for the preservation of values, traditions and faith, for a strong Romania in a united Europe. "I voted for Romania's development, for a better life in every community, I voted for the safety of Romanians, for the preservation of our values, traditions and faith, everything that means Romanian identity, for a strong Romania in a united Europe, for Romania's European journey. It is a road from which we must not deviate, no matter how much noise is made," Ciuca said. He urged Romanians to show up and vote. "Voter turnout is very important; it is very important who represents us in Brussels, and it is very important who leads the communities. As such, I am urging everyone to show up and vote and decide the future of our country, which has to be a better future." President Klaus Iohannis on Sunday invited all Romanians to show up to vote, as he pointed out this is a very important day. "I have voted and I invite all of you to come to vote. It is extremely important that you do that," said the head of state. President Iohannis voted at a polling station hosted by the "Jean Monnet" high school in the Capital City Bucharest. Social Democratic Party - National Liberal Party (PSD-PNL) Alliance candidate Nicolae Robu said on Sunday, upon leaving the polling station, that he voted for Timisoara to become a prosperous and safe city again. "I voted for a chance for Timisoara to be again what it used to be and even more than that, that is, the city of flowers, the most dynamic city in Romania, the safe city, where people live beautifully, with high cultural events and, in general, with a healthy vibe. In a democracy, it is very important for the election results to truly reflect the views and options of the citizens. If the turnout is low, obviously the relevance of the voter segment for each candidate, party, group of parties is lower," said Robu. A two-term former mayor of Timisoara, Robu is seeking another term in today's local elections. Incumbent Bucharest District 5 Mayor Cristian Popescu Piedone running for Bucharest general mayor on the tickets of the Humanist Social Liberal Party (PUSL) voted on Sunday morning saying at the exit of the polling station that he will try to normalise what did not happen in Bucharest in 30 years. "I, the last dinosaur, will try to normalise what did not happen in Bucharest in 30 years: bringing a smile to the faces of the people of Bucharest. Simple things. But, unfortunately, the simple things for certain politicians are the most complex," said Piedone, at the Ienachita Vacarescu Secondary School, where he cast his ballot in the local and European elections. He urged the people of Bucharest to show up and vote. "Voter turnout matters (...) Vote with dignity, honour and courage for your future," said the mayor. Piedone was accompanied to the vote by his son, Vlad Popescu Piedone, who is running for the office of Bucharest District 5 mayor l. BRUSSELS, June 9 (Xinhua) -- Due to the poor performance of his party, Open VLD, in the parliamentary elections, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced on Sunday evening that he will resign as of June 10. The Open VLD suffered a significant electoral setback in the prime minister's stronghold of Brakel in East Flanders. "For us, this is a particularly difficult evening, we have lost. As of tomorrow, I will be a resigning Prime Minister," he told supporters during a brief speech. De Croo congratulated winners of the elections during his speech. Belgians were called to cast ballots for a new federal parliament, regional parliaments, and members of the European Parliament all on Sunday. The chairman of Forta Dreptei / Force of the Right, Ludovic Orban, expressed, on Sunday evening, his doubt that the exit poll results would reflect the options of the Romanians. In a joint press conference held together with the leader of the Save Romania Union (USR), Catalin Drula, and the president of the People's Movement Party (PMP), Eugen Tomac, he criticized the lack of debates dedicated to the election for the European Parliament. "Today the governing coalition achieved a score it did not dream of, for one reason. We did not have elections for the European Parliament, in this election campaign, due to the unconstitutional merger of local elections with elections for the European Parliament. The whole campaign (...) was no debate about the European Parliament, about the position of Romania and the representation of Romania in the European Parliament, about what Romania's representatives should do in the European Parliament. Today's score, which we are not sure is the score, because we have to confess to you that during the course of today there have been extremely strange things regarding the only exit poll that is being advertised today (...) we are waiting for the actual results and we are convinced that the actual results will differ from the results that are presented on the TV screens today," Orban said. He mentioned that "the real battle will take place in the presidential and parliamentary elections". At the same time, the leader of Forta Dreptei expressed his conviction that the Social Democratic Party (PSD) will not succeed in electing the future president of Romania. He also emphasized that the United Right Alliance will fight "with all its forces" alongside the Romanians who want freedom, democracy and "who do not accept to be under the heel" of some "political impostors who want to destroy" democracy. Timisoara city incumbent mayor Dominic Fritz, who is running for a new term with the backing of the United Right Alliance, declared upon leaving the polls that he voted to preserve the spirit of Timisoara. "On this important day for Timisoara carrying on along its European path, a path of fairness and respect that lays focus on our future, education and health care, I voted with great confidence in the people of Timisoara, in the desire of the Timisoara residents to keep the spirit of the city alive and in the ability of the people of Timisoara to defend democracy. Today's vote in Timisoara as well as throughout the country, is perhaps the most important ballot since the 1989 Revolution, and Romanians today not only express their political opinion, but also their support for democracy itself and for the country's European path," said Dominic Fritz. The leaders of the United Right Alliance, speaking on Sunday at a joint press conference, sounded alarm on a "massive electoral fraud", pointing the finger at "thousands of irregularities" in the voting process. Chairman of the Save Romania Union (USR) Catalin Drula declared that there are "clear and increasingly more indications" of the PSD and PNL attempting a "huge fraud" in these elections. He warned the perpetrators that such acts are punishable by imprisonment. "I also warn [PSD Chairman] Marcel Ciolacu and [PNL leader] Nicolae Ciuca that they are directly responsible for any attempt to steal and distort the will of the Romanians. A democratic state, a European NATO member state cannot tolerate voting theft. We are asking our colleagues in the polling stations, who defend the Romanians' vote, to be vigilant and report any vote-rigging attempts. There is already an app in place to report these vote interference cases, and we have already received thousands of them since last night. Our message to the Romanians is the following: turn out in massive numbers to the polls. For every pre-stamped ballot they put in the ballot box, we have to turn out in the hundreds," said the USR leader. In his turn, Chairman of the People's Movement Party (PMP) Eugen Tomac mentioned that the existence of pre-stamped ballots was confirmed at three polling stations in Bucharest - 190, 311 and 329 - and that the USR has filed criminal complaints for these crimes. The PMP leader also gave the example of Apahida in Cluj County, where a citizen filed 32 requests for a mobile ballot box for people born around 1930, but when asked by the representative of the United Right Alliance about those elderly residents, "he withdrew the documents and left." In another fraud attempt at a polling station in Ciorogarla, Ilfov County, 52 Asian citizens who do not even have the right to vote in the EP elections, were entered on the complementary list for MEPs. The PMP Chairman cited other examples of voters being handed pre-stamped ballot papers, adding that complaints are currently "flowing in" from the entire country, which is indicative of "thousands of irregularities" and of a massive illegal interference with the elections. "The Romanian citizens must know that we are left to our own devices. The state institutions are hijacked, anesthetized. They are slow to respond. Therefore, we ask everyone to go out to vote, and tonight we should defend every honest vote in this country," said Eugen Tomac. Force of the Right leader Ludovic Orban too accused the "worrying" frequency of situations such as: the presence of mayors or "their sidekicks" around the polling stations "with the intention to persuade" people to vote for the current administrations, attempts to get the delegates at the polling stations to sign the minutes in blank, or the striking of deals between voters and mayors on photographing the ballot papers. He also cautioned that some Special Telecommunications Service operators ask voters if they also cast their ballot in the European Parliament elections, which "is incorrect, as it actually translates into a kind of exhortation to people not to vote in the EP ballot," Orban argued. Portia Britt, an attorney with the St. Louis County Counselors Office, is recipient of a 2024 American Bar Association Top 40 Young Lawyer Award. She is the lone lawyer from Missouri to be honored. Britt graduated from the University of Missouri with a Juris Doctor and Master of Public Affairs and obtained a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis. She manages civil litigation matters at the state and federal level. Britt previously served as a prosecuting attorney focusing primarily on domestic violence cases. She is a member of the ABA YLD Senior Council, the Missouri Bar Young Lawyers Section Council, and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip Israel on Saturday carried out its largest hostage rescue operation since the war with the Hamas militant group began Oct. 7, taking four to safety out of central Gaza amid the military's heavy air and ground assault. At least 210 dead Palestinians, including children, were brought to hospitals, a health official in Gaza said. Israelis were jubilant as the army said it freed Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, in a daytime operation in the heart of Nuseirat, raiding two locations at once while under fire. All four rescued hostages were well, the military said. They were taken by helicopter for medical checks and tearful reunions with loved ones after 246 days held. The operation was "daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion," Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. A U.S. hostage cell provided advice and support throughout the process of locating and rescuing the hostages, according to a Biden administration official, who requested anonymity. The hostage cells are multi-agency teams. Israeli aircraft hummed overhead as the bodies of 109 Palestinians including 23 children and 11 women were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, where spokesperson Khalil Degran said more than 100 wounded also arrived. He said overall, 210 dead were taken there and to Al-Awda Hospital, saying he spoke to its director. Al-Awda's numbers couldn't immediately be confirmed. The horrific massacre committed today by (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu and his fascist government against the Palestinian people in Gaza, which led to slaughter of 210 and more than 400 wounded so far under the pretext of liberating those detained by the resistance confirms what the resistance has said repeatedly: that Netanyahu doesnt plan to reach an agreement to stop the war and free the captured Israelis peacefully, said Bassem Naim, a senior Hamas official now based in Lebanon. AP reporters saw dozens of bodies brought from the Nuseirat and Deir al-Balah areas, as smoke rose in the distance and armored vehicles rolled by. A baby was among the dead. Small children wailed, covered in blood. Bodies were placed on the ground outside, their feet bare, as more wounded were rushed in. "My two cousins were killed, and two other cousins were seriously injured. They did not commit any sin. They were sitting at home," one relative said in the chaos. Neighboring Egypt and Jordan condemned Israel's attacks on the Nuseirat refugee camp. "The bloodbath must end immediately," the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on social media, noting reports of civilian deaths. Israel's military said it attacked "threats to our forces in the area," adding one commando died from his wounds. Militants took about 250 hostages during the Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. Netanyahu vowed to continue the fighting until all hostages are freed. Israel's Channel 12 said the rescue force went into the heavily populated Nuseirat camp and burst into the two apartments where the hostages were, killing the captors. One getaway vehicle was shot and they came under heavy fire. Additional forces moved in to rescue them, and Israel used heavy fire to get them out. Saturday's operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven. Two were freed in February and one was freed in the aftermath of the October attack. Israeli troops recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. The latest rescue lifted some spirits in Israel as divisions deepen over the best way to bring home the hostages. Many Israelis urge Netanyahu to embrace a cease-fire deal U.S. President Joe Biden announced last month, but far-right allies threaten to collapse his government if he does. Thousands of Israelis again gathered Saturday evening for the latest anti-government demonstration and calls for a cease-fire agreement. "It's time to pay the price of a political deal. One deal that will bring them all back without risking soldiers," said Omri Shtivi, whose brother Idan marked his 29th birthday Saturday in captivity. It was unclear what effect the rescue might have on apparently stalled cease-fire efforts. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East next week, seeking a breakthrough. International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza, which reached its eighth month Friday. More than 36,700 Palestinians have been killed, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Palestinians also face widespread hunger because fighting and Israeli restrictions largely cut off the flow of aid. About 1.1 million pounds of much-needed humanitarian aid was delivered Saturday to Gaza from a newly repaired American-built pier, a U.S. official said on condition of anonymity. The pier was operational for about a week before it was blown apart in high winds and heavy seas May 25. The damaged section was reconnected to the beach in Gaza on Friday after undergoing repairs at an Israeli port. Meanwhile, Benny Gantz, a popular centrist member of Israel's three-member War Cabinet who threatened to resign from the government if it didn't adopt a new plan for the war in Gaza by Saturday, postponed an expected announcement. Netanyahu urged him not to step down. Gaza war protests ignite on US college campuses Who are the 4 hostages rescued by Israeli forces from captivity in Gaza? The four captives rescued by Israeli forces in the Gaza Strip on Saturday had been abducted from a desert rave near the border during Hamas' wide-ranging assault into Israel on Oct. 7. One had emerged as an icon of the agonizing hostage crisis that is still far from over. Noa Argamani, 26, appeared in a series of videos that captured the painful trajectory of their plight. In the first, filmed by the attackers, she is being forced onto a motorbike by several men after being seized with her boyfriend, Avinatan Or, whose whereabouts are still unknown. Don't kill me! she screamed with one arm outstretched, the other pinned down. In another video released by Hamas in mid-January, she appeared gaunt and spoke almost certainly under duress of other hostages being killed in airstrikes months into Israel's massive offensive. And then there was a third video, in which she appeared in family photos in the background as her mother, a Chinese immigrant to Israel who has stage four brain cancer, pleaded with her captors to release her only child so she could see her before she dies. I want to see her one more time. Talk to her one more time, Liora Argamani, 61, said. I dont have a lot of time left in this world. On Saturday, after eight months of captivity, Israeli forces rescued Argamani and three men who had all been kidnapped from the Tribe of Nova music festival, where Hamas and other militants killed over 350 people in the worst massacre in Israel's history. The rescue operation came amid a major Israeli air and ground offensive in central Gaza that has killed and wounded hundreds of Palestinians, including at least 94 killed on Saturday. Less is publicly known about the other three hostages who were rescued on Saturday. Almog Meir Jan, 22, from a small town near Tel Aviv, had finished his army service three months earlier, according to the Times of Israel, an English-language Israeli website. A forum set up by families of the hostages said he was supposed to start a job at a tech company the day after the attack. Andrey Kozlov, 27, was working as a security guard at the festival. He had immigrated to Israel alone a year and a half earlier, and his mother came to the country after Oct. 7, Israeli media reported. In a phone call with Israel's President Isaac Herzog after his release, Kozlov spoke a mixture of English and Hebrew. He joked that his Hebrew had gotten better in captivity, saying, I had a lot of practice with my new friends, referring to his fellow hostages. Shlomi Ziv, 41, was working as a security guard and had gone to the party with two friends who were both killed, the Times of Israel reported. The hostage family forum said Ziv and his wife, Miren have lived in a farming community in northern Israel for the last 17 years. The hostage families forum said Argamani, Meir Jan and Ziv had marked birthdays in captivity. In announcing their rescue, the army had initially provided their ages when they were abducted. Argamani began dating Or about two years ago after they met while attending Ben-Gurion University in her hometown of Beersheba and were planning to move in together in Tel Aviv, his mother told Israel's Ynet news website. She said her son had majored in electrical engineering and had been hired by the international tech giant Nvidia. Yonatan Levi, a friend of Argamani, described her as a smart, free spirit who loved parties and traveling and was studying computer science. He said he had met her at a diving course in the Israeli city of Eilat on the Red Sea, and that a few months before her abduction she had asked him for help navigating insurance claims for her mother's care. Hamas and other militants killed some 1,200 people in the Oct. 7 attack and captured around 250 others, including men, women, children and older adults. Over 36,700 Palestinians have been killed since the start of the war, according to local health officials, who do not distinguish between fighters and civilians. More than 100 captives, mostly women and children, were freed in exchange for Palestinians imprisoned by Israel during a weeklong cease-fire last year. Talks on a similar deal to release the rest have dragged on for months, with Hamas insisting on an end to the war and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowing total victory. U.S. President Joe Biden is rallying global support behind a multi-phase cease-fire proposal that would free all the hostages in return for an Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Last month, Hamas released an audio recording, purportedly of Argamani, in which she called on Israelis to pressure the government to secure the hostages return through another deal. Israeli authorities believe the militants are still holding around 120 hostages, with 43 pronounced dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under the age of 5 and two men in their 80s. Joseph Krauss of The Associated Press LOS ANGELES, June 8 (Xinhua) -- A lingering heat wave continued to scorch the southwestern United States this weekend, bringing record-breaking temperatures and leaving millions under heat advisories. The intense heat is the first major heat wave of this year and has lingered over the region for several days, with some areas experiencing their hottest days ever recorded in the year. While some relief is expected for the western states on Saturday, scorching temperatures are forecast to move eastward next week, bringing threats of heavy rain and thunderstorms to the south-central states. "Hot temperature shift from the West/Southwest to the Plains next week as downstream heavy convective rainfall threats affect the south-central states and from the Gulf of Mexico into Florida," said the U.S. National Weather Service (NWS) on Saturday. More than 6 million people in the United States are currently under extreme heat alerts issued by the NWS, while on Friday the heat alerts were in effect for nearly 29.7 million people, according to the National Integrated Heat Health Information System. The heat peaked on Thursday for most southwestern states, with several locations shattering temperature records in California, Arizona and Nevada. Phoenix, the capital of the southwestern U.S. state of Arizona, reached a staggering 113 degrees Fahrenheit (45 degrees Celsius), its first high of 110 degrees Fahrenheit or more this year. This record-breaking high was accompanied by an equally record-breaking overnight temperature of 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29.4 degrees Celsius), 9 degrees Fahrenheit above average, according to the NWS. Nevada also experienced record-breaking temperatures on Thursday. The temperature in Las Vegas reached 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius), marking the earliest the city has ever hit that mark and surpassing the previous record of 110 degrees Fahrenheit (43.3 degrees Celsius) set in 2010. California saw its share of record highs as well. Death Valley on Thursday recorded 122 degrees Fahrenheit (50 degrees Celsius), breaking a daily record set in 1996. Fresno tied a 121-year-old record on Thursday with a high of 107 degrees Fahrenheit (41.6 degrees Celsius), while Needles and Barstow established new daily records at 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 degrees Celsius) and 111 degrees Fahrenheit (43.9 degrees Celsius), respectively, according to the NWS. The extreme heat is partly related to a massive high-pressure system known as a heat dome. It had scorched Mexico in the past few weeks, smashing records and causing dozens of deaths across the country. As the heat dome expanded northwards and intensified the heat in the western United States, officials were issuing advisories and urging people to avoid strenuous activity outside. The NWS has urged people to stay hydrated, avoid strenuous activity outdoors, and seek air conditioning whenever possible. They also warned against leaving children or pets unattended in vehicles, emphasizing that car interiors can reach lethal temperatures within minutes. The scorching heat has already had tragic consequences. Multiple wildfires have reportedly broken out in central and southern California this week. Since last weekend, several heat-related illnesses have caused hospitalizations in the region. In Phoenix, at least 11 people were hospitalized due to heat exhaustion while waiting in line for a rally featuring former President Donald Trump on Thursday, according to a report by local TV station ABC 15. Doctors warn that these heat warnings should not be taken lightly. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hundreds of people die each year in the United States due to excessive heat, and the actual number is likely higher. Last summer, some U.S. regions endured weeks of scorching temperatures, causing a record death toll of about 2,300 people, surpassing the historic heat waves of 1980 and 1995, according to a recent Associated Press analysis of CDC data. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Nevada, and Colorado all recorded more heat-related deaths in 2023 than in any year since at least 1979. The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returned to its St. Petersburg, Fla., homeport Saturday, June 8, 2024, after a 60-day patrol of the Caribbean during which the crew stopped drug smugglers and helped in rescue efforts. (U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute/Facebook) The U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Resolute returned to its St. Petersburg, Fla., homeport Saturday after a 60-day patrol of the Caribbean during which the crew stopped drug smugglers and helped in rescue efforts. During the deployment: Resolute, working in tandem with U.S. Coast Guard Cutter Mohawk, stopped one go-fast vessel, apprehended four suspected smugglers and seized 3,736 pounds of marijuana worth more than $3.5 million. Resolute conducted over 24 hours of search and rescue efforts for two missing mariners after the 90-foot Vanuatu-flagged schooner De Gallant sank 20 miles north of Great Inagua in the Bahamas on May 21. Resolute refueled Coast Guard helicopters searching for the missing sailors, conducted strategic search patterns and recovered floating debris from De Gallant life rafts. Together with Bahamas defense force crews, Resolute covered over 3,700 square miles before suspending the search. Cmdr. Mike Ross, commanding officer of Coast Guard Cutter Resolute (WMEC 620), oversees a bulk contraband transfer with the Royal Netherlands Navy HNMLS Groningen (P843) in the Caribbean Sea, May 20, 2024. (U.S. Coast Guard) The officers and crew of Resolute completed this deployment in extraordinary fashion, Cmdr. Michael Ross, commanding officer of Resolute, said in a Coast Guard statement. The Coast Guards overt presence in this region is essential to deter dangerous and life-threatening maritime migration ventures. Our extensive Coast Guard presence in the area significantly decreased the number of migration events preventing loss of life at sea while protecting the homeland. Resolute deployed in support of Homeland Security Task Force-Southeasts Operation Vigilant Sentry and Joint Interagency Task Force-Souths counterdrug mission. Resolute is a 210-foot, Reliance-class medium endurance cutter. The cutters primary missions are to counter drug operations, migrant interdiction, and search and rescue in support of U.S. Coast Guard operations throughout the Western Hemisphere. Palestinians inspect the damage to a school complex for displaced Palestinians, operated by the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), following an Israeli strike at the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, on Thursday, June 6, 2024. (Ahmad Salem/Bloomberg) The United States provided some intelligence that aided in Saturdays rescue of four Israeli hostages, according to several people familiar with the matter. An American team based in Israel furnished the information, these people said, though it appeared to be secondary to intelligence gathered by the Israelis ahead of the operation. One person said the U.S. material included overhead imagery. All spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the operations sensitivity. That team, composed of special operations and intelligence personnel working out of the embassy in Jerusalem, has been in Israel since the war began in October. Since then, it has shared with Israeli counterparts information about hostages potential location gleaned from U.S. drone surveillance over Gaza, communications intercepts and other sources, said the people familiar with the matter. The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens, national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in a statement. He noted this work includes ongoing negotiations and other means. Axios and the New York Times also reported on U.S. involvement in the rescue operation. Hamas and other militants took approximately 250 hostages amid their brazen cross-border assault into Israel on Oct. 7, a gruesome attack that left 1,200 dead. At least 112 people have been freed, either as part of a negotiated deal between Israel and Hamas late last year or through coordinated rescue operations. Of the hostages who remain in Gaza, fewer than 80 are believed to be alive. Eight American citizens are thought to be among those still in captivity, including the remains of three who are dead. Saturdays daytime mission was part of a broader Israeli operation in central Gaza that local health authorities said left at least 210 Palestinians dead. Israeli officials described the rescue operation as weeks in the making and enabled by precise intelligence. Daniel Hagari, a spokesman for the Israel Defense Forces, said two buildings were targeted and that the personnel involved took fire. Washington maintains what one U.S. official characterized Saturday as a very deep partnership with Israel on its hostage-rescue efforts. Days after the Gaza war began, the Pentagon acknowledged that a small number of U.S. military personnel were at the embassy in Jerusalem to assist the Israeli government through planning and intelligence support. U.S. intelligence analysts also are helping Israeli officials in some of their work to map out the extensive network of tunnels that Hamas has built beneath Gaza, contributing powerful analytic technologies that fuse fragments of information, according to officials with knowledge of that work. U.S. defense officials have said that while American military personnel have been advising the Israelis, they have not accompanied Israels military on any missions in the Gaza Strip. President Biden has been adamant that he will not put American boots on the ground there. Shane Harris contributed to this report. Lukasz Cichocki and Julia Mossakowska dealt in cannabis and ecstasy from their semi-detached, according to the Criminal Assets Bureau. A COUPLE who ran a lucrative on-line drugs delivery service from a suburban Dublin house which they bought for cash have had 157,000 seized from them. Lukasz Cichocki and Julia Mossakowska dealt in cannabis and ecstasy from their semi-detached, according to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Customers made contact with them through social media and orders were then delivered by car from the house they used as their base. A double room in the Clonsilla house, which wasnt part of the CAB case, is currently being advertised for rent at 950 with three other tenants in the property. The advert gives Lucas as the renter and states that the owner doesnt live there. The Bureau recently got a High Court order to have the money which was found during a garda raid there declared the proceeds of crime. The couple didnt appear in court to challenge the case against them which was based on an investigation by the Dublin Crime Response Team. A Detective Garda Inspector said in evidence the couple were identified as having a significant and ongoing role in the supply of a number of controlled drugs in the region. He added it became clear they were living far in excess of their legitimate means and that there as significant evidence that they were involved in the sale and supply of drugs. The couples home at Mount Symon Green was identified by gardai in March 2023 and a search was carried out in which a large quantity of drugs and a large amount of cash was seized. Both Cichocki and Mossakowska were arrested and interviewed during which Cichocki took responsibility for the drugs and cash while she made no comment. The search of the property also uncovered significant evidence of their online banking activity, evidence of holidays, expensive jewellery and the building of an extension to the house. All of the foregoing are inconsistent with the couple having modest financial resources. Ten years earlier Cichocki had been charged with drugs possession although these were later struck out. The Detective Inspector said as a result of the investigation it was clear the couple are directly involved in organised crime, including the large-scale distribution of controlled drugs. I would describe them as being fully immersed in criminality and I suspect them to be part of a larger network of criminals directly involved in the manufacture and distribution of controlled drugs. The Bureaus chief officer Det Supt Michael Gubbins also gave evidence in which he said the couples modest level of income and reliance on social welfare payments is wholly inconsistent with being able to save 157,000. He added they had come up with 250,000 for the purchase of the house in February which came via large sums arriving into their bank accounts. Det Supt Gubbins added that Lukasz Cichocki was also a person of interest in respect of a large-scale cannabis cultivation in Co Meath in 2013. The couples general lack of relevant previous convictions in not a true reflection of their involvement in criminality Judge Alex Owens said there were inconsistent explanations regarding the origin of the cash. Accepting the Bureaus evidence, he said a large sum of money found in a room with drugs suggests it was from dealing drugs and the balance of probability was that it came from crime. Julia Mossakowska successfully applied for planning permission in early 2022 to have work carried out at the house at Mount Symon Green. This included an attic conversion, a new bathroom, new roof lights, solar panels and a new window to the gable wall. She also sought the removal of a kitchen extension and construction of a new ground floor rear extension and a porch extension to the front. The house is currently advertised on-line with a double room for rent at 950 with three tenants already in the house. The attic room is described as brand new (never occupied) and the house as being in a very safe neighborhood. Boats with Dragon Boat Festival decorations participate in a celebration event on the lake of Xochimilco in Mexico City, capital of Mexico on June 8, 2024. An event to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival was held here on Saturday. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Dragon boat races are held on this occasion. This year's festival falls on June 10. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin) A boat with Dragon Boat Festival decorations participates in a celebration event on the lake of Xochimilco in Mexico City, capital of Mexico on June 8, 2024. An event to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival was held here on Saturday. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Dragon boat races are held on this occasion. This year's festival falls on June 10. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua) An aerial drone photo shows boats with Dragon Boat Festival decorations during a celebration event on the lake of Xochimilco in Mexico City, capital of Mexico on June 8, 2024. An event to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival was held here on Saturday. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Dragon boat races are held on this occasion. This year's festival falls on June 10. (Photo by Ricardo Montoya/Xinhua) A boat with Dragon Boat Festival decorations participates in a celebration event on the lake of Xochimilco in Mexico City, capital of Mexico on June 8, 2024. An event to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival was held here on Saturday. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Dragon boat races are held on this occasion. This year's festival falls on June 10. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin) Local people try to make dragon boat models during a celebration event in Mexico City, capital of Mexico on June 8, 2024. An event to celebrate the upcoming Dragon Boat Festival was held here on Saturday. The festival is celebrated on the fifth day of the fifth month on the Chinese lunar calendar to commemorate ancient Chinese poet Qu Yuan from the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). Dragon boat races are held on this occasion. This year's festival falls on June 10. (Xinhua/Li Mengxin) The gangland figure had been in Alhaurin de la Torre prison in Malaga Kinahan cartel money-launderer Johnny Morrissey has been released from a Spanish jail on bail but is no longer a key ally of the international crime syndicate led by Daniel Kinahan. The Manchester native, nicknamed Johnny Cash, was once considered a loyal servant to the cartel, even attending Daniel Kinahans 2017 wedding in Dubai but it is understood he has now become disposable to the Kinahan organised crime group. Johnny Cash was useful to the Kinahans for a period of time A photograph has emerged of Morrissey smoking a cigar and pouring a glass of his own vodka brand as he celebrated his release from prison in the past fortnight. The gangland figure had been in Alhaurin de la Torre prison in Malaga since he was arrested in connection with an investigation into a major money-laundering ring in September 2022. Spanish police officers after the 2022 money-laundering bust. Photo: Spanish Civil Guard Spanish police described it at the time as the most important international criminal organisation that operated in Spain dedicated to money laundering. Morrissey, who lost a significant amount of weight behind bars as he refused to eat much of the prison food, was held in jail until recently while awaiting trial. When the Kinahan cartel were sanctioned by US authorities, Morrissey was named as a key cartel enforcer who was laundering money through his drinks company, Nero Vodka. Police estimate Morrissey may have laundered more than 200m in just 18 months for organised criminals, including the Kinahans. It is understood the 64-year-old began working with the cartel a decade ago on the Costa Del Sol. He had already established himself in criminal circles in Spain. Mob boss Daniel Kinahan He was put on a retainer of 10,000 a month and acted as a heavy for the cartel in 2014, sources said. Within a few years he was branching out into his own business enterprises, chiefly the vodka company he founded with his wife Nicola. He soon became useful to the cartel as a money launderer. He was an enforcer, a heavy, said a well-placed source. In the beginning, he was considered a useful, low-level guy. Hed sort out their problems when they arose. He was always seen and heard wherever he went, Big Johnny. Someone like Johnny Morrissey is unpredictable thats a concern for the cartel The Kinahans needed people like him in Spain at that time. But he was disposable to them. Johnny Cash is a burner phone to the Kinahan cartel. Completely and utterly disposable. Now, more than ever with these charges. Hes been dropped by the cartel. It is understood Morrissey attended Daniel Kinahans wedding in May 2017 at the seven-star Burj al Arab in Dubai. Despite a mobile-phone ban at the wedding, he snuck one in and took pictures. Thats Johnny all over. Doing something stupid that could have infuriated Daniel, and for no material gain really. Just to act the maggot. He seemed to get away with it though, said the source. Hes not considered a particularly clever man. Hes a larger-than-life character who was hired by the cartel because he had a reputation. "But someone like Johnny Morrissey is unpredictable its hard to know what he might do next, because he doesnt really know himself. Thats a concern for the cartel. Johnny Cash was useful to the Kinahans for a period of time. Now, he no longer has any worth to them. Morrissey comes from Rochdale in Greater Manchester. He began throwing his weight around in the criminal underworld, and soon came into conflict with the Quality Street Gang in Manchester, an infamous crime outfit. After getting a severe beating from a senior associate of the gang, he relocated to Ireland. The couple were arrested in 2022 by Spanish police investigating money laundering He earned his Johnny Cash nickname while running a restaurant in Kinsale in the late 1990s, due to his habit of carrying large amounts of money on his person. Despite his affable nature, gardai soon established he was involved in violent and organised crime, including drugs. He fled Ireland in the early 2000s, after having more than 600,000 in property and cash seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (Cab), and relocated to the Costa del Sol. He soon established himself as a socialite who mixed with celebrities and underworld figures. When he began working for the Kinahans, this further boosted his profile in criminal circles. Through the Nero Vodka brand, he portrayed an image of a businessman with a strong social-media presence. Alongside his wife Nicola, he regularly posed for photographs flaunting their extravagant lifestyle. Johnny Morrissey and his wife Nicola The couple appeared in Marbellas Exclusive Life Magazine showing off their home and cars and speaking of their plan to bring Nero Vodka to the US in 2022. In the article, Nicola Morrissey described how their vodka had been awarded eight industry awards since it was launched in 2021. Nero will continue to support and work with local venues, adding more to our client list, as well as launching in Mallorca, Tenerife, and the UK. We are finalising plans to launch in America, Nicola said. We are also opening an exclusive five-star wellness retreat overlooking the sea in La Cala. The couple were arrested in 2022 by Spanish police investigating money laundering but Nicola was later released without charge. Not long after, the US authorities named him as a key Kinahan cartel associate. Outlining Morrisseys links to the Kinahan gang, the US Treasury Department stated: John Morrissey has worked for the Kinahan organised crime group for several years, including as an enforcer, and facilitates international drug shipments for the organisation from South America. Morrissey is also involved in money laundering. In announcing the sanctions, the US Treasury Department said Nero Drinks was targeted for being owned or controlled by John Morrissey [who] controls and operates Nero Drinks through his wife, the primary shareholder, who is used as a frontperson for his interests. No arrests have yet been made and gardai are attempting to locate the suspect involved A man has been killed following a suspected stabbing in Dublin overnight. The fatal assault happened in the Scribblestown area of Finglas in the early hours of this morning. No arrests have yet been made and gardai are attempting to locate the suspect involved in the attack. Emergency services were alerted to a property in the area at around 1am and discovered a male seriously injured. The victim, aged in his 30s, was treated at the scene and then rushed to Connolly Hospital where he was pronounced dead a short time later. At this stage its understood the man suffered fatal knife wounds following an altercation which turned violent. Investigators are following a number of lines of inquiry and are attempting to locate a chief suspect as part of the investigation. The Office of the State Pathologist has been notified while the scene remains sealed-off for members of the Garda Technical Bureau to carried out a detailed forensic examination. A Garda spokesperson said: A senior investigating officer (SIO) has been appointed to lead the inquiry, and an incident room has been established at Finglas Garda Station. "Additionally, a Garda Family Liaison Officer (FLO) has been assigned to keep the deceased's family informed of developments. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to come forward, particularly those who were in the Scribblestown area between midnight and 1 a.m. Additionally, individuals with video recordings, including motorists with dash cams, from the area within the timeframe are asked to provide footage to investigating Gardai. The investigation is ongoing, and further updates will follow. Vile attacker ran up 19 convictions since his arrival here back in 2009 A serial sex beast exposed by the Sunday World taking out his penis and urinating on prison gates moments after being released from custody two years ago has been deported, Gardai said yesterday. Chico Makamda was jailed twice for horrific attacks on random women who he preyed on in Dublin city centre as they were making their way home from nights out. In one incident he attacked a woman and tried to pull off her jeans and lie on top of her before he started masturbating, while in another he grabbed a woman by the wrist called her a bitch and tried to pull her down a laneway. He was also convicted over an incident where he masturbated in front of two teenage girls in Kerry. Despite only being in Ireland since 2009, he managed to run up a total of 19 convictions for offences, including indecency and false imprisonment. Chico Makamda The Sunday World exposed Makamda when he was released from the Midlands Prison in January 2022. Minutes after leaving the jail he took out his penis and urinated on prison gates in broad daylight. Makamda had been ordered to leave the country after serving that term but failed to do so and was sentenced to a further two years in prison later that year as a result. Makamda was deported on Friday, gardai have confirmed. Gardai attached to the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) and with the assistance of Department of Justice successfully executed a Deportation Order of Chico Makamda to Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday 7th June, 2024, a spokesperson said. Chico Makamda urinating against prison gates Makamda was serving a custodial sentence in the Midlands Prison for Failing to Notify a Change in Details in contravention of the Sex Offenders Act 2001, and has 19 recorded previous convictions in the State for numerous Sexual offences, False Imprisonment and Theft. Given Chico Makamdas criminal background this deportation was a priority operation for GNIB, the spokesperson added. This is the first removal by An Garda Siochana to Democratic Republic of Congo and comes after a significant amount of engagement between officials from Democratic Republic of Congo and GNIB, which facilitated obtaining travel documents, visas and the coordination of escort arrangements. Makamda had been sentenced in 2019 to seven-and-a-half years with the final two-and-a-half years suspended on condition that he leave the country within 14 days of his release. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard in July 2022 that Makamda failed to leave the country as required after being released in January that year and in the meantime accrued two convictions for failing to notify fardai of his address as required for registration under the Sex Offenders Act. Applications open on Wednesday, 12 June and close on 30 September 2024. The Back to School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA) is a payment to help families with the cost of school uniforms and shoes. Photo: Stock image Applications for the Back To School Clothing and Footwear Allowance (BSCFA ) will reopen this week. Many families automatically receive the payment and do not need to apply, but those who dont get the automatic payment can apply for the allowance online on mywelfare.ie. The Department of Social Protection (DSP) will let you know if you are paid automatically using your MyWelfare account, or by post. If you dont hear from the DSP by the end of June, you must apply for BSCFA online, even if you got the BSCFA payment last year. Applications open on Wednesday, June 12 and close on September 30, 2024. The BSCFA is a payment to help families with the cost of school uniforms and shoes. A payment of 160 can be claimed for each child aged 4-11 on September 30, 2024 and 285 for each eligible child aged 12-22. Children aged between 18 and 22 years must be returning to full-time second-level education in a recognised school or college this autumn. You can receive the payment if you have a child within these age groups that is a resident in Ireland and you are currently getting a qualifying social welfare payment, or are participating in an approved employment, education or training support scheme. Qualifying social welfare payments include Jobseeker's Benefit, State Pension (Contributory), State Pension (Non-Contributory), Deserted Wife's Benefit, Deserted Wife's Allowance, Illness Benefit, Disablement Benefit, Carer's Benefit, Health and Safety Benefit, Invalidity Pension, Injury Benefit, Partial Capacity Benefit, Widow's/Widower's/Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension, Guardian's Payment (Contributory), Maternity Benefit, Adoptive Benefit, Blind Person's Pension, Carer's Allowance, Disability Allowance, Working Family Payment, Farm Assist, One Parent Family Payment, Supplementary Welfare Allowance, Jobseeker's Allowance, Widow's Widower's Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension, and Guardian's Payment (Non-Contributory). Your household must also be within the BSCFA weekly income limits (666 for a one-child family; 720 for two children; 774 for three; 828 for four) and you and your children must be residents in Ireland. You should apply for the BSCFA before the closing date on September 30 if you have applied for a social welfare payment and are waiting for a decision on your application, or you have appealed a decision not to award you a social welfare payment. Your BSCFA application will be decided when you get a decision on your social welfare payment application, or on your appeal. Teresa Tannian had been missing from Gort, County Galway, since Saturday, May 25. Teresa Tannian has been found deceased, gardai have announced. Following the discovery of a womans body on Saturday, June 8, in Gort, Co. Galway, the missing person appeal for 84-year-old Teresa Tannian has been stood down. Teresa was missing from her home in Gort since May 25. Gardai in Galway thanked the public and media for their assistance. The alarm was initially raised on Saturday when a bicycle and mobile phone belonging to the man was discovered near the waters edge The body of a man in his 50s has been recovered from Wexford Harbour following a major search operation which began in earnest Saturday afternoon. The Coast Guard Rescue 117 helicopter hovering above Wexford Harbour was visible from Saturday afternoon. Wexford RNLI and An Garda Siochana were both involved in the major search which was stood down Saturday evening before beginning again this morning. The Rescue 117 helicopter searching Wexford Harbour. Members of the garda water unit made the grim discovery shortly before lunchtime. The body of a local man was brought back to shore to his waiting family. His remains were taken to University Hospital Waterford for post mortem examination. The alarm was initially raised on Saturday when a bicycle and mobile phone belonging to the man was discovered near the waters edge. Gardai quickly stated that they had serious concerns for his welfare. Its understood that sniffer dogs were used to establish the point at which the man entered the water. UPDATE: Gardai say Mairead has been found safe and well Mairead was last seen at her home in Finglas at approximately 6:00pm on Friday 7th June, 2024 Gardai are appealing to the public for assistance in tracing the whereabouts of 30-year-old Mairead Christie, who was last seen at her home in Finglas, Dublin 11 at approximately 6:00pm on Friday 7th June, 2024. Mairead is described as being 5ft 3 inches in height, of a slim build with brown/blonde hair and green/blue eyes. It is not known what Mairead was wearing when she left home. It is believed that she may be travelling in a silver Hyundai i40 car. Gardai and Maireads family are concerned for her welfare. Anyone with information on her whereabouts is asked to contact Finglas Garda Station on 01 666 7500, the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111 or any garda station. According to tallies, either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail are likely to be the party with the most local election seats across the country by the time counting is concluded. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland, Roderic O'Gorman TD and Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD watch as Count staff sort the ballots in Simmonscourt RDS. Sam Boal/Collins Photos. Count staff and tally people at the opening of boxes for the 2024 Local and European elections in Leisureland. Photo: Ray Ryan FAR Right candidates could take a small number of seats in councils but are expected to be far outperformed by mainstream parties in the local elections. The full picture will only become clear on Sunday as more results are finalised and transfers decide seats but the far-right have failed to make significant inroads across the country despite claims ahead of the election that they were the true voice of the Irish people A small number of far-right figures are expected to be in contention for seats including Gavin Pepper and Malachy Steenson in the capital but were both still well outperformed by traditional parties in their areas. According to tallies, either Fine Gael or Fianna Fail are likely to be the party with the most local election seats across the country by the time counting is concluded. Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe said there were very positive signs emerging for the party last night as counts got underway while Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin said his party was "doing far better than predicted". Mr Donohoe said: The early tallies show that there is a large majority of people who are willing to vote in a very different way to how extremists and the far right will make the case for. I think there is a very compelling narrative to be made at a very early stage in this that Fine Gael has been successful in getting out its votes, that our campaign has made a difference, and that the approach of the Government parties has been recognised by voters. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Fianna Fail were delivering a robust performance. "The idea that Fianna Fail would be coming in a distant third is completely disproven. I have been looking at opinion polls for the last three years putting Fianna Fail at 14-15% when clearly Fianna Fail will be well ahead of that and will over 20% by the time all these counts are put together," he said. Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth of Ireland, Roderic O'Gorman TD and Former Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD watch as Count staff sort the ballots in Simmonscourt RDS. Sam Boal/Collins Photos. The Green Party feel they will hold relatively steady and were doing well in some parts of Dublin while Sinn Fein look on course to regain some of the losses they suffered in the 2019 local election but will be likely disappointed with their overall result. Independents were doing well across the county and are on track to make significant gains. Far right figures are unlikely to win large numbers of seats but several are still in the running in different areas around the country. Anti-immigrant candidate Gavin Pepper last night looked to be in a good position to secure a seat in the Finglas-Ballymun ward of Dublin City Council but Sinn Fein and Fianna Fail candidates look set to top the poll in the area. Pepper was named in the Dail by People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy as a far-right agitator who called people onto the streets of the capital on the night of the Dublin riots last year after the stabbings of three children and a care worker in the city, We know who incited this riot, the TD said, during a Dail session. We know who called for people to come out on the streets, he said before naming Pepper as one of those people. Pepper also regularly films himself confronting politicians on the streets. Another person named by Deputy Murphy the Dail was Derek Blighe who is running in the local elections in Fermoy in Cork and also running in the European elections in the Ireland South constituency but he faces an uphill battle to win either seat. Blighe, who has shared misinformation online about immigrants and regularly takes part in anti-immigrant protests, was battling it out for a seat on the council but it was unclear last night if he would be successful as tallies had him on 5pc of the first preference vote. Counting in the European election will get underway today but Blighe is not one of the favourites to secure a seat there. Another anti-immigrant candidate Malachy Steenson looked in with a good chance of securing a seat on Dublin City Council in the north inner city area. Gavin Pepper Steenson, who has been involved in various republican groups over the years but ran as an independent, has been involved in numerous anti-immigrant protests over the last couple of years where he has made speeches on topics as diverse as the Late Late Toy Show, tampons in male toilets and Irish rugby. He is also running in the European elections but is not expected to be in with a chance of securing a seat there. Ross Lahive, who was involved in a series of aggressive protests in libraries, has an outside chance of securing a council seat in Cork North West based on tallies but it was once again too early to tell last night as is final position will be dependant on transfers. Lahive was previously convicted of breaching Covid rules during an incident where he called gardai Nazi scum and rats. He was also arrested after being found with a knife on his possession in Cork city centre in August last year but the charges against him were dismissed as Lahive said he had been using it for hanging a door for a friend. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail both expressed satisfaction with their parties performances. Tanaiste Michael Martin Fine Gaels Paschal Donohoe said "the idea this is a Government or a party that has ran out of steam has been shattered". Tanaiste Micheal Martin said Fianna Fail were delivering a robust performance. "The idea that Fianna Fail would be coming in a distant third is completely disproven. I have been looking at opinion polls for the last three years putting Fianna Fail at 14-15% when clearly Fianna Fail will be well ahead of that and will over 20% by the time all these counts are put together," he said. The European election counts will only get underway today and transfers could throw up some unexpected results but once again the main parties appear to be doing well based on incomplete tallies which only give a partial picture of what will happen. In Dublin, early tallies suggested Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty were leading while Sinn Feins Lynn Boylan was also doing well. Several others are also in contention for the fourth seat including Labours Aodhan O Riordain , Independent Irelands Niall Boylan, the Green Partys Ciaran Cuffe and Independents 4 Changes Clare Daly. In Ireland South Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher are expected to take seats while Sinn Feins Kathleen Funchion is also hoping to win a seat. There was no clear picture in Midlands North West tonight but Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan, Fine Gaels Maria Walsh and former RTE broadcaster Ciaran Mullolly are among those expected to do well. Dana Erlich is not sure if she will be returning to Ireland. She is currently in Jerusalem discussing how to respond to our decision to recognise the state of Palestine Israels ambassador to Ireland Dana Erlich said she was quizzed by Hollywood actor Michael Douglas about Irelands stance on Israel. Ms Erlich met the 79-year-old Wall Street star at the site of the Nova music festival, where they went to bear witness to where the October 7 attack by Hamas occurred. During their meeting, Douglas, whose late father Kirk Douglas was Jewish, questioned the ambassador about Irelands views on Israel and its stance on the war on Gaza. She said: He was asking about the atmosphere in Ireland. He wanted to know why there is a very one-sided and biased view of Israel. We talked about that because he was surprised about the way that Israel is presented in Ireland. Dana Erlich, the Israeli ambassador to Ireland. The pop art artwork hanging in her office is her own work. Photo: Steve Humphreys He was asking, why is Ireland so one-sided against Israel? What dont they see? What dont they understand? What needs to be explained to them? What [information] needs to be shared [for Ireland to understand Israels point of view]? Ms Erlich was recalled by the Israeli foreign affairs minister Israel Katz following Irelands decision to officially recognise the State of Palestine. Ms Erlich said it will be several weeks until a decision is made about the future of Irish-Israeli relations and what the next steps will be According to Ms Erlich, Douglas, who met with the families of hostages still being held in the Gaza Strip and toured areas of the countrys south during his visit, was surprised at the scale of anti-Israel views in Ireland in recent weeks and months. The ambassador was speaking from Jerusalem where she is holding consultations with the Israeli foreign ministry to decide how to respond to Irelands decision to recognise the state of Palestine. Ms Erlich said it will be several weeks until a decision is made about the future of Irish-Israeli relations and what the next steps will be. Hollywood star Michael Douglas. Photo: Dominique Charriau Asked if there is a possibility that she might not be allowed to return to Ireland she said: I dont know. This review is not just about the announcement of the recognition of the state of Palestine. That was simply another worrying step in a line of concerns we have. And right now, we are examining the future of our relations and how to continue from here. Ms Erlich said she is keen to address the issue of selective empathy if she returns to Ireland. She said Israelis are under attack by Hamas on a daily basis and under attack from the terror organisation Hezbollah in the north and the Houthis in Yemen. Recent analysis by CNN and artificial intelligence company Synthetaic has shown Israel has dropped hundreds of bombs, capable of killing or wounding people more than 1,000 feet away, on Gaza. The population of Gaza is packed together more tightly than almost anywhere else on earth, so the use of such munitions has a profound effect. In response, Ms Erlich questioned the figures and said: Every operation that we are doing within Gaza is under international law and the rules of war. And right now, unfortunately, its a tragic war to begin with. All of it is tragic. The recently announced 2024 Budget is set to impact the housing crisis in Tauranga and the rest of New Zealand says a community advocate. In a recent press release, Labour claims more than $1.5 billion will be slashed from housing by the National Government. Labour leader Chris Hipkins says, National has made the wrong choices in Budget 2024. Ex-chief imagination officer at Te Tuinga Whanau, Tommy Wilson, says this will heavily impact Tauranga. He believes the city will see more homelessness, desperation and people without hope. Ex-chief imagination officer at Te Tuinga Whanau, Tommy Wilson. Photo: NZME. A cut-and-paste Budget The whole housing situation is a bit of a slippery slide, its like snakes and ladders, says Tommy. You seem to almost get to the top and then bang, you come down the snake again. We got up the ladder of homelessness and now with whats happening in this new regime, it seems like were slipping back down the snake again. I can see nothing but more homelessness coming our way. Thats becoming evident in Tauranga because even though Im not at Te Tuinga Whanau, Im very much still connected to the front line. Theres so much concern around people that cant even afford to pay their mortgage anymore. Theyre really struggling. Mortgage, rent, food, its compounded and housing is going to be the first bubble to burst, and well see that happen really soon. I dont care what political pati (party) people wear, but I am really concerned that we are going to peak again in the housing crisis; very similar to what we experienced during and post-Covid. We had a crisis pre-Covid, but then Covid in many ways helped us because we knew we had to get people who were homeless inside so we could manage the isolation. Tommy says the need for isolation helped the homeless community because they needed to be inside. This meant bringing people into motels and hotels which Tommy says wasnt ideal but that actually lifted the underbelly of homelessness in Tauranga. Then from there, post-Covid, we were able to look at it and say Hey, weve got a serious problem and started dealing with that problem. The infrastructures we put in place post-Covid, were dealing with it. But now those infrastructures are all being taken away. We will see a repeat of a lot of homeless, a lot of people sleeping in their cars and well be back down the snake after climbing up a really healthy homeless ladder. Thats how I see it and were going to see it manifest sooner than later, especially with winter and with everything else thats happening. I dont see any silver lining. All I see is more desperation and more people without hope. We cant break the chain of rough sleeping, emergency housing and then long-term housing unless we go through those stages of the ladder. We keep falling back down the snakes again and surely weve learned a lot to know that we can create good tenants by helping them walk through those stages from emergency housing and into longer-term accommodation. And that is something we cannot let go. The community advocate says the 2024 Budget will mean that there will be fewer homes and maintenance funding. These houses that fall into disrepair inherit all the other health challenges as well, the wet and overcrowded, kids dont go to school because its an unhealthy home. Tommy says this housing crisis is a repeat of the past in Tauranga. You just get them into a warm house, get them into school, the parent becomes able to work and then boom, they pull the rug out again and put the resources into the landlords in the form of tax breaks. Tommy says this is the reality of the chain of what happens when people cant be in warm, safe, affordable housing. There has to be a better balance. I fear that its going to get a lot worse before it gets better. Well see the same thing that happened before, a lot more homeless, a lot more people living in cars and a lot more emergency housing needed. Its not until it becomes visible, the awareness is confronting and people demand something is done about it, until theres an up cry from the public. Then something gets done about it and thats going to happen again in the housing sector. When asked if Tommy believes National will fix the housing crisis as promised, he says I dont see anything there thats going to fix the housing crisis. I see a big handbrake in the great progress being made over the last 10 years under two different governments that Ive worked with. Again, its not a political pati, I think its a reality of building on whats been achieved in the last 10 years. When I started at Te Tuinga Whanau it was under a National Government and then a Labour Government, and the momentum was good, but I see that all being handbraked now. Nationals Budget wasnt for the working poor, or the homeless or those without hope. It was more to advantage those of the higher class and especially those who are landlords. More so for the haves than the have-nots, in my opinion. It was a cut-and-paste Budget, they cut all the lifelines to those that needed help most and they pasted it to the healthy and the wealthy. Failed to deliver We inherited a housing crisis from the Labour Government. House prices have risen significantly, rents up $170 per week, homeless numbers have quadrupled, and more and more Kiwis were finding houses unavailable or unaffordable, says Tauranga MP Sam Uffindell. Tauranga MP, Sam Uffindell. File Photo. We are not going to take lectures from a Labour Party that was completely incompetent when it came to fiscal management or housing affordability and availability. Labour racked up huge debt funding a number of programmes that failed to deliver. Under their government, net debt increased from $5 billion to $100 billion and New Zealanders received worse services and more unaffordable housing. There is no proposal to significantly defer maintenance which is essential in providing a warm, dry home for tenants but a sharper focus on what gets spent, when and how. When I talk to people in Tauranga about housing, they are extremely relieved that a National-led Government is now running the country. Our housing agenda to fix the housing crisis consists of five interlocking actions. First, our Going for Housing Growth policy will smash urban limits holding our cities back, fix infrastructure funding and financing, and introduce incentives to encourage cities and regions to go for growth. Second, improvements to the rental market will make it easier to be a landlord, and easier to be a tenant. Third, building and construction changes will improve competition and lower building costs. Fourth, better social housing will better look after those who need support. Fifth, reform of the Resource Management Act. Labours Voices In the press release posted by LabourVoices on June 4, it says, Christopher Luxon and Nicola Willis promised big tax cuts of $250 a fortnight, said theyd fund a specific 13 cancer drugs and that they would provide cost of living relief. They campaigned on these things and asked for people to vote for them. Instead, theyre giving billions to landlords and more people are losing money from the tax changes than getting the amount promised. Pensioners are only getting $2.50. Labour party leader, Chris Hipkins. Photo: RNZ. All while the cost of living continues to go up and the country goes backwards, says Chris Hipkins. Labour housing spokesperson Kieran McAnulty says the National Party promised to do more to fix the housing crisis, and says that hasnt happened either. The National Party did this last time. Public houses got so run down that a big investment was needed to do them up, and instead of fronting up what was needed they sold the houses off instead, says Kieran. Theyd rather billions go to landlords who already have a house than spend money building new houses. With rents also set to increase, as forecast in the Budget, things are only going to get harder for people. Theres no regard here for Kiwis who need a hand, but plenty for those who dont. Editors note: This story is available as a result of a content partnership between WFTV and the Orlando Business Journal. The Walt Disney Co. (NYSE: DIS) announced plans to invest $17 billion in Central Florida more than a year ago something that has been attributed by some to a softening of relations between Disney and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight Board (CFTOD) which had been contentious since the creation of the governor-appointed board last year. CFTOD board members on June 5 reviewed a draft of a development agreement attached to that $17 billion. That number has been in play publicly since April 3, 2023, when, during a shareholder meeting, Disney CEO Bob Iger promised that investment as part of a $60 billion cash injection across its properties at the same time asserting that DeSantiss actions that created CFTOD were anti-business and anti-Florida. Read: Applications open for monthly art walk in Ocala A year has passed, and Disney remains committed to the investment, but some, like State Sen. Linda Stewart (D-Orange County), attribute the development plan as being a sign of improved relations between Disney and state officials. Stewart said as much to the Orlando Sentinel last week. Click here to read the full story on the Orlando Business Journals website. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Construction of a shared path to connect the Sanctuary Point subdivision to Windermere Drive is close to completion. Tauranga City Council says this path will be ready for use by the end of this week after the construction of a pram crossing at the Windermere end of the reserve, some landscaping and a final tidy up. The estimated completion date is weather dependent. Two solar lights have been installed, but It will be four to six weeks until the light and camera by the playground will be operational. The playground in the Windermere Reserve will be closed during construction for safety reasons. "We will make sure there is a safe way to move through the reserve at all times during construction," says a council spokesperson. Council says some noise might be noticed during the day. "We will do our best to keep noise to a minimum. We apologise for any inconvenience while this work is completed and thank you for your patience." The 80th anniversary of the Allied invasion of Normandy drew dozens of aged survivors of the bloody battle that turned the tide of World War II. It was likely their last visit, as many are over 100 years old. President Joe Biden used the occasion to warn against a new tide of authoritarianism, a veiled swipe at his opponent, former President Donald Trump. Bill Bramhall leads the editorial cartoon gallery with a somber image of a veteran in a wheelchair saluting the now-placid beaches where thousands of his comrades died on June 6, 1944. Scott Stantis draws a similar scene, featuring a veteran at the Les Braves memorial on Omaha Beach. Worth it, he thinks to himself. Walt Handelsman exhausts the letter D to describe the valor of those men. Cartoonists also commented on Bidens executive order setting a limit on the number of migrants who can seek asylum before the border closes. Dana Summers portrays the president as putting out the fire he started. Other topics in this weeks gallery include more delays in the various legal cases against Trump; fallout from a jurys guilty verdict in the New York hush money trial; the presidents son Hunter Biden on trial in a case involving guns and drugs; and Dr. Anthony Faucis testimony before a hostile committee in the House over his direction of the U.S. response to Covid-19. Cartoons were drawn by Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Mike Luckovich and Steve Breen of Creators Syndicate. Image source: Getty Images It's hardly a secret that having kids is an expensive prospect. And traveling with kids can be even more expensive. But the reason for that isn't just because you're paying for extra people. Here are a few less obvious reasons why traveling with children costs more than traveling solo or as a couple. Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards 1. You're basically forced to travel at the most expensive times Some of the most expensive times of the year to travel are during school spring and winter break, and during the summer. But if you have school-aged kids, you're tethered to those breaks, which means you're basically forced to pay extra to travel. Of course, you could opt to pull your children out of school and travel at a less popular time. But then you have to deal with makeup work, and you also risk incurring the wrath of their teachers. It's one thing to pull a first-grader out of school for a week and catch them up on a few basic math lessons. But try pulling an honors high school junior out of calculus for a week. Chances are, you're not in a position to help them make up that advanced work, which means they're stuck having to scramble and catch up. 2. You'll pay more for flights if you want to be seated together When you're traveling with a fellow adult, it's nice to be seated together. But if that's not in the cards, you can probably cope -- especially if it means being able to purchase a lower-cost ticket and save money. As a parent, though, you don't easily get that option because buying the most affordable airline fare often means not getting to choose your own seat. And if you have young kids, you can't afford to be separated from them. You also, unfortunately, can't rely on the kindness of strangers to switch seats (though to be fair, if you didn't pony up for a seat choice, that really shouldn't be anyone else's problem but yours). 3. You can't take advantage of money-saving layovers as easily Sometimes, opting for a nonstop flight will get you to your destination faster, but at a higher cost. As a parent, though, you may not be able to save money by booking multiple flight legs because your kids might lose it during a three-hour layover. Also, with a layover, you have to factor in the cost of feeding an entire family at the airport, where basically any quick meal you buy is guaranteed to be overpriced. That's very different from being a pair of adults with a layover, or a solo traveler who's content to bust out a protein bar for lunch and call it a day. Story continues How to make traveling with kids less expensive Traveling with children is clearly complicated -- not to mention costly. But there are steps you can take to save, including: Choose less popular destinations if you're traveling during school breaks -- for example, a less well-known state park instead of a national park. Book a vacation rental instead of a hotel so you're not forced to splurge on so many restaurant meals. Book your flights in advance so you have more airfare choices. Use a travel rewards credit card that comes with money-saving perks like free checked bags. Drive to your destination instead of flying when feasible. It's not easy to afford kids, or to afford to take them places. But if you're strategic in booking your plans, you can save some money in the process. Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.Maurie Backman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Hidden Ways Having Kids Makes Travel More Expensive was originally published by The Motley Fool saitvsk23 BHPian Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: HYD | Detroit Posts: 223 Thanked: 1,087 Times View My Garage re: My 2013 Ford Edge SEL Review | SwordEdge - How I found The One Chapter 2 : Instant Crush And so, me and my friends started scouting for a suitable car. Let's make one fact clear : I am a bulky person. I do love sedans but god, it's a wrestle for me to get in and out of one! My roommate had bought a used 2012 Ford Focus SE for his usage, and he's pretty happy with it. For his car, we had a budget cap and just visited various car dealers who had cars in our desired price range. We had come across this used Focus and test drove it. He was pretty happy with the way he drove it. And I practiced to drive around in it. The steering wheel felt great, it had those contoured space for your thumbs to rest when you hold it in the 10-2 position. The steering feedback felt pinpoint, the 2L inline-4 motor seemed very responsive to throttle input, giving a very hearty mileage of 30mpg. It became our primary mode of transport and grocery hauler in our happy bachelor pad. Here's him with the car: This last month, I received my internship offer and we started to look for cars for me to drive till the workplace. I had a few conditions. First off, it had to be an SUV. Sedans are agreaably more aerodynamic in design and offer better fuel economy due to this very fact. And they handle well too. But as stated earlier, it should be easy for me to get in and out from it. And also because I was used to the WagonR's tallboy visibility and it felt just right to me. SUV's comparatively would offer more kneeroom in the driver's footwell and comparatively more upright seating position, better front-end visibility and more roominess. Mileage was not a primary concern. And another important fact was that the car should have a decent audio system. I love driving with music. I just hate driving in absolute silence. Feels like I'm on the way to someone's funeral with all that silence around me. And it had to be a Ford. Years of growing up with the Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta 1.6L, Endeavor, drooling on the big and burly F-150 and finally the much spirited EcoSport, I was dead set that I should own a Ford on my own accord (pun intended). Japanese makes were way out of my budget. Being an automotive engineer, you are cultured to stay away from used German cars, unless its up for sale from someone you know and know the car well enough. I didn't have gems strong enough to gamble on a used German car. With these criteria set in mind, I started my hunt for the perfect car. One of the most popular SUV's that's seen quite often on Detroit's roads is the 2nd gen Ford Escape, whose platform is shared by the more upmarket sibling, the Mercury Mariner and its Oriental cousin, the Mazda Tribute. The base platform was developed jointly by Ford and Mazda, with the engine having inputs from Porsche, who are known to make pretty reliable modern tech engines for other companies. It had the big boxy looks I desired, a tempting 3L V6 engine, and Ford's basic SYNC system. I started scouring the Facebook Marketplace for these models. XLT was the most preferred trim, and that was fine by me. The XLT missed out on leatherette seats and sunroof as compared to the Limited variant. Few models had 4WD, few didn't. But what most of the cars had was rust. A car's greatest enemy. That too at the same spots. Inside the rear wheel fenders, and right on the bottom of the tailgate (trunk hatch door). They looked like absolute eyesores, and few examples managed to disgust me and send a shiver down my spine. Many had high mileage, which was okay to me because in my desired price range, that's all you could get. Anywhere from 120,000 to 150,000 miles was deemed acceptable by me and my friends. After a lot of scouting, I came across this absolutely clean looking 2010 Ford Escape XLT. I was happy enough and went to the dealership to look at it. I inquired about it and was happy with the price, but skeptical. Because the price was absolutely low, compared to the market standards. So we took all the pics of the car, its VIN and came home. We got a CARFAX report generated on the car, which helped us by a truckload. The CARFAX report indicated that the car had its odometer tempered with at some point of time in its life. Inconsistent mileage readings contributed to this fact, and we steered clear of this example after going through all the fiasco that happened with my CBR. And so we resumed our search. Here's a few pics of that car that I would like to put out here: After this car, we started looking at other cars too, and came across a clean example of a 2013 Ford Fusion. It was coloured white, but had a couple of mismatched panels where the white of repainted panels was not matched properly with the original factory painted body panels. It had crooked steering wheel, and did not inspire confidence in me. It was seated low, and felt weird to me. Even the dealership's worker stopped showing interest in my questions the moment I told him that I instantly won't be taking this car and needed some time to gather the money for it. Disappointed with this outcome, I just walked over to the next dealer lot, which was the same as the one with the faulty Ford Escape. I walked over there and showed the seller guy the CARFAX report, and he was quite pissed with the auction house he had bought the car from. He said that he would promptly send it back to them. So I had asked him, if he had any fresh stock with him since the time I last visited him. I was just walking around and found a glistening white Ford Edge, parked in the corner of the lot. I walked to it, took a peek inside from the window and god, it looked luxurious inside! I asked the seller about this and had told me that it was just a day old at his lot, and was just gearing up to post its ad online on FB Marketplace. So I asked him if I could take a test drive and he said yes, and handed the key over to me. I asked him if he would be coming along with me and he said, "you're all good brother. Take it! Drive it and bring it back to me." So I asked him if I could take it home for 20 min to show it to my friends and he said yes. So, I got into the driver's seat and the first impression was : the car felt European. That's quite a unique thing for an American car to pull off! Everything felt just great and well executed, the interior, and airiness of the cabin, and the opened panoramic sunroof just added to this. I slot in the key, turn the car on and put it in reverse to slowly back out of the lot. The throttle response was sharp and I just had to slightly dab the pedal to make controlled movements. And once I backed out of the lot, I drove forward onto open roads. And despite its size, I was able to handle it as if I was driving the car for years on, even though I was just introduced to it just mere minutes ago! The controls felt intuitive, everything was well laid out and it was my first time experiencing a V6 engine in all its might. I excitedly drove the car home and showed it to my roommates and what they thought of it. As we had to drop off the car back at the dealer, I drove my roommate's Focus and he drove the Edge back to the lot to see how it handles. He was very impressed with the way the engine was pulling. My other roommate was busy testing the SYNC Audio system and was absolutely blown with it! It was an absolutely resounding YES from all of us and I bought her home the very next day! Finally, a Ford fully owned in my name. My mom seemed very very impressed with the sheer size and road presence of it, and my younger sister joked that the car just resembled me in every way possible, which I found to be mostly true! SPECS : 3.5L Ti-VCT (FWD) Gasoline V6 Engine ; 6-speed SelectShift Automatic; Horsepower: 285 HP @ 6,500 rpm; Torque (lb.-ft.): 253 @ 4,000 rpm. Disc Brakes on all 4 sides, 18 inch alloy wheels, SecuriLock numeric lock system with remote locking. Here's one of the first pics I ever took with the car: The next chapter showcases all the good things that it came with! And so, me and my friends started scouting for a suitable car. Let's make one fact clear : I am a bulky person. I do love sedans but god, it's a wrestle for me to get in and out of one! My roommate had bought a used 2012 Ford Focus SE for his usage, and he's pretty happy with it. For his car, we had a budget cap and just visited various car dealers who had cars in our desired price range. We had come across this used Focus and test drove it. He was pretty happy with the way he drove it. And I practiced to drive around in it. The steering wheel felt great, it had those contoured space for your thumbs to rest when you hold it in the 10-2 position. The steering feedback felt pinpoint, the 2L inline-4 motor seemed very responsive to throttle input, giving a very hearty mileage of. It became our primary mode of transport and grocery hauler in our happy bachelor pad.Here's him with the car:This last month, I received my internship offer and we started to look for cars for me to drive till the workplace. I had a few conditions. First off, it had to be an SUV. Sedans are agreaably more aerodynamic in design and offer better fuel economy due to this very fact. And they handle well too. But as stated earlier, it should be easy for me to get in and out from it. And also because I was used to the WagonR's tallboy visibility and it felt just right to me. SUV's comparatively would offer more kneeroom in the driver's footwell and comparatively more upright seating position, better front-end visibility and more roominess. Mileage was not a primary concern. And another important fact was that the car should have a decent audio system. I love driving with music. I just hate driving in absolute silence. Feels like I'm on the way to someone's funeral with all that silence around me. And. Years of growing up with the Ikon, Fusion, Fiesta 1.6L, Endeavor, drooling on the big and burly F-150 and finally the much spirited EcoSport, I was dead set that I should own a Ford on my own accord. Japanese makes were way out of my budget. Being an automotive engineer, you are cultured to stay away from used German cars, unless its up for sale from someone you know and know the car well enough. I didn't have gems strong enough to gamble on a used German car.With these criteria set in mind, I started my hunt for the perfect car. One of the most popular SUV's that's seen quite often on Detroit's roads is the 2nd gen Ford Escape, whose platform is shared by the more upmarket sibling, the Mercury Mariner and its Oriental cousin, the Mazda Tribute. The base platform was developed jointly by Ford and Mazda, with the engine having inputs from Porsche, who are known to make pretty reliable modern tech engines for other companies. It had the big boxy looks I desired, a tempting 3L V6 engine, and Ford's basic SYNC system.I started scouring the Facebook Marketplace for these models. XLT was the most preferred trim, and that was fine by me. The XLT missed out on leatherette seats and sunroof as compared to the Limited variant. Few models had 4WD, few didn't. But what most of the cars had was rust. A car's greatest enemy. That too at the same spots. Inside the rear wheel fenders, and right on the bottom of the tailgate (trunk hatch door). They looked like absolute eyesores, and few examples managed to disgust me and send a shiver down my spine. Many had high mileage, which was okay to me because in my desired price range, that's all you could get. Anywhere from 120,000 to 150,000 miles was deemed acceptable by me and my friends.After a lot of scouting, I came across this absolutely clean looking 2010 Ford Escape XLT. I was happy enough and went to the dealership to look at it. I inquired about it and was happy with the price,. Because the price was absolutely low, compared to the market standards. So we took all the pics of the car, its VIN and came home. We got a CARFAX report generated on the car, which helped us by a truckload. The CARFAX report indicated that the car had its odometer tempered with at some point of time in its life. Inconsistent mileage readings contributed to this fact, and we steered clear of this example after going through all the fiasco that happened with my CBR. And so we resumed our search.Here's a few pics of that car that I would like to put out here:After this car, we started looking at other cars too, and came across a clean example of a 2013 Ford Fusion. It was coloured white, but had a couple of mismatched panels where the white of repainted panels was not matched properly with the original factory painted body panels. It had crooked steering wheel, and did not inspire confidence in me. It was seated low, and felt weird to me. Even the dealership's worker stopped showing interest in my questions the moment I told him that I instantly won't be taking this car and needed some time to gather the money for it. Disappointed with this outcome, I just walked over to the next dealer lot, which was the same as the one with the faulty Ford Escape. I walked over there and showed the seller guy the CARFAX report, and he was quite pissed with the auction house he had bought the car from. He said that he would promptly send it back to them. So I had asked him, if he had any fresh stock with him since the time I last visited him. I was just walking around and found a glistening white Ford Edge, parked in the corner of the lot. I walked to it, took a peek inside from the window and god, it looked luxurious inside! I asked the seller about this and had told me that it was just a day old at his lot, and was just gearing up to post its ad online on FB Marketplace. So I asked him if I could take a test drive and he said yes, and handed the key over to me. I asked him if he would be coming along with me and he said, "you're all good brother. Take it! Drive it and bring it back to me." So I asked him if I could take it home for 20 min to show it to my friends and he said yes.So, I got into the driver's seat and the first impression was : the car felt. That's quite a unique thing for an American car to pull off! Everything felt just great and well executed, the interior, and airiness of the cabin, and the opened panoramic sunroof just added to this. I slot in the key, turn the car on and put it in reverse to slowly back out of the lot. The throttle response was sharp and I just had to slightly dab the pedal to make controlled movements. And once I backed out of the lot, I drove forward onto open roads. And despite its size, I was able to handle it as if I was driving the car for years on, even though I was just introduced to it just mere minutes ago! The controls felt intuitive, everything was well laid out and it was my first time experiencing a V6 engine in all its might. I excitedly drove the car home and showed it to my roommates and what they thought of it. As we had to drop off the car back at the dealer, I drove my roommate's Focus and he drove the Edge back to the lot to see how it handles. He was very impressed with the way the engine was pulling. My other roommate was busy testing the SYNC Audio system and was absolutely blown with it! It was an absolutely resounding YES from all of us and I bought her home the very next day! Finally, a Ford fully owned in my name. My mom seemed very very impressed with the sheer size and road presence of it, and my younger sister joked that the car just resembled me in every way possible, which I found to be mostly true!SPECS : 3.5L Ti-VCT (FWD) Gasoline V6 Engine ; 6-speed SelectShift Automatic; Horsepower: 285 HP @ 6,500 rpm; Torque (lb.-ft.): 253 @ 4,000 rpm. Disc Brakes on all 4 sides, 18 inch alloy wheels, SecuriLock numeric lock system with remote locking.Here's one of the first pics I ever took with the car:The next chapter showcases all the good things that it came with! Last edited by saitvsk23 : 8th June 2024 at 19:07 . AI-equipped drones are changing pest control in agriculture to help reduce food waste. Researchers are now using AI to find better ways to manage pests. The University of Modena and Reggio Emilia in Italy is showing how AI can transform farming. Revolutionizing Pest Control With AI-Equipped Drones Using AI on drones is a new way to help farmers fight pests. With AI, farmers can more accurately target pests. One primary pest they're focusing on is the brown marmorated stink bug, which damages orchards in North America and southern Europe. Farmers can protect their crops from these pests more efficiently using AI-equipped drones. The pest caused staggering damages in Italy, reaching nearly US$640 million in 2019. Traditional methods like pheromone traps, visual sampling, and sweep-netting are used to combat the pest, but they're labor-intensive and impractical for large orchards. Driven by this challenge, Interesting Engineering reported that Lara Maistrello, an associate professor in the Department of Life Sciences at the University of Modena, led a team of researchers to find more time and energy-efficient solutions. The researchers devised an automated flight plan for drones to capture high-resolution images of pear orchards from a height of 26 feet. Drones flying at this altitude were less disruptive to pest movements than human observers. Interestingly, adult bugs reacted by freezing when drones approached, aiding in capturing clear images of the area. These images were then utilized to train AI models to identify pest infections. Using this data, the trained models showed higher efficiency in detecting the stink bug, achieving an accuracy of 97% compared to models trained from the beginning. The researchers proposed applying this method to integrated pest management strategies, offering accurate predictions that can adjust to evolving environmental and weather conditions. Environmental Sensing With Flat Optic Lenses In another research, scientists from the City University of New York (CUNY), the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, and the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS) tackled the hurdles of curved optical lenses in environmental sensing. They devised a flat imaging sensor made of the thin material vanadium dioxide. In addition to its small size and lightweight, this sensor can switch between precise infrared imaging and edge detection as needed. Madhu Bhaskaran, a professor at RMIT University's School of Engineering in Australia, explained that as the filter's temperature changes, vanadium dioxide transforms from an insulating state to a metallic one. This shift causes the processed image to transition from a filtered outline to an unfiltered infrared image. Crucially, the sensor system can carry out these tasks at the edge, eliminating the need for extensive data storage and energy-intensive processors. The flat-optic lenses produced with this technology are lightweight, small, and consume less power. They are ideal for replacing conventional lenses in sensing applications with drones and satellites. Experts propose that this technology could assist farmers in enhancing their crop yields by swiftly identifying the specific needs of crops instead of employing a generalized approach. Cost savings from irrigation, pest management, and fertilizer usage could also help make groceries more affordable for consumers. Researchers at the University of South Florida are using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve mosquito surveillance to combat malaria, particularly in Africa. Ryan Carney, a professor of integrative biology, and Sriram Chellappan, a computer science and engineering professor, collaborate with an interdisciplinary team to enhance malaria research and develop innovative methods to combat this life-threatening disease. This initiative is part of a broader international effort supported by a $3.6 million grant from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, a National Institutes of Health division. Known as EMERGENTS (Enhancing Malaria Epidemiology Research through Genomics and Translational Systems), the initiative will create a new International Center for Excellence for Malaria Research in west-central Africa. AI-Powered Smart Trap Designed to Attract Mosquitos Carney and Chellappan will spearhead the image-based mosquito surveillance initiative by training local scientists to utilize citizen science via mosquitodashboard.org, a platform they developed in 2022. This online dashboard consolidates hundreds of thousands of mosquito sightings from different platforms into an interactive, real-time data portal, leveraging photos uploaded from smartphones. Chellappan is also testing an AI-powered smart trap designed to attract, capture, and track Anopheles stephensi, a dangerous urban malaria mosquito that has recently started to invade Africa. Chellappan aims to launch several prototypes of this pending patent smart trap across west-central Africa to automatically capture and identify Anopheles stephensi. Chellappan highlights their team's unique capability to perform anatomy-based classification from a single photo, identifying mosquitoes by automatically recognizing their head, thorax, abdomen, and legs. This algorithm uses specific anatomical features, such as the wing, to identify Anopheles stephensi. The dashboard and smart trap serve as essential tools that provide real-time data to researchers and mosquito control personnel for early detection of invasive and disease-carrying mosquitoes. In 2022, in collaboration with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they tested this method through citizen science initiatives in Ethiopia and Madagascar. The new project's additional funding will enable Carney and Chellappan to fine-tune their algorithms and include more species for automated identification, particularly on Anopheles stephensi. Read Also : Experts Warn of Spread of Mosquito-Borne Diseases to Previously Untouched Countries Effective Malaria Vector Carney explains that Anopheles stephensi has adapted to urban environments, potentially leading to severe outbreaks in cities as seen in Africa. Although Anopheles stephensi has not yet been detected in the US, Florida remains a key region for mosquito-borne diseases. Carney said their citizen science infrastructure and species identification technologies aim to establish preparedness against this possible threat. As the project progresses and technology improves, Chellappan envisions making the traps available to the public at an affordable price, thus boosting international and local community-led mosquito surveillance and control efforts. "We are the only team that we know of globally that can successfully enable anatomy-based classification from a single photo to identify mosquitoes," Chellappan said in a press statement. "Our algorithm automatically identifies the head, thorax, abdomen and legs from a mosquito image, then it uses specific anatomical components to identify the mosquito type - for example, the wing for Anopheles stephensi," he added. China is reportedly expanding its fleet of unmanned submersibles designed to perform military reconnaissance missions. These advanced submersibles, resembling manta rays, are poised to upgrade China's naval surveillance and warfare capabilities, the South China Morning Post reports. The primary developers of these innovative submersibles are researchers from Northwestern Polytechnical University in China, led by Professor Cao Yong. The development project, which began in 2006, initially focused on coral reef monitoring. State broadcaster CCTV has reported on the ambitious plans to expand and upgrade these submersibles for military purposes. China's Manta Ray Submersibles The manta ray submersibles are soft-bodied, autonomous underwater vehicles designed to mimic the swimming patterns of real manta rays. These submersibles are equipped with advanced technology, including cameras, sonar, and the BeiDou navigation system, allowing them to transfer real-time video and positioning information back to researchers. These submersibles have been operational in the South China Sea, where they successfully monitored alarming species outbreaks. The team plans to launch larger models this year, with an eye on future military applications. Shanghai Ocean University unveiled a similar manta ray-shaped intelligent soft-bodied bionic fish used for underwater research last month. With a wingspan of 1 meter and a weight of 35 kilograms, the bionic fish boasts high efficiency, low energy consumption, multiple functions, and high mobility. Expanding China's Submersible Fleet The expansion of China's submersible fleet has significant implications for military reconnaissance and naval operations. The larger submersibles, weighing up to 800 kg, are designed to carry more powerful payloads and operate over longer distances. According to Professor Cao, these advancements will allow the submersibles to undertake integrated reconnaissance and strike roles. Additionally, the submersibles' ability to form clusters could extend their operational range and data collection capabilities, making them a formidable tool in maritime surveillance. The smaller submersibles have already proven effective in monitoring marine life and coral reefs. Future models will be larger and capable of deeper dives, potentially reaching depths of up to 1,000 meters. To overcome challenges such as microorganisms attaching to their surfaces, the team is exploring the use of special gels to make the submersibles' surfaces less attractive to marine life. China is not alone in developing manta ray-like submersibles. The United States has also been testing similar underwater drones. Northrop Grumman, in collaboration with the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), has developed an autonomous underwater drone capable of long-duration, long-range missions. In Similar News China showcased another advanced underwater drone, the UUV300CB, at the Defence Services Asia exhibition in Malaysia earlier this year (via Newsweek). This extra-large uncrewed underwater vehicle (XLUUV), intended for export, highlights China's push to develop autonomous underwater weapons. The UUV300CB is 11.5 meters long and weighs 50 tonnes, with a range of 450 nautical miles (834 km). It is capable of carrying sea mines, smaller UUVs, and lightweight torpedoes, with potential for missile launch capabilities. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Norwegian sovereign wealth fund Norges Bank Investment Management declared Saturday it will vote against Elon Musk's CEO salary package at Tesla's annual meeting on Thursday. There is a growing opposition to Elon Musk's $44.9 billion pay package, which was valued approximately $56 billion in January, per reports. Last month, key shareholders ISS and Glass Lewis suggested a rejection of the pay package. Norges Bank Investment Management stated on its website that it appreciates Elon Musk's leadership but remains concerned about the size of the package, including "the structure given performance triggers, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk," according to ABC News. Tesla has requested shareholders reinstate Musk's compensation package after a Delaware judge rejected it this year. The Government Pension Fund Global, which owns 0.98% of Tesla worth $7.72 billion, initially opposed the deal in 2018. The fund invests Norwegian oil and gas earnings for future pensions. To cool Norway's economy, it invests in 72 countries for 17.80 trillion Norwegian Krone ($1.67 trillion). The fund will vote for many shareholder policies that management opposes. Among them are a noninterference policy supporting freedom of association and collective bargaining, a simple majority vote, declassifying the board of directors, and harassment and discrimination prevention reports. Elon Musk to Resign If Pay Package Gets Denied Meanwhile, Tesla chair Robyn Denholm has warned that Elon Musk may resign if shareholders reject his massive pay package Denholm wrote to investors that Musk had "other places" to focus. Denholm said next week's decision on Musk's pay is "obviously not about the money," as he will remain one of the world's wealthiest, as reported by The Guardian. The Tesla official suggested Musk might leave Tesla if the June 13 vote goes against him. The board sought certification again after a judge nullified Musk's $56 billion compensation contract in January. Investors first approved it in 2018. No Tesla Refreshed Model Y This 2024 Elon Musk owns around 13% of Tesla, but the shareholder statement before the AGM states that his holding will not count toward the vote, which must be a majority of Tesla shares "not owned, directly or indirectly, by Mr. Musk" or his brother Kimbal. Wedbush Securities analyst Dan Ives believes Elon Musk is "not going anywhere" but may step down as Tesla CEO if the vote fails. "Musk is not going anywhere, but if the comp package is denied, he will potentially shed his CEO title and become less involved in Tesla over time," he added. In another Tesla update, Elon Musk, the CEO of Tesla, announced on X on Saturday that the Model Y will not receive an upgrade this year, per Reuters. Musk said, "No Model Y'refresh' is coming out this year," underscoring Tesla's ongoing improvements. Tesla has been sluggish to upgrade its older models due to high borrowing rates that deter pricey purchases. In China, the world's largest car market, competitors offer cheaper models. The EV maker's global vehicle deliveries fell for the first time in four years in the first quarter. Sources say Anterior, an AI-powered health insurance approval business, received $20 million in Series A funding with a $95 million post-money value. In the round, Sequoia and Neo joined NEA. The fundraising round includes many angel investors, including Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of DeepMind and Inflection AI, who joined Microsoft in March to oversee consumer AI. The firm was founded by Abdel Mahmoud, a former doctor who switched to technology after growing disenchanted with medical administration. The company developed an AI-powered co-pilot saving healthcare workers time gathering insurance-required medical documents as Anterior wants to lower denial rates and expedite care. Mohamad Makhzoumi, NEA's healthcare managing general partner, sits on Anterior's board. Makhzoumi invested in Tempus, a genetic testing and data analysis business poised to IPO next week with a valuation of up to $6.1 billion, and Xaira, an AI drug discovery startup founded this year with $1 billion in capital. Insurance Brokers Adopt AI Tools The use of AI in health insurance is growing as some organizations employ the tech to simplify health insurance shopping. According to a report from Axios, AI-powered tools are being embraced by brokers and agents as these resources benefit millions who buy private Medicare Advantage plans or seek ACA Marketplace coverage. Due to the difficulties of estimating their healthcare requirements and comparing plans, many Americans continue with the same health plan year after year, missing out on better and cheaper choices. While people insured by their employers may have a few plans to select from, the average ACA marketplace shopper during enrollment season has around 100 alternatives, varied in cost and provider availability. KFF, a health policy research group, reports that the average Medicare Advantage enrollee now has 43 options, more than doubling. In recommending the best health plan, AI algorithms use basic information about an insurance consumer and their predicted health requirements. AI is Transforming Healthcare, Drug Research Separately, Kimberly Powell, vice president of healthcare at Nvidia, believes that AI is transforming the healthcare industry, Al Jazeera reported. Powell remarked at Nvidia's AI Summit during Computex in Taipei that while it's still "early days," AI will influence healthcare the most. She believes the technology will improve pharmaceutical research, patient diagnostics, and post-operative therapy. Drug research and testing, which may take 15 years and cost $2 billion, is already impacted by AI. Powell remarked that artificial intelligence will allow medical professionals "to do more" and become more efficient in this field. Moreover, Powell said AI may help researchers learn how the body reacts to novel chemicals, decreasing the 90% failure rate of most clinical studies. The Nvidia official said that generative AI will enable experts to produce "more ideas" and forecast with higher accuracy and "model biology in new and exciting ways." The third-largest firm by stock value, Nvidia, develops systems, software, and medical equipment to help doctors with digital imaging, diagnostic scans, and robot-assisted surgery. The Drug Enforcement Administration is looking to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I substance down to Schedule III. The move would mean marijuana is no longer grouped in with ecstasy, heroin, and other harmful substances, and it would be a recognition that there is some medicinal benefit to using pot. For U.S.-based cannabis companies, it would be a big win as it would mean they would be able to make more tax deductions since Section 280E of the tax code would no longer apply. Three of the largest multi-state operators (MSOs) that would have the most to gain from the rescheduling of cannabis are Curaleaf Holdings (OTC: CURLF), Green Thumb Industries (OTC: GTBIF), and Trulieve Cannabis (OTC: TCNNF). Here's a look at each company. 1. Curaleaf Holdings Curaleaf is one of the largest MSOs in the country, with 145 dispensaries in 17 states. It has approximately 1.4 million square feet of cultivation capacity. And in addition to the U.S. market, the company has been growing its presence internationally, recently making its first wholesale shipment to the Czech Republic. Over the trailing 12 months, Curaleaf has generated nearly $1.4 billion in revenue, and it incurred a net loss of $275.1 million. Included in that is a tax provision totaling $113.9 million. The cannabis producer does, however, consistently post an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) profit; for the first three months of the year, its adjusted EBITDA margin was 23%, and in the period before that, it was 24%. By lowering its tax bill, Curaleaf will be in a position to improve upon on its bottom line. Chairman Boris Jordan previously referred to 280E as "unfair" and "unconstitutional" for the company to be saddled with such a burden, even going as far as suggesting that the cannabis industry should consider not paying it in protest. This year, Curaleaf's stock is up more than 10%, but over a five-year period, its shares are still down 40%. At a price-to-sales multiple of 2.4, the stock isn't expensive and does have room to rise higher, should investors grow more bullish on the cannabis industry and look to invest in one of the country's top producers. 2. Green Thumb Industries A company that's already profitable today is Green Thumb Industries. Its footprint is smaller than Curaleaf's, as Green Thumb has 93 retail locations and it's in 14 U.S. markets. Its focus on offering a variety of branded cannabis products has allowed it to reach a wide range of customers. Story continues Green Thumb has generated roughly $1.1 billion in sales over the past four quarters, and despite taxes accounting for nearly 11% of its top line, the company has still managed to post a profit of $58.2 million over that time frame. It also generated $234.3 million in operating cash flow. Green Thumb's stronger financials have made it one of the better buys in the industry, as the pot stock is in positive territory over the past five years with a gain of around 1%. It's modest, but it's still impressive in an industry where many stocks are often deeply in the red. Rescheduling would help boost its profits and make it an even better buy. It trades at 2.6 times its trailing revenue. 3. Trulieve Cannabis This month, Trulieve will reach a milestone by opening its 200th dispensary in the country. It will take place on June 14 in Brooksville, Florida. It's by far the largest cannabis retailer, with its footprint easily surpassing both that of Green Thumb and Curaleaf. Trulieve too has a lot to gain from cannabis rescheduling and relief from 280E. The company's chief financial officer Wes Getman says that Trulieve would stand to benefit significantly from a lower tax bill, adding, "If the 280E burden is lifted, Trulieve could realize hundreds of millions of savings in the next few years." Over the trailing 12 months, Trulieve's sales have totaled $1.1 billion, and it has paid $171.3 million in taxes. During that time, the company has incurred a loss of $485.8 million, but that also includes a particularly bad quarter a year ago when Trulieve reported a goodwill impairment charge totaling $307.6 million. If the company can reduce its taxes, its prospects for profitability would improve significantly. Despite its massive expansion over the years, Trulieve has also been an underwhelming stock to own -- in five years, its shares have fallen by 11%. The rescheduling of cannabis could result in a more favorable outlook on MSOs, resulting in a better valuation for the stock. At just 1.5 times revenue, Trulieve is the cheapest stock on this list in terms of sales. Should you invest $1,000 in Curaleaf right now? Before you buy stock in Curaleaf, 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 Curaleaf 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 $740,688!* 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 June 3, 2024 David Jagielski has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Green Thumb Industries and Trulieve Cannabis. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Stocks That Will Benefit the Most From Cannabis Rescheduling was originally published by The Motley Fool Over 50 high school students and teachers from the U.S. state of Iowa participated on Saturday in a cultural event celebrating the Dragon Boat Festival in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei Province. #GLOBALink Image source: Getty Images There's a reason so many people bank credit card points or air miles to upgrade their flights to business class. Flying economy has become less and less pleasant as airlines have yanked amenities away. Throw in the fact that the seats somehow seem to be getting even smaller, and it's easy to see why flying economy is not a pleasant experience all around. The benefit of flying economy is clear -- the savings. A basic economy ticket on United from Newark Airport to LAX for a long weekend in August costs as little as $325 roundtrip. That same route costs $1,528 for business class, which is a huge difference. Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards The good news, though, is that you're not doomed to a miserable flight just because you're opting to spend less and stick to economy. Here's how to improve your experience without breaking the bank. 1. Fly at off-peak times Flying economy becomes much more pleasant when you don't have a person in the seat next to you. Flying at off-peak times could result in a less crowded plane -- and more room for you to stretch out and relax. Try to avoid flying during popular times like the winter holidays and long holiday weekends. Also, steer clear of school breaks unless you have kids and that's the only time you can travel. What's more, if your schedule is flexible (maybe you're self-employed), try flying to your next weekend destination on a Wednesday afternoon instead of a Thursday night or Friday. And then fly home Monday night or Tuesday morning. Chances are, you'll have fewer people on your flight. 2. Bring supplies to make your flight more comfortable You may be stuck in a cramped economy seat. But that doesn't mean you have to be uncomfortable. Invest in a good neck pillow and a pair of noise-canceling headphones so you can doze off with ease. You may also want to bring an eye mask to block out light if you're hoping to get some shut-eye. Remember, too, that planes can be a dry environment. Bring a small tube of hand lotion for dry skin and chapstick for dry lips. 3. Splurge for extra legroom if it's a long flight It's one thing to suck it up in a tiny seat for a 2.5-hour flight from New York to Florida. It's another thing to do the same when you're flying from New York to Seattle. If you're taking a longer flight but can't swing a business-class upgrade, consider paying for extra legroom. Or, at the very least, don't stick to basic economy, because with that fare, you usually can't choose your own seat. With regular economy, you generally at least get a seat choice at the time of booking. From there, you can select an aisle seat if you think you'll need to stretch out. Story continues Sticking with economy could save you a lot on your next flight. And there are ways to make the experience less unpleasant. But if you tend to fly often, you may want to shop around for a new travel rewards credit card -- one that makes it easy to rack up points so you can swing a business-class upgrade more often. Alert: highest cash back card we've seen now has 0% intro APR until 2025 This credit card is not just good it's so exceptional that our experts use it personally. It features a 0% intro APR for 15 months, a cash back rate of up to 5%, and all somehow for no annual fee! Click here to read our full review for free and apply in just 2 minutes. We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team.The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 3 Tips to Spend Less on Airfare Without Being Miserable was originally published by The Motley Fool Oceanic 'peace' pact signed in Costa Rica ahead of 2025 UN talks San Jose, June 9 (AFP) Jun 09, 2024 Over two dozen countries signed a wishful "declaration of peace with the ocean" on Saturday in Costa Rica, as a multi-day meeting to prepare for a major UN conference next year wrapped up. Among the signatories were Germany, Spain, Sweden, Canada, Colombia, Chile, Israel and South Korea, as well as Costa Rica and France, co-hosts of the third UN Ocean Conference to be held next June in the French city of Nice. "We are committed to scaling up transformative ocean actions to support nature-positive economies based on the best available science and scientific information, traditional knowledge and innovation," the document said. About a year out from the major meeting, national representatives, scientists and international experts gathered this week in San Jose for two days of discussions to prepare for the conference. "The ocean can no longer endure our mistreatment and indifference. That is why we in Costa Rica have decided that it is time for us to declare peace," said Costa Rican Foreign Minister Arnoldo Andre Tinoco during the event. United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Social Affairs Li Junhua also said at the start of the "Immersed in Change" meeting that protecting the ocean was "not an option but an imperative." The peace declaration includes a call for twelve "Ocean Actions," notably the implementation of several ocean-related international accords agreed to last year. Those include a landmark high seas treaty that allows for the creation of marine protected areas outside of countries' exclusive economic zones. The treaty was adopted after more than 15 years of discussions to extend environmental protections to international waters which make up more than 60 percent of the world's oceans. In the last year, many American Express Company (NYSE:AXP) insiders sold a substantial stake in the company which may have sparked shareholders' attention. Knowing whether insiders are buying is usually more helpful when evaluating insider transactions, as insider selling can have various explanations. However, when multiple insiders sell stock over a specific duration, shareholders should take notice as that could possibly be a red flag. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, logic dictates you should pay some attention to whether insiders are buying or selling shares. View our latest analysis for American Express American Express Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single sale by an insider was when the Chairman & CEO, Stephen Squeri, sold US$15m worth of shares at a price of US$214 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to take some cash off the table, even below the current price of US$233. When an insider sells below the current price, it suggests that they considered that lower price to be fair. That makes us wonder what they think of the (higher) recent valuation. While insider selling is not a positive sign, we can't be sure if it does mean insiders think the shares are fully valued, so it's only a weak sign. It is worth noting that this sale was only 23% of Stephen Squeri's holding. Over the last year we saw more insider selling of American Express shares, than buying. You can see the insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year depicted in the chart below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! For those who like to find hidden gems this free list of small cap companies with recent insider purchasing, could be just the ticket. Insiders At American Express Have Sold Stock Recently The last three months saw significant insider selling at American Express. In total, insiders dumped US$12m worth of shares in that time, and we didn't record any purchases whatsoever. This may suggest that some insiders think that the shares are not cheap. Insider Ownership Of American Express Looking at the total insider shareholdings in a company can help to inform your view of whether they are well aligned with common shareholders. I reckon it's a good sign if insiders own a significant number of shares in the company. American Express insiders own about US$211m worth of shares (which is 0.1% of the company). This kind of significant ownership by insiders does generally increase the chance that the company is run in the interest of all shareholders. Story continues So What Does This Data Suggest About American Express Insiders? Insiders haven't bought American Express stock in the last three months, but there was some selling. Zooming out, the longer term picture doesn't give us much comfort. But since American Express is profitable and growing, we're not too worried by this. The company boasts high insider ownership, but we're a little hesitant, given the history of share sales. So while it's helpful to know what insiders are doing in terms of buying or selling, it's also helpful to know the risks that a particular company is facing. While conducting our analysis, we found that American Express has 1 warning sign and it would be unwise to ignore this. Of course American Express may not be the best stock to buy. So you may wish to see this free collection of high quality companies. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions of direct interests only, but not derivative transactions or indirect interests. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Louisiana Inspired New crop of Swiss Guards prepares to serve the pope through hard work and listening Swiss Guards may not have to go to battle for the pope, but they engage in spiritual war to help hopefuls coming to the Vatican. At last, the source of our economic problems has been revealed. Our economy is badly misshapen, making it unlike all the other rich economies. Did you realise that our manufacturing sector is the smallest among all the rich countries? Worse, our mining sectors almost five times as big as the average for all the advanced economies and our agriculture sectors twice the normal size. Our mining sector is almost five times as big as the average for all the advanced economies. Credit: Bloomberg Do you realise what an ugly freak this must make us look to all the other rich people in the world? Were like the millionaire who made his pile as a rag and bone man with a horse and cart. Yuck. Its something about which we should be deeply ashamed and very worried, apparently. Its good to be the King. Along with seeing your face on money, having a June public holiday for your November birthday in Australia and setting off a Mexican wave of bows and curtsies every time you enter a room, people finally look past the ears and see you as a style superstar. Since his coronation in May last year the reputation of King Charles as a fashion influencer has picked up speed. Charles, the king of fashion, at his May coronation last year. Credit: Getty Charles is an icon with an innate sense of style, says Jeremy Hershan, founder of Haulier and winner of the National Designer of the Year award. He wears tailoring particularly well and is always at ease in his clothes. Hershan had the opportunity to witness Charles discerning eye first-hand while working on Saville Row for esteemed British tailors Gieves & Hawkes, which has held a royal warrant since 1809. The NSW government will spend $274 million to staff so-called ghost hospitals impressive buildings delivered by the former Coalition government but which Labor says were never allocated enough doctors and nurses to properly service them. The states health system is under increasing pressure. More people are staying in hospital for longer while emergency department wait times are blowing out as some patients attempt to dodge the cost of going to the GP by heading straight to hospital with minor ailments. Health Minister Ryan Park meets heart attack survivor Tim Gorton at Liverpool Hospital on Sunday. Credit: Dean Sewell An extra 250 healthcare workers will be deployed in hospitals in the next 12 months under the funding package, part of the June 18 state budget. The recently upgraded Prince of Wales hospital in Randwick is set to receive an extra 70 staff to support the new emergency department, intensive care unit and broader expansion of the hospital. An underground train station would be built next to Marvel Stadium in Docklands and two more in Fishermans Bend as part of long-awaited plans for mass transit to the fledging precinct. The state government has revived hopes that stalled plans for major public transport links to Fishermans Bend may eventually be delivered by confirming a preferred route for a new cross-city rail line, dubbed Melbourne Metro 2. The state government has outlined plans for a station below Bourke Street in Docklands. Credit: Wayne Taylor Fishermans Bend is the countrys largest urban renewal area and is forecast to be home to 80,000 residents, 80,000 workers and 20,000 students by 2050. But a failure to deliver promised tram or train connections has delayed housing and commercial developments. The Department of Transport and Planning said in an update published online at the weekend that it had endorsed a preferred route for a possible rail tunnel below Bourke Street in Docklands with a station between Wurundjeri Way and Harbour Esplanade, next to Marvel Stadium. The conviction of Robert Farquharson for the murder of his three sons on Fathers Day 2005 is being questioned in the media, with doubts raised about the reliability of prosecutions medical, traffic reconstruction and sinking vehicle evidence. This case has echoes of Henry Keogh, David Eastman and Lindy Chamberlain. Their murder convictions were overturned when scientific and medical testimony from their trials was eventually found to be unreliable. Kathleen Folbiggs convictions were quashed in the Court of Criminal Appeal in 2023. Credit: Kate Geraghty The handling of expert opinion evidence by Australian courts is in a crisis. Curiously, our courts appear oblivious. They use forensic science evidence without regard for the best scientific advice. Australian courts ignore criteria recommended by peak scientific organisations such as the United States National Academy of Sciences and the Australian Academy of Science. The chief executive of the AAS, Anna-Maria Arabia, has warned that our courts are susceptible to junk science. Why is this happening, and what can we do? Peter Costello has stepped down as chairman of Nine Entertainment Co in a move his replacement says will allow the company to focus on rebuilding its culture after weeks of corporate instability culminated in allegations Costello shoved a reporter to the ground at Canberra Airport. The Nine board convened on Friday and again on Sunday as Costello came under scrutiny over video published by The Australian on Thursday night that showed him appearing to drop his shoulder into News Corp reporter Liam Mendes. Peter Costello has stepped down as chairman of Nine Entertainment Co after weeks of instability at the media company. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In a statement emailed to staff late on Sunday afternoon, Nine chief executive Mike Sneesby thanked Costello, who has denied shoving the journalist, for his contribution to the company for more than a decade. As the announcement makes clear, [Costello] has played an important role in the big Nine milestones over that time a period marked by dramatic digital transformation for the media industry and our company, Sneesby said. American Software (NASDAQ:AMSW.A) Full Year 2024 Results Key Financial Results Revenue: US$102.5m (down 17% from FY 2023). Net income: US$9.69m (down 7.0% from FY 2023). Profit margin: 9.5% (up from 8.4% in FY 2023). The increase in margin was driven by lower expenses. EPS: US$0.29 (down from US$0.31 in FY 2023). All figures shown in the chart above are for the trailing 12 month (TTM) period American Software EPS Beats Expectations Revenue was in line with analyst estimates. Earnings per share (EPS) surpassed analyst estimates by 34%. Looking ahead, revenue is forecast to grow 3.7% p.a. on average during the next 2 years, compared to a 13% growth forecast for the Software industry in the US. Performance of the American Software industry. The company's shares are down 10% from a week ago. Risk Analysis You should learn about the 2 warning signs we've spotted with American Software (including 1 which is a bit concerning). 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. Teal independents have accused Peter Dutton of putting the countrys economic and environmental future at risk by abandoning the Paris Agreement, while sharpening their pre-election attack lines on the Liberal Party as it seeks to win back wealthy seats in the capital cities. Independents Allegra Spender, Monique Ryan and Zoe Daniel said Duttons decision to ditch Australias 2030 targets to cut emissions by 43 per cent while promising to achieve net zero by 2050 would push investment out of the country to nations that recognised the environmental risks. Independent MPs Allegra Spender (left), Monique Ryan (back) and Zoe Daniel, and Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. Credit: Marija Ercegovac Dutton told The Australian newspaper on Saturday that he would take a radically different energy policy to the next election, with a focus on natural gas in the short term with a longer-term commitment to nuclear power. Theres no sense in signing up to targets you dont have any prospect of achieving, he said, in reference to the governments 2030 target. The bronze sculpture Non-Violence is displayed outside UN headquarters in New York. Made by Swedish artist Carl Reutersward in 1980 after the killing of John Lennon, who he knew, it was later bought by the government of Luxembourg which gifted it to the UN. Credit: Getty Images, digitally altered What is the point of a United Nations resolution? What power does the UN have to enter a conflict like this? What is its role these days? Yet, despite these speeches, rulings and stern admonitions, the war continues unabated: no permanent ceasefire, no mass release of hostages, and ongoing problems delivering aid. Indeed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to fight until the flag of victory is raised. In April, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned of an existential crisis . The Middle East is on a precipice, he said. One miscalculation, one miscommunication, one mistake, could lead to the unthinkable: a full-scale regional conflict that would be devastating for all involved and for the rest of the world. In May, the UNs International Court of Justice ruled Israel must immediately halt military action in the Rafah Governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part. In March, the UN Security Council the body with the jurisdiction to deploy military peacekeepers passed a resolution demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, the release of hostages and urgent humanitarian assistance for civilians. Finally, the Security Council is shouldering its responsibility, said the UNs delegate for Algeria. This bloodbath has continued for far too long. Its not the first time the UN, with its $5.4 billion annual budget and 37,000-odd employees, has been accused of sitting on its hands while a catastrophe unfolds. But recent events, not only in Gaza but in Ukraine and the increasingly lawless Caribbean nation of Haiti, have once again raised questions about its capabilities and relevance. After a deadly Israeli strike on a refugee camp in the Gazan city of Rafah on May 26, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan had some choice words for the organisation supposed to be the worlds peacekeeper. I am calling out to the United Nations, he said. What do you even do What are all those giant buildings for? Why bother spending that much money or employing that many people? He concluded, somewhat dramatically: The UN, along with its spirit, has died in Gaza. It was not particularly successful (exhibit A: World War II). At its peak, only 58 nations were members and, critically, the US never joined. Its structure was tortuous: important decisions required levels of unanimous agreement that were sometimes impossible to attain. A key philosophy called collective security required states to go to war at a moments notice to quash aggression, which proved unworkable in practice, such as when appeasement-era Britain chose to overlook Germanys occupation of its neighbouring territories in the 1930s. Roosevelts brainwave aside, the UN did not come out of the blue. A similarly internationalist organisation called the League of Nations had already existed since the end of WWI, charged with maintaining peace through disarmament, negotiation and arbitration, and ensuring there was never another global conflagration. More talks follow and on June 26, 1945, 50 founding members sign the Charter of the United Nations and Statute of the International Court of Justice . The UN and its legal offsider are formally born. Today, it has grown to represent 193 member states. The only countries that arent members are typically those with disputed or unclear status as independent nations, such as Vatican City and Kosovo. Roosevelts brainwave aside, the UN did not come out of the blue the League of Nations had already existed since the end of WWI. It was not particularly successful (exhibit A: World War II). A few days later, on New Years Day 1942, some 26 of the countries then at war with the Axis powers, including the US, Britain, China and the Soviet Union, agree to the establishment of a wider and permanent system of general security in a document that becomes known as the Declaration by United Nations . Its December 1941. The Japanese have bombed Pearl Harbour, bringing the United States into what is now a global conflict. British prime minister Winston Churchill has sailed across the Atlantic on the battleship Duke of York, risking attack by German U-boat, to meet president Franklin Roosevelt. Now a guest at the White House , Churchill has just stepped out of the bath and is towelling down when Roosevelt bursts into his bedroom. The president says hes had an idea that cant wait: a name for a global cooperative of countries allied against evil the United Nations. Churchill, reportedly as naked and pink as a cherub , replies: Good. Then there are its numerous agencies, which include the International Monetary Fund, UNESCO (which, among other things, confers World Heritage Site status), the World Health Organisation and the World Bank, and countless associated deliverers of education, development, famine relief and welfare programs. Today, the UN is a vast apparatus headed by six key bodies, five of which, including the General Assembly and the UN Secretariat, are based at the iconic UN headquarters on the banks of New Yorks East River (what Turkeys Erdogan calls those giant buildings). It was mainly set up to address international conflict, Charles Hunt, a senior fellow at the United Nations University, tells us from New York. Conventional warfare on a battlefield between two states over territory, and questions around disarmament. They were the big issues of the day. Its adapted quite a lot over the years, building up its human rights architecture, co-ordination of humanitarian assistance and the sustainable development agenda, as well as the extensive infrastructure around those. Its also increasingly sought to respond to conflict within states or civil wars in the post-Cold War era. The nascent United Nations offered a chance to reboot the whole idea with the same basic goals but more effective mechanisms. Its founding document runs to many pages but boils down to these key principles: saving future generations from the scourge of war; ensuring equal rights for all people and nations large and small; practising tolerance; maintaining and respecting international law; and employing international machinery for the promotion of the economic and social advancement of all peoples. Yet, the Leagues ideals were sound, Churchill observed in 1946. It failed because those principles were deserted by those states which brought it into being because the governments of those states feared to face the facts and act while time remained. Often, the failures get highlighted rather than the successes, says Lisa Sharland, defence policy adviser at the permanent mission of Australia to the UN from 2009 to 2014 and now a director at the Stimson Centre, a think tank in Washington DC. I think there are very high expectations for the UN. Sometimes those expectations need to be measured in terms of what it can do, and the fact that a lot relies on countries to invest in and support it. Its an outmoded structure, and theres a lot of talk about Security Council reform, but its a bit like asking the turkeys to vote for Christmas. Toothless and bogged down in diplomatic posturing it may sometimes appear; yet, says Hunt, it remains perhaps the only place where great powers those in decline, those rising, whoever it may be can still meet to discuss the major crises facing the world. The UN is not a world super-government. It does not have a standing army (its blue-helmeted peacekeepers have to be rustled up from member states as required) and has only rarely intervened in an ongoing conflict without the permission of the combatants ( its campaign in the Korean War being a notable exception ). Everything it does depends on the will of nations to agree on a course of action and to supply funding and personnel for subsequent UN missions. Australia, for example, has a history of deploying troops in their thousands to hotspots but presently has just a few dozen in the field. Of greatest relevance to us today are the three bodies most empowered to intervene in conflict: the General Assembly (composed of the hundreds of national representatives who meet in a vast hall), the Security Council (five permanent and 10 temporary members) and the UNs legal arm, the International Court of Justice, headquartered in The Hague in the Netherlands (and not be confused with the International Criminal Court, or ICC, a different body that can prosecute individuals for international crimes including genocide). Meanwhile, the General Assembly and the Security Council elect judges to the International Court of Justice, the only world body charged with adjudicating legal disputes between nations. UN members are bound to accept its rulings, but and its a big but the court has no mechanism to enforce rulings in the event they are disputed or simply ignored. When great power interests are at play, says Hunt, the Council structure means that it will be gridlocked. Its an outmoded structure, and theres a lot of talk about Security Council reform, but its a bit like asking the turkeys to vote for Christmas. The veto provision can seem needlessly crippling but it has also been considered a necessary evil, ensuring rival superpowers have continued to show up to the negotiating table, even during the Cold War. In the Security Council, the body responsible for maintaining peace and deploying peacekeepers, all 15 members can vote on resolutions but, critically, each of the five permanent members (France, Russia, China, the US and the UK; a legacy of World War II) also has the power to veto any substantive resolution. (The United Nations originally recognised Chiang Kai-sheks Kuomintang government as Chinas legitimate leadership, even after it departed the mainland to Taiwan in 1949. In 1971, the UN voted to recognise the Peoples Republic of China, then led by Mao Zedong, instead.) Its decisions are made by discussion, resolutions and voting. In the General Assembly, each nation gets one equal vote. Leaders can make speeches, usually limited to 15 minutes, although Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi memorably hijacked the podium in 1990 for over an hour and a half. He complained about being jet-lagged, tore up a copy of the UN charter, demanded $12 trillion compensation for colonialism in Africa, suggested swine flu had been grown in a military laboratory as a weapon and called for an inquiry into the assassination of John F. Kennedy. (His was by no means the record; Cuban leader Fidel Castro spoke for four-and-a-half hours in 1960.) What has the UN done about Gaza and Ukraine? The UN has a long history in Palestine. In 1947, it recommended that Mandatory Palestine (a former Ottoman territory then managed by the British) be divided into Arab and Jewish states, with international status given to the city of Jerusalem. Palestinians and neighbouring Arab countries did not agree with the plan, which led to the Arab-Israeli war of 1948 and a major dislocation of between 700,000 and 800,000 Palestinian refugees, many of whom ended up in the Gaza Strip, a wedge of land between Egypt, Israel and the Mediterranean Sea. Numerous resolutions followed over the years as the UN attempted to improve the refugees plight, which only worsened following the Six-Day War of 1967 when Israel occupied the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula up to the east bank of the Suez Canal. Loading In 1975, the UN founded an organisation pledged to the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian People that was charged with helping them return to their homes and property from which they had been displaced. The 1980s and beyond saw multiple UN resolutions concerning living conditions and human rights of the Palestinian people, including in 1989 an expression of profound shock over the Israeli killing of Palestinian civilians in the militarily occupied West Bank village of Nahalin. There needs to be this willingness to strike a peace agreement amongst the parties in order for peacekeeping to play its role. Since the war in Gaza, following the October 7 attacks by Hamas on Israeli civilians and military, the UNs Guterres has made several demands for a ceasefire. He has condemned bloodshed on both sides, called for the release of hostages and described relief that has reached refugees as a drop of aid in an ocean of need. The UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) has been attempting to provide essential services in Gaza amid what it has called increasing challenges, particularly in the border city of Rafah, where it says conditions are unspeakable. In May, the UNs General Assembly recognised Palestine as an observer state and urged the Security Council to consider recommending its admission as a full UN member. What the UN has not done, though, is to send peacekeeping troops into Gaza to stop the fighting, as some nations have demanded. Such a mission would be only very, very, very hypothetical, UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix said in May. He said several criteria would have to be met first: a ceasefire, an agreement from combatants to accept UN troops as referees, and a resolution to act from the UN Security Council. The term peacekeeping is quite important here, says Charles Hunt, who is also professor of global security at RMIT. Theres all sorts of different types of UN operations that are called peacekeeping or peace operations. But the fundamental premise for them is that there is a peace agreement in place or a ceasefire struck, and what is required is a security guarantee so that the parties could de-escalate, stand down and allow the political space for agreement. There needs to be this willingness to strike a peace agreement amongst the parties in order for peacekeeping to play its role. Australian UN peacekeepers during a flag-lowering ceremony ending Australias police officer contribution to the UN Cyprus mission in 2017. Credit: AP, digitally tinted The UN has had some success, notably in Cyprus, where peacekeepers including, until 2021, a contingent from Australia have kept a lid on simmering tensions between Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities since 1964. It maintains a large presence in several African nations, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, where it has deployed some 14,000 military personnel to, among other things, protect civilians displaced by civil conflict and support the beleaguered government. But it is also clearly wary of rushing headlong into new conflicts. I would say very bluntly that there are good reasons to be hesitant, former UN peacekeeping boss Jean-Marie Guehenno told the Financial Times in 2008 after the organisation had limited success experimenting with more forceful peacekeeping missions in some parts of Africa. Theres an overemphasis on what force can achieve. The fundamental error is to think of UN forces as if they were the world police, he said. The danger is that you do something, and then if you go into a failure, you compromise an instrument that could make a real difference in other places. And so you havent helped, really, those you meant to help, but you have done a disservice to all those where peacekeeping could make a real difference. The UN has made the prevention of mass atrocities a priority in recent decades, says Josie Hornung, a PhD researcher with the Asia Pacific Centre for the Responsibility to Protect at the University of Queensland. A huge amount of work has been done on early warning and structural prevention, she says. But it hasnt really translated into early action or any sort of consistent response when atrocity is imminent or ongoing. The 1994 Rwandan massacre the genocide of hundreds of thousands of ethnic Tutsis by their Hutu countrymen happened under the UNs nose: critics say it ignored warning signs. The UN subsequently accepted it was too slow to raise an adequate peacekeeping force to intervene. A year later, in Bosnia, Serbian forces swept into what was supposed to be a UN-protected enclave in Srebrenica and massacred some 8000 Muslim men. It was a real reckoning moment for the UN, says Hunt. Displaced people watch a UN helicopter land with the Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean Pierre Lacroix in eastern Congo in 2022. Credit: AP, digitally altered Somalia, 1993, started out as an aid operation but escalated into military action when the US dispatched its troops to assist with UN famine relief. A local warlord objected, shooting down two Black Hawk helicopters and killing 18 US soldiers (later chronicled in the hyperactive Ridley Scott movie Black Hawk Down). President Bill Clinton pulled the plug on the operation four days later and subsequently severely restricted the criteria under which US forces could be deployed in future UN-associated operations. The UN has certainly trodden carefully over the current unrest in Haiti, whose police force has been overrun and outgunned by organised gangs. UN agencies have attempted to supply aid, including drinking water, and in 2023, approved deploying a force of peacekeepers to be led by 1000 Kenyan police officers. Nine months later, they have yet to arrive. Confusion over who might supply medevac helicopters is one factor, CNN has reported. In general, says Hornung, It still remains very difficult to get states to respond to crises in which they dont have a vested interest in the outcome. Any calls for specific action would always hit the brick wall of the Security Council veto. Then theres that (infamous) Security Council veto: getting the US, Israels chief supporter, to back such an action in Gaza would be unlikely. Primarily, the US would veto it in defence of its ally [Israel], says Hunt. But its not clear that the rest of the council would think that was a good idea either. Its not entirely clear what that would achieve in the longer term. The US vetoed UN Security Council resolutions calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza three times before itself presenting a resolution calling for an immediate and sustained ceasefire in Gaza ... which Russia and China then vetoed possibly because they didnt want to support the US. Eventually, a much-tweaked resolution calling for a ceasefire for the month of Ramadan and the immediate release of hostages did pass the council on March 25, after the US abstained from voting (a diplomatic tool that can be used to support a resolutions passage without being seen to actually support it). Nothing happened. Then, in early June, the Security Council passed another, more substantive, resolution supporting a staged ceasefire plan drafted by the US. It called for an immediate ceasefire, a swap of hostages and prisoners and, once that had happened successfully, the eventual reconstruction of Gazas destroyed buildings and infrastructure. The task then remained, however, to get both warring sides around the negotiating table and to agree to terms. Volodymyr Zelensky implores the Security Council to take steps to halt Russias war against Ukraine. Credit: Fairfax Meanwhile, in 2023, the UN hosted Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, who travelled to New York to address its member nations, imploring them to ensure that aggression against your state, if it happens, God forbid, will end not because your land will be divided, and you will be forced to submit to military or political pressure, but because your territory and sovereignty will be fully restored. Yet any calls for specific action would always hit the brick wall of the Security Council veto. Indeed, in September 2022, Russia had already blocked a UN call for it to immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from Ukrainian territory. In one of the more bizarre episodes in UN history, Russia also took the extraordinary step of inviting former Pink Floyd frontman Roger Waters to address the Security Council in February 2023, following his controversial claim that Russias invasion of Ukraine had been provoked. Waters appeared on a large screen, accompanied by his dog, repeated his claims that provocateurs were responsible for the conflict and, in what was probably a surprise to the Russian delegate, called for an immediate ceasefire. The Ukrainian ambassador called Waters speech another brick in the wall of Russian disinformation. South Africa delegates are among those present in a courtroom at the International Court of Justice at The Hague in May. Credit: Getty Images, digitally altered What about the International Court of Justice ruling? In May, the UNs international court made a ruling that was widely seen as an order for Israel to halt its military assault on Rafah. This was part of a still-ongoing case, brought by South Africa under the Genocide Convention, concerning alleged violations by Israel (which it denies) of its obligations in relation to Palestinians in the Gaza Strip. (South Africas African National Congress party has a long history of solidarity with the Palestinian cause. Any UN member state can bring a case against any other, says the UN, when the common interest of the international community is at stake.) Israel argued it was already in compliance with the ruling, whose precise meaning was scrutinised by legal experts. The country has not and will not conduct a campaign that would destroy the Palestinian people in Gaza, said an Israeli spokesperson. Hunt says rulings like the ICJs can turn up diplomatic pressure and lead to reputational damage. And it may be that states like the US who provide military aid and weaponry to Israel may have to change their stance. In general, notes Hornung, ICJ rulings are binding but if theyre not complied with, they then go back to the UN Security Council, but that can be vetoed. Yet, she says, its rulings are not without moral force. Legitimacy is really important here. States want to be seen to be doing the right thing. Not only just to be seen to be good, but because it can affect future co-operation with other states. Loading Lisa Sharland agrees. That theres no enforcement measures is not the only measure of relevance. Theres been a lot of media coverage of decisions made by the ICJ, which has drawn attention to the issues, whats been taking place in Gaza and Rafah recently. That there isnt necessarily the ability to enforce the rules doesnt mean that the rules themselves dont have some power in terms of the messaging that they send. This is a major challenge in international law, says Sharland. It largely relies on custom, the idea that different measures of compliance are reciprocated, that you have that compliance in place, but it is largely voluntary. Indeed, it is easy to characterise the UN as stymied by diplomatic bureaucracy, at least in terms of its role as international peacekeeper. But, as is often asked, whats the alternative? You cannot cure everything, former UN special envoy Staffan de Mistura told The Economist in 2020. Some diseases are difficult but would you abandon the patient? You try to reduce the pain until the treatment is found. This Explainer has been updated to reflect events since its original publication. Get fascinating insights and explanations on the worlds most perplexing topics. Sign up for our weekly Explainer newsletter. CWC asks Rahul to take on LoP mantle in LS NEW DELHI, THE Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday unanimously urged Rahul Gandhi to take on the mantle of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha to which he told the partys top brass that he will take a decision on it very soon. At a meeting of the CWC, the partys highest decision-making body, chaired by Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and attended by Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, among others, the partys Lok Sabha polls showing was hailed but it was also decided that separate committees would be set up in states where the performance was not good or below expectations, to take corrective measures. Kharge said the Lok Sabha poll mandate is a decisive rejection of the politics of divisiveness and hate, and stressed that the I.N.D.I.A. bloc must continue functioning cohesively both inside and outside Parliament. Two resolutions were unanimously passed by the CWC, including one requesting Rahul Gandhi to assume the position of the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. Asked if had agreed to take on the position, Congress general secretary K C Venugopal said Gandhi took note of the sentiments of the CWC members and told them that he would take a decision on it very soon. In the other resolution, the CWC congratulated the people for voting so powerfully to preserve democracy, protect the Constitution and enhance social and economic justice. They have decisively rejected both the substance and style of governance over the past decade. The verdict of the people is not just a political loss but a personal and moral defeat for the Prime Minister who sought the mandate in his name and ran a campaign anchored in lies, hate, prejudice, divisiveness and extreme bigotry, the resolution alleged. The verdict of the people is clearly against the undermining of democracy and democratic institutions that has taken place since 2014, it said. In his opening remarks at the meeting, Kharge asserted that while celebrating its revival, the party should pause a little as it did not perform to its abilities and expectations in some states. Further, we could not repeat our performance in states where we had previously done well in Vidhan Sabha elections and formed the government, he said. Separate discussions on each such state will be held soon, the Congress chief said. We have to take urgent remedial measures. These are states which have traditionally favoured the Congress, where we have opportunities which we have to harness not for our own advantage but for the benefit of our people. This exercise I propose to hold very soon, he said. Kharge further said whether the party is in power or not, its work continues amongst people 24 hours, 365 days, and raise their issues. Fadnavis claims fake narrative was fourth Oppn party in polls Staff Reporter Days after he offered to resign taking responsibility for the BJPs poor performance in the Lok Sabha elections in Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Minister on Saturday said, I was not running away but the responsibility of the results lies on me. I shall now continue to work. In a meeting of State BJP legislators, held at Mumbai, the resolution was passed reposing faith in him and seeking that he continue as party leader. Fadnavis also said,I fight back when cornered on all sides. We can rise again with force. This is what we learnt from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. I met Amit Shah (in Delhi) who asked me to continue, and I will do that. We have a strategy. I have already started work for the assembly elections which are due this year. The rumour that the BJP intended to change the Constitution hurt the ruling alliance of BJP, Shiv Sena and NCP, Fadnavis claimed. Fake narrative was the fourth (Opposition) party in addition to the 3-party Maha Vikas Aghadi. We realised it after the fourth phase, Fadnavis said. Fake narratives have a long life. PM Modi has decided to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Constitution, Fadnavis added. While the Mahayuti won 17 of 48 seats in Maharashtra, the MVA of the Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP (SP) and Congress won 30.There was talk of sympathy for Uddhav Thackeray, but his party was banished from Thane and Konkan where it lost all seats, he pointed out. In Mumbai, Marathi-speaking voters did not support Thackeray. His party won because of the votes of a particular community, Fadnavis further said, adding that Sena (UBT) had a narrow lead in Marathi-dominated Assembly segments of Worli, Shivdi, Vikhroli and Bhandup. The BJPs vote share did not decline compared to 2019, and lost 11 constituencies by less than five per cent votes, he noted. He urged allies CM Eknath Shinde and Dy CM Ajit Pawar that party spokespersons should exercise caution while speaking. Americans are searching for more affordable living these are the top 5 states they abandoned in 2023 Americans are moving all across the country in a bid to find affordable, lower-density metro areas, according to the 47th annual National Movers Study from United Van Lines. According to 2023 state-to-state migration patterns, Vermont, South Carolina, Arkansas, Rhode Island and Washington, DC were some of the states that saw a surge in popularity. In fact, for the third consecutive year, Vermont received more inbound residents than any other state. Don't miss Cost-of-living in America is still out of control use these 3 'real assets' to protect your wealth today, no matter what the US Fed does or says Car insurance rates have spiked in the US to a stunning $2,150/year but you can be smarter than that. Here's how you can save yourself as much as $820 annually in minutes (it's 100% free) These 5 magic money moves will boost you up America's net worth ladder in 2024 and you can complete each step within minutes. Here's how When it came to desirable locations for those entering their retirement years, Florida, Delaware, South Carolina, Maine and New Mexico came out on top which is no surprise given that most offer tax benefits for retirees, according to another United Van Lines report. But what about the states that people started to abandon in the last 12 months the Midwest and West region of the U.S. where an outbound moving trend has been gaining traction? Here are the five states Americans are leaving behind. 1. New Jersey For the sixth consecutive year, New Jersey topped the list of U.S. states that residents abandoned. Sixty-five percent of New Jersey moves last year were outbound, with retirement (27%) cited as the main reason, followed by moving closer to family (21.4%) and work transfers (16.4%). Although only 4.5% of respondents cited cost of living as their main reason for moving, it was still likely a contributing factor in the decision to pack up and leave. Why? Because New Jersey isnt cheap. According to U.S. News data, its ranked 48th in affordability, taking into consideration both the cost of living and housing affordability. It also has the sixth-highest state and local tax burden in the country. In a recent Monmouth poll, roughly half of New Jersey residents said they wanted to leave the state, citing the high cost of living as a key factor. Its possible that taxes are also a significant component since 74% of those who left reported making more than $100,000 annually. 2. Illinois In a survey conducted for the Illinois Policy Institute, 51% of residents said they wanted to leave the state. Story continues The main reason? Taxes. Illinois has the seventh-highest state and local tax burden in the U.S. Despite wanting to escape high taxes, people who left Illinois did it for a variety of reasons, including new job opportunities (26.1%), retirement (21.4%) or to be closer to family (19.7%). Read more: Thanks to Jeff Bezos, you can now use $100 to cash in on prime real estate without the headache of being a landlord. Here's how 3. North Dakota The state saw the third-highest number of outbound moves last year, many of whom (50%) decamped due to a new job or work transfer. Although North Dakota is ranked eighth for overall affordability, its a sparsely populated state with only 11.3 people per square mile, making job opportunities a struggle for certain industries. Retirement was another popular reason for leaving no doubt North Dakotas cold winters didnt help matters while the third most common reason was a desire to be closer to family. 4. New York New York State saw the fourth-largest outbound migration in 2023. Of those surveyed, the reasons cited were to be closer to family (24.8%), retirement (21.9%) and work transfers (19.3%). The 2024 Marist Poll of New York State residents found the cost of living is not very affordable (48%) or not affordable at all (33%). New York also has the highest state and local tax burden in the U.S. and is ranked 45th in affordability by U.S. News. The outflow of people is expected to continue, as the Marist Poll also found that 37% of New Yorkers plan to leave the state within the next five years, with about two in five residents (41%) citing cost of living as the main reason. 5. Michigan Michigan lost the fifth-highest number of people last year despite the fact it has the fifth-lowest tax burden in the country and is close to the median in affordability (22nd). So, why are so many residents leaving? The most common reason was for a new job or work transfer (30.5%). Thats due in part to Michigans brain drain. Each year, the state loses thousands of post-graduate students, many from knowledge economy fields. What to read next This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. GAIL plans big-ticket investment in State By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) is making a big-ticket investment of Rs 50,000 crore to set up a green-field 1.5 million tonnes per annum (MTPA) ethane cracking unit in Sehore district of the State. Chief Minister Mohan Yadav informed here on Saturday that the project of the public sector giant would soon come out of the drawing board. The State Government, he said, would extend all possible support to the project. The project according to Yadav would generate employment at least 15,000 persons and another 5,600 would get the job during the completion of the project. The company has demanded an area of 900 ha of land. The Chief Minister said that a large parcel of the land is already available and if needed, private land would also be acquired. The Government, according to the Chief Minister, has already identified land in Bager, Bapcha, Donia, Bavra, Khandaurpur and Arniya Daud villages for a total of 779 ha to be made available for the proposed ambitious project. The project also involves a township to be developed on 70 ha of land. The company, the chief minister said, has sought various financial and non-financial facilities. The project is likely to come into shape for production by 2030-31. The Chief Minister also spoke about the much-awaited Ken-Betwa river linking project and said it is also progressing. Speaking about water conservation efforts, the chief minister said the government has started a driver named as Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan under which the government would make appeal and invite people to come forward and extend support in improving the water bodies and other related structures across various Panchayat. The drive also includes a massive tree plantation drive at river banks, revival of the tributaries of the main artery Narmada. Also, the Chief Minister said that the Government would make a massive public drive to test waters obtained from various drinking water sources like wells and ponds in villages. Heavy rains likely in Maharashtra, Ktaka NEW DELHI, HEAVY to very heavy rainfall is likely over Maharashtra, coastal and northern Karnataka during the next five days while a fresh spell of heat wave conditions is likely to commence over North-West India from June 9, according to an IMD forecast issued on Saturday. Heat wave conditions are likely to continue over parts of East and East-Central India, Uttar Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh during the next five days, the IMD said. The weather bulletin also said that the Southwest monsoon on Saturday advanced into some more parts of Central Arabian Sea, southern Maharashtra, Telangana, and some parts of southern Chhattisgarh, southern Odisha, and coastal Andhra Pradesh. Conditions are favourable for further advance of Southwest monsoon into the remaining parts of Central Arabian Sea, some more parts of Maharashtra (including Mumbai), and Telangana during the next 2-3 days, the IMD forecast said. Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (40-50 kmph) are likely over Konkan and Goa, central Maharashtra, Marathwada, Karnataka, Kerala and Lakshadweep, while isolated light to moderate rainfall is likely over coastal Andhra Pradesh, Rayalaseema, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry during the next five days. Fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rainfall accompanied by thunderstorms, lightning and gusty winds (30-40 kmph) are likely over Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura, and sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim during the next seven days. Isolated heavy rainfall is very likely over sub-Himalayan West Bengal and Sikkim from June 8-12, the IMD said. Meanwhile, with the Southwest monsoon continuing to dump rains in Kerala, the IMD on Saturday issued an orange alert in five districts of the State predicting very heavy rains there. The southern district of Pathanamthitta and northern districts of Kozhikode Wayanad, Kannur and Kasaragod were placed under the orange alert for the day, according to the latest IMD update. The weather agency also issued a yellow alert for eight districts of the state, warning of heavy rains in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam, Idukki, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Malappuram. A red alert indicates heavy to extremely heavy rain of over 20 cm in 24 hours, while an orange alert means very heavy rain of 11 cm to 20 cm, and a yellow alert means heavy rainfall between 6 cm and 11 cm. As heavy rains pose potential hazards, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has advised people to be vigilant. Meanwhile, the shutters of Aruvikkara Dam in Thiruvananthapuram were raised by 25 cm on Saturday morning, district authorities said. The shutters may be raised further in the coming hours and those living in the area should exercise caution, they added. Indias Plan To Deal With Beijing By Girish Linganna INDIA has initiated a retaliatory effort against Chinas renaming of locations in Indias Arunachal Pradesh state. The Indian Government intends to rename over two dozen places in Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region as a response. According to The Diplomat, a media organisation, they have obtained a comprehensive list of the places that will be renamed in Chinas Tibet Autonomous Region. Indian military sources have provided this list, and it is anticipated that the official release will take place once the new Government assumes power in Delhi, following the formation of the new Government. Starting on June 9, Modi will serve his third term as Prime Minister with a smaller majority, necessitating reliance on coalition partners for governing. However, this reduced political space is unlikely to significantly affect foreign policy, as there is broad support across multiple political parties for Modis objective of enhancing Indias global influence and power. New Delhi suspects that Chinas renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh is an attempt to bolster Beijings territorial claim on this large province in north-eastern India, which China refers to as Zangnan or southern Tibet. This move is seen as an effort to assert control over the region and consolidate Chinas influence. According to The Diplomat, the Indian Armys information warfare division is believed to be responsible for the renaming of Tibetan places in Arunachal Pradesh. Additionally, with the support of renowned research institutes such as the Asiatic Society in Kolkata, the Indian Army has been actively disproving the legitimacy of the Chinese names by conducting thorough research. Their efforts aim to counter Chinas narrative and provide accurate information regarding the region. Under its logo, the Indian Army has shared detailed tweets that challenge Chinas renaming of seven places in Arunachal Pradesh. Furthermore, they are actively working to counter the renaming of all the other 30 or so places that the Chinese Government has renamed. The tweets aim to provide accurate information and refute Chinas attempts to assert control over these regions. Indias military has recently compiled a list of over 30 places in Tibet that are set to be renamed. The objective behind this is to reclaim their ancient names in Indian languages, which are derived from historical records. This initiative aims to restore and recognise the historical significance of these places based on authentic sources. According to sources, this list of renamed places in Tibet will soon be made public through various media platforms. This is part of a larger global campaign aimed at presenting a compelling counter-narrative to Chinas claims on Indias Arunachal Pradesh state and other disputed border regions. The intention is to showcase Indias perspective and challenge Chinas assertions by providing alternative viewpoints and historical evidence. Military officials, who wished to remain anonymous, have stated that the new names given to these places are supported by thorough historical research. This signifies that considerable efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of the chosen names. According to an Ex IB officer, if India proceeds with the renaming campaign, it would essentially reopen the issue of Tibet. Although India has recognised Tibet as part of China following its forcible occupation by Beijing, the current Modi Government shows a willingness to change its stance in order to counter Chinas aggressive actions. This shift in approach reflects Indias efforts to challenge Chinas territorial claims and renaming initiatives, as reported by The Diplomat. In recent weeks, the Indian Army has arranged numerous media trips to the contested border regions. During these visits, journalists were given the opportunity to interact with local residents who strongly dispute Chinas claims and assert that their allegiance has always been to India. These efforts aim to showcase the perspective of the locals and highlight their unwavering support for Indias sovereignty over these areas. An officer involved in the campaign, who preferred to remain anonymous, stated that the primary objective is to promote Indias counter-narrative regarding the disputed border. This would be achieved by leveraging regional and global media platforms and emphasising both comprehensive historical research and the opinions of local residents. The aim is to establish a strong and credible narrative that supports Indias perspective on the border issue. In an apparent attempt to reinforce its territorial claim over Arunachal Pradesh, China renamed 30 locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Indias north-eastern State in March. The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, responsible for naming administrative divisions, issued a list of standardised geographical names in Arunachal Pradesh, known as Zangnan in Beijings terminology. This move by China was reported by the South China Morning Post, a Hong Kong-based newspaper. Chinas renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh comprises a list that consists of 11 residential areas, 12 mountains, four rivers, one lake, one mountain pass, and a parcel of land. These new names are recorded in Chinese characters, Tibetan language, and pinyin, which is the Roman alphabet-based representation of Mandarin Chinese. Quoting the Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs, the South China Morning Post reported that the renaming of geographical names in Zangnan (Arunachal Pradesh) was carried out in accordance with regulations defined by Chinas cabinet, the State Council. The ministry, in collaboration with other relevant departments, stated that they standardised certain geographical names in the region based on these provisions. Chinas decision to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh is not new, as this marks the fourth instance of such a unilateral action by Beijing. India has consistently dismissed Chinas attempts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, affirming that the State is an intrinsic component of the nation. India maintains that the act of assigning invented names does not change the underlying reality of Arunachal Pradeshs status as an integral part of the country. n response to Chinas latest round of efforts to assert its claims on Arunachal Pradesh, Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the region in March 2024. During his visit, he inaugurated the Sela Tunnel constructed at an elevation of 13,000 feet. Addressing Chinas persistent claims on Arunachal Pradesh, Indias External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar described them as ludicrous on March 23. He emphasised that the State was an inherent and natural part of India, firmly rejecting Chinas assertions. Regarding the issue of Arunachal Pradesh, Indias EAM responded that it is not a new matter. He highlighted that Chinas claims and attempts to expand those claims are baseless and continue to be deemed as ludicrous. He made these remarks while addressing a question on the Arunachal issue during a lecture at the esteemed Institute of South Asian Studies at the National University of Singapore. The minister emphasised Indias steadfast position regarding the regions status. In addition, the External Affairs Minister reiterated Indias clear and unwavering stance on the matter, noting that it has remained consistent over time. He acknowledged that the issue of Arunachal Pradesh would be an integral part of the ongoing boundary discussions between the two countries. This statement reflects Indias commitment to address the matter within the context of bilateral dialogues. (IPA) Loading today: Modi 3.0 NEW DELHI, PRIME Minister-designate Narendra Modi is set to take oath on Sunday for a third straight term, equalling the feat of first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, as the head of a coalition Government after two full tenures in which the BJP enjoyed a majority on its own. The Government has announced that leaders of several neighbouring countries, including from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan, Maldives and Mauritius, will be attending the swearing-in ceremony slated to take place at 7:15 PM on Sunday at Rashtrapati Bhawan. Hectic parleys involving BJP leadership and allies were on over the share of berths of different constituents of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the new Government. Senior BJP leaders such as Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh besides party President J P Nadda have been consulting the allies, including Telugu Desam Partys N Chandrababu Naidu, JD(U)s Nitish Kumar and Shiv Senas Eknath Shinde, to finalise their share of representation in the Government. There is a view that heavyweight portfolios like Home, Finance, Defence and External Affairs besides Education and Culture, two Ministries with strong ideological hues, will be kept by the BJP, while its allies can get anywhere between five to eight Cabinet berths. While leaders like Shah and Singh are seen within the party as a certainty in the new Cabinet, former Chief Ministers who have won the Lok Sabha polls like Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Basavaraj Bommai, Manohar Lal Khattar and Sarbananda Sonowal are strong contenders for joining the Government. Ram Mohan Naidu of the TDP, Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha and Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U), and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are among the allies who may be a part of the new Government, sources said, adding that either Singh or Jha will be accommodated from the JD(U) quota. Maharashtra, where the BJP-Shiv Sena-NCP alliance has fared poorly, and Bihar, where the Opposition has shown signs of revival, may be in the focus during the Government-formation exercise. Assembly polls are due in the western State in October, while polls will be held in Bihar next year. Impending changes within the BJPs organisation will also be on the mind of its brain trust in finalising the names of Ministers from the party. Naddas term was extended due to the Lok Sabha polls, and organisational imperatives will be an important consideration for the party as the poll results have sent signals that all may not be well within its vast machinery. This opens the possibility of some seasoned hand being sent to the party and Nadda being given a berth in the Government, the sources said. The desertion by a section of voters, especially from the Scheduled Castes and other deprived sections of society, may also be a guiding factor in Government formation even though Modi had made a point to increase their relative representation in his outgoing term. Nehru is the only Prime Minister who held the post after three consecutive elections after Independence. The BJP is keen to send out a message of continuity and ward off any impression of political vulnerability following its surprising below-par show in the Lok Sabha polls as its seat tally fell to 240 from 303, considerably short of the majority mark of 272. Man assaults Danish PM; to appear in pre-trial custody hearing COPENHAGEN, A MAN who reportedly assaulted the Danish Prime Minister in central Copenhagen will appear in a pre-trial custody hearing on Saturday, authorities said. Police confirmed there has been an incident with Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Friday and that a 39-year-old man was arrested. They didnt provide further details and it wasnt clear if Frederiksen was hurt. The man is expected to arrive at 1100 GMT at the Copenhagen District Court in Frederiksberg, a municipality enclave within the Danish capital. The Prime Ministers office told the Danish state broadcaster DR on Friday that Frederiksen was shocked by what happened. Two eyewitnesses, Anna Ravn and Marie Adrian, told the daily BT that they saw a man walking toward Frederiksen and then pushing her hard on the shoulder so she was shoved aside. They stressed that the Premier did not fall down. Another witness, Kasper Jorgensen, told the Ekstra Bladet tabloid that a well-dressed man, who seemed part of Frederiksens protection unit, and a police officer took down the alleged assailant. Soren Kjaeargaard who was working at a local bar on Kultorvet Square where the incident happened told the BT that he saw Frederiksen after the incident and she had no visible injuries to her face but walked away quickly. Politicians in the Scandinavian country and abroad condemned the reported assault. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said that an attack on a democratically elected leader is also an attack on our democracy, while Charles Michel, President of the European Council, condemned on X what he called a cowardly act of aggression. European Union parliamentary elections are currently underway in Denmark and the rest of the 27-nation bloc and will conclude on Sunday. Frederiksen has been campaigning with the Social Democrats EU lead candidate, Christel Schaldemose. Media reports said the attack was not linked to a campaign event. Violence against politicians has become a theme in the run-up to the EU elections. In May, a candidate from Germany's centre-Left Social Democrats was beaten and seriously injured while campaigning for a seat in the European Parliament. In Slovakia, the election campaign was overshadowed by an attempt to assassinate populist Prime Minister Robert Fico on May 15, sending shockwaves through the nation of 5.4 million and reverberating throughout Europe. Frederiksen, 46, is the leader of the Social Democratic Party and has been Denmarks PM since 2019. Pvt schools reopening with 20% to 30% fee hike, no action from authority yet Staff Reporter Despite various notifications and complaints, private schools in Bhopal are rigid to introduce the fee hike on every academic session, giving nightmare to the parents. Apart from fee hike, parents are also pressurised to purchase the books, copies, uniforms and study material from particular shop at higher price. In order to put a tab on arbitrary of private schools, Madhya Pradesh Fee Regulation Act was introduced in January 2018. School Education Department every year issues notification for three to four times in newspaper. But on ground level, there is not action taken against the schools yet. Parents are paying extra bucks to continue the studies of their ward in prestigious schools as they have no other option. Earlier, in December 2023, notices were issued by the School Education Department and district administration to take action in this regards. Again in March, 2024, hue and cry was there to tighten the noose around private schools. There were also raid on some book shops to check the real status. Collector team also found the arbitrary of book sellers and schools with syllabus books of particular school at each shop. But at last, no result was seen to the parents. Now, schools are set to reopen their campus after summer vacation and everything seems to be same like previous year. School fees have been revised with 20 to 30 per cent hike and parents have purchased books, copies, uniform at higher price from particular shops. Sources said that there were complaints against 86 schools at the district education office by the parents but notices were sent to only 12 schools. Parents complained at the District Education Office that private CBSE schools have already a fixed parameter to increase their school fee by 20 to 30 per cent annually. At the same time, booksellers have also introduced the hike, giving tough time to the parents. Apart from books, skyrocketing price of notebooks, stationery and other study material is giving a hit to the pocket of parents. Price of books by private publisher has been raised by 20 to 40 per cent while NCERT books are still being sold for the old price. Parents said that when paper cost has been increased then how NCERT books are available for the same price in market? Talking about the books from private publisher, District Education Officer Anjani Kumar Tripathi said, Schools are suggested to allow only NCERT books for primary and middle class on mandatory basis. Further notices will be sent to the schools in this regards to follow the guidelines strictly. For the new session 2024-25, we have already identified the defaulters and further process is continue to tighten the noose. Schools have been told to inform at office before introducing fee hike. Soon campaign will begin to tighten the noose of private schools and bring transparency. One of the parents, Rose Dante of private missionary school said, We have received notice from school that this year to 205 fee hike is there. The schools gave it in written that if anyone having objection with the fee hike, they can take transfer certificate of their ward. I have already filed many complaints but no action was taken. Now I am paying the fee without any complaint because I want my child to study in the prestigious school. Two police outposts, 70 houses torched in Manipurs Jiribam IMPHAL, TENSIONS heightened in Manipurs Jiribam district on Saturday after suspected militants torched two police outposts, a forest office and at least 70 houses, prompting the authorities to transfer the superintendent of police, officials said. A contingent of more than 70 state police commandos was airlifted from Imphal to Jiribam to assist security personnel in their operations against militants, they said. Meanwhile, around 239 Meitei people, mostly women and children, were evacuated from peripheral areas of Jiribam on Friday, and moved to a newly set up relief camp at a multi-sports complex in the district, the officials said. According to a senior officer, suspected militants torched more than 70 houses in Lamtai Khunou, Dibong Khunou, Nunkhal and Begra villages. He said the villagers vacated their residences and took shelter in a relief camp. The SPs transfer order was issued hours after police outposts of Jiri Mukh and Choto Bekra and the Goakhal forest beat office were set on fire this morning, the officer said. The State Government transferred Jiribam SP A Ghanashyam Sharma to the post of additional director of the Manipur Police Training College, according to an order issued by the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms. M Pradip Singh, who was serving as the additional director of the police training college, will take charge as the senior superintendent of police of Jiribam district. Unidentified man kills infant, attacks couple at Damoh Station Our Correspondent DAMOH, In a spine-chilling incident, an unidentified man attacked a couple and killed their two-and-half-month-old infant at Damoh Railway Station in the early hours of Saturday. The mother was giving him water at the station while her husband was talking on the phone. Meanwhile, a man in a black kurta and saffron dhoti reached there. Before the parents could understand anything, he started beating the child. The childs father Lekh Ram Adivasi said, I was coming from Delhi to my home Madiado by Gondwana Express with my family. In Damoh, the childs health deteriorated. So I thought to get him treated in Damoh. I was giving him water at the station. Then I called my younger brother to tell him that we are getting the child admitted. Meanwhile, a man came and slapped the child three-four times. He also hit his wife. When I went to rescue them, I was also beaten. When I picked up a brick, he ran away. I told the policemen standing nearby that Sir, he is killing my child. The accused was right in front of them. He started abusing me and said that the child has died, take him home. GRP Post In-charge ASI, Mahesh Kori said that in the morning, Lekh Ram Adivasi (21) alighted from Gondwana Express with his wife and child. He was giving him water at the main gate. The child was already ill. A person came and scuffled with him, due to which the child died. Kori said, trains come and go at Damoh station 24 hours a day. Police are available all the time. Due to shortage of force, a constable was on duty. He was attending the train on platform number two, at that time the incident happened. CCTV footage has been checked. In which a person wearing a black kurta and saffron dhoti is being searched. On the question of abusing family members when they asked for help, GRP Outpost In-charge said that interrogation is on. He has been called for immediate action. CCTV footage is being checked thoroughly. Apart from this, CCTVs of the city area are also being scanned. Action is being taken after taking statement from the complainant. SP Shrutkirti Somvanshi has spoken to Sagar SP. There is a possibility of the accused reaching Sagar. Kotwali TI, Anand Singh said, police are continuously tracing the accused. The accused was seen coming out of the railway station in the CCTV footage. The Railway Police had sought help from the district police. The accused was seen near Bansa Tarkheda village on Damoh-Sagar road. VANDE BHARAT TRAIN Assistant Loco Pilot invited to PM Modis swearing in ceremony Staff Reporter In a remarkable recognition of dedication and service, Assistant Loco Pilot of Vande Bharat train Sneh Singh Baghel, representing the South East Central Railways (SECR), has received an invitation to attend Prime Minister Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony in New Delhi scheduled on Sunday. Chief Public Relations Officer (CPRO) Vikas Kumar Kashyap, in a press release stated, the invitation extended to Assistant Loco Pilot Sneh Singh Baghel to partake in the esteemed ceremony not only acknowledges his personal achievements but also shines a spotlight on the dedication and professionalism of SECR staff. SECR and the entire railway fraternity extend heartfelt congratulations to Baghel, while expressing gratitude to all SECR employees for their tireless efforts in delivering exemplary service to passengers, including aboard the Vande Bharat train, which has emerged as the epitome of modern train travel. Kashyap also stated, the Vande Bharat train, operated by SECR, has gained acclamation for its seamless connectivity between Bilaspur and Nagpur. Featuring semi-high-speed capabilities and world-class amenities akin to airline standards, including automatic door closures, sensor-based taps, and fully air-conditioned interiors, the Vande Bharat train has set a benchmark for modern railway transportation, he added. Trucks leave the Georgia Ports Authority Garden City Terminal on Friday, May 10 ,2024.l Editor's note: This story has been updated to show education and healthcare combine to be the largest job-providing sector in the Savannah metro area. A previous version of the story misstated the size of each sector. The Savannah metro economy continued "healthy growth" to start the year, bolstered by "broad-based" strength across its many sectors, according to the most recent Coastal Empire Economic Monitor by Georgia Southern University. Residential, commercial and industrial sectors all showed growth in Q1 of this year, leading to a full 1% more growth than the previous quarter. The Savannah area's continued growth came amid a slowdown in the U.S. economy. The Coastal Empire is able to show resilience during unfavorable national trends due to consistent growth in logistics led by the Port of Savannah, and growth in manufacturing led by hirings at Gulfstream and Hyundai's Metaplant in Bryan County, said Michael Toma, the Fuller E. Callaway Professor of Economics at Georgia Southern University. "We have distinguishing features of our regional economy that are more highlighted on a regional basis than they would be on a national level," Toma said. The Q1 Economic Monitor also showed a boost in its forecasting index, meaning the outlook for the rest of the year is positive. The expected strength showed in the index was due to stabilized volatility in the regional housing market and continued strength in the labor market. This year's first few months continued trends from the end of last year related to the region's unemployment rate, which continues to hover around 3%. The unemployment rate has been stable despite increased claims in unemployment insurance, indicating workers are quickly being pulled back into new jobs, Toma said. "Our labor market remains healthy. It's a very tight labor market that we have with the unemployment rate still at historically low levels," Toma said. Another element of the "broad-based" strength in Q1 was gains in consumer spending. Retail sales increased in the Savannah area despite costs of food, gas and apparel all increasing nationwide this year, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Regional spending remains strong primarily due to population growth, development and increased spending by visitors, Toma said. "Spending that we're seeing is reflecting both (population growth), and increased expenditures by visitors or tourists in our regional economy," Toma said. "I think their spending level on a per-visitor basis is among the highest its ever been." Story continues The largest growing sectors so far this year have been professional services and hospitality. The professional services industry added 500 jobs, while leisure and hospitality added 400. Manufacturing added 100 jobs. Education and healthcare (combined) remain the top job-providing sector with 29,000 workers, according to the monitor. Tourism comes in a close second with 28,000 employed. The manufacturing sector currently sits at 22,400 employed. Toma said he expects growth in the sector to continue for three to five years given the region is "creating an automobile manufacturing ecosystem from scratch." The point is not only a nod to Hyundai's Metaplant, which is expected to come online late this year, but also its host of suppliers flocking to the region as well. "I think those factors are really important," Toma said. Evan Lasseter is the city and county government reporter for the Savannah Morning News. You can reach him at ELasseter@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Savannah economy showed "healthy growth" in Q1 amid a national slowdown If this is the summer to finally sell your house, Archway Homes may be able to help. This hometown real estate company, owned by husband and wife team Jon and Stacy Bichelmeyer, has more than 20 years of experience buying homes in all conditions and does it quickly without the often painful and stressful selling process. They buy houses as is in any condition: houses needing little to no repair, houses needing everything repaired from leaking roofs to bad foundations, cluttered houses, or those simply in need of cosmetic updating. Archway provides a no-obligation offer within 24 hours, can pay cash and close within three days or on a future date of the sellers choice, and there are no fees or commissions to pay. One of the advantages of working with us is selling as is, said Jon. That means you dont have to do any extensive and expensive renovations to make your home appeal to todays buyers or have it ready to show at a moments notice, wait for the right buyer, wait for it to close, and then pay a real estate agents commission or sellers closing costs. We personally purchase every house. A third-generation real estate investor with roots in the Kansas City community for over 40 years, Jons extensive experience really makes a difference. The ability to sell a house quickly, in lieu of the traditional, lengthy home selling method, to an established and reputable company has been the perfect solution for numerous homeowners all over the Kansas City area, including Claudia L., who recently sold a house in Old Olathe to Archway. I was ready to sell my 1935 house. It had some foundation issues, and needed more work than I was able to do. I had talked with some other companies that buy houses direct, but just did not have a good feeling about them. I contacted Archway after seeing an ad and could tell they were different - just nice, normal people, she said. All things considered, I felt they offered a fair price. It was a nice benefit that I could take what I wanted and leave the rest. They were very helpful, not high pressure, and worked around my schedule. It all was pretty painless, really. I would definitely recommend Archway to others. Archway has purchased homes in all sorts of situations. Sometimes the properties need extensive repairs. Archway Homes will buy the home and make the needed repairs, relieving the sellers of the hassle and expense. Sellers can even leave the unwanted contents, saving time and expense. We are committed to working with sellers, even in difficult situations, to find a solution for all, Stacy said. Story continues They strive to make the difficult process of selling a home as stress-free as possible, especially in these challenging times. We even wrote the book on it. Literally! Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro outlines the steps homeowners can take to sell their home and our experiences helping people do just that, Jon said. Weve seen some great times; we lived through the real estate crash in 2008-2010 and the extraordinary volatility in the Covid-era market the last few years and have come through the other side. We plan to keep working with sellers no matter what the market is doing, said Jon. I know people are being cautious and careful, so we, too, are respectful of our sellers needs to make sure they feel comfortable. Archway Homes features a no-obligation offer process. The first step is to call the office at 913-599-5000 to schedule an appointment. Jon will then walk through the home and can provide an offer price within 24 hours. Archway Homes can pay cash and close in as fast as three days. However, some sellers need the opposite approach, needing a delayed closing several months away. They may need time to find their next home, or they are building a home and need time for it to be completed. Coordinating closing schedules in a traditional sale can be challenging. Archway Homes sets a closing date that will meet the sellers needs. Anyone who wants to sell a home quickly for cash should call Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or email him at jon@archwayhomesinc.com. Or they can visit Archway Homes website at archwaypropertieskc.com to fill out an online form or to get a free copy of our book Home to Home Local Edition Kansas City Metro, Kansas and Missouri, call our office. Archway Homes Location: 15301 W. 87th St. Parkway, Suite B35 in the UMB Bank building Contact: Jon Bichelmeyer at 913-599-5000 or jon@archwayhomesinc.com Website: archwaypropertieskc.com Donald Trump made a splash this past week in Silicon Valley, signaling he wants to compete for the Bay Areas deep pockets. But President Biden isnt going to give those donors up without a fight. A review of campaign finance records, including Bidens top individual contributors so far this campaign season, shows that the president is still very much in the fight for Big Tech cash in 2024. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman sits atop Biden's list with more than $9 million in donations to the president and outside groups supporting Biden, according to data compiled by campaign finance trackers at OpenSecrets. Hoffman has given millions more to groups supporting Democratic congressional candidates. President Joe Biden gestures before departing on May 9 for a West Coast swing that saw him raising campaign cash in San Francisco and Seattle. (MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty Images) (MANDEL NGAN via Getty Images) He even posted an essay about his support for Biden Thursday, just as Trump headed to San Francisco for a highly anticipated fundraiser that appears to have put about $12 million in the former presidents coffers. The Hoffman essay was a rebuttal of sorts to the inroads Trump has made among tech executives and Wall Street more generally, with an argument that Trumps behavior and his disregard for the rule of law would be bad for business. "Unfortunately, many American business leaders have recently developed a kind of myopia, miscalculating what politics, and which political leaders, will truly support their long-term success," Hoffman wrote. He is hardly the only one on the West Coast with those views. Eight of Bidens top 20 supporters so far this campaign have direct ties to Silicon Valley. Those figures range from Sequoia Capital's Michael Moritz, with $7.3 million in donations so far, to former Facebook (META) COO Sheryl Sandberg, who has given more than half a million. The list grows when Biden's big supporters in Hollywood are included. DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg and actor Seth MacFarlane have given more than $1 million each, according to the records. The totals could already be significantly higher, with campaign finance records running on a delay because of disclosure requirements. Much of the data compiled in recent days is through April, with some updates not expected for weeks or months given the varying disclosure rules. And many billionaire gifts to both candidates will, of course, never be known, with certain groups able to accept so-called dark money that isn't disclosed. Dueling trips to the valley The race for Big Techs cash played out during recent twin trips by Biden and Trump to the area. President Biden arrives in Air Force One at Moffett Federal Airfield in Mountain View, Calif. on May 9. (Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images) (Anadolu via Getty Images) Biden visited Silicon Valley in early May. He first traveled to the Portola Valley home of Vinod Khosla, the billionaire co-founder of Sun Microsystems, to raise cash. Story continues Then came another fundraising stop in Palo Alto alongside Marissa Mayer, the former CEO of Yahoo, and Jennifer Siebel Newsom, the wife of Californias governor. During those remarks, Biden said the two women were "emblematic of how America is changing." Biden then immediately flew to Seattle to vacuum up more Big Tech dollars at the home of Jon Shirley, the former president of Microsoft (MSFT), who is also an art collector. "Welcome to the Seattle art museum," Biden joked as he began his remarks. Brad Smith, current vice chair and president at Microsoft, was also in attendance. Trumps Silicon Valley stop this week also resulted in tech billionaires opening their checkbooks. Thursdays event was co-hosted by investor David O. Sacks and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya. Prominent members of the crypto community were notably in attendance as well. Sacks also posted an essay formally endorsing Trump and reiterated his reasons for getting behind the former president. Messari CEO Ryan Selkis, one of the attendees, thanked Sacks in a social media post afterward for "making it feel safer for tech leaders to support President Trump this year." A Trump supporter wearing a mask waved a flag as former President Donald Trump arrived for a fundraising event in San Francisco on June 6. (JOSH EDELSON/AFP via Getty Images) (JOSH EDELSON via Getty Images) A money race that is tightening overall Biden has enjoyed a fundraising edge in 2024 but has seen his advantage diminish in recent months as Republicans consolidate behind Trump following his primary season victory. Donald Trump's overall operation both the campaign and outside groups said it raised nearly $300 million in May by leveraging a surge of support among small-dollar donors on top of his strength with billionaires. According to OpenSecrets, almost 69% of Trump's funds have come from large contributions, with small individual contributions of less than $200 making up most of the remainder. Biden's ratio is only slightly more even, with about 54% coming from large contributors and 46% from those smaller checks. Biden hasnt yet released his fundraising totals for May, but the most recent data available showed his campaign had more than $84 million on hand through the end of April. His overall operation, including outside SuperPACs, has millions more stowed away for the coming campaign. Ben Werschkul is Washington correspondent for Yahoo Finance. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance In this article, we will be taking a look at the biggest Asian car company by sales. If you want to see our extensive list, you can check out the 15 Biggest Asian Car Companies by Sales. Global Automotive Market: Growth Trends and Projections (2023-2030) The global passenger car market was valued at around $1.66 trillion in 2022, with an expected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.1% from 2023 to 2030, reaching $2.67 trillion by 2030. The United States is one of the largest automotive markets globally. In 2023, around 15.5 million new light vehicles were sold in the US. Additionally, the used car market in the US is substantial, with an estimated 40 million used vehicles sold annually. Regarding vehicle ownership, nearly 92% of households in the US owned at least one vehicle in 2022, with an average of 1.9 vehicles per household. The United States is one of the largest automotive markets in the world. As of 2022, there were approximately 278,870,463 vehicles registered in the US. The global automotive industry was severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, with sales plummeting in 2020. However, the market has shown signs of recovery. In 2023, global new car sales grew by almost 10% after remaining stable in 2022. The US car market experienced robust growth, with sales increasing by over 14% in 2023. Chinas car market stalled in the first three quarters of 2023 but still grew by 4.5% for the full year. Global car sales are projected to grow at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 2.7% between 2023 and 2030, reaching 88.3 million annual vehicle shipments by 2030. In 2024, global car sales are expected to reach around 76.1 million units. Talking about vehicles, the electric vehicle market is also prospering with the global sales of electric vehicles projected to reach $951.9 billion by 2030, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.7%, from a value of $388.1 billion in 2023, according to a report by Markets and Markets. Biggest Players in the Automotive Industry When it comes to the automotive industry, companies like Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA), Toyota, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC), Mercedez, and Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F), among others. Teslas most significant contribution has been its role in popularizing electric vehicles (EVs) on a global scale. Through its Gigafactories, Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) has made significant advancements in lithium-ion battery production, increasing energy density and reducing costs. In Q1 2024, Their revenue was $21.3 billion, a 9% decrease year-over-year, missing estimates of $22.34 billion. Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA)'s automotive revenue declined 13% year-over-year to $17.38 billion due to lower vehicle deliveries and pricing adjustments. Similarly, Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) is one of the worlds largest and most influential automotive companies. In the 2024 election cycle, the company and its employees contributed $273,497 to political campaigns, with individuals accounting for 100% of the contributions. Additionally, Ford spent $1,420,354 on lobbying efforts in 2024, demonstrating its active engagement in shaping policies that impact the automotive sector. In 2022, the Ford Motor Company (NYSE:F) Fund donated $10,000 to charities chosen by the honorees, further amplifying the companys philanthropic impact. In Q1 2024, their revenue was $42.8 billion, up 3% year-over-year despite slightly lower vehicle shipments. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC) also never fails to impress us with its amazing contributions to the automotive industry. The company currently operates 9 manufacturing plants in the United States, producing a diverse range of Honda and Acura automobiles, engines, transmissions, power equipment, and Powersports products. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (NYSE:HMC) is making efforts to establish a global BEV (Battery Electric Vehicle) production system, to achieve 100% EV and FCV (Fuel Cell Vehicle) sales by 2040. In Q1 2024 operating profit grew 172.2 billion yen year-over-year to 394.4 billion yen, a quarterly record with an 8.5% operating margin. The Biggest Asian Car Company by Sale An overhead view of a factory floor, teeming with robotic arms assembling cars. Our Methodology For our methodology, we have ranked the biggest Asian car companies by sales based on the total vehicles these brands sold in 2023. The Biggest Asian Car Company by Sale 1. Toyota Total Units Sold in 2023: 11,230,000 Toyota tops our list of the biggest Asian car companies by sales. Toyota's most popular vehicles include the Toyota Camry, Toyota Corolla, Toyota RAV4, and Toyota RAV4 which is Toyota's best-selling model in many markets. Toyota's operating income for Q1 FY2024 was 542.2 billion yen, an increase of 52.2 billion yen compared to Q1 FY2023. Toyota is the most sold sold car brand in Asia. Toyota's automotive sales revenues increased by 22.0% to 41,266.2 billion yen and Toyota's capital expenditures were 1,313.7 billion yen in Q1 2024. Moreover, Toyota is forecasting sales revenues of 46,000.0 billion yen for FY2025, an increase of 2.0% compared to FY2024. If you want to find out which other car companies are referred as the biggest, head straight to our full list on 15 Biggest Asian Car Companies by Sales. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the biggest car manufacturers to investment implications; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: 25 Richest Billionaires in Automotive Industry & 25 Largest Automotive Companies and Suppliers in the World. Disclosure, None: The 15 Biggest Asian Car Companies by Sales is originally published on Insider Monkey. BSA Health System: First in West Texas to use new da Vinci 5 for robotic surgery BSA Health System recently announced the successful completion of the first surgeries in West Texas using the state-of-the-art da Vinci 5 robotic assisted surgical system. As the only hospital in West Texas to acquire and perform procedures with this advanced technology, BSA said it is setting a new standard for exceptional healthcare services in the Texas Panhandle. We are thrilled to be the first health system in West Texas to utilize the new da Vinci 5, said Jerome Brooks, Chief Operating Officer at BSA Health System. This cutting-edge technology underscores our commitment to delivering the highest quality of care to our community. Sam Kirkendall, MD, General Surgeon at BSA Amarillo Surgical Group, uses the new da Vinci 5 robotic assisted surgical system. The da Vinci 5 is designed to enhance surgeon precision and improve patient outcomes. Featuring over 150 new enhancements, this advanced surgical system includes a next-generation 3D display and cutting-edge image processing, allowing surgeons to see and feel more during minimally invasive procedures. The new surgeon controllers provide smoother, more precise movements. Patients benefit from shorter hospital stays, reduced blood loss, a lower risk of infection and minimal scarring. This level of technology ensures that patients in our community can receive care locally, eliminating the need to travel far from home. Sam Kirkendall, MD, General Surgeon at BSA Amarillo Surgical Group, stands with his surgical team. This system represents a significant leap forward in robotic surgery, said Sam Kirkendall, MD, General Surgeon at BSA Amarillo Surgical Group. It is an honor and an exciting opportunity to be the first surgeon at BSA to use the da Vinci 5. This advanced technology allows us to provide our patients with the highest level of care, ensuring better outcomes and faster recoveries. For more information about the da Vinci 5 robotic surgical system and its impact on surgical care at BSA Health System, visit bsahs.org/robotics. Lemonade Day and Kendra Scott team up for a promotion June 12 at select Texas stores. Lemonade Day, Kendra Scott join forces for promotion June 12 Lemonade Day and Kendra Scott are joining forces to celebrate youth entrepreneurship and the launch of the jewelry company's Fruit Novelty Necklace Collection on Wednesday, June 12 from 5 to 7 p.m. at 19 Texas area Kendra Scott locations, including Amarillo at 7701 I-40 W No. 624 at the Westgate Mall. Other locations include various stores in Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Fort Worth, Killeen, Houston, McAllen and San Antonio. Lemonade Day youth across Texas will set up their stands in Kendra Scott stores across Texas, joining in the excitement of Kendra Scott's newest collection that aligns with Lemonade Day's mission of teaching business, entrepreneurship and financial skills to young people. The fruit novelty collection will consist of six styles, including three necklaces, two earring styles and a bracelet. The favorite style for Lemonade Day supporters, the lemon pendant necklace will retail for $55. Story continues In addition to the launch event, supporters can further contribute to Lemonade Day's mission by using the code GIVEBACK-LEMONADE from June 12 to 14 when making purchases online or in-store at Kendra Scott. By using this code, 20% of the proceeds will be donated to Lemonade Day. For more information about Lemonade Day and upcoming events, visit https://lemonadeday.org/ Special Olympics Kickball Tournament supported by local restaurants On Saturday, June 15, Special Olympics athletes from across the region will compete in a kickball tournament, sponsored by local restaurants who joined forces to support the cause. All-day fundraisers next week at four different restaurants in Amarillo will raise money for Special Olympics Texas. Fundraisers will be held on Monday, June 10 at Nothing Bundt Cakes, 2303 S. Georgia; Tuesday at Belmar Bakery, 3325 Bell St.; Wednesday at Spicy Mikes BBQ, 6723 S. Western St.; and Thursday at Bubbas 33, 2813 W. I-40. The kickball tournament takes place Saturday, June 15, from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at the Southeast Complex, 4301 S. Osage St. The charitable arm of Xcel Energy gave a $20,000 grant to WTs College of Engineering, and funds reduced the cost for area students to attend in WTs Engineering and Computing Camp (June 3-7) and provided additional program funding for the camp, which offers classes for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Xcel Energy grant providing cost breaks, more for WT engineering campers CANYON A gift to West Texas A&M University from the Xcel Energy Foundation is helping area schoolchildren explore new horizons. The company's charity foundation gave a $20,000 grant to WTs College of Engineering, officials announced recently. A portion of the funds reduced the cost for area students to attend in WTs Engineering and Computing Camp June 3-7 and provided additional program funding for the camp, which offers classes for students from kindergarten through 12th grade. Ten incoming freshmen for the fall attended the camp, and many students in WTs PreUniversity Program were campers, as well. The Xcel Energy Foundation is excited to be a part of how West Texas A&M University encourages and provides a unique experience for young people to learn and have hands-on opportunities with STEM, said Stephanie Pena, Xcels manager of social investments. Many campers were nominated by their teachers in surrounding schools, said Dr. Emily Hunt, dean of the College of Engineering. And their lessons go beyond the basics of welding. We firmly believe in the importance of introducing the concept of social responsibility through engineering and computing, Hunt said. As these fields converge with the rise of artificial intelligence, its crucial for young minds to consider the long-term impacts of their designs on people and the environment. The camp serves as a significant reminder to the faculty and staff of the College of Engineering about our impact on future generations. The grant also will fund new equipment for WTs electrical engineering labs, including multiphase meters, dual DC power supplies, an oscilloscope and more. Dr. Stephanie Hart is the new director of West Texas A&M Universitys Center for Learning Disabilities. Dr. Stephanie Hart named to lead WTs Center for Learning Disabilities CANYON A longtime teacher of children with special needs has been selected as the new director of West Texas A&M Universitys Center for Learning Disabilities. Dr. Stephanie Hart, who joined WTs Terry B. Rogers College of Education and Social Sciences in 2022, was named to the position in May. The Center has a long history of serving parents and teachers of children with special needs, Hart said. It has always been important to me in my career to be able to help parents and teachers learn how to support these students, and I am excited to be even more involved with the outreach and research we do at the Center. With her appointment as director, Hart also will be named WTs Lanna Hatton Professor of Learning Disabilities. The Center for Learning Disabilities was established to meet the needs of students with learning disabilities and their parents, as well as assisting teachers in understanding disabilities and possible strategies to help students cope and learn in the classroom. It was designated a Center of Excellence by The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents in 2013. Hart currently teaches in WTs educator preparation and educational diagnostician programs, including courses in behavior management, low incidence disabilities, collaboration, adolescents, and foundations of special education. She also has served on the CLDs planning committee and advisory board. Hart steps into positions previously held by Dr. Michelle Simmons, who will remain on the faculty. Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch online course now registering, begins Aug. 19 The Generation Next: Our Turn to Ranch 12-week online course is open for registration. The program, offered by the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, takes place Aug. 19-Nov. 20. The course fee is $300, and online registration is required at https://tx.ag/GenNext. The course includes expert instruction on everything from starting a new agriculture business or enterprise to tax implications and insurance needs to developing grazing or wildlife leases. Across Texas, were seeing individuals who may or may not have experience in agriculture or natural resource management inheriting or purchasing agricultural lands, said Megan Clayton, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension range specialist and professor in the Department of Rangeland, Wildlife and Fisheries Management, Uvalde. The Generation Next curriculum is specifically designed to empower these landowners with the knowledge and resources needed to start a new agricultural operation, improve an existing one or manage the land to meet their specific stewardship goals. Participants can expect to spend roughly two hours per week on the lessons and activities and can participate at their convenience. Enrollees will learn from experts regarding land management techniques and resources, alternative ranching operations, ecotourism opportunities, insurance and tax considerations, direct marketing and more. Upon course completion, receive a Generation Next certificate and T-shirt. Since beginning in 2019, the online program has reached 744 landowners. For more information, contact Clayton at 830-988-6123 or Megan.Clayton@ag.tamu.edu. Center for Women Entrepreneurs launches virtual training program for startups DENTON The Jane Nelson Institute for Womens Leaderships Center for Women Entrepreneurs (CWE) at Texas Womans University has launched a virtual training program to help early-stage entrepreneurs get their businesses up and running. The CWE will begin accepting applications for the CWE Virtual Accelerator starting June 11. The training program will work through the KauffmanFastTrac curriculum, which aims to lower barriers to entrepreneurship by providing practical learning materials, delivered online through teaching partners, including The Center for Women Entrepreneurs. To learn more about the Kauffman Foundation, visit www.kauffman.org. In addition, businesses wishing to apply for the virtual accelerator program must submit a completed online application by June 24. The training program starts on July 11. For more information and to apply, visit https://twu.edu/center-women-entrepreneurs/virtual-accelerator/ . Technical Solutions launches program to backup Microsoft 365 for local businesses Technical Solutions, a managed technology services provider, has announced the launch of a comprehensive program designed to backup Microsoft 365 and safeguard data for small to mid-sized businesses (SMBs). Gene Wells, President of Technical Solutions stated, "Many companies are outsourcing the backup of their data to Microsoft, assuming that their information is secure. However, this approach leaves them vulnerable, as organizations have limited access to recover data immediately in the event of a data loss incident. With our program, businesses can rest assured knowing that their data is backed up securely and that we have access to facilitate data restoration when needed. With the increasing reliance on cloud-based solutions like Microsoft 365 for storing business data, Technical Solutions recognized the importance of taking proactive measures to secure this valuable information. Unlike other backup solutions that charge based on data usage, Technical Solutions offers a cost-effective, flat-rate pricing model, guaranteeing data retention, as well as unlimited storage for seven years. For more information on Technical Solutions, call (806) 352-1309 or visit www.askts.com. 2024 Spaceport America Cup Set for June 17-22 LAS CRUCES, NM Spaceport America and the Experimental Sounding Rocket Association (ESRA) have announced the 2024 Spaceport America Cup. Presented by lead supporter OnShape (a PTC company), the latest edition of the worlds largest intercollegiate rocketry competition is set to take place June 17-22 in Southern New Mexico. The Spaceport America Cup is the worlds largest intercollegiate rocketry engineering contest (IREC) and has been held in New Mexico since 2017. Drawn by the opportunity to collaborate and compete at a world-class spaceport facility, 152 student teams represent the best and brightest from colleges and universities in 20 countries. The Spaceport America Cup will kick off in Las Cruces, New Mexico, with a full schedule that includes presentations and displays at the Las Cruces Convention Center on June 18, followed by three and a half days of rocket launching at Spaceport Americas vertical launch area in Sierra County, with the closing ceremony in the evening of June 22 at the Pan American Center on the campus of New Mexico State University. Visitors are encouraged to attend the opening day at the Las Cruces Convention Center free of charge and must pre-register to attend the launches at Spaceport America which are also open to the public. Weekly passes to view the launches can be found and purchased at https://spaceportamericacup.com/. Pricing is $16 for adults and $9 for ages 18 years and under. Walmart announces bonus program for Texas employees Walmart hourly store associates in Texas received great news this week: The company is starting a new annual bonus program for eligible full- and part-time hourly associates in stores, including hourly associates in the pharmacy and optical departments. Associates must be employed with the company for one year to be eligible; that means approximately 73,000 of the hourly store associates in Texas are eligible for this new bonus, a news release said. The Associate Bonus for eligible full- and part-time store hourly associates rewards long-term service- the longer an associate is with the company, the higher their bonus potential is, up to $1,000 a year. The bonus is one of four new ways Walmart announced that it is investing in its people. The company has launched the Associate to Technician program, a new program to help address the skilled trade labor shortage and create new career opportunities at Walmart. The program provides front-line associates with the training and pathways to move into higher-paying technician jobs in our stores and supply chain facilities. Walmart is also doubling the number of skills certificates available through the Walmart-paid Live Better U (LBU) benefit that will help fast-track front-line associates into the 100,000 higher-paying and in-demand jobs at Walmart over the next three years. A new Total Pay & Benefits feature in the Me@Walmart app gives store associates the opportunity to quickly and easily see their pay, 401k, Associate Stock Purchase Plan, benefits and more. This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Amarillo business news and developments for June 9, 2024 Key Insights The projected fair value for CACI International is US$557 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of US$418 suggests CACI International is potentially 25% undervalued The US$442 analyst price target for CACI is 21% less than our estimate of fair value Today we'll do a simple run through of a valuation method used to estimate the attractiveness of CACI International Inc (NYSE:CACI) as an investment opportunity by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. This will be done using the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model. It may sound complicated, but actually it is quite simple! We would caution that there are many ways of valuing a company and, like the DCF, each technique has advantages and disadvantages in certain scenarios. If you still have some burning questions about this type of valuation, take a look at the Simply Wall St analysis model. View our latest analysis for CACI International The Model We use what is known as a 2-stage model, which simply means we have two different periods of growth rates for the company's cash flows. Generally the first stage is higher growth, and the second stage is a lower growth phase. In the first stage we need to estimate the cash flows to the business over the next ten years. Where possible we use analyst estimates, but when these aren't available we extrapolate the previous free cash flow (FCF) from the last estimate or reported value. We assume companies with shrinking free cash flow will slow their rate of shrinkage, and that companies with growing free cash flow will see their growth rate slow, over this period. We do this to reflect that growth tends to slow more in the early years than it does in later years. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we discount the value of these future cash flows to their estimated value in today's dollars: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF ($, Millions) US$422.9m US$503.8m US$552.3m US$577.0m US$597.4m US$616.5m US$634.7m US$652.3m US$669.6m US$686.9m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x7 Analyst x7 Analyst x4 Analyst x1 Est @ 3.54% Est @ 3.19% Est @ 2.95% Est @ 2.78% Est @ 2.66% Est @ 2.57% Present Value ($, Millions) Discounted @ 6.8% US$396 US$442 US$454 US$444 US$431 US$416 US$401 US$386 US$371 US$357 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = US$4.1b We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. For a number of reasons a very conservative growth rate is used that cannot exceed that of a country's GDP growth. In this case we have used the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield (2.4%) to estimate future growth. In the same way as with the 10-year 'growth' period, we discount future cash flows to today's value, using a cost of equity of 6.8%. Story continues Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = US$687m (1 + 2.4%) (6.8% 2.4%) = US$16b Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= US$16b ( 1 + 6.8%)10= US$8.3b The total value is the sum of cash flows for the next ten years plus the discounted terminal value, which results in the Total Equity Value, which in this case is US$12b. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Relative to the current share price of US$418, the company appears a touch undervalued at a 25% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Remember though, that this is just an approximate valuation, and like any complex formula - garbage in, garbage out. dcf The Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at CACI International as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 6.8%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.953. 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 CACI International Strength Earnings growth over the past year exceeded the industry. Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. Weakness Earnings growth over the past year is below its 5-year average. Opportunity Annual earnings are forecast to grow for the next 3 years. Good value based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the American market. Moving On: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. The DCF model is not a perfect stock valuation tool. Rather it should be seen as a guide to "what assumptions need to be true for this stock to be under/overvalued?" For instance, if the terminal value growth rate is adjusted slightly, it can dramatically alter the overall result. Why is the intrinsic value higher than the current share price? For CACI International, we've put together three additional aspects you should look at: Risks: For instance, we've identified 2 warning signs for CACI International that you should be aware of. Management:Have insiders been ramping up their shares to take advantage of the market's sentiment for CACI's future outlook? Check out our management and board analysis with insights on CEO compensation and governance factors. Other High Quality Alternatives: Do you like a good all-rounder? Explore our interactive list of high quality stocks to get an idea of what else is out there you may be missing! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the NYSE every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The victorious Arambagh MP Mitali Bag, belonging to the Tapashili background was felicitated after she reached her constituency after meeting party chairperson Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. The new MP-elect from Arambagh expressed her heartfelt gratitude to Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee for uplifting various tribal populations with an aim towards women empowerment. Mitali underwent various harsh phases in life and then rose to become an MP, representing so many people and their aspirations. Advertisement After undergoing utter poverty and social neglect, Mitali completed her masters degree but could not pursue her ambition of studying law due to financial distress. In 2010, she got admitted in BEd college in Midnapore and got involved in politics. In 2013, she was elected as a panchayat member from the reserved seat for Tapashili tribe. Thereafter, in 2018, she became a panchayat samity member and then got elected as the zilla parishad member in 2023. She devoted her energy towards the development of roads, electricity, drinking water and different welfare schemes and projects. She personally supervised the different anganwadi centres. The TMC leadership was aware of the devoted and dedicated work of Mitali towards the masses and the TMC chief picked her to represent Arambagh Lok Sabha seat. Mitali has very good relations with the people of Arambagh sub-division. The TMC chief denied the Lok Sabha ticket to previous TMC MP Aparupa Poddar. It is said that Poddar as an MP had failed to make inroads and break the fort of BJP, which had four Vidhan Sabhas in their grip. For more than one month Mithali reached out to the people even in the remotest areas of Arambagh, establishing communication with her voters and passing the message of beneficiary schemes offered by the state. Mamatas magic, coupled with Mitalis outreach, she was declared victorious. Haripal, Tarkeswar, Chandrakona voted largely in favour of Mitali to give her a winning lead of 6,399 votes against her BJP opponent. Mithali is confident to represent Arambagh and press for various demands towards development of her constituency. A transformative wave of financial independence is sweeping through the rural landscapes of West Bengal, driven by the states ambitious Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. This initiative, which provides direct financial assistance to women, has not only empowered them but also significantly uplifted the socio-economic status of countless households, particularly in the Junglelmahal region. For decades, rural inhabitants like Khandi Hembrom, Lakshmi Soren and Usha Tudu from Nayagram, along with many others from the Junglemahal area faced relentless hardships. Dependence on forest resources, such as sal leaves and dry firewood, barely provided sustenance and often led to conflicts with forest officials. The introduction of the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme has changed this narrative, bringing a new-found sense of security and comfort to their lives. Advertisement A comprehensive study by researchers from Raja Narendra Lal Khan Womens College, under the aegis of Vidyasagar University, sheds light on the profound impact of this scheme. Under the guidance of geography department professor Pravat Kumar Shit, researchers Soumen Bisui and Md Hasanuzzaman have been exploring the socio-economic structure, forest dependence, and livelihoods of Jangalmahal residents. Their findings revealed that 85 per cent of rural women have benefited from the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. The scheme has significantly boosted the confidence of rural women, said professor Shit, who has been working on an Indian Council of Social Science Research (ICSSR)-funded project. With direct financial assistance and free rice through the ration system, the hardships these women endured are now a thing of the past. The study indicates that rural households monthly expenses have increased by 10-12 per cent, reflecting an improvement in living standards. The per person monthly expenditure on essential needs such as food, health, education and household costs has risen from Rs 1,764 to Rs 1,940, thanks to the financial support provided by the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Economists compare this impact to the transformative effect of Muhammad Yunuss Grameen Bank microloans in Bangladesh. Nobel laureate economist Abhijit Banerjee and others note that increasing cash flow in the hands of ordinary people stimulates local markets, benefiting the entire community. The schemes success has also played a pivotal role in the electoral strategy of the Trinamul Congress government. In contrast, the withholding of funds for various rural projects by the BJP, particularly the 100-day work scheme and the housing scheme, has sparked significant discontent among rural residents. About sixty percent of people reported not receiving any money for the 100-day work scheme despite working for 30-35 days over the past two years. Seventy-five per cent of people complained about the central governments withholding of housing scheme funds. While the TMCs initiatives have garnered overwhelming support in rural areas, the urban scenario presents a different picture. The BJP has made significant inroads in urban regions, winning 31 out of 35 wards in Kharagpur, leading in 11 out of 18 wards in Jhargram, and ahead in 16 out of 25 wards in Midnapore. To replicate its rural success in urban areas, the state government and local administration need to address pressing urban issues such as drainage problems, dilapidated roads and inconsistent water supply. By focusing on these areas, the government can aim for greater success and approval from urban residents, paving the way for a more balanced development across West Bengal. As the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme continues to transform lives in rural West Bengal, it stands as a testament to the power of targeted social welfare programmes in driving economic independence and empowering women, fostering a brighter and more inclusive future for the state. The National President of Indian Railway Infrastructure Providers Association (IRIPA) Ashok Kumar Pathak today said that the new government at the Centre must prioritize improving the basic infrastructure of the railway system to achieve a successful Vikshit Bharat. Addressing reporters here today, Mr Pathak said, The implementation of advanced high-speed trains and the corresponding improvement of infrastructure have the potential to bring about a significant transformation in a country. By reducing travel time, we can not only benefit the nation, but also propel it towards development. The IRIPA recently held a gathering in Siliguri with the purpose of passing resolutions and suggestions to present to the Railway Board. The previous meeting took place in Kolkata. Advertisement Mr Pathak stated that IRIPA had to raise a number of concerns, including the neutrality of GST. As the new government prepares to appoint its ministers, Mr Pathak expressed a preference for working with a new railway minister. He believes that a fresh minister would be more beneficial than an experienced one, as there have been issues with experienced ministers not prioritizing the concerns of those who contribute to the Indian Railway and the nation. During his speech, Mr Pathak brought attention to the problems surrounding global tendering, as the Indian Railway tends to award work orders to large contractors. In reality, these contractors often outsource the work to our members, who have a long-standing working relationship with the railway. We are urging the Indian Railway authorities to take our request into consideration in order to reduce costs and ensure high-quality work, Mr Pathak said. Trinamul Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday that the BJP has undemocratically and illegally formed the government at the Centre. The national opposition alliance INDIA will ultimately form the government, she said. After a spectacular performance in Bengal, with the party winning 29 Lok Sabha seats out of 42 in the state, the Trinamul Congress chief held a meeting with her partys newly elected MPs at her Kalighat residence. She later told reporters: The BJP has undemocratically and illegally formed the government at the Centre. The national opposition alliance INDIA will ultimately form the government. Slamming Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Miss Banerjee said: Literally, the BJP has lost the general elections this time. Therefore, Narendra Modi should have quit and let some other leader in his party hold the PMs post. The BJP leadership had been claiming the NDA would win 400 out of the 543 Lok Sabha seats but the saffron party failed to achieve even a simple majority. INDIA is not claiming to form the government right now but that does not mean that the national opposition alliance will not come in power at the Centre in future. We are waiting and watching, Miss Banerjee said. We will intensify our movement in Parliament demanding cancellation of NRC and UCC. We have 42 MPs in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha together. We have the third highest number of MPs in the country, she added. Dont sit silent in the Parliament. You have to raise your voice against Modis anti-people moves like NRC and UCC, she told the partys newly elected MPs. Sudip Bandyopadhyay will be made the leader of the Trinamul Congress parliamentary party while Kalyan Banerjee will be the chief whip, Miss Banerjee said. The chief minister has asked Rajya Sabha MPs Derek OBrien, Dola Sen and Nadimul Haque to go to Haryana and talk to the farmers there. Advertisement Miss Banerjee also said that there should be changes in the election process, which should be completed within one month, otherwise development works are delayed because of the prolonged election process lasting about two and a half months. While charging that the Election Commission has manipulated the general elections, she said the role of the election observers should also be looked into seriously. Miss Banerjee said the Trinamul Congress will not take part in the oath-taking ceremony of the PM on Sunday in Delhi. Senior leaders like Abhishek Banerjee, the all India general secretary of the Trinamul Congress, Subrata Bakshi, MPs and leaders from the districts were present in the meeting at Kalighat. The TMC will celebrate its victory in the Lok Sabha polls on 21 July, at the annual Martyrs Day observation of the party at Esplanade. The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur (IIT Kharagpur) has secured the 4th rank in India in the latest QS World University Rankings 2025. The prestigious institute made a significant leap, advancing 49 places from its 2024 position to become the 222nd top university globally. This achievement also places IIT Kharagpur 3rd among all Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) in the 2025 rankings. The QS World University Rankings 2025, conducted by Quacquarelli Symonds, featured 1,503 universities worldwide, evaluating a total of 5,663 institutions. IIT Kharagpurs remarkable performance was highlighted in several key parameters, including international research network, sustainability and citations per faculty. Prof V K Tewari, director of IIT Kharagpur, expressed pride in the institutes achievement, emphasizing its role in advancing global standards through cutting-edge research and innovation. IIT Kharagpur has upheld the nations resolve to excel the standards of globalization with artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing systems and transportation, 5G Network, safety engineering and analytics, quality and reliability, affordable healthcare, precision agriculture, food nutrition, and smart infrastructure to contribute towards an Atmanirbhar Bharat, Prof Tewari stated. Advertisement He further highlighted the institutes initiatives, including the development of technological research parks, centres of excellence, start-up incubators, lab to market products and nano missions. These efforts, he noted, create a robust ecosystem for innovation and technological advancement. As allegations of different government departments, including the chief ministers office turning into rehabilitation centres for the retired bureaucrats owing loyalty and allegiance of outgoing CMs trusted aide VK Pandian flying thick and fast, Odisha Home Department, aware of the change in regime, has sought information with regard to the appointment or re-engagement of retired officers in key departments. The development of this nature comes in the wake of BJP putting an end to the 24-year-old BJD Government in Odisha by securing a majority with 78 seats in 147-member House. The repercussion of change in government has already caused a ripple effect with three retired bureaucrats, who were posted in key positions reportedly for their loyalty to the outgoing government, resigning from their posts. Advertisement IAS officers R Balakrishnan and Suresh Chandra Mahapatra, who enjoyed unbridled power in important posts in the Naveen Patnaik government, resigned after the BJD lost the polls. Manoj Kumar Mishra, Principal Secretary to Electronics and IT Department, was the next to tender resignation from his post after election results were out. Further laying bare the anxiety in the bureaucrat circles, Sujata Karthikeyan, senior IAS officer and wife of controversial Biju Janata Dal leader V K Pandian, has gone on six months leave. Future is apparently tense for the officers in the outgoing Chief Ministers Office (CMO). The CMO that comprised 14 officers, had turned into a rehabilitation centre for retired officers with six of them being retired government servants. The Home Department in a letter to Odisha Director General of Police, Chief Resident Commissioner- Odisha Bhawan, New Delhi, Chief Electoral Officer, Director (Intelligence), Chairman-cum-Managing Director of Odisha State Police Housing and Welfare Corporation, Registrar (General) Orissa High Court, Director Odisha Judicial Academy besides others, have sought details of the appointment or re-engagement of retired officers in prescribed format. The regime change has sent jitters to several bureaucrats who held on to key posts because of proximity to outgoing CMs aide Pandian. Despite controversies shrouding over their style of functioning, the tainted bureaucrats were saved from the axe because of their right connections at the right place. It remains to be seen whether the new BJP government promotes coterie and extends patronage to alleged corrupt officers. The bureaucrats and politicians who squandered funds from the State exchequer ought to be taken to task to instill confidence in peoples mind that the new regime is transparent and is intent on weeding out corruption. The new Government will also have to send the message loud and clear that its not bureaucracy-centric governance as it had been the case in the outgoing BJD Government. Symbolic coercive action on tainted bureaucrats, who crossed the parameters of probity and treaded on political lines, is on the cards and heads will roll in the coming days, according to analysts. Newly elected members of parliament who are among those probable to be included in the new Cabinet and Council of Ministers of Narendra Modi-led government were on Sunday afternoon invited for high tea at the Prime Ministers residence ahead of the oath-taking ceremony later this evening. BJP leaders Nirmala Sitharaman and Sarbananda Sonowal were seen arriving at 7, Lok Kalyan Marg, the residence of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi to attend the tea meeting today. Telangana BJP president G Kishan Reddy and party leader Bandi Sanjay arrived together in the same car. BJP leaders Piyush Goyal, S Jaishankar and Dharmendra Pradhan and RLD Chief Jayant Singh Chaudhary were also seen arriving for the customary high tea ceremony. LJP (Ram Vilas) chief Chirag Paswan while leaving from his residence in the national capital said earlier today, I am going to meet the PM. Advertisement BJP leaders Amit Shah, JP Nadda, Rajnath Singh, Kiren Rijiju, Jyotiraditya Scindia, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan were among others who arrived for the tea meeting. Speaking to ANI, Republican Party of India Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale said, The Prime Minister has got a chance for the third time and history is being created under his leadership. I am happy that I am from the independent community and he has given me this responsibility, for which I thank the Prime Minister. Whatever portfolio I get, I will fulfil it with responsibility. Speaking to mediapersons today, former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan said, It is the good fortune of the country that Modiji is taking oath for the third time. The resolution of a developed India will be fulfilledthe country will become a world leader On being asked about getting a ministerial post, Shivraj Singh Chouhan said, I have no information as of now BJP leaders Jyotiraditya Scindia, Manohar Lal Khattar, Raksha Khadse, Nityanand Rai, Harsh Malhotra Bhagirath Choudhary and JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy were the other leaders seen arriving at the Prime Ministrs residence this morning. BJP MP-elect Rajnath Singh was seen leaving from his residence in the national capital on his way to the PMs residence. BJP leaders Jitin Prasada, Ravneet Singh Bittu arrived at 7, LKM this morning. PM Modi will take the oath of office at 7.15 pm today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement route arrangements have been made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modis oath ceremony on Sunday. Apart from this, NSG commandos, drones, and snipers will also guard the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the mega event. Several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modis swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to Indias Neighbourhood First policy. As per the results announced by the Election Commission of India on Tuesday, the BJP won 240 seats and the Congress 99 seats. BJP had won 303 seats in the 2019 general elections and 282 seats in the 2014 general elections. At least ten pilgrims were killed and 33 others injured on Sunday evening when terrorists ambushed a bus carrying them to the Shiv Khouri temple in the Reasi district of Jammu. The exact number of casualties was yet to be confirmed by authorities. However, sources said that six bodies have so far been sent to the hospital at Pouni. Terrorists reportedly shot the driver of the bus as a result of which the vehicle plunged into a deep gorge near the Teryath village (near Pouni village) in Reasi. The driver identified as Vijay Kumar is reported to have died on the spot. Advertisement Reports said that terrorists fired from the US made M-4 and AK assault rifles. Army and paramilitary forces have cordoned the area and launched a search for the terrorists. Empty AK- bullet shells have been found in the area. According to sources, it is the same group of terrorists who were hiding in the upper reaches of Rajouri, Poonch and Reasi districts. A rescue operation was immediately launched by locals and the Army and police joined later. Reasi Senior Superintendent of Police Mohita Sharma said that the bus, which was on its way to Reasi from Shiv Khori, was attacked by a group of terrorists hiding there and opened fire on the bus. The driver of the bus lost control over the vehicle and it fell down into a deep gorge. Injured persons have been shifted to Narayana Hospital and District Hospital Reasi. The SSP added that We were on high alert for the past many days and the whole Shiv Khori Shrine is under tight security as per intelligence inputs. She added that village defence guards (VDGs) have also been put on alert. (COLORADO) Data from a report by online lender CreditNinja shows the average monthly searches, per state, for terms about money and financial problems. Of all the states in the nation, Colorado had the most searches. Coloradans clocked in at 3,631 average monthly searches per 100,000 people for terms such as mortgage rates, loans or car payment calculator and Utah came in second with 3,593 average monthly searches for similar terms. Florida came in third, at 3,416 average monthly searches. Colorados number of searches is 75% higher compared to Mississippi, which came in last in terms of money stress, at 2,069 monthly searches per 100,000 people for finance-related terms. Most people will experience financial hardship at some point in their lives, so it is natural to have concerns, said Matt Mayerle, a Personal Finance Editor from CreditNinja. The issues arise when small worries turn into severe stress and anxiety, as this can have a detrimental impact on our lives. Other states that ranked highly in terms of financial stress were Georgia, at #4 with 3,219 average monthly searches, Arizona, at #5 with 3,149 average monthly searches, and Nevada, at #6 with 3,145 average monthly searches. This data aims to highlight the states that are struggling and spark a conversation about what needs to be done to improve peoples well-being when it comes to their finances, Mayerle 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 FOX21 News Colorado. As the city continues to reel under acute water crisis, Delhi Water Minister Atishi on Sunday wrote a letter to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini urging him to ensure the release of 1,050 cusecs of water from the Munak Canal. Expressing concern over the water crisis in the national capital, the minister if the neighbouring state doesnt oblige to her request, the situation in Delhi is likely to worsen in one or two days. Atishi informed that she also sought time from Lieutenant Governor Delhi Vinai Kumar Saxena for an emergency meeting to apprise him of the situation arising from the being crisis. Advertisement In an official communique, the water minister informed Haryana CM Nayab Singh Saini that the seven Water Treatment Plants (WIPs) in Delhi dependent on Yamuna water are unable to function to optimum level due to a deficit of raw water. She said with the water flow in Munak Canal decreasing to 840 cusecs the citys water treatment plants wont be able to pump out adequate water required for the supply. If Haryana doesnt release adequate water by today, Delhi will have a major crisis in the next 1-2 days. Therefore, I humbly request you to ensure the release of 1,050 cusecs of water from Munak Canal for Delhi, read Atishis letter to the Haryana CM. She said she sought Haryana CMs urgent intervention on the issue of non-release of water into the Yamuna River. Taking to social media platform X, Atishi wrote, Have written to the Honble Haryana CM regarding the inadequate release of water from the Munak Canal by Haryana. In her letter, Atishi cited the agreement reached in the 53rd meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board held in May 2018 that had allocated around 1,050 cusec (568 MGD) of water to Delhi from Munak through CLC and DSB Canals. Considering the transmission loss, the allocation of the 1,050 cusecs at Munak corresponds to about 1,013 Cusec (548 MGD). The Delhi ministers letter explained that the measurement was done by flow meters installed by Delhi at the Bawana contact point, where the water enters the city, and further said that meters were checked by representatives of the Upper Yamuna River Board, last week itself. On average, the water received at the Bawana contact point even in the summers is between 980 and 1030 cusecs, her letter said, adding that, however in the last week this has seen a drastic reduction, and on June seven it dropped to 840 cusecs. Atishi, in the past couple of days, visited the Wazirabad barrage and took stock of the situation at the Munak sub-canals contact point at Bawana on Saturday, following which she claimed that less water was coming in through the two feeder canals. Meanwhile, several areas in the city are reeling under water shortage, depending on the supply of water tankers amid the scorching heat. The Delhi government has taken measures to curb water wastage with provisions of a fine if someone is found washing their vehicles with open pipes and also put a ban on using potable water supply in construction works. Special teams have been constituted to keep a check on water wastage across the city, while a control room has been set up to monitor water tanker availability in the affected areas. Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has landed in the national capital to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi today. He was warmly welcomed at the airport by Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor. PM Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan arrives in New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Warmly welcomed by Secy (West) Pavan Kapoor at the airport. The visit will further strengthen close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan, said MEA Official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X. PM Tobgay is among the distinguished guests set to attend the eagerly awaited ceremony in which BJP leader Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time. With BJP bagging 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance secured 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seat, PM Modi is set for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections. He will equal Jawaharlal Nehrus record of becoming the prime minister of India the third time after completing two full terms. Several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modis swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to Indias Neighbourhood First policy. Advertisement The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement on Saturday said, President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend. Of these guests, Bangaldesh PM Hasina, Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Maldivian President Muizzu; Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth have arrived. India and Bhutan share a unique and enduring partnership which is rooted in mutual trust, understanding and goodwill. Diplomatic relations between the two were established in 1968 with the establishment of a special office of India in Thimphu. PM Modi paid a State visit to Bhutan in March this year. The visit was in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and the Governments emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy. During the visit, Prime Minister received audience with Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan. During the visit, the Prime Minister also held talks with his Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay. After PM Modis historic 3rd consecutive win in the worlds biggest elections, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay congratulated him while vowing to work closely with PM Modi-led Bharat to strengthen ties between India and Bhutan. Congratulations to my friend PM @narendramodi ji and NDA for the historic 3rd consecutive win in the worlds biggest elections. As he continues to lead Bharat to great heights, I look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the relations between our 2 countries, he said in a post on X. At least one person was killed and 14 others were injured after a minibus travelling from Manwal to Gujru Nagrota skidded off a bridge and plunged into a deep gorge near Battal Morh in Udhampur. According to initial reports, the driver lost control of the wheel and the minibus plunged into the deep gorge. Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur, Joginder Singh, said that all the injured have been shifted to the PHC Majalta for treatment. Advertisement Meanwhile, in a separate incident, at least 10 people were killed after a bus rolled down a gorge in Jammu and Kashmirs Reasi, officials said on Sunday. According to reports, the bus came under a suspected terrorist attack, following which the driver lost control and the bus fell in the gorge. The bus was carrying pilgrims to a temple in Shivkhori when it came under the suspected terrorist attack. Following the incident, a team of police, army and paramilitary forces were rushed to the spot for rescue operation and more details are awaited. Senior BJP leader Pralhad Joshi, in a late night call on Saturday, invited Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modis swearing-in ceremony, set to take place on Sunday. According to sources, Joshi called Kharge late last night and invited him to attend the ceremony. However, no decision has been taken on Kharges participation in the swearing-in ceremony after the last minute invite, the sources added. Advertisement Modi and his Council of Ministers will take oath at 7:15 PM today. Leaders from neighbouring countries, including Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina, Maldives President Droupadi Mohamed Muizzu and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachand, have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. The participation of the Opposition leaders in the swearing-in ceremony is doubtful after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee publicly refused to attend the ceremony. CM Banerjee Saturday said that while she has not been invited for the ceremony, TMC will not attend the same even if they receive the invitation. We have not got an invitation yet. Even if we do, we will not attend the ceremony, Banerjee said after meeting the newly elected MPs of her party. This government is being formed undemocratically and unconstitutionally. We cannot give our best wishes to this government. We give our best wishes to the country and the people of the country, she added. Modi-led BJP failed to get the majority in the recently held Lok Sabha elections 2024. However, the BJP-led NDA crossed the magic numbers required to form the government. The NDA government is being formed with the support from smaller allies, including Chandrababu Naidus TDP and Nitish Kumars JDU who both were once Opposed to Modi. Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and former party chief Rahul Gandhi on Sunday condemned the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. They said the country stands united against terrorism. In a post on X, Kharge wrote: Even while Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his NDA Government get sworn in and heads of several countries are in the country, a dastardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims has resulted in loss of lives of at least 10 Indians. We unequivocally condemn this gruesome terror attack on our people and deliberate affront to our national security. Advertisement Our heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims wish and pray for the speedy recovery of the injured. The Government and authorities should provide immediate assistance and compensation to the victims, he said. Stating that just three weeks ago, tourists were fired upon in Pahalgam, and several terror incidents in Jammu & Kashmir are continuing unabated, the Congress chief said, All the chest-thumping propaganda of bringing peace and normalcy by the Modi (now NDA) Government rings hollow. India stands united against terrorism, he said. Former Congress president Gandhi in a post on X wrote, The cowardly terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir is extremely saddening. He said this shameful incident is the real picture of the worrying security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. I express my deepest condolences to all the bereaved families and hope for the speedy recovery of the injured. The entire country stands united against terrorism, Gandhi said. At least 10 pilgrims were killed and 33 others injured on Sunday evening when terrorists ambushed a bus carrying them to the Shiv Khouri temple in the Reasi district of Jammu. Terrorists reportedly shot the driver of the bus as a result of which the vehicle plunged into a deep gorge near the Teryath village (near Pouni village) in Reasi. Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena will meet Delhi Cabinet Minister Atishi on Monday after the latter had sought time from the former for an emergency meeting to apprise him of the inadequate water being released by the Haryana government from the Munak Canal. In a post on X, Raj Niwas Delhi, the official account of the LG Secretariat, on Sunday said, Honble LG will meet Ms Atishi at 11:00 AM tomorrow. In the interim he has asked officials to ascertain the actual position of Water released by Himachal & Haryana, measures to check wastage & leakage of water in Delhi & the status of desilting of Wazirabad reservoir, as directed by SC. In another post on X, Raj Niwas Delhi said, He (Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena) has further directed the officers concerned to take up the matter with Upper Yamuna River Board to ascertain the facts wrt release of water to Delhi. Advertisement Earlier in the day, Delhi Water Minister Atishi in a post on X said, Have sought time from the Honble @LtGovDelhi for an emergency meeting, to apprise him of the inadequate water being released by Haryana from the Munak Canal. Delhi is supposed to receive 1050 cusecs of water from the Munak Canal via the CLC and DSB sub-canals. However, this has reduced to 840 cusecs. 7 Water Treatment Plants are dependent on this water. If the amount of water does not increase today, then the water situation across Delhi will worsen in 1-2 days. Honble @LtGovDelhi is the representative of the Central Govt. Will be requesting him to intervene and resolve the situation. Meanwhile, residents of Delhi continue to face severe water crisis as long lines of people around water tankers are seen in many areas of the national capital. With piped water being disrupted, in several areas of the city, water is being supplied to the people through tankers. Visuals from Mayur Vihar and Okhla Phase 2 show residents huddling around water tankers with buckets and cans in their hands. Talking to reporters here on Saturday, Atishi said, On one hand, the Supreme Court is trying to solve the water crisis in Delhi, and Himachal Pradesh is ready to give more water to Delhi. On the other hand, Haryana is blocking Delhis share of water. Under the agreement between Haryana, Delhi, and the entire Upper Yamuna region regarding water, 1050 cusecs of water come to Delhi through the Munak Canal. Two sub-canals of the Munak Canal supply water here. It is measured by the flow meter installed here. If we look at the data from the last five years, out of the 1,050 cusecs of water released by Haryana, 1000 to 980 cusecs of water reach Delhi. But for the last five days, this amount of water has been continuously decreasing. At least 1,000 cusecs of water should reach Delhi, but since June 1, it has decreased a lot. On June 7, only 840 cusecs of water reached Delhi, she added. For many residents in the city, their daily lives are being disrupted because of the water crisis. Ambati, a resident of Delhis Geeta Colony, told a news agency that she has to face a lot of trouble fetching water from the tankers. We have to face a lot of trouble. We get only one tanker, from which we have to fetch water. We have no other option, though, she said. Another resident of Geeta Colony, Ghanshyam Jha, said, We have to face the water crisis daily. We have to bear a lot of trouble while getting water from tankers. Sometimes, we skip work due to this. One tanker doesnt seem to be enough for the entire population of this colony, but anyway, we only get one. Outgoing Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday spoke with Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief N Chandrababu Naidu and congratulated him for his huge success in the just concluded Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Patnaik wished that Andhra Pradesh reach new heights of developments under Naidus leadership. Spoke with Shri N Chandrababu Naidu Ji (@ncbn) and congratulated him on his stupendous success in the just concluded elections. I have been associated with him for a very long time during my political journey. Wish #AndhraPradesh reach new heights of development under your leadership Patnaik wrote on X. Advertisement Naidus TDP swept the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections 2024, winning 135 of the 175 seats. His alliance partners Pawan Kalyans Jana Sena Party and the BJP won 21 and eight seats, respectively. The ruling YSRCP of Jagan Mohan Reddy was reduced to just 11 seats. The TDP also scored big in the Lok Sabha elections, winning 16 of the states 25 seats and emerged as the second biggest constituent of the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Naidu, along with Bihar CM Nitish Kumars JDU is seen as the potential kingmaker in the formation of the NDA government. Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda arrived in New Delhi on Sunday afternoon to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM Narendra Modi that will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhawan later in the day. The visit reflects the unique India-Nepal ties and will also provide further impetus to our multifaceted relationship, stated the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) after the leaders arrival. The Prime Minister of Nepal had a telephone conversation with PM Modi on June 5, congratulating him on his historic victory for the third term in the recently-concluded General Elections. Advertisement He had expressed his conviction that under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi, India-Nepal relations will continue to further strengthen. Prime Minister Modi also thanked the Nepal PM for his greetings and noted the several initiatives taken by both governments to further strengthen the traditional, friendly and multifaceted partnership between the two countries. Nepal shares deep-rooted cultural and civilisational links with India and remains a special partner in Indias Neighbourhood First policy. In 2019, then Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli had participated in the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People from all walks of life witnessed the historic swearing-in ceremony of Narendra Modi as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday evening at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Film stars, top businessmen and leaders from across the political spectrum attended the ceremony at the illuminated Rashtrapati Bhavan. The presence of famous actors from the film industry such as Tamil megastar Rajinikanth, Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan and Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar added to the star-studded gathering at Modis swearing-in ceremony. Advertisement Shah Rukh Khan wore a black outfit while Rajinikanth was seen dressed in a plain white kurta with pyjamas. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani along with his son Anant Ambani and Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani also attended the grand event. Actress Kangana Ranaut, who is also the MP from Mandi constituency, was also present at the event along with actor Anupam Kher. Actor Vikrant Massey and filmmaker Rajkumar Hirani also attended the oath-taking ceremony. During a conversation with a news agency, Massey said, This is a historic third term I am looking forward to the next 5 years with the NDA government The government has worked in the last 10 years. I have witnessed change. India is a big country and change doesnt happen overnight, it requires time. Sanitation workers, transgenders, and labourers who worked on the Central Vista Project were among the special guests at the oath taking ceremony. The special invitees also included the beneficiaries of Central government schemes and Viksit Bharat ambassadors. Railway employees working on Vande Bharat and Metro trains also attended PM Modis third oath taking ceremony. A worker who was involved in the construction of the new Parliament building, Anil Kumar Singh said, I am very happy because this will be the first time I will be meeting the Prime Minister. An MCD worker, Seema said, I am very happy, for the first time someone has thought for us MCD workers. Two guests at the oath ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan were seen with a picture of PM Narendra Modi with his mother Heeraben Modi printed on a cloth piece. Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which was attended by leaders from Indias neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers also took the oath. Superstar Mohanlal got a surprise call from Prime Minister Narendra Modi inviting him to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday night. But the star busy at the shooting location of his latest untitled film produced by Renjith expressed his inability to attend the event. Incidentally, the lone BJP MP from Thrissur and a colleague of Mohanlal Suresh Gopi got a similar call from PM Modi in 2014, asking him to attend his swearing-in. Advertisement Gopi accepted the invite and was present on the occasion. Gopi was nominated to the Rajya Sabha in 2016. After his term ended last year, Gopi got active in his profession and was asked to contest from Thrissur. He secured a win in the Lok Sabha polls. PM Modi made a few visits to Thrissur including solemnising the wedding of his daughter early this year. By buying an index fund, investors can approximate the average market return. But if you pick the right individual stocks, you could make more than that. For example, the Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) share price is up 45% in the last three years, clearly besting the market return of around 13% (not including dividends). However, more recent returns haven't been as impressive as that, with the stock returning just 2.4% in the last year, including dividends. Since the long term performance has been good but there's been a recent pullback of 3.8%, let's check if the fundamentals match the share price. View our latest analysis for Chevron To paraphrase Benjamin Graham: Over the short term the market is a voting machine, but over the long term it's a weighing machine. 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). Chevron became profitable within the last three years. That would generally be considered a positive, so we'd expect the share price to be up. The image below shows how EPS has tracked over time (if you click on the image you can see greater detail). It is of course excellent to see how Chevron has grown profits over the years, but the future is more important for shareholders. Take a more thorough look at Chevron's financial health with this free report on its balance sheet. What About Dividends? When looking at investment returns, it is important to consider the difference between total shareholder return (TSR) and share price return. 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. It's fair to say that the TSR gives a more complete picture for stocks that pay a dividend. We note that for Chevron the TSR over the last 3 years was 63%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. The dividends paid by the company have thusly boosted the total shareholder return. A Different Perspective Chevron provided a TSR of 2.4% over the last twelve months. But that was short of the market average. On the bright side, the longer term returns (running at about 10% a year, over half a decade) look better. It may well be that this is a business worth popping on the watching, given the continuing positive reception, over time, from the market. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for Chevron you should know about. Story continues But note: Chevron may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with past earnings growth (and further growth forecast). Please note, the market returns quoted in this article reflect the market weighted average returns of stocks that currently trade on 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. The Andhra Pradesh government has started clearing out the overgrown vegetation in the capital city of Amaravati abandoned by the previous YSRCP government even before chief minister-designate N Chandrababu Naidus oath ceremony could take place indicating the priority set by the new government for its revival. Naidu is scheduled to be sworn-in as chief minister on 12 June in the presence of a host of VIPs, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who are expected to attend the ceremony. Newly-appointed chief secretary Neerabh Kumar Prasad on Sunday inspected Uddandarayunipalem village where Prime Minister Narendra Modi had laid the foundation stone in October, 2015. He was accompanied by the AP Capital Region Development Area (APCRDA) commissioner Vivek Yadav. Advertisement The chief secretary said, Yesterday, chief minister (designate) garu reviewed the situation in order to immediately start work in the area under the CRDA. He went on to add that the initial work of jungle clearance would start at 25 places identified by the administration and around 94 JCBs are being put to work to expedite clearing out the vegetation. Work had come to a halt in the past five years after YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy came to power. Reddy had abandoned the capital city project citing lack of funds and instead promised three separate capitals in each region of the state. He had intended to set up the executive capital in Visakhapatnam and had even promised to hold his oath ceremony at the port city. However, after TDP with its alliance swept the polls, Naidu decided to expedite the construction work at Amaravati as he had promised earlier. In the first stage, we will take up clearance work, and then we will review the status of each of the work and we will take further action after the swearing in, said the chief secretary. He listed out priority areas such as CRDA project office, water treatment plant, multi storied apartments for MP, MLA, All-India Service officers and quarters of Group D staff, Secretariat, high court and a judicial complex where clearing out the vegetation and other initial work will be taken up. Since he had held the post of secretary of Municipal Department when Amaravati was conceived, Prasad is familiar with the task in hand. The new chief minister also has a huge challenge before him as he will have to arrange for funds for taking up further work in the capital city. AP has been teetering at the brink of financial bankruptcy after the bifurcation of the state. However, with Naidu at the helm of national politics, thanks to BJPs reduced numbers, the Centre is likely to be more generous with funds this time than it was during his previous tenure as chief minister. As Modi 3.0 begins in the dynamic landscape of global and domestic challenges, it is imperative to make the bureaucracy future-ready to overcome them. The Indian civil service has long been the backbone of governance. However, the traditional mechanisms of this vast bureaucracy have often been critiqued for their rigidity and inefficiency. To address these issues and prepare for the future, the Centre has embarked on an ambitious reform journey through Mission Karmayogi. Launched in September 2020, this initiative is a visionary blueprint aimed at transforming civil servants into Karmayogis ~ dedicated agents of change committed to the nations progress. Mission Karmayogi represents a paradigm shift in the Indian bureaucracy, moving towards a holistic and spiritually enriched approach to public service. At its core, this initiative redefines the role of civil servants, emphasising a profound sense of duty and moral integrity. It aims to create a responsive, transparent, and accountable governance structure, which is crucial as India strides toward becoming a global powerhouse. The philosophy behind Mission Karmayogi transcends traditional job roles and duties. It fosters a mind-set where service to the nation is seen as a path to personal and societal enlightenment. are characterised by their purpose-driven actions, integrity, perpetual learning, empathy, adaptability, and a spiritual connection to their work. This approach nurtures individuals who are not only efficient and knowledgeable but also ethical, empathetic, and capable of leading with compassion and foresight. One of the critical aspects of this transformation is the Karmayogi Competency Framework, developed by the Capacity Building Commission. This framework outlines the behavioural and functional competencies that civil servants need to develop. It serves as a roadmap for the systematic professional development of civil servants, ensuring they are not only proficient administrators but also empathetic leaders who can navigate the complexities of modern governance. Advertisement To support this framework, the government encourages civil servants to undertake at least 50 learning hours each year. This initiative is more than just fulfilling a quota; it fosters a culture of continuous, lifelong learning, essential for the personal and professional growth of Karmayogis. The establishment of the Amrit Gyan Kosh, a comprehensive knowledge repository, will provide access to a wealth of learning material, including case studies, policy simulations, and interactive content. This resource is crucial for the preparedness and future readiness of civil servants. As India navigates through Amrit Kaal, the 25 years leading to the centenary of its independence in 2047, the vision is to shape a bureaucracy that supports and actively drives the nation toward its ambitious goal of becoming a developed country. The civil services are being equipped to tackle modern-day challenges, from economic reforms to digital innovation and climate change, ensuring that India meets and sets global standards in governance. Mission Karmayogis success hinges on its ability to transform not just the operational style of the bureaucracy but the very spirit of public service. It is a clarion call to awaken the spirit of duty, service, and integrity within every civil servant. The election result in Maharashtra has dealt a significant blow to the BJPs political strategy. Despite its concerted efforts to dominate the state through alliances and strategic moves, the BJP has found itself entangled in a web of political miscalculations and public dissatisfaction. Maharashtra, a state with a rich political history and a strong sense of regional pride, has not responded favourably to the BJPs tactics. The party saw a drastic reduction in its Lok Sabha tally, a defeat that can be attributed to a well-coordinated opposition, consisting of Shiv Sena (Uddhav Bal Thackeray faction), the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) led by Sharad Pawar, and the Congress. Their united front and tactical acumen managed to dismantle the BJPs dominance. One of the critical factors in this political upheaval is the BJPs Eknath Shinde experiment, which aimed to destabilise the opposition by splitting rival parties and exploiting internal feuds. However, this strategy has not yielded the desired stability or public approval. Instead, it has resulted in significant backlash, with many viewing these moves as desperate and underhanded. The political missteps did not stop there. The BJPs attempts to weaken their opponents by fielding rival family members against each other, and bringing controversial leaders into their fold, only served to alienate voters further. These tactics, perceived as politics of vengeance, have backfired, generating sympathy for figures like Uddhav Thackeray and Sharad Pawar. This sentiment was particularly evident in the defeat of some BJP Union ministers, reflecting widespread public discontent. Maharashtras electoral landscape was further complicated by internal dissent within the BJP. The side-lining of senior leaders by the partys national leadership in favour of their chosen candidates created rifts within the party. This internal discord, coupled with the external political challenges, made it difficult for the BJP to maintain a cohesive and effective campaign strategy. Advertisement The situation in Maharashtra underscores a broader issue for the BJP: the limitations of a strategy that relies heavily on top-down control and aggressive political manoeuvres. The partys failure to secure key regions like Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Western Maharashtra highlights the need for a more nuanced and locally attuned approach. As the assembly elections approach, the BJP faces an uphill battle. The party must address the internal conflicts within its ranks and reassess the overall strategy if it hopes to regain its footing. The recent results have shown that regional pride and a united opposition can significantly challenge even the most well-resourced political campaigns. The political scenario in Maharashtra serves as a cautionary tale for the BJP. It emphasises the importance of respecting local dynamics and building genuine alliances rather than relying on coercive tactics and high-stakes gambits. The road ahead for the BJP in Maharashtra is fraught with challenges, and the party will need to demonstrate flexibility, humility, and strategic acumen to navigate this complex landscape successfully Prime Minister Narendra Modis securing a third term marks a significant milestone in his political career. With a mandate of only 240 seats, falling short of the 272 required for independent governance, he now heads a coalition government with National Democratic Alliance (NDA) allies. His survival will depend on his partners. The NDA is a political coalition of centre-right parties led by the Bharatiya Janata Party. The seats secured by allies have given the NDA coalition the numbers it needs to rule. This situation is new to Modi. As a leader who believed in centralising power, forming a coalition government, with its inherent complexities and power-sharing dynamics, poses a challenge. This shift could significantly alter the course of his political agenda. This could also lead to a moderation of his religious-nationalist stance and a greater emphasis on policies that appeal to the diverse coalition partners. Modi 3.0, though, is expected to continue its policies of economic reform, national security, and social welfare. India is not new to coalitions; it has a messy history of multi-party governments. Former Prime Minister and BJP leader Atal Bihari Vajpayee also presided over an unprecedented alliance of 24 parties from 1998 to 2004. Dealing with coalition partners may be challenging as the Prime Minister faces a more influential opposition. There will be other challenges as well. Questions will be raised about the extent of Modis power. New political circumstances have emerged, with the partys main NDA allies now playing crucial roles in the ruling coalition. The first major hurdle was forming the government, which required him to navigate the complexities of coalition politics. He appears to have accomplished this with relative comfort. Continuing his assertive and independent political style may take time and effort. The next step is allocating portfolios that are satisfactory to allies. Both Nitish Kumar and N Chandrababu Naidu are tough negotiators and will demand significant portfolios. Smaller allies will assert their influence, shaping the governments policies and decisions by seeking to oversee key ministries. The main challenge is to keep the NDA together. Advertisement Rumours suggest the rival INDIA coalition wanted to lure the JD(U) and TDP to form the government. Such moves, whenever they are attempted, could lead to a realignment of political forces, tilting the balance of power within the coalition and influencing the governments policies and decisions. Whether Modis NDA allies will remain loyal is a million-dollar question. This uncertainty, rooted in their history of unreliability, adds a layer of suspense. Some of the BJPs allies, such as the TDP, Shiv Sena, AIADMK, and Akali Dal, have ended their partnerships in the past decade. In 2018, the TDP left the alliance because Andhra Pradesh didnt receive special category status. Now, the TDP and JD(U) are back in partnership with the BJP. The earlier breaks in partnership did not affect the government. But in the future, Modi will need always to be mindful of the feelings of important allies like the TDP and JD (U). Both Naidu and Nitish Kumar, with 28 seats between them, and labelled as kingmakers, have long advocated for special status for their respective states. Nitish Kumar, known as Palti Kumar for his frequent changes, ended his partnership with the BJP in 2014 over the issue of the BJP declaring Modi the prime ministerial candidate. He later joined the NDA and again broke with the BJP in 2022 to form a government with the RJD. This year, he returned to the NDA fold. Passing legislation on the more ambitious aspects of the government reform agenda could be challenging due to coalition politics and a weakened mandate. This could slow down policy implementation, leading to a reevaluation of the governments reform agenda. Even though they do not have a majority, the opposition will have enough members in parliamentary committees to prevent the passing of controversial bills. This means Modis ability to push the BJPs agenda will be challenged. Important initiatives such as the Uniform Civil Code and One Nation One Poll could be delayed. Changes in political alliances should be expected. While the INDIA bloc will continually seek chinks in the NDA armour, Modi too will try hard to transform his minority government into a majority over the coming days. But initially, the Prime Minister will have to walk a tightrope. Four people, including two Hezbollah members, were killed, and five others were injured in Israeli airstrikes on villages in southern Lebanon, Lebanese military sources told the media. The sources, who spoke anonymously, said on Saturday that an Israeli warplane targeted a house in the village of Houla, killing two Hezbollah members and injuring three civilians, Xinhua news agency reported. The sources added that another Israeli airstrike targeted, with two air-to-surface missiles, a commercial market in the village of Aitaroun, killing two civilians and wounding two others. Advertisement The two slain civilians were identified as Ali Khalil Hamad, a coffee shop owner, and a young man named Mustafa Issa. Meanwhile, Hezbollah said it responded to Israels raids on Saturday with several attacks in the occupied Shebaa Farms and some Israeli sites, including Malikiyah, Al-Samaqa, Zarit, and al-Raheb. Tensions increased between Hezbollah and the Israeli army in the wake of the latters announcement of completing deployment for a major offensive against the former. The announcement came after a drone attack by Hezbollah on Wednesday on an Israeli gathering south of the Al-Kosh settlement in the occupied Syrian Golan Heights, which caused numerous casualties. The confrontations between the two sides have escalated along the Lebanon-Israel border since 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. Seven security personnel were injured in a blast in Pakistans northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the police said. The incident occurred when roadside-planted explosives hit a vehicle of paramilitary troops Frontier Corps in Khyber district of the province, police sources in the area told the media on Saturday. The forces vehicle was on a routine patrol in the area when the explosion happened, said the police sources, adding that at least two security personnel sustained critical injuries in the explosion, Xinhua news agency reported. Advertisement Following the incident, rescue teams, police and security forces rushed to the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital. Police and security forces have cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to arrest the culprits. No group or individual has claimed the blast yet. French President Emmanuel Macron has urged for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and called for a political solution while meeting with his US counterpart Joe Biden, who is on a state visit to France. After nine months of conflict, the situation in Rafah, and the human toll, are unacceptable, Macron said on Saturday at a joint press conference. It is intolerable that Israel is not opening all the crossing points to humanitarian aid, as the international community has been demanding for several months, he added as quoted by Xinhua news agency report. Advertisement Biden said they would continue to work for the return of all hostages to their homes and a ceasefire in Gaza. Bidens state visit comes two days after he participates in the ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the Normandy landings in France. Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani has strongly condemned deadly Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat camp in the central Gaza Strip. In a statement released on Saturday by the Ministry, Kanaani denounced Israels killing of hundreds of Palestinian civilians during the attacks as a horrendous and shocking crime. The crime perpetrated by Israel was a consequence of the inaction of governments and relevant international organisations in the face of eight months of war crimes and violations of all international laws and regulations as well as international humanitarian law by Israel in Gaza, said the Spokesman. Advertisement He blamed the US and certain European countries for providing arms to Israel and backing it in its offensive, Xinhua news agency reported. At least 210 Palestinians were killed and more than 400 others injured in the Israeli airstrikes on Saturday in central Gaza. Khalil Al-Dakran, director of Al-Aqsa Hospital in Deir Al-Balah city in central Gaza, told Xinhua that a large number of wounded Palestinians were sent to the hospital due to intense Israeli bombing on the Nuseirat camp and the city, some of whom have been confirmed dead. The Israeli army has been waging a large-scale offensive on Gaza since October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out an unprecedented attack on the Israeli towns adjacent to the strip, killing nearly 1,200 people. The Palestinian death toll from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the enclave has risen to 36,801, with 83,680 people injured, as updated by the health authorities in Gaza on Saturday. The world has darkened. The prospect of a democratically elected convicted felon becoming the worlds most powerful man says more about US democracy than the felon. Across the world, menacing thunderclouds are gathering with ordinary people, the planet and popular democracies undergoing unprecedented stress. It is like the absurd Hollywood comedy-dramaEverything Everywhere All At Once. It is absurd and dramatic, but there is nothing comic about whats going on in the world. While people focused on Donald Trump, Gaza or Indian elections, NATO authorised Ukraines use of theirincluding American and Germanweapons to attack Russias Kharkiv territory. Until now, their weapons could be used only in defence within Ukraine. NATOs policy shift aims to bolster Ukraines flagging war efforts, but it risks inviting Russian retaliatory attacks, imperilling 550 million Europeans. The European governments are already asking their citizens to stock up emergency supplies like drinking water, candles, batteries, matches, cash and dry rations. Russia and NATO membersthe US, Britain and Francehave nuclear weapons. But there is no looming threat of nuclear war. The quantity of items required to be stocked suggest European authorities are preparing instead for a Russian hybrid responseattacks on communication lines, water supplies, banking systems or electricity grids, disruptions that can be repaired in a few days. But as American historian Barbara Tuchman warned: War is the unfolding of miscalculations. Illustration: Job P.K. Away from Europe, the danger of confrontation between China and the US over Taiwan persists. Now the Philippinesa US allythreatens war if China kills even one Filipino in their ongoing clashes over disputed maritime territories. The China-US relations are brittle. If the US is hyper, demanding immediate attention, then China is passive-aggressive. When China is furious, it doesnt rant, it chooses radio silence, ignoring US calls. Said American journalist David E. Sanger, Chinas silence drives US crazy. War is extreme and appears distant to citizens until they hear rockets and warplanes. The first sign that the New York jurys verdict (which Indians noted was delivered at 4:20pm) had gone against Trump was the vigil of whirring helicopters overhead, scanning for trouble. Optimists say even after the darkest night, dawn breaks; there is always light at the end of the tunnel: economic growth in China, peace in Gaza, ceasefire between Republicans and Democrats. Trumps conviction is a triumph of Americas fearless, independent judiciary. But the opposite is equally truea Trump-appointed judge has delayed ruling on his immunity from prosecution for acts committed as president. Besides, all Trump cases can be overturned by his appointees in the Supreme Court. The New York court showed no man is above law in the US. But the peoples court can resurrect Trump when they vote in November. The US presidential historian Alexis Coe noted, One big difference between the Richard Nixon and Trump situations is that American voters demanded accountability from Nixon. Polarisation has wrecked that consensus. So, the felons fate is far from sealed. If Trump wins, a lawbreaker becomes the chief law enforcement officer and commander-in-chief of the worlds mightiest nation. As president, he vows to ignite the rites of retribution, wreaking havoc on American systems, institutions, opponents and whistleblowers. Violence can erupt. All options are on the table, and it is not a banquet. Compulsive optimists should keep in mind Murphys Lawthe light at the end of the tunnel can be the headlamp of an oncoming train. Pratap is an author and journalist. In this article, we will reveal the fastest-declining state in the US. If you wish to look at our detailed rankings, you can go to the 15 Fastest-Declining States in the US. According to the US Census Bureau, while the US population will continue to rise, the growth rate is slowing considerably. Projections indicate a peak of nearly 370 million in 2080, followed by a slight decrease to 366 million by 2100. This represents a modest increase of only 9.7% over eight decades, underscoring a long-term trend of a flattening population curve. One of the key reasons for the projected decline is the decrease in fertility and consequently, a falling birth rate. According to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the long-term decline in US fertility rates continued in 2023. There were about 3.6 million babies born that year, translating to a fertility rate of 54.4 live births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44. This marks a new low for the country in over a century. The declining birth rates and better life expectancy are causing an aging population as well. According to a recent analysis by Morgan Stanley, the percentage of Americans aged 65 and over is projected to reach 24% by 2060. However, the decline is not uniform across the nation. Southern states like Texas and Florida continue to be among the fastest-growing states, driven by factors like job opportunities and warmer weather. In contrast, many Rust Belt states in the Northeast and Midwest are experiencing population losses as residents migrate outward seeking better economic prospects. These states are also home to some of the fastest-shrinking cities such as New York City, NY, and Revere City, MA. Key Investment Opportunities Certain companies, such as UnitedHealth Group (NYSE:UNH), Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL), and American Healthcare REIT (NYSE:AHR), are expected to benefit from the trend of aging population and longevity. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) is a multinational health insurance and services company headquartered in Minnesota. Unlike hospitals facing rising costs and lower collections, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) benefits from its focus on home-based care. The home care market is booming with an annual growth rate of 2.8%. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) owns key healthcare providers like Optum and LHC Group. In addition to gaining exposure to healthcare providers, another strategy to capitalize on the aging US population is investing in healthcare REITs, which own or manage facilities that seniors will visit in their later years. Morgan Stanley projects that the number of residents in independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing facilities will increase by 0.4 million to 2.1 million by 2030. Story continues One stock that offers exposure to the healthcare REIT sector is Welltower Inc. (NYSE:WELL), a senior housing investment trust. Over 85% of Welltower's properties are strategically located near hospitals. As hospitals deal with financial challenges and raise their prices, Welltower Inc.s (NYSE:WELL) senior housing portfolio could benefit from increased demand. Meanwhile, for those interested in small-cap senior housing investments, American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR) can be a suitable option. American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR) is a $1.7 billion company focused on outpatient facilities and senior housing. Regulatory barriers such as the requirement for a Certificate of Need (CON) in many states have made it challenging to construct the types of senior housing and outpatient medical facilities that American Healthcare REIT, Inc. (NYSE:AHR) offers. This could potentially benefit the companys existing portfolio. The Fastest-Declining State in the US Arthimedes/Shutterstock.com Our Methodology We shortlisted the 15 fastest declining states in the US based on data from the US Census Bureau. We have ranked the states in ascending order of the percentage decline in population between 2020 and 2022. Furthermore, we have also shared the absolute decline in population for each state. At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points. (see more details here). The Fastest-Declining State in the US 1. New York Percentage Change in Population: -2.14% Population Decline: 431,145 New York has experienced the largest percentage decline in population among all US states between 2020 and 2022, with a significant drop of 2.14%. This decline, primarily due to negative net domestic migration, resulted in the loss of over 430,000 residents during this period. Meanwhile, between July 1, 2022, and July 1, 2023, New York's population decreased by a further 0.52%, resulting in a net loss of around 102,000 residents. Many New Yorkers attribute the high migration rates and population decline to increasing crime rates and increasing living costs. New York City's population decrease accounts for three-quarters of the state's overall population decline between 2020 and 2023. In contrast, Oneonta is the fastest-growing city in New York. The city recorded a population increase of 18.9% between 2020 and 2022. To check out more states that are losing population, visit 15 Fastest-Declining States in the US. At Insider Monkey, we delve into a variety of topics, ranging from the fastest-declining states in the US to business aspects; however, our expertise lies in identifying the top-performing stocks. Currently, Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology stands out as one of the most promising fields. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than NVDA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock. READ NEXT: Michael Burry Is Selling These Stocks and Jim Cramer is Recommending These Stocks. Disclosure: None. This article is originally published on Insider Monkey. In every election the voters elect a government. This time, they elected an opposition. They also elected a governmentnot to rule them, but to govern them. First about the opposition. Paul Harrington said, Democracy can be measured on the existence of an opposition, but Indias democracy has been working without one for a decade. Indeed we had men and women in Parliament who carped, cried and quarrelled with the regime, but rarely held the regime to account. They were mere critics of the regime, and not a parliamentary opposition. Now the voters have elected a formidable opposition. Now about the government. For ten years, Team Narendra Modi has been ruling India brooking no opposition, save once from the farmers who didnt like the laws that the rulers had made. Everything elsefrom note ban of an eight-year-old November night to the rejig of the penal laws in the recent monthswas implemented or legislated with complete disregard to criticism. Illustration: Deni Lal For ten years, India was being ruled. Now the people have spoken: stop ruling us, and start governing us. All the same, the election was an endorsement of the Narendra Modi regime. People want him to govern them and lead them into Viksit Bharat, but not by riding roughshod over the critics. Make the laws you want by all means, but make them through discussion, deliberation and debatepeople have said. Voters have also cut down the personality cult that was growing around the leader. Often it had looked the election was being fought around one man. The opposition, too, contributed to this. If the BJP sought votes in his name and for what he has done, the opposition sought votes against him and for what he has not done or done wrong. Wasnt jobs an issue? Yes, but not whether jobs were created or lost, but whether Modi gave jobs or threw people out of jobs. Wasn't corruption an issue? Yes, but not whether there was more corruption or less corruption under Modi, but whether Modi hunted the corrupt or sent the corruption-hunters to raid his enemies. Farm distress was an issuenot whether farmers were better off now or worse, but whether Modi had sought to betray the farmers with his three laws. National security was an issuenot whether India has got strategically stronger or weaker, but whether Modi had short-changed the Agniveers into becoming short-term mercenaries. Constitution was an issuewhether Modi was seeking to uphold it or undermine it. Modi was the trumpcard for the BJP to seek a third term to rule Indiahis leadership, his reforms, his diplomacy, his economic management, his vaccine scheme, his reachout to the people, his running of the government, his vishwaguru status. He was also the sole target for the oppositionnot the health minister for the Covid goof-ups, not the defence minister for the Agneepath scheme, not the law minister for the badly-drafted farm laws, not the parliamentary affairs minister for getting them passed without debate, not even the speaker and the upper house chairman for expelling the critics. The whole discourse was overDid Modi this? Didn't Modi this? Was Modi this? Wasn't Modi this? Will Modi this? Won't Modi this? Modi this, or Modi that? Modi here, or Modi there? Modi then, or Modi now? Anyway, the message from the people is clear: stop ruling us for gods sake; start governing us for our sake. Talk to your allies, take the opposition into confidence, and make good laws through discourse, discussion, and debate. Let parliamentarism prevail. prasannan@theweek.in Former Haryana Chief Minister and Karnal MP Manohar Lal Khattar said the prime minister has advised him to stay in Delhi for the next 24 hours as the new Modi-led government will be sworn in the evening. Talking to presspersons after attending a high tea meeting hosted by Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi, Khattar said, There is a ritual of Narendra Modi that he calls people to his residence for a tea meeting. He only calls them who he wants to induct in his cabinet. Some formalities were to be done, which I have completed. He has asked me to stay in Delhi for the next 24 hours," ANI reported. Khattar said besides him, former union minister Rao Inderjit Singh and Faridabad MP Krishan Pal Gurjar also attended the meeting. #WATCH | Delhi: NDA leaders attended the tea meeting at 7 LKM, the residence of PM-designate Narendra Modi. PM-Designate Modi will take the Prime Minister's oath for the third consecutive term today at 7.15 pm. pic.twitter.com/6RWS8xZBxD ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 BJP leader Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also confirmed that he is part of the Modi 3.0 government and thanked the prime minister for including him in the union cabinet. Son of former Bihar Chief Minister and Bharat Ratna awardee late Karpuri Thakur, Ramnath Thakur confirmed he will be part of the new Modi government. Narendra Modi hosted a meeting of prospective ministers of the new NDA government and top leaders of his party at his residence in Lok Kalyan Marg on Sunday. The prime minister reportedly advised the MPs to work towards the completion of pending projects and implementation of 100-day plan prepared by the government earlier. A list of probable names who will likely be inducted to the new Narendra Modi cabinet was out on Sunday. As per the list, the BJP may retain senior leaders Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh, Piyush Goyal, Mansukh Mandaviya, Ashwini Vaishnaw, Kiren Rijiju Jyotiraditya Scindia, Shobha Karandlaje, Arjun Ram Meghwal and G Kishan Reddy. Nirmala Sitharaman, the outgoing finance minister, will also be taking oath. The West Bengal CID on Sunday recovered parts of human bones near a canal in South 24 Parganas district, during a search operation in connection with its probe into the murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, a senior official said. The specimen was found on the south-eastern bank of Bagjola canal in Bhangar's Krishnamati village, following the interrogation of Mohammad Siyam Hussain, a key suspect in the case who was arrested by the Nepal Police and extradited to India, he said. "The bone parts appear to be of a human being as suggested by medical officers and forensic experts who were present when these were recovered," the CID officer said. It has lodged a suo moto case in this regard at the Bijoyganj Bazar Police Station, he said. The bone parts will soon be sent for forensic examination. "Search is underway to trace other body parts of the Bangladeshi politician, the officer said. Sleuths of the CID had earlier recovered pieces of flesh, weighing around 3.5kg, from the septic tank of a flat in the New Town area where the MP was last seen on May 12. The daughter of the Bangladesh MP is likely to arrive in Kolkata next week to take part in a DNA test in connection with the recovery of the bones and flesh pieces, the CID officer said. A key suspect in the case, Hussain was arrested by the Nepal Police and extradited to India on Friday. He was also taken to the New Town flat on Sunday to assist the CID in tracing the body parts of the Bangladesh MP, and the tools used to commit the crime. Hussain was brought to West Bengal on Saturday evening and sent to 14-day custody of the CID by a local court in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. An initial probe had revealed that the MP's close friend Akhtaruzzaman, a US citizen, paid around Rs 5 crore to those involved in the crime. Akhtaruzzaman has a flat in Kolkata, and is probably in the US at present, CID officers had said. Circumstantial evidence indicated that the Awami League leader was first strangulated and killed after which his body was chopped into pieces, police claimed. Efforts to locate the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 for medical treatment, have been underway since Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18. Anar had been staying at Biswas' residence upon his arrival. In his complaint, Biswas mentioned that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon of May 13 and was expected back home for dinner. However, Anar's disappearance prompted Biswas to file a police complaint. Delhi Minister Atishi has sought an emergency meeting with Lieutenant Governor V.K. Saxena as the water crisis worsens in the national capital. The minister warned Delhi would face severe water shortage if outflow from Haryana is not increased on Sunday. The minister in charge of the Delhi government, Atishi tweeted, Have sought time from the Honble @LtGovDelhi for an emergency meeting, to apprise him of the inadequate water being released by Haryana from the Munak Canal. Delhi is supposed to receive 1050 cusecs of water from the Munak Canal via the CLC and DSB sub-canals. However, this has reduced to 840 cusecs. Atishi said seven water treatment plants are dependent on water from the Munak canal and if the inflow is not increased, Delhi will face severe crisis in a couple of days. 7 Water Treatment Plants are dependent on this water. If the amount of water does not increase today, then the water situation across Delhi will worsen in 1-2 days, she said. The minister said as a representative of Centre, she will be requesting the Lieutenant Governor to intervene and resolve the crisis. Recently, hearing a plea by the Delhi government, the Supreme Court directed Himachal Pradesh to release surplus water to the national capital and Haryana to ensure a free flow of water. Following a severe heatwave this year, water scarcity has become severe in several parts of northern India. In Delhi, water is being delivered in tankers and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is likely to attend the oath taking ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. Quoting sources, ANI reported that Kharge has accepted the invite after a discussion with his party and allies. Kharge is the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha. According to reports, the invitation to Kharge was extended by BJP leader Pralhad Joshi last night. Meanwhile, Deputy Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari said he had not received an invitation for the searing-in. "I am the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. I haven't received any invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi nor have the INDIA alliance partners. To turn the ceremony into an international event, Narendra Modi is more interested in inviting foreign guests," Tiwari said. Modi is set to take oath on Sunday for a third straight term as the head of a coalition government after two full tenures in which the BJP enjoyed a majority on its own. The 73-year-old will be equalling the feat of first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who won in 1952, 1957 and 1962 general elections. Leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region are among the dignitaries and special invitees expected to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the prime minister and his council of ministers at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7.15 pm. As Narendra Modi takes oath as the Prime Minister for the third time, speculations are rife about the council of ministers who will be sworn in with him in the Cabinet. The list of ministers will be handed over only a few hours ahead of the ceremony. However, reports are that as many as 30 ministers are likely to take oath today along with PM-designate Narendra Modi. All crucial portfolios like defence, finance and external affairs will be held by the BJP, the largest party in the alliance. The party may also keep Education and Culture. Meanwhile, talks are on with allies, including Telugu Desam Party, JD(U), Shiv Sena and LJP to finalise their representation in the new government. Speculations are that allies can get anywhere between five to eight cabinet berths. While senior BJP leaders like Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh will likely be included in the new Cabinet, other names doing the rounds include former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan (Madhya Pradesh), Basavaraj Bommai (Karnataka), Manohar Lal Khattar (Haryana) and Sarbananda Sonowal (Assam). Tripura's former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb is also likely to be inducted. Ram Mohan Naidu of the TDP, Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha and Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U), and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) are among the allies who may be a part of the new government. As for TDP, the names doing rounds include Ram Mohan Naidu, Harish Balayogi and Daggumalla Prasad. Other names include Naidu's son Nara Lokesh and Dr Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani. RLD leader Jayanth Chaudary is another ally, who is likely to be inducted into the new Cabinet. As for Shiv Sena, there are reports that Maharashtra chief minister Eknath Shinde may pick senior leaders and not his son for Cabinet. Shiv Sena might ask for one Cabinet berth in the new government and will not insist on any particular portfolio. The names of Srirang Barne (Maval) and Prataprao Jadhav (Buldhana) are doing the rounds. As the sun set behind the imposing silhouette of Rashtrapati Bhawan, Narendra Modi took the oath as Prime Minister for the third time. Modi signaled continuity as he retained top ministers: Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nirmala Sitharaman, S. Jaishankar, Piyush Goyal, Dharmendra Pradhan, Ashwini Vaishnaw, and Jyotiraditya Scindia. In total, 72 ministers were sworn in, with 30 holding cabinet rank, including those from allies like TDP, JD(U), LJP, JDS, and HAM. Out of these 72, 60 are from the BJP. Modi has kept the balance in favour of BJP, but is likely to adopt a more consensual approach for governance. Those who took oath included 36 ministers of state and five ministers of state with independent charge. Dressed in a blue jacket, Modi took the oath for a historic third time, becoming only the second PM after Jawaharlal Nehru to do so, on a muggy day in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. The oath was administered by President Draupadi Murmu. Visitors included heads of state from neighboring countriesBangladesh, Nepal, Mauritius, Maldives, and Bhutanwho witnessed the ceremony lasting over two and a half hours. Also spotted in the audience were Shahrukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, industrialist Mukesh Ambani, and a host of religious leaders. Modi has kept social and caste considerations in mind, with 27 OBCs, 10 SC, five ST, and five representing minority communities. Modi rewarded those MPs who have been elected for three terms. As many as 43 ministers have served three terms or higher in parliament while 39 have served as union ministers before. Among the notable new inclusions was BJP chief J.P. Nadda, sworn in as a cabinet minister, signaling a change in the party organization. He was the fifth to be sworn in, thus deciding the pecking order in the new cabinet. The new entrants included former chief ministers Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Manohar Lal Khattar from the BJP, JDUs Rajeev Ranjan Singh, and TDPs Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu. With Rajnath Singh, Sarbananda Sonowal, and JD(S) president Kumaraswamy, Hindustan Awam Party chief Jitan Ram Manjhi, there are six former CMs in the cabinet. Other new cabinet ministers included C.R. Patil, the BJP Gujarat president, who is apparently rewarded for the party's performance during the assembly and Lok Sabha polls. Promoted ministers included Jitendra Singh and Giriraj Singh. Thirty-four ministers have served in state legislatures with 23 of them having served as state ministers. Several ministers were dropped, and new ones picked up owing to unfolding political realities after the results. Anurag Thakur was dropped as Nadda, who represents Himachal Pradesh, was picked up. The cabinet will have two Sikhs, Hardeep Puri, and among the new entrants, Ravneet Singh Bittu, the Ludhiana candidate who lost to his Congress rival. He was the only losing candidate inducted into the cabinet as MoS. From Kerala, Modi rewarded Thrissur MP Suresh Gopi, BJPs first elected MP from the state, with an MoS post, along with George Kurian. The largest representation was given to Uttar Pradesh, followed by Bihar in terms of ministerial berths. Most of the allies, barring Ajit Pawars NCP, have been represented in the cabinet. After the swearing-in, the government is likely to allocate ministries. The communique regarding this will be released by Rashtrapati Bhawan. The focus will now shift to the governments 100-day plan. The tenure began on a challenging note with reports of a terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir on a pilgrim bus. Modi will have to negotiate with the allies as some of them have raised concerns over Agniveer and the implementation of the Uniform Civil Code. The big change expected would be the appointment of the new BJP chief. As Most of the leaders whose names were being considered for the BJP chief, like ML Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and Bhupendra Yadav, were made ministers, a surprise pick is expected in the next few weeks. Narendra Modi will swear in as the Prime Minister for the third time on Sunday, equalling the feat of the first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who won in the 1952, 1957 and 1962 general elections. The ceremony will take place at Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7.15 pm on Sunday. Ahead of the ceremony, Modi visited Rajghat on Sunday morning accompanied by senior leader Hardeep Puri. He also visited Sadaiv Atal to pay tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, to be held today at Rashtrapati Bhawan. He also paid tributes at the war memorial. #WATCH | Delhi: PM-designate Narendra Modi lays wreath at the National War Memorial, ahead of his swearing-in ceremony, to be held today at Rashtrapati Bhawan. He will take oath as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, today at 7:15 PM. pic.twitter.com/rLEg2sL8FU ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Here are some important points 1) Prominent allies such as the TDP, JD(U) and Shiv Sena are likely to be represented in the coalition government. 2) Ram Mohan Naidu of the TDP, Lalan Singh, Sanjay Jha and Ram Nath Thakur of the JD(U), and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) may get the coveted cabinet berths, reported PTI. 3) Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh are seen within the party as a certainty in the new Cabinet. Other names doing rounds include Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Basavaraj Bommai, Manohar Lal Khattar and Sarbananda Sonowal are strong contenders for joining the government. 4) Leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean Region will attend the ceremony. They include Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, President of Maldives Mohamed Muizzu, Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Prime Minister of Nepal Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Prime Minister of Bhutan Tshering Tobgay have accepted invitations to the ceremony. 5) People from different walks of life have been invited to the ceremony. Among the 10 loco pilots of Indian Railways who will attend the event include Surekha Yadav, the pilot of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus-Solapur Vande Bharat train in Maharashtra. 6) Sources in the Rashtrapati Bhavan have told THE WEEK that the guests will be offered traditional vegetarian thali, with delicacies from all major regions in the country. Both Modi and President Droupadi Murmu are vegetarians, and important Gujarati and Odia cuisines will be on offer. 7) Security has been stepped up with Delhi Police imposing prohibitory orders and the national capital has been declared a no-flying zone for June 9 and 10 for the ceremony. 8) Air space curbs will be in place from 3 pm to 11 pm. However, it will not affect IAF, BSF and Army aviation helicopter operations. State-owned aircraft and helicopters can fly with the governor or chief minister during the period when the curbs will be in place, according to the NOTAM (Notice to Airmen). Landing or take-off of non-scheduled flights of scheduled airlines, and chartered flights will not be permitted during the period. 9) Congress has said that its leaders were yet to receive invitations for the swearing-in ceremony 10) Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee announced that her party would not attend the event. "Neither we have got any invitation nor are we attending it," Banerjee said in Kolkata. V.K. Pandian, close aide of former Odisha Chief Minister and Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik, announced his retirement from active politics on Sunday after the partys poor performance in the recently concluded Odisha assembly and Lok Sabha elections. Pandian said he never aimed for power and his only motive for entering politics was to help the BJD leader in the elections. In a video statement, Pandian said, My intent of joining politics was only to assist Naveen Babu... Now I consciously decide to withdraw from active politics. Regretting the partys loss in the recently concluded polls, the former IAS officer hailing from Tamil Nadu said he was sorry if the campaign narrative against him had any role to play in the partys loss in recently held polls. #WATCH | 5T Chairman & BJD leader VK Pandian says, "...Now consciously I decide to withdraw myself from active politics. I am sorry if I have hurt anyone on this journey. I am sorry if this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJD's loss..." (Source: BJD) pic.twitter.com/Hf1stid8Gn ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Im sorry if I have hurt anyone in this journey. Im sorry this campaign narrative against me has had a part to play in BJDs loss (in the election). I apologise to the entire BJD parivar and all Karmis for this, he said. Pandian had earlier said he would quit politics if Naveen Patnaik was not re-elected as chief minister after the assembly polls. Pandian said he received immense love from the people of the state from the day he set foot in Odisha. The close aide of Patnaik took voluntary retirement from public services recently and joined BJD. He was made chairman of Patnaiks 5T project after he joined the party. Pandian said coming from a very humble background, becoming an IAS officer was his dream and to date, properties he inherited from his grandparents are the only assets he and his family own. Pandian added he joined the chief ministers office twelve years ago and took voluntary retirement from civil services only to help Patnaik in the polls. I reiterate, I came to politics to help my mentor Naveen Patnaik ahead of the gruelling elections and I had no desire for a specific political post or power. Therefore, I was neither a candidate nor was holding any post in BJD, he said. Patnaik on Saturday cleared the air about his successor and said Pandian was not his successor and that the people of Odisha would decide who his successor would be. Calling criticism against Pandian unfortunate, Patnaik said, There has been some criticism of Pandian. This is unfortunate. He joined the party and has not held any post. He did not contest the elections from any constituency. I have always clearly said when asked about my successor that it is not Pandian. I repeat that the people of Odisha will decide my successor." The five-term chief minister added, As an officer, he (Pandian) did an excellent job in different fields in the last 10 years, be it during two cyclones or the COVID-19 pandemic. After this good work, he retired from the bureaucracy and joined the BJD, and contributed largely by doing excellent work. He is a person of integrity and honesty and should be remembered for that," Patnaik said. There has been widespread resentment among the party leaders and workers against Pandian, who blamed the bureaucrat-turned-politician from Tamil Nadu for the party's poor showing in the elections. -with inputs from agencies. It's been quite fascinating since this morning I have been hooked to my screen. Honestly, I wasn't expecting the results as they kept streaming on my screen. That the trend is pretty centred is a wonderful surprise. My own political ideology is such that I stand at the centre as much as possible because then that gives you a good vantage point from where you can make sense of things and see the good and bad of both sides. Also I feel that the kind of times we live in right now, it isn't clearly right and left anymore, so in a way the ideology has stopped to matter as much as it used to earlier. What we are calling right is not adhering to right and what we are calling left is not adhering to left either. It's all a muddle right now. There is a poster boy and anything and everything seems to be about that poster boy or not. If not Modi then who has been an unending discussion everywhere. Firstly this is problematic because we have a parliamentary system and not a presidential one and hence the focus cannot be on one person. Secondly, we have not had a very strong opposition all these years so the then who question has remained. The presence of a good opposition is extremely crucial and that looks like a promise now. There's also an overall anti-incumbency sentiment building up and in some places it has not benefited NDA, UP being a great example. Until now, leading up to this 2024 general elections, whether it was Bharat Jodo or other initiatives happening at the national and state level by those who've formed the INDIA alliance shows that their labour has borne fruit. Also at the same time I also feel that the opposition really gave a tough fight this election. It's a win against the odds. I recall a lot of people around me were saying that this might be the last time we get to vote, that there might not be elections ever again. This was a very valid fear for a lot of people around me. So is that where we are headed? Of course I do not subscribe to this thought because I know that a vast country like India will never let this happen. But the fact that this fearful thought even came about says a lot about our institutions that were supposed to remain unbiased, especially the Supreme Court and the ED or even the Election Commission that had nothing to say about the kind of speeches that were delivered from both sides. It chose to remain silent. So this is the reason you start losing faith in institutions and democracy itself. But in spite of all of this, I can see my faith being reinstated in our democracy. So if someone asks me which Shiv Sena is the real Shiv Sena, I'd say, the idea that anyway the Shiv Sena which Balasaheb stood for is nowhere what it used to be especially when everything is so polarised. For me, Uddhav Thackeray was dealt with very difficult cards and in spite of that, the way he handled the whole Covid situation, his presence was felt throughout and his communication with people built credibility like never before. It was very heartening. People also felt that the shoddy and contrived manner in which the party was taken from him and the symbol not granted to him was not fair and the public at large acknowledges that. Also, the sentiment that Uddhav is the rightful heir to Balasaheb's legacy is strong and he finds a lot of support among people of Maharashtra as well as he's a favourite in the state's cultural circuit. He was wronged in people's eyes and that has played more against the BJP in Maharashtra. I'm also a part of a very political play right now that makes a commentary about the shrinking space for expression and dissent. It talks about how everything is divided in right or wrong and there is no space for a healthy discussion of difference in opinions and ideologies. Also the atmosphere around me became quite vitriolic, a lot of artists writers were pulled up for the statements they made on social media and I have a friend who also got arrested. So coming from there it looked like another year of complete washout especially after the Ram mandir consecration, it looked like a straightaway BJP win. There was a lot of communal referencing in speeches and that it went completely under the radar by the Election Commission was a shocker. Also, in a way I think the Modi wave, if there was one, turned on itself and clearly because it was just so in your face. Everywhere you went, they (BJP) pompomed their agendas which included communally charged statements especially targeted towards Muslims. INDIA, on the other hand, continued to remain focused on key issues including unemployment, corruption, etc but BJP chose to make this about religion while not bringing digital India, infrastructure development, foreign relations into their campaigning agenda. Thus what BJP did helped the opposition is what I feel and that is exactly how it is showing in the results right now. Also, after 2014, I realised how we had to measure everything we said or did as artists because someone in the government could take an offence to what you say or do and the consequences could be dire. I hope that changes now with a change in power. Because I now have a hope that the current opposition has power enough with a substantial amount of seats with them. I felt that with what happened in Chandigarh (mayoral poll ruckus), tampering of electoral bonds, Arvind Kejriwal's orchestrated arrest, and many more such events. BJP has itself turned around the tide in favour of INDIA alliance. Having said this, the NDA has emerged as a winner this term with BJP being the single largest party which means they will form a government but they will also need to pull up their socks. This election has shown everyone that the citizens of India or Bharat or Hindustan, whatever you choose, cannot be taken for granted. Whether they are in power or opposition, it should be remembered that we, the people of this country, make all the difference. (As told to Pooja Biraia Jaiswal) Girija Oak Godbole is a prominent actor active in theatre and films. New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad (KLSE:NHFATT) has announced that it will pay a dividend of MYR0.08 per share on the 15th of July. The dividend yield will be in the average range for the industry at 3.3%. See our latest analysis for New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad's Payment Has Solid Earnings Coverage We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. However, prior to this announcement, New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad's dividend was comfortably covered by both cash flow and earnings. As a result, a large proportion of what it earned was being reinvested back into the business. Looking forward, earnings per share could rise by 27.2% over the next year if the trend from the last few years continues. If the dividend continues along recent trends, we estimate the payout ratio will be 21%, which is in the range that makes us comfortable with the sustainability of the dividend. Dividend Volatility The company's dividend history has been marked by instability, with at least one cut in the last 10 years. The annual payment during the last 10 years was MYR0.118 in 2014, and the most recent fiscal year payment was MYR0.15. This implies that the company grew its distributions at a yearly rate of about 2.4% over that duration. We're glad to see the dividend has risen, but with a limited rate of growth and fluctuations in the payments the total shareholder return may be limited. The Dividend Looks Likely To Grow With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad has impressed us by growing EPS at 27% per year over the past five years. Rapid earnings growth and a low payout ratio suggest this company has been effectively reinvesting in its business. Should that continue, this company could have a bright future. We Really Like New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad's Dividend Overall, we think that New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad could be a great option for a dividend investment, although we would have preferred if the dividend wasn't cut this year. The cut will allow the company to continue paying out the dividend without putting the balance sheet under pressure, which means that it could remain sustainable for longer. 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. For example, we've picked out 2 warning signs for New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad that investors should know about before committing capital to this stock. Is New Hoong Fatt Holdings Berhad not quite the opportunity you were looking for? Why not check out our selection of top dividend stocks. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Lok Sabha polls 2024 will go down in the history of elections as one of the most remarkable and exciting turnarounds in electoral politics of India. The propaganda machinery, role of enforcement agencies, prison trials, road shows, meditation of the prime minister in front of the media lights, awry exit poll, miraculous resurgence of the opposition, ironic Ayodya debacle and the middle path of the masses. India wakes up with a message that people can speak and beyond doubt democracy still matters in this country despite the mixed results. Given the roller coaster ride of expectations and responses spread across the country, Tamil Nadu has not only withstood the massive political onslaught of the BJP but also delivered a stunning blow to the dreams of the saffron party without much acclamation and fanfare like the Uttar Pradesh. After 20 years, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies have won all the 40 seats from Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry. Tamil Nadu continues to torment and haunt the BJP as the final frontier despite the meticulous methods to divide the major opposition party like the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), undertake social engineering strategies to entice and engage caste groups, polarise the people on caste and communal lines, aggressive social media attacks, raids and intimidatory tactics through enforcement agencies, grandeur of public meetings with hired audience and lavish road shows. In the end, BJP and its allies have lost all the seats they had contested with a big margin including the Dharmapuri constituency where the Pattali Makka Katchi (PMK) candidate Soumiya Anbumani was expected to win albeit with a slender majority. How did this happen? The strong Dravidian narrative of identity politics is neither the only reason nor the dominant factor for the grand success of the DMK and its allies in the parliamentary elections 2024 in Tamil Nadu. BJP has grossly underestimated the social-ideological basis of the Dravidian parties like DMK and its organisational strength at the grassroots. Although BJP has effectively penetrated and even succeeded in dividing the AIADMK into factions yet to assume that it has emerged as an alternative to DMK is a grand myth constructed through the boorish upstarts like Annamalai and his media management. Edapadi Palanisamy stoutly defied the tone and dictum of the BJP and refused to collaborate with the saffron party despite the veiled threats and intimidations from Amit Shah and company after having subdued the gang of three O. Panneerselvam, T.T.V. Dinakaran and Sasikala. AIADMK led by Palanisamy and the BJP drafts like Panneerselvam and Dinakaran have all been convincingly decimated by the DMK and its allies. There is much bigger setback for the BJP and its allies with the defeat of its candidates including those who contested on BJP symbol in all 23 constituencies with a meagre vote share of 11.4 per cent after aggressive campaign strategies, brutal push through its power at the Centre, institutional coercion, social media penetration and lavish display of financial clout. BJP may have opened the third front in Tamil Nadu politics by breaking down the exclusive bipartisan dominance of the Dravidian parties like DMK and AIADMK and the three cornered contest is an emerging reality in Tamil Nadu politics. BJP is stretching its imagination a bit too far to assume that it has emerged as an alternative to the AIADMK and therefore all others should line up behind the party including the AIADMK. The arrogance of power of the Centre and political naivety of the state leadership has collapsed the applecart of the BJP because of the fact that there was an element of anti-incumbency factor alive during the parliamentary elections 2024 against the ruling DMK. But the lack of understanding of the ground realities by the BJP and the defiance of Palanisamy to dare the challenge thrown up by the BJP closed the gates of negotiations between the two. In the process they may have lost over 15 parliamentary constituencies given the fact that AIADMK and BJP has come second in 28 and 11 constituencies respectively. Though this may be said in post-poll analysis, yet it cannot be dismissed that the decision of Palanisamy to keep away from BJP is as significant as the remarkable political resistance and ideological strength demonstrated by the DMK. This sums up the grand story of how BJP was denied even a toe-hold in Tamil Nadu. Prof Ramu Manivannan is the Director of the Multiversity - Centre of Indigenous Knowledge Systems, Tamil Nadu. He is currently the Special Community Scholar at the Institute of Comparative and Regional Studies (ICRS) at the University of Denver, Colorado, USA. Buoyed by the Lok Sabha election results, the Congress's top decision-making body, the Congress Working Committee (CWC) on Saturday urged Rahul Gandhi to take the mantle of the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha. In a resolution adopted by the CWC, party general secretary K C Venugopal said the CWC has requested Rahul Gandhi to take the Leader of the Opposition position in the Lok Sabha. "Rahul Gandhi is the best person to lead this campaign inside the Parliament, this is what the CWC's view was...the entire CWC feels for a better and strong vigilant Opposition, those who want to protect the Constitution also, should be safe under the leadership of Rahul Gandhi as a Leader of Opposition, this is what the CWC resolution is," he said. "Rahul Gandhi said he respects the sentiments of the CWC members and told them that he would take a decision on it very soon," he told reporters. On whether Rahul Gandhi will take the post of Leader of Opposition (LoP), Sonia Gandhi said. "You should ask him." To a query on the CWC resolution on LoP, Rahul Gandhi told reporters, "Let us see". Not just Venugopal, Congress MP from Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma was another voice who batted for Rahul to take up the office of Leader of the Opposition. He called it a collective desire of the party. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury too expressed his desire for Rahul to helm the opposition in the Parliament. "Everyone unanimously wants Rahul Gandhi to be the LoP. The CWC had hailed the roles played by Kharge, Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi during the Lok Sabha polls. The CWC said that former Congress president Rahul Gandhi has to be singled out largely because of the Bharat Jodo Yatra and the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra that he designed and led. "Both these Yatras that reflected his own thinking and personality were historic turning points in our nation's politics and instilled hope and confidence in lakhs of our workers and crores of our voters," the resolution said. "Rahul Gandhi's election campaign was single-minded, sharp and pointed and more than any other individual it was he who made the protection of our republic's Constitution the central issue in the 2024 elections, the CWC said. (With PTI inputs) After 246 days in captivity, four Israelis, taken hostage by the Palestinian militant group Hamas during the October 7 attack, were rescued by the Israeli forces on Saturday. A daytime operation, which happened after an extensive planning, saw Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv, being extracted and airlifted from Central Gaza. The risky operation was codenamed 'Seeds of Summer' initially but was later changed to Operation Arnon after a security personal Arnon Zamora, who died in the Hamas fire during the mission. Military officials said the mission was a "hairs breadth" between success and failure. However, it was planned out weeks in advance, according to Tel Aviv-based 'The Times of Israel.' Though Hamas reportedly kept moving the hostages around Gaza to prevent Israeli rescue operations, the Israelis managed to get intel on hostages locations. The report added that the counter-terrorism unit of the Israeli police conducted multiple mock drills practising the extraction from Nuseirat Gaza. According to military officials, these were "similar to the Entebbe raid" of 1976, when Israeli commandos rescued more than 100 hostages in Uganda. Two days before Operation Arnon was launched, the military launched another operation in a region east of Nuseirat. This was to deceive Hamas's defences from Nuseirat. Though previous operations were launched during nighttime, the troop decided to launch the mission during morning hours this time. On Saturday morning. At 11:00 a.m. the order was given to two Israeli units, the Yamam and Shin Bet, to raid two multi-story buildings in Nuseirat, where Hamas was holding the hostages. The buildings were about 200 meters apart, and a decision was taken to go for both simultaneously due to the possibility that Hamas may murder the hostages after identifying the rescue operation at the other location. While Noa Argamani was held by Hamas guards alone in the home of a Palestinian family, the other three hostages were held at a separate home, also with guards. According to the IDF, Hamas pays such families to hold the hostages in their houses. While Argamanis rescue was relatively smooth, a major gun battle erupted at the home where Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were held. In the gunfire exchange, Arnon Zamora and the Hamas guards were killed. Though the forces immediately tried to extract the hostages and severly wounded Zamora out of Nuseirat, their vehicle came under fire, causing it to get stuck in Gaza. Other forces quickly reached the scene to rescue them, bringing them to a makeshift helipad in Gaza, from where they were airlifted to Tel Hashomer Hospital in central Israel, The Times of Israel reported. The operation claimed multiple civilian lives. While Hamass government media office said at least 210 people were killed amid the operation, Israel says 100 died. The Israel Defence Forces also placed the blame on Hamas for holding hostages and fighting in a dense civilian environment. "We know about under 100 [Palestinian] casualties. I dont know how many of them are terrorists," IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a briefing with journalists. On his 70th birthday in March 2023, addressing a public meeting with leaders of the DMK coalition, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said, An alliance without the Congress should be rejected as it would not succeed. An alliance after the election will also be practically impossible. A third front is pointless. I humbly request all political parties opposed to the BJP to understand this simple electoral arithmetic and stand united. A year later, the INDIA bloc made a clean sweep, winning all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu and the solitary one in neighbouring Puducherry. The BJP and its rainbow alliance failed miserably to breach the Dravidian fortress. The BJP has, however, managed to touch double-digit vote share in Tamil Nadu. The party directly contested in 19 seats and four of its allies also contested on the lotus symbol. It finished with a 10.72 per cent vote share, compared with 3.6 per cent in 2019, when the party was in alliance with the AIADMK. BJP supporters celebrate in Hyderabad | AFP In the Coimbatore constituency, BJP state president K. Annamalai lost by a margin of 1.18 lakh votes to the DMKs Ganapathi P. Raj Kumar. Other key BJP leaders like Tamilisai Soundararajan, L. Murugan, Pon Radhakrishnan and Nainar Nagendran, too, failed to impress the electorate. The BJP has been working hard to make inroads into Tamil Nadu following the partys victory in four seats in the 2021 assembly polls, which it contested as a junior partner of the AIADMK. Annamalais En Mann En Makkal (My Land, My People) padyatra and Prime Minister Narendra Modis frequent visits to the state and his roadshows were part of that mission. Annamalai has always been keen to position the BJP as the main opposition in the state. He took the DMK head on, said Stalin was unfit to rule and even released an allegedly doctored audio clip in which state minister Palanivel Thiagarajan could be heard calling the ruling party corrupt. Annamalai also criticised the AIADMK and called Jayalalithaa corrupt. Despite the rhetoric, the results turned out to be a major embarrassment for the BJP. Once Annamalai asked me about my qualifications, said DMK MP Kanimozhi. I have been elected by the people of Thoothukudi for the second time in a row. But Annamalai has lost. If he continues as the president of the BJP, it is not good for the party. Giant killer: BJPs Dr C.N. Manjunath celebrates with supporters after winning the Lok Sabha elections from Bengaluru Rural | PTI The BJP was unable to crack the strong alliance put together by the DMK and failed to attract the AIADMK votes, despite having senior leaders like O. Panneerselvam and T.T.V. Dhinakaran in its fold. The staunch anti-BJP, anti-Modi campaign by Stalin and the INDIA bloc leaders ultimately proved effective. The EDs jailing of former minister V. Senthil Balaji, repeated ED raids in the state and the nepotism charges against the DMK also alienated voters. The BJP, meanwhile, is putting up a brave face. We havent lost. We have scored a very good vote share, said BJP spokesperson Narayanan Thirupathy. In most of the constituencies, the votes polled by our candidates were the determining factor. Tamil Nadu is no longer a Dravidian citadel. ON JUNE 4, members of a music troupe outside the BJP headquarters in Hyderabad were getting impatient as they were asked not to perform till they got the nod from the office. Inside, party leaders were anxiously monitoring the results. And the office staff were in a dilemma about when and whether to get the sweets. The sombre mood continued for a while, despite the BJP putting up its best show ever in Telangana, winning eight of 17 seats, the same number of seats the ruling Congress got. Asaduddin Owaisi of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen won the Hyderabad seat. Yes, we won a good number of seats in Telangana. But how can we celebrate when we are performing poorly at the national level? asked a BJP member. The stress was palpable as the NDA tally just about managed to breach the magic figure. Towards evening, however, the atmosphere turned jubilant as workers started celebrating. A similar scene unfolded outside the Congress headquarters as well, but the reasons were just the opposite. The Congress performed well at the national level, but its state unit did not live up to the expectations. The BJP made its mark right from the north of the state to all the way down the south. In the north Telangana region, it retained its three seats: Karimnagar, Adilabad and Nizamabad. In central Telangana, the party made a mark by conquering Medak, the bastion of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi. The BJP won two new seats around Hyderabad: Chevella and Malkajgiri, which cover parts of Hyderabads IT zones and the peripheral areas of the city. Union Minister and state party president G. Kishan Reddy retained his Secunderabad seat. In the Hyderabad seat, the BJP managed to create some hype through its candidate K. Madhavi Latha, who became a social media sensation. The party tried hard to counter the allegation of the Congress that it was hand in glove with the AIMIM. Ultimately, however, Owaisi retained the seat with a huge margin. The BJPs impressive performance in seats such as Nizamabad, Karimnagar, Malkajgiri and Chevella shows its growing acceptance in the state. It clearly benefited from the decline of the BRS, which drew a blank. The Ram Temple inauguration also seems to have worked. We got great response when Akshat (rice grains mixed with turmeric and ghee) and other items from Ayodhya were distributed to the people in January. Telangana also contributed generously for the construction of the temple. There was a silent pro-BJP wave, said a party leader. IN NEIGHBOURING Andhra Pradesh, where assembly elections were held simultaneously, the BJP showed a lot of promise by shining in areas where it was least expected to. The party won eight assembly seats, its highest figure ever, with the support of the Telugu Desam Party and the Jana Sena Party. The BJP won three Lok Sabha seats, its highest since the 1999 elections. One of the BJP coordinators who worked on the ground in Andhra Pradesh said, The TDP-JSP campaign was energised with the entry of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It made a big difference. A surprising aspect of the election was that minorities, which the YSR Congress Party considered its traditional vote bank, voted for the NDA in large numbers. The results have shown that the two Telugu states have opened the gates for the BJP to further expand and consolidate in the south. FOR THE RULING Congress in Karnataka, winning nine of 28 seats in the Lok Sabha polls appears to be a big leap, considering the party had just one MP in 2019. But the party would rue the fact that a sweep in Karnataka and the neighbouring Telangana, also ruled by the Congress, could have brought the INDIA bloc closer to the majority mark nationally. The BJP, which made the smart move of joining hands with the Janata Dal (Secular), managed to consolidate the dominant Vokkaliga votes in the Old Mysuru region and the Lingayat votes in North Karnataka to win 19 seats, including Mandya and Kolar contested by the JD(S). But it failed to retain eight of its seats. For the Congress, the biggest shock was the defeat of sitting MP D.K. Suresh, younger brother of Deputy Chief Minister and state party chief D.K. Shivakumar in Bengaluru Rural. He was defeated by the BJPs cardiologist-turned politician Dr C.N. Manjunath, who is the son-in-law of former prime minister H.D. Deve Gowda. Shivakumar called it an individual victory, rather than a partys win. My brother did a good job in the constituency and did not face any anti-incumbency. But people chose to give Dr Manjunath a chance. We had thought we would get 14 seats and that the guarantees would help us win, said the Vokkaliga strongman, after his party failed to step up its game in the Old Mysuru Vokkaliga heartland. Another high-profile constituency was Hassan, which saw sitting JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna losing. The defeat of Prajwal, who is in jail over charges of rape and sexual assault against multiple women, perhaps saved the NDA from further embarrassment. The Congress finds comfort in its vote share going up to 45.43 per cent, from 31.88 per cent in 2019. The BJP saw a drop of 5.34 per cent from the 51.38 per cent it polled five years ago. The JD(S), which contested only three seats, got 5.72 per cent, against 9.67 per cent in 2019. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah pointed out that his party had scaled up both the number of seats and the vote share. He said the overall results showed that there was no Modi wave. The BJP failed to win a simple majority and Modi resorted to playing the communal card as he had sensed that the party would not get a majority. The party did not win even in Ayodhya, said Siddaramaiah, attributing the Congresss gains to Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra. The chief minister was, however, apprehensive about his governments guarantee schemes and said that their impact should be analysed. The Congress experiment of picking six fresh faceschildren of cabinet ministerstasted partial success as only three made the cut. The winners were Priyanka Jarkiholi, 27, daughter of Public Works Department Minister Satish Jarkiholi from Chikkodi, Sagar Khandre, 26, son of Forest Minister Eshwar Khandre from Bidar and Sunil Bose, 42, son of Social Welfare Minister Dr H.C. Mahadevappa from Chamarajanagar. The BJP had dropped 15 incumbents to fight anti-incumbency. In their place, the party fielded two former chief ministers, Basavaraj Bommai (Haveri) and Jagadish Shettar (Belagavi), and five candidates who lost the last assembly polls, among others. Ten of them were elected. Former chief minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of the JD(S), who won the Mandya seat by more than two lakh votes, said the BJP-JD(S) alliance expected to win a few more seats. I dont believe the Congresss guarantees had any impact, he said. In fact, Congress spent huge resources to win those seats. New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) Tata Group-owned Air India is utilising the engineering skills available with group airlines to carry out more maintenance work of the aircraft under its own quality control amid multiple instances of its legacy planes facing operational issues, according to a senior company official. The official also said the airline is keen to lease aircraft but the market is very tight, especially for wide-body planes. After the takeover by the Tata Group in 2022, loss-making Air India has been making efforts for improvement and has embarked on a five-year transformation plan. To address the engineering issues more effectively, the official told PTI that Air India is bringing the work of line maintenance component in-house as well as using the licensing and skills of the group airlines to do some things in certain types of aircraft. Such an approach will help Air India in doing more "maintenance work under our own quality control", the official said on condition of anonymity. Air India is setting up a maintenance base in Bengaluru and the facility will be operational by the end of next year. The group has four airlines -- Air India, Air India Express, AIX Connect (formerly AirAsia India), and Vistara. The systematic upgrade is being done to bring some aircraft to the healthy standard. These are old Boeing 787s and 777s, the official said, while speaking on the sidelines of the IATA annual general meeting in Dubai this week. The Boeing 777-200 LRs are the smallest fleet and ones that operate to the West Coast of the US. When something goes wrong with one of them, then there is relatively few to substitute and do that mission. One disruption can have a big effect, the official said. In recent weeks, at least four ultra long-haul flights of Air India, operated by Boeing 777 aircraft, faced inordinate delays due to technical and operational issues. Air India has at least 43 legacy wide-body planes -- 16 Boeing 777s and 27 Boeing 787s. Earlier this week at a conference in the national capital, Air India CEO and MD Campbell Wilson said the airline will be retrofitting more than 100 planes, including 40 wide-body planes, and has ordered around 25,000 aircraft seats as part of revamping the fleet. On plans to lease more aircraft to address the issues being faced with legacy planes operating ultra long-haul flights, the official said the airline will be happy to lease aircraft but the market is very tight, especially for wide-body aircraft. At present, the carrier is also operating wide-body aircraft leased from Delta Air Lines and Etihad Airways. While the airline sees continued opportunities for expansion, the official said it is also aware about the unreliability of the legacy aircraft and efforts are on to get them to the standard as well as replace them with new planes. Last year, Air India placed an order for 470 planes with Airbus and Boeing, including for 70 wide-body aircraft. The carrier is already operating six A350s, which will be utilised more in international routes in the coming months. As part of the consolidation of Tata Group's airline business, AIX Connect is getting merged with Air India Express, and Vistara is getting merged with Air India. Both mergers are expected to be complete by the end of this year. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) Mumbai, Jun 9 (PTI) The Uttar Pradesh government has sanctioned a 2-acre plot in Ayodhya to construct Maharashtra Sadan, state public works department minister Ravindra Chavan said on Sunday. The Maharashtra government had made such a request so that devotees going to the Ram Temple from here could be provided state run accommodation, Chavan told reporters. The state government had taken a decision in March this year to set up Maharashtra Sadan in Ayodhya and had earmarked Rs 67.11 crore for it. Indore, Jun 9 (PTI) The GRP on Sunday recovered an unidentified woman's body cut into two pieces, with her hands and legs missing, and stuffed in two bags in a train in Madhya Pradesh's Indore city, an official said. The police suspect the woman was murdered at some other place and the body was dumped in the train on Saturday night, he said. After being informed by a sanitation worker, the body was recovered from Dr Ambedkar Nagar-Indore passenger train, Government Railway Police (GRP) station in-charge Sanjay Shukla said. The deceased, who was yet to be identified, was believed to be in the age group of 20 to 25 years, he said. "The upper part of the woman's body from head to waist was found in a trolley bag left in the train, while the body part below waist was found in a plastic bag. Both her hands and legs are missing," Shukla said. It is suspected the woman was murdered at some other place one or two days back and after that the body parts were kept in the train on Saturday night, the official said. The Dr Ambedkar Nagar-Indore train reached here on Saturday night and after the passengers alighted, the train was moved to the yard for maintenance, he said. Efforts were on to identify the woman and the case was being investigated, the official added. Kolkata, Jun 9 (PTI) The West Bengal CID on Sunday began questioning Mohammad Siyam Hussain, who was arrested by the Nepal Police and extradited to India, in connection with the agencys probe into the murder of Bangladesh MP Anwarul Azim Anar, a senior official said. Hussain was also taken to the flat in New Town area near Kolkata where Anar was last seen on May 12, to assist the CID in tracing the body parts of the Bangladeshi politician, and the tools used to commit the crime, he said. A key suspect in the case, Hussain was arrested by the Nepal Police and extradited to India on Friday. "We are questioning Hussain. He was also taken to the New Town flat and nearby areas to look for the Bangladesh MPs body parts. He will assist us in tracing the murder tools as well, the CID officer said. Hussain was brought to West Bengal on Saturday evening and sent to 14-day custody of the CID by a local court in Barasat in North 24 Parganas district. Efforts to locate the missing MP, who reportedly arrived in Kolkata on May 12 for medical treatment, have been underway since Gopal Biswas, a resident of Baranagar in north Kolkata and an acquaintance of the Bangladeshi politician, filed a complaint with the local police on May 18. Anar had been staying at Biswas' residence upon his arrival. In his complaint, Biswas mentioned that Anar left his Baranagar residence for a doctor's appointment in the afternoon of May 13 and was expected back home for dinner. However, Anar's disappearance prompted Biswas to file a police complaint. Kolkata, Jun 9 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday paid tribute to tribal icon Birsa Munda on his death anniversary, asserting that his fearless patriotism is an inspiration for all. Birsa Muda died in the Old Central Jail in Ranchi on June 9, 1900. "I pay my respect to freedom fighter Birsa Munda on his death anniversary. His fearless patriotism, mental strength to stand against injustice is our inspiration," Banerjee wrote on X. "I am proud that our state government observes his birth anniversary as a holiday every year to honour this brave martyr. We have adopted the name of this stalwart of the tribal society in one of our universities in Jangalmahal," she added. His birth anniversary is celebrated across the country as the Janjatiya Gaurav Diwas. Birsa Munda was born on November 15, 1875. John Hood RALEIGH State and local governments annually collect tens of billions of dollars in taxes from North Carolinians. The total bill comes to an average of $5,300 per person per year. Most Americans pay more than we do. According to the latest Facts & Figures report from the Tax Foundation, state and local taxes across the country consume an average of 11.2% of income. North Carolinas combined tax burden is 9.9%. That is lower than Virginias 12.5% and Marylands 11.3%. But its higher than in Texas (8.6%), South Carolina (8.9%), Georgia (8.9%), and Florida (9.1%). Taxes divided by income isnt the only relevant measure, however. At any given level of taxation, there can better and worse ways to collect the money. Some systems are fairer than others, more efficient than others, or more favorable to investment and job creation than others. Indeed, the Tax Foundation rates North Carolinas tax code the ninth friendliest to economic growth, given our relatively low taxes on property, payrolls, and corporate incomes and our relatively flat taxes on personal income and retail sales. When our corporate tax is fully phased out by the end of the decade, North Carolinas ranking will improve. If lawmakers follow that up by reducing franchise or capital-gains taxes, it will improve even more. Theres plenty of room for reasonable debate about tax policy. Still, the debate will be more constructive if everyone keeps these three facts in mind: When making nationwide comparisons, citing state taxes alone can be misleading. Systems of public finance vary widely. Here in North Carolina, for example, we primarily fund public schools with state dollars, not local dollars, and have done so for many decades. In other states, local property taxes play a predominate role. Other states also have county road systems financed by county taxes. We dont. Thats the main reason our motor-fuels tax (62 cents in most cases) is one of the highest in the country. North Carolina motorists dont pay more for transportation. We pay differently. What we finance with gas taxes, other places finance with property or sales taxes. When I ran a full accounting of the numbers some years ago, our transportation tax burden was below average, not above average. If you run across stories comparing the tax burden where you live to tax burdens elsewhere, look at the fine print. If it references only state taxes, only local taxes, or only one kind of tax, youre probably consuming clickbait, not truly useful information. In part because of such structural differences, North Carolinas mix of taxes deviates from the mean. We rely more on personal income tax (31% of tax collections in 2021) and sales tax (26%) than does the average state (26% and 23%, respectively). On the flip side, property taxes make up 23% of collections here vs. 30% in the average state. Story continues This will change a bit as the General Assembly continues to pursue tax reform. Just dont expect those changes to be dramatic. When it comes to taxes, whos the fairest one of all? As it happens, we do need to consult a mirror to answer this question, because we dont all share the same definition of tax fairness. Ive written many columns and even the better part of two books on this issue, so I wont try to summarize all the arguments and evidence here. But I will make this point: those who pay state and local taxes also pay federal taxes. Im not just talking about federal income taxes. I mean federal payroll taxes, excise taxes, and the portion of tariffs and business tax burdens shouldered by consumers and workers. No serious study of federal, state, and local taxes combined shows anything other than a progressive system in which wealthy households pay a higher share of their income in taxes than middle-income households do. The latter, in turn, pay more than poor households. Fair? Not fair? Lets discuss so long as the discussion remains tethered to reality. John Hood is a John Locke Foundation board member. His latest books, Mountain Folk and Forest Folk, combine epic fantasy with early American history (FolkloreCycle.com). This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: John Hood writes about taxation in NC New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) Union Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday described the terror attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi locality as "extremely reprehensible". Nine people were killed and 33 injured as terrorists struck a bus carrying pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh on Sunday evening, opening fire on the vehicle that fell into a gorge, a senior police officer said. "The attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir is extremely reprehensible," Singh said on 'X'. "My heart goes out to the families of those who have lost their loved ones in this heinous act against pilgrims. I also pray for the speedy recovery of the injured," he said. Singh's reaction came shortly after he took oath as a Union Cabinet minister. The portfolios of the ministers sworn in on Sunday evening are yet to be allocated. The attack occurred on the bus en route from Shiv Khori temple to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine at Katra near Teryath village in the Poni area. The bus, a 53-seater, veered off the road and plunged into a deep gorge following the gunfire at around 6:15 pm. New Delhi, Jun 9 (PTI) The NIA has arrested a militant currently lodged in an Assam jail for his alleged involvement in the killing of four civilians in Manipur's Bishnupur district earlier this year, the probe agency said in a statement on Sunday. Lunminsei Kipgen alias Langinmang alias Mang alias Levi, a resident of Manipur, was arrested on Saturday by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) from Central Jail, Lokhra, in Guwahati under provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and the Arms Act, it said. He is the first accused to be arrested for the gruesome killings on January 18, when armed assailants brutally murdered four civilians near the water treatment plant at Ningthoukhong Kha Khunou, Bishnupur, the NIA statement said. "The NIA on Saturday arrested one person, currently in Guwahati jail in another case, in connection with the killing of four civilians in Manipur's Bishnupur district," it added. The assailants had opened indiscriminate fire from sophisticated weapons, leading to the civilians' deaths, the probe agency said. The NIA, which had registered a case on February 9, found during the investigation that Lunminsei Kipgen was actively involved in the attack, which was part of the ongoing ethnic unrest and violence in the northeastern state. Previously a cadre of the Kuki militant outfit KNF(P), he joined another Kuki militant organisation -- the United Kuki National Army -- during the current spate of violence and participated in the killings, it added. Gurugram, Jun 9 (PTI) An FIR was registered against nine people, including IREO Group Managing Director Lalit Goyal and Oberoi Realty Limited Chairman and Managing Director Vikas Oberoi, under various sections of cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery, police said on Sunday. The FIR was filed on the orders of the Chief Judicial Magistrate at the DLF phase 2 police station on Friday following a complaint lodged by Advance India Projects Limited (AIPL), citing allegations of cheating, criminal breach of trust and forgery against the accused, the police said. According to the FIR, IREO and Oberoi -- both realty groups -- are accused of conspiring to defraud allottees who had invested funds since 2013, thus not only deceiving investors but also defrauding the AIPL Group. In its complaint, AIPL claimed that IREO Group embezzled approximately Rs 1,777 crore and sent it out of the country, adding that about Rs 1,376 crore was recovered as advances from the allottees. AIPL alleged that IREO collected Rs 400 crore from about 70 allottees in the Grand Hyatt Residency Project in sector 58 here as part of this embezzlement scheme. It is also added that in this regard, several cases were registered against IREO Group and it was investigated by the Enforcement Directorate and later the group's chief director and accused Lalit Goyal was also arrested. Due to this, the project was stopped midway and cases were filed in different courts on behalf of the allottees. According to the police, the FIR is pertaining to the same project for which Oberoi Realty Limited had recently informed the stock exchanges of its entry into the Delhi-NCR luxury segment by entering into a joint venture with IREO. The facts of the present FIR are shocking and highlights how IREO and Oberoi had deliberately conspired to deprive the investors who had invested money since 2013, they said. As per the FIR, not only the investors were cheated but also the AIPL group, which had entered into an MoU to complete the project and had made substantial progress to resolve the litigation. "After various issues of IREO ended with the AIPL agreement, the company entered into an agreement with another builder, Oberoi Group, in bad faith and in violation of the terms and conditions of the agreement. Due to this, AIPL company suffered a loss of thousands of crores," the complainant said in the FIR. Following a petition filed regarding this fraud, a case has been registered against nine people under sections 409 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), 467 (forgery of valuable security), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using forged document), 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), the police said. A senior police officer said that they are investigating into the matter and the accused will be arrested after verifying the facts. Kaushambi (UP), Jun 8 (PTI) A 15-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped by her school principal, attempted suicide by jumping in front of a goods train on Saturday, police said. The girl has been admitted to the district hospital in a serious condition, they said. DK Mishra is posted as the principal in Rambali Sharma Saraswati Bal Mandir School located in Bharwari Municipal Council under the Kokhraj police station area. A video of the principal in an objectionable condition with the girl, a resident of a village in the police station's area, went viral on social media four days ago. Additional Director General of Police (ADG) Bhanu Bhaskar said Raju Singh Lodh who made the video public was arrested on Saturday. After investigating the viral video, a case was registered against the principal on the basis of a complaint of the victim's family. The case was registered under sections 376 (punishment for rape), 323 (punishment for voluntarily causing hurt), 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Information Technology Act and the POCSO Act. A team was formed by Circle Officer Sirathu Awadhesh Kumar Vishwakarma to investigate the case and arrest the accused. Vishwakarma said the girl attempted suicide by jumping in front of a freight train on the Delhi-Howrah railway line on Saturday. She was seriously injured after being hit by the train. On getting information, police reached the spot and admitted her to the district hospital. He said according to her family members, the girl attempted suicide as she was upset that the video had gone viral. New Delhi, Jun 8 (PTI) Four years after three journalists and a group of residents in North-East Delhi's Bhajanpura area accused each other of assault, police have questioned one of the scribes in the case. The journalist, Prabhjit Singh, who works with The Caravan was served a notice on June 3 and asked to join the probe on June 7, a senior police officer said on Saturday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North-East) Joy Tirkey said Singh joined the probe at Bhajanpura Police Station on June 7 and his statement was recorded. Further investigations in the matter is underway, he said. Giving details of the case, the officer said on August 11, 2020 at about 3 PM, a PCR call was received at Bhajanpura police station about an altercation involving some media persons. According to the journalists, the incident occurred when they had gone to report a story in Bhajanpura. Both parties filed separate complaints against each other, after which two separate FIRs were registered, the police said. Singh had alleged that a woman reporter accompanying him was assaulted and molested by some persons at Subhash Mohalla in Bhajanpura, the officer said. He said Singh did not mention the names of the accused in his complaint. A woman resident also had filed a written complaint regarding the incident alleging Prabhjit Singh and his two fellow reporters including Shahid Tantray assaulted her and her husband. He said the complainant also alleged the trio did "negative reporting" promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion. The officer said from the woman resident's statement was recorded before the magistrate but the woman reporter has not joined the investigation so far. The Caravan in a statement said it was a "worrying" development and neither it nor the named journalists were informed of any such FIR for four years. It claimed that on 11 August 2020, a mob assaulted three journalists working with it - Shahid Tantray, Prabhjit Singh and a woman journalist - in northeast Delhi's Subhash Mohalla neighbourhood. The journalists were subjected to communal slurs and threatened with murder; the woman reporter was sexually harassed, the magazine alleged. "These are shocking and worrying developments. The allegations in the FIR are absolutely false and fabricated. For four years, neither 'The Caravan' nor the named journalists were ever informed of any such FIR," it said. "Although our complaints were filed on the day of the incident itself, the police did not register our FIR until three days later, on 14 August 2020. The police have informed us that our FIR is being considered a 'counter FIR'," it added. "We have joined the investigation and intend to comply fully with the due process of law. We will exercise our rights under the law to challenge these false accusations and have them dismissed," the statement added. Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. By the time Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi boarded his window seat on a helicopter ferrying him, the foreign minister and six others, thick clouds already had begun forming around the mountaintops along the Azerbaijan-Iran border. Despite the worsening weather, the helicopter lifted off for a trip about 145 kilometers (90 miles) southwest to a new oil pipeline near Tabriz. Within an hour, the Bell 212 helicopter had crashed into a cloud-covered mountainside. While the cause of the May 19 crash remains unknown, the sudden death of the hard-line protege of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei exposed the contradictions and challenges facing the countrys Shiite theocracy. The Iranian military investigators probing the crash have previously faced international criticism over their report on troops shooting down a Ukrainian airliner in 2020. The hourslong desperate rescue attempt after the helicopter crash saw Tehran even reach out to the United States for help, just weeks after launching an unprecedented attack on Israel and as it enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Even the type of helicopter that crashed links back to Iranian history, both before and after the countrys 1979 Islamic Revolution. Iran is a culture of dualities, said Farzin Nadimi, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near-East Policy who studies Irans military. Some aspects, they seem so good and well-managed, well-oiled and very capable. In many levels, its quite lacking. Iranian military investigators have released two statements on the crash, largely ruling out possibilities rather than offering a suspected cause. Theyve rejected the possibility of an onboard explosion caused by sabotage or a cyberattack targeting the Bell 212, a two-blade, twin-engine helicopter more widely known as the Huey for its use by the U.S. military in the Vietnam War. The recorded conversations between the flight crew show that the last contact with the pilots up to the time of the incident and when they stopped responding lasted 69 seconds, the investigators said, according to the state-run IRNA news agency. No emergency declaration was recorded during that time. In conspiracy-minded Iran, some officials still insist foul play could have caused the crash. However, some other officials have begun to ask why the helicopter took off from the site of the new Giz Galasi Dam when the weather had started to turn. Mostafa Mirsalim, a member of the countrys Expediency Council, wrote on the social platform X that he had asked prosecutors to address the mistakes that led to the loss of the president and his delegation, without elaborating. Abbas Abdi, a prominent journalist, also wrote on X that the flight path taken by Raisis helicopter suggested the pilot didnt follow a standard Iranian practice of shadowing main roads in rural areas. That can both help navigation and provide a safe landing area in an emergency. Former Iranian Presidents Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Abolhassan Banisadr both survived helicopter crashes while in office. The helicopter involved in the crash, nearly 30 years old, came directly from a Bell manufacturing plant in Montreal, Canada, to the Iranian air force, according to data from the firm Cirium. It counts 12 Bell 212 aircraft registered in Iran that are still in service. Bell Textron Inc., based in Fort Worth, Texas, said it does not conduct any business in Iran or support their helicopter fleet, and we do not have knowledge about the active state of the helicopter involved in this accident. But despite being decades old, the Bell 212 and its military counterpart the Huey still are flown around the world. In the United States, Hueys still fly as part of Americas nuclear forces to support its silos and for some VIP missions, said Roger D. Connor, an aeronautics curator at the Smithsonians National Air and Space Museum in Washington. Over 440 still fly worldwide, according to Cirium. Its a simple aircraft to fly by medium helicopter standards. It doesnt typically have much automation which can have both positive and negative implications for operators, Connor said. More automation means more opportunities for pilot confusion in certain circumstances, but also better capabilities in low-visibility conditions. Irans use of the Bell 212 remains pervasive, in part due to the late Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who struck deals to purchase hundreds of the helicopters and had plans to build a local variant, Nadimi said. Those already in the country at the time of the Islamic Revolution ended up being a key component of Irans bloody war against Iraq in the 1980s. But as Western sanctions dried up the supply of parts, fewer of the aircraft were airworthy, despite efforts to locally overhaul them. That saw Iran engage in covert means to secure parts, sparking several U.S. criminal cases for those involved, who sought everything from safety equipment to full engines and night-vision goggles for the aircraft. Former Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sought to blame sanctions for the crash. U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller responded by saying America was not going to apologize for our sanctions regime at all as Iran has used aircraft to transport equipment to support terrorism. Ultimately, its the Iranian government that is responsible for the decision to fly a helicopter in what was described as poor weather conditions, not any other actor, Miller said. Meanwhile, questions remain over why Iran couldnt find the helicopter for hours, even though one of the victims reportedly talked by cellphone with officials. Such calls, in theory, can be triangulated by security services. Also, it remains unclear if the helicopter had any emergency tracker, which are common on aircraft. While the investigation continues, Nadimi said he believed that the Bell 212 that flew Raisi did not have advanced avionics that could have been useful for low-visibility flight. However, he stressed that the major issue in the crash likely involves who allowed the flight to take off as the weather turned poor and whether the pilot faced pressure from his VIP passengers to make the journey no matter what. Pilot error, human error might be to blame, but there was a chain of events that caused this crash, not just pilot error, Nadimi said. That helicopter should have been able to clear that terrain and fly safely to its destination. They should not have been dispatched for flying. (AP) Eleven Yemeni employees of United Nations agencies have been detained by Yemens Houthi rebels under unclear circumstances, authorities said Friday, as the rebels face increasing financial pressure and airstrikes from a U.S.-led coalition. Others working for aid groups also have been taken. The detentions come as the Houthis, who seized Yemens capital nearly a decade ago and have been fighting a Saudi-led coalition since shortly after, have been targeting shipping throughout the Red Sea corridor over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. But while gaining more attention internationally, the secretive group has cracked down at dissent at home, including recently sentencing 44 people to death. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric in New York acknowledged 11 U.N. staffers had been taken. We are very concerned about these developments, and were actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions and most importantly, to ensure the immediate access to those U.N. personnel, he told journalists. So I can further tell you that were pursuing all available channels to secure the safe and unconditional release of all of them as rapidly as possible. Of the 11, the U.N. said nine are men and two are women. Six worked for the U.N.s human rights agency, while one apiece worked for its special envoys office, its development arm, UNICEF, the World Food Program and UNESCO. The Mayyun Organization for Human Rights, which also reported U.N. staffers were held, named other aid groups whose employees were detained by the Houthis across four provinces that the Houthis hold Amran, Hodeida, Saada and Saana. We condemn in the strongest terms this dangerous escalation, which constitutes a violation of the privileges and immunities of United Nations employees granted to them under international law, and we consider it to be oppressive, totalitarian, blackmailing practices to obtain political and economic gains, the organization said in a statement. Save the Children, told the AP that it was concerned of the whereabouts of one of our staff members in Yemen and doing everything we can to ensure his safety and well-being. The group declined to elaborate. CARE International also said one of its staffers had been detained without being given a reason. We are concerned about our colleagues safety and are working to get more information in the coming hours and days, said Sulafah al-Shami, a CARE spokeswoman. Until then, we have extended our support to the family and share their hope for his speedy release. Other groups also are believed to have staff who were taken as well, though they did not acknowledge it publicly. Activists, lawyers and others also began an open online letter, calling on the Houthis to immediately release those detained, because if they dont, it helps isolate the country from the world. Human Rights Watch, quoting family members of those detained, said that Houthi authorities have not revealed the locations of the people they detained or allowed them to communicate with their employers or families. The Houthis should immediately release any U.N. employees and workers for other independent groups they have detained because of their human rights and humanitarian work and stop arbitrarily detaining and forcibly disappearing people, Human Rights Watch researcher Niku Jafarnia said. Yemens Houthi rebels and their affiliated media organizations didnt discuss the detentions, though military spokesman Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree claimed attacks Friday night on ships that hadnt been reported damage or been acknowledged by international authorities. The U.S. militarys Central Command said the Houthis launched four anti-ship ballistic missiles over the last day that caused no damage. Separately, U.S. forces destroyed two missiles, five drones and one patrol boat, it said, something not acknowledged by the rebels. The Iranian-backed rebels also reported new U.S.-led airstrikes Friday hitting around the Red Sea port city of Hodeida and later in the capital, Sanaa. Several hit Hodeidas airport, the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency said, where the rebels are believed to have launched attacks previously targeting shipping in the region. Its unclear what exactly sparked the detentions. Former employees of the U.S. Embassy in Sanaa, which shuttered in 2015, also have been detained and held by the Houthis. However, it comes as the Houthis have faced issues with having enough currency to support the economy in areas they hold something signaled by their move to introduce a new coin into the Yemeni currency, the riyal. Yemens exiled government in Aden and other nations criticized the move, saying the Houthis are turning to counterfeiting. Aden authorities also have demanded all banks move their headquarters there as a means to stop the worst slide ever in the riyals value and re-exert their control over the economy. Internal tensions and conflicts could spiral out of control and lead Yemen into complete economic collapse, warned Yemeni journalist Mohammed Ali Thamer in an analysis published by the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Bloomberg separately reported Thursday that the U.S. planned to further increase economic pressure on the Houthis by blocking their revenue sources, including a planned $1.5 billion Saudi payment to cover salaries for government employees in rebel-held territory. The war in Yemen has killed more than 150,000 people, including fighters and civilians, and created one of the worlds worst humanitarian disasters, killing tens of thousands more. The Houthis attacks on shipping have helped deflect attention from their problems at home and the stalemated war. But theyve faced increasing casualties and damage from U.S.-led airstrikes targeting the group for months now. Thousands have been imprisoned by the Houthis during the 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. Meanwhile, the Houthis have employed child soldiers and indiscriminately laid mines in the conflict. The Houthis previously have detained four other U.N. staffers two in 2021 and another two in 2023. The U.N.s human rights agency in 2023 called those detentions a profoundly alarming situation as it reveals a complete disregard for the rule of law. (AP) Russia-installed officials in the partially-occupied Ukrainian regions of Kherson and Luhansk said Ukrainian attacks left at least 28 people dead as Russia and Ukraine continued to exchange drone attacks overnight into Saturday. A Ukrainian attack Friday on the small town of Sadove in the Kherson region killed 22 and wounded 15 people, Moscow-appointed governor Vladimir Saldo said. Russian state news agency Tass cited Saldo as saying that Ukrainian forces first struck the town with a French-made guided bomb, then attacked again with a U.S.-supplied HIMARS missile. He said Ukrainian forces had deliberately made a repeat strike to create greater numbers of casualties when residents of nearby houses ran out to help the injured. Officials declared Saturday a day of mourning in Luhansk, and public events will be similarly cancelled Sunday and Monday in Kherson. Further east, Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-installed governor in Ukraines partially occupied Luhansk region, said Saturday that two more bodies had been pulled from the rubble following Fridays Ukrainian missile attack on the regional capital, also called Luhansk. Russian state news agency Interfax cited regional authorities as saying this brought the death toll to six. Pasechnik also said 60 people were wounded in the attack. Ukraine did not comment on either assault. Meanwhile, drone attacks between Russia and Ukraine persisted. Ukraine launched a barrage of drones across Russian territory overnight Friday, Russias Defense Ministry said Saturday. Twenty-five drones were reportedly destroyed over Russias southern Kuban and Astrakhan regions, the western Tula region, and the Moscow-annexed Crimean peninsula. On Saturday morning, officials said air defenses for the first time shot down Ukrainian drones over the North Ossetia region in the North Caucasus, some 900 km (560 miles) east of the front line in Ukraines partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region. Russias Ministry of Defense said that one drone had been destroyed, whereas regional Gov. Sergei Menyailo reported three downed drones over the region. Menyailo said that the target was a military airfield. Ukrainian air defense overnight shot down nine out of 13 Russian drones over the central Poltava region, southeastern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and the Kharkiv region in the northeast, Ukraines air force said Saturday. Dnipropetrovsk regional Gov. Serhiy Lysak said the overnight drone attack damaged commercial and residential buildings. Later on Saturday, a Ukrainian military spokesman said Ukraine now controlled more than half of the town of Vovchansk, a flashpoint for fighting since Russia launched a renewed offensive in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region last month. Most of the city is under the control of the defense forces, Nazar Voloshin, spokesman for the Khortytsia ground forces formation, said on Ukrainian state TV. It wasnt immediately possible to independently confirm the claim. Russias Kharkiv push appears to be a coordinated new offensive that includes testing Ukrainian defenses in the Donetsk region further south, while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions. Also on Saturday, Ukrainian officials said there was an attempt on the life of the ex-mayor of Kupiansk, a city in Ukraines northeastern Kharkiv region, on Friday. The Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Ministry of Defense said Hennadiy Matsehora was in critical condition after he was attacked in Russias Belgorod region, bordering Ukraine. Officials said he voluntarily agreed to full cooperation when Russian troops invaded and in June 2022 signed the so-called protocol for the creation of the occupation Kharkiv administration. After the Ukrainian Armed Forces took back control of Kupiansk, Matsehora had escaped with the Russians to the Belgorod region, Ukrainian intelligence said. The statement by the directorate on social messaging app Telegram labeled the ex-mayor a traitor. (AP) Key Insights Using the 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity, ORIOR fair value estimate is CHF94.20 Current share price of CHF60.80 suggests ORIOR is potentially 35% undervalued The CHF70.13 analyst price target for ORON is 26% less than our estimate of fair value Today we will run through one way of estimating the intrinsic value of ORIOR AG (VTX:ORON) by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. The Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model is the tool we will apply to do this. There's really not all that much to it, even though it might appear quite complex. We generally believe that a company's value is the present value of all of the cash it will generate in the future. However, a DCF is just one valuation metric among many, and it is not without flaws. For those who are keen learners of equity analysis, the Simply Wall St analysis model here may be something of interest to you. View our latest analysis for ORIOR Crunching The Numbers We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. 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. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, so we need to discount the sum of these future cash flows to arrive at a present value estimate: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) estimate 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (CHF, Millions) CHF5.11m CHF20.3m CHF24.8m CHF24.4m CHF24.1m CHF23.9m CHF23.8m CHF23.7m CHF23.7m CHF23.7m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Analyst x2 Est @ -1.71% Est @ -1.14% Est @ -0.74% Est @ -0.46% Est @ -0.27% Est @ -0.13% Est @ -0.03% Present Value (CHF, Millions) Discounted @ 3.9% CHF4.9 CHF18.8 CHF22.1 CHF20.9 CHF19.9 CHF19.0 CHF18.2 CHF17.5 CHF16.8 CHF16.2 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = CHF175m We now need to calculate the Terminal Value, which accounts for all the future cash flows after this ten year period. The Gordon Growth formula is used to calculate Terminal Value at a future annual growth rate equal to the 5-year average of the 10-year government bond yield of 0.2%. We discount the terminal cash flows to today's value at a cost of equity of 3.9%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = CHF24m (1 + 0.2%) (3.9% 0.2%) = CHF645m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= CHF645m ( 1 + 3.9%)10= CHF441m 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 CHF616m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of CHF60.8, the company appears quite undervalued at a 35% discount to where the stock price trades currently. Valuations are imprecise instruments though, rather like a telescope - move a few degrees and end up in a different galaxy. Do keep this in mind. dcf Important Assumptions The calculation above is very dependent on two assumptions. The first is the discount rate and the other is the cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at ORIOR 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 3.9%, which is based on a levered beta of 0.800. Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility, compared to the market as a whole. We get our beta from the industry average beta of globally comparable companies, with an imposed limit between 0.8 and 2.0, which is a reasonable range for a stable business. SWOT Analysis for ORIOR Strength Debt is well covered by earnings and cashflows. 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 for the next 3 years. Trading below our estimate of fair value by more than 20%. Threat Annual earnings are forecast to grow slower than the Swiss market. Next Steps: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. It's not possible to obtain a foolproof valuation with a DCF model. Instead the best use for a DCF model is to test certain assumptions and theories to see if they would lead to the company being undervalued or overvalued. For example, changes in the company's cost of equity or the risk free rate can significantly impact the valuation. What is the reason for the share price sitting below the intrinsic value? For ORIOR, we've compiled three further items you should further research: Risks: Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for ORIOR you should know about. Future Earnings: How does ORON'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 Swiss 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. A New Jersey school district has hired an outside law firm to investigate how and why a Jewish student group was erased from the high school yearbook, with the members names omitted from the page and their photo replaced with a picture of a group of Muslim students. East Brunswick Public Schools said the independent review by Brisman Law began Friday and will seek to determine who was responsible, as well as whether it was malicious or a mistake. East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen condemned the incident as a blatant Anti-Semitic act. Hate has no place in East Brunswick and antisemitism will not be tolerated, Cohen said. Members of the Jewish Student Union at the school told People magazine that the incident was just the latest in a series of antisemitic incidents which according to Abigail, a junior, have not been dealt with. The students said that although they spoke to the administration about their fears, nothing was done to make them feel safe. Its a very hostile environment where were scared to be ourselves, says Stephanie, a junior. The school does not take us seriously when we talk about what weve experienced. I want them to care. Im supposed to be a kid, Im supposed to be having a high school experience and I feel like Ive grown up to be such an adult, another junior said. Im confident the independent counsel investigation will reveal the truth, Superintendent Victor Valeski said. Theyve been given complete authority to investigate whatever they need to investigate. Above all, I personally, along with the entire East Brunswick Board of Education, sincerely apologize for the hurt, pain and anguish this event has caused our Jewish students, their families and the impact this continues to have on the entire EB community, Valeski said. East Brunswick Public Schools has been a pillar educational organization, thriving on our diversity. We do not tolerate bias and we investigate all reported antisemitism. The situation came to light Tuesday after about 375 yearbooks were distributed at East Brunswick High. Valeski said a new photo of the Jewish Student Union was taken this week and will be included, along with the members names, in corrected versions of the yearbook that will be distributed next week. Discipline could be warranted depending on the outcome of the probe, and a corrective plan will be developed for the yearbook, Valeski said. The New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a transparent and fair investigation. The yearbook incident has triggered heinous backlash against some Muslim students who had no knowledge on their photo being misused, spokesperson Aya Elamroussi said in a statement. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem & AP) By Rabbi Yair Hoffman Why is Shavuos called Shavuos? What follows is an inspiring answer to this question given by one of my Rebbeim, Rav Dovid Kviat zichron tzaddik vKadosh livracha. Rav Kviat was an Alter Mirrer who lived through the most difficult times imaginable and demonstrated remarkable yegiah in Torah. He lived in anti-Semitic Poland, survived German Nazis, Russian Communists, the Japanese, and the sweltering heat of Shnghai China. His seforim have enlightened the Torah world for many decades and are called, Sukkas Dovid. Rav Kviat was a long-time Magid Shiur in the Mirrer Yeshiva in Brooklyn and Morah Dasra of Agudas Yisroel of 18th Avenue in Boro Park. This essay on yegiah in Torah is better appreciated and most inspiring when one understands and reflects upon Rav Kviats personal history. On Yom Tov we are enjoined to visit our Rebbeim. Learning his Torah is perhaps teh next best thing. Shavuos literally weeks is the Yom Tov in which we received the Torah so why is it called Shavuos weeks? How does this name correlate with the fact that on this day we received the Torah? Furthermore, the wording of the pasuk in BaMidbar (28:26) uses the possessive form for weeks On the day of the first fruits, when you offer up a new meal offering to Hashem, on your weeks.. How exactly is it their weeks? The reference is to the seven weeks you shall count for yourselves that is that Klal Yisroel prepares for Matan Torah in purifying themselves from their contamination and that they should prepare themselves o be a kli, a vessel, that is worthy of receiving the Torah. This is the meaning of your weeks that you have fought valiantly and succeeded in purifying yourselves for Torah. This is a praise of Klal Yisroel that they struggled so much amd succeeded in achieving this self-purification to receive the Torah. Hashem wished to publicize this remarkable praise of Klal Yisroel and therefore called it Shavuos weeks. We, however, call it Matan Torah to convey the praise of Hashem who gave us the Torah. The term weeks also carries within it the idea that the underlying mechanism of meriting the Torah is through yegiah the effort made in Torah. This is what they did they immersed themselves in it and struggled and made the preparations for Matan Torah. This is the requisite fee in order to acquire Torah, as Chazal tell us in Megillah 6a. [If a person says:] I struggled in Torah and I succeeded believe him. I did not struggle, but I succeeded do not believe him. The effort and the yearning for Torah are the essence. This is the meaning of the first bracha in Birchas HaTorah to immerse in the study of Torah immersion is with self-sacrifice just as one extends himself greatly for ones personal needs. Afterward we make the blessing, Please Hashem sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all of Your people, the House of Israel..Blessed are You, Hashem, Who teaches Torah to His people, Israel that is that the effect of the Torah lasts each and every day. The translator can be reached at [email protected] The rescue operation of four live hostages from Gaza, initially dubbed by the IDF as Operation Summer Seeds, was one of the most complex and daring rescue operations in Israeli history. Following the tragic death of Yamam commander Arnon Zamora from injuries incurred during the operation, the IDF announced that the rescue operation had been renamed Operation Arnon. The operation was carried out by hundreds of Israeli security forces, including Israel Polices Yamam counterterrorism officers, Shin Bet operatives, and IDF special forces soldiers. The planning for the operation took weeks of extensive intelligence gathering and meticulous planning. Military officials said that the models constructed by the polices Yamam unit reminded them of the models used during the Entebbe Operation intricate models of buildings, streets and training areas. The hostages were held by Hamas guards in the homes of innocent Gazan civilians who were paid by Hamas in the heart of a civilian area in Nuseirat in the central Gaza Strip in two separate locations. Noa Argamani was in an apartment on the first floor of a building and 400 meters away, the three male hostages were held on the third floor of another building. The Hamas terrorists frequently moved the four hostages from one apartment to another and therefore one of the main risks of the operation was that if the Israeli security forces raided one building, the terrorists would escape with the other hostages or even shoot and kill them. However, based on Air Force intelligence gathered in recent days, the IDF and Shin Bet formed a plan that allowed the forces to simultaneously storm both buildings. The Israeli forces invaded Nuseirat from several directions under heavy cover of Air Force bombardment and fire from Navy ships and drones. The operation heavily relied on the extensive use of fighter jets, attack helicopters and intelligence and attack drones. The video below shows the beginning of the operation: The most difficult challenge arose when the security forces raided the apartment where the three male hostages were held. Yamam commander Arnon Zamora, Hyd, led the forces in breaking into the building. After they retrieved the hostages and began withdrawing from the area, dozens of terrorists armed with machine guns, AK-47 rifles, and RPGs ran through the alleys shooting at the forces [killing Gazan civilians in the densely populated area]. A shootout ensued, during which many terrorists were killed. At one point, the rescue vehicle carrying the three hostages got stuck while under heavy fire. Additional IDF forces and helicopters rushed to assist, firing dozens of explosives at the terrorists from the air, and hundreds of additional IDF troops rushed to the area on foot, in tanks, and in APCs while Navy ships fired from the west. It was an incredible neis that although Air Force helicopters struck terrorists only meters away from Israeli security forces, only a few soldiers suffered light shrapnel injuries. The terrorists fired several anti-aircraft missiles at the IDF helicopters in order to shoot them down Baruch Hashem, unsuccessfully. The planning for the operation was carried out in almost total secrecy in order to preserve the element of surprise. Only a small number of commanders were briefed on the details of the operation on Friday. Hundreds of soldiers who participated in the mission were unaware of its purpose until the last minute. The margin between success and failure in such an operation is razor-thin, the IDF said. The operation was planned for many weeks with drills, rescue plans, and coordinated firepower, alongside various scenarios and responses. In the video below, you can hear the sound of the intense gunfire during the rescue: (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) Yamam Commander Arnon Zamora, Hyd, 36, heroically led Israeli forces in one of the most daring rescue operations in IDF history and tragically paid with his life. After he retrieved the hostages, he was critically wounded when dozens of terrorists opened fire on the Israeli forces with RPGs, machine guns and rifles. He was evacuated to a hospital in Israel where his death was pronounced. Zamora also saved countless lives on October 7th when he led the battle against Hamas terrorists near the southern community of Yad Mordechai. He killed dozens of terrorists and prevented them from infiltrating the kibbutz. When the battle at Yad Mordechai ended, he continued battling terrorists at the Nachal Oz and Beeeri kibbutzim The rescue operation has been renamed Operation Arnon in his honor. He left behind a wife and two children. (YWNs Jerusalem desk is keeping you updated after tzeis haShabbos in Israel) The Foreign Ministries of Jordan and Egypt have issued strong condemnations of the IDF operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, which successfully rescued four hostages held by Hamas. Jordans Foreign Ministry slammed the operation as a brutal Israeli attack that reflects the systematic targeting of Palestinian civilians and violates international law. The statement called on the international community to take immediate action to stop Israels war crimes in Gaza and to compel the country to comply with international law. Egypts Foreign Ministry also condemned the operation, citing unverified death tolls provided by Hamas officials that exceeded 200 Palestinian civilians. The statement denounced the operation as a violation of international law and called on the UN Security Council to intervene immediately to stop Israels war against the Gaza Strip. Curiously, although not surprisingly, neither statement acknowledged the rescue of the four hostages, who were abducted by Hamas during the October 7 massacre. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Israeli media reports revealed on Sunday that rescued hostage Noa Argamani may have been held in the home of Palestinian journalist Abdallah Aljamal. His father, a doctor, also lived in the home, located in the Nuseirat refugee camp. In fact, it was the EuroMedHR group, an NGO that monitors freedom in Europe and the Middle East, that revealed the story, complaining! that IDF forces stormed the home and killed the family members. [The facts have not been confirmed by the IDF.] Aljamal wrote for Al Jazeera in the past and was most recently writing for the Palestine Chronicle, which is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the US. Only 24 hours before his death, Aljamal wrote an article about the supposed Israeli massacre in a UNWRA school, where at least 17 Hamas terrorists were killed. Due to his strict ethical standards at work and home, YWN readers can feel confident that Abdallahs article was unbiased, completely factual and adhered to the highest journalistic standards. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) National Unity Chairman Benny Gantz will address the media this evening at 8 p.m., following a last-minute cancellation of a planned news conference last night. The initial announcement was expected to confirm his partys exit from the government, but was scrapped in light of yesterdays successful rescue of four Israeli hostages from Gaza. Despite the cancellation, sources indicate that National Unity still intends to leave the coalition due to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahus failure to address Gantzs concerns. In a tweet, Netanyahu urged Gantz to remain in the government, stating that now is the time for unity, not division. Gantz responded by acknowledging the hostage rescue, but emphasized the need for responsible leadership and a clear vision for addressing Israels challenges. Last month, Gantz issued an ultimatum to Netanyahu, threatening to withdraw from the coalition unless a agreed-upon vision for the Gaza conflict was presented by June 8. National Unity has since submitted legislation to dissolve the Knesset, signaling the likely end of the alliance. However, the government remains stable with 64 seats in the Knesset, even without National Unitys support. (YWN World Headquarters NYC) Tributes have poured in following the death of legendary UK and global motor industry boss and proud Welshman Nick Reilly, who fought a valiant battle to keep Vauxhall car production in Britain including foregoing his 160,000 a year salary. The former senior Vauxhall and General Motors executive famously joined the motor industry after 'finding himself' and his chosen path following a prolonged period of hermit-like contemplation during a hippy-like mountain top retreat. He died on Friday June 7 after a long illness, aged 74, leaving behind his wife Susie, three grown-up children and six grandchildren. Even in an industry packed with characters, Nick Reilly was a far cry from your average 'car guy' being an eclectic, entertaining and convivial mix of Welsh, Old Harrovian, Cambridge graduate, and father-of-three, who was also passionate about his national rugby team and enjoyed a good pint. Change of direction: Nick Reilly joined the motor industry after 'finding himself' and his chosen path following a prolonged period of hermit-like contemplation He was also highly respected, equally among motor industry executives, journalists and trade union leaders with whom he was often engaged in fraught negotiations. Born in Anglesey, North Wales, Reilly was a pupil at the prestigious Harrow School, and studied economics and engineering at St Catherine's College, Cambridge, before moving into a career in stockbroking. By the age of 24 he was feeling restless and unfulfilled. So he climbed a mountain in Llangollen in Denbighshire, and spent four winter months in a cottage 'sorting my life out'. He remembered: 'It was the best thing I ever did. I decided stockbroking was not what I wanted to do with my life. 'It was six miles to the nearest habitation. I came down every two weeks to play rugby and stock up on food. 'I grew a beard and long hair. I read a lot of books. I probably did more academic work than I did at Cambridge.' His future, he decided, lay in manufacturing. Reilly began his career with car giant General Motors in 1975 at the former UK-based Detroit Diesel Allison Division. He then started his steady rise through the GM ranks in Belgium, the US, Mexico, and GM Europe's Zurich headquarters. He was appointed chairman and managing director of Vauxhall in 1996, becoming a GM vice-president the following year. As chairman of Vauxhall, in April 1998, Reilly gave up his basic salary of 160,000 for a year as a sign of his commitment to keeping the firm in Britain. In a letter to 10,000 employees of Vauxhall's two UK factories at Ellesmere Port, Merseyside, and Luton, Bedfordshire, he also announced that nine other company directors were to have their salaries frozen for a year as a 'personal commitment' to the future of the company as talks aimed at securing a new pay and working practices package were under way. From 2002, the Welshman oversaw GM's takeover and restructuring of Korea's Daewoo. He was president of GM Asia Pacific from July 2006. After years living in Asia, he claimed with a twinkle in his eye that there were parts of downtown Seoul where off-duty GM workers and executives toast 'iechyd da' - Welsh for cheers - thanks to his socialising influence. He retired in 2011 but maintained strong advisory links with the motor industry he loved, and recently made a visit at his request - to the revamped Ellesmere Port factory in Cheshire which played such a significant role in his career. Proud Welshman: David Nicholas Reilly was born on December 17, 1949, in Anglesey Ultimately passenger car production did cease at Vauxhall's Luton and Ellesmere Port following decisions taken in Detroit by Vauxhall's previous owners General Motors but both factories live on and are thriving as centres of commercial vehicle and electric van production under new owners Stellantis, which owns Vauxhall, Citroen, Peugeot and FIAT, Jeep and Alfa Romeo. Reilly confessed to having no appetite for closing factories or ending car production telling me: 'Once in a lifetime is enough.' A very proud Welshman, David Nicholas Reilly was born on December 17, 1949, in Trearddur Bay, Anglesey. His grandfather built and ran The Beach Hotel in Trearddur Bay, where he and his mother were born and where he grew up after his parents took over control. He attended the nearby Trearddur House prepararatory school as a boarder and from there, he was awarded a scholarship to Harrow School, gaining a place at Cambridge University to read engineering, before switching after his first year to economics. After working for a few years as a stock broker in Manchester and Birmingham he embarked on his now famous break to 'find himself' in a primitive and remote croft in the North Wales mountains near Llangollen. From there, he applied for a job as financial analyst for Detroit Diesel Allison, who, at that time, had a factory in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, after which his career at US-owned General Motors took off. He met his wife Susie, a teacher, while at the Wellingborough plant and, after a life of globetrotting and a few prolongued stints in the UK - retired to Brixham, Devon in 2014 but moved to Pulborough, Sussex last year, to be closer to their family. The couple have three grown children Tasha, George and Jessica and six grandchildren. Tributes pour in for Nick Reilly Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers Traders (SMMT), of which Reilly was a past president, led the tributes. He said: 'Nick was one of the leading figures of the automotive industry, not just in the UK but globally, empowered with running a wide range of businesses. 'We were fortunate to have him as SMMT President from 2001, a term of office regrettably cut short as he was transferred to Korea. 'He was always incredibly insightful, able to boil complex problems into simple questions, something he did with patience and good humour. 'More recently, however, he has been a guiding figure both in an advisory capacity to the SMMT and as a Trustee of the SMMT Charitable Trust Fund, committed to getting younger people into the industry he loved. He will be missed by many in the industry and our thoughts are with his family and friends.' Bill Parfitt, former Vauxhall chairman under previous owners General Motors, said: 'Nick was an industry great a great innovator and leader who pioneered the first online vehicle sales for Vauxhall Motors. He was instrumental in bringing in many new models ton Ellesmere Port and Luton.' Former Vauxhall and GM Daewoo PR Denis Chick said: 'Nick never lost sight of the UK market and was insistent on us taking groups of media to Korea, personally hosted by him, to ensure that the product was well understood back at home. 'Even after he'd lost the battle to retain car manufacturing in Luton, his commitment to GM never faltered. Nick was a true gentleman, an astute business man and, as a proud Welshman, a life long supporter of Welsh rugby, his passion for which never waned.' Another ex-Vauxhall PR Tom Malcom said: 'Nick was a great automotive enthusiast and a very talented leader both for the company and the industry.' Motor industry executive and former Aston Martin CEO Dr Andy Palmer described him as 'a giant of the automotive industry'. Auto Express editor Paul Barker praised 'a real automotive figurehead'. The Guild of Motoring Writers praised 'a one of a kind motor industry leader whose genuine warmth and automotive leadership touched many lives.' Concern: M&S chairman Archie Norman FTSE 100 equipment hire giant Ashtead is reportedly considering a move to the New York stock exchange in a potential fresh blow to the City. The 24billion group is in the early stages of exploring a switch of its listing from London to Wall Street, according to The Sunday Telegraph. It comes despite boss Brendan Horgan, an American, last year telling a newspaper 'we remain happy where we are'. Now, however, the company has reportedly asked City advisers to review the potential merits of the move. Ashtead's departure would come as another blow for London after the loss of the likes of Cambridge-based chip firm Arm Holdings to the US. A spokesman said: 'Ashtead reviews its capital structure regularly, including its domicile.' It came as Marks & Spencer chairman Archie Norman became the latest corporate grandee to lament the state of the UK stock market, criticising the reduction in pension funds allocated to British equities. A Chinese CCTV firm whose equipment is banned by the Government from 'sensitive' sites more than doubled its sales to UK and Ireland customers last year. Annual results from Hikvision showed direct sales climbed from 14.7m in 2022 to 32.6m in 2023. That was despite a government ban on the use of CCTV equipment made by companies subject to China's national intelligence law, which demands businesses share information with Beijing. The ban announced in 2022 by deputy PM Oliver Dowden applies to the use of the cameras at 'sensitive sites'. Dowden said the decision was taken 'in the light of the threat to the UK and the increasing capability and connectivity of these systems'. Looking ahead: Annual results from Hikvision showed direct sales climbed from 14.7m in 2022 to 32.6m in 2023 The Government later made clear that this ban did not extend to all public sector sites. It also does not cover the private sector. But high profile companies such as Tesco and Morrisons have banned Hikvision cameras in response to allegations of involvement in human rights abuses in China. The company maintains it presents no threat to UK security. Gold Fields Limited (NYSE:GFI Get Free Report) shares gapped down before the market opened on Monday . The stock had previously closed at $16.24, but opened at $15.76. Gold Fields shares last traded at $15.59, with a volume of 740,171 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth GFI has been the subject of several research reports. Scotiabank lowered their price objective on shares of Gold Fields from $18.00 to $17.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Monday, August 26th. StockNews.com raised Gold Fields from a buy rating to a strong-buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, September 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Gold Fields from $17.50 to $16.70 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, July 3rd. Bank of America assumed coverage on Gold Fields in a research report on Monday, September 16th. They set a buy rating and a $16.00 price target on the stock. Finally, BMO Capital Markets raised shares of Gold Fields from an underperform rating to a market perform rating and upped their price objective for the stock from $13.50 to $14.00 in a research note on Wednesday, June 26th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $15.93. Get Gold Fields alerts: Read Our Latest Research Report on Gold Fields Gold Fields Price Performance Gold Fields Cuts Dividend The firm has a market cap of $14.62 billion, a P/E ratio of 8.98, a PEG ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.17. The company has a current ratio of 1.77, a quick ratio of 0.70 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $15.27 and a 200-day simple moving average of $15.78. The business also recently announced a semi-annual dividend, which was paid on Thursday, September 26th. Shareholders of record on Friday, September 13th were paid a $0.1692 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Friday, September 13th. This represents a yield of 2.2%. Gold Fieldss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 14.84%. Institutional Trading of Gold Fields Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Gold Fields by 145.8% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,129,278 shares of the companys stock worth $16,329,000 after acquiring an additional 669,819 shares in the last quarter. Range Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Gold Fields during the 2nd quarter valued at $1,243,000. RWC Asset Management LLP boosted its position in shares of Gold Fields by 10.0% in the 2nd quarter. RWC Asset Management LLP now owns 3,588,984 shares of the companys stock worth $53,476,000 after purchasing an additional 324,885 shares in the last quarter. Capital Wealth Planning LLC purchased a new position in Gold Fields during the 2nd quarter worth $2,390,000. Finally, Caprock Group LLC increased its position in Gold Fields by 836.6% during the 2nd quarter. Caprock Group LLC now owns 110,299 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,643,000 after buying an additional 98,523 shares in the last quarter. 26.02% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Gold Fields Company Profile (Get Free Report) Gold Fields Limited operates as a gold producer with reserves and resources in Chile, South Africa, Ghana, Canada, Australia, and Peru. It also explores for copper and silver deposits. The company was founded in 1887 and is based in Sandton, South Africa. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Gold Fields Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gold Fields and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PWSC Get Free Report) saw an uptick in trading volume on Wednesday . 3,756,924 shares were traded during mid-day trading, an increase of 152% from the previous sessions volume of 1,492,931 shares.The stock last traded at $22.80 and had previously closed at $22.79. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In PWSC has been the topic of several research reports. Macquarie downgraded PowerSchool from an outperform rating to a neutral rating and set a $22.80 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, June 10th. William Blair reissued a market perform rating on shares of PowerSchool in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Piper Sandler reissued a neutral rating and issued a $22.80 target price (down from $24.00) on shares of PowerSchool in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Jefferies Financial Group reissued a hold rating and issued a $22.80 target price (down from $30.00) on shares of PowerSchool in a research report on Monday, June 10th. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald reissued a neutral rating and issued a $22.80 target price (down from $25.00) on shares of PowerSchool in a research report on Friday, June 7th. Ten investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, PowerSchool presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $24.02. Get PowerSchool alerts: View Our Latest Research Report on PowerSchool PowerSchool Price Performance The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $22.66 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.35. The company has a market capitalization of $4.66 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -95.04 and a beta of 1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.28, a quick ratio of 0.28 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. PowerSchool (NYSE:PWSC Get Free Report) last posted its earnings results on Friday, August 9th. The company reported $0.23 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.24 by ($0.01). PowerSchool had a negative net margin of 7.51% and a positive return on equity of 6.10%. The business had revenue of $191.59 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $195.32 million. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $0.23 earnings per share. PowerSchools revenue was up 10.2% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, analysts predict that PowerSchool Holdings, Inc. will post 0.5 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Insider Activity In other news, insider Shivani Stumpf sold 2,088 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The stock was sold at an average price of $22.79, for a total transaction of $47,585.52. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 277,489 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,323,974.31. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In related news, insider Shivani Stumpf sold 2,088 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, September 25th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.79, for a total value of $47,585.52. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 277,489 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $6,323,974.31. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Also, CFO Eric Ryan Shander sold 2,977 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, September 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.74, for a total transaction of $67,696.98. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now directly owns 422,547 shares in the company, valued at $9,608,718.78. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 115,329 shares of company stock worth $2,610,002 in the last ninety days. Company insiders own 0.60% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of PWSC. Bardin Hill Management Partners LP purchased a new position in PowerSchool in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $1,439,000. Truist Financial Corp lifted its stake in PowerSchool by 23.2% in the 2nd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 26,804 shares of the companys stock worth $600,000 after purchasing an additional 5,039 shares in the last quarter. Water Island Capital LLC purchased a new position in PowerSchool in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $11,215,000. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company lifted its stake in PowerSchool by 5.9% in the 2nd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 38,606 shares of the companys stock worth $864,000 after purchasing an additional 2,158 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AQR Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in PowerSchool in the 2nd quarter worth approximately $420,000. 65.29% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About PowerSchool (Get Free Report) PowerSchool Holdings, Inc, together with its subsidiaries, offers cloud-based software to the K-12 education market in the United States, Canada, and internationally. Its solution embedded in school workflows and is used on daily basis by educators, students, administrators, and parents in schools and districts. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for PowerSchool Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PowerSchool and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Key Insights The projected fair value for Churchill China is UK9.02 based on 2 Stage Free Cash Flow to Equity Current share price of UK10.80 suggests Churchill China is potentially trading close to its fair value When compared to theindustry average discount of -9.4%, Churchill China's competitors seem to be trading at a lesser premium to fair value How far off is Churchill China plc (LON:CHH) from its intrinsic value? Using the most recent financial data, we'll take a look at whether the stock is fairly priced by projecting its future cash flows and then discounting them to today's value. We will take advantage of the Discounted Cash Flow (DCF) model for this purpose. Don't get put off by the jargon, the math behind it is actually quite straightforward. Remember though, that there are many ways to estimate a company's value, and a DCF is just one method. Anyone interested in learning a bit more about intrinsic value should have a read of the Simply Wall St analysis model. Check out our latest analysis for Churchill China Step By Step Through The Calculation We are going to use a two-stage DCF model, which, as the name states, takes into account two stages of growth. The first stage is generally a higher growth period which levels off heading towards the terminal value, captured in the second 'steady growth' period. To start off with, we need to estimate the next ten years of cash flows. 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. A DCF is all about the idea that a dollar in the future is less valuable than a dollar today, and so the sum of these future cash flows is then discounted to today's value: 10-year free cash flow (FCF) forecast 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 Levered FCF (, Millions) UK5.10m UK5.90m UK6.40m UK6.77m UK7.08m UK7.34m UK7.57m UK7.78m UK7.97m UK8.15m Growth Rate Estimate Source Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Analyst x1 Est @ 5.77% Est @ 4.57% Est @ 3.73% Est @ 3.14% Est @ 2.73% Est @ 2.44% Est @ 2.24% Present Value (, Millions) Discounted @ 8.5% UK4.7 UK5.0 UK5.0 UK4.9 UK4.7 UK4.5 UK4.3 UK4.1 UK3.8 UK3.6 ("Est" = FCF growth rate estimated by Simply Wall St) Present Value of 10-year Cash Flow (PVCF) = UK45m 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 (1.8%) 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 8.5%. Terminal Value (TV)= FCF 2033 (1 + g) (r g) = UK8.1m (1 + 1.8%) (8.5% 1.8%) = UK123m Present Value of Terminal Value (PVTV)= TV / (1 + r)10= UK123m ( 1 + 8.5%)10= UK55m 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 UK99m. The last step is to then divide the equity value by the number of shares outstanding. Compared to the current share price of UK10.8, the company appears around fair value at the time of writing. The assumptions in any calculation have a big impact on the valuation, so it is better to view this as a rough estimate, not precise down to the last cent. dcf Important Assumptions Now the most important inputs to a discounted cash flow are the discount rate, and of course, the actual cash flows. You don't have to agree with these inputs, I recommend redoing the calculations yourself and playing with them. The DCF also does not consider the possible cyclicality of an industry, or a company's future capital requirements, so it does not give a full picture of a company's potential performance. Given that we are looking at Churchill China as potential shareholders, the cost of equity is used as the discount rate, rather than the cost of capital (or weighted average cost of capital, WACC) which accounts for debt. In this calculation we've used 8.5%, which is based on a levered beta of 1.227. 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 Churchill China Strength Currently debt free. Weakness Earnings declined over the past year. Dividend is low compared to the top 25% of dividend payers in the Consumer Durables market. Expensive based on P/E ratio and estimated fair value. Opportunity Annual revenue is forecast to grow faster than the British market. Threat Dividends are not covered by cash flow. Looking Ahead: Although the valuation of a company is important, it is only one of many factors that you need to assess for a company. 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 Churchill China, there are three fundamental factors you should look at: Risks: To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Churchill China . Future Earnings: How does CHH's growth rate compare to its peers and the wider market? Dig deeper into the analyst consensus number for the upcoming years by interacting with our free analyst growth expectation chart. Other Solid Businesses: Low debt, high returns on equity and good past performance are fundamental to a strong business. Why not explore our interactive list of stocks with solid business fundamentals to see if there are other companies you may not have considered! PS. The Simply Wall St app conducts a discounted cash flow valuation for every stock on the AIM every day. If you want to find the calculation for other stocks just search here. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. The finance ministers brother and a Tipperary TDs daughter were among the first batch of councillors elected to local authorities around the country. With more than 200 candidates elected out of 949, the rough outline indicates Fine Gael and Fianna Fail holding steady, while Sinn Fein has not made the gains they had hoped for. One of Fianna Fails candidates in Dublins North Inner City area, Caio Benicio, the Brazilian delivery driver who intervened in the Parnell Square attack last November, will not win a seat. He won just 3% of first preference votes and was one of three Fianna Fail candidates in the area. In Cork, Finance Minister Michael McGraths brother Seamus blasted past the quota in the Carrigaline electoral area, winning 5,191 votes, which is more than double the quota. The former lord mayor of Cork County won 36% of first preference votes. Sheila OCallaghan, the sister of Fianna Fail MEP Billy Kelleher, was elected to Cork County Council on the first count after winning 17% of first preference votes in Cobh. Mairin McGrath, who is the daughter of independent Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath, was elected on the first count in the Cahir area of Tipperary County Council. Roisin Kenny, the sister of Sinn Fein TD Martin Kenny, was elected to Leitrim County Council in the early hours of Sunday. In Kerry, the children of Independent TDs Michael Healy-Rae and Danny Healy-Rae were elected to Kerry County Council. Michaels son Jackie and Dannys children Johnny and Maura were elected in three separate electoral areas, all on the first counts. Lorna Bogue, the leader of Rabharta, a splinter group from the Greens, lost her seat on Cork City council. Oman Air and SalamAir have launched Omani airlines latest codeshare partnership, which offers passengers an expanded range of travel options within the sultanate and beyond. During a meeting of top officials, the airlines discussed their future prospects as national carriers and their common commitment to supporting the countrys tourism goals as part of Omans 2040 Vison, said a statement. Con Korfiatis, Chief Executive Officer of Oman Air, said: We are excited about this expanded codeshare partnership between Oman Air and SalamAir and the strengthening of our collaboration. This latest development enables us to jointly offer even more choice and schedule options, which both benefits our customers and serves the broader tourism ambitions of the country. "We are thrilled to further strengthen our partnership with Oman Air," said Adrian Hamilton-Manns, Chief Executive Officer of SalamAir. "This extended codeshare agreement reflects our shared commitment to providing passengers with unparalleled travel options and superior service. Together, we eagerly anticipate aligning ourselves with the Ministry of Transport, Communication and Information Technology's sentiments and the overarching vision of Oman 2040; thus, reinforcing our commitment to driving excellence in the aviation sector and promoting Oman as a premier travel destination." During the first phase, effective July 4, passengers can book their travel on a selection of SalamAirs routes connecting to Oman Airs network, with more destinations to be added post successful implementation, the statement said. TradeArabia News Service When you hear or think of Greece, chances are the first things that come to mind are Athens and Santorini. It's no surprise given how beautiful and popular these places are. But if you're looking to put a little twist to your Greek trip, you might want to consider visiting the nation's small towns. While they may arguably be less popular, these towns have a lot to offer travelers who venture their way. They're perfect choices too for any traveler who wants to veer away from the crowds and learn more about the country's history and culture. Galaxidi Located in the municipality of Delphi, Galaxidi is the place to head to if you want to learn more about Greece's naval history. It is also one of Greece's most picturesque towns, offering stunning views of the south coast of central Greece. Galaxidi has two natural harbors, which are great tourist destinations for travelers visiting the town. Those who want to hit the beach can head to Kendri Beach and the others found in the area. As for those who want to sightsee in town, there are a handful museums and churches that call it home, including the Agia Paraskevi Church and the Naval Museum. Make sure to also look for the tomb of King Locros as well as the the ruins of the walls of Ancient Oianthi Town. Related Article : Why Greece's Nestos River Should Be on the Bucket List of Anyone Who Enjoys the Outdoors Monemvasia Believe it or not, the fortified town of Monemvasia, which is located in Laconia, was founded all the way in the sixth century. This makes the town one of the oldest continually-inhabited fortified towns not just in Greece, but in Europe as well. As it was founded by the Byzantines, you can expect to find a medieval fortress which has been nicknamed the "Gibraltar of the East." In fact, the Monemvasia can best be described by the words "castle town." While it was once only accessible by boat, this town is now accessible to the rest of the mainland thanks to a tombolo. Travelers should take a moment to enjoy the town's cobble stone paths and restored stone houses. A few churches can also be found in the town, including the Church of Elkomenos Christos and Church of Agia Sofia. Parga Part of the regional unit of Preveza, Parga is one of the must-visit towns for any beach lover. In fact, Parga is where you can find some of Greece's most stunning beaches. These include the Krioneri Beach, Lichnos Beach, Sarakiniko Beach, and Valtos Beach, which is ones of the longest beaches in the area. If frolicking in the waters of Parga isn't your thing, you can very much spend your stay exploring the Castle of Parga. Otherwise referred to as the Venetian Castle, the castle was initially built in the 11th century as protection from pirates and Ottomans. The castle had to be rebuilt thrice through the years by the Venetians. Russia has lost a total of 518,560 soldiers and officers killed and wounded in action since the full-scale invasion, according to the estimates drawn by the Ukrainian side. Thats according to the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces, Ukrinform reports. In the past day alone, these losses rose by 1,270, the Ukrainian military notes. Also, Ukraines defense forces have destroyed 7,869 Russian tanks (+26 in the past day), 15,131 (+26) armored fighting vehicles, 13,593 (+60) artillery systems, 1,097 (+2) multiple rocket launchers, 836 (+2) anti-aircraft warfare systems, 357 warplanes, 326 helicopters, 10,982 (+37) operational and tactical-level UAVs, 2,277 cruise missiles, 28 warships/cutters, a submarine, 18,562 (+78) vehicles and fuel tankers, and 2,253 (+5) units of units, specialized equipment. The latest reports on enemy losses are being verified. As Ukrinform reported earlier, special operations units from Ukraines Security Service in the past week engaged nine Russian tanks and four air defense systems, as well as eliminated 212 invaders. Russian troops continue to use aircraft and attack in several directions, most actively in Pokrovske, while Ukrainian defenders are holding strong. The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine announced this on Facebook, publishing operational information as of 18:30 on Sunday, 9 June, Ukrinform reports. As noted, the total number of enemy attacks along the entire frontline has increased to 62 since the beginning of the day. In the Kupyansk direction, the Russian army became more active in the areas of Pishchane and Nevske, increasing the number of attempts to improve its positions there to nine. Russian troops also attacked near Hrekivka in the Lyman sector. In total, they have attempted six attacks in this area of the frontline since the beginning of the day. The invaders used guided aerial bombs in the areas of Serebryansky Forest, Novosadove, Novoyehorivka and Petropavlivka. Nine firefights took place in the Kramatorsk sector during the day. Fighting continues in the area of Kalynivka. Russian troops remain the most active in the Pokrovske sector. 23 times today there were clashes of varying intensity. At the moment, fighting continues in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Novoselivka Persha and Novopokrovske. Russian aviation fired guided missiles at Skuchne, Novooleksandrivka, Vozdvyzhenka and Ivanivka throughout the day. The Russian army's five attempts to improve its positions are still ongoing. In other areas, the situation has not changed significantly. "The defence forces continue to repel the enemy and inflict maximum losses along the entire front line," the General Staff said. As Ukrinform reported, the Russian army attacked four times in the Kharkiv sector today. Photo: General Staff / FB Michigan State Broad College of Business University of Connecticut strategy professor and senior associate dean David Souder will become dean of Michigan States Broad College of Business in July A long-time professor of strategy at the University of Connecticut, David Souder will soon step into the deans role at Michigan State Universitys Broad College of Business. Souder, the senior associate dean for faculty and research, will assume the job on July 8. His appointment, which is expected to gain approval from the universitys Board of Trustees, brings to an end a controversial saga that resulted in the ouster of Broad Dean Sanjay Gupta nearly two years ago and a lawsuit by Gupta who claims in was forced to resign in a power struggle with then-Provost Teresa Woodruff after he expressed interest in becoming Michigan States president the job she wanted and later held on an interim basis. The search for a new dean, assisted by the executive search firm WittKieffer, began in the fall of 2023 and culminated with public presentations by several finalists in April of this year. Souder will succeed Judith Whipple, a Broad professor in logistics and supply chain management, who has served as interim dean since August of 2022. MICHIGAN STATE SELECTED A SOLID ACADEMIC WITH A STABLE CAREER In landing Souder, Michigan State selected a solid academic with a steady and stable career with increasing responsibility at the University of Connecticuts School of Business which he joined 17 years ago after earning his doctorate in strategic management and organization from the University of Minnesota. He served as associate dean for graduate programs for two years starting in 2017. Souder had a pair of one-year interim leadership positions as well, as interim academic director for the Connecticut Center For Entrepreneurship and Innovation and as dean of the business school, both in 2019-2020. For eight years, from 2014 to 2022, Souder headed up the schools Executive MBA program. He has held his current senior associate deanship for faculty and research for the past two years. After earning a bachelors degree from the Wharton School in 1993, Souder joined SCA Consulting in New York and did a five-year stint that led to his becoming a senior associate. It was at Wharton where he met his wife, Michele Allen Souder, who also graduated from Wharton and got her MBA from the University of Chicagos Booth School of Business. Allen had to write him a letter when she was pledging for pledging a professional business fraternity while at Wharton. They married in March of 2000 and have three children. Story continues Souder leaped to The Learning Project as finance director in 1998 and to Luminant Worldwide as the manager of enterprise strategy before pursuing his academic career where he largely taught strategy with a research focus on corporate short-term and long-term thinking. In the classroom, Souder has taught case-based courses in strategic management for undergraduate, MBA, and executive audiences, as well as a PhD seminar on research methods in strategic management. He has also taught courses on the meaning and interpretation of statistics to Executive MBA students, and the identification of entrepreneurial opportunities to undergraduates. Souder will be taking over a school that is one of the largest of seventeen degree-granting colleges at Michigan State with approximately 4,900 students across six academic units. Broad boasts a $52.7 million annual budget, with nearly 90 tenured faculty, 164 non-tenured profs, and 140 administrative staffers. It is the most sought-after college in the Michigan State system, with more than 20% of incoming freshmen wanting to join Broad. The schools current endowment is $250 million and attracted $9.3 million from donors in annual giving during the 2023 fiscal year. Broad offers a vast portfolio of programs with seven undergraduate majors, 11 minors, and 22 graduate and doctoral programs. SOUDER DESCRIBED AS THOUGHTFU AND FORWARD-LOOKING Thoughtful and forward-looking, Dr. Souder is a consensus-building leader with a strong commitment to fostering excellence in teaching and research, said MSU Interim Provost Thomas Jeitschko in a statement. I am confident that his breadth and depth of experiences will serve him well as the next leader of the college. It is a great privilege to be joining the Michigan State community as dean of the Eli Broad College of Business, said Souder in a statement. The college has a long history of leadership among public business schools, and I look forward to working with the Broad leadership team, staff, faculty, students, alumni and our many partners across the university to help ensure that the mission and vision of Broad continue to inspire the future of business. Souders arrival should allow the school to put the controversy over Guptas departure behind it, though his lawsuit against Woodruff and six other university officials is still pending. Gupta alleges Woodruff got rid of him as part of a power scheme to ensure that Gupta would not be named successor to outgoing former President Samuel Stanley, Jr., and to enhance Woodruffs personal ambition to become President. He says he resigned as dean amid pressure to do so from Woodruff. Woodruff, who served as interim MSU President for ten months, bowed out of the search process for a new president after a law firm probe found that her treatment of Gupta was considered disproportionate, ran counter to the universitys discipline policy and differed from others who violated the universitys mandatory reporting policies. The investigation, however, also found that Gupta violated policy by not reporting alleged sexual misconduct by a faculty member at a gala. DONT MISS: WORTHY OF A JUICY SUCCESSION EPISODE: THE IGNOMINY OF A B-SCHOOL DEANS OUSTER or ANOTHER TWIST IN THE SAGA OF MICHIGAN STATE BROADS OUSTED DEAN The post Michigan State Finds A New Business School Dean In Connecticut appeared first on Poets&Quants. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jun, 2024) Federal Secretary Information and Broadcasting Shahera Shahid on Sunday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Radio Pakistan's senior newscaster Taskeen Zafar. Terming Taskeen Zafar an asset of Radio Pakistan, Shahera Shahid said the vacuum created by her death could never be filled and her services for Radio Pakistan would always be remembered. In her condolence message, Secretary Information prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear the loss with fortitude. Gaza Strip, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jun, 2024) Humanitarian aid began trickling back into the devastated Gaza Strip on Saturday via a rebuilt, temporary pier, US forces said. The pier, built by the US military to boost the delivery of direly needed relief supplies, was only briefly operational before it suffered storm damage at the end of May. After repairs, the pipeline was reestablished on Friday. Crews delivered about 492 tonnes (1.1 million Pounds) of "much needed humanitarian assistance" via the pier on Saturday morning, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) wrote in a social media post. Aid groups and the United Nations have accused Israel of delaying the entry of water, food, medicines and fuel into Gaza, depriving the territory's 2.4 million people of lifesaving supplies. The resumption of the pier comes the same day that Israel mounted an operation in central Gaza to rescue four hostages from a refugee camp where a Hamas-run media office reported the attacks killed 210 Palestinians and wounded hundreds more. CENTCOM stressed that the pier, its personnel and assets were in no way connected to the hostage rescue operation. The Israeli military said the four hostages, who were in "good medical condition", had been kidnapped from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7 attack that sparked the war, now in its ninth month. Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, had been rescued from two separate buildings "in the heart of Nuseirat" camp in a "complex daytime operation", the military said. They are among seven captives that Israeli forces have freed alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 people in their October attack on southern Israel. There are now 116 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead. Footage posted on social media showed beachgoers erupting into cheers in Tel Aviv when a lifeguard announced the news. "We have had these hostages in our thoughts for every day for the better part of a year now -- to have even a few of them rescued against all odds, it means the world," 42-year-old Israeli Uriya Bekenstein told AFP. In Gaza, the Hamas media office said "the number of victims from the Israeli occupation's massacre in the Nuseirat camp has risen to 210 martyrs and more than 400 wounded". Israeli police said an officer was mortally wounded during the rescue operation. It was carried out despite growing international pressure on Israel after a deadly strike on a UN-run school in Nuseirat where displaced Gazans were sheltering. There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, biotech and mining exploration companies often lose money for years before finding success with a new treatment or mineral discovery. Nonetheless, only a fool would ignore the risk that a loss making company burns through its cash too quickly. So should MOGU (NYSE:MOGU) shareholders be worried about its cash burn? In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. We'll start by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves in order to calculate its cash runway. Check out our latest analysis for MOGU How Long Is MOGU's Cash Runway? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. As at September 2023, MOGU had cash of CN470m and no debt. In the last year, its cash burn was CN83m. That means it had a cash runway of about 5.7 years as of September 2023. While this is only one measure of its cash burn situation, it certainly gives us the impression that holders have nothing to worry about. Depicted below, you can see how its cash holdings have changed over time. How Well Is MOGU Growing? It was fairly positive to see that MOGU reduced its cash burn by 26% during the last year. Unfortunately, however, operating revenue declined by 28% during the period. In light of the data above, we're fairly sanguine about the business growth trajectory. Of course, we've only taken a quick look at the stock's growth metrics, here. You can take a look at how MOGU has developed its business over time by checking this visualization of its revenue and earnings history. How Easily Can MOGU Raise Cash? MOGU seems to be in a fairly good position, in terms of cash burn, but we still think it's worthwhile considering how easily it could raise more money if it wanted to. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. Many companies end up issuing new shares to fund future growth. By comparing a company's annual cash burn to its total market capitalisation, we can estimate roughly how many shares it would have to issue in order to run the company for another year (at the same burn rate). Since it has a market capitalisation of CN145m, MOGU's CN83m in cash burn equates to about 57% of its market value. From this perspective, it seems that the company spent a huge amount relative to its market value, and we'd be very wary of a painful capital raising. Story continues Is MOGU's Cash Burn A Worry? On this analysis of MOGU's cash burn, we think its cash runway was reassuring, while its cash burn relative to its market cap has us a bit worried. We don't think its cash burn is particularly problematic, but after considering the range of factors in this article, we do think shareholders should be monitoring how it changes over time. Readers need to have a sound understanding of business risks before investing in a stock, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for MOGU that potential shareholders should take into account before putting money into a stock. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies with significant insider holdings, and this list of stocks growth stocks (according to analyst forecasts) 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. (@FahadShabbir) New Delhi, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Jun, 2024) India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday for a third term after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. Modi, flanked by officials from his Hindu-nationalist party and leaders his coalition members, vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to "bear true allegiance to the constitution of India". Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analysts' expectations and exit polls. He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), a 15-member coalition, to gather the parliamentary numbers needed to govern. Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace and a military brass band played as he made the oath. But with Modi yet to announce his new cabinet, the line of lawmakers also taking the oath of office was keenly watched for an indication of who will be in government. Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari -- the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively. Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support. Modi described recent days as "very busy" in an article published on his website Sunday ahead of the ceremony, saying he was in the "midst of preparations of government formation". Wearing a gleaming white kurta flowing shirt and trousers, Modi was the first of several ministers and deputy ministers sworn in by President Droupadi Murmu at the ceremony attended by several thousand people. The crowd included adoring BJP loyalists, as well as South Asian leaders, Bollywood celebrities such as legend Shahrukh Khan, and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, key Modi allies. pzb-pjm/dhw President Joe Biden closed out his trip to France by paying his respects at an American military cemetery that Donald Trump notably skipped visiting when he was president, hoping his final stop Sunday will draw the stakes of the November election in stark relief. Before returning to the United States, Biden honored America's war dead at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery about an hour outside Paris. He placed a wreath at the cemetery chapel before an expanse of white headstones marking the final resting place of more than 2,200 U.S. soldiers who fought in World War I. It was a solemn end to five days in which Trump was an unspoken yet unavoidable presence. On the surface, the trip marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day and celebrated the alliance between the United States and France. But during an election year when Trump has called into question fundamental understandings about America's global role, Biden has embraced his Republican predecessor and would-be successor as a latent foil. Every ode to the transatlantic partnership was a reminder that Trump could upend those relationships. Each reference to democracy stood a counterpoint to his rival's efforts to overturn a presidential election. The myriad exhortations to help Ukraine defend itself against Russia created a contrast with Trump's skepticism about providing U.S. assistance. Biden's paeans to the struggle between democracy and autocracy drew plaudits in Europe, where the prospect of a return to Trump's turbulent reign has sparked no shortage of anxiety. But it remains to be seen how the message will resonate with American voters, as Biden's campaign struggles to connect the dire warnings the Democratic president so often delivers about his rival with people's daily concerns. The visit to the cemetery served as a moment to underscore the contrast once more. "It's the same story," Biden said. "America showed up. America showed up to stop the Germans. America showed up to make sure that they did not prevail. And America shows up when we're needed just like our allies show for us." During a 2018 trip to France, Trump skipped plans to go to the cemetery, a decision that the White House blamed on weather at the time. However, subsequent reports said that Trump told aides he didn't want to go because he viewed the dead soldiers as "suckers" and "losers." Trump has denied the comments, although they were later corroborated by his chief of staff at the time, John Kelly. Trump's purported insults have become a regular feature of Biden's campaign speeches, including during an April rally in Scranton, Pennsylvania. "These soldiers were heroes, just as every American who has served this nation," Biden said. "Believing otherwise, that alone is disqualifying for someone to seek this office." Biden ignored a direct question about Trump at the cemetery. "The idea that I would come to Normandy and not make the short trip here to pay tribute," he added, his voice trailing off as if to express disbelief. Maura Sullivan, a former Marine officer who served on the American Battle Monuments Commission under President Barack Obama, said Biden's visit would "set the example, and do what a president should do." Now an official with the New Hampshire Democratic Party, Sullivan said that "voters can draw their own conclusions" from that. Biden's trip was full of emotional moments, and the president grew heavy-eyed after meeting with World War II veterans. A 21-gun salute cast eerie smoke over 9,388 white marble headstones at the Normandy American Cemetery. "This has been the most remarkable trip that I've ever made," Biden said on Saturday night, his last in Paris before returning to the U.S. At Aisne-Marne, Biden said the trip "surprised me how much it awakened my sense of why it's so valuable to have these alliances. Why it's so critical. That's the way you stop wars, not start wars." His remarks over the last few days were also freighted with political overtones. On Thursday at Normandy anniversary ceremonies, Biden said D-Day served a reminder that alliances make the United States stronger, calling it "a lesson that I pray we Americans never forget." He also highlighted how the war effort drew on immigrants, women and people of color who were too often overlooked by history. Then on Friday, he went to Pointe du Hoc, a spot on the coast where Army Rangers scaled cliffs to overcome Nazi defenses on D-Day that was also the site in 1984 of one of President Ronald Reagan's most memorable speeches about the struggles between the West and the Soviet Union during the Cold War. By following in an iconic Republican's footsteps, Biden honed his appeal to traditional conservatives who are often frustrated by Trump's isolationist vision. Biden issued a call for Americans to protect democracy like the Rangers who scaled the cliffs, a message that synced with campaign rhetoric that paints his election opponent as an existential threat to U.S. values. While Biden was in France, his campaign announced that it had hired the onetime chief of staff to former Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger to lead outreach to GOP voters. Kinzinger clashed with Trump's foreign policy and efforts to overturn the last presidential election. At Pointe du Hoc, Biden said the Army Rangers "fought to vanquish a hateful ideology in the '30s and '40s. Does anyone doubt they wouldn't move heaven and earth to vanquish hateful ideologies of today?" Trump has argued that the U.S. needs to devote more attention to its own problems and less to foreign alliances and entanglements. He has also routinely played down the importance of American partnerships, suggesting the U.S. could abandon its treaty commitments to defend European allies if they don't pay enough for their own defenses. Douglas Brinkley, a presidential historian who wrote a book about Pointe du Hoc and Reagan's speech, said Biden "had big shoes to step into" by choosing the same location. Biden's speech "didn't equal Reagan's in grandeur, nor could it," Brinkley said. Still, he said Biden "said the right words about why democracy matters." Paul Begala, a veteran Democratic strategist, said it could help Biden politically "to stand where Reagan stood." He noted that Biden is struggling with younger voters but appears to be gaining strength among older ones who may be more receptive to reminders of Reagan's speech four decades ago. "He needs a lot of Reagan Republicans to offset his challenges with younger voters," he said. Biden's trip was also punctuated by the pomp of a state visit in Paris. French President Emmanuel Macron arranged a ceremony at the Arc du Triomphe, where four fighter jets flew overhead, and hosted a banquet at the Elysee presidential palace. "United we stand, divided we fall," Macron said in toasting Biden. "Allied we are, and allied we will stay." Overall, Biden's visit had a slower pace than other foreign trips. The 81-year-old president had no public events on his first day in Paris after arriving on an overnight flight, and didn't hold a press conference with reporters, as is customary. John Kirby, a national security spokesman, said that was necessary to prepare "in advance of the weighty engagements" during subsequent days. "There's a lot on the calendar," he said. Still, it was a contrast to Macron's tendency to offer prestigious guests an intense schedule with a mix of official meetings, business talks, cultural events and private dinners at fancy restaurants. When the 46-year-old French leader hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, the two-day agenda was crammed with activities including a trip to the Pyrenees Mountains near the border with Spain where Macron spent time as a child. Police in central Pakistan said Saturday that unknown assailants had separately shot and killed two members of the minority Ahmadi community. Both shootings took place in the Mandi Bahauddin district in Punjab, the country's most populous province. Police and community leaders stated that the victims were 62 and 30 years old. Punjab has seen the bulk of recent violence against what critics describe as Pakistan's long-persecuted minority community. The district police chief told local media they had opened an investigation into Saturdays killings, and one of the suspected assailants had been apprehended. No group immediately took responsibility for the shootings. Ahmadi community representatives blame Tehreek-e-Labaik Pakistan, or TLP, a far-right religious political party, for inciting followers to attack their members and places of worship. TLP leaders routinely use offensive anti-Ahmadi language in rallies and gatherings and call for the killing of blasphemers. Ahmadis consider themselves Muslim, but the Pakistani parliament declared them to be non-Muslim in 1974 and further amended its laws in 1984 to prohibit community members from "indirectly or directly posing as Muslims." The minority sect is also barred from declaring or propagating its faith publicly and building places of worship in Pakistan. The South Asian nation is often criticized for not doing enough to prevent crimes against members of its religious minorities, including Christians. Last month, a mob of hundreds of people gathered in a Christian settlement in Sargodha, another Punjab district, and violently attacked a Christian man, identified as Nazir Masih, who was in his yearly 70s, after he was accused of desecrating Islams holy book, the Quran. The violence resulted in severe injuries, including multiple fractures to Masihs skull, and he died in a hospital a few days later. His relatives rejected blasphemy charges against him as baseless. The Sargodha incident revived memories of one of the worst attacks on Christians in August 2023, in Jaranwala city in Punjab. It involved thousands of Muslim protesters attacking a Christian settlement and burning 21 churches, as well as damaging more than 90 properties over allegations two Christian brothers had desecrated the Quran. Blasphemy is a highly sensitive issue in Pakistan, and mere allegations have led to mobs lynching dozens of suspects even some in police custody. Insulting the Quran or Islamic beliefs is punishable by death under the country's blasphemy laws, though no one has ever been executed. Haiti's new prime minister, Garry Conille, left the hospital Sunday in stable condition after being admitted for a respiratory issue one day earlier, two government sources told AFP. Conille shared a video clip Sunday afternoon, addressing the camera while standing, telling viewers: "I am posting this video to assure you that I am fine." A government source, speaking anonymously, had told AFP that the prime minister had suffered an asthma attack. Conille, 58, was appointed to the premiership by Haiti's Presidential Transitional Council on May 29 and was sworn in only last Monday. The job before him is monumental: to relieve the political, security and humanitarian crises devastating the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere and to pave the way for the first elections since 2016. "After a week of intense activity," Conille "suffered a slight illness on the afternoon of Saturday, June 8, 2024, and went to hospital for treatment," a statement by the prime minister's press office said Saturday. A medical doctor by training, Conille served as Haiti's premier for a short period in 2011-2012 and was until recently regional director for the U.N. aid agency UNICEF. Since his appointment as prime minister, he has been holding a series of meetings with stakeholders and representatives, while working with the Council on forming a cabinet. In his video Sunday, Conille promised that his cabinet would be completed this week. Gang violence has long wracked Haiti, but at the end of February armed groups launched coordinated attacks on strategic sites in Port-au-Prince, claiming they wanted to overthrow the unelected and unpopular Prime Minister Ariel Henry. Henry, who had been running the country since the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in 2021, eventually agreed to resign and hand over power to the nine-member transitional council. Before his collapse on Saturday, Conille visited the international airport in Haiti's capital Port-au-Prince, praising the efforts of the security forces which had enabled flights to resume after being halted for more than three months due to gang attacks. The violence has severely affected food security and humanitarian access, with much of the capital in the hands of gangs accused of abuses including murder, rape, looting and kidnappings. Last year, a U.N.-backed security force to be led by Kenya was promised as a boost to the struggling Haitian police, but its deployment has been repeatedly delayed. On Sunday the east African country's president, William Ruto, said Kenyan police will deploy probably within weeks. Kenya is scheduled to send 1,000 officers for the mission alongside personnel from several other countries. Haiti's newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille, was hospitalized late Saturday in the capital of Port-au-Prince, an official told The Associated Press. It wasn't immediately known why Conille was hospitalized. Louis Gerald Gilles, a member of the transitional presidential council that recently chose Conille as leader of the troubled Caribbean country, said he was en route to the hospital and did not have further information. A spokesman for Conille did not immediately return a message for comment. Conille was chosen as prime minister on May 28 after a convoluted selection process. He arrived in Haiti on June 1, having worked outside the country until recently as UNICEF's regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, a post he assumed in January 2023. He previously served as Haiti's prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012 under then President Michel Martelly. Conille has been meeting with multiple officials and visiting various parts of Port-au-Prince since arriving, including climbing into an armored vehicle to go along on a patrol with officers from Haiti's National Police. Earlier Saturday, Conille toured Haiti's main international airport, which recently reopened after gang violence forced it to close for nearly three months. Protesters formed a symbolic red line around the White House on Saturday, calling for an end to the eight-month Israel-Hamas war in Gaza and urging American leaders to press Israel not to invade Rafah, where airstrikes were reported Saturday. As the conflict enters its ninth month, the demonstrators chanted "From D.C. to Palestine, we are the red line" while holding a long banner listing the names of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces. President Joe Biden has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to launch a major military operation, calling it a red line, but Israel Defense Forces have been carrying out military operations in and near Rafah since early May. In late May, an Israeli airstrike on a camp in southern Gaza killed at least 45 people, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. When asked if this breached the president's red line, John Kirby, the White House national security communications adviser, said the administration does not believe Israel's actions in Rafah constitute a "major ground operation." That view was rejected by the protesters in Washington on Saturday. "I no longer believe any of the words that Joe Biden says," said 25-year-old protester Zaid Mahdawi from Virginia, whose parents are Palestinian. "This 'red line' in his rhetoric is rubbish... it shows his hypocrisy and his cowardice," Mahdawi told Agence France-Presse. The protest was organized by several groups, including the Council on American-Islamic Relations, CODEPINK, and others. CODEPINK, a left-wing anti-war organization, is supported by many at the protest for its stance on Palestinian statehood but criticized by others for opposing U.S. support for Ukraine during Russia's invasion. Some protesters said they were not affiliated with any movement. Organized buses brought people to the capital from at least 13 states. There was no official count of protesters, but the crowd formed a symbolic red line around the White House. Biden was not at the White House to see the protest, as he is in France until Sunday. The White House is waiting for Hamas' official response to the latest hostage deal and cease-fire proposal. Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed Gaza in their bilateral meeting Saturday. VOA asked the White House for a reaction to the protest and the protesters' demands and received the U.S. Secret Service's statement: "In preparation for the events this weekend in Washington, D.C., which have the potential to attract large crowds, additional public safety measures have been put in place near the White House complex." A LGBTQ+ pride parade was among the events in the U.S. capital Saturday. Some information for this report was provided by Agence France-Presse. When armed men entered Safis village in northern Burkina Faso and began firing, she hid in her home with her four children. The gunmen found them and let them live to suffer the guilt of survival after killing her husband and other relatives. Safi, whose last name has been withheld for security reasons, is among 2 million people displaced in the West African country by growing violence between Islamic extremists and security forces. About 60% of the displaced are children. Many are traumatized, but mental health services are limited and children are often overlooked for treatment. People often think that the children have seen nothing, nothing has happened to them, its fine, said Rudy Lukamba, the health coordinator for the International Committee of the Red Cross in Burkina Faso. He works on a program to help identify and treat traumatized children. It often relies on mothers to spot signs in children as young as 3 or 4. The chances of a successful outcome after treatment is greater when the children have a parental figure in their lives, he said. Mass killings of villagers have become common in northern Burkina Faso as fighters linked to the Islamic State group and al-Qaida attack the army and volunteer forces. Those forces can turn on villages accused of cooperating with the enemy. More than 20,000 people have been killed since the fighting began a decade ago, according to the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project, a U.S.-based nonprofit group. Mental health services in Burkina Faso are often reserved for only the most severe cases. A U.N. survey published in 2023 showed 103 mental health professionals in the country of more than 20 million people, including 11 psychiatrists. Community-based mental health services by social workers are expanding, now numbering in the hundreds and supported by a small team of U.N. psychologists. In addition, traditional medicine practitioners in Burkina Faso say families are increasingly turning to them for help with traumatized children. But the need is immense. The U.N. said surveys by it and partners show that 10 out of 11 people affected by the conflict show signs of trauma. With no money and fearing another attack, Safi set off on foot with seven children, including her own, across the arid plains in search of safety. They settled in a community in Ouahigouya, the capital of Yatenga province, and sought help. It was there that Safi learned how post-traumatic stress can affect children. They had nightmares and couldnt sleep. During the day, they didnt play with other children. Through the ICRC, Safi was connected with a health worker who helped through home visits and art, encouraging the children to draw their fears and talk about them. Traditional medicine practitioners are also helping traumatized children. One, Rasmane Rouamba, said he treats about five children a month, adapting the approach depending on the trauma suffered. Children in Burkina Faso also have lost access to education and basic healthcare in fighting-affected areas. The closure of schools is depriving almost 850,000 children of access to education, the U.N. childrens agency has said. The closure of hundreds of health facilities has left 3.6 million people without access to care, it said. Burkina Faso's government has struggled to improve security. The country's military leader, Capt. Ibrahim Traore, seized power in 2022 amid frustrations with the government over the deadly attacks. He is expected to remain in office for another five years, delaying the junta's promises of a democratic transition. Around half of Burkina Fasos territory remains outside government control. Civic freedoms have been rolled back and journalists expelled. And the country has distanced itself from regional and Western nations that dont agree with its approach, severing military ties with former colonial ruler France and turning to Russia instead for security support. Safi, adrift with her children, said she plans to stay in her new community for now. She has no money or other place to go. Theres a perfect harmony in the community, and they have become like family, she said. Amid Mexico's heat wave and drought, suffering birds are getting air-conditioning and monkeys with heatstroke are being rescued by non-governmental groups. The government, meanwhile, has been more preoccupied with cooling down animals at state-run zoos, giving lions frozen meat popsicles. It's not the only frosty treat: One rescue group is feeding distressed owls with rat carcasses shipped in frozen from Mexico City. A heat dome, an area of strong high pressure centered over the southern Gulf of Mexico and northern Central America, has blocked clouds from forming and caused extensive sunshine and hot temperatures all across Mexico, as well as in the United States. Much of the impact on wildlife is being felt in central and southern Mexico, because while temperatures are also high in the north, it is mostly desert and the animals there have some coping mechanisms for extreme heat and drought. On the steamy Gulf coast, an animal park has set up air-conditioned rooms for eagles, owls and other birds of prey. In the south, howler monkeys continue to fall dead out of the trees with heatstroke. Deaths now probably number over 250. In the southern state of Tabasco, the few monkeys that can be saved from dehydration and heat stroke are mostly being saved by NGOs like the Biodiversity Conservation of The Usumacinta group. Known by its initials as COBIUS, the group has saved and stabilized 18 of the monkeys. Wildlife biologist Gilberto Pozo, the head of the group, has been accompanying teams of biologists and veterinarians out into the jungle to look for ailing monkeys. Many times, they get there too late. "Yesterday we lost three of the animals," Pozo said as he bounced in a truck along a rural road in the southern Gulf coast state of Tabasco, the worst-hit area. "We went out to rescue them. We couldn't stabilize them." The monkeys mid-sized primates known for their roaring calls were too far gone with a kind of severe fluid loss as Mexico grapples with drought along with heat. As of May 31, the Environment Department acknowledged that a total of 204 howler monkeys had died, 157 of them in Tabasco. Pozo said the number in Tabasco alone has since risen to 198, suggesting the nationwide toll is now near 250. "The only rescue plan or program is the one our organization is doing," Pozo said. Amid budget cuts for many environmental agencies, the government now has to rely on NGOs. In a statement, the Environment Department said, "Federal environmental authorities have attended to reports of these events, in a coordinated approach with civic groups and academics." It said the government has provided food, lodging and water for the NGO teams and sick animals. The department says tests indicate the primates are dying of heat stroke, but adds that the drought has caused a "lack of water in the streams and springs in the areas where the monkeys live" and that appears to also play a role. Some NGOs are struggling to pay for the care and are calling for donations, like the Selva Teenek, a nonprofit wildlife park in the jungled region of La Huasteca, farther north. On May 9, temperatures in that area soared to around 50 degrees Celsius, and rescuers and staff brought in 15 birds of various species that were found lying on the ground. "This had never happened before," said Laura Rodriguez, the park's veterinarian. "One hundred percent of the animals ... they needed rehydration. Some were so dehydrated we couldn't give them water orally." Ena Mildred Buenfil, leader of the animal rescue group Selva Teneek, said birds like the howler monkeys are simply dropping dead. "The birds started having problems, and some of them literally started dropping dead in flight," Buenfil said. "Some of the most affected were the newborns ... people sent photos to us of dozens of dead parrots on the ground." The birds were suffering from heat stress, dehydration and malnutrition, simultaneously. Rescuers had to get them out of the heat, give them water and feed them. That included a shipment of frozen dead rats from Mexico City. "The adult (owls) need rats. Fortunately, we have rats," Buenfil said, but noted the staff has to thaw them a bit to skin them and remove their innards before they can be given to the birds. Since then, dozens of more birds and a few bats, lynxes and and coyotes have been found alive but suffering, and have also been brought in to the Teneek park. The situation got so crowded in the three rooms that have air-conditioning at the park that the staff had to put up sheets or curtains to separate the birds of prey from other birds that are their prey. Several birds died, but some species like the kinkajous that roam the park - only need the air-conditioning during the day, and are let out at night. Others, like the ant eaters, can get by with the breeze from a fan. The lions at Mexico City's Chapultepec zoo got a frozen treat of blood and animal bones mixed with water. Alberto Olascoaga, the head of the capital's zoo, said the animals like it and it helps hydrate them. "They play with the popsicle. They lick it, they break it up, they bite it, and they are getting refreshed and drinking this cold water as it melts," Olascoaga said. Claudia Sheinbaum, the environmental scientist who won the June 2 presidential election to succeed Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, offered some hope that testy relations over how to deal with the plight of wildlife might change when she takes office October 1. "I have spent my whole life studying the environment, it is part of my cause," she wrote in her Instagram account Wednesday. Key Insights The considerable ownership by retail investors in Sovereign Metals indicates that they collectively have a greater say in management and business strategy A total of 25 investors have a majority stake in the company with 41% ownership Insider ownership in Sovereign Metals is 12% A look at the shareholders of Sovereign Metals Limited (ASX:SVM) can tell us which group is most powerful. We can see that retail investors own the lion's share in the company with 59% ownership. Put another way, the group faces the maximum upside potential (or downside risk). And public companies on the other hand have a 16% ownership in the company. In the chart below, we zoom in on the different ownership groups of Sovereign Metals. See our latest analysis for Sovereign Metals What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Sovereign Metals? 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. Sovereign Metals 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 Sovereign Metals' historic earnings and revenue below, but keep in mind there's always more to the story. Sovereign Metals is not owned by hedge funds. Rio Tinto Group is currently the largest shareholder, with 15% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 7.8% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 2.9% by the third-largest shareholder. Ian Middlemas, who is the third-largest shareholder, also happens to hold the title of Member of the Board of Directors. Our studies suggest that the top 25 shareholders collectively control less than half of the company's shares, meaning that the company's shares are widely disseminated and there is no dominant shareholder. While studying institutional ownership for a company can add value to your research, it is also a good practice to research analyst recommendations to get a deeper understand of a stock's expected performance. There is some analyst coverage of the stock, but it could still become more well known, with time. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Sovereign Metals While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. Most consider insider ownership a positive because it can indicate the board is well aligned with other shareholders. However, on some occasions too much power is concentrated within this group. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own a reasonable proportion of Sovereign Metals Limited. It has a market capitalization of just AU$355m, and insiders have AU$41m worth of shares in their own names. This may suggest that the founders still own a lot of shares. You can click here to see if they have been buying or selling. General Public Ownership The general public, who are usually individual investors, hold a substantial 59% stake in Sovereign Metals, suggesting it is a fairly popular stock. This level of ownership gives investors from the wider public some power to sway key policy decisions such as board composition, executive compensation, and the dividend payout ratio. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 3.5%, of the company's shares. Private companies may be related parties. Sometimes insiders have an interest in a public company through a holding in a private company, rather than in their own capacity as an individual. While it's hard to draw any broad stroke conclusions, it is worth noting as an area for further research. Public Company Ownership It appears to us that public companies own 16% of Sovereign Metals. This may be a strategic interest and the two companies may have related business interests. It could be that they have de-merged. This holding is probably worth investigating further. Next Steps: I find it very interesting to look at who exactly owns a company. But to truly gain insight, we need to consider other information, too. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Sovereign Metals (including 2 which are a bit unpleasant) . Ultimately the future is most important. You can access this free report on analyst forecasts for the company. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Voters from 20 countries cast ballots in elections that are expected to shift the European Union's parliament to the right and could redirect the future of the world's biggest trading bloc, The Associated Press reported. Following the arrest of Hossein Shanbehzadeh, a literary editor, activist and former political prisoner, the prosecutor accused him of having "ties with high-ranking Mossad officers." Jalal Afaghi, the prosecutor in the northwestern city of Ardabil, made the accusation without directly naming Shanbehzadeh. Afaghi said the detained individual stands accused of "spying for high-ranking Mossad officers," "insulting religious sanctities," and "committing numerous acts of blasphemy." Without providing any evidence, the Ardabil prosecutor asserted that Shanbehzadeh had "contact with high-ranking Mossad officers via social media." After news broke of the editor's arrest on Tuesday, his family voiced concern about the allegations leveled against him. The Shanbehzadeh family said Thursday in a statement they were concerned for his well-being because of the seriousness of the charges he is facing. "Our primary concern is for Hossein's health, as we are unaware of the arresting authority and his place of detention," the family said. His family said the civil activist is being denied access to a lawyer and contact with his family. Abbas Shanbehzadeh had previously voiced concerns about the "ramifications of these grave accusations" against his brother, Hossein. The Ardabil prosecutor said that a legal case had been filed against this social media activist in Tehran's prosecutor's office, and based on judicial delegation, he was pursued in Ardabil province. Hossein Shanbehzadeh was arrested for adding a single period in response to a note without punctuation on Ali Khamenei's page on the social media platform X, where Shanbehzadeh uses a pseudonym. Users liked this simple period more than twice as much as the post by the leader of the Islamic Republic. The Ardabil prosecutor alleged that Shanbehzadeh intended to leave the country by passing through Ardabil and Bostanabad and ultimately reaching Urmia, which is the largest city in West Azerbaijan Province. This is despite the fact that Shanbehzadeh had shared details of his trip to Ardabil, including articles and photos, on his X social media account before his arrest. Shanbehzadeh is known for writing about social and literary topics, and sharing some of his experiences from the time he spent in prison, including being flogged. In recent months, the Islamic Republic of Iran has further intensified its pressure on civil and political activists. Earlier, Pouran Nazemi, a human rights activist in Iran, shared with Voice of America the escalating pressure imposed by the Islamic Republic on the families of victims, prisoners, and political and civil activists. She said the government shows no inclination toward reform or withdrawal. Nazemi said the security pressures exerted by the Islamic Republic on activists regardless of whether they are environmental, civil, or political activists have reached unprecedented levels. Israel freed four hostages over the weekend in a raid on a refugee camp in Gaza. The Hamas-run Gaza health ministry said Israeli forces killed at least 274 Palestinians in the operation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to return to the region this week in another push for a cease-fire. VOAs Arash Arabasadi has the story. Israeli war minister Benny Gantz announced Sunday he is quitting Netanyahus coalition government over differences on a transparent postwar strategy for Gaza. Gantz, a centrist, was edged out of the coalition by the coalition's hard-liners on the war in Gaza. While mistrusting many Palestinian leaders, Gantz always appeared more amenable to a two-state solution than Netanyahu. "No one is going anywhere," he said, referring to the Israelis and the Palestinians in the region. Gantz said Netanyahu's promise for total victory against Hamas was empty and that Israelis deserve "a real victory" that "puts the release of the hostages above political survival." His partys resignation from the coalition will leave a void in the Knesset that could be filled by more ultranationalist conservatives, who will add more pressure on Netanyahu to follow a hardline policy toward Gaza. Gantzs resignation will go into effect within 48 hours. Elsewhere, Israeli continued to pound Gaza on Sunday, a day after Israeli forces rescued four hostages during an operation that left at least 274 Palestinians dead, among them 64 children and 57 women, according to the Hamas-run government media office. Watch related report by Arash Arabasadi: The Israeli military said a special forces officer was killed during the bloody rescue operation in a densely built residential neighborhood of al-Nuseirat, adding that it knew of "under 100" Palestinians killed, though, it said, it did not know how many of them were fighters or civilians. The Israeli military said in a statement its forces were continuing operations east of Bureij and the city of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, killing several Palestinian gunmen and destroying militant infrastructure. Tanks rolled into two new districts Sunday surrounding the entire eastern side of Rafah and engaging against dug-in Hamas-led armed groups, according to residents trapped in their homes there. Around 100,000 people of the more than 1 million residents and refugees who occupied Rafah a month ago remain in the city. Palestinian refugees abandoned Rafah, their latest refuge, and headed farther north, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA. "All UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated. Many of the people who were based in Rafah have fled up the coast seeking safer locations in both Khan Younis and the middle area (of Gaza)," UNRWA said in a statement released Friday. Palestinian medics said an Israeli airstrike on a house in Tel Al-Sultan in western Rafah killed two people Sunday. In an interview with CBS Face the Nation, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday that the best way to bring all the hostages home is a comprehensive cease-fire and hostage deal that has been endorsed by President Joe Biden as well as 16 countries from around the world and accepted by Israel. Sullivan said that the ball is in Hamas court in accepting the deal that outlines a political and humanitarian strategy and offers a logical strategic endgame. If Hamas would say yes to that deal, there would be a cease-fire in place, hostages would be coming home, more humanitarian aid would be surging in, and a better day for the Palestinian people would begin to unfold, he said. However, Sullivan acknowledged that Israel has not yet offered a clear plan for the governance of a post war Gaza after a cease-fire agreement would be signed but he expressed hope that a solid vision would materialize in the coming weeks. As of Friday, Hamas had yet to respond to Biden's cease-fire proposal. The October 7 terror attack resulted in the deaths of about 1,200 people in Israel, mostly civilians, according to official Israeli figures. Hamas militants took 251 hostages, 116 of whom remain in the Palestinian territory, including 41 the army says are dead. Israels military response has killed at least 36,801 Palestinians, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians in its figures. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. Japanese police are searching for the suspects who spray-painted the word "toilet" on a Tokyo shrine that commemorates the country's war dead, in an apparent protest against the release of treated radioactive wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear power plant, officials and news reports said. The red graffiti on a stone pillar at the entrance of Yasukuni Shrine was discovered early Saturday. In a video posted on Chinese social media, a man who identified himself as Iron Head criticized the discharge of wastewater from the damaged nuclear power plant into the ocean. "Faced with the Japanese government's permission to discharge nuclear wastewater, can we do anything?" the man asks. "No, I will give them some color to see." In another part of the video taken at night, he is seen apparently urinating on the pillar and using spray paint to write "toilet" in English. Tokyo police are investigating at least two suspects, the person who appeared in the video and another who shot it, according to Japanese media including NHK public television and Kyodo News agency. The reports said police believed the incident occurred late Friday after the shrine closed and that the perpetrator is believed to have already left Japan, they said. Police declined to confirm the reports. Yasukuni Shrine, in a statement emailed to The Associated Press, said the graffiti was "extremely regrettable" and said it was "an act of degrading the dignity of the shrine." The shrine said it will continue patrolling so that visitors can pay respects in "a tranquil environment." Yasukuni Shrine declined further comment, saying it has reported the damage to police and investigation is under way. The discharge of wastewater from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant has been opposed by fishing groups and neighboring countries, especially China, which imposed a ban on all imports of Japanese seafood immediately after the release began in August. The ban has particularly affected Japanese scallop growers and exporters to China. Yasukuni Shrine honors about 2.5 million Japanese war dead, including convicted war criminals. Victims of Japanese aggression during the first half of the 20th century, especially China and the Koreas, see the shrine as a symbol of Japanese militarism. The countries criticize visits by Japanese lawmakers to the shrine as signs of their lack of remorse over Japan's wartime actions. The graffiti appeared to have been cleaned by Monday. President Joe Biden's administration is prepared to defend in court the sweeping asylum policy put into place at the U.S.-Mexico border last week, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC's "This Week" on Sunday. Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday that generally bars migrants who illegally cross the southern border from claiming asylum and allows authorities to quickly deport or send migrants back to Mexico if the daily number of crossings exceeds 2,500. The asylum ban has exceptions for unaccompanied minors, people who face serious medical or safety threats, and victims of trafficking. Mayorkas on Sunday said the administration was ready to defend the policy against an expected American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) lawsuit. "I respectfully disagree with the ACLU," Mayorkas said. "We stand by the legality of what we have done. We stand by the value proposition. It's not only a matter of securing the border, we have a humanitarian obligation to keep vulnerable people out of the hands of exploitative smugglers." The ACLU confirmed on Sunday it plans to sue. "It was illegal when Trump did it, and it is no less illegal now," ACLU Immigrants Rights Project Deputy Director Lee Gelernt said in a statement. Biden took office in 2021 vowing to reverse some of Republican Donald Trump's restrictive policies but has grappled with record levels of migrants caught crossing the border illegally ahead of the Nov. 5 presidential election. Mayorkas said initial indications showed the new policy was deterring some illegal immigration. "It's early. The signs are positive," he said. A U.S. border official told Reuters that authorities arrested around 3,100 people crossing illegally on Friday, down roughly 20% from the days before. The official requested anonymity to discuss preliminary figures. Texas Governor Greg Abbott, who installed razor wire fencing along the Rio Grande and has seen a state law to enforce illegal crossings into his state blocked by a judge, told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" he thinks the policy is backfiring. "All that this new Biden policy is going to do is to actually attract and invite even more people to cross the border illegally," Abbott said. Far-right parties made major gains in European Union parliamentary elections Sunday, dealing stunning defeats to two of the blocs most important leaders: French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. In France, the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen dominated the polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections. It was a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027. Le Pen was delighted to accept the challenge. Were ready to turn the country around, ready to defend the interests of the French, ready to put an end to mass immigration, she said, echoing the rallying cry of so many far-right leaders in other countries who were celebrating substantial wins. Macron acknowledged the thud of defeat. Ive heard your message, your concerns, and I wont leave them unanswered, he said, adding that calling a snap election only underscored his democratic credentials. In Germany, the most populous nation in the 27-member bloc, projections indicated that the AfD overcame a string of scandals involving its top candidate to rise to 16.5%, up from 11% in 2019. In comparison, the combined result for the three parties in the German governing coalition barely topped 30%. Scholz suffered such an ignominious fate that his long-established Social Democratic party fell behind the extreme-right Alternative for Germany, which surged into second place. After all the prophecies of doom, after the barrage of the last few weeks, we are the second strongest force, a jubilant AfD leader Alice Weidel said. The four-day polls in the 27 EU countries were the world's second-biggest exercise in democracy, behind India's recent election. At the end, the rise of the far right was even more stunning than many analysts predicted. The French National Rally crystalized it as it stood at over 30% or about twice as much as Macrons pro-European centrist Renew party that is projected to reach around 15%. Overall, across the EU, two mainstream and pro-European groups, the Christian Democrats and the Socialists, remained the dominant forces. The gains of the far right came at the expense of the Greens, who were expected to lose about 20 seats and fall back to sixth position in the legislature. Macron's pro-business Renew group also lost big. For decades, the European Union, which has its roots in the defeat of Nazi Germany and fascist Italy, confined the hard right to the political fringes. With its strong showing in these elections, the far right could now become a major player in policies ranging from migration to security and climate. Bucking the trend was former EU leader and current Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who overcame Law and Justice, the national conservative party that governed Poland from 2015-23 and drove it ever further to the right. A poll showed Tusk's party won with 38%, compared to 34% for his bitter nemesis. Of these large, ambitious countries, of the EU leaders, Poland has shown that democracy, honesty and Europe triumph here, Tusk told his supporters. I am so moved. He declared, We showed that we are a light of hope for Europe. Germany, traditionally a stronghold for environmentalists, exemplified the humbling of the Greens, who were predicted to fall from 20% to 12%. With further losses expected in France and elsewhere, the defeat of the Greens could well have an impact on the EU's overall climate change policies, still the most progressive across the globe. The center-right Christian Democratic bloc of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, which already weakened its green credentials ahead of the polls, dominated in Germany with almost 30%, easily beating Scholz's Social Democrats, who fell to 14%, even behind the AfD. "What you have already set as a trend is all the better strongest force, stable, in difficult times and by a distance, von der Leyen told her German supporters by video link from Brussels. As well as France, the hard right, which focused its campaign on migration and crime, was expected to make significant gains in Italy, where Premier Giorgia Meloni was tipped to consolidate her power. Voting continued in Italy until late in the evening and many of the 27 member states have not yet released any projections. Nonetheless, data already published confirmed earlier predictions: the elections will shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future. That could make it harder for the EU to pass legislation, and decision-making could at times be paralyzed in the world's biggest trading bloc. EU lawmakers, who serve a five-year term in the 720-seat Parliament, have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. And they hold a veto over appointments to the powerful EU commission. These elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fueled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests. Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations Hungary, Slovakia and Italy and are part of ruling coalitions in others including Sweden, Finland and soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy. Right is good, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who leads a stridently nationalist and anti-migrant government, told reporters after casting his ballot. To go right is always good. Go right! Last year, Sihame Denguir enrolled her teenage son and daughter in France's largest Muslim private school, in the northern city of Lille some 200 kilometers (125 miles) from their middle-class suburban Parisian home. The move meant financial sacrifices. Denguir, 41, now pays fees at the partially state-subsidized Averroes school and rents a flat in Lille for her children and their grandmother, who moved to care for them. But Averroes' academic record, among the best in France, was a powerful draw. So she was dumbstruck in December when the school lost government funding worth around two million euros a year on grounds it failed to comply with secular principles enshrined in France's national education guidelines. "The high school has done so well," Denguir told Reuters in a park near her home in Cergy, calling Averroes open-minded. "It should be valued. It should be held up as an example." President Emmanuel Macron has undertaken a crackdown on what he calls Islamist separatism and radical Islam in France following deadly jihadist attacks in recent years by foreign and homegrown militants. Macron is under pressure from the far right Rassemblement National (RN), which holds a wide lead over his party ahead of European elections this week. The crackdown seeks to limit foreign influence over Muslim institutions in France and tackle what Macron has said is a long-term Islamist plan to take control of the French Republic. Macron denies stigmatizing Muslims and says Islam has a place in French society. However, rights and Muslim groups say that by targeting schools like Averroes, the government is impinging on religious freedom, making it harder for Muslims to express their identity. Four parents and three academics Reuters spoke to for this story said the campaign risks being counterproductive, alienating Muslims who want their children to succeed within the French system, including at high-performing mainstream schools such as Averroes. Thomas Misita, 42, father of three daughters attending Averroes, said he was taught at school that France's principles included equality, fraternity and freedom of religion. "I feel betrayed. I feel singled out, smeared, slandered," Misita said. "I feel 100% French, but it creates a divide. A small divide with your own country." The school's long-term survival is now in question. Despite raising about 1 million euros in donations from individuals, enrolment for next year has dropped to about 500 students, from 800, headmaster Eric Dufour told Reuters in May. Macron's office referred a request for comment to the interior ministry, which did not respond. The education ministry said it did not differentiate between schools of different faiths in applying the law. The ministry said despite academic success, Averroes had failings, citing "administrative and budgetary management" and a lack of transparency. The school is in a legal battle to overturn the decision. Headmaster Eric Dufour told Reuters the school had given the state "all the guarantees" to show that it respected funding terms and French values. "We are the most inspected school in France," he said. Schools closed Local offices of the national government have closed at least five Muslim schools since Macron came to power in 2017, according to a Reuters tally. Reuters was only able to find one Muslim school closed under his predecessors. In the first year of Macron's presidency, one other school lost public funding, pledged in May 2017 by the government of former president Francois Hollande. Since 2017, only one Muslim school has been awarded state funding, compared to nine in total under Macron's two predecessors, Education Ministry data shows. The National Federation for Muslim Education (FNEM) told Reuters it made about 70 applications on behalf of Muslim schools in that period. Reuters spoke to more than a dozen current and former headmasters and teachers in ten Muslim schools, who said the establishments were being targeted, including being censured on flimsy grounds, and that perceived discrimination was preventing them integrating more closely with the state system. "It's really a double standard of who has to conform to secular Republican values in a certain way, and who doesnt," said American anthropologist Carol Ferrara, who studies French faith schools and says Catholic and Jewish schools are treated more leniently. Prominent Parisian Catholic school Stanislas has kept its funding despite inspectors last year finding issues including sexist or homophobic ideas and mandatory religious classes, French media has reported. The education ministry said the government had increased supervision of private schools under Macron, leading to more closures, including of some non-denominational schools. It cited budget restraints as a reason for the low number of schools offered public funding. While some of the five closed Muslim schools taught conservative versions of Islam, according to the education ministry statements and closure orders, the headmasters and teachers Reuters spoke to emphasized their schools' efforts to create a mainstream and tolerant teaching environment. "There was never a desire for separatism," said Mahmoud Awad, board member at Education & Savoir, the school that lost state funding soon after Macron took office. "At some point they have to accept that a Muslim school is like a Catholic school or a Jewish school," he said. Idir Arap, headmaster of the Avicenne middle school in Nice, told Reuters he has unsuccessfully sought public funding since 2020, as he wants the school brought into the state fold. The latest request was rejected in February, according to a document reviewed by Reuters. "We're the opposite of radicalism," Arap said. In February, Education Minister Nicole Belloubet said she wanted to close Avicenne, citing 'opaque funding' found by a local representative of the government. In April, an administrative court provisionally ruled any irregularities were minor, suspending the closure order. The next hearing is set for June 25. In a reply to Reuters, the ministry reiterated that financial opacity was widespread at Avicenne, saying it awaited the court's final ruling. It said the school could appeal the funding refusal. Faith school tradition France has a tradition of Catholic, Protestant and Jewish schools that allow religious expression within the constraints of lay principles broadly excluding religion from public life. A prohibition on hijab headscarves in public schools in 2004 created demand for schools where Muslim students, and in particular girls, could express religious identity. State funding was extended to Averroes in 2008, in return for oversight, in a push by former president Nicolas Sarkozy to better integrate Muslim institutions. An estimated 6.8 million Muslims live in France, data from France's statistics agency shows, around 10% of the population. Islam is the country's second-largest religion after Catholicism. There are 127 Muslim schools, according to FNEM. Only ten benefit from state funding, a report from the public audit office said last year. In contrast, 7,045 Catholic schools are funded, the report said. France's Catholic Church says there are 7,220 such schools. Macron's government introduced laws granting powers to local authorities to strip institutions, including private schools, of funding for failing to respect "liberty, equality, fraternity," among other things. In a 2020 speech, Macron described a need to reverse what he saw as radicalization in Muslim communities, including practices such as the separation of sexes. "The problem is an ideology which claims its own laws should be superior to those of the Republic," he said. In 2020, Elysee advisers told reporters monitoring of Muslim schools and associations involved with children was key to fight separatism. Officials said they feared religious indoctrination was taking place in some of them. Rights group Amnesty International has warned the government's approach is potentially discriminatory and risks reinforcing stereotypes that conflate all Muslims with terrorism or radical views. Cultural bridge The first Muslim high school in mainland France, Averroes was named after a 12th century Muslim scholar from Spain who helped reintroduce Aristotle's thought to Europe and is seen as a symbol of cooperation between Islam and the West. It was voted France's best high school in 2013. Reuters spoke to seven parents and pupils who spoke of a nurturing space that took constitutional commitments seriously. On a visit in March, Reuters reporters observed girls and boys studying together. Teachers included non-Muslims. Some girls wore the hijab while others chose not to. Religious studies are optional, as is prayer. In 2019, French journalists and local politicians drew attention to Averroes over a 850,000 euro grant from aid organization Qatar Charity, which works with the United Nations. They also questioned links between members of the school's board and proponents of political Islam in France. An education ministry inspection of the school in 2020 found the grant to be legal. But officials and politicians in the Lille region continued a campaign to restrain the school's state income. In February, a Lille administrative court upheld the decision of the local representative of the government to halt funding, largely on the grounds that a 1980s Syrian book on the curriculum of an optional Muslim ethics class contained ideas about the separation of genders and the death sentence for apostasy, according to the ruling, reviewed by Reuters. The Lille office of the government declined a request for comment. Headmaster Dufour told Reuters the book should not have been on the curriculum and was removed earlier in 2023. He said it was not present in the school and had never been taught. The Muslim ethics class helped pupils practice faith in compliance with French law, he said. Nine pupils, former pupils, parents and teachers said the class advocated for democratic, tolerant values. On a March afternoon, Denguir's son Abderahim, 14, attended the class during Ramadan alongside other boys and girls from the middle school. Abderahim said he wanted to become an architect and make his parents proud. "They want me to excel at school," he said, "to have a good job, a good salary, to take care of our family later." Christophe Deloire, who negotiated to free imprisoned journalists around the world and offered refuge to reporters under threat as the head of the media freedom group Reporters Without Borders, died Saturday. He was 53. Deloire had been battling sudden and aggressive cancer and died in Paris surrounded by loved ones, according to board members of Reporters Without Borders, also known by its French acronym RSF. Deloire was "a tireless defender, on every continent, of the freedom, independence and pluralism of journalism, in a context of information chaos," RSF said in a statement. "Journalism was his life's struggle, which he fought with unshakeable conviction." With boundless energy and a ready smile even when dishing out trenchant criticism, Deloire traveled constantly, to Ukraine, Turkey, Africa and beyond to lobby governments and defend journalists behind bars or under threat. Press freedom activists from many countries shared tributes to his work and mourned his passing. Deloire helped Russian broadcast journalist Marina Ovsiannikova flee Russia in a secret operation in 2022 after she came under fire for denouncing the war in Ukraine on live television. RSF also launched a program to provide protective equipment and training to Ukrainian journalists after Russia's invasion. Publicly and behind the scenes, Deloire worked for the release of journalist Olivier Dubois, held by Islamic extremists in Mali for two years and freed in 2023, and for other jailed reporters. In his 12 years at the helm of RSF, he expanded the group's reach and activism and raised its profile with governments. Under Deloire's watch, RSF launched the Journalism Trust Initiative, a program to certify media organizations to restore public trust in the news, and a program called Forum for Democracy aimed at heading off threats to democratic thought and freedoms. Born May 22, 1971, in Paray-le-Monial in Burgundy, Deloire worked as an investigative reporter and led a prominent French journalism school, CFJ, before becoming director of RSF. He is survived by his wife Perrine and their son Nathan. Pakistani authorities said Sunday that a bomb blast targeted a military convoy in a militancy-hit northwestern region, killing at least seven soldiers. The bombing in Lucky Marwat district was followed by a militant gunfire attack, and an army captain was among the slain soldiers, a security official told VOA on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. The Pakistani militarys media wing later released a formal statement confirming the deadly ambush, saying an improvised explosive device exploded near one of the convoy vehicles. Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists present in the area, and perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice, the military stated. No group immediately claimed responsibility for the bombing. Lucky Marwat and surrounding districts of the countrys Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, bordering Afghanistan, have routinely witnessed insurgent bomb attacks and guerrilla raids against military and police forces in recent years. The violence is claimed by Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, a globally designated terrorist organization, which Pakistani officials say is headquartered in Afghanistan. The group has waged terrorist attacks in the country for years, killing thousands of Pakistani civilians and security forces. In its mid-year report, issued Saturday, the provincial counterterrorism department confirmed that at least 65 police officers had died and 85 others wounded in TTP-led attacks since the beginning of the year. It stated that Pakistani security forces had killed nearly 120 terrorists and arrested 300 others in military-led counterinsurgency operations during the same period. The military has separately reported the fatalities of dozens of its personnel in bomb attacks and militant ambushes. Pakistani leaders maintain that terrorism in the country has surged dramatically since the return of the Taliban to power in Afghanistan nearly three years ago. Sundays insurgent attack came a day after China and Pakistan, through a joint statement, called on Afghanistans Taliban to firmly combat terrorism, including not allowing its territory to be used for terrorist acts. Islamabad claims that Taliban leaders in Kabul have sheltered TTP leaders as well as combatants and facilitated them to direct cross-border terrorist attacks, ignoring calls for reining in the anti-Pakistan militant activity. Taliban authorities deny they are allowing anyone to use Afghanistan to threaten neighboring countries, including Pakistan, although independent critics question those claims. 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 Afghan Taliban members joined the TTP in conducting cross-border raids against Pakistan. South Korea says it will restart anti-North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas in response to continuing North Korean campaigns to drop trash on the South with balloons. Following an emergency security meeting led by South Korean national security director Chang Ho-jin, the officials decided to install and begin the loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas on Sunday, Seoul's presidential office said in a statement. The move is certain to anger North Korea and potentially prompt it to take its own retaliatory military steps. Chang and other South Korean security officials berated Pyongyang for attempting to cause "anxiety and disruption" in South Korea and stressed that North Korea will be "solely responsible" for any future escalation of tensions between the Koreas. North Korea over the weekend flew hundreds of trash-carrying balloons to South Korea in its third such campaign since late May, the South's military said, just days after South Korean activists floated their own balloons to scatter propaganda leaflets in the North. North Korea has so far sent more than 1,000 balloons to drop tons of trash and manure in the South in retaliation against South Korean civilian leafletting campaigns, adding to tensions between the war-divided rivals amid a diplomatic stalemate over the North's nuclear ambitions. The resumption of South Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts has been widely anticipated since last week, when South Korea suspended a 2018 tension-easing agreement with North Korea. The move allowed for the South to resume propaganda campaigns and possibly restart live-fire military exercises in border areas. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected the North launching around 330 balloons toward the South since Saturday night and about 80 were found in South Korean territory as of Sunday morning. The military said winds were blowing eastward on Saturday night, which possibly caused many balloons to float away from South Korean territory. The South's military said the balloons that did land dropped trash, including plastic and paper waste, but no hazardous substances were discovered. The military, which has mobilized chemical rapid response and explosive clearance units to retrieve the North Korean balloons and materials, alerted the public to beware of falling objects and not to touch balloons found on the ground but report them to police or military authorities. Saturday's balloon launches by North Korea were the third of their kind since May 28. In North Korea's previous two rounds of balloon activities, South Korean authorities discovered about 1,000 balloons that were tied to vinyl bags containing manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste batteries and waste paper. Some were popped and scattered on roads, residential areas and schools. No highly dangerous materials were found and no major damage has been reported. The North's vice defense minister, Kim Kang Il, later said his country would stop the balloon campaign but threatened to resume it if South Korean activists sent leaflets again. In defiance of the warning, a South Korean civilian group led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak, said it launched 10 balloons from a border town on Thursday carrying 200,000 anti-North Korean leaflets, USB sticks with K-pop songs and South Korean dramas, and U.S. $1 bills. South Korean media reported another activist group also flew balloons with 200,000 propaganda leaflets toward North Korea on Friday. South Korean officials called the North Korean trash balloon launches and other recent provocations "absurd" and "irrational" and vowed strong retaliation. With the loudspeakers, South Korea may blare anti-Pyongyang broadcasts, K-pop songs and outside news across the rivals' heavily armed border. North Korea is extremely sensitive to such broadcasts because it fears it could demoralize front-line troops and residents and eventually weaken leader Kim Jong Un's grip on power, analysts say. In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported. Kim in recent years has waged an intensifying campaign to eliminate South Korean cultural and language influences. In January, Kim declared the North will abandon its longstanding goal of a peaceful unification with the South and rewrite its constitution to cement the South as a permanent enemy. Experts say Kim's efforts to reinforce the North's separate identity may be aimed at strengthening the Kim family's dynastic rule. North Korea's balloon campaign is also possibly meant to cause a divide in South Korea over its conservative government's hard-line approach on North Korea. Liberal lawmakers, some civic groups and front-line residents in South Korea have called on the government to urge leafleting activists to stop flying balloons to avoid unnecessary clashes with North Korea. But government officials haven't made such an appeal in line with last year's constitutional court ruling that struck down a law criminalizing an anti-North Korea leafletting as a violation of free speech. A large crowd protested in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Sunday against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, led by a Christian cleric who announced the start of four days of rallies to seek to drive him from office. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is seeking to tap into popular anger over military defeats and territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, but Pashinyan has so far withstood the pressure. "For four days, we will stay in the streets and squares, and with our determination and will, we will achieve victory," said Galstanyan, who called on parliamentary factions to hold a special session Tuesday to remove the government from power. A live video stream on YouTube showed thousands of people rallying in the center of Yerevan and then marching peacefully through the streets with music blaring. There were no reports of arrests or clashes. After weeks of protests against Pashinyan appeared to be losing momentum, Galstanyan is attempting to bring matters to a head with demands for a change of power within days. He is calling for the appointment of a transitional government to "implement reconciliation," manage foreign relations and prepare for snap elections. But Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, said the move smacked of desperation in the face of waning protest numbers. The archbishop's campaign was hampered by a lack of political experience and the absence of a clear strategy or alternative vision, he said. The demonstrations, "do not pose any real challenge to the government. The only danger of escalation is from a possible over-reaction by the security forces," Giragosian told Reuters. Pashinyan is a former journalist who came to power after a wave of street protests in 2018. He came under heavy domestic pressure in 2020 after major losses to Azerbaijan in the second war the two countries had fought in three decades. Last year Azerbaijan followed up with a lightning offensive to take back its Karabakh region, prompting an exodus of 100,000 ethnic Armenians who had enjoyed de facto independence there for three decades. Pashinyan has criticized Russia for not intervening with its peacekeeping force in the region to stop Azerbaijani forces from retaking Karabakh. He has publicly questioned Armenia's traditional alliance with Moscow and started to forge closer ties with the West. A senior U.S. official, Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, was due in Yerevan on Monday for talks on bilateral ties and moves toward a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. The trigger for the latest demonstrations against Pashinyan was his decision to hand back four deserted border villages to Azerbaijan in May. Opponents called it a betrayal, but Pashinyan defended their return as a necessary step to avoid a further war that would end badly for Armenia. The inmates of Washington state's prison system tramp through the forest, their yellow uniforms and helmets bright against the brown branches and green leaves. They are Arcadia 20, or ARC 20, an elite group of firefighters based in Spokane who have been recruited from existing firefighting prison camps. The aim? Teach the inmates the skills needed to help prevent forest fires - and in the process, give them an opportunity to start on a path to a new career. Recruited by the state's Department of Natural Resources and Department of Corrections, the program seeks to provide the dozen or so inmates with enough training to prepare them for jobs as civilian firefighters once they have completed their sentences. "I do believe one thing for sure, that people deserve a second chance," said Kenyatta Bridges, 34, who joined the ARC 20 team for training in the middle of last year while serving a 10-year sentence for manslaughter in a 2014 gang-affiliated shooting in Pasco, Washington. Bridges started a job in a civilian fire crew on June 3, following his release. Reuters was granted exclusive access to ARC 20 over three months, including a visit last August to the Tonasket Rodeo Grounds, a rural community in northeast Washington near the Canadian border. Bridges and the ARC 20 crew were setting up their tents after a day of helping contain a fire. Crew members learn how to conduct prescribed burns, how to handle dangerous equipment, and how to ensure fires that have been contained stay that way. And when necessary, they are on the front lines of a fire, digging lines to help reduce the chance a fire will continue to spread. "Team work, communications skills, an accountability for one's actions and others as it relates to duties and providing for safety" are an integral part of their mindset, according to ARC 20 management. "The fellas that I've worked shoulder to shoulder with, they're amazing," Bridges said. "We all made bad decisions in our life. Some of us got caught, some of us didn't. But we learn from our mistakes." Earning ability While states across the American West have inmate firefighting crews, Washington's ARC 20 program is the only one of its kind in the U.S., recruiting incarcerated individuals from full confinement into a reentry center where they continue to build skills in firefighting and prepare for life after release. They also earn more. Inmates in Washington state's regular prison firefighting camps, who number around 230, are paid up to $1.50 per hour, based on experience, for their daily duties. When dispatched to an active fire zone, they are paid the state's minimum wage of $16.28 per hour plus overtime. Elite crew members who have joined the ARC 20 team are paid a base salary of up to $3,796 per month with potential overtime pay on fire assignments. This year-round crew has a maximum of 20 team members. It had 13 people on the team during its first full year in 2023 and expects to have 12 as Washington state's fire season ramps up at the end of June. The Pacific Northwest is struggling with the effects of climate change, with higher-than-normal chances of wildfires and a longer season this year, according to meteorologists at the Department of Natural Resources, the state agency charged with wildfire prevention and management. According to DNR officials who manage both fully incarcerated camp crews and the ARC 20 team, a high-earning member of the camp crew received approximately $11,000 in 2023, whereas an ARC 20 crew member earned up to $60,000. The ARC 20 team is trained to join "hand crews" teams of 18 to 25 firefighters who work and camp near the front lines of active wildfires, often hiking long distances and carrying their own gear to reach remote areas. They also conduct prescribed burns and chainsaw trees to the ground as part of the state's fire mitigation and forest management efforts. ARC 20's crew superintendent Ben Hood is on the team that selects participants. "We call it getting bit with the fire bug... Once you get bit with it, you're hooked in," said Hood. "It becomes part of, kind of who you are, becomes more than just a job. It kind of becomes a lifestyle." When the team isn't traveling the state fighting fires, they are housed at Brownstone Reentry Center, a minimum security facility in downtown Spokane. Residents participate in work or training programs and are granted additional freedoms like wearing normal clothes or owning a cellphone. ARC 20 crew members are paid higher wages than some staff in the state's correctional system, including the facility where they live, according to Brownstone's manager. Running a kitchen Reuters visited another crew of fully incarcerated individuals in September at a Department of Natural Resources facility at Cedar Creek Corrections Center, southwest of the state's capital city, Olympia. They had just returned from a weeks-long assignment running a mobile kitchen for almost 1,000 wildland firefighters per day, who were fighting two of the 2023 season's biggest fires in the state. Timothy Bullock, 32, an electrician jailed for second-degree assault stemming from a domestic dispute, said he has changed his life goals and wants to become a wildland firefighter. "I used to drink quite a bit... it was a terrible mistake on my part that affected other people, people I cared about. So it's hard dealing with that," said Bullock, acknowledging a prison sentence may have been needed for him to change his path. "I just know that I'm never going to make those types of mistakes ever again." Bullock has been a standout member of the Cedar Creek Corrections Center camp crew, according to his bosses at DNR. He has submitted his application for ARC 20 and is being considered for a spot in late 2024. "I'm getting real close to getting out. It's kind of working out for the better, you know, to get back on my feet and then have an opportunity when I get out," said Bullock. Washington's model could be a 'stepping stone' for state agencies across the U.S., according to transition crew liaison Roy Hardin, who helped form the crew with Hood. "If a person is employed, has a really good job right when they get out of prison, they're not homeless, they're probably not going to come back," said Hardin. He said four crew members from ARC 20 have gone on to take jobs as members of the state firefighting agency one engine leader and three engine crew members. Kenyatta Bridges is one of those crew members. On June 3, he started fighting fires with DNR's Arcadia Engine 7405 near Spokane, in one of the most wildfire prone areas of Washington state. "He's hard working. He's motivated," said superintendent Hood, who recruited Bridges. "He's becoming one of those leaders. He's good with the chainsaw. He doesn't know how to quit working; he's physically capable of the job. He's what you want in a firefighter." Bridges is elated for this new chapter of his life. Since his release from Brownstone he has been living in transitional housing with other formerly incarcerated individuals in Spokane, and on May 20 his partner gave birth to their son. "I feel like I couldn't ask for nothing better," Bridges said, discussing his life post-release. "To have everything so quickly, it feels like every gear is rotating and spinning just on point." Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But World War II veteran Harold Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. Their respective ages he's 100, she's 96 made their nuptials an almost double-century celebration. Terens called it "the best day of my life." On her way into the nuptials, the bubbly bride-to-be said: "It's not just for young people, love, you know? We get butterflies. And we get a little action, also." The location was the elegant stone-worked town hall of Carentan, a key initial D-Day objective that saw ferocious fighting after the June 6, 1944, Allied landings that helped rid Europe of Adolf Hitler's tyranny. Like other towns and villages across the Normandy coast where nearly 160,000 Allied troops came ashore under fire on five code-named beaches, it's an effervescent hub of remembrance and celebration on the 80th anniversary of the deeds and sacrifices of young men and women that day, festooned with flags and bunting and with veterans feted like rockstars. As the swing of Glenn Miller and other period tunes rang out on the streets, well-wishers some in WWII-period clothes were already lined up a good hour before the wedding behind barriers outside the town hall, with a rousing pipe and drum band also on hand to serenade the happy couple. After both declaring "oui" to vows read by Carentan's mayor in English, the couple exchanged rings. "With this ring, I thee wed," Terens said. She giggled and gasped, "Really?" With Champagne flutes in hand, they waved through an open window to the adoring crowds outside. "To everybody's good health. And to peace in the world and the preservation of democracy all over the world and the end of the war in Ukraine and Gaza," Terens said as he and his bride then clinked glasses and drank. The crowd yelled "la mariee!" the bride! to Swerlin, who wore a long flowing dress of vibrant pink. Terens looked dapper in a light blue suit and matching pink kerchief in his breast pocket. And they enjoyed a very special wedding-night party: They were invited to the state dinner at the Elysee Palace on Saturday night with French President Emmanuel Macron and U.S. President Joe Biden. "Congratulations to the newlyweds," Macron said, prompting cheers and a standing ovation from other guests during the toast praising French-American friendship. "(The town of) Carentan was happy to host your wedding, and us, your wedding dinner," he told the couple. The wedding was symbolic, not binding in law. Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneur's office said he wasn't empowered to wed foreigners who aren't residents of Carentan, and that the couple, who are both American, hadn't requested legally binding vows. However, they could always complete those formalities back in Florida if they wished. Lhonneur likes to say that Normandy is practically the 51st state of the U.S., given its reverence and gratitude for Allied soldiers and the sacrifices of tens of thousands who never made it home from the Battle of Normandy. "Love is eternal, yes, maybe," the mayor said, referring to the newlyweds, although his comments also fittingly describe the feelings of many Normans for veterans. "I hope for them the best happiness together." Dressed in a 1940s dress that belonged to her mother, Louise, and a red beret, 73-year-old Jane Ollier was among the spectators who waited for a glimpse of the lovebirds. The couple, both widowed, grew up in New York City: she in Brooklyn, he in the Bronx. "It's so touching to get married at that age," Ollier said. "If it can bring them happiness in the last years of their lives, that's fantastic." The WWII veteran first visited France as a 20-year-old U.S. Army Air Forces corporal shortly after D-Day. Terens enlisted in 1942 and, after shipping to Britain, was attached to a four-pilot P-47 Thunderbolt fighter unit as their radio repair technician. On D-Day, Terens helped repair planes returning from France so they could rejoin the battle. He said half his company's pilots died that day. Terens himself went to France 12 days later, helping transport freshly captured Germans and just-freed American POWs to England. Following the Nazi surrender in May 1945, Terens again helped transport freed Allied prisoners to England before he shipped back to the U.S. a month later. Swerlin made it abundantly clear that her new centenarian husband doesn't lack for rizz. "He's the greatest kisser ever, you know?" she proudly declared before they embraced enthusiastically for the TV cameras. "All right! That's it for now!" Terens said as he came up for air. To which she quickly quipped: "You mean there's more later?" At the joint session of the government of the Republic of Serbia and the government of Republika Srpska, the Declaration on the Protection of National and Political Rights and the Common Future of the Serbian People was unanimously adopted, June 8th 2024, in Belgrade. 1. The Pan-Serbian Assembly is composed of representatives of Serbs elected to legislative and executive bodies of government, members of academies of sciences and arts, members of the Assembly of the Serbian Orthodox Church, and other representatives of the Serbian people invited by the organizers of the All-Serbian Assembly. 2. The Pan-Serbian Assembly constitutes the National Council of the Serbian People, which is responsible for the coordination, monitoring, and execution of the acts of the Pan-Serbian Assembly, as well as its own acts. 3. The National Council of the Serbian People is composed of: the President of the Republic of Serbia, the President of the Republic of Srpska, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia, the President of the National Assembly of the Republic of Srpska, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Serbia, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Srpska, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Serbia, the President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Serbia, and the President of the Academy of Sciences and Arts of the Republic of Srpska, a representative of the Senate of the Republic of Srpska, and the president of Matica Srpska. The Pan-Serbian Assembly, by consensus, appoints representatives of the Serbian people from Montenegro, the Federation of BiH, North Macedonia, Croatia, Slovenia, representatives of the Serbian people from Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America, Australia, as well as distinguished scientists, artists, entrepreneurs, athletes, and national workers to the National Council of the Serbian People. 4. The Pan-Serbian Assembly states that the Serbian people represent a unique entity. Throughout history, the Serbian people have had multiple states with different names and thus have the right to cherish their rich tradition. 5. The Pan-Serbian Assembly determines that the name of the people is one and cannot be changed. Various imposed prefixes added in front of the noun "Serbs" are rejected. Members of the Serbian people have the right to call themselves Serbs, no matter where they currently live. 6. The Pan-Serbian Assembly notes the necessity of Serbian national gathering and decides that it is necessary to regularly hold the Pan-Serbian Assembly every two years to discuss the most important national issues unitedly with the participation of representatives of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, as well as other representatives of the Serbian people from the region and the world. 7. The Pan-Serbian Assembly expects the full realization of the process of national reconciliation and overcoming historical divisions within the Serbian people. 8. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends that the institutions of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska act unitedly and in coordination and make efforts to stop the assimilation of Serbs in the countries of the region, as well as around the world. The Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska should maintain connections with members of the Serbian people by developing personal, cultural, scientific, sports, and all other types of ties and relations. 9. The Pan-Serbian Assembly, respecting all religions and supporting freedom of religion, and recognizing the irreplaceable significance of members of the Serbian people of other faiths, gives special thanks to the Serbian Orthodox Church, which unites the majority of the Serbian people under its auspices. The Serbian Orthodox Church has preserved the Serbian people in the most difficult times, both biologically and culturally and educationally 10. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recognizes the Serbian Orthodox Church as one of the pillars of the national, cultural, and spiritual identity of the Serbian people and calls for closer cooperation between church and state authorities on key issues such as the preservation of traditional Christian values and the sanctity of marriage and family. The Pan-Serbian Assembly also supports the role of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the education of young people through pedagogical and educational activities. 11. The Pan-Serbian Assembly states that Kosovo and Metohija are inalienable parts of the Republic of Serbia, fundamental to the national identity of Serbs, representing the foundation of the Serbian peoples spirituality and the cornerstone of the Serbian covenant and St. Savas path. The Pan-Serbian Assembly insists on using the full name of the southern Serbian provinceKosovo and Metohijawhich Albanian secessionists avoid. 12. The Pan-Serbian Assembly supports the efforts of the Republic of Serbia in preserving its territorial integrity and sovereignty, guaranteed by international law and UN Security Council Resolution 1244 and other resolutions, as well as the right and duty of the Republic of Serbia to dedicate itself to the survival of the Serbian people in Kosovo and Metohija. The Pan-Serbian Assembly demands and believes that all available legal, political, economic, and other means must be used to protect Serbs in Kosovo and Metohija, as well as all other loyal citizens of the Republic of Serbia, monasteries, churches, medieval fortresses, private property, cemeteries, and other endangered objects. 13. The Pan-Serbian Assembly condemns the deliberate creation of intolerable living conditions for Serbs and the persecution carried out by the Provisional Institutions of Self-Government in Pristina. This continuous, well-planned, and comprehensive repression by Albanian secessionists against the Serbian population in Kosovo and Metohija has, over the past years, resulted in the accelerated departure of Serbs from the Province, as well as a drastic deterioration in the position of those Serbs who, despite brutal ethnically motivated terror, have remained to live on their ancestral lands. The Pan-Serbian Assembly expects the Republic of Serbia to continue protecting the rights and lives of its citizens in Kosovo and Metohija, using all protective mechanisms provided by domestic and international law. 14. The Pan-Serbian Assembly insists on the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 1244 in all its aspects. The All-Serbian Assembly believes that the implementation of the Brussels Agreement, the formation of the Community of Serbian Municipalities, and continuous dialogue are the only sustainable paths to solving the problem. 15. The Pan-Serbian Assembly expresses respect for all victims who perished during the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as all victims of the wars in the former Yugoslavia. 16. The Pan-Serbian Assembly does not support the Resolution on Srebrenica, which was voted for by 84 countries in the United Nations General Assembly, while 109 countries voted against, abstained, or did not vote. This Resolution attempted to collectively blame the entire Serbian people, which is unacceptable and cannot be implemented. 17. The Pan-Serbian Assembly welcomes the efforts of the leadership of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to contribute to clarifying historical facts regarding the events of the 1990s, especially concerning the events in Srebrenica and its surroundings from 1992 to 1995. 18. The Pan-Serbian Assembly notes that the General Framework Agreement for Peace in Bosnia and Herzegovina the Dayton Peace Agreement has been permanently and significantly violated despite the efforts of the Republic of Srpska and the Serbian constituent people, who have fought to preserve the Dayton constitutional framework in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and calls on all international actors to return to respecting the letter of the Dayton Peace Agreement. 19. The Pan-Serbian Assembly asserts that the Republic of Serbia, in accordance with its status as a signatory to the Dayton Peace Agreement and in accordance with the authorities it received from the Republic of Srpska by the Agreement of August 29, 1995, should internationalize the problem of the erosion of the Dayton Peace Agreement with the demand that it be implemented in the form in which it was signed by all parties. 20. The Pan-Serbian Assembly emphasizes that the Republic of Srpska is a unique and indivisible constitutional-legal entity, which independently performs its constitutional, legislative, executive, and judicial functions in accordance with the Constitution of Bosnia and Herzegovina Annex IV of the Dayton Peace Agreement, and whose territory cannot be alienated contrary to the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Srpska. 21. The Pan-Serbian Assembly highlights that Bosnia and Herzegovina is not a single, nor a unified electoral unit for the election of joint bodies. The Pan-Serbian Assembly stresses that Bosnia and Herzegovina is represented solely by the three-member Presidency based on consensus, not by individuals usurping the authorities of the functions they perform. 22. The Pan-Serbian Assembly accepts and supports the legal order established by the Dayton Peace Agreement, which provides mechanisms for the protection of entities and constituent peoples through the application of the entity voting mechanism in the House of Representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the protection of vital national interests in the House of Peoples of the Parliamentary Assembly at the level of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the protection of vital entity interests in the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina. 23. The Pan-Serbian Assembly notes that the Republic of Srpska is satisfied with the high degree of autonomy defined by the Dayton Peace Agreement, and therefore insists on the essential and formal implementation of the Dayton Peace Agreement, as an international treaty that cannot be unilaterally or through interventionism changed. The Pan-Serbian Assembly believes that the Republic of Srpska can activate all the authorities provided as entity authorities by the Dayton Peace Agreement to the extent it deems appropriate. 24. The Pan-Serbian Assembly condemns any disrespect and violation of the Dayton Peace Agreement and democratic procedures in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the imposition of laws, the outvoting of constituent peoples, the transfer of powers from the entity level to the central level, the violation of human rights and freedoms, and the guaranteed rights of the Serbian constituent people to free and independent decision-making and action within Dayton Bosnia and Herzegovina. 25. The Pan-Serbian Assembly considers the appointment of the High Representative in Bosnia and Herzegovina contrary to Annex X of the Dayton Peace Agreement inappropriate, which stipulates that the appointment of the High Representative requires the consent of the contracting parties and an appropriate resolution of the United Nations Security Council. 26. The Pan-Serbian Assembly asserts that the Serbian people, the Republic of Serbia, and the Republic of Srpska should unitedly preserve historical friendships with proven friends, but also build new alliances. 27. The Pan-Serbian Assembly believes that the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, in accordance with the Dayton Peace Agreement, considering the geopolitical position, economic relations, and political processes, view integration towards the European Union as a strategic goal, which should be realized through a partnership political and economic framework with full respect for national interests. 28. The Pan-Serbian Assembly supports the policy of military neutrality of the Republic of Serbia in relation to all existing military alliances, a stance fully agreed upon by the Republic of Srpska, which will fight to preserve military neutrality in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The All-Serbian Assembly supports the cooperation of the security systems of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska in terms of legislation, information exchange, joint training, and exercises, aiming to achieve and maintain peace and stability. 29. The Pan-Serbian Assembly welcomes the decision of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to jointly celebrate September 15th as the Day of Serbian Unity, Freedom, and the National Flag, in remembrance of the breakthrough of the Thessaloniki Front in World War I. The Pan-Serbian Assembly considers that Sretenje, February 15th, should be celebrated together as the Statehood Day of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The Pan-Serbian Assembly expects the Republic of Srpska to continue commemorating January 9th as the Day of the Republic of Srpska and its patron saints day. 30. The Pan-Serbian Assembly confirms that the anthem "God of Justice" is the pan- Serbian anthem, and that the double-headed eagle of the Nemanjic dynasty is the pan- Serbian national coat of arms. 31. The Pan-Serbian Assembly emphasizes the unifying significance of the Serbian language and the Cyrillic script as pillars of Serbian culture and science, as well as national identity. In order to preserve and nurture Serbian culture and national identity, the All-Serbian Assembly affirms: the right to use the Serbian language (both dialects Ekavian and Ijekavian, and the same Serbian standardization) and Cyrillic as its native script; the right to express, study, and develop Serbian culture; the right to study national history and foster the heroic, justice-loving, and freedom-loving traditions of the Serbian people; the right to study national geography; the right to preserve and protect the cultural and historical heritage of the Serbian people in their cultural space; the right to study customs, folklore, literature, art, and the communicative culture of the Serbian people; the right to be informed in the Serbian language; the right to use Serbian national symbols and display them in public places; the right to celebrate Serbian national holidays and other rights that affect or could affect the preservation and nurturing of Serbian culture and national identity, without renouncing Serbian Latin cultural monuments. 32. The Pan-Serbian Assembly proposes measures to preserve and nurture Serbian culture and national identity: organizing and implementing unified, specially standardized programs for learning the Serbian language, Cyrillic script, Serbian literature, culture, and history; supporting the establishment, construction, renovation, and maintenance of preschool, school, and secondary educational institutions and cultural institutions, as well as the establishment or renewal of Serbian studies in higher education institutions, in cooperation with the host countries; supporting the work of cultural and artistic societies; supporting the work of written and electronic media in the Serbian language; assisting in maintaining existing and establishing new departments and schools within the Serbian Orthodox Church, where in addition to existing religious education, a unified, specially standardized program for learning the Serbian language, Cyrillic script, Serbian culture, and history would be implemented; providing scholarships for talented students; organizing youth, student, and seasonal camps, as well as various cultural events; and other measures that contribute to the preservation of national, cultural, linguistic, and spiritual identity and prevent the assimilation of the Serbian people. 33. The Pan-Serbian Assembly calls on the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to jointly nurture historical memory and preserve the remembrance of Serbian victims who fell for freedom in all wars. It is especially important to jointly and uniformly commemorate and remember the victims of World War I, the victims of the genocide committed against Serbs in World War II, and the victims of the wars of the 1990s. 34. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends further internationalizing the topic of the suffering of Serbs in the Independent State of Croatia. It is necessary to present to the world the enormous suffering and genocide committed against Serbs in the NDH camp system, with special death camps for children in Jastrebarsko, Sisak, akovo, and Stara Gradiska. Camps and mass execution sites and killing grounds like Jasenovac, Donja Gradina, Sajmiste, Banjica, Sremska Mitrovica, Kragujevac, Gospic, Jadovno, Pag, Jablanac, Mlaka, Slana, Zenica, Sarajevo, Vlasenica, Visegrad, Paklenica, Prebilovci, countless pits in the Herzegovinian and Dinaric karst, Kozara and other Serbian villages throughout the present-day Republic of Srpska, Republic of Serbia, Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia were just some of the places where brutal crimes and mass murders of the Serbian people were committed. 35. The Pan-Serbian Assembly welcomes the united intention of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to jointly build monumental memorial complexes dedicated to preserving the truth about the suffering of Serbs in World War II in Donja Gradina, Republic of Srpska, and Belgrade, Republic of Serbia. These two monumental memorial complexes in Donja Gradina and Belgrade should testify to the magnitude of the sacrifice of the freedom-loving Serbian people in the fight against fascism, Nazism, and Ustashism. The All-Serbian Assembly believes that these memorial complexes should become pilgrimage sites and be included in the plans of school and student excursions of schools and faculties in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. 36. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends that the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska continuously and jointly support the Serbian people in the region and the diaspora. The Pan-Serbian Assembly believes that the Serbian people in Montenegro must be respected in accordance with their centuries-old presence in Montenegro and their current significant participation in the total population. 37. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends that the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska protect the cultural heritage of the Serbian people that is endangered outside the territories of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The Pan-Serbian Assembly also recommends selfless support for Serbian monasteries and churches in Dalmatia, Lika, Slavonia, and other places, as well as in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The Pan-Serbian Assembly demands that the state authorities of the Serbian people particularly stimulate scientific research work and cultural-artistic creation on this issue. 38. The Pan-Serbian Assembly demands additional material and all other kinds of support for Serb returnees who, after the war events, have returned to their homes in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Serbs still own large land areas in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and they must be economically empowered to preserve their family property. 39. The Pan-Serbian Assembly emphasizes the need for the formation of a set of harmonized legal solutions and incentive measures to increase the birth rate, ensuring demographic growth. The All-Serbian Assembly expects the state authorities of Serbia and Srpska to establish the "Children Are Being Born" Fund, aimed at forming and implementing pro-natalist measures. 40. The Pan-Serbian Assembly highlights family and traditional values as fundamental values of Serbian society. The All-Serbian Assembly appeals to the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to jointly and significantly influence the preservation of the values and importance of the family, in accordance with state mechanisms. 41. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends the harmonization of curricula and programs in primary, secondary, and higher education in the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The All-Serbian Assembly supports the introduction of regular school and student excursions, with students from the Republic of Serbia visiting the natural beauties and cultural-historical monuments in the Republic of Srpska, and vice versa. 42. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends further economic rapprochement between the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska and an increase in trade, from which the citizens of both the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska will ultimately benefit. 43. The Pan-Serbian Assembly proposes the creation of a harmonized agricultural production plan for the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. 44. The Pan-Serbian Assembly welcomes the efforts of the Republic of Serbia, which in recent years has financed a large number of infrastructure projects in the Republic of Srpska and in municipalities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina where Serbs constitute the majority or a significant part of the population. 45. The Pan-Serbian Assembly encourages the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska to further develop a joint economic, cultural, social, sports, and spiritual space. 46. The Pan-Serbian Assembly recommends the unification of offers, services, investments, and resources in the fields of energy, mining, tourism, agriculture, banking, finance and payment systems, health, education, transport and communications, and other areas of national significance for joint appearances on domestic and foreign markets. 47. The Pan-Serbian Assembly proposes the creation of a joint and unified infrastructure project plan for the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, which will detail and plan potentially important projects. The All-Serbian Assembly welcomes the joint activities of the Republic of Serbia and the Republic of Srpska on the construction of the Banja Luka Belgrade highway, the construction of a gas pipeline through the Republic of Srpska, the construction of an airport in Trebinje, as well as the construction of joint hydroelectric plants. Economic cooperation is, of course, tied to the wider region and is considered necessary for establishing close economic ties with all countries and entities in the Western Balkans through the Berlin Process, Open Balkan, and through the process of European integration. 48. The Pan-Serbian Assembly calls for joint work aimed at improving coordinated representation, gathering, and engaging the Serbian diaspora worldwide. Joint efforts should focus on improving the image, lobbying, and spreading the truth about the Serbian people globally. 49. The Pan-Serbian Assembly believes that the state authorities of the Serbian people should offer the surrounding nations an agreement on historical reconciliation, lasting peace, and development. Photo: Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for TAS Rights Management Ever since Taylor Swift amended her no repeats rule for the surprise-song section of her tour, shes been focusing more on mashing up familiar favorites than crossing off the handful of songs left to be played. But during her June 8 concert in Edinburgh, Scotland, Swift shocked us all by finally performing a song many Swifties werent even sure she remembered: Crazier, from the soundtrack of Hannah Montana: The Movie. Swift performed the song, which recently celebrated its 15th anniversary, on the piano, as a mash-up with All of the Girls You Loved Before. The mash-ups continued on guitar, with Swift playing both The Bolter and Getaway Car. Crazier marks one of her few songs off a movie soundtrack that Swift has performed on tour, which means theres hope yet that shell get around to Beautiful Ghosts, from Cats. Also still yet to be played are Sweeter Than Fiction, from One Chance, Only the Young, from Miss Americana, and Carolina, from Where the Crawdads Sing. Its key that Swift check all of these songs off the list as soon as possible so that she has no choice but to eventually treat us to Macavity. | Taylor Swift performing a mashup of "All Of The Girls You Loved Before" and "Crazier" for the FIRST TIME EVER at today's show! #EdinburghTSTheErasTour pic.twitter.com/Le48VFmUtP The Eras Tour (@tswifterastour) June 8, 2024 Recipes What do you want to cook today? The truth is that if you invest for long enough, you're going to end up with some losing stocks. But long term USANA Health Sciences, Inc. (NYSE:USNA) shareholders have had a particularly rough ride in the last three year. Sadly for them, the share price is down 55% in that time. And the ride hasn't got any smoother in recent times over the last year, with the price 25% lower in that time. It's worthwhile assessing if the company's economics have been moving in lockstep with these underwhelming shareholder returns, or if there is some disparity between the two. So let's do just that. See our latest analysis for USANA Health Sciences While markets are a powerful pricing mechanism, share prices reflect investor sentiment, not just underlying business performance. By comparing earnings per share (EPS) and share price changes over time, we can get a feel for how investor attitudes to a company have morphed over time. USANA Health Sciences saw its EPS decline at a compound rate of 19% per year, over the last three years. This change in EPS is reasonably close to the 23% average annual decrease in the share price. That suggests that the market sentiment around the company hasn't changed much over that time, despite the disappointment. It seems like the share price is reflecting the declining earnings per share. You can see below how EPS has changed over time (discover the exact values by clicking on the image). Before buying or selling a stock, we always recommend a close examination of historic growth trends, available here. A Different Perspective Investors in USANA Health Sciences had a tough year, with a total loss of 25%, against a market gain of about 25%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Unfortunately, last year's performance may indicate unresolved challenges, given that it was worse than the annualised loss of 6% over the last half decade. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. 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. Like risks, for instance. Every company has them, and we've spotted 2 warning signs for USANA Health Sciences (of which 1 shouldn't be ignored!) you should know about. Of course, you might find a fantastic investment by looking elsewhere. So take a peek at this free list of companies we expect will grow earnings. Story continues 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. Dining chat: A waiter gave our anniversary bubbly to the table next to us. What should we have done? Sinn Fein Councillor John Hearne has been re-elected to Waterford City South on the second count on Sunday at SETU Arena, having secured a comfortable 1,065 votes. As of Sunday morning, June 9, both he and Donal Barry (Independent) will be returning to Waterford City & County Council for their constituency. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star shortly after the second count came in, John took the opportunity to thank his wife Mary Pat, his community of Larchville/ Lisduggan, and his chief of staff Kieran Browne for being with him "day in, day out". He said: It's absolutely humbling to be a candidate. To get the chance to do what you do and do it well. The great community I come from, I knew what elected me this time was all the committees I was on, in the sense that they were going out and saying We need to get John in this time, we need to make sure he gets it done, and they got it done. 'Community is everything' Community to me is everything. I cant understand why people get in the way of it. I understand people being career politicians to get in for the money and to be seen shaking hands. But the beauty of it is, is when we won the all-Ireland (Pride of Place Awards) last year, the old boys crying, you know, Ill never see that again. Bringing home the bacon to the Parish. John is proud to be a part of the diverse community of Larchville-Lisduggan, and was touched to see the support from people across different faiths. It was great to see the Muslim community signing up to support me for this election and were delighted with that." Part of what makes the community tick, in Johns opinion, is the structure of the committee. According to John: There is no ego. We're very clever in our committees, we don't have any. You just turn up to work. It has been a tough election nationally for the party, but there are positive signs in the Deise. Fellow Sinn Fein candidate Joeanne Bailey is making headway in the same constituency, though a number of counts remain, followed behind by Kevin Burke, who also ran for Sinn Fein in Waterford City South. John said: The template is there, Sinn Fein did not do so great in other places but the template is there. Just get into your community and do the work, get it done. Bring it home. The results for the first counts of five Local Electoral Areas and the second count of the Lismore Electoral Area in the Waterford local elections were announced by Returning Officer, Paul Johnston into the early hours of Sunday, June 9. Conor McGuinness, Sinn Fein, Dungarvan,who was elected on the first count at SETU Arena in the Waterford Local Election 24. Photo: Joe Evans In the Lismore Electoral Area, no candidates reached the quota of 1,289 and Mr Johnston announced that Count Two would commence imminently. The second count resulted in no candidates being elected, however, sitting Fine Gael Councillor, Declan Doocey failed to retain his seat and was excluded with 568 votes, to be redistributed in Count Three which is due to begin at 9am Sunday morning. Damien Geoghegan, FG, Dungarvan ,who was elected on the first count at SETU Arena in the Waterford Local Election 24. Photo: Joe Evans In the Portlaw Kilmacthomas Electoral Area, Fine Gael Councillors Liam Brazil and Seanie Power both exceeded the quota of 1,299, receiving 1,982 and 1,554 first preference votes respectively and both were both re-elected. Count two will commence on Sunday morning. In the Tramore - Waterford City West Electoral Area, 17 candidates are contesting the six seat ward and Cllr Lola OSullivan (FG) topped the poll with 1,313 votes. Count two will commence at 9am on Sunday morning. David Daniels, Independent, Waterford City east,who was elected on the first count at SETU Arena in the Waterford Local Election 24. Photo: Joe Evans In Waterford City East ward, Cllr David Daniels (Ind) was successful with 1,331 votes on the first count along with newcomer, Declan Barry (Ind), who received 1,257 first preference votes. Meanwhile, in the Waterford City South ward, 15 candidates are contesting six seats and following the first count, Cllr Donal Barry (Ind) topped the poll with 1,291 and was deemed elected. Donal Barry Independent, Waterford City South,who was elected on the first count at SETU Arena in the Waterford Local Election 24. Photo: Joe Evans In the Dungarvan Electoral Area, 16 candidates are contesting 6 seats and elected on the first count, having exceeded the quota, were Cllrs Damien Geoghegan (FG) with 1,584 votes and Conor D.McGuinness (SF) with 1,408. resulting in both being re-elected. Count Three for Lismore and Counts Two for all other LEAs will resume tomorrow morning at 9am. Waterford News & Star will be publishing results and providing updates on the elections on our website at www.waterford-news.ie throughout the day. Local Councillor Liam Brazil returns to his seat on the Comeragh District as part of the Waterford City and County Council as hes the first candidate to be elected for the 2024 elections in the SETU Arena of 79 running candidates. Speaking to the Waterford News & Star after the announcement [see video below], Cllr Brazil said hes looking forward to spending more time on his work as a Councillor when he retires shortly, and he will focus on getting more housing for rural areas. Cllr Brazil also thanked the 1,982 people who gave him a first preference vote, and to those who considered him on their ballot sheets. The latest from the Waterford Election results this lunchtime is available to watch below as Waterford News & Star reporter, Jessica Martin, gives a brief outline of the seats filled on the new Council so far. A Waterford Sergeant has denied instructing junior officers to leave a room in which an alleged assault occurred. Sgt William Doyle, of Waterford Garda Station, Ballybricken, is accused of committing a Section 2 assault against a man who was in police custody on March 9, 2022. On that date, the man had been arrested by Gardai on The Quays in Waterford shortly after 6am on suspicion of a Section 3 assault. The alleged assault involving Sgt. Doyle related to an incident shortly after 11am in the fingerprinting room in Waterford Garda Station. Sgt Doyle also stands accused of perverting the course of justice by allegedly instructing a junior officer to not make a note of the alleged assault. The case has been taken by the Garda Ombudsman on behalf of the Director of Public Prosecutions. The trial continued at Waterford District Court before Judge John O'Leary. The court heard on the day of the incident, Sgt Doyle came into the fingerprinting room where the man was being questioned by two junior officers. At this point, Sgt Doyle asked the man if he had been arrested for assaulting his partner, to which the man became aggressive. Evidence Sgt Doyle told the court that he tried to calm the suspect down. He said: "He called me a fat c**t, bastard and said he'd have my job." Sgt Doyle told the two officers; "Two seconds there lads," at which they left the room. One of the officers recalled hearing "a commotion" inside the room, and the sound of furniture moving. When the two Gardai re-entered the room, the man shouted at them: "You let this happen." Sgt Doyle told the court that he had spoken with the suspect's mother shortly before the incident. He said: "She informed me that he was involved with bad people and requested that he not be released." Prosecuting barrister David Perry BL asked him: "Is it appropriate to discuss an ongoing investigation with a member of the public?" Sgt Doyle replied: "It is with a member of family." During cross-examination, prosecutor David Perry BL put to Sgt Doyle that he told the two junior Garda officers to leave the room by saying: "Two seconds there, lads." Sgt Doyle stated that the room was small, and was motioning to the officers to make way for him to "calm the situation"; "I refute any allegation that I asked for time alone with the suspect." Mr Perry challenged Sgt Doyle over the allegation that he told the Garda member in charge to not enter the assault into the custody record. In his closing speech, he stated that Sgt Doyle gave an "altered, self-serving account of what happened." Sgt Doyle said: "I told her 'I can't put words in your mouth, but the matter must be recorded'." Defence counsel David Staunton BL said that the alleged victim was "not a witness of any credit". He said: "If he told me it was raining outside, I would take a look out, that's the kind of witness he is." Judge O'Leary will return his decision on July 5, remarking: "I don't intend to give an off the cuff decision." By Cillian Sherlock, PA Sinn Fein has every confidence it can get an MEP elected in Dublin, in a race which could be seen as a microcosm of the national state of play. A hazy picture of the possible result in the constituency began to emerge during counting for a concurrent local election at centres across the country on Saturday. While the official count for the European election will not begin until Sunday, the opening of ballot boxes allowed observers to calculate a rough sense of how individuals are performing as the voting sheets were sorted. Three incumbents are seeking re-election in the four-seat constituency. Ciaran Cuffe (Brian Lawless/PA) They are Ciaran Cuffe, who was elected five years ago as part of the so-called Green wave across Europe, independent socialist Clare Daly and Fianna Fails Barry Andrews. Fine Gael ran Senator Regina Doherty in a bid to replace outgoing party MEP Frances Fitzgerald. Meanwhile, Sinn Fein senator Lynn Boylan is vying to return to Europe after losing her job as an MEP in the 2019 elections. Labours Aodhan O Riordain, People Before Profits Brid Smith, and Social Democrats hopeful Sinead Gibney are also competing for seats. Labour candidate for Dublin, Aodhan O Riordain. Photo: Cillian Sherlock/PA Based on the incomplete tally of boxes being opened in the Dublin count centre, it appears that Mr Andrews and Ms Doherty will safely secure the first two seats. The success of the Fine Gael and Fianna Fail candidates is reflective of a strong general national trend from the local election results. However, it remains unclear who will claim the remaining positions in the constituency. Their coalition partners the Greens are in the mix for the two other seats against opposition parties Sinn Fein, Labour, Social Democrats and People Before Profit. Fine Gael appears to have had a Harris hop in the polls after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar as leader of the party earlier this year, leading to Simon Harris taking over that position as well as the role of Irish premier. Regina Doherty (Steve Humphreys/PA) Speaking at the RDS count centre, Ms Doherty said: The support from the party leader has certainly provided new energy, and I think hes infused everybodys campaign and given us that extra pep in our step for the last couple of months. She added: People really have responded and there seems to be a great affection towards him. Asked if she believed her support would not have been as strong under Mr Varadkar, Ms Doherty said: I think we all kind of felt that maybe we would be facing a tougher election. Like, a couple of months ago, I think we probably would have been preparing for a different kind of election but its been a thoroughly enjoyable experience over the last couple of weeks, probably because of the way people have responded to us. Sinn Fein, as the third big party, would hope that it can get Ms Boylan over the line especially after the decision to also run another candidate, Daithi Doolan, in Dublin. Since the party suffered dismal results in the 2019 elections, Sinn Fein has seen a surge in support in national opinion polls. However, that popularity has waned significantly over the last eight months and the party appears to be performing worse than it would have hoped in this years elections. Lynn Boylan (Brian Lawless/PA) Anecdotally, observers noticed that many voters who had backed one of the Sinn Fein representatives on their ballot had failed to express a subsequent preference for their running mate. It puts doubt on how many votes could directly transfer from Mr Doolan to Ms Boylan. Speaking to reporters at the count centre, Mr Doolan said he has every confidence that Sinn Fein will retake a seat in Europe. We ran a team of two to maximise the vote weve done that. And Im very, very confident Lynn Boylan will be taking her rightful place back in Europe. Asked about vote transfers to his party colleague, he added: We will transfer really well together, we always have done. I expect that if I get eliminated well be fighting for two seats but if transfers come into play, Ive every confidence Im going to go to Lynn Boylan. We ran a really, really good campaign together as a team. Sinn Fein Dublin candidate Daithi Doolan (Niall Carson/PA) Meanwhile, there is also the possibility that popular independent Niall Boylan, a radio presenter, could edge ahead of one of these established parties. That could be seen as indicative of an observed surge in support for independents in the polls. Speaking on Saturday, Mr Cuffe said the race was hard to call but said he hoped that his work over the last five years would have convinced his constituents to get him elected. Asked if he believed he could stay ahead of Mr O Riordain and Ms Gibney, the at-risk MEP added: For the wildebeest, you just have to stay ahead of the lion. Speaking to the PA news agency, Mr O Riordain said: Its only a partial tally, its very imbalanced. But look were in the mix and thats all we can ask for really. Williams-Brown said she knew who the US perpetrator is, but legally in Australia she had no way to effectively counteract the content which ranges from offensive and spurious blog posts to defamatory YouTube comments. She tried to use the US court system but lost faith when the judge issued a warning to the creator to stop, which he ignored. The [Australian] eSafety Commissioners office has been helpful, but again, more [content] just gets created, she says. Ive been successful in taking content down, but as you might imagine, it takes a toll and I dont want to see it or deal with it. Its like playing Whac-A-Mole. I am resigned to the fact it is probably always going to exist somewhere and that my family and I have to live with it. Ive tried to counteract that by publishing my own denials and explanations over the years Ive paid thousands of dollars to online reputation management companies. You need to have realistic expectations about what can be done. What the law says The Online Safety Act came into force on January 23, 2022, and expanded the scope of content the eSafety Commissioner can remove on behalf of Australians experiencing online bullying or abuse. US-based website database Lumen monitors requests to remove mainstream news stories from Google. Each year thousands are from Australia, including those alleging defamation. Among those recently published on Lumen is one from August 2023 on behalf of property heir Ross Makris, whose family is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion. In 2021, the Federal Court dismissed attempts to bankrupt Makris, however, the petition generated national media coverage. Makris hired RepGuard.Online to lobby Google to have his stories deindexed, claiming they were defamatory and damaged his reputation. The family of Ross Makris (above) is estimated to be worth more than $1 billion. Credit: David Mariuz Makris did not respond to queries about the application, nor did Repguard.Online. So far his claims appear to have limited success, with stories still available on websites including The Australian, Adelaides The Advertiser and Brisbanes Courier Mail. Hiding a criminal conviction It has been almost four years since Manisha Patel left prison after serving part of an 18-year sentence for the 2013 murder of Purvi Joshi. Her conviction was quashed when she won an appeal in 2017. She was subsequently found guilty in 2018 of manslaughter by means of excessive self-defence. She became eligible for parole in 2020. The Heralds 2015 coverage of her initial murder conviction is among a slew of media articles Patel is now attempting to have deindexed from Googles search function, however, the story would remain on its original site as Google has no power over what news outlets publish. She hired Queensland firm Internet Removals to lodge a claim in 2023 alleging the articles were defamatory because it was inaccurate to call her a criminal and a murderer. It is unclear why she and Internet Removals complained to the search engine rather than local media outlets including the Herald carrying the stories given the local legal limitation period for defamation had expired and her criminal conviction remains facts that were fatal flaws in her claim to Google. When asked about Patels claim, Internet Removals reputation manager Kavita Sharma said she was unable to comment on individual clients, but added we conduct extensive checks with clients before taking on work. With some articles that are written, the initial allegations are never corrected to match the actual outcome We do our best to investigate the veracity of each and every request of our clients, but cant always determine whether their complaints are supported by fact or not. While the Herald and The Age stand by its journalism in this case, like most mainstream media outlets, the mastheads adhere to a policy on updating or removing historic online stories when issues such as material being obtained unethically, a court order being obtained or publication placing someone in harms way can be shown. Each application is determined on its merit. Any updates usually appear as an Editors Note. A scene from viral video showing Karen Ridge attempting to remove the Aboriginal flag in2019. Credit: Twitter In Patels case, such a note could have said on the original story that her murder conviction had been quashed after publication, and she was subsequently found guilty of manslaughter. However, the story about her conviction would remain findable on the Heralds website and via a search engine, rather than being deindexed from Google completely, which is what she and Internet Removals requested from Google. Not a racist Almost five years after going viral, Mildura travel agent Karen Ridge says she wants Google to forget her and for the world to know she is not a racist, despite an unfortunate encounter her Aboriginal former neighbour captured on a video, which surfaces every time she types her name into a search engine. Its pretty ordinary when the whole world hates your guts and wants you dead; I dont really want to stir that up again, Ridge says when recalling the media frenzy around the video shot by her former neighbour Robby Wirramanda Knight in 2019. The neighbours had been feuding for months over a roaming cat. In the footage, Wirramanda Knight can be heard saying this is going viral when Ridges former partner, McDonalds franchisee Robert Vigors, questions his Aboriginality. Wirramanda Knight then calls Ridge a drunken racist pig and Ridge attempts to take down his Aboriginal flag. She can be heard telling him to go live in ya f---ing humpie. Just talking about it now, nearly five years later, makes me feel physically sick, she told this masthead, saying the public only saw one side of the dispute and there had been months of build-up, with restraining orders between the neighbours. (They no longer live near each other.) The video remains online, attached to stories from mainstream news sites including The Daily Mail, SBS and The Age. Both Vigors and Ridge initially launched defamation proceedings against 30 media outlets over the stories, but have since dropped the lawsuit. Vigors lawyer, Mark Stanarevic, said his client was now focusing his resources on suing McDonalds after he was removed as a franchisee following the story, while Ridge confirmed she had hired an online reputation management specialist. Such specialists first emerged in Australia less than a decade ago. Today, many are run as clandestine operations such as Miles ORMA. However, others like Internet Removals have grown into large firms made up of IT specialists and lawyers who take on clients across Australia and internationally. According to Googles latest Transparency Report, the platform has more than 8.8 billion requests for content to be removed. Most commonly the notices allege either copyright infringement or defamation as the reason to have content deindexed from the search engine. OnlyFans content stolen Melbourne-based OnlyFans content creator Nova Hawthorne said her livestreaming and webcam content was constantly being copied and sold without her permission. Since January 2023 she has issued 26,000 copyright infringement notices via her ORM firm. A never-ending battle: OnlyFans content creator Nova Hawthorne. This is a never-ending battle for me. The stolen content has generated 13 million views since January 2023 and I estimate thats about $50,000 in lost earnings for me, she said. Google investigates each claim based on the evidence presented, but it is not clear what percentage of requests are successful as the platform does not publish this information. In Australia, hiring an ORM company is a cheaper alternative than going to court, particularly if the claim is about defamation, especially given the emotional and monetary costs in the recent unsuccessful Bruce Lehrmann and Ben Roberts-Smith defamation cases, both of which generated huge publicity. Federal Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus is yet to finalise how the government will implement the findings of a review of the Privacy Act. However, a European style right to be forgotten law is being considered, effectively allowing individuals to request the removal of personal information about them from online platforms if specific criteria are met, such as it being outdated or offensive. Critics say such laws could have a significant and negative impact on Australian journalisms ability to report legitimate, public interest news stories. The right to have material delisted from Google search results was recognised by the European Court of Justice in 2014. This raises a tension between the protection of a persons right to privacy and reputation and the right to freedom of expression, including the publics right to access historical online media archives, explained Melbourne University Law School Associate Professor Jason Bosland. In Australia, which does not currently recognise a privacy cause of action, the issue is one of defamation law. Back in Mildura, Ridge said she had paid $2166 to Internet Removals, which boasts it has had nearly half a million URLs removed from the internet since launching five years ago. Internet Removals Kavita Sharma said she was constantly trying to manage client expectations when it came to delivering achievable results. Sydney surgeon Dr William Mooney paid Internet Removals $40,000 to ensure Herald stories about an investigation, which ultimately found him guilty of professional misconduct and unsatisfactory conduct in relation to the deaths of two patients, were not the first thing prospective patients saw when they searched his name online. However, the stories remain online, while Mooney, struck off for one year in 2022, also sued the Herald for defamation. His claim was later dismissed by consent. In Karen Ridges case, Internet Removals issued Google with multiple take-down notices on her behalf citing a multitude of allegedly defamatory stories, despite none of the defamation claims being tested in any Australian court. A WA man has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after fraudulently trying to claim his dead girlfriends superannuation and life insurance benefits. The AFP charged the man in July 2020, after claims that he had accessed the super account in the hours following her death from medical complications in 2019. A has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after trying to fraudulently claim his dead girlfriends superannuation and life insurance benefits. Credit: AFP The womans relatives reported concerns about her financial affairs after the man tried to obtain a copy of the death certificate. The man, 32, was sentenced in Perth District Court on Friday after being found guilty of logging into the womans superannuation account on her phone and changing the beneficiary nomination to his own details. The oppositions nuclear energy plans would force Australia to fall massively short of the nations emissions target and generate more than 2 billion tonnes of extra greenhouse gas by 2050, breaking Australias commitment to the Paris Agreement. New analysis revealed the emissions blowout following Opposition Leader Peter Duttons declaration he would ditch Australias legally binding climate target to cut emissions 43 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is expected to name seven possible sites for nuclear power plants in the coming weeks. Credit: Louie Douvis, Getty Dutton told The Australian on Saturday that the governments renewable goal was unattainable and theres no sense in signing up to targets you dont have any prospect of achieving, and pledged only to meet a goal of net zero emissions by 2050. Solutions for Climate Australia calculated the extra emissions that would be generated by coal and gas plants while waiting for the first nuclear plants to be built, which CSIRO reported last month could not be achieved until 2040 at the earliest. It was only years later, and only after Hearder joined the foreign service, that he would learn his father Roblin was one of three founders of Australias overseas spy agency, ASIS. A young Jeremy Hearder in 1959 in Melbourne. Resources were scarce in Laos. There were just four Australians in the embassy and cars were not available to the diplomats, so they had to ride everywhere. Occasionally, the RAAF would fly in frozen food for the Australians on post, but because the fridge at home was so basic, the familys cook would arrange for the food to be stashed in the freezers of US diplomats. The only English-language newspaper available in the country was The Times of London, and the BBC World Service was an information lifeline to the outside world. It was regarded as a difficult post You did have, once per posting, a holiday trip to Hong Kong. And I think there were two or three trips a year to Bangkok they were basically holiday trips. It was just nice to get down there and have a milkshake, for example, he remembers. But it was just a fascinating place to be. Once I happened to be able to join a friend of mine, who was from the BBC working in Laos, and a couple of friends of his, who decided to take a trip on elephants up through the middle of Laos and then up a little hill. The BBC journalist was trying to track down a white tiger for a documentary, and while they failed in their mission, Hearder loved the adventure. Australias first High Commissioner to Zimbabwe, Jeremy Hearder, and his wife Kay meeting Robert Mugabe. After flying solo for the first year, his wife Kay joined him once she finished her medical degree at the University of Sydney. Laos was the first of nine postings for Hearder, Kay and a brood that would eventually grow to five children. From suburban Canberra, they also spent years posted to Tanzania, Thailand, Belgium, Fiji, the United States, Kenya, Zimbabwe, New Zealand and even Sydney. In Belgium, a young Alexander Downer later Australias longest-serving foreign minister was a more junior third secretary on the same diplomatic mission for about a year. Loading Hearder recalls wondering if the junior Downer might have a look at my father attitude his father Alick had been Menzies immigration minister and overseen the dismantling of the White Australia policy but he just wanted to do the job. Downer for his part, is shocked to hear Hearder is finally retiring at 87. A quiet, dutiful and thoughtful colleague who could keep the office calm in a crisis. An oil-on-troubled-waters sort of guy! Also very loyal and thoughtful for the welfare of others, he recalled. In Kenya, in 1971, he worked with a young Dennis Richardson, who would go on to become one of Australias most storied public servants. Hearders biography of James Plimsoll. Hearder recalls an intense young man who liked to talk to people and often used to come into my office and close the door and tell me really what he felt about things. Richardson, for his part, says Hearder is an extraordinarily fine person, he and and his wife Kay are two of the most decent people youll ever meet. Very compassionate, with a great capacity to cross cultural boundaries. I remember after one particular issue, which I wont go into, I went to see him and talked to him about leaving the post to come back to Canberra and perhaps leave the department, but he was just very measured with his advice and kept me in the service. Richardson would later go on to be head of Foreign Affairs, Defence, Ambassador to Washington and ASIO chief. In 1980, Hearder was sent to open a diplomatic mission to Zimbabwe, and serve as Australias first High Commissioner to the newly independent nation. This was an extraordinary one because I had 15 minutes with Malcolm Fraser as the prime minister [before leaving], because hed had a big role through the Commonwealth system to get peace, a Constitution, elections, the whole thing starting to work, he recalls. The main thing that stuck in my mind was, as I was going out the door [from meeting Fraser] he said, If you dont think were giving enough aid, just say so. Not long after, a group of Australian secondary school teachers were on their way to Zimbabwe to help improve education standards in the country. Some would stay for years. Later, as the new nation grappled with disarmament and the end of a civil war, Hearder asked Canberra for tents as the rainy season approached and guerrilla armies disarmed. A plane load of tents soon arrived. Loading The job of High Commissioner brought him into close contact with Robert Mugabe, at that time a revolutionary independence leader and the countrys widely hailed first prime minister. Mugabe in later years would be accused of corruption, human rights abuses, anti-white racism and even genocide. But back in 1980, when Mugabe initially embraced racial reconciliation, the world welcomed his elevation to leader. Hearder chooses his words carefully when describing Mugabe, mindful of the former dictators stained legacy and trying to balance that against his early promise. He really liked what Australia had done. He liked Malcolm Fraser; he liked, as a former teacher the way we produced all these teachers. And I remember we had a party at the residence, we got as many of the teachers as we could and they all came from all over the country and we got Mugabe to come along, Hearder remembers. Loading He was eventually persuaded to [make a speech] and he just made a wonderful speech. Foreign Minister Penny Wong says Hearders six decades of distinguished public service have been remarkable. During that time there have been great changes and challenges in the world, but the role of diplomats like Jeremy has remained paramount. I know he will be missed by the team at DFAT and I thank him for his service, she says. Brussels: Far-right parties rattled the traditional powers in the European Union and made major gains in parliamentary elections, dealing an especially humiliating defeat to French President Emmanuel Macron. On a night where the 27-member bloc palpably shifted to the right, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni more than doubled her seats in the EU parliament. And even if the Alternative for Germany extreme right party was hounded by scandal involving candidates, it still rallied enough seats to sweep past the slumping Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. French President Emmanuel Macron poses for pictures outside a polling station during the European election, in northern France. Credit: AP Sensing a threat from the far right, the Christian Democrats of EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had already shifted further to the right on migration and climate ahead of the elections and were rewarded by remaining by far the biggest group in the 720-seat European Parliament and de facto brokers of the ever-expanding powers of the legislature. Undoubtedly however, the star on a stunning electoral night was the National Rally party of Marine Le Pen, which dominated the French polls to such an extent that Macron immediately dissolved the national parliament and called for new elections. It was a massive political risk since his party could suffer more losses, hobbling the rest of his presidential term that ends in 2027. Jerusalem: Benny Gantz, a centrist member of Israels three-man war cabinet, has announced his resignation, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mismanaging the war effort and putting his own political survival over the countrys security needs. The move does not immediately pose a threat to Netanyahu, who still controls a majority coalition in parliament. But the Israeli leader becomes more heavily reliant on far-right allies who oppose the latest US-backed ceasefire proposal and want to press ahead with the war. Benny Gantz, a member of the countrys wartime cabinet, departs after announcing his resignation during a press conference. Credit: Getty Unfortunately, Netanyahu is preventing us from achieving true victory, which is the justification for the painful and ongoing price, Gantz said. He added that Netanyahu was making empty promises, and the country needs to take a different direction as he expects the fighting to continue for years to come. The popular former military chief joined Netanyahus government shortly after the Hamas attack in a show of unity. His presence also boosted Israels credibility with its international partners. Gantz has good working relations with US officials. Lieutenant-General Herzi Halevi oversaw the mission shoulder to shoulder with Ronen Bar, the head of Shin Bet, the domestic intelligence agency. Noa Argamani being driven away from the music festival in Israel by Hamas fighters on October 7. The air was thick with tension in the joint command room of the Israel Securities Authority as dozens of computer screens flickered to life, displaying in real-time one of the most complicated missions ever undertaken by Israeli forces. For weeks, hundreds of highly trained IDF, Shin Bet, police and special forces officers had game-planned the rescue, using models of two buildings deep inside Nuseirat in Gaza, where precise intelligence indicated Argamani and the three male hostages were being held. Satisfied with the accuracy of the information, the green light was finally given by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on Thursday evening. The hostages, code-named diamonds, had all been kidnapped from the now-infamous Nova music festival and were being held by armed guards in locked rooms in low-rise apartment blocks just 200 metres apart from each other. The high-risk rescue was made more complex by the cruel and cynical decision to embed them within the dense civilian population in flats occupied by families, IDF spokesman Rear-Admiral Daniel Hagari said in a post-operative media briefing. Israeli hostages Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Almog Meir Jan and Andrey Kozlov were rescued by the IDF. The Israeli forces had taken a call to launch the operation in broad daylight to maximise the element of surprise in a residential area that was swarming with Hamas militants. The proximity of the two buildings added to the intense pressure on the front-line commandos, who were backed up by hundreds of soldiers who had entered Gaza by air, land and sea. Hagari said the two squads had to enact their raids on the separate premises at 11.25am with the precision of a brain operation, acting simultaneously to reduce the chances of harm to any of the hostages. Unsuspecting guards in the building where Argamani was imprisoned were quickly overwhelmed. There was a knock on the door. A voice said: Its the IDF. Weve come to take you home, Noa later recounted from the safety of an Israel hospital. People wave Israeli flags as a helicopter carrying the rescued hostages lands in Israel on Saturday. Credit: AP But a fierce shootout took place in the apartment holding the three men. In the crossfire, Arnon Zmora, 36, the commander of an elite police squad and a married father of two, was killed. Netanyahu said the rescue operation would be referred to as Operation Arnon in tribute to the slain officer. As the operatives were forced to shoot their way out of buildings to whisk the diamonds to military helicopters waiting on the beach, scenes of chaos erupted in the crowded streets, said Hagari, who was watching the screens in the command centre. As we started to go out of the buildings, a lot of fire was around us. Running terrorists in the streets with RPGs [rocket-propelled grenades] to the cars, to the warriors, he said. Palestinians at the site of an Israeli strike on buildings in Nuseirat refugee camp. Credit: Bloomberg At one point, the rescue vehicle of the three male hostages reportedly got stuck in the middle of the raging gunfire because of a technical fault. Amid the intense extraction, the Israeli Air Force also conducted heavy airstrikes on planned Hamas targets in Nuseirat. Sources in the Nuseirat refugee camp claimed Israeli special forces entered the market using a vehicle used to move the furniture of displaced Gazans. The IDF, when asked if its operatives had dressed as civilians, refused to disclose confidential operational details. At least 210 dead Palestinians were brought to local hospitals, a Hamas health official said. Images and footage of their bloodied bodies flooded local media. Hagari said the IDF was aware of about 100 Palestinian casualties but did not yet know how many were terrorists. He accused Hamas of endangering civilians by hiding the hostages within the population and shooting at the Israeli forces as they rescued them. None of the Israeli hostages was injured during the rescue. Grainy footage shows Argamani being led across a beach into a waiting helicopter, followed by the three men in a second helicopter. Footage from inside the helicopter shows Noa being quickly bundled inside and flown to safety. All four hostages were transported to Israels Tel Hashomer hospital in Tel Aviv for a check-up and to be reunited with their relieved and overjoyed families. Argamanis homecoming was particularly poignant, offering her a precious final chance to see her dying mother, Liora, who has stage-four brain cancer. People celebrate in Tel Aviv as they hold photos of released hostages Noa Argamani and Almog Meir Jan. Credit: Getty Images Earlier this year, her mother had pleaded with world leaders to enable her to have a last hug with her child. I am asking you, President Joe Biden, I dont have a lot of time left in this world. It may be my last wish. Im really begging you. Please help me, she said in an emotional video plea. On Saturday, her father praised God, Israels leaders and her rescuers for the gift of bringing his daughter home safely on his birthday. Loading Thank you very much, thousands of thanks, to each and every one who had a hand in this matter, he said. Noa is fine, thank God. She looks wonderful, looks excellent. In a video of Argamani speaking on the phone with Netanyahu, she said: I am very moved. I havent heard Hebrew for so long. During an early evening press conference, the families of the other freed hostages also thanked the security forces and expressed their condolences over the fallen counter-terrorism officer. Theres a lot of happiness today, a lot of tears, said Anna, Kozlovs aunt. Andrey Kozlovs aunt, Anna Kozlov, speaks at a press conference with family members of the rescued hostages. Credit: Getty Images Orit, Jans mother, said: Almog asked to say: We have a strong nation, thanks very much. I support the soldiers. I hope all the hostages come home safely. The Hostages Families Forum praised the heroic operation but called for renewed international commitment to pressure Hamas to accept a proposed ceasefire deal that would return the remaining 120 captives to Israel. On Saturday, Sami Abu Zuhri, a senior Hamas official, said that regaining four captives after nine months of fighting is a sign of failure, not an achievement. ViewApart / iStock.com Tia Finn collected passport stamps from Canada, Ireland, Italy, France, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, Thailand, and Austria while working for a London-based global education tech firm. But when it came time to retire, she chose the small Italian town of Bellano on Lake Como, where she comfortably lives on 1,400 a month, which converts to about $1,500. Check Out: 4 Things Boomers Should Never Sell in Retirement Learn: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money The final move was to live somewhere that felt like I was always meant to live, Finn explained. It felt like the call of my ancestors. It was also a financially smart move. According to International Living, the cost of living in Italy is generally 30% to 70% lower than in the United States, depending on your preferred location and lifestyle. GOBankingRates talked to Finn about why she chose to retire in Italy on a budget after her extensive travels. Cost of Living Finn estimated her annual income at around 20,000 ($21,633.00). This is enough to cover basic living costs like rent, utilities, food, global health insurance, and transportation by train, bus, and boat. She recommended those looking to retire to Italy budget a little extra for their gas bill because prices have fluctuated since the winter of 2022 after Russia invaded Ukraine. For example, her gas bill jumped from 300 ($324) to 850 ($919) during the cold months. That was a shock, Finn said. Since then, it has settled to around 250 during the cold months and to 50 in the warmer months since our boiler runs on gas. See: Retirement Savings: 4 Expenses Retirees Regret Keeping in Their Budgets, According to Experts Rent Renting on a retiree budget is possible in smaller, rural, and southern towns like Finns because the cost of living is lower. Turin, Palermo, and Naples are among the cheapest Italian cities to rent an apartment. For example, a one-bedroom apartment in Turin costs 950 ($1,027) monthly, compared to 1,800 ($1,946) in Milan. Even if you love living in a city, you can still save money by moving further away from the city center. Instead of living in a one-bedroom apartment in the center of Rome for 959 ($1,037) a month, you could pay 650 ($703) a month and walk or take the bus into town. Food Finn hikes up and down a large hill from her Bellano home to go grocery shopping for fresh produce. Basic pantry staples like milk, chicken, rice, bread, and cheese will cost between $1 to $7 per pound, depending on the item. A mid-range bottle of wine is about $4.50 to $5.50, according to data from the International Citizens Group, a resource for living, retiring, and working overseas. Story continues Expect to pay higher prices than you would in the United States for the products you miss from home. Italy is known for its delicious regional gastronomy. Dining out in large Italian cities is typically comparable to that in the United States. In smaller towns, you can have a fantastic, but frugal, meal for under $20. Dinner for two in smaller towns, including a bottle of wine, will cost about $60. Health Insurance Italy introduced an annual fee ranging from 2,000 ($2,163) to 2,700 ($2,920) per person for foreign residents from outside the European Union to access its public health care. Prior to this, (healthcare) costs varied wildly region to region, but in general it was about 2,200 for both my wife and I per year based on a formula applied to gross income, said retired blogger Greg Hopkins in a Medium article explaining the personal impact of Italys healthcare price changes. Finn has Italian heritage and has applied for Italian citizenship. When granted, she will avoid the increased healthcare insurance costs other American retirees now face. Transportation Getting around Italy is fairly simple due to its comprehensive public transportation system. It may be smarter to get a monthly pass, which costs about 35 ($40), instead of paying 1.5 ($1.60) for daily trips. If youre planning to drive in Italy, expect to pay around 1.87 per liter, which is around $2 a gallon. Test Drive Your Location Finn recommended that people interested in retiring in Italy visit the country a few times as if they were living there to understand the actual daily living costs, customs, and culture. I learned the language, which changes how you are welcomed, Finn said. It wasnt easy or perfect, but most people are patient and kind. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Ive Traveled to 9 Countries: Heres Where Id Retire on a Budget VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) Virginia Natural Gas (VNG) will invest $620,000 in workforce development across southeastern Virginia. VNG announced Thursday that the investment will support organizations with proven records of innovation in workforce development. Additionally, the funds will be targeted toward young adults, veterans and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in Virginia. We understand that workforce development is critical for the success of our region. These investments are intended to help veterans and the next generation of workers develop the technical and professional skills that will lead to great jobs and careers right here in Hampton Roads, said Robert Duvall, president and CEO of Virginia Natural Gas. Notable organizations receiving funding include: Hampton Roads Workforce Foundation NextGen: This commitment readies youth and veterans for the workforce by teaching essential skills and aiding advancement into meaningful careers or further education. Virginia Chamber Foundation Various Programs: This funding supports the Virginia Chamber Workforce Center and veteran employment through hiring fairs and workforce development conferences, fostering a statewide dialogue on workforce issues. It also includes participation in Hire Vets NOW and Veterans Committee hiring fairs on military bases and supports the Military & Veterans Conference set for fall 2024. Norfolk State University (NSU) Spartan Promise to Persist with Purpose: A summer program to enhance NSU students job readiness and prepare them for successful post-graduation careers. Hampton University Workforce Development Scholarship: Scholarships are provided for technical training courses in fields like welding and HVAC to promote technical proficiency among students and community members. Bridging Communities Regional CTE Foundation Regional Career and Technical Center: Prepares students for professional industries through career-focused education and work-based learning. Neighborhood General Programming: Focuses on personal and professional growth, providing technical training and facilitating employment connections in growing sectors. Neighborhood General Programming: Focuses on personal and professional growth, providing technical training and facilitating employment connections in growing sectors. To learn more about VNGs initiatives and contributions to workforce development 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 WAVY.com. (Reuters) -Volvo cars has started to shift production of Chinese-made electric vehicles to Belgium in the expectation that the European Union will drive ahead with a crackdown on Beijing-subsidized imports, the Times (UK) reported on Saturday. Volvo, which is majority-owned by China's Geely, was considering halting sales of Chinese-built EVs bound for Europe if tariffs were introduced, the newspaper said, citing company insiders. However, the report added that shifting production of Volvo's EX30 and EX90 models from China to Belgium is expected to negate the need for the company to do so and that the company insisted suspending sales of EVs made in China was no longer being considered. The manufacturing of certain Volvo models bound for the United Kingdom could also be moved to Belgium, Times said. Volvo did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of regular business hours. The European Commission, which oversees trade policy in the 27-nation European Union, launched an investigation last year into whether fully-electric cars manufactured in China were receiving distortive subsidies and warranted extra tariffs. The anti-subsidy investigation, officially launched on Oct. 4, can last up to 13 months. The Commission can impose provisional anti-subsidy duties nine months after the start of the probe. Relations between China and the EU have been strained by factors including Beijing's closer ties with Moscow after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The EU is seeking to reduce its reliance on the world's second-largest economy, particularly for materials and products needed for its green transition. (Reporting by Jahnavi Nidumolu in Bengaluru; Editing by Kim Coghill) CRISTOBAL HERRERA-ULASHKEVICH / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock.com Donald Trump and Joe Biden have been talking a great deal lately about tariffs. There have been talks about how they could help, and potentially hurt, the average individual and family in the United States. Heres How Much Every Living US President Is Worth: Where Does Biden Rank? Explore: 4 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money Trumps aggressive tariff plan has seen a good reception from his supporters but critics have said his plan could cost the average American family hundreds of dollars in additional taxes. Heres a look at how your tax bill and one specific part in general could get more expensive if Trump wins the presidential election. The answer may surprise you. Tariffs and Your Taxes Lets start with the basics of Trumps proposed plan. According to The Washington Post, Trump has proposed a 60 percent tariff on Chinese goods, roughly four times the average levy of his original policy, and a 10 percent tax on the $3 trillion in merchandise that the United States imports each year from all countries. What does an across-the-board tariff policy mean for you? According to the Center for American Progress Action Fund, it would amount to about a $1,500 annual tax increase for the typical family. Heres how part of that could breakdown: $610 tax increase on materials and equipment for businesses. $220 tax increase on cars, auto parts and other vehicles. $120 tax increase on oil and petroleum products. $90 tax increase on food. $90 tax increase on prescriptions. According to the Center, This tax increase would drive up the price of goods while failing to significantly boost U.S. manufacturing and jobs. Increased Taxes for Healthcare and Dining Out You probably noticed immediately the $610 tax increase on materials and equipment for U.S. businesses. What exactly does this mean? After all, its one bill that looks to get much more expensive if Trump wins the election. First, heres what the Center said: In addition, the tariff would hit other industrial supplies and capital goods that American companies use to produce goods and services for American consumers or for export to other countries, resulting in a tax increase of $610 for the typical U.S. household. So how would it impact your family? You could see it through higher prices for healthcare and dining out, as well as new pricier housing due to increased taxes on imported home-building materials. Widespread Impacts In addition to significantly increasing your tax bill in these areas, critics of Trumps plan point to history to predict widespread negative impacts from the increased tariffs. According to the Tax Foundation, Historical evidence shows tariffs raise prices and reduce available quantities of goods and services for U.S. businesses and consumers, which results in lower income, reduced employment, and lower economic output. Story continues One final consideration is the rhetoric surrounding tariffs this election season. Trump has said his plan will tax China and other foreign companies. However, tariffs are actually levied on American importers when their purchased products come in the U.S. market. According to the Center, These importers are usually domestic companies that import products for distribution to U.S. consumers, and no Chinese company falls within the top 10 importers. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Why Your Healthcare and Dining Bills Could Get More Expensive If Trump Is Elected This is The Takeaway from today's Morning Brief, which you can sign up to receive in your inbox every morning along with: The chart of the day What we're watching What we're reading Economic data releases and earnings Sometimes there is no middle ground in the cutthroat world of business. You are either a winner. Or you are a loser. A winner wins because they are doing something better than everyone else, usually over a long stretch of time. Through a mixture of perseverance, creativity, and executional excellence, the winner builds on their success and widens their lead. There is a dose of luck to this too. A loser, well, does the complete opposite of this playbook. I return with this simple message following another wild week of trading in shares of GameStop (GME) one dominated by an unverified social media account allegedly led by a guy known for a red headband, lame T-shirts, and a penchant for flexing his alleged dollars in a trading account. GameStop stinks. It's 100% going to be a long-term loser. Maybe 110%. And you know what, friends? To reiterate this point, I'm not going to use a lick of the sophisticated analysis I taught myself while covering 55 retail companies as an independent stock analyst. I will do two things. First, point out that the company's first quarter sales cratered 29% year over year. The company lost $32.3 million in the quarter compared to a loss of $50.5 million a year earlier. The business trends are getting WORSE! Here are those numbers via the company's laughably brief earnings release Friday morning. Second, I'm going to link to the company's latest annual report here, then add these rapid-fire observations: The company refuses to aggressively shrink a store base that numbers 4,169 locations worldwide. Shops that sell similar products such as Walmart (WMT) are aggressively investing in AI and same-day delivery services practically making visits to competing stores a waste of time. The company is losing gobs of money amid a persistent, structural downtrend in sales. Margins are under pressure, and have been. The company is overly reliant on consoles 56.8% of sales came from hardware and accessories last year. But console sales face an increasingly grim outlook as PCs and smartphones compete for market share. The three objectives listed under the "business strategy" section establish retail excellence, achieve profitability, and leverage brand value aren't being consistently executed on. You GME fans may not want to admit this, but fundamentally analyzing a company still matters. That's how the mechanisms of the market work. That's how true wealth is built. Story continues "You can never lose sight of the fundamentals," Interactive Brokers chief strategist Steve Sosnick said on my "Opening Bid" podcast (video above), adding that GameStop's top and bottom lines will likely stay under pressure. Keith "Roaring Kitty" Gill toils away on a Yahoo Finance GameStop chart on Friday, making his return to streaming about stocks on his YouTube channel. (Brian Sozzi) It's why this stock has gone from a high of $66 when "activist investor" turned CEO Ryan Cohen joined the board in January 2021 to a low of $9.95 in mid-April, before the latest bout of Keith Gill shenanigans. Shares closed at $28.22 on Friday. Cohen has done squat to reverse the company's future trajectory. In the meantime, the performance of the company has been terrible. I stand by everything I wrote in my open letter to Cohen on June 9, 2023, when the stock was trading at $23. In fact, I'll take this a step further I personally invite Cohen to Yahoo Finance's big fall Invest conference (distinguished speaker list from 2023 here) to debate me on the main stage about what in the world he is doing with GameStop. Ryan, the event is Nov. 12 in New York City. My email is below. You owe it to your legion of supporters to discuss what you are doing with their public support and dollars. And don't message me that Cohen has saved the company with its recent $933.4 million cash grab via a share offering and another 75 million planned offering disclosed on Friday. All this does is ensure the company could keep buying inventory for a few years while also exiting a plethora of leases for stores that most of America doesn't visit. What does winning look like in the consumer space? Check out these links: You want to debate me on GameStop today? I am waving you into the octagon on X I'll be here all day @BrianSozzi answering your messages. Any inappropriate message and I will block your account. I want to hear your honest analysis on this company and why you love it. In the meantime, enjoy reading GameStop's 10-K. Still can't get enough GameStop? Here's what noted value investor Jonathan Boyar had to say about the company on "Opening Bid". This embedded content is not available in your region. Brian Sozzi is Yahoo Finance's Executive Editor. He is also the host of the "Opening Bid" podcast. Follow Sozzi on Twitter/X @BrianSozzi and on LinkedIn. Tips on deals, mergers, activist situations, or anything else? Email brian.sozzi@yahoofinance.com. Are you a CEO and want to come on Yahoo Finance Live? Email Brian Sozzi. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via the associated press File This May 1, 2015, file photo shows a Dunes Sagebrush lizard in New Mexico. Federal wildlife officials declared the rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species. Concerns over dramatic rise in musculoskeletal disorders in Wales This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jun 9th, 2024 A surgeon-turned-Senedd member raised concerns about an alarming increase in musculoskeletal disorders. Altaf Hussain, a former consultant orthopaedic surgeon, warned that one in three adults aged 50 or over dies within 12 months of suffering a hip fracture. The Conservative MS said older adults have a five to eight times higher risk of dying within three months compared with those without a fracture. This increased risk of death remains for almost 10 years, said Mr Hussain. It is not just hip fractures that we have to worry about. There has been an alarming increase in a whole range of musculoskeletal disorders. They are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. Dramatic rise Leading a debate on joint and bone health on June 5, Mr Hussain pointed out that the number of over-65s in Wales is predicted to rise by about 45% over the next two decades. The Tory shadow social care minister called for a radical rethink to halt a dramatic rise in unnecessary deaths and avoidable disabilities. He warned: We cant seem to get a grip on waiting times despite the doubling of the health and care budget over the past quarter of a century. Mr Hussain told the chamber the median average wait for hip surgery was 452 days in Wales, with Swansea having the longest waiting times at an average of 668 days. The South Wales West MS said 96,500 patients were waiting for trauma and orthopaedic surgery across Wales, with nearly half waiting longer than nine months. Simple steps Mr Hussain urged the Welsh Government to redouble efforts on falls prevention and called for a womens health strategy to address the impact of menopause on bone health. Setting out some simple steps people can take to improve their health, the surgeon stressed the importance of vitamin D, calcium-rich foods and muscle-strengthening exercises. He added that research shows smoking and drinking too much alcohol can weaken bones. He said: If we can do these simple things, we can reduce our risk of joint pain and fractures. Simple interventions can help us to maintain a healthier later life, but also reduce the strain on our NHS and social services departments. Incredible clinician Eluned Morgan, the health secretary, told the Senedd that almost a million people have a musculoskeletal condition about a third of Wales population. She said: Its always intimidating to respond to Altaf Hussain this incredible clinician but this is his specialist area, so its particularly intimidating this evening. She confirmed the Welsh Government is on track to meet a commitment to make a fracture liaison service available in all corners of Wales by September. Baroness Morgan highlighted a dramatic 71% fall in outpatients waiting more than 52 weeks since April 2022, with two-year waits tumbling by 72%. She said: I have been breathing down their necks, all over the country, when it comes to orthopaedic surgery and getting those longest waiting lists down. By Chris Haines, ICNN Senedd reporter Six candidates fighting to become first ever Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr MP This article is old - Published: Sunday, Jun 9th, 2024 Six candidates are set to fight it out to become the first ever Member of Parliament for the newly formed Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. The constituency covers large parts of mid Wales and includes thousands of registered voters and households in Wrexham. The General Election on Thursday July 4 will be the first fought under new constituency boundaries and with a reduced number of Welsh Members of Parliament. The number of parliamentary constituencies in Wales will drop from 40 to 32, with each containing between 69,724 and 77,062 electors. Six candidates have been nominated for the election, with their details and parties below: Jeremy David Brignell-Thorp: Green Party Oliver Lewis: Reform UK Glyn Preston: Welsh Liberal Democrats Elwyn Vaughan: Plaid Cymru Craig Williams: Welsh Conservatives Steve Witherden: Welsh Labour It replaces the former Clwyd South ward which has seen villages and towns effectively divvied up into either a larger Wrexham ward or the Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr. Unlike the previous Clwyd South ward where results were announced in Wrexham the count for the new Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr constituency will take place in Powys. Wrexham voters in the following areas will be casting their vote for an MP for Montgomeryshire and Glyndwr: Cefn Chirk North Chirk South Esclusham Johnstown Pant Penycae Penycae and Ruabon South Plas Madoc Ponciau Glyn Ceiriog The boundary change will mean that residents in the above areas will share their MP with areas as far as Machynlleth, Newtown South, Montgomery and Llandrino. Polls will open for the General Election at 7am on July 4 and will close at 10pm. Make sure that you are registered to vote by June 18! It only takes a few minutes to do so make sure youre registered and tell your family and friends to register as well. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close A significant protest of international students, many of whom are from India, has erupted in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada. The worker-students, most of whom are recent graduates, face deportation following sudden changes to provincial immigration rules in line with the Canadian ruling elites intensified anti-immigrant agitation over the past several months. The protests started on May 9 in the face of widespread hostility on the part of Canadian nationalists and proponents of a more restrictive immigration policy. On May 24, a number of protesters began a hunger strike in front of the building where the PEI legislature is located, with some even refusing to drink water for a time. The hunger strike was paused May 31 after a meeting between protesters and Jeff Young, head of the Provincial Office for Immigration. Foreign students and recent graduates protesting PEI's discriminatory changes to its immigration program in the provincial capital, Charlottetown [Photo: Protest_PEI_24/Instagram] The protest is a reaction to changes in PEIs immigration policy initiated in February to limit the number of immigrants, which the government justified by citing strains on healthcare and housing infrastructure. The disputed changes concern the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), which is widely used as a pathway for international students aiming to secure permanent residency in Canada. Out of 12,000 applications for permanent residency in PEI, the province only nominates 1,590. The changes include slashing by 25 percent the number of PNP nominees and restricting postgraduate work permits to students with qualifications in specific fields like construction, home-building, and healthcare. The provincial government has reduced the number of nominations for permits in the sales and services sector from 855 to 215. The policy changes have left many students unable to extend their work permits, resulting in job losses and potential deportation even though the students have graduated and worked in Canada. The protesting students have three main demands: first, to be grandfathered into the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), allowing them to be exempt from the new regulations and continue under the old system; second, to have fair PNP draws without a point system, which they argue is unfair to those under 25; and third, an extension of their work permits to compensate for lost time and opportunities due to the policy changes. PEIs policy changes were introduced after Liberal federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller announced in November that the target for permanent resident arrivals would be capped at 500,000 for two consecutive years. Then in January, the federal government introduced a limit on student visa admissions to Canada, setting it at 360,000 permits. On March 21, they further announced restrictions on temporary immigration, marking the first instance where the number of Non-Permanent Resident arrivals would be limited similarly to that of Permanent Resident arrivals. The situation of many international students in Canada is dire. The entire Canadian immigration program is geared toward the interests of private business and profit. Educational institutions have increasingly resorted to attracting international students, who are generally charged tuition fees five times more than domestic students, as a way to compensate for sweeping government cuts to education funding. Additionally, with the growth of the profit motive in education, Canada has seen the emergence of what has been widely described as the diploma equivalent of puppy mills, that is educational institutions providing subpar education at a hefty fee and without proper support for the frequently impoverished students attracted by the prospect of potential permanent residency. In an interview for The PIE, law professor Daljit Nirman stated: In my opinion, the chaos in various provinces, including Prince Edward Island, stems from aggressive recruitment practices by college and university lobbyists. These institutions, driven by profit, have enlisted agents with hefty commissions, leading to uncontrolled international student enrollments. As the current protest is highlighting, international students often work in the most poorly remunerated sectors of the economy, and certain businesses rely on these workers to keep them costs competitive. The limited opposition to PEIs policy changes from within the establishment has come almost entirely from the vultures who are in the habit of exploiting international students for their businesses. During the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerces annual meeting, PEI Premier Dennis King faced questions from worried employers who wondered what would happen if this source of cheap labour ends. Some provincial Liberal and Green politicians have issued pro forma statements criticizing the racist attacks to which the protesting foreign students have been subjected. One of the protest organizers, Rupinder Pal Singh, told CBC News, There are some people who have been harassing us ... throwing glasses, cans on us, throwing water while people (in the round-the-clock hunger strike protest) were asleep. International students often get stuck in extreme poverty with low wage jobs and nothing to show for it in return. As organizers of the PEI protest campaign have pointed out, many were frontline service workers at the height of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Now, their already challenging path toward permanent residency and citizenship has been made even more difficult with the changes introduced by PEIs Progressive Conservative government, which are themselves part of a broader nationwide trend. The tightening of provincial and federal policies on immigration is a consequence of a concerted campaign spearheaded by the far right, but embraced by all political parties, from the Conservatives to the ostensibly left New Democratic Party and the Quebec nationalist and separatist parties. Immigration, according to their lying narrative, is to blame for Canadas deepening social crisis, in particular the shortage of affordable housing and the dilapidated state of public health care and education, rather than the decades-long public spending austerity enforced by all parties. The ruling class and its representatives in politics and the media aim with this vicious campaign to divide workers by scapegoating the more vulnerable immigrant and refugee section of the working class for the crisis of capitalism. Season 2 of Departures returns with the adventurous travel documentary series following hosts Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach, as they journey to remote and exotic locations around the world. The second iteration originally premiered in 2009 and captures their unique experiences, personal growth, and the profound impact of their travels. The docuseries offers viewers a captivating look into diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes. Heres how you can watch and stream Departures Season 2 via streaming services such as Amazon Prime Video. Is Departures Season 2 available to watch via streaming? Yes, Departures Season 2 is available to watch via streaming on Amazon Prime Video. Departures Season 2 follows hosts Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach as they embark on thrilling adventures across 13 episodes. From exploring Moroccos Atlas Mountains and Libyas Sahara desert to navigating the Amazon rainforest and meeting nomadic tribes in Mongolia, they experience diverse cultures and breathtaking landscapes. Each episode captures their growth, the challenges they face, and the encounters that make their journey unforgettable. The series stars Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach as themselves. Watch Departures Season 2 streaming via Amazon Prime Video Departures Season 2 is available to watch on Amazon Prime Video. With a subscription the the streaming service, users can enjoy unlimited streaming, including popular series, exclusive Amazon Originals, and access to premium channels. You can watch via Amazon Prime Video by following these steps: Go to Amazon Prime Video Select Sign in and Create your Amazon account Sign up for a Prime Video membership: $14.99 per month or $139 per year with an Amazon Prime membership $8.99 per month for a standalone Prime Video membership Amazon Prime is the online retailers paid service that provides fast shipping and exclusive sales on products, so the membership that includes both this service and Prime Video is the companys most popular offering. However, you can also opt to subscribe to Prime Video separately. The Departures synopsis is as follows: From epic landscapes and unforgettable culture, to the often trying times that come with international travel, Departures chronicles the unforgettable friendships, personal successes and sometimes crushing disappointments that befall travellers Scott Wilson and Justin Lukach on their journey. Departures is as much about the journey as it is the destination. NOTE: The streaming services listed above are subject to change. The information provided was correct at the time of writing. Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Trailer Sets Release Date for Spin-off Series Paramount+ has finally shared the full Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles trailer, teasing fans what to expect from TV Maggie Dela Paz 1 day ago Despicable Me 4 Clip Features Grus Minions Becoming Super Soldiers A brand new Despicable Me 4 clip from Illuminations upcoming animated sequel has dropped, featuring everyones favorite yellow henchmen in Movies Maggie Dela Paz 1 day ago The Thing: Remastered Trailer Reveals 4K Support and Updated Models Nightdive Studios announced The Thing: Remastered on Friday, confirming that a remastered version of the cult-classic survival horror game based Games Anthony Nash 1 day ago The Watchers Review: A Shyamalan Suspense Film Ishana Night Shyamalan has a bright future ahead of her. The recent NYU graduate has had a strong start in Movies Jonathan Sim 1 day ago Read more The post Departures Season 2 Streaming: Watch & Stream Online via Amazon Prime Video appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Gino Palazzolo and Jasmine Pineda have had a tumultuous journey on 90 Day Fiance. The couple was first introduced on 90 Day Fiance: Before The 90 Days. Gino flew to Panama to meet Jasmine for the first time, and the two hit it off. Despite a few ups and downs, Gino proposed to Jasmine, and they got engaged. Jasmine later moved to the US with Gino during 90 Day Fiance Season 10. It was a tough move for the Panamanian native, who quickly became homesick and missed her kids. Nonetheless, at the end of the 90 days, Gino and Jasmine tied the knot. Gino and Jasmine are currently appearing on 90 Day Fiance: Happily Ever After? Season 8, where they are dealing with the same issues. Jasmine is furious with Gino for not properly adding her kids to the immigration paperwork, among other reasons. After all of this chaos, its no surprise that Gino and Jasmine are rumored to have split. But the real question is whether or not Jasmine has moved on with another man. Why did Gino and Jasmines relationship go south? TLC via YouTube Gino and Jasmine have faced issues in their relationship from the jump. During Ginos first trip to Panama, Jasmine found out that he had shared naked photos of her with his ex. This infuriated Jasmine, who almost broke off the relationship. After a few more trips to Panama, Gino became frustrated when he learned Jasmine had moved into the same building as her ex. After Jasmine arrived in America, things only got worse. Jasmine struggled to adapt to life in America, specifically with having to rely on Gino for everything. For instance, Gino complained about having to drive Jasmine around every day, which she didnt feel was a big deal. Gino and Jasmine have also fought over finances, which Jasmine feels Gino has been frugal with. Another big issue in Gino and Jasmines relationship has been children. Jasmine is eager to bring her two sons to America, but Gino forgot to add them to Jasmines paperwork. As a result, it could be two years before they can come to the US. Gino also wants a child of his own, but Jasmine has been reluctant to have one with him. What clues point to Gino and Jasmines split? Photo Credit: TLC via YouTube Several clues point to Gino and Jasmine no longer being together. One of the biggest indicators of this is Jasmines Instagram, which no longer has any pictures of Gino. While Gino still has pictures of him and Jasmine up on his page, he no longer follows her. It appears Jasmine may have blocked Gino, as she no longer follows him either. Furthermore, Gino and Jasmine were reportedly seen filming for 90 Day: The Last Resort Season 2. This spin-off follows couples as they try to fix their relationships through couples therapy. Its no surprise that Gino and Jasmine would be chosen for this, as their relationship has always been rocky. Does Jasmine have a new boyfriend in America? Photo Credit: TLC via YouTube Jasmine reportedly has a new boyfriend following her split from Gino, which raises a lot of questions. According to recent rumors, Jasmine met her new boyfriend while working at a local gym. Allegedly, Jasmine cheated on Gino with this new man, who in turn kicked her out for doing so. It seems like Jasmine has been hinting at her new boyfriend on social media. Eagle-eyed fans have noticed a mystery man in several videos Jasmine has shared online. While he does not show his face, his voice has been heard in the background. The man is not Gino, which makes viewers think that he and Jasmine are now done for good. Since Happily Ever After? Season 8 is still airing, its possible Jasmine doesnt want to break her NDA by exposing her new man. Furthermore, if Gino and Jasmine are on The Last Resort Season 2, it may be even longer until she can reveal him. Of course, these rumors are only rumors and a lot about the situation is still unclear. While it seems pretty certain that Jasmine has moved on from Gino with someone else, nothing can be confirmed until she addresses it. TELL US DO YOU THINK JASMINE HAS A NEW BOYFRIEND AFTER ALLEGEDLY SPLITTING FROM GINO? The post Did 90 Day Fiances Jasmine Pineda Move on From Gino Palazzolo With a New Man in America? appeared first on Reality Tea. A man with a criminal history across state lines was arrested Friday night on drug and weapon charges, according to the Colorado Springs Police Department. Police said at 11:15 p.m., officers arrived at a storage facility in the 1100 block of North Academy Boulevard following a trespassing report. According to the department, officers found over an ounce of narcotics including fentanyl, heroin and methamphetamines, along with various drug paraphernalia and a stolen firearm. The discovery at the storage facility led to the arrest of 41-year-old Adama James Brown a convicted felon with a criminal history in multiple states including Colorado and Georgia. Police said Brown is now facing additional felony charges including possession of weapons by a previous offender, unlawful distribution and unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Doris Biscoe, a pioneer for African American women TV journalists, died Friday at age 77. No cause or location was given by WXYZ, which first reported her death. The station cited her career as being one of the most visible Black broadcast journalists in Detroit, and throughout America. More from Deadline Born in Washington, D.C., Biscoe was one of the few African American women in broadcasting when her career began. She began in radio in Maryland, then led a public affairs program in Washington, D.C. She then relocated to Detroit for a job at 7 Action News in 1973. Biscoe was a nightside reporter, eventually graduating to anchoring the 6 PM evening news. In 1995, she moved to anchoring the morning news. Biscoe also hosted the Learn to Read program, a weekly literacy program at the station aimed at children. She also played a newscaster in 1987s The Rosary Murders, starring Donald Sutherland, which was filmed in Detroit. She also was a recipient of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle award, which recognizes distinguished service in the industry for 25 years or more. No information on survivors was immediately available. DEADLINE RELATED VIDEO: Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Former New York Giants Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkleys father, Alibay, was allegedly caught with a loaded weapon while driving in the Bronx this week. The New York Post reports that police found the weapon a pink pistol in his vehicle. (Its for) for safety because of who my son is, the senior Barkley said. The 55 year-old Barkley was pulled over for covered license plates Wednesday evening at East 140th Street and Third Avenue in Mott Haven, according to a complaint filed in Bronx Criminal Court. An officer looked in the center console of Barkleys 2018 Chevy Corvette and found the pink SSCY model firearm with eight live cartridges in the magazine, the court papers state. Alibay claimed the gun was his wifes because they come back to the Bronx from their home in Pennsylvania quite often and it was needed for safety reasons. Barkley and his wife, Tonya Johnson, moved their family out of the Bronx to Whitehall, Pennsylvania in 2001 when Saquon was four years old. The Post added that Barkley, who had prior brushes with the law was held on $5,000 cash bail or $15,000 bond. Prosecutors had requested that he be held on $15,000 cash bail or $45,000 bond. WABC-TV also reports that the senior Barkley does not possess a license to carry a firearm in New York, which is the same crime that landed retired Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress in prison. Story originally appeared on Giants Wire When Ravennas Bill Barber accepted a 2024 Voice of Hope Award last May from Diocese of Youngstowns Catholic Charities, he did so on behalf of all the diocesan Prison and Jail Ministry Volunteers. His sharing the recognition with everyone engaged in the Prison and Jail Ministry was typical for Barber, someone who gets involved not for recognition, but for the mission itself. Bill Barber Active in the ministry for 10 years, Barber served as coordinator of the volunteers from 2019 to 2022 and now remains involved. According to Rachel Hrbolich, executive director of Catholic Charities for the Youngstown Diocese, Barber strengthened the network of those serving in the prison ministry. Along the Way: David E. Dix's reflections on turning 80 When you have volunteers involved in a prison and jail ministry across six counties, it is important to work as a team, and Bill helped us in team-building, she said. Barber made it clear he could not accept the award without recognizing the entire ministry. We are a loud and beautiful choir of Voices of Hope, he said. Our ministry is all about bringing the message of Gods love and reconciliation through Jesus Christ, and giving the incarcerated a sense of hope and trust. A retired geologist whose career was mostly with BP, Barber has been an active parishioner at Ravennas Immaculate Conception Church. His inspiration to get involved in the Prison and Jail Ministry came during a retreat at the Trumbull Correctional Institute 10 years ago. Barber has served there ever since, and also picked up a second prison. Between them, Barber volunteers in the prisons eight to 10 days a month. He conducts classes and presides at religious services. It comes down to developing and enhancing our relationship with God, he said. God meets us where we are and helps us to enter into a deeper relationship with Him. The Youngstown Diocese includes Portage, Trumbull, Mahoning, Stark, Ashtabula and Columbiana counties. In addition to serving the Trumbull Correctional Institute, a state prison in Warren, about 30 volunteers serve in the jails in Portage, Mahoning, Stark and Trumbull counties; Elkton Federal Correctional Institution in Columbiana County; Ohio State Penitentiary in Youngstown; Northeast Ohio Correctional Center in Youngstown; and Lake Erie Correctional Institution in Conneaut. Volunteers include lay men and women, women religious, priests and deacons. In Portage County, among the volunteers are Anne Moneypenny and Tim DeFrange. Anne Moneypenny Moneypenny, whose day job is executive assistant at the Kent Area Chamber of Commerce, has been a prison ministry volunteer for 10 years at Trumbull Correctional Institute. She is an active parishioner at Immaculate Conception Parish in Ravenna. She said Deacon Russ Brodes reading one Sunday of Matthew 25:36 (I was in prison, and you visited me.) is what led her to travel State Route 5 to TCI every Monday and Wednesday night. Over the years, she has helped inmates read, write and engage in general discussions regarding their faith, thus instilling a sense of value, self-esteem and hope. She said she uses the Catholic Bible, Catholic Catechism and other Christian books, along with DVDs. Recently, The Footprints of God Series and The Chosen Series, which the inmates enjoy, has started many discussions. We are not just for Catholics, Moneypenny said. We welcome all inmates of any Christian or non-Christian faith. She said being in a classroom with convicted felons, some of whom will never leave prison, has never frightened her. The inmates, she said, respond positively to the volunteers who help them develop their lives in ways that might not otherwise be available. She said her favorite saying is Dear God, You have made a path for our Lives! ... Lead on. And He did, Moneypenny said. He led me right into prison. Tim DeFrange Tim DeFrange, a retired school librarian who serves as a permanent deacon at Kents St. Patrick Church and Newman Center, became active in prison ministry 26 years ago in 1997 in the months before he was ordained. He said Ravennas Fr. Sabatino, director of the permanent diaconate program at the time, asked him to establish a Catholic presence in Portage Countys penal institutions. At first, he said, the Portage County jail administrator said no open nights were available for Catholics to gather, and that he would need to come in with a non-denominational Protestant group. He did so for four years until he convinced inmate services that 25% of his jail population was Catholic and needed to receive the sacraments. The jail staff offered Friday evenings for the Catholic ministry, he said. His wife and four children were supportive. Twenty-plus years later, if its Friday night, DeFrange is still at the jail. Attendance is voluntary and used to draw as many as 25 in a room, DeFrange said. Sheriff Bruce Zuchowski limits the group to about 10 per service. I think it reflects his concern for our safety, he said. DeFranges team includes 12 men and women and Father Jim Lange, who offers Mass on alternate Fridays for male and female inmates. DeFrange plays hymns on his guitar during services. Inmates from all Christian backgrounds come to pray with us and are grateful for the encouragement and comfort they receive, he said. Each Friday, inmates provide the names of persons for whom they are asking for prayers. DeFrange then sends the names to the womens group at St. Patrick, which faithfully prays for them and their loved ones. I asked if he ever was fearful. DeFrange said early in his ministry he was asked to speak alone to an inmate on trial for murder. He felt uncomfortably nervous as he sat alone waiting for the inmate to be brought in. When the inmate entered the room, he was surprised to see that he was a suspect the same age as his oldest daughter. When the young man sat down across from him, DeFrange took his hand and prayed, Lord, help me to listen with my heart to this good man. The young man started crying and said, Im going to hell. No, youre not, DeFrange said he responded, and began telling him about the way Jesus forgives everyone. Since that day, he said he has never been afraid. In addition to the Youngstown Dioceses Prison and Jail Ministry, Barber a few years ago undertook a new effort, Kolbe Gatherings, that offers former inmates the opportunity to come together for mutual spiritual support. Former inmates, he said, face employment issues and other complications arising from life on the outside. While incarcerated, the inmates have a small faith-sharing community, which allows them to lean spiritually on each other, Barber said. But outside of prison, they lose that. The initiative is named for Saint Maximilian Kolbe, a Polish priest imprisoned at Auschwitz who volunteered to die for a fellow prisoner. Barber said the volunteers know their limits. We cannot save anyone. Jesus Christ does that, Barber said. We see them as brothers and sisters in Christ, not defined by the worst period or worst acts of their lives. The volunteers he knows have a common experience. We volunteer to help others, but we get more out of it than we put into it, he said. David E. Dix is a former Record-Courier publisher. David E. Dix This article originally appeared on The Repository: Youngstown Diocese jail ministry offers inmates hope, support The Scene KAKAMEGA, Kenya A group of fans place their bets on the sidelines ahead of the big fight. The sunny Saturday morning offers the perfect weather for the main event at Mukumu Mwitanji, one of the hallowed bullfighting grounds in Kakamega, western Kenya. Hundreds more seek the best vantage points to watch the highly-anticipated clash between Dragon, the local champion, and his opponent named White. The crowd goes wild as Dragon is escorted into the grounds by its handlers in a loud procession. Traditional Isukuti drummers help set the scene, beating on their drums with fervor. Finally, the two bulls lock horns, surrounded on all sides by handlers and excited fans. Evans Chris Shikuku/Semafor The ancient tradition of bullfighting among the Abaluhya community in western Kenya has been kept alive in the modern era. The fights, which last until one bull runs away, have even started to gain prominence as a tourist attraction. Some travel agencies now include bullfighting in western Kenya tour packages while online platforms such as Bullfighting TV are building a community of fans. But experts and locals say not enough has been done by policymakers so far, despite the potential benefits to the local economy and tourism. The mainstreaming of the sport has also been partly slowed by animal welfare groups, who have on multiple occasions fought to stop major bullfighting events in the capital, Nairobi. Brian Nzioka, whose travel agency offers bullfighting tours, told Semafor Africa that the western Kenya stretch offers several attractions including Lake Victoria in Kisumu that, if properly supported, would unlock a new market for Kenyas tourism sector. Know More Traditionally, bullfighting was a significant part of commemorating life events such as weddings and burials among communities in Western Kenya. Today, bullfighting events are also credited with strengthening social ties and bringing people together. Its our culture so we have to keep it, said Kennedy Mangotsi, one of Dragons handlers. We found our grandfathers doing it, and the next generation will also do it. Evans Chris Shikuku/Semafor Room for Disagreement Research presented to the Kenya Veterinary Association expressed concern about the fights being marred by distress to and suffering of bulls, adding that the events contravene legislation aimed at preventing cruelty to animals. The 2016 report called for bull owners to be educated on animal welfare and better enforcement of Kenyas laws to prevent cruelty to animals. Bullfighting is an outdated and cruel practice which has outlived its time, the report concluded. Whether you're into Caribbean cuisine or you're looking for new foods to try, you might be interested in discovering some classic dishes from the region. But, the Caribbean is a collection of more than 7,000 islands, islets, and keys, comprising 13 independent nations and many non-sovereign territories so you can hardly expect all Caribbean food to be identical. Rather, each nation or region has its own cuisine with a unique blend of influences. For instance, Martinique's cuisine draws inspiration from the island's French colonizers, while still using produce and flavors local to the area. Although food differs between countries, there are some common hallmarks of Caribbean cooking, such as the use of coconut, chiles, and fragrant spices, such as nutmeg and cinnamon. We spoke to three experts in Caribbean food to discover their favorites. Based on this, we compiled a list of the Caribbean dishes you need to try at least once. You can learn more about their origins, influences, and ingredients, all the while adding more items to your culinary bucket list. These aren't the kind of dishes you'll find in a Caribbean chain restaurant. Instead, they're approved by Caribbean chefs and experts in the cuisine of these island nations. Read more: The Most Useless Cooking Utensils, According To Chefs Bakes plate of bakes - Shallonda T/Shutterstock Bakes are a favorite of Nina Compton, a chef who hails from St. Lucia and owns Compere Lapin and Bywater American Bistro in New Orleans. "Some call them warm bakes, some call them hot bakes, and many of us just call them bakes," she says. "Regardless, I love these pieces of fried dough filled with cheese or garlicky butter, and when I'm back on St. Lucia, I get them at Pink Plantation House it's on the top of the mountain in Castries." They're essentially partway between dumplings and bread rolls, made from a dough that's usually yeasted but occasionally made with baking soda though these versions are flatter and less pillowy. The dough can contain fragrant spices, like nutmeg and cinnamon. Since they're more often fried than baked, in some parts of the Caribbean, they're known as fry bakes. While Compton likes them with cheese or garlic butter, there are a range of ways people enjoy bakes in the Caribbean. They're often eaten for breakfast, especially on weekends, and are often enjoyed either with saltfish or simply sprinkled with some powdered sugar. They can be served with basically any savory dish or cut in half and spread with butter or filled with various ingredients. Jamaican Patties Jamaican patties on a tray - Losangela/Shutterstock If the word "patty" makes you think of burgers, you might be surprised to learn that a Jamaican patty is more like a hand pie. The outside consists of a flaky pastry that's lightly spiced with curry powder and gets a golden hue from turmeric. Inside, there can be a range of meat or vegetable fillings but the one thing they all have in common is that they're generously spiced. This dish was recommended to us by Daniel Chin, director of operations for Juici Patties in the USA. "Jamaican patties are an icon," Chin says. "There's actually a debate going on, wondering why Jamaican patties aren't the national dish of Jamaica because they've been a part of our culture for so long, and they've always been affordable for everyone." Want to make them yourself at home? There are plenty of recipes online such as this Jamaican beef patty recipe. They're also often found in supermarkets, ready to eat. Of course, they'll likely be better from a good Jamaican or Caribbean restaurant. Curries And Roti roti paratha and curry - Bored Photography/Shutterstock We spoke to Jeanine Prime, owner of Trinidadian restaurant Cane and modern Caribbean restaurant St. James, both in Washington, D.C., and her first recommendation was for curries and an assortment of rotis, such as dhalpuri, paratha, and dosti. Not up on your flatbreads? Dhalpuri is thick and stuffed with yellow split peas, paratha is flaky and layered, and dosti is soft, fried, and layered. "Curries come in all varieties, including chicken, shrimp, conch, goat and vegetarian," says Prime. She explains that they were "brought to the Caribbean by Indian immigrants who moved to the region post-emancipation" and became part of the region's food traditions but with a Caribbean twist. For instance, Jamaican curry powder differs from a more typical flavor profile for Indian curries thanks to the addition of allspice, Scotch bonnet, and sometimes star anise. "This is just the ultimate, shareable family-style meal," says Prime. "It's the centerpiece of all the celebrations and gatherings and is universally loved around the Caribbean region and beyond." For the best experience, we'd recommend getting your curries and roti from a good Caribbean restaurant. However, it's also possible to make a good version yourself at home with some practice and attention to ingredients. Curried Goat Jamaican curried goat - from my point of view/Shutterstock While there are all kinds of Caribbean curries to enjoy, curried goat is a particular favorite for many. "Curried goat originated in India but was brought over and became a staple of Jamaican cuisine," says Nina Compton, adding that "you can also find it on many other islands." So, there are plenty of variations that you can explore. It won't be exactly the same version from one chef to another, and that's part of the beauty of it. Compton loves curried goat because "it's hearty and packs a ton of flavor." It generally includes a lot of spices and aromatics, such as ginger, garlic, allspice, thyme, and cloves, so there's a lot going on with this dish. "It's one of my signature dishes at Compere Lapin and is served there with sweet potato gnocchi," says Compton. As with most dishes on this list, you'll have the best culinary experience trying it at a neighborhood Caribbean restaurant with a good reputation. If you tried it at a chain restaurant and didn't like it, that's no big surprise. Doubles Trinidadian doubles - sockagphoto/Shutterstock Jeanine Prime recommends doubles as a Caribbean dish that everyone should try. It hails from Trinidad and Tobago, where it's a popular street food. The recipe "consists of bara filled with chana," she says. Bara is a soft, fluffy, fried flatbread made from flour, water, and a blend of spices like turmeric and cumin, giving it a golden hue and aromatic profile. Chana means chickpeas these are nicely spiced, simmered with garlic, onions, cumin, and other aromatics. You get two bara which is probably why the dish is called doubles and these are either topped with chickpeas or the chickpeas are tucked between the two. "This is quintessential street food that is good for breakfast, after a party, or any time of the day, really," says Prime. "It's so simple and satisfying, and is an entirely vegan dish, equally enjoyed by vegans and meat-eaters," she adds. While the best place to enjoy it is on the streets of Trinidad and Tobago, you can also find it in Caribbean restaurants in the U.S. or you can make it yourself. Ackee And Saltfish plate of ackee and saltfish - Debbie Ann Powell/Shutterstock Ackee and saltfish is another dish to put on your shortlist. According to Nina Compton, it "is one of Jamaica's classic dishes with dried salt cod, ackee fruit and usually served with warm bakes." First off, you might be wondering what ackee is and what it tastes like. Ackee is a fruit in fact, it's Jamaica's national fruit but it's more often cooked and eaten like a vegetable in savory recipes. "Ackee fruit has a soft texture and a bit of nuttiness in taste," Compton notes. In this dish, it's paired with saltfish, a dried, salt-cured fish. "It tempers the saltiness and firm texture of the saltfish," she remarks. Other seasonings and ingredients in this dish vary depending on the recipe, but can include thyme, bell pepper, scallions, and Scotch bonnet peppers. Compton likes it "with some smoky paprika and a bit of heat." She adds that "the dish is full of flavor and texture." You'll often find a variation of this classic dish on Caribbean restaurant menus in the U.S. If you're lucky, it might even come served with bakes. Pork Pow pow dumplings - Raihana Asral/Shutterstock This Trinidadian dish is a favorite of Jeanine Prime. "Pork pow are essentially steamed buns filled with ground pork spiced with ginger, garlic and soy sauce," she says. They're very similar to Chinese bao buns and, in fact, the name "pow" is likely a variation of "bao," changed over the years. Prime notes that there's a "significant Chinese community in Trinidad, many of whom came to the region after the emancipation of slavery, much like our East Indian community." And, this is how a traditional Chinese dish came to be a Trini favorite with a Caribbean twist. "This one is very nostalgic for me as it's a snack I would often enjoy when my mom would pick me up from school," Prime adds. Pow pork or otherwise aren't common on Caribbean menus in America. This is perhaps due to their similarity to Chinese bao buns and the fact people don't expect to find this kind of food at a Caribbean restaurant. You may find them at some Trinidadian restaurants in the U.S.; otherwise you'll just have to take a trip to Trinidad. You certainly won't find us complaining about that prospect. Callaloo Soup callaloo soup - Content zilla/Shutterstock Callaloo soup is something you have to try before you die, according to Nina Compton. Before we get into the details, you might want to know what the main ingredient is. "Callaloo is similar to spinach and was brought from West Africa," she explains. It looks a lot like spinach and can be used in similar ways, but it has a stronger flavor with some bitterness to it. But, what about callaloo soup? "It's a traditional Caribbean soup that comes from Trinidad and Tobago, but many Caribbean islands have adopted it as part of their cuisine," Compton says. This means there can be a range of variations from region to region. "In Trinidad they use dasheen/taro leaves but other islands tend to add meat to the soup," she notes. "You can't go wrong either way, it's delicious." When making the dish, the callaloo is generally blended to make a smooth soup. If the specific recipe includes meat, seafood, or dumplings, these are added after the soup has been blended, so that the soup base is smooth but it has chunky bits in it. This makes it more of a filling main dish option. Flying Fish fried flying fish - Ho Ura/Getty Images Flying fish are popular in Barbados, but have made it to other Caribbean islands, as well. Jeanine Prime is a big fan. "These small fish are just delightful," she says. "You can put the whole thing in your mouth or enjoy the entire thing in just two bites. They are small but meaty, crisped to perfection and are just the perfect bite." Flying fish can be prepared in a range of ways. Flying fish and cou-cou is the national dish of Barbados and seems like a great place to start. It consists of a fish stew (which includes flying fish, naturally) on a bed of a Bajan cornmeal dish known as cou-cou. It's also regularly enjoyed battered and fried or fried with cornmeal or corn flakes and flavorful seasonings. It's rare to find flying fish on the menu outside of Barbados (and surrounding Caribbean regions), so you'll have to go quite a distance to try it. However, you should perhaps think twice before eating it and try a different Bajan classic instead. "Sadly, they are facing some challenges due to climate change and overfishing," Prime explains. If you're interested in trying it at home, without the worry of overfishing, some recipes that traditionally contained flying fish recommend using sea bass as an alternative. Seafood Pepperpot Caribbean fish stew - frankval/Shutterstock If you love seafood and coconut milk, you're bound to enjoy seafood pepperpot. "This Caribbean dish highlights the bounty of island seafood and has many Caribbean spices and flavors like lemongrass, star anise, and coconut milk," says Nina Compton, who made this recommendation. It has some kick to it from Scotch bonnet, but generally relies on milder favors. Like many Caribbean dishes, you'll find a range of variations. Seafood pepperpot itself is a variation on classic pepperpot, which is Guyana's national dish and uses meat rather than seafood. Compton's version is a "soup that's then poured over shrimp just as you're ready to serve" but some are more like stews, with a range of seafood cooked up with the coconut milk and spices. If you choose to make it at home, you should use fresh seafood and high-quality coconut milk. Just make sure you know the difference between carton coconut milk and canned coconut milk. The stuff in the carton is meant as a milk replacement, while the canned variety is thicker, creamier, and perfect for recipes like this one. Buljol plate of buljol - imagefingerprint/Shutterstock Buljol is our final recommendation from Jeanine Prime. "This is a salad dish made of salted cod, chopped tomatoes, hot peppers, garlic, and onion," she says. "It's often served with floats, also called fried bakes in different islands." She adds that it's a Trinidadian dish, but it's also popular throughout the Caribbean. There are a range of ways to make this dish, so some may be heavier on the saltfish than the tomatoes and other veggies. As it's a salad, it's fairly simple to prepare. The most in-depth part of the process is boiling the saltfish to remove excess salt. Aside from that, the process mostly involves chopping. So, it's an easy Caribbean dish to try at home, if you're looking to get started with cooking food from this part of the world. That said, the best examples will come from a quality Caribbean restaurant or, better yet, from Trinidad and Tobago. "It's the perfect brunch food paired with floats," says Prime. "The floats are airy on the inside forming the perfect pocket to enjoy the buljol." Rundown bowl of rundown - Fanfo/Shutterstock An unofficial second national dish of Jamaica, rundown is a rich stew made with coconut milk. The coconut milk is cooked for a long time, and thickens until it reaches a custard-like consistency. In Jamaica, it's a popular breakfast food and it may be served with boiled green bananas, cassava dumplings, or other vegetable sides, commonly known as ground provision or just provisions. You'll find many variations on rundown, but the version that uses salted mackerel is probably most common. Vegan or Ital versions use a variety of vegetables instead of fish. But, it's really the coconut sauce itself that's the rundown, so any other ingredients (within reason) can be added to make up the body of the stew. It's flavored with garlic, scallions, onion, allspice, and thyme plus a hefty dose of Scotch bonnet chiles. As it's considered a breakfast dish, you won't often find it on menus at Caribbean restaurants, so if you're interested in trying it, you may want to think about making it yourself. It's fairly time-consuming to prepare, but it's worth it. In Jamaica, people often make it on the weekends, when there's ample time to make and enjoy it. Festivals plate of festivals - The Image Party/Shutterstock A festival is a type of Jamaican dumpling. There are so many dumplings out there, with many types of Chinese dumplings, Eastern European dumplings, and so much more. You could even consider ravioli a dumpling. Festivals, however, have more in common with the type you'd find in traditional chicken and dumplings, in as much as they're basically bread all the way through, rather than having a filling. But, that's really where the similarities end. Festivals are unlike any dumpling you've eaten before. They're fried, which gives them a crispy exterior that contrasts the soft, yet slightly crumbly interior. They're long and thin in shape and are made from a mix of cornmeal and all purpose flour. Cornmeal is commonly used in Caribbean cooking, dating back to a time when these islands were inhabited by enslaved people, who were given weekly provisions of cornmeal and saltfish by plantation owners. The dough is sweetened with brown sugar, and they sometimes even have vanilla extract or cinnamon added to them, which gives them a dessert-like quality. However, you can eat them as a side with all kinds of savory dishes. They always make it onto my plate when I eat at my favorite Caribbean restaurant. Read the original article on Mashed JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) On Saturday, members of the East Tennessee Boating Club (ETBC) gathered at Sonnys Marina to kick off its first benefit Marina Hop. The club dressed up in pool floats and traveled from marina to marina across Boone Lake, promoting boating safety. We just want to protect people that love the lakes the way that we do, said Yvette Bryan, the clubs commander. The group began at Sonnys Marina and ended the evening at Lakeview Marina. At its last stop, the group held a raffle and a live auction, helping to raise funds for the Boone Lake Association. Their focus is to make sure our lakes are clean of debris and safe for boaters, said Bryan. And so all that we raise throughout the day will go towards a donation to the Boone Lake Association. Town of Unicoi hosts community yard sale featuring 14 vendors The club raised around $4,000 to go towards the organization. During the Marina Hop, ETBC also promoted a new program that ensures boaters can access a life jacket. They placed racks full of life jacks at the marinas they visited full of life jackets, free for anyone to borrow during their time on the lake. We have about 12 different life jackets, said Gina Pinney, the clubs outreach director. Different sizes for anyone that comes to the marina on a boat and maybe forgot a life jacket. The members said they needed to hold the event due to the incidents theyve seen on the lake. Theres been so many deaths on the lakes in the last few years, Pinney said. Its been widely publicized. So we really need to get people aware that they need proper life jackets. You want to know that theyre being safe, said Bryan. That people around you are being safe because there are a lot of fatalities that can be prevented if you know what you should and should not do. Anyone looking to donate a life jacket to the drive can bring it to Rockingham Marina or First Horizon Bank at 2112 N. Roan Street by June 14th. Those interested in more information about ETBC can find it 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 WJHL | Tri-Cities News & Weather. Internationally in the month of June, we celebrate a segment of our population who are misunderstood by some and marginalized or attacked by others. In fact, there is a resurgence of hate crimes toward our fellow human beings. We celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex and diverse sexual orientations and genders (LGBTQI+) during Pride Month in honor of the 1969 Stonewall Uprising. 2024 marks the 54th year since the first Pride parade. The purpose is to commemorate the historical impact LGBTQI+ individuals have had, to expand Prides legacy, and to raise awareness for how communities can embrace the array of sexual orientation and gender diversity. Pride Month honors the 1969 Stonewall Uprising, which was in reaction to a police raid of the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. On June 28, 1969, although not for the first time, police raided the Stonewall Inn, a popular gay bar in Greenwich Village, New York City. During this time, in every state but Illinois, acts of homosexuality were illegal. LGBTQI+ individuals were routinely harassed and criminally prosecuted for diverse gender expressions. Stonewall Inn was considered a safe space for many young people before the police raid. Angered by police harassment and social discrimination, the events of June 28 sparked six days of protests and awakened the LGBTQI+ rights movement. One year later was the first Pride Parade. The parade amassed a crowd numbering into the thousands and stretched 15 city blocks. Afterward, many other cities began having their own Pride parades. Pride Month, first recognized in 1994, was when a coalition of education-based organizations in the United States also designated October as LGBTQI+ History Month. The federal government first recognized June as Gay & Lesbian Pride Month. On June 1, 2021, June was designated as LGBTQI+ Pride Month. Unfortunately, LGBTQI+ community members, especially transgender and gender diverse individuals and their contributions, have often been ignored or cast aside. Therefore, in the tradition of Pride, we are uplifting gender diversity by affirming our commitment to love fiercely, live authentically, and confront repression and stigma together. We are inviting those within Monroe County to join us. As we celebrate Pride this year, we are encouraged by others curiosity to learn facts about gender diversity. Many community members approach us with their questions about their children, grandchildren, and other youth and young adults in their lives. When one parent asked us for help understanding their young adults identification as non-binary, we were grateful for the opportunity to have an open conversation in which this parent could ask any questions they want without fear of being judged. As with this parent, many parents are learning that sex and gender are separate parts of ourselves. Sex is associated with biological characteristics and typically assigned at birth as either male, female or intersex. However, a person of any sex can have a non-binary gender. Individuals often identify their gender as boy/man or woman/girl, in binary terms. Those with a non-binary gender experience their gender beyond that dichotomy through clothing, mannerisms, hair styles and/or pronouns. As with this parent, many parents are learning that sex and gender do not always align with societal expectations. Gender diversity has been part of human cultures around the world and throughout human history. It has been hidden and sometimes violently repressed, but gender diversity persists as an enduring part of the human experience. Pride is a time of celebration and a call for liberation. Our hope is that everyone takes a step toward greater understanding and acceptance of gender diversity. This can happen with moving out of our comfort zones, being open to sharing ourselves, and truly listening to each other. For education materials or to attend a learning workshop, contact us at MonroeSOGD@gmail.com Learn more about Stonewall and Pride at: guides.loc.gov/lgbtq-studies/stonewall-era Visit Monroe Pride from noon to 6 p.m. June 29 in St. Marys Park. Jenna Bazzell (she, her), poet and educator, and Melissa Grey (she, her), psychologist and educator, are members of Stronger Together Huddle, a group engaged in supporting and promoting the common good of all. They can also be reached at mcneil102@icloud.com. This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: Embrace Pride, greater understanding, acceptance of gender diversity How flights to nowhere can help 'lessen the anxiety' for travelers with autism Accessible Travel is a six-part series focusing on the travel industrys preparedness to welcome travelers with disabilities. If you'd like to contribute to our future reporting and share your experience as a source, you can click here to fill out this quick form. PROVO, Utah Breeze Airways Flight 9951 to Provo on April 30 was a lot like any other flight: All the predeparture announcements were made in the gate area, passengers boarded by zone, the flight attendants gave their safety demonstration, snacks were served the whole nine yards. But the plane never left the ground. Thats because Flight 9951 was a different kind of trip for the passengers and crew onboard. We dont fly much in general, and with them, weve been intimidated by the process, passenger Travis Hoki said, pointing to his son. Max is doing well, and we figured this group would be understanding if hes loud and crazy. Three-year-old Max has autism, and Flight 9951 was designed for travelers like him to get familiarized with air travel. Travis Hoki and his sons Milo, 7 years old and Max, 3 years old, of Pleasant Grove, Utah wait in the terminal for the call to board the airplane. Max has autism. Breeze Airways hosted an exercise for people with autism, ages 3-20, to experience the process of airplane procedures to make future travel easier. Its an opportunity to do something thats just so meaningful for a group of travelers that, in many cases, wouldnt be travelers if it werent for this type of event, said Breeze Airways President Tom Doxey. When you can do an event like this, and especially if its in a smaller community its even more meaningful. The boarding demonstration was Breeze's third such exercise, but it was the airline's first in Provo. The previous two took place in Hartford, Connecticut. The exercise is part of Breezes partnership with Autism Double-Checked, an organization that aims to make travel more streamlined for people on the autism spectrum. From a passenger point of view, this isnt a one-and-done, Alan Day, co-founder and CEO of Autism Double-Checked, told USA TODAY. He said many travelers with autism take a long time to feel comfortable in new environments, and exercises like the Breeze boarding demonstration are just one way they can get more familiar with how air travel operates. Amy Walker of Eagle Mountain, Utah, instructs her son Dawson, 2, to take his seat during a mock plane event. Breeze Airways hosted an exercise for people with autism, ages 3-20, to experience the process of airplane procedures to make future travel easier. The goal is to make it blend together so it becomes seamless, Day added. The gate area at Provo Airport was crowded and a little rowdy as guests waited for the exercise to start. Many of the participants knew each other from specialized schools in the area or from parent networks. In many ways, it was like any other flight kids played with toys and ran around the terminal before boarding began. Onboard, the scene was a little louder than on an average trip. People were chatty and excited. They may not have observed the seatbelt sign as closely as they would have needed to on a real flight, but overall the experience was pretty authentic. Breeze flight attendants received training in how to interact with autistic passengers. The crewmembers who participated in the exercise on April 30 all did so as volunteers on their own time. Flight Attendant Jackie Pressler of Provo, Utah hands out snacks during a mock flight. Breeze Airways hosted an exercise for people with autism, ages 3-20, to experience the process of airplane procedures to make future travel easier. Their training included practical advice for making travel easier for those with autism, such as closing the bins more softly to avoid making sudden or unexpected noises. Although the plane remained on the ground, passengers onboard had the full flight experience. Flight attendants checked to ensure everyone was buckled up after the aircraft door closed and then came around with snacks. The pilot made an announcement about estimated "flight time" (five minutes, although the plane got to the gate early), and the cabin crew passed through the aisles again before "arrival" to collect trash. One passenger excitedly told USA TODAY that she had never flown before, and it was her first time using airplane mode on her phone on an actual airplane. For participants, the experience means future travel will probably be easier. 'Moment of panic:' Disabled traveler's video went viral. She hopes it helps others in her situation. Breeze and Autism Double-Checked advertised the event through local neurodiversity groups and institutions and said they often partner closely with the host city to get the word out. Spokespeople for the airline said this first event in Provo came together pretty quickly. They said advertising was a grassroots effort that happened mostly through word of mouth, but they hope to provide more notice for future events. Some prospective participants heard about the April demonstration too late to take part, so theres already interest in a repeat. Bryan Nixon and his son Carson,10, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, gather their things after going through TSA at the Provo, Utah Airport. Breeze Airways hosted an exercise for people with autism, ages 3-20, to experience the process of airplane procedures to make future travel easier. The exercise took place at Provo Airport in Provo, Utah. Were getting ready to go on a big family reunion trip this summer, said Kohleen Jones, whose sons Miles, 8, and Alden, 5, both have autism. When we heard of this we were immediately like, We should take advantage of this. Both boys even brought practice carry-on luggage in preparation for their trip. Jones said the exercise was a chance for her kids to ask questions and see what flying is like. Just to practice to lessen the anxiety when were actually going on our real trip, she said. The Hoki family felt the same way. Weve wanted to take our kids on a plane but have felt intimidated, Lindsey Hoki told USA TODAY. We saw it, and we were very excited. Assitant Chief Pilot, Margrit Fahan of Hartford, Conn. shows Kennedy Walker, 4, of Eagle Mountain, Utah, the cockpit during a mock trip. Fahan has been flying since 1975. Breeze Airways hosted an exercise for people with autism, ages 3-20, to experience the process of airplane procedures to make future travel easier. In addition to the boarding exercises, Breeze has made ongoing commitments to be more supportive of travelers with autism. As part of its partnership with Autism Double-Checked, it will publish a travel guide and institute an autism concierge help line so travelers have a point person to reach out to for accommodations ahead of their trips. The airline also said it will begin accepting the organizations autism passport, a document travelers can fill out once and submit to any participating travel company. It contains information about the specifics of their condition and what kind of accommodations they may need. This should be commonplace, Day said. We want to make the special, commonplace. The reporter on this story received access to this event from Breeze Airways. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content. Have you, or someone you know, had issues with accessibility while traveling? What happened? Zach Wichter is a travel reporter for USA TODAY based in New York. You can reach him at zwichter@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Here's how flight demonstrations for people with autism work Paul Christie renovates 'akiya' properties Japanese for 'empty house' as their low prices have left plenty of room for renovations - Paul Christie When Paul Christie bought his house in rural Japan, locals were stunned. It had been derelict for almost two decades and the latest available record for the property was a mortgage from the 1920s. But the British expat was undeterred. He paid a little over 15,600 for the traditional single-storey, three-bedroom house set within rolling grounds. It left him with enough money to carry out extensive renovations and build a home where he, his wife and four boys could live the so-called good life, he says. There were properties going for a song in the area, so I bought one and renovated it. We put in double glazing everywhere. Weve got underfloor heating, a wood burning stove and a shower room. Sometimes people come knocking on the door and say they are pleased by our house, he tells me from his living room in Ota, a village on Japans southern island of Kyushu. Most of the time houses like his will stay abandoned for good. Akiya, Japanese for empty house, are an increasingly common sight in Japans countryside. Today there are thought to be approximately nine million of these abandoned homes across the country, the result of an ageing population and declining rural economy. They are usually valued at rock-bottom prices. Christie, who moved to Japan in the late 1980s as a student and stayed to work for a Japanese media company, says most of his neighbours are octogenarians. All they have known is decline, he adds. Younger people have moved to the cities. In this village most of the businesses are farmers or old peoples homes, theres not much else. But its changing rapidly, he says, as buying and doing up the houses as holiday homes or full-time residences has become a big thing amongst foreigners living in Japan. Videos on TikTok and YouTube documenting akiya renovation projects have garnered millions of views. They boast of paying unbelievably low prices in exchange for picturesque Japanese homes nestled in breathtaking scenery. Ive been offered houses for free The 62-year-old, who now runs tour operator Walk Japan, bought his first vacant Japanese house in 2003 and has since purchased six more around Ota, most recently in 2017. He has successfully renovated and rented out a handful to foreign visitors. All the properties I have rented out have become a very good source of revenue, says Christie. He found planning permission for his home improvements was easy to obtain. I have still got some properties that are undeveloped. The British system is very strict in comparison to Japanese land use. The locals, on the contrary, are very pleased when things are given new life because they have seen a long decline. The opportunities are massive because property prices are cheap outside the major cities. More and more are going to come on the market because people are dying. Younger generations who inherit the properties in the countryside from relatives can sometimes find them to be of little use. Faced with paying an agent to find a buyer, or renovating the houses themselves, some choose to practically give properties away instead. Ive been offered properties for free, says Christie. There was one, but I didnt want it because it was very inconvenient. [For] another property nearby, a friend basically halved the price and we turned it into a guest house, he adds. He warned that its common to spend a lot on a property and it [does] not hold its value, so you have to look at other returns like renting it out. Theres also the issue that foreigners are limited in how long they may stay in Japan. Tourist visas currently expire after 90 days, while the longer sightseeing and recreation visa lasts six months to a year. The number of foreigners living in Japan has been steadily increasing for years and today sits at about over 3.2 million. After years of decline following the pandemic, British nationals in the country now number just under 20,000. Japan can offer as much as the Cotswolds Parker Allen, of Akiya and Inaka, a real estate company which specialises in Japans vacant house market, says the Japanese countryside rivals many places in Britain for beauty and things to do. There are a lot of very beautiful areas in the UK. I have travelled extensively in the Cotswolds and I think that is a particularly beautiful area but its also very expensive and in high demand. In Japan there are regions like that which are also very scenic and theres a lot of things to do and places to see, but the prices are nowhere near as expensive. That has to do with the fact that these houses are seen as depreciating assets. The 34-year-old, who moved to Japan in 2007 from Tennessee, in the United States, says that Japanese buyers prefer new-builds to old properties. In the UK, having a house in the countryside is seen as a luxury. The thing that really makes the Japan market different from other markets is that there is a strong preference for new construction. In Japan, the older a house is, the less it is worth. Houses are seen in Japan as a depreciating asset. If a property is 20 years old and it is a wooden structure, [it] is seen as valueless. A lot of the time you see these properties being sold for the value of the land. That, of course, is an opportunity and a risk. If you can find a property that is in a good condition, you can get a piece of land that just happens to have a free house on it which you can use. He adds: There is a bit of a misunderstanding by a lot of people who think you can get these houses for free. There are properties like that but essentially 100pc of the time these properties are run down and not in liveable condition. We help clients find properties that are nearly turnkey. Buyers looking for a vacant home in Japan that is in liveable condition should be prepared to pay between 5m (25,000) and 30m (150,500). He explains that many of the vacant houses are holiday homes dating back to the economic miracle Japan experienced after the Second World War. In Japans economic heyday in the 1970s and the 1990s, it was considered vogue for people with the wherewithal to have a second home [for it to be] in the countryside. But after Japans economic heyday ended and people didnt have that much money to work with, people began neglecting these vacation homes or selling them. What has ended up happening is there are a lot of these holiday properties across Japan but there just isnt as much interest in owning a home in the intensity as there was previously. Weve got a lot of supply and not very much demand. I couldnt buy a bedsit in Birmingham for the price I paid Shubeur Rahman, a British expat and physicist in his mid 40s, was able to find one of the few vacant houses in Japans countryside that was ready to move into straight away. The place that grabbed me was this detached property overlooking some rice fields with traditional Japanese architecture, and it didnt require any work, he says. He decided he wanted to spend more time in Japan after having a wonderful time in the country during an internship in Yokohama in 2009. He uses the property, in Ogawamachi, near Tokyo, as a holiday home when he is not travelling for work between Britain and the United Arab Emirates. For the price I paid I dont think I would get a one-bedroom apartment in Birmingham. Its a three-bedroom house with 186 square metres of interior space. Its a very good price and [it was] just a cash transaction, Rahman says. Shubeur Rahman found a detached property with traditional Japanese architecture that didn't require any work - Shubeur Rahman The plan is to go there as a holiday home and spend three or six months a year on a tourist visa there. There are a lot of opportunities there, especially in the local area, in terms of the organic farming culture and outdoor activities such as hiking trails, he adds. Andrew Davies, 60, recently retired from working as a university lecturer and purchased an akiya on the Kunisaki peninsula, Kyushu, paying just 20,000. Its a property with a house and a big barn, he says. [The potential] renovations on the barn are really appealing, it has a huge structure that could turn into something really exciting. I was thinking possibly for a small amount of accommodation, two or three rooms, and open it up into a cafe-bar. The connection with the local culture and local people is really key, he adds. Many places in rural Japan are filled with older people living on their own. If you can be involved in those, thats really good. 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. Gabby Petitos Parents Want Teens to Look Out for These Dating Red Flags to Prevent Domestic Violence (Exclusive) "Prevention is key," says Gabby's stepmother Tara Petito Gabby Petito Gabby Petitos parents are hoping to raise awareness about domestic violence among school-aged kids. Prevention is key, Gabbys stepmother Tara Petito tells PEOPLE. They start dating in middle school, so they need to know where they can go to get resources. They need to also know the signs. They also need to know how not to be an abuser." Tara, who volunteers at the Gabby Petito Foundation as the administrator and bookkeeper, says, A lot of times they could just say, Oh, I love you so much, let's have a joint Snapchat. But that starts with the controlling and, I want to view everything that you're doing. So, they might not even realize that's the start of an abusive type of relationship. We would like to get into the schools and teach them to know what the signs are. Tara, 43, along with Gabbys father Joe Petito and Gabbys mother Nichole Schmidt and her husband Jim, created the Gabby Petito Foundation shortly after the death of the 22-year-old budding YouTube blogger, who disappeared on a cross-country journey with her fiance Brian Laundrie in the summer of 2021. The Petito & Schmidt Families Gabby Petito Related: Gabby Petitos Parents Want to Change the Way Domestic Violence Is Treated in the U.S.: 'Laws Are Changing' (Exclusive) Her body was later discovered near a campground in Wyoming. Laundrie, who died by suicide, was found in a nature preserve near his familys home in North Port, Fla., on Oct. 20, along with a backpack containing what the FBI described as a notebook claiming responsibility for Gabbys strangulation death. The foundation focuses on raising awareness about domestic violence while also creating tougher laws and policies governing how police respond to reports of intimate partner abuse and missing persons. Diana King Jim and Nichole Schmidt and Tara and Joe Petito For more on Gabby Petito's legacy, subscribe now to PEOPLE, or pick up this week's issue, on newsstands Friday. The foundation has also championed the National Domestic Violence Hotline to which they donated $100,000 in 2022 to help build the groups capacity along with the Black and Missing Foundation and Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women. People are paying more attention to these issues, especially domestic violence, says Nichole, who along with Joe, Jim and Tara spoke on a panel at CrimeCon 2024 Nashville. We get emails all the time from people saying, Gabby saved my life. She gave me the power to get out of my abusive relationship. Survivors are coming out and telling their stories. Laws are changing and were going to keep fighting. Chris Porter/The sun Related: Gabby Petitos '4 Parents' Share How Her Tragic Death Fulfilled Her Lifelong Dream of Bringing Them 'All Together' (Exclusive) We have to prevent this from happening to other people, she says. It keeps us strong. Gabby works through us. We have to move forward and change the world together. Adds Joe, 45, a warehouse store chain manager who specializes in policy and legislation for the foundation, "When you help one person, you ... help change the course of their life in a positive way, and you want to do that again." Jim, 42, who focuses on domestic violence awareness training for first responders for the foundation, says it is overwhelming how many people are affected by the crime. It really made us come to the realization they need a lot of help out there, and if we can just help one or two along the way, it goes a long way," he says. 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. Tara says the non-profit would like to start a domestic violence prevention program for elementary, middle and high school students. There are programs out there, so we don't really want to reinvent the wheel, but we would love to get a free program for all schools to be able to join in on this program to help with it, she says. We're still learning. We're trying to learn as much as possible. We might not see the changes happen for a couple of years, but kids need to know, says Tara. If you are experiencing domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233, or go to thehotline.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. An escaped inmate from the Fremont County Detention Center was captured overnight Saturday, according to a social media post by the Fremont County Sheriff's Office. The office announced through social media Friday afternoon that an inmate, identified as 45-year-old Kegan VanVliet, had escaped from the detention center. Gazette news partner KOAA states VanVliet has been convicted of violent crimes and was in custody for an attempted shooting with a rifle. According to the Colorado Springs Police Department, at 10 p.m. Friday, the U.S. Marshall Service Violent Offender Task Force alongside the Colorado State Patrol gained information that VanVliet had fled to Colorado Springs. Requesting assistance from CSPD Canine Officers, Unmanned Aerial Unit Officers and the Tactical Enforcement Unit, the multi-agency effort located VanVliet along the 5800 block of North Nevada Avenue at 12:30 a.m. Saturday. According to the department, TEU officer located VanVliet hiding from authorities. As officers began to close in, he attempted to flee the scene. Featured Local Savings Police said as officers advised VanVliet that he would be bit by K9 units on the scene if he continued to flee, he stopped running and followed officers' commands. "Due to K9 Riggs influential presence, Vanvliet was taken into custody and no force was necessary," the department said. The El Paso County jail confirmed VanVliet as an inmate over the phone early Saturday afternoon. According to jail records, VanVliet is scheduled to be in court at 6:30 p.m. Saturday. Gazette news partner KOAA contributed to this report. Insurance costs crush tiny Red Mountain winery. But owner says thats not why it closed Teresa Owen transformed the property her parents homesteaded in Benton City in the early 1970s into Red Mountain Trails, a popular tourist destination. Ag-curious guests can book horseback rides through neighboring vineyards, learn to make soap, blend tea or tour local tasting rooms by bicycle. For a time, there was a small winery, with tastings in an old hunting tent heated by a wood stove. But after five years, Owen and her husband, Jeff, closed down their wine making business this year. By the end, it was a casualty of dwindling demand for wine across the globe, soaring insurance costs and of her growing realization that she enjoys wine more as a consumer than a producer. Teresa Owen shared an unusually frank reason for the decision. Her heart is in horses, not wine. This doesnt light me up, she said. Tiny blip in $9B industry Red Mountain Trails Winery produced about 120 cases a year, a tiny blip in Washingtons $9.1 billion wine industry. The departure of one tiny winery in a field of nearly 840 will make little difference in the global glut and consumption trends. Teresa Owen shared that macro trends played a part in the decision to close the winery. But in the end, it was about her personal priorities. Owen shared her story on her Uncorked Cowgirl YouTube channel. The winery may be closed but Red Mountain Trails is an ongoing business and part of the Tri-Cities tourism economy. Visit Tri-Cities estimates visitors spent nearly $630 million in the greater area in 2023. Owen created Red Mountain Trails on the spot where she grew up, off Ambassador Road, about halfway between Benton City and West Richland. Her parents bought about 20 acres in 1971 and committed to a life of self sufficiency. There was a peach orchard, walnut trees, chickens, a garden and a commitment to making the most out of every available resource. Owen developed her love for horses there and became a fixture in the vineyards that emerged in the shadow of Red Mountain. She did odd jobs in wineries to feed her own horse. Teresa and Jeff Owen shut down Red Mountain Trails Winery because it didnt spark joy. Get more horses Owen left the area after graduating from Kiona Benton City High School. She traveled the world, often working with horses. She returned as and adult. She and her husband bought a portion of the family farm from her mother. She worked as a software tester at PNNL in Richland and often took friends and acquaintances on horseback tours of the area vineyards. Jeff suggested that if she turned it into a formal business, she could get more horses. Owen gave herself three years to create a viable business. She left PNNL when it succeeded. The chance to add wine to the venture arrived in 2019. A neighbor had started a small winery in retirement. He was ready to retire for real and offered equipment and even bulk wine for little money. Intrigued, the Owens decided to give it a try. They filled out the legal paperwork and went to work learning the craft. Bordeaux varieties Red Mountain Trails Winery produced Bordeaux varieties that do well in the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area cabernet sauvignon, merlot, cabernet franc, sangiovese. Its wines were well received and the winery hosted winemaker dinners to get the word out. Not surprising, guests wanted to discuss wine. I didnt want to talk about wine. I wanted to talk about horses, she said. She cherishes the support she and her husband received from their neighbors and industry leaders. They built the winery on the same working farm vibe that drives the tourism business. It adopted a pinkies down culture. Tasting notes avoided hints of apricot in favor of cheekier messages: Pairs well with food. There were no distribution deals, just sales through the hunting tent-turned tasting room that was worlds apart from the elegant centers constructed by its larger neighbors. We are debt averse, she explained. Teresa and Jeff Owen of Benton City closed Red Mountain Trails Winery to focus on their trail riding business, which takes guests on horseback tours of area vineyards. Tell it to the insurance companies The combination of a winery and horseback riding might sound like an opportunity for high spirited riding. It was not. Owen drew a sharp boundary between the two no drinking and riding. You cant explain this to insurance companies, she said. The end came as national insurers pulled back from the industry in 2023. The trend was notable in California, where insurers were eager to reduce their exposure to wildfires. Owen felt the impact in Washington: Fewer insurers translated into higher rates. By late 2023, it was nearly impossible to even get a quote. She spent three months trying before making the decision to let the winery go. If I were passionate about it, I would have found a way, she said. Red Mountain Trails Winery ended with a bang: It held a Big Fat Case Sale that cleared out its inventory. Employees, she noted, welcomed the news. Most signed on to work with the 10 horses attached to Red Mountain Trails two draft horses recruited from Amish country, six riding horses, a retired mare and a horse she rescued from being sent to slaughter. The latter proved unsuited for riding when he unexpectedly injured Owen by rolling on her. She cant sell him or put him to work. For now, she keeps him on as something of a beloved pet whose bad actions resulted from past mistreatment. Important to business The winery was an important part of the Red Mountain Trails business. Owen said it contributed about a quarter of the total revenue, which has to be replaced. The riding business operates mostly at capacity, though demand has fallen in 2024. She traces it to a steep drop in website traffic tied to changes on the Google search engine results that increasingly favor AI-generated content. Red Mountain Trails saw just 581 website visitors in May, compared to 8,000 in the same month in 2023 and 8,500 the year prior. While she works to sort it out and direct prospective visitors to go directly to her website, redmountaintrails.com Owen said Red Mountain Trails is leaning on its classes and other activities, including a small gift shop, to replace the winery revenue. Want to ride? Previous riding experience is not required to participate in vineyard tours. However there are age and weight limits six years and about 245 pounds. All riders mount the horses from a riding block, as much for the ease of inexperienced riders as for the comfort of the horses themselves. A one hour ride is $80 for adults, $60 for children 16 and under. Tours take riders through private neighboring vineyards thanks to Owens longstanding relationships with her neighbors, such as Kiona, Frichette and Ciel du Cheval and others. One even installed horse crossing signs in her honor. For reservation information, go to redmountaintrails.com/reservations/ or call 509-948-0080 or email info@redmountaintrails.com. Sign Up: Boom Town Tri-Cities Stay up to date on Tri-Cities growth and development with our weekly business newsletter. Get the latest on restaurant and business openings and closings, plus the regions top housing and employment news. Click here to sign up. In your inbox every Wednesday. Among the all the flags representing the LGBTQ+ community, Ann Lowrey waved the lone American flag Saturday in the 10th annual Cenla Pride Walk through the streets of downtown Alexandria. I'm glad that I thought to add it to our parade this year, said Lowrey, an LGBTQ+ ally and the CEO of CLASS Healthy Living for All, which is the primary sponsor of Cenla Pride. She noted that some people have had negative reactions to the rainbow flag flown by the LGBTQ+ community, proclaiming their flag is the American flag. "And I was like, you know what? This is the flag of the LGBTQ+ community, too, she said. Lowrey said CLASS started Cenla Pride because CLASS is about promoting healthy living. And we know that when people are not accepted for who they are, that causes a deterioration in both their physical and mental health, she said. And so, we want to promote the idea that everyone is equally human and worthy of dignity and respect. And as Americans, everyone has the freedom to choose how they live. Connor Allen, 18, of Boyce, and his friend Ramon Regan, 19, of Lafayette, both had a difficult time while attending school. Both are trans. There were a lot of homophobic and transphobic people, said Allen, who attended school in Alexandria. But I had a group of friends that were very supportive of me. And they helped me get through a lot. I was bullied a lot, Regan said. I didn't have really any friends to support me along the way. I was a lone wolf. Allen also had one teacher who helped him. She was the special ed teacher, Ms. Ellington, and she was very kind and supportive of everything that I needed help with, Allen said. He also found support from his mother, who brought him to his first Pride event, Cenla Pride, which at the time surprised him that Alexandria even had one. Allen invited Regan to this years Cenla Pride. Regan has never been to one before. Mason Nugent, 21, of Alexandria, feels lucky because he's never experienced an Alexandria that wasnt friendly to gay people. I hung out around Tamp & Grind a lot, and Tamp & Grind is obviously very friendly to all sorts of people, he said. But yeah, I mean, I felt pretty accepted from a young age. Connor Allen (left) of Boyce and Ramon Regan of Lafayette participate in the 10th annual Cenla Pride Walk that was held Saturday in downtown Alexandria. The walk ended at the Ned Randolph Riverfront Center where family friendly activites were held including a drag meet and greet and a drag show. The first Cenla Pride he showed up to was in 2016. I got to feel comfortable and safe here pretty young, pretty early. I never expected it to be as accepting as it is so its very nice, Nugent said. Nugents friend Cameron Duplechain said Alexandria is more tolerant of LGBTQ+ people than it was 10 years ago when Cenla Pride first started but that tolerance still is not where it needs to be. He referred to comments made on a social media post of a local television station. You could tell theres still very much hate and disdain in the community for people who are just being who God made them, he said. Its no more, no less. Ten years ago, he would not have felt safe walking the streets of Alexandria with Pride flags and other members of the LGBTQ+ community. But now it is like second nature, because I feel like we're here, and why do I have to live as somebody else to appease a vocal minority, Duplechain said. Lowrey said they have seen the crowd grow each year, and they estimate that between 1,500 and 2,000 people attend at least one Pride event in Central Louisiana every year. Cenla Pride has grown in other ways, Lowrey said. Other nonprofits like PFLAG were formed, and allies are becoming more vocal about their love for the community and people are not willing to be silent anymore when they see a group of people who are the subject of oppression. A number of affirming churches are growing in the community, and that doesnt surprise her. A Pride mass was held Friday evening at St. James Episcopal Church. She said the Rev. D.C. Sills delivered the message. She was on the original Pride planning committee 10 years ago. Her message was, don't ask what would Jesus do? The question is, what did Jesus do?, Lowrey said. The events have been received very positively by people who attend, though Lowrey said they do experience some negative backlash on social media from people who do not care to understand or who want to impose their belief systems upon others. But no one has ever shown up in person to protest the events. They're mostly keyboard warriors, she said. We do our very best to ensure the safety of everyone who chooses to participate in Pride with the help of our law enforcement agencies and the cooperation of the city of Alexandria. I'm always impressed with how secure I feel at this event, Nugent said. I've never felt unsafe. It's always been very well organized, and there's always good security. I feel like the city actually cares about making sure that this is safe. There are some thoughts in my head like, Oh, gosh, what if something happens because this is a target? Duplechain said. This is a target place for people who do not want to see people like us be ourselves. But I refuse to live in fear. I won't be cloistered to a house just because it makes somebody else that uncomfortable. The 10th annual Cenla Pride started on Friday with a Pride mass at St. James Episcopal Church and the 10th anniversary opening reception that included the Barry L. Owen Creative Art Competition and silent art auction. On Saturday, the Cenla Pride Walk was held starting at Tamp & Grind Coffee Shop and concluding at the Randolph River Front Center where a day of family-friendly activities, a Drag Queen Meet and Greet and a Drag Show where held. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: LGBTQ+ community comes out with Pride in downtown Alexandria Looking for something to do? Visit these offbeat places on Cape Cod We all need a dose of weird now and then. It's a home remedy for the dreaded affliction known as Wicked Bored-itis, which can strike at any time, causing a lethargic state of debilitating melancholy. This can lead to chronic crankiness and endless hours spent sulking in a recliner, a condition known as glum-bum. Luckily, Cape Cod is home to offbeat, oddball locations that are guaranteed to lift your spirits, or at least make you ask the eternal question: "what's the deal with that?" Soon your droopy mood will drop away and your light, informed banter will wow the crowd at your next swanky cocktail party. So here we go with some great offbeat spots to explore around our glorious peninsula! Remains of the "Ready Rooms" at the Sagamore Hill Historic Site, home to a coastal artillery installation during World War II. Sagamore Hill Historic Site, Sandwich While Scusset Beach State Reservation is better known for its sandy strand on Cape Cod Bay and the excellent fishing pier that extends into the Cape Cod Canal, it's also home to a trail that leads to the Sagamore Hill Historic Site, where a World War II era artillery installation kept watch over the canal. The big worry was German submarines and their threat to military and commercial shipping. Two 155 mm guns graced the hilltop, nicknamed "Big Mary" and "Vicious Virgin." They had a range of about 20 miles, but were never fired at an enemy target. Today, you can see the remains of the "Ready Rooms," where ammunition was stored, and there's a fine view at the top of the trail. Heading out into adventure on the path to Great Island in Sandwich. Great Island, Sandwich Sure, you've probably heard of Great Island in Wellfleet, an epic Cape Cod National Seashore trail that can run up to eight miles on a roundtrip journey. But did you know that there is also a Great Island in Sandwich? I've got to toss the Sandwich isle on this list because it is one of the most beautiful places I have ever visited on Cape Cod. Start with a visit to the Toolas Preserve in East Sandwich, where a small parking lot provides a base of operations for the short journey out to Great Island. After tooling around Toolas, walk down to the end of Great Island Road, where you will be greeted by an incredible marsh vista. A grassy path, formerly used by ox carts to harvest salt hay, takes you out to Great Island and a little trail on the island lets you explore the interior. Climbing Doane Rock in Eastham is a hoot as long as you keep safety in mind. Doane Rock, Eastham I was recently involved in a minor kerfuffle at Doane Rock, the Cape's largest glacial boulder, when I ran into a new sign that told visitors not to climb on the mega-pebble. But happily, the Cape Cod National Seashore said the sign was placed there in error and it was OK to carefully climb the rock. The sign has been covered up and will be removed, according to the Seashore. So now there is nothing between you and a major life accomplishment: summiting Doane Rock! At approximately 18 feet tall, climbing the huge rock is not a good idea for teeny kids or folks with physical challenges or balance issues. But, if you can make it to the top, it presents one of the greatest photo ops on the Cape. The Atwood-Higgins House on Bound Brook Island in Wellfleet. Atwood-Higgins House, Wellfleet Here's how the story starts, according to the National Park Service: "In 1920, George Higgins, a Brookline, Massachusetts, businessman, inherited his great grandparents home in a remote corner of Bound Brook Island in Wellfleet. The homestead included a 1730 Cape Cod-style house. Now known as the Atwood-Higgins House, it is one of the oldest in the region." But Higgins didn't stop there. He assembled a collection of intriguing outbuildings, described by the park as "his sentimental vision of a colonial era homestead." This bucolic throwback, one of the most peaceful spots on the Cape, was donated to the Cape Cod National Seashore and you can walk the grounds and dream of simpler times. Eric Williams, when not solving Curious Cape Cod mysteries, writes about a variety of ways to enjoy the Cape, the weather, wildlife and other subjects. Contact him at ewilliams@capecodonline.com. Follow him on X: @capecast. Thanks to our subscribers, who help make this coverage possible. If you are not a subscriber, please consider supporting quality local journalism with a Cape Cod Times subscription. Here are our subscription plans. This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: Unusual Cape Cod places to visit: Offbeat, oddball and fun Gazpacho is one of the staples of Spanish (and particularly Andalusian) cuisine. The chilled soup highlights the freshness of such Mediterranean produce as tomatoes and cucumbers and is a cooling respite from the hot summer sun. This particular iteration, however, isn't one that you're likely to find in Spain. Instead, imagine this gazpacho traversing the Strait of Gibraltar, through Tangier, and into the deserts of Morocco -- where a chilled soup would certainly still be a welcome sight. This gazpacho recipe from Tasting Table Lead Recipe Editor Ryan McPhee throws cherries into the mix. The inspiration for this is twofold: as a play on ajo blanco (a white variation of gazpacho featuring green grapes) and as a nod to the stone fruits like apricots, dates, or olives (yes, olives are technically a stone fruit) one might find in a North African tagine. The result is not exactly a dessert soup, but rather a refreshing dish that incorporates sweet elements into a savory preparation, a core feature of Moroccan cuisine. So, don your apron and grab your passport, because we're going intercontinental -- culinarily, at least. Read more: 13 Simple Tricks To Pick The Best Fresh Fruit Every Time Gather The Moroccan-Inspired Cherry Gazpacho Ingredients cherry gazpacho ingredients on counter - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table A majority of the ingredients used in this recipe are ones you'd find in a typical gazpacho: white bread (ideally slightly stale, which helps yield the right texture once blended), tomato, cucumber, shallot, garlic, salt, pepper, sherry vinegar, and extra-virgin olive oil. Our recipe strays a bit with the addition of Bing cherries for sweetness and plain Greek yogurt to assist in the creamy texture. The remaining ingredients are ones you'd more likely find in a Moroccan souk than an Andalusian mercado. To round out the gazpacho, we use pistachios as a nod to the almonds in ajo blanco (almonds are also common in Morocco, but we're partial to the pairing of pistachios with cherries), ras el hanout (a Moroccan blend of several spices, including cumin, ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom), mint, and, if you so wish, orange blossom water. A little goes a long way, so we'd recommend using less than a teaspoon, but the floral aroma complements the fruity notes of this soup nicely. Step 1: Cube The Bread cubed bread on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Remove the crust from the bread and cut the slices into cubes. Step 2: Thin The Yogurt thinned yogurt in bowl - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table In a medium bowl, thin the Greek yogurt with some water (about cup). The consistency should be similar to pancake batter. Step 3: Soak The Bread bowl with bread cubes and yogurt - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Add the cubed bread to the yogurt mixture and toss to combine. Set aside. Step 4: Prep The Cucumber chopped cucumber on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Peel and halve the cucumber. Roughly chop one half; set aside the other half for later. Step 5: Prep The Shallot chopped shallot on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Peel and roughly chop the shallot. Step 6: Prep The Tomatoes chopped tomatoes on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Halve 5 of the tomatoes. Remove the seeds and roughly chop. Step 7: Chop The Pistachios chopped pistachios on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Finely chop the pistachios. Set aside 2 tablespoons for later. Step 8: Pit The Cherries bowl of pitted cherries - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Pit the cherries. Set aside 8 for later. Step 9: Add The Gazpacho Ingredients To A Blender gazpacho ingredients in blender - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table To a blender, add the yogurt-bread mixture, chopped cucumber, shallot, chopped tomatoes, cherries (still reserving 8), chopped pistachios (still reserving 2 tablespoons), garlic, salt, pepper, ras el hanout, sherry vinegar, cup extra-virgin olive oil, and orange blossom water (if using). Step 10: Blend The Gazpacho red soup getting blended - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Blend on high until the mixture is smooth. Step 11: Chill The Gazpacho smooth red soup in glass container - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Transfer the soup to a large container, cover, and chill for 4 hours or overnight. Step 12: Prep The Garnishes cherries, cucumbers, and tomatoes on cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Meanwhile, prep the garnishes: Finely dice the remaining tomato and cucumber half; quarter the remaining 8 cherries. Step 13: Ladle The Gazpacho soup getting ladled into two bowls - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Taste the gazpacho and adjust seasonings, if needed. Ladle into 4 chilled bowls. Step 14: Garnish And Serve spoon held over gazpacho - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Garnish the bowls with diced cucumber and tomato, quartered cherries, the remaining chopped pistachios, mint leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately. Can You Make Gazpacho In Advance? bowl of gazpacho with cherries and pistachios - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table We have some good news for meal preppers out there: Gazpacho is an excellent make-ahead meal for summer. In fact, it's actually kind of necessary, as you should give the gazpacho at least a few hours of rest time in the fridge after making it. The first reason for this is practicality. You want the soup to be well chilled; that is what makes the dish so tempting on a hot summer day (whether or not you're in the south of Spain). Secondly, that chill time also gives all of the pureed ingredients time to marry, creating a cohesive, mellow flavor. Just keep in mind that you'll want to taste test your gazpacho after the soup has chilled, as our taste buds tend to require more seasoning on cold foods. You can even freeze the gazpacho once blended. Normally, the high water content in the tomatoes and cucumber negatively affects their texture once thawed from frozen, but that's not as much of an issue in a puree like this. A return trip to the blender will help re-emulsify the thawed gazpacho if it has separated. How Do You Pit Cherries Without A Cherry Pitter? hand pitting cherries over cutting board - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table There are all sorts of nifty cherry-pitting devices out there, from handheld gadgets to hand-cranked machines that can spit out mountains of pits in minutes. But, if you have limited kitchen real estate -- or are just averse to single-purpose appliances -- you can go the MacGyver route and fashion an effective workaround with a bit of creativity. If you have a metal drinking straw or a spare set of chopsticks, just hold a cherry over a bowl and carefully push the straw or chopstick through it. The pit should plop out pretty easily, but if not, just reposition the cherry on the implement and use your fingers to finish the job. Your hands will likely turn an interesting shade of red, but you'll at least have a bowl full of pitted cherries. We've also seen people have success removing cherry pits with wooden skewers used for grilling or even metal pastry tips. Moroccan-Inspired Cherry Gazpacho Recipe two bowls of gazpacho - Ryan McPhee/Tasting Table Ingredients 2 thick-cut slices of white bread cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt 1 English cucumber 1 small shallot 6 medium tomatoes (such as Roma or Campari), divided 12 ounces Bing cherries (about 2 cups), divided cup pistachios 1 clove garlic, minced 1 teaspoon kosher salt teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 1 teaspoon ras el hanout 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for garnish cup mint leaves, loosely packed Optional Ingredients teaspoon orange blossom water Directions Remove the crust from the bread and cut the slices into cubes. In a medium bowl, thin the Greek yogurt with some water (about cup). The consistency should be similar to pancake batter. Add the cubed bread to the yogurt mixture and toss to combine. Set aside. Peel and halve the cucumber. Roughly chop one half; set aside the other half for later. Peel and roughly chop the shallot. Halve 5 of the tomatoes. Remove the seeds and roughly chop. Pit the cherries. Set aside 8 for later. Finely chop the pistachios. Set aside 2 tablespoons for later. To a blender, add the yogurt-bread mixture, chopped cucumber, shallot, chopped tomatoes, cherries (still reserving 8), chopped pistachios (still reserving 2 tablespoons), garlic, salt, pepper, ras el hanout, sherry vinegar, cup extra-virgin olive oil, and orange blossom water (if using). Blend on high until the mixture is smooth. Transfer the soup to a large container, cover, and chill for 4 hours or overnight. Meanwhile, prep the garnishes: Finely dice the remaining tomato and cucumber half; quarter the remaining 8 cherries. Taste the gazpacho and adjust seasonings, if needed. Ladle into 4 chilled bowls. Garnish the bowls with diced cucumber and tomato, quartered cherries, the remaining chopped pistachios, mint leaves, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve immediately. Read the original article on Tasting Table The Most Scenic Way to Access Yellowstone National Park Is Called the 'Most Beautiful Roadway in America' What to Know Beartooth Highway opened on June 1. Noah Couser/Courtesy of Visit Montana Beautiful drives abound in the U.S., but its rare to find a route that makes you feel as though youre driving in the Alps in another era with constant mountain views, tight switchbacks, and an open road. Its even rarer to find a drive that takes you deep enough into the wilderness that you can spot big, wild animals, including moose and grizzly bears, from the safety of your car. Meet Montana's Beartooth Highway (US 212), an almost 69-mile stretch of highway that connects the mountain town of Red Lodge, Montana, with Yellowstone National Park. Yes, the route is as beautiful as youve heard, garnering nicknames like the Highway to the Sky and The Most Beautiful Roadway in America. The road, which opens when the snow has melted enough to be plowed and closes when the snow returns, is typically drivable from Memorial Day to mid-October. This year it opened over a week late, on June 1, due to heavy snow buildup on the pass and a last-minute storm. Shortly after announcing the routes full opening, an avalanche was triggered on the Gardiner Headwall, which led to the temporary closing of the highway. Even now, after reopening, towering snow walls remain on parts of the drive. I have never seen the snow so deep in some areas as it is right now, wrote meteorologist Curtis Grevenitz for KTVH. The Beartooth Highway and surrounding mountains are not for the faint of heart. Noah Couser/Courtesy of Visit Montana While the highway can be touchy in the early season, with frequent closures due to weather, it is still what many people call a drive that everyone should do at least once and easily the most stunning way to access Yellowstone National Park. Beartooth Highway leads to the parks Northeast Entrance, which sits near the Montana-Wyoming border and is known for its wildlife. Travelers who arent interested in visiting the park can either turn around at Beartooth Pass Summit, which sits at 10,947 feet above sea level or continue over the pass to the towns of Cooke City or Silver Gate, Montana. The Northeast Entrance is just over one mile beyond the town of Silver Gate. The recent opening of Beartooth coincides with the launch of Montanas Great Wide Open, a series of road trips that guide travelers through three distinct Montana landscapes. The routes include a three-day journey through the Beartooth Mountains (including the Beartooth Highway) and an eight-day, 1,319-mile road trip through the states most striking landscapes, which includes, of course, a jaunt on Beartooth. You should never attempt a drive on the Beartooth Highway without first checking the status of the road and incoming weather. The Montana Department of Transportation is responsible for the highway to the Montana-Wyoming border, while the National Park Service is in charge of road maintenance from the roads first border crossing and into Yellowstone National Park. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) A relaxing way to enjoy your weekend is what an annual event is offering in Scranton. Thats the sound of peace and tranquility. The Nepa Yoga Festival at Montage Mountain hosted hundreds of yogis on Saturday morning. Theres nothing quite like this in northeastern Pennsylvania thats bringing together 800 people that are all interested in health and wellness and bettering themselves, said Chelsea Manganaro the founder of NEPA Yoga Festival. She is also a yoga instructor and says when she started doing yoga 16 years ago it helped her find herself. It also changed me so it changed who I was how I responded to things and grew me into a better version of myself, says Manganaro. First responders recognized at Railriders game One woman whos been coming for the past seven years says what brings her back time after time is simple. I just love to have connections with yoga people. These types of people who come to these events are theyre not judgmental theyre kind theyre all accepting. Its fun to connect with people who are like-minded so thats my favorite part. Its the people, explained Alexa Wasylyk an attendee. An herbalist who is here for the first time as a vender says she will definitely be back, she also says yoga helps her rebalance herself. Just kind of helps me. I am also a night shift sleep tech so kind of helps me transition in between the two work states, stated Teresa Naumowich the owner of Wondering Woods. The NEPA Yoga Festival continues until 10:00 p.m. and again on Sunday from 8 a.m. to 6 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 PAhomepage.com. Choosing to go hair-free on areas like your legs, arms and pubic area is your prerogative, but when it comes to the hairs living inside your nose, theyre better left untouched. The nose is a delicate area with numerous blood vessels and mucous membranes, said Dr. Don J. Beasley, an Idaho-based board-certified otolaryngologist (also known as an ear, nose and throat specialist). Whether youre DIYing it or getting serviced at a salon, yanking out your nose hairs especially if its done improperly or without proper hygiene practices in place may increase the risk of infection, leading to complications such as folliculitis or nasal cellulitis. Below, we spoke with experts to learn the risks of nose hair waxing and tweezing, as well as the safer alternatives. The Importance Of Nose Hairs Andrii Atanov / Getty Images You may not have given your nose hairs a second thought (aside from how unpleasant they may be), but the fact is, theyre there for a reason. The primary role of nose hairs is to trap dust, pollen and other airborne particles in the air so that the air you breathe is partially filtered, said Dr. Michael Jacobs, a New York-based board-certified dermatologist and associate professor of dermatology at Weill Cornell Medical College. He explained that the hairs act as a physical barrier, preventing these allergens from entering the nasal passages and potentially causing irritation or harm to the respiratory system. Nose hairs also play a protective role by alerting us to potential dangers, Beasley said. When something touches the nostril hairs, such as a small insect or other irritants, it triggers a reflexive sneeze, which is the bodys way of expelling the intruder or irritant, he explained. Beyond this, nose hairs help to maintain optimal moisture levels in the nasal passages. Nose hairs trap moisture from exhaled air, preventing the nasal passages from becoming too dry, Beasley said. This moisture helps to humidify the air we breathe, making it more comfortable for our respiratory system. What Are The Risks Of Nose Hair Waxing? Tatiana Maksimova / Getty Images Nose hair waxing can be tempting because it provides longer-lasting results compared to alternative methods like trimming. But completely removing your nose hairs means removing the filtration system thats essential to keeping you healthy and warding off infections like nasal vestibulitis and nasal abscess, said Dr. Nicole Aaronson, a Delaware-based board-certified otolaryngologist. While waxing doesnt necessarily weaken the immune system, it does breach the skin barrier by creating openings for bacteria to get into the deeper tissues, thus creating the opportunity for infection, she said. Nose hair waxing can also come with some side effects, especially if performed in the hands of an untrained person or if you do it yourself, for that matter. For one, Aaronson said that wax thats too hot can burn the nasal mucosa, or the tissue lining the nasal cavity. This removal of the top layer of skin can also create small lesions in the nose and put you at greater risk of infection. Plus, waxing can be an irritating process in general. Nose waxing can be an uncomfortable experience, as the delicate nasal passages can be sensitive to the pulling sensation, potentially causing temporary pain, redness and irritation, Beasley said. Ingrown hairs may also be an issue with nose hair waxing. An ingrown hair occurs after a hair is removed when the new hair that regenerates from the follicle cant break through the skin, Aaronson explained. Because waxing pulls out the hair by the roots, the hair must find its way out through the outer layer of the skin again (unlike other hair removal methods where the hair is left at the skins surface). So, what about partial nose hair waxing (that is, removing only the hair located at the front part of the nose)? Aaronson said to avoid this practice, as it carries all of the same risks of nasal vestibulitis, ingrown hairs and burning. Ultimately, Jacobs warned against nose hair waxing altogether to avoid the risk of inhaling more toxins and particles, irritating the nasal membranes and creating ingrown hairs. Alternatives To Nose Hair Waxing Dougal Waters / Getty Images Waxing and partial waxing are already off the table, and you can also add tweezing to the list. Aaronson said to avoid plucking out your nose hairs, noting that she has had to perform incision and drainage of nasal abscesses related to plucking of nasal hairs. I would not recommend this method of hair removal for the nose, she said. If you find that your nose hairs are reaching lengthy, unsightly heights, you can try carefully trimming them with a clean pair of eyebrow scissors, which are effective for removing straggling hairs that are visibly sitting underneath the nostril. If youre concerned with hurting yourself during this process, opt for angled scissors with rounded tips, as they reduce the risk of accidental nicks and cuts and are strategically shaped to get to those hard-to-reach areas. For trimming hairs deeper inside the nose, opt for an electric trimmer these are both safe and easy to use, and require minimal effort on your part. These two methods of nose hair trimming rounded scissors and electric trimmers are much safer alternatives to waxing and help prevent the risk of ingrown hairs and irritation.This article originally appeared in HuffPost. 'Never give up on yourself': Former astronaut inspires students from farmworker families Corrections & Clarifications: A prior version of this article incorrectly identified the summer program for migrant students at Arizona State University and its source of funding. The program is the Migratory Student Summer Academy. It is funded by the Arizona Department of Education. High school students from migrant farmworker backgrounds listened to former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez on Friday afternoon as he recalled his journey from the fields of California and Mexico all the way to space, emphasizing the importance of representation for Hispanic students. Never give up on yourself, Hernandez told the students. We tend to give up early after one or two failures. Im here to tell you I got rejected 11 times. It wasnt until the 12th time that I finally got selected as an astronaut. Hernandez served as the keynote speaker during the closing ceremony of Arizona State Universitys 2024 Migratory Student Summer Academy, an annual summer camp designed to provide academic support to students from farmworker backgrounds. The ceremony was held in the Old Main building on ASUs Tempe campus. The week-long enrichment program, funded by the Arizona Department of Education, gives students the opportunity to study science, technology, engineering and math on ASUs campus while participating in classes and leadership activities led by professors. Jose Hernandez stays to take photos after he speaks at ASUs Migratory Student Summer Academy closing ceremony June 7, 2024, in Tempe. Hernandez, one of four children in a migrant farming family from Mexico, spent much of his childhood picking fruits and vegetables with his family. He attended school as regularly as he could, but many kids from migrant backgrounds face a lack of representation and educational resources, he said, making it difficult to see themselves pursuing higher education. It was not until he learned about the first Hispanic astronaut, Franklin Chang-Diaz, that he began to dream of more for himself. He said he hopes sharing his experiences with students will encourage them. He inspired me to imagine what I can do, Hernandez told The Arizona Republic. If they see me in the flesh, and more importantly, having similar backgrounds as a lot of these kids, absolutely, I think its an empowering effect. 'Incredible place to be': First Indigenous woman in space hopes to inspire young explorers Hernandez began his career in 1987 as an electronics engineer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California, and held various other positions across the lab over the next decade. In 2001, Hernandez joined the Johnson Space Center in Houston. Despite a series of unsuccessful applications, he persisted and was eventually selected by NASA in 2004 as an astronaut candidate, joining the STS-128 mission to the International Space Station as a mission specialist in 2009. In addition to going to space, Hernandez co-developed the first full-field digital mammography imaging system. He departed NASA in 2011 but continues to work in engineering, and was the subject of the 2023 Amazon Prime documentary A Million Miles Away. Former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez speaks at ASUs Migratory Student Summer Academy closing ceremony on June 7, 2024, in Tempe. Programs like the Migratory Student Summer Academy show students from similar paths they can achieve anything they strive to, he said. Societys expectations are lowered on them, Hernandez said. This is why programs like this are so important. Because it reminds them: Dont settle. 'We can make it': Students appreciate astronaut's visit, summer program Yohan Ojeda, a high school sophomore who participated in the program, said he dreams of becoming a civil engineer. I wanted to know what it is to be at ASU in university with field experience, and so teachers and doctors can give me advice on what I can do toward getting my career, he said. Hernandezs visit is especially exciting, he said, because many Mexican students could relate to him. Maria Flores, an undergraduate student at ASU majoring in Criminology and Criminal Justice who comes from a farmworker background, said she appreciates the program because it gives first-generation students opportunities and knowledge she didnt have coming into college. Flores was a peer mentor for the Migratory Student Summer Academy. Being given the opportunity to be with students that come from the same background as me and helping them be motivated toward continuing their education is something that I personally value, she said. Seeing like, If she was able to make it, someone that comes from the same background as me, we can make it. Reach the reporter at christina.avery@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Former NASA astronaut Jose Hernandez speaks at ASU EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) The New Mexico State Fair is now taking applications for the Original Chile Cheeseburger Challenge. New Mexico restaurants will have until noon Friday, June 21 to apply for a chance to compete and win the title of New Mexico State Fair Green Chile Cheeseburger Champion, the New Mexico State Fair announced in a press release. Eight restaurants will be selected to compete, according to the press release. As has become an annual tradition at the fair, this challenge will take place Monday afternoon, September 9 in the Agriculture Building Courtyard. New Mexico is world famous for our green chile cheeseburgers and there is no better place than the State Fair to host the battle of the burgers, said Dan Mourning, general manager of the New Mexico State Fair. We cant wait to carry on the tradition, bringing the top restaurants in the state together to vie for the coveted title of New Mexico State Fair green chile cheeseburger champion. For the complete set of rules and guidelines, visit 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. BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PIX11) Brooklyn is a sea with rainbow flags. More than 30,000 people celebrated Brooklyn Pride in a day-long and night-time celebration. More Local News The Sirens Womens Motorcycle Club led this years 28th annual Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade up Fifth Avenue in Park Slope. To these 45 sirens, it was such an honor. Brooklyn is one of the best experiences, Cheryl Stewart, the co-president of Sirens Womens Motorcycle Club of NYC, told PIX11 News. Its really a beautiful parade and we love to come here and lead it, she added. Organizers say the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade grows every year with more than eight floats, 17 vehicles, and 1500 participants, including public advocate Jumaane Williams, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez, Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, and New York State Attorney General Letitia James. At a time when there are attacks on the LGBTQ community, their allies have got to stand up, and thats why I march each and every year, James, a Brooklyn native, told PIX11 News. The parade chairman, Mickey Heller, added, We have 30,000 at the festival looking to attend the parade and have a good time for all. To many families, marching in the Brooklyn Pride Twilight Parade or cheering from the sidelines is important. For us, it is huge, one lesbian parent told PIX11 News. We are trying to teach our children how important it is to be accepted just the way we are. Her partner agreed. It means representation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. In 1938, 7-year-old Marcia Strickland held tight to her babysitters hand as they walked to the Hiawatha Theater at 6th and Downing to watch the latest episode in the popular pre-TV serial The Lone Ranger. In 1968, Marcias 10-year-old daughter, Kate Bermingham, made the same walk to the same theater, renamed the Esquire back in 1942, to see the Beatles trippy Yellow Submarine with her older brother. And in 2000, Kate walked her 8-year-old son, Nelson, and his siblings the six blocks from their home on Humboldt Street to see Himalaya, a heartbreaking family film from Nepal that was nominated for best foreign film that year. I remember that it felt like such a trek to get there, said Nelson, now a 32-year-old Los Angeles filmmaker officially known in the Hollywood registry as H. Nelson Tracey. It seemed like such an odd thing for the family to be walking to the movie theater, he said. But he now sees it as the very thing that made it cool: A nod to a bygone era of neighborhood and community. Our family drove past the Esquire on the way to our house every day, he said. It had an allure and a mystique about it for as far back as I can remember. Himalaya was the first film Tracey ever saw with subtitles at age 8! and the first of more than 60 films he would see at the Esquire over the next decade. They were the formative years that made his path to becoming a professional filmmaker inevitable. Traceys parents gave their son a video camera for his 12th birthday in 2004. Not for making home movies, mind you. For making movies, young Spielberg-style. The first movie I ever made is called Tooths, he said. It was a spoof of Jaws, filmed on location on a family trip to Cape Cod and all his siblings acted in it. We had a shark fin made out of cardboard and duct tape, he said. And my younger brother, who was 4 at the time, played the fisherman trying to catch the shark. Eat your heart out, Robert Shaw. Fast forward 20 years, and Tracey is coming home to the Esquire one last time, for a special screening of his directorial film debut a romantic comedy he also wrote called Breakup Season to be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday, June 19. Landmark Theatres announced in March that owners Sam Leger and Tim Finholm, who bought the Esquire for $2.1 million in 2021, will soon repurpose the building for upscale office, restaurant and retail uses. Landmarks lease is up on June 30. After 97 years, another big piece of Old Denver is running out of time. And when that word reached Tracey in L.A., the sentimental storyteller scrambled to adjust the rollout of his new film, which is already making the film-festival rounds in the hope of a national distribution deal in the fall. He called the Esquire and booked it. Once I found out the Esquire was a finite thing, I felt like I owed it to my childhood self to play there one last time, he said. And what better way to play than to premiere for Colorado audiences a film that is largely informed by everything he saw and absorbed as a kid at the Esquire? Were talking The Motorcycle Diaries. "Nicholas Nickleby. The Darjeeling Limited. Wild. His first midnight movie was a re-release of The Pirates of the Caribbean and after turning 17 the first of at least 10 late-night screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I remember, as a kid, my mom would be like, Oh yeah, Rocky Horror is the movie where they throw rice at the screen and immediately I was like, I have to see this movie, Tracey said. If you know, you know: Rocky Horror is often performed with a shadow cast, meaning with live, costumed actors mirroring their film counterparts from in front of the screen. The audience calls out signature lines. Its one big party. Tracey later performed in a shadow cast himself during his college years at Chapman University, a top film school in Orange, Calif. Back in 2008, young Tracey saw lines wrapped around the block to see soon-to-be-named Best Picture Slumdog Millionaire. I remember looking out the car window and thinking, How cool is that? he said. The next year, the film that imprinted itself in his head forever was 500 Days of Summer, starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel. Thats the nonlinear story of a young man reflecting on a failed, young-adult relationship. At the time, Denver Film hosted a series offering sneak peeks at big-buzz films. It was a full house, Tracey said. The air conditioning was broken, so it was hot as hell. But man, that movie was a huge influence on my new film. Breakup Season is an independent feature starring Chandler Riggs (The Walking Dead) and Samantha Isler (Captain Fantastic). Its about a young man who brings his girlfriend to his rural hometown in Oregon to introduce her to his family at Christmas but things dont go as planned. Featured Local Savings I feel like there are a lot of movies about romances in high school and college and most romcoms take place with people in their 30s, when people are generally getting married, he said. But I wanted to tell a story about breakups in that early 20s window where you're out of college, but you're not quite on your own two feet yet. That's a time when relationships are really unstable. And that's where the birth of this movie came from. The very first review of Breakup Season drew a direct comparison to 500 Days of Summer, which Tracey took as the highest compliment. Thats the movie that had the biggest influence on my writing, and my storytelling tendencies and I saw it with a packed house at the Esquire. On June 19, Breakup Season will become the final movie ever to make its Colorado premiere at the Esquire. He calls the evening a manifestation of a lifetime of studying film, starting at the Esquire Theatre. We all know why the Esquire Theatre is closing. It has been happening incrementally for years: There was the flood that temporarily shuttered it in 2018. The pandemic that shut it down for far longer when streaming became the preferred way for families to watch movies. The labor strikes that followed. But this story is about more than the death of the Esquire. Its about the overall post-COVID decline of the neighborhood movie theater as a cultural way of life. A recent AV Club essay predicted that as many as 40 percent of all movie screens will be gone in the next eight years. This week, the franchiser for the Alamo Drafthouse in Dallas filed for bankruptcy and closed all five locations after what the Alamo CEO called the worst-performing quarter in moviegoing history. To Tracey, It all feels like a canary in a coal mine with all of these things that are happening, he said. It goes without saying that movies play better in a theater, and that seems to have been lost on everyone in favor of watching movies at home. That has Tracey thinking of all that is being lost on a larger scale. If you know the history of Denver, you know the Esquire isn't the only historic site that is just being wiped out, he said. The plans for The Esquire make me really disheartened. It's going to be replaced with something really generic that adds no value to the neighborhood and does nothing for the community as a whole. Losing places like the Esquire is a travesty that takes away a lot of the fabric of what gives the neighborhood its character. Tracey takes some comfort in knowing that the Landmarks sister theaters, notably the nearby Mayan and the Chez Artiste further south, remain open, making it possible that young people might still have the kind of bonding arthouse experience that he had when his mom took him to the Mayan to see Brokeback Mountain, Ang Lees landmark story of two cowboys who develop a sexual and emotional relationship on the Wyoming plains. Tracey is not gay. Thats not his point. The universal power of film is. As a 13-year-old straight kid, wanting to go see Brokeback Mountain was not a popular decision, especially in 2005, Tracey said. My mom was anxious about letting me see an R-rated movie that was about gay cowboys. But I pushed her so hard to let me see that movie, and she conceded. They watched it together in one of the upstairs theaters. Ah, (bleep), now I'm crying, Tracey said, followed by an Im sorry. He had no reason to be. I asked him why he thought the film affected him so deeply, since it wasnt his story. It starts with having a grandfather from Wyoming. It ends with the power of Ang Lee. And in between? I still can vividly recall just the grippingness of the story, he said. That movie helped normalize the conversation about not being straight. And Heath Ledger gave one of the greatest performances in film history. I can still remember the hug I gave my mom right after that showing. I cant explain to you the level of love that I have for that movie and the role that it played in my filmmaking style. Independent films can have that impact on people and the fact that I went with my mom only made it all the more special. On June 19, all three generations of Traceys family who grew up walking to the Esquire Theatre will be on hand including Marcia Strickland, the now 92-year-old grandmother who first visited at age 7 in 1938. Also his mom, dad, siblings and a lifetime of Colorado friends made along the way, all most likely filling the 500-plus seats in the main auditorium. I get so emotional just even thinking about it, he said. Im looking forward to us all experiencing the film together because I think the humor lands really well in a crowd and the big, titular scene always happens in pin-drop silence. Its that palpable feeling of a shared experience that makes moviegoing so special. Its a full-circle moment for Tracey, whose first nine years in the film industry have primarily been working as an editor on documentaries. Like the very first one he ever saw, when his dad took him to see Touching the Void at the Esquire in 2003. And to think, now I have a career in documentaries, he said incredulously. It's just wild that an independent movie theater called the Esquire planted a lot of the seeds in me that are just really starting to take shape decades later. The Power of Pride: 3 stories of Columbus LGBTQ+ people telling how they celebrate, endure Every time Francesca Schumann, William D. Stinchcomb and Jaylah Hollins stride down the street during the Stonewall Columbus Pride March, they feel the power of the generations that came before them. While they're marching in the footsteps of history's LGBTQ+ activists, they're doing so for the promise of future generations. Schumann, Stinchcomb and Hollins are from different corners of Columbus and don't know one another. But they were all young when they witnessed their first pride parade or saw an LGBTQ+ person who made them feel a sense of belonging a sense of who they really were although they didn't yet know how to express it. They keep showing up and fighting, they said, even when it's difficult, painful or scary. In each of the past several decades, LGBTQ+ people have faced many battles to defend their rights and gain additional rights, advocates said. From the listing of homosexuality as a mental illness in the 1950s to fights for marriage equality in the past two decades, the community has found reasons to unify, fight and celebrate despite resistance. LGBTQ+ people come together during Pride Month in June and for Pride parades that commemorate the Stonewall Riots. The riots lasted six days in June 1969 and started when police raided a gay bar in New York and patrons fought back. As the 2024 Stonewall Columbus Pride March steps off at 10:30 a.m. June 15 from the corner of Broad and High streets, the LGBTQ+ community will celebrate its vibrancy and variety despite what they describe as near-constant discrimination. The march is also a form of protest, organizers and participants said, and a way to advocate for further rights. It is an act of defiance against the bevy of anti-trans bills in the Ohio Statehouse. Against violence like the Pulse Orlando Nightclub shooting of 2016. And against anyone who wants to promote hate, like those who were the subject of the recent warnings from the Federal Bureau of Investigation that foreign terrorists may target large Pride events, they said. "It is a moment of protest," said Zac Boyer, Stonewall's director of community engagement. "It is a moment of, 'Hey, we are here, and we still have human rights that are being violated.' ... We still live in a state that is actively trying to erase transgender people just from the face of existence." Francesca Schumann wants others to know they are not alone Francesca Schumann, 57, speaks of the life she has led as a transsexual woman. Francesca Schumann finds beauty in her own survival. The 57-year-old transsexual woman says she is a survivor of multiple violent attacks due to her gender identity. But Schumann said she endures and attends Columbus Pride celebrations each year. "It's like a holiday to me. It's like the ultimate celebration," she said of Pride. She loves being surrounded by the LGBTQ+ community. And people at the Pride festivities call her "mama," "girlfriend," and other affectionate monikers. "It's just wonderful to see and to feel the loving spirit that you may not get all throughout the year," she said. "But on that day, everyone wants to hug you, everyone wants to touch, everyone wants to say 'Hello,' 'How are you?', 'What's going on?'" There are also resources there for her and others, and the Franklinton woman is reminded that she's not alone in her identity. Schumann also wants to remind others that they are not alone and that she is there for them. She is present at the Stonewall Columbus Pride March and will continue to be for young people and adults who can't be out, those who don't feel safe, or who may not see people like themselves elsewhere. "Whenever I'm marching, I'm putting my life out there," said Schumann, who has ridden on Equitas Health's floats in previous parades. "I want to be visible." Schumann isn't sure she's physically able to walk the parade route which measures 1.9 miles due to her fibromyalgia, but she said she will do her best to walk or ride if someone will donate a scooter. Schumann is HIV-positive, a status she's had for 25 years. She was raped and held hostage in 1999, she said. Today, she's raising awareness about HIV status and advocating that Ohio laws that criminalize people with HIV be repealed. "I am a child of one of our first plagues, and we're still fighting it," Schumann said of HIV. "Our purpose of being human is to be humane, to be compassionate and to be empathetic," Schumann said. "Everyone has value, everyone has dignity. When you tell someone they are not valuable because of how they identify, because of how they look, because of their body shape, because their skin is too light, too dark, too whatever. My belief is we all bleed red, and we need to come together." To people who may feel they have to hide their identity or struggle with it, Schumann said "don't fight your identity." Schumann's identity first clicked for her after she saw a 15-second scene in the 1970s sitcom Barney Miller." Someone on screen was arrested for cross-dressing and called a "transvestite," and Schumann thought: "'Hey, this is me.'" She was about six or seven years old at the time, she said. Today, she hopes she can help others realize who they are by being visible in her identity. "Those who are fighting their identity at six or seven (years old) can find heroes," she said. "They can know they're not alone." William D. Stinchcomb balances his three identities during Pride William D. Stinchcomb, 39, is a Black pansexual cis man who didn't always celebrate Pride. Before people see William D. Stinchcomb's queer identity, they see his skin color. The 39-year-old Black man identifies as pansexual, but he doesn't outwardly present his LGBTQ+ identity. "It's not like I wear that on my sleeve," he said, adding, "I can't turn off my Blackness." His race has defined a lot of his experiences in life. Since the Columbus Pride celebration always falls on the same weekend which is also when Juneteenth is often celebrated as well as Father's Day Stinchcomb has had to balance celebrations of all the ways he identifies. But he didn't always celebrate Pride. Stinchcomb first became aware of local Pride celebrations about 23 years ago when he was a teenager working at Cheryl's Cookies inside the former City Center Mall Downtown. "I didn't know what it was, and I had questions about it then," said Stinchcomb, who lives on the East Side. "It was an eye-opener for me. ... It looked fun." He was in awe. Stinchcomb always knew he was part of the LGBTQ+ community, but he didn't outwardly share his identity until he was in college. During that time, he was able to explore and get comfortable with his identity before choosing to express it, he said. Now, the parade he once was just an observer of is part of a weekend where he celebrates being Black, being a father and being queer. While participating at the Stonewall Columbus Pride March for the past 15 years, Stinchcomb said he has experienced joy and jubilation. "Pride really is encompassing of a couple of things, but primarily the fact that I can be this happily out, queer-identifying person that loves his community," he said. Stinchcomb said he thinks young people need to see the Pride parade and all the people who are a part of the local "queermunity." There are so many identities within the LGBTQ+ community locally, and Stinchcomb wants people to see all of them. He also hopes people who observe the Pride celebrations see that queer people can thrive, not just survive. "There are opportunities for you to be the best queer person you need to be, want to be, in this world," said Stinchcomb, who works as a therapist. At this year's event, he hopes that people understand they can access robust health care locally that is centered on them, and that people of all identities know there's a "beautiful place for you." Stinchcomb is the vice president of the nonprofit Black, Out and Proud and wants people to know that they don't have to choose between their identities. Though the weekend of Pride, Juneteenth and Father's Day is hectic, he doesn't have to choose between his identities in his everyday life, he said. "I'm all those things at once," he said of being a Black queer father. "You should be able to be your unapologetic self at all times, so that's why going and being in those spaces all weekend long is always going to be important to me." Jaylah Hollins wants all LGBTQ+ experiences to be celebrated Jaylah Hollins, 20, is a Black transgender woman who wants all LGBTQ+ identities to be celebrated. Jaylah Hollins saw her first Stonewall Columbus Pride march at just 10 years old. In the car with her father and brother, she gazed out the window at the floats as they passed by. Her father and brother were disapproving, but the beautiful colors, smiling happy faces and the community feeling fascinated Hollins. Years later, she got to attend the Pride Festival at Goodale Park, which is held the same weekend as the Pride March. It was one of the first times the now-20-year-old transgender woman was able to express her identity. I really enjoyed being able to fully be myself for the first time, said Hollins. And be able to be around all of these people and be able to feel like I dont have to hide or cover up anything about myself, but instead be able to find pride, confidence and joy in who I am. Hollins, who lives on the citys North Side, loves the feeling she gets while attending Pride events, but she has wrestled in the past with not going due to safety concerns. Its very worrying, something like that happening, especially in a place where people go to feel more pride about themselves, to feel more confidence, to feel like they are a part of our national community, Hollins said. Recent protests at Pride and Drag events by the Proud Boys, Neo-Nazis and others emboldened by hate scare her. The security at Pride gives her a sense of safety, though, Hollins said. Were celebrating the fact that we earned these rights to be seen as individuals and not as stereotypes, Hollins said. We earned the right to have our experiences be accounted for. She especially feels that as a transgender woman, as the Pride movement is very big, and people's identities are varied. Sometimes they intersect and sometimes they dissect, Hollins said. "People can be of the same community as you, but they may still hold ignorance and bias toward you," she said. Hollins has heard other members of the LGBTQ+ community say trans and nonbinary people can make it harder for the rest of the community to have rights because they won't stop talking about their rights. "We've never shut up," Hollins said. "We've suffered the most and endured the most for everybody else." It's important to Hollins to go to Pride and be visible as a Black transgender woman and hopes her presence can help make places more open to others like her. She wants to uplift intersectionality. "I want people to understand that even though we're all within one community, our experiences can differ from one another and it's important to always have open ears and to listen to those experiences instead of just assuming 'my white gay friends and lesbian friends, that's all there is,' when really, it's not," Hollins said. "I want people to understand there's so much more to community than people think there is, and I just think there needs to be more acknowledgement of that." She plans to keep marching and celebrating Pride. We dont get to celebrate ourselves as often as we want to, she said. dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus Pride: Ahead of parade, local LGBTQ+ people share stories Columbus Pride through the years: Take a look back at the celebration throughout history From 200 attendees to more than 800,000, Stonewall Columbus' Pride March has evolved over the past 43 years. As the event has grown, it has attracted more people from across the nation. Throughout its history, attendees have not forgotten the reason for the event to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising in 1969, a turning point for the LGBTQ+ rights movement nor those who came before them. A timeline of Pride celebrations 1969: The uprising that gave Stonewall Columbus its name happened on June 28, 1969. The Stonewall Uprising began in New York between police and LGBTQ+ protestors after a raid at a gay bar, the Stonewall Inn. The events stretched over six days and are the namesake for Stonewall Columbus, the nonprofit group that hosts the Columbus Pride March each year. 1970: The next June, the first Pride events began to take place across the country to commemorate the Stonewall Uprising and keep the momentum going. The Power of Pride: 3 stories of Columbus LGBTQ+ people telling how they celebrate, endure 1973: Cincinnati hosted its first Pride March with a few dozen people in attendance. 1981: The first Columbus Pride march is held, and Stonewall Columbus is founded in June. About 200 people attended the event with some wearing bags over their heads to keep their identity private. The same year, the founding of a chapter of the Rev. Jerry Falwell's Moral Majority prompted LGBTQ+ activists to form a branch of the Stonewall Union, which later became Stonewall Columbus. (Left) Ed Grudus of Dayton was one of more than 500 gay rights supporters from all over the state to march in the Ohio Gay Pride Parade on June 26, 1982. The parade concluded with a rally on the Statehouse lawn. (Right) Marchers in Columbus' first Gay Pride Parade on June 26, 1982 head southbound on Front Street in Columbus to the west of the Nationwide building. Some resources say the Pride Parade started with the 1981 march and some say it started in 1982, since that was the first year it was officially named the Gay Pride Parade. (Columbus Dispatch file photo) 1982: The first official "Gay Pride Parade" is hosted in Columbus and attracted more than 500 marchers. 1984: Columbus' Pride parade, then known as the Ohio-Michigan Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade, took place. As the event grew larger, about 4,000 people are estimated to have attended. A member of the Pentecostal Holiness Church of Columbus, shown here, was among the fundamentalists who heckled several thousand gay activists marching in the city on June 24, 1984 for the Ohio-Michigan Lesbian and Gay Pride Parade. The marchers, however, drowned out the anti-gay demonstrators. Gay activist speakers said the gay community is gaining political clout. Close to 4,000 marchers left Goodale Park to march to the Ohio Statehouse. (Columbus Dispatch file photo) 1998: The event's attendance continued to grow through the years, hitting an estimated 14,000 people. 2004: More than 80,000 people attended the Pride parade in 2004 in Columbus, ranking it second to Chicago's celebration. At that time and in years prior, the Pride March was part of ComFest, and the parade ran through the annual free community arts and music festival hosted in Goodale Park. Grand Marshall of the 2015 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade, Jim Obergefell waves to the soggy crowds on June 20, 2015. (Columbus Dispatch file photo) 2015: Jim Obergefell, the lead plaintiff in the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court case that made same-sex marriage a recognized right, led the Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade. 2016: The Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade draws record crowds and rivals Chicago for the largest event in the Midwest. The 2016 event drew more than 500,000 attendees and celebrated 35 years of Columbus Pride events. 2017: Four protestors, known as the "Black Pride Four," interrupted the festivities on the parade route and were arrested and charged with misdemeanors. The four queer people of color blocked the parade route to raise awareness "about the violence against and erasure of black and brown queer and trans people, they said. 2020: Columbus' Pride was delayed to October due to the coronavirus pandemic and then hosted virtually for the first time. In 2021, the event is once again held virtually. 2021: Around this time, Stonewall Columbus began referring to the parade as a march as a nod to history. 2022: Columbus Pride comes back with record attendance again, with more than 17,000 marchers and approximately 700,000 people attending the event, according to Stonewall Columbus. A view looking North on High Street during the 2017 Stonewall Columbus Pride Parade in Columbus. (Columbus Dispatch file photo) 2024: More than 20,000 people signed up to march in the event, with an expected 800,000 people to come to the June 15 march and festivities lasting the whole weekend. Information came from Dispatch archives, Stonewall Columbus and Svetlana Harlan, with the Gay Ohio History Initiative, a part of the Ohio History Connection. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: When did Pride begin? A history of the celebration in Columbus, beyond While American gangsters Al Capone and Bugs Moran were terrorizing Chicago, over 631 miles away in Washington County, local moonshiner Harry Snap McCoy was busy distilling and selling illegal liquor in Hagerstown and the surrounding communities. McCoys story captures the turbulent years of Prohibition and the history of moonshiners active in Washington County during that time. McCoy was born Jan. 7, 1870, to blacksmith Elbert McCoy and Emma (Ardinger) of Williamsport. In 1878, Elbert died of tuberculosis, leaving Emma to care for five children. McCoy's childhood in Williamsport was a bustling, novel one. The Cumberland Valley Railroad reached the outskirts of Williamsport in 1872. The following year, the Western Maryland Railroad ran directly into Williamsport, connecting to the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal. One of the young men in the back row is Harry 'Snap' McCoy; the other is his friend Sam McClannahan. But the information on the back of the photo, taken in 1906 at the Western Maryland Railroad station in Williamsport, doesn't indicate which is which. The railroad had a profound effect on McCoy. Although he only completed the fourth grade, by age 30 he worked as a conductor for the WMRR in Williamsport. A 1906 photograph in the Washington County Historical Society collection captures McCoy posing for the camera beside his friend, Sam McClannahan, at the train station. An oncoming train is visible just over their shoulders. In January 1919, 36 states ratified the 18th Amendment (the Prohibition Amendment), making the production, transportation and sale of alcohol (liquor, wine and beer) illegal after decades of activism by temperance societies and prohibition groups. Shortly after, Congress passed the Volstead Act (the National Prohibition Act), allowing Federal Prohibition agents to legally enforce prohibition. It was not until 1920, with the U.S. just entering Prohibition, that McCoy, his wife Maude (Byrem) and their six children moved from Williamsport to Madison Avenue in Hagerstown. Their new home was a stones throw from the WMRR tracks, where Harry began working as a conductor. But he soon found a different occupation. On March 29, 1929, McCoy made the newspaper as one of two men arrested by federal agents and deputy sheriffs. He was arrested alongside Russell Skinny Wilson, a 38-year-old meat cutter who operated a business on West Franklin Street. By that time, McCoy was no longer a conductor, but was listed as a general laborer in the city directory. He had also been operating a still in the Four Locks area below Clear Spring, producing moonshine a clear, un-aged whiskey, typically distilled from corn. A key historical measure in the history of moonshining was the 1862 Revenue Act, passed by Congress to help pay for the Civil War. This act imposed taxes on alcohol, making its manufacture and sale without a permit illegal. Even if Prohibition had not been in effect, manufacturing and selling alcohol without a permit, essentially evading taxes, was illegal. McCoy was not moonshining alone. In May 1929, six other men, including Wilson, faced sentences for violating Prohibition laws; these men were connected to a South Potomac Street club, an East Franklin Street saloon and private dwellings. After 10 years of Prohibition, the stock market crash in October 1929 plunged the country into the Great Depression a decade plagued by high unemployment, poverty and deflation (not to mention the Dust Bowl). Harry, 60, and Maude, 56, McCoy weathered the first year of the Great Depression at home on Madison Avenue with their teenage children. As locals suffered through the depression, the McCoys amped up moonshine production. Their activities were foiled on Jan. 30, 1932, when Prohibition agents conducted a sting operation, rounding up the McCoys and other locals. Agent Ralph Tagg, working undercover, purchased illegal alcohol from them and later raided their homes. The McCoys were in possession of two gallons of alcohol and whiskey bottles. Three African American men operating from North Jonathan Street and another woman were also arrested. Despite this, McCoy jumped back into moonshining, only to be arrested once more along with 18 others in November 1932. Federal operatives from Baltimore assisted Hagerstown agents in these raids, made at locations on West Church, McComas, Prospect, Bethel, East Franklin, South Potomac and Elizabeth streets, as well as in Hancock and Williamsport. Sixteen men and three women, including one Black man named James Spider Webb, were arrested. View of West Washington Street toward Public Square in May 1938, five years after Prohibition ended. Selling alcohol without a permit, however, was still illegal. By January 1933, the final year of Prohibition, McCoy had expanded his operation, aided by 30-year-old Herman Leigh. Federal agents later discovered their base of operations in the Conococheague area, seizing a 150-gallon copper still, mash and whiskey. Agents also raided McCoy's home, finding a whiskey stash over his front porch roof. Leigh and McCoy were arraigned before U.S. Commissioner David Angle Wolfinger Sr. (1886-1965), a Big Spring native and Hagerstown resident. This resulted in McCoy's transportation to federal court in Baltimore and a three-month prison sentence. Snap McCoy finally served time at age 63. The passing of the 21st Amendment in December 1933, ended Prohibition, but the illegal manufacture and sale of alcohol persisted. After his release, Harry returned to moonshining. His last arrest in February 1934 followed a raid carried out by Hagerstown Police and county liquor investigator Charles E. Cushwa (1890-1963), who removed 12 gallons of liquor from McCoy's home. Judge Frank Wagaman charged McCoy a final fine of $150. Maude McCoy died of kidney failure on June 20, 1935. After her death, McCoy moved into the home of his moonshining partner Herman Leigh, who faced further arrests, on Elizabeth Street. Harry Snap McCoy died Aug. 20, 1941, at 71. He is buried with Maude in Rose Hill Cemetery. But the meaning behind his nickname Snap remains a final mystery. The Updegraffs wore a lot of hats and manufactured most of them Abigail Koontz is the curator/program director for the Washington County Historical Society. This article originally appeared on The Herald-Mail: From railroading to moonshining, 'Snap' McCoy had an unusual career Every state embraces the things that make it unique, from state songs, flags, mottos, and nicknames to things that are a little more fun. There are state dogs, birds, beverages, and even state dirt. Really. For Wisconsin, that's Antigo silt loam, a soil that's key to its corn and grain production. Fortunately for Wisconsinites, that ultimately lead to the creation of their state pastry, the kringle. It wasn't until 2013 that the kringle was officially made state pastry, but it's been around for a lot longer than that. In fact, kringles were established as a favorite not long after Wisconsin's official establishment as a state, which happened in 1848. Kringles were brought to Wisconsin by Danish immigrants who settled in the area and continued making their time-honored, long-beloved pastries. Today, several family-owned bakeries continue the tradition. It makes sense, then, that there are many different versions of the kringle. These circular, buttery, flaky pastries take several days to make and might vary slightly in shape and flavor. Today, bakeries are whipping up a ton of them, stocking everything from the holiday-inspired cranberry kringle to kringles covered with frosting or made with fruits, nuts, and other toppings. Read more: The One Restaurant You Need To Visit In Every State What, Exactly, Is A Kringle And How Is It Made? almond kringle with mug - Tony Savino/Shutterstock There's no one tried-and-true way to make a kringle, but some elements to the process are pretty standard. Traditional kringles -- whether they're round or horseshoe-shaped -- start with a pastry dough that's mixed, rolled, and then refrigerated. Although recipes for easy Danish kringles might look simple, kringles made the old-school way involve a multi-day process. On the second day, the dough is rolled and refrigerated again before being rolled for a final time and baked on the third day. It's the dough that's crucial to the kringle experience. It's thin, flaky, and buttery, and the number of dough layers varies but is typically somewhere around 30. Today, several bakeries in Wisconsin still making these traditional pastries, and to say they're wildly popular is an understatement. Eric Olesen is the third generation owner of O&H Danish Bakery in Racine, Wisconsin, and told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel that they send kringles all over the world -- even shipping them to Antarctica. He also estimates that their physical locations sell somewhere between 10,000 and 15,000 kringles per week, and they're just one of several Danish bakeries in the state. Around the holidays, another bakery, Racine Danish Kringle, says that number jumps to around 12,000 sold daily. The Kringle Has A Long And Fascinating European History braided cinnamon kringle - Alleko/Getty Images The kringle has been around for much longer than America, and it goes back to a point in history where things get a little fuzzy. The idea first gained popularity in the 13th century, and it's believed that the process of layering butter and dough and then rolling out thin layers wasn't initially Danish at all -- it was Austrian. The original kringle was shaped like a pretzel, and the change to today's oval shape was made to accommodate more filling within the layers. Still, the traditional pretzel shape can still be seen across Denmark. For centuries, Danish bakeries have been identified by signs bearing the symbol of the pretzel-shaped kringle. Bakeries that belong to Denmark's Bakers Guild are easily identifiable by the crown that sits atop the image of the kringle. It's remained an essential part of Danish culture and cuisine, and authentic European flavors look a little different than the flavors one might find on the shelves of a Wisconsin bakery. They include cream cheese, toasted almonds, and remonce, which is a filling made with a base of marzipan, butter, and sugar. Remonce can have other flavors like cinnamon or hazelnut added to it. Today, the kringle has become one of the many dishes that are quintessentially midwestern, and holds a special place in the heart of many. Read the original article on The Daily Meal NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) An investigation is underway following a Saturday afternoon shooting near Nashvilles Woodbine neighborhood that sent one person to the hospital. Metro Nashville dispatch said the incident was reported just after 1:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at a Walgreens in the 2800 block of Nolensville Pike. Man found shot in parking lot of South Nashville restaurant According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, the victim was shot in his vehicle in the parking lot, but the circumstances surrounding the incident are still unclear at this time. Authorities told News 2 the victim was transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. Person shot at Old Hickory Boulevard gas station, Metro police say No additional information has been released about the ongoing investigation into the Nolensville Pike shooting. This incident occurred just over an hour after another shooting was reported at a gas station along Old Hickory Boulevard in the Nippers Corner area, which also resulted in the victim being brought to VUMC with non-life-threatening injuries. Police have not made any indication these two events are related. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. 1 person killed in crash in Lower Valley 1 person killed in crash in Lower Valley UPDATE: All lanes are now open at Americas South and Zaragoza after a fatal crash earlier Sunday, June 9, TxDOT said at about 8:30 p.m. EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) One person was killed in a crash along a busy Lower Valley corridor on Sunday afternoon, June 9, police said. The crash happened shortly before 1 p.m. at Americas South at Zaragoza, fire dispatch said. El Paso Police said one person was killed in the crash. Fire dispatch said two people were transported with serious injuries (Code 3). Special Traffic Investigators are on the scene. TxDOT said that all lanes of traffic at Americas South at Zaragoza are closed. Clearing time is until further notice. A KTSM viewer captured what appears to be the moments leading up to the crash. Video courtesy of Lola Guzman. This is a developing story and we will update it once we learn more. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News. (KRON) Dozens of residents were displaced due to a two-alarm fire in Contra Costa County on Saturday, a Contra Costa Fire Department captain told KRON4. Teen fatally shot near SFs Dolores Park identified as SJSU student Firefighters responded to a two-alarm fire at a three-story apartment complex on Montoya and San Pablo Avenue at approximately 4:30 p.m. Upon arriving at the scene, officials told citizens to avoid the area. The exact number of apartments affected by the fire was not known, but the CoCo Fire captain told KRON4 that at least 10 residents were displaced. Red Cross volunteers are on-site meeting with the dozens of residents whove been displaced from their homes, Red Cross Northern California said. No injuries were reported as of this report. Fire crews put out the fire at approximately 5:10 p.m., and investigators were still present at the scene as of 7:10 p.m. to determine the cause of the fire, CoCo Fire said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. (NewsNation) Just 80 years after Harold Terens landed on the beaches of Normandy, France, as part of the D-Day operation, he made another memory at the site: marrying his fiancee, Jeanne Swerlin. The two tied the knot Saturday near the place he and nearly 160,000 others landed on June 6, 1944, in the fight against the Nazis. I just love this place. It has horrific memories for me, Terens told NewsNation ahead of the ceremony. And it has beautiful memories for me. On D-Day, Terens helped repair planes returning from France so they could rejoin the battle. He said half his companys pilots died that day. Terens himself went to France 12 days later, helping transport freshly captured Germans and just-freed American POWs to England. Following the Nazi surrender in May 1945, Terens again helped transport freed Allied prisoners to England before he shipped back to the U.S. a month later. Biden observes 80th D-Day anniversary in Normandy Its not the first time 100-year-old Terens has returned to the region. He attended the 50th, 70th and 75th anniversary of D-Day not far away from their wedding venue, meeting U.S. presidents like Bill Clinton and Barack Obama as well as French President Emmanuel Macron. Macron gave him a French Legion of Honor for his service during World War II, an event Terens called one of the most memorable moments of his life. Terens said the idea for their destination wedding came about while he was out with lunch with a friend. A year ago, we were having a lunch, and [my friend] says, You know, I like your girlfriend. Shes pretty nice. Why dont you get married? And why dont you get married in Normandy? Youre going to be there anyway. Wouldnt it be nice to have a destination wedding in Normandy? Wouldnt that be memorable?' he shared. The pair wed at the elegant stone-worked town hall of Carentan, a key initial D-Day objective that saw ferocious fighting after the June 6, 1944, Allied landings that helped rid Europe of Adolf Hitlers tyranny. US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, center left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, center left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, kiss as they arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, arrive to celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, celebrate their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, kiss from a window after celebrating their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) US WWII veteran Harold Terens, 100, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, smile from a window after celebrating their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200. But Terens and his sweetheart Jeanne Swerlin proved that love is eternal as they tied the knot Saturday inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. (AP Photo/Jeremias Gonzalez) After both declaring oui to vows read by Carentans mayor in English, the couple exchanged rings. Then, with Champagne flutes in hand, they waved through an open window to the adoring crowds outside. To everybodys good health. And to peace in the world and the preservation of democracy all over the world and the end of the war in Ukraine and Gaza, Terens said as he and his bride then clinked glasses and drank. The crowd yelled la mariee! the bride! to Swerlin, who wore a long flowing dress of vibrant pink. Terens looked dapper in a light blue suit and matching pink kerchief in his breast pocket. And they enjoyed a very special wedding-night party: They were invited to the state dinner at the Elysee Palace on Saturday night with Macron and President Joe Biden. The wedding was symbolic, not binding in law. Mayor Jean-Pierre Lhonneurs office said he wasnt empowered to wed foreigners who arent residents of Carentan, and that the couple, who are both American, hadnt requested legally binding vows. However, they could always complete those formalities back in Florida if they wished. Planning a wedding, symbolic or not, at 100 was no easy task but Terens secret to a fulfilled life? Destress when possible and crack open a can of fish. Dont sweat the small stuff and remember, when you eat, just make sure you have two cans of skinless and boneless sardines every week. They must come from Morocco, and they must be in olive oil, he said. Those are my two prescriptions for longevity. Though Swerlin made it clear she hates sardines, she loves Terens and was excited to say I do in such a historic place. Hes amazing. He has a memory like no one else, she said. He has wisdom. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. CHICAGO A teen girl is facing a slew of felony charges in connection with a string of robberies on CTA property last month. Chicago police say the 14-year-old girl, who has not been identified due to her age, is facing four felony counts of robbery and four felony counts of aggravated battery. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines The charges stem from the teen girls alleged role in four robberies that unfolded between May 6 and May 10. Officers say the teen was just one of a group of individuals believed to be connected to the robberies, but officers did not provide details on how many others may have been involved. According to police, each robbery occurred on CTA property in the evening or early morning hours. Chicago police provided the following list of dates and locations where the alleged incidents occurred: On Monday, May 6, at around 8:30 p.m., the teen allegedly battered and robbed a 23-year-old girl in the 100 block of West Cermak Road. On Friday, May 10, at around 12:04 a.m., the teen allegedly battered and robbed a 22-year-old girl in the 100 block of West 95th Street. On Friday, May 10, at around 2:18 a.m., the teen allegedly battered and robbed a 21-year-old girl in the 100 block of West Cermak Road. On Friday, May 10, at around 10:45 p.m., the teen allegedly battered and robbed a 29-year-old man in the 100 block of West 79th Street. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Authorities eventually caught up with the teen on Friday in the 100 block of East Roosevelt Road, where she was taken into custody by members of the Bureau of Counter-Terrorism Mass Transit Team. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WGN-TV. People Capable To Be the Next Black President of the U.S. Although Barack Obama was the first Black person to become the President of the United States, he likely wont be the last. Unfortunately, that wont happen during this upcoming election. But there still are plenty of qualified candidates who have the brains and skills to become the next leader of the nation. So we decided to come up with a list. Some of the names generated by The Root staff might be expected; others may surprise you. Tell us what you thinkand who we might have missed. Stacey Abrams Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez (Getty Images) Stacey Abrams has tried multiple times to become the next governor of Georgia but has lost twice. Along the way, shes gained a huge following and support base; we would not be shocked if she ran for president in the near future and wed be even less shocked if she won. Ayanna Pressley Photo: Tom Williams-Pool (Getty Images) One of the politicians at the forefront of ensuring abortion access, Rep. Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) will have the support of thousands of women who believe in abortion rights. Cori Bush Photo: Tim Evans/Bloomberg (Getty Images) One thing we know about Cori Bush: shell always be one to stand up for Black peoples rights. Bush consistently calls out Republicans and anyone else who is doing things that will negatively affect her people. Kamala Harris Photo: Mark Makela (Getty Images) Kamala Harris has already tried to work in the Oval Office but failed during her 2020 Presidential campaign. Now, shes the Vice President which makes her an obvious choice as the next possible president. Michelle Obama Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris (Getty Images) Who doesnt love Michelle Obama? Although shes never expressed political dreams, shed be one of the most popular candidates to ever run. Wes Moore Photo: Nathan Howard (Getty Images) Wes Moore made history earlier this year by becoming the first Black governor of Maryland. Why not make more history by becoming the next president of the United States? Raphael Warnock Photo: Paras Griffin (Getty Images) Senator Raphael Warnocks victory against Republican and all-around idiot Herschel Walker was a huge win for Democrats. He may be eyeing an even larger victory during future presidential elections. Keisha Lance Bottoms Photo: Drew Angerer (Getty Images) Former Atlanta mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms is currently on Bidens administration, serving as the director of the Office of Public Engagement. Before she accepted that role, she was under consideration as Bidens VP pick. We can only hope shes looking for a larger role down the line. Austin Davis Photo: Mark Makela (Getty Images) Austin Davis is currently Pennsylvanias second-highest elected official. Hes young, driven, and full of energy. His current role as the lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania could prepare him for a future run as president. Although, these old tweets could haunt him. Hakeem Jeffries Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images) The first Black House Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries is qualified to run for president, but does he have the name recognition to win the top prize? Maybe not, but man does he have the drive and charisma. Barbara Lee Photo: Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call (Getty Images) Barbara Lee is a career politician who recently announced plans to launch her campaign for the California Senate. Does she have higher political aspirations? Oprah Winfrey Photo: Steve Jennings (Getty Images) This has less to do with politics and more to do with her astronomical popularity. Everyone loves Oprah Winfrey! If anything, Donald Trump proved that billionaires can win the presidency without any political experience. But heres the difference. Oprah is smart, empathetic and beloved. Dwayne Johnson Photo: Jesse Grant (Getty Images) Dwayne The Rock Johnson already shot down any rumors that hell be running for president in 2024, but it was seriously talked about for a while and was the premise for his sitcom, Young Rock. Robert F. Smith Photo: Paras Griffin (Getty Images) One of the richest Black people in the world, similar to Oprah, Smith could also make a serious bid for president because of his huge influence and presence. Brandon Johnson Photo: Scott Olson (Getty Images) Brandon Johnson was once an unknown politician who had a goal of becoming the next Mayor of Chicago. In April 2023, he achieved it. If he has his eyes on the White House, dont doubt him. Antonio Delgado Photo: David Dee Delgado (Getty Images) Antonio Delgado is the current lieutenant governor of New York. Hes another young and energetic politician who has the charisma to galvanize a country. Karen Bass Photo: David McNew (Getty Images) Karen Bass has made history before. In 2008, she became the first Black woman to serve as a speaker of a legislative body. Currently, she is the Mayor of Los Angeles, dont be shocked if she has her eyes on a bigger prize. Sylvester Turner Photo: Brandon Bell (Getty Images) The Mayor of Houston has been a politician for more than 30 years, so he has the experience. If he tries to run for president, will he have a chance? Laphonza Butler Photo: LLISON BAILEY/Middle East Images/AFP (Getty Images) Butler already made history last year after she became the third Black woman to ever serve in the U.S. Senate, maybe she could make more history as a presidential candidate in the future. Summer Lee Photo: Jeff Swensen (Getty Images) Congresswoman Summer Lee is a progressive member of Congress who is as young and driven as anyone in politics today. Shes a fresh voice that young people could sway toward in the future. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. 2 cargo ships caught fire after being hit by projectiles in suspected Houthi attacks off the coast of Yemen Two cargo ships sailing near Yemen caught fire after being hit by projectiles. The missiles are suspected to have been fired by Houthi rebels. Houthis have been targeting ships to pressure Israel and the West over the war in Gaza. Two cargo ships traveling off Yemen's southern port city of Aden caught fire after being hit by projectiles suspected to have been fired by Houthi rebels, UK maritime agencies reported. United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said on Sundayit had been informed of an incident 80 nautical miles southeast of Aden. UKMTO is linked to the UK's Royal Navy. Suspicion for the attack fell on Yemen's Houthi rebels, who have not claimed responsibility for the latest attack but have been targeting shipping in the area for several months with missiles and drones. The British security firm Ambrey later said a cargo vessel from Antigua and Barbuda had been hit by a missile 83 nautical miles southeast of Aden. The ship caught fire but it was contained. "The ship was heading southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2 knots when a missile struck the forward station. A fire started but was neutralized," Ambrey said in an advisory note seen by Reuters. "A second missile was sighted but did not hit the ship. Persons on board small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship during the incident," Ambrey said. No injuries were reported after the ship diverted and sped up. The UKMTO said they had received a second report about another incident 70 nautical miles southwest of Aden. "The master reports that the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, which resulted in a fire. Damage control is underway," UKMTO said. No casualties were reported and the UKMTO said the vessel was "proceeding to its next port of call. Authorities continue to monitor the situation." Reuters reported on Friday that the Houthi rebels had claimed responsibility for attacks on two merchant ships in the Red Sea with "a number of drones and ballistic and naval missiles," but there was no independent confirmation of the incidents. An aircraft takes off to join the US-led coalition conducting air strikes against military targets in Yemen. US Central Command via X/Handout via Reuters Houthis have been targeting ships in the Red Sea corridor and the Gulf of Aden with missiles and drones as part of a campaign that aims to put pressure on Israel and the West over the war in Gaza. Shipping vessels have been forced to take longer and more costly routes around the south of Africa. A US Navy carrier strike group and warships from European nations have defended the key shipping lanes. On Monday, the Houthi rebels said they had fired a new solid-fuel missile called the "Palestine" at the southern Israeli city of Eilat on Monday. The rebels have also detained 11 Yemeni employees of UN agencies under uncertain circumstances, it was reported on Friday. "We are very concerned about these developments, and we're actively seeking clarification from the Houthi de facto authorities regarding the circumstances of these detentions," UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said in New York. Of the 11, the UN said six had been working for the UN's human rights agency, and the rest all worked separately for its special envoy's office, its development arm, Unicef, the World Food Program, and Unesco. On Thursday, Bloomberg reported that the US was planned to further increase economic pressure on the Houthis by blocking their revenue sources. This includes preventing a $1.5 billion Saudi payment to cover salaries for government employees in militia-held territory. Read the original article on Business Insider Two people are charged for attempting to bring contraband inside a Georgia prison. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Washington County Sheriffs Office said Terrance Moore, 38, and Kimberly Taylor-Moore, 39, both of Covington were caught with illegal drugs Monday evening. Authorities said a deputy in Davisboro spotted suspicious activity near the Washington State Prison. The sheriffs office said thanks to the swift action and coordinated efforts, they arrested several people trying to smuggle contraband into the facility. Our team remains steadfast in their mission to protect and serve our community. The continuous efforts to thwart prison drops are a testament to the vigilance and professionalism of our deputies. We will continue to apply pressure on those who seek to undermine the safety of our facilities and the well-being of our residents, workers, and inmates, Sheriff Joel Cochran said. TRENDING STORIES: Kimberly Taylor-Moore was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, two counts of possession of Scheduled II controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of Scheduled V controlled substance with intent to distribute, trading with inmates without consent of warden, trafficking marijuana, trafficking methamphetamine, possession of a firearm during the commission of felony, serious injury by vehicle, fleeing or attempting to elude police, reckless driving, failure to maintain lane, aggressive driving, speeding, failure to obey stop sign, and too fast for conditions. Terrance Moore was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a felony, two counts of possession of Scheduled II controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of Scheduled V controlled substance with intent to distribute, trading with inmates without consent of warden, trafficking marijuana, and trafficking methamphetamine. The sheriffs office said more arrests are forthcoming. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: SUFFOLK, Va. (WAVY) Two people have been displaced by an overnight fire at a home in Suffolk. Just after 3 a.m. Sunday, crews responded to the 100 block of Edgewood Avenue for a house fire. They arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from a bedroom window. Firefighters attacked the flames and searched the inside of the home. By 3:43 a.m. the fire was under control. Officials said the bedroom was significantly damaged by fire. No one was hurt, and the American Red Cross is assisting the displaced. The Fire Marshals Office is investigating the cause of the fire. Continue to check WAVY.com for updates. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WAVY.com. CHICAGO Two people were hospitalized early Saturday morning after a gunman opened fire into a fast food restaurant in the Loop. According to Chicago police, the shooting unfolded at a Taco Bell Cantina in the 100 block of North Wabash Avenue, just after midnight. Read more: Latest Chicago news headlines Officers say the two victims were both hit by gunfire after an unknown individual fired shots into the restaurant. Officers say a 31-year-old man suffered a gunshot wound to his left leg and a 40-year-old man was shot in his left shoulder. Both men were taken to the hospital in good condition. Authorities did not provide a description of the gunman but said they believed it was a male. Currently, it is unclear what led to the shooting and no arrests have been made. Authorities are now investigating the incident. LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland Chicago police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact CPD Area Three Detectives at 312-744-8263 or dial 911. Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Israels latest hostage rescue operation, which brought four Israeli hostages to safety, also killed at least 210 Palestinians, including children, according to a Gaza health official. Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were rescued by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Israel Police and Israel Securities Authority, the IDF said in a joint statement. The special operation, a heavy air and ground attack, took place in two different locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza. All four hostages were kidnapped from the Nova music festival, according to the IDF. The bodies of 109 Palestinians including 23 children and 11 women were taken to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, and spokesperson Khalil Degran told The Associated Press (AP) that more than 100 wounded also arrived at the hospital. In addition, he said the rest of the 210 Palestinians killed were taken to Al-Awda Hospital after he spoke to the director there. But the numbers at that hospital could not be confirmed by the AP. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war until all hostages are freed, but Basem Naim, a senior Hamas official now based in Lebanon, struck a drastically different tone. The horrific massacre committed today by Netanyahu and his fascist government against the Palestinian people in Gaza, which led to slaughter of 210 and more than 400 wounded so far under the pretext of liberating those detained by the resistance confirms what the resistance has said repeatedly: that Netanyahu doesnt plan to reach an agreement to stop the war and free the captured Israelis peacefully, Naim said, according to The Associated Press. President Biden celebrates Israels rescue of 4 hostages, vowing we wont stop The hostage rescue and subsequent deaths of Palestinians comes as Israel continues to face heavy international pressure and criticism for the number of civilian deaths, along with questions around whether Israel is doing enough to prevent them. The United Nations on Friday added Israel to the bodys blacklist for violations against children, and progressive Democrats continue to decry Israels actions, with some vowing not to attend Netanyahus upcoming address to a joint session of Congress. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Fidias Panagiotou, a 24-year-old travel blogger from Cyprus, looks set to win a seat in the European Parliament on the first try. According to preliminary partial results with around 25% of the votes counted, he achieved more than 18%. Although he only came in third place, election experts believe that he is still guaranteed a seat in the EU Parliament. What Panagiotou stands for politically remained unclear during the election campaign and on election night. First and second place were decided between the two established opponents in a neck-and-neck race: The conservative Democratic Rally (DISY) party came out on top with around 24%. According to the figures, the left-wing Progressive Party of Working People (AKEL) party came in with 22.5%. The extreme-right and xenophobic National Popular Front (ELAM), with around 11.5%, will probably have one of the six Cypriot seats in the European Palriament for the first time. It benefited above all from the recent relatively high number of refugees arriving in Cyprus. The spotlight was on blogger Panagiotou, however, whom no-one had seriously expected to do well. "It's a miracle," Panagiotou said in an initial interview. "It's the first time in European elections that someone has made it into parliament without the support of parties, but only with the help of followers on the internet." Election observers attribute his popularity to protest voters in the country. Also, turnout was higher than at the last EU elections. Three people were taken to the hospital overnight Saturday after three separate shootings in the city according to Medic. The first happened just after midnight on West Arrowood Road near Nations Ford Road. Medic says one person was taken to Atrium with life-threatening injuries. The second happened around 1:30 a.m. on East Brooklyn Village Ave where Medic said one person was taken to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. The final shooting happened just before 7 a.m. on Tom Hunter Road. Medic said this victim was taken with serious injuries. There is no update on these victims condition at this time. Channel has reached out to CMPD to see if there was any connection in these shooting but we have not heard back. This is a developing story and updates will be published as they become available. RELATED STORY: 2 killed, 2 hurt in shooting at Rock Hill block party 3 people from Butler County killed in single-vehicle crash in northwestern Pennsylvania Three people from Butler County died in a crash in northwestern Pennsylvania on Saturday. According to Pennsylvania State Police, the crash happened on Centerville Road west of Parker Hill Road in Athens Township, Crawford County, around 8:10 p.m. Police say a car traveling east went off the roadway and hit a tree. The back passenger was ejected from the vehicle, but the driver and front-row passenger were not. All three were found dead when first responders arrived at the scene, troopers said. The crash report released by police indicated no one in the vehicle was wearing a seat belt. State police identified two of the victims by name: Ronald Parisi, 21, of Chicora, and Joshua Boettner, 19, of Butler. The third victim was only identified as a 17-year-old male from Butler. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Woman, child found dead in car in South Park Township Gov. Shapiro signs law banning use of phones while driving in Pennsylvania 3 people arrested in South Side after carjacking in the Hill District VIDEO: Enough is enough Local advocates gather in Braddock to call for end to gun violence DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts 3 People Injured in 2 Different Shark Attacks at Neighboring Beaches in Florida: This Is an Anomaly A 45-year-old woman and two teenaged girls were attacked less than five miles apart within two hours South Walton Fire District/Facebook Florida's Dune Allen Beach; a stock image of bull shark Three people were injured in two shark attacks on two Florida beaches and now local officials are warning residents to be cautious. A 45-year-old woman was swimming near the first sandbar at Watersound Beach on Friday, June 7, at around 1:20 p.m. when a shark bit her around her midsection, pelvis and left arm, according to a Walton County Sheriff's Office press conference and reports from ABC News and WBRC. She was airlifted to HCA Fort Walton Beach Medical Center Part in critical condition, and part of her left arm was amputated, South Walton Fire District Chief Ryan Crawford said. The same day, just before 3 p.m., two teenaged girls were swimming about four miles away near the first sandbar at Seacrest Beach when they were injured by a shark, Crawford added. The girls, who were 15 and 17 years old, were transported to separate area hospitals. One victim received "significant injuries to one upper and one lower extremity, both requiring the application of tourniquets," Crawford said, while the other victim received "flesh wounds" to her right foot. South Walton Fire District/Facebook A beach in Florida's Walton County Related: Shark Attacks New Zealand Woman Walking in Knee-Deep Water: 'Recovery Will Be Slow' "This is an anomaly ... everything from it being three victims, to where it's at," said Walton County Sheriff Michael A. Adkinson Jr., per ABC News. "We know that we share the water with sharks. As tragic as this is, we know that there are always sharks in the water." The sheriff added that the county's most recent shark attack was in 2021 and the last shark-related fatality took place in 2005. Adkinson Jr. added that officials ordered all beaches in the area closed after the first shark attack, but the orders were not in place at all beaches at the time of the second attack. Beachgoers are now being instructed to take extreme caution following the two incidents. The South Walton Fire District (SWFD) also warned its residents to take precaution when visiting the northwestern county's beaches, writing in a Facebook post that there were "moderate surf hazards and the presence of dangerous marine life on Sunday, June 9." "We encourage all of our beach patrons to be situationally aware in the water today, swim near a lifeguard, stay hydrated, and look out for each other," fire officials wrote in the post. "Please do not underestimate the open water and any of the marine life that could be present." South Walton Fire District/Facebook Dune Allen Beach in Florida Related: How to Prevent a Shark Attack and What to Do If Bitten? An American Lifeguard Association Expert Weighs In CNN reported that SWFD beach safety director David Vaughn said that although officials do not know if the same shark is behind both attacks or what species the shark was it's possible the same shark was involved in both attacks. "It would make more sense that with the nature and severity of the injuries, that it was the same large shark," Vaughn told the outlet. WBRC also reported that the Panama City Beach Police Department and the nearby Bay County Sheriff's Office conducted an aerial search and reported large numbers of sharks in the area, including bull sharks close to sandbars. 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. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, a number of shark species live in Florida's waters, including blacktip sharks, bull sharks, nurse sharks and tiger sharks but attacks are still "extremely unlikely." The FWC recommends that beachgoers follow a number of safety practices to stop shark attacks, including avoiding jewelry while in the ocean, not allowing pets in the water, staying in groups and using caution in murky waters, fishing areas or waters containing sewage. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. (The Hill) Three private citizens launched into space and landed safely back on Virgin Galactics VSS Unity spacecraft, completing the companys second spaceflight of 2024 and 12 missions to date. Virgin Galactics seventh commercial mission carried one researcher and three private astronauts, the company said on Saturday. Onboard were two pilots Nicola Pecile and Jameel Janjua. They were joined by Giorgio Manenti of Italy, Irving Pergament of New York, Anand Sadhwani of California and Tuva Atasever, only the second Turkish astronaut to fly in space. Atasevers trip was sponsored by Axiom Space to do microgravity research. A Charlotte womans path from a prison cell to an award-winning food truck Watching our pioneering spaceship Unity return from space on its final commercial flight was a breathtaking and proud moment as we celebrate the ships unprecedented achievements in human spaceflight and build momentum for the rollout of our first Delta Class ships in 2026, said Virgin Galactics CEO Michael Colglazier. The flight took off from New Mexico at around 8:31 am local time and it landed little over an hour later. The carrier jet dropped the spaceplane at an altitude of 44,500 feet. The craft reached the speed of almost three times the speed of sound, according to the company. Atasever flew with headgear that has brain activity monitoring sensors and two insulin pens to test insulin administration in microgravity. I am beyond grateful to have represented my country on Galactic 07 and conduct groundbreaking research that will impact future space missions, Atasever said. The successful completion of Ax-3 and now Galactic 07 is just the beginning of Turkiyes space endeavors. May our people at home continue to be inspired and dream beyond the stars. The company will now focus on building its first Delta Class ships that are expected to be used commercially in 2026. Virgin Galactic was founded in 2004 by Richard Branson. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 4 hospitalized after small plane crashes in yard after trying to land on street DENVER (AP) Four people were hospitalized in serious to critical condition after a small plane crashed into the front yard of a suburban Denver home after trying to land in the street, authorities said. The plane burst into flames after crashing, and the injuries to the planes four passengers included burns, Alex Lemishko, a senior accident investigator for the National Transportation Safety Board, said. Two of the four people taken to the hospital from the crash in Arvada, about 12 miles northwest of Denver, were adults. But it was not clear yet whether the other two people were adults or children, he said. Worlds largest Buc-ees opens next week but Floridas newest store will be even bigger No one in the home, which is on a street running parallel to railroad tracks, was hurt, he said. The 1969 Beechcraft 35 crashed about 15 minutes after taking off from Centennial Airport south of Denver, apparently headed to another suburban airport about 30 miles to the northwest, Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, Lemishko said. The unidentified pilot radioed that he was experiencing engine problems shortly before the crash and planned to land at Rocky Mountain Metropolitan Airport, which was probably visible from the air by then, Lemishko said. In this image provided by the Arvada, Colo. Police Department, emergency personnel work at the scene of small plane crash, Friday morning, June 7, 2024, in Arvada, Colo. Four people were hospitalized after a small plane crashed in the front yard of a suburban Denver home on Friday, authorities said. (Arvada Police Department via AP) Instead, the pilot tried to land in the street in the residential neighborhood, he said. The planes left wing hit a large spruce tree, and the plane skidded down the roadway and veered into the yard, he said. The plane also hit a pickup truck parked on the street in front of the home, pushing the truck up into the homes driveway into another truck, Aurora Fire spokesperson Deanna Harrington said. A roadway or even railroad tracks is a reasonable option for a pilot to try to land if they cannot make it to an airport, Lemishko said. Im sure what was going through the pilots mind was I see a roadway, I need to get this aircraft down, lets give it a shot, he said. The plane was on fire when firefighters responded to the crash about 9:30 a.m., Arvada Fire operations chief Matt Osier 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 WFLA. A number of high-profile Republicans have been floated as prospective running mates for former President Trump, but as he inches closer to a decision, it remains unclear who he will ultimately pick. While Sens. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) are considered some of the leading contenders, strategists say the former president could end up going with an unexpected choice. The fundraising, the media savviness, the loyalty to the America First agenda, I think those are the most important things, said one Republican strategist. But you know Trump, he is unpredictable and he will keep you guessing all the way until the convention. Former New York Rep. Lee Zeldins (R-N.Y.) name has come up this week, while some argue that Trumps former rival, ex-U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley, could strike a unifying tone among Republicans and expand the partys base. Here are five potential dark-horse candidates Trump could choose as his running mate. Nikki Haley Haley and Trump battled head-to-head through Super Tuesday earlier this year, despite Trump being the favorite to win the nomination. While the race turned bitter and personal, Haley has been seen as a figure who could help grow Trumps base inside and outside the GOP. On your dark horse list, Nikki Haley is probably the most likely because of what she brings, the Republican strategist told The Hill. Despite dropping out of the race, Haley has continued to win significant portions of the vote in subsequent Republican primaries. In some states, Haley has garnered close to or more than 20 percent of the vote. While Haley and Trump share many policy similarities, they are seen as representing very different wings of GOP and have very different brands. Haley said last month she would vote for Trump, but its unclear what her role in a Trump campaign would look like or if she would even have one. Trump said in a Truth Social post earlier last month that Haley is not under consideration to be his vice-presidential pick, but later in the month, he said he believed Haley would be on his team in some form. We have a lot of the same ideas, the same thoughts, Trump said, following Haley saying she would vote for him. I appreciated what she said. You know, we had a nasty campaign, it was pretty nasty. But shes a very capable person, and Im sure shes going to be on our team in some form, absolutely. Lee Zeldin While Zeldin ultimately lost his bid to challenge New York Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) in 2022, he has continued to enjoy a high profile among Republicans due to his performance in the Democratic stronghold. Hochul defeated Zeldin 53 percent to 47 percent, but Zeldin received the highest share of votes seen by a New York Republican gubernatorial nominee in years. Zeldins role in helping make New York more competitive has caused some to float him as a potential vice-presidential pick. That is nothing to sneeze at, the Republican strategist said, referring to Zeldins 2022 campaign. If you can push the envelope in blue states, then youre showing that youre somebody who can expand the map on the campaign trail. Additionally, Zeldin is seen as strong at raising funds, which is always an asset for running mates. Lee Zeldin raised a ton of money in New York, the strategist added. You need money to expand the map. The reason why things are looking good for Trump right now is basically because Biden is retreating on the map. Wesley Hunt Texas Rep. Wesley Hunt (R) has emerged not only as a rising GOP star, but also as a vocal Trump supporter. Hunt, along with Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.) who has also been floated as a potential running mate were in deep-blue Philadelphia this week in an effort to appeal to Black men. Recent polls have suggested enthusiasm for Biden among the voting bloc could be dimming, presenting an opportunity to Hunt and Donalds to reach out to the group on behalf of Trump. This is not 1964. This is 2024, Hunt said at the event, billed as Congress, Cognac and Cigars. Do you know whens the best time to be Black in America? Right now, tomorrow! Hunt also spoke at the opening of a Trump campaign office in Philadelphia during the same trip. The Texas congressman has also taken to the cable news airwaves to tout the former president, something Trump appreciates in his supporters. Maria Elvira Salazar Like Hunt, Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-Fla.) is also considered a rising star within the GOP. The Miami-area congresswoman was elected in 2020, flipping Floridas 27th Congressional District, which was considered likely Democratic at the time by the Cook Political Report. Prior to serving in Congress, Salazar was a well-known broadcast journalist with Univision. Political observers point out her identity as a Latina could play well for Trump as the GOP looks to continue to make inroads among Hispanic and Latino voters and improve their standing among women voters. And like the majority of the other floated vice-presidential picks, Salazar has been a vocal defender of the former president in the face of legal woes. The congresswoman was among numerous Republicans to travel to New York City to support Trump during his hush money trial. However, because Trump is now a resident of the Sunshine State, the 12th Amendment which states that presidential and vice presidential candidates on the same ticket must be from different states could present a roadblock for her. And even then, many say Florida Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) would be first in line. If there is a way around the 12th Amendment, then that puts Marco Rubio legitimately in the top two, the strategist said. Greg Abbott Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) has also been floated as a potential pick, given his high profile within the Republican Party. As the governor of a state with the largest border with Mexico, Abbott has been a leading Republican voice on the southern border. The governor has gone head-to-head with the Biden administration on the issue, making national headlines. In March, Trump said Abbott was absolutely on his list of vice-presidential contenders. Following Trumps guilty verdict last week, Abbott said the trial was a persecution not a prosecution. Theres every reason to expect this decision to be overturned. But also, most Americans view this as a miscarriage of justice, Abbott told CNBC. And you can see it in the fundraising numbers, the polling numbers, that Trump has been able to receive in the aftermath of it. And also, maybe in part because this, maybe for other reasons, youre seeing Trump gain more support in the Black community, in the Hispanic community, in all communities across the United States of America. This is not a prosecution, this is a persecution. Still, observers note that Abbotts chances of being chosen by Trump as a vice presidential candidate appear to be relatively low compared to other potential contenders. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. A slew of hot-button issues will be ruled on by the Supreme Court before the end of its decision season that could transform the nations political landscape in a pivotal election year. By the end of June, the high court is expected to decide matters including access to a widely used abortion pill, the rights of social media platforms and the limitations of gun rights. Former President Trump is also front and center as the Supreme Court weighs whether former presidents can be criminally prosecuted for official conduct an argument Trumps team is making in order to shield him from a set of legal matters separate from his recent conviction. Here are five key issues the Supreme Court is set to address. Trump criminal cases Trumps assertion that former presidents enjoy criminal immunity for official acts now rests with the justices, who are hearing his appeal in his federal election interference case. The Supreme Courts decision stands to impact not only whether Trumps charges in the case, as well as those brought in Georgia and Florida, must be tossed, but also whether the three cases proceed to trial at all. At oral arguments, the justices appeared inclined to carve out some immunity for former presidents, leaving for a lower court whether the specific allegations against Trump fall within that shield. That narrow resolution could provide Trump with more pathways to delay his cases, as he hopes to retake the White House following Novembers election and grind his remaining indictments to a halt. A Jan. 6 rioters appeal could also prove beneficial to Trumps legal woes. In his federal election interference case, one of the four charges Trump faces is obstruction of an official proceeding. When the justices in April heard a rioters challenge to the same provision, they seemed skeptical of the Justice Departments use of the charge. While the Supreme Courts decision could have profound implications on the Justice Departments years-long prosecution of those who participated in the Capitol attack, it could also undermine Trumps own obstruction charge. Social media Several cases involving social media not yet decided by the Supreme Court could have resounding implications for free speech online. The rights afforded to social media platforms are on the line in two cases stemming from controversial laws regulating social media bans in Texas and Florida. The laws aim to prevent social media companies from banning users based on their political views even if users violate platform policies. Tech industry groups challenged the legislation as a violation of private companies First Amendment rights, arguing that the laws allowed the government to walk all over platforms editorial discretion. The justices appeared conflicted over the laws during oral arguments in February. A third case against the Biden administration threatens to upend how the federal government quells misinformation online in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic and 2020 presidential election. Two Republican attorneys general challenged efforts to curb misinformation online, suggesting federal officials violated the First Amendment by urging platforms to remove posts they deemed false or misleading. Biden administration officials have argued that barring talk between the federal government and social media companies limits officials ability to address matters of public concern, prevent national security threats and relay information. When the justices heard the case in March, they seemed wary of imposing harsh limits on federal officials communications with platforms about content moderation decisions. Abortion pill In the biggest abortion dispute at the Supreme Court since the conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade, the justices are set to hand down a ruling that could restrict access to mifepristone, a widely used abortion pill. A group of anti-abortion doctors and medical associations challenged changes made by the Food and Drug Administration over the past decade easing access to the pill, including increasing the gestational age at which mifepristone can be used to up to 10 weeks of pregnancy and allowing the medication to be mailed. The high-stakes case could impact abortion access in both red and blue states, with mifepristone being used in more than half of abortions nationwide. At oral arguments in March, a majority appeared skeptical that the challengers had suffered sufficient harm to have legal standing to bring their case a technicality that the justices focused on as opposed to conservative or liberal beliefs about abortion access. Guns The Supreme Court has two major gun cases on its docket this term, though they are legally distinct. The first case is the biggest gun case at the high court since the conservative majority in 2022 handed down the most significant expansion of Second Amendment rights in a decade, laying out a new test for the constitutionality of firearm restrictions. Now, the justices are set to decide the constitutionality of the federal crime of gun possession for people under qualifying domestic-violence restraining orders. Though a majority at oral arguments last fall appeared inclined to uphold the provision, advocates on both sides of the gun rights debate are closely watching for how the opinion more broadly clarifies the Supreme Courts Second Amendment test. The second gun case on the justices docket this term doesnt concern the Second Amendment. Instead, it considers the legality of the Trump-era regulation banning bump stocks, which outlaws owning the devices by categorizing them as machine guns. Congress has long made it unlawful to own machine guns. The Trump administration made the change following the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, at which the gunman used a bump stock. At oral arguments, the justices appeared divided about the legality of bump stocks. Federal agency power The justices this month could do away with Chevron deference, a bedrock precedent of administrative law that for decades has bolstered federal agencies powers to regulate wide areas of American life. The doctrine instructs judges to defer to an agencys interpretation of a law when it is ambiguous. Cited in thousands of subsequent decisions, it has provided the executive branch with wide latitude to implement policy change in countless areas, including environmental protections and cryptocurrency. But conservatives have increasingly looked to eliminate the precedent as part of a broader attack on the administrative state. At oral arguments, some of the Supreme Courts conservatives who have long criticized the precedent railed against it, but it remains unclear if a majority is willing to put Chevron deference on its deathbed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) Its been six months since eight tornadoes touched down in portions of Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky. As a result of the powerful twisters on Dec. 9, 2023, seven people lost their lives, four in Clarksville and three in Madison. At least seven dozen others were hurt. WATCH | Tornado moving through Davidson County caught on camera The National Weather Service (NWS) determined an EF-2 tornado hit the Madison-Hendersonville area with winds peaking at 130 miles per hour. The strongest of the storms was in Montgomery County and Clarksville where the NWS classified the damage as an EF-3 tornado with 150 mph winds. It stayed on the ground for over an hour before eventually crossing into Kentucky. RELATED: Clarksville elementary school honors 10-year-old tornado victim by wearing LA Lakers colors Hundreds of buildings were damaged or destroyed that weekend and some of those affected are still cleaning up and building back to this day. The Dec. 9, 2023 twisters brought the total to 21 tornadoes for 2023, which was more than double the typical average of 10. So far in 2024, Middle Tennessee has seen 12 tornadoes, 10 of which happened in May. For more context on tornado descriptions, the Enhanced Fujita (EF) Scale classifies tornadoes into the following categories: Read todays top stories on wkrn.com EF0: 65 to 85 mph EF1: 86 to 110 mph EF2: 111 to 135 mph EF3: 136 to 165 mph EF4: 166 to 200 mph EF5: More than 200 mph Dont forget to take the power and reliability of the WKRN Weather Authority with you at all times by downloading the News 2 Storm Tracker app. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. The racket pierced Lucy Morgan in the skull while she was on a family vacation in Maine Morgan Family Lucy Morgan. A 6-year-old girl has died after her brothers badminton racket broke and a piece of it struck her in the skull. New Jersey native Lucy Morgan was on a family vacation in Maine on June 1 when the incident which her father later dubbed a freak accident occurred, according to a news release from Maine State Police. Lucy was playing outside with her siblings, including the 10-year-old brother whose racket struck her, when she received the unintentional and ultimately fatal injury, police said. According to Lucys father, Jesse Morgan, his family of six himself, his wife Bethany, and their children: Silas, Shiloh, Lucy, and Atticus were enjoying a beautiful morning at their lake cottage on the last day of their vacation when the incident occurred, he wrote on his blog, New Creation Living. We were eating a quick lunch by the lake and the kids decided to try badminton in the front yard, he wrote. Bethany and I were relaxing in the back when we heard screaming. Authorities later learned that the aluminum shaft of a badminton racket had become dislodged from the wooden handle, causing the shaft to strike the girl in the head, piercing through her skull, the news release stated. First responders arrived on the scene in Limerick, Maine, around 12:00 p.m. local time and transported the 6-year-old to a Sanford medical center. She then went to another in Portland. Morgan Family Lucy Morgan. According to Jesse, Lucy went right to the operating room where they removed part of her skull to relieve pressure and deal with her injury. She coded, they got her back, and they completed the surgery, he wrote on June 2. In the PICU we are being told that there is a very slim chance she recovers. She is currently intubated, has no brain function but occasionally [breathes] on her own. We are praying for a miracle but our hearts hurt with incomprehensible pain. At the time of the post, Jesse requested prayers that Lucy would make a full recovery. We are hanging on, he wrote, but cant imagine life without Lucy-goose. Getty A badminton racket. 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. On June 4, the New Jersey pastor penned another update, writing, "There is a very good chance that she passes away and meets Jesus within 24 hours." "If there is any good news in this, its that she hasnt felt any pain over the past few days," he added. Jesse also used the blog post to share updates about the rest of the Morgan family. My poor wife is barely eating (we got some Chick-Fil-A in her), he wrote. Were sleeping as best we can and our children are processing as best they can. The following day, Lucy died from her injuries, according to both police and her fathers account. Green Pond Bible Chapel, where Jesse is a worship and discipleship pastor, will hold a funeral service for Lucy on June 15. It will also be livestreamed on the churchs website. A GoFundMe page for the family has raised over $100,000 as of Saturday afternoon. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Despite a protest that led to the arrests of eight people, city officials and organizers said the Grand Floral Parade was a success. When the parade began at 10 a.m., Portland police said they were aware of a few dozen people on the sidewalk near NE Martin Luther King Jr Boulevard and Pacific Avenue who were motivated to block the parade. Officials said liaison officers offered to work with the group to be a contact point with parade organizers, but warned the protesters not to disrupt the parade. Amazon series starring Sons of Anarchy lead continues pre-production in Portland Despite their initial agreement, the protesters began blocking some marching bands and floats, got pushed back by the PPB Bike Squad and then began to get verbally hostile, officials said. Eight protesters were arrested for disrupting the Grand Floral Parade in Portland, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Around 11:15 a.m., a handful of protesters pushed through the officers on the line and laid down on the parade route. Thats when officers moved in and arrested the eight people, who range in age from 18-38. All of them were booked for disorderly conduct. One of them, 34-year-old Rio C. Moncrief of Portland, was also booked for harassment and interfering with a Peace Officer. Police said Moncrief splashed a beverage on officers during the protest. Another woman was detained but not booked, officials said. The Grand Floral Parade rolled through the streets of Portland, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Thousands of people of all ages watched the Grand Floral Parade roll through the streets of Portland, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) PPB Chief Bob Day said it was a beautiful day for a parade. He also said he was grateful for the professional police response to the brief interruption by a group intent on interfering with this community 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 KOIN.com. From left, Susan Minato, Ada Briceno and Kurt Petersen, photographed at the Los Angeles Times in El Segundo on Nov. 8. As top executives who share a leadership post, Unite Here Local 11 co-presidents Ada Briceno, Susan Minato and Kurt Petersen aim to present a united front as they steer the politically powerful union representing more than 32,000 hotel workers across Southern California and Arizona. Last year, they showed their solidarity: in handcuffs. The three were arrested together and not for the first time during a protest in the run-up to the Southern California hotel strike, the largest in U.S. history. The strike, which started in early July, involved more than 15,000 hospitality workers at some 60 properties in Los Angeles and Orange counties. The trio's mutual support that day was more than a public pose; its a core precept of their unique power-sharing arrangement, believed to be the first of its kind at a U.S. labor union. One might assume that three people at the helm would butt heads from time to time. But that's not the case, the co-presidents said. "In case of a controversial decision, two could outvote the one, but I can't think of the last time that actually happened," Petersen said. "We have never not had full consensus," Minato said. "The good thing about the compatibility and the trust is that it really, truly enables you to do more." Briceno, 51, Minato, 62, and Petersen, 58, who met in the 1990s as young organizers, divide their responsibilities loosely, in accordance with the situation. At rallies, all can usually be found among the sea of Unite Here red shirts and trading off at the podium, delivering fiery remarks in English and Spanish in Petersen's case, in Spanish with a heavy American accent that staff and members find endearing. Minato often takes point on organizing food service workers, such as those at Universal Studios or airline catering companies, while Petersen heads up hotels and Briceno largely focuses on Orange County and elected officials. But the designations are informal and so loose as to be nonexistent at times. During the hotel strike, it's been all hands on deck, they said. 'The good thing about the compatibility and the trust is that it really, truly enables you to do more.' Susan Minato Unite Here Local 11 has fused labor and political power with significant results. The more than 10-month-old strike now appears to be nearing its end, with dozens of hotels agreeing to immediate raises of $5 per hour for front desk clerks, dishwashers and housekeepers. In November, the union won a deal with the Los Angeles City Council for an ordinance aimed at reducing the city's housing shortage in exchange for dropping a ballot measure that would have required hotels to participate in a city program to put homeless residents in vacant hotel rooms. In 2022, Unite Here Local 11 persuaded politicians to reduce workloads for Los Angeles hotel employees, and, in 2021, to raise the minimum wage for West Hollywood hotel workers. In 2018, Long Beach voters approved a union-backed measure requiring hotels to provide panic buttons for workers. The union has had losses too. Unite Here Local 11 gathered enough signatures to force a special election in Anaheim on whether to raise the citys minimum wage for hotel and event center workers to $25. In October, voters overwhelmingly rejected the measure. "We're shocking people. We're shocking the bosses," Briceno said, "because the voices of our workers is what's front and center for us." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Gun violence California ranks first in nation for strongest gun laws, according to gun safety group, (fresnobee.com, Jan. 5) On May 30, California Attorney General Rob Bonta visited Fresno to discuss gun violence in California. He organized a roundtable meeting and touted the fact that California has a gun violence rate 43% lower than the national average. This news story conveyed the need to fund programs that fight the issue of gun violence above and beyond what is being done presently. We now have some of the best gun laws in the country, so why do we not talk about the real problem: guns in the hands of people who use them illegally, to perpetrate violence. To enact true change, we must tell our judges and elected officials that we are sick and tired of criminals running this state. Address gun crime now or we will elect citizens that will make necessary changes. Duane Opie Fresno Opinion What remains to be done Tiny heart pump saves Fresno Bee columnists life, (fresnobee.com, Feb. 3, 2016) Downtowns Pacific Southwest Building shares a milestone birthday with an organization particularly important to me: the American Heart Association (AHA). A century ago, six doctors convened in Chicago. What was just an idea developed into the powerhouse that is now the AHA. The AHA has spearheaded groundbreaking research, innovation and advocacy to fight cardiovascular disease, helping cut heart disease death rates in half over the past century. It has invested $5.7 billion in cardiovascular research, with $600 million allocated to researchers in California alone. It has also pioneered life-saving interventions like robotic surgery and cholesterol-lowering drugs. These efforts have saved countless lives across the Central Valley. However, according to a recent Harris Poll survey, fewer than half of people identify heart disease as the leading cause of death in the U.S. which it has been for over a century. As the AHA forges ahead, Im reminded of how far weve come, but also of how much remains to be done. Working alongside committed donors and volunteers, I know the Association will fulfill its vision for a brighter future for all. Kurt F. Vote Chair, American Heart Association, Central Valley Board of Directors Fresno Feeling grateful Asylum-seekers bused to Fresno from Texas trekked 5,000 miles; faced jungles, danger, (fresnobee.com, Feb. 2) Recently, I left my wallet and phone on the roof of my car and drove off. It was only when I got to my destination miles away that I realized what I had done. After I spent the next two hours searching the route and driving across town to use a friends phone to cancel as many cards as I could remember, I finally returned home. Waiting in front of my house was a young couple who didnt speak a word of English holding both my phone and wallet. With a friend translating on their phone, they told me they found both items in the street. The $200 that was in my wallet was still there. You can imagine not only the relief and gratitude I felt, but also the awe that people who do the right thing still exist. I couldnt help but think about rhetoric concerning the people trying to cross the southern border into America any way they can. Some of them are the best people in the world, and we as a nation would be lucky to have them. Joe Messner Fresno Grieving the newspaper Support local news its crucial to our lives and our democracy, (fresnobee.com, July 23, 2018) I was a guest columnist for The Fresno Bee in 1993-94. My position was to make people think. It never crossed my mind that newspaper publishing as I knew it would significantly change. A few years ago, there was talk about the declining use of published newspapers. Younger people were drawn to the online companies, and it became clear to me that the newspaper as we knew it was threatened. A couple of months ago, there was talk about The Bee reducing its paper publication. The official notice just came. The Bee will be publishing only three times a week. I think this is a move toward totally eliminating all paper publishing. Lets face it: At some point newspapers will have enough young people to meet their online income. At that time, they will eliminate the remaining paper press, trucks, drivers and carriers. This will leave everyone with a choice: join them online or say enough is enough. Oscar Williams Fresno This week, the Eugene City Council will revote on the proposal to expand EmX service to River Road, decide which proposals to fund with the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2024 and hear an update on the planned Franklin Boulevard redesign. The Springfield City Council and the Lane County Board of Commissioners are scheduled for a pair of joint public hearings on Willamalane's comprehensive plan and code amendments to allow housing in more zones. The Springfield Economic Development Agency will then vote on its 2024-25 budget. The Lane County Board of Commissioners is scheduled for a public hearing on its own 2024-25 budget, to hear an informational overview on Lane County planning and zoning, and to hear several capstone recommendations from University of Oregon public policy students. Eugene City Council To watch: Meetings stream online at bit.ly/Eugene-meetings the city's YouTube channel and the GovHub Media app and are broadcast on Comcast channel 21. The Eugene City Council is transitioning to the new city hall and holding its meetings virtually only. To listen: Dial 833-548-0282 and use the meeting ID and passcode. To comment: While transitioning to the new city hall, Eugene City Council is only accepting written testimony, which can be submitted to the council by sending email to mayorcouncilandcitymanager@eugene-or.gov. WORK SESSION When: 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 10 What: Eugene city councilors are scheduled to give Municipal Court Judge Greg Gill his annual performance review and revisit and revote on the proposal to expand EmX service to River Road. Link: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/84715080673 Meeting ID; Passcode: 847 1508 0673; council9 REGULAR MEETING When: 7:30 p.m., Monday, June 10 What: Eugene city councilors are scheduled to vote on which projects to fund with the city's Affordable Housing Trust Fund in 2024, whether to initiate a review of the city's land use code and who to appoint to the city's advisory boards. Link: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/81099816668 Meeting ID; Passcode: 810 9981 6668; council9 WORK SESSION When: 12 p.m., Wednesday, June 12 What: Eugene city councilors are scheduled to hear an overview of the city's tree preservation and solar standards and an update on the planned Franklin Boulevard redesign. Link: https://eugene-or-gov.zoom.us/j/83397971776 Meeting ID; Passcode: 833 9797 1776; council9 Springfield City Council and Lane County Board of Commissioners To watch: Springfield's system requires registration to watch and to participate in meetings. Use the links for meetings to register and get information to attend. To listen: Dial 1-971-247-1195 or 1-877-853-5247 and use the meeting ID. To attend: Meetings are held in the City Council Meeting Room of Springfield City Hall, 225 Fifth St., Springfield. To comment: There are instructions during the regular session for how to provide testimony. PUBLIC HEARINGS When: 5:30 p.m., Monday, June 10 What: At two joint public hearings, Springfield city councilors and Lane County commissioners will hear feedback on the proposed Willamalane Park and Recreation Comprehensive Plan and code amendments to allow housing in more zones in Springfield. Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LmnWzKVZRl-2xS7GN81SpA Meeting ID: 899 3829 7843 Springfield Economic Development Agency REGULAR SESSION When: 7:15 p.m., Monday, June 10 What: SEDA commissioners are scheduled to hear public comment and vote on adopting the 2024-25 SEDA budget and adjusting the 2023-24 budget to include SEDA's decision to buy the former U.S. bank building in Downtown Springfield. Register: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_oO7KBWLESLqf-XMmBpLVmA Meeting ID: 899 3829 7843 Lane County Board of Commissioners To attend: These meetings take place at the Harris Hall at 125 E. Eighth Ave., Eugene. Doors to Harris Hall open at 8:45 a.m. To watch: County commission meetings stream at bit.ly/LaneCounty-meetings, Lane County's YouTube channel, Comcast channel 21, and the GovHub Media app. To comment: In-person commenters can sign up at the door. Online commenters should register for the Zoom meeting. To submit written comments, email publiccomment@lanecountyor.gov by noon Monday with the subject line PUBLIC COMMENT FOR MEETING DATE 6/11/2024. MORNING SESSION When: 9 a.m., Tuesday, June 11 What: County commissioners are scheduled to hear public comment on their proposed 2024-25 budget, followed by general public comment. Next commissioners will hear their semiannual report on health in Lane County, an update on how Lane County is spending money from the county parks levy and next steps for the Lane Events Center Master Plan. AFTERNOON SESSION When: 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 11 What: Commissioners are scheduled to hear an informational overview on Lane County planning and zoning. MORNING SESSION When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, June 12 What: Lane County commissioners are scheduled to hear four presentations from the University of Oregon Policy Lab. These are capstone presentations from UO public policy students who have formed recommendations for the commissioners: The first group will present a recommendation for a county-run administrative department for Lane Countys social service nonprofits, with the goal of reducing those nonprofits' administrative costs. The second group will evaluate Lane County's recovery from the Holiday Farm Fire and offer recommendations for how to better recover from future disasters. The third group will present on wildfire smoke communication. The fourth group will present on the Mapleton Special Water District. Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com or on X @alanfryetorres. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Eugene City Council to revote on River Road EmX expansion On the agenda: Salem City Council to hold public hearing on 2025 budget Salem residents listen to City Councilor Vanessa Nordyke speak in April against budget cuts for the library. The Salem City Council is set to hold a public hearing Monday on the Fiscal Year 2025 Budget. The hearing is required by Oregon law before the council can vote to adopt the budget by the July 1 deadline. The proposed $724.6 million budget for 2025 covers the period from July 1 through June 30, 2025, and includes estimates of revenue and costs of services and capital projects. The hearing comes after a contentious budget season, during which major cuts were proposed for the Salem Public Library and parks system. Eight jobs were set to be eliminated at the library, the West Salem branch would've been closed and the city planned to shut off splash pads, drinking fountains, irrigation and bathroom access at city parks this summer. After protests, hours of testimony and public outcry, leaders avoided cuts to the library and some cuts to parks by using Cultural and Tourism Working Capital Fund. An eliminated graffiti abatement position also was restored. Salem residents listen to public testimony against library budget cuts during an April budget committee meeting in the Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center. City leaders stressed the funding was a one-time fix and more, bigger cuts would be on the horizon next year if more revenue streams are not tapped. Not all cuts were averted. A housing-first outreach team operated by the Salem Housing Authority and a youth services development program were eliminated. A portion of funds from the national settlements with opioid vendors one-time funds that will not replace the General Fund revenue in the long term will be used to add and fund positions that faced cuts. Salem City Council agreed to use $647,340 of that money in the fiscal year 2025 budget to enhance services related to opioid use prevention including: pivoting the existing Youth Services Program to substance prevention focused on the communitys most vulnerable young people and building awareness with parents, schools, and the community; providing a grant to the Salem Housing Authority to hire two new special projects outreach coordinators for a year to help substance-impacted people experiencing homelessness; providing first responder wellness support such as equipment and training; and providing Naloxone to prevent overdoses. The plan also recommends using additional settlement funds in future years to continue two Homeless Services Team police officer positions through 2030. All general fund departments are required to reduce their materials and services budgets by 1% and supply budgets by 10%, or approximately $430,000 in total. Prior to some of the services being restored, Parks and Recreation services were cut by $1.1 million. The $422,00 restored to parks and $96,000 restored to recreation still left a 40% gap in the department's operating level. Some fee increases proposed to help balance the budget Some fee increases have been identified to help balance the budget and will be considered at the meeting. The recommended budget projects $187.9 million from 75 revenue types and more than 1,500 individual fees. The proposed fee increases include an increase to the City Operations Fee to begin Jan. 1. Last year, the council passed an increase in the operations fee to address a portion of the budget shortfall. An operations fee, which already is tacked on to utility bills for single-family homes, multi-family units, commercial, industrial, institutional and public facilities in the city, will see another increase in January by 3.6%. The change means a single-family home that was once paid $14.43 in the fee will pay $14.94 Commercial, industrial, institution and public accounts all will have an operations fee of $73.90. Under the other proposals, there will be $2 increases to the Pringle, Liberty, Chemeketa, and Marion parkades parking permits, an increase of $482 in ambulance fees, and increases in room rental rates, printing rates and cleaning fees at the Salem Public Library. After the public hearing, the council will vote to direct staff to return with a resolution to adopt the budget with amendments at the June 24 meeting. Other Salem City Council meeting agenda items A vote on whether to rename Salem Municipal Airport to Salem-Willamette Valley Airport to increase awareness of the airport's larger regional role and promote its access to the area's wine, culinary and outdoor attractions. The airport will retain the designation SLE and the historic name of McNary Field for the area containing the runways. A proclamation declaring June Pride Month. A reading of the mayor's Monarch Pledge committing the city to restoring habitat for the endangered monarch butterfly. A vote on whether to authorize the city manager to apply for three separate microgrants ranging from $131,000 to $174,000 over two years through the Department of Justice for initiatives related to community violence reduction, building trust and legitimacy with the community, and recruitment, retention and workforce development. How to participate in the Salem City Council meeting The meeting is at 6 p.m. It will be held in person in the City Council Chambers at the Salem Civic Center, 555 Liberty St. SE, and can be watched on Comcast Cable CCTV Channel 21 or on the Salem YouTube channel in English/American Sign Language and Spanish. Those wishing to comment in person can sign up on the rosters at the chamber entrance before the start of the meeting. Written public comments on agenda items can be emailed by 5 p.m. Monday to cityrecorder@cityofsalem.net. Or preregister between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. Monday at cityofsalem.net/Pages/Public-Comment-at-Salem-City-Council-Meeting.aspx to speak during the meeting via Zoom. For questions, comments and news tips, email reporter Whitney Woodworth at wmwoodworth@statesmanjournal.com, call 503-910-6616 or follow on X at @wmwoodworth This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: Salem City Council to hold public hearing on 2025 budget Al-Jazeeras Jerusalem bureau chief Omar al-Walid denied on Sunday that journalist Abdullah Al-Jamal, who was killed in the Israeli raid to rescue hostages held by Hamas, worked for the outlet and held Israeli hostages in his home. This man is not from Al-Jazeera, and he did not work for Al-Jazeera at all, and he is not listed as working for Al-Jazeera neither now nor in the past, al-Walid said in a statement. We do not know him, and all the rumors that have been spread are empty of content and not true at all, he added. The Arabic-language news network said it would sue those who spread rumors of current connections between Al-Jazeera and al-Walid, the Times of Israel reported. However, the Israel Defense Forces posted a tweet with a screenshot of a bio for Al-Jamal on Al-Jazeeras website. TheWrap located the bio on Al-Jazeeras website as well. Journalist Abdallah Aljamal was a Hamas terrorist holding Almog, Andrey and Shlomi hostage in his familys home in Nuseirat. No press vest can make him innocent of the crimes he has committed.@AlJazeera whats this terrorist doing on your website? pic.twitter.com/1EM8C7csnw Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 9, 2024 The Palestine Chronicle, a news and media company that is based in Olympia, Washington, confirmed that Al-Jamal wrote for them from the region In its social media post on Sunday the IDF pointed out the connection between the network and Al-Jamal, who they said held hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andry Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv in his home. The tweet read, Journalist Abdallah Al-Jamal was a Hamas terrorist holding Almog, Andrey, and Shlomi hostage in his familys home in Nuseirat. No press vest can make him innocent of the crimes he has committed. @AlJazeera whats this terrorist doing on your website? The Palestine Chronicle confirmed Al-Jamals death on Sunday. In its report, the news organization disputed the claim that Al-Jamal harbored Israeli hostages, based on the word of respected commentators and journalists online. An author page for Al-Jamal showed that he authored an opinion piece copublished by Al-Jazeera in 2019, possibly as a freelance journalist. Ramy Abdul, the chairman of nonprofit Euro-Med Monitor which advocates for human rights in Europe, the Middle East and North Africa published a series of tweets about Al-Jamal and the rescue of the hostages, as well as the deaths of at least 270 people at the Nuseirat refugee camp. The number of deaths come from data provided by the Gaza Health Ministry, which operates under the regions Hamas-controlled government. That total has not been independently verified. Abdul explained, In an initial testimony documenting the killings committed by the Israeli army in the Nuseirat camp today, the @EuroMedHR reported that the Israeli army used a ladder to enter the home of Dr. Ahmed Al-Jamal. The army immediately executed 36-year-old Fatima Al-Jamal upon encountering her on the staircase. The forces then stormed the house and executed her husband, journalist Abdullah Al-Jamal, 36, and his father, Dr. Ahmed, 74, in front of his grandchildren. The army also shot their daughter, Zainab, 27, who sustained serious injuries. The Euro-Med Monitor chairman later added, Abdallah Al-Jamal is a freelance journalist used to work for several media outlets. In recent years, he has served as the spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Labor. Muhammad Shehada, the chief of communities at Euro-Med Monitor, earlier questioned the possibility. In a series of tweets, he wrote, The building where Abdallah lived was one of 7 homes reportedly raided by the IDF on June 8. Hostages were held in only 2 of these buildings, not yet clear which. The other homes belong to the families Matar, Salihia, Ayish, Jodeh, al-Habash. The IDF now claims it was NOT Noa Argamani in the building where Abdallah lived but the 3 male hostages. This raises the likelihood that he didnt know, b/c he lived on the 1st floor & the hostages were kept on the 3rd in an apartment building, Shehada added. Argamani told Israeli News 12 that she had been held in a wealthy familys home in Gaza. New testimony from Noa Argamani: I was held at a wealthy family's home in Gaza. They kept telling me, 'You should thank God you're with us; there are far worse places.' While I was there, they would open the door without knocking whenever they wanted me to clean the house. pic.twitter.com/UNtCSyD2VX Hen Mazzig (@HenMazzig) June 9, 2024 Thus far, it does not appear the IDF has released any statements from Meir Jan, Kozlov or Ziv about the identities of who they were held by in Gaza, nor have there been any reports that indicate the three men have been asked specifically about Al-Jamal. The post Al-Jazeera Denies Connection With Journalist Who Israel Says Held Hostages in His Home appeared first on TheWrap. Clothed in Righteousness, a food and clothing ministry in Alliance held a hot meal at the ministry Thursday, August 18, 2023. Its easy to look the other way. It happens a lot in the bigger cities. We dont allow our eyes to fall on the person standing at a highway exit ramp who is holding a sign asking for money. We look down as we pass someone sitting in a store doorway with overstuffed plastic bags that probably contain all their worldly possessions. We even say we dont have any spare change when those asking can hear the ching, ching of our coins as we take our quick steps on the sidewalk. After months of the Canton Repository and its sister paper, The Alliance Review, reporting on a growing homeless problem in the Carnation City, were thrilled about action the citys mayor announced this week. Mayor Andy Grove told Alliance City Council that he wants to join forces with a supporting agency to set up a 40- to 50-bed homeless shelter in the citys downtown. The decision follows several incidents in which unsheltered people have been forced to pack up and leave encampments theyve set up on vacant land. Just last month, Alliance police arrested four people who were living in tents on Union Avenue by the Norfolk Southern railroad tracks. 'Alliance does care': Mayor pitches a new homeless shelter After their cases were heard in Alliance Municipal Court, they were fined and sent back out onto the street. Benjamin Duer, a staff writer who covers eastern Stark County for the two newspapers, interviewed a Salem native who was among those charged. "I don't think it was right," she said. "Because, when you're homeless, what are you supposed to do? Where do you go? All the shelters are full. It takes two years to get into a place." Weve told our readers how dangerous it is to live on the streets. On April 3, 48-year-old Catherine L. Ruggly was struck while walking around 8:50 p.m. on Alliance-Sebring Road, near Oyster Road in Mahoning County, just outside of Alliance. The vehicle left the scene of the crash. No arrests have been made. Clothed in Righteousness: 'They're always here for you' In 2020, Mike and Eva Slagle of Damascus opened Clothed In Righteousness ministry to help homeless and less fortunate individuals and families in downtown Alliance. Ruggly was a regular visitor to Clothed in Righteousness, a ministry that assists homeless people and those in need with food and supplies. The agency operates in Alliances downtown, near where the shelter will be located. In reporting in December 2023, Duer shared that the Alliance YWCA reported that its distribution of hygiene supplies tripled throughout the year. And Eva Slagle, co-director of Clothed in Righteousness, said she and her volunteers helped three times as many people in 2023 as in 2022. As of Dec. 15, 2023, the ministry had assisted 8,630 people, with 60% homeless or considered unsheltered. During 2022, they served 2,450 people. While there are many steps that need to be taken before the shelter opens to assist those in need, and many questions need to be answered, the announcement was an important step. We heard Groves words Monday night at the City Council meeting: "Alliance does care, and we want to take care of them." Wraparound services will be a benefit, too, such as job opportunities and medical assistance that could include mental health treatment. The city of Alliance prides itself in taking care of its own when its residents see someone in need. Mayor Grove has answered a desperately needed call. Its time for area residents and officials to join this fight and support our neighbors. This article originally appeared on The Repository: Alliance Mayor Andy Grove makes right move with shelter for homeless Sunlight hits the desert scrub just beyond a cleft in the steel wall that divides the two cities of Nogales one in the United States and the other in Mexico. Its strange seeing a single trace of light in a land that is often awash with the sun, but at just the right time in the morning, it creeps in and bursts through the border walls gap, funneling out the other side, appearing almost miraculous. The things the light cannot yet touch are strewn about, like offerings in front of the wall. Coils of concertina wire. Abandoned blankets and beanies coated in the frost of the deserts dark. An empty glass jar of baby food. Telephone cards. A small book Guia Practica para el Rezo del Santo Rosario which translates to a Practical Guide to Praying the Holy Rosary. These left-behinds likely belonged to migrants who cut through the Arizona-Mexico border in search of asylum by way of this gap in the wall, known as the Mariposa Slab. For many state and federal politicians including both candidates in the upcoming presidential election it also represents the core of a national problem. All ports of entry in Nogales fall under the Tucson Sector of the United States Customs and Border Protection, which covers about 260 miles east to west some of the busiest territory in America for illegal crossings and drug seizures. Recently, its become even busier. There were 80,814 reported migrant apprehensions in the Tucson Sector last December, a 262 percent increase from the previous year. That historic surge prompted President Joe Biden to begin building closures along the border, despite campaigning on a promise that he wouldnt add another foot to former President Donald Trumps wall construction. Some ports closed altogether out of overwhelm like the Lukeville Port of Entry, about 200 miles west of Nogales, which shut down for a month in December. The number of migrant apprehensions has ebbed and flowed since. Tucson Sector totals neared 42,000 in March tamped down by increased surveillance on both the Mexican and American side of the border that came as a direct response to the December rush. But despite the recent dwindle, border crossings are expected to rise again, and they remain a focal point in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election. A bipartisan bill pushed by Biden in Congress this year would have permitted the government to shutter the border if more than 5,000 migrants crossed it illegally in a single day. For reference, last year brought some one-day totals of more than 10,000. The bill died in the Senate after Republican House leaders pointed out loopholes that would prevent shutdowns and give too much authority to Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, but it lives on as a campaign point for Biden. In February, the same month Bidens bill failed, House Republicans voted to impeach Mayorkas in an unprecedented move that was dismissed by the Senate two months later. Each of these opposing steps, made in the name of immigration reform, have ended in gridlock. Democrats are currently scrounging for an alternative plan to replace the defeated bill as all-eyes-on-it attention is on the politics of the border and the migrants who cross it. Yet little attention is paid to the life lived and shared in border communities most impacted by changes in policy. It is in these small communities where the wall is not seen as a symbol of literal and political division, but a doorway that connects rather than separates. Most of the people who are crossing the border in Nogales, they are locals who have border crossing cards or a special type of visa for binational residents, and they do it every day, says Ieva Jusionyte, a legal and medical anthropologist who teaches international security at Brown University. The border depends on circulation. Nogales, the gateway to North America, demonstrates that neither Mexico nor the United States is a monolith and that the intersection of the two is more of an interconnection. Washington cannot dictate our city from sitting behind the desk and not talking to us I wish the federal people that run the country from over there would take us into consideration. In Nogales, Sonora, colorful homes are scattered like confetti among tawny hills. Theres a rhythm and bustle of passersby beyond the turnstile at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in downtown Nogales, Sonora. This city is far larger than its Arizona counterpart, with some 265,000 people compared to 20,000. Dental and medical offices pepper the streets. Theres Dental Laser Nogales, West Dental, Nogales Dental Advanced and Arizona Dental Nogales, each only about five minutes apart. A chorus of storefronts advertise services for Americans in search of cheaper health care mostly in English. Many even accept American insurance. The familiarity is enough to create the illusion that one did not cross an international border. In truth, much of the citys downtown is catered to tourists, medical or otherwise. Cow skulls, embellished cowboy boots, sombreros, wrought-iron sculptures and tiny bobblehead turtles perch on shelves and are placed hopefully in front of shop doors. Border crossings have gotten increasingly busier in the past two years, but busy is the norm in Nogales, where 15,000 people cross both ways every day. | Photo by John Moore/Source: Getty Images Part of this focus on American visitors is the undeniable boon of their USD-fueled business. The Mexican city of Nogales brings in more than $450 million in international sales annually. More than 100 manufacturing plants, exporting goods from computers to car parts, contribute the majority of that revenue. The rest relies on steady foot traffic crossing the border. The majority of clients are Americans here, about 70 to 80 percent, says Silvestre Castro, the head waiter at La Roca, a restaurant a quick walk from the port. (Hes worked there for 30 years. Every day, he wears an ironed suit and tie to wait on American customers which he says is his favorite part of the job.) Luz Amelia, who owns the Panaderia La Espiga de Oro bakery less than one mile from La Roca, tells a similar story. A lot of Americans come to the bakery and bring the bread back home as far as Phoenix or Las Vegas, she says. Amelia orchestrates the orders from behind the counter, with an open binder of decals and designs for custom cakes in front of her while a line of customers clutching their pastries wait to pay with both Mexican pesos and American dollars. For all the merchants in Sonora who count on sales to Americans, locals in the U.S. are arguably even more dependent on tourists who cross north into Nogales, Arizona. When the pandemic shut down the border, Evan Kory called it a worst-case scenario. The shoe store and bridal shop his family owns on Morley Avenue, La Cinderella and Korys Bridal, lost as much as 30 percent in sales. They couldnt afford to hire employees, so family members took on shifts, keeping the stores open for a few hours at a time. The shops fully reopened in 2021, offering the family a much-needed financial reprieve until the Lukeville border closed in December. Overcrowding caused wait times in Nogales to jump from an average of half an hour to three hours. Shoppers were disincentivized from crossing into Arizona from Mexico and once again, life appeared dire. It was excruciating. And we didnt even care about the fact that the business was struggling, Kory says. It was more about, where are the people? Weve lost who we are. Despite the all-eyes-on-it attention being paid to the politics of the border, little is given to the life lived and shared in border communities most impacted by policy. The main reason for the visible crisscross of languages, currencies and cultures in Nogales is a history that predates the border. Anasazi, Hohokam, Apache and Yaqui tribes lived in the region long before European settlers, with the Nogales area serving as a stop on a trade route that bridged Indigenous communities setting the foundation for the binational nature of Nogales that persists today. It was only after the Gadsden Purchase in 1853 that the two sides were definitively and finally bisected into separate settlements. Still, the two cities are often referred to as one, as Ambos Nogales, or both Nogales. The first chain-link fence that ran through them was put up during the Mexican Revolution in 1915; something to draw a new line in the sand, though crossings were common and uneventful since families spanned across either side. A spirit of unity even at the official level persisted regardless. A collaboration between fire departments was older than the border fence, Jusionyte, the professor at Brown University, says. She has also volunteered as a first responder in Nogales, and authored the book Threshold: Emergency Responders on the US-Mexico Border. Today despite the barbed wire and towering steel structures that stand in place the same is true. Data from the Government of Mexico shows more people have come from the United States into Nogales, Sonora, in the last five years than from anywhere else. Most of these visits are to see family. You have all these people whose lives are on the border not divided by the border, but united by the border, says Randall H. McGuire, an archaeologist who has researched and worked in Nogales, Sonora, for four decades. Its often regarded as the most integrated of border communities on the U.S.-Mexican border. It was the only one that was built with the downtowns facing each other. When borders close and policies change, families are separated. Castro tries to go to Nogales, Arizona, with his 16-year-old a few times a month to shop and to visit his uncles and cousins in Phoenix. Amelia tries to cross at least once a week to spend time with her three sons in Nogales, Tucson and Phoenix. However, with the election looming and border policy dominating the national agenda, its crossed their minds that their access could change. People outside of the border region just cant seem to wrap their head around the fact that its possible to be binational as a person, Kory says. Nogales really is that way. A man walks past the razor-wire-covered border wall that separates Nogales, Ariz., left, and Nogales, Sonora, right. | Photo by Richard Vogel/Source: AP Photo Fernando Urias, battalion chief of the Nogales Fire and Medical Department in Arizona, references the modern history that both cities share. He can cite several examples of fire suppression efforts that have continued to cross the border in his 20 years in the department. The most famous took place a dozen years ago when a hotel caught fire just beyond the border in Sonora. Firefighters from Arizona stationed a fire truck beside the fence and lifted a crane across to douse the flames with jets of water. The image circulated nationally. It depicted a clear moment of solidarity despite the obvious barrier below. The aid has been reciprocated. When another emergency broke out on the Arizona side of the fence some years later, the volunteer firefighters, or bomberos, responded. They arrived in a pickup truck to put out a residential fire that had spread from one house to five. If you told somebody that, they would probably think youre telling a tale, but thats how it went down, Urias says. They showed up in the back of a truck and got to work. For both sides, living on the border means fires literal or otherwise are shared. But Urias now fears that political tensions could stand in the way of communities, families and officials coming together. I think times have changed, he says. Not saying that it cant happen, I just dont foresee it happening with all the politics. Some border states have grown so tired of not feeling heard by the federal government that theyve pushed to circumvent it altogether. In Texas, a law that went into effect in March makes illegally crossing the border a state crime and gives local law enforcement the authority to arrest migrants. Washington cannot dictate our city from sitting behind the desk and not talking to us I wish Washington and the federal people that run the country from over there would take us into consideration, says Jorge Maldonado, mayor of Nogales, Arizona. To him, policy and politics bring awareness to issues, but not the complexity of those issues. For too long, we all know the borders been broken, Biden said during an attempt to rally support for his bill. Over 2,000 miles away from D.C., that brokenness the gaps in border policy are manifested in literal gaps like the Mariposa Slab, functioning as an albatross of sorts: What were once considered doorways have become holes. But once they are sealed, what comes next? The Mariposa Slab looms on the periphery, and every morning, the sun shines through that gap into an uncertain future. This story appears in the June 2024 issue of Deseret Magazine. Learn more about how to subscribe. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A Marianna, Arkansas couple has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the May death of a woman. The Arkansas State Polices (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division arrested Dodge Pinegar, 24, and Shadee Edgin, 30, on June 7 for the death of Ashley Monroe, a 30-year-old woman from Lexa, Arkansas. AR city worker badly burned on job; family wants answers The Lee County Sheriffs Office asked ASP to investigate the homicide on Tuesday, May 21. A local farmer reported finding the body of a woman on a farm field road off Lee County Road 706, north of Marianna. The woman was later identified as Monroe. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Arkansas familys and gun safety advocates gather in orange to honor victims of gun violence Arkansas familys and gun safety advocates gather in orange to honor victims of gun violence LITTLE ROCK, Ark. Many across the state are honoring National Gun Violence Month with ceremonies and social gatherings with people who were victims or lost loved ones to gun violence. Arkansas gun safety advocates and Little Rock moms hosted their annual event as well covering Little Rocks Awareness Center in orange. Pine Bluff community members hold event for National Gun Violence Awareness Day, aim to create positive change & honor victims Many said theyre still healing wounds from the sudden death from their loved ones. For Yolanda Harrison, closure is something she says she never got. I never really got a true answer as to what happened that particular night, but my son is no longer here, Harrison Said. Little Rock group deliver letters to Governor Sanders asking for an end to gun violence in their neighborhood There are many whose relatives murder has gone unsolved, but Harrison is using that lingering pain as purpose with an organization called mobs sad. Its an acronym for Moms of Black Sons standing against death, Harrison said. Her son Devan Sprawling was killed November 30 in 2018. The young man said the gun accidentally went off, Harrison said. Families gathered to walk hand in hand at the Hero 5 Walk to honor victims of gun violence She says she was inspired to stand up against senseless gun violence while helping others. To know how it made me feel I know exactly what theyre feeling so I want to be there to uplift them to know theres hope and help them to take their pain and turn it into a purpose as I did, Harrison said. This year, Moms Demand Action an organization started by gun safety advocates, will be organizing several wear orange events across the country leaders tell their ensuring their voices are heard and the message is clear. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (FOX40.COM) A domestic violence suspect who was armed and barricaded inside a residence surrendered to police after about two hours of negotiation, according to the Sacramento Police Department. At around 12:20 p.m., the Sacramento Police Department, including an air crew, K-9 officers, and negotiators, responded to the 3100 block of Callecita Way between Arcade Boulevard and Sonoma Avenue. Sacramento K Street mass shooting suspect dies in jail cell Officers said they negotiated with an armed individual who was wanted for domestic violence. During that time, nearby roads were closed and law enforcement asked commuters to seek alternate routes. After about two hours, police said the suspect peacefully surrendered and roads were reopened. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40. By Mark Trevelyan (Reuters) - A large crowd protested in Armenia's capital Yerevan on Sunday against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, led by a Christian cleric who announced the start of four days of rallies to seek to drive him from office. Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan is seeking to tap into popular anger over military defeats and territorial concessions to Azerbaijan, but Pashinyan has so far withstood the pressure. "For four days, we will stay in the streets and squares, and with our determination and will, we will achieve victory," said Galstanyan, who called on parliamentary factions to hold a special session on Tuesday to remove the government from power. A live video stream on YouTube showed thousands of people rallying in the centre of Yerevan and then marching peacefully through the streets with music blaring. There were no reports of arrests or clashes. After weeks of protests against Pashinyan appeared to be losing momentum, Galstanyan is attempting to bring matters to a head with demands for a change of power within days. He is calling for the appointment of a transitional government to "implement reconciliation", manage foreign relations and prepare for snap elections. But Richard Giragosian, director of the Regional Studies Center in Yerevan, said the move smacked of desperation in the face of waning protest numbers. The archbishop's campaign was hampered by a lack of political experience and the absence of a clear strategy or alternative vision, he said. The demonstrations, as yet, "do not pose any real challenge to the government. The only danger of escalation is from a possible over-reaction by the security forces," Giragosian told Reuters. Pashinyan is a former journalist who came to power after a wave of street protests in 2018. He came under heavy domestic pressure in 2020 after major losses to Azerbaijan in the second war the two countries had fought in three decades. Last year Azerbaijan followed up with a lightning offensive to take back its Karabakh region, prompting an exodus of 100,000 ethnic Armenians who had enjoyed de facto independence there for three decades. Pashinyan has criticised Russia for not intervening with its peacekeeping force in the region to stop Azerbaijani forces from retaking Karabakh. He has publicly questioned Armenia's traditional alliance with Moscow and started to forge closer ties with the West. A senior U.S. official, Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, was due in Yerevan on Monday for talks on bilateral ties and moves towards a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. The trigger for the latest demonstrations against Pashinyan was his decision to hand back four deserted border villages to Azerbaijan in May. Opponents called it a betrayal, but Pashinyan defended their return as a necessary step to avoid a further war that would end badly for Armenia. (Reporting by Mark Trevelyan; Editing by David Holmes) President Joe Bidens recent immigration proclamation would significantly restrict migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. But does this action amount to a border "shutdown," as some Democratic politicians have claimed? Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., criticized Bidens directive, saying it used the same immigration law provision that then-President Donald Trump used in 2017 to restrict immigration from Muslim-majority countries. "Enforcement-only actions on immigration, like shutting down the border, are the same types of tactics that Trump used. They dont work," Jayapal said in a Tuesday post on X. Rep. Lou Correa, D-Calif., also issued a statement Tuesday expressing concern about Bidens order "to shut down the border." "Attempts like this, to close the border, do nothing but put lives at risk and dampen our nations economic prosperity," Correa said. Although some Democratic lawmakers criticized Bidens order as being too strict, Republicans in Congress said it didnt go far enough to limit the number of migrants crossing the border. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., called the order a "joke" in a Tuesday post on X, saying, "It would still allow close to a million people a year to cross illegally." Immigration experts had mixed responses to Bidens order; some said it amounted to a shutdown, while others noted that it leaves open certain avenues whereby migrants can enter. What Bidens immigration proclamation does Bidens proclamation Tuesday says that when the southern border is "overwhelmed," migrants who cross illegally will be barred from receiving asylum and will be subject to expedited removal orders. Migrants who come to the U.S. through an official port of entry can seek appointments via U.S. Customs and Border Protections CBP One mobile app, according to the Department of Homeland Security. U.S. officials will screen migrants who cross legally and express a fear of persecution or torture if they return to their home country, or an intention to apply for asylum. "If an individual chooses not to use our legal pathways, if they choose to come without permission and against the law, theyll be restricted from receiving asylum and staying in the United States," Biden said in a Tuesday speech about the proclamation. Migrants who cross illegally and do not have a legal basis to remain in the U.S. will be deported and barred from reentering for five years. The White House and Department of Homeland Security said the directive will take effect anytime the weekly average of daily illegal border crossings reaches at least 2,500. The administration said the directive would be in effect immediately. If the weekly average of daily border crossings drops to 1,500 or fewer for 14 consecutive days, regular asylum processing will resume, the Biden administration said. The last time border crossings were below that threshold was July 2020, in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Washington Office on Latin America, a research and human rights advocacy group. Bidens proclamation does not apply to "lawful permanent residents, unaccompanied children, victims of a severe form of trafficking, and other noncitizens with a valid visa or other lawful permission to enter the United States," the Department of Homeland Security said. What immigration experts said about Bidens order Mario Russell, executive director of the Center for Migration Studies, told PolitiFact he sees this new rule as effectively closing the border. "Turning people away and not allowing them access to the asylum adjudication system when they present themselves between ports of entry means that, in effect, the border will be shut down," Russell said. Russell noted that there are few appointments available to migrants through the CBP One mobile app. He called the border crossing threshold that triggers the order "disturbingly low." Colleen Putzel-Kavanaugh, associate policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, disagreed that Bidens action amounts to a "border shutdown." She said its "not feasible for any president to fully shut down the border, as regular trade and travel must still occur." Bidens directive means asylum access will be further restricted when migrant apprehensions reach a certain threshold. Migrants screened for other protections will have to pass higher standards, Putzel-Kavanaugh said. These other protections, if granted, allow migrants to stay in the country but dont have the same benefits as asylum, such as a pathway to permanent U.S. residence. "It is possible that this could have a deterrent effect in the short term and result in a reduction of people who enter the country," Putzel-Kavanaugh said. "But all apprehended migrants must still be processed, and the capacity constraints faced by (the Department of Homeland Security) will remain until Congress fully funds the immigration system." Monika Langarica, senior staff attorney at UCLA's Center for Immigration Law and Policy, said Bidens directive "does not shut the door to newcomers altogether" because migrants will continue to be processed under the new guidance. "Saying this amounts to a border shutdown is imprecise because it simplifies what is actually a complex rule that will cause a lot of confusion for people seeking asylum," Langarica said. Theresa Cardinal Brown, immigration policy director at the Bipartisan Policy Center, said in an X post Tuesday that Bidens order will not close or shut down the border because migrants can still request asylum at ports of entry through the CBP One app and business at ports will continue. "It's not like the border has just one set of gates that can get locked with a we're closed sign," Brown said. Our sources This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ask PolitiFact: Does Joe Biden's asylum order shut down the border? Austin man first to be prosecuted under new crosswalk law AUSTIN (KXAN) Its hard for Gina Torry to forget her nephews words. Its something shes carried with her for years. When you have a 6-year-old ask you why it is that somebody could kill their mother without any consequences without any law thats a hard thing to respond to, said Torry. The aunt didnt have an answer. Lisa Torry Smith was struck and killed crossing the street with her son, in a crosswalk, and in a school zone in Fort Bend County in the Houston area in October 2017. Torry said her nephew was severely injured but survived. Officials tell KXAN investigators the driver that hit and killed Smith was not charged. Its something Torry said she kept thinking about through her grief. Thats one of the reasons why we advocated for a Texas crosswalk law so that no child ever has to ask that question, she said. Setting a precedent The Lisa Torry Smith Act became law in September 2021 making it a crime to kill or hurt a pedestrian, cyclist or other vulnerable road user in a crosswalk in Texas. A Texas law is named after Lisa Torry Smith who was struck and killed by a driver in a crosswalk while walking her son to school. (Courtesy: Gina Torry) Recently, the Travis County District Attorneys Office said it prosecuted its first case under the new law. READ: Is Texas law named after mom killed in a crosswalk being enforced? In March, Todre Anderson was sentenced to 18 months in state jail. Court records show Anderson was charged after running a red light and hitting and killing a 64-year-old pedestrian with his vehicle at Little Texas Lane and South Congress Avenue in November 2021. In court documents, police said the pedestrian had the walk sign to cross, but Anderson was looking at his cell phone. Court records obtained by KXAN investigators show Anderson originally pleaded guilty and was given five years of probation, but that was revoked after he failed to report to his supervision officer, and he didnt pay court and other fees. KXAN Investigators reached out to Andersons attorney Alex Calhoun multiple times by phone and email, but he said he has no comment on the case. This sets an important precedent for the rest of Texas and for the implementation of the Lisa Torry Smith Act, said Torry. Raising awareness The law requires drivers to stop for a pedestrian or cyclist in a crosswalk. If drivers violate the law and theres serious injury or death, they could be held criminally responsible. Before the new law drivers were only required to yield. Implementation is going very slowly, Torry said. Of course, when there is a new law, it takes time for millions of people around the state to understand that there is a new law to know about it and to know how it works. Citizens for Road Safety Texas is pushing for awareness and education of the Lisa Torry Smith Act. (KXAN Photo/Arezow Doost) Its why she founded Citizens for Road Safety Texas, a nonprofit that is making sure the law is enforced. READ: Bicyclist hit by car proves case after insurance fight; shares lesson for others She was in Austin last month and spoke at a Texas Department of Transportation Commission meeting about the need for a grant to raise awareness. This would provide staffing on the ground, based in Fort Bend County, to develop training materials on the new Texas crosswalk law, and to go out and give those trainings not just to Fort Bend County, but across Texas, to law enforcement, to community groups, to lawyers, so that we are helping to raise awareness of this new law, how it gets implemented and how drivers can follow it, she said. The organization applied for funding previously twice but was denied. Torry is hoping they can team up with TxDOT this year. A spokesperson with the agency said educating the public on safety issues throughout the state is extremely important and TxDOT is working with the organization to understand its funding needs. Statewide impact Torry explained her organization is hearing from families impacted across Texas who need guidance about the law. Lisa Torry Smith pictured on the right with her mom and sister. Her family pushed for a crosswalk safety law after her death. (Courtesy: Gina Torry) The sad fact is that this crosswalk law is not well known yet and its implementation. There hasnt been enough legal precedent. And so we are trying to assist people who come to us to connect the dots, she added. Torry said the Anderson case out of Austin will be an example of how the law is implemented for other counties. A records request to the Travis County District Attorneys Office showed two other cases have been filed under the offense of collision involving pedestrian road user in a crosswalk. According to the records, police have issued an arrest warrant for a man in a hit-and-run involving two pedestrians. Our office takes any death or injury resulting from reckless driving as seriously as any other act of violence. Drivers need to be well-informed about new laws that protect pedestrians and cyclists to ensure everyones safety on the streets, the Travis County District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. You may be familiar with the idea that your gut and skin are home to a collection of microbes fungi, bacteria and viruses that are vital for keeping you healthy. But did you know that your eyes also host a unique menagerie of microbes? Together, theyre called the eye microbiome. When these microbes are out of balance too many or too few of certain types eye diseases may emerge. With a study showing bacteria live on the surface of the eye and stimulate protective immunity, scientists are beginning to discover the microbial factors that can be exploited to create innovative therapies for a range of eye disorders like Dry Eye Disease, Sjogrens Syndrome and corneal scarring. One day it may be possible to engineer bacteria to treat eye diseases in humans. Im an immunologist studying how the eye prevents infection. I became interested in this field because humans get only two eyes, and understanding how bacteria affect immunity may be the key to avoiding up to 1 million visits to the doctor for eye infections and save US$174 million per year in the U.S. alone. Eye microbiome When discussing the microbiome, most scientists usually think of the gut, and deservedly so; researchers think one colon can harbor more than 10 trillion bacteria. That being said, more attention is now being focused on the impact microbiomes have at other sites, including the skin, and areas with very few bacteria, like the lungs, vagina and eyes. For the last decade, the role of the microbiome in ocular health was controversial. Scientists believed that healthy eyes lacked an organized microbiome. Studies showed that bacteria from the air, hands or eyelid margins could be present on the eye; however, many believed these microbes were simply killed or washed away by the continual flow of tears. Wearing contact lenses alters the eye microbiome. Andrey_Popov/Shutterstock.com Only recently have scientists concluded that the eye does, indeed, harbor a core microbiome that appears dependent on age, geographic region, ethnicity, contact lens wear and state of disease. The core is limited to four genera of bacteria Staphylococci, Diphtheroids, Propionibacteria and Streptococci. In addition to these bacteria, torque teno virus, implicated in some intraocular diseases, also counts as a member of the core microbiome as it is present on the surface of the eye of 65% of healthy individuals. This suggests that doctors should think more deeply about the risks and benefits to the microbiome when prescribing antibiotics. The antibiotics may kill bacteria that are providing a benefit to the eye. In a recent study spanning more than a decade and including more than over 340,000 patients in the U.S., the authors found that antibiotics were used to treat 60% of acute conjunctivitis (pink eye) cases. But viral infections are the most likely causes of pink eye, and not treatable with antibiotics. More striking, even cases caused by bacteria often resolve in 7-10 days without intervention. It is well known that excessive or inappropriate antibiotic use can disrupt the microbiome, leading to infection, autoimmunity and even cancer. Discovering an eye-colonizing microbe Within the past decade, studies assessing the eye microbiome and disease have boomed. Theyve generated an immense amount of data, but most of it is correlative. This means that certain bacteria have been linked to certain diseases, like Sjogrens Syndrome or bacterial keratitis. However, whether these bacteria are causing these diseases is still unknown. During my time at the National Eye Institute, I used mice to identify whether bacteria at the surface of the eye could stimulate an immune response to protect the eye from blinding pathogens like the bacterium Pseudomonas aeuruginosa. C. mast bacteria (green) living on the surface of a mouse eye. Tony St. Leger, CC BY-SA In 2016, ocular immunologist Rachel Caspi at the National Eye Institute and I hypothesized that protective bacteria were living near or on the eye. Indeed, we found a resident bacterium, Corynebacterium mastitidis (C. mast), that stimulates immune cells to produce and release antimicrobial factors that kill harmful microbes into the tears. Through a series of experiments, the Caspi lab was able to show for the first time a causal relationship between C. mast and a protective immune response. Whenever C. mast was present on the eye surface, mice were more resistant to two species of bacteria known to cause blindness: Candida albicans and Pseudomonas aeuruginosa. Now, in my lab, we would like to exploit this relationship between C. mast and ocular immunity to develop novel therapies to prevent infection and possibly target more widespread diseases like Dry Eye Disease. Engineering microbes to improve eye health Future therapies to treat dry eye disease may contain microbes engineered to live on the eye and supply therapeutic chemicals. Timonina/Shutterstock.com The first step toward developing such therapies is figuring out how bacteria colonize the eye. For this, my lab is collaborating with the Campbell Laboratory at the University of Pittsburgh, which houses one of the most extensive collections of human ocular bacteria in the country. With our unique experimental setup with mice and advanced genetic analyses, we can use this microbial library to begin to identify specific factors required for the microbes to colonize the surface of the eye. Then, with ophthalmologists and optometrists in the UPMC Eye Center, we are beginning to analyze the immune signatures within the eyes of healthy and diseased patients. Here, our hope is to use this technology as a new diagnostic tool to target the microbes causing disease rather than immediately treating infections with broad spectrum antibiotics that kill the good microbes too. Finally, one of our loftier goals is to genetically engineer eye-colonizing bacteria to act as long-term delivery vehicles to the surface of the eye. In the gut, genetically modified bacteria have been shown to alleviate diseases like colitis. We hope that this new prob-eye-otic therapy would act to secrete immune regulating factors, which would limit symptoms associated with conditions like Dry Eye Disease, which affects around 4 million people in the U.S. per year. In this developing field, there is still much to learn before physicians can begin manipulating the ocular microbiome to fight disease. But one day perhaps rather than just squirting eye drops into your dry eyes, youll squirt in a solution with some bacteria that will colonize your eye and secrete the lubricants and other factors your body is missing. Stay tuned. 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: Tony St. Leger, University of Pittsburgh Read more: Tony St. Leger receives funding from the National Institutes of Health and The University of Pittsburgh. People cast their votes on the first day of the advance voting of the European Parliament election. Roni Rekomaa/Roni Rekomaa/dpa The European Parliament is elected every five years, with the elections this year held over four days from June 6-9. 720 seats are up for grabs. Parliament with blocking (and amending) power Compared to a national parliament, the European Parliament's powers are fairly limited. It cannot propose new EU laws - only the unelected European Commission can do that. But the parliament can block most draft legislation. It also has the power to reject EU member states' nominees for the key position of commission president and the other 26 commissioners. The parliament has never rejected a nominee for commission president - though it came very close to turning down incumbent Ursula von der Leyen in 2019 - but it has rejected would-be commissioners. Parliamentarians can also usually propose amendments to draft legislation, but these have to be agreed with EU member states' national governments before they can become law. The member states are represented by their ministers in a separate institution called the Council of the European Union. Negotiators for the two chambers typically resolve disagreements on amendments to new laws in often gruelling talks, which can run overnight. The parliament can reject the outcome of these talks and send their negotiators back to the table. How members are elected Parliamentary seats are distributed among EU countries according to population: big countries get more seats than small ones. In the current elections, there are 96 seats available in the EU's largest country, Germany, and six in the smallest, Malta. Some countries - such as Ireland and Belgium - divide their seats among separate electoral districts, but most don't. All countries some version of proportional representation, which aims to ensure the seats available in a given country or district are won with a roughly equal share of the vote. For example, if a country has 20 seats, a party that gets 50% of the vote might win 10. Similarly, an individual candidate can be elected with 5% of the vote. But the details vary, and the formulas used to allocate seats to winners can be quite complicated. Some countries, such as Germany, use a "closed list" system that forces voters to choose between entire political parties, rather than individual candidates. Parties then distribute the seats they've won across their list of candidates. Others use variations of an "open list" system, where voters can influence the ranking of individual candidates on the party lists. Other countries don't use party lists at all. The political "parties" you've voted for, but never heard of When they get to the European Parliament, political parties usually band together into different pan-European groups that most voters will be unfamiliar with. The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) has been the largest such group for the last 25 years, though no group has ever had a parliamentary majority. The EPP includes Germany's Christian Democrats, Italy's Forza Italia and Poland's Civic Platform. The other current blocs are the centre-left Socialists & Democrats, the liberal-centrist Renew; the Greens; the mildly eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists; the more nationalistic Identity & Democracy - which recently kicked out the German far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD); and The Left, a coalition of radical socialists and communists. There are also non-aligned parties and independents. European political groups are fairly loose coalitions. Just because two parties are in the same EU group doesn't necessarily mean they're much alike, or that they'd be on the same side if they had to share a country. Their fringes can also overlap: a few parties in the EPP are arguably to the left of some members of Renew, for example. On the other hand, these groups often vote as single blocs in the European Parliament. For the ordinary voter, that raises an interesting question: Is the party you'd vote for in a national election necessarily the one you want to send to the European Parliament? This story was originally published by Grist. Sign up for Grists weekly newsletter here. Take a few steps into a leafy forest in New Yorks Hudson Valley, close your eyes, and listen: Thats not the sound of rain, its millions of caterpillars chewing and pooping. On a clear spring day, the pitter-patter of spongy moth caterpillars eating their way through oak, maple, crab apple, basswood, and aspen trees can be heard over the sound of birds singing. Bits of green leaves litter the ground like confetti evidence of the insatiable chewing taking place in the canopy above. Hundreds of caterpillars bob on long, wispy silk threads, waiting for a breeze to carry them to a new tree. The Northeast and Midwest are enduring what is, in some places, the worst outbreak of spongy moths on record. One of the factors driving the proliferation of very hungry caterpillars is climate change-spurred drought, which allows spongy moths to breed with abandon, producing up to a million caterpillars per acre. Trees are resilient, but this outbreak has been especially long and damaging. After two consecutive years of intensive spongy moth feeding, up to 80 percent of trees in a hardwood forest that has been defoliated, or stripped of its leaves, will die. The current spongy moth epidemic has lasted five years in some parts of the U.S. When trees are defoliated like this right at this time of year, they are using reserves that are in the trunk and in the roots to put out a second flush of growth, said Brian Eshenaur, a plant pathologist at Cornell Universitys Integrated Pest Management Program. If the tree has to do that two years in a row, its really tapping all the reserves it has. The caterpillars arent the only forest pests benefiting from climate change. Many invasive species in the U.S. are expanding, generally thanks to milder winters brought on by warmer-than-average global temperatures. Insects like the hemlock woolly adelgid, the emerald ash borer, the Japanese beetle, and the spotted lanternfly are chewing their way through the countrys trees at record paces leading to widespread tree mortality and stressed forests that are susceptible to drought and more disease. No one species is capable of taking down the nations forests, which collectively store some 60 billion metric tons of carbon, but the rising tide of invasive species is doing serious cumulative damage. Spongy moths have been in the United States since 1869, when a French artist and amateur entomologist named Etienne Leopold Trouvelot imported some from Europe and began raising them in netting in his backyard near Boston. Trouvelot was hoping to breed a silkworm suited to American climes that could be used for commercial textile production. Spongy moths, known as gypsy moths at the time, float from leaf to leaf and tree to tree on long, durable lines of silky thread. But the moths soon escaped from captivity, perhaps because a heavy storm tore through Trouvelots netting, and some of the bugs decamped to the Massachusetts woods. Two decades later, in the midst of the first spongy moth infestation on record, one resident of the town in which Trouvelot lived described a world carpeted with black, hairy caterpillars. I do not exaggerate when I say that there was not a place on the outside of the house where you could put your hand without touching caterpillars, the resident told the Boston Post in 1889. (The caterpillars dont bite humans, but coming into contact with their spiky hairs causes some people to develop an itchy and painful rash.) For more than a century after that initial outbreak, spongy moths spread at a rate of about 13 miles per year through New England, the Mid-Atlantic, the Midwest, and parts of the South, feasting on 300 species of leafy trees and shrubs and leaving entire stretches of forest bare in their wake. The moths defoliated 81 million acres cumulatively between 1970 and 2013. Because of the toll they take on trees, keeping spongy moth populations in check has become one of the U.S. Forest Services highest priorities. The economic cost of managing spongy moths has averaged $30 million per year for the past 20 years. And climate change is making things worse. Outbreaks typically occur every eight to 12 years, and each surge lasts one to three years. The current outbreak has lasted longer than usual, said Tom Coleman, a Forest Service entomologist who manages the agencys Slow the Spread spongy moth program, in part because of drought in some of the areas that the moths inhabit. Drought affects the spread of a fungal pathogen called Entomophaga maimaiga that curbs spongy moth populations. The fungal pathogen, originally found in Japan, was introduced by researchers to the U.S. as a spongy moth control measure in the early 1900s. The pathogen can be incredibly effective at killing the moths in their caterpillar stage, but it needs a cool, wet spring in order to proliferate. Cyclical outbreaks of spongy moths often follow years that are drier than average, when the pathogen is not as prevalent in the environment. Without that fungal pathogen keeping the populations in control, we get these large outbreaks, Coleman said. In the eastern portions of the country where spongy moth outbreaks occur, climate change is making weather patterns more erratic. Much of the eastern U.S. is projected to become wetter, on average, as the planet warms. But climate change also fuels pockets of drought in these regions during warm months. Drought in 2023 and the beginning of 2024 in northern Virginia, southern Pennsylvania, and parts of Wisconsin and Michigan helped fuel this years outbreak. Drought at the huge scale often seen in the American West isnt a prerequisite for spongy moth outbreaks in the east. It doesnt have to be a whole annual drought, Coleman said. It can just be a rather warmer, dry spring. Its unclear whether rising temperatures will cause spongy moths to emerge more frequently, but it is safe to assume that a warmer, drier environment will cause cyclical outbreaks to become more intense over time. Luckily, the Forest Service has had some luck deploying more than 100,000 pheromone-laced traps to catch the bugs as they try to push west. The agency has also treated 10 million acres of forest with a biological insecticide that kills the caterpillars, preventing the bugs from establishing in new places. Still, experts worry about the multipronged threats Americas trees face from pests and climate change, and the intersection of those two dangers. Not only can climate change affect insects, it can also make trees that are native to a certain area less suited, Eshenaur said. A lot of our trees in the Northeast cant tolerate high temperatures and sustained drought. That can make them more susceptible to these new pests that are coming in. This article originally appeared in Grist at https://grist.org/science/whats-behind-the-record-outbreak-of-spongy-moths-in-the-eastern-us/. Grist is a nonprofit, independent media organization dedicated to telling stories of climate solutions and a just future. Learn more at Grist.org View comments Belgian Prime Minister Alexander de Croo announced plans to resign after the defeat of his party, the liberal Open VLD, in the federal elections held June 9. Belgium held a national vote on the 150 legislative seats in the Chamber of Represenatatives on June 9, the same day as its European parliamentary elections. "Tomorrow I will resign as prime minister," de Croo said, with 90% of the votes counted. The conservative party N-VA led the vote, with a projected win of 24 seats in the Chamber of Representatives. The far-right Vlaams Belang party is projected to win 20. In third place, the liberal Mouvement Reformateur (MR) party is projected to take 19 seats. N-VA's victory appears to have staved off a takeover by Vlaams Belang, a Flemish nationalist party that aims to break up Belgium into two countries. Over the next months, the parties will enter talks to form a governing coalition. Despite the heavy defeat handed to De Croo's party, he expressed hope for future elections. "But the Liberals are strong, we will return," he said. In March, de Croo spoke out against Russian propaganda campaigns disseminated through a website called Voice of Europe. Two Vlaams Belang MPs, Filip Dewinter and Filip Brusselmans, gave an interview to Voice of Europe in September 2023. "Russia wants to destroy our democracy," de Croo said, saying that Czech and Belgian intelligence showed that European and Belgian lawmakers were paid to spread pro-Kremlin propaganda. Read also: Why European elections matter for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Monica Ortloff was a favorite teacher for many students at Granite Hills High School. Her English room was a safe space for LGBTQ+ individuals to exist without judgment for the past two decades. She also kept in touch with many students after graduation, even officiating some of their weddings. Her passing was sudden and unexpected. Ortloff had just celebrated her milestone 25th year as an educator before having a routine surgery and contracting necrotizing fasciitis, according to 50-year friend Melody Clark. She died June 2. She was 67. Colleagues at the Apple Valley Unified School District expressed grief over the loss of Mrs. Ortloff and offered condolences to her loved ones. "We are devastated to have lost one of our Apple Valley Unified School District family members who has been with us since 1999," the district said in a statement. "Monicas love of teaching and her family were evident to all. She made an immeasurable impact on Granite Hills High School and AVUSD. Her passing leaves a hole in the hearts of many and she will be greatly missed by her AVUSD family. Her family is in our thoughts as they go through this period of grief." Ortloff's good friends, family, and former students say they are devastated and confused by the loss and shared memories of her legacy through loving stories of the lasting impact she's had on their lives and the lives of other LGBTQ+ students. Ortloff's legacy for the LGBTQ+ community Ortloff was a pioneer and moderator of the Gay Straight Alliance Club (GSA) at Granite Hills High School. There were no laws supporting gay rights at the time, Ortloff's wife of 40 years, Wanda Rhodes, told the Daily Press, so the club faced many obstacles and opposition in the beginning. As the gay and transgender student population grew and laws changed, GSA became a refuge for students who questioned their identities, according to Rhodes. Ortloff endured derogatory comments from other teachers and parents as a lesbian teacher in the early 2000s, her wife said. She was often forced to stay locked in her room until security could escort her out and parents pulled their kids out of her class solely because she was gay. Students in the LGBTQ+ community, whether out or closeted, said they had flocked to Ortloff as their sole representative on campus. She was a safe space for them to express their unapologetic selves and someone they could turn to for advice. Monica's wife, Wanda Rhodes, shares a fond photo memory of her spouse enjoying a cold brew. Students remember the great "Ms. O" A former student of Orloff, Tyler Keeling, remembers the struggles of being a closeted youth in an "isolated town where LGBT acceptance isnt common." "Just seeing a proud lesbian woman living her life with a career and a family was, in many ways, a lifeline for me and many others," Keeling said. He recalled when anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment on campus reached an all-time high and Ortloff began receiving threats. "She didnt let it stop her from opening her classroom up for LGBT students who needed somewhere they felt safe," he said. The small act of courage inspired LGBTQ+ students to be resilient in the face of adversity, Keeling said. "The news of her passing is heartbreaking," he said. "Her impact on several generations of LGBT youth in Apple Valley will live on, even if she left this world far too early." Derek King is a trans man and a Granite Hills High School class of 2020 alumni. He says that "Ms. O" was his favorite teacher and felt like she was really a part of his family. "We called her the original gay gangster grandma," he said with a laugh. "She was my best friend and always had my back, she even supported me when I had surgery. I'm so grateful to have known her." King is still struggling to believe that she is gone and wishes it was a dream. "We had so many plans together. I am getting married next month in July and she was supposed to marry my wife and me," he said. "She's always with me. I can't see her but I can feel her. Geneva Romero said Ortloff's legacy was one of empowerment. She wanted students to do better and believed in them, she told the Daily Press. "She cared for her students so naturally and supported our dreams." Ortloff gave Romero the courage to come out to her parents during her freshman year and will always be remembered as an ally who professed self-worth to her students, according to the former student. Brie Avila said she was also at a loss for words. "I cant express what you meant to me as a kid. You were my mentor and friend when I needed one the most. I didnt know what being gay looked like. You know my story better than most people and I struggled so much with my identity." Avila gives Ortloff credit for making it out of high school alive and for teaching her that there's nothing wrong with who she is. She thanks "Ms. O" for all she did for the LGBTQ+ community during her English teaching career. Monica Ortloff poses for a goofy photo on a family vacation Dajaya Keiser said she was heartbroken over news of the death. Through the tears, she wrote that Ortloff was her best friend in high school, and that the English teacher was there for Keiser during her toughest times, including breakdowns and identity struggles. "She was the one who threw me the first birthday I had in 12 years due to religion," she said. "She is the one who gave me my love of reading. I wish I could have talked to you one last time and wish you had the opportunity to meet my son. I will forever miss you, my friend." Adam Powell, principal of Granite Hills High School, also shared heartfelt sentiments with the Daily Press. "Throughout Monica's career, she was a stalwart advocate for students; both in the classroom as scholars and in the community as people," he said. "As advisor for GSA, she promoted unity and safety across our entire campus for all students. Students knew they could come to her as a trusted and caring adult in their lives, the kind that makes such a tremendous difference and impact that you remember them long after youve graduated high school." "We will miss her kind heart, her silly wigs and make-up for every new school year picture, her bright smile, and her courageous spirit on our campus," Powell said. He recalled her generosity toward her pupils. "Monica would donate money to purchase yearbooks, Grad Night tickets, and prom tickets for her senior students she knew couldnt afford it," Powell said. "She once bought a student shoes and even a car so they could get to work to help support their family. She never wanted attention for any of that, she just did it out of the kindness of her heart." In addition to Rhodes, Ortloff is survived by two sons, Donte and Andre. A visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Friday, June 28 at Sunset Hills Mortuary in Apple Valley. The funeral will take place from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. also on June 28 at Sunset Hills Mortuary. McKenna Mobley is a Daily Press reporter and can be reached at mmobley@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Monica Ortloffs legacy lives on in her Granite Hills High students Benny Gantz, a minister in the Israeli war cabinet, holds a press conference announcing his resignation, on Sunday - ABIR SULTAN/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock Israels war cabinet suffered a major blow on Sunday as former defence minister Benny Gantz became the first member to quit over the status of the war in Gaza. In a televised address, Mr Gantz said Benjamin Netanyahu was preventing us from advancing toward true victory. He had threatened to quit last month over a lack of strategy for post-war Gaza. Mr Gantz called for fresh elections, saying he had joined the emergency cabinet because he wanted to make a bad government better. By withdrawing his party from Mr Netanyahus coalition, Mr Gantz has pulled the only centrist force in the government, leaving it still more reliant on hard-Right partners. In reply, Mr Netanyahu issued a brief statement calling on Mr Gantz not to abandon the front. Although a blow to the Israeli prime minister, Mr Gantz s move does not endanger his parliamentary majority of 64 seats in the 120-seat Knesset. Israel's war cabinet, chaired by Benjamin Netanyahu (second left), discusses the drone attack by Iran, in April - Anadolu The former army chief said it was a very difficult decision to leave the government when 100,000 Israelis in the north remain displaced amid fighting with Lebanons Hezbollah, soldiers are still in Gaza and dozens of hostages are held by Hamas. We tried to impact the direction navigating the ship in closed chambers, but the truth and reality is not so simple, he added, warning the war will take years. Mr Netanyahu appealed to his war cabinet allies: This is the time for unity and not for division. We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. According to a Friday poll by Israels Maariv newspaper, Mr Gantzs National Unity party is gaining ground. It would reach a total of 27 seats in an election, the poll said, compared to 20 for Mr Netanyahus Likud. But just a week ago a Channel 12 survey claimed Mr Netanyahu had overtaken Mr Gantz as the publics first choice for premier. It was the first time in a year that Mr Gantz had not rated higher than Israels longest-serving prime minister. Mr Gantz praised his colleague and fellow war cabinet member, Yoav Gallant the minister of defence, saying the war had boosted his admiration of the man even in our differences. Making total victory impossible He said that Mr Netanyahu is making total victory impossible and claimed that the government needs to put the return of the hostages seized on Oct 7 by Hamas above political survival. Mr Gantz joined Mr Netanyahus government shortly after the Hamas attack in a show of unity, helping the Right-wing coalition government under him gain credibility on the world stage after a year of anti-government protests rocked Israel. Mr Gantzs strong relationship with US officials, in particular, helped Mr Netanyahu keep the Biden administration largely onside. On May 18, he warned the prime minister that he would leave the government by June 8 if Mr Netanyahu did not formulate a new plan for postwar Gaza. No plan has been tabled as the prime minister fights for political survival and continues to reiterate the war aims of both freeing the hostages and eradicating terror group Hamas from Gaza in its entirety. The announcement was delayed by a day as the military chief let the wave of excitement calm over the rescue of four hostages from Gaza. The war cabinet, of which Mr Gantz was one of three voting members, served to exclude the hard-Right, including national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir, from strategy on the campaign in Gaza. Mr Ben Gvir has now called to be added to it. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. By James Mackenzie JERUSALEM (Reuters) -In the traumatic aftermath of the Oct. 7 attacks on Israel, as hundreds of thousands of Israeli reservists rushed to join the ranks to fight Hamas, Benny Gantz said he felt it was his duty to join the war effort. "This is not a political partnership I am in," the centrist former general told a group of reporters, shortly after agreeing to join Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in an emergency wartime government of unity. Instead, it was "destiny". "Hamas started the war but Israel will win it. There is no doubt about it. We will win this war," he said. Now, eight months in, the early confidence of those remarks made as Israel was starting to get back on its feet following the shock of Oct 7, appears to have ebbed. Having tangled repeatedly with the prime minister and the hardline nationalist religious parties in his coalition, Gantz has quit, three weeks after laying down a deadline for Netanyahu to come up with a clear postwar strategy for Gaza. His departure will remove one of the few in Israel's government who still appeared to enjoy the confidence of a U.S. administration whose frustration with Netanyahu has become ever more evident as the war has gone on. Even before the deadline, he had appeared increasingly unhappy with the government, quarrelling over issues ranging from the army leadership to opening a path towards a two state solution with the Palestinians. In April he called for new elections to be held in September, only to see the call rejected. The commanding lead over Netanyahu he and the centrist party he leads once held in the opinion polls has shrunk, and, with the ruling coalition's parliamentary majority still solid, his political future is unclear. A former paratrooper who grew up on a kibbutz and commanded the elite Shaldag commando unit, Gantz, the son of a Holocaust survivor, spent most of his career in the military. As army chief of staff in 2012, he oversaw an eight day-operation in the Gaza Strip that began with the killing of the chief of Hamas' military wing in Gaza. He served as defence minister in the previous government and for months, his hawkish military credentials allied to his opposition to Netanyahu's divisive campaign to trim the powers of the judiciary last year, made him seem like the natural choice to lead a future government. He has also been notably more open to the idea of a political settlement with the Palestinians than either Netanyahu or his right-wing allies like Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich or National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, for whom a Palestinian state is an anathema. Gantz, while mistrusting many Palestinian leaders, always seemed more willing to accept that Israelis and Palestinians eventually had to learn to live in the same region. "No one is going anywhere," he said. With relations between Washington and Israel at their lowest point in years over the conduct of the war and the mounting casualty toll in Gaza, Gantz, along with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, appeared to be one of the few in government trusted by U.S. President Joe Biden's administration. Earlier this year, he visited Washington, infuriating allies of Netanyahu, who has so far not received an invitation to the White House. But his political instincts have been no match for Netanyahu, one of Israel's wiliest operators, who rode out the rebuff from Biden and is due to address both houses of Congress next month. Many on the left thought Gantz and his centrist partners should have left the government sooner. Others, like Einav Tsengaukar, the mother of one of the Israeli hostages left in Gaza, who begged him to stay and try to agree to a deal to get the hostages home, wanted him to remain. But in the end, his departure appeared inevitable. Aviv Bushinski, a former communications adviser to Netanyahu, said in the end, Gantz's own attempt to pressure Netanyahu had only succeeded in paving the way for his own exit. "Benny Gantz cornered himself because he cannot retreat, he cannot back off from the ultimatum." (Reporting by James Mackenzie, Editing by William Maclean) Benny Gantz, a retired general, centrist politician and key member of Israels war cabinet, resigned on Sunday, accusing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of mishandling the war in Gaza. Gantz, who turned 65 on Sunday, announced his National Unity partys departure from the government with a heavy heart in a televised address. Citing Netanyahus empty promises, he said the PM was preventing us from advancing to the real victory. Gantzs departure is not expected to threaten Netanyahus grip on power, as the government will still enjoy a slim majority in parliament. But it will further isolate the 74-year-old prime minister, who has thus far refused to consider a ceasefire plan backed by the U.S. In his Sunday address, Gantz appealed to Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to not only say the right thing, but do the right thing, suggesting he should also resign. Gallant previously indicated he would exit the government if Israel chose to reoccupy Gaza. Gantz also called on Netanyahu to set an agreed election date in the fall. Cautioning that Israel needed to establish a government able to win the trust of the people and be able to face challenges, he pleaded, Dont let our people be torn apart. Netanyahu chided his former minister, saying in a post on X it was not the time to abandon the campaignthis is the time to join forces. The PM also sought to assure Israelis that his government would continue until victory, which he defined as the release of all remaining hostages and the elimination of Hamas. A popular opposition figure, Gantz and his party joined Netanyahus coalition after the Oct. 7 attacks by Hamas, a move widely seen as a show of unity in a moment of unprecedented crisis. Gantz's cabinet presence and more moderate policy stances, including an endorsement of the Palestinian Authoritys involvement in the governance of postwar Gaza, have aided the Israeli governments international standing. But long-simmering tensions with Netanyahu have also been dragged into public view and last month, Gantz issued an ultimatum. Warning he would leave the government by June 8 if Netanyahu dragged the country into an abyss, Gantz demanded a new day-after plan for Gaza. Israeli Forces Rescue Four Hostages Alive in Raid on Gaza On Saturday evening, a planned Gantz news conference was canceled in the wake of news that four Israeli hostages had been rescued in Gaza hours earlier, the Associated Press reported. Gaza health officials said the Israeli operation resulted in the deaths of 274 Palestinians, including children. Hundreds more were wounded. Of 250 people kidnapped on Oct. 7, roughly 120 remain in Gaza, with 43 confirmed dead. On Sunday, Gantz apologized to the families of hostages, saying the government had failed to bring most home. Around 1,200 people were killed in the Oct. 7 attacks. More than 600 members of the Israeli military have been killed since. More than 37,000 Palestinians have been killed, most of them civilians, according to Gazas health ministry. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) Saturday was graduation day for Kelso High School seniors, and among those receiving diplomas were 15 students experiencing homelessness. The number helps meet the schools goal for a 100% graduation rate among its homeless seniors. 2 arrested after alleged armed robbery leads to police pursuit This 100% graduation rate for 2024 Kelso High School students experiencing homelessness beats out the 2023 grad rates of Washington State McKinney-Vento students at 60.9%, all WA students at 83.6%, and all Kelso School District students at 90.2%, the school shared in a press release. The total 15 students experiencing homelessness have finished the 2023-2024 school year with an average GPA of 3.23. One also received an associates degree. Kelso High School attributes this success to its Family & Community Resource Center, which provides foster care, housing, food and jobs for students and their families. Salem police investigate suspicious death of 28-year-old woman found in road Superintendent Mary Beth Tack said achieving a 100% graduation rate among students experiencing homelessness speaks volumes for the resiliency of our youth and the school. To see our McKinney-Vento students overcoming the major obstacle of experiencing homelessnessin some cases doing it without a parent or caregiverand not only stay in school, but also graduate on time at 100% is beyond inspiring, Tack 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 KOIN.com. Biden and first lady visit French war cemetery that Trump snubbed on 2018 trip President Joe Biden concluded his five-day state visit to France on Sunday by touring an American cemetery home to 2,200 US soldiers who fought and died in World War I. The president, who has used the visit to praise US alliances in Europe and reiterate support Ukraine in its war for Russia, laid a wreath at the chapel of Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, France, outside of Paris. These soldiers were heroes, just as every American who has served this nation, Biden said during the visit, adding, The best way to avoid these kinds of battles in the future is to stay strong with our allies. Many observers saw the visit as a rebuke to Donald Trump, who skipped a planned 2018 visit to the cemetery and reportedly called the servicemen buried there suckers and losers. Trump reportedly snubbed a planned commemoration at the cemetery for the 100th anniversary of WWI, fearing his hair would become disheveled in the rain, The Atlantic reported in 2020. At the time, he reportedly told those on the trip with him, Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers. Trump denied making the comments about the French cemetery. John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general and Trump chief of staff, later told CNN Trump indeed mocked the dead American soldiers there. The alleged remarks echoed Trumps past controversial remarks about Sen John McCain, a former prisoner of war in Vietnam who endured years of torture, about whom Trump said, I like people who werent captured. The Biden campaign, facing an extremely tight race against Trump in November, has sought to emphasize Trumps comments about the military. A recent campaign ad cuts footage of dead American servicemembers returning home in coffins with Trumps past remarks about soldiers. Elsewhere during the state visit, Biden commemorated the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy in Nazi-occupied France. They knew ... beyond any doubt that there are things that are worth fighting and dying for: Freedom is worth it, Biden said of the soldiers. Democracy is worth it. Americas worth it, the world is worth it, then, now and always. He also said the success of D-Day proved the unbreakable unity of allies. US President Joe Biden (L) reacts as he is welcomed by France's President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a bilateral meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. Sameer Al-Doumy/AFP/dpa President Joe Biden pledged continuing US support to Ukraine on meeting French President Emmanuel in Paris on Saturday at the start of a state visit. The United States was firmly at the side of Ukraine and other allies, Biden said. Macron also said France would continue its support for Ukraine for as long as it was necessary. Before the two leaders met, the US administration had however made clear that the US would not participate in Macron's plan to send military trainers to Ukraine. Speaking on Friday evening, Macron said he had held discussions on NATO leaders on sending military trainers to Ukraine and that several had agreed with his plans, which would be finalized "in the days ahead." Biden has said that no US personnel will be sent to the war zone, and the White House made clear on Friday evening that nothing had changed in this regard. The issue was not mentioned when Biden and Macron met on Saturday. Brief statements were issued, and no questions were allowed. An official White House statement said: "Reflecting on their historical relationship and recalling the price for peace and freedom paid by past generations in both countries, the presidents reaffirm their commitment to a Europe, whole, free, and at peace." Macron expressed confidence that agreement on the use of interest earned on frozen Russian assets to support Kiev. France and the US are aiming for all G7 members to approve a loan of $50 billion. While the US has backed the idea, European members of the G7 have shown caution, amid hopes that a decision could be taken at a pending G7 meeting in Italy. Biden and Macron welcomed the announcement from Israel that four more hostages had been freed in the Gaza Strip. Biden said that the US would not cease working until all the hostages were released and a ceasefire arranged. Macron said that the number of dead and injured after nine months of war were unacceptable. He added that the fact that Israel was not opening all border crossings to humanitarian aid could not be tolerated. Earlier, Macron welcomed Biden with full military honours at a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. A military choir and a band provided by the National Gendarmerie played as aircraft flew overhead. The two leaders laid a wreath and held a minute of silence at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier which lies under the national monument in the centre of the French capital. In the evening Biden and Macron emphasized the solidarity and friendship between their two countries at a state banquet held at the Elysee Palace. "We are allies. We will remain allies," Macron said in his speech. Biden's state visit made offered "an opportunity to celebrate the untrammeled vitality of our alliance and this very special relationship between our two nations and, indeed, our love for freedom," Macron added. Biden highlighted how France and the US have been there for each other throughout history when it comes to securing each other's freedom. "You were with us to help us secure our freedom, and we were with you 170 years later... to do the same. And ever since, we've remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership," Biden said, referencing the US gaining independence in 1776 and the end of World War Two. "We stand at an inflection point in history," Biden continued. "The decisions we make now will determine the course of our future for decades to come. "We have a lot of opportunity but a lot of responsibility. And it gives me hope to know France and the United States stand together now and always." Macron said that being "united in spite of our differences when the main values are at stake" is the common thread of the unshakeable transatlantic bond between Washington and Paris. Macron was Biden's first guest on a state visit in 2022. The US president has been in France since Wednesday, attending ceremonies in Normandy to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day. US President Joe Biden (C), flanked by US First Lady Jill Biden (L), France's President Emmanuel Macron (2nd R) and French president's wife Brigitte Macron (R), waves as he participates in a ceremony as part of a state visit to France, at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. Saul Loeb/AFP/dpa U.S. President Joe Biden announced on June 9 that he had reached an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron on using the profits from frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) reported. When asked if the topic was discussed and if an agreement was made, Biden confirmed, Yes and yes. No further details were provided by Biden. The G7 and the European Union are exploring ways to utilize the profits from Russian assets frozen in the West to offer Ukraine a substantial upfront loan and ensure its financial stability through 2025. Approximately $281 billion in Russian central bank funds are frozen worldwide, primarily in the EU. These funds generate up to $3.8 billion annually in profit, which the EU states are not contractually owed to Russia and thus represent a windfall. The U.S. has championed the idea of using these profits as a steady revenue stream to service a large loan of $50 billion that could be raised on the market. Russia argues that diverting profits from frozen funds constitutes theft. EU Sanctions Envoy David OSullivan indicated on May 31 that Kyiv is expected to receive the first tranche of revenue from frozen Russian assets from the European Union this summer. "We are talking about summer. I would not like to promise when exactly the money will be transferred to the account, but decisions will be made in the next few weeks, and the payment will be made later," O'Sullivan said in answer to the question of when the first tranche might arrive. The EU Council agreed on May 21 to use profits from the frozen Russian sovereign assets to aid Ukraine. According to the statement, the proceedings could amount to between 2.5 billion and 3 billion euros ($2.7-3.26 billion) annually, with most of it allocated to Kyiv's military needs. Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Biden nears huge next move on immigration as he tries to win over Latinos in key states Looking to shore up Latino votes in Nevada and Arizona for his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden is on the verge of soon following up last weeks executive action aimed at curbing border crossings with another move focused on providing legal status for long-term undocumented immigrants who are married to American citizens. Though final details have not been decided, officials are reviewing an existing legal authority known as parole in place that would shield select undocumented immigrants from deportation and allow them to work legally in the country as they seek citizenship. The orders have not yet been presented to Biden himself for review. Polling reviewed by top aides in the White House and the presidents reelection headquarters are helping seal the deal. For Biden in Arizona, Everything is on the margins, right? said Democratic Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. My sense is it should help. Estimates put the number of people who could be directly affected at 750,000 to 800,000, with a reverberating effect among spouses, children, extended family and friends and predominantly Latinos. Thats millions of potential votes in just Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia. Those are all battleground states, all home to many Latinos and all looking likely to be decided in November by slivers of the electorate. We have lost the narrative on the border, and so we need to start winning it back, said one person involved in the discussions of why Biden started with the executive action tightening asylum rules last week. But Latino voters in particular are extremely enthusiastic about seeing something done to help people they know. It is either a direct relative or friend, someone they work with, that person argued. It is such a powerful signal to these communities that you care about them, and you understand whats happening there. This could amount to the federal governments biggest relief program since the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. That program, which allowed undocumented immigrants who came to the United States as children to live and work in the country, was announced mid-June of Obamas own reelection year in 2012. Several veterans of Obamas reelection point to that moment as a key turning point for his bid for a second term. Biden, then the vice president, was engaged in many of those discussions. People involved with the internal discussions say that by focusing on workers and keeping families together, Biden would be able to make a case about economic growth, as well as asserting a very different portrayal of immigrants than that pushed by Donald Trump. Trumps campaign has also been looking to attract Latino voters, with the launch of a Latinos for Trump group timed to the former presidents rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, among other outreach and advertising. Still, on Thursday night in Arizona, Trump brought onto stage and kissed former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, infamous for his crackdowns on undocumented immigrants and the recipient of a Trump presidential pardon for illegal racially profiling. Though some still think Biden may not go through with the move, aides have discussed when best to make the announcement. One option is to do so ahead of the June 27 debate, with the aim of goading Trump into attacking the widely popular orders. Some worry, though, that giving Trump that opening could lead to voters turning against the border executive action by calling the moves amnesty. Making the announcement later would deprive Trump of that possibility, while giving Biden another attention bump, perhaps with a July 4 theme. Others say it could slip to later that month, especially in a White House where internal deadlines are often missed. Kelly said that every week he hears from constituents facing problems stemming from their documentation status, but also from CEOs looking for more workers. He and his wife, former Arizona Rep. Gabby Giffords, know people that these policies affect and their families directly. I think thats true for most Arizonans, Kelly said. Its co-workers, its a co-workers relative, its a friend, its a family member. Support for an easy straightforward fix that most Americans think happens already To tamp down criticism among many leading Latino and immigration advocacy groups over Bidens executive action cracking down on border crossings, several operatives connected with the president spent days quietly reassuring leaders that more was coming. They urged those leaders not to risk either frustrating the West Wing or getting themselves too far out on a limb when circumstances may change. Then, on Thursday, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas kept the door open for more immigration moves in a virtual briefing with members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Congressional Progressive Caucus, saying the administration is reviewing possible options to extend protections to long-term undocumented immigrants residing in the United States, according to a source familiar. Strategists working with the Biden campaign argue that the pair of moves border security and legalization for long-term undocumented immigrants will appeal to Latino voters who have drifted from Biden, citing polling that shows Latinos also favor border enforcement. And not just among immigrants, or among Latinos. Across Democrats, Republican and independents and across backgrounds, Biden aides believe there is close to universal support for keeping families together by creating pathways to citizenship for immigrants who have been living in the US.for many years and pass a background check and pay taxes, according to a memo obtained by CNN summarizing one set of findings shared with the White House and the Biden campaign. Those numbers also show huge support for expanding work permits to Dreamers and other undocumented immigrants who have lived in the country for many years and passed background checks and who dont have criminal records. Other polling that Bidens campaign has seen shows similar levels of support. Biden not so subtly teased the move himself as he announced the border action on Tuesday, acknowledging the blowback by some immigrant advocates and progressives who blasted his asylum restrictions. Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Pramila Jayapal told CNN that she felt Biden had gone into the same frame as Donald Trump at the very time when we need to make a distinction between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. For those who say the steps Ive taken are too strict, I say to you be patient, Biden said. In the weeks ahead and I mean the weeks ahead I will speak to how we can make our immigration system more fair and more just. Democeratic Rep. Tom Suozzi was hailed by many in his party as a national example when he won back his old New York City suburbs House seat in a February special election by successfully pushing back on Republican attacks centered on immigration and the situation at the border. He told CNN after standing with Biden at the White House that he has already written a letter to the president asking for the next move. Suozzi argued that so many people believe that citizenship automatically comes from marrying an American that actually providing documentation to people in otherwise-citizen families would be an easy straightforward fix that most Americans think happens already and most Americans would support. It would be great for the economy, it would be great for the families, and it would be great for America, Suozzi said. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, who also flew to Washington to stand with Biden at the White House on Tuesday, said the new moves on the border are extremely important and that the next steps also will be key to voters in her state and across the Southwest come November. Voters want a fair president who understands their struggles, whos willing to make tough decisions, whos clear that he cant do all of it, but tries to balance those efforts leaning toward the public safety realities where he must, Lujan Grisham said. Theres more coming and its a valve. It uses smart, effective policies where you need them right now. He gets both. White House spokesman Angelo Fernandez Hernandez declined to address specifics, but told CNN, 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. Immigration advocates debate wider action As the panic among Biden aides about the drop-off in Latino support has been mounting around the reelection campaign, pressure for more policy moves from Democratic lawmakers and immigrant advocacy groups has been growing for months. In May, a group of Democratic senators including Sens. Alex Padilla of California, Dick Durbin of Illinois and Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada publicly called for protections to be extended to long-term undocumented immigrants in the United States, including the spouses of American citizens and their caregivers. Padilla said Bidens actions on the border from Tuesday were a huge disappointment. This is the first time that I can recall that a Democratic position is, OK, lets be all for the border and not fight for relief for DREAMers, for farmers, or anyone whos a long-term resident of the United States who happens to be undocumented, Padilla told CNN after Tuesdays announcement. Now Biden shouldnt wait to make the additional moves, Padilla argued. If they were going to take a tough-on-the-border action, they should have paired it with something as thoughtful and responsible and overdue, Padilla said. Advocates who have long been pushing for the moves that are about to be put in front of Biden are now stressing the potential political benefits themselves. As we approach the 12th anniversary of the DACA program, President Obamas decision to take bold executive action to support our nations Dreamers remains a masterstroke of political ingenuity and the most successful immigration policy in decades, said Todd Schulte, president of FWD.us, in a statement. Today, President Biden faces a similar pivotal moment. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Insights from Le Monde, The Washington Post, and Politico The News US President Joe Biden visited an American military cemetery in France on Sunday as part of the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Bidens predecessor, Donald Trump, skipped the visit during a similar trip in 2018 commemorating the 100th anniversary of the end of World War One. A former senior official said Trump reportedly called the fallen American soldiers buried there suckers and losers. Bidens visit capped a five-day trip to Europe as part of the commemorations. SIGNALS Semafor Signals: Global insights on today's biggest stories. Biden draws parallels to Reagan Source: The Washington Post On the cliffs of Pointe du Hoc, where, 80 years ago, troops stormed the beaches of Normandy on D-Day, Biden channeled perhaps ironically Ronald Reagan, the former Republican president who spoke at the 40th D-Day anniversary. In 1984, during the Cold War, Reagan spoke out against isolationism and in favor of being prepared against threats. Biden was in the Senate when Reagan was president and largely opposed his politics, but in Normandy on Sunday, Bidens internationalism has far more in common with Reagan and the Republican Party of 40 years ago than with Trumps America First doctrine that questions alliances, bends toward authoritarian leaders and points to an American retreat from leadership in the world, The Washington Posts Dan Balz wrote. Trump was not present, but he was top of mind Sources: Associated Press, Axios, Le Monde, Roll Call Donald Trump was an unspoken yet unavoidable presence during Bidens trip, the Associated Press noted. In speeches, Biden spoke against dictatorship and isolationism, and in favor of democracy and freedom. Each reference to democracy stood a counterpoint to his rivals efforts to overturn a presidential election, the AP wrote. The visit forms part of a larger push by the Biden campaign to highlight his contrasts to Trump; the campaign released two ads during the France trip spotlighting Trumps past comments about military veterans. Biden also drew a line between D-Day and the Ukraine war, and apologized to Zelenskyy for the delay in sending aid another reminder Trump is skeptical of continuing sending funds and weapons to Kyiv. For France, visit highlights Biden dynamic, geopolitical situation Sources: Bloomberg, Politico The visit was full of warm gestures between Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron, but there was little substantive headway made on critical issues facing the allies. Biden refused to send military trainers to Ukraine, as Macron had proposed, and offered nothing but rhetoric on trade, Bloomberg noted, when they agreed to further cooperate to counter Chinas economic power. Ultimately, Biden and Macron have come to trust each other and share a genuine warmth, Politico reported, and both leaders are united in their goal of stopping Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump looms over their dynamic, too: Ahead of Trumps possible return to the White House, Macron has pushed aggressively to ratchet up the blocs collective defense. President Joe Biden is set to visit the American cemetery outside Paris honoring World War I dead on Sunday, setting up a contrast with former President Donald Trump, who skipped a visit to the cemetery during a 2018 trip. Biden will cap off a five-day trip to France paying his respects with a wreath-laying at the Aisne-Marne American Cemetery and Memorial before returning to Washington. He has spent much of the trip honoring American veterans but the subtext of Sundays expedition is also aimed at Trump, who scrapped his 2018 journey to the memorial and later faced criticism for denigrating US veterans. Trump, who was in Paris to commemorate the centennial of the end of World War I with other world leaders, blamed weather and safety issues for eschewing the cemetery visit. The presidents Marine One helicopter cannot fly in low cloud cover, a decision that is made by military and security officials. But there did not appear to be a backup plan, and Trump did not make any statements of regret over not being able to visit the cemetery. CNN later reported that Trump referred to the fallen US service members at Aisne-Marne in crude and derogatory terms. A former senior Trump administration official, who declined to be named, confirmed reporting from The Atlantic magazine, which cited sources who said Trump rejected the idea of a cemetery visit and proceeded to refer to the fallen soldiers as losers and suckers. Trump has forcefully denied the report in The Atlantic. His former chief of staff, John Kelly, later confirmed to CNN several anecdotes in The Atlantics story, including the cemetery visit and comments about US soldiers killed in battle. Biden has repeatedly seized on those comments on the campaign trail. As he memorialized war heroes in Normandy on the 80th anniversary of D-Day last week, his reelection campaign released a new ad featuring veterans knocking Trump as unfit to serve. A good commander in chief is someone who gives a sh*t, Curtis Register, a Marine Corps veteran, says in the ad. Trump campaign co-manager Chris LaCivita cast the repeatedly corroborated reports on the former presidents comments as a fake and thoroughly debunked story, calling Bidens team desperate. The Biden campaign is aiming to distinguish the president from his predecessor and presumptive GOP presidential nominee on defense. Taking advantage of the backdrop of decorum during his visit to France, Biden pledged unwavering support for European allies, in contrast with Trumps noncommittal stance. Trump has cast doubt on future support for NATO, telling supporters this year that if reelected, he would encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want to any member country that doesnt meet spending guidelines on defense. Biden also took his argument Friday to Pointe-du-Hoc, a site separating the Omaha and Utah beaches where American Army Rangers scaled steep cliffs to secure positions against the Germans on D-Day. The president said those men would want their modern-day fellow citizens to do their part to protect against autocrats. Theyre asking us to do our job, to protect freedom in our time, to defend democracy, to stand up to aggression abroad and at home to be part of something bigger than ourselves, he said at the same poignant site as a 1984 speech with similar themes by President Ronald Reagan. Weve learned that isolationism never was and never will be an acceptable response to tyrannical governments with an expansionist intent, Reagan said in his address honoring the 40th anniversary of D-Day. Trump also traveled to Normandy to mark the 75th anniversary of D-Day but attacked Democrats in an interview after his speech. CNNs Alayna Treene contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Biden warns that Putin is 'not going to stop at Ukraine' U.S. President Joe Biden reaffirmed his strong support for Kyiv in its fight against the Russian invasion during a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on June 8. Biden cautioned that the Kremlin's aggression would continue beyond Ukraine if successful: "Putin is not going to stop at Ukraine.... All of Europe will be threatened. We are not going to let that happen." Standing alongside Macron, he emphasized: "The United States is standing strong with Ukraine. We will not I say it again walk away." Macron hosted Biden for a state visit aimed at underscoring their strong partnership on global security issues. President Joe Biden arrived in France on June 5 and, along with President Emmanuel Macron, attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6 in Normandy. He then met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 7. In his D-Day address on June 7, Biden emphasized the importance of defending democracy both at home and abroad. "As we gather here today, its not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery on June 6, 1944," Biden said. "Its to listen to the echo of their voices, to hear them, because they are summoning us. Theyre asking us what we will do. Theyre not asking us to scale these cliffs; theyre asking us to stay true to what America stands for." Read also: What are Frances Mirage 2000-5 jets, and how can Ukraine use them? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Democrat or Republican, conservative or liberal, professional politician or fresh-faced newcomer, all members of the Florida House and Senate have one thing in common they want to be seen as regular working folks, just like us. If theyre on the right, politically, that means boasting about family values and keeping taxes low. If theyre on the left, it means talking about education and health care a lot. But generally, few if any are living paycheck to paycheck. Senate President Kathleen Passidomo high-fives someone as she enters the fourth floor Capitol rotunda for the traditional sine die hanky drop on Friday, March 8, 2024. In this election season, its prudent for all candidates to cultivate the common touch. Their campaign advertisements portray them in earnest conversation with cops or teachers, spending time with their families, rolling up their sleeves to help with hurricane recovery or hurrying down the steps of the Old Capitol (which isnt really where the work gets done) toward some important policy meeting. Their video clips and re-election leaflets never show them meeting with lobbyists for big business interests. They dont brag about how much money they can squeeze out of those guys or what favors theyre willing to do for corporate interests in return for campaign cash. Thats pretty much a given, understood by all. Oh, your opponents will mention it and make it sound as sinister as possible. But if your opponent had a realistic chance in these gerrymandered districts, the lobbyist would be channeling money to the opponent, rather than you. So, then the legislative session convenes and the special interests, as theyre reflexively referred to by both sides, almost always get what they pay for. But sometimes, the pay-to-play system goes beyond regular back-scratching and turns into cruelty. And when that happens, our regular-working-guy lawmakers can show us revealing glimpses of just how far out of touch they really are. Speaker of the House Paul Renner gives brief remarks following the traditional sine die hanky drop on the last day of the Florida legislative session on Friday, March 8, 2024. On the last day of this years legislative session, the Republican-run Legislature approved a bill that overrides any city or county ordinances providing heat-safety rules for outdoor workers. Miami-Dade County had sought to assure agriculture and construction workers some measure of protection by requiring employers to provide water and shade and to require training to spot signs of heat stroke. Agriculture, construction, and other business interests that write big checks to political parties and candidates werent having any of that. Pre-empting local authority to Tallahassee is not new whenever powerful lobbying interests get antsy about cities and counties taking some bothersome action, so lawmakers sent a solution to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who of course signed it into law. The law passed along party lines, with Republicans supporting it and Democrats opposed. Some things need to be uniform from the Alabama line to the southernmost tip of the United States marker in the Keys. But telling growers and contractors to keep a vat of water at job sites is not a Kremlin-inspired attack on free market capitalism. No company wants people keeling over in the fields, but if some employers are just oblivious to common decency, why shouldnt cities and counties set some safety standards especially since the state wont? Jason Garcia, whose superb newsletter Seeking Rents explores the intersection of campaign money and public policy, recently delved into the new law. He detailed how even mild encouragement that employers provide some comfort for outdoor workers had failed in past legislative sessions. And he showed how large contributions from agriculture, construction and other businesses greased the wheels for House Bill 433 this year. Money and political turf-protection aside, the law reflects a class distinction in the Legislature. With very, very few exceptions, our lawmakers will be working in air-conditioned offices this summer. If they get a sunburn, it will most likely be from holding a poolside fund-raising reception in the afternoon, or maybe going door to door with campaign leaflets in a precinct that needs a little bolstering for re-election. And nobodys going to dock their pay if they must take a break. Perhaps some opponents, mainly Democrats, will remind voters that a senator or representative voted against letting local governments set minimal requirements for shade and water in the fields and at construction sites. Empathy is good, but it doesnt offset the persuasiveness of political advertisements bragging about how a legislator cut taxes, fought woke education, and in some vague way created jobs. And who pays for those ads? The same business interests who tell legislators they need to stop local governments from ensuring that field workers have a little shady space and a cup of water in the Sunshine State. Bill Cotterell Bill Cotterell is a retired Capitol reporter for United Press International and the Tallahassee Democrat. He writes a weekly column for The News Service of Florida and City & State Florida. He can be reached at wrcott43@aol.com. JOIN THE CONVERSATION Send letters to the editor (up to 200 words) or Your Turn columns (about 500 words) to letters@tallahassee.com. Please include your address for verification purposes only, and if you send a Your Turn, also include a photo and 1-2 line bio of yourself. You can also submit anonymous Zing!s at Tallahassee.com/Zing. Submissions are published on a space-available basis. All submissions may be edited for content, clarity and length, and may also be published by any part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Bill Cotterell: Some laws are just cruel When it comes to the bird flu outbreak, a lot of attention has been placed on cows and, of course, birds but theyre not the only animals getting infected with the H5N1 virus. Cats are increasingly at the center of this growing public health crisis, which is especially concerning given they drink milk at dairy farms and eat birds and mice, which have recently been reported as reservoirs for the virus. When cats die from bird flu, it can be grisly. They experience fever, loss of appetite and severe respiratory and neurological symptoms that are unpleasant and painful. As reported in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Emerging Infectious Diseases journal, more than half of cats around the first Texas dairy farm to test positive for bird flu this spring died after drinking raw milk from the infected cows. "The cats were found dead with no apparent signs of injury and were from a resident population of [approximately] 24 domestic cats that had been fed milk from sick cows," the scientists wrote. Clinical disease in cows on that farm was first noted on March 16; the cats became sick on March 17, and several cats died in a cluster during March 1920. H5N1 has been known to exist in birds since 1996, but the current situation really started to ramp up around 2021, killing hundreds of millions of them around the world in just a few years. It has also infected other mammals, including seals and bears. However, this recent outbreak in the U.S. is the first time public health officials have confirmed that the virus jumped from a cow to a human. Since the outbreak, there have been three reported human cases where people have been infected this way with bird flu although experts say its highly likely there are more cases and at least 90 dairy herds affected in 12 states. There have also been at least 9,398 wild birds confirmed to have it. Considering that cats are predatory animals with hunting instincts, especially at times, toward birds are domestic outdoor cats at risk for getting bird flu? And should cat owners take precautions like keeping their outdoor cats inside? Dr. Rajendram Rajnarayanan of the New York Institute of Technology campus in Jonesboro, Ark., told Salon that experts dont really know the magnitude of the situation and how its affecting domestic animals, like cats. I dont see a big threat in terms of H5N1 spreading among domestic cats. Yes, we do have some domestic cats that have been reported, Rajnarayanan said. But what I would be looking at is good hygienic practices in general, and then I would suggest looking for signs of illness. Another area of concern to be aware of is feeding your cat raw meat. In summer 2023, a bird flu outbreak in Poland raised alarm bells when more than 45 cats in 13 geographical regions of the country died. Testing found that 29 had H5N1. Experts suspected raw meat was linked to the outbreak. Cats that have been confined indoors have also died from bird flu, as noted by a 2023 study of 40 shelter cats in South Korea, 38 of which died from duck meat cat food contaminated with bird flu. Want more health and science stories in your inbox? Subscribe to Salon's weekly newsletter Lab Notes. Daniel Goldhill, a virologist at the Royal Veterinary College, told Salon if you live on a farm and have cats that get raw milk from the cows, to be really careful about letting your cats consume raw milk. One of the ways that vets recognized that this was avian flu had jumped into cows, which they weren't expecting, was that they also saw on various farms where the cows were getting sick they saw cats dying and birds dying as well, Goldhill said. That's how the majority of the cats we've seen get infected have got it theyve lived on farms. But thats not the only way, Goldhill pointed out. There have been reported cases of cats getting infected from wild birds directly. If you have a cat that catches a bird that has bird flu, then it is possible in some cases for the cat to get avian flu, he said. And if the avian flu successfully replicates in the cat, it can go systemically through the cat, it can get into the cats brain and then the cat can die. Goldhill emphasized that the numbers of cats who have died this way are pretty low. When asked if cat owners should keep their outdoor cats inside, he said the possibility of bird flu is something to be aware of especially if you live on a farm. But, in his opinion, your regular domestic cat is probably more likely to be run over by a car. Of course, cats can catch plenty of other diseases if they're given uncontrolled access to the outdoors, including rabies, ringworm, Salmonella and feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which is basically the equivalent of HIV in humans. For years, experts have warned that if bird flu made its way to pigs, it could be time to press the panic button. That's because swine are closer to humans in genetic terms, acting as a prime reservoir for viruses to mutate into something that could turn into a far-reaching pandemic in people. Is the fact that cats are getting infected a cause for concern as well? For cats, we don't really see this continued transmission, we don't see this sustained transmission in cats, Goldhill said. There's much less of an opportunity for the virus to spread between cats and develop traits that would let it jump into humans. A bigger worry, he said, are minks and ferrets. They have receptors that look much more similar to the human receptors in their airways, he said. Indeed, a study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published Friday found that ferrets are especially susceptible to the strain of H5N1 that infected a human in Texas. The virus was 100% lethal in all six ferrets that were infected. "This is very concerning," Rick A Bright, formerly the chief executive officer of the Pandemic Prevention Institute and an expert on influenza viruses, said on X (formerly Twitter). "Efforts to change to narrative in any way to soften this important data are reckless. Ferrets are the animal model used frequently for human infection. The fact that they got so severely ill, virus infected most of their internal organs and brain, and they died, is a strong signal that every effort to stop this virus from spreading should be considered seriously." In other words, cats may be the least of our worries. Bloomberg: Russia sends students from Africa to fight in its war against Ukraine Russia has added extra manpower for its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, forcing "thousands of migrants and foreign students" to fight alongside its troops in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on June 9, citing unnamed European officials. Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in Kharkiv Oblast, where it reportedly managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) before Ukraine halted the advance near the first line of defense. On June 8, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian troops had failed their Kharkiv Oblast offensive. According to the Bloomberg report, Russian officials have been threatening African students and young workers not to extend their visas unless "they agree to join the military." Such a tactic was first deployed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Bloomberg reported. While Russia has also been enlisting convicts, some Africans on work visas "have been detained and forced to decide between deportation or fighting," Bloomberg cited an anonymous European official. "Some of those people had been able to bribe officials to stay in the country and still avoid military service," the report reads. This is not the first time the Russian military is reported to have started bringing prisoners, migrants, and foreign nationals into its ranks. Last September, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported that Russia was stepping up its campaign to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries and exploited migrant workers for its war against Ukraine. The push to recruit foreigners and migrant workers "allows the Kremlin to acquire additional personnel for its war effort in the face of mounting casualties," the ministry said. Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Bloomberg: Stoltenberg abandons plan to set up $100 billion fund for Ukraine aid after pushback NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg is scrapping plans to set up a $100 billion fund to aid Ukraine over five years after facing rejection from alliance members, Bloomberg reported on June 7 citing people familiar with the matter. Stoltenberg's new proposal reportedly suggests that allies spend at least 40 billion euros ($43 billion) per year on lethal and non-lethal aid for Kyiv. This would match the average annual contributions since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion, Bloomberg's sources said. NATO will reportedly determine the sums of donations for each country based on a percentage of their gross domestic product. The U.S. is expected to contribute about a half of the assistance, according to Bloomberg. Stoltenberg's new plan does not include new funds, but NATO expects it to provide Kyiv with more predictability about the level of support for the coming years, Bloomberg wrote. While being united as a bloc against Russias full-scale invasion, levels of support between NATO member states, as well as their public statements on the threat to European security that the Kremlin poses, vary. Ukraine is not expected to advance further towards NATO membership at this years annual summit in Washington. Julianne Smith, U.S. Ambassador to NATO, said that alliance members will offer Kyiv a security package as a "bridge" to membership. Despite setbacks to Ukraine's NATO aspirations, partners assured Kyiv that the Washington summit would define a specific position for Ukraine's membership in NATO, namely its irreversibility and the roadmap toward it, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Olha Stefanishyna said. Read also: Opinion: NATO states should send non-combat troops to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A blueprint for murder: Inside the document prosecutors say Rex Heuermann used to plan out his kills Editors Note: This story includes graphic descriptions some readers may find disturbing. An architect by trade, Gilgo Beach killings suspect Rex Heuermann allegedly kept a chilling planning document to methodically blueprint in the words of prosecutors how to select, kill and dispose of his victims. Investigators recovered the Word document Heuermann allegedly created in 2000 and modified over several years on a hard drive in the basement of his suburban New York home, where he lived with his wife and children. In capital letters, the file outlined the packaging of bodies for transport, steps to avoid apprehension and the removal of trace DNA evidence, according to a bail application released Thursday, when Long Island prosecutors brought charges against Heuermann in two additional killings. His being an architect is totally consistent with the hyper attention to detail that is manifested in his murders, criminologist and author Scott Bonn told CNN via email. He now faces charges in the deaths of six women across three decades and multiple communities. On the day Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the latest charges of second-degree murder in the 2003 death of Jessica Taylor and the 1993 death of Sandra Costilla, prosecutors revealed the content of the manual they said he used to plan out his kills with scrupulous and fanatical attention to detail. Ive never seen a written document such as this, Suffolk County District Attorney Raymond Tierney told CNN. The manual contained headings such as Supplies and Problems, with DNA listed as the top item under the latter. The DNA evidence and blueprint document will underpin the case against him at his eventual trial. The fact that he tried to get rid of these documents and that they were still found on the computer memory is really going to be in connection with the DNA a kind of nail in the coffin, said Casey Jordan, a criminologist, behavioral analyst and attorney. These two things combined are going to be very difficult for the defense to overcome. A section titled body prep detailed steps to clean, dismember and move bodies, while another called post event appeared to list tasks to avoid apprehension, including having a story set, according to the bail application. Details of the content of the document come from the latest bail application from prosecutors. CNN has not seen the document independently for verification. The thing about his blueprint for murder that stood out to me immediately is his need to document his killings which demonstrates his grandiosity and desire to bask in the glory of his work, said Bonn, author of Why we love serial killers: The curious appeal of the worlds most savage murderers. Heuermanns egotistical documentation of his work definitely led to his undoing and also strengthened the case against him. Self-education and homework on killing Heuermann was arrested in July 2023 near his midtown Manhattan office and eventually charged with the murders of three women, whose bodies were discovered bound with belts or tape and wrapped in burlap along a stretch of Long Islands Gilgo Beach in 2010. He was later charged in January 2024 in the death of a fourth woman. Those victims Melissa Barthelemy, Megan Waterman, Amber Costello and Maureen Brainard-Barnes became known as the Gilgo Four. Heuermann pleaded not guilty to the charges related to all four. A big break in the case came in January 2023 when investigators took a swab from leftover pizza crust Heuermann discarded in the trash outside his Manhattan office, according to court documents. DNA evidence initially linked him to a hair found on the burlap sack where Watermans remains were found. I think the key evidence is DNA, Tierney told CNN Friday. Forensic testing performed on strands of hair on or near both Taylor and Costillas remains found 99.96% of the North American population could be excluded as the source of the hairs but Heuermann could not. The latest bail application said two forensic laboratories determined hairs recovered on five of the six victims were tied to Heuermann, members of his immediate family or people who lived with him. Defendant Heuermann is the individual who murdered, stripped, restrained, and transported the remains of Jessica Taylor and Sandra Costilla, as well as the Gilgo Four, until they were each discovered in 1993, 2003, 2010, and 2011, according to a new bail application released Thursday. The 60-year-old architect was surprised by the latest charges, Heuermann attorney Michael Brown said after the defendant appeared in an eastern Long Island courtroom. Heuermann was remanded without bail and is expected in court July 30. One murder is obviously horrific, and its a difficult thing to defend, said Brown. And now were at six. Brown told reporters Thursday he needed more time to review new evidence before commenting further. In January, Brown told reporters his client claimed he is not guilty of these charges and looked forward to fighting the charges in court. The blueprint document was discovered after investigators mined more than 350 electronic devices seized from Heuermanns home, according to Tierney. It had been erased and we used forensic tools to recover it, the district attorney said. The bail application said the Gilgo Homicide Task Force believe that the totality of circumstances surrounding the Planning Document, including Heuermanns attempt to delete its existence, points to it as Heuermanns self-education and homework on the topic of carrying out serial, sexual murder. Tierney added, His intent was specifically to locate these victims, hunt them down to bring them under his control and to kill them His intent was nothing short but to murder these victims. Thing to remember list of lessons learned The blueprint document included a pre-prep section on steps to take before a killing, such as checking an area for surveillance cameras. A prep section appeared to outline what needed to be done closer to the time of the homicides, such as building a table with a cross bar underneath to support heavier objects, according to the bail application. This really kind of lays out for us how these women may have died, Jordan said. A post event section in the document listed ways to avoid detection by changing car tires and creating an alibi or story in case of an inquiry. The document is riddled with typos and misspellings. It also had sections about sites for the disposal of physical evidence. There were notes on removing tattoos and other identifying marks. The bail application said a tattoo on Taylors torso had been mutilated with a sharp object. A things to remember section appeared to show lessons learned from previous killings. It recommended the use of heavier rope since lighter types broke under the stress of being tightend, the bail application said. Heuermann falls into a category of serial killer known as a power/control killer, said Bonn, who has closely examined the lives of serial killers such as Dennis Rader, known as BTK for his preferred bind, torture, kill method. They are psychopathic and obsessed with detail and planning; covering all contingencies. Bonn noted similarities between the alleged Gilgo Beach killer and BTK, who was a churchgoer, Cub Scout leader and married father of two before advancements in science and technology ultimately led to his arrest in February 2005. Rader was fastidious in the way he approached his killings and kept meticulous records of his fantasies and crimes in folders and binders. Rader pleaded guilty to 10 murders and was sentenced in 2005 to 10 consecutive life terms. Tierney, the Suffolk County district attorney, said the investigation is far from over and Heuermann could be tied to other killings. Were going to continue. Were not going to stop, he said. Said Jordan, the criminologist and behavioral analyst: There could be more murders out there We may never know the answer to that and they may never be charged. CNNs Mark Morales, Brynn Gingras, Carolyn Sung and Samantha Beech contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The BBC's main headquarters, Broadcasting House, is pictured on October 17, 2019, in London. The body of TV presenter Dr. Michael Mosely was discovered Sunday in Greece. File Photo by Igbofr/Wikimedia June 9 (UPI) -- Investigators have found the body of BBC TV presenter Michael Mosley after he disappeared last week while on a trip to the Greek island of Symi, setting off an extensive, multi-agency search. Moseley, 67, was a father of four and a medical journalist and documentary maker. He was well-known and highly popular among fans of the BBC. His body was found about a 30-minute walk from the village of Pedi. He was seen on surveillance video leaving the coastal city of Agios Nikolaos around 1:30 p.m. local time Wednesday on foot in intense heat and across rocky terrain. Greek authorities had been conducting an extensive search amid sweltering temperatures. "We're taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it," said his wife, Bailey Mosley. "He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn't be easily seen by the extensive search team." "Michael was an adventurous man, it's part of what made him so special," she continued. Chris Warburton, a BBC Radio 5 presenter, made the announcement live during the "Sunday Breakfast" program as the news came in shortly after 9 a.m. in London. "You know it's something we've been talking about for the last few days," Warburton said. "A body has been found in the search for the TV and radio presenter Michael Mosely, a rescue worker has told the BBC." Moseley's body was found on a beach in Agia Marina near a beach bar, according to the mayor of Symi, Eleftherios Papakalodoukas. The mayor saw something near the bar's fence and alerted staff. Upon discovering his body the next day, police reported Mosely had been dead for several days, according to the BBC. "We had an incredibly lucky life together," Bailey Mosley said. "We loved each other very much and were so happy together." She said she was proud of her children and "hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people around the world." Tributes have also been pouring from Mosely fans and his former colleagues on BBC TV and radio. "He was a brilliant science broadcaster and program maker, able to make the most complex subjects simple, but he was also passionate about engaging and entertaining audiences, inspiring us all to live a healthier, fuller life," said the BBC's Chief Content Officer Charlotte Moore. Moore also praised Mosely's "passion for explaining science to a wider audience", adding he made it "accessible to anyone and everyone, not just a niche scientific crowd," she said. Greek forensics experts examined the body. Mosely's family thanked Greek authorities and police who conducted the extensive search and rescue operation under difficult circumstances. By Renee Maltezou ATHENS/SYMI, Greece (Reuters) -British TV presenter Michael Mosley has been found dead in a rocky area of Symi, days after he disappeared during a walk on the Greek island, local officials and police told Reuters. The 67-year-old healthy living advocate, who was had been a prominent face on British TV for two decades, was found on Sunday morning, ending a four day search that included aircraft, drones and sniffer dogs. "It's devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much," Mosley's wife said in a statement issued on her behalf. Police spokeswoman Constantina Dimoglidou said the body of a person believed to be Mosley had been found in the area of Agia Marina, north of the village of Pedi and opposite the northeast beach of Agios Nikolaos where Mosley set out for his walk. "It is certainly him," said deputy mayor Nikitas Grillis, pending formal identification of the body, which was found on rocky terrain, close to the sea and near a beach bar. The body was transferred to the neighbouring Dodecanese island of Rhodes for more tests, after a police official said a coroner at the scene excluded any criminal act but could not determine the exact cause of death. Symi Mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas said the discovery was made after he and others, including journalists from state TV channel ERT, filmed the area from a vessel. "We analysed the recorded evidence and it was obvious that it was, unfortunately, Mosley," Papakalodoukas said. "He was found 10 metres away from the sea, 10-15 metres from his destination, the beach of Agia Marina, between a fence and a path," adding that it was unclear what had happened. ERT reported that Mosley was found lying face up, with his head on a rock. Mosley, who was on holiday with his wife, was last seen alive at 1:30 p.m. (1030 GMT) on Wednesday. His children had arrived on Friday on Symi, which is about 10 miles (16 km) long and has 2,500 residents, following his disappearance. Mosley appeared on programmes including the BBC series Trust Me, I'm a Doctor, the BBC's The One Show and ITV's This Morning. "Absolutely devastating news," said celebrity chef Jamie Oliver on Instagram. "He did such a lot of good for public health with his TV shows and research." (Additional reporting by Yannis Souliotis, Angeliki Koutantou and Michael Holden; Editing by Timothy Heritage, Elaine Hardcastle and Alexander Smith) Elon Musk attends the Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in May 2022. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue/TNS Norways sovereign wealth fund operated by Norges Bank Investment Management said Saturday it will vote against Elon Musks hefty CEO compensation package during Tesla Inc.s annual shareholder meeting Thursday at the automakers Austin headquarters. Its the latest pushback over the size of the pay package, which was recently valued by the company at $44.9 billion but in January had a value of about $56 billion. In May, two big shareholder advisory firms, Institutional Shareholder Services and Glass Lewis, recommended voting against the package. While we appreciate the significant value generated under Mr. Musks leadership since the grant date in 2018, we remain concerned about the total size of the award, the structure given performance triggers, dilution, and lack of mitigation of key person risk, Norges Bank Investment Management said in a statement on its website. We will continue to seek constructive dialogue with Tesla on this and other topics. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Also last month, a group of shareholders including New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, SOC Investment Group and Amalgamated Bank, asked Tesla investors to vote against the package, saying it does not promote Teslas long-term growth and stability. On Monday, a source told Bloomberg that Scottish asset manager Baillie Gifford one of Teslas longest-standing holders will vote in favor of the package. Baillie Gifford was once Teslas second-largest shareholder after Musk but now holds only about 0.5% of the company across several of its funds, Bloomberg said. The various moves come after the automakers board in April asked shareholders to reinstate the CEO compensation plan that was struck down earlier this year by a Delaware judge who called its terms unfathomable and unfair to shareholders. The ruling came more than five years after a shareholder lawsuit targeted Musk and directors of the company. They were accused of breaching their duties to the maker of electric vehicles, batteries and solar panels, resulting in a waste of corporate assets and unjust enrichment for Musk. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The Norwegian fund, called the Government Pension Fund Global, which has a 0.98% stake in Tesla worth $7.72 billion, voted against the package initially in 2018. The fund invests proceeds from the countrys oil and gas industry to secure pensions for future generations in Norway. It is worth 17.80 trillion Norwegian krone ($1.67 trillion). Because of its sheer size, the fund does not reinvest all its money in Norway, or it would overheat the economy. It invests in 72 countries worldwide. The fund also plans to vote for several shareholder policies that management has recommended shareholders vote against, including a proposal to adopt a noninterference policy respecting freedom of association and collective bargaining; adopting a simple majority vote; declassifying the board of directors; and publishing reports on harassment and discrimination prevention efforts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The popular British television personality was first reported missing on June 5 S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock Dr. Michael Mosley A body has been found in the search for Michael Mosley, a popular British television doctor who disappeared in Greece. On Sunday, June 9, multiple outlets including the BBC, Associated Press and The Guardian reported that a body was discovered during the ongoing search for Mosley, 67, who was reported missing on June 5. According to the AP, Lefteris Papakalodoukas, the mayor of Symi where Mosely went missing was on a boat with members of the media when they saw a body above the beach in Agia Marina around 10 a.m. local time. We zoomed with the cameras and saw it was him, he told the outlet. Papakalodoukas said, per the AP, that the body was lying face-up against a fence after appearing to have fallen down a steep slope. While the body has not yet been formally identified, deputy mayor of the island, Nikitas Grillas, told The Guardian: He has been found in the area of Ayia Marina, adding, I can confirm that it is him. Hellenic Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. Brook Mitchell/Getty Dr. Michael Mosley The search for the TV presenter initially began after he did not return from a hike on June 5, per The Telegraph and the Associated Press. There is just no trace of him none whatsoever," Constantina Dimoglidou, a senior police spokesman, said, per The Telegraph. "And that means that, for us at least, every potential scenario is open and being investigated." Related: Human Remains Identified as Man Who Disappeared in 2017, But Wasn't Reported Missing Until 2024 The Guardian reported that video security footage showed that Mosley departed St Nikolas beach around 1:30 p.m. local time. In the footage, he was seen carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the sun. The image is now one of many that we now have of the Briton in Pedi, said a police official involved in the search, per the newspaper. There are others that show him clearly heading towards a path that would lead him to the port town. They will help us narrow our search but in no way do they solve this mystery. 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. Mosley is best known for appearing in BBC shows including, Trust Me, Im a Doctor and Michael Mosley: Who Made Britain Fat?, in addition to ITVs This Morning, according to The Sunday Times. Before his body was found, Mosley's wife, Clare Mosley, told the Times: It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk. The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children. In a statement on June 9, after her husband's body was discovered, Clare said, "It's devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Border in flux as US, Mexico look inward U.S.-Mexico border management is entering a new chapter, with questions growing about how major political and policy shifts on both sides of the Rio Grande will affect migration patterns. President Biden on Tuesday announced an executive order cracking down on asylum, potentially changing the calculus for tens of thousands of migrants hoping to enter the United States, just two days after Mexicos ruling party scored a massive electoral win that consolidated its grip on power. Major U.S. border policy changes usually lead to temporary lulls in crossings, a reprieve that Biden would welcome as the U.S. election heats up. But Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has so far been the key factor in keeping a check on crossing numbers; Lopez Obrador took on the task of continental migration enforcer amid a presidential election that would make or break his legacy. The Biden administration has gone out of its way to avoid criticism of Lopez Obradors efforts to curtail Mexicos independent electoral institute and other autonomous democratic institutions, and it timed its border announcement to come after the election of his successor. I think [Lopez Obrador] has gotten a lot of things [from the United States], not just during the electoral cycle, but also during the last five years of his administration. I mean, the White House has maintained silence on a lot of anti-democratic measures that have occurred under his administration, said Lila Abed, acting director of the Wilson Centers Mexico Institute. Lopez Obradors chosen successor, former Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum, is set to take office on Oct. 1. Sheinbaum was widely expected to win the election, but she and Lopez Obradors Morena party delivered a crushing landslide thats put Morena within a few Senate seats of a constitutional supermajority. I think Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to be completely honest with you, is more focused on approving his constitutional and legal forms in Congress than he is on cooperating with the United States, said Abed. Those reforms, which include an electoral overhaul and deep changes to the judiciary, have been in Lopez Obradors sights for some time, but his legislative supporters did not have the required two-thirds majority to reform the constitution. Morena officials have indicated theyll push the reforms through in September, ahead of Sheinbaums inauguration, rattling financial markets and sending the Peso down from 17 per dollar before the election to 18 on Thursday. That instability, coupled with the near certainty of achieving his long-desired judicial reform, will draw Lopez Obradors focus to domestic issues and the transition as the United States litigates its own federal election. Bidens announcement on Tuesday, a historic curtailment of asylum rights, followed two failed Senate votes to codify similar asylum restrictions into law. Republicans derailed those Senate votes, the result of a months-long bipartisan negotiation between centrists and conservatives. The Biden administration saw those failed votes as an opportunity to highlight Republican inaction on the border by unilaterally enacting their own stringent measures. Its unclear whether independent voters were impressed by the move, but Bidens progressive allies were not. Hes never gonna get credit from Fox News or, you know, or the Trumpsters for anything he does. Like the last time he had an anti-asylum policy change, I walked into the committee the next day all the Republican members of Congress were still calling him open borders Biden,' said Rep. Greg Casar (D-Texas). But the asylum restrictions did supercharge calls for expanding legal pathways both for migrants leaving their countries and for longtime undocumented immigrants in the United States. The Congressional Hispanic Caucus responded furiously to Bidens plans and made clear its expectations for a follow-up liberalizing of the rules for some undocumented immigrants to rectify their paperwork. The asylum announcement did not come as a surprise: Whispers of its imminent arrival after the Mexican election circulated among immigration watchers for weeks. The likelihood of an immigrant relief package has been similarly telegraphed, though progressives say theyre not counting their money until the deal is done. Ive learned that nothing is guaranteed around here, and so were gonna keep pushing for it until its, you know, the ink is dry on it, said Casar. And the Biden administration is jittery after its rollout of the asylum restrictions engendered confusion and predictable wrath from the right, but not much praise. Officials held several calls with reporters during the week explaining the contents of the executive order. On Friday, senior administration officials expressed frustration at misconceptions that are out there about the asylum rule and presidential proclamation because we have continued to see some reporting that seems to kind of misunderstand how the two work together and the changes that theyve made to our processes at the border. The misunderstandings of how the new policy will work seem to transcend borders. Lopez Obrador said his government wants the Biden administration to reach agreements to directly deport third-country nationals to their home countries, potentially reducing the number of non-Mexicans expelled to Mexico. We are seeking an agreement so they can arrive at an agreement so if they take a decision to deport someone they do it directly. And were helping to reach that agreement. Because they come to Mexico and we dont have a problem, we treat them very well, the migrants, everyone. But why triangulate? Lopez Obrador said at his daily press conference Wednesday. The Biden administrations asylum restrictions like the Trump administrations before them rely on Mexicos willingness to take in a number of third-country nationals who are expelled shortly after they encounter U.S. officials at the border. Mexico has so far been accepting about 30,000 Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, Cuban and Haitian nationals per month, but the details of any standing or future agreements on the matter are murky. That highlights the core problem that makes global migration so difficult to manage as opposed to other cross-border issues such as trade, according to Abed. The commercial disputes, energy, biotech, GMO, corn, the auto the rules of origin on the auto sector, all of those have a way to resolve themselves, said Abed, citing the mechanisms of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement dispute resolution as an example. Migration, on the other hand, is not very easily solved. It includes a, you know, an interdisciplinary, cross-sectional strategy, regional comprehensive strategy that has to address poverty, inequality, violence, political instability, lack of economic opportunities, climate change. I mean, these are huge issues. These dont have a clear path of how to solve them. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Brevard County Commission Chair Jason Steele says that public speakers at commission meetings should be more respectful of commissioners. The same public speakers say the same thing about Steele and the other commissioners. Now Steele has asked the county's attorney to detail procedures under which members of the public can be removed from meetings by sheriff's deputies. Steele's request came at the end of a contentious May 21 commission meeting, in which several members of the public were removed or threatened with removal from the chambers something that has rarely happened at commission meetings until recently. "I'm really getting sick and tired of what's happening in this room," Steele said toward the end of the 3-hour meeting. "The disrespect that we're getting from the audience is, in my opinion, way overboard. I'm not going to let this turn into a zoo in here. It's the same 10 people every time. It's the same thing every time." Canaveral Groves resident Katie Delaney addresses the Brevard County Commission on May 21, related to the cutting of trees along Rockledge Drive in unincorporated Brevard. Steele said he is willing to take constructive criticism, but he won't allow members of the public to be rude to commissioners or county staff. Among speakers threatened with removal from the May 21 meeting was Canaveral Groves resident Katie Delaney, a Republican candidate for County Commission in North Brevard's District 1. During her public comment at that meeting, Delaney was critical of what she felt was the commission's lack of respect and lack of trust for members of the audience when they were commenting on several issues. She said county staff was "gaslighting the public" related to the county's cutting of trees along Rockledge Drive in unincorporated Brevard. "You all are not above the people," Delaney told commissioners. "So what do you expect when the citizens come here, outraged? The public trust is eroded, and you guys need to fix that." As Delaney was ending her three-minute public comment and began walking away from the podium, Steele said he was tired of the public disrespect from speakers. "What the hell is wrong with you, Katie?" Steele said. "Look, I am not going to let these rooms turn into complete disruption. It's not going to happen." Delaney said in an interview with FLORIDA TODAY after the meeting that what may have helped spark Steele's comments was her saying "no sir, no sir" to him, off microphone, after Steele started his response. She then noted that she was a candidate for County Commission a political remark that is not allowed anymore by public speakers at commission meetings. Delaney said she left the meeting room willingly, although she was followed out of the room and into the building lobby by a deputy. Speaker calls commissioner action 'appalling' Justice Center plan OK'd: Brevard commissioners approve $6.1 million overhaul of Moore Justice Center in Viera Port St. John resident Stel Bailey was the next speaker, and continued the criticism of commissioners, saying she was "disgusted by the behavior happening in the board room. It is appalling." Cocoa resident, Kristin Lortie, followed. Initially, Lortie was told by Steele that she could not have other residents stand with her and hold up photos while she spoke. Steele then asked Brevard County Attorney Morris Richardson for a legal opinion, and Richardson said it was not specifically against the rules, as long as it was not disruptive. Richardson said it's up to the chair's discretion on how to handle the matter. Steele then allowed others to stand with Lortie, saying: "I'm going to go ahead and allow this nonsense to continue." In a subsequent interview, Richardson said signs and photos are permitted, as long as they are small enough to be held by one person and do not block the view of other people in the audience. Also during the meeting, two Orange County residents were escorted from the meeting room after they initially would not leave voluntarily. They used their public comment time to question the authenticity of the NASA space program, with one claiming the space shuttle Challenger explosion that killed seven astronauts in 1986 did not happen, and the crew actually is alive. Commissioners justified cutting off their comments because commission rules state that speakers can only address an issue that is under the jurisdiction, authority or control of the County Commission. When they continued arguing about their right to address commissioners on this issue, claiming that Steele was taking away their freedom of speech, Steele directed a deputy to escort them out of the commission chambers. 'Crossed the line of decorum' Funding narrowly approved: Economic Development Commission grant renewal with Brevard County approved in 3-2 vote Richardson said he plans to have the memo Steele requested ready for commissioners to consider in time for their next meeting on July 9. Richardson contends that "the recent behavior of certain public speakers has crossed the line of decorum, and the orderly conduct of board meetings in a way I don't recall regularly happening in the past." The May 21 conflicts between commissioners and speakers signed up for public comment wasn't the first in recent weeks between commissioners and members of the public. During a May 7 discussion related to county funding for the Economic Development Commission of Florida's Space Coast, County Commission Vice Chair Rita Pritchett asked a sheriff's deputy to escort a member of the audience, Sandra Sullivan of South Patrick Shores, out of the meeting room for making comments to the board from the audience. Sullivan was concerned that the commission was about to vote on the item without hearing her public comments. "If there's any more outbursts, I'm going to have somebody escort you out," Pritchett said. "We've got to do business right now. We just can't keep doing this. We don't talk out from that area when we're having conversations. It's just not good atmosphere. We can't get business done. We can't have people talking when the commissioner is talking." Steele added: "Any more outbursts from you in the audience by yelling or screaming at the dais, we're going to have you removed." Commissioner Rob Feltner intervened, realizing that part of the issue was that there was confusion about whether Sullivan had submitted a comment card to speak on the issue. Sullivan was allowed to stay, and was given her public comment time. 'The devil is in the details' Jacksonville-based First Amendment attorney Ed Birk said what's happening in Brevard parallels what is happening in other Florida counties and cities. "Citizens want to be heard," Birk said. "That's their right." Birk said that, even if a public speaker is critical of the government body or a particular government employee, or talks about an issue that isn't part of what the government body has jurisdiction over, "the safer course of action is to let the person go on for three minutes" and then move on to the next speaker, rather than halting the person's comments. Birk also doesn't believe the speaker should be restricted from indicating in passing that he or she is a candidate for elective office, as long as the comments don't turn into a campaign stump speech. Where Birk would draw the line is if someone is disrupting the meeting, throwing things or threatening violence. There is a need "to maintain order," Birk said. "The devil is in the details." Delaney said she is worried about the law enforcement officers who are present at County Commission meetings to assure public safety being put in the middle of the dispute between commissioners and some members of the public. "The deputies are not there to be the First Amendment police," Delaney said. Dave Berman is business editor at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Berman at dberman@floridatoday.com, on X at @bydaveberman and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/dave.berman.54 This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Brevard County Commission, residents at odds over public speaking GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah (ABC4) A park ranger at Bryce Canyon National Park died from his injuries after tripping and falling while on-duty, according to the National Park Service. Tom Lorig, 78, was working during Bryce Canyons annual Astronomy Festival on the night of June 7. According to the National Park Service, Lorig was directing a visitor to a shuttle bus around 11:30 p.m. when he fell and struck his head on a large rock. READ NEXT: Young child rescued, taken to the hospital after being swept into Provo River The visitor informed a nearby law enforcement ranger after finding Lorig unresponsive, NPS said. National park rangers, medically-trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel cooperated to provide initial life-saving care, but were unsuccessful in reviving Ranger Lorig, the NPS said in a press release. Park Superintendent Jim Ireland said Lorig served as an interpretive park ranger who worked to facilitate connections between the world and these special places that he loved. Bryce Canyon National Park Ranger Tom Lorig died while on-duty. According to the National Park Service, the 78-year-old ranger was directing a visitor to a shuttle bus around 11:30 p.m. when he fell and struck his head on a large rock. (Courtesy: Bryce Canyon National Park) Ireland continued, As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorigs family and friends. According to the National Park Service, Lorig served as a registered nurse in the Seattle area for 40 years, and had been a park ranger in the permanent, seasonal and volunteer capacities for more than a decade. Lorig first began working with the National Park Service in June 1968 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Since then, he worked in 14 more national parks, including several in Utah. We also want to express gratitude to the National Park Service and Garfield County emergency services staff who responded as well as to the bystanders who assisted NPS first responders, Ireland 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 ABC4 Utah. A new Buc-ees travel center opening in Texas is set to become the largest convenience store in the world. The 75,000 square foot gas station in Luling, Texas, will surpass the previous record holder another Buc-ees location in Sevierville, Tennessee by just barely 300 square feet when it opens on Monday June 10. "The new Buc-ees Luling will be the largest Buc-ees location in the country, bringing the largest Buc-ees back where the legend began," the company said in a press release. The Texas store opening two hours west of Houston will replace the current Buc-ees in Luling, which was built as the brands first travel center in 2003. The American chain of enormous gas stations and general stores has become known for roadside snacks featuring BBQ brisket sandwiches and its signature Beaver Nuggets as well as the worlds cleanest bathrooms and the friendliest beaver mascot. The record-breaking gas station will consist of 120 fuel pumps, at least 200 employees, and thousands of snack, meal and drink options for travelers on the go, the company told USA Today. Buc-ees travel center in Robertsdale, Alabama, the first location opened outside of Texas in 2019 (Getty Images) Thats compared to the previous record-holding Buc-ees in Sevierville, which also has 120 pumps, 22 electric vehicle charging stations, and a 250-foot-long car wash within its 74,707 square foot location. This isnt the only Buc-ees drawing in thousands of visitors across the country; a new location will break ground along Interstate 75 near Ocala, Florida, next year. While it was initially reported that the Florida chain was set to break Lulings record at a staggering 80,000 square feet, the company maintained that the largest convenience store will remain in its home state of Texas. "Buc-ees is currently in the design and permitting phase for a 74,000 square foot-store in Ocala, FL, which is our largest store model outside the state of Texas, Stan Beard, Buc-ees director of real estate and development, told the Daytona Beach News-Journal on June 7. "Regarding square footage, the largest store outside of Texas will not exceed 74,000 square feet. Buc-ees travel center was founded in 1982 in Texas, and began its expansion across the US in 2018 with the opening of a location in Alabama. The company has since opened 14 other locations in Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, and Colorado. Earlier this year, Buc-ees announced the opening of its first location in North Carolina. BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) The Buffalo Diocese has released a recommendation for the rightsizing and reshaping of Family No. 36 which consists of numerous universities and colleges throughout Western New York. According to a letter obtained at St. Joseph University Parish, only 1 active priest for the family is projected by the year 2030. This would affect the vicariates at The University at Buffalo North Campus and South Campus, Buffalo State College, Daemen University, DYouville University, and Canisius College, among others. The Parish says that the family requires a one-year evaluation to determine effectiveness and that it would now fall under the authority of the Buffalo Vicar Forane. Additionally, they say someone must be hired to coordinate all of campus ministry in the Diocese. Retired priests may be necessary to help out if the family is left with 1 assigned priest in the future. The letter specifically mentions the UB Newman Center, saying that if it gets sold, reevaluation of Family No. 36 would have to take place immediately. The next meeting of the Diocese is set for Monday at The Immaculate Conception Church in Ransomville. 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. Censoring student journalists or retaliating against their advisors is not only a violation of free speech rights, it shows students that the truth an essence of journalism does not matter. Thats what administrators at C.K. McClatchy High School have made clear. Under Californias New Voices law, student journalists and advisors are protected in their editorial choices, which confirms that placing the high schools journalism teacher, Samantha Archuleta, on administrative leave was the schools attempt to control the narrative as well as a massive blow to free expression. This incident highlights a broader trend across the country of undermining student press freedom, and could set a dangerous precedent if no further action to rectify the situation is taken. Opinion In response, the First Amendment Coalition, the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the Student Press Law Center urged Sacramento City Unified School District Superintendent Lisa Allen to reinstate Archuleta and adhere to Californias Education Code. The letter recognized the immense need to acknowledge student press freedom rights, and the instrumental work of student journalists. Archuleta remains on leave in the wake of the student newspaper publishing a series of notable statements from students in various campus settings, including from one student who said Hitler had some good ideas. The piece was meant as an honest reflection of C.K. McClatchys current campus climate. As a board member for the Student Press Law Center, a national nonprofit that provides free legal aid to student journalists, and as a free speech activist and student journalist myself, I have been working on restoring students First Amendment protections across the country and advocating for student journalists to get a seat at the table for over five years. We know our school campuses best, and we often outpace national news outlets in speed and quality of coverage. Whether its extensive COVID coverage or ongoing election reporting, student journalists have time and again proven themselves to be a critical part of our media ecosystem. With local news outlets dying and impacting over 70 million Americans, student news outlets at the high school and college level are working to be the solution, essentially transforming into local news outlets by covering their surrounding cities and towns in addition to their campus. Student journalists are even a crucial part of statehouse reporting, providing visibility to the issues that the state and local legislatures are voting on, such as abortion access and book bans. Yet it is clear that despite the impact student journalists have at pivotal moments in history, they are still met with arrests, assaults and censorship. In fact, since the 1988 Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier Supreme Court ruling in favor of a Missouri high school principal who censored student reporting, school administrators have had the ability to censor student publications at public high schools and universities, which has further enabled widespread censorship. Without student journalists, we would have little transparency or visibility into the movements brewing on campuses across the country or the insights of students at the forefront of historic challenges. We need to preserve the future of journalism and democracy by envisioning a stronger infrastructure to support student journalists and student press freedom. That means advocating for their free speech rights and pushing to reverse the effects of Hazelwood v. Kuhlmeier in public high schools and universities. We must also support quality journalism education, donate to organizations providing student reporters and advisors with legal aid and financially support student news outlets. Supporting student journalists isnt just about fostering ethical journalism; its about ensuring a well-informed future. Anyone who cares about free expression should push back against decisions like the one at C.K. McClatchy High School and empower students to continue documenting historic moments. Pratika Katiyar is a writer and activist. She has bylines and features in Teen Vogue and CNN, and is on the HerCampus and e.l.f. Cosmetics 22 Under 22 list of most inspiring women. This California congressman is all over TV and TikTok, touting Biden ... and himself Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Fremont), pictured near the U.S. Capitol with communications director Marie Baldassarre, has had dual roles: a presidential surrogate and one of many Democrats building his own base for a post-Biden era. (Jonathan Ernst / For The Times) Rep. Ro Khanna, one of President Biden's most visible supporters, came to Michigan recently to accept a courage in public service award from an Arab American group that opposes American support for Israel in Gaza and detests Biden. The tension of the California congressman's dual roles as a presidential surrogate and one of many Democrats building his own base for a post-Biden era was evident before dinner was served. James P. Allen, chairman of the Arab American Civil Rights League, was blunt as he introduced Khanna to local Democratic power brokers over cocktails. We are going to work night and day to defeat Biden, Allen said. Democrats need a dose of "Trump chemotherapy, Allen added, likening Trump to a toxin that would purge Biden, the cancer, from the Democratic Party. Rep. Ro Khanna speaks to a group of Arab Americans in Dearborn, Mich., in February. (Carlos Osorio / Associated Press) Khanna pushed back awkwardly but not convincingly. "I disagree because we've got a journalist [here]," he said, pointing to the reporter he allowed to shadow him for the night. Undeterred, Allen repeated the metaphor before Khanna shifted the conversation to himself: You think people like me can pick up the pieces in the future? I do, Allen told him. The future of the Democratic Party is with people of color. And on the right side of this issue, Khanna said, highlighting his difference with Biden over Israel. Through four terms representing the Bay Area's 17th District in Congress, Khanna has sought to build a reputation as a unique crossover artist. A Silicon Valley progressive who can build his sizable political war chest with fundraising help from the likes of David Sacks a venture capitalist who hosted a Trump fundraiser Thursday but who endorsed Bernie Sanders democratic socialist bid for president. An ally to angry Palestinian-rights activists who can still attend bill-signing ceremonies with the president. A politician who decried the anachronism of two 80-year-olds running for president to a group of college Democrats while insisting he was there to help one of those old men get reelected. Does he plan a White House run? He gets asked often, and seems to relish it. Read more: Whats behind the anti-Biden wildfire among TikTok influencers Who knows? Khanna replied as he waited to board the flight from Washington to Detroit. What is the zeitgeist of 2028 or 2032 going to be? Its a tough decision, he said. He and his wife, Ritu, whose immigrant parents became wealthy selling auto transmissions, have two children, ages 5 and 6. They live in Washington but he travels extensively, both to his district and to political events, while trying to spend the mornings and alternating weekends with them. Rep. Ro Khanna and his wife, Ritu, arrive for a State Dinner with President Biden and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House in June 2023. (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) He hit the "lottery" with Ritu, he said, but worries about the impact of social media on his family. Still, he's keeping his options open, giving speeches in Michigan and New Hampshire to get his message out. I certainly want to be part of the national conversation. Its not unusual for members of the House to imagine themselves as president, but only two have made the leap directly, and one was Abraham Lincoln. Khanna would have to leapfrog better-known home-state rivals like Vice President Kamala Harris and Gov. Gavin Newsom. Still, there's plenty of precedent in using a presidential campaign to build a profile as the party's unofficial progressive leader. Sanders, who achieved that role through two insurgent runs for president in 2016 and 2020, is 82, and Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, who fought for the 2020 nomination, is 74. He pays attention to his politics, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Washington state Democrat who leads the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said of Khanna. He's very close to our revolution. Khanna doesnt yell or crack many jokes, but admirers and opponents note how the congressman, who is always in a suit, sees value in engaging his critics and anyone else who wants to hear from him. Its hard to find a reporter in Washington who doesnt have his cellphone number. Read more: How a drilling project and Israel-Hamas overshadow Bidens climate record for young voters His office estimated that he appeared on television 142 times in 2023, nearly three times a week, including local, cable and Sunday network news hits. He laughed as he recounted how former Vice President Al Gore recently ribbed him for going on air so often. His campaign pays a social media consultant who cultivates relationships with influencers and helps generate videos that draw 100,000 and sometimes a million views on TikTok and other platforms. Last year, Khanna was a loud and lonely Democratic voice calling for the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign amid an extended absence from work. I think hes accurately assessing the careerism and corresponding mediocrity of the political class, said former Rep. Mike Gallagher, a Wisconsin Republican who worked closely with Khanna on China and other issues. Rep. Ro Khanna shakes hands at an End Fossil Fuel rally, where he spoke, near the U.S. Capitol in June 2021. (Anna Moneymaker / Getty Images) Khanna won legitimacy on the left by backing Sanders in 2020 and has addressed his own potential vulnerabilities, including a personal fortune worth tens of millions of dollars through his wifes family, by backing the Green New Deal and other anti-corporate positions, Jayapal said. He has made contacts with activist organizations and used his $10-million campaign account to boost up-and-coming candidates and state parties. So obviously, he's got a path lined up for himself, she said with a chuckle. But even allies question that goal. We make a mistake by saying, Who's going to be the leader of the progressives? because we have many, many leaders, said Rep. Barbara Lee, the Oakland Democrat whom Khanna endorsed for the Senate this year and counts as a mentor. In a democracy, we work collectively." Khanna seems undaunted. His brand of progressive capitalism differs from the focus placed on social issues by culturally progressive lawmakers, such as Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York and Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan. Khanna also differs from Sanders democratic socialist philosophy, in part because his agenda includes a dollop of wealth generation often in the form of subsidies that help the corporate giants Sanders rails against to bring jobs to working-class Americans. At the same time, he supports high taxes on the wealthy and free universal healthcare. The same tech boom that has made his district wealthy, hes reasoned, could bring jobs to areas of the country that suffered as manufacturing shifted overseas. The zeal for spreading tech wealth to West Virginia, Michigan and other neglected regions has not hurt his ability to win over voters and financial backers in Silicon Valley's tech sector, his primary backers since he ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2014 against Mike Honda, a fellow progressive Democrat who served eight terms. Khanna won in 2016. Rep. Ro Khanna talks with communications director Marie Baldassarre near the U.S. Capitol in May. (Jonathan Ernst / For The Times) In 2022, when Intel Corp. broke ground on a semiconductor factory in Ohio, Khanna was there, as were Biden and other lawmakers. Bruce Andrews, the company's chief government affairs officer, told The Times that hed never seen an elected official so excited about investment outside their district. The facility is funded in part through the CHIPS and Science Act, and Khanna had been a bridge in the negotiations over the legislation with Democrats who were more skeptical of corporations, which won billions of dollars in subsidies in the law. He spent a lot of time explaining to them how the economics worked and how Taiwan and Korea and China have spent 30 years incentivizing this industry, Andrews said. If we want to get those jobs back and build, rebuild and rebuild manufacturing in the United States, we have to close the cost gap between the U.S. and Asia. Read more: Homeless encampments are on the ballot in Arizona. Could California, other states follow? China has been a particular target of Khanna's, reflecting the national mood that helped Trump get elected and pushed many Democrats, including Biden, toward a more confrontational industrial policy with Beijing. He comes at it more from an economic warfare perspective, and I come at it more from an actual warfare perspective, said Gallagher, the former Wisconsin congressman. The two also collaborated on congressional term limits legislation, traveling to Trumps White House to seek an audience with the president. They got a tweet from Trump, but the bill died. He has a very legit resume and background and has interacted with every major leader in the tech world and probably sees the energy, the natural churn of talent, and the ability of people at a relatively young age to have a massive impact, Gallagher said. During their time working together on China issues, Gallagher was impressed with Khannas ability to get tech barons and venture capitalists on the phone. Rep. Ro Khanna shakes hands with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during a meeting in Taipei in February 2023. Khanna led a U.S. delegation to discuss deepening military cooperation between the two sides. (Taiwan Presidential Office via AP) But the coziness with tech has drawn skepticism from fellow progressives and industry critics, who see Silicon Valley as the prime example of concentrated wealth and power and the aversion to regulation that comes with it. Some critics point to extensive trading of stocks some of it tech companies in his wife's portfolio. He insisted that his wifes extensive roster of quarterly stock trades does not violate his belief that members of Congress should not buy and sell stocks because, in her case, the stocks are traded by a third party as part of a diversified trust. Its very hard to see how you can express affection for Silicon Valley giants and be a full-throated advocate for social democracy, said Jeff Hauser, who heads the Revolving Door Project, a corporate influence watchdog. Khanna disputes that view, pointing to his vocal support for a sweeping bipartisan Senate bill (which ultimately failed) to regulate tech. But he did not support a similar effort in the House when he had the chance in 2021, drawing more skepticism from critics who see a gap between his rhetoric and actions. Garrett Ventry, a former Republican congressional aide who worked on antitrust issues, said Khanna dodged many of the bipartisan efforts to curb the power of Apple, Google and Amazon, despite his Elizabeth Warren rhetoric. That really speaks more volumes than just saying tough things on Twitter, Ventry said. In advance of his Dearborn visit, Khanna and his staff billed it a major speech to lay out his vision for the Middle East, a bit lofty for a rank-and-file member of the House minority. But he was nervous on the way there. His campaigns videographer was stuck in a long security line in New York, jeopardizing his plan to clip the speech for social media. Khanna was not sure how a call for civility and a two-state solution would go over. He said he would deliver the same speech he'd give if he were speaking to a pro-Israel group. Rep. Ro Khanna speaks to a group of Democratic college students in February in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Carlos Osorio / Associated Press) But the speech in Michigan omitted a line from an op-ed he published that morning, adapted from the speech, which condemned the phrase from the river to the sea, which many Israelis and American Jews see as a call to eliminate Jews from Israel. Khanna said the Washington Post added that line and he never intended it as part of the speech. His op-ed and speech never mentioned Biden or noted how Trump banned visitors from primarily Muslim countries and took a more hawkishly anti-Palestinian position than Biden. It would be inappropriate, Khanna said to a reporter, to upstage the award with this talk, and he wasn't there in his role as a Biden surrogate. After about an hour of selfies and political networking, Khanna sat down for a dinner of lamb, chicken and rice. Other speakers described the communitys profound pain and anger, none more so than Allen. Our own president, who many of us voted for, is a willing accomplice to murder, Allen told the audience. This betrayal is compounded by the pernicious influence of dual loyalties, where our elected officials nakedly serve, not the American people, but foreign interests, Allen continued, echoing the language of antisemetic tropes. Khanna smiled awkwardly but congratulated Allen and the other speakers as they left the dais. I hope my speech goes over well, Khanna said to a reporter during another set of fiery remarks. Thats a pretty radical speech. As his turn arrived, Khanna appeared composed. I'm not going to tell you maybe all that you want to hear, Khanna told the crowd, offering a new approach to political dialogue in America. Over 15 minutes, he tried to find common ground, a two-state solution, a mutual recognition, coexistence between Palestinians and Israelis. Iranians too. He invoked the inspiration of his grandfather Amarnath Vidyalankar, a member of Gandhi's independence movement in India who spent four years in jail and eventually served in the country's first parliament. Khanna didn't use the words genocide or ethnic cleansing as the other speakers did. He called for a permanent cease-fire and a release of hostages. There were maybe two boos when Khanna reaffirmed Israels right to exist, and the concluding applause was polite. Khanna thought it went well, and the groups founder muttered later that the speech sounded presidential. Rep. Ro Khanna on the East Front grounds of the U.S. Capitol. (Jonathan Ernst / For The Times) Mingling afterward, attendees offered similar praise, and if they said nothing, Khanna asked what they thought. His political director, Elizabeth Cavalieri, then recorded testimonials from a few of them to post on TikTok. It had been a long night, and almost everyone was cleared out. But Allen, the one who had sworn to defeat Biden, was filming a TikTok video with Cavalieri praising Khannas speech, repeatedly mispronouncing his name as Ka-hanna. When Allen finished, he told Cavalieri they needed to stay in touch. Hes raised a lot of money over the years and wants to help Khanna with whats next. Bierman reported from Dearborn, Oreskes from Los Angeles. Get the L.A. Times Politics newsletter. Deeply reported insights into legislation, politics and policy from Sacramento, Washington and beyond, in your inbox three times per week. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WESTMINSTER, Calif. On a cloudy recent holiday morning, as dozens of people who served in the South Vietnamese army mingled after honoring the memories of those who died in the Vietnam War, one veteran called out to his friends to "meet Derek!" That would be Derek Tran, a micro-celebrity of sorts in Southern California's Vietnamese community who posed for Memorial Day selfies and shook hands with people interested in meeting the Democratic candidate for an Orange County-based U.S. House seat that his party sees as a critical part of its pathway to winning back the majority in November. The area he's running to represent is home to Little Saigon, a district with one of the largest Vietnamese populations outside of Vietnam itself. Despite that claim to fame, Southern California's Little Saigon has never been represented by a Vietnamese American in federal office. Its weird. Its not something Im used to, Tran, who is Vietnamese, told USA TODAY of his newfound popularity as he made his way around a local park that features two towering statues of American and South Vietnamese soldiers standing side by side, flanked by their respective flags. But I take a lot of pride in their excitement about my race, so I take it as it comes," he added. "Theyre appreciative and they are just happy to have someone thats going to be able to possibly give us a voice in Congress. Tran, a 43-year-old political newcomer who previously worked as a lawyer for personal injury and discrimination cases and served in the U.S. Army, is running a campaign in one of the nations few competitive House races in the upcoming elections that will determine which party will control the lower chamber and play a major role in shaping or killing the agenda for the White House winner. Highlighting the competitiveness of Tran's race, it's one of the handful of districts that President Joe Biden won in the 2020 election but is held by a Republican Biden won there by 6 percentage points. A key component behind Trans campaign is his background and ability to connect with the Vietnamese population that Democrats believe no prior candidate could. The hope is that Tran can convince and turn out those voters during a presidential election cycle where Biden will be at the top of the ticket in one of the nation's deepest blue states. Whether Tran could capture those voters is essential to flipping the seat as he faces an uphill battle against two-term GOP incumbent Michelle Steel, a 68-year-old Korean American who is well established in local politics and one of the GOPs strongest fundraisers among vulnerable members, boasting a massive campaign war chest. Though it was just a few days after Trans primary victory, at the end of March, Steel reported $3.2 million cash on hand compared with Trans near $200,000. Not only that, Steel's campaign has capitalized on the Vietnamese community's GOP leanings before. She's already built a strong grassroots operation for voter outreach across the whole district that helped her win reelection in 2022, along with controversial messaging points that critics have decried as "red-baiting" to inflame fears of communism among Vietnamese voters. Lance Trover, a spokesperson for Steels campaign, noted the race is about more than just the Vietnamese population in the district and said in a statement to USA TODAY that Southern Californians of all ethnicities know who they can trust which is why they keep electing Michelle Steel. May 29, 2024; Garden Grove, CA, USA; Derek Tran visits the non-profit Truong Buu Diep Foundation with the John Nguyen (not pictured), in the Little Saigon area of Orange County. Despite the headwinds facing Tran, his campaign is touting internal poll numbers in the district that shows the Democrat in a dead heat with Steel, trailing her by just 1 percentage point among likely voters in the district in a head-to-head matchup. But more notably, Tran far outperforms a generic Democrat among likely Vietnamese voters. Up against Steel, Tran is 3 points behind. Underscoring the Vietnamese community's lean towards the GOP, those same voters would favor a generic, unnamed GOP candidate by 25% compared with a generic Democratic candidate. There is a political machine behind all this, Tran said, noting Steels husband, Shawn Steel, is also an important figure in the California GOP. But that doesnt slow my yearning and my ability to make sure that I beat her by out-canvassing her. Im going to try to out-fundraise her, but shes definitely had a head start on me. The Vietnamese community in the district runs through Little Saigon, a sprawling enclave of Vietnamese shopping centers, strip malls and restaurants built up in Orange County after hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese refugees flocked to the United States after the fall of Saigon marked the end of the Vietnam War in 1975. Driving past Carrot and Daikon Banh Mi, a local Vietnamese sandwich shop, Tran recalled asking the restaurants owner, a Republican and current Army reservist, whether his campaign could plant signs in front of his business during the state's primaries. The owner turned them down. But upon learning Tran was a veteran, the owner changed his mind. When California law permits 90 days before the election day in November those signs will again be there for the general election. The fact that I was a veteran, he respected that, and he allowed us to use his property to place our signs, so that was cool, Tran said. Democrats are enthused to have a candidate like Tran, whose background as the son of refugees mirrors the life of so many in Little Saigon. But his candidacy could be undercut by the fact older Vietnamese voters harbor strong feelings against communism. Vietnamese Americans are the only Asian American demographic to skew towards the GOP, which is perceived as having a stronger stance against China and communism. A Pew Research Center survey conducted last year found that 51% of registered Vietnamese voters either identified with or lean toward the GOP compared with 42% who favor the Democrats. Thats unlike other Asian American voters such as Chinese, Filipino, Indian and Korean voters. Dont get me wrong. Theres people like, What's your party? Whats your party? Tran said. And I tell them Im a Democrat and theyre like: Oh. We cant vote for a Democrat, were Republican. Tran says at times, he can walk them through my upbringing and why Im running and for some of those voters, his background resonates and hes able to persuade them. Others though, he cannot, so we just leave it at that. May 29, 2024; Garden Grove, CA, USA; Derek Tran drives through the Little Saigon area of Orange County on his way to meet with community members. 2022 race marked by accusations of 'red-baiting' Illustrating the visceral emotions Vietnamese Americans hold toward communism and the fear that drives some of them to the GOP, the South Vietnamese flag was seen flying across the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, as rioters besieged the building seeking to overturn the 2020 election. The bright yellow flag bearing red horizontal stripes, commonly used as a symbol of freedom, stuck out to many in the Vietnamese community, flying alongside MAGA flags and displays of far-right symbols. Tran is hoping to win over voters from the Vietnamese community who were appalled to see the South Vietnamese flag fly over the Capitol then. It was just being used inappropriately on Jan. 6. A lot of Vietnamese Americans were ashamed seeing that flag flying up like that, said Phu Do Nguyen, an attorney and board member of the Vietnamese American Democratic Club in the area supporting Tran. That flag represents all of us, not just one faction. Those feelings of resentment towards the regime that drove out so many who called Vietnam home still linger strongly in Little Saigon. Quan Nguyen, one of the founders of the Museum of the Republic of Vietnam, a humble one-room collection of items ranging from model warships to army uniforms to medals from the Vietnam War, described Little Saigon as the capital of exiled Vietnamese who are very anti-communist. He added the community is very divided by those who continue to hold such strong feelings toward the communist regime and others who, while they still yearn for the restoration of freedom in their home, dont hold such similar, intense feelings. The political power of that sentiment was on full display in the districts last election in 2022, when Steel faced off against Democratic challenger Jay Chen. Though Chen was the son of Taiwanese immigrants, Steels campaign tied him to the Chinese Communist Party, stoking fears in the Vietnamese community. The attacks labeled Chen on signs as Chinas choice and Vietnamese language mailers photoshopped him in a classroom holding a copy of The Communist Manifesto. Steels campaign faced heavy criticism from Democrats and accusations of red-baiting. Chen ultimately lost by less than 5 points, or a little more than 10,000 votes. "When you're messaging particularly to a community like the Vietnamese community, which has a long history of trauma with the Communist Party, that's got to have an impact," Chen told USA TODAY, calling the attacks "blatantly racist." "Those attacks are not going to land the same way," given Tran is Vietnamese, Chen said. "There are a lot of people in the Vietnamese community who are going to take offense to some of those attacks." Tran echoed similar sentiments and said his background as the product of a community that fled communism and tyranny will withstand any labels the GOP tries to put on him. Steel is going to have a very hard time painting a son of this community as a communist because an attack on me as a Vietnamese American is an attack on my entire Vietnamese community out here, Tran said. She needs the votes out here and she cant win this district without them. I dare her to attack me and call me a communist because I know my community will respond right away, Tran added. Tran's heritage already poses strong appeal to some Vietnamese voters who have longed to see a candidate that looks and speaks like them. Tran's unique strengths to connect with the voters of Little Saigon also comes from his familiar history for many in the community. His parents were among the 2 million Vietnamese boat people who after the war desperately sought to escape Vietnam to neighboring countries. He said his father attempted to flee with his first wife and youngest children, but their boat capsized and Trans father was the only one who survived the accident. Back in Vietnam, his father met his mother and managed to successfully flee Vietnam, later relocating to the U.S. where Tran was born. His family history though is difficult for Tran to recount, describing it as uncomfortable to speak openly about and noting its not part of his stump speech on the campaign trail: Its not my story to tell. May 29, 2024; Garden Grove, CA, USA; Derek Tran listens to community leaders during a meeting in the Little Saigon area of Orange County. Democrats see new chance in Tran: 'He's fluent' Trans background will be a key defense against any attempts to tie him to communism, one political consultant for California Democrats said on the condition of anonymity to speak candidly given the high stakes of the House campaign. It was a rough one to put it mildly, the consultant said about Steels attacks and Chens campaign. Come Election Day, the race is expected to be close and if Tran does win, it wont be by a large margin. Though the consultant also argued Tran's fluency and connection with the Vietnamese community offers Democrats a much stronger chance to flip the seat. A GOP consultant working on House races, who also spoke to USA TODAY on the condition of anonymity to candidly discuss the competitive election, echoed the same sentiment and noted Steel is a familiar name for many voters in the district. The GOP consultant dismissed Tran's use of his background as more of a talking point. To be successful in 2024, Democrats will need to invest in outreach centers and canvass directly to voters in the entire district rather than just make a broad stroke political play solely around Tran's Vietnamese lineage, according to the GOP consultant who noted both Steel and Rep. Young Kim, another California Republican and Korean American, invested heavily in Asian American voter outreach to build strong grassroots operations that led to their election wins. Chen shared similar feelings, arguing Democrats need "to focus on the AAPI vote and not take it for granted even though AAPIs in general vote Democratic, they can't take this constituency for granted." Whether Tran will be able match Steel's campaign operation remains to be seen, the GOP consultant said, noting the fundraising gap between Steel and her Democratic opponent. Trans campaign is still in the process of building a ground game akin to Steels. The campaign arm of House Democrats, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, has begun to invest in voter contact, community outreach and organizational support for Tran's campaign. The districts location is another headwind for Trans campaign, given that advertising rates in the Los Angeles media market are among the most expensive in the country. She has good name recognition, Tuong Thang, Vietnam news director of Saigon Broadcasting Television Network, a Vietnamese language television network based out of Little Saigon, said of Steel. A lot of people already know her," Thang added, noting her time in local politics serving on Orange County's board of supervisors. But Thang argued that Tran is uniquely positioned to win over the Vietnamese community. Though the district also includes a sizable Korean American and Hispanic population, the swing vote that will decide the election is in Little Saigon, Thang said. To be honest, Jays my friend, (but) he didnt make the investment in the Vietnamese community that Derek will. Its not just having surrogates here and there but really having a full on campaign in the Vietnamese community, said Phu Nguyen, a trustee on the Fountain Valley School district who is supporting Tran. I think it was a missed opportunity for him. Parts of the community are already planning to rally support for Tran in Little Saigon. John Nguyen, co-founder of the Truong Buu Diep Foundation, a faith-based nonprofit honoring Father Truong Buu Diep, a Vietnamese Catholic priest, said he has to share with everyone about how good he is. May 29, 2024; Garden Grove, CA, USA; Derek Tran talks to John Nguyen at the non-profit Truong Buu Diep Foundation, in the Little Saigon area of Orange County. The Truong Buu Diep Foundation, where people from any faith can stop by to pray, offers various free walk-in resources for locals who may need assistance navigating federal government programs such as Social Security and Medicare. For a few years, Tran would offer his own legal knowledge to help those who needed advice on personal and family legal issues. Those resources are critical for the community, Nguyen said, since most of them, they dont know (how to) speak English and they need help from people who have licenses and knowledge. Nguyen says hes going out of his way to support Tran because of (the) relationship hes built with the Democratic candidate over the years he volunteered for the foundation. When he learned Tran was running for Congress, Nguyen thought that he and his foundation had to support him totally. I do feel inspired when I hear them talk" about him and his campaign, Tran said. But I also feel the burden that they put on me. It would be very hard to face them should I lose this election. Whether Nguyen and other community members' support will be enough for Tran and Democrats to flip the seat and give Little Saigon its first Vietnamese representative in Congress is uncertain. For now though, just having a candidate in the first place, almost 50 years after the fall of Saigon, is already an achievement. Back in Westminster Memorial Park, where Tran and the rest of the attendees moved the Memorial Day processions to plant incense and South Vietnamese flags to honor 81 unknown Vietnamese airmen, a few local Vietnamese language reporters stood by, waiting to interview Tran. After the processions, Tran made himself readily available for any of their questions. He answered in both English and Vietnamese. Handsome guy! one of the local news network reporters quipped, making sure to get a picture with the potentially history-making Democratic candidate after their interview. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Southern California micro-celebrity looks to make history in the House Cambridge becomes second Mass. city to stand with teamsters in combatting worker misclassification Cambridge has become the second Massachusetts city to stand with teamsters in combatting worker misclassification. The city joined Somerville by passing a resolution aimed to stop Uber, Lyft, Doordash, and other companies from abusing drivers by misclassifying them as independent contractors. These bills are critical to our union, said Tom Mari, President of Teamsters Local 25. Workers wages, work rules, benefits, and pension plans are all at stake in this fight. We cant allow greedy CEOs from Silicon Valley to destroy the good jobs we fought to create in Massachusetts. The resolution was authored by Paul Toner and co-sponsored by Sumbul Siddiqui, Jivan Sobrinho-Wheeler, and Ayesha Wilson, a former member of Teamsters Local 122. Companies have been attempting to get a referendum on the November ballot that would legitimize their unlawful misclassification racket in Massachusetts. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW The ghost of Kevin McCarthy('s speakership) still looms over Nancy Mace. Illustration:Jianan Liu/HuffPost; Photo:Getty Images Things seemed to be going well for Nancy Mace two years ago. The South Carolina Republican was a rising star in Congress and had just fended off a primary from a Trump-backed opponent. She was on TV a lot. And that winter, Mace delivered a searing roast of her colleagues at D.C.s annual press club dinner, wearing a half-sheer, floor-length black gown. But since her unexpected vote to remove Kevin McCarthy as House speaker in October, Mace hasnt been having such a good time. Shes become embroiled in a nasty public feud with the now-former speaker. Many of Maces staffers abandoned her and then brutally trashed her to the media. Her former chief of staff weighed trying to primary her. Congress is a place where lawmakers with big egos take nakedly self-serving risks to become famous. But Mace may be an example of what happens when that springboard to fame goes awry. The two-term Republican, known for being the first woman to graduate from the once all-male Citadel military college, took a chance when she aligned herself with Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz and the other six attention-seeking House Republicans who forced a vote on McCarthys speakership. The move plunged the House into leaderless chaos for three weeks and for Mace, set into motion a staff revolt, a seemingly endless cycle of bad press and, now, a tough reelection. Mace faces a primary Tuesday that will test how much goodwill this all has cost her in South Carolinas coastal low country. Mace is locked in a race against Catherine Templeton, an official in former Gov. Nikki Haleys administration who entered with a nudge from McCarthys advisors. Templeton claims Mace flip-flops for fame. The former speaker, who retired at the end of last year, hasnt hidden the fact that hes working against the members responsible for ending his career. McCarthy told CNN in November that Mace didnt deserve another term because of her flip-flopping. In April, a McCarthy-aligned super PAC spent $700,000 on ads targeting Mace and Reps. Eli Crane (R-Ariz.) and Bob Good (R-Va.) all of whom voted against McCarthy. Its Maces second serious primary as an incumbent who flipped a swing seat in 2020 but her first as an incumbent with Donald Trumps endorsement. After criticizing the former president, shes now fully embracing the MAGA movement. But her transformation does not ring true to some GOP activists in the district, who dont understand what this version of Nancy Mace stands for. Less than a year ago, she said shes a caucus of one, shes independent. Then all of the sudden shes ultra-MAGA. So which way are you? People are confused, said Xiaodan Li, the founder of Friends of Liberty, a conservative group thats backing Templeton. Catherine Templeton, a former official in ex-Gov. Nikki Haley's administration, is hoping to beat Nancy Mace in a primary for South Carolina's 1st District. AP Photo/Meg Kinnard Maces critics also point to how just two years ago, McCarthy helped Mace beat Katie Arrington, Trumps pick in the GOP primary, after Mace was critical of Trump for his support of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots. McCarthy did significant fundraising for Mace. She returned the favor, generally supporting McCarthy up until she voted to get rid of him. Mace justified her vote against McCarthy by arguing she did it to advance her own legislative priorities on issues like access to contraception and rape kits, which she said were being sidelined by the then-speaker. Observers like Matt Wylie, a national GOP consultant who lives and votes in Hilton Head, in Maces district, said it seemed like just another way for Mace to make a name for herself in Congress. She decided against voting for McCarthy as speaker in the end because it was another opportunity to get on TV, Wylie said. I think I had a fundraising appeal within minutes of taking that vote. After Maces chief of staff got caught trying to negotiate between McCarthy and Mace during what ex-staffers described to HuffPost as an especially tense time, Maces vote against McCarthy sent her office into disarray. [Mace] was always a paranoid person, but thats when it went sideways, a former staffer said. Mace didnt respond to a request for comment about the campaign or the turnover in her office. Mace parted ways with her longtime chief of staff, Dan Hanlon, in December, sparking an exodus of key staffers. Aggrieved former Mace aides leaked unflattering stories to the press about their ex-boss, including that she talked about wanting to get punched on Jan. 6, 2021, so she could get on TV. A month after leaving, Hanlon filed paperwork to challenge Mace for her seat. Its virtually unheard of on the Hill for a staffer to run against their boss. But Hanlon ultimately did not follow through with his threat to primary Mace once it became clear that Templeton was a real challenger, with access to donors and a line to McCarthys advisors. At the end of the day, she is my congresswoman. I am a resident of Hilton Head. As a voter, I lost confidence in Nancy Mace, Hanlon told HuffPost. The race was never about me. It was always about having a serious person for a serious job. Its not clear how much Maces D.C. drama matters to voters. Mace was solidly ahead of Templeton by 25 points in a recent public poll, and is favored to win reelection if she clinches the nomination. And even though Templeton managed to moderately outraise Mace in the last fundraising quarter, Mace has spent almost $1.6 million since the beginning of the election cycle to Templetons $400,000, according to FEC reports (though these dont capture the races home stretch or the major outside spending thats poured into the district). In the final weeks of the campaign, Templeton, who was endorsed by South Carolina GOP Rep. Joe Wilson, has gone after Mace for a report in the Washington Post that alleged Mace may have overcharged the House under a program that allows members to reimburse themselves for living expenses. Throughout the campaign, Mace has called Templeton, who didnt respond to requests for comment for this piece, McCarthys puppet. But even the former staffers who left during the McCarthy episode dont see Maces primary as a career-ender. Last cycle she thought that Donald Trump should be sent to prison. This cycle shes the most MAGA person out there. She has no shame and she doesnt care at all. All that matters to her is that she wins. She enjoys the fight, and shes super smart and I think able to pull off what a lot of people wouldnt be able to because she understands the dynamics of where she needs to be, said another former staffer. Will Folks, Maces former business partner and an ex-GOP operative who runs a South Carolina digital news outlet, praised Mace for her independence in the McCarthy vote and said shes always been her own best adviser when it comes to her image. A lot of folks, youre not your best PR advisor. But I think shes always been her best PR advisor, Folks said. Shes definitely got a little bit of an edge, and you want somebody thats maybe a little willing to have an impulsive reaction from time to time. Related... Car dealership group to host NYC fundraiser for Hochul days after she reversed course on congestion-pricing Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a press conference to announce vehicle congestion pricing plan in New York City, U.S., June 27, 2023 A leading New York-based advocacy group for car dealerships will be hosting a fundraiser for Gov. Kathy Hochul mere days after she indefinitely paused the controversial congestion pricing scheme for part of Manhattan. The Greater New York Automobile Association is hosting the Hochul fundraiser Tuesday at The Center for Automotive Education & Training in Queens. The group is asking for suggested donations of $5,000 to $10,000, according to a flier for the event. Governor Hochul has been a staunch supporter of our industry, and this reception provides an excellent opportunity to engage with her directly and show our collective support for her continued leadership, says the flier dated May 28 announcing the event. The Greater New York Automobile Association is hosting the Hochul fundraiser Tuesday at The Center for Automotive Education & Training in Queens. Google Maps Hochul on Wednesday shockingly slammed the brakes on the tolling program, saying shes pausing it indefinitely because its not the right time with New Yorkers facing a cost-of-living crisis. The GNYADA opposes the congestion pricing toll plan. Hochul has been a longtime benefactor of auto dealers. The group is asking for suggested donations of $5,000 to $10,000, according to a flier for the event. Greater New York Automobile Dealers Association The GNYADA donated $18,000 to Hochuls campaign in July 2023, according to the Washington Examiner, which first reported the planned fundraiser. The governor has also received at least another $22,865 since 2018 from the Automobile Dealers of New York political action committee, according to fundraising records. Hochul campaign spokesperson Jen Goodman said in keeping with Governor Hochuls commitment to maintain high ethical standards, campaign contributions have no impact on government decisions. Cedar Grove in Kings Canyon National Park set to reopen after closure prompted by flooding In the Cedar Grove area of Kings Canyon National Park, some trails meander along Kings River and others ascend into wilderness areas. (Calvin B. Alagot / Los Angeles Times) A popular area in Kings Canyon National Park is reopening after a closure caused by flooding damage that lasted more than a year. Cedar Grove will reopen to the public Monday, the National Park Service announced . The area at the bottom of Kings Canyon has been closed to the public since floods during the winter of 2022-23 caused damage to roads and facilities. In Cedar Grove, some trails meander along the Kings River and others ascend into wilderness areas. Park officials said the Cedar Grove Visitor Center and day-use areas are reopening this week, as well as the permit station. Cedar Grove Market is scheduled to reopen June 15, and Cedar Grove Lodge is set to follow on June 21. Read more: The magical California state park that doesn't allow visitors Multiple roads in the park have been undergoing repairs and other maintenance this year. Sentinel Campground is expected to open no earlier than July 1, Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks said in a post on Instagram . No other campgrounds are expected to open this year, due to the severe damage caused by the 2022-2023 winter flooding, the post said. We will share information about Sentinel once there is a firm opening date. Wilderness permits are now available at Recreation.gov , and the National Park Service says a number of walkup permits are available for each trailhead. Read more: Column: In the land of giant sequoias, the largest tree in the world gets a checkup 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. Central KY police investigate two shootings that left one man dead, authorities say The Danville Police Department is investigating two separate overnight shootings that left one person dead on Sunday morning. Authorities said the first call came in at 2:51 a.m. when dispatch received a hangup call at a private club at the 700 block of Dillehay Street. When officers arrived, they found gunshots had been fired, but there was no victim located. Thirty minutes later, units responded to a residence on Mason Avenue where a 37-year-old man had a single-gunshot wound to the abdomen, according to police. He was taken to Ephraim McDowell Regional Medical Center where he was treated for non-life threatening injuries and later released. Police did not identify the victim, but they determined he was the victim shot while in his car at in the parking lot on Dillehay Street. The shooting remains under investigation. At 3:47 a.m. Danville police responded to the 300 block of North Fifth Street for a shots fired call. Police arrived and located a pickup truck that crashed into the yard of a residence. In the drivers seat was a 43-year-old man suffering from multiple gunshot wounds, police said. Boyle County EMS and Danville City Fire offered immediate assistance to the victim who was transported to Ephraim McDowell. The victim died around 5:30 a.m. The identity is being withheld pending family notifications. A preliminary police investigation determined the victim was traveling on North Fifth Street when he encountered a volley of gunfire from suspect(s) standing on the west side of the street. The man attempted to flee in reverse before crashing. Anyone with information on either incident is encouraged to contact the Danville 911 Centers non-emergency number at 859-238-1220 and ask to speak with the on-duty supervisor. Anonymous tips can be texted to (859) 516-5566. Detective Paul Megilligan is leading the investigation and can be reached directly at (859) 238-1224, ext. 2652. FILE PHOTO: Head of Russia's Chechen Republic Kadyrov attends a meeting of Russian President Putin and Uzbek President Mirziyoyev in Tashkent (Fixes formatting in lead) (Reuters) -A local Ukrainian official on Monday denied a claim by the leader of Russia's Chechnya region that Russian forces led by a Chechen-based special forces unit had seized control of a border village in northeast Ukraine. Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov said on Sunday the Akhmat-Chechnya unit spearheaded Russian troops in taking control of Ryzhivka in Sumy region. The "large-scale planned advance" inflicted "significant losses on the Ukrainian side, which was forced to retreat," Kadyrov said. However, Yuriy Zarko, a local official in Sumy, denied the presence of Russian troops in Ryzhivka on Monday in a comment to Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne. Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Ukrainian government's Centre for Countering Disinformation, said on Telegram that Russian forces had tried to test Ukraine's defences on the Ryzhivka front. Ukrainian forces are in control of the situation but the threat of Russian actions in the border area remains, he added. Russia's Defence Ministry issued no statement on the action. Ukraine's military has warned in recent weeks of a buildup of Russian forces around Sumy region in preparation for military action. A big Russian push in the northern region would stretch Ukraine's troops and open a new front in the war. In May, Kadyrov said during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin that tens of thousands of his soldiers were prepared to fight for Russia in Ukraine and that some 43,500 troops had already served in Moscow's war against Ukraine. (Reporting Bogdan Kochubey, Ron Popeski, Lidia Kelly and Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Angus MacSwanWriting by Ron Popeski;Editing by Angus MacSwan) China says US provoking arms race in moves into South China Sea Chinese Maritime Militia vessels are pictured near the Second Thomas Shoal in the South China Sea BEIJING (Reuters) - The U.S. poses the largest security challenge in the South China Sea as its military deployment there is turning it into "the whirlpool of an arms race", Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Sun Weidong said in remarks published on Sunday. Recent maritime run-ins between China and the Philippines, a U.S. treaty ally, have made the highly strategic South China Sea a potential flashpoint between Washington and Beijing. "At present, the biggest security challenge in the South China Sea comes from outside the region," Sun said in comments published by his ministry, after attending a high-level meeting on East Asian cooperation in Laos. Sun said U.S.-led forces were "promoting military deployment and actions in the South China Sea, inciting and intensifying maritime disputes and contradictions, and damaging the legitimate rights and interests of coastal countries". A move by the United States to deploy medium-range missile systems in the area "is dragging the region into the whirlpool of an arms race, placing the entire Asia Pacific region under the shadow of geopolitical conflicts", Sun said. China is committed to properly managing disputes with the parties in the South China Sea through dialogue, he added. In April, the Philippines said during a meeting with U.S. allies that it was determined to assert its sovereign rights in the South China Sea, accusing China of escalating "its harassment" of the Philippines. China claims almost the entire South China Sea, a conduit for more than $3 trillion in annual ship commerce, and has deployed hundreds of coast guard vessels as far as 1,000 km off its mainland to police what it says is its jurisdiction. The Philippines and China have sparred repeatedly this past year near disputed features that fall within Manila's exclusive economic zone. China routinely accuses the Philippines of encroachment while Manila and its allies have condemned what they call aggression by Beijing. The United States has said it stands with Manila. (Reporting by Kevin Yao; editing by Mark Heinrich) Cincinnati Public Schools is pursuing cellphone pouches for every student in the district following a pilot program at Hughes STEM High School last year. With Yondr pouches, students are locked out of their phones during the school day without having to turn them in to teachers or other school staff. It will be up to individual principals whether to use them. Cincinnati Country Day School in Indian Hill was one of the first in the region to ban cellphones during the school day. Teachers and students alike say it's been beneficial. Some comedians and musicians have venues use the pouches to prevent attendees from snapping photos or livestreaming their sets during performances. But schools have latched on to the product in recent years as concerns and research mount against youth cellphone use and its impact on learning and mental health. Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is pushing districts across the state to put cellphone bans in place. Akron Public Schools adopted Yondr pouches last year. Some schools in Cleveland did the same for kids in third through eighth grades. Cincinnati Country Day School in Indian Hill doesn't use the pouches but implemented a strict no cellphone policy at the start of last school year with positive feedback from students and teachers alike. More: An Ohio school banned cellphones. Turns out students actually like it Cincinnati Public Schools is not requiring every building in the district to adopt a no cellphone policy or even use the pouches. But after an encouraging presentation by Jennifer Williams, principal at Hughes, on the positive impacts of Yondr last school year, the board updated its phone policy to allow school principals to take students' phones or lock them up during the school day. "I would like, personally, every school to do what Hughes has done," Ben Lindy said before the board unanimously passed the updated policy. Board President Eve Bolton agreed. Williams answered committee and Enquirer questions about the Yondr pouches. See her responses below. Cyberbullying prevalent before Yondr pouches Cyberbullying was rampant at Hughes before the school switched to a cellphone free environment, Williams said. Students were sending messages to each other and filming other students without their consent. Even kids who weren't on social media were targets of the online bullying. "We also experienced false information being shared with students," Williams said. "Airdropping of threats in the building or in the community that weren't real." Are Yondr cellphone pouches reliable? Williams said many students learned from YouTube videos how to break open their pouches to get to their phones during the school day. But Hughes came up with a solution. In this March 2023 file photo, a locked Yondr pouch rests next to Ellet CLC junior Jackson Fisher in Akron. At Hughes, kids are responsible for turning in their pouches at the end of the day. If the pouch is broken or a student is caught with their phone during the school day, the student's phone is confiscated until an adult family member comes to pick it up. That inconvenience alone dissuade students from trying to outsmart the policy, she said. How did students respond to cellphone lockup? For the most part, kids were OK with their cellphones being locked up as long as they had them with them during the school day, Williams said. Occasionally teachers and staff still found kids who violated the policy, hiding their cellphones in shoes and other obscure places. "But it still met the purpose. They dared not take their cellphones out during instruction and during our academic school day," Williams said. What was the academic, social impact of phone restriction? Hughes saw improved academic achievement in freshman, improved engagement, less fighting in the halls and overall better culture in the school building. Can kids still reach their families during the school day? Yes. Families can call the school to speak with their child, and students can go to the office and request to use the phone to contact their family at any time, Williams said, "no questions asked." Students can also use school phones in their counselor's office and at the nurse's office. These offices can also unlock the Yondr pouches for students in emergency situations. How much does it cost? To purchase Yondr pouches for all high school students, the district would spend about $500,000. This would be taken out of Title IV funding, which is awarded by the U.S. Department of Education to help improve school conditions for learning. "The cost is really nothing for what will be returned in terms of school culture," interim Superintendent Shauna Murphy said during a recent school board meeting. The district is still working out the purchase details. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati school board supports cellphone ban for students Guest Essay. Although the U.S.A. is approaching its 250th year anniversary, it was only one hundred years ago that Native Americans were made American citizens. In 1884, John Elk sued Charles Wilkins for preventing him from registering to vote, arguing: . . . that more than one year prior to the grievances hereinafter complained of he had severed his tribal relation to the Indian tribes, and had fully and completely surrendered himself to the jurisdiction of the United States, and still so continues subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and avers that, under and by virtue of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States, he is a citizen of the United States, and entitled to the right and privilege of citizens of the United States. The U.S. Supreme Court held that even though John Elk may have dis-affiliated with his tribe, because he had not voted, was not taxed and had never been recognized as a citizen of his state or the U.S., he could not be a citizen and therefore could not vote. The Court specifically found that neither the Fourteenth Amendment (1868) or the Fifteenth Amendment (1868) provided citizenship, nor the right to vote for John Elk. [In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924, Native News Online will publish during the month of June guest essays to provide our readers with various perspectives from prominent Native Americans on the subject. Today's was written by Professor Victoria Sutton.] During the debate around the 1866 Civil Rights Act, there was an awareness of the potential effect of this Act on Native Americans. Senator George H. Williams (Oregon-R) expressed his concern about the consequences of citizenship if granted to Native Americans. He noted that states would not be able to single out Native Americans for banning them from purchasing alcohol and firearms, like they did, if they had equal protection under the law. As Prof. Maltz observed, This argument bears an almost eerie similarity to Taney's warnings against the dangers of black citizenship in Dred Scott. (Dred Scott was the landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that found enslaved persons were not citizens and therefore had no civil rights protections. The Assimilation Period used Citizenship The Dawes Act in 1887 forced Native Americans to take allotments and for that and disavowing their tribal citizenship, they received state citizenship. This was another U.S. Indian policy intended to break up Tribal Nations and assimilate Native Americans by forcing them into farming, while requiring the dissolution of their entire Tribal governments in some cases. (The residential schools program, 1819-1970 another U.S. policy intended to destroy Native American Tribes, cultures, languages and family relationsgot in the way of the other destructive allotment farming program and sending children away to residential schools. This meant no one was home who could carry on the farming demands of the U.S. government, but that is another story. Children did not earn citizenship by attending these indoctrination camps, either.) It was thought that service in the military might help the cause of citizenship for Native Americans. More than 12,000 Native Americans served in the military during World War I, according to a former Baptist minister, Joseph Dixon, who documented their service in hopes of helping them toward citizenship. Despite the fact that many Native Americans fought in wars for America, they were denied citizenship, even serving in disproportionate numbers among all the racial categories in the U.S. for service in the military. U.S. Citizenship for Native Americans without strings did not come until 1924 You might think that the Fifteenth Amendment ratified in 1870, that granted all U.S. citizens the right to vote regardless of race; as well as the Equal Protection of the Fourteenth Amendment would grant citizenship to the first residents of America, but Native Americans were still excluded. So Native Americans had to be specifically granted the right of United States citizenship through legislation. It was not until June 2, 1924, that Native Americans received citizenship without the strings attached of disavowing their own tribal affiliations. Some may have been granted state citizenship as part of taking an allotment in the Allotment Act period. The Act was passed December 1923 and signed by President Calvin Coolidge, June 2, 1924, authorizing the Secretary of the Interior to issue certificates of citizenship to Native Americans. This Act (also called the Snyder Act) did not distinguish between Indians who had left their tribes and those who remained with their tribes, so for the first time, Native Americans did not have to disavow their Tribal affiliations. However, voting law is a state area of regulation and many states continued to refuse to allow Native Americans to vote. New Mexico and Arizona still had laws that prohibited Native Americans from voting as late as 1948. In 1948 the Arizona Supreme Court reversed Porter v. (1928) in a case, Harrison v. Laveen (1948) giving Native Americans the right to vote. Two weeks later, Miguel Trujillo, a citizen of the Pueblo of Isleta, and a World War II veteran, filed an action against the local county registrar. New Mexicos court found for Trujillo, affirming the right to vote for Native Americans in New Mexico. The last western state to allow Native Americans to vote was Utah in 1957. Some of you reading this will remember Native American people who became citizens in 1924, and many who said they did not want to be a citizen of the United States after the long history of genocide and abuses by the U.S. and refused the bestowal of citizenship. Interestingly, Native Americans have served in the House and Senate of the U.S. Congress since 1893 to the present. Voting Rights were still illusory It was not until 1965 that all states were prohibited by the Civil Rights Act of 1964 from discriminating against voters. Tribes and individual Native Americans in the eastern United States had already lived through the literacy tests that tried to ban all people of color from voting. Even if they passed the literacy test they were still often banned from voting. Even today, state voting laws often do not fit the structure of elections in Tribal governments. For example ballots are sent to P.O. Boxes on many Reservations because there are no street numbers and most people get their mail at a central location. This often is against state election law. But some states are passing state voting rights laws that accommodate the structure of Native American election processes. Other citizenship issues in Indian Country Some Tribal Nations are on the border of countries that only existed after these Tribal Nations had long been established. For example, the Tohono Oodham Nation on the U.S.-Mexico border region has some of its territory in Mexico and some of its territory as a reservation in the U.S. (Arizona). Traveling across that border for its tribal citizens still means they immigrate as citizens of another country, each time that move across that border on their own traditional lands. Citizenship has rights that Native Americans were denied for the first 150 years. So this year on June 2, 2024 a commemoration of the 100th anniversary of that decision to make Native Americans citizens has mixed messages. Many felt it was just another assimilation program just to force Native Americans away from their own Tribal governments and traditions and language. Some felt it was necessary to allow voting and to have some control over the laws and lawmakers that controlled their lives. Voting as a benefit of citizenship was a long and rocky journey from 1924 and the fact that states are passing Native American voting rights acts demonstrate that it is still a challenge to ensure that right of citizenship is fully available to all Americans. To read more articles by Professor Sutton go to: https://profvictoria.substack.com/ Professor Victoria Sutton (Lumbee) is a law professor on the faculty of Texas Tech University. In 2005, Sutton became a founding member of the National Congress of American Indians, Policy Advisory Board to the NCAI Policy Center, positioning the Native American community to act and lead on policy issues affecting Indigenous communities in the United States. End_of_story.HeritageUnbound.jpeg About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net NEW YORK The city has asked a judge to toss out a sweeping ageism lawsuit filed by a group of New York City Fire Department chiefs against FDNY Commissioner Laura Kavanagh, arguing that it fails to show that seasoned fire officials were targeted or suffered discrimination because of their age. A half-dozen experienced FDNY brass say in the lawsuit that they were harassed, maligned and ultimately demoted because they seemed too old in Kavanaghs eyes. Each one was between 54 and 62 years old when the complaint was filed in March 2023. Asking Judge Patria Frias-Colon in Brooklyn Supreme Court to dismiss the case, city attorney Hayley Bronner said on Wednesday the complaint fails to show the chiefs were specifically targeted due to their age. There is nothing in the allegations that (the chiefs) were replaced by anyone younger or that they were targeted because of their age, Bronner said. Representing the chiefs, Attorney Jim Walden accused the city of playing whack-a-mole with the complaint, smacking down sections of the lawsuit it claims are not specific enough to show ageism when the entire complaint shows what he called a pattern of behavior. The city is arguing that there is a lack of specificity, but I dont understand how there could be more specificity, Walden said. The story of this complaint, the arc of the behavior is a wide-ranging conspiracy that is one of the most detailed stories that I have ever seen in a complaint. The lawsuit was filed by Assistant Fire Chiefs Michael Gala, Joseph Jardin, Michael Massucci, Frank Leeb, EMS Computer Aided Dispatch Programming Manager, Deputy Director Carla Murphy and retired EMS Chief James Booth, who has since been removed after it was found that his claims went beyond the four-year statute of limitations. Kavanagh, who is in her early 40s, is New Yorks first woman fire commissioner. She is also one of the citys youngest fire commissioners. Walden argued that the fire officials filing suit were all qualified to do their job and all suffered adverse actions. Beginning in 2018 and continuing to the present, the most senior people within the FDNY were demoted, taken off medical leave, had their benefits cut, had their computer access cut off, were disparaged and had false claims filed against them, Walden said. City attorneys say the lawsuit is filled with allegations involving other FDNY employees to bolster the ageism argument, but they have not alleged an inference of discrimination for any or all of them. The lawsuit is trying to claim that an inference of age discrimination for any FDNY employee over 50 would exist by pointing to any other employee over 50 who has ever been subject to any kind of unfavorable treatment, the city attorney wrote in her motion. It is not enough for the plaintiff to say: I belong to a protected class; something bad happened to me at work; therefore, it must have occurred because I belong to a protected class, she wrote. Walden disagreed and said all the allegations show an undercurrent of discrimination against older members of the department. We have 20 people all experiencing similar acts of adversity and discrimination, Walden asked. In cases of intimidation and discrimination, the employer doesnt often say, Hey were demoting you because we dont like you because of your age. If that was the case, it would be much easier to plead a case. The judge is expected to render her decision on the citys dismissal motion in coming weeks. Over the past year, she has ordered parts of the wide-ranging lawsuit be excised, including allegations that one of the chiefs was ordered to fast-track fire inspections for companies and businesses friendly with the Adams administration. Colon determined that the allegations about a list of deep-pocketed developers whose inspections were to be bumped up on fire inspectors to-do lists did not belong in the suit because they didnt get to the heart of the ageism complaint. Allegations of Adams fast-tracking the opening of the Turkish consulate in 2021 have become a focus of an FBI investigation; Adams has not been accused of any wrongdoing. The judge also ordered that scandalous and prejudicial claims against Kavanagh be stricken. Outside court, Walden called the dismissal motion a delay tactic. Were hoping that the real takeaway here is not just that the complaint is upheld, which it should be, but that the court says Enough is enough to the city and put us on a discovery schedule so we can find the actual underlying evidence, he said. Thats going to show theres even more misconduct. The department has repeatedly labeled the chiefs lawsuit as baseless and just an attempt to undermine the authority of the Fire Commissioner. The chiefs sued Kavanagh about a month after she demoted Gala, Jardin and Assistant Chief Fred Schaaf to deputy chief. Their demotions sparked a protest by FDNY chiefs who criticized Kavanagh and asked to be demoted in rank and moved out of department headquarters. So far, she has not signed off on any of the demotion requests, FDNY officials said. Civilians killed in Russian attack on Kherson and Kharkiv oblasts At least two people have been killed in a Russian attack on Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts. Source: Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration, Kherson Oblast Military Administration Details: A man was injured in the Izium district (Kharkiv Oblast) in the attack on Sunday night. Another woman was injured on Saturday in the village of Dvorichanske, Kupiansk district. Russia attacked the village of Khotimlia, Chuhuiv district, in the afternoon of 8 June. The attack destroyed a school building, damaged a shop, the village council building, and two houses. A man was killed and two women were injured. Attacks on residential areas of the oblasts settlements were recorded over the day in Kherson Oblast. The attacks damaged 13 houses and a car. One person was killed and four others were injured over the day. Support UP or become our patron! Immigration Some readers may recall the Gang of 8, four U.S. senators from each party who 11 years ago spent weeks drafting a comprehensive immigration bill. It passed the Senate with a comfortable bipartisan majority, including 13 Republican senators. Then, disaster struck in the House. Then-Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina and the Freedom Caucus made life a living hell for Speaker John Boehner, effectively dissuading him from permitting the House to even consider the bill, much less vote on it. Last spring, Republican Sen. James Lankfords Senate-passed immigration reform bill failed in the House. It is clear the Republican Party does not want to effectively address badly needed immigration reform. Jim Witeck, Apex Mark Robinson Regarding Ad quotes Robinson on abortion: Women should keep your skirt down. (June 5): Mark Robinsons attempt to throw the blame for sexual activity on women is refuted by studies, including a report cited June 6 in the Reproductive Rights Today newsletter. Of the roughly 3,400 participants who completed a survey in 2023, 63% said their current or former partner pressured or forced them to have sex or engage in sexual activity when they didnt want to. In addition, 39% said theyd been in a relationship with someone who threatened them if they didnt want to have sex, and 23% said theyve been pressured into getting pregnant. Janice Woychik, Chapel Hill Justice distorted Im shaking my head at how distorted our justice system is. On May 29 I read Halston Fishers opinion piece about how not being able to pay $288 in fines for a speeding ticket left him without a drivers license for 12 years. Then, I read about Jordan Porter, who had multiple pending traffic violations and previous citations for reckless driving, hit and run and more, yet was free to run a red light while allegedly driving under the influence and killed three people. My family experienced the failures of the system when a 19-year-old hit my husband and son on their bicycles while looking at his cell phone. He walked away free to continue driving after paying only a $25 ticket, while my husband spent months in rehab and has lasting impairment. Clearly the punishment in these cases has not fit the crime. Surely our legislatures time would be better spent improving our traffic laws and enforcement instead of worrying about who uses which bathroom and who wears a medical mask. Susan Marshall, Raleigh Berger and pork Regarding Senate leader blames pork for state budget impasse, (May 26): Although N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger seems surprised that legislators are asking for more pork, he should have seen it coming. Its a direct consequence of his tax cuts. When you cut revenue, you cut expenditures. How else can local legislators get the state to support communities and infrastructure except to hold up the budget to demand those investments? Jeff Braden, Raleigh Contraception On June 5, the Senate voted on the federal Right to Contraception Act. It would have codified the right to contraception, keeping states from prohibiting access to or restricting the sale or use of contraception. North Carolinas two senators, Thom Tillis and Ted Budd, voted against this bill. Voters need to pay attention to what our senators are voting for or against because their votes impact our lives. Stephen Berg, Chapel Hill Seeking centrists The U.S. House is dysfunctional largely because of the fractured Republican conference. Witness Marjorie Taylor Greenes preposterous accusation against Dr. Anthony Fauci at a June 3 hearing on the pandemic. She said he should be prosecuted for crimes against humanity and should be in prison. One of 54 House members not seeking another term, Republican Ken Buck of Colorado, recently said: Its important not to turn the government over to the crazies. Gerrymandering enables the election of the crazies. Perhaps if more centrist, independent candidates could get on the ballot as unaffiliated (not an easy task), we could end the dysfunction. I know this centrist Democrat would vote for such a person. Rhonda Crutchfield, Raleigh Pam Taylor This isnt about Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, multinational investors or corporate raiders buying huge land tracts in western states and upending communities. In Michigan, it could be companies like Ceres, the foreign Hancock Timber and Farmland Fund, Bowman Family Holdings or even smaller, local groups. My brother and I are among the many centennial farm owners here in Lenawee County. We inherited land, buildings, other assets and tax breaks. Some here inherited wealth others can only imagine. Theres no birthright to lifelong land ownership. Choices are made, consequences follow. At some point, there might not be anybody in the family to take over or to lease to another farmer. Others might decide to grab that brass ring and cash out. Then what? One choice is to sell, breaking up large holdings into smaller parcels. Young farmers here want to buy or lease, others want to expand or continue renting. But land (and lease) prices have to be affordable. Rising rents and land prices arent the only barriers to entry; higher township property values increase taxes, which hurts others who cant afford them. While getting multiple unsolicited offers from different companies over the past 18 months to buy or lease our farm in Riga Township for different energy options, I checked into them. Their websites are filled with high production value, emo-greenwashy stuff and seemingly unrelated business interests. Some promise in perpetuity (at least until they sell the parcel or go out of business). Lets call these companies climate change integrators. Maybe you like factory farms, corn, soy, biodigesters, biodiesel and ethanol. Maybe you like clearcutting trees, whether theyre fencerows between fields, along streams or in forests, for biofuel feedstock or clearance for solar arrays and wind turbines. Maybe you like mega wind and solar and the accompanying battery farms. Maybe you like pollinators, carbon sequestration and cover crops. Maybe you like renewable natural gas (RNG) produced by incinerating plastics and CAFO sewage biodigesters. Maybe you think carbon dioxide injection wells for storing captured CO2 from faraway industrial smokestacks and piped here are terrific. Or maybe you like some of these and dislike others. That doesnt matter to some of these companies. Its their choice once they own or lease land. It can be a surprise to landowners (not to mention the neighbors) who consoled themselves about selling or leasing inherited land with visions of pollinator flowers blooming, bees buzzing in perpetuity to suddenly learn theres going to be a mega solar installation or a battery farm or livestock waste on that newly cleared woodlot or extensively tiled farmland. Its important to talk to an experienced lawyer about any arrangements. Once ownership of Michigans ever-shrinking, food-production-quality acreage is concentrated into a few hands, what happens to food prices? What happens to energy rates and reliability after this land ownership consolidation, and to promised community benefits should something go awry with their payments in lieu of taxes (PILTs) as it sometimes does? Michigans new renewable energy standard (P.A. 235) was written for climate change integrators and access to taxpayer largesse. It has little to do with climate change or environmental protection. If it did, it would be much different. The loss of local control over utility solar and wind siting was an extra kick. Some Michigan environmental groups aligned with fossil fuel companies, Michigans large utilities, solar and wind special interests and some Michigan Democrats to push this through. I didnt foresee Democrats and environmentalists greasing the way for a private equity and investment fund farmland and energy takeover, but its a topsy-turvy world sometimes. I remain on Team Local. Ive watched the slow death of our small, rural towns over the past 50 years. We value our land, our renters family and kids who are newer farmers, and our neighbors quality of life. I hope voters will join me in choosing candidates who prioritize local people and healthy food production instead of boondoggles and self-dealing. Pam Taylor is a retired Lenawee County teacher and an environmental activist. She can be reached at ptaylor001@msn.com. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: Pam Taylor: Climate change integrators come to Michigan Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Sunday said he is not planning to attend Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus address to Congress in the wake of Israels wartime campaign in Gaza and the leaders past tensions with former President Obama. When it comes to that joint session, I do not plan to attend it, Clyburn said on NewsNations The Hill Sunday. Because Im going to treat him the same way he treated Barack Obama, but I am going to participate with a group of others in an alternative session to his joint session to see what now we can get some attention to what makes sense. Netanyahu will address a joint meeting of Congress on July 24, which immediately drew disapproval from some progressive Democrats, who are critical of Israels military campaign in Gaza that has left more than 37,000 people dead since early October, per local health officials. Like Clyburn, some Democrats have already vowed to skip the event and boycott the speech. The slated address will mark the fourth time Netanyahu has delivered a speech before a joint meeting of Congress, following visits to the U.S. in 2015, 2011 and 1996. In his latest visit, more than 50 Democrats skipped the address after former Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) invited the Israeli leader without first telling the White House under Obama. Obama and Netanyahu had a long-running feud in 2015 over Netanyahus position on Palestinian statehood and the U.S.s pursuit of a nuclear deal with Iran. Clyburn, who has been a longtime supporter of Obama, said Sunday he is looking to see a two-state solution in the Middle East. You must remember that Barack Obama attempted to push that issue, Joe Biden is pushing that issue, and, on every front, Netanyahu has been opposing that, Clyburn said. His comments come days after the NAACP wrote a letter to Biden, urging him to halt the sale of weapons to Israel. Clyburn said he stands with the NAACP. I support what the NAACP is doing, but Im also a legislator supporting this administration. And I do know that when youre trying to find common ground, you cannot have it your way, totally all the time, he said. So Joe Biden is working hard trying to find common ground with the people of Israel. And most people of Israel are against what Netanyahu is doing. Israels war with Hamas has raged on for more than eight months following the militant groups Oct. 7 assault on southern Israel, during which they killed about 1,200 people and kidnapped about 250 others. Updated on June 10 at 8:44 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. CNN drew criticism online on Saturday after the cable news network described the Israeli militarys rescue of four hostages Saturday as a hostage release rather than a rescue. The four hostages had been kidnapped by the terrorist group Hamas from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. The term hostage release was shown in CNNs chyron with the networks anchor Victor Blackwell using it himself, before making a correction since Hamas did not intentionally release the hostages. After discussing a scheduled press conference by Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, Blackwell said, That was postponed because of the release today of these hostages or, the rescue, I should say. You can watch footage of the CNN segment below, via conservative media watchdog NewsBusters: When not citing the IDF directly, CNN changes their chyron to read "hostage release" pic.twitter.com/lVJ51fQ6BD Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) June 8, 2024 Conservatives and supporters of Israel were quick to express outrage on social media at the description of the rescue operation as a release. *HOSTAGE RELEASE?!* CNN IS AT IT AGAIN!!! Absolutely deplorable excuse for journalism. Lets DEMAND better!!! Send this far and wide. *Lets slam CNN and demand a correction of this false narrative to tell the world they were RESCUED!!!!*https://t.co/6azc1BomWu pic.twitter.com/ae6jLa4tWh Matthew Feinberg (@thewebbie) June 8, 2024 More than 100 hostages are still held by Hamas. Hospital officials in Gaza said that more than 200 Palestinians were killed and over 400 wounded as part of the Israel Defense Forces operation, according to CNN. Those numbers include 142 bodies counted at Al-Awda Hospital and 94 at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Hamas had been keeping captives in multistory civilian buildings, according to Israels military. Israel war cabinet member Benny Gantz postponed a press conference Saturday following the operation. He had been expected to resign over a dispute with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about how the war has been handled, but the prime minister has now called on Gantz to stay. Observers have noted that, without the support of officials including Gantz, Netanyahu would likely be forced out of office and could face prison time as the result of multiple corruption scandals. The rescue operation utilized both heavy artillery fire and shelling of the area. Its the third successful hostage operation by the Israeli military. Footage from Al-Aqsa shown by CNN included people carrying wounded children and covered in blood. Israel has regularly disputed casualty numbers released by Gaza officials, with CNN noting that it has no way of verifying casualty numbers coming from Palestinian officials in Gaza due to the lack of access for international media in the area. A three-part peace ceasefire proposal publicly advocated for by President Joe Biden and others has yet to be accepted by both sides. The ceasefire would include the release by Hamas of all hostages, but the sides appear to have not yet been able to reach an agreement on the specifics. Western government leaders were quick to praise the hostage rescue Saturday, while also continuing calls for a ceasefire and the release of all of the hostages. The post CNN Criticized for Calling Israeli Hostage Rescue a Release | Video appeared first on TheWrap. CNN takes heat for saying Israeli hostages were released A group of men in military uniforms with Juan Jacinto Munoz Rengel CNN came in for sharp criticism Saturday after running a segment that said Israeli hostages rescued in the daring morning operation in Gaza had been released. Network anchor Victor Blackwell and Ian Bremmer, founder of the Eurasia Group, were both discussing the dramatic mission to save the four hostages when the word release appeared in a chyron. CNN took heat for a chyron saying Israeli hostages had been released. CNN Freed hostages were united with their families on Saturday, Israel Foreign Ministry/UPI/Shutterstock Critics pounced, pointing out that Hamas did not willingly release these hostages. Come on @CNN the four hostages were RESCUED not released. Do better, said the account StopAntisemitism in a posting to X. Yaari Cohen, an Israeli student called the chyron disgusting, adding that the network should be ashamed. Hamas didnt release these Hostages, the IDF rescued them after Hamas held them for 8 months!! Cohen said on X. Neither man said the word release, during the interview, which was about how Israels war cabinet minister Benny Gantz would hold off on a press conference in which he was widely expected to quit the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Hamas still has more than 100 Israeli hostages in captivity in Gaza. AFP via Getty Images Almog Meir Jan, a released hostage reacts, after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip. REUTERS The complex Israeli rescue mission in Central Gaza cost the life of Israeli commander Arnon Zamora. Reps for CNN did not respond to request for comment from The Post. View a previous report on an environmental initiative in Columbus in the video player above. According to the Pew Research Center, about two-thirds of Americans feel the federal government is not doing enough to counteract the effects of climate change. While a majority of U.S. adults acknowledge climate change to be a real issue, there is less consensus in regards to what measures to take to address the worsening climate crisis. Solutions such as planting more trees to absorb carbon emissions garnered widespread, bipartisan support. Approval for taxing corporations based on their emissions output or introducing stricter emissions standards for vehicles, on the other hand, seemed to fall along party lines, with 86-89% of Democratic-leaning respondents supporting those measures, versus 52-55% of Republican-leaning respondents. Attitudes toward climate change policies are split by more than mere political party affiliation, however. Other important demographic factors include generational differences, gender, race, ethnicity, socioeconomic situation, and proximity to a coastline where natural disasters have increased in frequency. Economic reliance on fossil fuels also plays a large role in whether people support or oppose climate change measures on both a local and federal level. In order to parse how people in Columbus feel about climate change policies, Stacker compiled statistics using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. The data is from a survey conducted in 2020. Support in Columbus for funding research into renewable energy sources: 86.9% #68 highest among all metros 1.2% higher than national average Ohio recreational marijuana: Applications open for dual-use dispensaries Metros where the most people support funding research into renewable energy sources #1. Ithaca, NY: 90.4% support funding research into renewable energy sources #2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 90.3% #3. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 90.1% Metros where the fewest people support funding research into renewable energy sources #1. Amarillo, TX: 79.0% support funding research into renewable energy sources #2. Houma-Thibodaux, LA: 79.7% #3. Longview, TX: 79.7% Support in Columbus for regulating CO2 as a pollutant: 76.2% #65 highest among all metros 1.6% higher than national average Metros where the most people support regulating CO2 as a pollutant #1. Ithaca, NY: 82.9% support regulating CO2 as a pollutant #2. Ann Arbor, MI: 80.4% #3. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 80.3% Metros where the fewest people support regulating CO2 as a pollutant #1. Provo-Orem, UT: 65.0% support regulating CO2 as a pollutant #2. Amarillo, TX: 65.2% #3. Midland, TX: 65.3% Support in Columbus for setting strict limits on existing coal-fire power plants: 65.3% #150 highest among all metros 2.4% lower than national average Metros where the most people support setting strict limits on existing coal-fire power plants #1. Urban Honolulu, HI: 81.1% support setting strict limits on existing coal-fire power plants #2. Ann Arbor, MI: 78.5% #3. Ithaca, NY: 78.2% Metros where the fewest people support setting strict limits on existing coal-fire power plants #1. Farmington, NM: 46.3% support setting strict limits on existing coal-fire power plants #2. Weirton-Steubenville, WV-OH: 49.2% #3. Longview, TX: 51.4% Support in Columbus for requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount: 68.2% #98 highest among all metros 0.4% higher than national average Metros where the most people support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount #1. Ithaca, NY: 77.1% support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount #2. New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA: 76.9% #3. Urban Honolulu, HI: 76.7% Metros where the fewest people support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount #1. Provo-Orem, UT: 53.1% support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount #2. Casper, WY: 53.9% #3. St. George, UT: 54.2% Support in Columbus for requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources: 67.1% #59 highest among all metros 2.1% higher than national average Metros where the most people support requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources #1. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 72.8% support requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources #2. Ann Arbor, MI: 72.2% #3. Urban Honolulu, HI: 72.2% Metros where the fewest people support requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources #1. Provo-Orem, UT: 52.2% support requiring utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sources #2. Decatur, AL: 54.7% #3. Johnson City, TN: 55.5% Support in Columbus for providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels: 83.4% #56 highest among all metros 1.3% higher than national average Metros where the most people support providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels #1. Ithaca, NY: 86.6% support providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels #2. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH: 86.1% #3. Ann Arbor, MI: 86.0% Metros where the fewest people support providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels #1. Amarillo, TX: 75.2% support providing tax rebates for people who purchase energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels #2. Houma-Thibodaux, LA: 75.3% #3. Texarkana, TX-AR: 76.0% Support in Columbus for drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: 33.6% #184 highest among all metros 1.9% higher than national average Metros where the most people support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge #1. Dalton, GA: 43.7% support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge #2. Lima, OH: 41.6% #3. Enid, OK: 41.4% Metros where the fewest people support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge #1. Ann Arbor, MI: 21.9% support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge #2. Ithaca, NY: 22.5% #3. Corvallis, OR: 23.1% Support in Columbus support for expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast: 54.8% #185 highest among all metros 2.7% higher than national average Metros where the most people support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast #1. Lake Charles, LA: 69.4% support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast #2. Alexandria, LA: 68.9% #3. Decatur, AL: 67.7% Metros where the fewest people support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast #1. Santa Cruz-Watsonville, CA: 34.6% support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast #2. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA: 36.6% #3. Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA: 37.0% Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Watch a previous NBC4 report on the shooting in the video player above. COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) Authorities are offering a cash reward for answers to a fatal 2021 shooting that left a 16-year-old dead in northeast Columbus. Officers responded to the scene in the 2000 block of Willamont Ave. at about 8:59 p.m. on Nov. 4, 2021, after report of shooting, according to the Columbus Division of Police. Rycheous McKinney, 16, was found suffering from a gunshot wound then transported to a local hospital where he later died from his injuries. Two people sought in connection to fatal vigil shooting Rycheous McKinney, 16. (Courtesy Photo/Central Ohio Crime Stoppers) Central Ohio Crime Stoppers is offering a cash reward for any information leading to the arrest of the individual responsible for the shooting, and is asking anyone with information to call 614-461-TIPS or visit www.stopcrime.org and to submit a tip. All tips are anonymous, and Crime Stoppers does not use Caller ID or record telephone conversations. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Palestinians take control of an Israeli tank after crossing the border fence with Israel from Khan Yunis. The commander of the Gaza Division of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Brigadier-General Avi Rosenfeld, has announced his resignation, taking responsibility for the Hamas attack mounted from the Gaza Strip on October 7 last year. Abed Rahim Khatib/dpa The commander of the Gaza Division of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), Brigadier-General Avi Rosenfeld, has announced his resignation, taking responsibility for the Hamas attack mounted from the Gaza Strip on October 7 last year. "On October 7, I failed in my life's mission to protect the Gaza border communities. Everyone has to take responsibility for their part, and I am in charge of the division," Rosenfeld said in a statement. "As part of taking responsibility as a commander, I decided to end my position and service in the IDF after 30 years of service," he added. Rosenfeld's resignation will take effect once a replacement has been appointed. The head of Israel's Military Intelligence Directorate, Aharon Haliva, announced his resignation in April. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and, Ronen Bar, head of the Shin Bet domestic intelligence agency, have previously accepted responsibility for the attack but remain in position. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not as yet accepted any personal responsibility. People are waiting outside a polling station to cast their vote in the European and local elections. Around 3.3 million Saxons are being called to vote in the European Parliament and local elections on Sunday. Patrick Pleul/dpa Alongside the European Parliament elections, voters in about half of German states cast ballots to elect local officials on Sunday. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made significant gains in the eastern German states of Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg, according to interim results. But the AfD came away empty handed in run-off elections in Thuringia, where AfD candidates were seeking the district administrator post in nine different municipalities. A neo-Nazi activist, Tommy Frenck, collected 31% of the vote in the district of Hildburghausen in Thuringia but was defeated by Sven Gregor from the conservative Free Voter party. Frenck is nationally known in Germany for organizing a series of large neo-Nazi concerts. There were signs of a neck-and-neck race between the centre-right Christian Democrats (CDU) and AfD in the district and city council elections in Saxony-Anhalt, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg. In Brandenburg, Saxony and Thuringia, the vote is seen as a test of public opinion ahead of the state parliament elections in September, in which the AfD is projected to do well. In the first round of Thuringia's local elections, the party won a number of additional seats in local parliaments, but did not manage to gain seats in town halls and district councils. In the former communist East Germany, the AfD led all other parties in projected results on Sunday from the European Parliament elections. Nationally, the AfD trailed only the CDU. In the wealthy south-western German state of Baden-Wurttemberg, the Greens were forecast to lose control of two of the state's largest cities, Stuttgart and Mannheim. The CDU was projected to replace the Greens in both cities. Michael Kretschmer Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), minister-president of Saxony, casts his vote in Dresden. The European elections began on June 6 and elections will be held in Germany on June 9. In Saxony, there are local elections and the European elections at the same time. Robert Michael/dpa Katarina Barley, the Social Democratic Party of Germany lead candidate for the European elections, leaves the polling booth. German state Rhineland-Palatinate holds coinciding local and European elections. Harald Tittel/dpa Could manufactured homes help solve affordability crisis in Taunton and beyond? TAUNTON Kathy Zorotheos remembers knocking on doors in 2015 in her community, Oak Hill Mobile Home Park in Taunton, working to drum up community support for buying the property, which the previous owners were looking to sell. Under the states tenant right of first refusal law, the community had first dibs to purchase the park when it went up for sale, as long as at least 51% of the community was in support. We had 92% of the park join us, said Zorotheos. Despite this, a dispute with the owners led to five months in Housing Court. Zorotheos remembers herself and other residents filling up a bus to go to Housing Court. We were all there to tell the judge we want to buy this land, she said. The community won, and Oak Hill officially became a resident-owned cooperative in March 2016. We really loved this park. We didnt want to be owned by someone else. And weve been doing fine ever since, she said. Taking a tour of Oak Hill Mobile Park. From left to right: Linda Rainey, Maintenance Director; Patricia Gregg, President of the Residents Association; Andrea Joy Campbell, Massachusetts Attorney General; and Kathy Zorotheos, resident. May 29, 2024. A tool for fighting the housing crisis Oak Hill is one of the 250 or so manufactured housing parks in Massachusetts being highlighted by Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell as sustainable and affordable options for dealing with the states present housing crisis. We are here today to highlight the importance of these manufactured housing communities and the resident advocacies and coalitions forming so people can own their own homes, Campbell said when she visited Oak Hill on May 29. Campbell mentioned the median price in Massachusetts for purchasing a home is presently close to a million dollars, calling it unacceptable. "Folks are leaving [the state]. They are frustrated and angry," she said. Regarding manufactured housing, Campbell added If you visit here, these communities are working. Theyre thriving, supporting one another. Besides highlighting manufactured housing as affordable home options for segments of the population like the elderly and low-income families, Campbell wanted to showcase the updated Manufactured Housing Community Law guide for the state, the first update since 2017. Campbell said in a written statement the guide includes additional clarifications that will enable residents, along with community and legal services organizations, to better understand the law, navigate common issues, and thrive in their communities. What $973K buys in Lakeville Lakeville waterfront home tucked away on a cul-de-sac sells for $973K: Weekly home sales From left,: Michael Scarlett and Diane Walsh, residents of Colonial Estates in Taunton, on May 29, 2024, talk about their experiences becoming a resident-owned manufactured housing community during a visit to Oak Hill in Taunton by Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell. Rent spikes a worry all over With manufactured housing communities, residents pay rent on the lot of land theyre living on. Campbell and other officials acknowledged concerns residents in these communities have over corporate owners and investors increasing rent costs, a factor in the states housing crisis, hindering the affordability associated with mobile home parks and manufactured housing. State Rep. Carol Doherty, D-Taunton, present at this May 29 event at Oak Hill, echoed previous statements she made to the Cape Cod Times, calling these communities piggy banks for wealthy investors that are stealing your right to affordable living with rent spikes. Jeani Warish, a resident at Rocky Knoll Estates in Taunton, a manufactured housing community, was present at the Attorney Generals appearance to listen to what she had to say, as well as to promote the formation of the Taunton Manufactured Homes Community Group, representing several of the mobile home parks in the city, she said. It was formed so all of us can help and support each other. There a lot of people in these communities, and a lot of voters. We need our voices heard, said Warish, adding increased costs, like rent, remain a big concern in her community. 'Piggy banks' High rents and neglect claimed in Mass. trailer parks. What's the answer? From left,: State Rep. James Hawkins, D-Attleboro; State Sen. Marc Pacheco, D-Taunton; President of the Oak Hill Residents Association Patricia Gregg; Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell; and State Rep. Carol Doherty, D-Taunton on a visit to Oak Hill on Wednesday, May 29, 2024. Taking ownership of manufactured home communities Besides elected officials proposing legislation aimed at stabilizing rents for manufactured housing communities, another method for combatting exorbitant rent increases is for these communities to take ownership of the land. We arent just residents. We are the owners. We have a lot of long-term people here. We keep the rent as low as we can here, said Patricia Gregg, president of the Residents Association for Oak Hill, and a resident for 24 years, on the park becoming a cooperative, resident-owned community. Doherty adds Oak Hill is an example of these communities becoming sustainable by owning your own destiny. Zorotheos explained that organizations like ROC USA and the Cooperative Development Institute helped the Oak Hill community learn how to govern itself, as well as helped them purchase the property by securing a loan $11.4 million for the purchase. These owner-occupied communities are a piece of the solution, going forward, state Sen. Marc Pacheco said. Pacheco is credited in the updated Manufactured Housing Community Law guide for leading the State Legislature in 1993 to substantially amend the states Manufactured Housing Act to authorize the Attorney General to issue regulations, and to strengthen residents legal protections, particularly those for residents facing the threat of a community discontinuance. Aside from an increase in monthly rent in 2016 in order to pay off the loan for Oak Hill, Zorotheos said there were no additional rent increases for the next five years. There have been two rent increases since 2021 in order to reserve funds for necessary capital improvements, like septic system upgrades. We control our rent. We only ask for what we need to run the park, she said. State Senator Marc Pacheco along with Oak Hill Mobile Park resident Kathy Zorotheos. May 29, 2024. Communal Bonding Colonial Estates, a 55-and-older manufactured housing community in Taunton, followed suit shortly after Oak Hill by becoming resident-owned in August 2016. Best decision we ever made, said resident Michael Scarlett. Diane Walsh, president of the Homeowners Association for Colonial Estates, said rent goes up incrementally according to cost of living. Were in it because we want a nice place to live, have a decent life, and not be told the park will be sold, or rent will go up, only for that to go into an owners pocket, Walsh said. Walsh and Scarlett, who both attended the May 29 event with the attorney general, said self-ownership builds community bonding for places like Colonial Estates. To keep costs down, residents volunteer for tasks like landscaping and maintenance. It gives people the opportunity to be more of like a family here, said Walsh. Scarlett reminisced about a resident who, when she died two years ago, left her property to the Homeowners Association. The property was sold and the money was used, in that persons name, to build a pavilion for Colonial Estates for social functions and events. She wanted a place for more social interactions here, said Scarlett, adding that person really loved this community. This article originally appeared on The Taunton Daily Gazette: Taunton manufactured homeowners push for resident control of parks A century ago, Henry Gerber founded Americas first documented gay rights organization in a boardinghouse at 1710 N. Crilly Court in Chicago. It was once part of a complex of townhouses built for well-heeled newlyweds. Today it sits amid Old Towns mix of high-rise condos and renovated brownstones. A plaque in the sidewalk outside the building where he lived on the second floor notes it is a Chicago landmark, explaining that the home was where Gerber wrote at least the first of the two published issues of Friendship and Freedom, the first documented gay periodical in America. But in his day, Gerbers neighbors were societys outcasts. Prostitutes worked in rooms on either wing of Crilly Court. Being off the beaten path was fine with him. He didnt want his address to be generally known. Gerber didnt hold meetings of the Society for Human Rights in his rented room. He and his handful of followers gathered in the basement of the Crilly Court building. It had direct exits to the outside. Gays could come and go without running a gauntlet of neighbors eyes. Even so, many were reluctant to attend. One of our greatest handicaps was the knowledge that homosexuals dont organize, Gerber wrote in 1962. Being thoroughly cowed, they seldom get together. Gays were despised for simply being different, and that hostility was written into law. Homosexuals faced being committed to a mental asylum or jail time. Gerber explained the objective of his gay rights organization was to promote and protect the interests of people who by reason of mental or physical abnormalities are abused and hindered in the legal pursuit of happiness, which is guaranteed by the Declaration of Independence, and to combat the public prejudices against them by distributing the factors according to modern science among intellectuals of mature age. In fact, American psychiatry considered homosexuality a mental disorder for decades thereafter. Gerbers optimism was acquired at one of the stopping places on the bumpy road to acceptance of his sexuality. Born in Germany, Gerber immigrated to the United States in 1913. I had no idea that I was a homosexual, Gerber later said. He had limited sexual experience as a boy and subsequently more complex encounters in Chicago. He and his sister settled there, following the lead of a family friend. Gerber found his way to Washington Square Park, a meeting place for gays adjacent to the Newberry Library. Gerber was at some point committed to an insane asylum because of his homosexuality. Released after a year, but fearing another incarceration, he volunteered for military service. He was assigned to an Army unit occupying Germany after its defeat in World War I. On leave, Gerber went to Berlin where attitudes toward homosexuality were relatively liberal and, as Gerbers biographer Jim Elledge wrote, Das Lilia Liede, was heard in myriad hot spots. The Lavender Song, the first gay anthem, was also available as a phonograph record. Erotic magazines were displayed on newsstands that the police would have confiscated in the United States. Berlin was also the site of Dr. Magnus Hirschfelds Scientific-Humanitarian Committee. Profoundly affected by the 1895 trial of Oscar Wilde, a gay English dramatist, Hirschfeld began to specialize in human sexuality. Gay himself, he campaigned for the legalization of homosexuality. Please tell the public everything about us, a gay man pressured to marry wrote to Hirschfeld just before committing suicide. Reflecting on what he experienced in Germany, Gerber wrote: I had always bitterly felt the injustice with which my own American society accused the homosexual of immoral acts. What could be done about it, I thought. Discharged from the Army in 1923, he returned to Chicago determined to form a gay rights organization like Hirschfelds. Getting it incorporated was problematic. The legal papers required a statement of purpose, and its purpose collided head-on with homosexualitys illegality. On the advice of a liberal-minded lawyer, the application included the clause: The Society stands only for law and order, its officers swore, and does in no manner recommend any acts in violation of present laws nor advocate any matter inimical to the public welfare. One of the initial issues was whether the society should be a purely homosexual organization and exclude the much larger circle of bisexuals? Elledge, Gerbers biographer, wrote in An Angel in Sodom. But the issue of bisexuals, who often had a traditional wife and family while secretly living a gay life, and how they might endanger the organization presented itself not too long after Gerber founded his organization. On July 11, 1925, he heard a loud pounding on the door of the apartment at 34 E. Oak St., where he had moved from Crilly Court. Wheres the boy? a detective shouted when Gerber opened the door. He was alone. The detective was accompanied by a couple of uniformed officers and a reporter from the Chicago American, a Hearst newspaper. The officers found the organizations files and arrested Gerber. The following days headline in the paper announced: Girl Reveals Strange Cult Run By Dad. The accompanying story identified the girl as the 12-year-old daughter of Al Meininger, president of the Society for Human Rights. She reportedly had asked an officer at the Chicago Avenue police station, why her father carried on so. Men visited afternoon and night, and engaged in strange rites. Police were sent to the Meininger apartment at 532 N. Dearborn St. Pushing through the door, they arrested Meininger. The Chicago Americans story might have been hyped up, as Hearst-owned papers were known to cross the line between fact and fiction. Meiningers wife had complained to a social worker about his homosexual activities. Meininger and Gerber met in the police stations cells. Gerber was furious at hearing that the social worker was going to include him in her testimony. The newspaper article got him fired from his job as a postal worker. Meiningers indiscretion also brought down Gerbers gay rights organization. Gerber refused to speak to Meininger. After paying a $10 fine for disorderly conduct, Gerber left Chicago for New York. Intermittently he resumed his activism. But in a 1945 letter to a veteran of his movement, Gerber wrote: It is your and my misfortune to have been born 1,000 years too soon or 1,000 years too late. At 52, Gerber reenlisted in the Army hoping to get increased retirement benefits. He spent the remainder of his years in the U.S. Soldiers Home in Washington, D.C. On New Years Eve of 1972, Gerber died at age 80 in the homes hospital and was buried in the cemetery there. His passing went unnoted in the gay rights community. Except perhaps by a member of the staff of One Magazine, to which Gerber subscribed. His letter to Gerber was returned to him by the Soldiers Home. Its envelope was stamped DECEASED. (COLORADO SPRINGS) Last week, eight local heroes came together to rescue a tiny kitten after she got stuck in a drainpipe. Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region (HSPPR), Animal Law Enforcement (ALE), and local firefighters were involved. The story of the kittens rescue was posted yesterday on HSPPRs Facebook page. The eight-person kitten rescue team. Courtesy: HSPPR The little animals cries for help were heard by a neighbor and reported to ALE. When officers Barton and Peters responded to the scene, they found the kitten was hiding about six feet into the 10-inch pipe, in a curved section of the pipe where she could not be reached. The drainpipe where the kitten was stuck. Courtesy: HSPPR They attempted several methods to tempt the kitten to emerge, including offering wet food and playing mother cat sounds, but she was too scared to come out on her own. At that point, they called the local fire department for assistance. The officers and firefighters brainstormed and came up with a plan: by moving a small amount of water through the pipe, they could hopefully coax the kitten through to the pipes entrance and safely retrieve her. Officer Peters and the kitten, moments after rescue. Courtesy: HSPPR Officer Barton and the firefighters went to the start of the pipe and began the procedure while Officer Peters stayed at the pipes entrance to catch the kitten. Moments later, Out came a bodysurfing kitten! said HSPPR. The kitten, named Strawberry is safe and sound now. Courtesy: HSPPR Officer Peters wrapped the baby cat (named Strawberry) in a towel to warm and comfort her, and she was transported to the vet for a check-up. Her traumatic experience left her with an upset tummy, but now (seven days later) she is feeling a lot better. Strawberry is currently in foster care and preparing to find her forever home. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX21 News Colorado. On the campaign trail in 2020, President Biden was eager to distinguish himself from his opponent on immigration issues, promising to restore our moral standing while casting former President Trumps policies as cruel and inhumane. While border-crossing numbers have dipped, they still hover at historic highs. And with immigration a central issue in the 2024 contest, Biden has evolved in his approach, adopting hard-line policies that borrow elements from those used by his predecessor. Bidens latest executive order is one such example, restricting asylum protections for those who cross between ports of entry if average daily crossings exceed 2,500. While using border metrics as a basis for asylum processing is new, the restrictions on the protections borrow from a policy first adopted by Trump. Theyve prompted advocates to pledge to sue, arguing the limitations are as illegal under Biden as they were when they were toppled under his predecessor. Numerous immigrant rights groups invoked Trump in taking Biden to task over his latest policy. Weve been here before. The policies announced today are near replicas of Trump-era asylum bans. Only now, they come from an administration that vowed to protect the right to seek protection and support immigrant communities, the National Immigrant Justice Center said in a statement after the order was released. Frustrated Democrats want Biden to follow asylum limit with immigrant protections While some have blasted the order as one of the most restrictive immigration policies rolled out by Biden, its one of several efforts aimed at getting a grip on border numbers that have shot up since the pandemic-era lows seen under Trump. President Biden took office on a promise to restore our asylum system. And while the administration has taken some positive measures, including significantly expanding access to asylum at ports of entry, its clear that this administration no longer believes in the universal right to seek asylum that they advocated for on taking office, said Aaron Reichlin-Melnick, policy director at the American Immigration Council. Its very obvious that the administration views bringing down border encounters as more important than the abstract principle of keeping asylum alive. And I think thats been something that many people have seen as very disappointing. Fresh off a campaign where Biden said he would offer a sharp contrast with Trump, his early days in the White House reflected those promises. Biden, on his first day in office, lifted the Muslim ban. Shortly thereafter, his administration rescinded the Remain in Mexico policy requiring asylum-seekers to await their case on the other side of the border. And he established a family reunification task force to reconnect children who had been separated from their parents under Trump. But he also hesitated to lift Title 42, which used the pandemic as a guise for denying asylum. Biden ultimately removed more people from the U.S. under the policy than Trump, rescinding it more than a year after taking office. The Biden administration has described their own approach to immigration as a collection of carrots and sticks. Its immigration enforcement guidelines prioritize removal of those with serious criminal records rather than those who are undocumented but otherwise not deemed a threat. And its rolled out a program to offer temporary entrance to migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela and Nicaragua, if they can secure a U.S.-based sponsor. The administration has also invested heavily in Latin America in the hopes of stemming migratory flows. But Biden officials have also borrowed from another Trump policy in seeking to limit asylum to those who first travel through other countries without asking for protection there, a policy known under Trump as the transit ban. Those are various tentacles of a significant rightward shift, which frankly I think should not be a surprise because Biden is himself a political creature of the 1980s and 1990s, when Democrats were quite aggressive in trying to outflank the Republican Party from the right on a host of issues, said Cesar Cuauhtemoc Garcia Hernandez, an immigration law professor at Ohio State University. These are people who have a political sensibility about migration that was different from the one that we find ourselves in now. But its hard to step away from your upbringing. I think the Joe Biden of 2020, who was so critical of the Trump administration, was much more of a deviation than the Joe Biden that weve seen in the last 12 months. Biden and White House officials have been adamant about drawing a distinction between the presidents latest policy move and Trumps record and rhetoric on immigration. There are several differences between the actions that we are taking today and Trump-era policies. The Trump administration attacked almost every facet of the immigration system and did so in a shameful and inhumane way, a senior administration official told reporters before listing off a series of Trump-era immigration policies. The action will not ban people based on their religion. It will not separate kids from their mothers. There are also narrow humanitarian exceptions to the bar on asylum, including for those facing an acute medical emergency or an imminent and extreme threat to life or safety. And the Trump administrations actions did not include these exceptions. Lee Gelernt, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union who has pledged to sue to block Bidens order, said hes not one of those people that wants to equate President Trump and President Biden. But he said while polling shows voters want action on the border, that doesnt mean they prefer the draconian measures pushed by Trump. The fact that people are saying immigration is an important issue for them doesnt mean they want to see one extreme or the other, Gelernt said. The order shows the tricky nature of immigration policy for Biden, who on Tuesday said that Americans patience is wearing thin right now and that doing nothing is not an option. The order and accompanying rule are also full of complaints about congressional inaction. Republicans united against bipartisan Senate legislation that would have included a measure similar to the one included in Bidens order, with GOP support all but evaporating once Trump came out against the measure. The senior administration official speaking with reporters cast it as Trump working to deny Biden a legislative victory. But polling also shows voters favor Trump when it comes to determining who better handles the border. A Marquette University survey of registered voters nationwide conducted last month found 52 percent of respondents said Trump did a better job on immigration and border security, compared to 25 percent who said Biden did a better job. Some of the interest groups and progressives on the left are upset by Bidens actions. He should lean into their opposition to hammer in the point that hes governing from the middle, said Jim Kessler, co-founder of the left-leaning think tank Third Way. Nothing scares Trump more than Biden getting the jump on him on border security, he added. The killing of the border bill opened the door for Biden to get a new hearing on the border. The executive order is the next step. But it only works if Biden makes the border a priority day after day. But few on the left see it as a middle ground, and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) warned the policy is sure to become a new baseline. Immigration and the border are perhaps the thorniest issues in American politics. Republicans use them to fearmonger; they use immigrants as political scarecrows to frighten voters. If this executive order goes into effect, its likely that every future president, especially Republicans, will use and expand it to choke off immigration and the right to asylum, he said in a statement. The political pressure to keep the ban in effect will be too overwhelming. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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 is the dangerous Venezuelan gang infiltrating the US that you probably know nothing about but should An alleged multistate human trafficking ring forcing immigrant women into prostitution. The mysterious killing of a former police officer in South Florida. Attacks against police officers in New York. The arrest of a drug dealer in Chicago. Local and federal officials say these apparently unrelated crimes have a common denominator: Tren de Aragua, a transnational criminal gang that originated in a Venezuela prison and has slowly made its way south and north in recent years. They say its now operating in the United States. The scale of its operations is unknown, but crimes attributed to alleged members of the gang have worried elected officials and some Republican members of Congress have asked the Biden administration to formally designate the vicious Tren de Aragua as a Transnational Criminal Organization. For several years, the criminal group has terrorized South American countries, including Venezuela, its country of origin, as well as Bolivia, Colombia, Chile and Peru. Retired general Oscar Naranjo, a former vice president of Colombia and chief of the Colombian National Police, told CNN Tren de Aragua is the most disruptive criminal organization operating nowadays in Latin America, a true challenge for the region. Watch out for this gang Tren de Aragua adopted its name between 2013 and 2015 but begun operations years before, according to a report by Transparency Venezuela. It has its origin in the unions of workers who worked on the construction of a railway project that would connect the center-west of the country and that was never completed in both Aragua and Carabobo states. The groups leadership, according to the report, operated out of the notorious Tocoron prison, which they controlled. When Venezuelan officials raided it last September, they found a swimming pool and several restaurants inside the prison walls, in addition to weapons seized from inmates, including automatic rifles, machine guns and thousands of rounds of ammunition. Members of the Bolivarian National Police stand guard in the Tocoron prison in Tocoron, Aragua state, Venezuela, on September 23, 2023. Gang leaders who ruled a prison in Venezuela that was stormed by more than 11,000 soldiers and police had fled the country a week before the operation, a prisoners' rights group said. - Yuri Cortez/AFP/Getty Images By 2015, a former Venezuelan law enforcement official told CNN, They were already in their prime. That year they forged an alliance with Primeiro Comando da Capital, a Brazilian criminal organization. It was only a matter of time before they would extend their tentacles throughout South America. In Colombia, Tren de Aragua, and a rival guerrilla group known as the National Liberation Army, operate sex trafficking networks in the border town of Villa del Rosario in the Norte de Santander department. These groups exploit Venezuelan migrants and internally displaced Colombians in sex trafficking and take advantage of economic vulnerabilities and subject them to debt bondage, according to the US State Department 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report about Colombia. Police in the region say the organization has victimized thousands through extorsion, drug and human trafficking, kidnapping and murder. Now, US Customs and Border Protection and the FBI say the gang is established in the US. They have followed the migration paths across South America to other countries and have set up criminal groups throughout South America as they follow those paths, and that they appear to follow the migration north to the United States, Britton Boyd, an FBI special agent in El Paso, Texas, told CNN said. US Border Patrol chief Jason Owens, who has confirmed multiple arrests at the southern border of alleged Tren de Aragua members over the last year, issued a warning in early April. Watch out for this gang. It is the most powerful in Venezuela, known for murder, drug trafficking, sex crimes, extortion, & other violent acts, Owens said on X. There are more than 70 cases in which Tren de Aragua is mentioned in law enforcement documents or prosecutors complaints. From that total, the Customs and Border Patrol in Texas has identified 58 as gang members between the fiscal year 2023 and last May. The rest appear in complaints made by victims or arrest reports that point to the possible involvement of the suspects with this organized crime group. If left unchecked In New York, police say Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, a 19-year-old from Venezuela, shot two police officers last week. Castro-Mata entered the country illegally last July, a member of Immigration and Customs Enforcement told CNN. The Venezuelan has tattoos associated with Tren de Aragua which court documents for a suspected gang member in Georgia describe as five-pointed crowns, five-pointed stars and teardrops the New York Police Department told CNN. Castro-Mata had no prior arrests but is a suspect in several robberies in Queens. Castro-Mata remains in custody and has pleaded not guilty to charges. When contacted by CNN, his attorneys declined to comment. But of all the crimes attributed to the gang, including the kidnapping and murder of a former Venezuelan police officer in South Florida in November 2023, one stands out. In late April, the East Baton Rouge Sheriffs Department received a 911 call from a Spanish-speaking woman saying she was being held against her will at a residence and forced to have sexual intercourse with unknown males for money. The woman later told investigators that she was forced to have sex with strangers to pay off a $30,000 USD debt to a trafficker for bringing her to the United States. Officials arrested two suspects both Venezuelan nationals at the location, Allbert Herrera Machado, 23, and Osleidy Vanesa Chourio-Diaz, 26. Agents later arrested another Venezuelan, Josmar Jesus Zambrano-Chirinos, 23, identified in the complaint as a leader of the sex trafficking operation being conducted by the Tren de Aragua in the US. Zambrano was operating stash houses used for human trafficking in Louisiana, Texas, Virginia, New Jersey, and Florida, according to the criminal complaint reviewed by CNN. Herrera Machado and Chourio-Diaz were not linked to Tren de Aragua in the complaint. If the allegations against the suspects are true, it would mean that the gang already has the ability to operate trafficking rings in the US the same way it has done in several South American countries. The challenge for law enforcement officials is that its very difficult to know how many members of Tren de Aragua are already in the country, in spite of the arrests. What some Venezuelan immigrants in Florida and other states have told CNN is that they are already beginning to see in their communities the same type of criminal activity they fled from in Venezuela. Alvaro Boza, a former Venezuelan police officer now living in Florida, says he fled his country in large part because the gang had become so powerful. He says they could kill law enforcement like him with impunity. A fellow police officer who refused to cooperate with the gang in his native Aragua state was shot 50 times, Boza says. He refused and was murdered. They tied his body to a motorcycle and dragged it throughout the San Vicente neighborhood to demonstrate the power of the Tren de Aragua, Boza said. In March, a group of Republican members of Congress led by Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and his fellow Republican Representative Ana Maria Salazar sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to take action by designating the gang as a transnational criminal organization. In the letter, the legislators said If left unchecked, they will unleash an unprecedented reign of terror, mirroring the devastation it has already inflicted in communities throughout Central and South America, most prominently in Colombia, Chile, Ecuador, and Peru. CNNs Jaide Timm-Garcia contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Ryan Zorn is a Colorado native, Colorado School of Mines graduate, and a resident of Fraser. He recently joined Liberty Energy as director of energy additions. He is a contributor to Libertys Bettering Human Lives publication and assists the company with its investments in modular power solutions, advanced geothermal, small modular reactors, and emerging battery technology. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made her first remarks after a man attacked her in central Copenhagen and led her to be treated in hospital for a minor whiplash injury. Frederiksen expressed her gratitude on Instagram for the many messages of support following Friday's incident. "It's incredibly touching," she wrote Saturday evening. "I am saddened and shaken by the incident [on Friday], but otherwise I am fine. For once, I need peace and quiet. Both for body and soul. I need to be with my family and I need to be myself for a while," the post read. Frederiksen cancelled her participation in several events on Saturday and was also not due to attend any public appointments on Sunday. The 46-year-old prime minister was punched by a man in the centre of Copenhagen on Friday evening. The police quickly arrested a suspect who has denied his guilt in court. The man said that he had anything against Frederiksen, saying she was "a really good prime minister" and that he had been surprised to run into her on the street. Police investigating the assault do not believe that the attack was politically motivated. The Danish news agency Ritzau reported that the man was drunk and under the influence of other drugs at the time and that he was a Polish citizen who had been resident in Denmark for a long time. Condemnation from European leaders followed the attack on Frederiksen, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz among those denouncing the violence. The incident comes as the EU's 27 countries elect more than 700 members of the European Parliament during four days of voting that began on Thursday. Voting in Denmark in under way on Sunday. There have been at least two attacks on politicians in Germany in the immediate run-up to the elections. And on May 15, Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot and seriously injured. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen speaks during a press conference of the Nordic Prime Ministers on the occasion of the Nordic Summit. -/Ukrainian Presidency/dpa Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen made her first remarks after a man attacked her in central Copenhagen and led her to be treated in hospital for a minor whiplash injury. Frederiksen expressed her gratitude on Instagram for the many messages of support following Friday's incident. "It's incredibly touching," she wrote Saturday evening. "I am saddened and shaken by the incident [on Friday], but otherwise I am fine. For once, I need peace and quiet. Both for body and soul. I need to be with my family and I need to be myself for a while," the post read. Frederiksen cancelled her participation in several events on Saturday and was also not due to attend any public appointments on Sunday. The 46-year-old prime minister was punched by a man in the centre of Copenhagen on Friday evening. The police quickly arrested a suspect who has denied his guilt in court. The man said that he had anything against Frederiksen, saying she was "a really good prime minister" and that he had been surprised to run into her on the street. Police investigating the assault do not believe that the attack was politically motivated. The Danish news agency Ritzau reported that the man was drunk and under the influence of other drugs at the time and that he was a Polish citizen who had been resident in Denmark for a long time. Condemnation from European leaders followed the attack on Frederiksen, with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz among those denouncing the violence. DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) One person died in a Saturday morning shooting near Hartsville, authorities happened. Deputies responded to the area of Hough Lane before 7 a.m. SLED is assisting in the investigation. No further information was immediately available. * * * 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. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) California bars and nightclubs, including those in San Diego County, will soon be equipped with date-rape drug testing kits. This is due to a new state law, known as AB 101, that will require establishments with a Type 48 license to have a prominent and conspicuous location where patrons know drug testing kits are available, explained officials with the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC). The tests are for common date-rape drugs, often referred to as roofies. Post a photo of your pet to help raise money for San Diego-based rescues A Type 48 license is used by establishments that sell beer, wine, and liquor to those of legal drinking age 21 and up which is consumed on the premises, according to ABC. Food service is not required at these types of locations. The department confirmed there are around 2,400 places throughout the state with this type of license. Starting July 1, 2024, these establishments must either offer the drug testing devices for sale to customers at a price that doesnt exceed a reasonable amount based on the wholesale cost, or be given to customers free of charge. Additionally, each spot must have signage that reads: Dont get roofied! Drink spiking drug test kits available here. Ask a staff member for details. A sample sign can be seen below: (Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control) Licensees are responsible for obtaining the testing kits, which could include test strips, stickers, straws or other devices that can detect the presence of controlled substances in drinks. Establishments that do not comply with the new law could face actions impacting their licenses. More information on the requirements can be found here. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. HAMMONDSPORT, N.Y. (WETM) People interested in learning about what the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has planned for public lands near Keuka Lake should attend an upcoming meeting in Hammondsport. The DEC will be accepting comments from the community on the draft Keuka Unit Management Plan (updated from the former Keuka Highlands and Lowlands Unit Management Plan) on Thursday, June 27. The public meeting will be held from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Fred and Harriett Taylor Memorial Library, located at 21 William St. in Hammondsport. Did you know this was the state insect of New York? The Keuka Unit is comprised of 9,806 acres of public lands in Steuben and Schuyler counties: Birdseye Hollow State Forest, Cold Brook Wildlife Management Area, Moss Hill State Forest, Mount Washington State Forest, Pigtail Hollow State Forest, Urbana State Forest, and Waneta-Lamoka Wildlife Management Area. The draft Keuka Unit Management Plan includes extensive details on each area of land and discusses the DECs conservation and site management goals. For all of the sites, the DEC plans to increase accessibility for people with disabilities, manage fish populations, reduce and manage nuisance animal species, prevent erosion, improve forest growth rates, and more. The DEC also has specific objectives for each site that it plans to implement over the next 10 years. A few of the objectives listed include controlling the Canada geese population at Birdseye Hollow State Forest, improving parking at Urbana State Forest, and replacing invasive shrubs with native shrubs and trees at Moss Hill State Forest. The full draft plan is available at this link. DEC advises New Yorkers to leave baby animals alone Those who are interested in providing feedback and cant attend the in-person meeting can email comments to R8.ump@dec.ny.gov or mail them to Gretchen Cicora, Supervising Forester, NYSDEC, State Land Management, 7291 Coon Road, Bath, NY 14810. Comments will be accepted until July 31. People with hearing impairments or limited English proficiency can request an interpreter or translator for the June 27 meeting by contacting the DECs Division of Communication, Education, and Engagement by June 13. Requests must be written, and they can be emailed to language@dec.ny.gov or mailed to NYSDEC Division of Communication, Education, and Engagement, 625 Broadway, Albany, NY 12233-4500. The Division of Communication can also be reached by calling 518-402-8044. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DENVER (KDVR) An aggressive mother deer was shot dead after stomping at a pregnant womans dogs and charging her on Friday evening, according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The agency reported the woman heard screaming from her fenced-in backyard in an area of unincorporated El Paso County, northwest of Colorado Springs, and found her two dogs getting stomped by a deer. The woman reportedly tried to scare the deer away, but it instead turned and charged at her. Unprecedented third cow elk attack reported in Estes Park within days CPW said the womans father then came outside and shot the deer with rubber buckshot that CPW had previously provided as bear deterrents. Buckshot is classified as a nonlethal hazing round, but the deer ignored the shots, continuing to charge toward the woman as she tried to get away, so her father shot and killed the deer. Afterward, a fawn, believed to be the deers young, was found nearby and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation center. The fawn will be raised there and released back into the wild, according to CPW. Using lethal force to protect human health from wildlife is legal in Colorado. CPW has investigated and will not issue a citation for this incident. Deer, elk and moose can become aggressive in the late spring and early summer when their young are first born and defenseless, said Tim Kroening, CPWs Area Wildlife Manager for the Pikes Peak region, in a release. The majority of aggressive behavior from these animals in some way involves a dog, who they see as a predator and threat to their young. CPW has been raising awareness about the dangers of aggressive deer, elk and moose during the spring and early summer calving season since an elk attacked an 8-year-old girl who was riding her bike in an Estes Park neighborhood. The 8-year-old was the first to be attacked this year, but there have since been two other elk attacks in Estes Park. All have involved mother elk who were protecting their young. Thankfully no one was hurt, Kroening said in the CPW release. This incident serves as a reminder to watch for wildlife and keep a close eye on your children and pets. CPW asks citizens to teach their children to avoid wildlife and noted that mother deer will leave their fawns in one location for hours while searching for food. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. Democracy endures in system that respects verdicts decided by the juries of our peers | Opinion Truth, facts required I read with interest the angry statements of what mustve been every politician in South Carolina in your story about Mr. Trumps guilty verdict in the hush money trial. We have to assume theyre saying the things he wants them to say, but neither Trump nor any of them said he was innocent or provided evidence of the like. Sort of like the stolen election many complaints, but no evidence to show in court. I agree, it is sad to see a former American president convicted of any crime, but, like any citizen, without the support of truth or facts on your side, its hard to win in court. Harry Spratlin, Columbia Undermines judicial system Recent public comments by S.C. Republican politicians parroting Donald Trumps false statements about his 34 felony convictions are an affront to the American judicial system and the rule of law. Some of them are lawyers and know full well that Trumps indictment and convictions were decided by grand juries and trial juries made up of regular citizens randomly drawn from voter rolls who evaluated actual evidence in a court of law. And Trumps lawyers helped select them. Denigration of this legal process as political is both irresponsible and damaging to public confidence in an American judicial system that is admired the world over. The Biden administration has no authority or influence over state courts, yet Trumps apologists continue to irresponsibly spread destructive conspiracy theories. Dont listen. Donald Trump is a criminal who finally got caught. Simple as that. Ted McCoy, Greenville Competition of ideas A New York jury recently convicted former President Trump on all 34 counts. This was surprising to me, but then I recognized that the solution to his problem was his problem. One of his solutions was to encourage many powerful people to show up and support him by being there. That may have been his problem. Maybe the jury considered that he was trying to intimidate them. I believe that if there were some way that Trump was sent to jail and could not run for president, the same politicians who supported him would be more than glad to take his place as the Republican presidential candidate. One of our former S.C. treasurers came up with a great solution to many of our nations problems. He stated that we should let several states practice different policies, determine the best policies, then have all other states follow them. Remember, our forefathers tried to set up our political system not to promote a man or organization, but to have competitive ideas and to have the best ideas adopted to better the lives of Americans. James Muldrow, Columbia Spend on real needs Interstate 95 has two lanes each way right across our state. Highway 278 has two lanes from I-95 to Okatie. But we need a bridge with three lanes each way to move traffic that final mile or so from Bluffton to our already congested island and overburdened road system. Cmon. Lets repair the existing bridge before the potholes destroy the suspensions on all our vehicles, spend what is needed to eliminate the on-island obstacles to traffic flow (left turns, curb cuts and poor traffic light synchronization), and spend the states millions on more worthy projects. Chris Garmston, Hilton Head Two Missouri Democrats urged their states governor, Mike Parson (R), to stop the execution of a convicted veteran in a letter dated Friday. We write today to urgently ask that you halt the execution of David Hosier scheduled for June 11, 2024, reads the letter from Democratic Missouri Reps. Cori Bush and Emanuel Cleaver. As lawmakers, we are committed to building a Missouri that is a beacon of justice, and we strive daily to represent the needs and demands of Missourians across the state, the letter continues. We strongly urge Mr. Hosiers clemency request be immediately granted. According to The Associated Press, Hosier is set to be put to death next week due to his 2009 killing of Angela and Rodney Gilpin. His attorney has also said that he was recently diagnosed with heart failure, and his sister has said he is living with atrial fibrillation, resulting in an irregular heartbeat. Mr. Hosier is a 69-year-old veteran of the United States Navy, and a former EMT and firefighter with the Jefferson City Fire Department, the letter from the two representatives reads. When he was just 16-years-old his father, Detective Sergeant Glen Hosier, was shot in the line of duty. This tragic loss left an indelible mark on Mr. Hosier, who never had the chance to say goodbye to his father. Following this, he was repeatedly failed by the lack of institutionalized support for mental health resources for those who have lost loved ones in the line of duty, Bush and Cleaver continued. He has been diagnosed by clinical psychologists with Major Depressive Disorder, which doctors linked to his hindered ability to cope with adverse situations. All of these symptoms are consistent with someone who suffered trauma at an early age which was not treated appropriately. Hosier has always maintained his innocence, but there is significant circumstantial evidence to suggest his guilt, notes the AP. The Hill has reached out to Parsons 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 The Hill. Jon Caldara is president of the Independence Institute in Denver and hosts The Devils Advocate with Jon Caldara on Colorado Public Television Channel 12. His column appears Sundays in Colorado Politics. Details of hostage rescue revealed as Hamas says over 270 killed Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) embraces the Israeli hostage Noa Argamani (2nd R), 26, at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa The Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority increased its casualty estimates from Israel's hostage rescue operation in central Gaza on Saturday as new details emerged about how Israel freed four of its citizens from captivity. Over the past 24 hours, at least 283 people had been killed and 814 injured during Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip, according to Gaza's Health Ministry estimates on Sunday. The vast majority of those casualties 274 killed and 698 injured were caused by Israelis operation in Nuseirat which freed the hostages, the ministry said. The information could not be independently verified. The Palestinian side spoke of a "massacre" of civilians in Nuseirat, with horrific images of bloodied injured and dead, including children, circulating on social media. At the time of the operation, many people were reportedly travelling to a nearby market. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the special forces were under fire throughout the entire operation, which was a long time in the planning. Armed Palestinians had also used bazookas against the troops. One Israeli officer was killed during the operation, it was reported. Israeli special forces entered the refugee neighbourhood of Nuseirat in the late morning. Israeli media reported, citing updated ages of the hostages, that three male hostages aged between 22 and 41 were held in a house there and a 26-year-old woman was held in another house around 200 metres away. To surprise the hostages' guards, troops entered the buildings simultaneously at 11 am (0800 GMT). A rescue vehicle carrying the hostages came under heavy fire and got stuck, Israeli media reported on Sunday. Hagari said the troops then attacked the "sources of danger" in Nuseirat from the ground, sea and air. The aim was to enable the rescue team to leave the combat zone. Hagari rejected accusations that the troops had entered Nuseirat disguised in humanitarian aid vehicles or via the US-constructed temporary pier. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) also rejected these reports circulating on social media. "The humanitarian pier facility, including its equipment, personnel, and assets were not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza," CENTCOM said in a statement released Saturday evening. "Any such claim to the contrary is false," the statement read. Earlier on Sunday, Turkey called Israel's operation to free its hostages a "barbaric attack" and accused Israel of war crimes. Meanwhile in Israel, families whose loved ones have been either killed by Hamas or who remain in captivity in Gaza criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for meeting with freed hostages but not with families of other victims. A leading opposition politician joined in the criticism. "When you are prime minister, you are the prime minister of successes and defeats," opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israel's Kan channel on Sunday. "To be prime minister only when everything works out and to disappear when everything doesn't go the way you want, that's pathetic." Netanyahu met with the four hostages freed from the Gaza Strip in a hospital on Saturday - during the Sabbath or Jewish day of rest - and had his picture taken. According to media reports, however, families of Israelis killed during the Hamas massacre on October 7 and relatives of hostages who were killed were angered that neither Netanyahu nor other government representatives had made contact with them. "A prime minister with moral values would have called to comfort and strengthen (us). And to apologize for what happened on his watch," the father of a soldier killed on October 7 wrote on X. Israeli hostage Almog Meir Jan (C), 22, speaks with family members at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov, 27, speaks to medical staff at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after her rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa In Detroit, Harris lights into Trump over his conviction: Cheaters dont like getting caught Vice President Kamala Harris holds a roundtable at Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Mich. on Feb. 22, 2024, as part of her Fight for Reproductive Freedoms tour. (Photo by Andrew Roth) Vice President Kamala Harris in Detroit on Saturday slammed former President Donald Trump over his 34 felony convictions last month over hush money payments to an adult film actress before the 2016 election and said his actions are disqualifying. Donald Trump openly tried to overturn the last election. And now, he openly attacks the foundations of our justice system, Harris said at the Michigan Democratic Partys annual Legacy Dinner in Detroit, according to pool reports. Harris traveled to Michigan on Saturday for two fundraisers, with the first at an Ann Arbor home. She also stopped at the Black Stone Bookstore and Cultural Center in Ypsilanti along with actress Octavia Spencer and was greeted by a crowd. Both Harris and President Joe Biden have made a point to visit Black-owned businesses during their trips to Michigan. Just look at the facts. Over the course of six weeks, a jury of 12 Americans reviewed the evidence, she said. His defense attorney actively participated in selecting that jury. And actively made decisions about which witnesses to call and cross examine. And the jury came back with a unanimous decision. Guilty on 34 counts. You know why he complains? Because the reality is, cheaters dont like getting caught, she added. Harris condemned Trumps attacks on judges and witnesses and said he plans to use a second term for revenge. Simply put, Donald Trump thinks he is above the law. This should be disqualifying for anyone who wants to be President of the United States, she said. In response to Harris remarks, Victoria LaCivita, a spokeswoman for Trumps Michigan campaign, said in a statement: The American people have seen this trial for what it is a rigged political witch hunt orchestrated by the failing Biden campaign. Biden was last in Michigan in May, serving as the keynote speaker at the annual Detroit NAACP dinner, while Harris campaigned in Detroit that month in an event touting the administrations record on African Americans and the auto industry. Trump held a rally in Saginaw County last month during which he promised mass deportations and touted Roe v. Wade being overturned. Harris also addressed the Israel-Hamas war, which has sparked dozens of pro-Palestinian protests in Southeast Michigan. Before I begin, I will say a few words about the morning which I know weighs heavily on all of our hearts, Harris said in Detroit. On Oct, 7, Hamas committed a brutal massacre of 1,200 innocent people and abducted 250 hostages. Thankfully, four of those hostages were reunited with their families tonight. And we mourn all of the innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza, including those tragically killed today. Biden has been trying to negotiate a permanent ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, as the eight-month-long conflict has killed about 1,200 in Israel and more than 34,000 in Gaza, according to the Hamas-controlled health ministry. The Associated Press has been able to confirm the deaths of almost 23,000 people in Gaza. Harris speech was interrupted by a female protester who stood up, shouted at her and was removed from the ballroom, per the pool report. There also were pro-Palestinian protesters outside the event. I value and respect your voice, but Im speaking right now, Harris responded. We have been working every day to bring an end to this conflict in a way that ensures Israel is secure, brings home all hostages, ends ongoing suffering for Palestinian people and ensures that Palestinians can enjoy their right to self determination, dignity and freedom. As President Biden said last week, it is time for this war to end. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post In Detroit, Harris lights into Trump over his conviction: Cheaters dont like getting caught appeared first on Michigan Advance. BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. (WCBD) Charges were dismissed Friday against a father and stepmother accused of killing their 5-year-old son, Justin Lee Turner, more than 30 years ago. Judge Roger Young dismissed the charges with prejudice, meaning the ruling is final and the case cannot be retried at any point. The decision was essentially made due to the age of the case and lack of key physical evidence. We didnt do it, Megan Turner said while speaking to news outlets Friday afternoon. Every little thing that came up, everybody tried to point in our direction. Nobody ever looked at the actual facts. Its like a decision was made from day one and thats the only way it went. People never heard our side of the story. Victor and Megan Turner speak to news outlets after Fridays decision (WCBD) According to court documents, officials said the pre-indictment delay caused substantial prejudice to both defendants, Victor and Megan Turner, infringing on their right to a fair trial. The court further finds that the prejudice to the defendants far outweighs any reason for the delay reasons the State of South Carolina has failed to identify in this case, the document said. While the court found no issues with how prosecutors handled the case, its unique circumstances found the dismissal appropriate. Victor Lee Turner and Megan Renee Turner (formerly Pamela K. Turner) were arrested at their Cross Hill, South Carolina home back in January and extradited to Berkeley County to face murder charges. They were released on a $50,000 surety bond each, told not to leave the state, and had to surrender their passports. Their attorney said during initial hearings that 35 years was too long of a wait to prosecute the case with no new evidence, especially because a grand jury, multiple sheriffs, and solicitors have looked at the case over the years. Queen City News Continued Coverage Megan and Victor filed separate motions to dismiss warrants against them and defense attorneys presented a new theory that serial killer Richard Mark Evontiz was in the area and had an opportunity to kill the boy. It stemmed from a letter the defense team received from a law professor at the University of Virginia School of Law who serves as director of its Innocence Project, who investigates possible wrongful convictions. According to the letter, they discovered that Evonitz believed to be a serial killer from Columbia, South Carolina arrived in Charleston on a naval ship on March 3, 1989 the same day Turner went missing and noted the man killed young children often near their bus stops. Youve got a serial killer out there that possibly could be the person who did it. But he was never looked at, so we were always the ones under suspicion, said Megan Turner during a Friday afternoon press conference. It was a theory the judge and other attorneys needed to consider before moving forward. Turner went missing on the morning of March 3, 1989. After a two-day search, the childs father found him inside a camper on the familys property. FILE | Photo of Justin Turner | WCBD A videographer from sister station WCBD was following along that morning when the discovery was made. An affidavit shows Victor found Turners body within seconds of entering the camper during search efforts the morning of March 5, 1989. Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis said that the video indicated Victor knew where Justin was located because he went straight to him. Rather than react to finding his son and personally checking for any indication of life whatsoever, the co-defendant instead backed out of the camper commenting, Hes in there, my son is in there. Somebodys hurt him, the affidavit read. The Berkeley County Sheriffs Office used new technology and that video as part of a fresh investigation into Turners disappearance and death. It led them to arrest Victor and Megan at their Upstate home. Affidavits released by the sheriffs office said the Turners falsely reported the 5-year-old boy as missing after he failed to get off the school bus in the afternoon. He never got on that bus in the morning. Union County mom arrested on child abuse charges says she was following doctors orders In its filing Friday, the court said many witnesses in the case are deceased or unavailable, and several pieces of physical evidence could not be gathered or tested because they no longer exist, such as the camper where the child was found, clothes with urine stains, and a dog leash. The Berkeley County Sheriffs Office believed a dog collar was used with the dog leash to strangle Justin Lee Turner. Detectives said there was trace evidence of possible fibers on the victims shirt and possible polyester fibers on the dog leash. Ninth Circuit Solicitor Scarlett Wilson released a statement saying in part, As the testimony at the motions hearing revealed, the time that has passed since this despicable crime has resulted in witness testimony and evidence that is now unavailable. Furthermore, mistakes that were made 35 years ago could not be remedied. The Court has found that the unavailability of this evidence is unjustly prejudicial to the defense. The Court has also noted the lack of any new evidence from this investigation. We have no grounds to dispute the Courts findings. As for the camper, Victor claimed Friday afternoon that the camper was unlocked and only he and Megan had a key. It had never been locked. The lock was there from when we got ready to use it, which we never got ready to use it yet cause we were working with it. I even turned around and said they could have the camper to look things over with. They said No, we dont need that, he said. Its been over 30 years. We havent been able to talk, weve been under suspicion, and our life has been hell over all of this, said Megan Turner. We couldnt say anything if we said anything they tried to turn it against us [] we were instructed not to ever talk, not to say anything because we were under suspicion. Megan Turner was the only one arrested in 1990 after a coroners inquest led to a verdict that she be held for further action, according to records. A Berkeley County Grand Jury indicted her in February 1990, but the charges were dismissed without prejudice later that year. Victor Turner after Justins body was found in a camper | WCBD Megan Turner (Pamela) | WCBD Her charges were based on inconsistent statements, the dog leash found in the kitchen, peculiar statements and questions to third parties, the proximity of the body to the Turners residence, and a claim by law enforcement that she deviated from her normal morning routine the day he went missing. Victor was not charged in 1989 because he had an alibi that he was at work the morning Justin disappeared. Unfortunately, today charges Berkeley County Sheriffs Office brought against Victor Lee Turner and Megan Renee Turner, in regards to the Justin Turner case, were dismissed by a judge, said Berkeley County Sheriff Duane Lewis. Berkeley County cold case detectives work tirelessly to bring justice to victims and families. This is not the outcome we were seeking; however, we understand the technicality of prosecuting cases from crimes that occurred years ago. We would like to thank Scarlett Wilson and the 9th Circuit Solicitors Office for their work on the case. Justin Turners family thanked Sheriff Lewis, detectives, and others in a statement after the decision. So many have come into this office and left without hearing our families cries, but Sheriff Lewis promised to do everything he could, and thats exactly what he did. Today, our justice system failed an innocent 5-year-old boy. In my opinion, based off the overwhelming evidence, the ones responsible for Justins death had the chance to face justice here, but instead chose to stay silent and face the final justice handed out by God for eternity! The truth is there, the justice is not. My fight for Justin will never stop! Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News. The Democratic National Committee is rolling out a special welcome for Donald Trump as he arrives in Las Vegas for a rally Sunday: a billboard calling him a convicted white-collar crook. Trump was a disaster for Nevadas economy. Now hes back. A convicted white-collar crook. Coddling billionaires, leaving workers behind, reads the sign, which is located on an interstate a few miles from the location of the former presidents upcoming rally, according to Politico. Welcome to Vegas, Donald! NV lost 25k jobs under Trump & unemployment was 9% when he left office. Now hes back, a convicted felon, a white collar crook & a total fraud. Hes promised more giveaways to billionaires and he will leave workers behind. Again. Trump: Unfit to Serve pic.twitter.com/xiZZ7SGAV6 Brad Woodhouse (@woodhouseb) June 8, 2024 When Trump left office in Jan. 2021, Nevada unemployment was at 8.9 percent nearly four points higher than it is now and its clear the DNC wants to remind voters of that fact. After promising to take care of Nevadas middle class, he implemented a tax scam that made the ultra-wealthy and corporations wealthier off the backs of working families, repeatedly attacked unions, and sat back as Nevada bled tens of thousands of jobs, Stephanie Justice, a DNC spokesperson, told Politico. Nevada isnt the only state where the DNC is trolling Trump with billboards near his rally locations. In Arizona, the party put up a billboard that called Trump unhinged and unfit. Trump already attacked Arizonas democracy once, the billboard read. Now hes back as a convicted felon. Hes out for revenge and retribution. Trump: unhinged and unfit. Biden himself called Trump a convicted felon for the first time publicly at a fundraiser in Connecticut last Monday. Other Democratic lawmakers have also used the term, including Reps. Adam Schiff and Jamie Raskin. For the first time in American history, a former president is convicted a convicted felon, Biden told the audience. Hes now seeking the office of the presidency. Another group, Republican Voters Against Trump, is running billboards of its own that label Trump a convicted felon. NEW BILLBOARDS are live in Arizona, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin featuring Republican Voters Against Trump: Im a former Trump voter. I wont vote for a convicted felon. pic.twitter.com/T0sCr9CiLl Republican Voters Against Trump (@AccountableGOP) June 4, 2024 Recent poll data hints that Trumps conviction may be making an impact with voters, which could explain why his opponents are emphasizing it in their messaging. A Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted shortly after the verdict found that ten percent of Republicans and 25 percent of independents said the conviction made them less likely to vote for Trump. Eighteen percent of independents said they were more likely to vote for Trump following the verdict. The vast majority of Republicans approximately nine in ten said the verdict would have no effect or would make them more likely to support Trump. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone What does death look like for those experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada? A man refills water at a station set up within the Corridor of Hope in Downtown Las Vegas. (Photo: Michael Lyle) The morning had just hit 96 degrees when Elizabeth Cannon sat down in a vacant lot nestled in between a church and the edge of a mostly shadeless neighborhood near Sahara and Eastern avenues. The National Weather Service reported the high for the day in Las Vegas reached 102 degrees, three degrees shy of an excessive heat warning when cooling stations open for unhoused individuals, like Cannon, to seek temporary respite. The church was closed that Monday, and the closest emergency homeless shelter from her location was roughly four miles away near downtown Las Vegas, more than an hours walk. As she arrived at the empty lot, a man living in the house across the street noticed Cannon, walked outside and gave her water as she sat in silence. An hour later, when the heat climbed to 99 degrees and Cannon laid down on the pavement, the man called 911. I didnt call the police earlier because she was still sitting and I thought well maybe shed be better, the unidentified man told the 911 operator during the call. Now she is having that quick breathing like you hear when someone is about to die. During the 9-minute phone call, which started with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and was transferred to Las Vegas Fire & Rescue halfway through, the man remained on the phone waiting for help to arrive. He doesnt know Cannon, 41, nor has he seen her in the neighborhood before. Still, the operator asked him a series of questions to assess the situation: Is she pregnant? Is she diabetic? Does she have a history of stroke or brain tumor? I dont know. I dont know. I dont know her, he responded. There were long pauses on the call as the man waited for emergency services. Twice, the operator asked him to count Cannons breaths, which are deemed slightly elevated. After a nearly minute-long silence, he told the operator Cannons breathing was getting slower and he thought she was dying. Hey, someones on their way, the man told Cannon, who was still unresponsive. The operator asked him to keep monitoring Cannons breathing. The call went silent for another 30 seconds. I think she just stopped breathing, the man said, interrupting the pause. You dont see her breathing at all? the operator asked. No. Shes not breathing at all, he said. Oh man! Were coming as fast as we can, the operator said, trying to reassure him. The man is instructed to place his hand on top of her breast bone to do chest compressions as the operator counted two beats per second: One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. Cannon was breathing a few moments later as the ambulance pulled up and first responders took over. The call ended abruptly. According to the Las Vegas Fire & Rescue incident report, the ambulance was at the scene for seven minutes before departing for Sunrise Hospital, where it arrived roughly 10 minutes later. Shortly after arriving at Sunrise at 1:14 p.m. on July 31, 2023 Cannon was pronounced dead. The Clark County Coroners Office attributed Cannons cause of death to hyperthermia, when the body temperature becomes abnormally high and overheats. By the time she arrived at the hospital, her body temperature had reached 108.9 degrees. Across the country in New York City, Cannons brother Michael Hernandez wouldnt find out for weeks that his sister died. Cannon, who he lost contact with toward the end of 2019, had struggled with mental health issues and addiction throughout her life, he said. I would pray and hope she was OK and that she would find her way back to the (rehabilitation) program, and find her way back to her family, Hernandez said. While Hernandez was able to gather basics about how his sister was living on the streets when she died in the extreme summer heat, there are still many questions he will never get answered. Many things have run through my mind like what would happen if someone happened upon her sooner, he asked. If there had been appropriate places for addicts to go or any kind of services that could have been provided or help assist her in this situation could she have been saved? Cannon was one of 333 individuals who died in 2023 who were considered homeless or transient, according to the Clark County Office of the Medical Examiner. Nevada Current examined homeless death data provided by the coroners office and found there has been a nearly 80% increase in the number of unhoused people who have died in Southern Nevada since 2020, when the office reported 186 deaths. The manner by which homeless mortality data is collected all but assures the numbers are an undercount. Yazmin Beltran, a spokeswoman with Clark County, said the report only included deaths the coroners office investigated in which we could not identify a place of residence for the decedent. The countys numbers dont include cases where next of kin was unable to be identified or homeless individuals hospitalized and under medical care before their death. The Current reached out to the Southern Nevada Health District and University Medical Center, but neither collected data on homeless deaths that occur in medical situations. Cities nationwide seldom collect or analyze homeless mortality data, said Matthew Fowle, a researcher with the University of Pennsylvania who studies homeless mortality rates. The lack of data prevents cities from understanding the complexities of unhoused deaths, he said. We have no idea how many people experiencing homelessness die in the United States each year, he said. If we dont know the full scope of the problem, its really difficult to start thinking about solutions to it. A human rights crisis There was a nearly 30% increase between 2022, when 257 unhoused people died, and last year. There is no way to look at this except as a human rights crisis, said Alyssa Johnson, the regional outreach coordinator for HELP of Southern Nevada. We are one of the most prosperous countries. We should not have our people out suffering on the street. The increase of deaths has coincided with the growing number of people experiencing homelessness, which has increased in the wake of the Covid-10 pandemic that saw rental rates spike as housing stock dwindled. According to the 2023 homeless point-in-time count, an annual census that attempts to estimate the number of unhoused folks on any given night, the number of people experiencing homelessness grew 16% from the previous year. When a person dies in Southern Nevada, the coroners office investigates the cause of the death. That includes looking into who the person is and who the family is, according to Coroner Melanie Rouse. As part of that, it does provide us with information regarding their current housing status, she said. An individual may have fingerprints on file. Sometimes it is a more lengthy process if were not able to make a quicker identification. It is through that process they have identified 333 people last year who had no last known address and were considered homeless or transient at the time of their death. The data doesnt include circumstances where next of kin wasnt identified. Over a six-month period from the end September 2023 to March 2024, the county identified more than 100 people who they believed died while experiencing homelessness but no next of kin was found. The vast majority of known homeless deaths were categorized as accidental. Drug overdose and heat are the most common causes of death last year for the unhoused. In total, the number of environmental-related deaths, which includes heat and cold, rose from 39 in 2022 to 69 in 2023, a 77% increase. Of those 69 environmental deaths, 62 were heat-related, either classified as hyperthermia, when a core body temperature is known, or environmental heat stress, when the temperature isnt known. July proved to be the deadliest month last year by a significantly large margin with 110 total deaths, a third of the yearly total. Cannon wasnt only one of three unhoused people who died July 31, 2023, she was among the 52 heat-related deaths that month among people experiencing homelessness. By comparison, July 2022 had 14 heat-related deaths among the unhoused population. If we know its going to get over 105 degrees, were out in the street in full force in cooperation with Clark County, which has opened up a multitude of cooling stations, said Lou Lacey, the director of the homeless response team at HELP of Southern Nevada. We are literally getting people to cooling stations, delivering frozen and cool water and passing out summer survival kits, which include tarps and fans and cooling rags. Even if temperatures dont reach the level to trigger an excessive heat warning, the heat can still be deadly. When comparing the temperatures in July and the countys homeless death data, 12 of the 52 unhoused people whose deaths were heat-related, including Cannon, died when temperatures were 105 degrees or below. Fentanyl is just running rampant Though the coroners data provided to the Current only identifies one cause of death attributed to both drug toxicity and environmental health stress in 2023, Lacey said drugs are likely playing a role in many of the heat-related deaths. Think about how substance abuse affects people and then some of the environmental factors, he said. You may say a client did not die of an overdose. But maybe they were incapacitated and passed out, which weve seen. The coroner lists Cannons official cause of death as hyperthermia. Her toxicology report identifies acute toxic effects of methamphetamine as a contributing condition. The number of drug-related deaths among those unhoused in Southern Nevada jumped from 109 in 2022 to 151 last year, a 38% increase. Fentanyl is just running rampant in the community, said Lacey. We have individuals we are encountering who are just so deep into their addiction that we are offering immediate housing and immediate treatment. They are refusing these services. When we talk to them about what factors keep them out in the street and not using services, a lot of them say Im using. While some individuals might decline services, Johnson said there are systemic barriers that prevent them from going into shelter. Shelters, she said, dont take couples and often split them up, causing individuals to remain unhoused. Some spaces have sobriety requirements. They dont take pets, she said. They also have strict background requirements. We have a lot of people who cant go to the Navigation Center because of those three things. The lack of access to health care also puts a toll on unhoused folks dying, Johnson said. Many living on the streets lack identification or transportation, which become barriers to medical care. The data showed a 22% decrease in health-related deaths, when 52 people died last year from a variety of health complications such as sepsis, complications of diabetes, cardiovascular disease and pneumonia. The coroners report identified 67 health-related causes of deaths the year before. Cardiovascular disease remains the largest health-related killer in both years. There were four Covid-19 deaths in 2022, while zero were reported last year. As a response to Covid, the City of Las Vegas opened a medical respite program at the Recuperative Care Center in 2021. The city has contracted with the federally qualified health care center, Hope Christian Health Center, to operate the facility within the Corridor of Hope, the area downtown where homeless services are located. The Recuperative Care Center offers unhoused individuals a place to stay after being discharged from the hospital. (Photo: Michael Lyle) The center has grown to include a place for unhoused individuals to stay in the short term while receiving other types of medical care such as chemotherapy and cancer treatment, post-operative care, wound care or hospice and end-of-life care. Jocelyn Bluitt-Fisher, the community resources manager with the City of Las Vegas, said it is a safe place for homeless individuals to finish their healing, after being discharged from the hospital. Housing is health care and we are still pushing to make sure there is enough adequate housing to meet the needs of our population, she said. As a community, we are starting to realize that we cant wait until the housing is built to start providing health care for this very vulnerable population. While we are waiting for housing we are losing people every day, every year. A high number of patients, she added, come in for uncontrolled high blood pressure and wound care. She said these are wounds that with a little bit of care at the beginning could have healed nicely but because someone spent time on the street without changing bandages or antibiotics have really taken a turn for the worse. The center has had around 900 patients since it opened its doors, Bluitt-Fisher said. What we have found is that the need for this type of service is great, she said. Greater than we as one agency can accommodate. We are almost always full and sometimes we have to turn patients away. The community also lacks long-term facilities to house homeless individuals who are recovering from chronic diseases or need a higher level of care, she said. What we are starting to see more of is individuals who are paralyzed, who are recovering from stroke or dementia, she said. These are illnesses that impact their ability to care for themselves. Its not something we can handle at the Recuperative Care Center because we are not long-term care. Number of deaths increasing statewide Similar to Clark County, Washoe County has also seen an increase in the number of unhoused people who died. Washoe County identified 99 homeless deaths in 2022. The number of unhoused folks who died last year jumped to 135. The county provided the Current with total deaths per calendar year since 2016, when data identified 19 people died. This year marks the first in nearly a decade where totals are triple digits. In an email, Washoe County said its medical examiners office includes people who were hospitalized before their time of death in its numbers, differing from Clark County. The Current also sought homeless mortality data from Nye County and Carson City, which according to the Rural Nevada Continuum of Care report have the highest number of individuals experiencing homelessness in rural areas. Nye counted 132 unsheltered individuals during its 2023 point-in-time count. Yet, the county doesnt collect data around homeless deaths and wasnt able to provide any data. Carson City, which has the second highest rural homeless rate with 62 sheltered and 68 unsheltered, had three deaths last year. While one listed environmental cold exposure as the cause of death, all three autopsy reports listed health-related causes. It recorded a single death in 2022, which was attributed to cardiovascular disease. Putting the pieces together For nearly three years before Cannons death, her brother Michael Hernandez would periodically reach out to her by calling her, leaving comments on her Facebook wall or sending her direct messages. Hey Elizabeth, how are you doing? he messaged her on Facebook in April 2020. Siblings Michael Hernandez and Elizabeth Cannon reunite in 2015. (Courtesy photo) Happy Birthday sister. Call me he wrote on her Facebook wall in February 2021 along with three heart emojis. Hey Elizabeth, my birthday is 19 days on Sunday Would you be available for a quick 30 minute ZOOM call to catch up and celebrate? He messaged in May 2022. Happy Mother Day!! he messaged again in May 2022. There were no replies to posts nor answers to direct messages. He hoped they would still eventually reconnect, especially since it wasnt the first time in their life they had lost contact. The siblings, who share the same mother, moved out to Las Vegas from New Jersey in 1990 when Hernandez was 14 and Cannon was 7. When Hernandez was around 16, his mother moved to Germany with a then 11-year-old Cannon. Hernandez decided to move in with his father back in New York instead of relocating abroad. Hernandez still doesnt know all the details about Cannons time abroad; only that was when she first started struggling with addiction and ran away from home after a falling out with her mother. A few years later, Cannon, then 16, and her mother reconciled and moved back to Las Vegas. She still struggled with addiction and was sent to juvenile detention, Hernandez said. He remembers visiting her once and feeling hopeful she was getting her life back on track. Cannon, he said, aged out of the juvenile system and the siblings lost contact. She was lost to me for a number of years and I didnt know where she was, Hernandez said. Then one day in 2006, Cannon reached out to Hernandez. The two stayed in contact regularly over the next decade as Cannon received addiction and mental health treatment. She fell in love. She had three children. Cannon rarely spoke about the years they were out of touch, but when she did Hernandez said she had a lot of regret and sadness about that chapter in her life. The years went by and they would talk over the phone every few weeks and even were able to have a reunion in 2015. There was a period of time she had several sponsors, going to (Alcoholics Anonymous) meetings regularly and calling me regularly to talk about life and addiction, he said. Then she started to drift away from the program. She stopped going to AA and talking to her sponsor. Cannon, he said, told him she wanted to leave her partner as their relationship soured and her boyfriend was controlling. She talked about starting relationships with other men and using marijuana. Though concerned about some of Cannons decisions, Hernandez was torn about how to broach the topic. Finally, he spoke up to tell her he thought her life was not going in the right direction. He said he was trying to find that balance of not pushing her away but helping her to retain her recovery. Her response was, See, I didnt think youd understand. I just wanted to be honest with you and this is how you responded, he said, recalling a phone call in 2019. That ended up being their last conversation. She moved out of her boyfriends house sometime after that conversation, Hernandez later found out. As the Covid-19 pandemic raged in 2020, Hernandez didnt know where his sister was. He reached out to distant family members to see if they had heard from her. He left periodic messages. He occasionally scoured jail and court records to see if he could obtain any information. He would google her name to see if a newspaper article came up. Nothing ever came up, he said. I didnt know what else to do. As months of absence stretched into years, Hernandez received no word on the whereabouts of his sister. Everything changed last summer when he received a phone call from Clark County Social Services. Cannons ex-boyfriend had died and the children were taken by social services. Nobody was able to find her, Hernandez said. Through friends and family of Cannons ex-boyfriend, Hernandez learned that she had been living on the streets for several years and was rumored to have also died. I reached out to the coroners office to see if they had any information about my sister, he said. Hernandez wasnt the next of kin and wasnt able to get any answers. However, he was able to put the office in touch with his mom. In September, a little more than a month after Cannons death, the family was able to confirm she had died. Cannon was cremated Sept. 11. There is no national guidance Hernandez may never get a complete picture about Cannons life on the street. However, there is something to learn by analyzing the deaths of those who die while experiencing homelessness, Fowle, the researcher, said. In addition to seeing causes of death and what leads to increases or decreases, he said cities can notice trends including whether the number of deaths coincide with the rise in seniors experiencing homelessness. In recent years, cities across Nevada, in conjunction with localities across the country, have ramped up enforcement of encampment removals and passed more laws that criminalize homelessness. Fowle said some research has suggested that could lead to an increase in homelessness deaths. We know from talking to people who are experiencing homelessness how encampment sweeps and the criminalization of people experiencing homelessness through infractions and citations and general harassment by police affects somebodys health, Fowle said. Not just the stress and trauma of moving constantly but losing medication they rely on, finding a new place to sleep every day, not being around a social support system that may help prevent an overdose. Some counties in recent years, such as Oregons Multnomah County, which includes Portland, have ramped up efforts to collect homeless mortality data. Their annual report includes causes of death, race and age demographics, a breakdown of deaths by ZIP code and insights on common trends. Fowle said California added a new checkbox on death certificates to indicate if someone was experiencing homelessness at the time of death. But there are no standard or consistent practices. Because there is no national guidance or really even best practices around homeless mortality data collection, every jurisdiction seems to do it slightly differently, Fowle said. Some might include people who are hospitalized or currently incarcerated and will live and be homeless. Some might include people in transitional housing while others might include those who are literally on the street or in shelter. Creating a standard practice would make it easier for other counties to start collecting data. With those numbers, cities would be able to get a scope of the problem and know if our solutions are working. The Southern Nevada Health District doesnt compile reports about homeless deaths specifically, but has incorporated homeless data into other reports, such as its heat-related death report. Hernandez is still trying to piece together everything that led up to his sisters death. He may never know the answers. All he knows is that he misses his sister and the memory of her infectious laugh. I miss her, Hernandez said. I treasure the memories of her as a child and the time we spent together. I miss that we dont have a future together and I wont be able to share the rest of my life and her life. Nevada Current is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Nevada Current maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Hugh Jackson for questions: info@nevadacurrent.com. Follow Nevada Current on Facebook and Twitter. The post What does death look like for those experiencing homelessness in Southern Nevada? appeared first on Utah News Dispatch. State Rep. Brian Harrison is among four House members facing possible expulsion from the GOP caucus for campaigning against incumbent Republicans. It was probably not intentional, but four of the Texas House's most conservative Republican members marked the 20th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's death by very publicly breaking the spirit of the former president's "Eleventh Commandment": "Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican." It happened Wednesday when Reps. Brian Harrison, Steve Toth, Tony Tinderholt and Nate Schatzline all but dared the House GOP caucus to revoke their membership for campaigning against Republican incumbents during the 2024 GOP primaries and runoffs. Harrison, a second-term Republican from Waxahachie, called attention to the complaint filed against him and the other lawmakers with a post on X saying the four had been notified that they might be "expelled" from the GOP caucus for violating the rule that says members of the group may not campaign against other members. His post included the one sentence response that paraphrased Revolutionary War figure Nathan Hale's defiant last word before being hanged by the British army for being a spy. "We only regret that we have but one caucus membership to lose for our country," the group told caucus leaders in writing before it was shared on shared on social media. Harrison told the American-Statesman that he doesn't fear expulsion any more than he regrets working to defeat "liberal Republicans" who happen to be incumbent House members. "I don't care about that," Harrison said about the prospect of being ousted from the caucus. "I care about preserving liberty for my kids and my grandkids." To be fair, Harrison and the other House members who face being kicked out of the caucus are hardly the only Republicans, in Texas and elsewhere, who have flouted the so-called Eleventh Commandment. For more than a year, Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and House Speaker Dade Phelan, both Republicans, have been in something of a political cage match after Phelan's lower chamber blocked sundry initiatives championed by Patrick, who rules over the Senate. Also, many of the Republican challengers supported by Harrison and company were backed by Gov. Greg Abbott, who targeted GOP House incumbents who aligned with a solid block of Democrats to doom school voucher proposals last year. Nationally, former President Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 GOP presidential nominee, appears to delight in calling Republicans who cross him personally or on policy matters RINOs, or Republicans in name only. Trump has used the term to deride Phelan and John Cornyn, the lifelong Republican who is Texas' senior U.S. senator. More: Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan survives challenge in District 21 GOP runoff election Reagan, who died June 5, 2004, at 93, is widely credited with coming up with "Eleventh Commandment" because he commanded a megaphone large enough to spread it far and wide. However, University of Texas historian and Reagan biographer H.W. Brands notes that the man who would become the nation's 40th president adopted the slogan during his first campaign for California governor in 1966 and acknowledged that it was originated by Gaylord Parkinson, who at the time chaired the California Republican Party. More: Here's how new Texas GOP chair Abraham George plans to lead Republicans for next two years Parkinson put it out there as a unification message to heal the deep divide between the devotees of the late Arizona U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, considered the spiritual father of modern conservatism, and those from the GOP's more liberal wing, personified by then-New York Gov. Nelson Rockefeller. It's not too big a stretch to suggest that the modern Republican Party, in Texas and elsewhere, might be heading for a similar rift. But it could be argued that the conservative heirs to Goldwater and to Reagan, for that matter are the "liberal" Republicans of today. Also, not only did Reagan not author the Eleventh Commandment, but he was one of its biggest violators. A decade after his first gubernatorial campaign, Reagan launched a primary challenge to the sitting Republican president of the United States, Gerald Ford. The GOP nominated Ford, but it limped away in disharmony from the Republican National Convention in Kansas City, Mo., and was defeated by a comparatively united Democratic Party headed by Jimmy Carter for the presidency. Harrison embraced that part of the commandment's legacy as a rebuttal to those suggesting he is somehow a disloyal Republican. "I would remind those people who seek to invoke Reagan's Eleventh Commandment that it is only selectively invoked by liberal Republicans trying to silence conservative criticism," he said. "Their memory is rather conveniently selective." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Ronald Reagan, the 'Eleventh Commandment' and the modern Texas GOP Former President Donald Trump visited Newport Beach Saturday during his first major campaign fundraiser swing through Southern California. Trump visited Orange County after holding a fundraising event in Beverly Hills the night before at the home of businessman Lee Samson. Early Saturday morning, supporters lined the streets near Pacific Coast Highway and Jamboree Road, hoping to catch a glimpse of Trumps motorcade which arrived shortly before 1 p.m. Tickets to the Newport Beach event ranged from $3,300 to $100,000 per person. Around 400 people attended the fundraiser, which was held at the Harbor Island home of John Word, a health insurance company co-founder, along with his wife, Kimberly Word, and billionaire tech entrepreneur Palmer Luckey. A supporter, Blake Marnell, said he drove from San Diego to await Trumps arrival in Orange County. Supporters lined the streets of Newport Beach to await the arrival of Donald Trumps motorcade on June 8, 2024. (KTLA) Supporters lined the streets of Newport Beach to await the arrival of Donald Trumps motorcade on June 8, 2024. (KTLA) Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) The Harbor Island home of John and Kimberly Word in Newport Beach where Donald Trump held a campaign fundraising event on June 8, 2024. (KTLA) The Harbor Island home of John and Kimberly Word in Newport Beach where Donald Trump held a campaign fundraising event on June 8, 2024. (KTLA) Supporters lined the streets of Newport Beach to await the arrival of Donald Trumps motorcade on June 8, 2024. (KTLA) Donald Trumps plane arriving at Los Angeles International Airport on June 7, 2024. (KTLA) Supporters waiting outside as Donald Trumps motorcade arrives at a Beverly Hills home for a campaign fundrasiing event on June, 7, 2024. (KTLA) Attendees enter a private Beverly Hills residence on North Elm Drive for Donald Trumps campaign fundraising event on June, 7, 2024. (KTLA) Supporters of Donald Trump await his motorcades arrival in a Beverly Hills neighborhood on June, 7, 2024. (KTLA) Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally, Thursday, June 6, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri) NEW YORK, NEW YORK MAY 30: Former U.S. President Donald Trump appears in court for his hush money trial at Manhattan Criminal Court on May 30, 2024 in New York City. Judge Juan Merchan gave the jury instructions, and deliberations are entering their second day. The former president faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first of his criminal cases to go to trial. (Photo by Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty Images) Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool) 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, Thursday, May 30, 2024, in New York. (Elizabeth Williams via AP) Former President Donald Trump sits in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, on May 20, 2024. (Dave Sanders/The New York Times via AP, Pool) Former President Donald Trump appears at Manhattan criminal court during jury deliberations in his criminal hush money trial in New York, Thursday, May 30, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Pool Photo via AP) Former President Donald Trump attends his trial at Manhattan Criminal Court in New York, Wednesday, May 29, 2024. (Doug Mills/The New York Times via AP, Pool) Outside of a private home on North Elm Drive in Beverly Hills where Donald Trump is holding a presidential campaign fundraising event on June 7, 2024. (KTLA) Supporters waiting outside as Donald Trumps motorcade arrives at a Beverly Hills home for a campaign fundrasiing event on June, 7, 2024. (KTLA) We do get a rap as a blue state and at the state level, those offices are solidly Democratic, but that belies the point that there are enclaves of conservative politics all throughout California, Marnell said. The Newport Beach event was Trumps final stop in California after holding events in San Francisco on Thursday and Beverly Hills on Friday. On the heels of his conviction on 34 felony charges on May 30, the Republican presidential candidate reportedly raised $141 million in May. The Beverly Hills event reportedly raised around $6 million. The San Francisco event raised around $12 million which was hosted by David Sacks, a venture capitalist and former PayPal executive, along with his wife, Jacqueline Sacks, and venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya. According to the Orange County Register, Trump has faced some criticism for relying on campaign donations to pay for his expensive legal fees. Some estimates said in 2024, he has reportedly spent over $100 million from donations to pay his lawyers. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, days before he is expected to be formally announced as the GOPs presidential nominee at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee. This trip marks Trumps first visit to Southern California since the Anaheim GOP Convention in September 2023. President Joe Biden is set to visit Southern California on June 15 for a major fundraiser at the Peacock Theater in downtown L.A. that will include appearances by former President Barack Obama and celebrities including George Clooney and Julia Roberts. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A double shooting has left two men critically injured, police say. At 5:02 p.m., officers responded to the 900 block of E.H. Crump Boulevard regarding a shooting. Officers located two males with apparent gunshot wounds. They were both taken to Regional One in critical condition. Police say this is an ongoing investigation. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com. Donald Trump has still not decided who his running mate will be, and the guessing game continues. However, it looks like the wait might not be much longer. Doug Burgum, the Governor of North Dakota, might end up being the safe option, The New York Times reported. The Trump campaign has already requested the personal information and documents of multiple potential vice-presidential candidates including Burgum building suspense ahead of the official announcement at the Republican National Convention that starts on July 15th, just days after Trump's sentencing. But becoming Trumps running mate might not be easy, as the former president has some specific drama-free stipulations after the media attention his hush-money trials garnered. Trump requires a contender who can run a disciplined campaign, the Times reported. The Republican governor might have positioned himself at the forefront carefully by showing his unfettered support for the presumptive GOP nominee by appearing in court during his criminal trial. The governor also defended the former president when he likened the Biden administration to the "Gestapo." What makes Burgum a bit of a wildcard, however, is that he is largely untested on a national stage and is sparsely known, even amongst Trump supporters. He's also not an ideological warrior like other contenders, such as Tom Cotton. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) A motorist was brought to the hospital Saturday evening as a result of a drive-by shooting along Murfreesboro Pike in Antioch, which is the latest in a string of gun violence incidents around the city. Officials said the shooting was reported just before 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at the traffic light next to the AutoZone in the 3500 block of Murfreesboro Pike. News 2 sent a crew to the scene, where members of the Metro Nashville Police Department said an unknown vehicle turned on Murfreesboro Pike and fired a total of 10 shots, hitting a Chevrolet Camaro two or three times. Man injured in shooting at AutoZone on Donelson Pike When the gunfire struck the Camaros windshield, the glass shattered and hit the driver in the face, police said. The driver was reportedly transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) in an ambulance to be treated for facial lacerations from the glass shards. (Photo: WKRN) According to officials, after the shots were fired, the Camaro collided with with a Toyota SUV that was sitting at the light, leaving the other occupants in the Camaro with some bumps and bruises from the crash. However, the driver of the Toyota was not injured in the incident. Man found shot in parking lot of South Nashville restaurant News 2 saw one bullet hole in the side of the Toyota, but authorities said they believe the shots were being fired at the Camaro. Police said they have yet to determine the motive behind this incident, including whether it was the result of road rage. No additional details have been released about Saturday evenings incident, which marks Nashvilles fifth shooting within a 24-hour period. Have breaking news come to you: Subscribe to News 2 email alerts The first incident happened around 6 p.m. on Friday, June 7 at another AutoZone in the 100 block of Donelson Pike. According to officers at the scene, the man was shot in the lower extremities and transported to TriStar Skyline Medical Center. Then, around 10:30 p.m. on Friday, authorities reportedly found a man with multiple gunshot wounds to the legs and arms in the parking lot at Pollo Campero on Harding Mall Drive, so the victim was brought to VUMC to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The MNPD said the preliminary investigation indicates there was a feud at a nearby location between two people prior to the shooting. Person shot at Old Hickory Boulevard gas station, Metro police say On Saturday, there were three shootings reported over a span of roughly five hours, starting with the shooting called in shortly before 12:45 p.m. at a Circle K gas station in the 15100 block of Old Hickory Boulevard. Officials told News 2 the victim was transported to VUMC with non-life-threatening injuries after being shot, but they did not share any other information about the incident. Then, just before 1:45 p.m., another shooting was reported at a Walgreens in the 2800 block of Nolensville Pike. According to police, the victim was shot in his vehicle in the parking lot, so he was brought to VUMC to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries. The investigation into the circumstances surrounding the shooting is still ongoing. 1 injured in Nolensville Pike parking lot shooting: MNPD Police have not made any indication that these incidents are related to each other. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. A look back at the passage of The Civil Rights Act of 1964 | Cronin and Loevy (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Policy, politics and progressive commentary Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules. Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue. Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues. The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug. Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive. In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act. That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed. That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry. Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said. Potential for abuse The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction. A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana. That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said. The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said. But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom. The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said. There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said. The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it. Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist. The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said. Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described. Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said. Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said. Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said. What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III. As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication. While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic. This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives. There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change. Overwhelmingly popular Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out. He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year. One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses. A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services. Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients. Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law. All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said. Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next. Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms. A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action. But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities. As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach. Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive. In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote. In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress. That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office. We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history. Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters. This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action. The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on Nevada Current. Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go The next phases of policy fights over marijuanas status are starting to take shape. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules. Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue. Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues. The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug. Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive. Economic impact In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act. That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed. That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry. Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said. Potential for abuse The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction. A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana. That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said. The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said. Agencies split? But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom. The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said. There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said. The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it. Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist. The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said. Administrative law hearing Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described. Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said. Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said. Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said. What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III. As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication. While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic. This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives. There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change. Congressional action? Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out. He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year. One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses. A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services. Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients. Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law. All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said. Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next. Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms. A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action. But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities. As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach. Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive. In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote. In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress. That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office. We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history. Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters. This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action. The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on New Jersey Monitor. Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go In this photo illustration, marijuana joints and buds, also known as flower, are viewed on May 24, 2024 in Los Angeles. (Photo Illustration by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Nearly three weeks after the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration proposed loosening a federal prohibition on marijuana, the next phases of policy fights over the drugs status are starting to take shape. Public comments, which the DEA is accepting on the proposal until mid-July, will likely include an analysis of the economic impact of more lenient federal rules. Administrative law hearings, a venue for opponents to challenge executive branch decisions, will likely follow, with marijuanas potential for abuse a possible issue. Congress, meanwhile, could act on multiple related issues, including banking access for state-legal marijuana businesses and proposals to help communities harmed by the decades of federal prohibition. U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon and longtime advocate for legalizing marijuana whos retiring at the end of the year, is encouraging his colleagues to build on the administrations action by taking up bills on those related issues. The politics of the issue should favor action, even in the face of an upcoming campaign season that typically slows legislative action, Blumenauer said in a May 17 interview, noting the popularity of a more permissive approach to the drug. Congress may not do a lot between now and November, but they should, the 14-term House member said. Because its an election year, theres no downside to being more aggressive. Economic impact In a proposed rule published in the Federal Register last month, the DEA specifically asked commenters to weigh in on the economic impacts of moving the drug from Schedule I to the less-restrictive Schedule III list under the federal Controlled Substances Act. That will likely mean the agency will consider the impact of allowing state-legal marijuana businesses to deduct business expenses from their federal taxes, Mason Tvert, a partner at Denver-based cannabis policy and public affairs firm Strategies 64, said in an interview. Under current law, no deductions are allowed. That issue is seen by advocates, including Blumenauer and fellow Oregon Democrat Ron Wyden, who chairs the tax-writing U.S. Senate Finance Committee, as paramount for the industry. Thousands of state-legal businesses struggle to earn a profit or operate at a loss under the current system, Blumenauer said. Potential for abuse The DEA typically looks at three factors when assessing how strictly to regulate a drug: its medicinal value, potential for abuse relative to other drugs and ability to cause physical addiction. A 2023 analysis by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that looked at data from states where medicinal marijuana is legal showed that there exists some credible scientific support for the medical use of marijuana. That finding could lead DEA to look at other factors, Tvert said. The battleground that well see will be around how we define potential for abuse, he said. Agencies split? But the DEA proposed rule revealed a divided view among government agencies about the drugs potential harms, Paul Armentano, the deputy director for the longtime leading advocacy group National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, told States Newsroom. The text of the proposed rule shows a lack of consensus among HHS, the Attorney Generals Office and the Drug Enforcement Administration, he said. There are several points in the DEAs proposed rule where they express a desire to see additional evidence specific to concerns that the agency has about the potential effects of cannabis, particularly as they pertain to abuse potential and potential harms, Armentano said. The HHS addresses those issues, but the DEA essentially says, Wed like to see more information on it. Kevin Sabat, the president and CEO of the anti-legalization group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, agreed that the DEA did not appear to agree with the HHS conclusion that medical uses exist. The proposed rule just brings up all these issues with the HHSs determination and it basically invites comment on all those issues, he said. Administrative law hearing Sabats group will also be petitioning for a DEA administrative hearing, he said. An administrative law judge could rule that the proposal should not go through or that it should be amended to remain stricter than the initial proposal described. Were going to highlight the fact that, first of all, this does not have approved or accepted medical use, he said. Tvert said the accepted medical value question is likely not to be a major factor in an administrative law hearing. Several medical organizations and states that allow medicinal use have already endorsed its medicinal value, he said. Instead, the focus will turn to the drugs potential for abuse, he said. What will be critical is looking at cannabis relative to other substances that are currently II or III or not on the schedule, and determining whether cannabis should be on Schedule I when alcohol is not even on the schedules and ketamine is Schedule III. As of June 6, nearly 12,000 people had commented on the proposal in the 18 days since its publication. While opinion polls show that most Americans favor liberalizing cannabis laws a Pew Research Center survey in March found 57% of U.S. adults favor full legalization while only 11% say it should be entirely illegal the public comments so far represent a full spectrum of views on the topic. This rule is a horrible idea, this should remain in Schedule I, one comment read. Marijuana is a gateway drug and ruins lives. There are no negative side effects to its use, another commenter, who favored fully legalizing the substance, wrote. Its not harmful. The only harm is what the government has done to me and America. Shame on the people that continue to oppose this. Seriously shame on anyone that would stand in the way of this change. Congressional action? Blumenauer authored a memo last month on the path forward for reform as the rescheduling process plays out. He listed four bills for Congress to consider this year. One, sponsored by House Democrats, would remove cannabis from the Controlled Substance Act schedule entirely and expunge prior offenses. A bipartisan bill would make changes to the banking laws to allow state-legal businesses greater access to loans and other financial services. Another, cosponsored with Florida Republican Brian Mast, would allow Veterans Administration health providers to discuss state-legal medicinal marijuana with veteran patients. Blumenauer has also co-written language for appropriations bills that would prevent the Department of Justice from prosecuting marijuana businesses that are legal under state or tribal law. All of these things are overwhelmingly popular, theyre important, we have legislative vehicles and supporters, he said. Still, there may be disagreements about what to pursue next. Recent years have seen disagreements among Democratic supporters of legalization over whether to prioritize banking or criminal justice reforms. A banking overhaul has much greater bipartisan support, and advocates on all sides of the issue agree its the most likely to see congressional action. But some who support changes to banking laws in principle object to focusing on improving the business environment without first addressing the harms they say prohibition has caused to largely non-white and disadvantaged communities. As recently as 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer described banking reform legislation as too narrow. Sen. Cory Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, called it a common-sense policy but said that he favored a more comprehensive approach. Ive gone around with Cory on that, Blumenauer said. More than anybody in Congress, Im in favor of the major reforms, and weve been fighting for racial justice and equity but (racial justice and banking reforms) are not mutually exclusive. In September, Booker agreed to co-sponsor the banking reform bill after winning a promise from Schumer that a separate bill to help expunge criminal records would also receive a vote. Neither measure has actually received a floor vote. In a statement following the administrations announcement on rescheduling, Booker praised the move, but called for further action from Congress. That includes passing a bill hes sponsored that would decriminalize the drug at the federal level, expunge the records of people convicted of federal marijuana crimes and direct federal funding to communities most harmed by the failed War on Drugs, according to a summary from Bookers office. We still have a long way to go, Booker said in the statement on rescheduling. Thousands of people remain in prisons around the country for marijuana-related crimes. They continue to bear the devastating consequences that come with a criminal history. Blumenauer said Congress should act on the proposals that have widespread support from voters. This not low-hanging fruit, this is having them pick it up off the ground, he said. There is no other controversial issue that has as much bipartisan support thats awaiting action. The post Easing federal marijuana rules: Theres still a long way to go appeared first on NC Newsline. Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe Some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isnt doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of democracy are protected this fall. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images) Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isnt doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of democracy are protected this fall. Election officials by and large have no confidence that if something were to happen to them, there would be any consequences, said Amy Cohen, the executive director of the National Association of State Election Directors. It is very clear that we are not seeing a deterrent effect. A U.S. Justice Department spokesman declined to comment for this story, instead directing States Newsroom to a webpage for the departments Election Threats Task Force. Launched by the Justice Department in 2021 in response to the wave of harassment of election officials that followed the 2020 election, the Election Threats Task Force works closely with local law enforcement and U.S. attorneys offices around the country to investigate threats. In going after those who make threats against election workers, the Justice Department is honoring a foundational purpose: The department was created in 1870 in part to protect the voting rights of southern Blacks during Reconstruction. Run by John Keller, a top official in the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section, the task force also includes the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI. It also works with several other government agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security. Since its launch, the task force has brought charges in 17 cases, according to the departments tally. Eight cases have resulted in prison time, with sentencing scheduled in several more. In one case, brought in Nevada, the defendant was acquitted. In March, a Massachusetts man received a three-and-a-half-year sentence the longest won by the task force to date for sending an online message to an Arizona election official warning her a bomb would be detonated in her personal space unless she resigned. A Texas man received the same sentence last August for posting threatening messages targeting two Maricopa County, Arizona officials and their families, and separately calling for a mass shooting of poll workers in precincts with suspect results. Each of these cases should serve as a warning Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted these convictions and others in a May 13 speech at a task force meeting. Each of these cases should serve as a warning, declared Garland. If you threaten to harm or kill an election worker, volunteer, or official, the Justice Department will find you. And we will hold you accountable. But those prosecutions amount to only a tiny share of what the Justice Department has said is over 2,000 reports of threats or harassment submitted by the election community to the FBI since the task force was launched in 2021. Around 100 of those were investigated, according to the Justice Department. The small number of investigations and prosecutions is largely due to free speech concerns. Legal experts say that anything short of a direct and explicit threat to cause physical harm may well be protected speech under the First Amendment. A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence, Keller has said. If they dont cross that line into invoking violence, they are generally not going to constitute a criminally prosecutable threat. Still, as the 2024 vote approaches, theres little evidence that the volume of attacks against the people who run elections has declined, or that election workers feel safer. A recent Brennan Center survey found that more than half of local election officials said they were concerned about the safety of their colleagues or staff around the same number as in 2022, the year of the last federal election. Around a quarter worry about being assaulted at home or at work. This is a widespread issue in the elections community, said Tammy Patrick, the CEO for programs for the National Association of Election Officials, and a former election official in Maricopa County. Its happening all across the country. Its not just a question of it being in swing states, or just being in the city or whatever. Its happening in a way that is a concerted campaign to create and sow chaos. There is some feeling that the task force is a political tool, said another election expert, that allows the administration to say they care and theyre doing something. Troubling episodes but little followup In March 2022, anti-fraud activists, accompanied by the local GOP chair, showed up at the office of Michella Huff, the election director for Surry County, North Carolina. Huff said the activists tried to pressure her to give them access to county voting machines, citing what they said were flawed voter rolls. The group repeatedly threatened to have Huff ousted from her job if she didnt cooperate, and said they planned to return with the local sheriff, though they did not do so. Huff declined to provide access to the machines, and reported the episode to the state election boards investigations unit. A spokesperson for the board did not respond to an inquiry about whether the report was forwarded to federal law enforcement. Election security advocates have urged the FBI to do more to probe efforts by supporters of former President Donald Trump to gain access to voting machines in other states, warning that the breaches could have allowed for voting machine software to be compromised. Huff said she never heard from law enforcement on any level, despite speaking publicly about the episode. Though Huff wasnt physically threatened, she said shed still like to have seen federal authorities do more to respond. If it is truly a threat, I think every threat needs to be looked at serious(ly), and it needs to be considered as to what the intent was, if it was successful, and what the repercussions would be if it had been successful, Huff said. A threat is a threat. More overt efforts to physically intimidate election workers also have at times spurred little law enforcement followup. The night before South Carolinas 2022 primaries, a Republican candidate who has promoted lies about the 2020 election posted a message on the conservative social media site Telegram, to a group of anti-fraud activists. For all of you on the team tomorrow observing the polls, Good Hunting, the message said. We have the enemy on their back foot, press the attack. Forward. During the voting period, groups of activists showed up at multiple polling places to verbally harass, photograph, and film election workers as they did their jobs, recounted Isaac Cramer, the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The activists called the police to at least one polling site, falsely alleging evidence of fraud by election staff. The police came, but made no arrests though the episode left the sites lead poll manager shaken, Cramer said. Cramer said his office provided detailed reports on both the Telegram message and the harassment at polling sites to the Department of Homeland Security, as well as to the state election commission. We took that threat pretty seriously, he said, referring to the Telegram message. He said he received a response from DHS saying the report was being looked into, but heard nothing after that. I dont know what the conclusions were, or what occurred after submitting that information, Cramer said. But Cramer added that the experience produced a successful effort to increase collaboration with local, state, and federal authorities with the result that the county is much better prepared to respond to, and anticipate, similar incidents this year. When youre on the defense, youre kind of reacting to everything, and I think thats how the past was, Cramer said. And now were being proactive. I dread November for you guys Patrick, of the National Association of Election Officials, said that while she understands the need to avoid running afoul of the First Amendment, authorities must balance legitimate free speech concerns with their urgent duty to protect those conducting elections. And, she suggested, they may not always be getting that balance right. We need to be really careful that were not allowing people to yell fire in a crowded theater, Patrick said. And that were not allowing people to use what they are potentially claiming as their freedom of speech as a way of creating chaos in a system, or to threaten individuals who are just trying to do their job. In addition, election professionals say theyve complained for years that after they submit reports about threats and harassment to the FBI, theres often a lack of follow-up beyond an acknowledgment of receipt. Of course, law enforcement frequently cant share details about their work, even with those who were targeted, in order not to compromise an investigation. But Patrick said even basic information could be helpful. Even letting them know that the report is being worked, so it doesnt just go into the void, and a victim knows theres going to be a knock-and-talk, gives the individual who made that report some sense of closure, Patrick said, referring to when federal agents show up to speak with a suspect at their home. The problem may be exacerbated by a lack of understanding among some in the elections world about what federal law enforcement can and cant do. Many election officials, said Cohen, of the National Association of State Election Directors, want front-end help with steps like bolstering physical security to better prepare for incidents. Law enforcement, and especially federal law enforcement, is only coming at the back end, said Cohen. Their goal is not prevention or recovery, their goal is prosecution. And it has taken our community, I think, a long time to understand what we should be expecting from DOJ. Ultimately, said Cohen, the prosecutions brought by the Justice Department appear to have done little to reduce the number of threats election workers are subject to today. Im really grateful that DOJ has secured convictions in Arizona, Cohen said. But I dont think securing convictions in Arizona three years later has actually deterred anything in Arizona. Indeed, Arizona has been a hotbed for election misinformation, and its election officials continue to be targeted by a consistent stream of threats, according to multiple reports. Huff, the county election director in North Carolina, said that with a major election approaching, members of the public often express sympathy for her and her staff an acknowledgement that the vitriol theyve been facing is only likely to get stronger. Out in public, I get that, Huff said Boy, I dread November for you guys. C0rrection: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on Iowa Capital Dispatch. Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe Some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isnt doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of democracy are protected this fall. (John Moore/Getty Images) Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isnt doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of democracy are protected this fall. Election officials by and large have no confidence that if something were to happen to them, there would be any consequences, said Amy Cohen, the executive director of the National Association of State Election Directors. It is very clear that we are not seeing a deterrent effect. A U.S. Justice Department spokesman declined to comment for this story, instead directing States Newsroom to a webpage for the departments Election Threats Task Force. Launched by the Justice Department in 2021 in response to the wave of harassment of election officials that followed the 2020 election, the Election Threats Task Force works closely with local law enforcement and U.S. attorneys offices around the country to investigate threats. Im really grateful that DOJ has secured convictions in Arizona. But I dont think securing convictions in Arizona three years later has actually deterred anything in Arizona. Any Cohen, National Association of State Elections Directors In going after those who make threats against election workers, the Justice Department is honoring a foundational purpose: The department was created in 1870 in part to protect the voting rights of southern Blacks during Reconstruction. Run by John Keller, a top official in the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section, the task force also includes the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI. It also works with several other government agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security. Since its launch, the task force has brought charges in 17 cases, according to the departments tally. Eight cases have resulted in prison time, with sentencing scheduled in several more. In one case, brought in Nevada, the defendant was acquitted. In March, a Massachusetts man received a three-and-a-half-year sentence the longest won by the task force to date for sending an online message to an Arizona election official warning her a bomb would be detonated in her personal space unless she resigned. A Texas man received the same sentence last August for posting threatening messages targeting two Maricopa County, Arizona officials and their families, and separately calling for a mass shooting of poll workers in precincts with suspect results. A man and a woman stand at adjacent voting booths to cast ballots November 8, 2022, at a polling location in Atlanta (Megan Varner/Getty Images) Each of these cases should serve as a warning Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted these convictions and others in a May 13 speech at a task force meeting. Each of these cases should serve as a warning, declared Garland. If you threaten to harm or kill an election worker, volunteer, or official, the Justice Department will find you. And we will hold you accountable. But those prosecutions amount to only a tiny share of what the Justice Department has said is over 2,000 reports of threats or harassment submitted by the election community to the FBI since the task force was launched in 2021. Around 100 of those were investigated, according to the Justice Department. The small number of investigations and prosecutions is largely due to free speech concerns. Legal experts say that anything short of a direct and explicit threat to cause physical harm may well be protected speech under the First Amendment. A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence, Keller has said. If they dont cross that line into invoking violence, they are generally not going to constitute a criminally prosecutable threat. Still, as the 2024 vote approaches, theres little evidence that the volume of attacks against the people who run elections has declined, or that election workers feel safer. A recent Brennan Center survey found that more than half of local election officials said they were concerned about the safety of their colleagues or staff around the same number as in 2022, the year of the last federal election. Around a quarter worry about being assaulted at home or at work. This is a widespread issue in the elections community, said Tammy Patrick, the CEO for programs for the National Association of Election Officials, and a former election official in Maricopa County. Its happening all across the country. Its not just a question of it being in swing states, or just being in the city or whatever. Its happening in a way that is a concerted campaign to create and sow chaos. There is some feeling that the task force is a political tool, said another election expert, that allows the administration to say they care and theyre doing something. Troubling episodes but little followup In March 2022, anti-fraud activists, accompanied by the local GOP chair, showed up at the office of Michella Huff, the election director for Surry County, North Carolina. Huff said the activists tried to pressure her to give them access to county voting machines, citing what they said were flawed voter rolls. The group repeatedly threatened to have Huff ousted from her job if she didnt cooperate, and said they planned to return with the local sheriff, though they did not do so. Huff declined to provide access to the machines, and reported the episode to the state election boards investigations unit. A spokesperson for the board did not respond to an inquiry about whether the report was forwarded to federal law enforcement. Election security advocates have urged the FBI to do more to probe efforts by supporters of former President Donald Trump to gain access to voting machines in other states, warning that the breaches could have allowed for voting machine software to be compromised. Huff said she never heard from law enforcement on any level, despite speaking publicly about the episode. Though Huff wasnt physically threatened, she said shed still like to have seen federal authorities do more to respond. If it is truly a threat, I think every threat needs to be looked at serious(ly), and it needs to be considered as to what the intent was, if it was successful, and what the repercussions would be if it had been successful, said Huff. A threat is a threat. More overt efforts to physically intimidate election workers also have at times spurred little law enforcement followup. A man on a bicycle inserts a mail-in ballot into a mailbox. The night before South Carolinas 2022 primaries, a Republican candidate who has promoted lies about the 2020 election posted a message on the conservative social media site Telegram, to a group of anti-fraud activists. For all of you on the team tomorrow observing the polls, Good Hunting, the message said. We have the enemy on their back foot, press the attack. Forward. During the voting period, groups of activists showed up at multiple polling places to verbally harass, photograph, and film election workers as they did their jobs, recounted Isaac Cramer, the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The activists called the police to at least one polling site, falsely alleging evidence of fraud by election staff. The police came, but made no arrests though the episode left the sites lead poll manager shaken, Cramer said. Cramer said his office provided detailed reports on both the Telegram message and the harassment at polling sites to the Department of Homeland Security, as well as to the state election commission. We took that threat pretty seriously, he said, referring to the Telegram message. He said he received a response from DHS saying the report was being looked into, but heard nothing after that. I dont know what the conclusions were, or what occurred after submitting that information, Cramer said. But Cramer added that the experience produced a successful effort to increase collaboration with local, state, and federal authorities with the result that the county is much better prepared to respond to, and anticipate, similar incidents this year. When youre on the defense, youre kind of reacting to everything, and I think thats how the past was, said Cramer. And now were being proactive. I dread November for you guys Patrick, of the National Association of Election Officials, said that while she understands the need to avoid running afoul of the First Amendment, authorities must balance legitimate free speech concerns with their urgent duty to protect those conducting elections. And, she suggested, they may not always be getting that balance right. We need to be really careful that were not allowing people to yell fire in a crowded theater, Patrick said. And that were not allowing people to use what they are potentially claiming as their freedom of speech as a way of creating chaos in a system, or to threaten individuals who are just trying to do their job. In addition, election professionals say theyve complained for years that after they submit reports about threats and harassment to the FBI, theres often a lack of follow-up beyond an acknowledgment of receipt. Of course, law enforcement frequently cant share details about their work, even with those who were targeted, in order not to compromise an investigation. But Patrick said even basic information could be helpful. Even letting them know that the report is being worked, so it doesnt just go into the void, and a victim knows theres going to be a knock-and-talk, gives the individual who made that report some sense of closure, Patrick said, referring to when federal agents show up to speak with a suspect at their home. People enter a voting precinct to vote in the Michigan primary election at Trombly School Aug. 7, 2018 in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan. The problem may be exacerbated by a lack of understanding among some in the elections world about what federal law enforcement can and cant do. Many election officials, said Cohen, of the National Association of State Election Directors, want front-end help with steps like bolstering physical security to better prepare for incidents. Law enforcement, and especially federal law enforcement, is only coming at the back end, said Cohen. Their goal is not prevention or recovery, their goal is prosecution. And it has taken our community, I think, a long time to understand what we should be expecting from DoJ. Ultimately, said Cohen, the prosecutions brought by the Justice Department appear to have done little to reduce the number of threats election workers are subject to today. Im really grateful that DOJ has secured convictions in Arizona, said Cohen. But I dont think securing convictions in Arizona three years later has actually deterred anything in Arizona. Indeed, Arizona has been a hotbed for election misinformation, and its election officials continue to be targeted by a consistent stream of threats, according to multiple reports. Huff, the county election director in North Carolina, said that with a major election approaching, members of the public often express sympathy for her and her staff an acknowledgement that the vitriol theyve been facing is only likely to get stronger. Out in public, I get that, Huff said Boy, I dread November for you guys. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE CORRECTION: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe Poll watchers observe the counting of ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Poll watchers observe the counting of ballots during the Sioux Falls city and school board election on April 9, 2024. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) Aiming to send a message, the Biden administration recently spotlighted its indictments and convictions in cases involving threats to election officials or workers. But with no letup in reports of attacks, some elections professionals say federal law enforcement still isnt doing enough to deter bad actors and ensure that those on the front lines of democracy are protected this fall. Election officials by and large have no confidence that if something were to happen to them, there would be any consequences, said Amy Cohen, the executive director of the National Association of State Election Directors. It is very clear that we are not seeing a deterrent effect. A U.S. Justice Department spokesman declined to comment for this story, instead directing States Newsroom to a webpage for the departments Election Threats Task Force. Launched by the Justice Department in 2021 in response to the wave of harassment of election officials that followed the 2020 election, the Election Threats Task Force works closely with local law enforcement and U.S. attorneys offices around the country to investigate threats. In going after those who make threats against election workers, the Justice Department is honoring a foundational purpose: The department was created in 1870 in part to protect the voting rights of southern Blacks during Reconstruction. Run by John Keller, a top official in the Justice Departments Public Integrity Section, the task force also includes the Criminal Divisions Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, the Civil Rights Division, the National Security Division, and the FBI. It also works with several other government agencies, including the U.S. Postal Inspection Service and the Department of Homeland Security. Since its launch, the task force has brought charges in 17 cases, according to the departments tally. Eight cases have resulted in prison time, with sentencing scheduled in several more. In one case, brought in Nevada, the defendant was acquitted. In March, a Massachusetts man received a three-and-a-half-year sentence the longest won by the task force to date for sending an online message to an Arizona election official warning her a bomb would be detonated in her personal space unless she resigned. A Texas man received the same sentence last August for posting threatening messages targeting two Maricopa County, Arizona officials and their families, and separately calling for a mass shooting of poll workers in precincts with suspect results. Each of these cases should serve as a warning Attorney General Merrick Garland highlighted these convictions and others in a May 13 speech at a task force meeting. Each of these cases should serve as a warning, declared Garland. If you threaten to harm or kill an election worker, volunteer, or official, the Justice Department will find you. And we will hold you accountable. But those prosecutions amount to only a tiny share of what the Justice Department has said is over 2,000 reports of threats or harassment submitted by the election community to the FBI since the task force was launched in 2021. Around 100 of those were investigated, according to the Justice Department. The small number of investigations and prosecutions is largely due to free speech concerns. Legal experts say that anything short of a direct and explicit threat to cause physical harm may well be protected speech under the First Amendment. A true threat is a serious expression of an intent to commit an act of unlawful violence, Keller has said. If they dont cross that line into invoking violence, they are generally not going to constitute a criminally prosecutable threat. Still, as the 2024 vote approaches, theres little evidence that the volume of attacks against the people who run elections has declined, or that election workers feel safer. A recent Brennan Center survey found that more than half of local election officials said they were concerned about the safety of their colleagues or staff around the same number as in 2022, the year of the last federal election. Around a quarter worry about being assaulted at home or at work. This is a widespread issue in the elections community, said Tammy Patrick, the CEO for programs for the National Association of Election Officials, and a former election official in Maricopa County. Its happening all across the country. Its not just a question of it being in swing states, or just being in the city or whatever. Its happening in a way that is a concerted campaign to create and sow chaos. There is some feeling that the task force is a political tool, said another election expert, that allows the administration to say they care and theyre doing something. Troubling episodes but little follow-up In March 2022, anti-fraud activists, accompanied by the local GOP chair, showed up at the office of Michella Huff, the election director for Surry County, North Carolina. Huff said the activists tried to pressure her to give them access to county voting machines, citing what they said were flawed voter rolls. The group repeatedly threatened to have Huff ousted from her job if she didnt cooperate, and said they planned to return with the local sheriff, though they did not do so. Huff declined to provide access to the machines, and reported the episode to the state election boards investigations unit. A spokesperson for the board did not respond to an inquiry about whether the report was forwarded to federal law enforcement. Election security advocates have urged the FBI to do more to probe efforts by supporters of former President Donald Trump to gain access to voting machines in other states, warning that the breaches could have allowed for voting machine software to be compromised. Huff said she never heard from law enforcement on any level, despite speaking publicly about the episode. Though Huff wasnt physically threatened, she said shed still like to have seen federal authorities do more to respond. If it is truly a threat, I think every threat needs to be looked at serious(ly), and it needs to be considered as to what the intent was, if it was successful, and what the repercussions would be if it had been successful, said Huff. A threat is a threat. More overt efforts to physically intimidate election workers also have at times spurred little law enforcement followup. The night before South Carolinas 2022 primaries, a Republican candidate who has promoted lies about the 2020 election posted a message on the conservative social media site Telegram, to a group of anti-fraud activists. For all of you on the team tomorrow observing the polls, Good Hunting, the message said. We have the enemy on their back foot, press the attack. Forward. During the voting period, groups of activists showed up at multiple polling places to verbally harass, photograph, and film election workers as they did their jobs, recounted Isaac Cramer, the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. The activists called the police to at least one polling site, falsely alleging evidence of fraud by election staff. The police came, but made no arrests though the episode left the sites lead poll manager shaken, Cramer said. Cramer said his office provided detailed reports on both the Telegram message and the harassment at polling sites to the Department of Homeland Security, as well as to the state election commission. We took that threat pretty seriously, he said, referring to the Telegram message. He said he received a response from DHS saying the report was being looked into, but heard nothing after that. I dont know what the conclusions were, or what occurred after submitting that information, Cramer said. But Cramer added that the experience produced a successful effort to increase collaboration with local, state, and federal authorities with the result that the county is much better prepared to respond to, and anticipate, similar incidents this year. When youre on the defense, youre kind of reacting to everything, and I think thats how the past was, said Cramer. And now were being proactive. I dread November for you guys Patrick, of the National Association of Election Officials, said that while she understands the need to avoid running afoul of the First Amendment, authorities must balance legitimate free speech concerns with their urgent duty to protect those conducting elections. And, she suggested, they may not always be getting that balance right. We need to be really careful that were not allowing people to yell fire in a crowded theater, Patrick said. And that were not allowing people to use what they are potentially claiming as their freedom of speech as a way of creating chaos in a system, or to threaten individuals who are just trying to do their job. In addition, election professionals say theyve complained for years that after they submit reports about threats and harassment to the FBI, theres often a lack of follow-up beyond an acknowledgment of receipt. Of course, law enforcement frequently cant share details about their work, even with those who were targeted, in order not to compromise an investigation. But Patrick said even basic information could be helpful. Even letting them know that the report is being worked, so it doesnt just go into the void, and a victim knows theres going to be a knock-and-talk, gives the individual who made that report some sense of closure, Patrick said, referring to when federal agents show up to speak with a suspect at their home. The problem may be exacerbated by a lack of understanding among some in the elections world about what federal law enforcement can and cant do. Many election officials, said Cohen, of the National Association of State Election Directors, want front-end help with steps like bolstering physical security to better prepare for incidents. Law enforcement, and especially federal law enforcement, is only coming at the back end, said Cohen. Their goal is not prevention or recovery, their goal is prosecution. And it has taken our community, I think, a long time to understand what we should be expecting from DoJ. Ultimately, said Cohen, the prosecutions brought by the Justice Department appear to have done little to reduce the number of threats election workers are subject to today. Im really grateful that DOJ has secured convictions in Arizona, said Cohen. But I dont think securing convictions in Arizona three years later has actually deterred anything in Arizona. Indeed, Arizona has been a hotbed for election misinformation, and its election officials continue to be targeted by a consistent stream of threats, according to multiple reports. Huff, the county election director in North Carolina, said that with a major election approaching, members of the public often express sympathy for her and her staff an acknowledgement that the vitriol theyve been facing is only likely to get stronger. Out in public, I get that, Huff said Boy, I dread November for you guys. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated to reflect the correct name of the executive director of the Charleston County Board of Voter Registration and Elections. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Election workers worry that federal threats task force isnt enough to keep them safe appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. For more on how vulnerable Republicans are grappling with former President Donald Trumps conviction, watch Inside Politics Sunday with Manu Raju at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m. ET. Former President Donald Trump lost Rep. Mike Garcias district by more than 12 points four years ago. And that was before he was convicted on 34 felony charges. But that doesnt mean the California Republican is abandoning Trump. No, Garcia said when asked if the conviction shook his confidence in his partys standard bearer. I mean, the alternative is Joe Biden. Theres obviously no way I can support four more years of Joe Biden. Garcia is hardly alone. In many bellwether districts that will determine the next House majority, including in the 19 GOP districts Biden carried in 2020, Republicans are quickly falling in line behind Trump. And theyre echoing his line that the New York hush money trial was unfair and that hes a victim being persecuted, aligning with a riled-up base and effectively gambling that swing voters wont punish them for backing a felon at the top of the ticket. My district is full of very smart people with a firm grasp of reality, said Rep. John Duarte, a fellow California Republican whose district Biden carried by 13 points four years ago. They can smell bullsh*t. In past eras of politics, candidates in difficult races would be quick to distance themselves from a presidential contender with a hint of baggage let alone one who has been convicted of a crime. But in the Trump era, Republicans have calculated that it pays dividends to stay on the team as vulnerable House and Senate Democrats are tiptoeing around Trumps conviction and keeping their distance from Biden. Yet while GOP party committees are seeing a surge of fundraising after the verdict, senior Republicans are wary that going too far over Trumps legal woes and embracing his talk about retribution against his enemies could overwhelm their message in the fall as they try to woo disaffected Biden voters who will be central to holding onto their narrow majority in the House. I think we need to be focused on the issues that the American people care about: The economy, open border, and crime, said Rep. Richard Hudson, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the House GOPs campaign arm. While he called the verdict a political hit job, Hudson added: I think this election ultimately is going to be decided on the issues. House Democratic leaders say they are more than happy that vulnerable Republicans have defended Trump after the guilty verdict. I think the ones who fall in line are Republicans who seem to do everything to show their blind loyalty to Donald Trump, said Rep. Suzan DelBene of Washington state, who chairs the House Democrats campaign arm. People want folks who are going to stand up for their communities, who are going to stand up to govern, and who are true voices for their community. George Whitesides, the Democratic candidate seeking to defeat Garcia in the fall, said that his GOP foes handling of Trumps conviction is an issue he will hammer home. It is remarkable that Mike Garcia who says hes supportive of the American law enforcement system has no concerns of someone who has been convicted of 34 felonies, Whitesides said. I can tell you the people of the 27th District of California have huge concerns about it. Garcia said that the choice boils down to Joe Biden whos the worst president in the history of the country and someone whos got a proven track record, pro-security, pro-law enforcement, referring to Trump. Several other vulnerable members made clear where they stood. Well, hes the Republican nominee. Im the Republican, said Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer, whose Oregon district Biden won by eight points in 2020, confirming shes sticking with Trump after his conviction. Rep. Mike Lawler, whose New York district Biden carried by 10 points, sharply criticized the prosecution against Trump. And he pointedly said: I already said I am when asked if he still backs Trump at the top of his ticket. Look, the process itself will play out in court, Lawler told CNN. But again, when you have an election that will be determined by the American people, a nomination that was determined by Republican primary voters, you respect the process. Rep. John Duarte is seen in front of the US Capitol in Washington DC, on November 8, 2023. - Celal Gunes/Anadolu/Getty Images Endangered Democrats sidestep on Trump verdict Vulnerable incumbent Democrats are taking a different approach particularly House members from districts that Trump carried and Senate Democrats in red and purple states. They are saying little about the verdict as they try to court Trump voters, instead trying to raise character concerns about their GOP opponents while campaigning on economic issues like prescription drug prices and social issues like abortion. In Ohio and Montana, two states that Trump carried twice, GOP candidates Bernie Moreno and Tim Sheehy are attacking Democrats Sherrod Brown and Jon Tester over the conviction. Sheehy is already up with a campaign ad accusing Tester of standing by prosecutors who are trying to throw Trump in jail. In an interview last week, Tester struck a neutral tone when asked if he agreed with the verdict. What I agree on is nobody is above the law, Tester said. He went through the process, trial by jury of his peers. And he has right to appeal it. Asked about GOP demands that he condemn the verdict, Tester said: Look, the Republicans think that Im the one who sat on the jury, for Christs sake, OK? Theyre grasping at straws on that one. Brown said even less. Ive put out a statement, Brown said last week. I said what I said. In that statement, Brown also said that no one is above the law and that its up to the legal system to sort out before voters ultimately decide in November. Other vulnerable Democrats were also cautious. The jury made a decision and thats their decision, said Sen. Bob Casey, a Democrat of Pennsylvania, when asked if he agreed with the verdict. And well see what the next step is. Rep. Richard Hudson and Rep. Stephanie Bice speak to one another on November 2, 2023 in Washington, DC. - Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images GOP divide over Trumps talk of retribution In the days following Trumps conviction, Republicans have brought forward an onslaught of proposals, including to defund federal and state prosecutions targeting Trump, threatening a government shutdown and a longshot impeachment of Biden. Those actions and rhetoric have some Republicans worried that the party could get itself off message ahead of November. GOP Rep. Nick LaLota, a Republican running in a competitive New York district Biden won in 2020, cautioned his Republican colleagues against engaging in a tit-for-tat revenge scheme that reaches beyond targeting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. We shouldnt overreact or misreact by acting upon things that had nothing to do with this hasty trial, LaLota, who rallied behind Trump after the verdict, told CNN. And Republican Sen. Thom Tillis, who is close to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, warned his GOP colleagues that it would be a big mistake to shift their focus away from kitchen table issues like the economy and the Biden administrations border policies as Republicans face the final stretch to November. Those are the key issues that are driving voters in November, Tillis said. Why on earth, we would shift our attention away from that, for any sort of quick fix on this decision doesnt make sense to me. Right-wing members, however, have gone full steam ahead in throwing their entire congressional and messaging weight behind Trump in the wake of his conviction. In a closed-door meeting with the GOP conference on Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson presented a three-pronged approach for how Republicans could use their majority in the House to go after the Department of Justice and state prosecutors, according to multiple sources. House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan also outlined his proposal for defunding federal and state prosecutions targeting political opponents, which he also detailed in a letter. While Johnson has previously dismissed calls to defund key parts of the DOJ a move that would be dead arrival in the Senate Jordan said he believes Johnson has been warming up to the idea in recent days, especially after Trumps conviction. Separately, GOP Rep. Chip Roy suggested to CNN that initiating a government shutdown fight should be on the table, in the wake of Trumps conviction. Ill walk into the election, and Ill message that, Roy said. One of Trumps loudest supporters on the Hill, GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, marched into Johnsons office later Tuesday with an accountability list of her own, including a long-shot effort to impeach Biden. Republicans across the country, and many Americans in general, are sick and tired and fed up with a feckless, useless Republican Party and conference that does nothing, Greene said after her meeting with Johnson. Republicans in this camp believe there is no limit to how hard they can lean in to talking about Trumps conviction and see the Trump verdict as a golden ticket. GOP Rep. Ralph Norman, a Republican hardliner from South Carolina, said Republicans would absolutely retaliate against Trumps political enemies after November, including prosecutors. What theyve done is, is weaponized process, Norman said. What theyve done is wrong, against the Constitution. That will happen. CNNs Sheden Tesfaldet and Morgan Rimmer contributed. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com The Zhytomyr Oblast military enlistment office reported on June 8 that it had launched an investigation after Serhii Kovalchuk, 32, died following his stay at the Zviahel military enlistment office in late May. Kovalchuk's relatives have accused the military enlistment office of causing his death by beating him. Dozens of local residents have protested against the enlistment office following the incident. Prosecutors have opened a murder investigation into the incident. Military enlistment officials have denied the accusations, claiming that no violence was used against Kovalchuk. According to the Zhytomyr Oblast enlistment office, the man was brought on May 28 to the Zviahel military enlistment office with "signs of alcohol intoxication." The enlistment office claimed that enlistment officials decided to send him home but he wanted to stay at the office due to his intoxication. The report also claims that, hours after arriving at the enlistment office, the man called his relatives and told them about his decision to stay there and that no illegal actions were taken against him. However, on May 29 he suffered an epileptic seizure, "during which he fell on the tiled floor on his back, hitting his head," the report reads. Kovalchuk was hospitalized after having a second seizure and died in the hospital on June 2. Kovalchuks father, Mykola Kovakchuk, told the Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on June 4 that his son "killed." "My son has been killed, that's it... According to the conclusion, he has a fracture of the skull and cranial bones," he said. "I will seek justice. The community asks for it." There have been multiple cases of suspected abuses committed by enlistment officials toward civilians and conscripts since Ukraine started a large-scale mobilization after the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. In early May, a conscription-age man died on the territory of the Saksahanskyi military enlistment office in the city of Kryvyi Rih due to the "rapid deterioration of his health." The man showed symptoms of an epileptic seizure at the enlistment office, the Dnipropetrovsk Oblast military recruitment center reported. Ukraine recently updated the legal framework in order to ramp up mobilization this year amid manpower shortages. President Volodymyr Zelensky signed the new law on mobilization on April 16, introducing penalties for those dodging the draft. Another law lowered the minimum age of compulsory military service from 27 to 25, making men eligible for the draft as soon as they turn 25. Read also: Defense Ministry: Medical commission members can no longer use own discretion on conscripts eligibility Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, casts her ballot for the European elections in a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) with German lead candidate Ursula von der Leyen is headed for victory in the European Parliament elections, initial figures from broadcasters ARD and ZDF showed on Sunday. According to the trends published shortly before 6 pm (1600 GMT) the EPP could end with around around 180 of the 720 seats in the new European Parliament, a stable result compared with the 2019 election results. The result is a boost for von der Leyen's chances for another term as president of the European Commission. The figures were based on polls and projections. The second strongest group in the new parliament remains the centre-left Social Democrats, who could end up with around 135 seats. They will be followed by the liberal Renew, which will slip to between 81 and 87 seats. The far right Identity & Democracy (ID) is predicted to get around 70 seats, and the less radical but eurosceptic European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group would return just under 80 seats. The Greens would lose significantly and end up with far fewer than 60 seats in the European Parliament. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is counted among the non-attached parties, as it was excluded from the ID group shortly before the European elections. Overall, right-wing parties are likely to make the biggest gains according to the figures. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, walks to a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region with her ballot paper for the European elections alongside her husband. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrives at a polling station in the Hanover region with her husband to cast her vote in the European elections. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Manfred Weber, Chairman of the European People's Party and candidate at the European elections for the (CSU) arrives at the party headquarters. Peter Kneffel/dpa The leader of the European Union's main centre-right political group has proclaimed a "civic Europe" as preliminary results suggest a strong showing for conservative candidates in European Parliament elections on Sunday. In Europe, the "left-liberal" camp had been voted out, said European People's Party (EPP) leader Manfred Weber in Munich. "We will implement the issues that are important to us: securing migration, prosperity and the economy and safeguarding peace," Weber said. The EPP is a pan-European federation; Weber himself is the lead European candidate for the Christian Social Union (CSU) party in the southern German state of Bavaria. The CSU is the sister party to the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) in the rest of Germany. He said the CSU is "the party that manages to keep people in the middle." "The big message is that we as the CSU, CDU - and probably Europe-wide as the European People's Party - are the bulwark against right-wing populism and right-wing radicalism in Europe," he said. Markus Soeder (L), Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Monika Hohlmeier (C), CSU Member of the European Parliament, and Manfred Weber (R), Chairman of the European People's Party, attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, casts her ballot for the European elections in a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen cast her vote for the European Parliament elections at a voting location near her home in Lower Saxony on Sunday morning. Shortly after 10 am (0800 GMT), the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician arrived with her husband Heiko at the small polling station in Burgdorf-Beinhorn in the Hanover region. Von der Leyen greeted poll workers with a friendly "Good morning," but refrained from making a statement or answering any questions from journalists. After casting her vote, she smiled briefly into the cameras for photos and left the polling station after a few minutes. The 65-year-old von der Leyen is hoping to keep the top job for a second term as president of the European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, walks to a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region with her ballot paper for the European elections alongside her husband. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrives at a polling station in the Hanover region with her husband to cast her vote in the European elections. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa People are casting their votes for the European Parliament Elections in Helsinki. Vesa Moilanen/Lehtikuva/dpa Voter turnout in the European Parliament elections is estimated to be around 51%, according to initial reports, the European Union legislature announced on Sunday evening. This initial estimate is up from 50.66% in 2019, according to parliament figures. "This is a positive sign for European democracy," a spokesman for the parliament said. The spokesman said this increase in turnout was in the majority of EU countries, stressing however that as Italy was still voting, this estimated turnout figure could yet change. The parliament is elected for a new term every five years in a poll that could see up to 360 million people across the 27 EU member states cast their ballots over four days. Ricarda Lang (R), Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) and and Omid Nouripour, Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), leave the stage after the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa A woman stands at the Green Party election party in the Columbiahalle during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections. Christoph Soeder/dpa Lisa Paus (C), German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, talks to Sergey Lagodinsky (L), lead candidate of the Greens for the 2024 European elections, and Hannah Neumann (R), Member of the European Parliament, during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa Europe still wants to punish Britain for Brexit and Starmer knows it One topic has been notably, and some might say blissfully, absent in this election debate: Brexit. Voters struggling to get GP appointments and coping with much higher living costs have bigger issues to think about, polling suggests. Meanwhile, both parties have reasons to gloss over the topic. After years of squabbling over Brexit, the Tories are keen not to set off another round of infighting. Sir Keir Starmer wants to reassure Leave voters they can trust him. This has led Labour to take a tougher stance on EU integration than in past years. The party in late April rejected proposals to introduce free movement for under-30s, a suggestion from the European Commission. Sir Keir has been clear there is no possibility of rejoining the single market under Labour. Yet many Remain-backing Labour supporters and MPs will likely expect closer ties with the EU if the party is elected. Polling of City investors suggest almost 90pc expect tighter integration. Suggestions that a Labour government would start dating the EU again hinge on a scorned ex-partner being open to rekindling the relationship. That looks unlikely. They spend very little time in Brussels thinking about the UK, says Anand Menon, a professor at Kings College London and the director of UK in a Changing Europe. There are political threats, theres a migration issue, there are all sorts of simmering fights within the European Union about whether [Ursula] von der Leyen gets reappointed, what to do about the green deal. The UK does not even make the list of priorities, he says. Items on Labours EU wish list including striking a veterinary deal to avoid checks on agricultural food imports like meats, vegetables and flowers. The party also wants closer cooperation with Brussels on security and defence, with David Lammy attending monthly meetings on the foreign affairs council. Not only is the UK not a priority, however, there are many in Brussels who are still smarting from the affront of Brexit in the first place, says Menon. There is still quite a sense in the European Union that what the UK gets cant be as good as membership. A change in political leadership will do little to help. There are some people in Labour who think that just because they are not the Conservatives, the EU will make concessions. Thats absolutely wrong, Menon says. Anyone who has negotiated with the EU is well aware of the fact that it doesnt do favours and negotiates on the basis of its interests. He adds: If the Labour majority is smaller than expected, and if the Conservative Party continues to be massively Eurosceptic theres less incentive for the EU to negotiate with us because the danger is a new Conservative government comes in and overturns everything. There are questions about how the European elections might influence the relationship. While European Parliament elections are notoriously hard to predict because of low turnout, polls have suggested a surge in support for far Right parties, with Marine Le Pens National Rally and Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy expected to increase their seats. Counterintuitively, having the Eurosceptics in charge might improve the relationship. They have been quite outspoken in saying that they admire Brexit, Menon says. Doing bilateral deals with the UK is a really good way to annoy the European Commission, which will play well with their voter bases. In the UK, after years of squabbling about Europe many voters have Brexit fatigue. I think a lot of people just dont really want to hear that much about the EU, says David Henig, a trade expert who runs the UK arm of think tank European Centre For International Political Economy. Theyve had enough of it. Its been going on for years and years and years. It was all just a bit too overwhelming. Only 8pc of the public cited Britains future relationship with Brussels as one of the top three most important factors determining their vote. When drilling down further, a meagre 2pc chose it as the single most important issue, YouGov found. It has just dropped so low down peoples priorities. Domestic issues have massively taken over and that started soon after the last election. It is dwarfed by things like the economy, the cost of living, health, climate change and even housing, says Adam McDonnell from YouGov. Across both parties, if you start bringing up Brexit it may potentially be perceived to be deflecting from other issues. Menon adds: The British public is bored of Brexit. There is absolutely no appetite for a big national conversation about it. To appeal to the general voter, avoiding the topic would seem a sensible approach. Even without saying anything about Brexit, Labour are picking up large numbers of Remain voters, says Menon. Yet despite such factors, Sir Keir may quickly find the ghost of Europe coming back to haunt his government like it has with others. While Leave voters have mostly moved on, many of those who voted Remain still begrudge the result, McDonnell says. The latest voting intention numbers suggest most Remain voters plan on backing Starmer at the election. Labour voters are overwhelmingly in favour of rejoining the EU. If we ask the question in isolation, 80pc of Labour voters would vote to rejoin, he says. If elected, there will be a lot of pressure from backbench MPs and other campaign groups to go further in strengthening the ties than the party has suggested it plans to, says Henig. Just as the Conservatives in favour of a hard Brexit formed the European Research Group (ERG), he suggests hardline Remainers may form a reverse ERG faction in Labour. Something like that can definitely be expected, Henig says. Another push for closer ties will come from business groups, who are warning their members are being held back by trade restrictions. The British Chambers of Commerce has made improving EU relations to cut costs for businesses one of their key election lobbying points. William Bain, head of trade policy, said the group was pushing for close alignment on regulations that impact Britains global trade, such as standards on manufactured goods. He said: The Government should only diverge from EU rules where it adds value to UK plc. The Confederation of British Industry is also lobbying for closer relations. Sean McGuire, Europe and international director, said: Our members dont want politics winning out over economic common sense. They want to see both sides working in the spirit of openness, collaboration and compromise. Henig says the best Britain can hope for is a patchwork of small agreements. There will be lots of talk but therell be a lot of reluctance to go too far, too fast. There is a lot of caution on both sides about making too many big changes, he says. Ultimately, nothing will make a big difference on growth. Were not going to rejoin the EU anytime soon, he says. If Labour wins power the relationship between London and Brussels may become more civil, but in practical terms I dont think [it] will change very much, Menon says. 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) -- The European Parliament election that wraps up on Sunday wont just decide the 720 lawmakers who will serve in the EU assembly for the next five years. It will also give an indication of how the bloc will handle critical issues, including the war in Ukraine, and how it would navigate a possible second Donald Trump presidency. Most Read from Bloomberg About 360 million people in the European Union are eligible to vote in the election, which kicked off Thursday. A majority of the EUs 27 nations will hold their ballots on Sunday, with results trickling in throughout the evening. EU leaders last month called for an urgent paradigm shift to counteract geopolitical tensions and more assertive actions by countries outside the bloc. French President Emmanuel Macron has presented the election as an existential fight for the continent and pivotal for Ukraines battle against Vladimir Putin. Despite a series of recent setbacks, far-right parties are aiming for electoral gains that could bring migration to the top of the political agenda and complicate progress on the EUs ambitious climate goals. Projections show that nationalist groups stand to pick up seats compared with the election five years ago, but fragmentation between parties could make a right-wing bloc elusive. At stake are critical issues that need to be decided during the next parliamentary term, including how to make European industries more competitive, how to boost the blocs defense capabilities and how to compete with China. Future spending for Ukraine could also face parliaments approval. Here are the main issues to watch: Winners and Losers The center-right European Peoples Party is expected to win and, along with the center-left Socialists & Democrats and centrist Liberals, be able to command a comfortable majority in parliament. The EPP is projected to pick up 180 seats, the S&D 138 and the Liberals 86, according to a polling average compiled by Europe Elects. That would give the mainstream alliance 404 seats in the 720-seat parliament. This result should give the coalition some breathing room. But that could be imperiled by a strong result by the nationalist groups. The Greens took a key role negotiating the adoption of the EUs first climate-neutral policy package, but their ambitions have crashed with the energy crisis that followed Russias invasion of Ukraine and the rising cost of living. They are projected to secure 56 seats, down from 72 in the outgoing parliament Far Right Even though the far right is expected to pick up seats on Sunday, infighting and scandal have left some nationalist groups in disarray, potentially limiting their political influence. The German Alternative for Germany has been struck particularly hard, with its lead candidate Maximilian Krah having stepped away from campaigning amid a spying affair scandal. The AfD was eventually expelled from its pan-European political group Identity and Democracy after Krah said that not all members of the Nazi SS paramilitary organization were criminals. Without the AfD, ID is projected to win 68 seats in the assembly, according to Europe Elects. That would be down from the December projection when it appeared on track to win 93. The right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists alliance which includes Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Melonis Brothers of Italy is expected to pick up 75 seats. Top Jobs European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen needs parliaments approval to seal her bid for a second term, and last time she secured the assemblys backing by just nine votes. Having lost the support of several lawmakers since the last election, she may need to cooperate with parties the EPP previously has refused to work with. Shes suggested an openness to working with parts of the ECR group. Some national leaders, including Germanys Scholz, have warned her not to seek the support of populists, risking a split in the coalition. There must not be any far-right or right-wing populist parties, he said at a party event last week in Berlin. The Socialistss top candidate Nicolas Schmit went further, warning von der Leyen against cooperating with Melonis Brothers of Italy party. Von der Leyen seemed to try to tamp down the controversy during a campaign trip this past week. To build a strong Europe we need a strong majority in the political center this means pro-EU, pro-Ukraine, pro-rule of law, she told several reporters while campaigning in Porto, Portugal. Extremists from the far left and the far right are trying to divide us, we will not let this happen. Timing The first major national exit polls, including in Germany, will be released on Sunday at around 6 p.m. local time. The first projections of the parliaments makeup are expected at 8:15 p.m., based on a mix of exit polls and polling in places where voting is ongoing. The fuller projection comes around 11:15 p.m. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Exit polls are now coming in thick and fast, and a first estimate of election results produced by the European Parliament sees the Green and liberal Renew parties each losing around 20 MEPs each and the EPP holding up its support, despite a swing to the right, if less than expected. The elections which unfolded over four days is the worlds biggest trans-national ballot with some 360 million EU citizens urged to cast their votes to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. Italy will be the last country to close its ballot boxes at 23:00 CET. You can get all the latest news and expert analysis with Euronews' special live programme broadcast from the European Parliament and deep-dive into the numbers with our bespoke results page. Opinion polls predict historic gains for radical right-wing parties. Such an outcome could shift the balance of power in the EUs only democratically-elected institution and give right-wing forces more influence than ever on EU policies. Also at stake - who takes the helm at the European institutions in Brussels, including the Commission and the Council, with the elections set to trigger a race to the top EU jobs. Here's a round-up to get you up to date: The far-right National Rally (RN) secured a stunning victory in France with over 31% of the vote, according to an exit poll, double the tally for President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renew party. Macron has called a snap election in response. Exit polls have put the centre-right CDU party in the lead in Germany and the far-right Freedom Party (FPO) in Austria. Dutch Results . 47% of the Dutch electorate voted on Thursday (6 June), with the right-wing PVV party emerging as the biggest gainer of the night based on the exit poll, jumping from one seat to seven. But the Green-Socialist coalition surprisingly edged ahead with eight seats, according to the estimation which will be confirmed this evening. The election has been marred by violence, as the Danish Prime Minister suffered an assault in Copenhagen Friday evening (7 June) shortly after a campaigning event. Slovak media has also reported preliminary results which suggest the social-liberal Progressive Slovakia has edged premier Robert Fico's populist Smer party to victory. Stay with us as our reporters bring you the latest news and results live. By Jan Strupczewski, Sudip Kar-Gupta and Ingrid Melander BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Gains by the far-right in voting for the European Parliament on Sunday prompted a bruised French President Emmanuel Macron to call a snap national election and added uncertainty to Europe's future political direction. While the centre, liberal and Socialist parties were set to retain a majority in the 720-seat parliament, the vote dealt a domestic blow to the leaders of both France and Germany, raising questions about how the European Union's major powers can drive policy in the bloc. Making a risky gamble to try to reestablish his authority, Macron called a parliamentary election, with the first round on June 30. Like Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also endured a painful night where his Social Democrats scored their worst result ever, suffering at the hands of the mainstream conservatives and hard right Alternative for Germany (AfD). Meanwhile, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni saw her position strengthened by her arch-conservative Brothers of Italy group winning the most votes, exit polls showed. A rightwards shift inside the European Parliament may make it tougher to pass new legislation that might be needed to respond to security challenges, the impact of climate change or industrial competition from China and the United States. However, exactly how much clout the euro-sceptic nationalist parties will wield will depend on their ability to overcome their differences and work together. They are currently split between two different families, and some parties and lawmakers for now lie outside these groupings. "ANCHOR OF STABILITY" The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) will be the biggest political family in the new legislature, gaining five seats to field 189 deputies, a centralised exit poll showed. In Poland, Prime Minister Donald Tusk's centrist Civic Coalition, a member of the EPP, was set to win the European vote. In Spain as well, the centre-right People's Party, also part of the EPP, came out on top, outperforming Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Such results were good news for EPP member Ursula von der Leyen who seeks a second five-year term at the helm of the powerful EU executive arm. And she was quick to present herself as a shield against extremes. "No majority can be formed without the EPP and together ... We will build a bastion against the extremes from the left and from the right," she told supporters at the EPP's election night event in Brussels. She added, later in the evening: "But it is also true that extremes and on the left and the right have gained support and this is why the result comes with great responsibility for the parties in the centre." Von der Leyen may still need support from some right-wing nationalists, such as Meloni's Brothers of Italy to secure a parliamentary majority, giving Meloni and her European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) allies more leverage - which could upset other potential allies. VOTERS' WORRIES The centre-left Socialists and Democrats are poised to be the second biggest political family, even as they lost four lawmakers to end up with 135, the exit poll showed. Political observers attribute the shift to the right to the rise in the cost of living, concerns about migration and the cost of the green transition as well as the war in Ukraine -- worries that nationalist and populist parties have seized on. "I think a lot of people felt that Europe is doing things not with people, but just doing it on top of people," Greens' lead candidate Bas Eickhout told Reuters in an interview, asked why the far right was doing so well. "And I think here we need to come up with a credible answer, otherwise, we're only getting further to the far right," he said, after the Greens and liberals lost ground in the election. Eurosceptic nationalist groups ECR and Identity and Democracy (ID) and hard-right lawmakers not yet affiliated to an EU political family from Germany's AfD secured together 146 seats, a gain of 19, the centralised exit poll showed. The exit poll projected that pro-European centre-right, centre-left, liberal and Green parties will retain a majority of 460 seats, but one which is slimmed down compared to their 488 in the outgoing chamber of 705 deputies. Europe's Green parties in particular suffered heavy losses, subsiding to 53 deputies from 71 in the outgoing parliament. The European Parliament co-decides with the intergovernmental European Council on laws governing the 27-nation bloc of 450 million people. The exit poll gave the ECR three more deputies than in the last parliament for a total of 72 and the far-right ID group nine more seats for a total of 58. The number of non-affiliated deputies who may choose to join other groups, including the euro-sceptics, jumped by 33 to 95, the exit poll said. In Austria, the count of votes cast in polling stations on Sunday plus a projection for postal ballots confirmed the far-right Freedom Party won but by a smaller margin than had been forecast, national broadcaster ORF said. In the Netherlands, estimates based on most of the votes counted confirmed exit polls that showed a Labour/GreenLeft combination was set to have won eight seats, slightly ahead of the anti-immigration party of Geert Wilders' six seats. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Kate Abnett, Jan Strupczewski, Sudip Kar-Gupta in Brussels, Belen Carreno, Graham Keeley in Madrid, Gus Trompiz, Manuel Ausloos, Michel Rose, Tassilo Hummel in Paris, Francois Murphy in Vienna, Sarah Marsh and Thomas Escritt in Berlin, Stephanie Van den Berg in The Netherlands; Writing by Jan Strupczewski and Ingrid Melander; Editing by Alexander Smith and Keith Weir) Ursula von der Leyen (L), President of the European Commission, reacts after the European election results at the Konrad Adenauer House. Fabian Sommer/dpa A strong predicted result for Ursula von der Leyen's centre-right European People's Party (EPP) firmed up her chance of a second term as European Commission president, according to projections based on exit polls in the European Parliament elections. The EPP is forecast to hold the most seats in the European Parliament at 181, a boost to von der Leyen, as the liberal Renew group, who backed her appointment in 2019 are expected to drop from 102 to 82, the projections from Sunday evening showed. Green parties are also projected to lose a large number of European Parliament seats, down from 71 to 53. The centre-left Socialists and Democrats are projected to lose four seats - going from 139 to 135 - and the more extreme The Left group is projected to lose three, going from 37 to 34. The result, based on national estimates from 11 EU countries so far, fends off a challenge from the far-right groups in the parliament that polled an estimated 133 seats, a gain of some 15 seats compared to the last elections in 2019. Despite this, the far right are predicted to make returns. The Alternative for Germany (AfD) party in Germany is set to win an estimated 16 seats despite a string of recent scandals and polled second to the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU). In France, French President Emmanuel Macron has decided to dissolve parliament, announcing new national elections, after his party lost to the far-right National Rally led by Marine Le Pen. The National Rally received 31.5 to 32.3% of the vote, while Macron's pro-European camp only received around 15.2 to 15.4%. If forecasters' predictions continue to be correct, far-right parties will do better this time around than ever before, potentially affecting everything from EU policy on migration and climate. Von der Leyen needs to gather together support from a range of political groups, extending from the centre left to the centre right, to have her appointment backed by the European Parliament. There are 720 seats up for grabs in the EU legislature, meaning von der Leyen needs 361 seats for a majority. Continent-wide elections for the European Parliament had their last day of voting on Sunday, in a poll that could see up to 360 million people across the 27 EU member states cast their ballots over four days. A strong predicted result for the CDU/CSU in Germany, winning nearly 30% of the vote according to exit polling from the European Parliament, demonstrated best the rightward shift taking place across the European Union. Elsewhere, the far-right Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) looks set to win in Austria with 27% of the predicted vote. In the Netherlands, while the centre-left and environmentalist green parties held up better than expected, the far right Party for Freedom (PVV) still came a close second at nearly 18% of the vote. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk's liberal-conservative Civic Coalition is projected to get 38.2% of the vote in Poland, post-election polls conducted by the Ipsos opinion research institute indicated. The largest opposition party, the conservative nationalist Law and Justice party (PiS), came second with 33.9% of the vote. The AfD is counted among the non-attached parties, as it was excluded from the Identity and Democracy (ID) group shortly before the European elections. Voting has been taking place since Thursday, with the Netherlands kicking off proceedings. Ireland followed on Friday, with Czechs and Italians voting across two days. Saturday was polling day for Latvia, Malta and Slovakia with the remaining member states holding their polls on Sunday. Italy's firebrand Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni was polling well ahead of her rivals before the final day of voting and could be poised to act as kingmaker for the next European Commission president if her Brothers of Italy (FdI) makes major gains. Incumbent von der Leyen has been openly courting Meloni in the hope of winning the confirmatory votes of the ECR group that Meloni now leads and whose ranks FdI candidates aim to join if elected to the European Parliament. As the EU's third-most populous country, Italy can send a total of 76 delegates to the 720-seat European Parliament, meaning anyone who wins big there would be in a powerful position at EU level. According to a "poll of polls" compiled by the news website Politico, the conservative FdI is in first place with 27%, six points ahead of the centre-left Democratic Party. The first preliminary results from some EU states are expected after 11 pm. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrives at a polling station in the Hanover region with her husband to cast her vote in the European elections. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, casts her ballot for the European elections in a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Fresh off his recent attacks on George Clooney, the former Russian president once seen as a potential liberal force for change within the country has now dubbed Germanys leader rancid liver sausage and a shithead. Dmitry Medvedev, deputy chairman of Russias Security Council, penned a lengthy statement on Telegram attacking German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Saturday, infuriated that the German leader had declared that the Russian president must recognize that Ukraine is strong and will not be brought to its knees. Ukraine? What is that? he wrote, reiterating the Kremlins favorite mantra that Ukraine is no longer a real nation but controlled by the United States and NATO countries. Coming dangerously close to quoting lines from the cult Russian gangster film Brother 2, Medvedev then asked, Where is the power then, sausage dealer? before suggesting Ukrainians are a dying people. He, the shithead, should just kneel down and repent to Ukrainians, Medvedev wrote, accusing the German leader of dooming them to extermination. His tirade comes a few days after Berlin gave Kyiv the green light to use German-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia. Last week, the target of Medvedevs ire was actor George Clooney, whom he dubbed a mediocre actor after it was reported the Clooney Foundation was pushing for sanctions against Russian propagandists. Such outbursts from Medvedev have become the norm in recent months, with some analysts speculating it could be his way of demonstrating his loyalty to Vladimir Putin. The independent investigative outlet The Insider provided its own explanation in March, claiming that Medvedevs angry social media posts coincide with his wine deliveries from Italy. 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. Experts raise concerns as once-plentiful bee species teeters on brink of collapse: 'Due to a number of interacting stressors' One North American bumblebee species is on the brink, with its population and range decreasing dramatically in recent years. What's happening? The rusty patched bumblebee, once found in about half of U.S. states from Vermont to North Dakota, is struggling to survive, MyFox8 reported. Since 2000, it's only been sighted in 13 states, and in 2017 it became the first bee species to be listed as federally endangered. The bee's population has plunged by 90%, and now individuals are mostly found in West Virginia and in and around Wisconsin. So what's the problem? Well, it "may be due to a number of interacting stressors," according to conservation biologist Jay Watson, whose interview with Nexstar was quoted by Fox8. He cited factors like pathogens, parasites, pesticides, fungicides, habitat loss and degradation, managed bees, small population biology, and the effects of a warming world. Why is this bumblebee's decline concerning? Bumblebees are important pollinators for more than 25 crops worldwide, including cranberries, zucchini, melons, cucumbers, alfalfa, sweet peppers, strawberries, blueberries, and sunflowers. The loss of these bees jeopardizes our ability to sustainably produce food, impacting local economies and threatening food security. Unfortunately, the rusty patched bumblebee isn't the only one in peril. The Fox article also reported that two more bumblebees in its subgenus the yellow-banded bumblebee and the western bumblebee have also suffered similar population declines across their ranges. The problem isn't unique to North America. At least 45% of Europe's bumblebees face population decline because of habitat fragmentation and loss of foraging plants, according to the Paleontological Research Institution. This is all bad news for our food supply and biodiversity. According to the Xerces Society, in Britain and the Netherlands, where some species of bumblebees and other bees have become extinct, scientists have noted a decline in the abundance of insect-pollinated plants. Plus, certain plants like pansies have begun to self-pollinate as populations of bees and other pollinators decline. If more flowers shift toward self-pollination, it could have widespread effects on the resilience of plants, according to scientists. What's being done about bumblebee population decline? According to ecologist John Mola, the rusty patched bumblebee's endangered species listing has helped propel habitat restoration efforts. By rewilding your yard with native plants, you can provide food and shelter to bees and other pollinators. This can also help you save almost $300 a year by reducing water usage. Meanwhile, researchers are experimenting with "fairy-like" robots that could help pick up the slack on pollination as some of nature's hardest workers like the rusty patched bumblebee continue to face hurdles to their survival. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. Three snapshots of the state of politics in 2024: Last week, Dave Williams and the increasingly isolated leadership team of the Colorado Republican Party urged Coloradans in a social media post to "burn all the Pride flags" and evoked a notorious anti-gay slur in a mass email that said God hates Flags. Attorney General Phil Weiser quickly noted that it can be a crime to burn a Pride flag, depending on the circumstances, which means the head of the state GOP appears to be calling on people to commit a hate crime. A report last week showed that a Democratic super-PAC is spending at least $84,000 in ads to support Republican candidate state Rep. Ron Hanks in Colorado, because they think he will be easier to beat in the 3rd Congressional District. Which means the states Democrats may play a role in helping advance an election denier to Congress. (But who cares if its unethical if it might help the party?) And lastly, as the reaction to Donald Trumps 34 convictions played out last week, not a single one of the critics of the case argued that Trump didnt do what he was convicted of. No one argued that he didnt sleep with a porn star four months after his wife gave birth and that he did not have Stormy Daniels paid to keep quiet, or that he didnt falsify his books to hide the payment. All of that boorish behavior was almost irrelevant in the reaction to the verdicts, which focused on tactics, lawfare and party politics. How did right and wrong get so lost in our practice of politics? Its almost as if morality is irrelevant now the battle between parties is so pitched neither side believes it can afford the luxury of morality. As David Brooks said in a recent column entitled How We Got Mean: Its fine to elect people who lie, who are corrupt, as long as they are ruthless bastards for our side. The ends justify the means. Not that people in politics havent been doing immoral things for a long time, but now they seem to do it on purpose to gain social media followings, and to do so conspicuously with impunity. Nothing is more corrosive to a vibrant democracy and healthy communities, writes Dov Seidman, the author of the book How: Why HOW We Do Anything Means Everything, than when leaders with formal authority behave without moral authority. Without leaders who, through their example and decisions, safeguard our norms and celebrate them and affirm them and reinforce them, the words on paper the Bill of Rights, the Constitution or the Declaration of Independence will never unite us. We apparently have lost so many of the moral checks and balances we used to have that politicians appear to be able to do whatever they want ethically without consequence. Columnist Thomas Friedman made an interesting analogy recently, comparing the loss of some of the basic moorings in our society to the loss of mangroves on an island coast. Mangroves filter toxins and pollutants through their extensive underwater roots; provide buffers against giant waves; create nurseries for young fish to safely mature because their cabled roots keep out large predators; and they literally help hold the shoreline in place. Our society itself has lost so many of its social, normative and political mangroves, as well, Friedman wrote, all those things that used to filter toxic behaviors, buffer political extremism and nurture healthy communities and trusted institutions for young people to grow up in and which hold our society together. Societal shame is one of those mangroves. Politicians used to bow their heads in disgrace and resign when caught in scandals that violated societal norms. But now, we cant agree on what those norms are. Sign up for free: Weekly 7 Catch up with a rundown of the 7 most important and interesting stories delivered to your inbox every Thursday. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Another mangrove is religious observance, which used to be the source of much of our shared ethical framework but has been declining for decades. This is my favorite: Locally owned small-town newspapers used to be a mangrove buffering the worst of our national politics, Friedman wrote. A healthy local newspaper is less likely to go too far to one extreme or another, because its owners and editors live in the community and they know that for their local ecosystem to thrive, they need to preserve and nurture healthy interdependencies to keep the schools decent, the streets clean and to sustain local businesses and job creators. We've lost thousands of those newspapers, of course. Other mangroves include civil discourse and engaging with those you disagree with, which have suffered greatly since we all went "remote"; a sense of civic responsibility if you are an officeholder that requires higher moral standards than when youre not; and a strong focus on moral education. Much of the reason why politicians get away with this kind of behavior, I would argue, is that were just not doing much moral training these days. Kids are growing up without an objective set of agreed-on ideals or a moral order, so they are morally inarticulate and morality is left to each individual to figure out for themselves. We all have our own private religion now. The Notre Dame sociologist Christian Smith and a team of researchers asked young adults across the country in 2008 about their moral lives. One of their findings was that the young folks had not given the subject of morality much thought. Ive never had to make a decision about whats right and whats wrong, one young adult told the researchers. My teachers avoid controversies like that like the plague, many teenagers said. Ive never really bought Machiavellis argument that rulers should strive to maintain or expand their position at all costs, even if immoral acts are necessary. The politics that is most successful, most uniting, most inspiring, Ive found, is just the opposite: politics infused with moral authority. When Ronald Reagan said to Mikhail Gorbachev, Tear down this wall, he unleashed a moral storm that brought the entire Iron Curtain crashing down across Europe. When Nelson Mandela starting writing letters to the world from his jail cell about the immorality of apartheid, the world rose up and forced South Africa to tear it down. The 80th anniversary of D-Day is perhaps the best of all reminders of what happens when politics and morality align. We sacrificed many American boys on the beaches of Normandy, not because a political party told us to or because we necessarily wanted to, but because our fathers and grandfathers and great-grandfathers knew in their bones it was the right thing to do. The Greatest Generation rushed to do its moral duty without hesitation. In our cramped moral state, would we do the same today? The scale of our moral achievement on D-Day throws into stark relief the smallness of our politics now: World War II was the pinnacle of a time when statecraft was soulcraft. When politics is animated by true moral authority in our country, in other words, we can literally save the world. French President Emmanuel Macron appears on a screen as he delivers a speech following results after the polls closed in the European Parliament elections By Michel Rose PARIS (Reuters) - In a high-risk gamble, President Emmanuel Macron said on Sunday he would dissolve France's parliament and call legislative elections later this month after he was trounced in European elections by Marine Le Pen's far-right party. Here is what the parliamentary elections could mean for France. WHAT IF MACRON LOSES THE PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS? Macron's ruling Renaissance party has 169 lawmakers in the National Assembly, the biggest grouping in the 577-seat chamber. Le Pen's National Rally party is the largest party in opposition with 88 seats. The president's shock move means there have been no recent voter surveys conducted on what a new National Assembly -- the lower house and most powerful legislative body in France -- might look like after fresh elections. National Rally's strong showing in the European election pointed to voter discontent over issues such as immigration, crime and the cost of living. To win an outright majority in the French lower house, the party would need to see its number of lawmakers increase to 289. Parliamentary elections are conducted over two rounds. These will be held on June 30 and July 7. If the National Rally, or another party, wins a majority in parliament, Macron would be forced to name someone from their ranks to the position of prime minister. That prime minister would then be tasked with choosing cabinet ministers. A so-called "cohabitation" situation would follow. WHAT IS 'COHABITATION'? France has known "cohabitation" periods before -- three in total since the founding of the Fifth Republic in 1958 -- when the president and his prime minister come from different political parties. In this scenario, the president retains the lead role on defence as commander-in-chief and on foreign policy -- the constitution says he negotiates international treaties -- but he would lose the power to set domestic policy. This last happened in 1997, when centre-right president Jacques Chirac dissolved parliament thinking he would win a stronger majority but unexpectedly lost to a left-wing coalition led by the Socialist party. Socialist Lionel Jospin became prime minister for five years, during which time he passed the 35-hour working week. WHAT COULD A COHABITATION WITH LE PEN'S PARTY LOOK LIKE Jordan Bardella, Marine Le Pen's telegenic 28-year-old protege and leader of the National Rally, had previously been mooted as a possible prime minister should Le Pen become president in 2027. Should a National Rally government be formed with its own working majority in parliament, it would be free to implement its domestic agenda. Cohabitation can result in policy direction uncertainty if president and prime minister do not see eye to eye, unsettling markets. Bond spreads will indicate market sentiment. Le Pen in her 2022 presidential manifesto advocated prioritising social housing access for French nationals, processing asylum requests outside of France and scrapping inheritance tax for middle class and low income families. Whilst the president retains the lead on defence and military issues, the prime minister and government would have some say, leaving scope for sharp divisions in opinion and much depending on the personal dynamic between the two. Macron is a staunch Europhile whilst Le Pen and her party dream of dismantling the EU from within. There was tension for example between Chirac and Jospin on who led on EU policy, with the pair jostling for influence during EU summits. A cohabitation between a pro-European president and a euro-sceptic nationalist party would be uncharted territory. (Reporting by Michel Rose; editing by Richard Lough) Facts and figures: The European elections and the European Union People cast their votes on the first day of the advance voting of the European Parliament election. Heikki Saukkomaa/Lehtikuva/dpa As the European Parliament elections reach their climax on Sunday, here are the key facts about the continent-wide poll and the European Union. When? Votes for the members of the European Parliament are being cast from June 6-9 across the European Union, but vary by country. The Dutch kicked things off on Thursday, June 6. This was followed by Ireland on June 7, and then Latvia, Malta and Slovakia the next day. The Czech Republic and Italy voted across two days: June 7-8 and June 8-9 respectively. In the rest of the EU, elections will be held on Sunday, June 9. Who votes? There are almost 360 million eligible voters in the EU. The minimum voting age varies, but for most European countries it is 18. For the first time in Germany, minors are also allowed to vote, as the country's voting age for the European elections has been lowered from 18 to 16. This has increased the number of eligible voters in Germany from around 61.5 million in 2019 to just under 65 million this year. Who is elected? A total of 720 members of the European Parliament (MEPs) will be elected from among many thousands of candidates. This is fewer members than in the last election, partly as the parliament shrank when the United Kingdom left the EU in 2020. Where is the parliament based? The European Parliament has two seats - in Brussels and in Strasbourg, France. Most of its full "plenary" sessions, where all MEPs gather to vote on legislation, are held in Strasbourg. The Brussels parliament is mainly used for other day-to-day parliamentary business. Are voters choosing who will be in the other EU legislative bodies? No, the elections will only decide who gets to sit in the European Parliament. The EU's other main legislative body, the Council of the EU, represents the member states. In it, national ministers come together in various formations, for example all 27 EU foreign ministers or education ministers, to discuss topics of common interest. The European Commission - which proposes draft legislation for the other two institutions to scrutinize, change or even reject - is unelected. It is led by 27 commissioners, including the commission president, each of whom is nominated by his or her country after the European elections. How big is the EU? The population of the EU's 27 countries as a whole is just under 450 million. The countries have a combined GDP of almost 17 trillion ($18.5 trillion) and account for around 15% of global trade. How old is the EU? The 1957 Treaty of Rome established the European Economic Community, an EU precursor. Since the 1992 Maastricht Treaty, the group of countries has used the name European Union. More countries gradually joined the EU since then. Its most significant expansion occurred in 2004 with the accession of 10 mostly central and eastern European countries. The UK is the only country to have left. The Fall of Roe: You Thought Dobbs Was Bad? Theyre Coming for Brown v. Board In June 2022, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization overturned more than a half-century of Supreme Court precedent. Five justices voted to deny constitutional protection for a womans right to choose and gutted privacy as a fundamental right. Texas and 13 other states now bar abortions in almost all circumstances. Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have enacted six-week bans. Writing for the Supreme Court majority, Samuel Alito, a George W. Bush appointee, explicitly compared the death of Roe to the end of state-enforced racial segregation, 68 years before. Back in 1954, in a landmark ruling, Brown v. Board of Education, a unanimous court overruled the doctrine of separate but equal. These days, Brown is under attack from Alitos allies on and off the bench. In their new book The Fall of Roe, named for Roe v. Wade, the 1973 ruling that previously safeguarded federal abortion rights, Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer masterfully lay out how the cultural right and pro-life movement refused to take no for an answer, played the long game, and attained the victory for which they had yearned. Dias and Lerer also capture the somnolence of the left and how intersectionality came to divide old allies. Dias is the New York Times religion reporter. A graduate of Wheaton College, the late Rev. Billy Grahams alma mater, she holds a masters degree in divinity from Princeton Theological seminary. Lerer, a veteran of five presidential campaigns, covers politics for the Times. The two of them got Hillary Clinton to speak for the record. The Democratic presidential nominee in 2016 acknowledges that her party underestimated its adversaries, but doesnt point the finger at herself. We didnt take it seriously, and we didnt understand the threat, Clinton said. We could have done more to fight. I just think that most of us who support the rights of women and privacy and the right to make these difficult decisions yourself, you know, we just couldnt believe what was happening. Our side was complacent and kind of taking it for granted and thinking it would never go away. Even as polls show that abortion rights have widening public acceptance, the mechanics of federalism have left legislatures in red states to act as a counterforce to the more liberal national ethos, a point stressed in The Fall of Roe. Republicans had the state legislatures, Dias and Lerer write. They had a top-to-bottom network. They had the court. They had the power to change American life. The Fall of Roe also sheds light on the infrastructure that undergirded opposition to Roe. Libertarian-minded donors didnt particularly care about curbing abortion access and David Koch personally supported abortion rights. That having been said, Freedom Partners, a Koch-driven industry group, donated almost $1 million to anti-abortion efforts, which could be paired on election day with tax cuts and lower regulation. Said differently, fetuses werent the only reasons large checks were being cut to the Federalist Society, or that constitutional originalism had become the civic religion of the right. FDRs legacy has to be gutted. Social security may no longer be so secure. Leonard Leo, the driving force behind the Federalist Society, receives particular attention. Whos this little fucking midget? Donald Trump once said of Leo, a close friend of Justice Clarence Thomas. Short answer: Leo helped get each of Trumps Supreme Court nominees across the finish line. Think of him as the straw that stirs the drink. After Alito was confirmed to the court, Leo connected him with ideologically aligned businessmen, some of whom had cases before the court, Dias and Lerer write. They add that Leo spent time with Thomas at a private lakeside resort owned by a major Republican donor, Harlan Crow. Their visits were memorialized in a painting, hanging inside the lodge. Thanks to ProPublicas Pulitzer-winning reporting, the painting is now well known. The group is shown thoughtfully smoking cigars. Leos connections also helped found a nonprofit, the Judicial Crisis Network (JCN), on the same hallway in a downtown office building as the Federalist Society. Which all brings us back to Brown v. Board of Education and where the right goes next. In Justice on Trial, an examination of Brett Kavanaughs elevation to the Supreme Court, conservative talking heads Carrie Severino, of JCN, and Mollie Hemingway, of the Federalist, trashed Brown. According to Severino and Hemingway, social science wrongly played a role in the courts calculus. They declared that such decisions may have been correct in their result but were decided on the basis of sociological studies rather than legal principles. Notice the word may. Fast forward to May 2024, when Thomaswho joined Alitos opinion in Dobbsturned his fire on Brown. Such extravagant uses of judicial power are at odds with the history and tradition of the equity power and the Framers design, he wrote in a concurrence, sustaining a South Carolina congressional map in the face of voting rights challenge. As another election looms, abortion and contraception have emerged as campaign issues, to the horror of Trump. On the stump, the presumptive Republican nominee has vacillated over possible restrictions on contraception. Then again, Stormy Daniels testified that Trump did not wear a condom during an encounter Trump still denies, notwithstanding 34 guilty verdicts in the case arising. As for meting out punishment to women who have abortions, Trump would leave that to the states. The states are going to make that decision, he told Time. The states are going to have to be comfortable or uncomfortable, not me. He also declined to say no to states monitoring women, to identify those who terminate pregnancies. Think The Handmaids Tale. In the 2022 midterms, Dobbs cost the Republicans their red wave. In 2024, it may lead to another Trump loss and Democrats retaking the House. Right now, things are that close. 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. If granted, the request could catalyze the dismissal of the wave of accountability suits against big oil. If granted, the request could catalyze the dismissal of the wave of accountability suits against big oil. Photograph: Susan Sterner/AP Far-right fossil fuel allies have launched a stunning and unprecedented campaign pressuring the supreme court to shield fossil fuel companies from litigation that could cost them billions of dollars. Some of the groups behind the campaign have ties to Leonard Leo, the architect of the rightwing takeover of the supreme court who helped select Trumps supreme court nominees. Leo also appears to have ties to Chevron, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. Related: Majority of US voters support climate litigation against big oil, poll shows Hes really crafted the supreme court, said Lisa Graves, executive director of the progressive watchdog group True North Research and an expert on Leonard Leos network. Honolulu is one of 40 cities and states suing big oil for an alleged decades-long effort to sow doubt about the dangers of burning fossils. If successful, the case could force the defendants to pay for climate damages. In October, the Hawaii supreme court ruled that the suit can go to trial. But oil companies petitioned the US supreme court in February to review the state courts decision; they argued the cases should be thrown out because emissions are a federal issue that shouldnt be tried in state courts. Supreme court justices met on Thursday to consider whether or not to take up the fossil fuel companies request, and the justices could grant or reject the petition in the coming days. If granted, the request could catalyze the dismissal of the wave of climate accountability lawsuits against big oil a major win for the defendants seeking to limit their liability for the climate crisis. But its the kind of ask about which the supreme court would not normally offer its opinion, advocates and legal experts say. The court would probably not think this request is important, unless someone told them it was very important, said Kert Davies, a director at the Center for Climate Integrity, which supports the litigation against big oil. Some conservatives have been telling them exactly that. I have never, ever seen this kind of overt political campaign to influence the court like this, said Patrick Parenteau, professor and senior climate policy fellow at Vermont Law School. In recent weeks, conservatives have published opinion pieces in Bloomberg, the Hill, the Wall Street Journal and the National Review calling on the court to grant the petition. Honolulu is attempting to use the law of one state to dominate the others, wrote Carrie Severino, president of the conservative dark money group JCN, formerly known as the Judicial Crisis Network, in the rightwing National Review. JCN is a trade name for the Concord Fund, one of many non-profits led by Leo, the powerful far-right judicial activist who also co-chairs the rightwing legal advocacy group the Federalist Society. Justice Clarence Thomas once quipped that Leo was the third most powerful person in the world. Asked about the influence campaign, Severino told the Guardian: Liberal dark money groups are freaking out because the supreme court is being asked to step in and correct the damage those dark money groups are doing with their massive campaign to subvert the law and the constitution with a radical climate agenda. Another Leo-tied non-profit, the Alliance for Consumers, has also been running social media ads making similar arguments, Rolling Stone reported this month. Leo has said he will attempt to use the non-profit to institute a lot of legal and social change. In April, 20 Republican state attorneys general also filed friend of the court briefs asking the supreme court to grant the petition. Each of them are members of the Republican Attorneys General Association, to which Leos Concord Fund is a major contributor. The opinion pieces in the Hill were authored by Donald Kochan, a professor at George Mason University law school, which in 2016 received a $30m donation brokered by Leo, E&E News noted. George Mason University has also taken tens of millions of dollars from rightwing organizations cultivated by fossil fuel billionaire Charles Koch. A strategist at one Koch group said in 2022 that her organization was partnering with organizations that can get the right cases to the supreme court, the Guardian and Documented reported. The Koch network is also a longtime major funder to the Federalist Society, which Leo co-chairs. Thousands of petitions are filed with the supreme court every year, each with only a small chance of being reviewed, E&E News noted. Federal rules also say that the supreme court only has jurisdiction over final judgments, Parenteau said. There is no final judgment in the Honolulu case, period, full stop, said Parenteau. For the court to grant this petition, it would have to ignore or find some way around those clear procedural rules. Oil industry relationships Some environmental advocates are wondering if another Leo-tied group, CRC Advisors, has been involved in the political campaign. The emailed comment the Guardian obtained from Severino, the president of JCN, quoted above, was sent not by JCN itself, but by a senior account executive at CRC Advisors. Leo is the founder and chair of the public relations firm, which reportedly works with high-profile rightwing clients including the Americans for Prosperity and the Competitive Enterprise Institute both part of the Koch network, which has long worked to sow climate doubt. In 2020, E&E News revealed another apparent CRC Advisors client: Chevron, which is one of the defendants in the Honolulu lawsuit and many other climate accountability cases. The firm mistakenly sent email to reporters ending with the tagline: If you would rather not receive future communications from Chevron, let us know by clicking here. An archived webpage found by True North Research also shows that CRC listed the second-largest integrated energy company in the US as a client in 2019, saying that for the client, the agency developed winning communications, media relations, crisis communications and social media strategies. The second largest US energy company that year was Chevron, noted Graves of True North Research. CRC Advisors did not directly address the Guardians questions about its involvement with the campaign or its current relationship with Chevron. Kert Davies said there is no direct evidence that Chevron was involved in the media push, but that the campaign has raised suspicions. This Honolulu case directly impacts Chevron as well as many other climate cases where Chevron is a defendant, so while we dont yet know what corporate interests are behind the Alliance for Consumers pressure campaign, we keep following our noses, he said. Chevron did not respond to a request to comment. Potential backfiring The political campaign, said Graves, is a clear sign that the US judiciary has been captured by Leonard Leo and his billionaire benefactors. These lawsuits are important measures to address the serious harms being caused by the [fossil fuel] industry, she said. But they have leveraged their resources in order to advance an agenda that does not allow for climate accountability. But Parenteau said that the public strategy could backfire, because John Roberts, the chief justice, appears to be sincerely concerned about the supreme court maintaining its integrity and reputation. I think the more that you politicize the petition, I think the more youre going to see concern, he said. The justices have three options when it comes to the oil companies petition. If they grant the request the worst possible outcome for the lawsuits supporters the court will hear arguments in the fall. If the justices instead ask the solicitor general for an opinion, that would significantly delay the case. They could also deny the petition outright, which would be a win for climate advocates, said Parenteau. Its one to watch closely he said. Another climate lawsuit, filed by non-profit law firm Our Childrens Trust on behalf of a group of young people, will go to trial later this month. (L-R) Lena Schilling (Greens), Reinhold Lopatka (OVP), Harald Vilimsky (FPO), Andreas Schieder (SPO) and Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS) at the election center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa The right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) looks set to win the European elections in the country with 27% of the vote, ahead of the Social Democrats (SPO) and the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP), according to an initial forecast. The Freedom Party has gained around 10 percentage points compared to the 2019 EU election, according to a forecast published as the polling stations closed. During the election campaign, the party often emphasized its scepticism towards the EU under the slogan "Stop the EU madness" and portrayed the EU as a warmongering force in the Ukraine conflict. According to the pollsters' calculations, which are based on several thousand interviews before the vote and on election day, the SPO and OVP each have around 23%. For the governing OVP, this means a drop of more than 10 percentage points. The SPO is roughly at the same level as five years ago. The result for the Greens was also eagerly awaited. Their lead candidate is 23-year-old climate activist Lena Schilling. The Greens lost around four points and now have around 10%, the forecast showed. The liberal Neos party is likely to make some gains and, according to the pollsters, will also reach around 10%. Austria has 20 of the future 720 seats in the European Parliament. Sunday's ballot was also seen as a test for elections to the lower house of parliament, the National Council, in the autumn. Here, too, polls have so far seen the FPO as the clear favourite. The forecast was published by the news agency APA, the public broadcaster ORF and the private broadcaster Puls24. It is based on election day surveys by the institutes Foresight, Arge Wahlen and Peter Hajek. (L-R) Reinhold Lopatka (OVP), Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS), Lena Schilling (Greens), Andreas Schieder (SPO) and Harald Vilimsky (FPO) at the voting center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS) reacts in the voting center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa (L-R) Reinhold Lopatka (OVP), Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS), Lena Schilling (Greens), Andreas Schieder (SPO) and Harald Vilimsky (FPO) at the voting center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa The right-wing populist Freedom Party of Austria (FPO) looks set to win the European elections in the country with 27% of the vote, ahead of the Social Democrats (SPO) and the conservative Austrian People's Party (OVP), according to an initial forecast. The Freedom Party has gained around 10 percentage points compared to the 2019 EU election, according to a forecast published as the polling stations closed. During the election campaign, the party often emphasized its scepticism towards the EU under the slogan "Stop the EU madness" and portrayed the EU as a warmongering force in the Ukraine conflict. According to the pollsters' calculations, which are based on several thousand interviews before the vote and on election day, the SPO and OVP each have around 23%. For the governing OVP, this means a drop of more than 10 percentage points. The SPO is roughly at the same level as five years ago. The result for the Greens was also eagerly awaited. Their lead candidate is 23-year-old climate activist Lena Schilling. The Greens lost around four points and now have around 10%, the forecast showed. The liberal Neos party is likely to make some gains and, according to the pollsters, will also reach around 10%. Austria has 20 of the future 720 seats in the European Parliament. Sunday's ballot was also seen as a test for elections to the lower house of parliament, the National Council, in the autumn. Here, too, polls have so far seen the FPO as the clear favourite. The forecast was published by the news agency APA, the public broadcaster ORF and the private broadcaster Puls24. It is based on election day surveys by the institutes Foresight, Arge Wahlen and Peter Hajek. Voting had been taking place since Thursday for the European Parliament as hundreds of millions of eligible voters in the 27 EU member states cast their ballots over four days ending Sunday evening. The vote in Austria was marred by severe storms in parts of the country, meaning that some polling stations were either inaccessible or destroyed. This was the case for polling stations in the southern state of Styria, specifically in Deutschfeistritz, a village of some 4,000 residents located north of Graz and other districts, authorities told the APA news agency on Sunday morning. Authorities reacted very quickly and relocated the polling stations affected, the APA report said. Signs had been put up in the municipalities indicating where the new polling stations were located, and officials largely publicized the changes via social media, it was reported. Severe storms hit the region of Styria on Saturday evening. Flash floods damaged houses and swept away cars. The Ubelbach river burst its banks after torrential rainfall, with meteorologists reporting more than 100 millimetres of rain falling in the region within a short period. A mudslide hit the motorway near the southern city of Graz, and strong winds also caused numerous trees to fall onto roads. The civil defence alert was lifted on Sunday. While the weather initially calmed down on Sunday, meteorologists warned of potential further thunderstorms throughout the day, particularly in the western Tyrol region. (L-R) Lena Schilling (Greens), Reinhold Lopatka (OVP), Harald Vilimsky (FPO), Andreas Schieder (SPO) and Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS) at the election center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa Helmut Brandstatter (NEOS) reacts in the voting center in the House of the EU during the European elections. Helmut Fohringer/APA/dpa Tino Chrupalla, national chairman of the AfD, stands in a polling station and inserts his ballot paper for the local elections into a ballot box. Patrick Pleul/dpa Co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) Tino Chrupalla has described his party's result in the European elections as "historic." According to exit polls shortly after 6 pm (1600 GMT) on Sunday, the AfD came in second place with around 16-16.5% of the vote, compared to 11% in 2019, also beating Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats. "We have achieved a super result, and I think it will go even higher in the course of the evening. So we won't be giving up second place today," Chrupalla said. AfD co-leader Alice Weidel spoke of a "super result." A few months ago, the party was polling at more than 20%. But the AfD's support figures fell significantly in the wake of large demonstrations in January and February following reports of a secret right-wing meeting in Potsdam. The meeting centred on so-called remigration. More recent scandals involving the AfD's top EU candidates Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron have also affected their standing. Both Krah and Bystron are alleged to have possible links to Russia, and in Krah's case also to China. European leaders are scrambling after a surge in support for the far-right Far-right parties were victorious in the European Parliament elections. Leaders in France and Germany are scrambling. Belgium's PM resigned after the national election coincided with European election losses. Leaders across Europe are scrambling after the European Union's parliamentary elections showed a surge in support for far-right and nationalist parties. The EU elections, held in 27 countries from June 6 to 9, showed especially strong support for anti-immigrant, nationalist figures in France and Germany. France and Germany are two of the continent's largest powers and are often regarded as drivers behind the experiment of pooled sovereignty, The New York Times reported. Meanwhile, in Italy, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her hard-Right Brothers of Italy party took 29% of the vote for the EU assembly The results could mean that it will be harder for the European Parliament to make decisions, noted the Associated Press. It said that European party officials met throughout Monday to discuss what alliances might be formed in the parliament for the next five years. EU presidents and prime ministers are set to hold a meeting on June 17 about the results. President Macron. Marc Piasecki/Getty Images A snap election in France French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday announced he would dissolve France's National Assembly (the lower house of the French Parliament) after the country's far-right party, the National Rally, led by the French lawyer Marine Le Pen, handily defeated the ruling coalition. Macron's centrist alliance had a 14.6% vote compared to the far-right National Rally's 31.4% vote. The dissolution of the assembly is a high-stakes gamble, and it will mean new elections will be held in France between June 30 and July 7. It could result in Macron's Renew Party losing additional seats to rivals in the anti-immigrant National Rally. It could also significantly decrease Macron's influence over domestic policy. Alain Duhamel, a veteran political analyst, told the Financial Times that the election would likely result in a cohabitation government with a prime minister from an opposition party. "This is a serious, weighty decision, but above all, it's an act of trust," Macron said of his decision, according to the Journal. "Confidence in you, confidence in the ability of the French people to make the right choice for themselves and for future generations." Germany's future uncertain Similarly, Germany's future is uncertain after its ruling coalition parties the Social Democrats, Greens, and Free Democrats faced defeat. Support for the Greens decreased by almost half, while German chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democrats party recorded its worst result in a major election in more than a century, Politico reported. Chancellor Olaf Scholz lines up to vote in the European Parliamentary election. Janine Schmitz/Getty Images According to the outlet, the center-right Christian Democrats gained a majority of the vote with 30.2%. Alternative for Germany, or AfD considered a "suspected" extremist group by German authorities also surged in support. AfD overtook Germany's Social Democratic Party, which has been the leading party in the country since Scholz was elected chancellor in 2021. Politco reported that AfD received 16% of the vote, up from around 11% in 2019, compared with a combined 30% for the three parties in Germany's governing coalition. Belgium moves to the right In Belgium, the European elections coincided with the country's national and regional elections. According to another Politico report, the right-wing New Flemish Alliance and Francophone liberal Reformist Movement consistently won all three. Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announced his resignation after his party, the center-right Open Flemish Liberals and Democrats, was unsuccessful across the board. "For us, it's a particularly difficult evening. We lost. As of tomorrow, I will resign as prime minister," De Croo said in a speech on Sunday. The AP noted that since the 2019 European Parliament elections, far-right politicians have led in Hungary, Italy, and Slovakia and are part of ruling coalitions in Sweden, Finland, and the Netherlands. The Times reported that the parties had gained support in large part because of a focus on nationalism and identity tied to anti-immigration and anti-LGBTQ+ sentiment. This year's elections seem to strengthen the right's power across the European Union and offer a rebuke to Europe's political establishment. Should more far-right parties gain power, it would become harder for the parliament to pass laws across the EU, and this may impact negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. Much of the EU's far-right has a pro-Russia stance, pushing for a peace deal between the countries on Russia's terms, the Times reported. Representatives for the European Parliament didn't immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Read the original article on Business Insider Abdullah al-Jamal had written for the news site, which is banned in Israel A Palestinian journalist was hiding Israeli hostages in his home for Hamas, Israel said on Sunday. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that Abdullah al-Jamal, who wrote for the Palestine Chronicle, a US-based non profit news website, was keeping Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomiz Siv captive in his family home. The IDF stormed the home by ladder and killed Jamal, his father Dr Ahmed, and his wife, Fatima in the raid that freed the trio on Saturday. Jamal had once written for Al Jazeera, which has been temporarily banned within Israel. In a post on Twitter, the IDF asked the Qatar-owned news channel: Whats this terrorist doing on your website? Abdallahs home held hostages, along with his family members, the IDF said. This is further proof that the terrorist organisation Hamas uses the civilian population as a human shield. The Al Jazeera biography for the journalist calls him a Gaza based reporter and photojournalist. He often reports from the ongoing March of Return protests at the fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel. The Palestine Chronicle describes itself as a non-profit organisation whose mission is to educate the general public by providing a forum that strives to highlight issues of relevance to human rights. The Hamas journalist was filing stories about Israels war in Gaza while the hostages were held in his home. Among the articles were, Resistance our only option Palestinians react to news of Israeli soldiers captured in Jabaliya, 31 Martyrs in a single Israeli strike Voices from the Gaza Genocide and Testimonies from Camp 2 massacre in Nuseirat. On Sunday, a ban on Al Jazeeras operations in Israel was extended for another 45 days by the countrys telecoms regulator after the cabinet agreed its broadcasts pose a threat to security. Israeli authorities raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its office on May 5 and said they were shutting the operation down for the duration of the Gaza war. Shlomo Karhi, Israels communications minister, said: We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters. In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well. I screamed his name On Sunday, it emerged that the father of rescued Mr Jan died of grief just hours before his son returned home, his family has said. Yossi Meir, 59, died of a heart attack before the news broke that the IDF had freed his son in the raid. The army were unable to contact Mr Meir to tell him the news and reached out to his sister Dina Jan instead. Ms Jan, who said she was so happy I didnt know what to do, rushed to Mr Meirs home in Kfar Saba, in the south of Israel. She found her brother had died, after months of agonising waiting. Ms Jan told Israels Kan News: I drove like crazy, I knocked, Yossi, Yossi, Yossi, and nothing. I got no answer. The door of his house was open and I saw him sleeping in the living room. I screamed Yossi to him and he didnt answer me. I saw the colour of his skin, I touched him, but he was dead. Mr Meir had lost 20 kilograms since the capture, glued to the television for the whole eight months, clinging to every piece of information, Ms Jan said. She added: My brother died of grief and didnt get to see his son return. It is believed Mr Meir died on Friday night. We are very happy about Almogs return, but the brain is unable to absorb that this is the end. We are broken, Ms Jan said. A complex rescue operation The IDF said the operation to rescue Mr Jan was one of its most complex ever, with two separate rescues of four captives in broad daylight. They said troops came under heavy gunfire from hundreds of Hamas forces during the operation, which brought together elite Israeli units in an undercover mission across air, land and sea. One of the troops, Amon Zamora, from Israels Yamam counter-terror unit, was fatally injured. The Hamas-run Gazan health authorities said 274 people had been killed in the Israeli raid. Noa Argamani was rescued simultaneously from a second apartment in the heavily populated civilian area. Ms Argamanis capture by Hamas on Oct 7 came to define that brutal massacre after footage of her screaming as she was driven on a motorbike into Gaza was broadcast around the globe. On Saturday, she was reunited with her mother, who is terminally ill with brain cancer. All four hostages had been taken by Hamas from the SuperNova music festival, where hundreds of partygoers were slaughtered. Mr Kozolov, a Russian-Israeli hostage, was greeted on Sunday by his parents, who flew from Russia for a reunion at Sheba Medical Centre. Mr Kozolovs mother said: I am the happiest Ive ever been. We talked to Andrey, he looks and feels fine, he is even joking around. Including the four hostages recovered on Saturday, a total of seven have been rescued alive by the IDF. Another 19 bodies have been brought back to Israel and the IDF has now confirmed the deaths of 41 of the remaining 116 hostages still in Gaza. 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. SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4) The Food and Drug Administration has issued a consumer advisory regarding one brands microdosing chocolate bars, according to the Utah Department of Agriculture and Food. Consumers are being warned to steer clear of Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars after several reports of illnesses in four states including Utahs neighboring states of Nevada and Arizona. READ NEXT: Boy, 12, dies after being swept into Provo River on trip to Utah Consumers are being warned to steer clear of Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars after several reports of illnesses in four states. Of the eight reported cases, six have resulted in hospitalization, according to the FDA. (Courtesy: FDA) Cases have also been reported in Indiana and Pennsylvania, and no deaths have been reported. Of the reported illnesses, six cases have resulted in hospitalization, and the last onset of illness was reported on June 3, according to the FDA. The UDAF posted on social media to inform Utahns of the advisory and the ongoing investigation. The chocolate bars are sold online and at a variety of retail locations nationwide including smoke shops, vape shops and CBD shops, according to the FDA. The full list of retailers is currently unknown, and FDA recommends that people do not purchase or consume any flavor of Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars from any retail or online locations at this time, the FDA said online. As of June 7, the FDA said it is collaborating with the Centers for Disease Control and Americas Poison Centers to investigate the illnesses associated with the product. The FDA recommends that consumers do not eat, sell, or serve any flavor of the chocolate bars, and recommends discarding the chocolate bars. The FDA has also advised retailers to not sell the products. Healthcare providers are asked to report illnesses associated with the chocolate bars to the local health department and/or the Poison Help Line. If you become ill after consuming a Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bar, the FDA recommends you contact your healthcare provider and/or call the Poison Help Line at 1-800-222-1222. The company Diamond Shruumz has a disclaimer on its website, where the company has said, The efficacy of these products has not been confirmed by FDA-approved research. Reported symptoms Several consumers reported a variety of severe symptoms, according to the FDA. Some of the symptoms reported after consuming Diamond Shruumz-brand Microdosing Chocolate Bars include the following: Seizures. Agitation. Abnormal heart rates. Nausea. Vomiting. Hyper/hypotension. Central nervous system depression (confusion, sleepiness, loss of consciousness). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. CORRECTION: A previous version of this article misstated the position of Rick Doblin, founder of the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies. Doblin has said MDMA could help reduce the worlds trauma, not eliminate it. Originally moved June 8. - - - Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Developers of mind-bending drugs for medical use are distancing themselves from the first company to seek regulatory approval for a psychedelic compound, after its application encountered strong opposition from a government panel. A resoundingly negative vote by an advisory committee to the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday - though not binding - has diminished the chances of the sponsor, Lykos Therapeutics, from winning full approval for MDMA to treat post-traumatic stress disorder, industry observers said. But biotech executives, investors and researchers said in interviews that their enthusiasm for psychedelics to treat mental health disorders remains undimmed. They are betting that a by-the-books clinical trial design run by a more conventional drugmaker will ultimately succeed. In making this case, other potential applicants described the approach by Lykos, and its nonprofit parent, the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies, as an outlier in its clinical trial design and execution. They said that made it a weak candidate for the first test of whether the FDA will permit such drugs to go mainstream. MAPS and Lykos combined the drug - better known by its street name, ecstasy - with psychotherapy, adding complexity to the design of an already challenging trial. Investigators didnt collect certain lab tests or data on the potential for abuse that the FDA specifically requested. And the push has been dogged by a perception that MAPSs evangelism for psychedelics has seeped into Lykoss work of scientifically proving the therapys benefits, along with allegations of misconduct in clinical trials. Kabir Nath, chief executive of Compass Pathways, said the vote was an opportunity to pivot away from some of the, shall we say, psychedelic baggage, referring to misconduct allegations. Compass is developing a synthetic form of psilocybin, a chemical found in hallucinogenic mushrooms, for severe depression. After Lykos, Compass Pathways is the next closest psychedelic developer to seeking FDA approval. Unlike Lykos, the company is not pairing its drug with psychotherapy. It is testing a low, medium and higher dose to mask which version patients get and mitigate the risk of bias. Investors saw the advisory panel vote as potentially negative for the whole category of drugs, however. Compass saw its stock drop by 15 percent the day after the vote, before rebounding to close down 2.6 percent. Shares of Mind Medicine, which is testing a form of LSD, and Atai Life Sciences, which is investing in psilocybin and DMT, fell 10 percent and 8.4 percent, respectively. Some hope that the advisory committees strong recommendations against the Lykos application will provide a dose of reality to the psychedelics-as-medicine movement. The committee voted 9-2 that the Lykos trial did not prove effectiveness and 10-1 that its benefits did not outweigh the risks. My hope is that we will start to get a more balanced and nuanced picture of the real risks and benefits of psychedelics, said David Yaden, a psychedelics researcher at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, who has written about the psychedelics hype bubble driven by industry and media. Maybe the committee hearings will help adjust some peoples understanding of the state of the evidence. Representatives of Lykos provided a statement from chief executive Amy Emerson, in which she pledged to continue working with the FDA and acknowledged the advisory committee meeting was unprecedented in many ways, including reviewing an application that combines a drug and psychological intervention. Lykos delivered two studies to the FDA showing powerful reductions in PTSD symptoms, displaying the kind of statistical significance that is usually persuasive to regulators. Its work has won over many academics, clinicians and veterans groups, which have expressed profound disappointment with the advisory committee vote. Following that vote, Amber Capone, co-founder of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, urged the FDA to carefully consider the compelling testimony from PTSD sufferers who have found relief through MDMA-assisted therapy. Discussion in the committee Tuesday quickly focused on how much to trust the positive study outcomes. One key concern was that 40 percent of the participants in the MDMA trials had previous experience with the drug, raising the prospect that such patients were predisposed to believe that it would help them and potentially biasing the results. If you had a prior positive experience, youre probably going to have a positive experience again, said Ritu Baral, a TD Cowen analyst. She called the trial conduct subpar, referring to the lack of data on lab tests for patient safety and that Lykos did not collect information the FDA had requested on euphoric reactions that could lead to abuse. Then there was the design of the trial itself, in which patients were supposed to be blind to whether they had received actual MDMA or a placebo, but - owing to the drugs mind-altering affect - the vast majority could tell what group they were in. That challenge was well known to the FDA and isnt unique to psychedelics. The lack of effective blinding came up during a 2019 advisory committee for Spravato, a nasal spray derived from ketamine, but members overwhelmingly endorsed it and the FDA approved it. But for Lykos, adding therapy to the mix appeared to compound concerns for some committee members: If therapists could also tell whether trial participants received the drug, they could treat them differently and affect the results. This is unusual. This is not something the FDA has seen before, Srinivas Rao, chief executive of Atai Life Sciences, said of the potential for therapists to treat patients differently based on knowing what treatment group they were in. Alia Lilienstein, senior medical director for Lykos, acknowledged the complicated design in Tuesdays meeting, saying that the company is creating a new field of medicine. MAPSs founder, Rick Doblin, has pitched MDMA as a humanity-changing force for good that could reduce the worlds trauma. While many in the industry respect Doblins success in ushering psychedelics into serious research, some have chafed at how the organizations evangelism has colored perceptions of their work. And not everyone involved in the clinical trials endorses such grandiose goals, said Ingmar Gorman, a psychologist and clinical investigator at a MAPS trial site. A lot of us clinicians arent taking up that kind of rhetoric. Within the psychedelic community, many of us are feeling shocked, surprised, confused and bewildered, said Raquel Bennett, a ketamine specialist and founder of the KRIYA Institute, questioning why concerns about trial design hadnt been addressed before. If FDA had concerns about any aspect of the methodology, they could have addressed it with MAPS at any point during the past several years, she said. The Institute for Clinical and Economic Review, an influential nonprofit, in March published a draft report on MDMA-assisted therapy that raised concerns that participants felt pressured to report good outcomes and suppress bad outcomes. During public comment on Tuesday, some raised allegations of misconduct, including a case of sexual abuse. Though the FDA advised the committee that it considered reports of misconduct to be unverified, some members raised it in discussing their votes. Those allegations carried weight alongside concerns about the study data and the therapy, said Elizabeth Joniak-Grant, a committee member who serves as a patient representative and voted against approval. Especially when youre talking about sexual misconduct - it seems a bit impossible to ignore, Joniak-Grant, a sociologist at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, said in an interview. Related Content One graduates quiet protest: Bringing a banned book to commencement The real dolphin tale: Theyre smart, sometimes vicious and highly sexed AUSTIN (KXAN) Since 1975, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) has provided continuous imagery and data on both atmospheric conditions and solar activity. They have also been instrumental in search and rescue mission of people in distress. GOES operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Informational Service division supports weather forecasting, severe storm tracking and important meteorology research. The last launch in this GOES series is scheduled for June 25 from the John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida, delayed from its previous April 30 scheduled launch. GOES-U (Courtesy: NOAA) It will be launched into space on top of a SpaceXFalcon Heavy Rocket. The team involved in making this launch happen has spent many years building the instruments and the spacecraft. It involved high intensity testing to ensure it will be able to withstand severe conditions when it does launch. GOES- U, to be renamed GOES-19 after it reaches orbit, arrived at the Kennedy Space Center in January, and satellite fueling occurred in May. This month, prior to its launch, work includes the encapsulation in the rocket fairing and making sure the data is protected. The fairing will protect the spacecraft from the impact of aerodynamic pressure and heating during its climb into space. When it arrives, it will be 22,236 mile above Earth. Its positioning will allow scientists to monitor weather systems from the west coast of Africa to most of North America. It will help forecasters by alerting them to developing tropical storms in the Atlantic hurricane basin. It will provide them with any specific features of the hurricanes eye, upper-level wind speeds and lightning, which helps to estimate the storms intensity. Severe weather, no stranger here, will be aided by GOES-U. Earlier warnings will be one benefit. Forecasters will have a tool that allows them to better see the initial development of a storm and its strength ahead of any damaging winds, hail and tornadoes they produce. Just as important is its detection of heavy rainfall to warn of flood risks. As sea surface temperatures heat up, data will be provided that will help offer critical information of a hurricanes forming. Marine heatwaves quickly becoming an influence on fisheries and marine life will be tracked more efficiently in an effort to limit the damage being done to the ecosystem. GOES-U will play a critical role in monitoring both. Identifying environmental hazards is another key aspect of the assistance GOES-U provides. Specifically, it will identify wildfire hot spots, monitor changes in the behavior of wildfires, predict the motion of fires. Since lightning is often blamed for starting these kind of wildfires, GOES-U will be able to identify those lightning strikes most likely to start said fires. Firefighters will derive a huge benefit. Finally, GOES-U will be of benefit to space weather. It will provide valuable information to changes in the magnetic field that can cause issues with communications, and power grids to name another. The satellite will have several instruments that detect space weather hazards as they approach. GOES-U, soon to be renamed GOES-19, will work in tandem with GOES-18, NOAAs GOES West satellite. Together, the two will be able to monitor weather conditions from the west coast of Africa all the way to New Zealand. To sum it all up, GOES-U will benefit us by monitoring those environmental conditions that threaten our security and wellbeing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Fire breaks out at at bottling factory DENVER (KDVR) A fire broke out early Sunday morning at Rocky Mountain Bottle Company in Wheat Ridge, according to Arvada Fire Rescue. Crews responded to the scene, which is off Miller Street and West 50th Avenue, at 12:54 a.m. According to Arvada Fire, a malfunction caused hot liquid glass to spill in the facility, putting out heavy smoke and fire. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather All employees evacuated and were accounted for. Five workers and one first responder were evaluated on the scene but not transported. More than 50 firefighters battled the fire in hot, dark and noisy conditions. Crews reportedly had to carry hose lines over large distances in order to reach the fire within the facility. The fire was put out after a few hours. Due to the challenging nature of the fire and work environment, crews rotated working the fire in order to rest and hydrate. In addition to Arvada Fire, Fairmount Fire Protection District and West Metro Fire Rescue aided in battling the fire. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Fire and explosions reported in Russia's Belgorod Oblast amid threat of missile attacks videos A fire in Belgorod. Screenshot: video on Russian social media A big fire and explosion were reported in Russias Belgorod Oblast on the afternoon of 9 June. Source: Russian Defence Ministry on Telegram; RBC; ASTRA; local telegram channels Details: In the afternoon, local authorities stated that Belgorod and Belgorod Oblast were under threat of missile attacks for the third time. Following the reports, images and videos of the fire began to circulate on social media. Explosions can also be heard in the background. According to ASTRA, locals said that an armament storage facility in the Rakityansky district had been targeted. The Russians reported hearing explosions before a fire broke out. Meanwhile, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that an unmanned aerial vehicle had been destroyed over Belgorod Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! First Alert Weather Meteorologist Corey Simma continues to track high temperatures Sunday and is keeping an eye on some much-needed rain. Jacksonville made it to at least 98 Sunday afternoon with the final number to come later this evening. Monday will be hot like the last couple of days. A few storms will roll into southeast Georgia Monday afternoon/evening. Tuesday is when the weather pattern shifts to the wetter. Moisture will stream up from the Gulf of Mexico, so while temperatures go down, it will be very humid. WATCH THE FORECAST | DOWNLOAD THE APPS A few storms develop Tuesday and Wednesday, with Thursday and Friday looking even more widespread with the rain. Through next weekend, 2-3 rain amounts look likely near & south of I-10. Rain amounts look a little less up in southeast Georgia. There are no areas of concern in the tropics, and no development is expected in the next week. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Heres a look at your First Alert 7-Day Forecast: TONIGHT: Fair Skies, Warm. Low: 73 TOMORROW: Partly Sunny, A Few SE GA PM Storms. High: 97 (Record: 100 1954) TUE: Partly Cloudy, A Few Storms. 71/94 WED: Partly Cloudy, A Few Storms. 72/90 THU: Scattered Showers & Storms. 73/89 FRI: Scattered Showers & Storms. 73/88 SAT: Partly Sunny, A Few Storms. 75/88 SUN: Partly Cloudy, Isolated Storms. 73/89 [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Flag Day reminds us that the Stars & Stripes belong to all of us The Sun shines through an American flag as another day comes to a close at Sippo Lake Park in Perry Township on Monday, Oct. 18, 2021. I can only speak for myself, but the sight of a Confederate battle flag being paraded through the halls of Congress on Jan. 6, 2020, broke something in me. It was a desecration and a deliberate act meant to insult and provoke, otherwise it wouldn't have been brandished by a protester driven by a lie designed to upend the peaceful transfer of power. June 14 marks Flag Day, a commemoration which isn't a federal holiday, but it matters in terms of how we see and define ourselves. Flags have always served as shorthand for what the bearer believes. There isn't a person on this planet who doesn't recognize the American flag, the singular symbol of our power and responsibility as the leader of the free world. When protesters marched toward Selma, Alabama, to demand their voting rights, one of the things which most infuriated their detractors was the sight of the marchers carrying American flags, the implication being that they had no right, no claim, to its ownership. From Canton to Selma: Canton native documented Selma march in 1965 It's all the more reason why we all should embrace the symbol of a country which may be imperfect but whose underlying narrative is that of moving forward, always forward. Because the First Amendment allows it, the American flag is sometimes burned as an expression of free speech, but the sight is nonetheless distressing and disturbing which, of course, is the point. Here of late, the flag has been conscripted for all kinds of causes, from its colors being changed to support one group or another, to the imposition of a political leader's face on it, which is reminiscent of what is done in dictatorships. Last month, Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito came under criticism and scrutiny after it was reported that an American flag was flown upside-down the international sign of distress at his beach house following the certification of the 2020 election results. The Revolutionary War-era "Appeal to Heaven" flag created to protest British rule also was spotted flying at Alito's residence. Alito said the flags were the doing of his wife, who appears to have conflated distress with disagreement. We know that every Supreme Court justice ever appointed has possessed political leanings of one kind or another, but we trust them to make their rulings based on our Constitution, not their religion, prejudices or politics. When they fail, the result is a Dred Scott, or Japanese-American internment camps. Americans on the march: Singing your song in a strange land You don't have to be an attorney to know this is a non-negotiable characteristic, which leads to the question: Who knowingly puts their spouse's judgeship at risk, just to make a political point? Just because you may have a right to do it, does it mean you should? In the months leading up to this year's presidential election, our landscape will likely become inundated with flags bearing political messages of all kinds. As it stands, some display obscenities with no regard or consideration for the children who might see them. Our political divisions have become such that more than a few people have said they're hesitant to display the American flag for fear they'll be misidentified as extremists. How in the world did we get here? As the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. noted in his final and prophetic sermon, we have some difficult days ahead. But we should take comfort in remembering that it won't be the flag-burners or the jingoists who will choose which direction we take. No, that decision still rests in the hands of the Great Middle, which is where the vast majority of Americans have always lived. They will determine whether the American flag will continue to represent all of us, or whether it simply becomes another relic and a warning for what happens when a people neglect to preserve, protect and defend the miraculous symbol of self-governance, equality and freedom. Charita M. Goshay is a Canton Repository staff writer and member of the editorial board. Reach her at 330-580-8313 or charita.goshay@cantonrep.com. On Twitter: @cgoshayREP This article originally appeared on The Repository: If you're an American, remember, it's your flag, too, Charita Goshay Vooruit's chairwoman Melissa Depraetere and Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken pictured during the election broadcast of VRT Flemish television, in Brussels. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa Flemish separatists have once again emerged as the largest force in Belgian politics following national parliamentary elections on Sunday, with almost 95% of votes counted. The conservative New Flemish Alliance (NVA) is projected to come first with 18% of the vote, while the more extreme Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) is expected win the second largest share of the vote with 15%. The Dutch-speaking Flemish are the majority in Belgium, but the electoral system is engineered to ensure a balance of power between French and Dutch-speaking regions. With seat projections still changing by the minute, it's not yet clear whether Vlaams Belang will have more seats in the Chamber of Representatives than the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR). In a national vote held the same day as the European Parliament elections, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo's Flemish liberal party, Open VLD, is projected to lose almost half its seats in Chamber of Representatives. As is traditional after elections, Prime Minister Alexandre De Croo is expected to resign on Monday, Belgian media reported on Sunday. Party members pictured during the post-election meeting of Flemish far-right party Vlaams Belang, in Londerzeel. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken pictured during the post-election meeting of Flemish far-right party Vlaams Belang. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa "Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom" sculpture by Wofford Sculpture Studio will be on view at the Kerr Community Center in Bastrop through August. Wofford Sculpture Studio In celebration of Juneteenth, a sculpture of Harriet Tubman is headed to Bastrop. Wofford Sculpture Studio's "Harriet Tubman: The Journey to Freedom" has been on tour throughout the U.S. since 2020. Beginning June 15, the 9-foot artwork arrives in Texas for the first time, and will be on view at the Kerr Community Center through August. Tubman rescued approximately 70 enslaved people, over the course of an estimated 13 rescue missions, via use of the Underground Railroad, a network of secret routes and safe houses. She later served as a scout and spy for the Union Army during the Civil War and became an activist in the women's suffrage movement. The sculpture depicts movement in Tubman's dress to mimic how an American flag might wave in the wind, and as a metaphor for the opposition she faced. There are broken shackles at her feet. She is shown protecting a young woman, and crossing the state line between Maryland and Delaware into freedom. Advertisement Article continues below this ad For the second year in a row, a Blue Ridge PBS television music series recorded in Danville has been nominated for an Emmy award. Im stoked, said Brandon Adams, host and co-executive producer of The Life of a Musician, which is up for the award. Its validation. It feels nice. His wife, Mindy Scott Adams, is also an executive producer for the show, which has been nominated in the Best Interview and Content Series category. Adams will find out whether shows second season wins during the Emmy Awards that will be held June 22 in Bethesda, Maryland. Emmys are awarded for artistic and technical achievements in television. The Life of a Musician takes viewers behind the scenes for conversations and stories from musical artists known around the world. It features songs performed live on the show by Adams and guest performers. The second season aired weekly on Blue Ridge Public Television in the region in the first half of 2024 and included 11 episodes recorded in historic homes and other locations in the area. Musical artists featured for the second season included Jenee Fleenor, Josh Martin, Lauren Mascitti, the Church Sisters, Redd Volkaert, Zach Top, Tim OBrien, Jonah Horton, Lyndsay Pruett and Austin Brown. In the meantime, Adams has been busy recording sessions for season three, which includes a couple of episodes shot with Vince Gill in Nashville. Unlike the previous two seasons, most episodes for season three are being recorded in areas outside of Danville, Adams said. Were going to shoot two episodes in Danville this season, he said. One episode was recorded at MerleFest, a music festival in Wilkesboro, North Carolina, in April. Adams is also looking to shoot an episode in Washington, D.C. Featured artists for season three include Roy Book Binder, James Nash, Darin and Brooke Aldridge, Tim Stafford, Illiterate Light, Matt Crowder and Hannah Howard. The third season is expected to air in January or February 2025 on Blue Ridge PBS and PBS Appalachia Virginia. It will have viewership in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia, Adams said. The shows first season, which was recorded at various homes and businesses in 2022, included 13 episodes and is being aired nationally, Adams said. The first and second seasons episodes can be viewed on the Passport app by entering The Life of a Musician. The show is going strong and healthy, Adams said. We are grateful for all the listeners and the support were getting across the board. Flemish separatists have once again emerged as the largest force in Belgian politics following national parliamentary elections on Sunday, with over 95% of votes counted. The conservative New Flemish Alliance (N-VA) is projected to come first with 17% of the vote, while the more extreme Vlaams Belang (Flemish Interest) is expected win the second largest share of the vote with 14%. The Dutch-speaking Flemish are the majority in Belgium, but the electoral system is engineered to ensure a balance of power between French and Dutch-speaking regions. With seat projections still changing by the minute, it's not yet clear whether Vlaams Belang will have more seats in the Chamber of Representatives than the French-speaking liberal Reformist Movement (MR). In a national vote held the same day as the European Parliament elections, Prime Minister Alexander de Croo's Flemish liberal party, Open VLD, is projected to lose almost half its seats in Chamber of Representatives. As is traditional after elections, Prime Minister Alexandre De Croo is expected to resign on Monday, Belgian media reported on Sunday. The N-VA and Vlaams Belang also the largest and second-largest share of the vote, respectively, in the last federal elections held in 2019. Both are projected to have increased their vote share, with Vlaams Belang potentially gaining two seats and the N-VA currently projected to lose one. The two parties are currently in opposition: despite their size as individual parties, they were outnumbered in the outgoing chamber by a coalition of seven non-separatist parties: OpenVLD, the MR, the Flemish centre-right Christian Democrats (CD&V), and the Flemish and francophone socialist and green parties. That so-called "Vivaldi coalition" - a reference to the Italian composer's Four Seasons - took a year and a half to form. In the French-speaking south, the Socialist Party (PS) and the MR are projected to be neck-and-neck in terms of vote share, with around 9.5% each, but the MR is projected to win more seats than the PS, whereas the reverse was true in 2019. Vlaams Belang chairman Tom Van Grieken pictured during the post-election meeting of Flemish far-right party Vlaams Belang. Dirk Waem/Belga/dpa Florida student gets award for perfect attendance from kindergarten to 12th grade TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) For the Florida student, a normal school year in Florida is 180 days. Multiplied by 13 years (kindergarten through 12th grade), thats 2,340 days of school for any student. Nearly $130K Florida jackpot won at Publix With that many days, its natural for a student to miss a few here and there right? Well, one student in Clay County was recognized for being present every single day of their grade school career. Clay County District Schools gave Rikki Blaylock a perfect attendance award for Kindergarten through 12th Grade during its regular school board meeting in June. While Rikki was the only student in her class to be given this award, three other students were also recognized for perfect attendance from kindergarten through sixth grade. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Two or three years ago it was just another snake cult. Now ... they're everywhere. "Conan the Barbarian" Last summers federal indictment of Donald Trump for inciting the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol released a flood of concern-trolling from the establishment media. The arguments revealed something sadly defective about the intellectual tenor of the present age, a mindset that cannot distinguish between reality and fantasy. It is the root cause of American political and social dysfunction. The verdict of the prestige journals was remarkably consistent: Trumps eventual trial would hinge, not upon facts, evidence and patterns of behavior involving him or other actors in the case, nor on whether the trial scrupulously upheld the law and proper judicial procedure, but on subjective matters concerning the defendants beliefs, feelings and motivations, as well as how the public perceived the trial through the polarizing lens of political partisanship. You know whats coming when you read a headline like this New York Times howler: Trump Election Charges Set Up Clash of Lies Versus Free Speech. Really? Conspiring to violently overthrow the government and then inciting a mob to do it is just a little free-spirited political rhetoric, such as to allow legitimate disagreement? Does that require us to set aside the fact that people were killed? The Wall Street Journal, as you might expect, chimed in with this one: Trump Is Being Prosecuted, but Justice Department Is on Trial, Too. Both-sides-ism, much? But the absurdity of the media mentality is perhaps best captured by this Washington Post headline: Heart of the Trump Jan. 6 indictment: Whats in Trumps head. Absent some breakthrough in neuroscience, what goes on in the minds of others is denied to us; just as a scientist cant infer the intentions of the solar system, only its behavior, we can only draw conclusions from a persons words and actions, not his subjective state of mind. In all the media reports I have cited, the journalists seem to have made Trump the final arbiter of his own intent. If criminal conviction depended on a defendants own representation of his state of mind, there could be no law enforcement. But the unspoken premise of legal experts typically quoted in the media is that a default assumption of benign intent only applies to certain claimants like Trump. Try robbing a 7-Eleven or stealing a police cruiser and I doubt the judicial system will be unduly concerned about what was going on in your head, or your claims that it was free expression under the First Amendment. In the last several years, weve been inundated with similar claims: Refusing to get vaccinated is a matter of religious conscience; Jan. 6 rioters were honestly convinced the 2020 election was stolen; the anti-abortion crowd fervently believes that life is sacred; refusing service to a retail customer or firing an employee is dictated by sincere faith, burning like a pure flame, rather than mere spite or ill will. These extraordinary claims have long been embedded in law, politics and social convention, and they are related to, or devolve from, a particular form of ideological advocacy: religion. Religion and its adherents, contrary to assertions that the faithful are beleaguered by the aggressions of secular society, have obtained extraordinary privileges well beyond their tax-exempt status. When the U.S. had military conscription, formal adherents of certain religions could obtain exemptions from the draft if the religion in question explicitly espoused pacifist principles. That loophole did not, however, apply to a nonreligious individual who merely objected to killing. While the attitudes towards taking human life were identical, the law granted legal exemption to one and not the other. The Supreme Court ruled, in a Wisconsin case involving members of the Amish community, that parents have a constitutional right to withdraw their children from public school by the eighth grade. No one, however, consulted the children to determine whether their rights to become educated, functioning citizens might have been infringed. The same religious or conscience exemption from generally applicable law prevails in many states with respect to home schooling or childhood vaccination if a petitioner claims he doesnt believe in public schools or vaccines, whatever that may mean. What is a belief, anyway? It can be defined, approximately, in terms of the mental perception that something is true based on generally accepted evidence or established standards of logic. But belief also has a secondary meaning: an attitude, disposition or emotional commitment that has nothing to do with facts or logic. It is a stance that can be firmly maintained regardless of evidence to the contrary and, taken to an extreme, becomes the willful suspension of critical thinking. In contrast to the doubt and uncertainty that assail most people when considering complex matters, the dogmatic vehemence with which adherents of various fringe ideas often advocate their case can tempt us to conclude that an untrue belief is held more strongly than a true one. But this certitude can only be sustained if it is never questioned, because the leaders of authoritarian movements that propagate these beliefs instinctively know their doctrines are brittle and cannot survive open debate. That is the reason fundamentalist Christians have built an entire subculture of home-schooling, Bible colleges, retreats and a vast body of approved literature to reinforce their dogma and avoid contact with contaminating ideas; conservatives have done much the same with their Fox News bubble. Since all authoritarian movements are founded on obtaining followers of weak character and low intellectual curiosity, and sustaining them within that information bubble, an outsider challenging even absurd doctrines will have a difficult task. Adding to the surrealism of the situation, the very doctrines that gain privileged exemption from generally applicable laws (like taxation and nondiscrimination against retail customers) may not even be sincerely held. Russell Moore, a former Christian fundamentalist and current editor-in-chief of Christianity Today, has described why he sees religion in crisis: It was the result of having multiple pastors tell me, essentially, the same story about quoting the Sermon on the Mount, parenthetically, in their preaching "turn the other cheek" [and] to have someone come up after to say, "Where did you get those liberal talking points?" And what was alarming to me is that in most of these scenarios, when the pastor would say, "I'm literally quoting Jesus Christ," the response would not be, "I apologize." The response would be, "Yes, but that doesn't work anymore. That's weak." And when we get to the point where the teachings of Jesus himself are seen as subversive to us, then we're in a crisis. Being a devout evangelical these days apparently does not require church attendance: In the farming communities of Calhoun County [Iowa] . . . church adherence fell 31 percent from 2010 to 2020 the steepest decline in the state even as 80 percent of the population continued to identify in surveys as white Christians. More than 70 percent of the countys voters cast ballots for Trump in 2020. This apparently contradictory phenomenon of devout yet nonobservant evangelicals can lead to some peculiar theology: Ron Betts, a 72-year-old Republican who said he plans to caucus for Trump all the way, said he felt the former president exemplified what Jesus would do." One wonders if that includes paying $130,000 to a porn actress to hush up a tryst. Aside from the legal deference given to purported holders of such beliefs, there is social convention: Most of us are brought up not to question or argue about another persons faith. This exemption from the rough-and-tumble of genuine debate allows the purported believer to wield religion as a stick to beat others and a shield against accountability. This deference, and the impunity it breeds, carries over into public policy debates. Those Americans wondering how insurrection-supporting judges landed on the Supreme Court should read excerpts from the establishment medias coverage of Samuel Alitos nomination hearing. He lied about his previously documented position on abortion and obfuscated when his membership in a Princeton alumni association that discriminated against women and minorities came to light, yet the supposedly godless press scolded Senate Democrats for bullying a man of faith, rather than correctly calling out Alito as a liar. Iustificatio sola fide: Justification by faith alone. This is the core tenet of Lutheranism, and, more broadly Protestant evangelicalism. When William L. Shirer, probably the most widely read of all chroniclers of the Nazi regime, drew a straight line from Martin Luther to Adolf Hitler, he was mostly referring to Luthers notorious antisemitism. Shirer received a lot of subsequent criticism for an exaggerated historical determinism, and there is probably some merit in that critique but we are left with the fact that Luther did indeed write a furious 65,000-word tirade against the Jews and, 400 years later, Hitler approvingly quoted him. Missing from the controversy (which still sputters on, to the present day) was a broader look at Luthers thinking, and a recognition that its implications dont just affect German history but are universal. What Luther was propounding was the acceptance of a complex of beliefs based on blind faith, without any reference to facts, evidence or reason. It is not difficult to see how this mindset leads to dogmatic inflexibility, intolerance and epistemic closure. With Luther, those attitudes preceded the antisemitism he espoused later in life his pathological hatred of a nonconforming out-group logically flowed from his pre-existing mental disposition. Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course. After the European wars of religion that culminated in the Thirty Years War (which may have killed 20 percent of the population of Central Europe), most of the branches of evangelical Protestantism, along with the Roman Catholic Church against which they had rebelled, gradually shed their zealotry, if only from sheer exhaustion. Undoubtedly in part from the disgust with the desolation that zealotry always brings in its wake, the dawning of the Enlightenment showed a new way of explaining the world, a worldview that required neither gods nor demons. When the great scientist Pierre-Simon LaPlace presented a copy of his "Celestial Mechanics" to Napoleon, the latter asked why LaPlace never mentioned the divine creator of the system he had described. His reply: "Je n'avais pas besoin de cette hypothese-la" (I had no need of that hypothesis). And so we thought, with LaPlace, that the ghosts would gradually be banished and the world made a little more straightforward and sane once the God hypothesis received critical scrutiny. But just as there was no straight line from Luther to Hitler (else how can we account for Beethoven and Schiller?), there is no straight line of civilizational progress. I grew up as an Eisenhower Republican and thought that I, and the party, would remain more or less as such, despite the transient shock of Barry Goldwater in 1964. I spent most of a decade in Europe during the 1970s; the Watergate scandal and Richard Nixon's resignation came and went. I might as well have been living on Mars, given the ideological transformation which occurred in America in that misunderstood decade. Out went the cloth-coat Republicans, the small-town bankers and matrons with big hats. In came Jerry Falwells dervishes, back-country Southern accents and the Party of Ideas. And what ideas! When I came to Capitol Hill in the 1980s, I gradually discovered that the country had catapulted itself back into the Age of Faith. One congressional staffer informed me, with the air of wearily cluing in a gullible friend, that dinosaurs were a hoax. I was too startled to ask whether the fossil remains had been counterfeited by evil Darwinians intent on subverting the faithful, or by God himself for some inscrutable purpose, perhaps as a test of faith. Another staff member Ill call Jim, because that was his name. A self-cultivated religious eccentric, he once declared the now-universally accepted Gregorian calendar, adopted because it was more accurate than the preceding Julian calendar, to be no good. The reason was that it was a product of Pope Gregorys atheist astronomers. Yes, these people make the policy that runs the country. The same person announced to me that he was philosophically indifferent as to whether stars were celestial bodies many light years away or just tiny, twinkling lights in a dome over the earth, like LED lights above a suburban patio. Aside from the fact that GPS wouldn't work on his cellphone if scientists had somehow miscalculated distances by many orders of magnitude (as well as having to adjust for relativity), there are enormous problems with this point of view. Precisely those people who rant about eternal values and verities have now lurched into nihilism, the diametric opposite of what they claim to espouse. This is nowhere more evident than in the fanatical devotion to Donald Trump expressed by nearly 80 percent of evangelical Christians. They have tossed overboard every tenet of decency, religious or secular, to embrace Trumps hatred, because his burning torch of ill will, in their minds, is the royal road to the only thing they care about power and domination. How ironic, then, that religious belief, by abandoning every constraint imposed by empirical reality, has adopted the nihilistic theories of Ingsoc (English Socialism) in George Orwells "1984." In that novel, we read of protagonist Winston Smith's exchange with his interrogator, the cynical O'Brien, as to whether objective reality exists apart from the Party's commands: "But the whole universe is outside us. Look at the stars! Some of them are a million light-years away. They are out of our reach forever." "What are the stars?" said O'Brien indifferently. "They are bits of fire a few kilometers away. We could reach them if we wanted to. Or we could blot them out. The earth is the center of the universe. The sun and the stars go round it." I might have been tempted to doubt the plausibility of the fictional OBriens declaration of the triumph of belief over reality if I had not actually heard someone say it to me. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote at a polling station during the European Parliament elections. Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's nationalist Brothers of Italy (FdI) party has come first in the country's European Parliament elections, winning 26-30% of the vote according to a forecast by national public broadcaster Rai. If confirmed, this would be an increase of around 20 percentage points compared to the 2019 European elections, placing the party ahead of all other on the left and right of the political spectrum. The forecast puts in second place a left-wing alliance led by the centre-left Democratic Party (PD) party under opposition leader Elly Schlein, with 21 to 25% of the vote. Meloni was the so-called lead candidate for the FdI, which has its roots in Italy's post-fascist movement. However, she does not want to take up a seat in the European Parliament, preferring to remain in Rome as prime minister. The 47-year old has led a coalition of three right-wing parties since October 2022. Sunday's result is expected to give her considerable influence at the European level - including on Ursula von der Leyen's future as European Commission president. In the 2019 European elections, the FdI, still in opposition, won just 6.4% of the vote. Sunday's projected result consolidates the power of Meloni's party as by far the strongest member of the ruling right-wing coalition. The two smaller partners, Forza Italia - founded by the deceased former premier Silvio Berlusconi - and Lega, led by Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, were forecast to win 8.5-10.5% and 8-10% respectively. The result for the FdI, if confirmed, is also a slight improvement on the last domestic parliamentary election, when they won 26% of the vote. The left-wing populist Five Star Movement of former prime minister Giuseppe Conte is forecast to achieve between 10% and 14%. The Greens and Left Alliance achieved 5-7%. There are a total of 47 million eligible voters in Italy, giving the southern European country - one of the European Union's founding states - 76 seats in the 720-seat European Parliament. Meloni made it clear during the election campaign that she expects Italy to receive a top post in the future European Commission. Italy was the last of the 27 EU member states to close its polling stations on Sunday evening, at 11 pm (2100 GMT). Provisional official results are expected by Monday morning. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni casts her vote at a polling station during the European Parliament elections. Mauro Scrobogna/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Four people rescued after boats capsize in Arkansas River below Pueblo City Park Four people were rescued by the Pueblo Fire Department after their boats capsized in the Arkansas River just below City Park on Saturday. The fire department was called to the scene by a bystander, according to department spokesperson Tim Trujillo, and launched a rescue raft and swift water rescue team, recovering all four individuals safely. All four people were adults and all were wearing life jackets, Trujillo said. High water flows caused their inflatable boats to capsize. The Arkansas River on June 8, 2024. Trujillo stated that the public is asked to avoid that area of the river for the next several weeks due to dangerous water conditions. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has also urged the public to avoid the Arkansas River below the Lake Pueblo State Park Dam because of dangerous conditions. Recent spring runoff and heavy rain have caused river currents in the area to fluctuate dramatically, causing dangerous water surges. The city of Pueblo on Friday also temporarily closed a section of the Arkansas River trail below City Park due to "increased water flow and high water." The trail closure ranges from Carlile Avenue to north past Reservoir Drive. "We want to inform the public of the closure, Steven Meier, director of Pueblo Parks and Recreation, said in a news release, "as well as remind everyone that this is the time of year that the river is flowing high and to always be cautious. More local news: What to expect from Pueblo gas prices as Colorado adopts reformulated gasoline Questions, comments, or story tips? Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @jayreutter1. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com. This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Four people rescued after boats capsize in Arkansas River in Pueblo FLORENCE, Ala. (WHNT) The Florence Police Department (FPD) has found a formerly missing 34-year-old woman. On Monday around 9:11 a.m., FPD posted on Facebook that Casey Elizabeth Johnson had been located and that she was safe. Florence Police seeking information on Southern Oaks Apartments shooting According to FPD, on Friday, June 7, 34-year-old Casey Elizabeth Johnson left the area of East Mobile Street in Florence and had not come back. Officers say that Johnson had been previously last seen wearing black sweatpants and a white t-shirt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. French President Emmanuel Macron left his country reeling on Sunday after he dissolved parliament and called snap general elections in response to hefty gains by the far-right Rassemblement national (RN) party in European elections. Around 373 million citizens from 27 countries belonging to the European Union bloc were eligible to vote in polls running from June 6 to 9, to decide who will represent them in the 720-seat European parliament. More from Deadline According to preliminary forecasts for France, RN has taken 31.5% of the votes cast there, which will give it roughly 30 of Frances 81 seats. Macrons Renaissance coalition looks set to come in second with 15.2%, followed by the Socialists with the 14%. This is not a good result for the parties which defend Europe, including that of the presidential majority, Macron said in a televized address. He noted far-right parties RN and Reconquete had taken 40% of the vote. The rise of nationalists and demagogues is a danger to our nation, he said. I cannot act as if nothing has happened I have decided to give you back the parliamentary choice and I am therefore dissolving the National Assembley. Macron has set the parliamentary elections for June 30 and July 7, with the second round taking place less than a month before France hosts the Olympic Games in Paris. There were moves to the right in a number of countries across the EU bloc. In Germany, which holds 96 seats, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party looked set to come in second with 16% of the vote, a 5% gain on 2019 polls. The conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union and the Christian Social Union held on to its poll position with a projected 30.2% of the vote. Chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democratic Party (SPD) was forecast to come in third with 13.9%, while the Greens were predicted to take 11.9%, an 8.6 percentage point fall on 2019. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A screen shot shows French President Emmanuel Macron speaking during a televised address to the nation during which he announced he is dissolving the National Assembly, French Parliament lower house, and calls new general elections on 30 June. Ludovic Marin/AFP/dpa French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Sunday that he will dissolve parliament and hold snap elections, following his party's clear defeat by the far-right National Rally in European Parliament elections earlier that day. Elections to the National Assembly are to take place in two rounds on June 30 and July 7, Macron said. He said the challenges faced by France required clarity and the people deserved respect. "At the end of this day, therefore, I cannot pretend that nothing has happened," he added. "The decision is serious and difficult, but it is above all an act of trust, trust in you, my dear compatriots," the president said, adding that he trusted the French people to take the best decisions in their own interest and that of future generations. The National Rally in France is set to beat Macron's Renaissance by a wide margin in the country's European Parliament elections, according to broadcasters' projections after voting had ended. The populist, eurosceptic National Rally party, whose figurehead is Marine Le Pen, received 31.5 to 32.3% of the vote, while Macron's pro-European camp only received around 15.2 to 15.4%, broadcasters France 2 and TF1 reported on Sunday after the polls closed. "Emmanuel Macron is a weakened president tonight," National Rally leader Jordan Bardella said earlier in the evening, calling for new elections. "This unprecedented defeat for the ruling power marks the end of a cycle and the first day of the post-Macron era," he added. The Socialists came third with 14 to 14.2%, just behind Macron's centrist bloc, according to the projections. The extreme right-wing Reconquete (Reconquest) party was at 5.3 to 5.5%. Voter turnout was higher than five years ago at around 52%. Sunday's voting also sets the scene for presidential elections in 2027. Macron, who won a run-off election against Le Pen twice, will not be able to run again after two terms in office. It is unclear who the centre-right forces will send into the race and who would stand a chance against Le Pen. Sunday's results are a huge blow to Macron's government, which has already lost its absolute majority in the National Assembly, France's lower house of parliament. National Rally's landslide victory entrenches a trend that already emerged in 2019, when the party came narrowly ahead of Macron's camp in the last European elections. Marine Le Pen, the daughter of the movement's far-right founder Jean-Marie Le Pen, has successfully rebranded the party initially known as the National Front, presenting a far more moderate image in recent years to increase its appeal to centre-right voters. Elections to the European Parliament have taken place across the 27-country bloc over the past four days, with some 360 million people called upon to vote. While the vote does not directly impact national politics, as it only determines who sits in the EU legislature, domestic political issues tend to dominate voters' choices. (Bloomberg) -- Benny Gantz resigned from Israels emergency government and called for elections, criticizing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over his handling of the war against Hamas. Most Read from Bloomberg The departure of Gantz, a Netanyahu rival and former general, wont cause the ruling coalition to collapse. But it deprives the government of a moderate voice during the war that began after Hamass Oct. 7 attack, leaving Netanyahu more reliant on his right-wing coalition partners. The prime minister and his allies control 64 out of the 120 seats in parliament. Following Gantzs resignation, far-right party leader Itamar Ben Gvir, who holds six seats in Netanyahus coalition, posted a letter on X demanding to be added to the war cabinet in Gantzs place. The time has come to make brave decisions, achieve real deterrence and bring security to the residents of Israel, Ben Gvir wrote. Gantz, one in a three-person war cabinet that included Netanyahu, said in a televised news conference that the prime minister was preventing Israel from achieving true victory in its war against Hamas, saying that fateful, strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations. He called for an election in the fall, as Israel marks the first anniversary of the attacks, that will lead to a true unity government. Read: Understanding the Roots of the Israel-Hamas War: QuickTake In a post on X, Netanyahu wrote that Israel is in an existential war on multiple fronts. Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign this is the time to join forces, he wrote. Gantz postponed his announcement by a day, after the Israeli military freed four hostages in an operation in central Gaza. More than 270 Palestinians were killed in the operation, according to the Hamas-run health ministry. In his speech, Gantz said that the military campaign will last years and that he can not make empty promises guaranteeing an easy and quick victory. Cease-Fire Deal He said that a true victory puts bringing home the hostage above political survival, combines military success with political and civil initiative, and should involve replacing Hamas and establishing a regional alliance against Iran led by the US and the entire Western world. Gantz said he supports the cease-fire deal approved by the war cabinet and whose principles were presented by US President Joe Biden. I demand the Prime Minister to gather the necessary courage to stand behind it and do everything to promote it, he said and promised to back such plan as an opposition leader. Three weeks ago Gantz announced that he would leave the war cabinet by June 8 unless Netanyahu met a long list of demands which were not met. Gantz had sought to bring in a coalition of Arabs, Palestinians, Americans and Europeans to manage civilian affairs in the coastal strip and return Israelis whove been evacuated from the north because of ongoing battles with Lebanons Hezbollah to their homes by September. He said Netanyahu needs to promote relations with Saudi Arabia and come up with an elusive plan for conscripting religious men. Gantz, a former defense minister and former chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, has been ahead of Netanyahu as a future prime minister in most polls held since the beginning of the war in October. Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is in the Middle East on Monday, with plans to meet Egypts president in Cairo before traveling on to Israel, where hell meet Netanyahu and Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, attacked Israel on Oct. 7, killing 1,200 people and kidnapping another 250. Israels response aimed at returning the hostages and uprooting Hamas as a military and political entity has killed some 35,000 Palestinians, according to Hamas officials, who dont distinguish between fighters and civilians. --With assistance from Janine Phakdeetham. (Adds Blinkens travels to Mideast in penultimate paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Then Israeli Defence Minister Benny Gantz speaks during a pre-election event at the Manufacturers Association of Israel. Ilia Yefimovich/dpa Influential Israeli politician Benny Gantz is leaving the emergency government formed in Israel following the attack by the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement on October 7, due to differences of opinion over the future of the Gaza Strip, he told journalists on Sunday evening. The 65-year-old former defence minister had already threatened to take this step if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government failed to draw up a plan for a post-war order in the Gaza Strip. The ultimatum issued by Gantz to Netanyahu a few weeks ago expired on Saturday. However, due to the dramatic rescue of four hostages from the Gaza Strip, he postponed a planned press conference at the last minute. According to Gantz, the resignation from the government led by Netanyahu also affects other members of his National Unity party. However, he will not topple Israel's leadership with this step, because Netanyahu's right-wing religious Cabinet still has a majority of 64 out of 120 seats in parliament. A former general, Gantz joined Netanyahu's government as minister without portfolio after the unprecedented attack by Hamas and other terrorist groups, in order to send a signal of unity. The centrist party National Unity, led by Gantz, is actually in opposition. Netanyahu formed a war Cabinet with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, Gantz and two non-voting co-chairs. The influence of Netanyahu's ultra-right coalition members was thus limited in determining the most important war decisions. Gantz's move could lead to the dissolution of the war Cabinet. Netanyahu had urged Gantz not to leave on Saturday night. "Don't leave the emergency government. Don't give up unity," he wrote on Platform X, addressing Gantz. "This is the time for unity, not division. We must remain united among ourselves in the face of the great tasks that lie ahead." The Times of Israel commented that without Gantz's support, Netanyahu would be even more susceptible to the demands of his right-wing religious coalition partners, who are calling for even tougher action against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, for example. According to the media, the United States wanted Gantz to remain in the Cabinet as long as negotiations on a ceasefire agreement and the release of hostages with Hamas continued. As Netanyahu's right-wing religious coalition partners are against a deal, Gantz's presence in the emergency government is of great importance for the success of an agreement. Former chief of general staff Gantz had recently criticized the fact that important decisions by the leadership to secure victory in the Gaza Strip had not been taken. "A small minority has taken over the command bridge of the Israeli ship of state and is steering it towards the cliffs," said Gantz, referring to Netanyahu's far-right coalition partners. Among others, Gantz called for the establishment of a US-European-Arab-Palestinian government alternative in the Gaza Strip. Under no circumstances could this be Hamas or Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, he said. The US wants the Palestinian Authority (PA) to be reorganized and then take back control of the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu rejects this. Hamas forcibly expelled the PA from the Gaza Strip in 2007. The army has also recently complained that, due to the lack of a political strategy for the post-war period, soldiers are repeatedly having to fight in places in the Gaza Strip from which the military had actually already withdrawn. However, Netanyahu has so far refused to present a plan for the administration and reconstruction of the Gaza Strip after the end of the war, probably also to avoid offending his ultra-right-wing coalition partners. They are pursuing goals such as highly controversial Israeli settlement construction in the Gaza Strip. Netanyahu's political survival depends on them. The media have speculated that Gantz's return to the opposition could also be due to his declining popularity. For many months, his party had been far ahead of Netanyahu's Likud party in opinion polls. According to some polls, however, a narrow majority would now favour Netanyahu over Gantz as prime minister for the first time since the start of the war around eight months ago. His party's lead over Netanyahu's has also shrunk recently. Earlier on Sunday, the Hamas-controlled Gaza health authority increased its casualty estimates from Israel's hostage rescue operation in central Gaza - the event on Saturday that caused Gantz to delay his announcement. Four Israeli hostages were rescued alive. On the Palestinian side, some 274 people were killed and 698 injured in the operation in Nuseirat, the ministry said. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said that the special forces were under fire throughout the entire operation, which was a long time in the planning. Armed Palestinians had also used bazookas against the troops. One Israeli officer was killed during the operation, it was reported. A Palestinian runs away from an Israeli tank in the central Gaza Strip on Sunday, June 9, 2024. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana) DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) At least 274 Palestinians, including dozens of children, were killed, and hundreds more were wounded, in the Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas, Gaza's Health Ministry said Sunday. The Israeli military said its forces came under heavy fire and responded during the complex daytime operation in central Gaza. The killing of so many Palestinians, in a raid that Israelis celebrated as a stunning success, showed the heavy cost of such operations on top of the already soaring toll of the 8-month-old war ignited by Hamas Oct. 7 attack. The Israeli bombing was hell, witness Mohamed al-Habash told The Associated Press. We saw many fighter jets flying over the area. We saw people fleeing in the streets. Women and children were screaming and crying. The operation in Nuseirat, a built-up refugee camp dating to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, was the largest rescue since Oct. 7, when Hamas and other militants stormed across the border, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and taking about 250 hostage. Israel's massive offensive has killed over 36,700 Palestinians, according to the Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count. It said 64 children and 57 women were killed in the latest raid, and 153 children and 161 women were among the nearly 700 wounded. Saturday's events also affected fragile attempts to deliver aid. The World Food Program chief said they suspended distribution around a U.S.-built pier off Gaza because two of our warehouses, warehouse complex, were rocketed yesterday. When asked how it happened and whether WFP shares its locations with Israel's military, Cindy McCain said they did and I don't know. It's a good question. It wasn't clear if she was referring to the rescue operation. SCENES OF HORROR AT GAZA HOSPITAL In Gaza, medics described scenes of chaos after the raid. Overwhelmed hospitals were already struggling to treat the wounded from days of heavy Israeli strikes. We had the gamut of war wounds, trauma wounds, from amputations to eviscerations to trauma, to TBIs (traumatic brain injuries), fractures and, obviously, big burns, said Karin Huster of Doctors Without Borders, which works in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital. Kids completely gray or white from the shock, burnt, screaming for their parents. Many of them are not screaming because they are in shock. The Israeli military said it had attacked threats to our forces in the area, and that a special forces officer was killed in the operation. It said rescuers had come under heavy fire, including from gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades, and the military responded with heavy force, including from aircraft. Israels Foreign Minister Israel Katz lashed out at critics of the operation in a post on X, saying only Israels enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices. Inside Israel, local media have focused heavily on the Israeli toll, the hostages and military efforts with relatively little coverage of the situation for Palestinians inside Gaza. MY BROTHER DIED OF GRIEF Israelis continued to celebrate the return of Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41; as they reunited with loved ones. Argamani's mother, Liora, who has late-stage brain cancer, had released a video pleading to see her. Argamanis father told Army Radio the reunion was very difficult as Liora was just unable to express her feelings and could not say what she was really waiting to say." Meir Jans aunt, Dina, said his father had died Friday, hours before the operation. My brother died of grief, she told Israels Kan public broadcaster. Dr. Itai Pessach at Sheba Hospital said none had serious physical injuries. But they have lost friends and family, and staff "have been assisting them in rebuilding the infrastructure of their life, he told reporters. About 120 hostages remain in Gaza, with 43 pronounced dead, after about half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16, according to the government. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under 5 and two men in their 80s. Scores of hostages are believed to be held in densely populated areas or inside Hamas labyrinth of tunnels, making rescues complex and risky. A raid in February freed two hostages while leaving 74 Palestinians dead. Israel's military has acknowledged it cant carry out operations to rescue everyone. WHAT LIES AHEAD Divisions have deepened in Israel over the best way to bring hostages home. Many urge Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to embrace a cease-fire deal U.S. President Joe Biden announced last month, but far-right allies threaten to collapse his government if he does. Hours after the rescue, thousands of Israelis again gathered to protest the government and call for a deal. On Sunday, Benny Gantz, a popular centrist member of Israels three-member war Cabinet, resigned from the government after challenging it to adopt a new plan for the war. The resignation makes Netanyahu more heavily reliant on his far-right allies. Also Sunday, the commander of the Israeli military's Gaza division resigned over failures that led to the Oct. 7 attack. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will return to the Middle East this week, seeking a breakthrough in cease-fire efforts. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan told CNN that mediators Egypt and Qatar had not received official word from Hamas on the proposed deal. In a separate interview with CBS, Sullivan didn't say whether Biden would meet Netanyahu when he comes to Washington next month to address Congress. International pressure is mounting on Israel to limit civilian bloodshed in its war in Gaza. Palestinians also face widespread hunger because fighting and Israeli restrictions have largely cut off the flow of aid. They killed everything inside us, said one Nuseirat resident who witnessed Saturdays assault. The woman, identified only as Mounira in a video shared by the U.N. on Sunday, urged a cease-fire. ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Yahya Sinwar, head of Hamas in Gaza, is a genocidal ideologue who believes that the Palestinians will eventually annihilate Israel - Adel Hana/AP Whilst there was great joy in Israel this weekend at the rescue of four hostages after months in captivity, the whereabouts of a further 116 Jews kidnapped on October 7 remains shrouded in darkness. We do not know how many are alive. Nor do we know their condition. Given the way Hamas terrorists raped and tortured Jews when they invaded Israel, it does not bear thinking what is happening to these men, women and children still held against their will. Hamas do not see Jewish people as fully human. Like other violent anti-Semites of the past, this gives them permission to treat the people of Israel with an animalistic brutality that is painfully hard to comprehend. This is why one Hamas terrorist excitedly called his family during the pogrom of October 7 to share his news: Hello Dad, Im talking to you from Mefalsim [kibbutz in Israel]. Open WhatsApp and see. I killed ten Jews with my own hands. Your son killed Jews! Im talking to you from a Jewish womans phone. I killed her and her husband, their blood on my hands... Hold your head high with pride, Dad. This mass murderer is one of thousands of Hamas fighters who share a racist and psychopathic mentality. Another terrorist, Omar Sami Marzuk Abu Rusha, said during his interrogation after capture that: The mission was simply to kill We were not supposed to kidnap, only to kill To kill every person we see and come back. He continued: We entered a house that was near us We checked the house and heard the sounds of young children in the safe room. We shot at the safe room ... until we didnt hear noise anymore. At the heart of this dark vision is Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar who has been planning the attacks for a decade. He is a genocidal ideologue who believes that the Palestinians will eventually annihilate Israel and that everything and anything is justified in the name of Palestinian liberation. Yet the horrible truth is that Sinwar cares nothing for Palestinian lives either. Any amount of sacrifice is acceptable in order to achieve his goals. Those demonstrating on Britains streets and on university campuses should ask themselves why Hamas has not used its hundreds of miles of tunnels under Gaza over the last eight months to protect its people from Israeli bombs. The answer is simple: he does not care if Palestinian men, women and children die. Indeed, Sinwar welcomes this. He wants his own people to be killed. He can see that many in the West are in the spell of his narrative: that Israel is the oppressor and deserves condemnation. The deaths of Palestinians are an easy price for him to pay to achieve this outcome. It is remarkable how many people in the West have chosen to ignore these brutal dynamics. They do not ask themselves why Hamas terrorists continue to hide in schools, hospitals and UN facilities. They do not seem to notice that Hamas has done nothing to protect its own people. And as they raise their Palestinian flags and spread toxic anti-Semitic hate on social media, they utterly fail to recognise that Hamas as the government of Gaza both enjoyed widespread popular support and has a history of summarily executing opponents, subjugating women and hunting down gay people. The obvious but often overlooked truth is that the pressure to end the war should be focused firmly on Hamas. By returning the hostages and giving up their terrorist armoury they could end the war tomorrow and bring long-term respite to innocent Palestinian civilians. But talking to experts over the last few days it has become clear to me that Sinwar is in no rush for a ceasefire. He does not care if more buildings in Gaza are destroyed. He is quite content for more Palestinians to die. Sinwar is somewhere in the tunnels of Gaza, surrounded by Jewish hostages being used as human shields, watching as the world condemns Israel and fails to see that Hamas began this war and could quickly end it. The UK Government, EU leaders and President Biden must urgently adjust their focus, both publicly and diplomatically. They must understand that Yahya Sinwar is in no hurry to agree ceasefire terms and end the war. They must ramp up the pressure on Hamas in the strongest terms via leaders in Qatar and Egypt who have a direct link to Sinwar. They must shut down this genocidal monsters options and provide no rewards for the terrorist massacres of October 7. Only then will this war end and people on both sides begin to heal. Danny Cohen was the director of BBC Television from 2013 - 2015 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. George Lopez walks out before show ends at California casino. Dont invite him back Comedian George Lopez is being criticized for walking out on a stand-up performance at a Central California casino Friday night. And that didnt sit well with Eagle Mountain Casino based in Porterville. RELATED: Long before he walked out on show, comedian George Lopez packed crowds in Fresno area The casino said the show was sold out and Lopez ended it 30 minutes early because of hecklers. The casino lashed out at Lopez and said his own private security that could have easily escorted any hecklers out. Prior to the show, Eagle Mountain said casino staff and Lopezs staff had a preshow meeting in case of any hecklers. He could have provided us an opportunity to allow our security and team to escort any hecklers out since his own private security did not, the casino wrote on Facebook. The Friday night show was previously rescheduled from an April show that was postponed due to a medical emergency. Tonight we went above and beyond to provide George with first class service from his arrival to the property to the start of his show. We never want to let our guests down and we are as disappointed and shocked as you are. Lopezs team told TMZ that they place the blame on the venue. Its the venue or casinos job to provide a good experience for both the artist and the fans, but the casino failed in this regard. The audience was overserved and unruly, and the casino staff was unable to provide a safe and enjoyable experience for the artist and guests. Georges personal security team worked with the venue security staff to maintain order, ensure safety, and eject disruptive individuals. Unfortunately, the casino security team was not adequate to accomplish this task. George is not obligated to perform in an unsafe environment. He feels badly that those who came to see the show were unable to do so as a result. The casino told The Bee theyll have an official statement on Sunday or Monday. Casino followers chimed in with comments on social media and even said dont invite him back. Another said Ive heard that he is not worth having anymore that he does this kind of stuff. You guys are first class all the way. Sorry it happened. Fans paid at least $65 to see Lopez. The leader of Germany's conservative Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party Friedrich Merz speaks after the European election results at the Konrad Adenauer House. Fabian Sommer/dpa Germany's centre-right CDU/CSU bloc claimed a clear victory in the European parliamentary elections, while the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) made gains to take second place, according to projected results on Sunday night. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition suffered at the polls, with his Social Democrats (SPD) and his primary coalition partners, the Greens, both trailing the AfD. Scholz's SPD slipped to 13.9% to 14%, according to the projections from public broadcasters ARD and ZDF. That would potentially be the worst result in a democratic nationwide election in more than a century for the centre-left SPD, which has historically been one of the dominant parties in German politics. The opposition CDU/CSU won between 30.2% and 30.3% of the vote, according to the projections. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz hailed the result for his Christian Democrats (CDU) and said it shows German voters want a clear shift in policy away from Scholz's government. "With this European election, we are back in first place among the German parties by a wide margin," Merz said. "Things can't go on as they have over the last two and a half years," he added, referring to Scholz's time in office. Bavarian state premier Markus Soder of the CDU's Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), said the results should be read as a stern rebuke to Scholz and his government's policies. Scholz's coalition "has de facto been voted out by the citizens," Soder declared. The AfD, which sits well to the right of the CDU/CSU, placed second nationally with 15.9%, a five percentage point gain from the 2019 European Parliament elections. In the AfD strongholds of eastern Germany, the populist party led the field. The AfD's co-chairman, Tino Chrupalla, hailed the projections as a "historic result" for the party. He noted that projections showed the AfD with strong leads throughout the former communist East Germany. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, meanwhile, described the results as a "bitter defeat" for the SPD. "I think it is crystal clear that things have to change," Klingbeil said. Scholz's main coalition partner, the Greens, saw support fall to 11.9%, according to the projections. That would be a major drop from the last European Parliament election, when the Greens won 20.5% of the vote. "This is not the standard with which we went into this election, and we will work through this together," Green Party chairwoman Ricarda Lang said of the party's losses. The liberal-conservative Free Democrats (FDP), the junior partner in Scholz's three-way coalition, slid only slightly and stood at 5% to 5.1% in the projections. The newly founded populist party Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) hit 6% to 6.1%, according to the projections, while the far-left The Left party tumbled to just 2.7%. According to forecasts, voter turnout in Germany was 65%, up from 61.4% in 2019. For the first time this year, 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in the European Parliament election in Germany. As in many other EU countries, observers had expected a significant boost in support for right-wing parties in the European Parliament elections. Some opinion polls had put support for the AfD at more than 20% a few months ago. AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel credited the AfD with making a strong finish "after a bumpy start to the election campaign," in which the party was dogged by negative headlines tied to several scandals involving AfD candidates. The AfD's support figures fell significantly in the wake of large demonstrations in January and February following reports of a secret far-right meeting in Potsdam. The meeting centred on so-called remigration, plans to repatriate migrants at a large scale. More recent scandals involving the AfD's top EU candidates Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron have also affected their standing. Both Krah and Bystron have been in the headlines for weeks due to possible links to pro-Russian networks. According to media reports, prosecutors in Germany are investigating possible money payments to both politicians. In addition, a former top aide to Krah was arrested on suspicion of spying for China AfD leaders asked Krah to stop appearing at campaign events after he came under widespread criticism for an interview in which he defended some members of the Nazi SS paramilitary. Following Krah's remarks, the right-wing ID (Identity and Democracy) group in the European Parliament expelled the AfD from the faction. The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Tino Chrupalla (L) and Alice Weidel (L) and candidate for the Europeans elections Rene Aust cheer on stage after first exit polls during the electoral evening of the party headquarters after the European Elections. Joerg Carstensen/dpa (L-R) Angelika Niebler, Chairwoman of the CSU European Group, Manfred Weber, Chairman of the European People's Party, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa (L-R) Christian Doleschal, CSU Member of the European Parliament, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Monika Hohlmeier (C), CSU Member of the European Parliament, Manfred Weber (R), Chairman of the European People's Party, and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa German Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, Deputy Inspector General, gives an interview in his office at the Ministry of Defense in Berlin. Carsten Hoffmann/dpa The German Defence Ministry is planning for a significantly strengthened Bundeswehr or army reserve, to include up to 60,000 men and women, a top official for the army's reservist affairs told dpa in Berlin. "I am convinced that we must fully adapt the reserve to the current security policy challenges so that it can properly support the Bundeswehr in performing the task of national and alliance (NATO) defence," Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, deputy inspector general and commissioner for reservist affairs, said. His comments come days before Defence Minister Boris Pistorius intends to present his proposal for a model of compulsory military service on Wednesday. The draft was suspended in 2011 and re-instituting it is controversial in Germany. "We need military service as the basis for a rapid increase and the resilience of our Bundeswehr in the event of defence," said Pistorius on Friday at an event organized by the industry association of family businesses in Berlin. The reserve must also be significantly increased, he said. Ukraine war has made Germany rethink its defence needs "If you look at Ukraine, we are simply not capable of holding out and growing as we are at the moment. That's why we need a reserve that is capable of completely replacing forces," said Hoppe. The goal is to equip and train reserve companies or reserve battalions in such a way that they can be seamlessly integrated into the operational command of a brigade. German Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, Deputy Inspector General, gives an interview in his office at the Ministry of Defense in Berlin. Carsten Hoffmann/dpa The German Defence Ministry is planning for a significantly strengthened Bundeswehr or army reserve, to include up to 60,000 men and women, a top official for the army's reservist affairs told dpa in Berlin. "I am convinced that we must fully adapt the reserve to the current security policy challenges so that it can properly support the Bundeswehr in performing the task of national and alliance (NATO) defence," Lieutenant General Andreas Hoppe, deputy inspector general and commissioner for reservist affairs, said. His comments come days before Defence Minister Boris Pistorius intends to present his proposal for a model of compulsory military service on Wednesday. The draft was suspended in 2011 and re-instituting it is controversial in Germany. "We need military service as the basis for a rapid increase and the resilience of our Bundeswehr in the event of defence," said Pistorius on Friday at an event organized by the industry association of family businesses in Berlin. The reserve must also be significantly increased, he said. Ukraine war has made Germany rethink its defence needs "If you look at Ukraine, we are simply not capable of holding out and growing as we are at the moment. That's why we need a reserve that is capable of completely replacing forces," said Hoppe. The goal is to equip and train reserve companies or reserve battalions in such a way that they can be seamlessly integrated into the operational command of a brigade. Fourteen days of training per year are necessary to maintain skills, Hoppe said. He plans to do more to gain approval from companies, who would have to allow workers time off for reserve training. "If people have a high level of training when they leave the Bundeswehr and they don't get a single chance to practice during six years of basic orders, then the value they bring will naturally become limited over time," he said. Specialists are needed, but "simply also masses," for example for homeland security tasks, like securing infrastructure, transport routes and military facilities in Germany. For some time now, volunteers who were not previously in the Bundeswehr have also been trained for this. "It won't work without a reserve. We can see that in Ukraine," said Hoppe. Everyone needs to realize this, he said. Much expertise has been lost after the Cold War "This all existed during the Cold War, but it has been neglected for 30 years and simply no longer exists. There are still very few who still know about it. We are currently tapping into them in order to map the capabilities," Hoppe added. The military expects some 10,000 temporary or professional soldiers to retire each year who could be recruited for this basic call-up. There are currently around 44,000 men and women on basic call-up. The ministry is also examining the number of people who could potentially be called up to serve in the event of a defence situation. This includes citizens who have previously served in the Bundeswehr but have not been recalled for duty. While this group is substantial, it has been diminishing since compulsory military service was suspended in 2011. "There are different figures. We assume that there are around 800,000 who can still be called up for military service. In principle, this includes all those who have served in the Bundeswehr at some point and have retired and are within the age limits, including the last few years of conscripts," said Hoppe. Ageing population a problem for the Bundeswehr "But if you look at the age problem, you realize that there are fewer and fewer of them every year ... This means we have to take countermeasures and also find and recruit additional personnel for the reserve. And that's what we're doing," Hoppe said. "Keyword homeland defence regiments," he said. "They are essentially made up of non-commissioned personnel who enlist and receive appropriate training." For NATO's revised defence plans, however, the Bundeswehr, which shrank to 181,500 soldiers last year despite a so-called personnel offensive, must actually grow significantly. NATO's plans mean that the personnel target is likely to increase from 203,000 soldiers to "well over 272,000" men and women in the armed forces, Der Spiegel magazine reported on Friday. The reserve can only be one component of this. German far-right leader says voters have become more sceptical of EU The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Tino Chrupalla (L) and Alice Weidel (L) and candidate for the Europeans elections Rene Aust cheer on stage after first exit polls during the electoral evening of the party headquarters after the European Elections. Joerg Carstensen/dpa The co-leader of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) said a strong expected showing by her party in European Parliament elections was driven by growing scepticism of the European Union. Exit polls released on Sunday evening put the AfD in second place with 16.1% to 16.4%. Alice Weidel said that her party had made significant gains compared to 2019 - when the far-right populists won 11% of the vote - and had become the strongest force in eastern Germany. The main reason for this was that voters "have become more critical of Europe overall," she said. Weidel also credited the AfD with making a strong finish "after a bumpy start to the election campaign," in which the party was dogged by negative headlines tied to several scandals involving AfD candidates. Weidel did not comment directly about Maximilian Krah, the AfD's lead candidate in this election, or Petr Bystron, who the delegates had voted into second place on the list of candidates. Both candidates have been in the headlines for weeks due to possible links to pro-Russian networks. According to media reports, prosecutors in Germany are investigating possible money payments to both politicians. In addition, a former top aide to Krah was arrested on suspicion of spying for China The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Alice Weidel (C) and Tino Chrupalla (Center R), cheer after first exit polls during the Electoral evening of the party headquaters after the European Elections. Joerg Carstensen/dpa (l-R) Ricarda Lang, Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), Terry Reintke, Greens' lead candidate for the 2024 European elections, and Omid Nouripour, Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), react to the first projections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa The leader of Germany's Green Party, Ricarda Lang, has reacted with disappointment at her party's loss of votes in the European elections. "This is not the standard we set outselves when we went into this election, and we will work through this together," the co-leader of the party told broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening. According to forecasts by broadcasters ZDF and ARD, the Greens gained between 12-12.5% of the vote. By contrast, in 2019, they achieved their best result ever in a European election with 20.5%. The situation today is very different to the previous European elections in 2019, Lang said. People are unsettled, the issue of war and peace was hugely important to voters this time, she said. A change of policy with regard to the war in Ukraine should not be expected from her party now, said Lang, because if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to win this war, the future would also be less peaceful in Germany, she argued. The conservative CDU/CSU bloc won the European elections in Germany by a large margin. According to initial forecasts, the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) came in second place. Coalition parties the Social Democrats (SPD), Greens and Free Democrats (FDP) lost significantly compared to the 2019 election. Amira Mohamed Ali (L), Party Chairwoman of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), Sahra Wagenknecht, Party Chairwoman of the BSW, and Christian Leye, BSW Secretary General, react to the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections of her party. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa German political newcomer Sahra Wagenknecht has expressed her "joy" and "relief" at the performance of her party, the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), in the European elections. "There is great potential," Wagenknecht told public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening. She said she now wants to build on this in subsequent elections. According to projections by broadcaster ARD, the BSW achieved 5.7% in the European elections in Germany. This was the first time the party was tested at the polls. Wagenkecht, who opposes weapon deliveries to Ukraine, emphasized that she believes a diplomatic initiative is necessary in Russia's war. "Many people are worried that the war will also come to us." The populist party combines leftwing social policy with an anti-immigrant stance and criticism of the European Union. When asked where the BSW now sits on the party spectrum, Wagenknecht, former star politician of the far-left Die Linke (The Left), said: "It's not on the right." Sahra Wagenknecht, party leader of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), reacts to the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections of her party. Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa Christian Leye (L), BSW Secretary General, and Amira Mohamed Ali (C), Party Chairwoman of the Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW), respond to the announcement of the first estimates for the outcomes of the 2024 European elections for the "Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance - Reason and Justice" (BSW). Bernd von Jutrczenka/dpa German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) talks to Hasan Yildirim (l) and Oezcan Yildirim in their hairdressing salon to commemorate the NSU attack 20 years ago. On June 9, 2024, NSU terrorists Mundlos and Boehnhardt detonated a nail bomb in front of the hairdressing salon in Cologne's Keupstrasse. Henning Kaiser/dpa German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier called on all democrats and anti-racists to stand together on the 20th anniversary of a neo-Nazi attack by the National Socialist Underground (NSU) group in the western city of Cologne. "It is important that we outlaw violence in the political battle of opinions - regardless of the motives behind it: whether left-wing or right-wing extremist or religious fanaticism - violence destroys democracy, and we don't want that," Steinmeier said on Sunday. During a visit to the site of the attack, Steinmeier spoke with the two hairdressers Hasan and Ozcan Yildirim, in front of whose salon a bicycle with a nail bomb was left on June 9, 2004. The bomb injured 22 people, some of them seriously. The police investigated the Turkish community for years afterwards. It was not until seven years after the attack that it became clear that the NSU right-wing extremists Uwe Mundlos and Uwe Bohnhardt were responsible. The NSU neo-Nazi terrorist cell carried out a string of murders in Germany over several years in the 2000s. Their victims were nine tradesmen of Turkish and Greek origin and a German policewoman. In addition to Mundlos and Bohnhardt, who killed themselves in 2011, the perpetrators also included Beate Zschape, who was sentenced to life imprisonment by the Munich Higher Regional Court in 2018. Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (C) and Minister President of North Rhine-Westphalia Hendrik Wuest (R) speak with Hasan Yildirim (3rd L) and Oezcan Yildirim (2nd R) in their hairdressing salon to commemorate the NSU attack 20 years ago. On June 9, 2024, NSU terrorists Mundlos and Boehnhardt detonated a nail bomb in front of the hairdressing salon in Cologne's Keupstrasse. Henning Kaiser/dpa Germany EU vote: Scholz seen losing out as far-right hope for gains German Chancellor Olaf Scholz waits in line at his polling station to cast his vote for the European elections. Kay Nietfeld/dpa-Pool/dpa After two-and-a-half years in government, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition is expected to lose ground during the European Parliament elections being held across the country on Sunday. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is meanwhile vying to become the second-strongest party, according to polls. Sunday is the last day of the continent-wide ballot which began on Thursday and takes in 27 EU member states. As Germany's only nationwide poll between the 2021 and 2025 federal elections, and just months ahead of several state elections in September, the EU vote is seen as an important electoral test for Scholz. Smooth start Voting in Europe's largest economy, which will provide 96 of the 720 seats in the EU Parliament, started without any major incidents. "So far we have had no news from the state electoral administrations that there have been any relevant disruptions. So from our point of view, it's going normally and well so far," Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand said earlier on Sunday. In a statement, Brand emphasized the "particular importance of the election for the voters' influence on future political decisions in the European Union." Conservatives take the lead Final polls for the European election put Scholz's Social Democrats (SPD) at around 15%, far below the 25.7% which secured the party's victory in federal elections in 2021. The prospects are not much better for Scholz's coalition partners. At around 15% in the polls, the Greens are far below the impressive 20.5% they achieved in the 2019 European elections. The liberal Free Democrats (FDP), meanwhile, are projected to garner only 5%. These three parties, which make up Germany's coalition government, are set to collect only 35% of the vote. The opposition conservative CDU/CSU bloc alone tops the EU polls at around 30% and the AfD is vying for second place at around 14%. Polls also show the newly formed Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) gaining ground at around 7%. The populist party combines leftwing social policy with an anti-immigrant stance and criticism of the European Union. It has yet to be tested at the ballot box. Scholz, Von derLeyen cast ballots German Chancellor Olaf Scholz cast his vote for the European elections in Potsdam, near Berlin, where he has his constituency. According to a dpa photographer, Scholz arrived with his wife Britta Ernst on Sunday and queued at the polling station at the Chamber of Industry and Commerce. EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, meanwhile, cast her vote for the European Parliament elections at a voting location near her home in Lower Saxony on Sunday morning. The 65-year-old von der Leyen is hoping to keep the EU's top job for a second term as president of the European Commission. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician arrived with her husband Heiko at the small polling station in Burgdorf-Beinhorn in the Hanover region. Von der Leyen greeted poll workers, but refrained from making a statement or answering any questions from journalists. First forecast after 8 pm The most populous EU country accounts for 96 of the 720 seats in the EU Parliament, with around 65 million eligible voters. For the first time 16- and 17-year olds can vote in these European polls, which may also play a key role in the outcome. Polls in Germany close at 6 pm (1600 GMT). German Chancellor Olaf Scholz casts his ballot for the European elections in a ballot box inside a polling station. Kay Nietfeld/dpa-Pool/dpa The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Tino Chrupalla (L) and Alice Weidel (L) and candidate for the Europeans elections Rene Aust cheer on stage after first exit polls during the electoral evening of the party headquarters after the European Elections. Joerg Carstensen/dpa Exit polls in Germany show the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc with a clear lead in European parliamentary elections, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) taking second place. The polls, released just after polls closed in Germany on Sunday evening, showed Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition doing poorly, with his Social Democrats (SPD) and his primary coalition partners, the Greens, both trailing the AfD. Scholz's SPD slipped to 14%, according to forecasts from public broadcasters ZDF and ARD. That would be the worst result in a nationwide election for the centre-left SPD, which has historically been one of the dominant parties in German politics. The exit polls put support for the AfD at 16% to 16.5%, behind only the CDU/CSU bloc at 29.5% to 30%. The AfD's co-chairman, Timo Chrupalla, hailed the projections as a "historic result" for the party. SPD's General Secretary Kevin Kuhnert, meanwhile, acknowledged "a tough defeat for us today" in comments to public broadcaster ARD on Sunday evening. Scholz's main coalition partner, the Greens, saw support fall to between 12% and 12.5%, according to the exit polls. That would be a major drop from the last European Parliament election, when the Greens won 20.5% of the vote. The liberal-conservative Free Democrats (FDP), the junior partner in Scholz's three-way coalition, stood at 5% in the poll. Bavarian state premier Markus Soder of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) said the results should be read as a stern rebuke to Scholz and his government's policies. Scholz's coalition "has de facto been voted out by the citizens," Soder declared. The newly founded populist party Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) hit 5.5% to 6%, according to the exit polls, while the far-left The Left party tumbled to just 2.8% to 3%. According to forecasts, voter turnout in Germany was between 64% and 66%, up from 61.4% in 2019. For the first time this year, 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in the European Parliament election in Germany. (L-R) Angelika Niebler, Chairwoman of the CSU European Group, Manfred Weber, Chairman of the European People's Party, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa (L-R) Christian Doleschal, CSU Member of the European Parliament, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Monika Hohlmeier (C), CSU Member of the European Parliament, Manfred Weber (R), Chairman of the European People's Party, and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa Germany, Italy and Spain are reluctant to send their military instructors to Ukraine Thierry Burkhard, the commander of the French General Staff, last week invited the governments of roughly a dozen Western states to participate in an international coalition's training mission in Ukraine. Source: Welt am Sonntag, as reported by European Pravda Details: The USA, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, all of the Baltic states, Denmark, and Sweden were among the countries to which the invitation was extended. According to diplomats in Brussels, President Emmanuel Macron is still attempting to set up training in Ukraine under the framework of the EU Military Assistance Mission in support of Ukraine (EUMAM), an EU training mission. However, the mission's mandate needs to be changed in order to do this. EU diplomats report that the Paris initiatives are met with resistance in Brussels. The majority of EU nations oppose conducting drills in Ukraine. The governments of Spain, Italy, and Germany worry that small-scale drills in Ukraine could lead to a major escalation that would involve the West in the war. Hungary, for its part, stated during an EU defence ministers' conference in late May that Ukraine no longer has a realistic odds of winning the war. However, EU diplomatic circles have stated that there is a solid military justification for Ukrainian soldiers to be trained in their own country. The training would be better suited to Ukrainian soldiers, and the military would not have to leave the state for training. The United States government does not wish to join in this endeavour. On Friday night, on the sidelines of President Joe Biden's visit to France, National Security Council representative John Kirby stated that Washington had made it clear from the start that it did not wish to send American troops to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron stated that at least five other countries have agreed to send instructors to Ukraine to train the Ukrainian troops. "We decided to form a coalition, and several of our partners have already given their assent. We already know we will not be alone. And we will use the next several days to build the broadest possible coalition to react to Ukraine's request," he said. Last month, the media reported that Macron had formed a coalition of states willing to send military instructors to train Ukrainian soldiers directly in Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Projected results in Germany show the centre-right CDU/CSU bloc with a clear lead in European parliamentary elections, with the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) taking second place. Chancellor Olaf Scholz's coalition suffered at the polls, according to the projected results from public broadcaster ARD, with his Social Democrats (SPD) and his primary coalition partners, the Greens, both trailing the AfD. Scholz's SPD slipped to 13.9% to 14%, according to the projections. That would be the worst result in a nationwide election for the centre-left SPD since at least 1949, when West Germany held its first postwar democratic elections. The SPD has historically been one of the dominant parties in German politics. The projected results put support for the AfD at 16% to 16.2%, behind only the CDU/CSU bloc at 30.1% to 30.3%. Opposition leader Friedrich Merz hailed the result for his Christian Democrats (CDU) and said the results show German voters want a clear shift in policy away from Scholz's government. "With this European election, we are back in first place among the German parties by a wide margin," Merz said. "Things can't go on as they have over the last two and a half years," he added, referring to Scholz's time in office. The AfD's co-chairman, Tino Chrupalla, hailed the projections as a "historic result" for the party. He noted that projections showed the AfD with strong leads throughout the former communist East Germany. SPD leader Lars Klingbeil, meanwhile, described the results as a "bitter defeat" for the SPD. "I think it is crystal clear that things have to change," Klingbeil said. Scholz's main coalition partner, the Greens, saw support fall to 11.9%, according to the projections. That would be a major drop from the last European Parliament election, when the Greens won 20.5% of the vote. The liberal-conservative Free Democrats (FDP), the junior partner in Scholz's three-way coalition, slid only slightly and stood at 4.9% to 5% in the projections. Bavarian state premier Markus Soder of the conservative Christian Social Union (CSU) said the results should be read as a stern rebuke to Scholz and his government's policies. Scholz's coalition "has de facto been voted out by the citizens," Soder declared. The newly founded populist party Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) hit 5.9% to 6%, according to the projections, while the far-left The Left party tumbled to just 2.7% to 2.8%. According to forecasts, voter turnout in Germany was 65%, up from 61.4% in 2019. For the first time this year, 16 and 17-year-olds were allowed to vote in the European Parliament election in Germany. As in many other EU countries, observers had expected a significant boost in support for right-wing parties in the European Parliament elections. Some opinion polls had put support for the AfD at more than 20%. AfD co-chairwoman Alice Weidel credited the AfD with making a strong finish "after a bumpy start to the election campaign," in which the party was dogged by negative headlines tied to several scandals involving AfD candidates. A few months ago, the party was polling at more than 20%. But the AfD's support figures fell significantly in the wake of large demonstrations in January and February following reports of a secret right-wing meeting in Potsdam. The meeting centred on so-called remigration. More recent scandals involving the AfD's top EU candidates Maximilian Krah and Petr Bystron have also affected their standing. Both Krah and Bystron have been in the headlines for weeks due to possible links to pro-Russian networks. According to media reports, prosecutors in Germany are investigating possible money payments to both politicians. In addition, a former top aide to Krah was arrested on suspicion of spying for China AfD leaders asked Krah to stop appearing at campaign events after he came under widespread criticism for an interview in which he defended some members of the Nazi SS paramilitary. Following Krah's remarks, the right-wing ID (Identity and Democracy) group in the European Parliament expelled the AfD from the faction. The co-leaders of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Tino Chrupalla (L) and Alice Weidel (L) and candidate for the Europeans elections Rene Aust cheer on stage after first exit polls during the electoral evening of the party headquarters after the European Elections. Joerg Carstensen/dpa (L-R) Angelika Niebler, Chairwoman of the CSU European Group, Manfred Weber, Chairman of the European People's Party, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa (L-R) Christian Doleschal, CSU Member of the European Parliament, Markus Soeder, Minister-President of Bavaria and Chairman of the Christian Social Union in Bavaria (CSU), Monika Hohlmeier (C), CSU Member of the European Parliament, Manfred Weber (R), Chairman of the European People's Party, and Stefan Kohler stand attend the CSU election party at the CSU party headquarters following the first results of the 2024 Europen Elections. Peter Kneffel/dpa Google accused of trying to push out search engine rivals Google has been accused of plotting to squeeze rival search engines out of the market by restricting choice on its smartphones. The internet search giant is under fire after it told Britains competition watchdog it may stop giving Android phone owners a choice of services when setting up their phone. It comes after the company was forced to offer a choice screen of search engines following a European competition ruling in 2018 - when Britain was still part of the EU. However, that five-year agreement is believed to have expired and Googles smaller rivals DuckDuckGo and Ecosia have accused the tech giant of planning to renege on the agreement in Britain. They claim this would reduce their traffic and harm revenues. The Telegraph understands DuckDuckGo, Ecosia and consumer rights group Which? have written to the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to voice their concerns, with the regulator recently locked in talks with Google. The US internet behemoth was fined 3.9bn six years ago by the European Union for illegally abusing its dominance on smartphones and steering users towards using its own search engine. As a result, it was ordered by Brussels to introduce software changes that made it easier for consumers to choose rival products. The so-called choice screen tool offers consumers various search engines to pick from when they set up their phones, providing a boost to challengers against Google, which enjoys more than 90pc market share in Britain. In Europe, Google has been required to keep the choice screen under the blocs new digital rules. But in Britain, a new digital act has only just come into effect and Google is not under the same strictures. Shula Teare van Hagan, associate general counsel for DuckDuckGo - a privacy-focused search engine with 100m users, said: We have been told directly by Google that they intend to remove it, we made the CMA aware of that fact, and they have been having conversations with Google. In blog posts explaining recent updates to its choice screen, Google only said the tool would show for new and existing Chrome users in the EEA. Google is facing a regulatory crackdown in Europe under the blocs new digital market rules, which threaten fines worth billions of euros for anti-competitive behaviour. Britain has also recently strengthened its own competition rules with the Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Bill, which hands more power to the CMA to police tech giants. It is understood Google has been in talks with the CMA about its choice screen and the tech giant has made no final decision to remove it. A Google spokesman said: We have always believed in offering people choice and control and Android phones offer people and businesses more choice than any other mobile platform. We currently provide a choice screen for general search providers on all new Android phones and tablets in Europe, including the UK. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 3 months with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more. Gov. Kathy Hochul scuttled the congestion toll to enter Midtown because she believes too many people are afraid to take the subway so they drive in instead, ex-Gov. David Paterson said Sunday. What she told me in a private conversation was she just thought about people who were afraid to ride the subways, so they drive their old car over the bridge, and they have to pay all this money, Paterson said on 77 WABC radioss The Cats Roundtable. She was thinking really of individuals who would be affected. Hochul realized that some of the problems that the antagonists to congestion pricing are raising are not going to go away, said the former governor, who is a Democratic, as is the governor. Governor Hochul scrapped the Midtown congestion bill in the eleventh hour. Governor Kathy Hochul/Facebook Former Governor of New York David Paterson claims he knows why Hochul shelved congestion pricing. Getty Images Felony assaults on straphangers soared more than 50 percent from before the pandemic in 2019 through last year, with 373 vs. 570 incidents. The violent trend prompted authorities to flood the subway system with extra cops but even that has resulted in just a 1% decrease in overall transit crime between January and March of this year compared to the first quarter of 2023, according to the NYPD stats. Paterson admitted Hochuls 11th hour about-face was jarring coming so close to the June 30 deadline, when the MTA was supposed to implement the controversial first-in-the=nation $15 congestion toll to enter Manhattan south of 60th Street. He dismissed speculation that Hochul shelved the toll so that fellow Democrats running in November for competitive New York congressional seats a situation that could determine which party controls the House dont have to defend congestion pricing from withering attacks from Republicans. Paterson said he ultimately backed Hochuls decision on reneging on the toll, insisting she did not make such a momentous turnabout based purely on political expediency. Those who would be antagonistic to her have tried to say that this is a political move. But I think thats kind of [unfair] at this point with all that is involved to think that the governor would just turn around and do it just to win a few [congressional] seats, he said. Former governor Paterson does not believe that Hochul stopped the congestion bill for political reasons. Getty Images Debate rages now over how the MTA would make up the lost revenue from the $1 billion a year that had been expected from the new Manhattan toll to finance transit capital needs. There also has been criticism over the nearly $500 million that has already been spent by the transit agency on trying to get congestion pricing up and running, including installing toll collecting technology. Its still the right decision, Paterson said of Hochuls controversial move. Hochul and state lawmakers could not agree on alternative financing for the MTA, after the toll plan was yanked, during the final days of the Legislatures session last week. Transit advocates who championed congestion pricing are livid that the governor threw the program under the bus and are holding rallies to try to save it. The 2% of New York commuters drive to work in Manhattan are far wealthier than public transit riders and people who drive to work elsewhere, making congestion pricing a highly progressive policy, the only one that will raise sustained, dedicated billions of real dollars for reliable and accessible subway service while also speeding up bus service and deliveries and cutting emergency response times and air pollution, Danny Pearlstein of the Riders Alliance said Sunday. But congestion pricing is deeply unpopular, with nearly two-thirds of New York voters across all demographics and regions who are opposed to charging a specific toll to enter Midtown, a recent Siena College poll revealed. The tolling program was approved by ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the Democratic-run legislature in 2019. But even Cuomo said the state should hit the brakes on congestion pricing earlier this year, asserting it wasnt the right to time to do it given New Yorks slow-than-expected recovery from the pandemic. A new Supreme Court case, National Rifle Association of America (NRA) v. Vullo, May 30, 2024, prohibits the use by government of coercion of third parties to inhibit the freedom of speech by an entity with which the government disagrees. Here, the NRA was pro-gun; the government of New York led by Andrew Cuomo was in favor of gun control. Maria Vullo, head of a powerful governmental agency, arguably coerced third-party insurance companies to punish and suppress the NRAs free speech rights. The case was made up by strange bedfellows. (David French, New York Times, June 2, 2024). The liberal American Civil Liberties Union represented the conservative NRA. The liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote a unanimous opinion, including the conservatives and liberals on the court, in support of the NRA. The Republicans are on notice that revenge against the Democrats cannot include coercion or like behavior. The concurring Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson added censorship and retaliation to coercion. Democratic government should have the free expression of ideas without behind closed doors coercive deals. Vullo was superintendent of the New York Department of Financial Services (DFS). This is a very powerful agency with power over insurance and other financial companies in the private sector. It could initiate investigations and civil enforcement actions and could refer possible criminal violations to the states attorney general. Vullo began communicating with insurance companies doing business with the NRA. As a result, one company, Lockton, severed ties with the NRA for fear of losing its license and refused to renew coverage at any price. She also met with senior executives at Lloyds. She presented her and Gov. Cuomos views on gun control and their desire to weaken the NRA with its pro-gun policy. She talked about several infractions in the insurance business and how they would overlook those infractions for companies not doing business with the NRA. The message was loud and clear that Lloyds could avoid liability if it terminated its relationship with NRA and other gun groups. There were several other coercive actions cited by the court. Government agents have the right to speak in favor of a position and against other positions. They can try to persuade. But coercion crosses the line into illegal behavior. This is the main distinction of the case: persuasion or coercion. Sotomayor states: Ultimately, the critical takeaway is that the First Amendment prohibits government officials from wielding their power selectively to punish or suppress speech, directly or (as alleged here) through private intermediaries. Democracy requires freedom to speak on policy issues without coercion. Sotomayor writes: viewpoint discrimination is uniquely harmful to a free and democratic society. The Clause prohibits government entities and actors from abridging the freedom of speech. The case came to the court on a motion by Vullo to dismiss. Thus, the court here did not decide the case but only whether the plaintiff NRA, viewing the facts most favorably to it as the nonmoving party, had a First Amendment right to go forward. The holding was that the NRA plausibly alleged that Vullo violated the First Amendment by coercing DFS-regulated entities to terminate their business relationships with the NRA in order to punish or suppress the NRAs advocacy. Jackson concurred stating that causation should be analyzed in the relationship between the coercion here and the harm done to First Amendment rights. She also said that the concepts of censorship and retaliation should be considered as well as coercion as illegal government actions. Eugene Volokh, one of the NRAs attorneys, has written: Yet where, as here, a government official makes coercive threats in a private meeting behind closed doors, the ballot box is an essentially poor control on that officials authority. (The Volokh Conspiracy Daily Update, May 31, 2024). In this case, both conservatives and liberals rallied to support the free expression of ideas in the policy debate against illegal government intrusion. Persuasion is good; coercion, censorship and retaliation undermine the free democratic order and are unconstitutional. Let the Constitution be enforced. James W. Pfister, J.D. University of Toledo, Ph.D. University of Michigan (political science), retired after 46 years in the Political Science Department at Eastern Michigan University. He lives at Devils Lake and can be reached at jpfister@emich.edu. This article originally appeared on The Daily Telegram: James Pfister: Government coercion limited by First Amendment Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said Sunday he would support the United States training Ukrainian forces overseas. Yes, I do support us training inside the country. The delay and weapons because of House inaction, we did lose momentum. But from the very beginning, the Biden administration, they did not impose pre-invasion sanctions to deter Putin. They didnt give weapons to Ukraine early on to deter Putin. And now we got a chance to reset this war that they have the weapons, Graham said on CBSs Face the Nation. He also said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the U.S. to go after Russias assets throughout the world and give them to his country. Heres what he wanted most of all: for us to go after the Russian assets all over the world. Take the money from the sovereign wealth funds of Russia and give it to Ukraine. Theres $300 billion sitting in Europe, from Russia. And sovereign wealth assets that we should seize and give to Ukraine, he said. Graham continued to emphasize his support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia, which invaded the country more than two years ago. Either were going to help Ukraine or were not. Its now time to give them the F-16s, let them fly the planes, long-range artillery to hit targets inside of Russia. Go after Putins assets wherever, all over the world. Go on the offensive. I think the summer Ukraine will regain military momentum, he said. President Biden met with Zelensky in Normandy, France, last week. He and other world leaders had gathered there to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. Biden apologized to Zelensky for the delay in the U.S.s funding of the war against Russia. I apologize for the weeks of not knowing whats going to pass in terms of funding because we had trouble getting the bill that we had to pass that had the money in it. Some of our very conservative members were holding it up. But we got it done finally, Biden said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A grassroots group is suing the city of Camarillo and Costco Wholesale over the construction of the warehouse store on West Ventura Boulevard. Ventura County Citizens Against Mega Gas filed the lawsuit this spring, challenging the citys approval of the Costco. The group is made up of Camarillo and county residents who sued after the City Council denied their appeal on the project in February, allowing the members-only store to move forward with its plans. The development will be a 169,397-square-foot warehouse store and gas station on about 20 acres next to the Home Depot. The site is across from the Camarillo Airport. The Costco will contain a food court, vision and hearing center, pharmacy, bakery, tire center, photo area and more than 4,000 products, including alcohol, according to the city. The retailer will also add 901 parking spaces and 16 double-sided gas pumps, allowing 32 vehicles to fuel up at once. In Ventura County, Oxnard and Simi Valley have Costco stores. Another Costco store lies just over the county line in Westlake Village. When Costco first submitted the project application in 2022, an analysis by the city determined that an estimated 36,650 Camarillo residents visited the Oxnard store, 12,710 residents visited the Westlake Village store and 6,260 residents visited the Simi Valley store that year. What does the Costco lawsuit allege? The court complaint is against the city of Camarillo and the City Council since it approved the project as well as against Costco, the permit holder. The city approved the project after deciding that certain measures would reduce potential environmental impacts to a level that an environmental impact report wasn't needed for the project. The suit maintains that a complete environmental impact report was required for the project and asks the city to prepare the report and comply with the requirements under the California Environmental Quality Act or CEQA. Costco Wholesale submitted applications to build a location in Camarillo next to a Home Depot near the Camarillo Airport. Michelle Glueckert DAnna, a city spokeswoman, said that the city and council members would not comment on pending litigation. Under the approval guidelines for the project, Costco would pay for all litigation-related costs in defending the lawsuit, including the citys attorney costs, according to DAnna. The respondents have "strong arguments" that the project approval adhered to CEQA while considering the environmental effects of the Costco, she added. What are the residents concerns? Resident Joan Handzel has lived in the Springville community, close to the proposed development site, since 2017. She said she signed onto the lawsuit because she fears the pollution and traffic that a Costco may bring to her area. I hope that the environmental impact report will point out what deficiencies are in the Costco proposal and that no Costco will be built here, she said. Kristen Kessler, one of the members of the citizens group, has lived in east Ventura County for about eight years. An environmental and wildlife advocate and a member of the Ventura Audubon Society, she believes many species will be displaced and the city seems to not be particularly concerned about that. The society also submitted a letter to the City Council in November 2023, taking issue with the proposed Costco development, stating that it was inadequate to rely on a 15-year-old environmental review to address current biological impacts. The letter said that the development site is a foraging ground for red-tailed hawks and other raptors, and a habitat for about 10 different bird species, including special status species like western burrowing owls and horned larks. There's a lot going on there in terms of wildlife, and I feel like that matters and it shouldn't just be ignored, Kessler said. Two members of the opposition group are business owners in the area and own a local gas station, she confirmed. One of the parties signed the petition as "Hilu Gus Co., Inc." and owns a Chevron in Camarillo. "They have concerns that the Costco gas station is going to take away business from them, Kessler said. Longtime environmental activist Merrill Berge said that while Costco would pay into a countywide mitigation fund to offset the emissions that the project would generate primarily from the gas station, the payments currently only account for three years of emissions when the project would lead to emissions for many years to come. Berge, a 23-year Camarillo resident, said the citizens group came together as a result of the Costco project. We all had our various concerns from different points of view, Berge said. Berge said it is the City Councils call whether the project moves forward after a judgment is made on the petition, but an EIR would provide the community and the City Council with a basis for making that decision. The next court hearing is a case management conference scheduled for June 14 with Judge Ronda McKaig at the Hall of Justice. The petitioners expect that the case will bring the real impacts of the Costco project to light. Dua Anjum is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at dua.anjum@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism. This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Grassroots group fights building of Camarillo Costco Grover Beach Police Department did everything right in officer-involved shooting | Opinion Officer-involved shootings resulting in the deaths of unarmed civilians are among the most traumatic and potentially controversial incidents faced by law enforcement. In the past, public safety agencies would typically hunker down, refusing to release video of the incident or even basic information. Many times, they would wait several long months before issuing results of the investigation, and too often, those would amount to little more than terse statements exonerating the officers. Is it any wonder the public grew increasingly distrustful of law enforcement? Fortunately, thats changing for the better, and the recent officer-involved shooting in Grover Beach is a textbook example of how to handle these sensitive situations the right way. Within two weeks, the Grover Beach Police Department not only released video from the responding officers body camera and the 911 call, it also made public footage from a citizen witness at the scene, in addition to responding to questions from The Tribune. What led up to officer-involved shooting in Grover Beach The shooting happened the evening of May 25, a Saturday, at Grand Avenue and 13th Street one of the busiest intersections in the city. At 6:23 p.m., police received a report of a man brandishing a firearm, but police were unable to locate him. Fifteen minutes later, a report came in of a man throwing rocks at cars near the same location. This time, an officer located the man, who has since been identified as Aaron Edward Gardner, 41, of Independence, Missouri. Gardner warned the officer that he had a weapon which turned out to be a replica firearm and threatened to shoot him. The officer gave Gardner several commands to put down the gun, but Gardner advanced toward the officer, quickly raising his right arm with a replica firearm in his hand, the Police Department said in a news release. The officer (then) fired his service weapon and struck the male several times. What the videos show We dont have to take the word of the Police Department; the videos clearly show what happened. The body-camera video shows Gardner refusing to comply with an officers demand to raise his hands, Tribune reporter Chloe Jones wrote, before drawing a replica firearm and pointing it at the officer, who then fires four shots in return. We can clearly hear the officer giving Gardner repeated commands. I dont want to hurt you, sir, he says at one point. I will shoot you if I have to, to which Gardner replies, Good. The videos are disturbing. They show how quickly an incident occurring in clear view of the public in broad daylight can turn deadly as well as the risks that officers face even in small, laid-back communities like Grover Beach. What happens next Police Chief John Peters said that anytime officers are involved in critical incidents, they are placed on administrative leave and offered support to deal with the trauma they experience. Peters told The Tribune he believes the officer acted accordingly in view of the threat he faced. However, the incident has been referred to the state Department of Justice, which will investigate and make a final determination. Thats required whenever an officer-involved shooting results in the death of an unarmed civilian. It has been the case since AB 1506 the Deadly Force Accountability Act took effect in 2021. That, too, is an improvement over the old days, since it guarantees an outside agency will investigate. What happened in Grover Beach is a tragedy. A man obviously deeply disturbed put himself in a position where the officer had no choice but to use deadly force. That the man was armed with a replica gun compounds the tragedy. Too often, those very realistic-looking fake weapons are mistaken for the real thing by police officers, and have resulted in the deaths of children, including Tamir Rice, a 12-year-old boy was shot dead by a Cleveland, Ohio, police officer in 2014 because he had been playing with a toy pistol. The rookie officer who shot him described his as a Black male, maybe 20, black revolver, black handgun by him. The fatal shooting of an innocent Black boy ignited national outrage. California attempted to avoid such incidents by passing a law in 2015 the requires toy guns to be distinguishable from actual weapons by painting them white or some other bright color, or adding florescent strips. But as this incident shows, that hasnt solved the problem posed by realistic replicas of firearms. By releasing video and providing information in a timely fashion, the Grover Beach Police Department acted professionally, transparently and compassionately. That should inspire confidence in Chief Peters and his entire staff and serve as an example of how law enforcement can restore public trust. The Seattle Police Department is investigating a gunfight between two men in downtown Seattle Saturday night after one of the men was seriously injured and a security guard was shot in the crossfire. At 9:49 p.m., patrol officers responded to reports of a shooting in the 1800 block of Minor Avenue and found a 26-year-old man suffering from two gunshot wounds. Officers looked after him until the Seattle Fire Department arrived and took over medical care. He was then taken to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. Police determined that an altercation had broken out between two men before shots were fired. The other man involved ran away before officers arrived. A 39-year-old security guard attempted to intervene and was grazed by a bullet. His injury was not life-threatening. There was additional bullet damage to a nearby business and a car, and multiple shell casings were collected. Two guns were also found and seized as evidence. Detectives with the Gun Violence Reduction Unit will be leading the investigation, and 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. Haitis new prime minister, Garry Conille, was hospitalized late Saturday after suffering a reported respiratory emergency. The details on what led to the crisis remained scant. However, Conille was at his mother-in-laws house in the hills above the capital in Boutillier, multiple sources said, when he fell ill and had to be rushed down the mountain to a private hospital in Petion-Ville where he was quickly stabilized. A source later confirmed to the Miami Herald that Conille, 58, was talking, and his blood pressure had improved. Still, Conille was undergoing a battery of tests in order to find out what led to the episode. He was also being closely monitored to see whether he should be medically evacuated out of Haiti where medication and treatment options have been in short supply following the recent violence launched by armed criminal groups on Feb. 29. In a communique published more than three hours after the incident, the Office of the Prime Minister confirmed Conille was being treated at a hospital. Following a week of intense activities, the statement said, Conille had a slight malaise. His situation is stable for the moment, the office added. A longtime development expert with the United Nations, Conille was tapped by Haitis transitional presidential council late last month to lead the countrys new transitional government. He arrived in Port-au-Prince from Miami a week ago. Since his arrival, Conille had been trying to put together a government, but has been embroiled in tensions with the seven voting members of the transitional presidential council about how large the new government should be, and who should serve in which ministries. The council, which wants to retain control over the new transition, also has not formally sworn him in. As a result, Conilles powers are limited and the country today has both him and finance minister, Michel Patrick Boisvert, the interim, in charge. This is a developing story that will be updated when details are available. Police guard outside the hospital where Haiti's newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille was hospitalized in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, late Saturday, June 8, 2024. Louis Gerald Gilles, a member of the transitional presidential council that recently chose Conille said he was en route to the hospital and did not have further information. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Haitis newly selected prime minister, Garry Conille, was hospitalized late Saturday in the capital of Port-au-Prince just days after arriving in the country, the government said. It wasnt immediately known why Conille was hospitalized. The office of the prime minister said in a statement that Conille was feeling slightly unwell following a week of intense activities. It did not provide further details except to say that Conille was stable and that he thanked those who visited him and wished him well. Louis Gerald Gilles, a member of the transitional presidential council that recently chose Conille as leader of the troubled Caribbean country, told The Associated Press that he was at the hospital but unable to provide further information. A person close to Conille, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told AP that he was with the prime minister when he noticed Conille, who he said is asthmatic and sometimes uses an inhaler, appeared to have trouble breathing. The person said he called high-ranking officials and told them Conille needed to be taken to the hospital. A spokesman for Conille did not return messages for comment. AP journalists observed high-ranking officials entering the hospital, including Frantz Elbe, director of Haiti's National Police. Also present was Bruno Maes, UNICEF's representative in Haiti. A handful of curious onlookers gathered outside the hospital as authorities blocked the street with tinted-glass SUVs. Conille was chosen as prime minister May 28 after a convoluted selection process. He faces an arduous task as Haiti's newest leader, including quelling widespread gang violence as the country prepares for the U.N.-backed deployment of a Kenyan police force, a move that was delayed in part because Haiti lacked a premier after former Prime Minister Ariel Henry stepped down April 25. Henry was on an official visit to Kenya when gangs launched coordinated attacks Feb. 29, burning police stations, shooting at the country's main international airport and storming Haiti's two biggest prisons, releasing more than 4,000 inmates. The violence left Henry locked out of the country and eventually led to his resignation. Conille arrived in Haiti on June 1, having worked outside the country until recently as UNICEFs regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean, a post he assumed in January 2023. He previously served as Haitis prime minister from October 2011 to May 2012 under then President Michel Martelly. Conille has been meeting with multiple officials and visiting various parts of Port-au-Prince since arriving, including climbing into an armored vehicle wearing a helmet and flak jacket to go along on a patrol with officers from Haiti's National Police. Earlier Saturday, Conille toured Haitis main international airport, which recently reopened after gang violence forced it to close for nearly three months. On Friday, he met with leaders of the private business sector as well as the country's two telecommunications companies. Conille also had been meeting regularly with the transitional council as they debated who should be appointed to Haiti's new Cabinet. ___ Coto reported from San Juan, Puerto Rico. Associated Press video journalist Pierre-Richard Luxama contributed to this report. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (WFLA) A hammerhead shark was caught chasing tarpons eerily close to beachgoers in St. Petersburg on Thursday, just a day before three people were hurt in two separate shark attacks on Floridas Gulf Coast. Drone video, captured by kayak company See Through Canoe on June 6, shows the hammerhead chasing tarpons underneath paddleboarders and close to beachgoers in the water as the fish swam near the shore. Florida authorities warn of shark dangers along Gulf Coast beaches after 3 people are attacked Hammerhead Shark chasing tarpon by people at the beach in St Petersburg, the company wrote on Facebook. The shark passed under a couple paddleboarders and some of the tarpon were swimming really close to the shoreline and through people in an effort to avoid the shark. Eventually the shark managed to catch a good sized tarpon. The video of the hammerhead shark in St. Pete comes a day before a 45-year-old woman lost part of her arm, and two teens were hurt in two shark attacks about four miles apart in Walton County on Friday. According to Walton County Fire Rescue, the woman had to have her lower left arm amputated and sustained significant trauma to the mid-section and pelvic area. A short time later, two girls between the ages of 15 and 17 were also injured in an attack, with one sustaining trauma to one upper and lower extremity. She is reportedly in critical condition. The second teen had flesh wounds to a foot. For two of these incidents to happen on the same day is highly unusual, officials said. At this time, its unclear if the woman and girls were attacked by the same shark. It is also unknown what type of shark they were attacked by. Hammerhead shark chases large ray in St. Pete before taking chunk out of animal While no shark attacks have been reported in the Tampa Bay area so far this year, officials are reminding beachgoers to stay vigilant while in the water, as last weeks shark attacks could be attributed to small fish traveling near the shore. Please swim carefully today, respect the Gulf, stay hydrated, and look out for your loved ones, the South Walton Fire District posted on social media following the attacks. See Through Canoe specializes in making clear kayaks and has been doing so since 2007. The company has also been capturing stunning videos and photos of marine wildlife from the view of the clear kayaks. Visit See Through Canoes Instagram and Facebook page to see more wildlife videos and learn more about the company. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) A man with a German shepherd was shot to death by Vancouver police officers Saturday afternoon near West 4th Street and Columbia, police said in a release. Witnesses who spoke with KOIN 6 News described a scene that escalated very quickly in front of their eyes. The incident began around 1:45 p.m. when police were alerted to a man with a gun and an an aggressive German shepherd who had gotten loose and bit at least one person. Just before 3 p.m. police spotted the man and dog and saw the dog try to bite a passerby. At that point, authorities said, the man allegedly pointed a gun at one of the officers, who shot and killed the man. A man with an aggressive German shepherd was shot and killed by Vancouver police, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) The German shepherd stayed aggressive, officials said and was eventually tethered to a dumpster before being taken away by I Pawd it Forward, a non-profit that works with the Humane Society of Southwest Washington and Clark County Animal Control. The dog was then taken to the Humane Society. One person was treated for dog bite wounds. A man with an aggressive German shepherd was shot and killed by Vancouver police. The dog was taken away by the non-profit I Pawd it Forward, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Two Vancouver officers are on paid administrative leave during the investigation, standard procedure in similar instances. The officers body-worn cameras will be reviewed and released at a later time, authorities said. The investigation will be led by the Clark County Sheriffs Office. Three witness accounts KOIN 6 News spoke with three people who witnessed either the shooting or the immediate aftermath. One witness, Morgan, said he came over the bridge and heard someone yelling in Russian at him. Morgan kept going but noticed the German shepherd was on a leash. This other guy was walking in the opposite direction and I happened to look back and I saw the dog nip the guy. And then I just saw this other cop hop out of his car and start shooting at him. Thats all I saw. I couldnt believe it. Shannon said she and her wife were attending the Pride event when they came around the corner on Columbia and saw a man down. There was about four or five officers at that time and then they (extra police backup) just came in all directions, Shannon said, estimating there were around 30 cop cars at the scene. This man, Morgan, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) This person, Shannon, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) This woman, Rose, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Rose said she and her husband were heading to a brewery when we noticed someone who looked like a homeless man who had a German shepherd with them. And he was walking up the street and he was obviously agitated in some form. He was giving the finger to the cop. There was a cop car at the corner, where the light was. And the man walking his dog was giving him the finger and yelling at him but still walking up this way. And then another man was coming down this way and the mans German shepherd kind of leaped at him. So that made the cop car come up and stop to the man who had passed and asked him a question. I saw the man shake his head no, and went on his way. So he was obviously not hurt by the German shepherd at all and kept walking. Then the gunfire happened very quickly. At that moment the cop kept following the man with the German shepherd and stopped his car. And the other cop car came and pulled in and then the cop came out of the car immediately and pulled their gun and within seconds I heard pop pop pop, three shots. And the guy was on the ground, completely down. And then a bunch of other cop cars came in, I mean a lot of them. Gosh, I dont know like 20 cop cars. As other officers arrived with what Rose described as an assault weapon, the dog was still near his owner in a protective mode, she said. And then there were more pops, more shots towards the dog because they were trying to get the dog to not come. And they finally got control of the dog, pulled him aside. But thats what happened. The man was down immediately, within seconds and they didnt try to de-escalate at all. I mean, when the cop came, they got out of their car and they shot him. I mean, it was within seconds. KOIN 6 News will continue to follow 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 KOIN.com. Monday update: Fire crews were able to stop the progress of a brush fire at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar that began as a controlled burn Saturday afternoon. Crews used a water dropping helicopter to fight those flames that burned a total of 106 acres. Smoke could be seen from nearby freeways. A captain with the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar confirmed to FOX 5/KUSI on Monday the MCAS Miramar fire department was conducting a controlled burn Saturday at the East Miramar training area. The MCAS Miramar fire department had the fire fully contained as of 9 p.m. Saturday. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A brush fire was reported at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar Saturday, the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department confirmed. The blaze dubbed the Aqueduct Fire had grown to around 110 acres by evening. The fire was located only on air station property in the area of Aqueduct Road and San Clemente Canyon Freeway, according to Cal Fire. Vegetation fire reported at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton The fire department requested at least five brush fire response engines and a helicopter to assist with securing the area. The Miramar Fire Department and Cal Fire also assisted with the response. A brush fire on MCAS As of 7:45 a.m. Sunday, the fire was reported to be at 90 acres and 60% contained, according to Cal Fire. No injuries have been reported, and fire officials believe there is no current threat to the city of San Diego. Fire officials said crews have stopped the progress. Watch ALERTCalifornias feed of the fire here. Teens arrested, charged with murder in connection to fatal street fight stabbing Video Below: Wildfire emergency preparedness Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Its not 1968. But after anti-war, pro-Palestinian demonstrations roiled college campuses this spring and led to clashes between protesters and police, the specter of the chaos surrounding that summers Democratic National Convention in Chicago looms as the party returns in August to mark the renomination of President Joe Biden. To be sure, the landscape is vastly different than it was in the late 1960s, even amid resurgent political violence driven predominantly by the far right. Nevertheless, the influx of potentially tens of thousands of protesters into Chicago during the Aug. 19-22 convention, some of whom have vowed to take to the streets without city permits, raises questions about how prepared Chicago police are for any ensuing unrest. While similar concerns arose ahead of the last Chicago DNC in 1996, as well as the NATO summit in 2012, divisions among the Democratic coalition are deeper this year, with progressives upset over Bidens ongoing support for Israel in its war against Hamas as well as his recent order clamping down on migrant crossings at the southern border. Policing has changed substantially over the past several decades, especially for large gatherings such as national political conventions. Still, with the whole world watching Chicago once again, avoiding any echoes of 1968 when blue-helmeted officers beat protesting Yippies and working journalists alike in what a government report later termed a police riot will be an important test for a department that remains under a federal consent decree over its long-running pattern and practice of civil rights violations. In the lead-up to this years convention, organizers and police officials have downplayed concerns about possible unrest and sought to dispel any comparisons to the events that culminated in the infamous Battle of Michigan Avenue. This will not be 1968, said Chicago police Superintendent Larry Snelling while acknowledging he understands the comparison given national protests of the Israel-Hamas war. Our response as a Chicago Police Department will be a lot more deliberate a lot more controlled because our officers are being trained in the best way possible to respond to any level of civil unrest. Its not just the Police Department that has a lot riding on a peaceful convention. The political stakes are high, both for Biden as he seeks to again defeat former Republican President Donald Trump and for local Democrats who will play prominent roles at the party gathering and in managing the situation outside. Thats particularly true for Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who was pivotal in bringing the convention to Chicago and will use the event to elevate his national profile as a key Biden surrogate and potential future White House contender, as well as Mayor Brandon Johnson, who has perhaps a greater affinity with those planning to protest than with the police under his command who are charged with keeping order. If youre Biden and the Democratic Party and the mayor of Chicago, you just want peace and calm and stability, said Andrew Baer, a University of Alabama at Birmingham history professor who studies policing and social movements. You dont want the bad optics of either suppressing a protest or the protest embarrassing the coronation of Biden. Despite changes in both policing practices and the political environment, theres clearly a through line from 68, through the (Cmdr. Jon) Burge era, into the 2000s and up to the present day, said Baer, author of Beyond the Usual Beating: The Jon Burge Police Torture Scandal and Social Movements for Police Accountability in Chicago. Today, as then, there is a sense among many police of feeling misunderstood and kind of unnecessarily tampered with by outside forces, Baer said. That degree of always-simmering resentment felt by police rank and file, and the Fraternal Order of Police and the unions, and the supervisors and administrators of the Police Department always makes for a potentially explosive environment, whether its at a street arrest or a public protest or national political convention, he said. 2020 snuck up on us One need not look all the way back to 1968 to see what can go wrong when hordes of protesters and lines of cops meet in the streets. Indeed, the training Snellings officers have been undergoing ahead of the DNC was spurred not only by Chicagos selection as the host city but also by the departments response to widespread civil unrest in 2020. Officers in Chicago were unprepared for the simultaneous and unpredictable nature of large protests and chaos that erupted over three days after George Floyds murder at the hands of a Minneapolis police officer in late May of that year. While the department improved its response to other incidents in the weeks that followed, protests over the citys Christopher Columbus statues and also high-profile police shootings highlighted similar struggles. 2020 snuck up on us, Snelling acknowledged in a recent Tribune interview. Lets tell the cold, hard truth. We did not have the level of preparedness to deal with something that was that random that popped up on us. The department is applying lessons learned from the 2020 response in preparation for the DNC, Snelling said. While CPD took issue with some of the findings in a recent inspector general report on policy and training updates since the 2020 unrest, Snelling said any use of force or pepper spray during the DNC would be proportional to the reality on the ground. Were not just going to walk in and spray a crowd of people. Even if theyre breaking the law, if theyre peaceful, were not going to use OC (pepper) spray, Snelling said. Now, if we have an all-out fight, where people are attacking police officers, are attacking each other, and we need to use OC spray, that call will be made by a higher authority based on the totality of circumstances and whats occurring in the field in that time. The situation on the ground should be much different in August for a number of reasons, not least of which is the major role the U.S. Secret Service will play in controlling the areas surrounding the major convention venues, the United Center and McCormick Place. Like every major party convention since 2000, this summers DNC along with the Republican National Convention a month earlier in Milwaukee is designated a National Special Security Event, making the Secret Service the lead agency for security planning. Each convention host city also received $75 million from Congress to help cover equipment and other security costs. Weve got a tremendous working relationship with Chicago police, as well as a multitude of other agencies, both local and federal, that will be contributing to this whole-of-government approach that were taking, Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle told reporters during a visit last week that included tours of the convention venues. Outside the yet-to-be-finalized security zones around the venues, where most if not all the protests are expected to take place, Chicago police will be running the show, however. The convention will come near the end of what are typically more violent summer months as well as after large-scale events like Lollapalooza and the NASCAR street race. In an effort to relieve some of the tension building ahead of the DNC, lawyers for the Johnson administration indicated in federal court Thursday they were preparing to offer a deal to protesters whod sued the city over its alleged efforts to block marches within sight and sound of the convention venue. While private negotiations remain ongoing, the city indicated protesters would be offered a United Center-adjacent route. Regardless of the outcome of those discussions, the city will have to manage the movement of an estimated 50,000 delegates, staff and public officials to and from the convention venues south of downtown and on the West Side, in addition to handling security checkpoints and traffic rerouting to accommodate Biden, who is expected to attend the convention on the final day. CPDs task of working with other organizations and maintaining order will come with the city under a national and international spotlight it didnt have to contend with in 2020 when protests were taking place across the country, said Cara Hendrickson, the former chief of the Illinois attorney generals public interest division, where she helped negotiate the consent decree. The way CPD and other law enforcement agencies respond will be very visible to Chicagoans and the world, she said. Its a very public test of law enforcements current ability to keep people safe. Trying to assure the public Despite assurances of readiness from the top brass, one veteran CPD supervisor, speaking on a condition of anonymity for concern of reprisal, gave a blunt assessment of the departments readiness to tamp down on summer gun violence on top of its DNC responsibilities. Our strategy is eight hours ahead, right? the supervisor told the Tribune in mid-May. Its very short-term and theres no long-term planning to this, but if you ask them then theyll say there is, but they wont tell you what. In 1968, of course, Mayor Richard J. Daley also sought to assure the public and his fellow Democrats the situation in Chicago would be under control, though he focused more on maintaining order than allowing room for dissenting voices. That years gathering at the International Amphitheatre in the New City neighborhood came amid widespread protests over the Vietnam War, a backlash so strong that President Lyndon Johnson chose not to seek reelection. It also came just months after the assassination of Democratic presidential hopeful Robert Kennedy and violent uprisings that April in Chicago and elsewhere in the wake of the Rev. Martin Luther Kings assassination. Leading in, Daley was talking about how he was going to uphold law and order in Chicago, said Heather Hendershot, a Northwestern University communications professor and author of the recent book When the News Broke: Chicago 1968 and the Polarizing of America. While Daley was Mr. Democrat, his rhetoric echoed that of GOP nominee Richard Nixon, whose campaign capitalized on the ensuing disorder in Chicago to win in November, Hendershot said. (Daley) sent out this message that, We are prepared to do whatever we have to do to maintain order in Chicago. We will keep our city safe, this kind of thing, she said. And people knew there was going to be a lot of violence, and it really scared a lot of people away. The result was a crowd of only about 10,000 predominantly white protesters during the 1968 DNC, Hendershot said, a group that was outnumbered by police and members of the National Guard. The protests this year could be substantially larger, Hendershot said, pointing to the more than 100,000 people who protested President George W. Bush and the Iraq War during the 2004 RNC in New York. Somewhat encouraging, though, is that this year Johnson and police officials are not releasing a bunch of press releases to scare people or to say, Were going to have law and order, she said. They will occasionally say something like, We will engage in constitutional policing, which, obviously, is what all policing should be. Whac-A-Mole But what policing should be doesnt always match reality when officers are confronted with large groups of protesters in unpredictable settings. The George Floyd protests in 2020 created a no-win for cops, protesters and nearby businesses, according to three separate reports CPDs own after-action report, a scathing probe by the citys inspector general, and a 464-page special report covering the summers incidents from the independent monitoring team responsible for tracking the citys progress in the court-ordered consent decree. Cops were left vulnerable, exhausted and under-resourced, in part because the department had not prepared for that scale of unrest since 2012, when Chicago hosted the NATO summit. Officers struggled to control disorganized crowds and distinguish between protesters protected under the First Amendment and those responsible for looting, vandalism or assaulting cops. Many cops were deployed without protective gear, radios or bullhorns to communicate dispersal orders. At times, equipment failed in the field during lengthy shifts. Some cops were left without adequate or timely transportation to transfer arrestees or move other cops to a place to rest, use restrooms, eat or drink. One officer described the departments strategy during the George Floyd protests as Whac-A-Mole, with self-guided platoons of officers putting out metaphorical fires while still leaving others smoldering. Accountability measures lapsed as well. Some officers were unfamiliar with the departments mass arrest policies, resulting in some arrestees suspected of looting, arson or violence being released or having charges dropped. Some officers also covered or removed their name tags or badges, turned off their body-worn cameras, were deployed without them or had the camera batteries die on them in the field. The independent monitoring team reported hearing from community members that officers were verbally abusive toward them; pushed and shoved them; tackled them to the ground; pushed them down stairs; pulled their hair; struck them with batons, fists, or other nearby objects; hit them after they were kettled with nowhere to go or after being handcuffed; and sprayed them with pepper spray (OC spray) without reason. Misconduct settlements stemming from the protests have been costly for taxpayers. On top of tens of millions spent on overtime and damage to local businesses, a WTTW analysis found the city had paid $5.6 for settlements and attorney fees. As of April, 32 lawsuits related to officer misconduct had been paid out. Thirteen were pending in federal court. Following 2020, CPD has been training, working, preparing, revising orders, and working with parties involved in the consent decree to update mass arrest and use of force policies, Snelling said. The department is also working to ensure officers get as much time off as possible in the weeks leading up to the DNC to ensure we have the maximum manpower that we can have out there while not pulling officers from the citys most violent neighborhood beats. Command staff members have been through multiple days of training for field force operations to know how to guide manpower. The department has set aside 1,370 flex body cameras across several area offices, purchased 40 passenger vans, and additional radios to distribute to each police district. Lessons of 2020 Even so, the citys inspector general recently highlighted shortcomings in those plans, including opaque written policies about the use of pepper spray and kettling, which is the act of corralling crowds into a closed space. The citys crowd-control policies also contain outdated theories that assume bad actors are present and that people in mass gatherings are inclined to act like a mob, the IG said. Snelling denied the department used kettling tactics but nonetheless said the lessons of 2020 are being applied to this summers preparations. DNC training has already been tested at protests, including at several college campuses across the city, Snelling said, noting that most ended with no violence. Even in situations where weve had to make arrests, we gave these people multiple, multiple opportunities to voluntarily comply and leave, Snelling said. Only as a last resort we made arrests. CPD on Thursday invited members of the press to McCormick Place to observe about 150 officers take part in training exercises tailored for the expected protests and potential unrest during the DNC. Drills focused on defensive tactics, crowd control and medical aid, as well as officer wellness. Snelling said the department also will use a line relief tactic to provide cops reprieves when needed. These are human beings who are standing out here, having insults hurled at them, probably things thrown at them, Snelling said Thursday. At some point, the human nature kicks in and the possibility or the likelihood of making a mistake becomes greater. This is why now we have that line relief where we can take those officers off the front line and bring in a fresh batch of officers who can deal with the situation. Given the possibility of mass arrests, officers also are receiving training on properly processing suspects taken into custody in potentially volatile situations. Will there be mass arrests? But some planning to protest the convention are taking issue with comments Snelling made at a separate media briefing earlier last week. First Amendment protection is only there if youre not committing a crime, Snelling said. You can be acting out peacefully and still breaking the law. Hatem Abudayyeh, executive director of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, said after a court hearing Thursday that Snellings words were very concerning. This sounds like nothing more than a threat from a police department that has a history of violence against protesters, said Abudayyeh, whose group is one of the organizations suing the city over its previous plans to keep protesters away from the main convention sites. Civil liberties advocates also have taken issue with the departments latest policy on mass arrests. In April, a coalition of the community groups that triggered the consent decree asked the judge overseeing the agreement to block the Police Department from implementing the mass arrest policy drafted earlier this year. The American Civil Liberties Union of Illinois and other groups argue the new proposal is overly broad, fails to make proper accommodations for people with disabilities and non-English speakers, and marks a step back from a First Amendment policy negotiated after the violent and unconstitutional response to the 2020 protests, according to the filing. The groups are asking Judge Rebecca Pallmeyer to intervene swiftly because CPD officers are already being trained on the infirm policy for the DNC. Meanwhile, Hendrickson, now the executive director of the public interest group Impact for Equity, notes that police leaders will have the complex task of not only coordinating with other city departments but other law enforcement entities. CPD is going to be called upon to make difficult judgment calls rapidly, in real time, over the course of many days or weeks. And understanding who has responsibility for making those decisions, who is the backup to the person who has the responsibility to make those decisions if theyre not available. I dont know the answers to those questions at this point, Hendrickson said. Snelling said plans are still being worked out for the role outside agencies the National Guard, the Cook County sheriffs office, Illinois State Police or other local police departments would play, but said they would not be charged with managing crowds. We want to put them in other areas where they can protect certain venues, he said. That frees up Chicago police officers who have been very well trained to go out there and deal with the possibility of civil unrest. Were ready If the past is precedent, Johnson an organizer who has said he values demonstrations would be directly in charge of making major decisions on how to respond to potential unrest. Mayor Lori Lightfoot made the final call to raise downtown bridges, use pepper spray, enact a citywide curfew, and call in the National Guard during the 2020 protests. Johnson has repeatedly said violence or vandalism would not be tolerated, but has emphasized the fundamental right of our democracy, the First Amendment, is protected. Snelling said he is in constant contact about preparations with Johnson and his deputy mayor for community safety, Garien Gatewood. Raising bridges and enacting curfews in 2020 were a response to riot activity, not protected First Amendment protests, he said. We will not allow people to come here and destroy our city, Snelling said. Were ready. Were prepared to deal with whatever comes our way. But we would love for everything to end peacefully. Do we expect that thats going to happen? No. Thats our wish. On the political side, Democrats have been quick to voice their support for Chicago police and the larger security effort and to shift the focus to the GOP convention in Milwaukee, which could attract some of the same right-wing groups that instigated the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Democratic National Convention Committee declined to make convention chair Minyon Moore available for an interview. But in a statement, convention spokeswoman Emily Soong echoed what organizers have been saying for months in response to questions about protests and possible disruptions: Peaceful protest has been a fixture of political conventions for decades, and while Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans stoke political violence, we will continue to support the ongoing security coordination at all levels of government to keep the city safe for delegates, visitors, media, and all Chicagoans, including those exercising their right to make their voices heard. For Pritzker, who courted the convention before the deadly Oct. 7 Hamas attack on Israel sparked a war that has divided Democrats, the gathering is a chance to show his mettle on the national stage, said Chris Mooney, an emeritus professor of political science at the University of Illinois at Chicago. That will be particularly true in the face of possible mass protests, he said. Even though he didnt expect this, didnt think of it when he was lobbying for this (convention), he has earned himself the opportunity to show how excellent he is as a public leader, Mooney said. Chicago Tribunes Jake Sheridan contributed. PHOTOS: Protests after Chicago releases video showing 13-year-old shot by police Chicago Police Shooting Chicago-Police-Shooting Chicago-Police-Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police Shooting Chicago Police-Shooting WEST PALM BEACH American flags were draped over shoulders, "USA" chants filled the air and "God Bless America" rang through bagpipes. Two World War II veterans were home from Normandy again. Sydney Edson of Lake Worth Beach and Ray Glansberg of Port St. Lucie arrived at Palm Beach International Airport around 3 p.m. Saturday, almost exactly eight decades after the D-Day invasion of June 1944 in which both served. They'd been in Normandy, France, on an Honor Flight for the 80th anniversary of the invasion that led to the end of World War II. World War II veterans Ray Glansberg of Port St. Lucie, left, and Sydney Edson of Lake Worth Beach are applauded as they arrive Saturday afternoon at Palm Beach International Airport after their trip to Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Typically, Honor Flights take World War II, Korean and Vietnam War veterans to Washington, D.C., for a day of remembrance and gratitude. They are funded by the Honor Flight Network, a national nonprofit. Saturday's flight was coming home from a bit farther away. Part of a gift courtesy of American Airlines Old Glory Honor Flight, the trip had taken a total of 68 World War II veterans to Omaha Beach to mark the D-Day anniversary. Aside from Edson and Glansberg, the initial flight there included six Medal of Honor winners from Iraq, Afghanistan, and Vietnam, and two "Rosie the Riveters," women who worked in U.S. manufacturing facilities and shipyards. Veterans from across the country, ranging from 98 to 107 years old, were selected for the flight. "I came on the trip only for one reason," Edson said Saturday, minutes after his arrival. "To pay my respects to the guy that really had it tough and did the job. Once they secured the beach at a tremendous cost, the war was won and the Germans knew it." France at the time was under Nazi occupation. Edson, now 100, was a welder in Brooklyn before being drafted into the Army Air Forces in 1943. He worked as a radio operator and a gunner in a B-24 Liberator as part of Bomb Squadron 491. He said that he did not remember much about the flight to France on D-Day because he'd been so focused on performing his duties. His job was to assist the soldiers invading the beaches. But he also doubled as a gunner and had to be prepared to operate the planes machine guns, if the need arose. Glansberg, at 102, is also a centenarian. "I can't explain it," Edson said of about 200 people gathered to welcome him home on Saturday at the airport. "It's just wonderful." Sydney Edson, 100, of Lake Worth Beach, laughs as he is greeted by fellow veterans Saturday at Palm Beach International Airport. The pair weren't just awaited by people grateful for their service. Other World War II veterans sat in the crowd, the youngest of them 99. "We love our greatest generation," a sign being held above them read. "We treat them like rock stars," said Christine Brady of Southeast Florida Honor Flight, one of many nonprofits under the National Honor Flight Network. "We give them the welcome home that most never received." A crowd at Palm Beach International Airport on Saturday cheers as World War II veterans Ray Glansberg and Sydney Edson return home from Normandy. Marty Marsh would agree. Marsh, 78, of Stuart, went on an Honor Flight himself in November 2021 for his service in Vietnam. "It's quite an emotional experience, especially for Vietnam vets like myself," he said. "When we came home, we didn't get a very good welcome. We were called names and spit on, so, for Vietnam vets, especially, it's kind of a day of closure. It ends a long chapter in their life, and it's just an incredible day." Jasmine Fernandez is a journalist covering Delray Beach and Boca Raton for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach her at jfernandez@pbpost.com and follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @jasminefernandz. Help support our work. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: World War II veterans return from D-Day ceremony in France FILE - A home is seen exploding from a distance, Monday night, Dec. 4, 2023, in Arlington, Va. A man who died in a house explosion six months ago outside the nations capital deliberately detonated gasoline canisters in his basement that caused the blast, authorities said Friday, June 7, 2024. (AP Photo, file) ARLINGTON, Va. (AP) A man who died in a house explosion six months ago outside the nations capital deliberately detonated gasoline canisters in his basement that caused the blast, authorities said Friday. Arlington County police in Virginia went to the home of 56-year-old James Yoo on Dec. 4 because he was firing a flare gun from the back of his duplex into a nearby school and park, police said Friday at a news conference announcing the cause of the explosion. Police tried unsuccessfully to make contact with Yoo. They got a search warrant and used an armored vehicle to knock through his front door. Officers then heard gunshots, and a few minutes later the entire house exploded. Unfortunately, we're not going to know a specific motive, Police Chief Andy Penn said Friday, though the investigation turned up evidence of paranoia and mental health problems. The case has no ties to terrorism, and Yoo acted alone, FBI counterterrorism agent Sanjay Virmani said. Authorities showed dramatic video of the explosion at Friday's news conference, taken from police dash cams and body-worn cameras of officers. It also showed body cam video of children in a nearby park frightened by the flare gun shots and efforts by officers to talk to Yoo and get him to come out of his house. None of the first responders suffered major injuries, though Penn said several officers ended up seeking medical care in the days afterward. Authorities had previously disclosed that Yoo had exhibited erratic behavior and frequently contacted the FBI alleging that he was a victim of schemes and frauds. Court records show he also filed federal lawsuits that were dismissed as frivolous. Some of the lawsuits, filed from 2018 to 2022, were described by judges as convoluted or confused. One lawsuit alleged he had been committed against his will. Investigators concluded that Yoo intended to start the fire that caused the explosion, an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives said Friday. Investigators found gasoline canisters with 35 gallons of capacity stored in his basement. The agent said they could not conclude exactly how he ignited the fire and explosion, and said it could have been caused by gunshots igniting gasoline vapors or simply by a match or lighter. Police used pepper spray and tear gas to try to force Yoo out, but authorities had said previously, and again at Friday's press conference, that those chemicals are not flammable. They had also turned off the natural gas connection to the home in the early phase of the standoff. Part of Teton Pass, a crucial highway weaving through the mountains of western Wyoming, collapsed Saturday morning in a massive landslide that severed the primary transit route between two cities in the region. Officials said they expect the road will remain closed long-term, potentially jeopardizing almost half the workforce in and around the tourist hubs of Jackson Hole, Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park. Crews were still examining the site on Monday to determine whether it would be possible to construct some kind of interim road for travelers in place of the collapsed section of the highway. The Wyoming Department of Transportation said that current evaluations from engineers and geologists suggested they would be able to build a temporary detour around the landslide. According to transportation officials, that detour could be open to the public as soon as a few weeks from now. "Currently, WYDOT geologists and engineers are confident they can build a safe, temporary detour around the slide area using local fill material and paving two temporary lanes," the agency said in a social media post. The update came as concerns mounted over the possible economic implications of the Teton Pass collapse. After it happened, Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon declared a state of emergency in hopes that federal funding would allow the state to access the resources required to begin permanent repairs on the highway, which officials have said are "substantial." The Teton County branch of the transportation department initially announced early Saturday that the road at milepost 12.8 on Teton Pass had "catastrophically failed," and shared several images on social media that showed the extent of the damage. Officials said crews were trying to build a detour around the initial collapse when the landslide broke down further and effectively destroyed a whole section of the surrounding highway. No one was injured. "WYDOT is now reviewing a long term solution and repairs, and more information on planning efforts will be available soon," the department said in their announcement. At the time, crews were also working to clear debris from another mudslide at the 15th mile mark on Teton Pass. Carved into the Teton mountain range and running for about 17 miles, Teton Pass is the only direct route between Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming. Despite being notoriously treacherous at certain times of year, and typically closed during those times because of weather-related safety concerns, the highway provides vital access to Teton County, which includes Jackson, Yellowstone and Grand Teton, for workers who commute there from eastern Idaho. "We understand this highway is a lifeline for commuters, deliveries, medical care access and tourism, especially with limited alternatives and the summer season upon us," said Darin Westby, the director of the Wyoming Department of Transportation, in a statement after the collapse. "WYDOT engineers, surveyors and geologists mobilized quickly to try to maintain highway viability as long as possible, but catastrophic failure could not be avoided." Westby said the Transportation Department was "decisively engaged on fixing the road and restoring connectivity to the Teton Valley." In a study completed last January on the safety of the Teton Pass corridor, the Federal Highway Administration acknowledged that the highway "offers a critical connection for commuters and recreationists traveling from Victor, Idaho, and Jackson, Wyoming." The trip, from one end to the other, would ordinarily take around 30 minutes or so in a car, or slightly longer on public transit. Because of the steep mountain landscape, alternate routes send travelers on a lengthy detour that takes roughly three times as long and covers some 85 miles. The Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board said businesses in the city, as well as Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks, would all remain open in a message shared on its website in the wake of the Teton Pass collapse. The board also recognized that closing the highway indefinitely will likely have consequences for workers living in Idaho and commuting to Teton County, who make up about 40% of the county's workforce, according to that message. "Although businesses will do their best to support employees and commuters, and will work to remain open and maintain normal operating hours and services, it is expected that the workforce will be affected," the travel and tourism board said. "As a community, we ask visitors and locals to exercise patience and understanding if you experience longer than normal wait times or interruptions in services." D-Day: Eisenhower and the paratroopers' key to success Julia Louis-Dreyfus on "Tuesday," podcast "Wiser Than Me" Lionel Richie on the making of "We Are the World" Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban claps after addressing the media after receiving the results of the European Parliamentary elections in Budapest, Hungary, Monday, June 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Denes Erdos) BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans nationalist party took the most votes in Sundays European Parliament elections but sharply underperformed its past dominance in a race that pitted the long-serving leader against a new challenger that has upended Orbans grip on Hungarian politics. With 85% of votes counted, Orbans Fidesz party had 44% of the vote, enough to send 11 delegates of Hungarys 21 total seats in the European Unions legislature. While Fidesz took a plurality of votes, it was down sharply from 52% support in 2019 EU elections and looked set to lose two seats in what was widely seen as a referendum on Orbans popularity. Still, while speaking to supporters at a party event Sunday, Orban claimed victory over his opponents. Today we defeated the old opposition, the new opposition, and no matter what the opposition will be called the next time, we will defeat them again and again, he said. Preliminary results showed that more than 57% of eligible voters cast a ballot, setting a record for participation in an EU election in Hungary. While Fidesz has dominated Hungarian politics since 2010, many are deeply dissatisfied with how it has governed the country. A deep economic crisis and a recent series of scandals involving Fidesz politicians have rocked the party which prides itself on upholding family values and Christian conservatism. Those factors led to the emergence of one of the most formidable challengers Orban has ever faced, Peter Magyar, who broke ranks with Orbans party in February and in a matter of months built up Hungarys strongest opposition party. That party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA), stood at 30% of the vote Sunday, amounting to seven delegates to the European Parliament. Magyar gathered a crowd of supporters next to the Danube River in Budapest, declaring that his party's election result marked the end of an era. Today, the future has begun in Hungary. Today, it became clear to every Hungarian that no one has to be afraid anymore in Hungary, he said. Because there isn't 100 of us, not 1,000, but several million. Magyar has planned to use the elections to propel himself and his movement to challenge and defeat Orban in the next national ballot scheduled for 2026. The 43-year-old lawyers accusations of widespread corruption in Orbans government, and claims that Fidesz has used a propaganda machine to sow deep social divisions, have resonated with many Hungarians who desire change. On the eve of the election, he mobilized tens of thousands of demonstrators in Budapest in a final appeal for support for his new party. While the favorable result for TISZA portended a shift in Hungarys domestic politics, right-wing populists like Orban made significant gains across Europe in the election, stirring fears that the worlds biggest trading blocs ability to make decisions could be undermined as war rages in Ukraine and anti-migrant sentiment mounts. Hungarys far-right Our Homeland party gained 6% of the vote Sunday, sending a delegate to Brussels for the first time. Orban, the Kremlins closest EU ally, had expressed hopes that parties across Europe that oppose providing military support to Ukraine would gain a majority in the EU legislature. Hungary is set to take over the EUs rotating six-month presidency in July. The five-time prime minister cast the elections as a contest that would decide whether Russias war in Ukraine would engulf Europe. He campaigned heavily on culturally divisive issues like migration and LGBTQ+ rights and fears that the war could escalate to involve Hungary directly if his political opponents were successful. On Sunday, he said, To sum up the results of the European elections, we can send it as a telegram to Brussels as the following: Migration, stop. Gender, stop. War, stop. Soros, stop. Brussels, stop. He has blamed pro-war politicians in Washington and Brussels for increasing tensions with Russia and portrayed his refusal to supply Kyiv with military aid and other support as a pro-peace position unique in Europe. After casting his vote earlier in the day, Antal Zambo, a 75-year-old retiree in Budapest, said he supported Orban and Fidesz as he believed they would deliver a more peaceful life. Everyone benefits if there is peace in their surroundings as well as on the global stage, he said. A TISZA supporter, Gyula Nemet, 71, said governance by Orban's party since 2010 has not only proved that they are incompetent, but they totally divided this country. Hungary has been pushed to the sidelines in Europe. We became totally segregated, he said. This cannot go on. We definitely need a positive change, integration with Europe and among the Hungarian people. ___ Balint Domotor contributed to this report. FILE - First lady Jill Biden departs from federal court, June 7, 2024, in Wilmington, Del. The Biden family has gone to great lengths to support Hunter Biden as he stands trial for lying on a federal gun-purchase form when he said he didn't have a drug problem. Jill Biden, Hunter Biden's mother, has been a regular presence in court, buttressed by a rotating cast of other family members. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, File) WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) In a span of less than 48 hours this past week, first lady Jill Biden shuttled from a Normandy ceremony marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day invasion in France to the front row of a Delaware courtroom, where Hunter Biden is on trial in a gun case, and then back to Paris for an elaborate state visit at Elysee Palace. Here we are again, the first lady said with a laugh as she and President Joe Biden were greeted by French President Emanuel Macron and his wife, Brigette, at the palace on Saturday, the light comment an oblique nod to her transatlantic commute. It was a manifestation of the great lengths to which the Biden family has gone to support Hunter Biden as he stands trial in Wilmington, Delaware, accused of lying on a federal gun purchase form when he said he did not have a drug problem. Jill Biden has been a regular presence in the courtroom, buttressed by a rotating cast of other family members. The back and forth, the push and pull, of family responsibilities, of first lady duties, of her career, of the campaign thats just who she is, said Elizabeth Alexander, the first ladys communications director. Every family wrestles with personal challenges, and politicians are often left to navigate those dynamics in public. But the very expansive airing in court of tawdry details surrounding Hunter Bidens addiction in the glare of an election year -- is of an order of greater magnitude. And the presidents family has shown a determination to ensure Hunter Biden does not weather it alone. The trial resumes Monday. Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to the charges, but he does not deny a drug problem. His memoir, Beautiful Things, is all about hitting bottom after his brother Beaus death in 2015 from cancer. But his lawyers say he did not consider himself to be an addict at the time he filled out the gun purchase form in 2018 to buy a revolver. BOTH PRESIDENT AND A DAD Joe Biden has steered clear of the courtroom and said little about the case, wary of creating an impression of interfering in a criminal matter brought by his own Justice Department. But the president has long walked the line between public servant and father. At just 30, the Democrat was sworn in as Delaware's junior senator from a hospital room where his young sons were recuperating from a car accident that killed his wife and baby daughter. In grainy black-and-white newsreels, Biden can been seen holding 3-year-old Hunter as the new senator takes the oath and 4-year-old Beau watches from a hospital bed. Joe Biden pledged then that if there was ever a conflict between my being a good father and being a good senator, he would resign. The president did put out a brief written statement as Hunter Biden's trial began. As the president, I dont and wont comment on pending federal cases, but as a dad, I have boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength, he said. Our family has been through a lot together, and Jill and I are going to continue to be there for Hunter and our family with our love and support. The case followed him to Normandy nonetheless, where Biden was asked in an ABC interview whether he thought his son would get a fair trial and whether the president would rule out pardoning his son if there was a guilty verdict. Biden answered with a terse yes on both matters. SHOW OF SUPPORT Over the trials first week, Jill Biden was in court four days out of five, missing only Thursday due to the D-Day events. Others who have taken seats in the courtroom at various points are Hunters sister Ashley, aunts Bonny Jacobs and Valerie Owens and his wife, Melissa Cohen Biden. The first lady has leaned over the court railing to embrace Hunter, who has called her mom since she married Joe Biden in 1977. She has walked hand in hand with him out of the courtroom. She has listened to hours of testimony. Hunter has not made it easy for his family, and the evidence in the case has been a highly personal tour of his mistakes and drug use, some kind of nightmare version of This is Your Life." Jurors have listened to hours of testimony from his ex-wife, a former girlfriend and his brother's widow, who between them painted a picture of strip club trips, infidelity, habitual crack use and their failed efforts to help him get clean. Jurors saw images of the presidents son bare-chested and disheveled in a filthy room and half-naked holding crack pipes. And they watched a video of his crack cocaine being weighed on a scale. Federal prosecutors have argued the evidence was necessary to prove to jurors that Hunter Biden, 54, was in the throes of addiction when he bought the gun and therefore lied when he checked no on the form that asked whether he was an unlawful user of, or addicted to drugs. On Friday, his eldest daughter, Naomi, 30, testified for the defense, telling jurors a hopeful story about how her father seemed to be getting better around the time of the gun purchase. I told him I was so proud of him, she said softly. But then prosecutor Leo Wise showed her texts that showed erratic behavior during that same period. Her father did not respond to her message for hours, then asked her at 2 a.m. whether her boyfriend could meet up to switch cars. Right now? she responded. Im really sorry dad I cant take this. When she got off the stand, she stopped at the defense table, pausing to hug her dad before she left the courtroom. By Friday afternoon, the first lady was headed back to France for the state dinner. Her transcontinental flights underscore the importance of family to the Bidens writ large, said Carl Sferrazza Anthony, an expert on first ladies and author of Camera Girl, about Jacqueline Kennedy. She understands that at the end of the day what matters is her son and his well-being and knowing he has support and knowing, also, the vulnerability of someone who has been in recovery, Anthony said. A FAMILIAR STORY Patrick Kennedy, a former congressman and leading voice on mental health and addiction, said Hunter Biden's story is so common that he expected many Americans would see something familiar in it, however disturbing or embarrassing it seems. Kennedy himself struggled with drug addiction and is the son of a famous lawmaker, the late Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass. The disease of addiction seems to be what is on trial here," he said, arguing that a big part of the case is the definition of sobriety. Are you sober when you are not taking drugs? Or are you sober when there has been a profound shift in your thinking that goes along with stopping the drugs? Half say its physical, and the other half say its mental and truth is that it is both," he said. WHAT COMES NEXT The trial is winding down. The defense is debating whether to call more witnesses on Monday, including the presidents brother James. After closing arguments, the case will go to the jury. But Hunter Bidens legal problems will not end there. He faces a separate trial in September in California on charges of failing to pay $1.4 million in taxes. A plea deal had been negotiated last summer that would have resolved both the gun and tax matters, avoiding the spectacle of a trial so close to the presidential election this November. But when U.S. District Court Judge Maryellen Noreika, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, questioned aspects of the deal, the lawyers could not come to a resolution. The deal fell apart. Attorney General Merrick Garland then appointed the lead investigator, former U.S. Attorney David Weiss of Delaware, as a special counsel in August. A month later, Hunter Biden was indicted. Hunter Biden has argued he is being unfairly targeted by the Justice Department after Republicans decried the now-defunct plea deal as special treatment for the Democratic presidents son. ___ Long and Superville reported from Washington. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller in Paris, and Associated Press writers Randall Chase, Mike Catalini and Michael Kunzelman contributed to this report. Grace. Trustworthiness. Journalism excellence. An icon of the airwaves. For more than a quarter-century, WXYZ-TVs Doris Biscoe was a favorite reporter and news anchor in the Detroit television market. Biscoe died Friday at 77, according to the station, which cited her career as one of the most visible Black broadcast journalists in Detroit, and throughout America. Born in Washington, D.C., Biscoe overcame early shyness to become one of the pioneering Black women journalists in Detroit television, which, like local TV news in general, was then staffed predominantly by white men. Doris Biscoe is celebrating 25 continuous years as a news anchor at WXYZ-TV (Channel 7) television in Detroit. She was photographed on the set at their Southfield headquarters. A tape of Biscoe on the job plays on a big screen TV in the background on Jan. 23, 1998. In a 1998 Free Press profile, former Detroit Mayor Dave Bing, a classmate of hers at Spingarn High School in Washington. D.C., said, No one would believe Doris was a quiet, shy, unassuming person back then. Now she really enjoys life. Biscoe had stints in radio in Maryland and led a public affairs show in D.C. before relocating to the Motor City. She began her career at 7 Action News in 1973 as a night reporter, eventually moving from reporting to anchoring the evening news at 6 p.m. with Rich Fisher. In 1995, she switched to anchoring the morning news with Erik Smith, where the duo became a popular fixture of the early shift. She told the Free Press three years later, that theres not a shift that Ive not worked at this station. And in the hyper-competitive arena of TV news, she was comfortable with getting older. If somebody tells me, No, you cant do it, then Im going to make sure I damn well do it, she said in the profile that celebrated her time at WXYZ. Doris Biscoe is pictured Dec. 5, 1975. Besides her work in journalism, Biscoe hosted Learn to Read, a weekly literacy program at the station that was aimed at children. She had a brush with movies when she played a newscaster in 1987s The Rosary Murders starring Donald Sutherland, which was filmed in the Motor City. Donald Sutherland (center) starred in 'The Rosary Murders' In 1993, the Detroit City Council adopted a resolution of Biscoes outstanding work as she marked 20 years with WXYZ, according to Michigan Advance writer and Detroit history chronicler Ken Coleman. She also was a recipient of the National Association of Television Arts & Sciences Silver Circle award, which recognized distinguished service in the industry for 25 years or more. On this day in 1993: Detroit City Council on adopts a testimonial resolution recognizing the outstanding work of WXYZ-TV 7 anchor Doris Biscoe as she marks her 20th year at the ABC network affiliate. @wxyzdetroit @CityofDetroit #WomensHistoryMonth pic.twitter.com/lWTrKu4dAi Ken Coleman (@HistoryLivesDet) March 10, 2022 After departing from WXYZ, Biscoe headed her own media training company, Doris Biscoe Communications. She also appeared in ads as a spokesperson for HAP Medicare. Contact Detroit Free Press pop culture critic Julie Hinds at jhinds@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Icon of Detroit TV, WXYZs Doris Biscoe dies at 77 Uncontrolled mining is growing in Crimea on an excessive scale for the resort region, which poses a threat to the future of Crimea as a holiday destination. Source: Crimean online portal and Radio Liberty project Krym.Realii, citing Liberate Crimea, a movement for the liberation of the peninsula Details: The media outlet quotes an activist who preferred to stay anonymous for security reasons. He says that over the past ten years, the scale of limestone extraction has increased significantly. Quote: "This is a big Russian business that, for objective reasons, cannot be controlled by Ukrainian authorities. We have been informed by local residents of the Belogorsk district that lorries full of crushed stone are leaving the quarry in convoys, without tarpaulins, without observing the speed limit. All complaints are met with rejections." Details: The activist noted that excessive mining poses a danger to the future of Crimea as a resort region. Quote: "In resort regions such as this one, there are scientifically justified restrictions on the scale of mining, so that their extraction does not lead to the resort suffering more damage from mining than is economically beneficial. There is a strong impression that the Russian authorities really consider themselves to be temporary rulers in Crimea." Support UP or become our patron! Indias Modi and his Hindu-nationalist party have another five years in power. What does it mean for the world? Narendra Modi has raised Indias stature on the global stage like no other recent leader of the worlds most populous country. The prime minister who secured a rare third term in office this week has positioned India and its fast-growing economy as a crucial player in global issues like climate change and development, while cementing New Delhi as a key security partner for the United States and an aspiring leader of the Global South. Modis victory will give the 73-year-old leader and his Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) another five years to raise Indias global stature and to manage its contentious relationships and contested borders with nuclear-armed neighbors China and Pakistan. But the election results also place Modi in a radically different position from the one he enjoyed during his first decade in power. The larger-than-life leader and his BJP fell well short of an expected outright majority and must rely on coalition partners to form a government. That has widely been seen as a shock setback for the leader and his party, who have been accused by critics of fueling Islamophobia and religious violence in India, while rolling back civil liberties and failing to solve livelihood issues like soaring youth unemployment. Now, Modi will need to devote a lot of time to (domestic affairs to) keep the government intact with a coalition with different agendas, said T.V. Paul, author of The Unfinished Quest: Indias Search for Major Power Status from Nehru to Modi. This idea of India pushing its weight around may be much less feasible for the time being, given that foreign policy issues did not impact the (election) decision as much as people had thought. Modi walks with US President Joe Biden along the White House colonnade during his state visit to the US last year. - Pete Marovich/Reuters Power politics One aspect of Indias international ambitions thats unlikely to shift in Modis new term is New Delhis relationship with Washington a connection that has helped burnish the prime ministers profile as a power player. India has emerged as a key security partner for the US, a pillar of its Quad security grouping alongside Japan and Australia, and expanding cooperation on high tech and defense in the face of shared concern about an increasingly assertive and powerful China. In a congratulatory message to Modi on his win earlier this week, US President Joe Biden hailed the US-India friendship as only growing as we unlock a shared future of unlimited potential. That relationship is only likely to strengthen in the near term, according to analysts. The two countries have shared concerns over regional stability and are overseeing a burgeoning defense cooperation, said Farwa Aamer, director of South Asia Initiatives at the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York. We can expect a more assertive India aligning closely with US interests in the Indo-Pacific and expanding tech cooperation. Ties between New Delhi and Washington have warmed in recent years even as Modi has firmly pursued Indias policy of strategic autonomy to push for a global order not purely dominated by the US or the US-China rivalry another goal expected to remain unchanged by the election. For example, New Delhi has refused to give up its close relations with Russia, despite US pressure for its partners to cut ties with the warring country. But one question is how Modis third term will affect percolating concerns in American policy circles about a widely documented backsliding of civil liberties in India under his right-wing leadership as well as accusations the BJP aims to marginalize the countrys Muslim minority of more than 200 million. India has also faced significant allegations of extraterritorial overreach, which raise questions about the risks of the countrys growing confidence, assertiveness and commitment to international norms under Modi. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in September said his country was investigating credible allegations linking India to the killing of a Canadian citizen and prominent Sikh leader. New Delhi hit back fiercely, accusing Canada of harboring terrorists and not acting against extremists, even as it denied the allegation. Two months later, US prosecutors also alleged that an Indian agent was behind a foiled murder-for-hire plot targeting an American Sikh activist. New Delhi denied any involvement in that alleged plot and set up a high-level committee to investigate the accusation. Indian soldiers patrol the de facto border between Pakistan and India in Jammu and Kashmir earlier this year. - Nasir Kachroo/NurPhoto/Shutterstock A changed India? One factor to watch following Modis bruising election win, experts say, is whether the new government ramps up or tones down posturing that impacts Indias relations with its South Asian neighbors. They point to how Hindu nationalism over the past decade has not only stoked division and violence within the country, but threatened to inflame frictions in the region, especially with Pakistan often the target of heated BJP rhetoric. Now, Modis BJP will need to answer the interests of its coalition allies and face stronger checks from a resurgent opposition, which could dampen its Hindu-nationalist agenda. And analysts stress it will take time to see how the BJP calibrates policy aims and rhetoric based on this new political reality. If it is normal politics, it would seem that the elbows would not be as sharp on various issues, said Sushant Singh, a lecturer at Yale University in the US. But to cater to their nationalist support base, (the BJP) may actually take the other path, to ramp up rhetoric, he added. Well have to see what political call is taken. Such a reaction could also be driven by the BJPs relative position of weakness going into this term, observers say, noting that Modis landslide win in the 2019 elections followed a ratcheting of tensions with Pakistan. Then, India claimed to have launched airstrikes on what it alleged was a terrorist training camp across its de facto border with Pakistan after a car bombing killed Indian paramilitary forces, in an incident disputed by Islamabad. The BJP uses the otherization of the image of Pakistan to rally its core Hindutva base, said Fahd Humayun, an assistant professor of political science at Tufts University in the US, referring to the ruling partys ideology that India is inherently a land for Hindus. To that end, it is not difficult to imagine a scenario in which, with its back against the wall, an embattled Modi government plays up the perceptions of external threats to try and rally domestic constituencies. In his weakened position, Modi may also be pressed to respond assertively to any perceived threats from China, observers say. Modi has appeared unwilling to risk confrontation with Indias militarily superior neighbor, despite being slammed by critics for what they say was a soft response to deadly 2020 clashes along their disputed Himalayan border. Governments and policymakers across the world will be watching for how these issues evolve in the coming months. In the meantime, some observers suggest that while the election results may not have boosted Modi, they are already a boon for Indias global clout. If he has won a (super) majority and pushed the Hindu agenda, it would have probably dented Indias (international) agenda, said Paul, the author, who is also a professor at McGill University in Canada. Paul said democracy was Indias biggest soft power tradition and its perceived resurgence in the election may boost the countrys image among liberal nations. India coming back as a proper democracy is good for the world order in many senses, he added. But it all depends how Modi will play this game. CNNs Rhea Mogul contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Last month, Appalachian State Universitys Aging Well initiative hosted its first conference. The event mightve taken place in Boone, but its going to have a real impact on Catawba County. The ideas shared there and the collaborative community partnerships that developed will enrich lives throughout the region. This work will help aging parents and grandparents. It will benefit beloved neighbors and co-workers. And, at some point and in some way, it will likely make life better for you, too. The name says it all: The Aging Well initiative focuses on providing resources and support to help older adults live better and longer. As an Appalachian alum and as a representative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC), what I find so exciting is how the program gets results by delivering comprehensive care, education and social connection. Recently, those same services originally offered at the universitys main campus have come down off the mountain and are now also offered in Catawba County. By harnessing faculty, students, and resources from across several Appalachian State programs, Aging Well provides a variety of services, including cognitive, balance and nutritional assessments. It also offers educational programming that brings participants together to learn about topics ranging from nutritional counseling, fall prevention, cognitive health, online safety, and more. The program design prioritizes making things easily accessible. Appalachians campuses serve as hubs for much of the activity, but programming also takes place at regional community colleges and other local settings. Aging assessments get sent to the participants primary care provider, and a social worker follows up to help address any other needs, such as those related to housing or food insecurity. All of this minimizes the need for participants to travel to off-site locations. Thats especially important to a population thats more likely to face difficulties driving themselves, in a region where resources are spread far and wide and there are few options for public transportation. The Blue Cross NC team first learned about Aging Well when our Extra Miles Tour across all 100 North Carolina counties took us to Boone. When we learned about this collaboration between the universitys Appalachian Institute for Health and Wellness, the High Country Area Agency on Aging and a growing number of other community partners, we recognized the importance of the programs whole-person, whole-community approach to care in the High Country. Because Aging Well aligns so closely with our own mission-driven purpose to improve the health and well-being of our communities, we quickly resolved to fund Aging Wells expansion into the Foothills. Now, assessments are offered on the first floor of the universitys Hickory campus building, as well as in Levine Hall on the Boone campus. Today, Aging Well directly serves 10 counties, including Catawba, Caldwell and Burke, but its impact reaches much further: Its also growing the states health care workforce. Students from the universitys nursing, public health, exercise science, nutrition and foods, speech therapy and other disciplines make Aging Well tick. Data show that the vast majority of those who graduate from the universitys health sciences programs ultimately choose to stay and work in North Carolina, filling critical needs. Nearly 600 of these alumni have settled in Catawba County alone. More than 10,000 are scattered across the state, serving in practically every county. Building connectedness is the essence of what makes last months conference such a powerful testament to all thats possible when people, organizations and communities find new ways to work together. Creating a healthier, stronger North Carolina requires thoughtful and sustained collaboration and thats what Aging Well is all about. Investigation underway after ship collides with underwater object, takes on water in Lake Superior, US Coast Guard says US and Canadian officials are investigating after a 689-foot ship collided with an underwater object and began taking on water in Lake Superior, the US Coast Guard says. The agency responded after the bulk carrier Michipicoten sent a report at 6:53 a.m. Saturday that it was experiencing flooding as it traveled southwest of Isle Royale in Lake Superior. The merchant ship was carrying taconite, a low-grade iron ore, the Coast Guard said on X. Half of the ships 22-person crew was removed from the vessel after the incident, according to a news release. No injuries were reported on the ship. The ship is anchored in Thunder Bay, Ontario, as of Sunday and will be brought to a dock once Canadian agencies deem it safe to do so, said Lorne Thomas, external affairs division chief for the Ninth Coast Guard District. The US Coast Guard and Transport Canada will conduct marine casualty investigations to determine if the hull damage was caused by the ship running aground, hitting a fixed or floating object, hull failure or a combination of these, according to Thomas. There is no indication the navigable channels used by the vessel were obstructed, Thomas added. The ship departed Two Harbors, Minnesota, on Friday and was headed to Thunder Bay in Canada, according to MarineTraffic.com. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Iran approves six candidates out of 80 for presidential election Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf speaks to the media after he registers his candidacy for Iran's upcoming presidential election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa Iran's Guardian Council, an appointed council made up of six clerics and six jurists charged with interpreting Irans constitution, has excluded a large majority of candidates from the upcoming presidential election. A snap election was called because the previous incumbent, Ebrahim Raisi, was killed in a helicopter accident on May 19. A total of 80 people applied to run in the June 28 presidential election, however, only six candidates have been approved, a spokesman for the electoral authority said on Sunday on state television. The controversial former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and the conservative former parliamentary speaker Ali Larijani, who was still considered a favourite, were denied the chance to run in the election. Moderate politicians and candidates from the reform camp were also barred from running. From the ultra-conservative camp there is Saeed Jalili, a hardliner and former chief nuclear negotiator. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf is the incumbent speaker of parliament and a former general of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Amir-Hossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi is considered to be another hardliner and chairman of the Foundation of Martyrs and Veteran Affairs. Masoud Pezeshkian has been tapped as a moderate candidate and is a former health minister. Mostafa Pour-Mohammadi is an Islamic scholar and former minister of interior and justice who is said to have played a role in the mass executions of the 1980s. Finally, Alireza Sakani is the current mayor of Tehran. Iran's interim president, Mohammed Mochber, was seen as a promising candidate but did not even register for the election. In Iran, unlike many other countries, the president is not the head of state, but does lead the government. The real power is concentrated in the hands of religious leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Speaker of the Iranian Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf shows his ink finger to the media as he registers his candidacy for Iran's upcoming presidential election. Rouzbeh Fouladi/ZUMA Press Wire/dpa An Israel Defense Forces (IDF) rescue mission recovered four hostages from Hamas custody on Saturday but killed dozens of Palestinians and injured hundreds. ABCs Martha Raddatz interviewed an IDF spokesperson and questioned him about the number of civilians killed and injured during the operation. Part of this mission were the air strikes, Raddatz said. We saw buildings destroyed in a civilian area, in broad daylight. There were people on the street during this attack through the air. Did you factor in the loss of so many Palestinians in this operation? When the rescue operation occurred, it was in the middle of the morning, and many people were out shopping at a market nearby. [It was] something we never witnessed before, maybe 150 rockets fell in less than 10 minutes, while we were running away more fell on the market, Nidal Abdo, a local resident who was close to where the attacks occurred, told CNN. We dont know how many casualties were caused in the strike in the release and rescue operation, Lerner told Raddatz. And Id be very cautious at accepting any figures and numbers that Hamas are putting out. Pressed by @MarthaRaddatz about the civilian casualties in Gaza caused by the Israeli militarys rescue mission to free four hostages, IDF spokesperson Peter Lerner says, Every civilian life lost in this war is a result of how Hamas has operated. https://t.co/6mpPPpkFFz pic.twitter.com/N4Fe4OTlRf This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 9, 2024 But Raddatz pointed out that while Hamas is saying that 274 deaths resulted from the operation, even the IDF has acknowledged deaths occurred, with an estimated count of fewer than 100 Palestinians dead. Thats a significant amount of casualties. Did they come from those air strikes in broad daylight? Raddatz asked Lerner. Every civilian life lost in this war is a tragedy, he said. Every civilian life lost in this war is a result of how Hamas has operated. Lets think about, just for a moment, where they were holding the hostages. Within civilian houses. Within peoples apartments in the same apartment they were being held where the families that owned the apartments. This exemplifies specifically how Hamas operating. The hostages were being held in two apartments in civilian buildings approximately 200 meters away from each other. Lerner added that forces trying to rescue the four hostages Noa Argamani, Almog Meir, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv came under extensive attack in an attempt to kill both them and the hostages. But Raddatz continued to press Lerner on the necessity of the air strikes. And is that the reason for the air strikes? Tell me why those air strikes were necessary, why buildings were destroyed in that attack? Lerner said that IDF forces came under fire from a 360-degree threat: RPGs, AK-47s, explosive devices on the way, mortar rounds before blaming civilian casualties on how Hamas is battling us on the battleground. Would you carry out a similar rescue mission to get the other 116 hostages, no matter the cost to civilians in Gaza? Raddatz asked. There can be a rescue mission like what happened yesterday. But there could also have been negotiations that create the opportunity, Lerner replied. Our role is to create the conditions either way, that Hamas realizes that they should give back the hostages, they should set the hostages free. According to The Jerusalem Post, Hamas released a message stating that other Israeli hostages were killed by IDF forces during the rescue mission. In exchange for them [the four Israeli hostages], your own army killed three of your own captives in the same attack; one of them holds a US citizenship, Hamas said in a statement. Israel and Hamas are currently engaged in negotiations to reach a ceasefire agreement, but Saturdays attack could mark a setback in those talks. One Egyptian official with knowledge of the negotiations told CNN that the rescue mission will have a negative effect. [It] wont be easy, the Egyptian official said. U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan called the civilian deaths and injuries tragic and encouraged Hamas to accept the ceasefire deal that President Joe Biden has put forth. .@JakeSullivan46 to @DanaBashCNN: What we would much prefer to see is a ceasefire where the hostages come out peacefully. That is available. Israel has said yes to it. Now Hamas needs to say yes to it. pic.twitter.com/vj8WhZKuiZ State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 9, 2024 The best way to get all of the hostages home and to protect Palestinian civilians is to end this war. And the best way to end this war is for Hamas to say yes to the deal President Biden announced and that Israel has accepted, Sullivan said on CNN Sunday. That agreement includes a permanent ceasefire, a total withdrawal of Israels military from Gaza, and a prisoner exchange, among other conditions. Meanwhile, in Gaza, aid workers have said that military operations make it exceedingly difficult for them to deliver assistance and necessary supplies. Medical equipment, medications, we havent been able to get. Its been the same issue with fuel, Karin Huster, a French-American trauma nurse and medical coordinator for Doctors Without Borders in Gaza, tells Rolling Stone. Its been super challenging And soon it will be impossible for us to work. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone By Steven Scheer JERUSALEM (Reuters) - A ban on Al Jazeera's operations in Israel was extended for another 45 days by Israel's telecoms regulator on Sunday after the cabinet agreed its broadcasts posed a threat to security. A Tel Aviv court last week upheld an initial 35-day ban on Al Jazeera operations in Israel, imposed by the government on national security grounds, which ended on Saturday. In a separate ruling on a petition by Al Jazeera against the closure, Israel's Supreme Court described the measure against the Qatari-backed broadcaster channel as "precedent-setting". It gave Israel's government until Aug. 8 to offer arguments for "why it should not be determined that the Law Preventing a Foreign Broadcaster from Harming National Security" is void. Al Jazeera had told the court it did not incite violence or terrorism and that the ban was disproportionate, court documents showed. The channel, which has criticised Israel's military operations in Gaza, was not immediately available for comment. The network's broadcasts on the cable and satellite companies and access to its websites will remain blocked, Israel's Communications Ministry said. "We will not allow the terrorist channel Al Jazeera to broadcast from Israel and endanger our fighters," said Shlomo Karhi, adding that the law authorised him as communications minister to take such action against foreign broadcasters. "In light of the seriousness of the damage to the security of the state I am convinced that the closure orders will be extended in the future as well," he said. Judge Shai Yaniv had said he had been provided with evidence, which he did not specify, of a long-standing and close relationship between the Palestinian Islamist group Hamas and Al Jazeera, accusing the channel of promoting Hamas' goals. Israeli authorities raided a Jerusalem hotel room used by Al Jazeera as its office on May 5 and said they were shutting the operation down for the duration of the Gaza war. (Reporting by Steven Scheer; Additional reporting by Dan Williams; Editing by Alexander Smith) By Nidal al-Mughrabi CAIRO (Reuters) - Israeli forces pounded central Gaza anew on Sunday, a day after killing 274 Palestinians during a hostage rescue raid, and tanks advanced further into Rafah in an apparent bid to seal off part of the southern city, residents and Hamas media said. Palestinians remained in shock over Saturday's death toll, the worst over a 24-hour period of the Gaza war for months and including many women and children, Palestinian medics said. In an update on Sunday, Gaza's health ministry said 274 Palestinians were killed - up from 210 it reported on Saturday - and 698 were injured when Israeli special force commandos stormed into the densely populated Al-Nuseirat camp to rescue four hostages held since October by Hamas militants. Sixty-four of the dead were children and 57 were women, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said on Sunday. Israel's military said a special forces officer was killed in exchanges of fire with militants emerging from cover in residential blocks, and that it knew of "under 100" Palestinians killed, though not how many of them were fighters or civilians. Hamas' armed wing said on Sunday three Israeli hostages, including one with U.S. citizenship, were killed during the raid, but provided no names. It released a video of what appeared to be corpses with censor bars obscuring their faces. A Hamas assertion on Saturday that some hostages had died was rejected as "a blatant lie" by the Israeli military. Gaza's health ministry said another 798 Palestinians were injured in the Israeli raid, and one of them, 4-year-old Tawfiq Abu Youssef, was in critical condition when visited in hospital on Sunday by his father Raed. The boy was first thought to have died before he moved his hand slightly while in the arms of a relative rushing him to hospital - captured in a video that went viral on social media. "I had already dug his grave," his father told Reuters, adding that most members of his extended family were among those killed in the raid. MORE AIRSTRIKES IN CENTRAL GAZA In central Gaza on Sunday, Israeli airstrikes on houses in the city of Deir Al-Balah and in the nearby Al-Bureij refugee camp killed three Palestinians in each location, while tanks shelled parts of Al-Nuseirat and Al-Maghazi camps, medics said. The Israeli military said in a statement its forces were continuing operations east of Al-Bureij and Deir al-Balah, killing a number of Palestinian gunmen and destroying militant infrastructure. Israel sent forces into Rafah in May in what it called a mission to wipe out Hamas' last intact combat units after eight months of war, in which Israeli forces have bombed much of the rest of Gaza to rubble while advancing against fierce resistance from militants embedded in crowded cities and built-up camps. Israeli tank forces have since seized Gaza's entire border strip with Egypt running through Rafah to the Mediterranean coast and invaded many districts of the city of 280,000 residents, prompting around one million displaced people who had been sheltering in Rafah to flee elsewhere. ISRAELI TANKS ADVANCE FURTHER IN RAFAH On Sunday, tanks advanced into two new districts in an apparent effort to complete the encirclement of the entire eastern side of Rafah, touching off clashes with dug-in Hamas-led armed groups, according to residents trapped in their homes. Palestinian medics said an Israeli airstrike on a house in Tel Al-Sultan in western Rafah killed two people. The Israeli military said troops of its 162nd division were raiding some districts of Rafah where they had located "numerous additional terror tunnel shafts, mortars, and (other) weapons" belonging to Palestinian Islamist militants. Hamas precipitated the war with a lightning cross-border attack into Israel last Oct. 7, killing around 1,200 people and seizing over 250 hostages, according to Israeli tallies. About half the hostages were freed during a brief November truce. Israel's ensuing air and ground war in Gaza has killed at least 37,084 Palestinians, the health ministry in the Hamas-run territory said in its Sunday update. The ministry says thousands more dead are feared buried under the rubble. Attempts by the United States and regional countries to broker a deal that would release all remaining hostages in return for a ceasefire have repeatedly stumbled on Israeli and Hamas intransigence over terms for an end to the war. A humanitarian catastrophe has unfolded as the war has dragged on, with over three-quarters of Gaza's 2.3 million population displaced, malnutrition widespread and basic infrastructure in ruins. Gaza's conflict has destabilised the wider Middle East, drawing in Hamas' main supporter Iran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah, which has been clashing with Israel along its northern border for months, raising fears of all-out war. Concern about an escalation in Israeli-Hezbollah hostilities and a sharp decline in expectations of a Gaza ceasefire have weakened Israel's shekel currency by 3% to 3.75 to the dollar since June 4. (Reporting and writing by Nidal al-Mughrabi; additional reporting by Dan Williams and Steven Scheer in Jerusalem; editing by Mark Heinrich) Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahus government, delivering a blow to the prime minister who has been celebrating the rare rescue of hostages held in Gaza. Netanyahu prevents us from moving forward to a real victory [in Gaza], Gantz said in a televised statement Sunday in which he described leaving the government as a complex and painful decision. That is why we are leaving the emergency government today with a heavy heart, but with a whole heart, he said. Gantz considered Netanyahus main political challenger said he was quitting eight-months after the October 7 Hamas attacks because the situation in the country and in the decision-making room has changed. He accused Netanyahu of putting his own personal political considerations ahead of a post-war strategy for the Gaza Strip, claiming that fateful strategic decisions are met with hesitancy and procrastination due to political considerations, and urged the prime minister to hold an election in the coming months. I call on Netanyahu: set an agreed election date. Do not let our people be torn apart, Gantz said. The decision by Gantz fulfils an ultimatum he gave the prime minister last month calling on him to lay out a new plan for the war against Hamas by June 8. Israeli Minister Benny Gantz addresses the media after announcing his resignation from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus emergency government on June 9, 2024. - Nir Elias/Reuters Gantz had been expected to resign on Saturday, but postponed the announcement following news that Israeli forces had rescued four hostages in an operation Gazan officials said left more than 270 Palestinians dead. His resignation comes despite Netanyahu calling on Gantz to stay in Israels emergency government, saying this is the time for unity, not division. Following Gantzs announcement, Netanyahu urged him to change his mind. Benny, this is not the time to abandon the campaign this is the time to join forces, Netanyahu said to Gantz in a post on X. Citizens of Israel, we will continue until victory and all the goals of the war have been achieved, most importantly, the release of all our hostages and the elimination of Hamas, Netanyahu said. Netanyahu said his door remained open to any political party that is ready to share in the burden of fighting the war against Hamas, and will help bring victory over our enemies and ensure the security of our citizens. Gantzs decision does not put Netanyahus government in immediate danger his party was not part of the prime ministers coalition, which retains a majority with 64-seats in the 120-member Knesset, Israels parliament. It would however leave the war cabinet, set up four days after Hamas October 7 attack, without representation from any party other than Netanyahus Likud. Besides the prime minister, the only other remaining member of the emergency government with decision-making power is Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, also from Likud. (Though following Gantzs announcement, the far-right Israeli National Security Minister Ben Gvir demanded to join the war cabinet). Gantz decision comes as Netanyahu faces growing calls from Israels Western allies and families of hostages held in Gaza to end the war and bring back the captives. Eight months since the war started, Israel is yet to achieve its stated objectives as most of Hamas top leadership remains at large and more than 100 hostages are held in the enclave. Palestinian firefighters battle a flame a day after a hostage rescue operation by the Israeli Special Forces in the Nuseirat camp, in the central Gaza Strip, on June 9, 2024. - Eyad Baba/AFP/Getty Images The United States has repeatedly called on the prime minister to present a tangible post-war plan for Gaza. US President Joe Biden, who laid out a three-pronged Israeli peace deal proposal last week, has suggested that Netanyahu is likely benefiting from prolonging the conflict. Gantz, a 64-year-old former defense minister, said last month that Netanyahu should submit a plan that should include the elimination of Hamas, the return of hostages from Gaza, the establishment of an alternative government in the enclave, the return of displaced Israelis from the north of the country, and a plan to make progress on normalization with Saudi Arabia. Netanyahu had rejected Gantzs threat, saying his ultimatum would harm Israel. In April, Gantz called for early elections to be held as soon as September, ahead of the one-year anniversary of the war, saying Israeli society needs to renew its contract with its leadership. Gantz often surpasses the prime minister in popularity, according to opinion polls. A survey published Friday by the Israeli Maariv newspaper showed support for Gantz at 42%, compared to 34% for Netanyahu. The war cabinet, which Gantz was a member of, operates independently from the broader Israeli government. It is responsible for making decisions related to the fighting in Gaza. He (Gantz) joined the government four days after October 7 in order to balance things out with the far right, prevent reckless decision-making, Alon Pinkas, a former Israeli diplomat, wrote in Israels Haaretz newspaper. In his mind, he was the responsible adult in a government filled with inept and messianic misfits. As the war dragged on, with displaced residents of northern Israel unable to return home and hostages remaining captive in Gaza, Gantz may have realized he would lose popularity by staying in the cabinet, Pinkas said. The longer Gantz remains in the government, the weaker Gantz will get, Pinkas wrote. The more identical his positions are to those of the prime minister, the more hell lose on both sides. Right-wingers will return home and centrists will seek other options. This is a developing story. More to come. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com (Bloomberg) -- They danced in the streets and cheered on the beaches as TV anchors teared up on camera. Saturdays rescue of four hostages from central Gaza was a cause for rare and intense celebration in Israel, boosting Benjamin Netanyahus government and the beleaguered military eight months into a punishing war. Most Read from Bloomberg But it also highlighted operational limitations and a growing desire for a hostage deal, ultimately increasing pressure on the prime minister. Military spokesmen said the conditions for such a rescue the four had been held in buildings aboveground rather than in tunnels dont exist for the other 100-plus Israelis held by Hamas, and the way to bring them home is through negotiation. Tens of thousands of demonstrators took their usual places outside the defense ministry in Tel Aviv on Saturday night, and while there have been competing messages at recent rallies anti-government versus pro-hostage this weeks slogans converged around one theme: get a deal and bring them home. Victory will only be felt by the Israeli people when the remaining hostages are returned, said Avi Melamed, a former Israeli intelligence officer. It levies pressure on Israels government to make a deal happen to bring those remaining captives home, the living to their families, and the deceased back to Israel for a proper burial. Top US officials are due in the region this week to push both Israel and Hamas to agree to a deal. Backed by President Joe Biden, the three-phase agreement would start with a six-week pause in fighting along with exchanges of hostages for Palestinian prisoners. Talks have been stymied by disagreement over whether that phase could occur while negotiations over a permanent cease-fire take place Israels desire or, as Hamas wants, only if an end to the war is baked into the deal. Although the rescue on Saturday reminded Israelis of a famous operation in Entebbe, Uganda, in 1976 to save a hijacked airliner in which Netanyahus brother died, its unlikely to change the hard calculus of the current war. The rescue proves the militarys mettle in all its glory when it comes to proactive operations that use high-quality intelligence and careful planning, operations that are placed under the responsibility of well-trained, task-oriented special forces, said Nahum Barnea, a columnist for Yedioth Ahronoth, a centrist newspaper. It is less good at ongoing, routine security. Israels campaign to eliminate Hamas, considered a terrorist organization by the US and European Union, has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, according to the group, which doesnt distinguish fighters from civilians. More than 270 were killed during Saturdays operation, adding to the already growing scrutiny on the toll of Israels counter-offensive. Asked about Palestinian civilian deaths in the operation, US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said Hamas should accept the cease-fire deal and thus end the threat. He said the US would continue to support hostage-rescue operations but he repeated US concerns about danger to civilians. We will also continue to reinforce the point that all of their military operations, including hostage rescue operations, should take every precaution to minimize the amount of civilian harm or civilian casualties, he said on ABCs This Week. That is a point we will reinforce in all of our engagements with the Israelis going forward. The rescue took place hours before opposition leader Benny Gantz was due to announce his departure from the war cabinet a move intended to increase pressure on Netanyahu, though the premiers coalition would remain secure whether he stays or goes. Gantz, who had among other things been dissatisfied with the handling of the war and failure to cut a hostage release deal, delayed his announcement following Saturdays operation. Likud leaders urged him to reconsider but on Sunday night he resigned, adding to Netanyahus difficulties. On Sunday, newspapers and TV channels were blanketed with photos and videos of the four a woman and three men reunited with family and friends and taking calls from top officials. All had been abducted from a music festival on Oct. 7, when Hamas operatives poured into Israel, killing 1,200 and kidnapping 250. Especially touching for many was the sight of Noa Argamani, 26, smiling broadly. She had become something of a symbol since she was seen held forcefully on a motorcycle begging for her life as she was abducted into Gaza. Its true that this operation somewhat restored our lost self-confidence and the belief in our abilities, said Ben Caspit, a commentator with the centrist Maariv newspaper. But make no mistake: on the day after this magical Saturday, the sun will rise from the same place and Israels strategic situation will also remain in the same place: stuck. (Adds Gantz quits government in 13th paragraph and comments from Jake Sullivan starting in 10th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. An Italian energy start-up is pursuing plans to build 20 mini reactors across the UK, as it seeks to capitalise on the countrys nuclear power expansion. Newcleo is aiming to build a fleet of so-called mini-nukes on up to six sites in Britain, all of which will be situated near energy-intensive industries. Controversially, the reactors will be powered by plutonium, a fuel not currently used in the UK partly because of its association with nuclear weapons. The company has said it wants to build near dense population centres after the Government recently relaxed rules restricting nuclear developments to remote locations. Newcleo said its reactors will be efficient, safe and provide cheap low-carbon power to support UK industries. Andrew Murdoch, Newcleos managing director for nuclear, said: We have started shortlisting the best locations for us, and were advancing some discussions. Referring to key industrial centres, such as Teesside, Humberside and Merseyside, he added: The industrial clusters are a natural place to go. Its where a lot of the energy transition opportunities are centred, so they provide a great opportunity. Mr Murdoch said the generating capacity of Newcleos reactors will be significantly less than those under construction at Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C. However, this means they will be small enough to be built inside factories, potentially offering huge cost savings compared to giant projects such as Hinkley. Mr Murdoch also indicated how they could be used to exploit exotic new technologies, such as the use of molten lead to transfer heat from the reactor to generate steam for power. The current focus for Newcleo is to create a working reactor design, which will be the first step towards potentially securing regulatory approval. If approved, Mr Murdoch said the reactors would cost around 5bn per gigawatt of generation capacity, compared to 15bn per gigawatt cost of Hinkley Point C. The small reactors could also be built and installed within up to four years, said Mr Murdoch, unlike the two decades required for Hinkley. That reduction in time will lead to a vast reduction in financing costs, he added. Newcleo is officially headquartered in London but most of its research and staff is based in Italy. Its announcement comes at a time of rapid expansion for the nuclear industry. In the UK, both the Conservatives and Labour have backed plans for a massive expansion of nuclear power. The Governments current target is for nuclear power to provide 24Gw of generating capacity by 2050, which would account for around two-fifths of current demand. This would come from a mix of larger nuclear power stations, such as Hinkley Point C and Sizewell C, as well as smaller modular reactors (SMRs). Six other companies including Rolls-Royce, Westinghouse and EDF have already had designs shortlisted for the first generation of SMRs. Newcleo is not among them because its technology is focused on the next generation of advanced SMRs planned for the next decade. Mr Murdoch said Newcleo hoped to build its first UK power station in the early 2030s. He said: We are planning on building about 20 reactors across four to six sites. Building them in clusters makes them operationally efficient. Tom Greatrex, chief executive of the Nuclear Industry Association lobby group, said: SMRs will provide clean, reliable and sovereign power for a very long time. They are based on proven technology which can expand the use of modular techniques which are well known. These reactors will generate power 24/7, working alongside renewables to keep the lights on whatever the weather. However, critics argue there is little supporting evidence for the current wave of enthusiasm around SMRs. Steve Thomas, emeritus professor of energy policy at Greenwich University and an expert on nuclear power, said: The proponents of small modular reactors have done a great job giving the impression that SMRs are cheaper and quicker to build and will provide a jobs bonanza. None of this is true. There has been no commercial order for an SMR of any type, just a handful of prototype plants that will not lead to commercial orders. 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) -- Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is set to solidify her power after winning the vote in Italy for the European Parliament as far-right parties gained across the union. Most Read from Bloomberg Melonis right-wing Brothers of Italy party was on course to be the winner, according to a poll by Swg, published by La7, with the party expected to gain 27% to 31% compared to just over 6% in 2019. According to the poll, the immediate runner-up was the left-wing Democratic Party, getting 21.5% to 25.5% of the vote, highlighting polarization between Italys two main political parties. Matteo Salvinis League and Antonio Tajanis Forza Italia, founded by the late Silvio Berlusconi, both coalition partners in Melonis government, were projected to gain just under 10%. Melonis projected victory is part of a slew of positive results for right-wing parties in Europe, led by France and Germany. Her position will be key in deciding vital alliances in the European Parliament and selecting the successor to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who is running to retain her job. Sunday nights victory for Meloni is a significant vote of mid-term confidence from Italians, who rocketed her party to first place in the 2022 election with 26% of votes. In a bid to get more votes and have Italians rally around her persona, Meloni decided to top her partys lists in the election even if she has no intention of leaving her job in Rome, telling them to simply vote for Giorgia. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said it is hard to say if the recent Israeli operation to rescue four hostages in Gaza will influence ongoing cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas. The Israeli military, along with two other units, carried out a special operation on Saturday at two different locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza to rescue four hostages being held by Hamas. The operation, which included a heavy air and ground assault, marked Israels largest rescue operation since its war with Hamas began last October. The operation, which the Gaza Healthy Ministry claimed left more than 274 Palestinians dead, came just over a week since President Biden announced an Israeli-proposed cease-fire and hostage release deal aimed at ending the war. When asked on ABC Newss This Week if the operation or similar operations affect cease-fire negotiations, Sullivan said, Its really hard to say right now. Its hard to say how Hamas will process this particular operation and what it will do to its determination about whether it will say yes or not, he added. We have not gotten a formal answer from Hamas at this time. Were waiting for them to communicate to Qatar and Egypt, two of the mediators involved in the hostage negotiations. While Gaza health officials approximated the death toll to be at least 274 killed and nearly 700 others wounded in the Saturday mission, the Israeli military estimated fewer than 100 casualties. Sullivan declined to confirm either partys numbers. Well, of course, the Israel Defense Forces have put out one number, the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put out another number. Were looking into it, Sullivan said. It will take some time for us to make any kind of determination. And we may never be able to definitively determine it. Civilians were killed. And that is tragic. It is heartbreaking. Ive said before that the Palestinian people are going through hell in this war, he added. Theyre caught in the crossfire. Hamas hides among civilian infrastructure, hides underground, and puts the Palestinian people in harms way. And this whole thing, this whole tragedy could be over, all the hostages could be home. The current cease-fire proposal under consideration includes a three-part road map to end the fighting and release the remaining hostages. Sullivan, speaking on several of the Sunday morning shows, repeatedly called on Hamas to respond to the proposal. Last week, the leaders of 18 countries with citizens held as hostages issued a joint statement urging Hamas and Israel to agree to the cease-fire proposal. There is no time to lose. We call on Hamas to close this agreement, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and begin the process of releasing our citizens, the statement read. Israels war with Hamas has raged on for more than eight months since the U.S.-designated terrorist organization launched a surprise assault on southern Israel, during which the group killed more than 1,200 people and took about 250 others hostage. Israels retaliatory military campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 37,000 Palestinians, per the local health ministry. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Saturdays operation was one of the bloodiest Israeli assaults since the conflict began on Oct. 7, according to Reuters. In a string of interviews that aired across major cable and broadcast networks Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan urged both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict to agree to Presidents Joe Biden three-phase to end the war in Gaza. Sullivans appearances on ABCs This Week, CBSs Face the Nation and State of the Union on CNN came the morning after an Israel Defense Force-led operation rescued four Israeli hostages from a refugee camp in central Gaza. The military operation reportedly resulted in 274 deaths while injuring an additional 698 people, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. Israel's military spokesman Daniel Hagari, however, estimated there were fewer than 100 casualties. Abu Obaida, spokesman for Hamas's al-Qassam Brigades military wing, claimed three hostages were killed in the attack, one of whom was a U.S. passport holder, reports USA Today. Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner, however, said any update from Hamas should be taken "with a grain of salt." Saturdays rescue mission was described by Reuters as one of the single bloodiest Israeli assaults since the Oct. 7 attacks, which left an estimated 1,200 dead in Israel. The Associated Press reports that 36,379 Palestinians and Israelis have been killed in Gaza in the eight-month conflict, according to data from the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. An additional 84,000 have been injured. Here are some key takeaways from Sullivans back-to-back Sunday interviews. The U.S. aided Israel in the hostage rescue mission but had no forces on the ground. Sullivan said the U.S. aided in the Saturday mission to rescue four Israeli hostages, all of whom were kidnapped during the Oct. 7 attacks, but offered few specific details about the U.S.s involvement. .@JakeSullivan46 confirms to @DanaBashCNN that innocent people were tragically killed during Israels hostage rescue operation and says that a ceasefire and hostage deal is the only way to prevent more loss of life. Tune in at 9am ET for the full interview. pic.twitter.com/kPTrURI789 State of the Union (@CNNSOTU) June 9, 2024 I can only just say that we have generally provided support to the [Israel Defense Force] so that we can try to get all of the hostages home, including the American hostages who are still being held, he told State of the Union host Dana Bash. There are currently eight U.S. citizens being held hostage in Gaza. While the U.S. had been working with Israel on the mission for months, Sullivan told This Week host Martha Raddatz that no U.S. troops were sent to participate in the operation. We didnt have any U.S. forces on the ground, he said. Israel and Hamas havent come to terms on ceasefire deal Sullivan told Meet the Press host Margaret Brennan that neither Israel nor Hamas has agreed to Bidens three-phase plan to end the war in Gaza. He hopes they will come to an agreement before Netanyahu addresses Congress on July 24 putting the onus on Hamas to make the first move. The whole world is looking to Hamas to say yes, he told Brennan, adding that the U.S. is in constant contact with Qatar and Egypt, who are acting as mediators between the U.S. and Hamas during ceasefire negotiations. Hamas initially expressed a willingness to advance the ceasefire plan, while Netanyahu has said he would move forward only after Hamas is completely destroyed. Hamas is making it impossible to avoid civilian casualties Sullivan said Hamass military tactics have placed innocent people in an impossible situation, making it difficult for Israels allies to advance rescue efforts without risking civilian lives. Hamas hides among the civilian population, holds hostages among the civilian population, fires at the IDF from behind the civilian population, he told Raddatz on This Week. Lerner, who also appeared on This Week Sunday, offered additional context on the degree to which Hamas compromises the lives of civilians including hiding hostages in residential apartment buildings. He told Raddatz that Hamas attacked the IDF as they were attempting to extract the hostages on Saturday, which he said led Israel to respond with several airstrikes as self-defense, causing more casualties than previously anticipated. The tragedy of civilians being caught up in this is precisely because of how Hamas is battling us in the battleground, Lerner said. Jake Sullivan meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in West Jerusalem on May 19. (Kobi Gideon/Handout/Anadolu via Getty Images) The U.S. supports Israel despite concerns over humanitarian crimes Sullivan referenced the U.S. State Departments latest report highlighting possible humanitarian crimes by Israel against Palestinians, telling Brennan theres enough information to have concern about Israels military tactics. Later, he told Raddatz that the U.S. stands on the side of Israel despite having made several warnings to Netanyahu that Israel should be taking extra precautions when it comes to protecting civilians. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan tells @MarthaRaddatz that it is hard to say right now how Israel's hostage rescue operation will impact cease-fire negotiations. It's hard to say how Hamas will process this particular operation. https://t.co/lOzZ4Axo95 pic.twitter.com/OFpyG2qySS This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 9, 2024 The U.S. will support Israel in taking steps to try and rescue hostages who are currently held by Hamas, and we will continue to work with Israel to do that, Sullivan said, stressing the point that Israel has the right to go after Hamas. We have said all along that Israel should be operating in a way, not just consistent in the laws of war, but should take extra precautions to try to protect civilians, he continued. We see individual incidents where weve spoken out about where we would like to see them operate differently, where we would like them to be more precise, more targeted in their operations. And we will continue to speak out on those issues. National security advisor Jake Sullivan said Sunday the United States offered help with the rescue of four Israeli hostages over the weekend but did not specify how. In the interview with host Dana Bash on CNN's "State of the Union" that aired Sunday morning, Sullivan declined to answer how the United States helped specifically due to security reasons. The United States has been providing support to Israel for several months in its efforts to help identify the locations of hostages in Gaza and to support efforts to try to secure their rescue or recovery, Sullivan said. I can only just say that we have generally provided support to the IDF so that we can try to get all of the hostages home, including the American hostages who are still being held. Four Israeli hostages taken by Hamas on Oct. 7 were rescued on Saturday in an IDF special operation that the Gaza Health Ministry said killed 274 Palestinians. Sullivan also said there was no confirmation any Israeli hostages were killed in the rescue mission, something Bash said Hamas has claimed. But Sullivan added there is always a risk: I believe that the Israelis have said they do not have any information to that effect, Sullivan said. With all of these military operations, hostages have been killed over the last eight months. In regards to a recently proposed cease-fire deal, Sullivan said he is waiting to hear from Hamas. He said the plan would put in place a cease-fire and immediately begin the process of bringing hostages home. To bring an end to this war, to get the hostages home, to get the full scope of humanitarian aid to the Palestinian people in a safe and effective way, we need this deal, Sullivan said. And when asked if President Joe Biden is pleased with how Israel handled the operation, Sullivan said the president thinks the best way to get all of the hostages home is in a deal where they're brought out diplomatically. That would obviously be the best solution to this, Sullivan said. In the absence of that, without Hamas saying yes to the deal, unfortunately, we are going to continue to see ongoing conflict and military operations in which Israel makes efforts to recover its citizens and, frankly, to recover American citizens. Longtime Democratic strategist James Carville suggested that both President Biden and former President Trump are partially causing young voters to disengage, stating it is his greatest fear. Carville, who has been critical of Biden and has said the president should not run for another term, shared during a radio interview that the lack of engagement in public policy from young people makes him worry that the next generation of young people will be lost. The lack of enthusiasm among young people for public policy and public service and being involved in the public square is quite disheartening, Carville said during an interview with radio talk show host John Catsimatidis on WABC 770 AMs Cats Roundtable. I can understand it on one level, he added. Ive talked to them, and they feel like a lot of things are not working for them. They feel like two 80-year-old guys dont mean much to them. I am really afraid that we are going to lose the generation of young people Thats my greatest fear for the United States. That young people are disengaging. Trump and Biden, who will likely face off again in less than six months, solidifying a general election rematch from 2020, are vying for support from younger voters. Both campaigns have pushed efforts to connect with a younger generation as Election Day inches closer. Biden has endured some criticism from parts of the younger electorate over his administrations handling of the Israel-Hamas war. Carville, who anchored former President Clintons 1992 campaign, criticized the Biden campaign in late May, saying that the messaging was overly focused on the Israel-Hamas war and not enough on the economy. Talk about cost of living, and were going to help deal with this, he said. Dont talk about fing Gaza and student loans! Trump joined TikTok, the video-sharing platform he wanted to ban while he was in the Oval Office, last weekend. The entrance had an impact, with the account gaining more followers than Bidens campaign in less than 24 hours. Bidens campaign has been on the app for months now, connecting with young influencers and looking to spread the presidents message heading into late 2024. The president himself does not have an account, and recently signed a bill that could ban TikTok. A Harvard Youth Poll from April showed Biden lead Trump by just eight percentage points among 18- to 29-year-olds. During the same period in 2020, the president had a 23-point advantage over Trump with the same group. A recent survey by the University of Chicagos GenForward found that the president has lost some ground with younger Black, Latino and Asian American voters. He led Trump by only two points while 34 percent said they would support a third-party candidate or back someone else. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. (Bloomberg) -- Japans main opposition party urged Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to call a snap election to seek a fresh mandate from voters, saying the public had completely lost trust in his leadership over a slush fund scandal within the ruling Liberal Democratic Party. Most Read from Bloomberg The Kishida cabinet should all resign, or he should dissolve parliament, Katsuya Okada, secretary general of the opposition Constitutional Democratic Party, said in a TV program on public broadcaster NHK on Sunday. Appearing on the same program, LDP Acting Secretary General Tomomi Inada said a bill proposed by the party to tighten political funding rules was supported by other groups and would be effective in preventing similar scandals. Local media have reported Kishida intends to wait to call a snap election until after a party leadership race in September, though his low level of public support means he could face challengers for the top job. The Kishida cabinets approval rating fell 4.7 percentage points to 25.1% in an opinion poll conducted by JNN earlier this month. The LDP has also suffered a series of defeats in special and local elections amid voter dissatisfaction over the slush fund issue. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Jeff Bezos owns a $10 million Swiss private jet. See inside the Pilatus PC-24 with its unusual toilet in the galley. Jeff Bezos owns a $10 million Swiss private jet. See inside the Pilatus PC-24 with its unusual toilet in the galley. Jeff Bezos owns three private jets worth $140 million in total, per JetSpy data. That includes a Pilatus PC-24, which the Swiss company calls "the world's only super versatile jet." It can seat up to 10 people and uniquely has a toilet in the galley to save space. Just like Elon Musk and Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos' private jet of choice is a Gulfstream G650ER. In fact, he owns two of them. But the Amazon founder also has a smaller business jet known for its versatility, according to data from JetSpy. Swiss planemaker Pilatus bills its PC-24 as "the world's only super versatile jet" because it's capable of landing on short and unpaved runways. Business Insider saw inside a PC-24 on display in Geneva at EBACE, Europe's largest business aviation conference. The model we visited is slightly newer than Bezos', built in 2023, compared to the Amazon founder's 2020 jet. Jeff Bezos owns three private jets worth around $140 million, according to data from JetSpy. Jeff Bezos Dave J. Hogan/Getty Images Jeff Bezos' 3 private jets are worth $140 million and include 2 Gulfstream G650ERs alongside a hangar in Seattle The majority of that figure is owed to two Gulfstream G650ERs. But the Amazon founder also owns a smaller jet made by a Swiss company: the PC-24 from Pilatus. AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images I toured a $65 million Gulfstream G650ER private jet like the ones owned by billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos and saw how the ultra-rich travel A PC-24, worth around $10 million, was on display in May at EBACE, a business aviation conference in Geneva. Pete Syme/Business Insider This jet is the first of the updated model that Pilatus announced last October. On the tail, its livery features the Alps' famous Matterhorn. It has a maximum cruise speed of 506 miles-per-hour, but Pilatus bills it as "the world's only super versatile jet" because it can land on shorter and non-paved runways. Pete Syme/Business Insider Compared to one of Gulfstream's large business jet, it looks tiny but the two are designed for completely different journeys. Pete Syme/Business Insider In the background of this image is a Gulfstream G700 which is only slightly bigger than the G650ER. It's almost twice as long as the PC-24 and is capable of flying for more than 10 hours straight. With a range of around 2,200 miles, the PC-24 would need a fuel stop to travel between Bezos' Miami home and Amazon's Seattle HQ. Boarding the plane, most people have to duck to fit into the cabin that's 5 feet and 1 inch high. Pete Syme/Business Insider The first thing you see is the compact galley ... Pete Syme/Business Insider ... which has a sink and a cupboard for champagne glasses ... Pete Syme/Business Insider ... and space for a coffee machine or another appliance. Pete Syme/Business Insider The only sign of the most unique feature is this toilet button. Pete Syme/Business Insider Below the sink, you can pull a handle to reveal the toilet: a unique layout that saves space. Pete Syme/Business Insider Just a curtain separates it from the cockpit, where only one pilot is needed to operate the jet. At least there's a door to the cabin on the other side for privacy. Pete Syme/Business Insider Bathrooms are usually at the aft of a jet, but on the PC-24 you'll find a curtain ... Pete Syme/Business Insider ... which allows for convenient inflight access to the hold, which has a cargo capacity of 3,100 lbs. Pete Syme/Business Insider This cabin has seats for eight passengers, but the PC-24 can alternatively be configured for up to 10 people. Pete Syme/Business Insider The seats can swivel round 180 degrees ... Pete Syme/Business Insider ... and also lie flat an uncommon feature on jets designed for shorter distances. Pete Syme/Business Insider 7 airlines around the world offer lie-flat beds in economy see what makes this seating arrangement so rare Along the ceiling are the lights and air vents, with neat little seatbelt signs. Pete Syme/Business Insider This PC-24 also had a divan that can be made up into a bed. Pete Syme/Business Insider Bezos' PC-24 was built in 2020 before Pilatus added the divan as an option. Its armrests also come with holders for two drinks. Pete Syme/Business Insider Behind the rear seat there's more storage space. Pete Syme/Business Insider And underneath the windows are pop-out tables for each seat. Pete Syme/Business Insider For a man with as much money as Bezos the world's second richest person it's interesting that he would own this small jet as well as his large ones. Phillip Faraone/Getty Images So it's likely that he was keen on the PC-24's main selling points: the only business jet capable of landing on unpaved runways as short as 3,090 feet while loaded to its maximum capacity, plus its unique space-saving designs. Paul Sadler/Courtesy of Pilatus Aircraft Read the original article on Business Insider Theres really been no change in recent months in the condition of former US president Jimmy Carter, who is currently in hospice care, accrording to his grandson Jason. Carter told Southern Living his grandfather seems to be in good spirits, but is facing a new phase of life without his wife, former first lady Rosalynn Carter, by her side. She died in November. After 77 years of marriage I just think none of us really understand what its like for him right now, Jason Carter told the magazine. We have to embrace that fact, that theres things about the spirit that you just cant understand. In the interview, published Friday, he recounted a recent conversation in which he asked the former president what to say about how he is doing. And he kind of smiled and he said I dont know, myself, Jason Carter remembered. The former presidents grandson added that the fact that Carter is receiving hospice care in his beloved hometown of Plains, Georgia, must be a comfort. I think the fact that he and my grandmother both came from that small townits a 600 person village, reallyand its not near any interstate and it is truly out in the country and it is a fundamental part of who he is and who he has been for his whole life, he said There is no other place in the world that he would be at peace other than Plains. In November, Jimmy Carter appeared for the first time in public since entering hospice care, when he attended Rosalynn Carters funeral. At almost 100 Jimmy Carter is the oldest living former US president. Since the funeral, family members have been giving positive updates about the former presidents condition. (My grandfather) is doing OK, Jason Carter told an audience at the Rosalynn Carter Symposium on Mental Health Policy last month. He has been in hospice, as you know, for almost a year and a half now, and he really is, I think, coming to the end that, as Ive said before, theres a part of this faith journey that is so important to him, and theres a part of that faith journey that you only can live at the very end and I think he has been there in that space. Kansas Department for Aging and Disability reported 5,347 people were on a waitlist for a comprehensive intellectual and developmental disability services, a Medicaid program that provides services for people with an intellectual disability that significantly inhibits a persons ability to live independently. The waitlist has been growing for 20 years, and people sometimes report waiting up to a decade between applying for services and getting a waiver which covers things like adult day care, residential supports and specialized in-home services. The state pays for a specific number of people to be treated under the program, which had about 9,000 active participants while the waitlist exceeded 5,300. The physical disability waiver is less severe, but also has a long backlog with 2,452 people waiting for services and 6,005 active participants. The number of people waiting for services under an Intellectual and Developmental Disability waiver has grown for decades. In Gov. Laura Kellys budget she proposed adding 250 slots to the current I/DD and PD waiver caseload. The Legislature, especially House Speaker Dan Hawkins, have emphasized the issue and doubled the number of slots for each waiver to 500. The support is bipartisan, with House Minority Vic Miller also carrying several floor amendments related to the I/DD waiver. Kelly vetoed the proviso to limit the waitlist at 4,800 slots, which the Legislature override in Senate Bill 28, the states budget bill. The lists are now at an all-time high under Governor Kellys administration. By overriding the Governors veto we are ensuring these lists cannot get to these horrific levels again. As weve said before, there is more work to do in eliminating the IDD wait lists and we remain laser-focused on doing that until these vulnerable individuals are able to receive the services they need and deserve. Hawkins said after the override. But the major impact might not be the additional funding the Legislature put into the program after failing to keep up with demand for decades, but a proviso on the funding capping the I/DD Waitlist to 4,800 people. Capping the waitlist considered advancement in Kansas Some disability rights activists point to the cap as a major advancement in the state finally tackling the waitlist for the I/DD and PD waiver. Last year alone, 561 people signed up for the IDD waiver," said Rocky Nichols, executive director of the Disability Rights Center. "Which means if that trend continued this year, which is very likely, if you had 500 slots, if 561 people sign up, guess what? The waiting list grows by 61 people. If the number exceeds 4,800, like it does now, KDADS will return to the Legislature and ask for the promised additional funding. A KDADS spokesperson said that request is likely to come in January when the Legislature reconvenes for its regular session. KDADS estimated it will need about $26.5 million to maintain the cap. But the hard ceiling is encouraging to such advocates as Nichols, who views it as a potential step in reducing the waitlist long-term. The Legislature in the future could tweak that ceiling, right. They could say we want it to be 4,500 next year, and we want it to be 4,000. And it can have a real effect, Nichols said. And before you know it, you have a path to actually eliminate the thing. But the path isnt guaranteed, with the Legislature ultimately holding the power of the purse strings. Though legislative leaders have said the waitlist is a priority, they havent promised to walk the list down over time with additional provisos. Setting a cap in Kansas has potential challenges If the Legislature were to today provide funding for the waitlist to serve the entire population on the waitlist, it wouldnt be an overnight fix for the waitlist. KDADS asked for 500 additional slots to the waitlist based on the current capacity of the people who provide services covered by an I/DD and PD waiver. Then you would have a situation where people are anticipating services, but the provider capacity wouldn't be there to serve them and they have to wait for an appointment and have to wait for services and we certainly don't want a situation like that either, a KDADS spokesperson said. Cottonwood in Lawrence and similar organizations that help people with intellectual and physical disabilities struggle to attract workers for the wages they can pay. Kansas has increased rates over the past couple years, but the average worker is still making around $15 an hour. Building up a workforce to support the additional waivers has been the stated goal of Kellys administration over the years. Last year, she approved $51 million worth of bonuses for workers that provide services covered by the waiver. Jobs in the field have typically been low paying and have high rates of turnover. Even after three years of pay increases, workers in the field still average about $15 an hour. KDADS has grant funding to build provider capacity, used American Rescue Plan Act funds for recruitment and retention bonuses for workers and is awaiting approval for some waiver amendment that could strengthen the workforce. The University of Kansas is conducting a study to gauge the needs of people waiting for services, and the provider capacity both in number and geographically around the state. No silver bullet to problem that built up over many years The I/DD Waiver is called a comprehensive waiver, meaning it covers a wide range of different options from people with relatively few supports needs to people who require high levels of care. The state is creating a more limited waiver called a community support waiver that targets people with fewer supports needed. The CS waiver focuses on nonresidential supports and is targeted at programs that help people find and maintain jobs. The program isnt going to be available until at least 2026. A problem decades in the making is likely to take years to fix, however. With CS waivers and a legislative focus on whittling down the list, activists see a path for the first time in years. That gives you a pipeline to where between that, buying down slots and in like setting the caps," Nichols said, "you actually have a way to actually eliminate the waiting list over the next couple of years. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas capped intellectual disability service waitlist at 4,800 What we know about the raid that rescued 4 Israeli hostages from Gaza The complex raid deep into a built-up refugee camp in central Gaza to rescue four held hostage by Hamas on Saturday was the largest rescue operation since Hamas and other militants stormed across the border and attacked Israel, triggering the ongoing war. Scores of hostages are believed to be held in densely populated areas or inside Hamas' labyrinth of tunnels, making such operations extremely complex and risky. The Israeli raid in Nuseirat camp, which dates back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, on Saturday led to the rescue of 26-year-old Noa Argamani, 22-year-old Almong Meir Jan, 27-year-old Andrey Kozlov and 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv, who were all kidnapped from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. According to the Hamas-run Gaza's Health Ministry, at least 274 Palestinians were killed and hundreds more were wounded in the raid. The Israeli military said its forces came under heavy fire during the complex daytime operation and that "under 100" Palestinians were killed, though it was not clear how many of them were militants or civilians. A timeline of the raid Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, a spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces, told reporters on Saturday that the military has been planning the operation for several weeks, building precise models of the apartment buildings to repeatedly train. The hostages, he said, were being held in two apartments about 200 meters (219 yards) away from each other. They were targeted simultaneously in broad daylight because there was a "huge risk they'd kill hostages in the other one," Hagari said. According to Hagari, the operation in the building where they found Argamani went smoothly, while in the second building with the three male hostages, they were met with crossfire from the guards including from gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades from within the neighborhood. He said the military responded with heavy force, including from aircraft, to extract the rescuers and the freed hostages. An Israeli police special forces officer was critically injured and later died in this hospital. Palestinians look at the aftermath of the Israeli bombing in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Saturday, June 8, 2024. / Credit: Jehad Alshrafi / AP Dr. Itai Pessach, a physician at Sheba Hospital where the freed captives were being treated, said none had serious physical injuries but that it would likely be days before they could be discharged. "A lot of them have lost friends and family. Things happened in these eight months that they weren't here. So (medical staff) have been assisting them in rebuilding the infrastructure of their life," he told reporters. Who are the hostages Argamani, Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were all kidnapped at the Nova music festival. They were recovered after the IDF announced it was striking "terrorist infrastructure" in central Gaza. Argamani has emerged as an icon of the agonizing hostage crisis that is still far from over. She appeared in a series of videos that captured the painful trajectory of their plight. Noa Argamani is among four Israeli hostages that were rescued by Israeli forces from Gaza on Saturday, June 8 2024. / Credit: IDF Handout Meir Jan, from a small town near Tel Aviv, had finished his army service three months before the attack at the music festival, according to the Times of Israel. A forum set up by families of the hostages said he was supposed to start a job at a tech company the day after the attack. Kozlov was working as a security guard at the festival. He had immigrated from Russia to Israel alone a year and a half earlier, and his mother came to the country after Oct. 7, Israeli media reported. Freed Israeli hostage Shlomi Ziv is shown reuniting with his family after months in captivity in Gaze on June 8 2024. / Credit: IDF Handout Ziv is from a farming community in northern Israel and was working as an usher and had gone to the music festival with two friends who were both killed, the Times of Israel reported. U.S. provided intelligence support The United States, one of Israel's largest allies, provided support to the Israeli forces, two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News on Saturday. The U.S. military did not participate in the operation, a U.S. official said. The U.S. role came mainly in the form of intelligence support, two U.S. officials confirmed to CBS News, but they declined to share sensitive details regarding the operation. Video circulating online Saturday showed an IDF helicopter taking off from the beach with the temporary floating pier built by the U.S. in the backdrop. Two U.S. officials told CBS News that the U.S. pier was not used in the IDF operation. It is offshore to assist delivery of humanitarian aid. A U.S. official explained that the helicopter landed south of the facility on a beach but not within the cordoned area of the pier. "The pier facility was not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza. An area south of the facility was used to safely return the hostages to Israel," a U.S. official said. "Any such claim to the contrary is false. The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help get more urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza." Hagari, the IDF spokesperson, also said the rumor that Israeli forces came from the temporary pier was "completely false." "We know it's a true ally that assists us against Hamas, against terrorists and it happens around the clock," he said about U.S. support during the operation. Scenes of horror at Gaza hospital In Gaza, medics described to the Associated Press scenes of chaos after Saturday's raid as wounded people overwhelmed hospitals that were already struggling to treat the wounded from days of heavy Israeli strikes in the area. "We had the gamut of war wounds, trauma wounds, from amputations to eviscerations to trauma, to TBIs (traumatic brain injuries), fractures, and obviously, big burns," Karin Huster of Doctors Without Borders, an international charity working in Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, told the AP. "Kids completely grey or white from the shock, burnt, screaming for their parents. Many of them are not screaming because they are in shock." Palestinians help a wounded man after Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Saturday, June 8, 2024. / Credit: Jehad Alshrafi / AP The killing of so many Palestinians, including women and children, in a raid showed the heavy cost of such operations on top of the already soaring toll of the 8-month-long war. Hostages still missing Hamas abducted 250 hostages during its Oct. 7 attack. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 presumed dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under 5 and two men in their 80s. Saturday's operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven, including one who was freed shortly after the October attack. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. World Food Programme worker injured The United Nations' World Food Programme exeuctive director Cindy McCain told "Face the Nation" on Sunday morning that one of their workers was among those injured in the raid. Haley Ott, Margaret Brennan, David Martin, Clarie Day, Olivia Gazis and Ed O'Keefe contributed to this report. Lionel Richie on the making of "We Are the World" Biden seeks to reaffirm U.S.-France ties in state visit President Biden marks 80th anniversary of D-Day invasion with warning about Ukraine Heres what we know and still dont know about Wichitas homeless services campus Roughly 100 residents came out Saturday to hear more about Wichitas preliminary plans to transform recently closed Park Elementary School into a homeless resource campus. The two-hour meeting at the Advanced Learning Library got heated at times, with Historic Midtown neighbors raising a number of questions about the proposed Multi-Agency Center, including how safe it will be and what impact it might have on their property values. If a deal is reached between the city and the Wichita school board to sell Park for $1, officials say it will be ready to serve as an emergency winter shelter by mid-November and fully equipped as a year-round shelter with wraparound services by 2026. Wichita school board pauses $1 sale of Park Elementary. Heres why and what it means Officials also shared a basic layout for how the various components of the MAC, including shelter space, supportive housing units and a navigation center for connecting people to resources would fit inside the existing school and possible expansion. A basic floor plan for how the Multi-Agency Center would fit within the Park Elementary building. Is the Park Elementary deal final? The school board is set to vote on two measures at its Monday evening meeting one to declare Park a surplus property and another for the conditional sale of the elementary building to the city. If all goes to plan, the City Council will vote Tuesday on an option agreement with the district, which would open a due diligence period for the city to inspect the property. However, as with any closed school building, the state Legislature has first right of refusal on the property if lawmakers adopt a resolution to acquire it. When Assistant City Manager Troy Anderson said the deal was still in its preliminary stages, he was met with a ripple of laughter from the audience and an interjection of Yeah right. No decision has been made. I know that you all keep making the suggestion that it has. No decision has been made, Anderson said. USD 259 still has to make a decision Monday night and City Council still has to make a decision Tuesday morning. And again, that just gets an option on the property. He said the city still has an option on the former Riverside Hospital complex. If there were unlimited dollars, we would want this somewhere else not in your neighborhood, not in here or there, Mayor Lily Wu said to Midtown residents in response to their objections. When asked after the meeting, she didnt say where she would prefer the facility to be located, only that it would ideally be built from the ground up. How much will it cost? When city officials announced Thursday that they were considering Park as a possible site for the MAC, they declined to answer questions about project cost and funding, saying more information about both would be available at Saturdays meeting. That proved not to be the case. The answer is, we dont know yet, Anderson said. The citys initial vision for the MAC was an $80 million facility at the Riverside Hospital complex in West River Plaza. Obviously, Park Elementary is not the same scale as West River Plaza, so its arguably going to be less. How much less? Probably quite a bit less, right? Anderson said. He couldnt say how much the city is prepared to spend on the project. Initial plans called for a $20 million city investment, including $7 million in ARPA funds and $13 million in proceeds from the sale of city properties. Wichita officials had hoped to secure up to $20 million in state matching funds and another $20 million in Low Income Housing Tax Credits, but neither panned out. Anderson said beyond the initial construction of the MAC, staff are working to get a grasp on how much it will cost to operate the facility. He said there will likely be a role for corporate and philanthropic sponsors to play in sustaining operations. What services will be provided? The 24/7 year-round shelter will be low-barrier, not no-barrier, as has previously been stated. That means that although nobody will be turned away for not having an ID or for being under the influence, they wont be allowed in with drugs or weapons, Anderson said. City staff provided a rundown of wraparound services that will likely be available at the MAC. They include an activity center, aging/disability services, bed bug treatment, clothing closet, computer lab, drivers license/ID services, domestic violence/trafficking support, food pantry, meal provider (3 meals a day), hair cuts, housing providers, laundry, animal kennels, law enforcement/Homeless Outreach Team, legal services, mail room, medical/EMS services, mental health, quarantine room, showers, SNAP/DCF, SOAR (a program for connecting qualifying homeless residents with benefits), storage, substance abuse services, United Way, veteran services, veterinarian and workforce services. People who are unhoused often face so many barriers outside of just their housing needs, Vice Mayor Maggie Ballard said. The MAC will be able to provide services in one location and take away many of the hardships that unhoused residents face to seek help. The plan is to provide continued support through case management. Once people have been moved to transitional housing, the goal will be to get them approved to participate in the citys affordable housing voucher program. How many shelter beds will there be? The MAC will have both congregate and non-congregate shelters. Non-congregate shelters provide clients with their own bedroom and bathroom facilities while congregate shelters provide shared bedrooms and bathrooms. Anderson said two preliminary floor plans have been developed for the Park Elementary site. One includes 166 beds and the other, which features more congregate facilities, would allow for 198 beds. Both options could be expanded during emergency winter shelter operations to add 76 beds, bringing the total number of beds to either 242 or 274. Were talking about bringing everybody here from Sedgwick County. Do you think thats going to be enough? one audience member asked. Officials agreed the facility would serve the need, alleviating pressure on a strained provider network. Wu noted that Union Resuce Mission, one of the citys only year-round shelters, serves only men. Theres no space especially for a woman right now, she said. Especially if she is camping, we dont have a shelter space for her unless shes a domestic violence victim. How will it affect property values? Residents repeatedly voiced their worries about the impact the MAC could have on their property values and quality of life. The Lords Diner, and The Inn, a shelter service provided by HumanKind, are already located in Midtown. Why would anyone move to Historic Midtown? one person asked. Anderson said property value assessments are generally based on the price of comparable properties sold in proximity to the house in question and adjusted for other factors. We dont know what the impacts going to be at this point in time, he said. Some attendees disputed his logic. There wont be comparables to another house next to the largest homeless center in the city. You wont find a home like that, one meeting-goer interjected. Anderson pointed out that if the deal doesnt go through, Park will remain a vacant elementary school. Today, for all intents and purposes, its an abandoned building, which also has an impact on property values, he said. Wu instructed staff to collect information and report back on the potential impact the project could have on property values in the area. What security measures will be in place? The emergency winter shelter, most recently located in northeast Wichita at 21st and Opportunity Drive, was equipped with a metal detector and had a screening procedure to ensure operators always knew who was entering and leaving. Anderson said the MAC would have similar features. Police Chief Joe Sullivan said after the meeting that there was an increase in radio calls for trespassing and nuisance complaints around the emergency shelter but no significant increase in violent crime. The impact was not what people feared, he said. Officials agreed there will be ongoing conversations about how best to secure the facility. One thing that I think we didnt make a strong enough focus is, were going to emphasize safety, Wu said after the meeting. Safety is the number-one thing that we want not just for our unhoused population but also the neighbors around that area. Whether its a perimeter of masonry, an officer walking around. These are all parts of the things we still have to talk through, but safety will be the number one. Will this change how the city enforces its no-camping law? Ballard, whose City Council district includes Midtown, said she receives five to 10 emails a day about encampments. Right now, we dont have a shelter. We have nothing, Ballard said. Theyre on the rivers. Theyre downtown. Theyre in peoples yards. Theyre in peoples businesses. Theyre everywhere. And its because they dont have a shelter to go to. Wichita has a no-camping ordinance, but under that law, people can legally camp if theres no shelter available for them to stay at. Theres currently a case before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of camping bans. Right now, people are often frustrated because the [Homeless Outreach Team] cannot move as quickly often as they would like them to, Sullivan said. We dont have a place to take them, so the idea that if we have a place to take you, a humane, safe place to take people to find shelter, it will give us more enforcement authority on the street and enable us to enforce the camping ordinance. Wu said she also wants to see strengthened enforcement. I dont believe its compassionate for people to be living on our sidewalks or underneath our bridges. Its not compassionate, Wu said. We need to have a space for people to have proper sheltering and connect them to the right resources. L.A. County authorities not doing enough to shut down illegal dispensaries: LAT L.A. County authorities are having trouble permanently shutting down illegal dispensaries, the Los Angeles Times said. A Pew Research Center study found that L.A. County accounts for a tenth of all dispensaries thought to be in operation nationwide, with 1,500. However, California State Department of Cannabis Control data for the year ending 2022 shows there were only 384 dispensaries in the county with licenses. Man known as Acid Farts banned, then unbanned from Las Vegas Sphere after posting video of him hitting bong Law enforcement officials in L.A. County and across the state have made hundreds of arrests and seized thousands of pounds in illegal cannabis and other illicit drugs this year, including one seizure at a San Bernardino County location in April which yielded more than 50 pounds of illegal drugs. The L.A. Times described one recent raid at a former used car dealership turned illegal dispensary in Whittier that took place on May 10; as a result of the raid, one employee was arrested and charged for being in possession of psilocybin mushrooms and the rest were let go with a warning. The location was back open within weeks, the Times said. In this March 15, 2018 file photo, an undercover Los Angeles County sheriff's deputy loads two evidence bags into a van after raiding an illegal marijuana dispensary in Compton, one of many California cities where recreational marijuana use remains illegal. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) Further south in San Diego County, the story is quite different, according to the Times; San Diego County authorities have all but stamped out the black market pot shops which rake in millions in untaxed sales. The reason for their success, the L.A. Times says, is due to officials there pressing through webs of limited liability companies and fictitious names that may operate illegal dispensaries. The county earmarked nearly $3 million to crackdown on illegal dispensaries in 2021, rather than relying on paying for sheriffs department overtime as they do in L.A. County. In San Diego County, scientists from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife inspect the property for improper water discharge, and if unpaid taxes cant be paid on the spot, tax-related felony charges are filed. Fishermen at Big Bear Lake reel in 2 separate $10,000 tagged fish Code inspectors who find violations can have the buildings water and electric services cut off, and sometimes the building itself is seized, the L.A. Times said. In addition, San Diego County Sheriffs Department Sgt. Nick Backouris told the Times that legal dispensary owners have also been proactive, even filing lawsuits against their illegal competitors. Meanwhile, back up north, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department officials claim that the most that is done against illegal dispensaries is the District Attorney charging an employee or two and occasionally the business for selling narcotics or other violations, the L.A. Times said. Marijuana found in an illegal marijuana dispensary raided by the LAPD in Wilmington in May, 2019.(Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) That, according to L.A. County Sheriffs Department Narcotics Bureau Lt. Richard White, is simply not enough, and the lack of organization and questions as to who can do the enforcement makes it virtually impossible to stop the outlaw pot shops from coming right back. City of Malibu petitions federal appeals court in effort to curb LAX flight path noise Its definitely profitable enough for them to either relocate or reopen, he told the L.A. Times shortly after the May 10 raid in Whittier. Why wouldnt these businesses continue to skirt the rules? You have a large shadow organization running these dispensaries, and its very profitable, Lt. White added. And on our side, theres a limit to our manpower and funding to tackle this problem. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Labours general election candidate for Dover and Deal has said he would not have stood for the party under Jeremy Corbyns leadership. Mike Tapp, who is fighting to replace Tory defector Natalie Elphicke in the battleground seat, told The Independent he did not feel he could trust the former Labour leader on defence and security. But the 39-year-old former soldier praised Sir Keir Starmers leadership and said now voters in the constituency understand that Labour takes this seriously. Labours general election candidate for Dover and Deal Mike Tapp with his dog, Scooby (Mike Tapp) Mr Tapp voted for Labour in 2019, adding that he always votes Labour. But he said: I wouldnt have stood under the previous administration Coming from a military background, defence and security means so much to me and you have to be able to trust your government on defence and security. Any wavering around the nuclear deterrent or Nato for me is unsuitable. Click here for our live coverage of the general election campaign. The Independent visited Mr Tapp in the south east constituency, which sits on the front line of the small boats crisis and has been rocked by post-Brexit border chaos, with miles-long queues of lorries regularly bringing life to a standstill. In a wide-ranging interview, Mr Tapp accused the Conservatives of having left Britain with open borders. And set out how stints at the National Crime Agency (NCA) and Ministry of Defence (MoD) would help him play a part in Sir Keirs drive to smash the criminal smuggling gangs bringing migrants across the English Channel. Mr Tapp set his sights on the army as soon as he left school, spending a brief stint as a window cleaner before being admitted because of a past knee injury, but eventually being let into the Intelligence Corps. Mike Tapp joined Sir Keir Starmer, Yvette Cooper and Natalie Elphicke to launch Labours plans for a new Border Security Command (Getty Images) He did three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan before leaving the army to join the NCA, where he worked in counterterrorism. Mr Tapp moved from there to the MoD, also working on counterterrorism before leaving to pursue a career in politics in 2020. He was selected as the candidate in Dover and Deal two years ago and has juggled door-knocking in the constituency with working for veteran Labour MP John Spellar ever since. When it became clear Mr Sunak was calling a snap election on 22 May, Mr Tapp said it was a shock, but his campaign team were knocking on doors that evening, while he rushed down from London in time to hit the ground running the next morning. While the Mr Tapp says the biggest issues voters bring up with him on the doorstep are the cost of living and the NHS, Channel crossings are a huge issue in the constituency, with migrants arriving from France typically landing or being brought ashore in Dover. Mike Tapp accused the Conservatives of leading the country with open borders (Mike Tapp) We do have open borders, they are not secure, Mr Tapp said outside the Popup Cafe on Deal High Street - flanked by his eight-year-old Rhodesian Ridgeback Scooby. He pointed to the fact around 400 migrants crossed the channel in 2018, while 40,000 have made the crossing since Mr Sunak first promised to stop the boats. That says it all, doesnt it? he added. Labour has promised to use new counterterrorism powers to tackle the gangs running the trade. It has also promised a new Border Security Command, which would bring together agencies including the National Crime Agency, Immigration Enforcement and MI5. Mr Tapp said voters in Dover and Deal do not want gimmicks such as the Rwanda deportation scheme at the heart of Mr Sunaks immigration plans. He said Labours plan is sensible and will have a massive impact, adding that in his own stints working against criminals and terrorists he has seen the difference those powers can make. The criminal gangs should be running scared of a Labour government, he said. Critics of the plan say it does not do enough to address the numbers of people wanting to cross the channel, and that smugglers will simply find new ways of bringing people to the UK. But Mr Tapp said it is possible to make it unviable. We are an island, and we can secure this island from that sort of migration, he added. Mike Tapp said he was not absolutely delighted by Natalie Elphickes defection (PA Wire) Mr Tapp said: It does not make you a bad person to not want that sort of migration, there are genuine refugees who it is important we help. And we have to understand that economic migrants crossing for a better life are not necessarily bad people but that does not mean we open the borders to everybody who wants a better life. It is horrible to say that, but we do not have the infrastructure to support open borders. Hoping to capitalise on discontent in Dover at Tory failures on immigration is Nigel Farage, who launched Reform UKs election campaign in the constituency. He unveiled Howard Cox, a former lifelong Conservative voter and motoring campaigner, as the partys candidate. But aside from a small flurry after the initial launch, Mr Tapp said the right-wing challenger party has not been mentioned on the doorsteps. He will also have to beat Conservative candidate Stephen James, who is also a veteran but has attacked Mr Tapp for never missing a chance to remind you he served in the army. I dont need to rely on my military background because Im too busy actually making a difference for veterans, Mr Jamess website states. Mr Tapp went on to deny there was any bad blood between him and the retiring MP for the seat Ms Elphicke, who he has campaigned directly against for the past two years. He said he was not absolutely delighted when he heard about the right-wingers defection to Labour, but that it sent a very clear message to Conservative voters considering switching to Sir Keirs party. Mr Tapp has worked closely with shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper on immigration policy and is considered one to watch if he can overturn the 13,000 Tory majority in the constituency on 4 July. Mike Tapp said a government job would be an honour but his priority is to be a strong local MP (Mike Tapp) He said he is ambitious, but that his first priority is to be a decent member of parliament for his constituents in Dover and Deal, adding that it would be a real honour to get a government post. One of the key problems he wants to help a Labour government address is the chaos blighting Dover and Deal due to post-Brexit border delays. He said: Two Saturdays ago it was gridlocked, it was the worst I and many others have seen. You could not get from Deal to the town centre in Dover, there were people stuck in their homes and businesses who had nobody in them. My worry is that in October it could be worse, also affecting Folkestone, Ashford and the Euro Tunnel. While polls point to a relatively comfortable win for Mr Tapp, he faces a difficult task to win over disillusioned voters. Walking along the Deal seafront in the sun on Friday, 80-year-old Ken and 76-year-old Sue said they had been turned off the main political parties, with Ken saying he will back the Green Party in the election, while Sue said she is currently not planning to vote. Ken said: The conduct has been so bad, the level of truth telling has been appalling over the years and we have seen so many broken promises from the beginning. And Sue said: I just think we have lost it we are going to hell in a handbasket. I will decide on the day. Sue said the only thing she had been encouraged by were the local and international celebrations for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, but she said it was bad, bad, bad for Mr Sunak to leave halfway through to film an ITV interview. But what is the alternative, the other one [Sir Keir]? He is an absolute non-entity, he hasnt got any ideas and he has only criticised the whole way through, she added. And Mr Tapp faces a challenge to keep left-wing Labour voters onside. Joanna Woodrow, 58, told The Independent she has backed the Labour Party for her entire life but considered voting Green because of Sir Keirs lurch to the political right. I am less than happy with them because I think they are moving away from their roots but I feel like I dont really have a choice, a vote for the Greens would be a wasted vote in this constituency, she said. She said her support for the party was rocked by Sir Keirs decision to welcome the constituencys former Tory MP Ms Elphicke, describing her as a dreadful woman. But, while she is lacking enthusiasm for the party, she has concluded that Mr Tapp is a reasonable bloke. Party leader Keir Starmer seeks to push use of AI technology in public services - Chris J. Ratcliffe/Bloomberg Labour is planning to override local councils to build data centres on the green belt, as Sir Keir Starmers Opposition seeks to boost Britains artificial intelligence industry. Peter Kyle, the shadow science, innovation and technology secretary, is understood to be considering classing data centres as nationally significant infrastructure projects in a bid to bypass opposition from Nimbys. It comes amid warnings of a shortage of data centres in the UK to meet growing demand for cloud computing and AI. Easing planning requirements is likely to spark more applications for data centres on the green belt, industry sources said. These are expected to centre largely around a west London data corridor, which is the worlds biggest data hub outside of the US. Operators have said brownfield sites on green belts surrounding cities are among the only possible places to build the larger modern data centres needed to serve urban populations. By designating data centre projects as nationally important, planning decisions will be made by ministers and not councils. Last year, plans to build Britains biggest hyperscale data centre with a promised 2.5bn investment were blocked using green belt protections. This was partly because it would spoil views from bridges over the M25. The developer behind the project blamed the decision on what he called green belt theology. Other critics said the decision epitomised the need for planning reform. Mr Kyle held a series of meetings with large data centre investors during a visit to the US West Coast earlier this year, including Microsoft, Amazon and Oracle. The challenges in securing planning permission for data centres in Britain are understood to have been a key topic brought up by Microsoft, which is spending billions of dollars to build hubs amid a boom in AI. Both Microsoft and Google have announced new UK data centre projects in the last year but the laborious planning process is the cause of widespread frustration in the industry. Once completed, large data centres typically support hundreds of construction jobs and a smaller number of permanent staff. They are critical to high-powered AI services, which Labour is relying on to cut NHS waiting times and improve public services if it succeeds at the general election. The Opposition has sought to focus increasingly on opportunities created by technology given spending constraints. It is understood that Darren Jones, the shadow chief secretary to the Treasury, is working closely with Mr Kyle and Pat McFadden, the partys national campaign coordinator, to identify areas where AI can be deployed across Whitehall. The trio are working closely as part of a drive to improve productivity growth, particularly in health, where spending is predicted to keep growing amid an ageing population. Sources said schemes were already being piloted in four Welsh hospitals, including the use of AI to accurately predict when patients are ready to leave. There really is no money left this time, so they have to take a different approach to public spending, said one source. Mr Kyle is expected to meet technology companies on Monday at Imperial College London in a bid to secure support ahead of London Tech Week, the annual series of events celebrating the capitals digital sector. The Government published a consultation in December which considered classing data centres as critical national infrastructure, although its response to calls for evidence has not been published. TechUK, the tech industry lobby group, has called for planning laws to be overhauled to support construction, pointing out that existing rules make no mention of data centres which are classed as storage facilities such as warehouses. Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects such as airports, power plants and roadworks are managed by the Planning Inspectorate, bypassing local authorities. On Sunday, Labours shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood told The Telegraph that prisons would be designated as nationally important projects in order to support their construction. Even if data centres are not labelled as critically significant, Mr Kyle is believed to have told the tech industry that Labour will reform planning laws to allow more facilities. 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. Lacey resident continues to press city about rodents at her home. Im not going away The city of Lacey and one of its residents find themselves at odds with each other. The resident accuses the city of not doing enough to address a rodent problem at her home a problem she says was exacerbated by nearby construction while city officials say they have tried to be a good neighbor and help. The result is not a lot of movement in either direction. Resident Althea Sims, who says she has lived in Lacey for more than 25 years, recently filed a claim for damages with the city that the city turned over to its insurance company, the Washington Cities Insurance Authority. In a letter to Sims that was shared with The Olympian, the WCIA denied her claim this past week. But Sims remains undeterred and immediately responded with an email inquiring about an appeals process. I totally disagree with your conclusion, she writes, adding that she will take this as high as needed. Sims told The Olympian on Friday she is now weighing a small claims court action against the city. At a council meeting The Olympian first learned about Sims when she addressed Lacey City Council in March and presented her concerns. Sims said she lives near a water tower construction project that has disturbed critters, animals and rats in the area, pushing them in the direction of her home. The construction project is the Terry Cargil reservoir, where construction got underway in 2022. It overlooks the Lacey Crossroads shopping center at College Street and Yelm Highway. Construction is expected to last until late this year, The Olympian has reported. During the meeting, Sims threatened to file a claim against the city. She followed through on her threat and filed the damages claim on May 23, which The Olympian received via a public records request. A dollar amount is not identified in the claim, but it does reference pain and inconvenience. For over two years, I have been unable to enjoy my patio due to the citys construction which disturbed the soil and caused my patio to be infested with rodents. She goes on to say that she contacted a city official on numerous occasions but the city did nothing, Sims writes. It wasnt until I attended a city council meeting that anyone acknowledged me, she writes. The city responds Lacey officials say they first heard from Sims and her concerns in the fall of 2022. Since then, they have hired a pest-control business to set up traps around the construction site traps that showed no evidence of rodents and they agreed to reimburse Sims for her pest-control needs. The city has already cut her a check for some of the costs and is prepared to do that through the remainder of the water tower construction project. City staff also say that no other residents in the area have complained about a similar pest problem. Public Works Director Scott Egger said a typical construction site is bare land, equipment and construction materials, and does not contain things like food that might attract pests. We just want to be good neighbors, he said. In its letter denying Sims claims, the WCIA made some of the same arguments, pointing out the contractors work has been within standard practice and there have been no other complaints. Having observed the construction scene, we cannot find action or lack of action by the contractor that would direct rodents to your home, the letter reads. Reviewing aerial photos of your home from Google maps, it appears there is debris in both yours and your neighbors back yard that may be contributing to rodent presence. Sims disputes the accuracy of the photo. She doesnt buy the argument that a lack of complaints somehow undermines her own concerns. There can be a pothole and 90 people can drive that road and not hit the pothole, but if one person hit it, that one person can be damaged and the state or the city would be responsible because that pothole is on their road. Thats the same thing in this case, she said in an email to The Olympian. Sims came before city council again on June 4. She acknowledged that when she first bought the home an inspection showed the presence of pests, which prompted her to secure a pest-control contract. However, she again told the council that when construction started, the situation only got worse. This has caused a lot of stress and turmoil for me, she told the council that night. The Olympian caught up with Sims after she spoke during public comment. She made clear the issue between her and the city is not over yet. Sims added that shes not looking for thousands of dollars from the city, but she wants to be compensated. Im not going away, Im not, she said. Im just not going away. WHITEFISH BAY, Wis. (WFRV) Authorities are warning residents in southeastern Wisconsin to avoid the entrance to a local park after a large sinkhole formed, causing the ground to be unstable. According to the Whitefish Bay Police Department, a fairly sizeable sinkhole formed near the entrance to Big Bay Park/Buckley Park sometime on Sunday morning. Whitefish Bay Police Department Whitefish Bay Police Department Police in Wisconsin continue search for missing woman nearly one month after she was last seen Officers put caution tape and cones up but are advising the public to avoid the area, saying the ground is unstable. Please stay away until crews can fix the situation. Klode is open and a better option. Whitefish Bay Police Department No additional information has been provided. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. Last thing Fresno needs is a cloud of suspicion over police chief | Opinion When the chief of police is being investigated, no matter the reason, its never a good thing. The last thing Fresno needs is a cloud of suspicion hanging over its top cop. Regardless of whether Police Chief Paco Balderramas inappropriate off-duty relationship with a non-city employee proves to be a false allegation, or if this is just the tip of the iceberg. One of those two scenarios is obviously worse than the other. But neither is good for Fresno. Thursdays news release revealing the independent investigation into Balderramas conduct provided few answers and raised numerous questions. Opinion What is the nature of the alleged inappropriate relationship? What Fresno Police Department or city policy might Balderrama have violated? And why did City Hall issue a news release now, four months after the allegation surfaced but before the investigation was completed? Lets focus on that last one. The answer is to get ahead of the news and control the messaging. Mayor Jerry Dyer and his communications staff were being flooded with media inquiries on Wednesday and Thursday, and this was their way of putting the desired spin on a story that has the potential to be a huge mess. That Dyer and City Manager Georgeanne White (Balderramas direct supervisor) chose to get ahead of the story rather than remain silent about an ongoing investigation can also be parsed. By publicizing one allegation against the police chief, it could mean city leaders are shielding themselves from blowback from other accusations theyre aware of that could potentially come to light. Further allegations that could result in Balderrama being placed on leave or even losing his job. Because, if the investigation reveals no violation occurred, Balderrama would seemingly have every right to sue his employers for sullying his reputation. Again, neither outcome is good for Fresno. Fresno Police Chief Paco Balderrama announces a gun safety program offering free locks starting Tuesday morning, during a press conference Monday morning, June 28, 2021 in Fresno. Thats as far as Im willing to venture into Conjecture-land at present. Too much remains unanswered and everyone, police chiefs included, deserves the benefit of the doubt. Evaluated strictly by his professional responsibilities, Balderrama has served Fresno well in the 3 12 years since his arrival from Oklahoma City, where he rose to deputy chief. While crime rates always get the most attention Fresnos total homicides and violent crimes are way down, mirroring national trends Balderramas contributions run deeper. When Balderrama assumed the reins in January 2021, more than 100 of the departments sworn officers were out on long-term leave. The new chief created an internal investigation unit, which found a number were gaming the workers comp system. His frankness in addressing the issue was a refreshing change. Younger, more diverse officers After clearing out the deadwood, Balderrama turned his efforts to recruitment. Unlike many California cities, police in Fresno enjoy universal support from politicians of every stripe. None of them question why the police department sucks up half of the citys general fund on an annual basis. During Wednesdays police budget hearing, only Councilmember Miguel Arias asked Balderrama about the need for a new $5 million helicopter during a time when other departments are tightening their belts. But just because Fresno has the funding and political will to strengthen its police force doesnt mean that automatically happens. Balderrama has succeeded not only in recruiting sizable classes of cadets to the Fresno City College police academy but also in retaining the vast majority of those graduates. Under Balderramas leadership, the police department has become younger and more representative of the communities it serves. Most of his new hires are ethnic minorities, and women make up a larger share than ever. The feedback Ive heard from council members and residents alike is that these new officers are professional and approachable. Another area where Balderrama has stood out is visibility. Judging by social media, days seldom pass without an appearance from the chief at a school, function or special event. And when the chief cant be there, his officers are. Its undeniable Fresno PD has made significant strides under Balderrama, and it would be unfortunate to have any of that momentum disrupted. None of this is good for Fresno. No matter where this story leads. At least 274 Palestinians were killed Saturday in an Israeli raid that rescued four hostages held by Hamas, according to the Gaza Health Ministry. The Israel Defense Forces, along with two other units, conducted a special operation on Saturday from two separate locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza. The operation, which included a heavy air and ground assault, marked Israels largest rescue operations since its war with Hamas began last October, the Associated Press reported. The Gaza Health Ministry on Sunday said at least 274 people were killed and nearly 700 others were wounded in Saturdays operation. More than 37,000 individuals in Gaza have been killed in Israels retaliatory campaign since the war began, health officials added. Hamas is believed to be still holding more than 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip, with more than 30 of them believed to be dead. The U.S.-designated terrorist group kidnapped more than 250 people from southern Israel during its surprise Oct. 7 assault, in which about 1,200 people were killed. About 100 hostages were released in a week-long cease-fire deal last November. President Biden on Saturday celebrated the rescue of the four hostages, pledging that the U.S. wont stop until all of the hostages are returned and a cease-fire deal is reached. On Sunday, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan noted that U.S. forces were involved in Saturdays operation. When asked on CNNs State of the Union about the reported deaths, Sullivan said the U.S. is not in the position to make a definitive statement about the number. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put out another number. But we do know thisinnocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number we dont know, but innocent people were killed. And that is heartbreaking. That is tragic, Sullivan said Sunday. Sullivan, in a separate interview Sunday on CBS Newss Face the Nation, called on Hamas to respond and accept the terms of an Israeli-proposed cease-fire and hostage release. The proposal includes a three-part road map to end the fighting and release the remaining hostages. It was transmitted to Hamas via Qatar, but the U.S.-designated terrorist organization has yet to formally respond, Sullivan said. If Hamas would say yes to that deal, there would be a cease-fire in place, hostages would be coming home, more humanitarian aid would be surging in, and a better day for the Palestinian people would be- would begin to unfold, Sullivan said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. SMITHS STATION, Ala. (WRBL) An assault case has transitioned into a murder investigation after a fight between a nephew and his uncle by marriage turned deadly. Investigators say in the early hours of Friday, June 7, the Lee County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call reporting gunshots and an unresponsive male in the 15000 block of U.S. Hwy 280 East. Upon arrival, deputies found William Armstrong, 40, unconscious and receiving medical attention from emergency services. Witnesses reported Armstrong had been involved in an argument with his uncle by marriage, Jamey Dillard, 46, of Smiths Station. The altercation escalated when Dillard allegedly pistol-whipped Armstrong until he lost consciousness. Armstrong later died at the hospital. Armstrongs body will be taken to ADFS in Montgomery for a postmortem examination. Dillard was apprehended and taken to the Lee County Sheriffs Office. He was initially charged with Assault in the First Degree. The charges have now been upgraded to Felony Murder. Dillard is being held at the Lee County Detention Center. Authorities are urging anyone with information about the case to contact the Lee County Sheriffs Office at 334-749-5651 or Central Alabama Crime Stoppers at 334-215-STOP (7867). Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL. Leonard Peltier Is Getting What May Be His Last Chance At Freedom WASHINGTON After nearly 50 years in prison, Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier is about to get what may be his last chance at freedom. Peltier, 79, is up for a parole hearing on Monday. His last parole hearing was in 2009. Given his poor health and the many years hed likely have to wait for his next hearing, it is unlikely he would survive to make another one. The U.S. government put Peltier in prison in 1977 after he was convicted for killing two FBI agents in a 1975 shoot-out on Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. But his trial was riddled with misconduct, and his prolonged imprisonment has drawn sharp condemnation from prominent human rights leaders, including Pope Francis, Mother Teresa, the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. Dozens of U.S. senators and members of Congress have urged his release. So have dozens of Indigenous legislators. Amnesty International, an organization typically focused on human rights violations abroad, has an entire campaign centered on Peltiers case. Leonard Peltier has been imprisoned for nearly 50 years, and now suffers from severe health issues, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), chair of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs, told HuffPost in a statement. Its time for him to go home and live out his remaining days with his family and his community. Native American rights activist Leonard Peltier, shown here in prison in February 1986, has been in prison for nearly 50 years without any evidence he committed a crime. Cliff Shiappa/Associated Press There was never evidence that Peltier committed this crime. The FBI and U.S. attorneys office never did figure out who killed those agents. But Peltier, who was one of dozens of people present at the shoot-out, was the only person left for them to go after. He had been separated from his co-defendants, all of whom had already been acquitted on grounds of self-defense. Prosecutors in his trial hid key evidence. The FBI threatened and coerced witnesses into lying. On the second day of the trial, a juror admitted she was biased against Native Americans but was kept on. Peltier has maintained his innocence the entire time hes been in prison. He had a chance to be released in 2009 when he was up for parole, but it would have required him to say that he murdered the two FBI agents. He wouldnt do it. His parole was denied. On Monday, a hearing officer with the U.S. Parole Commission will conduct Peltiers hearing in a conference room at the maximum security prison in Sumterville, Florida, where he is incarcerated.The hearing is expected to last all day and is not open to the public. Peltier is limited to two witnesses speaking on his behalf and will also speak for himself, according to his lawyer. One witness is a doctor who has examined Peltier and will testify about his serious health issues, which include diabetes and an aortic aneurysm. The other is a Native American ally to Peltier who is a prominent voice in Indian Country. Beyond Peltiers witnesses, family members of the two FBI agents who were killed will also be there. The hearing officer has 21 days to make a decision on granting parole. If it is granted, Peltier will go through a short process before being released. If it is denied, his attorney can file an appeal with a U.S. district court. Peltiers team will make the case that he be allowed to live out his final years in home confinement. He currently spends most days confined to a cell with inches of space to move within because the prison is regularly in a state of lockdown. He needs a walker to get around. He is blind in one eye from a stroke. I implore the Parole Commission to show justice and mercy by granting Mr. Peltier parole on humanitarian grounds, Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.), the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee and a longtime supporter of Peltiers release, told HuffPost in a statement. A rally outside the White House on Sept. 12, 2023, shows support for imprisoned Native American activist Leonard Peltier. Stephanie Scarbrough/Associated Press Remarkably, some of the same U.S. government officials who helped put Peltier in prison in the first place have since come forward and admitted how flawed his trial was, and have urged clemency for him. They include former U.S. Attorney James Reynolds and the late U.S. appeals court judge Gerald Heaney. And in 2022, legal experts with the United Nations Human Rights Council issued an unusual and damning legal opinion that Peltiers prolonged imprisonment is arbitrary and only because he is Native American. They concluded he should be released immediately. He has now spent nearly five decades locked away from his community, family, and loved ones enduring a punishment that he and hundreds of thousands of others, including the U.S. attorney who prosecuted him, know he was never due, Grijalva said. An injustice of that magnitude can never fully be made whole, but it is not too late to grant him the remaining years of a life that the federal government wrongfully stole from him so many years ago. So why is Peltier still in prison? The FBI doesnt want him released. Ever. The FBI remains resolute in our opposition to Leonard Peltiers latest application for parole, FBI director Christopher Wray told HuffPost in a statement. Wray provided a lengthy statement laying out the bureaus reasons: Peltier was convicted of the brutal murder of FBI Special Agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams at South Dakotas Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in 1975. We must never forget or put aside that Peltier intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions. Over the past 45 years, no fewer than 22 federal judges have evaluated the evidence and considered Peltiers legal arguments, with each reaching the same conclusion: Peltiers claims are meritless, and his convictions and sentence must stand. In addition, Peltiers crimes include a post-conviction escape from federal custody, during which he and his crew fired shots at prison employees. Granting parole for Peltier would only serve to diminish the brutality of his crime and further the suffering of the surviving families of agents Coler and Williams, as well as the larger FBI family. But even by the U.S. governments own admission, Peltier is not in prison for intentionally killing anyone or even for killing anyone. Government officials dropped that argument decades ago, when their case fell apart, and charged him with aiding and abetting whoever did kill those agents. The claim that Peltier has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions makes sense given hes maintained his innocence the entire time hes been in prison, even when its almost certainly resulted in him being denied parole. The FBI has not acknowledged the misconduct at Peltiers trial, or the pleas for his release by the former U.S. government officials who played a direct role in putting him in prison. The FBI has also not addressed the key context of that 1975 shoot-out: the FBI was intentionally fueling tensions on that reservation as part of a covert campaign to suppress the activities of the American Indian Movement, or AIM, a grassroots group of activists focused on drawing attention to treaty rights violations, discrimination and police brutality targeting Native Americans. Peltier was a prominent AIM member and an FBI target. In a bombshell interview last year, retired FBI special agent Coleen Rowley said the bureaus steadfast opposition to Peltiers release is rooted in vindictiveness and misplaced loyalties. Rowley, who worked for years with prosecutors and agents directly involved in Peltiers case, described how new FBI agents are indoctrinated with the bureaus version of events surrounding the 1975 shoot-out. She has urged Peltiers immediate release. By all appearances, the FBI simply wants Peltier to die in prison, if not for any other reason than to avoid having to admit the U.S. government lied to put him in prison in the first place. As Peltiers attorney Kevin Sharp previously told HuffPost, In order to get clemency, you have to get the FBI on board. They have an inherent conflict. You have to get the U.S. attorneys office on board. They lied to get him in prison. They have an inherent conflict. Theyre not going to say, Oops, sorry. Its this holdover with the FBI, added Sharp, who is a former federal judge who was appointed by President Barack Obama. Its this holdover with the FBI.Kevin Sharp, Leonard Peltier's attorney If Peltiers parole is denied again on Monday, theres really only one other way hes got a chance at living out his final years at home in North Dakota with his family and tribe: if President Joe Biden grants him clemency. The president could do this unilaterally at any point. So far, he has chosen not to. As a political matter, the issue of Peltiers release isnt going away. Democrats in Congress have publicly appealed to Biden at least four times to grant clemency to Peltier. The National Congress of American Indians, the largest and most powerful Indigenous rights group in the country, has said Peltiers freedom is a priority for the organization and its membership heading into the November elections. In 2022, the Democratic National Committee unanimously passed a resolution calling on Biden to grant clemency to Peltier. A White House spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment. In a rare interview in 2022, Peltier told HuffPost what he would say to Biden if he had five minutes alone with him: Im not guilty of this shooting. Im not guilty. I would like to go home to spend what years I have left with my great-grandkids and my people. Related... Historic Meeker Oak in Tumwater should be preserved Over 400 years ago, an acorn grew into a tree now slated for destruction by the Tumwater mayor and a Thurston County judge. This venerable oak tree stands on Old Highway 99 alongside the Olympia Regional Airport a mile north of the historic George Bush homestead. When Ezra Meeker, the founder of Puyallup, traveled the Oregon Trail, he passed by this oak tree later named after him. The tree has a branch spread of 90 feet and produces up to 1,000 pounds of acorns. I harvested acorns this past fall to plant in our nursery, appreciating the tree for its heritage and tremendous abundance of large acorns. I can attest to its overall health oak wood is known for its strength. While nothing lasts forever, and trees lose branches in storms, motorists are in much greater danger from other cars coming in the opposite direction at 60 miles per hour. Previous highway engineers have routed Old Highway 99 slightly around the giant tree and erected a concrete barrier between the tree and the highway. If it doesnt get cut down, it could be around for another couple hundred years. If they leave the stump intact, oaks can sometimes resprout. Michael Dolan, Burnt Ridge Nursery, Onalaska Todays partisanship is a misnomer I get frustrated hearing complaints today about the excessive partisanship of our times. A healthy democracy includes groups loyal to a particular vision of laws, policies and programs, and we all must be willing to take action to effect change. We have always had this in our republic. It works because all sides accept the rule of law, co-equal branches of government, and most importantly, fair and free elections. Today, however, many of our lawmakers and citizens are allied with a MAGA movement that denies election results, assaults our system of justice with false accusations that it is political, and backs a leader who thinks he should be above the law. This movement threatens the foundations of our democracy and should be opposed by everyone who cares about what our founding fathers set forth, and what so many have fought and died to preserve. If our generation wins this battle, perhaps we may save our republic for future generations, for future political parties both liberal and conservative, and citizens of every political persuasion. By demanding democracy now, we preserve our freedom to choose, to be partisan, and live out our destiny as a free people. Richard L Brandt-Kreutz, Olympia Before you vote Voters, before choosing a President, please with liberty, justice, equality and democracy as core principles ask yourself: Which claims that each state should decide on womens health but not on mens condoms and vasectomies? Which one rammed through Judges who claim their wives have the right to do things that compromise their judicial objectivity, then rule those same wives have no right to control their own medical decisions, the very same judges who take lavish gifts from rich donors affected by court decisions? Which one calls Neo-Nazis fine people, dictators smart and strong, then, while claiming law and order, did nothing while his people violently attacked Congress, our democracy and law enforcement agents? Which one has already promised to destroy Social Security, Medicare, checks and balances in the cabinet and federal agencies, then end child labor regulations, worker safety and wage laws, protection from unsafe food and drugs, plus environmental protections? (See Project 2025 online.) Whod take us back to the age of the robber barons? Which candidate has cheated on at least two wives, claims the right to grab any woman by her privates, and bragged that he could kill someone in Times Square without being held accountable? Your open mind makes it clear which one will threaten your future, health, womens rights, democracy, the planet. The Declaration says ALL are equal with god-given rights: life, liberty, pursuit of happiness. Think WE, not me. Then vote as if our collective future depends on it, more than ever. Gery Gerst, Olympia Letters to the Editor: Now that Trump has been convicted, will the media stop giving him so much attention? Newspapers reporting former President Trump's conviction are seen on sale in New York on May 31. (Ruth Brown / Associated Press) To the editor: It was appropriate that George Skelton's column, "Trump's pity party maligns America's real darkest days," was published on the 80th anniversary of D-day, which was a truly dark day for the United States and for Allied soldiers fighting in Normandy. Former President Trump's hyperbole and blatant lies have become tiresome and dangerous; perhaps we should be writing and reading columns that are not about him. He is newsworthy because he has supporters and wants to become an American dictator. Perhaps if he had less media coverage, he would end up screaming into the void about his persecution and what he feels was America's darkest day (the day he was convicted in New York). Karen Wilkinson, San Francisco .. To the editor: Jonah Goldberg thinks an extended jail term for Trump is "indefensible, given the nature of the crime." ("Could the guilty verdict cost Donald Trump the election? Sure it could," Opinion, June 4) Does he mean the conviction on 34 felony counts in New York, for which he has shown zero remorse? Those emanating from the same conspiracy for which his ex-attorney has already served an extended term despite demonstrating considerable remorse? Is he suggesting a fine would be sufficient punishment for any person so convicted, much less a convict who can pull in more than enough to pay the fine with one campaign mailer? I think Goldberg meant to say "anything but an extended sentence would be indefensible." Or does he think that a politician engaged in a campaign should get a free pass when convicted? Because surely he doesn't believe a thuggish threat of mass violence should deter consistency in punishment. I await Goldberg's clarification. Rick Goldfarb, Sherman Oaks This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Letters to the Editor: Protesters need to stop accusing the other side of being terrible people To the editor: Parts of your article about the tense situation on the UCLA campus illustrate a critical problem with the U.S. political situation now. Without taking a position on the issues, I note that striking graduate students reportedly were chanting, "UC, UC, youre no good, treat your students like you should." Successful negotiations do not occur when the focus is put on the alleged character defects of the opponents rather than the issues to be discussed. "You're no good" is a personal attack that says nothing about the validity of any grievances or desired changes, and these students are not little children who cannot understand the difference. Similar demonizing of the political opposition keeps conservatives and liberals from having any productive discussions about the real issues facing our country. Rather than "UC, UC, you're no good," perhaps try "UC, UC, do some good." It fits the rhyme scheme just as well, puts issues at the center, and doesnt start by asserting the other side is composed of reprehensible people. That would be a model for all of us. Jeffrey Brown, Yorba Linda .. To the editor: If UCLA "has essentially become a police state" after a failure to protect pro-Palestinian demonstrators on campus from attackers, how about a quick referendum of only UCLA students and employees. The question: Do you want security guards outside buildings and parking structures on campus? Perhaps consideration should be given to including assumption of the risk options for new contracts for employees, and offers and acceptance provisos for students old enough to vote, and the parents of students who are not old enough to vote. Barbara Burke, South Pasadena .. To the editor: If Hamas had not attacked Israel on Oct. 7, nearly 1,200 Israelis would not have been murdered, Gaza would not have been bombed by Israel, thousands of Gaza residents would not have been killed, and there would have been no protests against the Hamas-Israel war on the UCLA campus or anywhere else. Why does The Times ignore these facts in some of its reporting on this issue? Hamas should be blamed for everything related to this crisis. Greg Sirbu, Redondo Beach This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. SIR Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, rightly criticises Labours net zero plans, but then only proposes changes to the remit of the Climate Change Committee to take account of consumers interests (report, June 9). Why outsource any responsibility to this quango, which has been given far too much power to influence public policy? Ministers should take that back on to their own shoulders and answer to the electorate directly for their actions. The modern tendency of government to outsource responsibility to independent public bodies, as also happens with the NHS, should be reversed. Michael Staples Seaford, East Sussex SIR Most voters accept that net zero targets, while desirable, are economically unachievable. Labour, in pursuit of net zero, seeks to close down North Sea oil and gas production through taxation and by banning new drilling licences. This would leave the UK exposed in regard to future energy requirements, relying on exporting nations that may well not be inclined to provide the energy we need. The Tories should vigorously attack Labours intentions towards our North Sea energy supply, and furthermore have a manifesto pledge to pull back even further than it has already on the net zero time frame. John Crosthwaite-Eyre Lyndhurst, Hampshire SIR We will all have to get used to seeing acres of solar panels (Comment, June 9), but the desecration of the surrounding areas and roads through local villages is totally unacceptable. Prime agricultural land is being set aside, with absolutely no financial gain for the local people who actually care about the disappearance of precious local landscapes. Sarah Wedderburn Monks Eleigh, Suffolk SIR Although the same could apply to any party trying to win at the election, Richard Allison (Letters, June 7) is right to caution us about what Labour is not saying rather than what it is. We were not told prior to the 1997 election that Gordon Brown was going to raid our pension schemes, ruining peoples futures in the process, or that he was going to sell off our gold reserves. Look how well these unannounced policies turned out never mind those that came later. Barry Bright Storrington, West Sussex SIR On Friday, I watched seven mediocre politicians on the BBC promising the world in a totally unconvincing fashion (Public declare Farage the winner of seven-way debate, report, June 9). No wonder the electorate is disillusioned. Brian Pegnall Falmouth, Cornwall Hamass tactics SIR Many world leaders and opinion shapers have decided to not only condone the actions of Hamas, but to reward them. This has come in the form of charging Israel with genocide, issuing arrest warrants for its leaders, and recognising the statehood of Palestine. We saw on Saturday, by its own admission, Hamass deliberate use of civilian homes in high-density urban areas to hold Israeli hostages (report, June 9). This builds on the repeated use of United Nations facilities, schools, mosques and hospitals. I have grown accustomed to the default vilification of Israel, no matter what it does, but the encouragement, justification and appeasement of Hamas and the denial of basic realities are staggering. Truly, I mourn the tragic loss of innocent life in Gaza, but this is on Hamas and those who support it. Surely now the world can see that Israel has no alternatives when its people are being held hostage in civilian apartments. I am proud of the resolve, determination and moral integrity of the Israel Defense Forces, and abhor people who support and encourage those terrorising both Israelis and their own Gazan citizens. Ben Lazarus Yad Binyamin, Israel Mourning Dr Mosley SIR Like so many, I was very saddened to hear that the body of Dr Michael Mosley has now been found (report, telegraph.co.uk, June 9). He had two special abilities that stood out. The first was to recommend simple, achievable ideas that anyone could try. The second was to take on board many of these lifestyle changes himself, to demonstrate how effective they could be. When combined, these attributes made his approach very powerful and relatable, and he will have changed many lives for the better. He will be greatly missed. Kate Pycock Ipswich Sunaks D-Day error SIR Our Prime Minister attended the major D-Day memorial events to honour our Servicemen (Letters, June 8). He is in the midst of an election battle, which he is losing. He is a thoroughly decent man who had not calculated that the political hyenas would tear him to shreds for taking a PR opportunity. It is the forward-looking policies being proposed by each party that we should all be concentrating on. Less mud-slinging and abuse, and more honesty and grown-up debate on the future direction of our country, would be welcome. Lord Milverton Bicester, Oxfordshire SIR What would the Conservatives be saying if a Labour leader had bunked off from the D-Day commemoration to record an interview? Christopher Clayton Waverton, Cheshire Bedfordshire clanger SIR The Bedfordshire clanger is a clever pastry and lunchbox idea that has a savoury filling roast pork at one end, and a sweet one plum jam at the other (Letters, June 7). It was originally designed as a filling, easily portable lunch for farm labourers. The gorgeous buttery suet pastry is wonderfully crumbly. Jeff Smith Abergavenny, Monmouthshire Small boat crossings SIR You report (telegraph.co.uk, June 6) that a six-month-old baby was one of 84 people rescued by the Border Force and the Royal National Lifeboat Institution from a large inflatable boat that capsized in the Channel. This demands an explanation from the French. Eighty-four migrants crossing the Channel in one boat is a new record, although 112 migrants attempted to board a large inflatable boat on a beach near Wimereux on April 23. This resulted in the loss of five lives, including that of a seven-year-old child. Would it be too much to ask the French to stop the boats on the beaches of northern France, to save lives? Since 2018 the Government has paid France some 678 million for extra police officers and additional vehicles, including drones. Yet, on June 6, the Home Office reported that 316 migrants had crossed the English Channel in five large inflatable boats an average of 63 migrants per boat. The boats are easily spotted from the air, and could be destroyed by police on the ground. It may be agreed that saving lives at sea should begin with a combination of spotter planes and highly mobile ground units, destroying the flimsy, unseaworthy boats on land, in France, before they enter the sea. This year alone, almost 11,000 illegal migrants have crossed. To be blunt, the Government, in particular the Home Office, has failed miserably since January 2023, when the Prime Minister made his solemn pledge that he would, stop the boats. James A Cowan Durham Novel insulation SIR We live in a semi-detached house with a north-facing side wall. There is only one room on that wall, and it was always cold, especially in winter. To insulate it, we put in floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and installed all the spare books about the house (How to move house with a lifes worth of books, Letters, June 8). Two problems solved. Charles B de B Madden London SW8 SIR A priest colleague of mine, after being appointed to a new parish, sent most of his books to the parish centre. He put a note in the parish newsletter telling parishioners that they were free to take any books they wanted, adding: May you have as much pleasure in reading them as I had in intending to read them. Eamon McDevitt Dunamanagh, Co Tyrone The pitfalls of dining out in a foreign language De Peerdestal (the horse stable), a restaurant in Antwerp, northern Belgium - alamy SIR On a trip to Belgium we stopped at a little bistro. The waitress explained the menu and my husband decided on what he thought was steak and ale pie. A whole plate of eels arrived (Letters, June 8). Sylvia Smith Norwich SIR In 1963 I went on a holiday to Russia organised by the Youth Hostels Association. We crossed the North Sea from Harwich to the Hook of Holland, to travel for the next three days to Moscow by train. We decided that we needed milk to make tea on the journey. A friend said he could speak Dutch and we went into a shop, where milk was ordered. The shopkeeper looked puzzled but went into the back. When he returned he had several frozen kippers and was not amused when we fell about laughing. Bill Mason Chorley, Lancashire SIR Some years ago, at Arnhem Zoo, my husband and I approached the coffee stall and asked for two coffees in carefully rehearsed Dutch. The barista looked at us with pity and told us in flawless English to speak our own language, as she would find it easier to understand. As we slunk away, clutching our coffees, we heard her issuing the same advice to the German couple behind us. We wondered how many languages she had under her belt. Deborah Tompkinson Maidenhead, Berkshire SIR Many years ago, on my first business trip abroad, I was staying in a small hotel in Munich. At breakfast, I confidently asked for ein vier-minuten ei, to which reasonable request the waitress replied: vee ave no cream cakes. Michael Gaine Elmdon, Essex SIR My ex-husband told me once of a friend being annoyed by a yapping dog in a restaurant. When the waiter asked if he would care for a dessert, he replied: No, just strangle that poodle. The waiter brought him an apple strudel. Nina Edwardes-Ker San Jose, Almeria, Spain Housebuilders should follow the Kings lead SIR The vernacular architecture in and around Petersfield is pleasing and uses a rich range of local materials. Sadly this has been ignored by developers, who continue to throw up the kind of characterless boxes now found across the country. When it was announced that we would be part of the new South Downs National Park, I rejoiced. At last, someone would raise the architectural bar. Sadly I was wrong. The lacklustre planners still rubber-stamp the minimum-effort, maximum-profit applications. At Poundbury, King Charles has demonstrated what is possible with a little effort and imagination. Why are the rest of us denied such enlightened thinking? Tim Baker Petersfield, Hampshire Letters to the Editor We accept letters by email and post. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers. ADDRESS: 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London, SW1W 0DT EMAIL: dtletters@telegraph.co.uk FOLLOW: Telegraph Letters @LettersDesk NEWSLETTER: sign up to receive Letters to the Editor here 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. DURHAM, N.C. (WNCN) Curtis Boykin says his journey has been tough after spending one year behind bars. It was really hard trying to start my life again and try to find a job, said Boykin. His stepfather recently encouraged him to call a hotline operated by the Raleigh based nonprofit, Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services. They told me what I needed to do, and I followed all of the leads they gave me. It came out very good because I finally found a job, said Boykin. After using the Recidivism Reduction Hotline, Curtis said it took only about a week or two before he was hired at a car detailing company. Recidivism Reduction Educational Program Services Executive Director Kerwin Pittman has a similar story. Re-entry was really hard for me, and if this hotline would have been available when I came home, it would have put me on the right track, said Pittman. Pittman served more than a decade behind bars and was released on good behavior. He has since spent every day advocating for change through this nonprofit and new hotline. We had to pull a wide net of resources across the state of North Carolina, said Pittman. The hotline is available in all North Carolina counties. It helps individuals with education, essential needs, healthcare, housing, legal, religious services, safety and security and a support system. It is amazing to connect an individual coming home with resources they need, such as a job, immediately. We know this can guide them to a trusted source to make a difference, said Pittman. One month in, the hotline is now available on tablets in North Carolina Prisons. It is giving more access to thousands of individuals incarcerated to begin planning their re-entry into society and changing lives just like Curtis Boykin. This has totally changed my life. I get to wake up and look forward to something new, said Boykin. You can reach the hotline by calling 1-888-852-0004. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LIVINGSTON COUNTY Livingston Countys courts believe they're operating at an unserviceable level, thanks to a funding dispute with county officials, according to a lawsuit. A status conference for Livingston County Courts v. Livingston County and its Board of Commissioners is scheduled for Friday, June 21. The courts filed the lawsuit with the Michigan Court of Appeals in March. Livingston County has a general fund of over $30 million for its fiscal year 2024 budget and yet, the courts allege, the board "has failed to appropriate a serviceable level of funding," including refusing to implement wage increases in accordance with a wage study for court union employees. Livingston Countys courts believe they're operating at an unserviceable level, thanks to a funding dispute with county officials, according to a lawsuit. In April, the COA asked the Michigan Supreme Court to assign a retired judge to preside over the hearing. The case has been assigned to Duncan Beagle, formerly of the Seventh Circuit Court. The courts want the county to: Immediately implement the union wage study Provide additional appropriations as needed for the wage study Provide additional funding to reach a "serviceable level" The courts also seek attorney fees and costs. Meanwhile, the county is requesting the COA deny all relief requested by the courts and dismiss the case altogether. John Fraser, an attorney representing the courts with Dykema Gossett PLLC, had no comment for The Daily. Allison Nalepa, communications manager for Livingston County, said the county is working through the legal process and won't comment on pending litigation. The Daily also left messages with Plunkett Cooney, the law firm representing the county. Much of the debate is centered on union and non-union employee raises. In October 2022, the board agreed to approve and implement the results of a study from MGT of America Consulting, which recommended wage increases and position reclassifications for Livingston Countys non-union employees. It resulted in a 5.06% increase in the countys payroll. Last September, MGT completed the same compensation study for the courts' union employees. MGT "recommended essentially the same wage increases and position reclassifications" it recommended for the countys non-union employees, according to the lawsuit. The study indicated it would result in a 5.02% increase to the courts' payroll. The county argued it increased the funding of the courts core functions by 17.5% from 2023 to 2024. The county's budgeting for the courts has steadily increased from 2021 through 2024, according to its answer to the complaint. The county also argued the 5.02% wage increase requested for union employees was done without the countys input and without a prior agreement to fund the increase. The county also noted the report for non-union employees didnt recommend an across-the-board pay increase of 5.06%, and that it specifically stated some employees wouldn't receive pay increases. Last September, the county requested the courts decrease their proposed budget by $126,000, which the courts "agreed to do in the spirit of cooperation with the county and with the understanding (it) would include funding for the implementation of the courts union wage study." On Oct. 30, 2023, court staff were invited to attend a committee meeting, during which members of the board voted to cut an additional $200,000 from the courts' fiscal year 2024 budget. In court documents, the county argued it has no authority to increase any court employees wage, as the county doesn't employ any court personnel. In the end, the budget didnt include the estimated cost of implementing the wage study, and officials requested the courts decide where the $200,000 in reductions should be made. Subscribe: Get unlimited access to our local coverage The courts notified the county in November they couldn't suffer any further budget cuts and would not cooperate with the request, threatening legal action if the county refused to reconsider. The lawsuit alleges the courts' budget is underfunded by roughly $581,000. The courts allege the refusal to implement wage increases and reclassifications unlawfully intrudes upon the courts inherent authority as sole employer, causes the court to commit unfair labor practices and jeopardizes the courts ability to recruit and retain staff." The county argues the courts cannot make the county appropriate and allocate additional funds beyond what was approved in the budget. The county also alleges the courts cant provide evidence they're being asked to operate at a unserviceable level. A mediation hearing in January between the two sides went unresolved. Contact reporter Evan Sasiela at esasiela@livingstondaily.com. Follow him on Twitter @SalsaEvan. This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Livingston County courts, commissioners in legal battle over hefty budget cuts While Taylor Swift receives nonstop attention from adoring fans around the world, on Friday night in Concord, it was a different type of swift that took center stage. Dozens of families came to Beverly Hills Elementary to watch as hundreds of chimney swifts, a federally protected migratory bird, flew into the schools chimney, where they have been living for the past few months. The birds choose chimneys, like at Beverly Hills, to nest during the warmer months. The event was a way to honor the animals as part of World Swift Day (focused on the birds, not the pop star), but it also provided a chance to spotlight just how critical the school, which is set to be demolished later this year, has become. The consensus among parents and community members appears to be that there are some 200 birds currently nesting in the chimney. Andrea Burleson, a Bulldog alumna who has two children who graduated from the school and two who attended this past year, wanted to come to witness the birds, which she called the schools saving grace. Weve prayed, weve gone through whatever we can try and do ourselves, but obviously we need something that is a little out of our control to intervene to save our school, Burleson told The Independent Tribune. The school district and various school boards have discussed the closure of Beverly Hills for years, but the current board, in a tight 4-3 vote in February, voted to close the school. The students will be realigned next school year to W.M. Irvin, Winecoff and Royal Oaks. The plan is to turn Beverly Hills into a Pre-K center to replace the current Mary Frances Wall Center. A $50.6 million, 750-seat replacement school for Beverly Hills and Coltrane-Webb students is going to be built on the current Coltrane-Webb site. Though Cabarrus County Schools superintendent Dr. John Kopicki has consistently stated that Beverly Hills students will have the option to return to the replacement school once its built, many in the community are skeptical that the new school will ever be an option for Bulldog students. Several members of Save Our Schools, the nonprofit organization that has been advocating for years against the closure of the school, filed a lawsuit earlier this year against the school board for allegedly not following proper protocols in voting to close the school. The plan as of now is still for part of Beverly Hills to be demolished to make way for the Pre-K center. That is why the birds, and the need to ensure their protection, have become a source of hope for many people in the community. An online petition began circulating a few weeks ago to save the chimney swifts. The petition, as of Friday evening, has garnered close to 500 signatures. The birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the petition states, which makes it illegal to kill them, their eggs, or their nests. If we arent important enough, hopefully these birds can be important enough to save the establishment, Burleson said. Sisters and Bulldog graduates Julia and Ani Shuman have always known about the animals, but the prevailing notion for a long time was that they were simply bats. Julia said it wasnt until a neighbor recently saw a bird fly into the chimney and, thanks to a Google search, learned about the chimney swifts. I just hope the school board is responsible enough to recognize that this is a big issue, Julia said. Its important to make sure the birds are safe and to not destroy their home. Chimney swifts arrive in the U.S. in March or April to breed and roost, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service report, and then depart in August or September to spend the winter in South Americas upper Amazon basin of Peru, Ecuador, Chile and Brazil. Kopicki, the CCS superintendent, announced this week that the district, which was aware of the petition and the advocacy to protect the birds, had retained a wildlife consultant to determine if the birds were actually nesting at the site. News of the birds have also reached PETA, which has asked that the demolition of the school be delayed until at least September when the birds migrate south. I think this honestly has brought so many people together, Julia Shuman said. Lee Shuman, president of SOS and Julia and Anis father, was excited to see so many people come out (he estimates at least 75 people showed up) to show support not just for the birds but for a beloved school that has been educating students for 70 years. It just shows that people care about this school, about the history, and about what they think is best for Cabarrus County, Shuman said. People care, and that is what really matters. As the 4-year anniversary of George Floyds death draws near, one group is committed to calling for an end to racial inequality. On Saturday, Progressive Action for Common Good (PACG), a group that aims to educate and engage citizens to work for the common good of all, according to their website, gathered along an intersection near Southpark mall in Moline. We want to make sure that people keep in their minds what happened on that day; its a dialogue that needs to be kept going, PACG Vice President Glenda Guster said. Its something that just is usually put in the back, nobody talks about it. We want to keep conversation going about what happened. Members of PACG come together at the same corner every Saturday with signs that ask drivers to honk for equality. They hope to keep the memories and the conversation alive while also sharing the values of the group with the community. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com. Loved ones search for man who disappeared in Malibu Authorities are searching for a missing man who disappeared in Malibu. The man was identified as Attilio Brillembourg, 53, a New York resident, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Brillembourg was last seen on May 18 on the 6000 block of Murphy Way at around 1:10 a.m. He is described as a white male standing 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighing around 165 pounds. He has gray hair, green eyes and an unknown tattoo on his upper thigh. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, gray pants and no shoes. Loved ones have not heard from the man since his disappearance and are concerned for his well-being. Attilio Brillembourg, 53, a New York resident, is seen in a photo from the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Anyone who knows Brillembourgs whereabouts or has additional information is asked to call the LASDs Homicide Bureau Missing Persons Detail at 323-890-5500. Anonymous tips can be provided to L.A. Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or online at lacrimestoppers.org. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTLA. At its birth nearly 100 years ago, Cincinnati's Lunken Airport delighted crowds with air shows, attracted celebrity pilots and reigned as the country's largest municipal airport. But like many centenarians, the city-owned East End facility has been in slow and steady decline since middle age. Traffic has dipped. Planned fix-ups have stalled. This summer, one of its three runways will close. In 2022, Lunken Airport shut its terminal building to prepare for a renovation that has stalled. Earlier this year a high-profile commission warned the city that Lunken is operating at half its potential with more than $100 million in improvements needed. It recommended the city consider leasing Lunken to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. A Lunken heir, meanwhile, could complicate any plans for a change in management. A forgotten legal document, The Enquirer has found, could force the city to pay the family that originally owned the land. Despite the challenges, new Lunken manager Jaime Edrosa sees clear skies ahead. Lunken is a very popular airport, he said in a recent interview and site tour. We dont have to market. Even with the specter of a new landlord, Edrosa is focused on whats just ahead: preserving Lunken's legacy and increasing its revenue. Theres a lot of demand for growth, he said. Lunken story starts with Lunkenheimer The Lunken story starts with Frederick Lunkenheimer, who left Germany in 1845 and arrived in Cincinnati in 1854. In 1862, he created Cincinnati Brass Works to make parts for steamboats and military equipment. In 1889, just weeks after renaming the company Lunkenheimer Valve Co., he died at 63, leaving son Edmund in charge. A few years later, in 1892, Edmund H. Lunkenheimer went to court to drop the heimer (too long and cumbersome, according to news coverage of the time) and, by 1908, built a hulking and now-vacant factory in South Fairmount to make valves. Edmund H. Lunkenheimer, who took over Lunkenheimer Co. with his father's death in 1889, dropped "heimer" from the family name in 1892, calling it too long and cumbersome, the Cincinnati Post reported that August. Within two decades, as two brothers from Dayton turned the world on to the possibility of flight, Lunken would also launch the airport that carried on the family name. According to historical accounts, Edmund H. Lunken bought some 500 acres in a part of Cincinnati then known as Turkey Bottoms at the request of son Eshelby, a pilot. Used as an airfield starting in 1924, the city turned the site into Lunken Airport by 1930 and has run it ever since. Four generations of Lunkens had a say along the way: Edmund H. and Eshelby, followed by Eshelbys son, Edmund P., and his son Edmund B., now 83 and residing in Indian Hill. (More from him below.) The family legacy lives on in Walnut Hills, too, where Frederick Lunkenheimer built a 20-room mansion in 1883. Now the home of a 401K management firm called Pension Corp. of America, a tower in the Victorian structure pays permanent tribute to its first owner, with the word Ingelheim, his German hometown, carved into the stone. Lunken Airport is penned in by East End and Linwood neighborhoods, the Ohio and Little Miami rivers and roadways. Lunken downturn mirrors industry Lunken Airport was mostly flying high for the first half of its life. Its 1930 dedication drew 25,000 Cincinnatians. The opening of its terminal, in 1938, drew 75,000. Famed aviators Charles Lindbergh and Amelia Earhart made frequent stops. By World War II, Lunken was charting about 132,000 yearly operations defined as a landing or takeoff according to a history book titled Images of Aviation: Lunken Airfield. Despite losing most commercial airlines to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport in the 1940s, Lunken traffic continued to grow through the 1970s, airport data shows. In 1976, annual operations hit a high of about 223,000. A long, slow downturn followed, with Lunken missing goals in its 20-year master plan of 2004 and since. The master plan predicted close to 188,000 annual operations by 2022. The airport reported 115,200. The master plan forecast 349 Lunken-stationed aircraft by 2022. It has 184 today. The plan called for millions of dollars in improvements, including nearly $7 million for two taxiways and another $2 million for hangars that were never built. In 2020, Lunkens popular Sky Galley restaurant closed. In 2022, the airport shut its terminal building to prepare for a renovation that was supposed to be done last year. Lunkens fortunes mirrored the industry, according to the 2004 report. Aircraft manufacturers slowed production as they faced increased liability from aging planes. Aircraft ownership slipped with the rising cost of planes, fuel and insurance. The then-new Transportation Security Administration, created in the wake of the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, was expected to impose restrictions that would dampen traffic. I knew I wanted to be in aviation As a child in New York City, Jaime Edrosa plane-watched at John F. Kennedy International Airport and flew to Spain to spend summers with his grandparents. I knew I wanted to be in aviation from a young age, the now-48-year-old Lunken manager said. He came to Cincinnati in October 2021 after 17 years at Reno-Tahoe International Airport in Nevada and other jobs in aviation and education. He spent a year at Amazon Airs CVG hub, then a year at CVG itself before starting at Lunken last Oct. 1. Cincinnati hired Jaime Edrosa as division manager of Lunken Airport in October 2023. Outside of aviation, he's taught English as a second language and worked for a nonprofit focused on charter schools. Hes launched or moved forward on several fronts since then: On July 11, he will officially close 3L 21R, a 3,800-foot runway as old as Lunken. The city last year OKd plans to apply for up for to $1.4 million in federal funding and add up to $140,000 more in city and state dollars to take the runway out of commission. Edrosa will be seeking four new Lunken tenants to take that space, aiming to open bids this year. Cincinnati-based grocery giant Kroger Co. is among the corporate users who want more room, he confirmed. In January, he contracted with Procter & Gamble Co., the Cincinnati consumer goods giant, for space in its Lunken hangar for a temporary office for U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The service is already attracting more international traffic. Hes planning for a permanent customs office by 2027 when Lunken's arrangement with P&G ends. He hopes to use a hangar that department store owner Macys Inc. will evacuate for that, plus airport staff and equipment storage. Hes aiming to remove one of the oldest hangars on Lunken property now used for snow plows and other equipment since it sits in what is called the runway safety area of one of the two other runways. Hes looking for ways to increase overall revenue, at $2.5 million last year. Hell soon hire a new contractor to track and collect various fees, review tenant rents with a new on-staff real estate expert and deliver a strategic business plan to city hall. He's expecting $1.4 million from the city, included in the most recent version of the FY25 budget, with $200,000 to pay consultants for work on the strategic plan and new customs site and $1 million for facility upgrades the consultants recommend. The city of Cincinnati continues to work with a developer on a deal to renovate the art-deco terminal at Lunken Airport. Perhaps of highest interest, hes staying abreast of plans for the terminal. Fans of the airport and its closed Sky Galley tell him: I so much enjoyed going to the restaurant at Lunken. I hear this story over and over again. Covingtons vR Group remains committed to renovating the terminal, with hotel rooms, and an upscale restaurant and bar, city officials said. The developer is currently redesigning the project, now suggesting 35 hotel rooms instead of 55, because the Federal Aviation Administration said its first design was too tall. Guy van Rooyen of vR Group called his firms final plans for the historic landmark a work in progress in a statement but declined an interview request. We have no details to release at this time, he said. Cliff Wartman, left, and E.B. Lunken believe the Lunken family needs to OK any change in the lease related to Lunken Airport. Wartman is president of the Cincinnati Aviation Historical Society and Lunken serves on its board. Lunken on Lunken: Heirs owed a say in airport's future Lunken advisory board members Anne Sesler and Elissa Pogue said Edrosa engages with board members, answering their questions instead of just reporting news to them. The conversations are vibrant, said Pogue, who is related to the Lunkens because an uncle married one. Notably, Edrosa has even been willing to engage with the Cincinnati Aviation Historical Society, which has a few beefs with Lunken Airport. Chief among them: The Lunken family did not donate 504 acres to the city of Cincinnati to launch the airport asserted, in error, on the city's website, an airport plaque and in dozens of news stories over the decades. "This is not true," Society Board President Cliff Wartman told The Enquirer when it last repeated the error in April. "Mr. E.B. Lunken will confirm that." The Lunken descendant provided that confirmation in an interview, explaining that his family leased its land to the city for 99 years, and the city added 870 acres of its own to establish the airport. A copy of the lease, filed in the Hamilton County Recorders office, spells out the terms. The city must use the land for an airport and stick with the Lunken name. The city must adhere to the terms of the lease through Nov. 25, 2025. And the city must get written consent from Lunken heirs to sublet said premises. Edmund Backus Lunken, great-great grandson of the Lunkenheimer who created the familys wealth and great-grandson of the Lunken who drafted the lease, does not believe the city has ever sought his familys approval for any sublease agreements at Lunken. His father stayed involved with aviation, launching Midwest Airways at Lunken in 1963 and running Lockheeds to Columbus, Cleveland, Detroit, Chicago and, during summers, Michigan destinations. E.B. Lunken worked for his dad during Midwests four-year life. If there was dirty work, I got to do it. Clean this. Paint that, he said. Given that legacy and the lease, Lunken thinks he should have a say if the city moves forward on the idea of leasing the airport to CVG. Id probably take it up with a few of my relatives, he said. Would they want compensation? I would think that would be appropriate, he said. Wartman, a retired real estate negotiator for Conrail, was more direct. The Lunken family would be entitled to close to 20% of the lease income, he said. If a deal comes to pass, CVG should be using their expertise and some of their money to benefit Lunken Airport, he added. At a minimum, Wartman hopes Lunken will invite the aviation society back to the terminal after its renovated. The group was evicted in 2022 when the building closed. Everythings in storage, Wartman said. In July, Lunken will close a north-south runway in poor condition on its western border. According to Lunken Manager Jaime Edrosa, the runway would cost $10 million to replace, funds the federal government would not provide since the runway is not Lunken's primary one. Will experts at CVG take over? City officials did not know Mayor Aftab Purevals Futures Commission would suggest leasing Lunken to CVG as one of its ideas for shoring up city finances. A commission consultant asked the city for information about Lunken in June 2023 and the city provided it, Bob Vickrey, deputy director of the city's transportation department, told the Lunken board this spring. That's where the conversation ended. "They did not get back in touch with us, Vickrey said of the commission. When the commission released its report April 11, it said Lunken needs $105 million in fixes, and is only currently worth between $8 million and $27 million. Leasing Lunken to CVG would get the city out of a business not essential to most city residents and into the hands of the experts at CVG, the commission report said. Since then, Pureval has declined comment on the commissions specific recommendations and asked the city manager for a review of them by the end of June. At CVG, CEO Candace McGraw, a commission member, released a brief statement about the Lunken recommendation. Airports are unique businesses that should be viewed as economic growth drivers for a region, she said. CVG welcomes continued conversation with the city about the role that Lunken could play in the aviation ecosystem of our region. For his part, Edrosa said he stands ready, willing and able to support whatever the city decides on the CVG question. And the 99-year lease with the Lunken family? Its titled perpetual, with a clause that calls it renewable forever. Our intention is to renew, Edrosa said. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: What's Lunken Airport's future? Rep. Nancy Mace (R) is looking to avert an upset in her South Carolina primary as she faces backlash from some members of her party. Mace, who flipped her seat in South Carolinas 1st Congressional District back in 2020, is the front-runner heading into Tuesdays primary against Catherine Templeton, a former agency official in the state government. However, recent polling has shown the incumbent is under the 50-percent mark, suggesting theres a chance she could be forced into a runoff. The primary comes as Mace has endured allegations of flip-flopping on key issues, criticism over her shifting support for former President Trump, anger from within the Republican ranks over her vote to oust ex-Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), and turnover within her Capitol Hill office. At one point, her own former chief of staff filed to run against her. Shes controversial She bounces from one position to the other with the ease of a bird flying in the air, said Chip Felkel, a Republican strategist in South Carolina. She uses the media pretty effectively, and she gets away with it but when your chief of staff runs against you, Id say thats a warning sign. When youve had the staff turnover shes had, Id say thats a warning sign, Felkel said, adding that the lawmaker is following Trumps playbook. Just after taking office in 2021, Mace criticized Trump for his rhetoric around the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, argued the former presidents legacy was wiped out by the insurrection, and pushed the party to rebuild. In the midterms, Trump endorsed a Mace challenger, labeling the congresswoman disloyal to the GOP, though Mace in the end won reelection to a second term. This time around, however, Mace has backed Trump as he seeks a return to the White House and Trump has repaid the compliment by endorsing her. Hes called her a strong, conservative voice and touted her help after his South Carolina primary win against ex-rival Nikki Haley, the states former governor. Mace was also briefly rumored to be a potential name on Trumps running mate shortlist. Maces shift toward Trump, which she defended last week, is one of the points her 2024 rivals have been hammering along the campaign trail. Templeton has called Mace a fraud who claims loyalty to the former president. Alex Stroman, a former executive director for the South Carolina GOP, said that although voters may know Maces fraught history with Trump, his move to stand by her reelection bid may have eclipsed those earlier concerns and taken some wind out of her competitors sails. But Templeton, running to the right of the House incumbent, is also a Trump supporter, which may be leading to some voter confusion over which candidate is tied most closely to the former president, said Gibbs Knotts, a political science professor at the College of Charleston. Meanwhile, Mace has also come under fire from within her party for joining seven other Republicans last year with a vote to oust McCarthy from his top House leadership role, the first time in history that the lower chamber booted its Speaker. The South Carolina lawmaker was the only female Republican to vote for the removal, and she said in the days after that the move left her feeling demonized on Capitol Hill. Mace and McCarthy have feuded since the vote, and while the ex-Speaker hasnt explicitly backed Templeton, hes been involved with efforts to elevate challengers against the GOP lawmakers who fired him. Huge amounts of outside money have poured into the race, as groups linked to McCarthy have worked to boost Templeton. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who replaced McCarthy, is in Maces corner, while another former Speaker, Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), is behind Templeton. Mace has also come under scrutiny for a string of staff resignations and firings during her first year in Congress. Her former chief of staff, Dan Hanlon, filed to challenge her reportedly after encouragement from McCarthy though he later backed out. She has some very real issues that I think have been exposed through her time in Congress, Stroman said. Obviously, she has no friend in the former Speaker, but she also has the Trump endorsement. In a normal year, or normal times, I think that a lot of this stuff might have disqualified her to a lot of voters, Stroman said of Maces tensions with McCarthy and her changing support for the former president. But days out from the election, it doesnt look like its enough to get her out. Dave Wilson, another South Carolina-based Republican strategist, suggested Lowcountry voters are dismissing the controversy around the lawmaker as D.C. Beltway politics. An Emerson College/The Hill survey from last month found Mace with a comfortable lead over Templeton. But she was still just shy of skating through the primary at 47 percent, and with fellow Republican Bill Young also on the ticket, its not out of the question that Mace will be forced into a runoff. Theres always a possibility of a runoff, because in South Carolina you have to have 50 percent plus one, said Wilson, adding theres a chance Mace cant pull that off with three GOP candidates in the ring. A runoff would take place June 25. Thats just always risky are your supporters going to come out again? Having to campaign for two more weeks, maybe an incumbent looks vulnerable, and maybe [that] would give the Templeton people a little bit of hope, Knotts said. On the Democrat side, Michael B. Moore and military veteran Mac Deford are running for their party nod, but a GOP win is all but assured in November. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report shifted the district into the solid Republican column last month. Still, the obvious tension within the GOP could open the door to Democrats clawing back some ground in the district in the future, argued Antjuan Seawright, a Democratic strategist whose firm is based in the Palmetto State. Mace has found herself in the middle of the political roads, [getting] hit by cars coming from both sides of the political highway, Seawright said. The back-and-forth between Mace and Templeton in particular has grown intense, strategists said. Templeton knocked Mace in recent days over a Washington Post report that she expensed an average of thousands each month last year through a reimbursement program for members of Congress. Mace, in turn, bashed her challengers criticisms as desperate cries of a desperate campaign who knows they are going to get their clock cleaned on Tuesday, according to a release shared with The Hill. The race, which comes days after Trump was convicted in his Manhattan hush money case, could also be a test of the former presidents endorsement power after the guilty verdict. Political observers are questioning how the unprecedented trial will impact his presidential run and whether it could wound the candidates hes thrown his weight behind. This is the place where youre really beginning to see the presidential race play itself out, Wilson said. How well does a Trump endorsement play in this particular race? That tells you how well his messaging and his surrogates and his endorsees are going to be doing. Mace notably won reelection in 2022 against a Trump-endorsed rival. I think so much of this is going to be a referendum on Nancy Mace, as much as a referendum on Trump, Knotts said. Shes certainly somebody who is in the headlines a lot. I think some people will like that. And then theres probably other people who maybe dont really enjoy the drama. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Macron, Biden celebrate long and deep friendship between US and France at State Dinner President Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron celebrated their countries partnership during a state visit in Paris on Saturday. We are allies. We will remain allies. And these are the values, which 80 years down the road, keep us together, Marcon said during his toast to Biden at Saturdays state dinner. Biden, who traveled to France last week to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day, began Saturdays state visit with a ceremony at the Arc de Triomphe and a military parade towards the Elysee Palace. Biden and Macron held official meetings at the palace. Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, later hosted the state dinner for Biden and first lady Jill Biden at the palace. Macron, during his toast, said the two nations have a long and deep friendship and pointed to their agreement on a variety of global security issues. When it comes to defending our values, we stand together, so, of course, theres something a bit special in our relationship, because you are youre American; we are French, Macron said, adding later, And when Iwe see the affection that you have for France, the way in which you have been prepared to attend the Olympic and Paralympic Games, I can see that more than ever you remain your best allies. United we stand, divided we fall. Biden, who delivered remarks after Macron, called France our first ally, and thanked the nation for its support dating back to the Revolutionary War. And ever since, weve remained united, unyielding, as well as unwavering in our partnership, Biden said. Thats what democracies do. On behalf of all the American people, we want to say thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our heart. I mean it, he added. The two leaders held talks on the Middle East, Ukraine and trade earlier in the day. They discussed preventing a regional escalation of Israels war with Hamas and Macron said they are redoubling efforts to avoid an escalation, especially in Lebanon, Reuters reported. A day earlier, Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Paris, where he apologized for the gap in U.S. funding for the embattled nation. I apologize for the weeks of not knowing whats going to pass in terms of funding because we had trouble getting the bill that we had to pass that had the money in it. Some of our very conservative members were holding it up. But we got it done finally, Biden said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. French President Emmanuel Macron announced snap elections on June 9, after the far-right National Rally emerged as the projected winner of the French elections for the European Parliament. National Rally is projected to have won around 32% of the vote, double that of Macron's centrist alliance at 15%. Exit polls suggest the Socialists came third, with 14% of the vote. Soon after the exit poll results were made public, Macron said that he was dissolving the French parliament to give the French people "the choice of our parliamentary future through the vote." The snap parliamentary elections will be held on June 30 and July 7. National Rally President Marine Le Pen responded to Macron's announcement that her party was "ready to take over power if the French give us their trust in the upcoming national elections." Prior to February 2022, Le Pen openly expressed her admiration for Russian President Vladimir Putin and said she did not believe Russia's annexation of Crimea was illegal. Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, she claimed to have changed her mind on Moscow. National Rally is part of the Identity and Democracy (ID) Group in the European Parliament, which is composed of parties traditionally seen as seeking rapprochement with Russia, such as Matteo Salvini's Lega (League) and, until recently, Alternative for Germany (AfD). AfD was expelled from the ID Group following a series of scandals that included its candidates speaking positively about the Nazi SS and coming under investigation for receiving cash from Moscow. France has 81 seats in the European Parliament, with the number allocated on the basis of the country's population. Germany has the most seats, at 96. Members of the European Parliament (MEP) shape and approve legislation, giving them sway over the EU budget and foreign aid, and approve candidates for the European Commission, the bloc's executive arm. The U.K. will also be voting for a new parliament on July 4, after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced on May 22 that the country will hold a snap general election. Read also: Why European elections matter for Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Florida, and the nation for that matter, is facing a crisis in early childhood education. The challenge is not that early learning programs are ineffective or that parents dont believe programs will benefit their children. Its that families simply cannot afford it. In Florida, the average annual cost for infant care is $9,238. For 4-year-olds, its $7,282. For many families, enrolling their children in an early learning program is not feasible from a financial standpoint. Thats only furthering the achievement gap that shows a strong correlation between household income and academic success. Chris Hansen Sadly, not every child in Southwest Florida has the same educational opportunity to participate in an early learning program. Based on financial guidelines from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, only 13.2% of Florida families can afford infant care. Low-income families often are left with two options: enroll their children in an early learning program and fall further into debt, or keep their children at home and hope they dont fall too far behind their peers once they enroll in kindergarten. That is unacceptable. Early childhood education providers are also feeling the pressure. During the pandemic, the federal government provided funding that kept dozens of centers in Southwest Florida operational, but that program ended last fall. Quality early learning programs are expensive; it takes money to pay for credentialed teachers, academic materials and a safe learning environment, but centers cannot pass those costs along to families that do not have the means to pay for it. As a nonprofit with five local early learning centers, our team at Child Care of Southwest Florida witnesses the struggles of families daily. Reliable childcare is often the glue that holds low-income families together. Without it, children cannot learn and parents cannot work. Thats why Child Care of Southwest Florida provides numerous resources, including scholarships, to help bridge the gap. These scholarships can change lives. Because of the support of local businesses, organizations and individuals, and generous contributions of United Way, Child Care of Southwest Floridas scholarship program provides tuition assistance that covers fees for families that need it most. Last year alone, the organization provided financial assistance for 100 children in Lee and Hendry counties, with partial and full scholarships totaling approximately $129,000. When these programs arent affordable, parents face the heartbreaking choice between paying for tuition or quitting their jobs to stay home. Its a no-win situation that costs everyone. In fact, an early childhood education provides taxpayers with returns of 7-10% per year for every dollar invested due to future reduced costs in remedial education, health, criminal justice system expenditures and the tax revenues generated from increased earnings. The early learning advantages of a high-quality program are crucial in preparing children with the academic and social skills they need to thrive. Without it, they are: 25% more likely to drop out of school. 40% more likely to become a teen parent. 50% more likely to be placed in special education. 60% more likely to never attend college. 70% more likely to be arrested for a violent crime. These statistics highlight the importance of our mission at Child Care of Southwest Florida, which is to empower and prepare young minds for the future during their most formative years. Access to quality early learning ensures that even the most disadvantaged children can succeed in school and life. Community investment in early childhood education yields significant benefits. Businesses that support quality programs see more stable employment among their staff, as parents are able to stay in their jobs and maintain financial stability. This, in turn, boosts the local economy. Children from low-income families are reported to have academic proficiency rates that are 50% lower than their peers, often struggling through school and life. Investing in quality early learning can break the cycle of generational poverty, allowing parents to pursue education and stable employment, paving the way for a brighter future for their children. At our nonprofit early learning centers, we know how impactful scholarships can be for the families we serve. These are not handouts. Rather, they are a means to support the parents we see working hard to improve their situations. Parents must be either working or attending school, and many are doing both working full- or part-time while earning a high school diploma, vocational certificate or college degree. With a little help, these parents can lift themselves out of tough economic situations. Lets invest in our children, strengthen our families and build a stronger, more resilient community. Child Care of Southwest Florida is ready to collaborate with businesses, organizations and others in the community on solutions to expand access to quality early learning programs. We also coordinate the Florida Child Care Mandated Training and Competency Exams in the five-county region, ensuring centers are well-equipped to offer quality care. Together, we can make a difference. Every child deserves to thrive. To learn more about sponsorships and opportunities at Child Care of Southwest Florida, visit CCSWFL.org or call 239-278-1002. Chris Hansen is CEO of Child Care of Southwest Florida, a nonprofit childhood education provider that serves more than 350 students from 6 weeks to 8 years old across five early learning centers in Lee and Hendry counties. Visit CCSWFL.org for more information. This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Making early childhood education affordable for low-income families A Mississippi man accused of killing a gay college student wants his trial moved. The attorney for Sheldon Timothy Herrington Jr., charged with the capital murder of University of Mississippi student Jimmie Jay Lee, has filed a motion to move the trial out of Northeast Mississippi, citing extensive pretrial publicity that could compromise finding an unbiased jury. Herrington, 23, of Grenada, is accused of murdering Lee, a 20-year-old gay student who has been missing since July 2022. He was indicted on a capital murder charge in March 2023 and released on a $250,000 bond in December 2022. Defense attorney Kevin Horan filed a 134-page motion on Monday, arguing that widespread media coverage and social media commentary have made it impossible for Herrington to receive a fair trial in Lafayette County, where the university is located, the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reports . There has been extensive news coverage of the alleged facts concerning this case, Horan wrote. This matter has been widely published and well documented in the media, and counsel for the defendant has good reason to believe it will only continue and potentially worsen moving forward. Horan pointed to television and newspaper coverage and several social media posts that contain negative and false information about Herrington, and positive information and support of Jay Lee. The Lafayette County Circuit Clerks office has received numerous letters supporting Lee, and Horan argued that social media supporters have already concluded that Herrington is guilty and that justice must be served, the Associated Press reports . Related: Trial Date Set for Suspect Accused of Killing Gay Ole Miss Student Investigators said cell phone records showed Herrington and Lee communicated on the morning of Lees disappearance, and Herrington conducted an internet search for how long it takes to strangle someone shortly before Lee arrived at his apartment. Surveillance footage captured Herrington running from the location where Lees car was later found, and he was observed collecting a shovel and wheelbarrow at his parents house, authorities said. Herrington, who maintains his innocence, was arrested two weeks after Lees disappearance. Prosecutors have announced they will not seek the death penalty, meaning Herrington could face a life sentence if convicted. Mississippi law allows the defense to request a change of venue if they can demonstrate that a fair trial cannot be held in the original location. Horan presented affidavits from 19 Lafayette County citizens who said they had seen coverage of the case and believed Herrington could not receive a fair trial in the county due to prejudgment of his case or ill will toward him, the Daily Journal reports. The information that has been publicized online and in newspapers has been severely prejudicial to the defendant to the extent that the potential jury pool in Lafayette County has been irreversibly tainted, Horan wrote. The trial is scheduled to begin on October 15 VANCOUVER, Wash. (KOIN) A man with a German shepherd was fatally shot by police in Vancouver, Washington on Saturday, authorities said in a release. Witnesses who spoke with Nexstars KOIN described a scene that escalated very quickly in front of their eyes. The incident began around 1:45 p.m. PT when police were alerted to a man with a gun and an aggressive German shepherd who had gotten loose and reportedly bit at least one person. Just before 3 p.m., police spotted the man and dog, which allegedly tried to bite a passerby. At that point, authorities said, the man pointed what appeared to be a firearm at one of the officers, who then shot the man. Authorities administered medical care to the man but he was pronounced dead at the scene. The German shepherd continued to be aggressive toward emergency crews and was tethered to a dumpster, Vancouver police explained. The dog was later taken away by the Humane Society. One person is being treated for dog bite wounds. A man with an aggressive German shepherd was shot and killed by Vancouver police. The dog was taken away by the Humane Society, June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Two Vancouver officers are on paid administrative leave during the investigation, standard procedure in similar instances. The officers body-worn cameras will be reviewed and released at a later time, according to Vancouver police. The investigation will be led by the Clark County Sheriffs Office. Three witness accounts KOIN spoke with three people who say they witnessed either the shooting or the immediate aftermath. One witness, Morgan, said he came over the bridge and heard someone yelling in Russian at him. Morgan kept going but noticed the German shepherd was on a leash. This other guy was walking in the opposite direction and I happened to look back and I saw the dog nip the guy. And then I just saw this other cop hop out of his car and start shooting at him. Thats all I saw. I couldnt believe it. Shannon said she and her wife were attending the Pride event when they came around the corner and saw a man down. There was about four or five officers at that time and then they (extra police backup) just came in all directions, Shannon said, estimating there were around 30 cop cars at the scene. This man, Morgan, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) This person, Shannon, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) This woman, Rose, was a witness to Vancouver police shooting and killing a man with an "aggressive German shepherd", June 8, 2024 (KOIN) Rose said she and her husband were heading to a brewery when we noticed someone who looked like a homeless man who had a German shepherd with them. She explained that the man was obviously agitated as he walked up the street and gave the finger to the cop. And the man walking his dog was giving [the cop] the finger and yelling at him but still walking up this way. And then another man was coming down this way and the mans German shepherd kind of leaped at him, Rose continued. So that made the cop car come up and stop to the man who had passed and asked him a question. I saw the man shake his head no, and went on his way. So he was obviously not hurt by the German shepherd at all and kept walking. Then the gunfire happened very quickly. At that moment the cop kept following the man with the German shepherd and stopped his car, Rose said. And the other cop car came and pulled in and then the cop came out of the car immediately and pulled their gun and within seconds I heard pop pop pop, three shots. And the guy was on the ground, completely down. And then a bunch of other cop cars came in, I mean a lot of them. Gosh, I dont know like 20 cop cars. As other officers arrived with what Rose described as an assault weapon, the dog was still near his owner in a protective mode, she said. And then there were more pops, more shots towards the dog because they were trying to get the dog to not come. And they finally got control of the dog, pulled him aside. But thats what happened. The man was down immediately, within seconds and they didnt try to de-escalate at all. I mean, when the cop came, they got out of their car and they shot him. I mean, it was within seconds. Its unclear if the dog is still with the humane society. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. The right lighting can make or break a piece of art, according to Jason Kirkland, director of exhibitions, collections and education at Briscoe Western Art Museum. Kirkland, who was preparing the museums exhibition Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with the Big Four," demonstrates how he would change the angle of the museum's recessed lights to this painting to be lit evenly and without glare. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Whether the artwork in your home was purchased at an auction, a gallery or a retail store, the right lighting will make it look, if not like a million bucks, then at least decidedly better. To learn the secrets of properly lighting fine art, we visited with Jason T. Kirkland, director of exhibitions, collections and education at the Briscoe Western Art Museum downtown. Hes the guy responsible for making the museum's holdings from art hanging on the walls to sculptures scattered throughout the former public library look as smashing as possible. The right lighting can make or break a piece of art, said Kirkland, who was busy preparing the newest exhibition, Survival of the Fittest: Envisioning Wildlife and Wilderness with the Big Four, scheduled for June 14 to Sept. 8. Although we use different techniques and equipment than what most people have in their home, once you know what to look for and how to achieve an effect, you can at least approximate what you see here. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Here are the answers to common questions about lighting home art. In this bronze statue titled Thunderbirds, by Fritz White, spot lighting is used to emphasize the coming together of the Plains Indian and the captured eagle. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Why is proper lighting so important when displaying art? Ever buy a piece of clothing that looks great in the store but blah once you get it home? That's because store lighting is designed to make items look as good as possible. The lights in your home, by comparison, only have to keep you from tripping on an area rug. So whether you've spent a lot or a little on the art you own, if you want it and, by extension, your home to look as good as possible, pay attention to the lighting. Advertisement Article continues below this ad What are the options for lighting art? Generally, there are two choices: the spotlight and the wash. Think of them as if you're lighting a play: The spotlight focuses on a single actor, while the wash illuminates the entire stage. In this example, spot lighting is used keep the focus on the painting itself, or even just a part of it, in this case drawing the eye to the bright sky in the upper right corner of this early 18th century oil-on-canvas painting by an unknown artist showing the introduction of Hernan Cortes to a native lord by a Franciscan monk. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Typically used for older paintings, the spotlight puts the focus on only the painting, or even just a part of it. The light draws the viewer's eye to that spot, be it a religious figure, an animal in the wild, a ship off in the distance or just the sky as dawn breaks. S.A. ART STYLE? How to find and buy locally made art for your home Advertisement Article continues below this ad In this example, the lighting is used to wash the entire wall in light and create an evenly lit surface. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News The wash, on the other hand, casts light beyond the frame, including the surrounding wall, to create an evenly lit surface. Washes are useful in lighting contemporary artworks or when more than one painting is lighted, especially in whats known as a salon hang, where multiple paintings of different sizes and shapes are displayed on a single wall, fitted together like puzzle pieces. In a home with a lot of art, Kirkland advises against using either spotlights or washes exclusively. You need a good balance between the two, he explained. Too many spotlights and itll start looking like a museum. Better to feature one or two works with spotlights and do the rest with washes. Track lighting systems like the one the Briscoe's Jason Kirkland is seen adjusting allow the greatest flexibility in artwork lighting, especially if the displays are often changed or moved. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Whats the best type of lighting system for displaying artwork? Track lighting provides the greatest flexibility, especially if you often change your displays or have works of many different sizes. They're popular in museums, for example. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Fixed single-point light fixtures, while less flexible, are well suited for home use, where paintings often remain in place for long periods. And don't forget old-school picture lights mounted just above or attached to the frames. "They're a more intimate way of lighting artworks," Kirkland said. "They've been improved and updated, but they're for those with a particular taste." A pink Portuguese marble statute titled Northern Plateau Women, 2012 by Doug Hyde is lit with a wash that illuminates each figure evenly. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Which light bulbs are the best to buy? First, look for the bulb's coloring rendering index, or CRI. This is a measure of how accurately a light source generally LED, halogen and incandescent bulbs reflects the color of an object. CRI uses a scale of 0 to 100; the higher the number, the truer the rendering, compared to the natural light from the sun, which has a CRI of 100. The Briscoe uses LEDs with CRIs from 95 to 97. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Next, look for the bulb's color temperature. Measured on a scale of 1,000 to 10,000 degrees Kelvin, this refers to the color of the light emitted by the bulb, with higher numbers indicating hotter, or bluer, light, and the lower numbers indicating warmer, more yellow, light. Bulbs between 3,100 and 4,600 K provide clean, balanced colors. Lights work best when they are at a 30- to 45-degree angle to the painting. In this case the angle on this pastel-on-paper titled "Young Pharisees (1984) by George Carlson is too sharp, resulting in unpleasant glare and shadows. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A view from farther away illustrates how the lighting wash of the statute Northern Plateau Women, 2012 evenly illuminates the entire piece. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A bronze statue titled Into the Air by Bob Guelich is spot lit to create dramatic shadows on the wall behind it. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News A bronze statue titled Out of the Mystic Past, by Fritz White, is lit from above, creating a dramatic shadow beneath. Sam Owens/San Antonio Express-News Most big-box retail displays include only information about the color temperature of bulbs they sell. To find out more, try shopping in a lighting specialty store, which will carry a wider variety of bulbs, or online. The Briscoe, for example, often buys its lighting from the website 1000bulbs.com, according to Kirkland. Isnt too much light bad for artwork? It can be, although the proper lighting will diminish the risk of fading. The Briscoe uses LEDs rather than halogen or incandescent bulbs, which run hot and over time can fade artwork. The good news is that in recent years, technology has advanced to the point where cool-burning LEDs so closely mimic the light from incandescent bulbs that most homeowners won't notice a difference. Because paintings on canvas are more durable, they hold up better to brighter lighting. On the other hand, works on paper, such as watercolors and photographs, should be displayed under dimmer light. How do I avoid glare and shadows? COMPANY NEWS: In the rapidly evolving landscape of artificial intelligence, distinguishing between human and AI-generated text has become a significant challenge. 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ZeroGPTs AI Translator allows users to translate text between multiple languages accurately. This tool supports effective communication in diverse settings, from business negotiations to travel and cultural exchanges. Conclusion ZeroGPT.com stands out as a comprehensive platform that not only excels in detecting AI-generated text but also offers a wide array of tools designed to enhance writing, communication, and productivity. Whether you are a student, a professional writer, an educator, or simply someone looking to improve your writing skills, ZeroGPTs suite of AI-driven tools provides invaluable support. From ensuring the authenticity of text to perfecting grammar and spelling, generating citations, summarizing content, and even assisting with translations and email writing, ZeroGPT.com is a versatile and indispensable resource in the digital age. DENVER (KDVR) A 37-year-old man was taken into custody Saturday after a woman died from a gunshot wound. Jesse Aaron Gladney was taken to the Adams County Detention Facility. Around 8 p.m. Saturday, Westminster police received a call for a possible physical domestic violence incident in the 12000 block of Melody Drive. The reporting party provided a description of the suspect vehicle, which left the area before officers arrived on the scene. The information was given to other nearby agencies. Download the FOX31 App: Breaking news alerts & Pinpoint Weather A short time later, the Thornton Police Department got a call from the area of 12000 Colorado Boulevard. It was about a woman who had been shot in a car that matched the description from the initial Westminster incident. Both police departments tried to find the car but were unable to. Later, an area hospital reported a female gunshot wound victim. Officers went to the hospital and were told the woman had died from her injuries. Police have been in contact with the driver of the car. Gladney was taken into custody on the charge of first-degree murder. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. MEMPHIS, Tenn. A man was killed late Saturday night after a Southwest Memphis shooting, police say. It was a quiet Sunday morning in the area of Jonetta Street and Charter Avenue in Southwest Memphis. However, behind closed doors people are looking for answers. On Saturday night just before 11:30 p.m., officers responded to the 4700 block of Jonetta Street regarding a shooting. Officers located a male victim with apparent gunshot wounds. Memphis murders and homicides 2024 He was taken to Regional One in critical condition but eventually was pronounced deceased. Im sorry that happened but that aint new, a resident said. WREG spoke with several residents, however, all of them wanted to remain anonymous for safety reasons. One man said that the victim was walking when someone came by and opened fire. One of the bullets even landed inside someones home. MPD: Man caught with stolen pistol, SUV at hotel Another man who lives near the crime scene says criminal activity is common. By nine or 10 oclock, you supposed to be inside or you gone be dead, the man said. Youre gonna be dead. This aint no pretty neighborhood. We briefly spoke to the mother of the victim who came to the scene to see the spot where her son gunned down. She was too distraught to go on camera but said no one had given her any answers. This is the second deadly shooting to hit this community within a two-day time frame. On Thursday night, two men were shot and killed in the area of Shelby Drive and Southaven Road which is half a mile away from this latest homicide. Two dead in Westwood double shooting No arrests have been made in that shooting. One of the men who spoke with WREG said most people are often too afraid to come forward. You got neighbors that will shoot through your window to get you, the man said. This aint no safe neighborhood. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man gets 55 years in prison for shooting man outside Arlington gas station An Arlington man was sentenced to 55 years in prison after pleading guilty to fatally shooting a man in a dispute, the Tarrant County District Attorneys Office announced on Friday. On July 1, 2021, Justin Milem, 41, instigated a fight with 50-year-old Michael Henley at a Chevron gas station in Arlington, according to the DAs office. When police responded to a call about a shooting, they found Henley on a road with a gunshot wound to his chest. Henley was pronounced dead at a hospital, according to the DAs office. When police identified Milem as a suspect and went to his home, he refused to come out, authorities say. His two sons were also inside the home when police arrived. After SWAT was called in and hours of negotiating, Milem surrendered. Officers found several guns, including assault rifles, and ammunition inside the home at the time of his arrest, according to the DAs office. The Sacramento County Sheriffs Office has launched a homicide investigation following a fatal shooting Sunday morning at a 7-Eleven in Arden Arcade. The shooting happened just before 12:30 a.m. on the 1300 block of Fulton Avenue at Hurley Way, according to deputies, who responded to reports of gunfire at the convenience stores parking lot. Upon arrival, they discovered a man suffering from one gunshot wound. It was unclear if there were any additional victims in the parking lot, which is several yards west of a 24-Hour Fitness. Deputies did not provide details about how the shooting occurred but dispatch audio reviewed by The Sacramento Bee said a 38-year-old man was struck in the chest in what witnesses told dispatchers was a drive-by shooting. The man was transported by Sacramento Metropolitan Fire District personnel but was pronounced dead at UC Davis Medical Center. The area around the 7-Eleven was cordoned off for several hours with crime scene tape as detectives worked to gather more information. Surveillance footage from the store and nearby businesses was being reviewed for potential clues. Deputies did not share any suspect information or a motive for the slaying. The mans identity has not yet been released by the Sacramento County Coroners Office, pending notification of next of kin. Investigators asked anyone with information about this shooting to call the Sheriffs Office at 916-874-5115 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Tips can also be left anonymously by calling the Sheriffs Office tip line at 916-874-8477 or visiting sacsheriff.com. WASHINGTON (DC News Now) The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) said a man was shot in Northeast D.C. on Saturday afternoon. MPD said that at about 7:34 p.m., it was dispatched to the 1200 block of 18th Place for a shooting. Man arrested in connection to road rage shooting in Fairfax County When police arrived at the scene, they found a man who had been shot. He was conscious and breathing. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Man shot in South Seattle encampment three weeks ago has died A man shot, on May 17, in a South Seattle encampment underneath Interstate 5 has died. The 61-year-old man was shot in the chest near the 3300 block of Airport Way South. When police arrived they immediately provided aid until Seattle Fire arrived. The victim was transported to Harborview Medical Center in serious condition. On June 5, the victim dies from his wounds. No suspect has been arrested and Seattle Detectives have taken over the case. Detectives ask to call the SPD Violent Crime Tip Line at (206) 233-5000, or Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS. Conscription, rationing, and subway stations turned into bunkers. For the first time since the Cold War, Germany has updated its plans should conflict erupt in Europe, with ministers citing the threat posed by Russia. The 67-page document, known as the Framework Directive for Overall Defense and released this week, envisions the complete transformation of daily life for German citizens in the event of war. It is a further sign of how Germany, which has had a staunchly anti-militaristic stance since World War II, has been forced to adapt its security and military policy in the wake of Moscows war on Ukraine. Under wartime conditions, mandatory conscription into the army would be reinstated and skilled laborers aged over 18 could be made to work certain jobs including in bakeries and post offices as well as being prevented from quitting their jobs. Doctors, psychologists, nurses and vets may also be repurposed in military and civil service roles. Rationing would also be brought in. In the event of dwindling food supplies, the government would stockpile food to provide citizens with one hot meal a day for an undisclosed period of time, according to the document. Federal reserves would include foods like rice, pulses and condensed milk. Other key resources such as petrol and oil could also be rationed with coupons if they become scarce. It also outlines civil protection measures including transforming underground stations into makeshift bunkers and preparing hospitals for an influx of patients. Unveiling the plans, German Interior Minister Nancy Faeser said it was necessary for her country to arm itself better in the face of Russian aggression. The Russian aggression has completely changed the security situation in Europe first and foremost among our eastern EU and NATO partners such as in the Baltic States, but also due to hybrid threats such as cyber attacks, espionage and disinformation here, she said. In addition to all the protective measures of our security authorities and military deterrence and defense, we must therefore also further strengthen civil protection. The document warns that Germanys hospitals would have to prepare to treat large numbers of patients over a long period of time. It adds that, if war breaks out, the German population cannot count on government-organized help to be provided immediately, due to the possibility of damage occurring simultaneously at a large number of locations. Therefore, it says, civilians must be ready to help themselves first, as well as provide help to neighbors where possible. Basements, underground car parks and subway stations should be used as temporary bunkers, the document states, adding that attacks could occur with extremely short warning times. Germanys broadcast and digital media will be required by law to share important government information immediately. As Germanys state broadcaster, Deutsche Welle would be legally obliged to provide the government with information regarding broadcasting times for the announcement of new laws, regulations and updates. Authorities will have the power to evacuate civilians to certain areas although families should not be separated, the document states. While German weather services are expected to continue even in the event of an emergency, authorities could ban or restrict the publication of forecasts. Ready for war by 2029 Germanys updated wartime plans come as Russian President Vladimir Putin presents an ongoing security threat to Europe. His war in Ukraine is well into its second year, with no conclusive end in sight and fears that the conflict could spill over into a wider war involving NATO. On Wednesday, German Defensive Minister Pistorius was quoted by newspaper Der Spiegel as saying: We must be ready for war by 2029. Pistorius added, We must not believe that Putin will stop at Ukraines borders when he gets that far. Similarly, voices from within the British government have expressed the need to be war-ready. Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace in February stated that war is coming to Britain by the end of the decade, as he called for greater investment in defense. In recent weeks Russia has issued some of its starkest warnings to the West yet, in light of some of Ukraines allies giving Kyiv permission to use their weapons to strike limited targets inside Russian territory. Putin on Wednesday described the provision of Western weaponry as a very serious and dangerous step, which he said could result in Moscow arming its enemies. The Russian leader specifically pointed to a breakdown in Russias relations with Germany, claiming that the appearance of German tanks in Ukraine had resulted in an moral, ethical shock, because the attitude towards [Germany] in Russian society had always been very good, very good. Now, when they say that some more missiles will appear that will strike targets on Russian territory, this, of course, is ultimately destroying Russo-German relations, he added. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com People are waiting outside a polling station to cast their vote in the European and local elections. Around 3.3 million Saxons are being called to vote in the European Parliament and local elections on Sunday. Patrick Pleul/dpa Alongside the European elections, voters in about half of German states are being called to elect local officials on Sunday. Decisions on representative bodies such as district councils, municipal councils or district assemblies are due in Baden-Wurttemberg, Brandenburg, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Rhineland-Palatinate, Saarland, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt. In the eastern states of Brandenburg and Saxony, the vote is seen as a test of public opinion ahead of the state elections in September, in which the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) is projected to do well. In Thuringia, where local elections were held a fortnight ago, many citizens are to decide on their future district administrator or mayor in run-off elections. In 9 cases, AfD candidates are also on the ballot. In the first round of Thuringia's local elections, the party won a number of additional seats in local parliaments, but did not manage to gain seats in town halls and district councils. Germans are also being called to the polls on Sunday in the continent-wide European Parliament elections in which around 360 million people can cast their ballot over four days. After two and a half years in government, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left coalition is expected to lose ground in the EU vote, while the AfD could become the second-strongest party. Michael Kretschmer Christian Democratic Union of Germany (CDU), minister-president of Saxony, casts his vote in Dresden. The European elections began on June 6 and elections will be held in Germany on June 9. In Saxony, there are local elections and the European elections at the same time. Robert Michael/dpa Katarina Barley, the Social Democratic Party of Germany lead candidate for the European elections, leaves the polling booth. German state Rhineland-Palatinate holds coinciding local and European elections. Harald Tittel/dpa MARIANNA, Ark. A Marianna couple is facing first-degree murder charges connected to a womans death in May. According to Arkansas State Police investigators, 24-year-old Dodge Pinegar and 30-year-old Shadee Edgin were arrested on Friday in connection to the death of 30-year-old Ashley Monroe of Lexa, Arkansas. Arkansas State Police investigating after womans body is found in Lee County The Lee County Sheriffs Office asked state police to investigate the homicide on Tuesday, May 21. A farmer reported finding the body of a woman on a farm field road off Lee County Road 706, north of Marianna. The woman was later identified as Monroe. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. DECATUR What does a boat racer do when the wind is causing whitecaps on Lake Decatur and it's too choppy to race? Scott Melowic of Dayton, Ohio, said with a chuckle, We sit here and talk." He's got engine trouble with his, he added, indicating the boat next to his 1-liter modified, and he's got a battery charger on it, so we try to help with that, and enjoy the day, and sit here and relax. Melowic got one race in with his own boat before the wind kicked up, and filled in as the second man on The First Flight, a Jersey skiff owned by Mike Probola of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Probola is a rookie racer at the age of almost 69 who started racing because of his memories of his father's fondness for the sport, but didn't have a second man. Boats like Melowic's are one-man boats, but the Jersey skiffs take two. Rookie racers have an X marked on their boats and have to take an outside lane for races so they don't interfere with more experienced racers, Melowic said. Saturday's Hardy's Highway Race for the Lake is one of an increasingly fewer boat races to enter, Probola said, and he was more than willing to make the long drive from Kitty Hawk to compete. The boat races were once a Memorial Day weekend tradition in Decatur, but it's been 20 years since the last one. In spite of cloudy skies on Saturday morning, which made for a slow start to the crowd, the skies cleared and people thronged the lakeside, which was lined with food trucks and arts and crafts vendors from the Beach House all the way down to the Devon Lakeshore Amphitheater. Shayla Rossignol had pulled her boat up to the dock in front of the Devon and had a front-row seat. The early bird gets the worm, they say, she quipped about her parking spot, which she secured by getting up early. And while her friends watched from the dock due to the constant rocking of the boat from the wake caused by racers, Rossignol stayed aboard the boat getting seasick, she said. Decatur Park District Executive Director Clay Gerhard said the whitecaps that forced a pause in the racing action were the only issue on Saturday. So far things are going off without a hitch, he said. I wasn't worried about the weather. I was worried about getting everything ready to go. Members of Temple Baptist Church, wearing matching blue T-shirts reading Here to serve, had set up a little paper boat racing game for small children along the vendors' row. Volunteer David Jacobs said the boat racing is a family event, and the church had hoped to provide something for children so they'd feel a part of the festivities. There was a basket full of boats already made, but the youngsters could make their own if they wanted to, too. Our intention was, because it's a family event, that we wanted to do an outreach for our church, he said. We just want to be involved in our community and get out here and share a little something for the kids to do. Kids got a gift bag and parents were entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to Texas Roadhouse. Cindy Shafer gathered up as much of her family as she could to attend the boat races, and had a large group of them cheering on the racers. It's just something we have wanted to do forever, she said. For 20 years. My mom (Shirley Johnson, sitting next to her) will be 94 in August, and she said, 'I hope I get to see the boat races one more time.' Roger and Ella Call found a bench along the lakeshore to watch the races. Roger Call said he remembered going to SummerStart, as the Memorial Day event was known, and was glad to see it come back. Rachel McAvoy's parents live on Lake Shore Drive, up on a hill, and she remembers watching the boat races as a child, with a bird's-eye view of the action, from the house. I'm glad I could bring the kids to see this, she said. Now a resident of the Chicago suburbs, she and her family were able to walk through the pit area during the downtime while the races were paused due to wind, and her daughters posed for photos with some of the racers and their boats. We are blown away, said Nikki Furlott, race committee chairwoman. When that first boat was out there in the water, it brought tears to our eyes. It was a long time coming, and we had so many people working with us to help us along with this, and it's just like a dream come true. Furlott was thrilled, she said, that so many boat racers came, and that the community attended and supported the event. It's just so awesome, she said. It's come full circle. It's exciting for all of us. The races return on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ABC News anchor Martha Raddatz on Sunday pressed Israel Defense Forces (IDF) spokesperson Peter Lerner over the Israeli operation that rescued four hostages, but reportedly killed dozens of civilians in the process, repeatedly asking for the necessity of the Israeli air strikes. The IDF, along with two other units, carried out a special operation on Saturday at two different locations in Nuseirat in central Gaza to rescue four hostages being held by Hamas. The operation, which included a heavy air and ground assault, marked Israels largest rescue operation since its war with Hamas began last October. Asked on ABCs This Week to give a picture of the scale of the mission, Lerner said, This was an effort conducted and planned over several weeks in order to get the best result. And indeed, it came together with extensive intelligence, a a massive intelligence that created a good grasp of how the enemy were holding the four hostages, and then was translated into an operational plan to actually bring them out. Lerner said the rescue of the hostages marked a jubilant day in Israel and he hopes Israeli forces can bring home the remaining hostages either through negotiations or similar special force operations. Raddatz then addressed the operations death toll, which Israeli forces and Hamas significantly differed on. The Gaza Health Ministry on Sunday said at least 274 Palestinians died and nearly 700 others were wounded, while the IDF approximated fewer than 100 casualties. Raddatz asked if the IDF factored in the loss of so many Palestinians, to which Lerner said, we dont know how many casualties were caused in the strike in the in the release and rescue operation. And Id be very cautious at accepting any figures and numbers that Hamas are putting out. The This Week co-anchor noted Israel is still saying fewer than 100, which she described as a significant amount of casualties, and pressed Lerner over whether the deaths came from Israeli air strikes on Saturday. Well, for every civilian life lost in this war is a tragedy. Every civilian life lost in this war is a result of how Hamas has operated, Lerner responded. Lets think about, just for a moment, where they were holding the hostages. Within civilian houses. Within peoples apartments. In the same apartment they were being held where the families that owned the apartments. This exemplifies specifically how Hamas operating. And is that the reason for the air strikes? Tell me why those air strikes were were necessary, why buildings were destroyed in that attack? Raddatz asked. The forces came under fire from a 360-degree threat. RPGs, AK-47s, explosive devices on the way, mortar rounds. It was an is a war zone. And so civilians in that the tragedy of civilians being caught up in this is precisely because of how Hamas is battling us on the battleground, Lerner responded. Israeli forces have repeatedly accused Hamas of using Palestinians in Gaza as human shields, against attacks in the Gaza Strip. More than 37,000 Palestinians have died since early October, per the Gaza Health Ministry. The four rescued hostages were among the more than 100 individuals believed to still be in Hamass captivity in the Gaza Strip. The U.S.-designated terrorist group kidnapped more than 250 people from southern Israel during its surprise Oct. 7 assault, in which about 1,200 people were killed. About 100 hostages were released in a week-long cease-fire deal last November. Our responsibility, our first and foremost responsibility is to rescue the hostages, to bring them home, to create a better security situation for Israelis. And I would say for Palestinians alike, Lerner said. Hamas has to go. Hamas cannot be trusted with the powers of government because that is what they will do. Noting she and others are grateful the hostages are safe, Raddatz asked Lerner if similar rescue missions will take place to rescue the remaining hostages. The 120 hostages remain in the clutches of Hamas. There can be a rescue mission like what happened yesterday. But there could also have been negotiations that create the opportunity. Our role is to create the conditions either way, that Hamas realizes that they should give back the hostages, they should set the hostages free, he answered. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. At Mass for retiring Milwaukee archbishop, faithful say Listecki was 'exactly what we needed' Faithful from across the Milwaukee area on Sunday commemorated the pending retirement of Archbishop Jerome Listecki and reflected on his legacy over the last 14 years. Those who attended a Mass at the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist to honor Listecki, who turned 75 in March and submitted a required retirement letter to the Vatican, praised the stability he brought to an archdiocese embroiled in a clergy abuse crisis and bankruptcy. "He's clearly turned the archdiocese around. There's no way two ways around it," said his cousin, Greg Kaspryzk, of Des Plaines, Illinois. Listecki has traveled around the area since April, celebrating Masses in Union Grove, Mequon, Beaver Dam, Pewaukee and West Allis. On Sunday, he returned to the Cathedral, the seat of the 10-county Archdiocese of Milwaukee. Kaspryzk's sentiment was a common one. "His leadership of the church, of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee, has been strong and exactly what we needed at the time we needed him," said Brenda White of New Berlin, a retired Catholic school administrator. White and others appreciated what Listecki had done to boost Catholic school enrollment in Milwaukee as it has declined elsewhere in the country. That included Elizabeth Melendez, a parishioner of St. Veronica Congregation in Milwaukee's south-side Tippecanoe neighborhood. Linda and Patrick Foy take a picture with Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki following the final Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Listecki Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. Archbishop Listecki is retiring. "It's wonderful we've known him since he began and we are going to miss not having him in the Diocese," she expressed. "He's done a wonderful job over a difficult time." Melendez's two children, ages 7 and 8, attend St. Thomas Aquinas Academy, which is attached to the parish. She appreciated that the Milwaukee Parental Choice program, which provides tax-funded vouchers for lower-income families to attend private schools, allowed parents to give their children "a good Catholic education." And Reine Assana, of the archdiocese's Black Catholic Ministry Commission, gave Listecki credit for his involvement with her community. Listecki has regularly attended Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day services and has supported a pastoral plan to address Black Catholics' needs. "He's been with us, walked with us," she said, adding that she wanted the next archbishop to continue outreach to the community. Archbishop Jerome Listecki reflects on challenges, expresses hope for future Listecki will remain the leader of the archdiocese until Pope Francis names a successor. That could take several months or even years. The deadline is when he turns 80. A number of other U.S. bishops have already turned 75, or will reach that age soon. The new archbishop would become Milwaukee's 12th prelate, overseeing an archdiocese with about 190 parishes and 100 schools. Archbishop Jerome E. Listecki, middle, is retiring, seen during the final Mass of Thanksgiving with Archbishop Listecki Sunday, June 9, 2024, at Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in Milwaukee. As is the case for leaders of the Catholic Church nationwide, the next archbishop's plate would be full. Among his major responsibilities: Slowing the trend of declining Mass attendance, maintaining Catholic schools' enrollment numbers, contending with shifting public attitudes on social issues such as LGBTQ rights and abortion, reaching out to the poor and vulnerable, and continuing strides toward transparency on clergy sex abuse. A Chicago native and canon lawyer, Listecki has led the archdiocese since he was installed in 2010, filling the vacancy created when now-Cardinal Timothy Dolan was appointed the archbishop of New York. Listecki had been the bishop of La Crosse, and before that an auxiliary bishop in Chicago. In 2015, the archdiocese agreed to pay $21 million to compensate victims of abuse, clearing the way for it to emerge after nearly five years from perhaps the most contentious of the Catholic Church bankruptcy filings. Money to pay the settlement came from insurers, trust money to care for cemeteries the subject of bitter litigation within the case a continuing education fund for priests, and other sources. Listecki in his homily acknowledged the challenges of the moving through the bankruptcy and the clergy abuse crisis. "We knew the process would not be easy, and the length of time uncertain," he said. "But we did know that we would do so with prayer and patience." He also touted the archdiocese's return to worship and in-person schooling after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the earliest in the country. And he said Mass attendance has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. This spring, nine men were ordained to the priesthood in Milwaukee, the most since 1992. The St. Francis de Sales Seminary is full, he said, with a total of 86 men studying. When Listecki became archbishop, there were 12 men in the seminary, he said. "We have much to be proud of. But it's not pride in ourselves, but it's pride in what God has done through us for his church," he said in the homily. Echoing the apostle Paul, Listecki said that even as he gets older externally, his inner self is "renewed every day," as he's inspired by local Catholics' "vision for the future of our faith." Sophie Carson is a general assignment reporter who reports on religion and faith, immigrants and refugees and more. Contact her at scarson@gannett.com or 920-323-5758. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Retiring Archbishop Jerome Listecki honored at Milwaukee cathedral Large chunk of Wyoming's Teton Pass road collapses; unclear how quickly it can be rebuilt This photo provided by Wyoming Highway Patrol shows a damaged section of Teton Pass near Jackson, Wyo., on Saturday, June 8, 2024, that officials said had catastrophically failed. (Wyoming Highway Patrol via AP) JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) A large chunk of a twisting mountain pass road collapsed in Wyoming, authorities said Saturday, leaving a gaping chasm in the highway and severing a well-traveled commuter link between small towns in eastern Idaho and the tourist destination of Jackson. Aerial photos and drone video of the collapse show the Teton Pass road riven with deep cracks, and a big section of the pavement disappeared altogether. Part of the guardrail dangled into the void, and orange traffic drums marked off the danger area. The road was closed at the time of the collapse. The section that failed first drew attention Thursday when a crack and drop in the road contributed to the crash of a motorcycle. Geologists and engineers who were sent to the area that day noticed that crack and that drop started to move a lot, said Stephanie Harsha, a spokesperson for District 3 of the Wyoming Department of Transportation. A paving crew temporarily patched the road, and traffic began moving again that night. But that was short-lived as maintenance crews were sent to respond to a mudslide a couple of miles away in the pre-dawn hours of Friday, prompting the road to be closed once again. Crews then noticed that the damage to the pavement had become more pronounced. Workers trying to figure out a detour around that section left for the night, and by 5 a.m., this morning, WYDOT had discovered that the road had completely failed, Harsha said Saturday. We were very, very lucky that no crews were harmed. No equipment was damaged, she said. So now, engineers and geologists are doing geological assessments on the pass. Theyve been looking at it all day. The transportation department said via social media that the road catastrophically failed at milepost 12.8. It was not immediately clear how long it will take to reopen the road, a vital artery for people who live across the border in Idaho and work in pricey Jackson, which is also close to the popular Grand Teton National Park. Harsha said an alternate route between Jackson and the area of Victor, Idaho, goes more than 60 miles (97 kilometers) out of the way and adds quite a bit to any commute. Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order declaring an emergency, which his office said would help the state access additional resources from the Federal Highway Administration to begin repair work. In a statement, the governor said the transportation department is working on a long-term solution to rebuild this critical roadway. I recognize the significant impacts this closure has to Teton County residents, regional commuters and the local economy, Gordon said. Mayor Dickens thanks firefighters for supplying water to those in need during water outages Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens paid a visit to Atlanta Fire Station 16 to check on them after the water outages last week. Channel 2 Action News gave you live updates on two large water main breaks that caused hundreds of residents to be without water in a large area of northwest Atlanta, from downtown to westside to midtown to southwest Atlanta. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The first break happened at the intersection of Joseph E. Boone Boulevard and James P. Brawley Drive and the second major water main break happened at 11th Street and West Peachtree Street. A boil water advisory was in effect in parts of metro Atlanta. The city said Dickens visited senior centers and other locations Sunday to check on water supplies, while the city continued to hand out bottled water at some fire stations. RELATED STORIES: On Saturday, the City of Atlanta posted photos of Mayor Dickens visiting the Atlanta Fire Department to thank them for supplying water to residents. Huge thanks to all of the Atlanta Fire Department for their incredible support during the water outage, especially in supplying water to our citizens in need, the post read. Here's another look at our visit at the Atlanta Fire Department Station 16. Mayor Andre Dickens stopped by Atlanta Fire Station 16 to check on them after the recent water outages and, most importantly, to thank them! pic.twitter.com/6FpYn28TJV City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) June 8, 2024 The mayor also visited the Atlanta Police Department to thank officers. We visited the Atlanta Police Department Zone 1 during roll call to check in on our officers after the recent water outages. Thank you for continuously making us one safe city, especially during this challenging time. pic.twitter.com/EMNl9q2XsM City of Atlanta, GA (@CityofAtlanta) June 8, 2024 [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: Mayor Eric Adams has no idea grand jury called for campaign corruption probe: I dont know, Im not a lawyer Mayor Eric Adams boisterously asserted he had no idea a grand jury had convened for the federal corruption probe into his campaign fundraising. I dont know, Im not a lawyer. Im Eric Adams the mayor! Ex-cop! Hizzoner told clambering reporters upon his arrival at the 39th Annual 116th Street Festival in East Harlem Saturday. No idea. No idea. No idea, he added as his team shot down further questions from the media. Mayor Eric Adams said he had no idea that a grand jury was reviewing evidence as part of the federal corruption probe into his 2021 campaign funding. Robert Miller Adams, 63, arrived two hours late to the Latin Festival just one day after The Post reported that the grand jury was reviewing evidence in the FBI probe likely for the purpose of issuing subpoenas in the case. At least one person connected to the mayor was served a subpoena linked to the investigation, sources said. Adams claimed he wasnt aware of the recent developments despite repeatedly admitting he is a close reader of The Post. They dont tell me stuff. Let it follow the process Speak to the counsel. The counsel will explain to you the normal process, he said. I dont know, Im not a lawyer. Im Eric Adams the Mayor! Ex-cop! Adams said. Robert Miller The mayor in a jolly mood despite the looming investigation did not speak again on the topic before taking the stage for a few brief minutes. His former rival, Guardian Angels founder Curtis Sliwa, however, had plenty to say about the embattled mayor. The walls are closing in, the Republican 2021 mayoral candidate said at the festival. Curtis Sliwa said the walls are closing in on Adams. Robert Miller Swagger man has no plan to get out of this. Hes not going to the White House. He originally thought he was. He may be going to the big house in chains and shackles. You have people in the administration who may have decided its time to become a confidential informer. Cause they dont want to go down on the ship. Thats how the feds get you. They get the little fish but they want the whale. And everyone knows they want Eric Adams. Sliwa referenced rumors that a former City Hall aid who was suspended for inappropriate conduct amid the federal probe had flipped on Adams and was working as an FBI informant. Ex-director of protocol in the Office for International Affairs Rana Abbasovas New Jersey home was also raided by the FBI as part of the federal corruption investigation. Adams top campaign fundraiser Brianna Suggs and former Turkish Airlines executive Cenk Ocal, who worked on the mayors transition team, were also subjected to home searches. All these people are not gonna protect him. Theyre gonna give him up, Sliwa added. The crowd shared a split reaction to the mayors appearance at the festival, which came two hours after he was scheduled to arrive. Im two hours late here but Im always on time, Adams teased. I see that as meaningless pandering to the Puerto Rican constituency, Orlando Plaza, 56, historian and former restaurant owner in Spanish Harlem, born and raised in the LES, said about the mayors visit. Several shouted at him as he passed by to demand he spend his time helping the homeless, addressing the citys sanitation problems, or focusing on other pressing issues. Adams arrived two hours late to the Latin Festival. Robert Miller We should not be spending our hard-earned money on special parties for him and his cronies. We need to spend money on our parks that need to be kept and cleaned for our youth and the city of New York. Thats definitely more important than a cop city thats for damn sure, Stephanie Sanchez, 35, a professional dancer and dance instructor, told The Post. Simone McBride, a 41-year-old social worker from Spanish Harlem, agreed, saying they are not happy with the mayor. Not at all. I dont think that funding cops and miscellaneous nonsense, like his parties for his people, are gonna be helpful for our city, McBride said. The FBI is probing whether Adams team conspired with the Turkish government to fuel his campaign with foreign donations and whether he urged the FDNY to fast-track permits for a new Turkish Consulate that had failed earlier safety inspection. Neither Adams nor any member of his campaign has been accused of any wrongdoing. "It's early, the signs are positive," the Homeland Security Secretary said of Biden's new order. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas is weighing in on President Biden's latest executive order that temporarily blocks migrants from seeking asylum at the U.S. southern border. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas appeared on ABCs This Week on Sunday to defend President Bidens recent executive order that temporarily shuts down sections of the U.S. border with Mexico to asylum seekers. The measure, which went into effect after receiving Bidens signature last week, will effectively block most migrants (with some exceptions) who attempt to cross the border between ports of entry from seeking protections in the U.S. until the number of unauthorized border crossers dips below 1,500 for seven straight days. Its early; the signs are positive, Mayorkas told host Martha Raddatz about the results of the executive order. Our personnel have done an extraordinary job in implementing a very big shift in how we operate on the southern border. Since Biden took office, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection has encountered over six million migrants at the U.S. border to Mexico. Reuters reported Saturday that, according to an unnamed senior U.S. border official, preliminary arrest numbers were indicating early signs of success. The official told Reuters that U.S. border authorities had arrested around 3,100 people attempting to cross between ports of entry on Friday, a 20% decrease from the days before. Heres what you need to know about Bidens latest effort to crack down on immigration at the southern border and how Mayorkas sees it playing out. What does Bidens executive order say? Bidens order essentially prevents asylum seekers from entering the U.S. between ports of entry along the southern border until immigration officers encounter 1,500 or fewer daily migrants for seven consecutive days. A fact sheet released by the White House stressed that the actions are not permanent and are meant to pressure migrants from crossing to the southern border without authorization in high numbers. According to the White House, the 1,500 threshold is a low enough number for Americas system to safely and effectively manage border operations. There are some exceptions, however. Migrants with pre-scheduled appointments with a border patrol agent will still be processed, as well as unaccompanied children and victims of human trafficking. Mayorkas says its a work in progress The goal of lowering the number of asylum seekers to 1,500 per day may seem ambitious, but Mayorkas is confident it will get done though its too soon to say when. We are at a very early stage. Implementation, as you noted, has just begun, he told Raddatz, emphasizing that the U.S. remains steadfast in communicating with migrants throughout the region about the lawful pathways to seek asylum. Lets not minimize the significance of this move and the significance of operationalizing it, Homeland Security Sec. Alejandro Mayorkas tells @MarthaRaddatz of new asylum restrictions implemented at the border. https://t.co/khJotk0gQx pic.twitter.com/MHWZL9ys8r This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 9, 2024 Some of those efforts include building safe mobility offices in Colombia, Ecuador, Guatemala and Costa Rica so that the U.S. can reach asylum seekers where they are before they decide to make the perilous journey to the U.S. border. Why now? The White House waited close to four months to implement an executive order after Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border security deal in February. The proposed legislation was derailed again in May, when lawmakers failed to advance the bill in the Senate. When asked why it took so long for the Biden administration to implement its own action, Mayorkas blamed Congress and, ultimately, the process. The bipartisan deal was rejected once. We pressed forward again. It was rejected a second time, he explained. Then we developed this and have implemented it, and we are at an early stage. And lets not minimize the significance of this move and the significance of operationalizing it. And it requires the cooperation of other countries, which we have secured. Mayorkas brings up Title 42 While Bidens order has received backlash from both sides, Mayorkas pointed to the termination of Title 42, an emergency public health measure allowing for the expulsion of migrants seeking asylum, as an example of how public discourse may change in the coming weeks. Title 42 was put in place by then-president Donald Trump at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and was lifted in May 2023. People expected pandemonium, he recalled in the weeks before Title 42 ended. During that time, Biden sent 15,000 U.S. troops to the southern border to help control the flow of migrants. Border cities like El Paso, Laredo and Brownsville declared a state of emergency and received federal resources to help with the surge of new arrivals. Our model worked, Mayorkas said. We drove [migrant] numbers down. They go down. They go up. Calls for congressional support amid legal threats The ACLU has pledged to sue the Biden administration over the policy, asserting that it puts thousands of lives at risk, but Mayorkas isnt backing down. I respectfully disagree with the ACLU, he said. I anticipate they will sue us. We stand by the legality of what we have done. We stand by the value proposition. DHS Sec. Mayorkas tells @MarthaRaddatz that he anticipates a lawsuit from the ACLU over the Biden administration's new asylum restrictions. I anticipate they will sue us. We stand by the legality of what we have done. We stand by the value proposition. https://t.co/xhYJpzihJS pic.twitter.com/jQq0fSZLYI This Week (@ThisWeekABC) June 9, 2024 The issue goes beyond just securing the border, Mayorkas explained. We have a humanitarian obligation to keep vulnerable people out of the hands of exploitative smugglers. There have been many [stories] about the trauma and the tragedy inflicted by those organizations. What we need is congressional action, he continued. We cannot resource the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Department of Justice with additional personnel. We need Congress to legislate. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday defended the Biden administrations new executive action on the border an order that aims to get the average of migrant encounters at the border to 1,500 or less. Its a level that has not been seen since President Joe Biden took office. And Mayorkas could not confirm if that level will be seen before Election Day. The order, focused on people seeking asylum at the border, was initiated five days ago. We are at a very early stage. Implementation, as you noted, has just begun, Mayorkas said in an interview with host Martha Raddatz on ABC's This Week on Sunday. It's early, the signs are positive. Our personnel have done an extraordinary job in implementing a very big shift in how we operate on the southern border. Biden implemented an executive action on the southern border Tuesday, the latest attempt from the president to crack down on immigration as the southern border ahead of the election this fall. It also comes months after former President Donald Trump helped tank a bipartisan border deal that failed to make it out of the Senate. When asked about when we will actually see this goal reached and whether the effects would realistically become apparent soon or before the election Mayorkas did not disclose any timing. An average of 1,500 individuals encountered over a seven-day consecutive period we are driving to that and that's not all we're doing. We are also communicating throughout the region about the lawful pathways, Mayorkas said, before Raddatz noted that was something that had been done before the order. Mayorkas said Congress needs to legislate. Mayorkas also danced around why the order was issued now, four months following the bipartisan border deal failed. The bipartisan deal was rejected once, we pressed for it again, it was rejected a second time, and then we developed this and have implemented it, and we are at an early stage, and let's not minimize the significance of this move and the significance of operationalizing it, Mayorkas said when pressed twice on why the order is being added months after it was clear the deal would not go anywhere. Raddatz also brought up Bidens previous words from the 2020 campaign that said the United States should enforce our immigration laws with dignity, not turn away those fleeing violence, war and poverty and whether the order contradicts this statement. Mayorkas doubled down on defending the action in addition to defending its legality as the American Civil Liberties Union threatens to sue over it. Its something Mayorkas said he anticipates. We stand by the legality of what we have done. We stand by the value proposition. It's not only a matter of securing the border, Martha, we have a humanitarian obligation to keep vulnerable people out of the hands of exploitative smugglers, Mayorkas said. There have been many a story about the trauma and the tragedy inflicted by those organizations. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Sunday defended the timing of the Biden administrations recent executive order on border security, pinning the blame on past inaction in Congress. ABC News This Week co-anchor Martha Raddatz, speaking with Mayorkas on Sunday, asked the Department of Homeland Security chief why the White House waited four months after a bipartisan border security deal failed in the Senate to implement its own action. Lets look at the timeline. On day one of his administration, President Biden sent Congress a piece of legislation. Title 42, the public health order, was in place until May of 2023, Mayorkas answered. We implemented a regulation that restricted asylum, and then we pressed Congress to resource our department in August with a supplemental funding bill. That did not succeed. Then in October, we sought congressional action, and then we started, Martha, the very difficult work of bipartisan negotiation with Republican and Democratic senators, he added. President Biden last week announced his long-expected executive action that will turn away migrants seeking asylum who cross the southern border illegally when there is a high volume of daily encounters. The order would be enforced when the seven-day average of daily border crossings exceeds 2,500 between ports of entry, senior administration officials said, meaning it will go into effect immediately. Biden issued a proclamation announcing the change under the Immigration and Nationality Act. The executive order came months after Senate Republicans helped sink the bipartisan border security legislation hammered out last fall between lawmakers and Biden administration officials. The legislation failed in the upper chamber for a second time last month. Raddatz again pressed Mayorkas on the four-month gap in action. Martha, the bipartisan deal was rejected once. We pressed forward again. It was rejected a second time. And then we developed this and have implemented it, and we are at an early stage, he said. And lets not minimize the significance of this move and the significance of operationalizing it. And it requires the cooperation of other countries, which we have secured. The Homeland Security leader called for congressional action to curb illegal immigration further. What we need is congressional action. We cannot resource the Department of Homeland Security, the Department of State, the Department of Justice with additional personnel. We need Congress to legislate, Mayorkas said. Just days into the order, Mayorkas expressed initial optimism about the results. Its early. The signs are positive. Our personnel have done an extraordinary job in implementing a very big shift in how we operate on the southern border, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbans party Fidesz is Googles biggest advertiser in the EU, promoting anti-Western disinformation narratives in the lead-up to the European elections, Ukrainian media outlet European Pravda reported on June 9, citing a report from the independent analytical center Political Capital. According to the report, Fidesz and its politicians spent 2 million euros ($2.2 million) between Dec. 31, 2023 and June 1, 2024. In contrast, all 14 Hungarian opposition parties spent 764,558 euros ($827,000) combined. Pro-Orban third parties, including two government-organized non-governmental organizations (GONGOs), spent 2.3 million euros ($2.5 million) while opposition proxies only spent 74,530 euros ($80,600). Advertising spending by government-controlled media tallied 1.8 million euros ($1.9 million), although the report notes that this was not exclusively on political issues. Independent media costs only came to 46,648 euros ($50,500). Fidesz topped Googles biggest advertiser in the EU and paid for six of the 10 most promoted videos, according to the report. The level of online political advertising spending in Hungary is outstanding even by European standards, Political Capital said. The report noted that Fideszs campaign spread anti-Western and pro-Kremlin disinformation, describing the partys MPs as soft-defenders of Russia. Notably, Fideszs advertising spread a hostile narrative against opposition star Peter Magyar, leader of the TISZA party, and Russias war in Ukraine. Spending costs on hostile narratives made up 98.6% of the 2 million euro budget, according to the report. While narratives against Magyar led the propaganda campaign, accounting for 46% of the total costs, disinformation about Ukraine took second place with 34% of the budget. In the lead-up to the elections, one of the most prominent narratives claimed that European pro-war politicians and their Hungarian servants want to start World War III. The narrative echoes sentiments from Fidesz politicians, including Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto, who said on March 25 that peace talks need to begin soon because the war "brings the nightmare of a third world war closer. On June 6, Orban claimed that Ukraine views the escalation of the war as logical during an interview with Hungarian media Mandiner. He alleged that Ukrainians want to drag the EU and the rest of the world into war. Szijjarto announced in Russia's St. Petersburg on June 6 that Hungary will join the Swiss peace summit on June 15-16, having previously been hesitant due to Russias absence from the talks. Orban previously expressed support for the Chinese peace plan on May 9. Most Western leaders dismissed the proposal saying that it favors Russia. "Today, Europe is on the side of war," Orban said during a joint press conference with President Xi. "The only exception is Hungary, which calls for an immediate ceasefire and peace negotiations and supports all international efforts that point towards peace. Orban is seen as Moscows main ally in the EU. Hungary has repeatedly blocked aid for Ukraine, and spoken against Kyivs NATO and EU accession. Read also: FT: Hungary holding up EUs use of frozen Russian assets for Ukrainian defense Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Metro Detroit couple gets engaged at first day of Michigan Central Station reopening Michigan Central Station has a long history of memories. And for one metro Detroit couple, it will forever be remembered as the place they got engaged. On Friday, June 7, the first day Michigan Central Station was opened to the public for tours, Zachary Daughtery got down on knee and proposed to his girlfriend of seven years, Sarah Makulski, in front of the restored ticket counter and recreated clock at the train depot and asked her to marry him. She said yes. Zachary Daugherty proposed to Sarah Makulski at Michigan Central Station on Friday, June 7, 2024. A Michigan Central Station employee witnessed the proposal and spoke to them. The couple met at Oakland Community College in speech class. "I thought he was cute," Makulski said. Live From Detroit: The Concert at Michigan Central airs at 7 p.m. Sunday night "We were mostly friends then and after class ended we exchanged numbers and she went her way and I went mine," Daughtery said. "From there I went to Wayne State and did engineering and then a couple years later she came to Wayne State." "We both graduated from Wayne State and I reconnected with him," she said. "Our first couple dates he was teaching me how to swing dance." Zachary Daugherty and Sarah Makulski got engaged at Michigan Central Station on Friday, June 7, 2024, the first day of public tours. And getting engaged at Michigan Central Station is special to Makulski. "I found out my grandma, she lived in Canada when she was young, she actually immigrated through here," she said. "This was the train station she came through." Follow the Detroit Free Press on Instagram (@detroitfreepress), TikTok (@detroitfreepress), YouTube (@DetroitFreePress), Twitter/X (@freep), and LinkedIn, and like us on Facebook (@detroitfreepress). Contact Amy Huschka: ahuschka@freepress.com or follow her on Twitter (@aetmanshuschka). Stay connected and stay informed. Become a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Metro Detroit couple gets engaged at Michigan Central Station MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico's ruling Morena party and its allies have won a super-majority in the lower house of Congress but not the Senate, the party's president said on Sunday, falling just short of the two-thirds majority needed in both houses to change the constitution. Preliminary results from the June 2 vote, which elected Claudia Sheinbaum as Mexico's first woman president in a landslide, had showed her party, Morena, and its allies coming close but missing out on the two-thirds majority. Ultimately, Morena's coalition, which includes the Green Party and the Labor Party, will control 83 seats in the 128-seat Senate, just shy of the 85-seat super-majority threshold, Morena President Mario Delgado said in a social media post. In the 500-member lower house of Congress, the ruling leftist coalition will have 372 seats, above the 334-seat super-majority threshold, Delgado said. "With a super-majority in the lower house and a majority in the Senate, we will deepen the transformation to keep building a country with well-being and shared prosperity," Delgado said. Mexico's INE electoral authority had said it would recount 60% of votes. Mexican opposition leader Xochitl Galvez, who lost to Sheinbaum in the election by some 30 percentage points, had called for a recount of 80% of the ballot boxes. Uncertainty over the makeup of the next Congress, which takes office in September, roiled markets last week since both outgoing leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President-elect Sheinbaum signaled their support for sweeping reforms to the constitution. The potential reforms include the elimination of independent energy regulators, while consolidating power in the executive branch, in addition to an overhaul of the judiciary that would see popularly elected Supreme Court judges. (Reporting by Daina Beth Solomon and Diego Ore; Editing by Will Dunham) Deborah Fraley, a speech and language pathologist serving Galion City School District and St. Joseph's Catholic School in Galion, was recently recognized by the State Support Team 7 with an Outstanding Educator Award. This is my first year working with school-age children, and I had no idea the impact that I had on the lives of the students that I serve," Fraley said. Deborah Fraley received the Outstanding Educator Award from State Support Team 7. Galion Primary School Principal Katy Erlsten nominated Fraley as part of a team for the award after Erlsten nominated a student for the R.A. Horn Award for making huge improvements in both reading and speech. Fraley also credits her team members for the students success. I was part of a wonderful team who impacted the life of a student in such a positive way that she was able to make significant overall progress this past school year," she noted. "Being a part of that and being recognized by others is a great honor. I am happy serving school-age children and feel at home working in the schools. Mid-Ohio ESC is proud of Deborah's accomplishment," said Shelly Patrick, assistant director of student services. "This is her first year with Mid-Ohio ESC, and her service has been exemplary of the Mid-Ohio ESC Student Services mission to passionately serve the whole child through innovation, collaboration and dedication. Mid-Ohio Educational Service Center provides specialized academic and support services to 13 school districts and over 20,000 students in Crawford, Morrow and Richland Counties. This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Mid-Ohio ESC therapist receives Outstanding Education Award During Jessica Jumas first week of work, her husband disappeared. For nearly six months, the husband and wife from a rural Ecuadorian town had struggled to find jobs in Chicago. They had gone to clinics and panhandled in front of grocery stores. But then, the 36-year-old mother found a therapist, who helped soothe her trauma and obtain the right paperwork to work legally. When she was offered a job packing fruits and vegetables at Marianos in Lakeview, her husband told her he was happy she was working. But the 37-year-old still hadnt found a job himself. The stress was taking a toll. On May 25, as Juma worked inside the store, her husband panhandled outside with the couples 15-year-old son, 19-year-old daughter and 6-month-old grandchild. A little before 8:30 a.m., he told the teens he was going to buy some new shoes. Then he left and never came back. It was like normal. Everything was normal, but we never heard from him again, Juma said. Since his disappearance, Juma has spent weeks in a daze, holding back tears. Shes walked along the lakefront, calling his name Angel Mashiant. Shes filed a missing persons report and approached police cars to ask for help. Shes gotten no answers from police and doesnt know what to do. Though its uncertain what happened to Jumas husband, the migrant mother represents a common phenomenon for new arrivals: After traveling thousands of miles to make it to the U.S., some migrant men seemingly walk out or vanish from the lives of their partners and children, leaving them to fend for themselves. As more than 43,000 migrants have passed through Chicago, sent on buses and planes from the southern border since August 2022, hundreds of single mothers with children can be found staying in the 17 shelters run by the city and state. Its unclear how many had arrived with partners. The women who have been left are now trying to find work while raising their children all without the help of their partners. Licensed therapists and those working closely with migrants say the frustration and shame felt by men of not being able to provide for their families may be a factor in their choice to just walk away. We see cases like that, said Ana Gil-Garcia, founder of the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance, who has led informational sessions for migrants at dozens of shelters across the city. When men cant provide, they decide to leave. They dont take responsibility and then mom is left with the children. I dont know if Ill be able to establish myself here alone Nareida Santana, 37, from Cartagena, Colombia, stood outside a migrant shelter in the West Loop Tuesday and recounted how she and her partner traveled for days across six countries to reach Chicago at the end of April. About two weeks ago, she said, he suddenly left. She doesnt know where he went. She shifted her weight back and forth as she talked. She has a 7-year-old boy and now has to do everything alone. The tasks stack up: enrolling him in school, navigating public transit, finding work and housing. Im so scared, she said. I dont know if Ill be able to establish myself here alone. Santana said she knows there are women whose husbands have left them who are in worse situations than she is, who are pregnant or have significant health needs. She said shelter workers are giving her guidance on how to interview for jobs, but it will be useless until she gets a valid work permit. For now, shes tirelessly trying to find work so she can move out of the shelter. Its impossible to rest much in there, she said, gesturing to the brick warehouse sheltering over 700 migrants on five floors. Veronica Sanchez, a licensed social worker, led a series of healing circles for migrants at the Parent University in Pilsen this spring through an effort organized by the mutual aid group Southwest Collective. Sanchez said migrants talked openly about the trend of men leaving their wives. As volunteers supplied hot meals and child care in a separate room, adult asylum-seekers engaged in group therapies, with topics ranging from anxiety and depression to traditional gender roles. Sanchez said many have been so focused on getting their basic needs met they havent had the time to think about their mental health. In some cases, she said, this leads to last-minute separations. We discussed a little bit about depression at the beginning, Sanchez said. I told them we were going to talk very openly about any sadness they might be feeling. At a group session in mid-May, Sanchez led a discussion about what constitutes a healthy relationship. Ive seen couples that have been together for many years, and they arrive here and it changes everything, said a woman from Venezuela whose name is not being used out of privacy concerns. I know its hard here, but how can they not remember everything theyve been through? Not my American dream The city couldnt immediately provide the current number of single migrant women with children in its shelters, though it does track family composition in the shelter system. City officials said case managers refer shelter residents to nonprofits for mental health support. Additionally, the city trains hundreds of shelter staff on how to provide support for women who may experience gender-based violence, including domestic violence. Mayor Johnson believes that all Chicagoans deserve mental and behavioral healthcare, whether they just arrived or they have been here for generations, a city spokesperson said in a statement. Yoleida Ramirez, a 42-year-old single mother from Caracas, Venezuela, who is staying at the same shelter as Juma on the Lower West Side, said she has searched and applied for stable work in Chicago since November but hasnt found anything. She and her three little girls were placed in a shelter in December, and the staff recently told Ramirez that she needs to find her own housing by June 23. Shes worried she wont be able to. Its so difficult, she said, through tears. Ive looked and looked, but cant find a job. After she drops her kids off at school at 7 a.m., she goes to Home Depot and prays she can find work painting or cleaning. She left her home country because she couldnt find work there either, she said. She didnt have enough money to buy her children food. Id heard about the American dream, but this is not my dream, she said. The disappearance The last morning Juma saw her husband, she said they woke up early in the shelter and he teased her that she was going to be late for her work shift at Marianos. She put on an apron and he passed her a pair of socks and $2 for the bus, she said. Mashiant panhandled outside Marianos with their family while Juma worked inside. He told his kids to wait while he got new shoes. He put his hood up and walked past the dumpsters. He hasnt been seen since. When Juma got back from her shift, she and her children waited. He always came back, she said. But hours passed and there was no sign of him. She filed a police report the next day. Weeks later, the lack of closure is painful for Juma. Shes still in denial that hes gone. Shes had trouble confirming that police have processed her missing person report because when she calls to check on it, the people who answer only speak English. She thinks theyve given up searching for Mashiant. A spokesman for the Chicago Police Department told the Tribune in a statement that, The report has not been finalized at this time. We do not have access to most missing persons reports because they are done on paper. Juma said the shelter told her on June 2 that because Mashiant had disappeared, she would lose her place in the system. Theyve since rescinded that, she said, but Juma cries when she talks about it. They told me they were going to take his cot away, she said. Shes done everything she can to look for him. She put posters on lamps near the grocery store. She obtained video footage from a nearby business, which shows him swinging his arms and eyeing something in the distance as he walks through the alley. But she has no answers. She cant talk about him without crying. She wonders if he may have tried to drown himself in the lake. She wanders along the shore looking for signs of his floating body. He wasnt in his right mind Like many migrants who have come to the city to escape poverty and violence in Latin America, Juma and her family dont know anyone in Chicago. The transition was difficult, she said, and theyve received backlash for panhandling. There was a man who threw food at us, and said he hoped Trump won so we would be deported to our country, she said. Juma said their family left their small agricultural community in Ecuador in late September after her 19-year-old and 15-year-old faced back-to-back acts of gang violence. Their family received increasingly threatening calls, so they decided to leave Ecuador. They arrived in Chicago in December. On the way here, she and her husband and son were kidnapped in Mexico for five days, she said. Before her husband went missing, Juma had unpacked her difficult past with Erika Meza, a licensed master social worker with Onward House in Belmont Cragin who leads group therapy sessions with migrants. Meza said she has an especially close relationship with Juma. For months, Meza said, the Ecuadorian mother had expressed anxiety over not having a stable income. Shelter officials were threatening to evict them from the shelter where Juma is currently staying. Meza said she helped the couple submit their paperwork to work legally in the United States, but Mashiant was still applying for jobs. He was beginning to get really sad, staying at the shelter, Meza said. Juma told her husband to go to group therapy, too, because she said it helped her to understand and cope with her depression, but he hadnt gone. Meza suspects Mashiant left in a moment of panic. I think he wasnt in his right mind, she said. Depression and anxiety can bring you to do things you could never imagine. Still searching Jumas husband was a quiet man who grew up in the jungle in Ecuador. He couldnt read and write. Other women at the shelter say he must have left with another woman, but Juma says she knows thats not true because he doesnt know anybody here. The only thing I need is for him to appear so I can pay for a place for us to go. Those were our plans. We planned to work, to pay for a place for us to live, she said. Like many others, Juma is now left to do everything alone. She has to work and pick up her son from school. Wednesday morning, a woman who cleans the streets outside Marianos told Juma that she could take the bus west to the last stop where there was a lake. Juma loaded her grandchild in a carriage up onto the CTA bus. She rode it to the last stop, dismounted and looked around. Is there a lake near here? she said, confused. She was 5 miles from Lake Michigan. Slowly the reality set in. Her face dropped. She waited at the bus stop to go back to the Marianos where her husband first disappeared. nsalzman@chicagotribune.com Paul Salsini, journalist, author, and editor of The Sondheim Review, had died at age 88. Milwaukees Paul Salsini had remarkable insights into the career of musical theater composer Stephen Sondheim, whom some credit with reinventing the American musical. Salsini founded The Sondheim Review, a quarterly magazine of news, reviews, interviews and essays. Sondheim, the composer-lyricist of Sweeney Todd, Into the Woods and Sunday in the Park with George made time for phone calls and interviews with Salsini, even when Sondheim didnt always like the magazines content. He was sometimes prickly, starting off a note with: Department of Corrections and Emendations, " Salsini recalled in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article he authored in December 2021. But he also wrote things like, The new issue looks very good indeed or, my favorite, The magazine looks classy, and the articles are literate, accurate (for the most part) and not too hagiographic congratulations, Salsini said. An award-winning author, and a reporter, editor and staff development director at the Milwaukee Journal before it merged with the Milwaukee Sentinel in 1995, Salsini also taught journalism at Marquette University for decades. June 5, the prolific writer and mentor to generations of journalists, passed away at age 88 after a long illness. His son Jim said in an email that Pauls wife, Barbara, and his children were sad but also relieved because Paul was in a lot of pain and suffering over the last six months. The end was quick, painless and peaceful, Jim Salsini said. Raised in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, Paul Salsini knew by the 8th grade that he wanted to be a journalist. I dont know why, something about being on the scene but not being part of the scene, and also being able to write, which I loved to do, he said in a May 2020 interview with Tiziano Thomas Dossena, editor of A Feast of Narrative: An Anthology of Italian American Writers. He started at the Milwaukee Journal in 1959 as a suburban reporter after graduating from Marquette with a degree in journalism, and rose through the ranks to become State Editor and staff development director for 11 years. In 1970 he was hired as an adjunct professor at Marquette where he taught for more than 53 years. When the instructor of History of the Musical Theater retired, Salsini volunteered to teach that course which became so popular it quickly filled the classrooms 60-seat capacity. They (the students) soon discovered that there was work involved, but they loved it, and I think they learned that art in any form should be a part of everyones life, Salsini said in the interview with Dossena. While he was at the Milwaukee Journal, Salsini launched The Sondheim Review, which lasted around 10 years and had a few thousand subscribers. In 2022, he wrote a book, Sondheim and Me: Revealing a Musical Genius, considered a must-read for Sondheims fans. Yet Salsini purposely stayed out of the spotlight. No bright lights, please. No rousing applauseNo, Paul Salsini would have none of that. He just wanted folks to read the words he had strung together. Words about someone who deserved the bright lights, applause, headlines, said Mike Juley, who had a 38-year career at the Milwaukee Journal and Milwaukee Journal Sentinel as a reporter and editor. Salsini, in retirement from the newspaper for 36 years, went on to publish fictional books about his favorite place, Tuscany, Italy where the families of both his father and mother were from. The authors easy and engaging style instantly grabs the reader, and his story lines consistently make for enjoyable page turners, the Italian Tribune wrote about Salsini. As engaging as his career was, Salsini was always there for his family. My father was my hero, his daughter, Laura, told Mike Juley in an obituary Juley wrote. Ill miss our talks about theater, teaching, Italy and life. He was a constant inspiration and my biggest booster, she said. Paul Salsinis survivors include his wife, Barbara (Kienlen) of 64 years; sons James (Rita) of Charlottesville, Virginia, John (Asia) of South St. Paul, Minnesota, and daughter Laura (Doug) of Newark, Delaware; granddaughters Natalie (Nick), Stephanie (Joey) and Jenny Salsini; a grandson, John; sisters-in-law Lois Bournelis of Mountain Brook, Alabama, Maryann Kaiser of Chicago and Marie Kienlen of New Braunfels, Texas. He was preceded in death by his parents, Louis and Josephine (Consani); three sisters, Rose Liikala, Arlene Latva, and Dora Lavorini; and two brothers, Robert and Louis. A memorial Mass will be held at the Milwaukee Catholic Home at a later date. Memorial contributions may be sent to the House of Peace or the Riverwest Food Pantry. Mike Juley, formerly of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Paul Salsini was a Milwaukee journalist, founder of The Sondheim Review Dozens turned out Saturday in south Minneapolis to protest President Joe Biden's executive order restricting the number of migrants seeking asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border. The protesters lined the corner of Lake Street and Nicollet Avenue for the demonstration, organized by the Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee (MIRAC). Some held banners in support of immigrant rights, while others chanted "Si, se puede Yes, you can," to the rhythm of a man's drumbeat nearby. MIRAC member Erika Zurawski said Saturday's protest was held for those who struggle for opportunities. "A lot of people don't have the economic resources to try to wait in Mexico for eight months. Also there is extreme violence in the countries they're fleeing and extreme violence on the U.S.-Mexico border," she said. "Once we say that we're not allowing immigrants to come to the United States, it affects our population for generations. And, at the end of the day, Minneapolis, Minnesota has only been enriched by immigrant populations." A number of protesters raised signs, some of them reading "Honk for Immigrant Rights" and drawing beeps from passing motorists. Biden's order, issued Tuesday, closes the border to migrants when the average number of daily crossings exceeds 2,500, which is already the case. The federal government would reopen the border to asylum seekers when daily crossings drop below 1,500 for two weeks. According to the White House, Biden decided to act when a bipartisan border security deal failed to draw support from a majority of Republicans at the behest of former President Donald Trump, who said it was unnecessary and would be a political gift for Democrats. One of the Minneapolis protesters, Tim Oppenheim, said he was disappointed by news of Biden's decision. He said the federal government should support more immigrants because it has the resources to help. "Everyone knows there are problems with the number of people entering the country, and that we need more resources to address it. But a move like this to just say, 'No, we're locking the door', that's pretty significant. In that sense, I don't think people are aware of what that kind of decision means," Oppenheim said. Mississippi grocery prices almost as high as Californias. Will our lawmakers do anything? California and Mississippi are not normally viewed as having much in common, but the Golden State and the Magnolia State do have one similarity: high grocery prices. California, according to a recently released analysis of U.S. Census data, is the most expensive state in the nation to purchase groceries. Mississippi is the third most expensive state to buy food, while Nevada is second. The fact that California is at the top of the list is not surprising. Most everything is more expensive in the left coast state. But Mississippi the hospitality state being near the top of the list is surprising. Mississippi, after all, is known for its low cost of living. Then again, Mississippi is used to being at the top of the bad lists (like highest infant mortality rates) and at the bottom of the good lists (like lowest wages). State leaders have been talking about improving Mississippis standing on multiple lists for decades. For the most part, their efforts have been unsuccessful. But politicians could improve Mississippis standing on the list of most expensive states to buy groceries by passing one piece of legislation to reduce the grocery tax. Mississippi has the highest state-imposed grocery tax in the nation a 7% tax on food sales. No doubt, Mississippis high grocery tax contributes to its high standing on the aforementioned bad list. By simply reducing or eliminating the grocery tax, Mississippi would move down the list and, more importantly, leave more money in the pockets of the states highest-in-the-nation percentage of low-wage earners. It should be pointed out that the two states where groceries are more expensive California and Nevada do not have a grocery tax. Groceries are just more expensive in those states. According to the analysis from HelpAdvisor, the average household in Mississippi spends $290.66 per week on groceries. The national average is $270.21 per week, according to the study. About that tax According to the analysis from HelpAdvisor, the average household in Mississippi spends $290.66 per week on groceries. The national average is $270.21 per week, according to the study. Granted, that seems high, but assuming those numbers are correct, Mississippians are paying $20.35 weekly in taxes on groceries. If Mississippi did not have a grocery tax, the weekly cost of groceries would be nearly identical to the national average. Only thirteen states tax groceries. Of the states that do, most tax groceries at a lower rate than the general sales tax they levy on other retail items. Mississippi politicians levy the same 7% sales tax rate on groceries as they do on most other retail items. First-term House Speaker Jason White, R-West, recently outlined a plan to cut the sales tax on groceries in half and to phase out the personal income tax. Lt. Gov. Delbert Hosemann, who presides over the Senate, also has voiced support for cutting the grocery tax. Will anything happen? White has appointed a select committee to study the states tax structure and to make recommendations to the 2025 Legislature on how to presumably accomplish his stated goal of cutting the grocery tax and eliminating the income tax. As the select committee studies the tax structure in anticipation of enacting tax cuts in the 2025 legislative session, Mississippi already is phasing in a $525 million cut to the states personal income tax. When fully enacted in 2026, Mississippi will have the 5th lowest rate of the 41 states with a personal income tax, legislative leaders said in 2022 when they passed the plan. Even if the grocery tax is cut in half as White proposed, Mississippi still will have one of the highest grocery taxes in the nation, and the cost of food still will be higher than the national average. This analysis was produced by Mississippi Today, a nonprofit news organization that covers state government, public policy, politics and culture. Bobby Harrison is Mississippi Todays senior Capitol reporter. Police are investigating the death of a man who was shot in Winston-Salem early Saturday morning, according to a news release. The incident occurred at 12:57 a.m. in the parking lot of the Adams Market at 3800 Northampton Drive. When police arrived, they found 33-year-old Daron Lamonta Bines Jr. suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Bines was transported to a local hospital where he died of his injuries, according to the release. The motive behind the shooting is unknown. White Christian nationalists argue that because the signers of our nations founding documents were all white European Protestant men, that the United States should be declared a Christian nation, allowing Protestant Christianity a privileged role in America. As a Baptist pastor, you might think that I would be enthusiastic about giving my faith a leg up over other faiths. But there are too many errors in the thinking of white Christian nationalists to support their argument. I agree that our nations founders were white European men however, they were not all Christians. A fair number were deists, and Thomas Jefferson believed that Jesus was a teacher, but he took scissors to the Gospels to create his Jefferson Bible, removing the miracles and resurrection of Jesus. For arguments sake, lets give white Christian nationalists a pass that our founders were Christians. A majority were. What was incredible was their courageous innovation. The only model of government they knew, and still predominant in many global societies, was to wed church and state. The state churches of Europe were the predominant model from which American colonists fled. They decided to experiment: What if we separated the church from the state? What if we founded our nation upon a new idea: religious liberty? Could the church survive without tax dollar support? Would this confuse Americans by creating a cacophony of competing faith voices? Would religious liberty work? Because of religious liberty, people of all faiths came to America and practices of faith flourished throughout American history. It is true, there is an ebb and flow. Perhaps we are becoming more secular as a society. But that is not because of government policy. It is because of peoples choices. In other words, religious liberty at work. I want to live in an America where I can choose to practice my own faith. Im a little ambivalent about the idea of someone having no faith, because Im not sure there is such a thing. What we generally mean by no faith is no affiliation with organized religion. I suspect that everyone has some expression of personal faith. Wed be suicidal otherwise. But Im referring to small f faith, not big F Faith. White Christian nationalists breed on fear. They want a privileged place in America because they feel sidelined in a multiracial, multifaith society. They havent learned how to live with diversity, let alone cherish it. They want to live in a racial silo, hanging out with their own kind. Hence, white. Hence, their partisan objection to diversity, equity and inclusion. The Christian faith that I practice has little in common with white Christian nationalists. I dont want to practice my faith segregated with my own race. I want relationships across racial lines. I give thanks for the original vision of America: religious liberty. A nation where everyone is free to participate in voluntary association with the religion of their choosing, or not. I would argue that religious liberty is on the ballot in the November election. Look carefully at the candidates for United States Senate in Missouri and the presidential candidates. Look carefully at races for attorney general and secretary of state, and the legislative races. Be certain that you are not voting for candidates whose values align with white Christian nationalism. Find a way to demonstrate your support of religious liberty. Im leading a multifaith effort to host a rally each month this year in different areas of our metropolitan area. Participate June 20 at noon, beginning at the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church of Liberty at 138 N. Main Street in downtown Liberty. Or join us July 18 at noon at the Johnson County Courthouse in Olathe. Or come along on other efforts. But, please, dont take religious liberty for granted, or we may find ourselves in an autocratic America that none of us will recognize. Rev. Dr. Stephen D. Jones is co-pastor of the Beloved Community of First Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO. In everyday life, people make mistakes and its no different inside the ballot box. So how should elections officials interpret a ballot if a voter fails to fill in a circle next to a candidates name, or if they use a check mark, underline or other punctuation mark to indicate their choice instead? As Florida looks to update its rules, its focus should be to accept, not reject, every possible ballot. And the state should follow the advice of local elections supervisors, the experts who actually run elections. Local supervisors are pushing back on a proposal by the DeSantis administration that would change the standards for determining voters intent on submitted ballots. The measure prescribes what local canvassing boards must consider when examining the intent of voters who did not fill in circles next to a candidates name using instead, for example, check marks, circles or even words to indicate their choice. The proposed rule includes examples of what markings are acceptable, making it more restrictive than the current rule by denying canvassing boards the latitude to determine a voters intent, as the News Service of Florida reported recently. But Pinellas County Supervisor of Elections Julie Marcus made a critical point during a meeting with state elections officials last week. Just because you make a mistake doesnt mean you should lose your right to cast a vote in a contest, she said. Marcus concern should drive the outcome of any rule change. As she noted: These are valid ballots cast by legal, registered voters, and the state should not willy-nilly discard them. We should do everything possible to count their legal vote, Marcus said, versus trying to write a rule where were trying to find ways not to count votes. The proposed changes are designed in part to bring greater uniformity to the vote determination process across Floridas 67 counties. To that extent, the rulemaking process is a good way of airing the practical problems involved with juggling the fate of flawed ballots. But this is also where the state must trust the local canvassing boards. These boards are usually composed of the local elections supervisor, the county commission chairperson and a county court judge. In many counties, the same members have served for years, giving these canvassing boards a depth of experience in distinguishing between invalid ballots and innocent mistakes. Any rule change should provide clarity, and err on the side of including rather than excluding ballots. Canvassing boards have a long history of using their good sense to deal with flawed ballots. Mail-in voters, for example, often dont complete their ballots in a single sitting, but rather over several days. Its normal that some voters may cast their choices with different marks, especially on longer ballots and with referendums that offer yes/no rather than a candidates name. Okaloosa County Supervisor of Elections Paul Lux has a sensible idea: Include a catch-all provision to codify flexibility for the canvassing boards. You can cut down all the trees in Brazil and you cannot make enough paper to write a rule that covers everything a voter will do with a ballot, he said. Inclusion, fairness, common sense and flexibility those should be the guiding principles in this rulemaking process. Thats where listening to the locally elected supervisors comes in. These professionals are trained and experienced in conducting elections. The state should follow the supervisors lead and heed their valid concerns. Editorials are the institutional voice of the Tampa Bay Times. The members of the Editorial Board are Editor of Editorials Graham Brink, Sherri Day, Sebastian Dortch, John Hill, Jim Verhulst and Chairman and CEO Conan Gallaty. Follow @TBTimes_Opinion on Twitter for more opinion news. UPDATE (6/10 12:15 p.m.): The Mobile County Sheriffs Office has released new information about an alleged dog fighting ring. Doctors on vacation help save shark attack victim According to MCSO, 32 dogs were rescued. Deputies also seized 11 guns, 15 pounds of marijuana and $8,383. Officials said their deputies are still looking for the homeowner, Jeff Marks Jr. Multiple photos were also released by MCSO, which you can view below. Cyberbullying after viral Facebook post spurs outpouring of support for Alabama pageant queen, explanation of comment moderation UPDATE (1 p.m. June 9): At last check, the sheriff estimated 29 people were facing charges. Theyre still looking for the homeowner, Jeff Marks Junior. Sheriff Paul Burch said he ran off and left the other homeowner, Nikeria Trotter, behind. She faces charges of dogfighting and marijuana trafficking. The sheriff says 15 pounds of pot were seized at the home. More than 20 dogs were taken by Mobile County Animal Control. ORIGINAL STORY: MOBILE COUNTY, Ala. (WKRG) A news release from the Mobile County Sheriffs Office says they arrested nearly two dozen people, breaking up an alleged dogfighting ring. Approximately 23 people were arrested and 14 dogs were removed. MPD investigating alleged rental scammer News release from MCSO: On June 8, 2024, at approximately 8:00 pm, The Mobile County Sheriffs Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 13020 Williams Avenue in Axis, Alabama. MCSO Detectives located an active criminal dog fighting ring at the location and have arrested approximately 23 suspects. MCSO seized marijuana, spice, and several firearms. Mobile County Animal Control responded and has removed approximately 14 dogs. Early this morning we noticed several arrests in the Mobile County Jail log for people charged with dog fighting. The news release says more detailed information will be released 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 WKRG News 5. Modi sworn-in as Indias prime minister for third term to lead coalition government Modi sworn-in as Indias prime minister for third term to lead coalition government Narendra Modi took the oath of office on Sunday to become Indias prime minister for a third consecutive term, extending his leadership for the next five years albeit with a diminished grip on power after an electoral setback. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of Mr Modi, followed by the swearing-in of top federal ministers at the presidential palace in the capital Delhi. Thousands of guests, including foreign heads of countries from seven of Indias neighbourhoods and top Bollywood celebrities, marked their presence at the ceremony in Delhi. Indian PM Modi takes oath alongside other cabinet ministers on Sunday (Reuters) Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu, Sri Lankas Ranil Wickremesinghe, and Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina were among the leaders who took the front seats after landing in Delhi on Sunday. Nepals prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Bhutans leader Tshering Tobgay and prime minister of Mauritius, Pravind Jugnauth, were also welcomed in Delhi. Mr Modis swearing-in ceremony marks the beginning of his third five-year term, making him the second prime minister in India after Jawaharlal Nehru to lead the country for three consecutive terms. Honoured to serve Bharat, Mr Modi posted on X/Twitter, minutes before he was sworn in, referring to Indias name in Indian languages. His third term holds significance as it is the first one in which he is relying on a fragile coalition with partners who are not averse to switching support after Mr Modis Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to win a majority in an electoral setback. The BJP won only 240 seats, less than 272 seats required by any political party to form a government, making Mr Modi dependent on the BJP-led alliance National Democratic Alliance (NDA) that won the most number of seats. The NDA coalition got 293 seats, some 61 ahead of the opposition INDIA alliance led by the Congress party. Mr Modi, who had made the boisterous claim of his party winning 400 seats in a sweeping victory, was forced to cut rushed deals with regional allies who gained prominence as kingmakers for giving support to the party. A new cabinet has also been sworn in and includes many new faces while retaining some of the major figures from his previous cabinet in the heavyweight portfolios. Mr Modi was followed by senior ministers in the previous government: Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman, Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, and Piyush Goyal, among others. Their portfolios are expected to be announced after the swearing-in. The decision on the new cabinet came after an 11-hour-long meeting at the prime ministers residence on Saturday in the presence of strategist Amit Shah and BJP president JP Nadda. Modi (C) arrives to pay homage at the National War Memorial before his oath-taking ceremony for a third term in New Delhi (Getty) Ahead of the highly anticipated swearing-in ceremony, Mr Modi visited and paid homage to freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat in Delhi. He paid tribute to former BJP prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and visited another BJP stalwart, LK Advani, at his residence. In the afternoon, Mr Modi also invited members of parliament who are part of the new cabinet, dubbed as Modi 3.0 in Indian media. He hosted a high tea at his residence and interacted with the ministers. The surprising election results upended widespread expectations before the vote. The populist leader has been accused by critics of leading the country with politics of polarisation and using all the power levers, including state agencies, at his disposal to target his critics. Analysts have said it is uncharted territory for Mr Modi who has always led governments with a majority even during his time as Gujarat chief minister while singularly enjoying the spotlight and relevance. The politics of coalition does not fit in well with Modis brand of assertive and go-it-alone politics, said Michael Kugelman, director of the Wilson Centers South Asia Institute. Modi with the two regional leaders who have been called kingmakers for the new government (AP) These results show that the Modi wave has receded, revealing a level of electoral vulnerability that many could not have foreseen, said Mr Kugelman. Two regional stalwarts N Chandrababu Naidu of Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Nitish Kumar of Janata Dal (United)s emerged as kingmakers after they were courted by the BJP to form the government. These leaders have already put forth demands, including changes in contentious laws, and more funds for their states and federal cabinet positions during negotiations on forming a new coalition government. While Mr Modi has embarked on the third term with the new government it is to be seen how the leader will navigate the pulls and pressures of a coalition government. Three Moldovan citizens were arrested in Paris over graffiti warning against sending French soldiers to fight in Ukraine, French media BFMTV reported on June 8. They are suspected of spraying a stencil of a red coffin at the foot of a building in central Paris with the words Soldat francais en Ukraine ("French soldier in Ukraine") on June 7. Moldovan Foreign Affairs Minister Mihai Popshoi condemned the suspects on Twitter and said the incident was "part of hybrid tactics to harm our international image." Moldova will work with the French authorities to hold the perpetrators to account, he added. French police have opened an investigation to see if the incident is connected with other recent provocative acts of vandalism in Paris. A police source told BFMTV that suspicions relate to possible new foreign interference. On June 1, five coffins were placed next to the Eiffel Tower with the same inscription. Three suspects were taken into custody over the incident; a Ukrainian teenager, a German national, and a Bulgarian national. An alleged Ukrainian art collective called Mriya contacted BFMTV and took responsibility for the action by the Eiffel Tower, claiming it was a call for peace. The group warned of more actions to come. BFMTV reported that the collective's Ukrainian name meant "Peace" but its actual translation is "Dream." It's not clear whether the mistake was made by BFMTV, or the group gave the wrong translation. EU countries have accused Russian security services of subversive acts, including low-level sabotage. French investigators told French Info that Russia was likely behind vandalism on Paris Holocaust memorial last month to destabilize public opinion. Bulgarian nationals are suspected to have painted red hands on the Shoah memorial on May 14. Investigators said there was a direct link between the vandalism and the coffins by the Eiffel Tower, BFMTV reported. Two Moldovans are also suspected to have painted hundreds of Stars of David across Paris in October 2023, shortly after the start of the Israel-Gaza War. A pro-Russian Moldovan businessman is believed to have executed the orders. On June 7, a Russian-Ukrainian man was arrested over a planned terrorist plot after injuring himself in an explosion. He has been charged with participation in a "terrorist conspiracy" and possession of a substance or explosives with a view to harming people. France has amped up support for Ukraine recently and is finalizing a coalition of countries to send military instructors to Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron also vocalized support for Kyiv hitting military targets in Russia. On Feb. 24, Macron announced he would not rule out sending Western troops to Ukraine. Read also: NYT: Murder of Russian pilot in Spain bears similarities to earlier Moscow-linked killings Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Moldovan Foreign Ministry comments on detention of Moldovans involved in "Ukrainian graffiti" in France Moldovan Foreign Minister Mihai Popsoi has condemned the actions of Moldovan citizens who were detained in Paris for painting graffiti depicting a coffin and bearing the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine". Source: Popsoi on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda Details: The minister noted that Moldova regrets the incident involving three Moldovan citizens in Paris and "firmly condemns" it. He called the incident part of a hybrid tactic aimed at damaging the country's international image. "Chisinau authorities are ready to cooperate with France to clarify and hold those responsible accountable," the minister said. We regret and firmly condemn the incident with the involvement of three Moldovan citizens in Paris, which are part of hybrid tactics to harm our international image. Chisinau authorities are ready to cooperate with France to clarify and hold those responsible accountable. Mihai Popsoi (@MihaiPopsoi) June 8, 2024 Background: Three Moldovan citizens suspected of painting graffiti with coffins and the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" have been detained in Paris. The graffiti was discovered on the streets of Paris on Friday, 7 June. It was at this time that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on a visit to the French capital. On Saturday, 1 June, five coffins with the words "French soldiers in Ukraine" were found at the foot of the Eiffel Tower. French police are investigating whether Russia is involved in the incident. Support UP or become our patron! Moldovans detained in Paris over graffiti of coffin and inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" Three Moldovan citizens suspected of painting graffiti with coffins and the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine" have been detained in Paris. Source: BFMTV, a French news broadcast television and radio network; French newspaper Le Figaro, citing the Paris Public Prosecutor's Office Details: It is noted that the graffiti was discovered on the streets of Paris on Friday, 7 June. It was at this time that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was on a visit to the French capital. The exact number of such graffiti is currently unknown. Nor is it known whether the suspects are related to the people detained after several coffins covered with the French flag, also with the inscription "French soldiers in Ukraine", were brought to the foot of the Eiffel Tower last Saturday. Latex gloves, spray paint and stencils with the relevant inscriptions were found on the suspects when they were detained. Support UP or become our patron! Momentum of Russian operation in Kharkiv Oblast stalled out National Security Adviser to US President Jake Sullivan, National Security Adviser to US President Joe Biden, has said that the momentum of the Russian military operation in Kharkiv Oblast has stalled out. Source: Sullivan in an interview with CBS News, European Pravda reports Details: Sullivan was answering a question about whether the US permission to strike Russia with US weapons had changed the situation on the battlefield. He noted that it was "common sense" for US President Joe Biden to grant such permission to the Ukrainians. Quote: "It simply didn't make sense not to allow the Ukrainians to fire across that border, to hit Russian guns and emplacements that were firing at the Ukrainians. So the President authorised that. The Ukrainians have carried out that authorization on the battlefield. And one thing I will point out is that the momentum of that operation in Kharkiv has stalled out." Details: Sullivan added that Kharkiv is still under threat but that the Russians have failed to make significant progress on the ground in recent days in this area. "And the United States will continue to support Ukraine in holding the line and pushing back against the aggressing Russian forces," the adviser stated. Background: US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has said that allowing Ukrainian forces to conduct limited strikes on Russian territory with US-supplied weapons would be "very, very helpful to the Ukrainians going forward". Meanwhile, Kyiv wants to negotiate an extension of the scope of this authorisation. Support UP or become our patron! More than 270 Palestinians killed in raid to rescue hostages, Gaza authorities say At least 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 people wounded in an Israeli air and ground raid on Saturday to rescue four hostages held by militants in Gaza, according to the Hamas-run health ministry in Gaza. The operation took place inside Nuseirat, a densly packed refugee camp home to more than 85,000 refugees. Sixty-four of the dead were children and 57 were women, the Gazan government said, with Saturdays death toll said by medics to be the worst for months. The Gaza health ministrys death toll does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. A nurse in Al-Aqsa hospital told The Independent on Saturday: They freed four hostages and continued to aggressively and violently bomb Gaza to the point that the number of martyrs scattered in the streets reached 150 without anyone able to reach them until they finished their military operation. We have received approximately 500-600 injured until now. And after they completed their ground military operation, they then completely bombed the area where the operation occurred, and we are still receiving injuries. Palestinians help a wounded man after Israeli strikes in Nuseirat refugee camp (AP) There are children torn apart and scattered in the streets, they wiped out Nuseirat, it is hell on earth, Nidal Abdo, who witnessed the bombardment, told CNN. The deaths contribute to the more than 37,000 Palestinians that Gazan authorities estimate have been killed in the war, among the deadliest conflicts in the 21st century. Israeli military spokesman Daniel Hagari told reporters under 100 Palestinians were killed, and it was unclear how many of them were militants. The operation secured the return of 26-year-old Noa Argamani, Almog Meir Jan, aged 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, who were abducted by Hamas militants in October at the Nova musical festival being held close to the border with Gaza. Israeli rescue operation freed 26-year-old Noa Argamani, Andrey Kozlov, 27, Shlomi Ziv, 41, and Almog Meir Jan (pictured), aged 22 (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora, an Israeli police counterterrorism officer, died of wounds sustained in the operation, where Israeli soldiers came under heavy fire as they extracted the hostages from a pair of apartment buildings and brought them to a helicopter. Civil defense crews in Gaza reportedly continued to find dead and wounded people buried beneath the rubble the day after the raid, which strained what little remains of Gazas already decimated health infrastructure. Top EU diplomat Josep Borrell Fontelles expressed horror at the bloodbath and reiterated calls for a ceasefire. Witnesses described the Israeli attack on Nuseirat as hell on earth (AP) Reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians are appalling, he wrote on X on Saturday. We condemn this in the strongest terms. The complex assault deep into central Gaza on Saturday was the largest rescue operation since Hamas stormed across the border into Israel on October 7, killing some 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostage, triggering the current war. The United States provided intelligence and logistical support information for the operation, The New York Times reports, citing an American official. Argamani was one of the most widely known hostages. Video footage of Hamas militants abducting her on a motorbike as she screamed for help was widely shared. Noa Argamani with her father Yakov and a family friend Nir Givon, in Ramat Gan following her rescue (via REUTERS) All four former hostages were transfered to a hospital for examinations and are in good medical condition, according to Israeli officials. Israeli leaders praised the bravery of the rescuers, who entered Nuseirat in the middle of the day. Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Saturday called the rescue one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations I have witnessed over the course of 47 years serving in Israels defense establishment. Hagari, the IDF spokesman, criticized Hamas for holding the hostages in a civilian area. This was a mission in the heart of a civilian neighborhood, where Hamas had intentionally hidden among homes where there were civilians, and armed militants guarding the hostages, he said. Of the 250 hostages abducted on October 7, around half were released in a week-long ceasefire in November. Some 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under five and two men in their 80s. Saturdays operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven, including one who was freed shortly after the October attack. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. Domestic pressure is building against Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to free the remaining hostages and reach some kind of ceasefire agreement (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) The latest rescue lifted some spirits in Israel as divisions deepen over how to bring hostages home with many Israelis urging premier Benjamin Netanyahu to embrace a ceasefire deal US announced by US president Joe Biden last month. A protest last week in Tel Aviv drew a crowd of more than 100,000. His far-right allies have threatened to collapse his government if he does. Israeli tanks advanced into two new districts on Sunday in an apparent effort to complete the encirclement of the entire eastern side of Rafah, sparking clashes with dug-in armed groups, residents trapped in their homes said. Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa of the Palestinian Authority, a rival to Hamas which governs parts of the West Bank, is seeking an emergency session at the United Nations Security Council following the bloodshed in Nuseirat. Outside of direct fighting, UN agencies warn over 1m people in Gaza could face famine-level hunger by mid-July. Additional reporting by AP More than 70% of UC, CCC students are not using accessible food stamps: study (KRON) A recent report released by the California Policy Lab shows that less than a third of University of California (UC) and California Community College (CCC) students are not using accessible Calfresh benefits, a program that issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores more commonly known as food stamps. According to the study, 30% of community college students in California utilize their accessible food stamps, nearly a third more than the 22% of UC students and 29% of UC graduate students who accessed them in 2019. This means that about 93,000 students used Calfresh that year, while an estimated 235,000 eligible students missed out on benefits that could have paid for their food, the study reports. Rare occurrence: Two baby falcons rescued in San Jose, San Mateo The report provides eligibility and participation estimates for each UC campus and the seven California Community College regions, and breakdowns by demographics, financial aid status, and student types. The study reports that 17% of CCC students are eligible for Calfresh benefits, compared to 31% of UC undergraduate students and 6% of UC graduate students. Researchers said community college students have lower eligibility rates likely due to more of these students living with their parents which makes them less likely to qualify. The study reports that UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis have the highest take-up rates among UCs, and across CCC regions, the Central Valley has the highest, at 38%. The Bay Area has the lowest, at 22%. Photo Courtesy: California Policy Lab Students shouldnt have to worry about whether or not they can afford their next meal, explains Genie Kim, Director of Student Mental Health and Well-being at the UC Office of the President. These estimates show that we have a lot of work to do in order to improve access and connect more eligible students to CalFresh benefits. In recent years, California has worked to help more eligible students receive Calfresh, but these efforts have been hampered by a lack of understanding about how many students are eligible, and of that group, how many participate, the California Police Lab says. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Russia's Foreign Ministry issued a note of protest to Yerevan after an Armenian delegation visited Bucha earlier in June, Russian state-controlled news agency Russian state-run media outlet TASS reported on June 9. Bucha, a suburb northwest of Kyiv, was occupied by Russian troops shortly after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in February 2022. After the city was liberated at the end of March 2022, mass graves with civilians were discovered, and thousands of war crimes were documented, making Bucha a symbol of Russian atrocities in Ukraine. Armenian Ambassador to Ukraine Vladimir Karapetyan and Tigran Ter-Margaryan, the head of the Nor Nork district of Yerevan, met with Bucha Mayor Anatolii Fedoruk on June 2. "During the meeting, the possibilities of establishing cooperation between the Bucha community and the Nor Nork administrative district of Yerevan were discussed," the Armenian Embassy in Ukraine said on social media. The Armenian delegation laid "flowers and honored innocently killed residents of Bucha near the memorial complex" and "handed over humanitarian aid in the form of medicines." "We are proud of the courage of the Ukrainian people and are always ready to support Bucha and other communities affected by hostilities," the Embassy quoted Ter-Margaryan saying. Russia considers the visit "to be an unfriendly step," Tass said, citing Russia's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova. Zakharova claimed that the protest note was issued "in connection with the transfer of assistance to the needs of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the unacceptable statements made there against Russia." Recent months have seen a growing rift between Yerevan and Moscow, exacerbated after Russian "peacekeepers" in Nagorno-Karabakh did not prevent Azerbaijan's armed seizure of the region in September 2023. Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky says Russias Kharkiv offensive failed; Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 aircraft for first time Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The mother and man accused of killing a 2-year-old boy whose body was later found in a dumpster in Downtown Las Vegas appeared in court on Saturday morning. Co-defendants Diaja Smith, 23, and Jacoby Robinson, 24, appeared in front of Las Vegas Judge Holly Storberski on Saturday, a day after Smiths son, 2-year-old Jacoby Robinson Jr, was found in a dumpster. Diaja Smith, 23, appears in Las Vegas court on June 8, 2024 (KLAS) Jacoby Robinson, 24, appears in court on June 8, 2024 (KLAS) Diaja Smith, 23, appears in Las Vegas court on June 8, 2024 (KLAS) Jacoby Robinson, 24, appears in court on June 8, 2024 (KLAS) Smith faces charges of open murder and child abuse and Robinson currently faces charges of child abuse however, his charges will be upgraded to open murder, the prosecutor said Saturday. Mother arrested in death of 2-year-old found in dumpster Robinson Jr. was reported missing on Thursday and a flyer created by police stated that he was last seen Thursday around 7:45 p.m. near the corner of Lewis Avenue and S. 15th Street near Mayfair Place Park. Early Friday morning, Metro police said that officers located a body at Lewis Avenue and 15th Street just before 1 a.m., and homicide investigators were sent to the scene. Police did not initially release information connecting the two cases however, the police event numbers for both cases are identical. In court, prosecutors said Robinson allegedly admitted to being in the apartment at the time the child was beaten and whipped. Prosecutors also alleged that Robinson was with the child after the beating and saw the child throwing up and helped Robinson Jr. get the vomit out of his mouth and nose before he went back to sleep. Prosecutors said the autopsy of Robinson Jr. is ongoing however they have been notified of very concerning injuries, to the childs body including to his genitals and injuries to nearly 100% of his body from being whipped with a cord. Both Robinson and Smith are being held without bail and are scheduled to appear back 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 KLAS. An MTA bus driver was stabbed in the neck while on duty in Brooklyn Saturday, a police spokesman said. The unidentified driver, 60, was at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Alabama Avenue in East New York around 11:30 a.m. when he was attacked after a dispute with a man who appeared to be in his 20s, police said. An MTA bus driver was stabbed in the neck in Brooklyn Saturday, police sources said. The unidentified driver was at the intersection of Pitkin Avenue and Alabama Avenue in East New York when he was attacked, according to police. It is unclear if the suspect was a passenger on the bus. There was no arrest. The driver, who was operating a No. 3 shuttle bus, was taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, cops said. No arrests have been made. The attack followed two assaults on bus drivers Friday. Blood could be seen on the floor of the bus. KEVIN C DOWNS A female MTA bus driver was punched in the face in East New York Friday, police sources said. She was operating a B6 bus when she was hit at around 11:30 a.m. Friday by a passenger who said she missed her stop. A short time later, a bus driver on a B44 bus at New York Ave. and Foster Avenue was hit with a liquid after asking a passenger to roll up her stroller before she boarded the bus around noon, the sources said. XXXXX An MTA bus driver was stabbed in the neck while on duty in Brooklyn Saturday, a police spokesman said. The unidentified driver, 60, was at the intersection of Pitkin and Alabama avenues in East New York around 11:30 a.m. when he was attacked after a dispute with a man who appeared to be in his 20s, police said. The passenger was boarding the bus when the fight broke out, cops said. There was no arrest. The driver, who was operating a No. 3 shuttle bus, was taken to Kings County Hospital in stable condition, cops said. No arrests have been made. The B99 bus was still in the middle of the eastbound lane on Pitkin Avenue at the intersection with Alabama Avenue Saturday afternoon. Blood stains could be seen on the floor near the door while smears of blood were on the glass partition surrounding the drivers seat. A man who works nearby and asked to remain anonymous said he saw the fight. There was a fight between the bus driver and a passenger, he said. They were fist fighting. They finished fighting, (the suspect) opened the back door, and he started running. A bus operator who identified himself as D. McClain said the violence in the area isnt unusual. We need more protection out here, he said. The partition is not enough. The public is getting away with it, its out of control. A man comes to work to do his job and the public sometimes is out of control, he said. You got emotionally disturbed people riding the bus, and you cant determine how they will react. They [city] can do more, but there is a lot of buses. We got cameras, we got partitions, but that dont matter to them, theyre going to do what they want to do, McClain added. Theyre not going to be prosecuted, there is no consequences, so theyre going to do what theyre going to do. Police cant do their job without worrying about the (Civilian Complaint Review Board). Its too much. The attack followed two assaults on bus drivers Friday. A female MTA bus driver was punched in the face in East New York Friday, police sources said. She was operating a B6 bus when she was hit at around 11:30 a.m. Friday by a passenger who said she missed her stop. A short time later, a bus driver on a B44 bus at New York and Foster avenues was hit with a liquid after asking a passenger to roll up her stroller before she boarded the bus around noon, the sources said. Around here you can see the fight every day. Im not surprised, McClain said. Multiple reports of dead seals with bite marks as great white sharks return to Mass. waters The number of reports of dead seals found with shark bites is on the rise as great whites make their return to Massachusetts waters ahead of the official start of summer. Seal carcasses have been found on multiple beaches from Provincetown to Marthas Vineyard in recent weeks, according to the Atlantic White Shark Conservancys Sharktivity app, which tracks sightings fed by researchers, safety officials, and users that upload photos for confirmation. The most recent confirmed shark sighting was posted in Sharktivity on June 3, with a caption that read, Grey seal with shark bite. The sighting was documented in the area of the Vineyards Long Beach. Other confirmed sightings since May 24 include: Seal with shark bite off Provincetowns Race Point Beach on May 24. Fish Bandit Charters shared images of a great white shark in the water south of Dead Neck off Cotuit on May 25. Dead seal with white shark bites found washed up overnight on Mayo Beach in Wellfleet on May 26. A report in the area of Brooks Road Beach in Harwichport on May 27 had a caption that read, Dead seal. Shark bite marks. A dead seal with a shark bite was reported at Cold Storage Beach in Dennis on May 31. John Chisholm, adjunct scientist at New England Aquarium, told Boston 25 they are expecting more sharks this year as the seal population continues to grow. No matter where youre going into the water, whether thats Cape Cod or Gloucester or Plymouth, you need to be shark smart, Chisholm cautioned beachgoers. While the last shark attack in Massachusetts was in 2020, the growing numbers of seals and sharks should make beachgoers more alert, Chisholm added. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW WASHINGTON In addition to articles already covered by Native News Online, here is a roundup of other news released from Washington, D.C. that impacts Indian Country recently. FCC Seeks Information on 988 Fees This is a reminder than the Federal Communication Commmisions (FCC) Wireline Competition Bureau (WCB) is requesting that states, political subdivisions, Indian Tribes, or villages or regional corporations submit information on their jurisdictions authority to collect 988 fees or charges, the amount of revenue collected from the 988 fee or charge, and how the revenue collected from the 988 fee or charge was used, covering the period from January 1, 2023 through December 31, 2023. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. In 2020, Congress enacted the 988 Act designating 988 as the universal telephone number within the United States for the purpose of the national suicide prevention and mental health crisis hotline system. The 988 Act also provided that States, political subdivisions, Indian Tribes, or villages or regional corporations established pursuant to the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, may impose and collect a fee for 988-related services, including (1) efficient and effective routing of calls made to 988 to an appropriate crisis center; and (2) personnel and acute mental health, crisis outreach, and stabilization services to respond to 988 calls. The 988 Act also mandated that FCC submit an Annual report to Congress on 988 fees. The 988 fee collection information will be used by the FCC in its Annual report to Congress. The requested 988 fee information must be provided through a fillable questionnaire, available for download at https://www.fcc.gov/988-feereports-and-reporting, and be submitted to 988feereport@fcc.gov no later than July 17, 2024. Tribal and other entities are asked to download and complete the questionnaire, even if they are not collecting or distributing 988 fees, and submit via email to the FCC at 988feereport@fcc.gov. BIE Expands Agricultural Education Opportunities for Native Students The Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) and the Native American Agriculture Fund announced a new partnership that will allow more BIE students to benefit from comprehensive, culturally relevant agricultural training and education. The agreement, which was signed during a ceremony at a Bureau of Indian Education school two weeks ago, and the initial implementation for this education resource will be piloted in Wingate, New Mexico. This partnership furthers BIEs commitment to provide a high-quality, culturally relevant education while empowering Native communities and paving the way for a brighter future in Indigenous agriculture, Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs Bryan Newland said. Increasing agricultural education through business and lending experiences, vocational education programs, youth initiatives and outdoor agricultural exposure helps to create increased interest and new opportunities for Native students to develop career pathways in agriculture and related fields. The educational resources developed for use as part of this partnership delve into Native agricultural history and modern practices, focusing on topics like origins, leadership, and plant science within Native communities. By integrating project-based learning, students engage deeply with the principles and practices of traditional agriculture, fostering an understanding of Indigenous agricultural systems across Native lands in the United States. Two US Senators Call for Five Year Tribal BABA Waiver U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Vice Chair of the U.S. Senate on Indian Affairs (SCIA), and U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan (R-AK) sent a letter to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) expressing their concern with the implementation of the Build America, Buy America (BABA) Act and the impact on infrastructure development in Native communities. In the letter, the senators note that Native communities continue to face challenges with infrastructure construction due to a lack of contractors, remote geography, and ongoing supply chain issues, and that these challenges will only be exacerbated by the implementation of the BABA mandate. Murkowski and Sullivan urge OMB to issue a 5-year waiver of the Buy America preferences for all federal financial assistance to tribes for infrastructure projects. Native communities particularly those in Alaska face incredible challenges when it comes to improving and developing infrastructure, especially when it comes to safe, affordable housing. Alaskas barging and building seasons are shorter, the price of supplies are higher, geography is more vast, and securing a work force is often more challenging. Driven by feedback from Tribal leaders, Im calling on OMB to ensure that waivers are in place to provide the greatest opportunity for Tribal flexibility during the implementation of the BABA Act, Vice Chair Murkowski said. Numerous members of the Alaska State Legislature, both Democrats and Republicans, have also requested relief from BABA for Tribal housing. The need is evident. We must ensure that the added challenges faced by remote and rural communities do not stand in the way of Tribes using the BABA Act to gain the support that Congress intended. About the Author: "Native News Online is one of the most-read publications covering Indian Country and the news that matters to American Indians, Alaska Natives and other Indigenous people. Reach out to us at editor@nativenewsonline.net. " Contact: news@nativenewsonline.net NATO is considering to establish a permanent envoy position in Kyiv as part of its long-term commitment to Ukraine amid the ongoing war with Russia, Western officials and U.S. congressional aides familiar with the matter told Foreign Policy. The plan, expected to be announced at the NATO summit in Washington in July if approved, involves creating a "senior civilian representative" post in Ukraine. This role would be similar to the one NATO had in Afghanistan during its nearly two-decade presence there. The new envoy would coordinate NATO's support for Ukraine, including the delivery of military aid from various Western nations. This high-profile position would also convey a strong political message to both Ukraine and Russia regarding NATO's commitment to supporting Kyiv as Ukraine seeks permanent NATO membership to strengthen its defense against Russian military aggression. The proposed move is set against ongoing debates among NATO member countries about whether to deploy their own troops to Ukrainian territory. While this decision could speed up the training and equipping of Ukrainian military, it also risks escalating the situation into a broader confrontation between the West and Russia, potentially even leading to nuclear escalation. Last week, Russian leader Vladimir Putin warned the West of "serious consequences" after the United States and some major European powers authorized Ukraine to strike military targets inside Russia with Western-supplied weapons. Putin said on June 5 that Moscow could supply advanced weapons to certain regions to enable strikes against "sensitive" Western targets as a response if Ukraine strikes Russia with Western arms. Read also: Opinion: NATO states should send non-combat troops to Ukraine Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. A group of extremists unfurled a Nazi flag during an apparent rally Saturday on the steps of South Dakota's state capitol building in Pierre Pictures taken by onlookers and shared on social media depict a group of at least 15 individuals wearing red shirts, black masks and black pants standing in front of the capitol entrance, with three Nazi supporters holding the flag. Christopher Pohlhaus, leader of Blood Tribe, a neo-Nazi group, claimed his members were responsible for the display in a hostile response to South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem's statement on the situation. DPS spokesperson Brad Reiners confirmed the attempted rally occurred, but he would not say whether the Blood Tribe was responsible for the demonstration when asked late Saturday evening. According to the Anti-Defamation League, the Blood Tribe is a neo-Nazi group which depicts itself as a hardcore white supremacist group and reveres Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler as a deity. Reiners said the group did not have a permit to organize the attempted rally. He added South Dakota Highway Patrol officers gave them orders to disperse as a result, to which they immediately complied. Reiners said the group had been chanting something at the scene, but it is not currently known exactly what they said. It is also unknown how long they had been there. No charges have been filed in relation to the event, he said. A group of people believed to be part of the neo-Nazi group "Blood Tribe" march behind swastika flag-bearers in Deadwood, South Dakota, Saturday, June 8, 2024. Another group of people wearing red shirts, black pants and black masks, led by two individuals bearing a flag with apparent Nazi symbolism, were also spotted Saturday in downtown Deadwood by residents. South Dakota State Auditor Rich Sattgast was part of a small group of people who chanced upon the Nazi supporters. He took photos of the assembled protesters, which depict them wearing shirts with the words "Blood Tribe" written on their back. "We did not engage with them at all, other than vocally," Sattgast told the Argus Leader during a late Saturday night phone interview. "The law enforcement of Deadwood were fantastic. They stepped into segregate the groups, because as we're walking down the street, more and more people are coming out of the casinos to join in to protest this group." As the grandson of one of the first people to enter Dachau, a Nazi concentration camp, and as the son of a World War II veteran, Sattgast's main reaction to the hateful demonstrations in Pierre and Deadwood was one of "disgust." "For people to think that this is an ideology that they can push forward is anti-American," Sattgast said. "We in the United States value the ability to discuss and have differences, but not to the point where we're celebrating a legacy that murdered millions of people." According to the ADL, Blood Tribe has held various protests across the country since at least March 2023. The group typically wears bright red shirts or vests and performs Hitler salutes and "white power" chants. In some events, members are armed with rifles and handguns. In September, the Blood Tribe joined several other neo-Nazi groups in organizing similar hate marches near Orlando, Florida, according to NBC. Gov. Kristi Noem addressed the situation on her personal X account. "Nazis are not welcome here in South Dakota," Noem wrote. "We stand on the shoulders of generations of Americans who have fought for the Freedom of all here and abroad. We stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. We reject all hatred and Nazis. Full stop." In a separate post, Pohlhaus mocked House Bill 1076, a piece of legislation recently signed by Noem, which legally defined anti-semitism in state law, while directing a derogatory remark toward Jewish rabbis. The definition adopted language used by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance, which defines anti-semitism as a certain perception of Jews that may be expressed as hatred toward Jews, including rhetorical and physical acts of antisemitism directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals or their property, or toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. In a statement to the Argus Leader, the Sioux Falls branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People called on state authorities and law enforcement to conduct an investigation into the incident and "to hold accountable anyone found to be complicit in allowing this display to occur." "The presence of such individuals in a place meant to symbolize democracy and inclusion is unacceptable," the NAACP statement read. "The infiltration of Nazis into our public spaces is not just an isolated incident but a glaring indication of a larger, more systemic issue of rising hate and intolerance." The display comes two days after the 80th anniversary of D-Day, a crucial battle against Axis forces during World War II. According to the U.S. Department of Defense, approximately 2,400 Americans had been killed during the landings on Normandy Beach. State House Majority Leader Will Mortenson, who lives in Fort Pierre, a city adjacent to the state capitol, also commented on the situation. "I don't know what rock they crawled out from under, but they aren't welcome here," he said. "Time to move along." This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Extremists fly Nazi flag in front of South Dakota State Capitol Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) shakes hands with the Israeli hostage Shlomi Ziv, 41, at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa Families in Israel whose loved ones have been either killed by Palestinian Islamist Hamas militia or who remain in captivity in Gaza criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for meeting with freed hostages but not with families of other victims. A leading opposition politician joined in the criticism. "When you are prime minister, you are the prime minister of successes and defeats," opposition leader Yair Lapid told Israel's Kan channel on Sunday. "To be prime minister only when everything works out and to disappear when everything doesn't go the way you want, that's pathetic." Netanyahu met with four hostages freed from the Gaza Strip in hospital on Saturday - during the Sabbath or Jewish day of rest, - and had his picture taken. According to media reports, however, families of Israelis killed during the Hamas massacre on October 7 and relatives of hostages who were killed were angered that neither Netanyahu nor other government representatives had made contact with them. "A prime minister with moral values would have called to comfort and strengthen (us). And to apologize for what happened on his watch," the father of a soldier killed on October 7 wrote on X. Asked about his opinion of Netanyahu, the father said: "I despise him, a shabby person." Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) embraces the Israeli hostage Noa Argamani (2nd R), 26, at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa Israeli's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (L) speaks with the Israeli hostage Andrey Kozlov, 27, at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa New Haitian Prime Minister Garry Conille, left, speaks to the president of the council Edgard Leblanc Fils during his swearing-in ceremony in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, Monday, June 3, 2024. (AP Photo/Odelyn Joseph) PORT AU PRINCE, Haiti (AP) Haiti's newly selected Prime Minister Garry Conille was discharged from a hospital Sunday after spending a night in treatment for an undisclosed condition. In a video published on YouTube, Conille said he felt well and was ready to continue to help steer the country out of its current security crisis by forming a government that will also prioritize issues like health care. In his video, Conille said: The whole time I was at the hospital, I was thinking of something: People that need to go to the general hospital cant get there (due to widespread violence). People who need health care cant afford it." Gang violence remains relentless in the Caribbean country, with three police officers killed Sunday and a fourth one missing, according to Synapoha, a police union. The officers were part of a new anti-gang unit, it said. The violence has forced roughly 60% of hospitals in the capital city's metropolitan area to close, while gangs also loot and burn pharmacies and doctors are forced to stay at home on some days to avoid dangerous clashes between gangs. Conille arrived in Haiti on June 1 after a transitional council selected him as the nations new prime minister. He had been working outside the country as UNICEFs regional director for Latin America and the Caribbean. The new prime minister has an arduous task ahead of him, having to quell rampant gang violence while helping lift Haiti out of deep poverty, with inflation reaching a record 29%, according to the latest data available. In recent years, gangs that control at least 80% of Port-au-Prince have forced more than 360,000 people from their homes, and they control key routes from the capital to Haitis northern and southern regions, often paralyzing the transportation of critical goods. Conilles predecessor, Ariel Henry, was forced to resign in April, following coordinated attacks by gangs that seized police stations, raided prisons and fired on the nations main international airport while Henry was on an official trip to Kenya. The Haitian government is now awaiting the U.N.-backed deployment of a police force from Kenya and other countries. A person close to Conille, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media, told The Associated Press on Saturday night that he was with the prime minister when he noticed Conille, who he said is asthmatic and sometimes uses an inhaler, appeared to have trouble breathing. The person said he called high-ranking officials and told them Conille needed to be taken to the hospital. Conille appeared to be in good spirits in the video released Sunday, where he sported a purple shirt and spoke against a background of trees and bushes. I hope that by early next week we can have a government in place, he said. I am doing everything we can so we can get out of this crisis. ___ This story has been corrected to show that gangs fired on Haiti's main international airport, but did not seize it. (NEXSTAR) Drive into nearly any Wisconsin town and youre almost guaranteed to see a certain number of things: a green population sign, a roundabout, and maybe a Kwik Trip or Culvers (if youre lucky, maybe both). Youre also likely to encounter a white sign with black lettering that warns, No engine braking in village except in emergency. There may be some exceptions maybe the sign on the edge of your citys limits says town instead of village, or maybe it notes that mufflers are required. But what does the sign even mean? You cant use your brakes at all, unless its an emergency? Is it a warning to your vehicle not to break down? Or something else entirely? A no engine braking sign in Wisconsin. (Addy Bink/Nexstar) As you can likely surmise, its the latter sort of. The signs also, most likely, dont apply to you and your motor vehicle. Engine braking is sometimes known as compression or exhaust braking, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation explains. Regardless of the name, its the process of downshifting and stepping off the gas rather than using the brake pedal, according to Universal Technical Institute. Stuck at a red light? You may need to let it know youre there Larger trucks may rely on a Jacobs brake, or jake brake, a system specific to diesel engines, the UTI says. For large trucks, compression braking can be useful, helping to decelerate and keeping air brakes from overheating. The agency continues, however, explaining that engine braking in other cases is typically an unavoidable result of operating a vehicle that the driver cannot prevent or fully disengage. Engine braking can produce excessive, undesirable noise when muffler systems are not functioning as designed or are otherwise inadequate, the DOT says, adding, objectionable noise levels may be produced by any car or truck when using compression braking and often are related to equipment failure or aftermarket modifications. That undesirable noise has prompted many communities to take actions to restrict the noise. Are you picking the right gas at the pump? How to know Many, including Manitowoc and Allouez, consider the use of compression brakes except in the case of emergency disorderly conduct with a motor vehicle. Communities throughout the state are able to request the no engine braking signage on state highways, but they dont have the authority to erect any on those highways unless the DOT gives them permission. As prevalent as the signs may be, the 2018 notice from the DOT says it is unclear whether those signs are effective or necessary. In the case of engine braking, the Department has chosen to work with communities and allow limited use of these signs on state highways under certain conditions, despite the lack of evidence that they are effective in reducing noise problems. There are no state laws regarding engine braking. Instead, its up to each municipality to enact and enforce ordinances prohibiting the practice. For more details on your communitys enforcement of engine braking regulations or other noise ordinances, consult your local municipal code. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. No one knew what was going on: New documents reveal horror of Maines deadliest mass shooting PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Thousands of pages of Maine Department of Public Safety documents released Friday include detailed descriptions of the chaos and carnage surrounding the states deadliest mass shooting. Officers arrived at the two shooting scenes in Lewiston last October not knowing if the gunman was still there, and with living and dead victims on the floors. One officer described desperate survivors screaming for help as he searched for the shooter. They grab at our legs and try to stop us and we can not help them, wrote Lewiston Officer Keith Caouette. We have to walk by and continue to search and hope they are alive when we come back around. Another police officers first instinct was that an act of domestic terrorism had been committed, underscored by the heavy police presence and flashing blue lights. I truly felt like we were at war, Auburn Lt. Steven Gosselin wrote. Their descriptions of the scenes at a bowling alley and a bar and grill where 18 people were killed and 13 others wounded were included in more than 3,000 pages of documents released Friday in response to Freedom of Access Act requests by The Associated Press and other news organizations. Associated Press reporters had reviewed more than a third of the pages before the website with the documents crashed late Friday afternoon. State officials said documents will be made available again on Monday. Among the details included in the report were the words from a note left behind by the gunman, 40-year-old Army reservist Robert Card, who wrote that he just wanted to be left the (expletive) alone, the Portland Press Herald reported. The note also contained his phone password and passwords needed to access his various accounts. The gunmans family and fellow Army reservists reported that he was suffering from a mental breakdown in the months leading up to the shooting on Oct. 25, 2023. In the aftermath, the legislature passed new gun laws for Maine that bolstered the states yellow flag law, criminalized the transfer of guns to prohibited people, and expanded funding for mental health crisis care. Cards body was found two days after the shooting in the back of a tractor-trailer on his former employers property in nearby Lisbon. An autopsy concluded he died by suicide. The documents that were released Friday provided officers firsthand accounts of what they saw along with additional details of the massive search for Card and the investigation. Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) A sign advises residents to stay home, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, following a mass shooting at a restaurant and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine. Police continue to search for the suspect. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) This photo released by the Lewiston Maine Police Department shows Robert Card, who police have identified as a person of interest in connection to mass shootings in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. ( Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP) In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State Police ordered residents in the state's second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night as the suspect remains at large. (Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office via AP) In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State Police ordered residents in the state's second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night as the suspect remains at large. (Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office via AP) In this image taken from video released by the Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office, an unidentified gunman points a gun while entering Sparetime Recreation in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. Maine State Police ordered residents in the state's second-largest city to shelter in place Wednesday night as the suspect remains at large. (Androscoggin County Sheriff's Office via AP) This photo released by the Lewiston, Maine, Police Department on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, shows a vehicle police are seeking information on in connection to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine. (Lewiston Maine Police Department via AP) A law enforcement officer carries a rifle outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Law enforcement officers carry rifles outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) People depart an emergency department entrance at Central Maine Medical Center, past a member of security, behind right, during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) People stand outside a reunification center early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at Auburn Middle School in Auburn, Maine, after shootings Wednesday at a bar and a bowling alley in Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) People depart a reunification center early Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, at Auburn Middle School, in Auburn, Maine, after shootings in Lewiston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) A woman is hugged by a man at a reunification center at Auburn Middle School, in Auburn, Maine, after shootings in Lewiston on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via AP) Law enforcement gather outside Schemengee's Bar and Grille, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. Residents have been ordered to shelter in place as police continue to search for the suspect of Wednesday's mass shooting at the bar. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) Law enforcement officers carry rifles outside Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) Police respond to an active shooter situation in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) A member of security, center right, stands at an emergency department entrance at Central Maine Medical Center during an active shooter situation, in Lewiston, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) A sign signals the public to shelter in place during an active shooter situation on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. (Derek Davis/Portland Press Herald via AP) A police officer walks along a rural road during a manhunt for the suspect of Wednesday's mass shootings, Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lisbon, Maine. The shootings took place at a restaurant and bowling alley in nearby Lewiston, Maine. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: A police officer blocks access to the road to Sparetime Recreation on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the mass shooting, Robert Card, who killed over 15 people in two separate shootings. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: A police officer blocks access to the road to Sparetime Recreation on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the mass shooting, Robert Card, who killed over 15 people in two separate shootings. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: The side of Sparetime Recreation on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the mass shooting, Robert Card, who killed over 15 people in two separate shootings. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: Law enforcement officials investigate outside the Schemengees Bar and Grille on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the mass shooting, Robert Card, who killed over 15 people in two separate shootings. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: A police officer blocks access to the road to Sparetime Recreation on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the mass shooting, Robert Card, who killed over 15 people in two separate shootings. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) Three vehicles transport the victims killed at Schemengees Bar and Grille, on Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023, in Lewiston, Maine. The restaurant was the site of one of the two mass shootings in Lewiston on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: Maine Governor Janet Mills speaks during a press conference about the mass shooting on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the shooting, Robert Card, who allegedly killed 18 people in two separate locations. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) LEWISTON, MAINE - OCTOBER 26: Jodie Cohen, Special Agent in charge of the FBI's Boston branch, gives an update during a press conference about the mass shooting on October 26, 2023 in Lewiston, Maine. Police are still searching for the suspect in the shooting, Robert Card, who allegedly killed 18 people in two separate locations on Wednesday night. (Photo by Scott Eisen/Getty Images) At the peak, the law enforcement presence was immense with 16 SWAT teams and officers from 14 different agencies, along with eight helicopters and additional airplanes, and an underwater recovery team, wrote state police Lt. Tyler Stevenson. I have experienced several large-scale manhunts in my career, but this was, by far, the largest manhunt I have been a part of, he wrote. Officers used lasers to map the shooting scenes, searched Tracfone purchases at a Walmart in the event Card had a burner phone, and even retrieved data from the infotainment system of Cards Subaru. Police recovered hundreds of items of potential evidence from a number of locations, including bullet cartridges and fragments, phones, hair, fibers, swabs of a gas pedal, a handwritten letter, a tomahawk knife, arrows, a hearing aid, broken eyeglasses, a blue sneaker, a black chain necklace, bean bags, miscellaneous military records, $255 in cash, and a night vision monocular. The documents underscored the confusion as police officers poured into the region. In addition to the two crime scenes, police responded to unfounded reports of a gunman in a field near the shooting scene, at another restaurant, and at a massive Walmart distribution center. I asked who was in charge and got no answer, wrote Androscoggin County Deputy Jason Chaloux, describing the scene outside the bar. Chief Paul Ferland of the Monmouth Police Department said that when he arrived in Lisbon hours after the shootings, 60-70 officers were standing around waiting for instructions that never came. A member of the U.S. Marshals Service told him he had been given no updates and was going to start following up on his own leads. Ferland said he got more information from reporters standing outside the hospital than he did from law enforcement and that he withdrew his officers by early morning due to concerns for their safety. It became obvious to me that there was a lack of communications between agencies and no one knew what was going on, he wrote. Others described the horrific scenes inside the bowling alley and bar and grill. Cellphones ringing on bloodied tabletops, tablecloths and a pool table cover turned into makeshift stretchers. A quick scan of the building revealed blood and flesh scattered throughout the business, Lewiston Detective Zachary Provost wrote of the bowling alley. I also could smell the heavy odor of gunpowder mixed with burning flesh. Caouette, the Lewiston officer who responded to the bar and grill, said some witnesses yelled that the gunman was still in the building when he arrived while others said he already left. He told one man lying on the floor to hang in there, but by the time he returned to him, the man had died. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW No White House word on whether Biden, Netanyahu to meet in Washington By Jeff Mason PARIS (Reuters) -The White House declined to say on Sunday whether President Joe Biden will meet Benjamin Netanyahu when the Israeli prime minister visits Washington next month to address the U.S. Congress. "I don't have anything to announce today," Biden's national security adviser Jake Sullivan said in an interview with CBS's "Face the Nation," adding the two men were in regular communication. "He's coming to address the Congress. The president talks to him all the time," Sullivan said. Netanyahu is scheduled to address a joint session of Congress on July 24. Biden has been a staunch supporter of Israel in its war with Hamas in Gaza, but there have been tensions between the two men over how Israel is conducting the war. Biden, who is running for re-election in November, has faced criticism over his support for Israel from his left-leaning political base as the Palestinian death toll mounts from Israel's assault. Sullivan said he hoped a ceasefire and hostage deal would be in place that by the time Netanyahu came to Washington. Hamas must simply say "yes" to the proposal on the table, he said. Biden has welcomed the rescue by Israeli forces of four hostages held by Hamas and vowed to keep working until all hostages were released and a ceasefire achieved. Sullivan did not say whether the United States had provided intelligence support to Israel in the hostage rescue or comment on how the operation might affect Hamas embracing a ceasefire agreement. "The fact is that the whole world is looking to Hamas to say yes," he said. "For all those people, for all these months who have been calling for a ceasefire now is the moment." Speaking on ABC's "This Week" program, Sullivan said the United States did not know how many Palestinians died in the rescue. Gaza's health ministry said 274 Palestinians were killed while Israel's military said it knew of under 100 Palestinians killed, though not how many of these were fighters or civilians. Asked if Washington would back similar future Israeli rescue operation even if such numbers of Palestinian civilians died, Sullivan replied: "The United States will support Israel in taking steps to try to rescue hostages." He also said Washington would keep urging Israel to minimize civilian casualties. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Additional reporting by Arshad Mohammed in Washington; Editing by Timothy Heritage and Lisa Shumaker) Non-partisan League of Women Voters provides one-stop shop for your June 11 voting | Opinion Its as easy as VOTE411 Note: The writer is the interim president of the League of Women Voters of the Columbia area. You can easily find out who will be on your ballot for the June statewide primaries by going to this website: VOTE411.org. VOTE411 is provided nationwide by the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization that does not support or oppose candidates or political parties. The mission of the League of Women Voters is to empower voters and defend democracy. To use VOTE411, select Find Whats on Your Ballot, enter your street address, select your choice of party. You will then see the candidates and races specific to your location -- including races at the federal, state and local levels. To assist in making an informed decision, VOTE411 provides the candidates unedited responses to questions from the League of Women Voters. It also provides the candidates public contact information. The League of Women Voters of the Columbia Area is providing VOTE411 for more than 30 races and 94 candidates mostly for Lexington and Richland counties. Other local leagues in South Carolina are covering races throughout the rest of the state. About 120,000 people in the state used VOTE411 in 2020. Let VOTE411 be your personalized voter guide. Check out your candidates, make an informed decision, then exercise your right to vote. David Smith, Columbia Truth, facts required I read with interest the angry statements of what mustve been every politician in South Carolina in your story about Mr. Trumps guilty verdict in the hush money trial. We have to assume theyre saying the things he wants them to say, but neither Trump nor any of them said he was innocent or provided evidence of the like. Sort of like the stolen election many complaints, but no evidence to show in court. I agree, it is sad to see a former American president convicted of any crime, but, like any citizen, without the support of truth or facts on your side, its hard to win in court. Harry Spratlin, Columbia Undermines judicial system Recent public comments by S.C. Republican politicians parroting Donald Trumps false statements about his 34 felony convictions are an affront to the American judicial system and the rule of law. Some of them are lawyers and know full well that Trumps indictment and convictions were decided by grand juries and trial juries made up of regular citizens randomly drawn from voter rolls who evaluated actual evidence in a court of law. And Trumps lawyers helped select them. Denigration of this legal process as political is both irresponsible and damaging to public confidence in an American judicial system that is admired the world over. The Biden administration has no authority or influence over state courts, yet Trumps apologists continue to irresponsibly spread destructive conspiracy theories. Dont listen. Donald Trump is a criminal who finally got caught. Simple as that. Ted McCoy, Greenville Own enemy? A New York jury recently convicted former President Trump on all 34 counts. This was surprising to me, but then I recognized that the solution to his problem was his problem. One of his solutions was to encourage many powerful people to show up and support him by being there. That may have been his problem. Maybe the jury considered that he was trying to intimidate them. I believe that if there were some way that Trump was sent to jail and could not run for president, the same politicians who supported him would be more than glad to take his place as the Republican presidential candidate. One of our former S.C. treasurers came up with a great solution to many of our nations problems. He stated that we should let several states practice different policies, determine the best policies, then have all other states follow them. Remember, our forefathers tried to set up our political system not to promote a man or organization, but to have competitive ideas and to have the best ideas adopted to better the lives of Americans. James Muldrow, Columbia South Korean soldiers walk past a military facility where loudspeakers dismantled in 2018 used to be, near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju South Korean soldiers walk past a military facility where loudspeakers dismantled in 2018 used to be, near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju By Ju-min Park and Josh Smith SEOUL (Reuters) - The influential sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned of a new response against South Korea if the South continued with loudspeaker broadcasts and allowing leaflet balloon flights amid simmering tensions. "If the ROK simultaneously carries out the leaflet scattering and loudspeaker broadcasting provocation over the border, it will undoubtedly witness the new counteraction of the DPRK," Kim Yo Jong said in a statement late on Sunday carried by state news agency KCNA, using the official names of South and North Korea. South Korea resumed loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea on Sunday, its military said, following through on a warning that it would do so if Pyongyang kept sending balloons carrying trash into the South. Signs that North Korea was installing its own loudspeakers have been detected, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said, adding that South Korea does not plan to operate its loudspeakers on Monday. North Korea on Saturday launched about 330 balloons with trash attached; about 80 of them landed over the border, South Korea's military said. On Monday South Korea said a further 310 balloons had been launched, with about 50 landing in the South. "This is a prelude to a very dangerous situation," said Kim, a vice department director in the ruling Workers' Party, referring to the South's loudspeaker broadcasts. Kim said North Korea had sent 1,400 balloons over the border from the night of June 8 to the dawn of June 9. Pyongyang started sending balloons carrying trash and fertilizer, including possible manure, across the border in May, calling it retaliation for anti-North leaflets flown by South Korean activists as part of a propaganda campaign. "Seoul does not want military tension at the inter-Korean border, and Pyongyang does not want outside information threatening the legitimacy of the Kim regime," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "For both sides, escalating to deescalate is a risky proposition." The U.S.-led United Nations Command (UNC), which oversees the armistice that established the Demilitarized Zone between the two Koreas as fighting ended in the 1950-1953 Korean War, has said it is conducting an investigation into the balloons, including the reports of possible decal matter and other waste products. "Wed hope that everyone would come to the table to resolve their issues," said U.S. Army Colonel Isaac Taylor, a spokesman for UNC. South Korea's broadcasts include world news and information about democratic and capitalist society, with a mix of popular K-pop music. The sound is believed to travel more than 20 kilometres (12.4 miles) into North Korea, though some analysts say their actual reach is much less. Steve Tharp, a retired U.S. Army officer who spent years working along the DMZ, said loudspeaker broadcasts from both sides sounded day and night when he deployed as infantry in the 1980s. "The loudspeakers carry farther at night," he noted. "First couple nights were eerie, then it became the background noise of your life after a while." Later, as a public affairs officer in 2015, Tharp said he helped review messages being broadcast by the South Koreans, who are part of a combined command with U.S. troops. North Korea has in some cases fired weapons at the balloons and speakers. South Korea stopped the broadcasts under an agreement signed by the two Korea's leaders in 2018 but tensions have increased since then as Pyongyang pushed ahead with weapons development. North Korean troops have been seen clearing trees and building fences within the DMZ in recent weeks. Taylor said that UNC does not assess that the intent of the work is to enable a "disparate" military buildup in the border zone, which would be a violation of the armistice. He noted that since North Korea's recent declaration that unification with the South is no longer a goal, it has pursued measures to "harden" its boundaries. (This story has been refiled to remove an extraneous word from the headline) (Reporting by Ju-min Park; Additional reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Will Dunham and Gerry Doyle) Residents, city commissioners and officials gather during the public meeting to select New Smyrna Beach's next city manager, Saturday, June 8, 2024. NEW SMYRNA BEACH The city has chosen its next city manager. Kevin Cowper, the highest-ranked of the four finalists by the City Commission, defeated the three other contenders Scott Moye, Robin Hayes and James Slaton and will replace current New Smyrna Beach City Manager Khalid Resheidat, should he accept the city's offer. Resheidat will retire in August after 34 years at the post. Cowper has served as the city manager of Dothan, Alabama, since 2019. He also has an extensive local government background working in other roles, such as assistant city manager in Auburn, Alabama; Pensacolas community development director; and director of planning and zoning for Baldwin County, Alabama. He has a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of South Alabama and a master's degree in city and regional planning from the University of Memphis. Cowper and the other three finalists participated in the last interview round, which took place Saturday in the City Commission Chambers. Focus on 'health and character' of city neighborhoods The finalists participated in a meet-and-greet event Friday night at the Live Oak Cultural Center, where they spoke to and answered questions from more than 100 residents. On Saturday morning, Cowper was the first candidate to be interviewed by city commissioners. He began his presentation mentioning how one of the job's priorities would be to "preserve the health and character" of the city's neighborhoods, which he referred to as the "building blocks of the city." Kevin Cowper, chosen as New Smyrna Beach's next city manager, speaks to a resident after his interview with the City Commission, Saturday, June 8, 2024. "You have great neighborhoods here, and maintaining these neighborhoods is key for the future," Cowper said. He touched on other points during his presentation, such as the importance of communicating with elected officials, city staff and residents, infrastructure, growth management, sustainability and economic development. Most of the interview was dedicated to numerous questions from city commissioners, which covered several topics, from issues related to the city, Cowper's personal background and the workplace environment. When asked about balancing growth and preservation, Cowper touched on the role of the business community as the "life blood" of the city and on the importance of maintaining the infrastructure in older, downtown areas, which often get "abandoned" as the focus shifts to growth in suburban areas. "I've worked in programs throughout my career to redevelop those commercial areas and to bring vibrancy back to those areas," he said. "That's a process of planning and creating a vision for that area." City commissioner Randy Hartman asked Cowper what he considered the city's "biggest asset" in attracting new business and industry. "Your biggest asset is your quality of life and quality of place," Cowper answered. "That's the asset you need to push forward and use as basis for economic development." 'Steadiness,' experience put Cowper ahead Cowper faced questions that had been previously selected by city commissioners and Strategic Government Resources, Inc.s (or SGR) executive vice president Doug Thomas. All finalists faced the same questions, plus several follow-ups and presentation-related inquiries. The City Commission hired SGR founded in 1999 and self-described as a fully remote organization with operations in multiple states in January to conduct the nationwide search for the citys new manager. After interviewing the last candidate, Moye, city commissioners came to a brief impasse on whether to vote right away or wait until the commission's Tuesday meeting. After some back and forth, Vice Mayor Vallie Perrine, city commissioners Lisa Martin, Jason McGuirk and Randy Hartman voted to move on to the vote, while Mayor Fred Cleveland voted to push the decision to next week. They then moved into more discussion and deliberation, part of which involved each city commissioners noting their top two choices: Hartman: Cowper and Moye (No order of preference). McGuirk: Cowper and Moye. Cleveland: Slaton and Hayes. Martin: Cowper and Moye. Perrine: Cowper and Hayes (No order of preference). Hartman argued that Cowper was the "more seasoned veteran" compared to Moye. He also praised Cowper's "quality of life" answer when asked about New Smyrna's biggest asset. Martin praised Cowper's "steadiness" and "calm," as well as his involvement in programs dedicated to "energizing" his community in Alabama. Many also praised Moye as a "strong" candidate. After unanimously approving Cowper, commissioners voted to make Moye their second choice in case negotiations with Cowper fall through. City staff will now enter those negotiations with Cowper, whose contract will come before the City Commission for final approval. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: NSB selects Kevin Cowper to replace Khalid Resheidat as city manager Number of casualties in Russian attack on ambulance in Kherson Oblast has increased photo The ambulance attacked by the Russians. Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration The Russians dropped bombs from a drone on a team of doctors who were on their way to a call, injuring not just the driver but also a paramedic on Saturday, 9 June. Source: Oleksandr Prokudin, Head of Kherson Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Details: On Saturday 8 June, the Russians dropped bombs on a group of doctors who were rushing to a call after an attack on Bilozerka hromada [an administrative unit designating a town, village or several villages and their adjacent territories]. It was reported that the driver had suffered an explosive injury. However, the next day a paramedic from the medical team approached the hospital for medical assistance. The woman was diagnosed with a contusion. The ambulance attacked by the Russians Photo: Kherson Oblast Military Administration Support UP or become our patron! NYC doesnt have safety agents at more than half its pre-K centers: Nobody at the door Despite the city Department of Educations mantra that safety is our highest priority, the city fails to provide safety officers to guard all the youngsters in its pre-K programs, The Post has learned. The city contracts with some 1,300 community-based organizations, or CBOs, to run classes for roughly 63,000 three- and 4-year-olds about 60% of all preschoolers in the DOE. But the city does not assign NYPD school safety agents to those contracted programs, leaving its littlest and most vulnerable students unprotected. I feel that regardless of the location, they should all be protected, pre-K mom Wanda Shiver said. J.C. Rice Theres a bunch of babies and nobody at the door, Brieann Duberry, a pre-K staffer and mom, told The Post. The citys funding of CBO 3-K and pre-K centers, which is based on enrollment, does not cover security. Some Pre-K directors use part of their city funding to hire private security guards, but that cuts into their budgets for teachers and classroom supplies. At the end of the day, were not important to the higher-ups, said Wanda Shiver, whose son Dedjima-Yaw, 4, attends a Bronx CBO pre-K. Parents like Shiver rely on group chats and the Citizen app for alerts about crime near their kids schools. J.C. Rice Were talking about children, so I feel that regardless of the location, they should all be protected. In addition, the DOEs $42.6 million plan to install remote door-locking systems in all schools does not cover the CBO pre-Ks. We dont get as many services as the regular DOE schools, but we deserve the same level of security, said pre-K mom Angelie Capestany, whose child attends a Bronx CBO preschool in a NYCHA complex. Without a safety officer tuned into the NYPD, staffers and parents rely on group chats and the Citizen neighborhood-watch app for crime alerts. Pre-Ks and 3-Ks located in DOE buildings like this one automatically get staffed with NYPD school safety agents. Obtained by The New York Post If something happens in the surrounding NYCHA buildings, we are the last to know, Capestany said. We dont have a direct connection to our local police precinct. Chloe Pashman, a Bronx pre-K director, recalls a frantic phone call from a nearby NYCHA employee who heard gunshots. The school staff quickly corralled the kids and moved them indoors. These are young childrens lives and the lives of already underpaid staff members and teachers, Pashman said in disgust. They dont care if we live or die. DOE pre-Ks in city-owned buildings are staffed with one or more safety agents, but none guard CBO centers. Lev Radin/Pacific Press/Shutterstock All DOE schools are staffed with one or more safety agents though the force has shrunk by more than 25% since the pandemic. The unarmed officers, hired and trained by the NYPD, patrol a schools surroundings, operate metal detectors, screen visitors and keep out intruders. They have direct communication with the cops. School safety agents are not deployed to buildings that are not located on, owned or managed Department of Education property, an NYPD spokesman confirmed, citing an agreement between the police department and the DOE. NYPD Inspector Tracy Mulet, chief of the school safety division, was not made available for an interview. CBO early childhood centers create their own safety plans, and require staff to double as guards. Paul Martinka A DOE insider blasted the school systems top safety chief Mark Rampersant for a failure to fix the problem. There is nothing that has stopped Rampersant and his team from developing a plan to bring safety personnel to all the early childhood education sites, including charter schools other than the fact that they just dont care. DOE spokesman Nathaniel Styer said, We support our CBO partners at every step of this work, including providing large-scale safety trainings for CBOs and by putting them in touch with Borough Safety Directorsat the behest of the deputy chancellor for early childhood education, Kara Ahmed. Multiple CBO directors disputed the DOE statement. We dont have access to borough safety directors. Nobody knows who they are, Pashman said. Others said, Never heard of such a person and Never knew they existed. In a recent text message to Pashman, Craig Goldsberry, a director of safety and security in the chancellors office, confirmed that CBOs dont have borough safety directors. Pashman has asked the DOE for on-site assistance with evacuation plans and active shooter drills but hasnt gotten the help, she said. CBO early childhood centers create their own safety plans, and require staff to double as guards. They want us to do the job of safety officers, the Brooklyn director said. Worsening the pre-K inequities, most of the CBO programs are located in low-income neighborhoods. In my daughters school, there many Hispanic and black people. We work, but we dont make a lot of money, and not everyone speaks English, said Vania Perez, a Bronx mom of two. They dont listen to us. Off-duty Ohio deputy shoots burglar who broke into his home, sheriffs office says UPDATE @ 3:18 p.m.: A Hamilton County deputy returning home from work shot an alleged burglar in his home Sunday morning. Around 5:30 a.m., Hamilton County Sheriffs deputies and Reading police were called to Keith Road in Reading on reports of shots fired, according to our news partners at WCPO. >> Over 40 horses killed in massive barn fire in Logan County Investigators told WCPO that there was a confrontation and the deputy fired his personally-owned weapon. The suspect ran from the scene but was later taken into custody by Cincinnati police. The suspect was identified as 26-year-old Darrell Williams Jr. The sheriffs office confirmed he was shot in the leg and stated his injuries were considered non-life-threatening. >> Ohio playground mistakenly demolished; contractor plans to replace equipment Williams has been charged with one count of aggravated burglary. The Hamilton County Sheriffs Office is leading the investigation. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred in Henry County. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] On Saturday, just after 4:30 p.m., Henry County officers spotted a stolen truck on Business Center Drive in Stockbridge. According to the GBI, as officers tried to stop the stolen truck, the driver drove the stolen truck toward an officers patrol car, hitting the car. The officer shot at the driver, identified as Daniel Jay Waldrop, 31, of McDonough, but Waldrop was not hit by the gunfire, the GBI said. TRENDING STORIES: Waldrop then drove away, and officers chased him from the scene, starting a lengthy car chase. Several neighboring law enforcement agencies helped in stopping the chase. The GBI said that although no one was shot in the incident, one officer was injured. The officers identity was not released. Waldrop was arrested. The GBI will perform an independent investigation. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: OG&E consumers may be facing a historic rate hike. Where is all the extra money going? An Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. crew works to repair a power line Feb. 4, 2022, on NW 122 just east of Lake Hefner Parkway after a winter storm in Oklahoma City. When it comes to rising electric bills, Rick Dowell sees Oklahoma Gas and Electric Co. as a utility that is pursuing a historic rate hike that will not just hurt residential consumers but could also send Oklahoma Citys economy into a tailspin. Dowell, and thousands of other OG&E customers, face a 13.85% increase in their bills if the request by the utility is approved by the Oklahoma Corporation Commission. OG&E estimates the average residential customer will see an average of $19.02 added to their monthly bill. Dowell, who owns and manages 30 office properties, argues the impact on businesses will be far worse. By Dowells calculation, his annual bill has gone up from $485,383 in 2020 to $736,019 in 2023. He estimates the cost of electricity at his properties with the rate hike will increase his annual OG&E bill to $837,957. The increases on Dowell's bills also represent frequent fluctuations in separately assessed fuel costs that OG&E states do not include any profit taking by the utility. But similar complaints were voiced by residential customers writing to the Corporation Commission, with one showing how their bill increased from $1,288 in 2019 to $1,882 in 2023. This is a killer, I dont know what these guys are thinking, Dowell said. And it seems so sneaky. Nobody seems to know whats going on. More: Why OG&E customers could see a $25 drop in their bills ahead of a $19 increase Requested increase coincides with fuel price drop Hearings are set to begin June 17 when OG&E and opponents to the increase will present arguments to an administrative law judge who will then make a recommendation to the three Corporation Commission members who have the final say on the matter. If approved, the requested rate increase would be the third hike in customers bills since 2017 aside from separately assessed fuel charges. Not one of the prior increases come close to the $332.5 million hike currently being sought by OG&E. A $9 million request added $1 to the average monthly residential bill in 2017. A rate review in 2018 resulted in a decrease of $64 million, cutting the average residential bill by $4.44 per month. A 1.9% rate increase was approved in 2022 that added $2.07 to the average monthly residential bill. Kimber Shoop, director of regulatory policy and planning at OG&E, said the utility is timing the rate increase to coincide with recent drops in separate fuel prices that had spiked in recent years. OG &E crews work to repair power lines on NW 162 and Western after a traffic accident in this 2022 photo. It's been a while since weve had a significant rate increase, Shoop said. We've been trying to hold those costs down and maintain affordability. But weve had a lot of needed investment on our power delivery system in particular to bolster the grid, maintain reliability, and replace aging assets and infrastructure. Shoop said the utility faces challenges with inflated material and labor costs, a changing climate producing more weather extremes and cyber-security against hackers. Utilities in other states have been hit with attacks on substations by suspected domestic terrorists. Part of our effort is to strengthen the grid so whatever happens, our grid can survive those storms, Shoop said. We have done over 500 grid enhancement projects on 193 circuits, weve added 35 sub-stations, along with reliability improvements and distribution automation. Dowell questions why the request by OG&E involves no pain point for the utility and will allow the utility to make more profits while customers will be forced to make painful cuts in their own homes and businesses. A stark difference, meanwhile, took place in public comments over the rate increase. At a recent hearing for public comments hosted by the administrative law judge and Corporation Commissioners, all but a couple of more than a dozen of those who appeared spoke in favor of the rate increase. The supporters who traveled from across the state to a recent public comment hearing were civic leaders, nonprofit representatives and economic development executives who spoke of the utilitys public service efforts. All of those contacted by The Oklahoman confirmed OG&E requested they appear to support the rate hike. Comments submitted via phone and email, meanwhile, were overwhelmingly against the rate increase. Not all of the rate hike goes to infrastructure costs and improvements. The utility is facing paying up to $70 million in damages if it loses one or both cases filed in recent years by apartment developers who claim OG&E and its contractors were negligent in connecting their properties to the power grid. OG&E confirmed those damages, if assessed, will impact costs that will be charged to customers. More: OG&E facing second lawsuit alleging contractor to blame for fires at apartment complexes The $332.5 million increase includes $51 million to raise the cap on returns to shareholders from 9.5% to 10.5%. A majority of those shareholders consist of some the worlds largest asset management funds. The largest shareholder in OGE Energy Corp., the parent company of OG&E, as of January was Blackrock Inc., which bills itself as the worlds largest asset manager with $10 trillion in assets under management as of Dec. 31, 2023. Reuters reports the compensation package for Lawrence Fink, the companys CEO in 2023, was $26.9 million. Other large shareholders include Vanguard Group, State Street Corp, Clearbridge Investments, and T. Rowe Price Investment Management. OG&E CEO Sean Trauschke speaks March 14 during the unveiling of the modernized Science Live! Auditorium at the Science Museum Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. Caron Rose, one of dozens writing to the Corporation Commission in opposition to the rate increase, argued utility executives, specifically OG&E CEO Sean Trauschke, are insensitive to the hardship of a $19 increase for ordinary customers when Trauschkes compensation in 2023 totaled more than $8.4 million. Trauschke wont be hurt by an increase in his electric bill, Rose wrote. After all, $19 is nothing to a man who got a $1.2 million bonus in 2022 (the bonus was $1.48 million in 2023). If the upper echelon at OG&E would give up their bonuses, theyd have a sizable slush fund to draw from for their projects without involving the hardworking, honest citizens who will never, ever see $1 million in their lifetimes. Attorneys representing shareholders wrote to the Corporation Commission arguing the increase in return on earnings is needed to stay competitive with other utilities. OG&E reports its net income for 2023 was $426.4 million, down from $439.5 million in 2022. The attorneys, Jeff Clark and Ronald Stakem, wrote in support of the rate hike painting a grim picture of a failing economy, rising costs, political instability, climate change and war. Load growth, transmission inadequacy, cyber-attacks and network congestion, they noted, prompted many warnings of rolling blackouts. It defies common sense to suggest that the financial and business risks faced by the company are less today than in March of 2017 when the companys current allowed return on earnings was set at 9.5%, the attorneys wrote. The trend of risk is up; the direction of allowed return on earnings in Oklahoma should be up as well. Utility promises for relief for senior citizens The AARP, which represents 38 million seniors about one-third of the countrys total senior population is among groups filing a legal challenge to the rate increase. AARP Oklahoma State Director Sean Voskuhl argues the rate increase will hit seniors especially hard. This outrageous rate hike would increase residential customers bills by approximately 14 percent, raising bills $19 a month or a staggering $228 annually, Voshuhl said. Oklahomans should not have to choose between buying prescription drugs, putting food on the table, or keeping the lights on and staying warm. OG&E counters the utility is proposing a $60 annual increase to its Silver Energy senior citizen discount program as part of the rate review. But other critics counter that it wont offset the entire increase and also doesnt address the strain it will put on single parents and those living paycheck to paycheck. Richard Linhardt was among those speaking out against the rate hike, and was the only one to ask that the rate be reduced. Linhardt said he was a therapist for over 50 years working with families and investigating conditions for children held in state custody. When this finally reaches the people marginally afloat or almost drowning, it has a significant impact on their lives, Linhardt said. If you ever sit in front of a woman with three kids, working two jobs, and shes trying to make ends meet, it always felt it was a form of violence perpetrated on her. And I always felt helpless to do anything for her. We all need electricity to survive. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Corporation Commission will decide fate on OG&E rate hike One dead after motorcycle collides with deer in Marion MARION, Ohio (WCMH) A woman is dead and a man seriously injured after a motorcycle hit a deer in western Marion County early Sunday morning. Ohio State Highway Patrol said the crash happened at approximately 12:18 a.m. Sunday on State Route 37. 43 horses dead in Logan County barn fire This embedded content is not available in your region. A 2018 Harley Davidson was being driven north on SR-37 by a 51-year-old Marion man with Danielle N. McCormack, 38, of LaRue, riding as a passenger. Police said the motorcycle hit a deer that ran onto the road, which caused the bike to overturn onto its side. Both victims were first taken to Marion General Hospital before being flown to Grant Medical Center; McCormack had life-threatening injuries while the driver had serious injuries. McCormack was later pronounced dead at the hospital Police said neither was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by Scioto Valley Fire and EMS and Marion Township EMS. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. One with life-threatening injuries after crash near 71 Highway KANSAS CITY, Mo. One woman has suffered life-threatening injuries after a crash near 71 Highway on Sunday morning. A gray Chrysler 200 was traveling northbound on US 71 Highway at a very high rate of speed. As the Chrysler came upon slower traffic, she lost control and went off the highway to the left. See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri She hit the grass and her Chrysler flipped, hitting a three-strand barrier, which kept her from going into southbound traffic. The driver was the only occupant in the vehicle and she was transported to the hospital with life-threatening injuries. She was wearing her seatbelt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Editors Note: Tim Naftali is a CNN presidential historian and senior research scholar at Columbia Universitys School of International and Public Affairs. The views expressed here are his own. Read more opinion on CNN. The CNN Original Series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game airs on Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/PT. As we remember and celebrate the heroism of the Allied troops on D-Day 80 years ago, it is worth mentioning that even more of them would likely have died had it not been for a group of spies working on behalf of the Allies. Tim Naftali - New York University The odds of D-Day succeeding were never overwhelming. Approximately 50,000 Nazi soldiers defended the five beaches targeted by Allied troops on D-Day. Although eventually 160,000 Allied troops would enter France through those five beachheads that day, the very first to reach the shore were vastly outnumbered and outgunned. But getting past those first Nazi defenders, protected by bunkers and other fortifications of the so-called Atlantic Wall, was only the first challenge. The second was what would happen once the Germans figured out that the Battle for France had begun. Hitlers 15th Army was stationed in the Pas des Calais where the English Channel is at its most narrow while tank divisions were kept in reserve in northern France and Belgium, all ready to swoop in and destroy any Allied forces that breached the Atlantic Wall. To increase their chance of success, Allied leaders turned to inhabitants of the secret world. These were unusual spies. First of all, their main job was to get false information to Adolf Hitler rather than to steal Nazi secrets. And, secondly, some of these spies didnt actually exist they were completely made-up creations of British intelligence. A half-century before the internet was widely available, they were the forerunners of fake Facebook and Instagram accounts. These spies were known to British and US intelligence as the Double-Cross network. They were agents employed by the Nazis, who either turned themselves in to the British or were captured by them in the first years of World War II. Counterespionage is the most arcane of the dark arts. In its simplest form, it is the way a government protects its secrets by studying the activities of foreign governments who want them. But World War II would see a dramatic expansion of the offensive use of counterspies not simply to prevent the enemy from knowing things but to actively deceive the enemy by planting disinformation. And although strategic deception, as it was called, would be used a number of times in World War II, the most dramatic and consequential example was part of the planning for D-Day. The British used members of the Double-Cross network who were doubled back against Berlin to deceive Hitlers military intelligence service, using radio transmissions from the UK or letters sent from neutral capitals about when and where the Allies planned to launch their anticipated invasion of occupied France. Central to this deception operation was Juan Pujol Garcia, a Spanish national who was codenamed Garbo, after the great actress Greta Garbo. As it became clear that the Germans not only believed Garbo, but considered him unusually effective, the British began to create fictional sub-agents for him. With the help of his British handler, Garbo would feed disinformation about these completely made-up agents who were supposedly placed in the British government and US bases in the United Kingdom. The British coordinated with the US military and its Office of Strategic Services (OSS) and they bolstered the disinformation Garbo was feeding to Berlin. This included transmitting radio signals from non-existent US military units in Britain and creating ghost armies complete with inflatable tanks, fake radio traffic and sound effects to deceive German air reconnaissance and divert their attention away from the activities of real units. Juan Pujol Garcia, who was known as Garbo during WWII, is pictured outside Buckingham Palace in 1984. - Keith Waldegrave/ANL/Shutterstock Starting in January 1944, Garbo and his agents began to build a fake picture in German minds of a D-Day that would occur in July 1944 in the Pas de Calais. According to the fake intelligence created and spread by the Double-Cross network, the big invasion would be preceded by one or more feints smaller invasions designed to distract the Germans. To make this two-punch scenario plausible, Allied deception officers worked to make the Germans think that there was a massive buildup of Allied troops in the UK preparing to pounce on the Third Reich, including a completely fake ghost army commanded by the real General George Patton from across the Pas de Calais. A key objective of this deception was to convince Hitler to keep the 15th Army and tank divisions in reserve, away from the Normandy beaches for as long as possible, so as to give Allied soldiers a fighting chance to secure a beachhead. Led by Garbo, the Double-Cross network sang in chorus. As the real D-Day approached, the Allies could tell that the deception was working. Hitler was uncharacteristically talkative with the Japanese ambassador to Berlin, whose encrypted dispatches to Tokyo were routinely broken and translated by US intelligence. Hitler told the Japanese that the allies intended two attacks across the English Channel in the summer of 1944 and he wasnt about the be fooled by the first one. Remarkably, as hoped, the deception held. The Nazis did not divert all of their resources to Normandy, since their military intelligence continued to believe that the big one was still imminent. As late as July 8, 1944, a month after D-Day, Hitler still believed that Normandy was a feint. As such, he refused requests from his generals to throw everything at it. The enemy has succeeded in landing in Normandy, Hitler wrote to his commanders. In spite of the attendant risks, the enemy will probably attempt a second landing in the 15th Armys sector Picture taken on June 6, 1944 in Normandy showing the Allied forces soldiers involved in the landing operation aimed at fighting the German Wehrmacht. - US National Archives/AFP/Getty Images Decades ago, as I was researching what ultimately became my dissertation, I had the good fortune to meet some of the surviving British MI-5 officers who were in charge of these Double-Cross agents. These were inventive, disciplined intelligence officers whose talent was not only managing the agents captured in England, but also brilliantly imitating the way they reported to their Nazi case officers and figuring out how to weave reality and falsehood into messages that would be plausible to the ultimate intelligence consumer in Berlin. I also met the man who came up with the D-Day deception, Roger Fleetwood Hesketh, who was a trained architect. He told me that for the D-Day deception, codenamed Fortitude South, he had drawn on different talents. He had grown up with one sibling on a big estate (where he still lived when I visited him in the 1980s) near Liverpool. He and his sister compensated for not having many friends their own age nearby by creating a fantasy world of playmates. A sandbox conspiracy, if you will, that seemed very real to them but, of course, only existed in their own minds. Besides being creative, one of the keys to the brilliant counterespionage campaigns in World War II was the codebreaking that allowed the Allies to assess whether their efforts were working, and double down once it became clear the Nazis were taking the bait. Not only could the US read what the Japanese were saying about how Hitler viewed the progress of the war in Europe, but US and British codebreakers could also read what German intelligence officers were saying amongst themselves about the trustworthiness of its agents in the UK part of Ultra, the UK-led intelligence project against all high-level Nazi military communications. Codebreakers at the British facility Bletchley Park, chief among whom was the computing and LGBTQ pioneer Alan Turing, routinely broke the codes and ciphers that the Germans unsuccessfully used to disguise their most important messages. From Ultra, allied counterspies learned that German intelligence trusted double agents disinformation campaign about the invasion of France. While much of the counterespionage during WWII remained a secret to the public for nearly 30 years after June 6, 1944, these tactics were well known among intelligence officers and widely used during the Cold War. The Soviets learned about the Double-Cross network from two well-placed spies of their own moles Anthony Blunt in MI5 and Kim Philby in MI6s counterespionage service, Section V or XB. The D-Day achievement would set a very high-bar for those who learned the craft of counterespionage in fighting Hitler. What they couldnt possibly have known in 1944 was that they were living through a golden age in counterespionage and strategic deception. As depicted dramatically in CNNs new original series Secrets & Spies: A Nuclear Game, the Cold War would provide a more evenly matched, and, therefore, more difficult environment for the spy v. spy game. Evaluating human intelligence is always messy and challenging. If you are a case officer the manager of a particular agent it can be incredibly difficult to know whether he or she is telling the truth. In other words, when dealing with double agents, being certain about their ultimate loyalty is a virtual impossibility. With one major exception, neither the Western powers nor the Soviets had a reliable window into what their adversaries spies were up to for most of the decades-long conflict between the US and USSR. Finding traitors during the Cold War got harder, and intelligence services became more susceptible to futile mole hunts and the paranoia that those naturally inspired. It also permitted the moles that did exist to secretly influence how the adversaries understood each other. Sometimes, as in the case of Oleg Gordievsky, a KGB officer working for the British, it worked to the benefit of world peace and stability as Gordievsky gave timely warning to London and Washington of the Kremlins nuclear paranoia. Sometimes, however, the insufficiency of counterespionage made the world a more dangerous place. For 20 years, starting in 1979, the top US counterespionage officer working on the Soviet target in America, the FBIs Robert Hanssen, was himself a Soviet agent. As was the CIAs counterintelligence officer who managed security for its agents in the Soviet Union, Aldrich Ames. The crisis in US counterespionage against the USSR in the 1980s largely due to the simultaneous activities of Hanssen and Ames hampered efforts in the West to monitor and understand fully the Soviet Union as it underwent a massive period of reform and, ultimately, collapse. Fortunately, Mikhail Gorbachev, who came to power in 1985, did much of his most significant work overtly trying to signal that he was a different kind of leader to the West as much as to his own people. Now, 80 years after D-Day and 35 years after the end of the Cold War, fake identities and disinformation are no longer relegated to the concerns of counterespionage agents. They are part of our daily online feeds. In a sense, each of us has become our own counter-deception officer, trying to distinguish misinformation from whats real. A strategy once perfected to save lives and defeat arguably the worst dictator the world has ever known has become commonplace online and eroded our trust in institutions and each other. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher. Right-wing pundits appear to believe Hunter Biden may escape a guilty verdict in his gun trial, with many already suggesting the whole thing is rigged. The New Abnormal team says that if that sounds familiar, its because it was the same play they made in the lead-up to Donald Trump being found guilty in his hush money trial. Fox News host Jesse Watters suggested this week that there may be too many people of color in the jury box to deliver a guilty verdict. Its called jury nullification. Its when you pick a jury that will give you a not guilty verdict. They know youre guilty, but they just disagree with the law. The strategy plays on the racial makeup of the jury, which is mostly Black, as well as the Bidens influence in Delaware. The hope is this jury wont convict for a drug-related crime. Everybody in Delaware knows the Bidens, he said. Watters added: Its why Jill and Ashley are sitting front row, but thats not all, the Biden family brought Mouse to court. [Robert Mouse Smith] is a Delaware legend. Joe Biden was the best man at his wedding. Mouse runs Delawares NAACP and has been involved in the community for decades. They want every Black juror to see Mouse sitting with the Bidens. If you can get the jury on your side, all of a sudden this case is not a slam dunk. Subscribe to The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, Amazon Music, or Overcast. The amount of time that they spend coming up with reasons ahead of time for thingsits absolutely unreal, The New Abnormal co-host Andy Levy said. We see this with everything. We saw it with the Trump trial, you know, Well, its New York. He cant get a fair verdict in New York. Now, its the Hunter Biden trial. Its every possible thing you can think of. Theyve got a list of excuses, preloaded and ready to go. Thats the M.O. though. You have to seed the environment with doubt. You have to seed it with the lies, water it the entire time throughout the trial, and just wait for it all to grow, fellow co-host Danielle Moodie said. It is something that Donald Trump has taught them very, very well. In 2020, he started talking about how the election was gonna be stolen in the summer, how the election was not gonna be legitimate in the summer. Started saying it a little bit here, a little bit there, and then by the time we get to November, it was full throttle. This is what they do. And the fact is that there is no rebuttal to it yet. Theres no way to diffuse the bullshit that they spew. So they keep doing it. Its like minority report. They just come up with what they think are future crimes, Levy said. Its unreal. Plus! Danielle Moodie talks to Deepa Iyer, creator of the Social Change Map and author of the book, Social Change Now: A Guide for Reflection and Connection. Listen to this full episode of The New Abnormal on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon, and Stitcher. 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. Optimus Prime Arrested In Austin, Texas No, Not That One Sometimes, even the wisest of man or machine can make an error, said Optimus Prime in The Transformers. Theres a man in Texas who knows that all too well. More from Deadline Law enforcement officials last week arrested a man with the name of the Autobot leader. He allegedly stole a vehicle. Austin Police said in an arrest affidavit that 37-year-old Optimus Prime Blakely has been charged with unauthorized use of a motor vehicle. Optimus was stopped by officers on June 4 after he was seen driving a vehicle that was reported stolen. As a robot in disguise, Optimus Prime took cover as a red and blue semi-truck. There was no description of the vehicle stopped by Austin police. Optimus was taken to the Travis County Jail and was being held on $8,000 bond at last report. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Deputies: Man charged with murder after shooting at Osceola County gathering due in court Monday Update: Osceola County Sheriffs Office said they have arrested Joshua Michael Alan Miller on Sunday morning. Deputies said they have been looking for Miller after a person died from a shooting on Saturday. Osceola County Sheriffs responded to a shooting at an address off Bronco Drive in St. Cloud on Saturday. Deputies told Channel 9 that the victim was at a party when they got shot. The victim was transported to a local hospital and died as a result of the injuries sustained. Read: Motorcyclist dies after crashing into Tesla in Melbourne, police say The Osceola County Sheriffs Office is actively investigating this incident and is looking for Joshua Michael Alan Miller as a person of interest. Stay with Channel 9 for the latest updates. Read: Im here to remember 4.9k race honors 49 victims Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. Gov. Mike DeWine chose three words to describe the embarrassing episode staged by his fellow Republicans running the Statehouse absurd, ridiculous and unacceptable. All three are apt in view of legislative leaders at an impasse in addressing something they have fixed in the past. Ohio law requires certification of the November ballot 90 days before an election. As it is, Democrats wont nominate Joe Biden in time. Leave him off the ballot? That would be as the governor described. Retired Editorial Page Editor Michael Douglas. As recently as 2012 and 2020, lawmakers approved an exception, needed by candidates of both parties. This time, in their dysfunctional way, Republican lawmakers couldnt get the job done. So, the governor called a special session of the legislature last week. The mess brings to mind another adjective persuasive. Persuasive? Yes, as in Republican lawmakers clinching the argument for an independent commission composed of citizens to draw legislative and congressional districts. The hope is that advocates will gain the petition signatures necessary to place such a proposed state constitutional amendment on the November ballot. This hyperpartisan performance regarding Biden and the ballot fits into a pattern. Recall Statehouse Republicans expressing contempt for voters as they ignored the overwhelming support Ohioans showed for redistricting changes in 2015 and 2018 designed to end extreme gerrymandering. Republicans did the same to the Ohio Supreme Court, defying a bipartisan majority seeking to hold them accountable. When citizens organized to protect reproductive rights, Republicans first pursued their own ballot measure to require approval by a supermajority. To which, voters resoundingly responded no. Matt Huffman, the Ohio Senate president, beamed the arrogance at work during a recent Ohio Chamber of Commerce forum. He defended his district maps though they run counter to the requirement that redistricting reflect the statewide election preferences of voters. Go back a decade or so, and Ohio breaks roughly 54% for Republicans and 46% for Democrats. Yet, under the Huffman maps, Republicans control two-thirds of the states 15 U.S. House seats, 79% of the Ohio Senate and 68% of Ohio House seats. At one turn, the Supreme Court majority cited an analysis that found Democrats would need something like 54% of the vote to gain a mere one-seat majority. Huffman also had the gall to champion the bipartisan way in which the Ohio Redistricting Commission approved the maps. He wondered aloud whether any other state had come together in a similar fashion. He added: It simply doesnt happen. It didnt actually happen here, either. As Huffman knows well, the Democratic members capitulated. They were outnumbered. They shifted their focus to achieving an independent commission through a statewide ballot measure. Huffman and company made plain: Political pros cannot be trusted to deliver the fair districts mandated by voters. A recent analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice confirms the mistreatment of voters. The study found that 77 of 99 Ohio House districts are either uncontested or one party has a disproportionate advantage (a partisan index of 55% or more). That translates to roughly 9 million Ohioans without a real choice. Part of this reality goes to our deeply polarized, or calcified, politics, deep red and blue counties. That doesnt mean districts, whether for the state legislature or the U.S. House, must tilt so heavily in favor of one party. Analysts and even ordinary citizens have revealed as much by crafting their own proposed district maps. One result, cited by the Ohio Supreme Court, found Republicans with 58% percent of the Ohio House and 60% of the Ohio Senate a substantial improvement over the work of the politicians. This is the germ of the good idea advanced by Citizens Not Politicians, the group organizing the campaign for an independent commission driven by citizens. The proposed constitutional amendment would create a 15-member commission, with an equal number of Republicans, Democrats and independents no active pols, family members or associates allowed. A bipartisan panel of retired Ohio judges would oversee formation of the commission, inviting applications, creating a pool of qualified applicants and then narrowing the number. The first six members would be selected at random. Those six would choose the next nine members. The commission would conduct a series of public hearings across the state, first to gather input and then to finalize the map. The process would be transparent. Nine members would be needed to approve a map, with at least two Democrats, two Republicans and two independents. In another disingenuous moment, Huffman fretted about the complexity, and again helped make the case. As it is, the proposal echoes the approach taken by other states, where if they have not done the impossible removing politics entirely they have achieved something better. They have moved away from extreme gerrymandering toward more competitive and more representative districts. Michael Douglas was the Beacon Journal editorial page editor from 1999 to 2019. He can be reached at mddouglasmm@gmail.com. Michael Douglas: Would Nippon Steel purchase of U.S. Steel truly result in harm? This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Citizens Not Politicians has a good idea for Ohio districts NEW SMYRNA BEACH, FL. (WDHN) Just a couple of months after the Dothan City Commission voted not to renew his contract, former city manager, Kevin Cowper, has landed a new job as the city manager for New Smyrna Beach, Florida. On Saturday morning, the city council in New Smyrna Beach named Cowper their next city manager. He was one of the four finalists up for the position against three other former city managers from Florida and Georgia. 54 candidates applied for the city manager in total. In Dothan, Cowper served as the city manager since 2019 and was at the forefront of the ambitious City Center Project, a so-far successful $200 million plan to revitalize Dothans downtown area. In April Cowpers job was up for renewal. The renewal was a decision for the city commission to vote on and they voted not to renew his contract. Once the vote came down, many residents in the crowd stood up and left, seemingly upset with the commissions decision. Some commissioners who voted against renewing Cowpers contract claimed he had been involved in public and embarrassing situations but would not elaborate. During Cowpers tenure, the Dothan government came under fire after a scandal involving the citys after-school feeding program was revealed. This resulted in the FBI launching an investigation. In May, the commissioners were set to vote on a separation pay agreement with Cowper that would have given him over $100,000. Officials say the payment was simply to end Cowpers time with the city on good terms because its a rare move. The city does not have many turnovers in that position and if a city manager leaves because of a new job or was fired, there is usually something in place before it happens. Commissioners voted unanimously to remove the possible payment under another agenda item that eventually was approved. Now Cowper will move over 350 miles away to Volusia County, Florida to start anew as city manager in New Smyrna Beach, where Cowper can focus on long-term tourism and infrastructure opportunities for his new city. The City of Dothan has hired a private firm to help them find Cowpers permanent replacement. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. More than half of Biden supporters say main reason for backing is to oppose Trump: CBS poll More than half of President Bidens supporters said they are mainly backing the incumbent in 2024 to oppose former President Trump, according to a new poll. A new CBS News/YouGov poll, released Sunday, found 54 percent of likely Biden voters are planning to choose him on Novembers ballot, a 7-point increase from March. The second-highest reason for choosing Biden was that they liked him, with 27 percent selecting the option. This is down 4 points from when the poll was taken in March. Nearly a fifth, or 19 percent, said they are going with Biden because he is the presumptive Democratic nominee. CBS pollsters noted how voters frame their decision, either as a referendum or a choice, is a strong influence in their choice. Of those who said they see the election as a judgement on Trump, most vote for Biden, 66 percent to 34 percent. When people see it as a judgement on just Biden, they vote for Trump, also 66 percent to 34 percent. With voters who see it as a comparison between the two candidates, slightly more respondents are voting for Trump, 53 percent, over Biden, who shored up 47 percent support. The same poll found Biden and Trump basically tied nationally and in battleground states. Trump received 50 percent support nationally among likely voters, while Biden had 49 percent. In battleground states 50 percent of likely voters chose Biden, while 49 percent backed Trump. Both candidates have secured more than enough delegates to be considered their respective parties presumptive nominees but will be officially nominated at their parties conventions this summer. The poll was conducted among 2,063 U.S. adult residents between June 5 and 7. It also included an oversample in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The polls margin of error is 3.2 percentage points among all adults and 3.8 points among registered voters. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. LAS VEGAS (KLAS) More than a dozen boats were damaged or destroyed in an overnight fire that broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina in Lake Mead Recreation Area, according to National Parks Services. NPS officials reported that the fire started on Sunday around 12:30 a.m. Emergency personnel responded to the fire and it was contained within hours. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to NPS. About 15 boats were damaged or destroyed in an overnight fire that broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina in Lake Mead Recreation Area, according to National Parks Services. (Boating Lake Mead) About 15 boats were damaged or destroyed in an overnight fire that broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina in Lake Mead Recreation Area, according to National Parks Services. (Boating Lake Mead) About 15 boats were damaged or destroyed in an overnight fire that broke out at Las Vegas Boat Harbor Marina in Lake Mead Recreation Area, according to National Parks Services. (Boating Lake Mead) About 15 boats were damaged or destroyed in the fire and the owners of the affected boats have been notified of damages by staff. The marina will remain open to the public however, NPS officials issued a partial closure of the R and I harbor docks as the investigation remains ongoing. According to Boating Lake Meads Facebook page, one person was taken to a local hospital for burn treatment and one firefighter was checked out and released. Visitors are asked to use caution when accessing Hemenway Harbor and the open portions of Las Vegas Boat Harbor due to potential safety concerns, NPS 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 KLAS. A Palestinian journalist and his family held three Israeli hostages captive in their home in the Gaza Strip until their rescue on Saturday morning, the Israeli Defense Forces said on Sunday. Following the completion of IDF and ISA examinations of reports on the subject, it can be confirmed that Abdallah Aljamal was an operative in the Hamas terrorist organization, who held the hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, and Shlomi Ziv captive in his family home in Nuseirat, the IDF said in a statement. The hostages were held captive by Abdallah Aljamal and members of his family in their home, the statement continued, calling the discovery further evidence of the deliberate use of civilian homes and buildings by the Hamas terrorist organization to hold Israeli hostages captive in the Gaza Strip. Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv were rescued as part of an operation that also freed Noa Argamani, who was held in a separate building. All four were taken hostage from the Nova music festival on Oct. 7. Aljamal, his father and wife were killed during the IDF operation, in which an Israeli officer, Arnon Zamora, was also injured. Zamora later died from his wounds; the IDF announced on Saturday evening that the operation would be named Operation Arnon in his memory. Aljamal was a contributor to The Palestine Chronicle, and published frequently on the site. On June 3, he published an article with the headline My House Will Always Be Open Stories from the Gaza Siege. The Palestine Chronicle is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization in the U.S. with the official name People Media Project. In 2019, Aljamal published an article tagged as an opinion piece on Al Jazeeras website. Al Jazeera attempted to distance itself from Aljamal on Sunday, saying, This man is not from Al-Jazeera, and he did not work for Al-Jazeera at all, and he is not listed as working for Al-Jazeera neither now nor in the past. We do not know him, and all the rumors that have been spread are empty of content and not true at all. Jewish Insiders Lahav Harkov contributed to this report. View comments April Kelly of Greenville chose to feed her infant daughter a soy-based formula, but when the baby developed an allergic reaction, Kelly, a vegan, whipped up a plant-based formula of her own that a doctor approved. The babys health soon improved. When Kelly told other mothers her story, they said they wished theyd had that formula for their infants. That was my aha moment, Kelly said. She decided to start a business selling plant-based milk for babies and another for toddlers that helps prevent future food allergies. After several years of development with help from NC State Universitys Food and Innovation Lab, she launched her first product this year. Its called Sure!, a name that emphasizes the confidence parents can feel about giving it to their children. Kelly, 32, is part of a wave of entrepreneurship in North Carolina and the nation. It started amid the disruptions and personal reassessments of the pandemic and has continued. The trend supports President Joe Bidens efforts to build the economy from the middle out and it counters former President Donald Trumps claim that the economy is terrible. In 2019, the year before the pandemic, new business registrations filed with the North Carolina secretary of state reached 100,338. In 2021, registrations jumped to a record 178,291. Last years total was 171,657. The Economist magazine recently reported that the monthly average for new business applications nationally is running 80% higher than the decade before COVID, while Europe has seen only a 20% increase. Several factors appear to be driving the surge in entrepreneurship. The pandemics lockdown periods caused many people to think about what they wanted from work and life. The rise in working from home has created opportunities to try out business ideas. A strong job market has given people confidence that if a new venture doesnt succeed, they can find another job. Those factors were part of Ellen Brabos decision to start her own business. Brabo, a 30-year-old U.S. Army veteran, was working remotely in Arlington, Va., as a civil contractor with the Department of Defense when she started exploring getting into the hospitality business. On Facebook, she found an historic eastern North Carolina home and converted it into a boutique hotel. Now its her new home. The Ell Hotel opened in 2022 in Washington, N.C. For Brabo, remote work was the key to making the change. She could keep her Washington, D.C. salary while working on her hotel project. It makes starting a business a lot more manageable, she said. If my business wasnt successful, I still had my salary job. Kelly, who worked as an account manager before starting her business, said the pandemics disruptions prompted many people to seek more control over their work. What Im hearing from other entrepreneurs is they want to have more ownership of their situation, she said. A lot of people got laid off. No one knew what was going to happen. It was time to look for more certainty. A increase in business startups, especially small businesses in towns outside of metro areas, strengthens the states economy. According to the U.S. Small Business Administration, 98% of North Carolinas businesses have fewer than 19 employees. Of course, opening a business is one thing. Keeping it open is another. According to the N.C. Secretary of States office, approximately one in four new businesses in North Carolina fail after three years, and approximately half shut down after seven. Jamie Jones, director for Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Dukes Fuqua School of Business, said that regardless of whether these new ventures succeed or fail, its inspiring to see so many willing to try. It takes a lot of courage for people to go out and start their own business, she said. It takes a lot of hard work to bring a new idea to life. So I applaud all those people who are out there taking that first step. A good economy breeds such confidence. North Carolinians are reaping the benefits of both. Associate opinion editor Ned Barnett can be reached at 919-404-7583, or nbarnett@ newsobserver.com Leonard Peltier (Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians) was arrested in Canada to face murder charges of the two FBI agents killed on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Opinion. For the first time in 15 years, Leonard Peltier will be afforded a full parole hearing on Monday, June 10 at the United States Penitentiary at Coleman, Fla. Peltier (Turtle Mountain Ojibwe) has been incarcerated for 48 years for the killing of two FBI agents at Oglala on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in June 1975. For five decades, Peltier has maintained his innocence and hoped for the chance to clear his name. Mondays hearing may well be his last chance at vindication. The incident that led to Peltiers imprisonment happened some 49 years ago, when two FBI agents Jack Coler and Ronald Williams arrived at a residence on the reservation to pursue a suspect who had taken a pair of shoes in a robbery. The two FBI agents, who were white, arrived in an unmarked car in plain clothes. Tensions were already running high between law enforcement and Native Americans in South Dakota in the aftermath of the 71-day siege of Wounded Knee by the American Indian Movement (AIM) in early 1973. The incident occurred during a time known on Pine Ridge as a reign of terror,' characterized by deadly ambushes on highway checkpoints and extended gunfights. During this span, some 64 Native Americans were murdered and over 300 were physically assaulted. On June 26, 1975, the situation escalated when Coler and Williams were killed during a shootout as they attempted to apprehend a young AIM member accused of theft and assault. The gunfight involved numerous individuals, and there has never been a denial that Peltier was present during the shooting, but he has said repeatedly he did not kill the agents. It didnt matter. He was accused of shooting the two FBI agents. He fled to Canada, only to be extradited back to the United States in 1976 to stand trial for the agents' murders. Following a controversial trial marred by allegations of prosecutorial conduct, falsified testimony, and fabricated evidence, Peltier was convicted of aiding and abetting murder and has been imprisoned since 1977. Notable legal experts, including former U.S. Attorney General Ramsey Clark, say Peltier was not given a fair trial by the U.S. government. I think I can explain beyond serious doubt that Leonard Peltier has committed no crime whatsoever. But if he had been guilty of firing a gun that killed an FBI Agent, it was in defense of not just his people but the integrity of humanity from domination and exploitation, Clark said. You have to remember no witness really said they saw Leonard take aim at anybody. No witness said they heard him shoot at the time he could have killed an agent. There was no evidence that he did it, except fabricated, circumstantial evidence, overwhelmingly misused, concealed and perverted. Even federal Judge Gerald Heaney, who presided over an appeal hearing, has said the FBI utilized improper tactics to convict Peltier. He suggests the FBI was equally responsible for the shoot-out. In 2017, former U.S. Attorney James Reynolds wrote a letter to President Obama to support clemency for Peltier. Reynolds was the federal prosecutor involved in the legal proceedings against Peltier, playing a significant role in the case. In his later years, Reynolds has publicly expressed doubts about the fairness of Peltier's trial and has joined calls for his clemency, acknowledging issues with the case and the conduct of the prosecution. Reynolds urged Obama to grant Peltiers clemency petition as being in the best interests of justice considering the totality of all matters involved. Through the years, the FBI has adamantly opposed the release of Peltier. While the deaths of their two agents at Oglala were tragic by all human standards, the deaths of hundreds of innocent Native Americans who died during the 1970s Reign of Terror were equally tragic. To many Native Americans, Peltier is a symbol of an oppressive federal system that relegates Native people to apartheid and neglect. He is a political prisoner that we may only think about if we happen to see a bumper sticker on the back of a vehicle that reads FREE Leonard Peltier. Beyond his Native American supporters, many people and human rights organizations including Amnesty International, the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, National Congress of American Indians, the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Center for Human Rights, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and others have stated their beliefs that Peltier is a political prisoner who should be immediately released. Now 79 years old, Peltier suffers from multiple health issues and has to use a walker to maneuver the maximum-security prison. He also suffers from diabetes, blindness in one eye, and an aortic aneurysm. As with other elders, his advanced age has rendered him frail. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Peltiers age and comorbidities unequivocally made him eligible for home release under Department of Justice guidelines. The Department of Justice ignored the pleas to have Peliter released then. In a recent episode of Native Bidaske, I asked attorney Kevin Sharp, who will represent Peltier at the parole hearing on Monday, how he thought the parole commission would react to the fact Peltier has maintained his innocence through the years. Typically, parole boards want convicted prisoners to admit guilt and express remorse. It's difficult because Leonard didn't commit the crime, and there's no evidence that he did. He shouldn't lie about something he didn't do. Leonard has expressed remorse for the tragic events of that day and the overall situation, Sharp responded. Peltiers spiritual advisor of 40 years, Lenny Foster (Dine), spoke with me Saturday morning about his hopes for his longtime friend. We are hoping and praying that the parole commission will grant Leonard parole so that he can go back to his people on the Turtle Mountain Reservation to be with his loved ones to serve out his remaining years to be with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, Foster told me. He is a revered elder among the Indian community. Nearly 80, Peltier is a Native American elder who poses no threat to society. Hes old and broken. He has paid a price for an injustice to him, his family, and to all Native Americans. It is past time to free Leonard Peltier. Thayek gde nwendemen - We are all related. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net Aerial view of the train derailment wreckage in East Palestine, Ohio, Feb. 5, 2023. (NTSB photo). Residents of East Palestine, Ohio, and nearby areas in Pennsylvania harmed by the Norfolk Southern train disaster say a new $310 million settlement announced by the Biden administration on May 23 will not meet their communities most urgent needs, like access to health care for chronic conditions that emerged after the derailment. This article originally appeared on Inside Climate News, a nonprofit, independent news organization that covers climate, energy and the environment. It is republished with permission. Sign up for their newsletter here. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan told reporters last month that the settlement with Norfolk Southern was an attempt by his agency and the Justice Department to once again make this community whole after 38 train cars derailed in February 2023, leading to the venting and burn-off of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical some of the cars were carrying. Regans words echoed President Joe Bidens remarks in East Palestine in February, when he vowed to hold Norfolk Southern accountable and make sure they make your community whole now and in the future. The settlement came after Norfolk Southern announced in April that it would settle a class action lawsuit related to the derailment for $600 million. The class action settlement does not include or constitute any admission of liability, wrongdoing or fault on the part of the company. Both settlements are pending approval by the courts. Despite the size of these settlements, some residents in Pennsylvania and Ohio say the two agreements do not begin to cover their past and ongoing costs related to the derailment, like prescription medications, environmental cleaning, testing fees and relocation expenses. Neither of these deals announced in the past month come even close to making the impacted residents whole again, said Hilary Flint, who lives about five miles from East Palestine in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Flint is one of a number of impacted residents in western Pennsylvania who have struggled to access resources for symptoms they say started after the venting and burning released more than 115,000 gallons of the carcinogen vinyl chloride into the environment. Flint has been renting a house in western New York for months so she can limit her time at her home in Pennsylvania, because she gets sick whenever she visits. In an interview in May, she said that she has bronchitis that started when she recently returned to Beaver County, and her doctor has advised her to avoid her home. In 2023, Flint co-founded the Unity Council for the East Palestine Train Derailment, a community organization meant to help residents affected by the disaster access resources, advocate for their needs and get their questions answered. Unity council members traveled to Washington, D.C., last July to meet with lawmakers from Pennsylvania and Ohio as well as representatives from the EPA. The council also weighed in on the class action settlement proposal in April. How can you make an offer when people are still being exposed and you still dont know the extent or results of that exposure? council members asked in a statement. Another East Palestine resident called the class action settlement a slap in the face. Flint said neither agreement would provide her with enough funding to cover the medical and housing costs shes already paid, let alone her future costs. There is also not enough money available for her or her family to permanently relocate. The government settlement money is not going to individuals or families, and opting into the class action suit requires signing away the right to sue over claims in the future, Flint said. At a town hall held in May to inform the community about the class action settlement, residents criticized the terms and said the awards would not be enough to cover relocation or their medical costs. Why would I sign over my future health claims for less than $20,000? That doesnt even cover what Ive spent on hospital bills over the past year and a half, Flint said. Its a bad deal. Its frankly a really, really bad deal. And I dont know many people taking it. The settlement with the government includes $235 million for past and future costs, including water and soil clean-up, $25 million for community health monitoring for the next 20 years and mental health care, $15 million in penalties for violations under the Clean Water Act and more than $30 million for monitoring groundwater, surface water and private drinking water in the surrounding areas. Norfolk Southern will also be required to implement safety measures on its rails. The company said it has spent more than $200 million on improving rail safety since the derailment. Neither of these deals announced in the past month come even close to making the impacted residents whole again. Hilary Flint, resident who lives near derailment site In a statement provided to Inside Climate News, the EPA said medical monitoring and mental health services were included in the government settlement because these are services that community members have repeatedly expressed an interest in receiving that had been identified as top priorities in a stakeholder survey. Alan Shaw, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern, said in a press release that the company will continue keeping our promises and are invested in the communitys future for the long-haul. From day one, it was important for Norfolk Southern to make things right for the residents of East Palestine and the surrounding areas, he said. Over the last 15 months, the people of East Palestine have remained strong, resilient and committed to healing and restoring their community. But they havent spent a single day alone, Regan told reporters. Under President Bidens direction, EPA personnel arrived on site within hours of the derailment. And were committed to remaining there until the hazardous contamination has gone. Jess Conard, who lives in East Palestine and whose son has developed asthma since the derailment, was similarly disappointed by the government settlement and by the proposed agreement for the class action claims. I am glad that the EPAs pockets are getting refilled by the polluter, she said. I think that the same level of responsibility should be applied to the communitys pockets. Our basic needs continue to be ignored. Conard said she has not been reimbursed for costs like her sons asthma medication or environmental testing she had conducted at her home, which showed elevated levels of vinyl chloride on her porch. She wonders every day if staying in East Palestine is contributing to her sons health condition. No ones looking to get rich off of this, she said. Theyre just looking to heal and to make sure that they dont go bankrupt if they relocate or to make sure that their kids get the medication that they need. When Conard requested funding for a filter for her well, she was asked if she lived within one mile of the derailment site, and her request was denied because she lives two miles away. The question is familiar to anyone living near the East Palestine site who has attempted to access aid from the federal or state government, residents say. When the derailment first occurred, the EPA set a one-by-two-mile protective radius around the accident site that became the evacuation zone and has since been used as a guideline for allocating resources from the company and the government. Residents who live outside the EPAs radius have struggled to get help with cleaning, medical and relocation expenses, an issue that has not been remedied by the terms of the governments settlement. To automatically qualify for the medical monitoring program outlined in the settlement, for example, residents must live within two miles of the accident site or near certain nearby waterways. Those living outside the two-mile radius must apply separately to qualify on a case by case basis. Experts say chemical exposure and potential harm to the environment and to public health is unlikely to be confined within the EPAs boundary. EPA models of the plume of soot created by the vent and burn showed dispersal as far as Youngstown, Ohio, 20 miles from East Palestine, and Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, 25 miles away. The class action lawsuit covers claims from residents and business owners located within 20 miles of the derailment site and personal injury claims within 10 miles. The mental health care services in the government settlement are available to anyone living in Beaver County or Lawrence County in Pennsylvania or Columbiana County in Ohio as well as first responders. The EPA spokesperson said the medical monitoring program is intended to focus on individuals within the 2-mile radius who were most impacted by the derailment and noted that the class action settlements potential, average payment to households within the two-mile radius is $70,000 and drops down to $250 for families living 15 to 20 miles away. Flint and Conard said that while funding for medical monitoring and research was important, what their communities needed most was access to covered treatment for the symptoms they are experiencing now. Like other local activists, Conard wants the federal government to issue a major disaster declaration for East Palestine, which she said would guarantee health care coverage for residents and grant access to other resources the community needs. In response to questions about the lack of health care or medical treatment programs in the government settlement, EPA pointed to the existence of the East Palestine Clinic at East Liverpool City Hospital in Ohio, set up after the derailment to provide services for residents in 2023. The clinic provides medical treatment and care, the EPA spokesperson said. But Conard disputed the idea that this clinic is meeting the health care needs of residents, calling it useless. Conard said Pennsylvanians are not eligible to receive care there, and it is not free. In my mind, justice means none of us have to pay health care costs moving forward, because we are the guinea pigs now for this, Flint said. Flint and other residents are being asked to participate in an array of public health studies to better understand the long and short-term impacts of the derailment on the population. When she is feeling sick or develops a new symptom, like chronic itching or a need for an inhaler, she said, researchers are eager to collect her hair and blood samples. But they are not able to offer help accessing or paying for treatment or prescription medications. Research is great, but what about care for the community? You cant just use them as rats, she said. More than a year on, the physical and mental toll of grappling with the aftermath of the derailment weighs heavily on both Flint and Conard. Life is out the window, Flint said. This has become our life. Between dealing with her symptoms and working to advocate for herself, her family and her community, she has had little time in the last year for ordinary things like hanging out with friends. Conard spoke about the often exhausting and terrifying reality of living in East Palestine in the year since the derailment, trying to figure out how best to protect and fight for her family while contending with normal parenting responsibilities. When I wake up and I hear news, I think, what fresh hell is this to deal with? she said. She compared the settlements to being repeatedly offered cheap coffee when residents only wanted water. I have gratitude that things are moving forward. But the programs that we need still have not been implemented, and weve been asking for the same program since day one, she said. Im tired of being told what I want, when Im already telling you what I want and what I need. The post Pennsylvania, Ohio residents affected by East Palestine derailment say needs still not being met appeared first on Pennsylvania Capital-Star. Person shot at Old Hickory Boulevard gas station, Metro police say NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) One person was injured during a shooting reported in the Nippers Corner area of Nashville Saturday afternoon. According to Metro Nashville dispatch, the incident was called in shortly before 12:45 p.m. on Saturday, June 8 at a gas station in the 15100 block of Old Hickory Boulevard. Man injured in shooting at AutoZone on Donelson Pike The Metro Nashville Police Department told News 2 the shooting victim was brought to Vanderbilt University Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries. No additional details have been released about the circumstances surrounding this shooting. Download the News 2 app to stay updated on the go. Sign up for WKRN email alerts to have breaking news sent to your inbox. Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee. This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2. (Bloomberg) -- The Philippines said it will continue to maintain and supply its South China Sea outposts without seeking permission from any other nation, dismissing Beijings demand to do so as absurd, nonsense and unacceptable. Most Read from Bloomberg Our operations are conducted within our own territorial waters and EEZ, National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said in a statement late Saturday, referring to the nations exclusive economic zone. We will not be deterred by foreign interference or intimidation. Ano was responding to Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Nings comment on Friday that the Philippines should notify Beijing in advance if it wants to deliver provisions or evacuate personnel from its grounded warship in the Second Thomas Shoal. China claims swathes of the South China Sea, including areas the Philippines views as part of its exclusive economic zone. Beijing has barred delivery of construction materials to the rusty World War II-era ship, BRP Sierra Madre, which Manila has kept as its military outpost in the disputed shoal since 1999. Ano cited the China Coast Guards aggressive actions against a Philippine vessel evacuating a sick soldier on May 19 from the ship, which he called barbaric and inhumane. Such actions are not only violations of international maritime laws but also of basic human rights, he said. Recent reports of Chinese forces allegedly seizing food and medical supplies meant for Filipino troops at BRP Sierra Madre are equally reprehensible and warrant a thorough investigation and accountability, the national security chief said. The latest exchange of barbs between Manila and Beijing comes not long after Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. asserted his nations claims in the South China Sea during a top regional defense forum where he pledged not to yield in the contested sea. Ano said the Philippines remains open to dialog and peaceful negotiations to resolve disputes in the waterway, but added that it must be based on mutual respect and adherence to international law. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. TechCrunch In late September, Shield AI cofounder Brandon Tseng swore that weapons in the U.S. would never be fully autonomous meaning an AI algorithm would make the final decision to kill someone. Congress doesnt want that, the defense tech founder told TechCrunch. Five days later, Anduril cofounder Palmer Luckey expressed an openness to autonomous weapons or at least a heavy skepticism of arguments against them. LAKEWAY, Texas (KXAN) The police in the City of Lakeway are investigating a series of graffiti incidents, some of which they say are antisemitic. The graffiti was first reported to city officials on April 7, but since then, law enforcement has learned of it happening six more times. Four other incidents were also reported just outside Lakeway city limits. Photos obtained by KXAN show symbols that look similar to Nazi swastikas painted outside an outdoor bathroom stall, retention wall, and subdivision entrance. City officials also investigated a report where the symbol was spraypainted on a vehicle. Texas universities required to punish antisemitic rhetoric in free speech policies Mayor Tom Kilgore said on Sunday that city workers have covered and painted over the graffiti, and so far, there is no indication that an organized group is behind the acts. For those who consider doing similar acts in the future, we will remain vigilant and will not tolerate vandalism or hate of this nature. We will pursue the proper punishment to the extent the law allows, Kilgore said in a statement to KXAN. Walk against antisemitism at Texas Capitol, held same time as pro-Palestinian May Day protest In an April 2024 report, the Anti-Defamation League counted 8,873 antisemitic incidents across the United States. The advocacy group said it marked the highest number on record since it began tracking incidents in 1979. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Its the height of the season in the Hamptons, but a flamingo sighting may be the summers main event. The Hamptons are just one of more than a dozen locations seeing flamingos in recent weeks along the East and Gulf coasts, including on Cape Cod. More than 100 flamingos arrived with the winds of Hurricane Idalia last August. They were seen in 18 states from Florida to Wisconsin and as far west as Kansas and Texas. Avian scientists weren't quite sure what would happen next. Some birds returned to the Yucatan Peninsula, but many lingered in Florida over the winter. Now that summer is approaching, the birds appear to be surprising scientists by wandering around. In New York, Tim Healy drove two hours from his home in Queens before dawn on June 1, after hearing about the rare sighting of a flamingo in East Hampton on Long Island. When he and a friend arrived, as they were discussing plans to find the bird, Healy turned toward the beach. This thing is flying in from the west dramatically, perfectly illuminated in the sunlight, a cause for celebration among the couple of dozen birders gathered to see it, Healy said. It was absolutely incredible. An American flamingo stuns birder Tim Healy as it flies past him in East Hampton, New York. A single flamingo has been seen recently on Long Island and Cape Cod, possibly one of the birds scattered across the eastern U.S. by Hurricane Idalia. Idalia's surprising delivery Experts say Idalia likely brought the pink, leggy birds over from the huge colonies in conservation areas on the Yucatan Peninsula, a theory at least partly confirmed by bands found on flamingos in Florida that were traced back to flamingo chicks in Yucatan. Then over the winter, one of the banded birds seen in the Florida Keys after Idalia was spotted again in Yucatan, said Jerry Lorenz, Audubon Florida's state director of research, based at the Everglades Science Center. The birds fly back and forth between Mexico, Cuba and South Florida. But although they fly over Florida, no nesting has been documented in that state in decades, even though sightings have increased since 1990. Lorenz and others hope that may change with this latest influx of birds. In February, he coordinated an effort to count the flamingos in Florida. They found 101 wild flamingos. In May, a flock as big as 10 birds was reported at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge on the east coast. A flock of 12 was seen at Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Southwest Florida's Sanibel Island and a flock of 43 was reported in the Everglades, according to eBird.org, an online database for bird observations by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and Audubon. Now that temperatures are warming, Lorenz thinks some of the birds that overwintered in Florida are beginning to explore. In recent weeks, a flock of five flamingos was seen near St. Simons Island, Georgia. In addition to the bird on Long Island, and sightings in Cape Cod, sightings also have been reported elsewhere. Among the recent sightings reported on eBird: One bird in the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina. A single bird in and around Port Aransas, Texas. A single bird in Pascagoula Beach, Mississippi. A group of three flamingos in Dauphin Island, Alabama, in April. What about the flamingo sightings in New York and Cape Cod? "It could just be one of those birds that's gone into wandering mode somehow," said Mark Faherty, science coordinator with Mass Audubon at the Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Cape Cod. The Massachusetts flamingo sighting was in Dennis on the afternoon of June 2. It hasn't been reported again. On June 5, a flurry of flamingo sightings were reported west of the Hamptons on Long Island. A flamingo thrilled New York birders when it appeared in Georgica Pond in East Hampton, New York on June 1, when Dan Fiore snapped this photo. If the sightings are confirmed as wild birds, it would be the first wild flamingos in New York and Massachusetts. "That Idalia event where all those flamingos were deposited all over lends credibility" to the sightings being a wild flamingo, Faherty said. Healy is a member of New Yorks state avian records committee, which he said will have the final say over whether the Long Island flamingo is officially considered the states first wild member of the species. One unconfirmed bird was reported along the Hudson River last year among the other sightings along the East Coast, but there was no photo and the sighting couldnt be documented. A flock of birders gather at dawn to try to catch a glimpse of an American flamingo, a rare sighting in East Hampton, New York, on Long Island. They were not disappointed. Tim Healy, who captured this photo, called it "absolutely incredible." Healy now wonders if any of a few sightings last century that were considered escapes could really have been wild birds. Its only now with technology and a proliferation of cameras and communication tools that can so easily document bird sightings, he said, that scientists are beginning to understand how flamingos have a capacity to wander long distances. Was the same flamingo seen on Cape Cod and Long Island? They can't say for sure, but Healy and Faherty suspect it may have been the same young bird. "It's not that far between Long Island and Cape Cod, about 114 miles," Faherty said. Each time, the bird photographed had similar pinkish, gray plumage, indicating the bird was not a juvenile, but not quite an adult either, said Healy, a high school biology teacher. Its not ironclad, but none of the birds were seen concurrently and all the sightings reported so far were within about 200 miles, Healy said. For New York birders, who were disappointed their state missed out on the wandering flamingos immediately after Idalia, the sightings on Long Island were thrilling. Healy's trip to Long Island Saturday was well worth it, he said. Ive seen no shortage of incredible and unexpected birds. Just to get to see a flamingo on Long Island, it was absolutely spectacular." Dinah Voyles Pulver covers climate and the environment for USA TODAY. Reach her at dpulver@gannett.com or @dinahvp This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Flamboyant pink flamingos pop up on East Coast, Hamptons and Cape Cod NEW YORK (PIX11) Lawmakers in New York and New Jersey were caught by surprise this week by Gov. Kathy Hochuls decision to put congestion pricing on hold indefinitely. PIX on Politics host Dan Mannarino, Katie Honan, a reporter for The City, and Joey Fox, a reporter for the New Jersey Globe, discussed what could have prompted the decision and how their local lawmakers reacted. More PIX on Politics It was reported in Politico that people in Congress were concerned about the upcoming elections. They dont want to lose votes, and congestion pricing is not popular in parts of the city, said Honan. In general, the attitude in New Jersey is pretty much against the whole plan. The benefits to New Jersey are relatively limited. The MTA doesnt really come to New Jersey, said Fox. Watch the video player for the 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 PIX11. Orlando Police are investigating a shooting at a 7-Eleven store on East Colonial Drive. Investigators were at the scene since around 2:45 Sunday morning. Orlando Police said one person was shot and taken to the hospital. The store, parking lot, and gas stations were closed off with police tape as cops searched through the area for evidence. Two 7-Eleven workers were in the convenience store while OPD officers were outside. Read: Osceola: Victim fatally shot at a party, suspect on the loose deputies said Police said the shooting is not a threat to the community. Channel 9 has reached out to the Orlando Police Department for more information. Busy morning for @OrlandoPolice today. Heavy police presence in College Park this morning, just hours after another incident at a 7-Eleven on East Colonial Drive. We are working to get more details right now. @WFTV pic.twitter.com/ZD3TK8kbqe Geovany Dias (@Geovanydias01) June 9, 2024 Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live. WASHINGTON, Utah (ABC4) A California man was arrested on Monday, June 3, after officers found what they believed to be methamphetamine in his vehicle during a traffic stop in Washington City, according to arrest documents. Ramon Amador Zapien, 59, was arrested on one count of possession with the intent to distribute a controlled substance, as stated in an affidavit of probable cause. READ NEXT: FDA: Avoid these microdosing chocolate bars after reports of seizures, hospitalization Zapien was initially stopped by an officer because he did not come to a complete stop at a stop sign and he reportedly changed lanes without signaling. The officer made note of the California license plates and conducted a records check on the vehicle and determined that the vehicles registration had been expired since October 2020. After learning of the expired registration and seeing Zapien fail to stop, as well as change lanes without signaling, the officer conducted the traffic stop. The officer said Zapien was the only occupant in the vehicle at the time of the stop. According to arrest documents, Zapien told the officer that he did not have the money needed to pay for the vehicles registration. Zapien consented to a vehicle search, in addition to having a K-9 conduct a free air sniff of the exterior of the vehicle, documents said. Documents said a detective with the Washington County Drug Task Force arrived at the scene, and that detective deployed their own K-9. Based on that additional sniff, documents said probable cause existed to search the vehicle. Zapien was then placed in handcuffs and officers searched the vehicle. In the trunk of the vehicle I located a large black plastic bag, the officer wrote in the probable cause statement. Inside of the bag I located 23 separate bundles which were wrapped in plastic. According to the officer, each of the bundles had a white crystal like substance consistent with Methamphetamine. The officer estimated the total weight of all the suspected meth found in the trunk to be about 23 pounds, according to the affidavit. After an interview with Zapien, officers learned that he knew he was transporting something bad, and suspected it to be crystal Methamphetamine, documents said. Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Gov. Spencer J. Cox, left, speaks to reporters during the Governor's Monthly News Conference at the PBS Utah Studios in Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 16, 2024. Rep. Phil Lyman, R-Blanding, right, testifies about his bill, HB371, in the House Government Operations Standing Committee at the Capitol in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, Feb. 23, 2022. | Laura Seitz, Scott G Winterton Utah Gov. Spencer Cox has a commanding lead over his primary challenger, state Rep. Phil Lyman, ahead of the June 25 primary election. Cox, who is running for his second term in office, is among the most popular governors in the nation. So when state Rep. Phil Lyman was the top vote-getter at the GOP state convention in April, winning 67% of delegates votes, many were surprised. But a new poll conducted by HarrisX for the Deseret News and the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics shows Cox with 62% support among registered Republican voters, while Lyman garners 25% support. Another 12% of voters said they were unsure. Among likely GOP primary voters, the split was 64% for Cox, 26% for Lyman and 10% unsure. When undecided voters were asked which way they were leaning, Coxs lead increased, with 71% choosing the incumbent compared to 29% for Lyman. The poll was conducted by HarrisX among 477 registered Republican voters, and 421 likely voters, including those who have already voted, from June 4-7, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. Jason Perry, director of the Hinckley Institute, said while there was some division evident among Republicans at the state convention, the poll results show convention delegates do favor much more conservative candidates than the Republican electorate statewide. This is not a completely new phenomenon, its something weve seen over the years, Perry said. Were just seeing it more clearly this year than we have in the past. Cox was booed at the convention by some of the delegates, leading him to express frustration with delegates and the convention system. Im a little worried about our caucus convention system, Cox said at the time. There are a whole bunch of people out there who want to get rid of this. I hope youre not giving them more ammunition today. Cox Lyman HarrisX poll Lyman has waged an aggressive campaign, accusing Cox of mishandling funds during the pandemic and of being soft on immigration. He has also criticized Cox over government spending. Cox has run on policies hes championed during his first term as governor, including cutting taxes while increasing spending on education, and his battle against social media companies who he says are harming children. The poll demonstrates how Coxs message is resonating with a broad cross section of Utah voters. This poll clearly demonstrates Gov. Cox has broad support throughout the state and in the Republican Party. Hes ahead in every demographic, which is the position that hes been trying to be in. Because of that, hes in a commanding lead, said Perry. As part of the poll, Utah voters were also asked whether they have a favorable or unfavorable impression of Cox. Overall, 57% of voters said they have a favorable impression of Cox, including 66% of Republicans and 35% of Democrats. Among independents, 50% said they have a favorable impression. Cox, Lyman campaigns respond to poll When asked for a response to the poll, campaign spokesperson Matt Lusty said they were encouraged by these results which are reflective of our internal polling. Governor Cox and Lieutenant Governor Henderson will continue to work every day to earn the vote of Utah Republicans by delivering a message of optimism and conservative leadership, he said. Lyman responded to the poll by saying he didnt expect conventional political polls to show Spencer Cox losing this race. Yet, 62% of Utahns think our state is headed in the wrong direction, he said. Lyman said his internal polls show a much tighter race, and said he believes they have more volunteers, more campaign donors, more enthusiasm, and a brighter vision for Utah. After a dominant performance in the Republican Convention, weve been focusing on building a strong new coalition of Republican primary voters who want more than just the status quo. We have a lot of work to do for a victory on June 25, and we are fighting hard for every vote, he said. Cox and Lyman will meet for a debate on Tuesday at 6 p.m., hosted by the Utah Debate Commission. The debate will be broadcast on the commissions Facebook page and on several local TV channels, including KSL TV. Correction: An earlier version of this story listed the percentage of support as likely Republican voters when it should have said registered Republican voters. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, casts her ballot for the European elections in a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa The centre-right European People's Party (EPP) has won the European Parliament elections with 189 seats, an initial forecast from the European legislature shows, with all polls closed on Sunday. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen now stands a stronger chance of securing a second term with her EPP group, which she campaigned for, performing so well, despite far-right gains, and losses among liberal and green parties. Von der Leyen said in a speech, welcoming the result, that she would work with political groups from the centre left and liberals that originally backed her to win reappointment. "This platform has worked well. It was constructive, it was effective," von der Leyen said, outlining her reasoning and in a signal that she would not immediately seek support from parties further to the right. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, walks to a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region with her ballot paper for the European elections alongside her husband. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, arrives at a polling station in the Hanover region with her husband to cast her vote in the European elections. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Pro-Palestinian protestors gathered at the White House on Saturday in protest of President Bidens handling of the war between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas. RIGHT NOW at the White House: #ThePeoplesRedLine is being formed! a Saturday post from the Act Now to Stop War and End Racism (ANSWER) Coalition on the social platform X reads. Stretching for two miles, this massive red banner symbolizes the peoples determination to put an end to the U.S.-Israeli genocide in Gaza! If Biden wont draw the red line, we will! The post from the ANSWER Coalition also features a video of a large group of people in a line outside the White House appearing to be holding long stretches of red cloth. A post from activist group the Palestinian Youth Movement on Instagram less than a week ago discussed SURROUNDING THE WHITE HOUSE ON SATURDAY, JUNE 8th. A month ago, Biden said that the invasion of Rafah was a red line, the post reads. But now, the invasion of Rafah has continued for weeks, has expanded to the entire Gaza Strip, Bidens red line is nowhere to be seen. Instead of following through and stopping military aid to Israel, Biden has authorized billions more in weapons shipments to be used to kill and massacre Palestinians. The post later says that the president still refuses to take the step that would force the Israeli regime to accept it cut off the flow of US-made weapons that makes the genocide possible. Biden hasnt drawn the line, but we can, the post said. On June 8, we will come together from across the country and surround the White House. Wearing red, and raising our demands high, we will show the world that we are the red line. We demand an immediate ceasefire, an immediate end to the siege on Gaza, the freedom of all Palestinian prisoners, and an end to the occupation of Palestine. Posts on Saturday from the Palestinian Youth Movement appeared to show protestors taking the actions described in the earlier post around the White House. Video posted to X Saturday appeared to show U.S. Park Police clashing with protestors near the White House. The National Parks Service said in a statement to The Hill that there was graffiti, damage to certain structures and park infrastructure in Lafayette Park following demonstrations. The service said its staff are evaluating the extent of the damage from yesterdays demonstration and march around the White House. The Hill has reached out to the U.S. Park Police and the White House. Updated at 4:15 pm on June 9. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids use of social media Members of Congress are seeking to set a minimum age to access social media and put more of the onus on social media companies and their algorithms, while also giving parents more controls in trying to protect their kids online. (Photo by Peter Cade/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Attempts to get kids off of their phones are ramping up in Congress, despite intense lobbying by social media giants and pushback by those worried about violations of First Amendment speech rights. Lawmakers are seeking to set a minimum age to access social media and put more of the onus on social media companies and their algorithms, while also giving parents more controls in trying to protect their kids online. A bipartisan coalition of U.S. senators, led by Sens. Ted Cruz of Texas and Brian Schatz of Hawaii, introduced a new version of a bill that would set a minimum age of 13 to access social media platforms. It would also block the use of addictive algorithms on social media platforms for those under 17 and limit social media use in schools. In late April, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, but the committee said it does not have a markup date. TikTok divestment Major social media platforms, such as TikTok and Metas Instagram, have been criticized for their algorithms that can influence kids and teens mental health. In late April, President Joe Biden signed a bill that forces TikTok to divest from its Chinese parent company ByteDance within the next year or face a possible ban in the United States. The law baked into a massive foreign aid package grew primarily out of privacy and national security concerns. The app and its parent company have both sued to block the potential ban. Responding to the unhappiness among parents, Metas CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized in January to distraught family members of social media victims during a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee surrounding child safety online. Yet Meta and ByteDance have also invested significantly in their lobbying efforts, according to an April report from the group Issue One. The nonpartisan nonprofit found that in the first quarter of 2024, Meta spent a whopping $7.64 million on lobbying and had one lobbyist for every eight Congress members. Similarly, ByteDance spent $2.68 million and had one lobbyist for every 11 members of Congress. Kids online safety bill Other bipartisan congressional efforts are also targeting the algorithms of social media companies to protect kids safety online. Sens. Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, and Marsha Blackburn, a Tennessee Republican, introduced a new version of their legislation, the Kids Online Safety Act, in May 2023. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation approved the bill, and in December it was placed on the Senate legislative calendar. Part of the revised measure, which has garnered the support of over half the U.S. Senate, would require platforms to give minors the option to protect their information, disable addictive product features, and opt out of personalized algorithmic recommendations and allow for certain parental controls to spot harmful behaviors. The bill would also provide a platform for parents and teachers to report such behavior. Lawmakers in the U.S. House introduced a companion bill in April. A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee forwarded the bill to the full committee in late May. Free speech worries But attempts to either tailor or limit minors interactions on social media have been met with objections tied to potential First Amendment violations. Any government limits on what we can say or see online are likely to be unconstitutional, said Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonprofit that defends free speech rights. Terr said many of these types of bills hit an unconstitutional trifecta, where they threaten the First Amendment rights of the platforms to disseminate speech, the First Amendment rights of minors to access lawful content and the rights of adults to speak or access content anonymously because they may have to provide information about their identity in order to prove their age. Parents are in the best position to set rules about their kids social media use, and the government shouldnt usurp parental authority, Terr said. He also noted that when it comes to laws attempting to regulate social media or speech in general, one-size-fits-all approaches dont work. A problem with these laws, too, is who decides whats appropriate? Theres vagueness issues with these laws, and the problem with that is that it gives the government a lot of discretion to just insert its own subjective determination of what they consider is appropriate and substituting its judgment for that of private platforms and the people who use them, he added. Warnings about kids health In 2023, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy publicly warned that, despite more research needed to grasp social medias impact and some evidence outlining potential benefits for kids and teens, there are ample indicators that social media can also have a profound risk of harm to the mental health and well-being of children and adolescents. Dr. Jenny Radesky, a developmental behavioral pediatrician and an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Michigan Medical School, told States Newsroom that the science is clearest around sleep. When kids are using media for long periods of time, or when its upsetting and kind of makes them more alert or kind of dysregulated or when its used in the evening hours all of those are linked with worse sleep, and sleep is so essential for child development, said Radesky, chair of the Council on Communications and Media at the American Academy of Pediatrics. The AAP is among the over 200 organizations supporting the Kids Online Safety Act. We dont want to pursue legislation that somehow is regulating the content that can show up online because thats a real First Amendment problem, so you dont want to have something thats a law that says this sort of content cant show up in kids feeds. But what we are asking is for some accountability, said Radesky. Radesky said so much of the work of making sure kids have safe experiences online falls on their parents. Thats exhausting, and its something we dont all know how to do, she said. She said parents should feel free to talk to their members of Congress and say: Listen, parenting is hard enough right now. Please do something to clean up the digital ecosystem, so that this can be easier, and the default experience for kids can lean more towards healthy and positive and less towards these risks that have been documented over the past five to 10 years. Phones in the classroom At the state level, there is also a push to get kids off their phones in the classroom, with several states either passing or introducing bills barring students from using their phones while in class, as Stateline reported in March. Last year, Florida became the first state to require public schools to prohibit students from using their cell phones in class. Indiana has also followed with similar action. Gov. Eric Holcomb signed a bill into law earlier this year that with some exceptions requires schools to bar the use of wireless communication devices during class. Some lawmakers in Congress have also sought concrete studies regarding the use of cell phones in schools, including Sens. Tom Cotton, of Arkansas, and Tim Kaine, of Virginia. The two introduced legislation in November that would require the U.S. Department of Education to conduct a study regarding the use of mobile devices in elementary and secondary schools, and to establish a pilot program of awarding grants to enable certain schools to create a school environment free of mobile devices. In November, the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions. The post Prodded by fed up parents, some in Congress try to curb kids use of social media appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. U.S. employers added 272,000 jobs in May, the Labor Department reported on Friday morning, The growth was well above what economists had expected as hiring had gradually slowed. Thats an increase from the 232,000-job average over the previous 12 months. Acting Secretary of U.S. Department of Labor Julie Su talked with Native News Online Friday to share the good news on the latest data. This Q&A has been edited for clarity and brevity below. Native News Online: I understand there was a great jobs report this morning. Tell us the good news. Acting Secretary Su: Yes, it was a good job report with evidence of continued, steady, and stable growth. There were 272,000 jobs created last month. The unemployment rate has now been at or below 4% for 30 months straight. That's the longest stretch since the 1960s and the labor force participation rate, especially for those primate workers, 25 to 54 remain very strong, and real wages are still up there, over via 4.1% so working families are doing better, and we're creating opportunity in communities all across the country. Never miss Indian Countrys biggest stories and breaking news. Click here to sign up to get our reporting sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Native News Online: What industry sectors are contributing to the growth? Acting Secretary Su: The growth is across the board. Again, another sign of the overall strength of the economy, It's not over dependent on any one sector. We've seen growth in healthcare, in construction, in leisure and hospitality, government and education and so, and we're seeing real wage gains in those industries as well. So again, we're not just talking about jobs. We're talking about good jobs, Native News Online: Well, that is good news for Native Americans; particularly tribes with Indian gaming facilities, which is considered leisure and hospitality. Is there anything else, as it relates to Native Americans, you want to say? Acting Secretary Su: I'll say a couple things. One is that we are launching a good jobs summer tour. I launched it yesterday in Phoenix, where two Arizona cities signed onto our good jobs principles. This is again, on the theme of every worker who wants to work should be able to work in a good job, to provide them a living wage, right benefits, so they can go to doctor when when they get sick, the knowledge that they'll come home healthy and safe at the end of the day, the opportunity for growth. And then I had the opportunity to sit down with both construction unions and with organizations that serve communities that have left out in the past. And, the Native populations are really important to both. They're important to making sure that when we create good jobs, everybody has access to them from Arizona to Michigan to the rest of the country. This President is very focused on ensuring that we leave no one behind. About the Author: "Levi \"Calm Before the Storm\" Rickert (Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation) is the founder, publisher and editor of Native News Online. Rickert was awarded Best Column 2021 Native Media Award for the print\/online category by the Native American Journalists Association. He serves on the advisory board of the Multicultural Media Correspondents Association. He can be reached at levi@nativenewsonline.net." Contact: levi@nativenewsonline.net As a rabbi, philosopher and physician, Maimonides wrestled with religion and reason the book he wrote to reconcile them, Guide to the Perplexed, has sparked debate ever since I teach a philosophy of religion seminar titled Faith and Reason. Most students who register arrive with a mistaken assumption: that the course explores the differences between the two. Faith is often defined as belief in a supernatural God that transcends reason and belief that science can only go so far to explain the fundamental mysteries of life. Reason, meanwhile, means inquiry that draws on logic and deductive reasoning. It seems like a stark choice, an either-or until we read Maimonides. For Maimonides, a 12th century theologian, philosopher, rabbi and physician, there is no true faith without reason. Maimonides full name was Rabbi Moses Ben Maimon, and he is often referred to by the abbreviation Rambam. His writings spurred centuries of conflict and were even banned in some Jewish communities. Yet he also penned one of the most famous guides to Jewish law and still stands as one of the most influential rabbis to have ever lived. It is surprising for many students to learn that Maimonides, who lived in present-day Spain, Morocco and Egypt, embraced reason as the only way to make sense of faith. In this rabbis view, the idea of a battle between faith and reason sets boundaries where none need exist. Faith must be grounded in reason, lest it become superstition. This synthesis is at the heart of Maimonides most famous philosophical work, The Guide for the Perplexed. Jerusalem and Athens Treating faith and reason as if they are at odds is nothing new. Some philosophers have described them as two different cities, as when University of Chicago professor Leo Strauss wrote of Jerusalem and Athens. Both cities love wisdom, Strauss wrote, but attribute it to different things. In Jerusalem, where life is grounded by faith in God, the beginning of wisdom is fear of the Lord, Strauss wrote in 1967, quoting the biblical books of Proverbs and Job. In Athens, on the other hand, symbolized by the ancient Greek philosophers, the beginning of wisdom is wonder the wonder of inquiry and reason. Almost 800 years before, however, Maimonides was arguing that true religion, true wisdom, requires both. A statue of Maimonides in Cordoba, Spain. Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Rambam was deeply steeped in Jewish learning. As a doctor, astronomer and philosopher, however, he was just as knowledgeable about the science of his day. He ostensibly wrote The Guide to the Perplexed to help his student Joseph Ibn Aknin navigate between the truths of philosophy, natural science and revelation. Maimonides understanding of God and the universe mostly agreed with Aristotles . In Part II of his Guide, Maimonides credits Aristotle with helping to prove three key principles about God: God is incorporeal, without a physical body; God is one; and God transcends the material world. Yet God created the world and set it in motion, Maimonides asserts, and everything in it depends on God for its existence. Science and scripture Throughout these chapters, the rabbi does not turn to scripture to prove or disprove philosophical propositions, although he notes that Aristotles opinion may be in accordance with the words of our prophets and our theologians or Sages. This does not mean that Maimonides does not care about sacred texts far from it. Rather, he argues that the truths of science and philosophy must inform how people interpret the Bible. Many people of faith have read the Book of Genesis story of creation literally. For them, Gods creation of humanity in our image and likeness means both that God must have a body and that humanity shares much in common with God. For Maimonides, however, language like these passages in Genesis was allegorical. If reason teaches that God is incorporeal, this means that God has no body; God does not physically see, nor do people see God. God does not speak, sit on a throne, stretch out an arm, rest or become angry. Reading these passages literally misunderstands the nature of God. It is hard to overstate the significance of this claim. In Maimonides view, saying that God has a body is not just incorrect but blasphemous and idolatrous. He sees God as unique and transcendent, irreducible to anything human or material. And if God does not literally speak, then the Bible cannot be the literal word of God. A letter Maimonides wrote around 1172, discovered in the late 1800s. Culture Club/Hulton Archive via Getty Images Maimonides insists that the Bible be appreciated as an esoteric text. Any part of the revealed text that does not fit with a true understanding of God and the universe must be read allegorically. Reason does not eliminate his faith in God, or the power of scripture. Instead, reason protects people from believing something incorrect about Gods nature. Maimonides insists that we have faith in reason and that reason ground our faith. The palace of God Maimonides philosophical writing is filled with debate and disagreement between him, fellow rabbis, Jewish philosophers and the Kalam, a medieval tradition of Islamic theology. Reason was the tool needed to make sense of sacred texts, and philosophical inquiry was the process needed to get it right. The goal was truth, not mere obedience. Toward the end of his Guide for the Perplexed, Maimonides lays out what he believes are different levels of enlightenment. The allegory centers on a kings palace: Only a select few, those who pursue truest wisdom grounded in philosophy and science, will reach the room where the king God resides. People guided by faith alone, who accept scripture literally and unquestioningly, and believe that faith transcends reason, on the other hand, have their backs turned toward the kings palace, moving further and further away from God. Maimonides is considered one of the greatest rabbinic authorities of all time. And his resolution to the debate between faith and reason could not have been clearer: There should be no true conflict. Both reason and revelation are our guides. 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: Randy L. Friedman, Binghamton University, State University of New York Read more: Randy L. Friedman 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. RADFORD, Va. (WFXR) The GO Virginia State Board announced it is awarding Radford University with a grant worth over $202,000 aimed toward growing the regional economy through IT and cybersecurity education programs. Developing IT & Cybersecurity Certification Pipeline (ITCCP), is a partnership between the Radford University Division of Economic Development and Corporate Education, Commonwealth Cyber Initiative Southwest Virginia. It also involves collaborative partners including Virginia Tech, and New River Community College to increase the number of professionals with IT and cybersecurity certifications. Strategic investments from the Commonwealth of Virginia and local partnerships are an ideal way to create economic prosperity, and Radford University is proud to be a significant partner for meeting the needs of GO Virginia Region 2. President Bret Danilowicz said. With this support from GO Virginia, local governments, regional employers, and our educational partners at Virginia Tech and New River Community College, we can address a clear demand in our region for IT and cybersecurity professionals and provide a pathway to rewarding careers. Radford University announces rebate for in-state undergraduate students This project will enhance the coordination and communication between Radford University and its higher education partners area employees to create a talent pipeline of student and graduates with in-demand professional certifications. This pipeline will be developed through IT and cybersecurity programs at partnering institutions that have existing courses aligned to professional certifications. ITCCP will also connect regional employers to the credentialed talent to fill in-demand local positions. This collaborative project will tap into existing courses and programs at these institutions to create a pipeline of graduates with IT and cybersecurity certifications that employers can pull from to fill critical, in-demand jobs in the region, said Charlie Jewell, director of economic development and community engagement for Radford University and principal investigator for the ITCCP project. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. GARFIELD COUNTY, Utah (KTVX) A park ranger from Bryce Canyon National Park has died from his injuries after tripping and falling while on duty, according to the National Park Service. Tom Lorig, 78, was working during Bryce Canyons annual Astronomy Festival on Friday. According to the National Park Service, Lorig was directing a visitor to a shuttle bus around 11:30 p.m. MT when he fell and struck his head on a large rock. The visitor informed a nearby law enforcement ranger after finding Lorig unresponsive, NPS said. National park rangers, medically-trained bystanders, and local EMS personnel cooperated to provide initial life-saving care, but were unsuccessful in reviving Ranger Lorig, NPS explained in a press release. Park Superintendent Jim Ireland said Lorig served as an interpretive park ranger who worked to facilitate connections between the world and these special places that he loved. Disneyland employee dies after falling off golf cart at theme park As our community processes and grieves this terrible loss, we extend our deepest condolences to all of Ranger Lorigs family and friends, Ireland continued. According to the National Park Service, Lorig served as a registered nurse in the Seattle area for 40 years and had been a park ranger in the permanent, seasonal and volunteer capacities for more than a decade. Lorig first began working with the National Park Service in June 1968 at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico. Since then, he had worked in 14 more national parks, including several in Utah. We also want to express gratitude to the National Park Service and Garfield County emergency services staff who responded as well as to the bystanders who assisted NPS first responders, Ireland 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. The year was 1951. And in Macon, Georgia, an excited group of students were celebrating their graduation from Ballard-Hudson Senior High School, an institution designed by pioneering architect Ellamae Ellis League. Among the proud graduates was an 18-year-old student who had traveled the country a bit as a child thanks to the train passes issued by Central of Georgia Railway her fathers employer. This student had already designed her own life plan, which entailed leaving the South behind for a northern destination more than 800 miles away. This union card issued by the International Brotherhood of Firemen and Oilers belonged to Bernice Laster's father, Perry Farmer, who was employed by the Central of Georgia Railway. Farmer's employment allowed Laster to begin traveling on the train as a little girl, which set the stage for the most important train ride of her life to Detroit after she graduated from high school in Macon, Georgia. (Credit: Leland Stein) That student known then by her maiden name, Bernice Farmer is Bernice Laster today. And the chosen city up north that the daughter of Perry and Willie May Wembley Farmer set her sights on moving to, even prior to her high school graduation, was Detroit. I was born in the South, but I wanted to go to school and receive the training and skills that would allow me to be an entrepreneur, or pursue some other job that was not domestic work, said the now 91-year-old Laster, who was encouraged to move to Detroit to attend Wayne (now Wayne State) University by her history teacher at Ballard-Hudson which back then had an all-Black student body due to forced segregation. In the South, as a Black woman, even with training, you were not going to get opportunities because all of the store jobs and government jobs, and any kind of jobs, went to privileged white women. But my mother and grandmother instilled in me to want more in life, so I was glad to leave home for an opportunity to try to give myself a better life in Detroit. Before the future Bernice Laster graduated from high school in Macon, Georgia, she planned to travel north by train and make Detroit her new home. More than 70 years later, the now-91-year-old resident of northwest Detroit is still happy with her decision and grateful for the train station that connected her to the city. (Credit: Leland Stein) However, before Laster could begin executing her plan, she first needed to make her way from the Macon, Georgia, train terminal to an imposing location in Detroits Corktown neighborhood that once housed a three-story depot with 10 gates for trains, connected to an 18-story tower with more than 500 offices. I remember walking through that station; buildings like that you didnt see everywhere, Laster regaled as she recalled her earliest thoughts about the Michigan Central Station, Detroits primary railway depot from 1913 to 1988, and a onetime gateway to Detroit for thousands of daily rail passengers from across the country. I was excited when that train stopped in Detroit. But as Black people living during those times, we didnt carry ourselves in public just any kind of way as we do now. Everywhere you went, you were always concerned about your safety. Lasters statement reflects the views of someone whose early life experiences were shaped not only by a segregated society, but also by the violence that came with it. The violent treatment of Black people in the South often had a lasting impact on future generations, such as the infamous July 25, 1946, Moores Ford lynchings, described by some as the last mass lynching in America, which resulted in the killing of two Black married couples George W. (a World War II veteran) and Mae Murray Dorsey, along with Roger and Dorothy Murray (in her seventh month of pregnancy) by a white mob at Moores Ford Bridge in Walton County, Georgia, about 80 miles north of where Laster grew up. You talk about segregation, they knew how to segregate in those days. But despite segregation and all of our struggles connected to it, our mothers still found a way to raise families and educate their children, said Laster, who spoke Sunday evening from her home in northwest Detroit. Some of these women even built colleges; and they filled up your belly. My mother and grandmother always saw to it that we had plenty to eat and that was very important. Before we left home, we would have biscuits, grits, salt pork and eggs that they prepared in the morning. Thats how we started every day. As Laster tells it, the crammed shoebox containing mouth-watering fried chicken that she took with her on the train while heading north was just a small sampling of the physical, mental and spiritual nourishment she had received from her family, which Laster would need to successfully make a new home in Detroit. For example, when money was needed to continue her education after completing a semester at Wayne, Laster called on lessons she had learned in and around the kitchen back home to secure a job as a cook and a waitress at Bonners Kitchen on Davidson and Dequindre. And the money she made at the restaurant helped her pay for classes at Highland Park Community College, where she ultimately earned an associates degree. There would be more jobs for Laster, too, including a nurses assistant position at Henry Ford Hospital. Then, in 1964, Laster accomplished something that she believed would have been impossible for her to do had she not boarded a train to Detroit after completing high school: She landed a good, government job with the U.S. Postal Service. It gave me the opportunity to work and make a living wage, said Laster, who was hired as a distribution clerk at Detroits main post office at 1401 W. Fort St. That was one of the greatest things that ever happened to us. The us that Laster was referring to in that instance was the life partnership she shared with the late Ernest Laster, her loving husband for 58 years, and the person who validated Bernice Lasters decision to come to Detroit in the grandest way possible. Bernice Laster says her decision to leave Macon, Georgia, by train in 1951 to start a new life in Detroit was totally validated when she met the late Ernest Laster Jr. (Aug. 9, 1929-Jan. 31, 2022). During 58 years of marriage, the couple had much to celebrate, including Ernest Laster's graduation from the University of Detroit Law School. (Credit: Leland Stein) I was blessed that the Lord sent me someone to love, and the Lord sent me a man who loved me, Laster, who married Ernest three months before starting work at the post office, beamed. When we were first getting to know each other, he asked me to ride out to Belle Isle, and who would refuse going out to Belle Isle? From that point on, he just worked everything to perfection. And with plenty of love in her life, Laster said it was not difficult for her to work 27 years at the post office, where she retired in 1981 as a mid-level supervisor. After completing her government work, Laster then was able to fully focus on providing service to her community, particularly youths, which she happily performed by teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school at Hartford Memorial Baptist Church for 18 years. Following her retirement from the U.S. Postal Service in 1981, after 27 years of service, Bernice Laster, who arrived in Detroit in 1951 via train, was able to turn her full attention to serving her adopted community, particularly youths. Her service included teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school at Hartford Memorial Church for 18 years. In recent years, Laster has touched the lives of youths through outreach she has performed with Boys & Girls Bible Clubs and Child Evangelism Fellowship. (Credit: Leland Stein) Bernice Laster arrived in Detroit via train in 1951 to start a new life. And when Laster, second from the left, celebrated her 90th birthday in 2023, the organizers and guest speakers included some of Laster's former Sunday school students that now live in different parts of country, who arrived by plane to honor their beloved teacher. (Credit: Leland Stein) In recent years, Laster has touched the lives of metro Detroit youths through outreach she has performed with Boys & Girls Bible Clubs and Child Evangelism Fellowship. It is work that Laster still continues today and does not plan to give up anytime soon however, she confided that she is looking forward to taking a little break. And during that "break" she said she expects to return to a familiar site with a few close friends to take part in the reopening celebration at Michigan Central Station that is taking place through June 16. After moving to Detroit, it was always exciting to catch the train to visit family back home, and Im excited about being invited to go down to the station for the reopening, said Laster, whose knack for offering encouragement to others throughout her life extended to her husband, who she encouraged to go to law school, which he successfully completed. The physical strength and energy that God gives you is amazing and I used it to have a good life in Detroit. But nothing we did here in Detroit was us it was all the Lord. Scott Talley is a native Detroiter, a proud product of Detroit Public Schools and a lifelong lover of Detroit culture in its diverse forms. In his second tour with the Free Press, which he grew up reading as a child, he is excited and humbled to cover the citys neighborhoods and the many interesting people who define its various communities. Contact him at stalley@freepress.com or follow him on Twitter @STalleyfreep. Read more of Scott's stories at www.freep.com/mosaic/detroit-is/. Please help us grow great community-focused journalism by becoming a subscriber. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: As a teen in the South, train rider chose Detroit for her home A cowboy pool in Austin, Texas. Photo courtesy NoCo Hospitality. A popular Texas state park pool will be closed once again this summer for a full renovation. Lyndon B. Johnson State Park officials announced via social media that they will be closing down their pool for the summer because it is in dire need of repairs. Park officials said repairs have been needed since the summer of 2023, noting that the pool lost 30,000 gallons of water each day last year. A hard decision was made to close down until the repairs could be completed. Advertisement Article continues below this ad When evaluating the repairs needed for the pool, it was found to be a more complex project. The pool will need the following repairs: Resurfacing the pool Complete replacement of all plumbing Compliant steps into the pool Pool lighting replacement Installation of backwash containment system Additionally, the state park facility needs to be brought up to date with Americans with Disabilities Act Compliance standards, which include the parking lot, fencing around the park, and the pavilion. Park officials said the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department will invest $1.5 million towards the repairs in hopes that the pool will be reopened in 2025. Even when repairs are complete, the park is asking for the public's help to hire lifeguards for next year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Rep. James Clyburn (R-S.C.) on Sunday brushed off recent polling that suggests former President Trumps support from Black, male voters is rising, arguing this voting demographic has not left the fold of Democrats and President Biden. I dont think theyve left the fold. I dont know what is going on with the polling taking place here. I just had attended my state, my NAACP event last evening, Im on my way to an [African Methodist Episcopal Church] Im going to tell you something. There [was] zero support in that place last night for Donald Trump, zero support throughout the African Methodist Episcopal Church, Clyburn said on NewsNations The Hill Sunday. Yes, there are some people if he got 8 to 12 percent before there are some people who vote blindly by party, he added. The Hill Sunday anchor Chris Stirewalt, speaking with Clyburn, pointed to a Wall Street Journal swing state poll in April that found about 30 percent of Black men said they were either definitely or probably going to vote for Trump. While not comparable to the the Journals poll, the newspaper noted Trump received about 12 percent support from Black men in the 2020 election. Biden still had nearly double the support from Black men, with 57 percent choosing the incumbent in the Journals poll. Clyburn said he has no idea whats going on with polling and argued something is wrong with the survey system in the U.S. He pointed to a primary election in Maryland in which a candidate experienced a 20-point increase when comparing preelection polls to the actual numbers she received. How can the polls get that so wrong? Thats going on all over the country, he said. Clyburn, who stepped down from House Democratic leadership earlier this year, is expected to travel to numerous swing states later this year to bolster support for Biden among Black voters. The initiative comes amid recent polls showing Biden losing support among young, Black and Hispanic voters, all groups that are crucial to his voting coalition. In an interview with Punchbowl News last month, Clyburn said Biden does not have a problem with Black voters, while dismissing other poll numbers. One poll from The New York Times/Siena College/Philadelphia Inquirer, released last month, found Biden leading Trump among Black voters, 63 percent support to 23 percent. This is a significant decrease from the 87 percent of Black voters who voted for Biden in 2020. 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. PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) It will be one of the most closely-watched congressional races in the nation and it could help decide the balance of power in Congress. Freshman Republican Congresswoman and former Happy Valley Mayor Lori Chavez-DeRemer will battle Democrat Janelle Bynum to keep her House seat in the most evenly-divided congressional district in Oregon. The 5th Congressional district includes southeast suburbs of Portland, parts of Marion County and Jefferson Counties, all of Linn County and into Deschutes County, including Sisters and Bend. The Democrats are coming hard for this seat, throwing their weight financial and otherwise behind Bynum, already raising more than $2 million. Rep. Chavez-DeRemer returns to Eye on Northwest Politics to discuss whats at stake in this race, making the case to stay in office. You have to be at the table in order to tell Oregons story and Ive spent my last 16 months doing just that, she emphasized. So we feel good about the team weve built. I think as of this last week, of the 302 bills that Im on, 83% of those are bipartisan. So Im not only talking the talk, Im walking the walk. The border has been one of her biggest issues from day one. Regarding President Bidens recent executive order limiting asylum seekers at the southern border and turning away those who enter illegally Chavez-DeRemer wonders if it came too late. However, she noted something should still be done. Were close to 10 million people who have come across that border unchecked and so thats the question we have to answer, she noted. Will this executive order answer that question? And then how will the communities address it as well? So working together is important. Being at the table is important and Im at every one of those tables. In March, Chavez-DeRemer endorsed former President Trump. Since he has now been convicted of 34 counts related to falsifying business records in the Stormy Daniels case and has more trials coming up, she disclosed whether he still has her endorsement. Further, with continued polarization on the national level and representing a purple district, Chavez-DeRemer believes if the everyday issues are talked about enough, some form of consensus can be reached. You dont agree on everything, she acknowledged. But if we can stay focused on the local issues People are concerned with the economy, people are concerned about their jobs, people are concerned about the crime crisis. They want to support our public safety and our law enforcement officers. They want to make sure that we have a good education for our kids. Those are the things I work on. Chavez-DeRemer also had a rebuttal to Bynums comments on Democrats potential to take back the 5th district. There are things she has to defend in her eight years and this will be a policy race, she noted. And the voters of Oregons 5th District are going to decide, Did somebody talk the talk, walk the walk, do what they said? and do they trust you. She continued, I can tell you this. The voters of Oregons 5th District have lent me their voice. They trust me, they believe in me and Ive done the work that theyve asked me to do and Ill continue down that road. Watch the full interview in the video above. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com. Replenishment of Russian army will not allow it to conduct offensive operations on several fronts ISW Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) have noted that the replenishment of the Russian army with new recruits will not allow it to conduct large-scale offensive operations in the summer on several fronts, as the new reserves will not be able to act as first- or second-line penetration forces. Source: ISW Details: Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets noted on 8 June that only a part of the 30,000 troops that Russia mobilises each month are arriving at the front as replacements and reinforcements and that Russian mobilisation efforts have allowed the Russians to create only limited operational and strategic reserves. Mashovets said that on average, each Russian operational grouping of troops receives between 1,000 and 1,500 troops as replacements or reinforcements each month and may receive 2,000 if the grouping is responsible for intense assault operations. There are six operational Russian military groups in and around Ukraine. This means that Mashovets suggests that Russian troops are receiving a total of 6,000 to 12,000 new troops per month. The report notes that this figure does not contradict Ukrainian and Russian reports from January and April 2024 that Russia is recruiting 30,000 new servicemen each month. A significant portion of these new personnel will perform combat support and combat service support functions or later take over combat missions after training. Russian ruler Vladimir Putin said on 7 June that Russia has so far recruited 160,000 new military personnel in 2024, a figure that is consistent with reports that the Russian Armed Forces are recruiting around 30,000 service personnel a month. Analysts note that Russian forces have used their initiative along the entire frontline to set the pace of fighting in Ukraine in recent months, which appears to be resulting in the number of those killed and wounded being roughly equal to or slightly less than the level of the newly recruited forces. Experts add that this balance between Russian losses and newly created forces requires, however, that Russian forces do not significantly intensify offensive operations for an extended period. This balance becomes even narrower when losses and new forces generated for Russian personnel only are taken into account. In recent months, the ISW has observed a "pulsing" of Russian offensive operations along the frontline, with the Russians alternating between intense attacks and slower operational tempos to replenish losses. The availability of new personnel is likely one of several determinants of the Russian military's decision to alternate intensive offensive operations with less intensive ones. ISW estimates that Russia's planned operational- and strategic-level reserves are unlikely to be ready to act as first- or second-tier penetration forces capable of conducting effective large-scale combined arms attacks. The limited Russian operational and strategic reserves reported are likely to be insufficient to support a simultaneous large-scale offensive effort on multiple fronts. The Russian military command will likely have to choose one main front during the expected summer offensive if it intends to use these reserves to support a large-scale offensive. To quote the ISW's Key Takeaways on 8 June: The Russian military command is reportedly transferring an unspecified number of forces to the Ukrainian-Russian border area near Kharkiv Oblast, but it is unclear if the Russian military command plans to immediately commit these redeployed forces to combat or use them to reinforce the Northern Grouping of Forces to bring it closer to its reported planned end strength. Ukrainian military observer Kostiantyn Mashovets noted on 8 June that a fraction of the reported 30,000 personnel that Russia generates each month arrives at the front as combat force replacements and reinforcements and that Russian force generation efforts have allowed Russian forces to establish only limited operational and strategic reserves. Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike against a Russian military airfield in the North Ossetia-Alania Republic on the night of 7-8 June. Russian strikes have caused widespread damage to Ukraine's energy grid, and Ukraine will continue to face serious constraints on power generation capacity. US President Joe Biden met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Paris on 7 June. Defence Intelligence of Ukraine (DIU) and Russian opposition outlets reported that unspecified actors attempted to assassinate the former Russian occupation mayor of Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, Hennadiy Matsehora in Stary Oskol, Belgorod Oblast on 7 June. Russian forces recently advanced north of Kharkiv City, southeast of Kupiansk, within easternmost Chasiv Yar, northwest of Avdiivka, and southwest of Donetsk City. Russian actors are using video appeals from Russian servicemen to refute reports of high Russian losses in northern Kharkiv Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Reports of gunfire amid brawl in Berkeley streets; one arrested (KRON) One person was arrested after reports of a group of individuals engaging in a brawl in Berkeley, according to the Berkeley Police Department. Around 2 a.m. on Sunday, Berkeley PD received multiple calls regarding a substantial amount of individuals fighting on Telegraph and Durant Avenue. Suspect who fired gunshots near police barricaded in San Jose apartment: police Responding officers were informed a firearm was discharged. Berkeley PD told KRON4 that a person was arrested and a firearm was recovered at the scene. The circumstances and motivations around this case are under investigation. This is a developing story. Stay tuned with KRON4 for further details. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Republicans want to control women so much they voted against protecting contraception The fight for reproductive justice is continuing at the federal and state levels, and the Republican Party is determined to prove its dedication to controlling women's bodies and birth control choices. We got a reminder last week when Republicans fought off protections for contraception as a continuation of their overall desire to demand the final say in our lives, regardless of what voters want. Despite Republican lawmaking, moves to restrict abortion further are unpopular with voters. According to Pew Research, 63% of Americans believe that abortion should be legal in all or most cases. So, of course, Republicans have expanded their fight into pharmacy aisles by voting against a bill that would secure the right to contraception nationwide. All of us, especially women, cannot forget that this is our reality, and that it will be the issue of this election. But there are more examples. Here are some recent updates in the fight for reproductive justice. Senate Republicans vote against the right to contraception 20-foot IUD in front of Union Station in DC The Republican Party made it clear last week that their archaic take on abortion also affects how they view birth control. On Wednesday, all but two Republican senators voted against whether to begin work on the Right to Contraception Act, 51-39. The bill would have prohibited any laws that impede access to birth control, something that was ruled on in Griswold v. Connecticut of 1965. This is the same case that in 2022 Justice Clarence Thomas said was one that should be reassessed in his opinion on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization. The threat of a Trump presidency: Gen Z voters like me should be mad at Biden. But we can't risk another Trump presidency. Many Republicans are calling the Right to Contraception Act a political move and a scare tactic because, according to them, there isnt a threat to birth control access. Nobodys going to overturn Griswold, said Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo. No way. Hawley also used the moment to spread misinformation about drugs used in abortions by conflating them with birth control. Mifepristone is not used as a contraceptive. Perhaps Hawley missed the part of Thomas' dissent where he wrote that the Supreme Court "should reconsider all of this Courts substantive due process precedents, including Griswold, Lawrence, and Obergefell." That, or he and his fellow Republicans are willfully ignoring the threat laid out in Thomas opinion. This move to block a bill that would guarantee access to contraception is indicative of where conservatives will push the courts in the future. It's a troubling new low for a party that claims to be about personal freedom when half the country's access to freedom is improved by access to birth control. The bill's real goal may be messaging. I can tell you that the Republican message has been heard loud and clear. Abortion pill laws change in the South In the South, abortion pills like mifepristone are being regulated by state governments. It has just gotten easier to access abortion pills in North Carolina after a federal judge ruled that mifepristone does not need to be taken in a doctors office and can be provided by pharmacists. The ruling is an important step in improving access to abortion pills in a state that has been heavily impacted by neighboring states restrictive abortion policies. Demonstrators gather in front of the Supreme Court as the court hears oral arguments in the case of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine on March 26, 2024 in Washington, DC. The case challenges the 20-plus-year legal authorization by the FDA of mifepristone, a commonly used abortion medication. Meanwhile, Louisiana is doing the opposite. In late May, the states governor signed a bill that reclassifies abortion pills as controlled substances, making it illegal to possess the drugs without a prescription. Medication abortion is by far the most popular method of terminating a pregnancy and made up 63% of abortions last year. By passing this law, Louisiana is further criminalizing reproductive justice in a state that already outlaws abortion with very limited exceptions. The fight for abortion access must include the right to a medication abortion. While North Carolinas ruling is a net positive for access in the South, Louisiana proves the path forward will be complicated by state legislatures and political agendas. Republican misinformation: Have you heard about 'Baby Olivia'? It's how Republicans are lying to kids about abortion. Southern states may be thought of as a red monolith, but there are still millions of women in these states who deserve access to an abortion. These states are also the ones that have been the most restrictive since Dobbs came down. Hopefully, this will be a motivating factor in November. The fight for abortion heads to the states A dozen states are considering including abortion initiatives on their 2024 ballots. Four of these states Colorado, Florida, Maryland and South Dakota are already slated to vote on abortion access this year. Conservatives know this is a major issue. Its the reason theyre working so hard to restrict abortion further ahead of November and retain as much control as they can over individuals and their families. 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. Thats whats happened in Texas recently, where the Supreme Court ruled against 20 women who were denied abortions despite facing life-threatening conditions, upholding the states near-total ban. It follows an April ruling from the Florida Supreme Court that upheld the state's 15-week ban on abortion, which also allowed a more restrictive ban to be legislated. Voters know the importance of the issue. A KFF poll found that 1 in 8 voters say abortion is their top issue driving them to head to the polls. Come Election Day, this will be one of the main reasons people show up to vote. Republicans should be worried, and Democrats should take note. It shouldn't come as a surprise that any of this is happening. Republicans have been clear for years that they would rather see a woman's rights slowly stripped from them than accept that not everyone shares their views on when life begins. It should, however, be a sign that November will be consequential for reproductive justice. Follow USA TODAY elections columnist Sara Pequeno on X, formerly Twitter, @sara__pequeno and Facebook facebook.com/PequenoWrites. You can read diverse opinions from our USA TODAY columnists and other writers on the Opinion front page, on X, formerly Twitter, @usatodayopinion and in our Opinion newsletter. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Republicans rejected Right to Contraception Act. Why? To control women Researchers collaborate with Indigenous community to restore vulnerable forests: 'With more trees, there will be less heat on our lands' In the heart of the Amazon rainforest, Indigenous leaders are on a mission to bring degraded lands back to life. Their goal? To empower their communities to plant 1 million trees per year. Chief Raoni Metuktire of the Kayapo people and Chief Almir of the Surui people are leading the charge, according to Reuters. As lifelong environmental advocates, they've witnessed the toll that illegal logging, mining, and cattle ranching have taken on their ancestral lands. Now, they're partnering with Brazil's agricultural research agency Embrapa to create an online training program called "Sowing forests on Indigenous lands." The course will teach villages across the Amazon how to collect seeds from local tree species, grow them into seedlings, and plant them in areas decimated by deforestation. The benefits are twofold. First, reforestation helps combat atmospheric pollution by pulling planet-warming carbon dioxide out of the air. Second, it supports the well-being of Indigenous communities, which depend on healthy forests for their livelihoods and cultural traditions. "Reforesting will reduce the degradation of Indigenous lands and, ultimately, contribute to Brazil achieving its goals in slowing climate change," Chief Almir explained in an interview, per Reuters. The program will start with 10 Indigenous territories, including Xingu National Park and the Yanomami reservation. Both have been hit hard by illegal incursions from farming and mining interests. With the "sowing forests" initiative, Indigenous leaders are showing that environmental stewardship and human prosperity can grow hand-in-hand. As Chief Raoni told Reuters: " Reforestation will help balance the climate. With more trees, there will be less heat on our lands." By sharing their wisdom and rallying their communities, these chiefs are planting the seeds of a greener future, one tree at a time. In their capable hands, the mighty Amazon is poised for a comeback. For the Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, the forest is more than just a carbon sink it's their home, their heritage, and their heart. By taking the lead in its restoration, they're securing a brighter future for us all. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. BROCKTON For the second time in two weeks, a body has been found at Brockton's wastewater treatment plant. The family of a missing Brockton man says they've been told the body found at the treatment plant Thursday is his. A popular Easton restaurant failed inspection after a report of cockroach in food. After eating most of it, I happened to look down and there was the body and the leg sticking out which was very disgusting, the customer said. Here's what to know. Brockton Hospital was supposed to reopen in June. That's not happening. Why, new timeline? Brockton High School held its graduation ceremony on June 1, 2024. Here are unforgettable moments from the graduation. In case you missed it, here are five of the top stories from the past week throughout the Brockton area. Popular Easton restaurant fails inspection after report of cockroach in food. What to know Like they did many times in the past, lifelong Easton residents Jessica and Ben Barsomian picked up an order of Chinese takeout from their "go-to" restaurant, Easton Lucky Corner, on May 15, they said. But unlike usual, when digging into their leftovers a day later, Jessica found a large dead cockroach in her fried rice, she said. After eating most of it, I happened to look down and there was the body and the leg sticking out which was very disgusting, Jessica said, noting that she immediately called the restaurant to report the incident. Easton restaurant fails inspection: Popular Easton restaurant fails inspection after report of cockroach in food. What to know Easton residents Jessica and Ben Barsomian picked up an order of Chinese takeout from Easton Lucky Corner on May 15, 2024, and when digging into their leftovers a day later, Jessica found this large dead cockroach in her fried rice, she told The Enterprise. Missing man's family says second body found at Brockton wastewater plant ID'ed as his For the second time in two weeks, a body has been found at Brockton's wastewater treatment plant. Family of Robert McCarthy, a man who had been missing since May 23, said authorities told them on Thursday that the body found Thursday is him. Authorities have not confirmed this identification. Marnie McCarthy, a cousin of Robert McCarthy, said authorities told the family they do not suspect foul play in her cousin's death. Second body found at wastewater plant: Missing man's family says second body found at Brockton wastewater plant ID'ed as his Body found at Brockton wastewater plant: Body found at Brockton wastewater treatment plant. Why you don't have to worry about water Brockton firefighters recover a body found at Brockton wastewater treatment plant on Thursday, June 6, 2024. Brockton Hospital was supposed to reopen in June. That's not happening. Why, new timeline? Brockton Mayor Robert F. Sullivan had previously said Brockton Hospital would be fully reopen by June, a date confirmed by hospital officials. But since then, heating and air conditioning units failed tests, forcing the delay. Hospital officials announced no new date, but still expect a return to full service in 2024. Brockton Hospital opening delayed: Brockton Hospital was supposed to reopen in June. That's not happening. Why, new timeline? The outside of Brockton Hospital looks much the same while major repairs go on inside on Wednesday, Aug. 2, 2023. The hospital has been shuttered since a 10-alarm fire on Feb. 7, 2023. Who will buy Good Sam, Morton and Saint Anne's? What if no one buys Steward hospitals? Who will buy three local hospitals run by bankrupt Steward Health Care? Bankers marketing the facilities say they have at least 20 interested buyers. The investment bank Cain Brothers said in a bankruptcy court filing that it pitched 45 potential buyers. Twenty of those prospects were intrigued enough to sign "non disclosure agreements" which let them see closely guarded Steward financial info while they kick the tires. Whio will buy Good Sam?: Who will buy Good Sam, Morton and Saint Anne's? What if no one buys Steward hospitals? Right side of entrance to Good Sam ER entrance in Brockton on Friday, Feb. 2, 2024. Meet top 10 students in West Bridgewaters Class of 2024. Where are they going to college? West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School's Class of 2024 graduated during an outdoor ceremony at War Memorial Park on Friday, May 24. These students were the top performing in West Bridgewater-Middle-Senior High School's Class of 2024. Their interests, achievements and more. Meet the top10 sudents: Meet top 10 students in West Bridgewaters Class of 2024. Where are they going to college? James LeGrice receives his diploma during the West Bridgewater Middle-Senior High School graduation at War Memorial Park on Friday, May 24, 2024. Staff writer Kathy Bossa can be reached by email at kbossa@enterprisenews.com. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Enterprise today. This article originally appeared on The Enterprise: Brockton-area top 5 stories last week: Chinese restaurant inspection, Dr. Christopher Bernier is shown during a May 13 meet-and-greet between the two finalists seeking to be the next superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. Bernier was eventually chosen over Daniel Smith, the other finalist, in a 7-0 vote on May 23. I watched the May 23 meeting at which voting was held for the new superintendent of Duval County Public Schools. I was impressed that all board members seemed to have spoken to previous employers and others who had worked with both candidates in an open search. Also, all expressed appreciation to community members who had participated in the selection process and to Dr. Dana Kriznar for her leadership as interim superintendent during the past difficult year. Although the vote was 7-0 in favor of Dr. Christopher Bernier, two members were extremely impressed with the other final candidate, Dr. Daniel Smith. His intelligence apparently caught their intention and both described him as "a visionary." One of the two supported Dr. Bernier in the end primarily because he is from Florida and is well-acquainted with navigating the difficulties of education in our state. The other member who also leaned toward Dr. Smith felt it important for the board to come to a unanimous decision supporting the new superintendent. Both were, however, impressed with Dr. Bernier's efforts to seek advice and rebuild his Lee County school system after a recent hurricane. I mention this because too many Florida leaders win by a marginal amount and act like they won by a landslide. Dr. Smith had a huge amount of support from those who objected to Dr. Bernier's endorsement by state Commissioner of Education Manny Diaz, who represents Gov. Ron DeSantis (and in my mind much of what is wrong with education in Florida). The 7-0 vote for Dr. Bernier shows the board is thinking about what is needed right now, as opposed to investing in the future with Dr. Smith. Letters: Former Jaguars owner supports stadium deal as opportunity for 'real progress' A important message that came out of the meeting is acknowledgement of the wide chasm within our educational community. All of us were encouraged to put our politics aside and work with our new superintendent so he'll stay awhile, instead of extending the revolving door pattern experienced in recent years. I happen to be one who was disappointed for political reasons in the selection of Dr. Bernier. However, I agree that we need to do better in uniting for the good of Duval County students. So, welcome to your new position, Dr. Bernier. I wish you the very best but I will be watching to see if the transparency and communication that occurred during your selection process continues as we move into another new era of educational leadership. London Rhoda T. London, retired educator of 43 years, Jacksonville This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions. This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Duval Schools must continue transparency shown in choosing new leader MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. (WBTW) Voters across South Carolina will decide hundreds of primary contests on Tuesday bringing clarity to undercard races on Novembers general election ballots. That includes more than 40 contests along the Grand Strand and Pee Dee. Heres a look at the races News13 is monitoring on June 11, along with other information you need to know if you plan to vote. When are polls open? Polls will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Anybody in line by the deadline will be able to vote. On Friday, Horry County election officials tested the scanning machines that will be used to tabulate results from in-person voting. Officials highlighted the machines multiple security measures, which include lockable doors, tamper-evident seals and access codes. More than 900 people in Horry County had voted absentee as of the 5 p.m. deadline on Friday. Congressional races U.S. House 6th District Walterboro natives Duke Buckner and Justin Scott are squaring off in a Republican primary for the right to take on Democratic incumbent Jim Clyburn of Charleston, whose held the seat since 1992. Buckner is an attorney and former Walterboro City Council member while Scott is a welder. U.S. House 7th District Retired Coker University professor and author Mal Hyman of Hartsville is running against Conways Daryl W. Scott in a Democratic primary. The winner will face incumbent Russell Fry, a Trump-endorsed attorney from Surfside Beach. SC House races District 54 Patricia Henegan, a Hartsville Democrat whos held the seat since 2015, is ending her time in the General Assembly. Jason Scott Luck a Bennettsville attorney will face Marlboro County activist and community activist Betty Jo Quick in Tuesdays Democratic primary. District 57 Democratic incumbent Lucas Atkinson of Marion is facing first elected to the Statehouse in 2017 is facing political newcomer Cynthia O. Ford, a former juvenile probation officer. District 58 Republican Jeff Johnson, a Conway attorney, was first elected in 2015 and currently serves as chairman of the House Legislative Oversight Committee. Hes being challenged by political newcomer John M. Beatty, of Aynor. District 61 Republican incumbent Carla Scheussler of Myrtle Beach just finished her first term. Shell have to hold off a pair of small business owners in Shannon Grady and Patrick Herrmann if the Trump-endorsed Scheussler hopes for a return to the General Assembly. District 106 Val Guest, another Trump-endorsed incumbent, faces a challenge from longtime Horry County Republican Party member Brian Sweeney in his primary. Guest was elected in 2022 to replace Fry. SC Senate races District 32 Democratic incumbent Ronnie Sabb of Greeleyville is facing Prinscillia Sumpter. Sabb spent three years in the state House before winning his Senate seat in 2015. District 33 One of South Carolinas most influential lawmakers Conway attorney Luke Rankin faces a Republican primary challenge from Autry Benson, who last September withdrew from the Conway City Council race in a bid to unseat Rankin. Rankin has held the seat since 1993 and is currently chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. 4th Circuit Solicitor Current solicitor William B. Rodgers said last summer that hed retire once his current term was up. Dillon attorney Shipp Daniel, a former 4th Judicial Circuit assistant solicitor, is facing fellow Republican Mike Burch of Pageland for the right to replace Rodgers. The 4th Circuit Solicitors Office oversees cases in Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon and Marlboro counties. Countywide races Darlington County sheriff Jerry Thompson, a Darlington resident and former South Carolina Law Enforcement Division investigator, is a former chief deputy of the sheriffs office. He also served as Hartsvilles police chief from 2015 through 2023. Michael August is also a former SLED agent. In 2019, he joined the Society Hill Police Department, becoming chief in 2022. Democrat James Hudson Jr. was elected Darlington Countys sheriff in 2020. Darlington County coroner Longtime incumbent J. Todd Hardee is facing a challenge from Brian T. Lee, a former South Carolina Highway Patrol trooper who also worked as a Darlington County sheriffs deputy. Darlington County Council District 5 Republican incumbent and vice chairman Marvin Le Flowers is being challenged by Josh Williamson. Dillon County sheriff Democrat Jamie Hamilton, who was appointed interim sheriff by Gov. Henry McMaster following the death of Douglas Humbunny Pernell last year, is seeking a full term. Hes being challenged by James Hog Head Campbell. Dillon County clerk of court Democrats Marquita Britton and Teneil Moody Price are running. Dillon County Council District 1 Democratic incumbent Jamal Campbell is seeking re-election and is facing challengers James Bobie Washington and Kenya Dray Williams. Dillon County Council District 3 Democratic incumbent Detrice McCollum-Dawkins is facing challengers Toni Graves and Archie Scott. Dillon County Council District 4 Democratic incumbent TF Buzzy Finklea is facing challenger Brad Coward. Florence County Council District 2 Republican incumbent Roger M. Poston said over the spring that hes not running again. GOP challengers Zannie Ray Poston and Andy Rodgers are hoping to replace him. Florence County Council District 4 Democrats Mitchell Kirby and Kenneth McAllister are running for the right to face Republican incumbent Jerry Yarborough in November. Florence mayor In one of the regions most closely watched primaries, incumbent Democratic Mayor Teresa Myers-Irvin is being challenged by Lethonia Peaches Barnes and William H. Williams. Myers-Irvin became the citys first woman and first Black person to be elected mayor when she won her 2020 race. Barnes currently sits on the Florence City Council as an at-large member. Williams spent nearly 30 years working for the U.S. Postal Service and formerly ran for governor. Horry County auditor Incumbent Republican Beth Calhoun is being challenged by Tina Hardee. Horry County Board of Education District 11 Incumbent Shanda Allen, a Republican elected in 2016, is facing challengers Jennifer Gaskins and Darrell Ricketts. Gaskins, however, announced on Facebook that she withdrew from the election. Even though her name will still appear on the ballot, she urged supporters on Monday to vote for Ricketts. Horry County Council District 10 Republican incumbent Danny Hardee is seeking a third term on the council. His district includes Wild Wing and a portion of Carolina Forest. Hes being challenged by Timothy Davis and Kenny Lee. Marion County probate judge Democratic incumbent T. Carroll Atkinson III is being challenged by Darryl Burns. Marion County coroner Democrat Jerry Richardson has held the position since 1976, and is a lifelong resident of Marion County. Hes being challenged by Kendra Fling, a former nurse practitioner who now runs a small business. Marion County Council District 1 Democratic incumbent John Q. Atkinson Jr. is facing a challenge from Leroy Tart, Jr. Marion County Council District 2 Democratic incumbent Allen W. Floyd is facing a challenge from Roosevelt Campbell. Marion County Council District 6 Democratic incumbent Robin Turner is facing challenges from Chad Page and Michelle Brewton Smith. Marlboro County sheriff Interim Sheriff Larry McNeil, a Democrat, is being challenged by Sammy Crosland and Fred Knight. McNeil was appointed by McMaster to oversee the sheriffs office in 2021, after Charles Lemon was suspended and later indicted by a federal grand jury on a charge of deprivation of rights. Marlboro County clerk of court Democratic incumbent Anita M. Joy Williams is being challenged by Marquita McLain. Marlboro County treasurer Republicans Patricia Patty English and Ainsley A. Moore are running to replace Delorice B. Barrington, whos retiring after 28 years in the position. Marlboro County Council District 5 Democratic incumbent Ken Mighty Fine Stroman is being challenged by Lafayette Jackson. Marlboro County Council District 6 Republican incumbent Verd Odom is being challenged by Bobby Odom. Marlboro County coroner Democratic incumbent Tim Brown is being challenged by Dearon Dee Smith. News13 will have full coverage of Tuesdays primaries online and on-air. * * * 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. Russia attacks almost 100 Ukrainian infrastructure facilities in one day The number of Ukrainian settlements attacked by Russia on 8 June. Photo: Military Media Center The Russians attacked 93 infrastructure facilities in Ukraine on Saturday, 8 June. Source: Military Media Center of the Ukrainian Ministry of Defence Details: Russian troops fired on the territory of 10 oblasts of Ukraine over the past day. A total of 103 settlements and 93 infrastructure facilities were attacked. Civilians were killed and injured. Background: At least two people were killed in Russian attacks on Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts. Support UP or become our patron! Russia claims to down Ukrainian drone following explosions in Belgorod Oblast Russia's Defense Ministry claimed on June 9 that its air defense had downed a Ukrainian drone in Belgorod Oblast. Local Telegram channels reported a loud explosion in the Rakityansky District in Belgorod Oblast earlier in the day, with photos and videos of smoke. According to the Astra Telegram channel, locals claimed that a Russian ammunition depot had been hit. Ukrainian authorities have not commented. The Kyiv Independent couldn't immediately verify the reports. Belgorod Oblast Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov announced a missile attack threat in his oblast at around 12 p.m. on June 9. Later in the day, he reported that a fire broke out at a non-residential building in Rakityansky District. Gladkov also claimed there were no victims and that residents living nearby had been evacuated to a safer area. Belgorod Oblast borders Ukraine's Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts. Claims of missile and drone attacks against the region have recently become a common occurrence after anti-Kremlin Russian militias' incursions into Russian territory. The U.S. gave Ukraine permission to use American weapons to strike targets in Russia across the border from both Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts, Michael Carpenter, senior director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, told the TSN news program on May 31. Read also: Military intelligence: Collaborant ex-mayor of Kupiansk in critical condition after assassination attempt in Russia Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The National Resistance Centre has reported cases of eviction of Ukrainians from their own homes in the occupied part of Kherson Oblast. Source: National Resistance Centre (NRC) Quote: "In the temporarily occupied part of Kherson Oblast, cases of local collaborators evicting Ukrainians from their homes have been recorded again. Under various pretexts: evacuation due to bombardments, threats of natural disaster, or simply threatening them with mobilisation or prison." Details: The NRC notes that local accomplices of the occupation authorities are resettling Russian soldiers in vacated apartments or houses. Quote: "By the way, this is another scheme to encourage people to join the ranks of the invader's army - promises to solve housing issues at the expense of the occupied territories and property of the civilian population." Details: The NRC adds that, in addition to the resettlement operation, there is an increase in checkpoints at the entrances to the settlements of occupied Kherson Oblast. Quote: "There are cases when the enemy closes the entrance to a particular village or city. This is done to hide their crimes and prevent people from returning to their homes." Details: The NRC reiterates that the Russians have been deporting Ukrainians since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. It is known that, in total, Ukrainians have been resettled to 55 oblasts of the Russian Federation. Support UP or become our patron! A Somali man who fought on the side of the Russian Federation and was captured speaks at a press conference in Kyiv on 15 March 2024. Stock photo: AFP via Getty Images According to the American edition of Bloomberg, the Russians send young Africans to the front lines in Ukraine, specifically threatening to deport them from the Russian Federation if they do not agree. Source: Bloomberg, citing European officials and a Ukrainian senior official Details: European sources state that the Kremlin has forced thousands of migrants and foreign students to fight against Ukraine in attempts to bolster its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast. According to European diplomats, Russian officials are increasingly threatening to refuse to renew visas for African students and young workers if they do not agree to join the army. One European diplomat stated that Moscow also recruits convicts from its prisons, and some Africans on work permits in Russia are jailed and forced to choose between deportation and involvement in military activities. At the same time, some of these immigrants were able to pay Russian officials to stay in the country and evade military service. According to another European official, Russia's practice of forcing migrants and students into warfare began at the start of the war. These troops incur particularly high casualties because they are increasingly involved in dangerous offensive manoeuvres to protect better-trained forces. According to a Ukrainian official, the number of foreign combatants among prisoners of war captured by Ukrainian forces on the battlefield has increased. Africans and Nepalese are particularly prevalent among them. Ukrainian intelligence states that Russia is running a global effort to recruit foreign mercenaries in at least 21 nations, including several in Africa. Army recruitment campaigns offer hefty bonuses for signing a contract, as well as compensation for those who serve under it. Recruiters also target migrants and students who have previously sought work in Russia and, in some cases, entice them with promises of lucrative jobs before forcing them to undertake training and march to the front lines. According to Bloomberg, Russia's ability to mobilise significantly more troops could play a key role in its war against Ukraine. Background: In February of 2024, it was reported that, following reports from CNN and opposition Nepalese MP Bimala Rai Paudyal, Russia had recruited about 15,000 Nepalese citizens to participate in the war against Ukraine. Support UP or become our patron! Russia targeted 103 settlements and 93 infrastructure facilities in Ukraine over the last day, Ukraines Military Media Center reported on June 9. In total, Russia attacked 10 oblasts in the south, east, and north of Ukraine. In Kharkiv Oblast, shelling in the Chuhuiv district killed a man and injured two men, reported the regional administration head Oleh Sinehubov. The attack also damaged a school, a shop, two houses, and a village council building. An overnight strike injured a man in the village of Borova, Izium region, while a woman was killed during an evening attack on June 8 in a settlement near Kupiansk. Housing and infrastructure suffered damage in three other settlements in Kharkiv Oblast although there were no casualties. Russian forces targeted 16 regions in Kherson Oblast, including the city of Kherson, according to the regional military administration. The attacks killed one person and injured two others and also struck a residential area damaging 13 houses. Zaporizhzhia Oblast suffered 429 attacks across eight settlements close to the frontline on June 8, according to the regional military administration. Russia launched 181 drones, 13 multiple-launch rocket system attacks, and 235 artillery strikes. One residential building was hit but there were no civilian casualties, according to the administration. On the evening of June 8, Russia attacked Pokrovske near Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, regional administrator Serhii Lysak said. In the morning, Russia launched drones and artillery, hitting Nikopol and nearby a settlement. The strikes damaged a utility company, five houses, a garage, and a power line, but there were no casualties. Lysak noted that the consequences are still being clarified. Russian forces launched new offensive operations in the north of Kharkiv Oblast on May 10, exposing Kharkiv and a number of border settlements in the region to heavy attacks. As Moscow opened a new front, Kyiv urged allies to lift a ban on strikes inside Russia with Western weapons to prevent further attacks on Ukrainian territory. In late May, the U.S. gave Ukraine permission to use some American weapons to hit targets on Russian soil across the border from both Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. Read also: Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 jet for first time, military intelligence says Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. Russian assault on Kharkiv 'stalled out' as Ukrainians fire across border, Sullivan says Russia's offensive against Kharkiv Oblast is losing momentum and has "stalled out" as Ukrainian forces strike targets across the border with U.S.-provided weapons, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said in an interview with CBS News on June 9. Reports emerged early in June that Ukraine had used U.S.-supplied weapons to strike targets inside Russia for the first time, days after Washington allowed Kyiv to use some American weapons to strike inside Russia across the border from Kharkiv and Sumy oblasts. Asked if Washington's authorization had made an impact on the battlefield, Sullivan pointed to the lack of Russian gains in Kharkiv Oblast over the past few days. "(O)ne thing I will point out is that the momentum of (Russia's) operation in Kharkiv has stalled out," Sullivan said. "Now, Kharkiv is still under threat, but the Russians have not been able to make material progress on the ground in recent days in that area." Sullivan called the decision to allow Ukraine to use U.S. arms to strike nearby Russian positions across the border "common sense." "What was happening up around Kharkiv, which was new just in the last couple of months, was a Russian offensive where they were moving from one side of the border directly to the other side of the border, and it simply didn't make sense not to allow the Ukrainians to fire across that border, to hit Russian guns and emplacements that were firing at the Ukrainians," he said. Read also: Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 jet for first time, military intelligence says Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 against 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 surrounding areas. Sullivan said the U.S. would continue supporting the Ukrainian military's right to defend Kharkiv Oblast. "(T)he United States will continue to support Ukraine in holding the line and pushing back against the aggressing Russian forces," he said. U.S. President Joe Biden told ABC News on June 6 that Washington's authorization came with limitations, and did not mean Ukraine had clearance to carry out long-range strikes on Russian targets with weapons provided by the U.S. "We're not authorizing strikes 200 miles into Russia and we're not authorizing strikes on Moscow, on the Kremlin," Biden said. In response to Washington's decision to allow Ukraine to strike across the border near Kharkiv Oblast, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on June 5 that Moscow might begin supplying weapons to nations with permission to strike Western targets. Pranay Vaddi, the White House's senior director for arms control, then said on June 7 that the U.S. may have to increase its deployment of strategic nuclear weapons amid growing threats from China, Russia, and other adversaries. Sullivan told CBS News that while the U.S. is "concerned" about the growing nuclear capabilities of those nations, arms control talks with China have shown promise in recent months. "China has showed a greater willingness, not a lower willingness to engage with us on questions related to proliferation and arms control," Sullivan said. "Those are nascent conversations. ... (I)t's the beginning of a dialogue." Read also: Ukraine war latest: Zelensky says Russias Kharkiv offensive failed; Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 aircraft for first time Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. 76 combat clashes have occurred at the line of contact in Ukraine since the beginning of the day, 8 June. The most tense situation is on the Pokrovsk front; 27 Russian attacks have already been recorded there. The Russians are trying to break through from Ocheretyne to Yevhenivka and Novooleksandrivka. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine on Facebook, information as of 22:00 on 8 June Details: During the past 24 hours, the Russian invaders landed 44 air strikes on the territory of Ukraine, using 52 guided aerial bombs and 481 kamikaze drones. The Russians carried out more than 2,800 attacks on the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements, using various types of weapons. On the Kharkiv front, four Russian attacks have been repelled in Lyptsi, Hlyboke and Vovchansk since the beginning of the day. On the Kupiansk front, eight attacks by Russian invaders were repelled near the settlements of Synkivka, Pishchane, Andriivka, Hrekivka and Makiivka. The situation is tense; a combat clash continues near Nevske. The Defence Forces are taking measures to stabilise the situation. On Saturday, Russia lost 87 people killed and wounded on this front; an armoured combat vehicle, a car and an anti-tank missile system were destroyed. On the Lyman front, Russia tried seven times to advance in the direction of the settlements of Nevske, Terny, Ivanivka, Torske and Dibrova. Six attacks were repelled, and another combat clash took place in Ivanivka. The situation is under control, and no Ukrainian positions were lost. On the Kramatorsk front, the defenders stopped three Russian attempts to drive Ukrainian soldiers out of the vicinities of Chasiv Yar, Ivanivske and Andriivka. At the same time, the situation near Ivanivske remains tense, a combat clash continues there. On the Pokrovsk front, the defence forces of Ukraine repelled 27 Russian attacks. Twenty Russian assault attempts in the areas of Novooleksandrivka, Yevhenivka, Sokil, Novopokrovsk, Novoselivka Persha, and Yasnobrodivka were repelled. Seven more Russian assaults continue. The situation there is tough. In particular, the Russians continue to try to break through from Ocheretyne to Yevhenivka and Novoooleksandrivka. The defence forces are taking measures to prevent Russia from advancing deep into Ukraine's territory. There were no significant changes in the combat situation on other fronts. Ukrainian defenders inflict fire damage upon the Russians, exhausting them along the entire line of contact. On Saturday, units of Rocket Forces and Artillery destroyed 21 clusters of military personnel and military equipment, a command post, four air defence systems, an electronic warfare station and three Russian radar stations. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine claims to have struck an advanced Russian Su-57 stealth fighter jet. Ukraine says the aircraft was targeted at an airfield 360 miles from the front line. Ukraine has intensified attacks deep inside Russia in recent weeks. Ukraine hit a prized Russian Su-57 fighter jet stationed deep inside Russian territory for the first time, Ukraine's main intelligence directorate (GUR) reported Sunday morning. Ukraine says the aircraft was damaged following a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, 360 miles from the front line. Satellite imagery provided by Ukraine's military intelligence appears to show the aircraft standing intact on June 7 and damaged on June 8. Satellite images appear to show a Russian Su-57 damaged by Ukraine Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine Ukraine's military intelligence said the Su-57 is Moscow's "most modern fighter, which can attack with Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles." A pro-Kremlin Telegram channel, Fighterbomber, often used as a source to confirm Russian military losses in lieu of official confirmation from Moscow, reported that there was shrapnel damage to a Su-57. "Whether [the bomber] can be restored or not is currently being determined," the channel wrote. Unlike Russia's Su-25 and Su-35 aircraft, Moscow's fifth-generation Su-57 fighters have not been widely used since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. "The defeat of the Su-57 is the first such case in history," Ukraine's military intelligence said. David Axe, a military correspondent, and blogger, wrote in an article for Forbes that if confirmed, the loss of the Su-57 "would represent only the second stealth warplane any country has lost in combat in the four decades since the US Air Force deployed the very first stealth planethe Lockheed Martin F-117." In 1999, a Serbian air defense battery shot down an F-117 as it was flying a NATO mission in the Kosovo war, Axe wrote. Russia is stepping up its attacks deep inside Russian territory In recent weeks, Ukraine appears to be increasing the range of its strikes into Russia's hinterland. On Saturday, just a day before news of the Su-57 was made public, a video surfaced across open source intelligence channels appearing to show a Ukrainian long-range attack drone diving toward Mozdok air base in Russia's southern region of North Ossetia, 450 miles from the front line in eastern Ukraine. The moment a Ukrainian UAV hits Mozdok Air Base. https://t.co/Bes8eY4nGR pic.twitter.com/jlSxw4qirZ NOELREPORTS (@NOELreports) June 8, 2024 It is not known if the drone caused any military damage, but in April, satellite imagery revealed that the base was home to 6 Tu-22M bombers, 4 Su-24M/MR strike aircraft, and 20 military helicopters. Mick Ryan, a retired Australian army general, wrote on Substack earlier this year that such attacks deep inside Russian territory will "force a Russian reassessment of their air defense resources as well as having to redeploy these assets further from where they are most needed." Axe said on Sunday: "Russia's air defenses are spread so thin by Ukraine's escalating drone campaign that they can't protect all of the Kremlin's most valuable assets." The last major attack on Russian warplanes came on May 17 when Ukraine hit the Balbek Airfield in occupied Crimea. The attack damaged three planes stationed there: one Su-27 and two MiG-31s. Read the original article on Business Insider Sacramento celebrated LGBTQ visibility and community with a Pride parade Sunday that also drew political protests from those who believe the queer movement hasnt come far enough. The parade marked the second day of a weekend-long city celebration in honor of Pride month. Thousands marched in the parade and cheered along the route, which started at Southside Park and ended on 10th Street near the Capitol. There was no shortage of rainbow flags in the parade, which featured a diverse group, including political figures, motorcyclists, corgis, Bank of America and the Sacramento Gay Mens Chorus. Maxine Yap, 15, twirls a rainbow flag while leading the Bank of America marchers along the Pride March parade route through downtown Sacramento on Sunday. Everyones so cheerful, and it makes me so happy, Yap said. For some, the parade was a chance to show the power of queer Californians at a time when far-right groups are pushing anti-LGBTQ policies, such as those forcing the outing of transgender students in schools. On Saturday night, a Christian march and rally at the Capitol took on an anti-LGBTQ tone, although organizers denied they arranged the events to coincide with Pride weekend. For others, the parade was a hollow corporate expression at a time when the LGBTQ community should be fighting for other oppressed groups, such as the Palestinians affected by the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. Priya Kumar, a spokeswoman for Sacramento Pride Weekend, noted the many projects and groups that are organizing to take away LGBTQ rights and roll back all of the progress that we have been making. A Pride March participant waves a rainbow flag and holds a sign reading Pride Love for All while walking in front of the state capitol in downtown Sacramento on Sunday. Some attendees who werent walking in the parade offered to give people free hugs. I think its really important for this type of demonstration to be here and be seen, and to show how much its grown, Kumar said. She said she recognizes that Pride started as a riot. It started as a demonstration against the oppressive forces. Now, weve come to (2024) and there are a lot of sponsors, and we do have a lot of corporations here, Kumar said. But they are here to showcase their commitment to the LGBTQ community, and we are here to help showcase that. Bruce and Deb Lumbert of Reno came to the parade carrying a sign that said, God blessed us with a gay son. Now let our son bless us with a son-in-law. They also displayed an additional sign that said, We are getting a son-in-law. Bruce Lumbert said Star Trek star George Takei autographed the original sign when the couple was protesting against Californias Proposition 8, a 2008 ballot measure banning same-sex marriage. Deb Lumbert said the situation for LGBTQ people has gotten better, but I dont want to see it get worse. Thats what were afraid of. Nick Kimutis, the Lumberts son, lives in Sacramento and is preparing to marry his fiance, Brian Young, this summer. Im very grateful to live in California, Kimutis said. I think that outside of the state, it could be very scary. Oliver Shu, 5, twirls a rainbow umbrella during Sacramentos annual Pride March on Sunday. Shu has been coming to pride since he was a baby, and he used the umbrella to protect himself and his best friend, Sepideh Oko, 5, not pictured, from the sun. A group of parade participants carry a rainbow flag along Q Street in downtown Sacramento for the annual Pride March on Sunday. Some marchers handed out condoms while others passed out stickers or other rainbow-colored items. Near the start of the parade route, a group of demonstrators held a banner that read No pride in genocide and urged President Joe Biden and U.S. Sen. Alex Padilla to stop funding the war in Gaza. Activist Jessica Lawless said she and the other protesters didnt want to be complicit in what they view as corporate Pride pinkwashing. We must move beyond the politics of visibility, Lawless said. Because visibility to what end? Emily Majluf of Queers for Palestine said the group wasnt against the parade, but demonstrators were providing an additional voice and not marching alongside corporations they view as funding genocide. The fight for LGBTQ liberation is one that should intersect and intertwine with the Black Lives Matter and Palestinian movements, Majluf said. Its great to celebrate Pride today, and how far weve come, Majluf said. But we havent come far enough. SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) A San Diego man was convicted of a hate crime Wednesday after pleading guilty in court, said city attorney Mara W. Elliotts office. John Richards admitted to committing a hate crime against an Asian American police officer, along with one count of battery. The incident occurred on August 26, 2022. These San Diego-area cities are among hottest housing markets in US, according to Realtor.com Police said Richards was found lying on a sidewalk with his genitals exposed, apparently under the influence of alcohol. He was transported to a hospital, where he began hurling racial insults at the police officer. According to the attorneys office, Richards yelled things like the officer should be killed. The situation reportedly escalated as he was being handcuffed. Police said the man hit and tried to kick the officer. This police officer was simply doing his job when he was attacked because of his Asian ancestry, Elliott said. We all have an obligation to confront race-based hatred when we see it. Richards was sentenced to 141 days in custody, 60 of which will be spent at an in-patient residential treatment program. He will also have a year of probation. According to a 2022 FBI report, race, ethnicity and ancestry account for nearly 60% of hate crimes in the U.S. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (C) reacts at the SPD's election party for the European elections in Germany. Michael Fischer/dpa The three parties in German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's governing coalition took a severe hit in Sunday's elections to the European Parliament, together securing less than a third of the vote, according to projections, well behind the conservative opposition CDU/CSU bloc. The coalition parties the Social Democrats (SDP), the Greens and the free-market liberal Free Democrats (FDP) all came in behind the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), according to projections from public broadcaster ARD. While the AfD increased its share of the vote considerably, its result was not as strong as pre-election polling a few months ago had suggested. Scholz's SPD stumbled in 2019 European elections to a result of 15.8%, the worst for the party in living memory. But indications were that it would come in at just 14% this time round. "This is a very bitter election result for us," party general secretary Kevin Kuhnert said. Scholz appeared relaxed at the SPD post-election event, as party members took selfies with him, but observers believe he will have to take responsibility after publicly positioning himself alongside SPD lead candidate Katarina Barley for the campaign. At major events, the chancellor presented himself as the peace chancellor, protector of the German state pension and minimum wage and most recently as a hardliner on the deportation of immigrants with serious criminal convictions. The SPD's worst result shows that it all failed to work. Discontent within the party has led some to suggest that it remains unclear whether Scholz will be the top candidate in the next general elections in 2025. The Greens also faced major disappointments on Sunday, with just 12.5% in projected results. In 2019, the party took 20.5%. The disappointment was even greater once it became clear that the AfD had bested the party. The Greens had made beating the AfD a key aim of their European Parliament campaign. But party head Omid Nouripour insisted the Greens would stay the course at Scholz's side. The situation could be different with the pro-business FDP, which looked to be holding roughly steady with 5%. Lead candidate Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann termed the outcome "good news." But that news indicates there is no guarantee that the party will make it into the next German parliament, as 5% is the threshold to take seats in national elections. The FDP, whose leader Christian Lindner holds the key post of finance minister in Scholz's cabinet, could push for policy changes in the government or shake up the coalition. "We are demanding a genuine economic turning point for Germany," FDP general secretary Bijan Djir-Sarai said. He also called for a change to policies on migration based on limiting numbers. Repeated questioning failed to elicit a response on how much confidence he had in Scholz. The conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), and their Bavarian Christian Social Union (CSU) sister party, celebrated a return to the forefront of German politics which the party last saw under former chancellor Angela Merkel. Projections put the alliance on around 30%. With new-found unity, a new programme and recently re-elected leader Friedrich Merz, the CDU will have momentum headed into state parliamentary elections in three German states in September. Merz charged that Scholz's three-way coalition was harming Germany and called for "a real change of course." "With these European elections, we are back again, and by a large distance number one of the German parties," Merz said. At the last European Parliament elections, the CDU/CSU hit a low of 24.1%. At the AfD's national headquarters in Berlin, cheers erupted when exit polls and projections came in showing a clear bump for the party, up five percentage points from the 11% secured in 2019. Party leader Tino Chrupalla termed the outcome "historic" and expressed satisfaction at beating the chancellor's SPD to take second place behind the CDU/CSU. "When the AfD secures second place in the European elections, that is sensational for us," he told dpa. Chrupalla expressed optimism on the state elections in September, which will all be held in AfD strongholds in the former communist East Germany. The AfD result nevertheless fell short of opinion polls from a few months ago. The party was hit by a series of scandals, and also faced mass demonstrations denouncing the AfD and right-wing extremists. Allegations linking the party's top two European Parliament candidates to Russia and China, and a spying scandal involving a senior aide, also damaged its standing. The new populist Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance (BSW) posted a strong result of around 6% in the exit polls, coming in well ahead of the hard-left The Left, previously the main party of the far left. "It's crazy," Wagenknecht called out to her supporters. "There has never been a party that has achieved a national result like this six months after being founded," she said. The party's campaign centred on halting military support to Ukraine and calling for negotiations with Moscow. Wagenknecht's populist politics combine traditional left-wing social welfare policies with anti-immigration stances. The BSW had passed its first test, Wagenknecht said. She called for the campaign to be launched for the upcoming state elections in September and the national elections in just over a year. Wagenknecht's former party, The Left, fell well back to under 3% from the 5.5% secured in 2019. The upcoming elections could see the party decline into irrelevance. (L-R) German Social Democratic SPD party co-leader Lars Klingbeil, the vice-President of the European Parliament and lead candidate of Germany's Social Democratic Party (SPD) for European Elections Katarina Barley and SPD party co-leader Saskia Esken pose after their joint press conference during the electoral evening at the SPD headquarters after the European Parliament elections. Kay Nietfeld/dpa Several weeks ago, I wrote a column accusing our General Assembly of deliberately dismantling traditional public education and asked why Republicans were trying to destroy public schools? Longtime columnist and friend John Hood denied there was a conspiracy to destroy public schools. It was, he asserted, an effort to introduce competition and choice into public education. Hood said, People favor school choice because they think it will best serve the interests of students, families, educators, and taxpayers. Given the choice, most parents would prefer that their children mingle with others of their income, race and education status. Vouchers and school choice have been part of the Republican agenda in our state going back to the mid-1990s. The movement failed primarily because it was seen as a thinly disguised effort to resegregate public schools. Todays public schools face big problems, and we dont see sufficient efforts being made to fix them, so lets acknowledge that some of the movement to charter, private and home schools is a vote from parents who want their child to have a better education experience and may not be racially motivated. But for whatever the reason the facts demonstrate that the result of this school choice movement is a resegregation of our public schools. A report released last month confirms this truth. Titled Can Our Schools Capture the Educational Gains of Diversity? North Carolina School Segregation, Alternatives and Possible Gains, the study was led by Dr. Jenn Ayscue, an Assistant Professor in Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis and in Educational Leadership at NC State University. Ayscue said, Over the last decade, our schools in North Carolina have become more diverse, but they have also become more segregated, so we're trending in the wrong direction. From 1989 to 2021 North Carolina school enrollments increased by 41 percent, reflecting the rapid population growth in our state. Despite a growth in diversity of our school age population, patterns of segregation intensified. From the report: In 2021, the typical White student attended a school where 58.9% of the students were White, even though White students only comprised 45% of the total state enrollment. The typical Black student attended a school where 41.2% of the students were Black, even though Black students accounted for 25% of the states enrollment. The typical Hispanic student attended a school where 28.7% of the students were Hispanic, even though Hispanic students accounted for only 20% of the states public school enrollment. The report states the typical Black student attended a school with 28.3 percent White students. The typical Hispanic student attended a school with 36.1 percent White students. And despite only having 45 percent of the total school population, 68.6 percent of White students attended majority White schools. Even more significantly, within intensely segregated schools of color 82.6 percent of the students of the students received free or reduced-price lunches, indicating a double segregation of students by race and poverty. The typical Black and Hispanic student attended a school with a disproportionately large share of low-income students (61.3 percent and 55.3 percent) while the typical White and Asian student attended a school with a disproportionately small share of low-income students (38.0 and 29.4 percent, respectively). Since 2021, funding for school vouchers has dramatically increased. The income threshold for qualifying for vouchers has been virtually removed. Our schools are even more segregated than in 2021. On May 17th we observed the 70th anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court decision that declared that separating children in public schools on the basis of race was unconstitutional. North Carolina dragged its feet after the Brown decision but finally accepted integration and began seriously working to desegregate public schools. Weve made good progress, but it apparently is now being reversed. In 2001, Whites accounted for close to 70 percent of the public-school cohort; now it is 45 percent. We are witnessing White flight in our public schools. Many White students went to charters where 52.5 percent were majority white in 2021. We dont have accurate racial percentages from private or home schools, but it is fair to assume they are at least as White as charters. The trendlines are clear. If nothing changes, public schools, in the not-too-distant future, will largely be populated by minorities, children from lower socioeconomic incomes and special needs students. Education outcomes will likely decline. When this happens, we predict there will be a lawsuit that will make Leandro look tame - one that could potentially have budget-busting financial consequences for the state, but also trigger a moral imperative. Brown v. the Board decrees integrated schools and our state constitution guarantees that ALL children will have the opportunity for a sound basic education, regardless of race, sex or economic status. It is obvious that some do not agree, but our schools should be representative of our entire population. It is both the correct and the right thing to do. Tom Campbell is a Hall of Fame North Carolina broadcaster and columnist who has covered North Carolina public policy issues since 1965. Contact him at tomcamp@carolinabroadcasting.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Tom Campbell writes about school choice and resegregation SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI) San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E) hosted its 6th annual Wildfire Safety Fair on Saturday in Rancho Bernardo. As we know, our region here in San Diego is so prone to wildfires, so its all about what we can do to be resilient, said Brian D`Agostino, Vice President, Wildfire & Climate Science at SDG&E. Its wildfire season in San Diego County: How to protect yourself Dozens of people stopped by the community park to get important information, resources and safety tips on Saturday. Were really concerned about wildfires in our area. We live in San Marcos, and theres a lot of brush around where we live, so were very concerned, said Camillia Fulton, San Marcos resident. The fair addressed all of those concerns. When you come here, you can learn about all aspects of protecting your property to steps you can take with the community, said DAgostino. Participants at the fair received information about stocking an emergency kit, developing an emergency plan, and designing or modifying the space around their home to resist wildfires. Goats are helping SDG&E prevent wildfires. Heres how Defensible space around our properties are key, but defensible space around powerlines is also key, and thats where our team of goats come in, explained DAgostino. They are a critical part of our team. It really comes into managing all that grass and all that brush that grows after the winter, the goats will come right in and clean all that up for us. With peak wildfire season around the corner, now is the time to prepare. Saturdays event was the second of four Wildfire Safety Fairs of the year. The next one is scheduled for July 13, in Alpine at Joan MacQueen Middle School, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The last fair is set for August 24, at Valley Center Bates Nut Farm, from 9 a.m. to 1 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 FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News. RACINE The Racine Lighthouse and Maritime Preservation Society is holding a final Education Night before the history organization dissolves. RLAMPS will disband after more than two decades of gathering and sharing Wisconsins maritime heritage. The volunteer-run group, formerly known as Friends of the Wind Point Lighthouse, was formed in 1999 to preserve and educate the public about the history of Wind Point Lighthouse, according to the RLAMPS website. The groups last educational event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Monday, June 10, at at Racine Yacht Club, 1 Barker St., and will focus on Racine Water Utility. The presentation will feature Mike Kosterman, former Racine Water Utility plant superintendent who served in the role for 26 years. Kosterman will discuss the plants history and how water is purified from Lake Michigan and monitored for quality. Racines water utility was founded in 1886 and initially was privately owned, according to RLAMPS. The city purchased the utility in 1917, and the current location on Barker Street was built in 1926. The plant has undergone several upgrades and expansions. According to Kosterman, Racines was once the largest water treatment plant in the country. It is currently the third largest. It also was reportedly the first all-electric pump station on Lake Michigan, according to an RLAMPS news release. In 2011, the U.S. Conference of Mayors voted Racines drinking water the best tasting water in the country. The waters quality, beyond its taste, also speaks to improved water purification processes over the decades. It was never boring and always something different was happening being involved in the day-to-day decisions to ensure that 100,000 people were provided with a good product, Kosterman said. Anyone interested in attending Mondays Education Night is asked to email rsvp@rlamps.org or call 262-639-8135 to confirm the number of in-person or online reservations needed. A livestreaming link can be provided via email. The event is free. We appreciate the interest in our educational programs over the years and hope attendees will continue to explore our rich maritime history on their own, RLAMPS board member Lauri Tomasek said. RLAMPS suggests the Wisconsin Underwater Archeology Association, Wisconsin Maritime Historical Society and the Great Lakes Shipwreck Society as additional maritime history resources moving forward. Search for armed and dangerous suspect after SC man was killed in shooting, cops say One man was killed Saturday and another is wanted on a murder charge, South Carolina officials said. Tarrence Eugene Robinson, a 36-year-old Greenwood resident, died after being shot in the head, the Greenwood County Coroners Office said. A search is underway for 40-year-old Tony Matthew Landron, who was called armed and dangerous, by the Greenwood Police Department. In addition to murder, Landron is also facing a charge for possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime, according to police. Landron and Robinson knew each other prior to the shooting, police said. There was no word on a motive for the shooting. Greenwood shooting details At about 1:30 p.m. Saturday, officers responded to the shooting at 125 Oakhill Avenue and found a shooting victim, police said. EMS took Robinson to an area hospital, where he died at about 2:30 p.m., according to the coroners office. No other injuries were reported in the shooting that continues to be investigated by police and the coroners office. An autopsy is scheduled for next week. Police warned anyone who sees Landron to stay away from him and call 911. Anyone with information about Landron or the shooting is asked to call police at 864-942-8407. Both the Greenwood County Sheriffs Office and South Carolina Highway Patrol have assisted in the investigation. TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) Search efforts continue Monday after a missing swimmer was reported Saturday afternoon near Devils Cove on Lake Travis. The Travis County Sheriffs Office received a 911 call around 4 p.m. Saturday for a missing swimmer. The caller said the swimmer was missing for 15 to 20 minutes, according to TCSO. The missing swimmer is a 26-year-old man who fell off a pontoon boat, according to the Texas Game Wardens. This embedded content is not available in your region. The sheriffs office said initial rescue efforts were unsuccessful and became a recovery mission. Search efforts ended at dark Saturday and resumed at sunrise Sunday. Search efforts stopped at dark Sunday night and restarted Monday at sunrise, according to the Texas Game Wardens. The Texas Game Warden Aviation Unit and the Texas Game Warden Underwater Search and Recovery Team will be part of the Monday search efforts. RELATED: Travis County dive team stays busy searching for bodies in Lake Travis Crews are using sonar technology, underwater cameras, surface searches, shoreline searches, STAR Flight aerial searches and the TCSO Dive Team to locate the swimmer. Unfortunately, too many David Pellizzari, the captain game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, said this year they are seeing an increase in missing swimmers on waterways across the state. [There are] unfortunately, too many, Pellizzari said. The big thing right now is there are underwater hazards that when the lake is full, you might not have, he added. Somebody dives down and hits their head. Or tries to jump off something and the water is not as deep as it was when they did it the year before. And bad things can happen real quick. Pellizzari said because of newer technology, search teams tend to be successful in recovering people. As of Monday afternoon, search teams have not found the man who fell off the boat on Lake Travis. Weve got some of the best technology in the world out here today and its still not easy, he said. Our main goal is to try to [find people] as quickly as we can for the sake of the family and get their loved one back. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. The Seattle community joined forces to create a night to remember for students following the tragic shooting at Garfield High School this week. Its been a heavy week for so many after 17-year-old Amarr Murphy was shot and killed trying to stop a fight. Everything kind of just came to just a screeching halt. Decorations got sent back to the warehouse, snacks got sent back, it was just kind of a mess, said parent Alicia Spanswick. Despite the school closure, senior prom would still go on Saturday without the usual setup. Spanswick felt the students deserved more. I know one event isnt going to make up for all of that. But if we can show them it is worth doing and being here and participating and that people love you and care about you and want you to succeed, she said. Little did she know, her Facebook post asking for help would reach the right audience. So I was just like started furiously texting all my friends and luckily we just have such a great community trying to see who could be available and who can do things. I just wanted to see if theres anything I could do, said event planner Brittnie Wilkinson. In a matter of hours, local event coordinators, lighting companies, and vendors stepped in to help Garfields prom. In this moment and when things like this happen, a lot of people feel so helpless. And they dont know how to give back, how to donate something, how to help in some way, said Wilkinson. Just hearing about Amarr Murphy and he was trying to do something good so today in his honor we just want to do something good, said event planner Shelly Tolo. Together, they were able to turn the night into one the students will remember. See the 2024 Sacramento Pride Festival kick off on Capitol Mall Sacramento kicked off its annual LGBTQ+ Pride Festival, a two-day event, at Capitol Mall on Saturday. The festival featured three stages with live music and entertainment like singer-songwriter Daya, who performed her debut single Hide Away on the Faces Pride Stage. Singer-songwriter Daya checks audio at the Faces Pride Stage at the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Booths featuring local businesses, food vendors and nonprofits such as Free Mom Hugs, an organization that offers support to the queer community, and other groups lined the mall. The event is organized by the Sacramento LGBT Community Center. Two people hug at the Free Mom Hugs booth at the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Attendees like Mona Dehaesus and Taylor Longmire wore rainbow clothes and accessories to celebrate Pride Month. Outside the entrance for Pride, pro-Palestinian protesters called for solidarity between the LGBTQ+ community and their efforts. The annual Pride parade begins at Southside Park on Sunday morning at 11 a.m., and the festival runs Sunday on the mall from noon to 6 p.m. Mona Dehaesus, center, and Taylor Longmire, right, explore the Sacramento Pride Festival on Capitol Mall on Saturday. The festival, which continues Sunday from noon to 6 p.m., features live music, DJs and drag shows. The annual Pride March starts Sunday at 11 a.m. at Southside Park and ends on 10th Street in front of the Capitol. Members of the Sacramento Gay Mens Chorus attend the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Sacramento, Calif. Pansexual, lesbian and gay flags wave during the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. A person wearing a gay pride flag cape and a hat reading I am Kenough attends the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Attendees walk through Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024, in Sacramento. A pro-Palestine protester waves a Pride flag in front of the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Pro-Palestine protesters gather in front of the 33rd annual Sacramento Pride festival on Saturday, June 8, 2024. Q&A Prashant: In the introduction to your book, you talk about how there are these interesting parallels between the United States and China, how at the center of both of those countries is the belief that theyre innocent and only bad things happen to them, and about how they interact with the fringes of their empires. How did you reach that connection? Edward: That thought was something that I added in a fairly late version of the book. That idea is based on an essay by Reinhold Niebuhr, a theologian who has written on US foreign policy, and he wrote this essay about American innocence that I think captures a lot of the contradictions in American foreign policy. My idea about that parallel between China and the US only came to fruition in my head because of the three main beats I covered since I turned 30, which is the Iraq War, China and its rise, and then US foreign policy writ large right now. I realized at some point recently that it was this important similarity between the Chinese self-conception and American self-conception, which is that these are these powers that seek to do good in the world. Thats how they each think of themselves that theyre justified in that and that other countries should be gravitating towards what they have to give to the world, and that they can also, to a certain degree, impose what they want on the world, and they rationalize that, because they feel that what theyre giving to the world will benefit the world at large. Because of that idea, they also believe that these countries, these nations, these powers are innocent that they themselves are not doers of evil, that they dont have this dark side to them. And they might make mistakes, but in the end if there is a retaliation or pushback to what theyre doing, then its because there is something wrong with the other party that there is something inherently bad or malevolent or evil about other parties pushing back against them. Prashant: Journalism in China and journalism in DC are diametrically different. What youre trying to accomplish is different when youre a China correspondent versus a DC correspondent. How is committing an act of journalism different in a place like China versus a hypercompetitive place like DC? Edward: Its hugely different. And in fact, there was even a big difference between Iraq and China. Theres an interesting parallel or similarity between my reporting in Iraq during the height of the war and DC in that I was able to get in touch with government officials very easily, whether they were Iraqi officials in Iraq or American generals or officials in Iraq. And then here in DC, US officials, its very easy for me if I have their cell phone number or I have them on Signal or on email to get in touch with them. And they might not want to talk to you, but oftentimes they will want to talk to you because theyll want to tell you their version of things. They also know that theres value in speaking to the press because someone else out theres putting out a competing narrative, whether its another government or a rival agency. So you use that to your advantage. Its important for them to get their version of things out there. I found that Iraqi officials were the same way. It was very easy to talk to them and there were often competing factions in Iraq. Now, China was the exact opposite. China, its almost impossible to get officials to talk to you, especially within the central government. So a lot of the reporting I did was going out and talking to ordinary citizens and writing about how they were affected by policies, but it was very difficult to get insight into the policymaking process itself, which is a main part of my job here in DC. So in many ways the type of reporting I did in China, I found more rewarding, because youre talking with ordinary people and finding out the impact of the policies on them and then youre reporting from the ground up. Its sort of like more grassroots reporting, whereas in Washington, youre reporting on the top down, youre trying to figure out whos making policy and its other reporters reporters in Sudan, or Israel and Gaza, or Ukraine who are reporting on the effects of US policy on those regions. Prashant: Does that change how you approach source building? Edward: It was a big transition. In China, I really didnt have to place a lot of value on any linkages to the government. We had sources who were two or three steps removed for example, businesspeople, think tank researchers, people who would meet with government officials and then tell you what they were hearing. So you were hearing things several steps removed. Here, source cultivation is everything, in DC. Im coming to this starting from 2018, so I had to learn basically what sources and officials value in Washington. How do you approach people? Some people are very transactional, others, you need to work them in different ways. And so its just figuring out why they want to talk to you. In many ways, I feel like its what intelligence agents do. I feel like our trade craft is very similar except we dont blackmail them and we dont offer bribes. Prashant: Youre probably unique among the diplomatic reporting corps in that you have China experience. Are you struck by how hawkish DC has become on China? Edward: I was struck I think by how aggressive officials in both parties have become on China, but at the same time it wasnt that surprising to me, because I felt that in some ways, we all talk about what Trump has done on China, or what Biden has done in China. But I prefer to talk about what Xi has done, because I feel like a lot of the more aggressive direction that US officials have adopted is also a reaction to the direction that Xi has taken China. We tend to forget that a lot because we focus so much of our coverage on these US administrations. And so the much more nationalistic direction that Xi has taken China the military expansion, the outward push by the PLA in the waters and the land borders around China, repression in Xinjiang these are all things that I think have become important in the Washington conception of China. And Xis also made China a lot more closed to foreigners, whether its students or businesspeople. These were the things that in many ways provided a balancing force in US-China relations. Without that, the relationship becomes much less balanced and moves more towards hostility and less towards some form of amicable dialogue. I do think that there are certain interesting trends that have taken place also in American politics thats moved Washington towards a much more hostile attitude. One of them is the big backlash which came as a big surprise to me coming back to the US against neoliberal economics. The idea of free trade was a huge ballast in the relationship between the US and China. This is mostly due to Trump and the rhetoric that he adopted towards neoliberal economics, has really pushed the US away from that idea of embracing trade with China, even though trade numbers are still very robust. But rhetorically, in political circles, you win a lot of points by going against free trade, which is a central part of the relationship. And so I think that theres these other greater trends I think within US politics and economics that really have led to a deterioration of the foundations of the relationship. The picture provided by the South Korean General Staff shows a balloon with a bag of garbage attached floating on the Han River in Seoul. The balloon and many others were presumably released from North Korea in response to the South Korean balloons carrying propaganda leaflets. -/YNA/dpa North Korea has once again sent numerous balloons with plastic bags full of rubbish across the heavily militarized border between the two countries, South Korea said. Between Saturday and Sunday morning, around 330 "rubbish balloons" were released from North Korea, according to the General Staff in the capital Seoul. More than 80 of them had landed on South Korean territory. The rest likely did not reach their target. The trash consisted of paper and plastic, among other items. Initial investigations had shown that they did not contain any dangerous substances. Nevertheless, people were urged not to touch the landed objects. North Korea's balloon actions are a reaction to similar activities by South Korean groups, which repeatedly send thousands of leaflets and other propaganda material across the border in huge gas balloons. In the leaflets, they criticize the authoritarian leadership of the closed-off neighbouring country. The propaganda activities of the South Korean activists are considered controversial in South Korea. According to reports in South Korean media, two different groups undertook such leaflet campaigns on Thursday and Friday. Pyongyang generally reacts sensitively to propaganda from outside and accuses the government in Seoul of supporting such balloon campaigns by private groups. North Korea has sent more than 1,000 balloons filled with waste products and in some cases slurry to South Korea since the end of May. Given the growing tensions on the Korean peninsula, South Korea's government recently decided to suspend a 2018 military agreement with North Korea on confidence-building measures at the border. This paved the way for the resumption of military exercises near the military demarcation line and possible propaganda broadcasts with loudspeakers in the direction of the North. She survived being shot at point-blank range. Who wanted Nicki Lenway dead? This story previously aired on Oct. 7, 2023. Nicole "Nicki" Lenway, a crime scene investigator for the Minneapolis Police Department, was gunned down in broad daylight -- shot twice at point-blank range in a parking lot on the evening of April 20, 2022. "Someone wanted me dead," Lenway tells "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty in her first television interview. Lenway was shot while picking up her child from a parenting center. "That's when my life changed forever." Surveillance cameras captured the shooter targeting Nicole Lenway. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court "I'm halfway in between my vehicle and the door. And this person comes running up from behind me," Lenway tells Moriarty. "Shots were being fired. I fell to the ground And the shooter stands over me and continues to try to shoot I felt my neck and then could see the blood." The shooting was caught on surveillance video. It was also witnessed by a woman in her car sitting at a red light. "I was just drivin' home and I saw a person run up to another person," said Emilie Clancy, who pulled over to help until first responders arrived. "I heard two bangs and that other person collapsed." Lenway is alive today. But who wanted her dead? A GOOD SAMARITAN'S QUICK THINKING SAVES SHOOTING VICTIM'S LIFE As Emilie Clancy later told police, she couldn't quite believe what she saw and heard on that April evening as she drove home from having dinner with a friend. Emilie Clancy: I was coming up and I saw the two people and then all of a sudden I heard bang, bang! Emilie Clancy: Stopped right here at this intersection. As soon as the light turned green, Clancy sped through the intersection and pulled up next to the victim. Emilie Clancy: I opened the door. I said," are you OK?" And she said, "No, I've been shot." Nicole "Nicki" Lenway Ford was shot and bleeding in the parking lot of Familywise, a parenting center, where she had gone to pick up her son. The 33-year-old was no stranger to violence. She worked as a forensic scientist for the Minneapolis Police Department. And right after being shot, she called 911. Left bleeding and struggling to breathe, Nicole Lenway called 911, but when the operator answered Lenway realized she was unable to speak. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court DISPATCH: 911, what is the address of the emergency? NICOLE LENWAY: (inaudible, gargling sounds) Emilie Clancy: She's barely breathing could barely say any words other than her name And I said, "get in the car." Clancy took over the 911 call and followed the dispatcher's instructions. Emilie Clancy: I could see that there was blood coming out of her neck. they said "put a jacket or something around her neck." And I said, "yeah, I have one right here." Within minutes first responders arrived. OFFICER (body cam video): Were you the one that called? EMILIE CLANCY: Yes OFFICER: Where's the victim? Who's shot? The dramatic scene was captured on police body cameras. FRIEND (body cam video, outside car): Oh my God! Oh my God! OFFICER: What's going on? Emilie Clancy: She was scared. really scared. EMILIE CLANCY (body cam video): I've got pressure on the neck. She got shot in the arm as well. Emilie Clancy: She was in a lot of pain. She was having a hard time breathing. Emilie Clancy: I just looked her in the eyes And I said, "Nicki, we've got this. We've got this. Just stay with me." Emilie Clancy: I don't think we can ever recreate how powerful of a moment that was. I just wanted her to know that she wasn't alone in this. Emilie Clancy: And if that was the only thing I can give to this poor girl, like that -- that would mean something to me. PARAMEDIC (body cam video | to Nicki): Alright, dear, Can you walk? We're gonna get outside and we're gonna go into the ambulance PARAMEDIC: Gonna bring you to the hospital, alright? Erin Moriarty: One of the most surprising things about the video is that you had to walk to the ambulance. Nicole Lenway: Yeah. Erin Moriarty: I couldn't believe it. Were you aware of how badly injured you were? Nicole Lenway: I don't think so. I think I was in shock maybe. I didn't realize how bad it was. PARAMEDIC (body cam video): Try not to move your head left or right, OK? Nicole was loaded into the ambulance, and soon lost consciousness. The news spread quickly that a Minneapolis police employee had been shot. Nicole's then-boyfriend, Minneapolis Police officer Donovan Ford, was at home. Erin Moriarty: What is it like to get that phone call that the woman you love has just been shot? Donovan Ford: I had no words. I went flying down to the hospital. I was in a panic. When Ford arrived at the Hennepin County Medical Center, he wasn't prepared for what he saw. Donovan Ford: She was basically unconscious She had tubes down her throat and all that. Erin Moriarty: When you did finally get to talk to a doctor, what did they tell you? Donovan Ford: She's in bad shape. We're going to do our best to, you know, save her life, essentially. Nicole had a perforated lung, severe damage to her vocal cords and a bullet lodged between two of her ribs. She was in critical condition. Donovan Ford: I'm in law enforcement, so when they say critical, that means essentially they're close to the end. and where she was shot, typically, people don't survive. I was praying, a lot. As doctors rushed to save Nicole, outside the FamilyWise parenting center her colleagues at the police department got to work. On the ground outside the FamilyWise parenting center, investigators found three discharged bullet casings and blood. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court On the ground they found three discharged bullet casings and blood. They quickly learned Nicole had been at FamilyWise to pick up her son who was on a scheduled visit with his father, her ex-boyfriend, Tim Amacher. OFFICER (body cam video): Are you Timothy, sir? TIM AMACHER: Yes. Officers caught up with Amacher, as he was finishing up his visit with their 5-year-old son Callahan. He had been at the center for hours. OFFICER (body cam video): and then you've been in the back with your son the entire time? FAMILYWISE WORKER: Yes, he was in In the community, Tim Amacher was well liked, and a respected local taekwondo instructor. Amacher seemed worried about Nicole. TIM AMACHER (body cam video): Is she OK? She going to be fine? OFFICER: I mean, she's stable right now, but it's really serious. And he had an idea about what may have happened. He thought it had something to do with a case she worked. Tim Amacher being questioned by an investigator. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court TIM AMACHER (to investigator): She was afraid cause she had thought people were driving by her house. TIM AMACHER: She changed her last name to her middle name. She shut down her social media. TIM AMACHER: She had drive bys of Minneapolis coming to her house all the time. She had me bring over my -- my shotgun to her house. She was, she was in fear. But police didn't find any obvious connections to Nicole's cases. They searched Tim's Jeep and asked if he owned any other cars. OFFICER: This is your only car? TIM AMACHER: No, no. I have a Challenger, too. And then let him go. Police continued to look for evidence, canvassing the building and surrounding area searching for security footage, and discovered cameras from FamilyWise, a bank across the street and an elementary school around the corner had captured every second. The first images of Nicole arriving to pick up her son. Then someone dressed all in black running her down from behind. The moment the shots were fired. The shooter fleeing on foot and then driving off in a black Dodge Ram truck. But the truck had no license plates, and police couldn't tell who was driving. The next day, Nicole regained consciousness, and she told police that she was sure she knew who was responsible. Nicole Lenway: I just knew it had something to do with Tim. I just knew. TIM AMACHER (to police): Well, of course, I'm gonna be the first guy you, guys, to look at. Nicole Lenway: I didn't know how he was involved, but he was involved. THE TAEKWONDO MASTER AND THE CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR The tenets of the Korean martial art taekwondo include courtesy, self-control, integrity. The most skilled, like Tim Amacher, are called "Master." Nicki would come to believe that Amacher was somehow involved in her shooting. But in the world of taekwondo -- Pat Zellmer: He was a very good instructor. Pat and Claire Zellmer were part of a Amacher's tight group of friends, and also familiar with his World Taekwondo Academy. Claire Zellmer: People would definitely refer to him as Master Amacher within the -- within his school. But they would also, if they were still students and they were friendly outside of the school, he was still Master Amacher.. Tim Amacher / Credit: Charles Dettloff People gravitated to Amacher -- his physical skill, business savvy and easy confidence. A leader who seemed to have it all figured out. Pat Zellmer: He's charismatic, driven, intense. Claire Zellmer: He can draw people in and make them feel this connection with him. And his reputation continued after dark. Erin Moriarty: The mayor of the nightlife here? Charlie Dettloff: I would say that's a fair assessment, very much so, very much so. Charlie Dettloff knew Amacher well before he met Nicki, and witnessed firsthand, the power of Tim's personality. Charlie Dettloff: So, I moved back here in about 2001. Erin Moriarty: And was Tim Amacher already living next door? Charlie Dettloff: He was. He was living next door. Amacher was a helpful neighbor, with style and appeal you couldn't miss. Charlie Dettloff: He loved fashion. Loved the right jeans, and the right shirt, and the right boot. And always had to be the best. Erin Moriarty: Was he a good friend to you? Charlie Dettloff: Yeah, he was a great friend. Erin Moriarty: And where was Tim living? Charlie Dettloff (pointing at Amacher's house): Tim's bedroom was in the back corner here. And according to Dettloff, there was a waiting list of women who wanted into Amacher's bedroom. Charlie Dettloff: Coming and going. Yeah, they would pull up right here the front light here was um, purple and if that light was on then the women knew they could go in. Erin Moriarty: Are you serious? Charlie Dettloff: I'm not kidding. It was almost like the, you know, the red light district. Erin Moriarty: Juggling a lot of women. Pat Zellmer: Yes. Erin Moriarty: At once? Pat Zellmer: Yes, of course. It seemed like there was a different girl every night. Erin Moriarty: What did women see in him? Claire Zellmer: I don't know because I didn't see it. But many other women seemed to see much in Tim Amacher. Erin Moriarty: How did you meet Tim? Nicole Lenway: I met Tim by going to his gym. Erin Moriarty: And when did you start dating? Nicolei Lenway: Shortly after. Nicole was responsible and grounded. Amacher's close friends quickly understood the attraction. Charlie Dettloff: There was something special about her. She's smart, she's pretty, she's outgoing. She's got it all. Nicole Lenway: At first I actually wasn't really interested. But he was very persistent. And uh, he just kind of wore me down and I kind of -- I started enjoying our time together. Erin Moriarty: And he was older. Nicole Lenway: Right. He had experienced more life than me and it was exciting. Tim Amacher and Nicole Lenway / Credit: Nicole Lenway They moved in together in early 2014. But friends say Amacher still wasn't faithful. Erin Moriarty: Did you try to warn her about Tim and his women? Claire Zellmer: About his womanizing? Yes, absolutely. Nicole Lenway: There were a lot of red flags. Erin Moriarty: A lot of jealousy? Nicole Lenway: Yes. Pat Zellmer: They fought constantly. It was almost like a perpetual argument, verging on a fight. Erin Moriarty: Did you ever see him violent or hurtful towards her? Pat Zellmer: I did not, no. But Nicole would tell investigators Amacher was violent. Nicole Lenway: One night he threw me against the wall holding my neck. Erin Moriarty: Why did you stay even as long as you did? Nicki Lenway: I ask myself that all the time. I don't know. I think I felt trapped. And you know he just got into my brain so badly. She says that on a trip to Las Vegas an angry, alcohol fueled Amacher threw a lamp across the room. Nicole Lenway: It was terrifying. I locked myself in the bathroom. Nicole Lenway said she and Amacher had a long and rocky history that included allegations of abuse In September 2015, Nicole, then 26 years old, had more than enough. But she says now that breaking away from Amacher was anything but easy. Nicole Lenway: I packed my bags, and I started walking out. And he pulled me back into the house by my ponytail and dragged me into the bedroom. And after that I was like I am done. Nicole moved out. And an 18-year-old student of Amacher's moved in, renting out one of his rooms. Her name: Colleen Larson. Charlie Dettloff: Seemed absolutely lovely, nice girl I think she's very smart. Probably book smart, not street smart. Larson had begun studying with Amacher when she was barely a teenager. Tim's friends say she seemed infatuated with him. Pat Zellmer: He's her instructor. He's her Master, you know, for 10-plus years at this point. Claire Zellmer: It just seemed she was like this little puppy dog wanting to impress him. Pat Zellmer: Like a child and an adult, in that respect. Claire Zellmer: Yes. They say Larson seemed delighted to be living with the man she had idolized since she was young. As for Nicole, she hoped to have no further contact with Amacher. But very soon. they all got some unexpected news. Nicki Lenway: I found out then I was pregnant. And he wanted me to get rid of the baby. And I told him I just couldn't. And I was in a state of panic. AT WAR OVER A LITTLE BOY OFFICER (April 20, 2020 | body cam video): Are -- are you Timothy, sir? TIM AMACHER: Yes. OFFICER: OK, right now, I'm gonna ask you if I can search you for weapons real quick, OK? TIM AMACHER: For weapons? OFFICER: Yeah. Police body cameras show Tim Amacher being questioned inside the FamilyWise parenting center, where he was visiting with his son on April 20, 2022. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Detectives needed to know all about Nicki's relationship with her son's father, Tim Amcher. TIM AMACHER: Why would I have weapons here? OFFICER: There was a shooting that happened. TIM AMACHER: OK -- Which, that had nothing to do with me. OFFICER: Right. The investigation would track a trail that led back to the fall of 2015, when Nicole first learned she was pregnant, with the taekwondo Master she alleged had abused her. Nicole Lenway: It just got more and more volatile. Claire Zellmer: We were so excited for them to be having a baby. That's a momentous event -- a happy thing to normal people. But the only thing normal was the irrepressible joy of a new mother. She named him Callahan. Nicole Lenway: He was born on June 20th of 2016. He was a big boy. And he was perfect. Claire Zellmer: And then she gave him the last name Amacher. Nicole was the primary caregiver. But sometimes Cal stayed with his dad. Erin Moriarty: Did you feel that co-parenting was working? Nicki Lenway: I felt like it could. But he wasn't always reliable, says Nicole. When she needed him most, Amacher was halfway around the world. Pat Zellmer: Tim went to Thailand and totally bailed on Christmas and New Year's. Amacher may not have been a hands-on dad, but someone else was ready to step in: Colleen Larson, his longtime taekwondo student who was renting that room in Tim's house. Charlie Dettloff: She was very kind to Callahan, she was a good caregiver to him. And with unpredictable hours with the Minneapolis Police Department, the arrangement seemed to work for Nicole. Nicki Lenway: My son really seemed to like her. Colleen Larson had been Tim Amacher's taekwondo student since she was an adolescent. When she was 18 years old, she moved in with Amacher and their relationship would eventually become romantic. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court When the once young taekwondo student turned 18, her relationship with Tim Amacher quietly changed according to Dettloff. Erin Moriarty: Did you get the sense he was in love with Colleen? Charlie Dettloff: No. Not at all. I think she was very much in love with him. Dettloff says Amacher called the relationship "easy." Charlie Dettloff: She would call him "Master." Erin Moriarty: At the house? Charlie Dettloff: Yep, Master Amacher. And ultimately kinda became, you know, like a maid or a servant to him. Then, in the summer of 2017, Nicole's life took a dramatic turn. Erin Moriarty: Do you remember when you first met Nicole? Donovan Ford: Absolutely. It was the kind of love at first sight that only a cop on the beat could have. Donovan Ford: First time I ever saw her was on a burglary call. I definitely took notice at that point. Erin Moriarty: Why? Donovan Ford: She's gorgeous. And to Donovan Ford, intriguing. Donovan Ford: She processed the scene. Erin Moriarty: So, she was a member of the real CSI. Donovan Ford: Oh, yeah. Nicole Lenway: He knew that I was a single mom. And he was divorced. Erin Moriarty: When I just mentioned his name you lit up. Why is that? Nicole Lenway: He is truly the love of my life. He has been the biggest blessing to myself and my son. Erin Moriarty: And he's been through a lot with you, hasn't he? Nicole Lenway: He has. Nicole and Donovan Ford / Credit: Nicole Lenway Nicole's already difficult relationship with Amacher only got worse when Tim discovered she was dating Donovan Ford, who was fast becoming part of Callahan's life. Erin Moriarty: Did the way he dealt with Cal change after you started dating Donovan? Nicole Lenway: It did He wanted him all the time. And Amacher didn't want Ford around his son. He accused Donovan of saying negative things about Colleen Larson. Then Amacher called Ford and left this angry voice message: "Man up for once in your life and quit hiding behind the badge." Donovan Ford: And then I started getting text messages. Like the one where Amacher claimed Ford was destroying his family. It ignited what can only be called a war that would grow treacherous. And it wouldn't be a short one. Erin Moriarty: How would you describe the last six years? Nicole Lenway: It has been chaos. Nicole claims Amacher tried to destroy her. Nicole Lenway: Like," I'm going to take everything from you." Erin Moriarty: Did you believe him? Nicole Lenway: I did. The black belt's new weapon of choice was the legal system. Charlie Dettloff: It was the relentless number of motions before the court. He reported Nicole to Child Protection Services multiple times, accusing her and Ford of physical and sexual abuse. Erin Moriarty: Children Services show up at your house? Nicole Lenway: Yes. I had them in and out of my home for three years. Amacher filed for custody of Cal. And Nicole filed for an order of protection from Amacher. Not a single one of the allegations against Nicole or Ford was found to have substance. Erin Moriarty: Did you see anything that concerned you or made you think that Cal had been abused? Charlie Dettloff: No, nothing. Claire Zellmer: No. Pat Zellmer: Not at all. Claire Zellmer: He was a well-loved child. But Amacher didn't stop there. He also filed complaints to the police department about Donovan Ford. Donovan Ford tells Erin Moriarty: You were investigated then? Donovan Ford: Mm hmm. Erin Moriarty: And what was the finding? Donovan Ford: Nothing happened. Erin Moriarty: It continued? Donovan Ford: Yup. Allegation after allegation. And then in May of 2018, Amacher alleged Nicki ran over his foot with her car. Nicole Lenway: I was charged with domestic assault. The proud crime scene investigator was now a humiliated defendant. Nicole Lenway: I never thought I would be at the defense table. Erin Moriarty: How long was the jury out on that? Nicole Lenway:: Less than 15 minutes. I was found not guilty. But the battle for Callahan raged on. And the child got caught in the middle. Nicole Lenway: You could tell he was very conflicted. Charlie Dettloff: Callahan was a pawn. It wasn't about Callahan, or Callahan's wellbeing. It was about inflicting the maximum amount of damage on Nicki. In the fall of 2020, the trial for custody of Callahan began. When it was over, the judge awarded Nicole sole legal and physical custody. Amacher was allowed just one supervised visit a week. Tim Amacher, once a champion, was now boxed into a corner. He was allowed no contact alone with his son. And cops thought that might be a motive for him wanting Nicki dead. Police would hone in on the crime scene. Remember that black Dodge Ram truck that the shooter drove off in? Turns out Amacher had lied to the cops -- he owned a truck just like it. A DIGITAL TRAIL LEADS COPS TO THE UNLIKELY SHOOTER Patrick Lofton: A good homicide detective will tell you is it's just good to know what vehicles anybody owns, whether they're a witness, whether they're a suspect, whether they're a victim, because people use their vehicles. And that's how you can figure out things. That's how you can pursue leads. On the night of Nicole's shooting, Assistant Hennepin County attorneys Patrick Lofton and Jacob Fischmann say that police were determined to find out who was driving that black Dodge truck. Jacob Fischmann: A black Dodge Ram is a very, very common car. And authorities had asked Tim Amacher what he owned. OFFICER (body cam video): This is your only car? TIM AMACHER: No, no. I have a Dodge Challenger, too. A Dodge Challenger sedan and a Jeep. But it turned out that Amacher did have another vehicle: a black Dodge Ram truck that looked a lot like the one seen leaving the area after the shooting. Patrick Lofton: That raised the alarm bells for the Minneapolis Police Department. Tim Amacher insisted the Black Dodge Ram truck in the surveillance photos was not his. / Credit: Hennepin County District Court Police called Amacher in for a second interview. They showed him stills of the truck from that video. Seemingly unruffled, he insisted it wasn't his. OFFICER: So, this is a picture right here. TIM AMACHER: That's not my truck. TIM AMACHER: Those pictures were not pictures of my truck. Amacher claimed his truck, unlike the one in the video, had a license plate and Superman decal stickers near both front doors. Jacob Fischmann: Where is the Superman logo? Case closed. Superman logo is not on the truck. Couldn't have been me. TIM AMACHER (to police at FamilyWise): I've been here the whole time. I don't know what happened out there. I'm not ... What's more, he had an alibi: he was inside the FamilyWise center when Nicole was shot. So even if it was his truck, he couldn't be the driver. OFFICER: Who else has access to the truck? TIM AMACHER: Uh, Colleen has access to it. Colleen Larson, Amacher's former taekwondo student. OFFICER: Is she the only one? TIM AMACHER: Um, to my knowledge. To police, the pieces of the puzzle were coming together. Nicole had said she thought the shooter was a woman. OFFICER: So, let me ask you this. Is there any reason why Colleen would want to shoot Nicole. TIM AMACHER: Oh, hell no. She wouldn't hurt anybody. Amacher insisted Larson was incapable of violence. And Larson, who was also brought in for questioning, insisted she was nowhere near FamilyWise that night. Patrick Lofton: She said that she came home from work as usual, went inside, took a shower, and was there until Tim got home. But police didn't believe either one of them and turned to FBI special agent Richard Fennern, a technology specialist. He discovered that Amacher's truck had Wi-Fi and, like a cellphone, creates a digital trail. Richard Fennern: We could track it much like we could a cellphone. Fennern wanted to know everywhere Amacher and Larson went the day of the shooting. Their cellphones and the Black Dodge truck left plenty of digital breadcrumbs. Richard Fennern: With phones, with cars, whatever you have, they're gonna tell you the truth. Their records always tell you the truth. On the afternoon of the shooting, Amacher and Larson were both at the taekwondo studio. Around 4 p.m., Amacher left to go to FamilyWise for the visit with his son. He was driving the Jeep. Later, Larson left the studio, in the black truck, to go home. Erin Moriarty: And how can you tell that? Richard Fennern: That's from the cellphone records. Erin Moriarty: So, not only the truck, but her cellphone? Richard Fennern: Correct. Just after 7 p.m., Fennern says, the black truck left the couple's residence and headed straight to FamilyWise. Colleen Larson, dressed in black, Jacob Fischmann: Now, we see that person who is walking. Erin Moriarty: Right here. Jacob Fischmann: That is Colleen Larson. Colleen Larson did leave her house. And detectives placed her directly at the scene. Jacob Fischmann: She appears to be walking around, essentially scoping out the area. I believe she is planning her next steps. A raid of the couple's house yielded more evidence: bullet casings matching the ones found at the crime scene. Police questioned Larson twice. The first time she denied any involvement, but during the second interview, which was recorded, she broke down and confessed: "I took the truck and I drove over there and then I shot her." Even though Larson admitted to pulling the trigger, she said the whole thing was Amacher's idea. . She was charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder. But was Tim Amacher involved? Agent Fennern suspected that Amacher had deliberately altered his truck's appearance to throw cops off his path. He discovered that several hours before the shooting, Amacher had driven the black truck to a drive-thru at a local Kentucky Fried Chicken. Richard Fennern: We pull surveillance video, there's that same truck without the decal, without the license plate. For police, it was enough. Tim Amacher was arrested and charged with attempted first-degree premeditated murder and aiding an accomplice after the fact. Jacob Fischmann: When you do something to significantly further or assist in a crime, you are just as culpable as the person that actually pulls the trigger. Nicole was not surprised to hear that Amacher had been arrested, but she was shocked to find out about Larson. Erin Moriarty: Why would she shoot you? Nicole Lenway: I don't know. This time, when Larson was questioned by police, she broke down and confessed to shooting Nicole. COLLEEN LARSON (to police): I took the truck and I drove over there and then I shot her. During Colleen Larson's second interview with police, which was recorded, she broke down and confessed. And she says Amacher was behind it. INVESTIGATOR: Whose idea was it to shoot Nicole? COLLEEN LARSON: Tim's. INVESTIGATOR: So, he asked you, if you felt -- if you comfortable would you shoot Nicole for me? COLLEEN LARSON: Yeah. INVESTIGATOR: Yes. She said she believed Amacher's story that Nicole was abusing Callahan. COLLEEN LARSON: She was doing bad things to her child And I wanted to help the little man (cries). After the shooting, she told police, Amacher disposed of the gun. COLLEEN LARSON: He just said he would take care of it. INVESTIGATOR: He just said he would take care of it INVESTIGATOR: So, you have no idea what he did with the gun? COLLEEN LARSON: Not exactly, no. (crying) Still, Amacher continued to deny any involvement. On Nov. 3, 2022, Tim Amacher's trial began. There were no cameras in the courtroom. Prosecutors knew they had to show the jury that Nicole wasn't abusing her son, and that it was Amacher who had been victimizing her for a long time. Jacob Fischmann: What happened behind the scenes wasn't just this couple seconds of horror that Nicole had to suffer at FamilyWise. It was 10 years of hell that he put her through. Amacher and his lawyers refused our request for an interview. But "48 Hours" consultant and defense attorney Matthew Troiano reviewed their case for us. Matthew Troiano: There's obviously no direct evidence of Tim's guilt, zero. He has a rock-solid alibi about where he was at the time that this happened. According to Troiano, the prosecutors needed to build their case by focusing on Amacher's lies, and his past treatment of Nicole, because there was no smoking gun that directly tied Tim to the shooting. Matthew Troiano: There is circumstantial evidence the truck the lies Those are all kind of circumstantial pieces that tie back to him. But there is no direct evidence of him specifically buying or doing or having something that led to this act. The defense called no witnesses to the stand. Troiano thinks they were betting the prosecution just hadn't made its case. Matthew Troiano: Where's the proof? Where's the evidence? As the jury went out to deliberate, prosecutors were concerned. Jacob Fischmann: Of course, we were very worried. Erin Moriarty: There is a chance this guy is gonna walk. Jacob Fischmann: Absolutely. Erin Moriarty: How nervous were you? Nicole Lenway: Really nervous. A CONVICTION, A PLEA, AND A VICTIM TRYING TO MOVE ON Those sacred tenets of taekwondo -- self-control and integrity. Could the Master win this battle? The jury took an hour to decide. Nicole Lenway: He was found guilty. Donovan Ford: Guilty on all counts. Tim Amacher is found guilty of premeditated attempted murder and aiding his accomplice, Colleen Larson. Erin Moriarty: And how did you both feel about that? Claire Zellmer: Relieved. Joyous. Pat Zellmer: And justice for Nicki. Nicole Lenway: I almost didn't believe it. Finally, we had some type of closure. At sentencing, Nicole wanted Judge Shereen Askalani to hear all she endured. To protect her, the judge kept most of Nicole's statement off camera. But the memories of that point-blank moment will clearly never be forgotten. Nicole Lenway: I can still feel the burning sensation and the utter fear of not being able to speak or to help myself. I truly thought I was dying that day Even though I feel like the truth is starting to come to light, I still live in fear. Amacher, who'd refused to testify at his trial, now decided to speak. The court allowed his plea for leniency to be heard and filmed. TIM AMACHER (addressing the judge): It is no secret how broken this system is The main message that I felt called here to say goes as this, for all who are led by the spirit of God, are sons of god, but with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged by your or by any human court ... Erin Moriarty: How would you describe his statement? Nicole Lenway: Erratic: blaming everybody else. He was the victim, and this happened to him. Erin Moriarty: Did he show any kind of remorse? Nicole Lenway: No. Judge Askalani had no patience for Amacher and his claims that Nicole had been abusive. JUDGE SHEREEN ASKALANI: It appears that you have been promoting this false narrative about Ms. Ford for so long that you may actually believe it at this time. Then she sentenced him to 18 years in prison. Just four days later, Colleen Larson pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting first-degree attempted murder. At her sentencing hearing, rather than speak for herself, Larson had her attorney read a statement. She took full responsibility for all that had happened: DANIEL ADKINS (reading): "Your Honor, I stand before you with the utmost respect for the decision to come. I accept all the consequences for my actions. I understand and want to atone for what I have done. A simple apology cannot cover the long-term damages that I have caused." JUDGE SHEREEN ASKALANI: Anything additional from you at this time? COLLEEN LARSON: No, Your Honor. Pat Zellmer: Colleen's got a killer in her. She did it. There's no, no question she had the capacity. Tim Amacher was found guilty of premeditated attempted murder and aiding his accomplice, Colleen Larson, and was sentenced to 18 years in prison. A few days later, Larson pleaded guilty to first-degree premeditated attempted murder. She was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years. / Credit: Minnesota Dept. of Corrections Larson was sentenced to 16-and-a-half years for doing what prosecutors say was Amacher's bidding. Nicole Lenway: I think she wanted his approval and his love so badly that she would do anything. And she was in this delusional fantasyland where she thinks, you know, if I wasn't around that they could run off into the sunset with Callahan and be a happy little family. Erin Moriarty: But how does somebody convince another person who's never committed a crime to shoot someone? Pat Zellmer: It's wild. Cal? Claire Zellmer: I would love the answers to that because that's where we're stuck, too. Attorney Matthew Troiano wonders if Amacher had been controlling Colleen for years. Mathew Troiano: Why would she do this? It's the fact that she had known this person since she's 12 years old. They had been in this kind of dominant subservient relationship where he's the master, she's the student. He is the boss. One woman who once dated Amacher, who doesn't want to be named or have her face shown, says she knows firsthand the powerful hold Amacher can have on the women in his life. Jane Doe: Yes, it was a high to be around him. Erin Moriarty: And that you wanted to do whatever you could to hang onto that high? Jane Doe: Yes. She says she was once under Amacher's spell but is certain she would never kill for him. Still, she sees some of herself in Larson. Jane Doe: And I feel like that was me. Yep, I definitely feel like I was willing to do whatever I could to make him approve of me and want to be with me. With good behavior, Tim Amacher could be out of prison by 2034. Erin Moriarty: Do you think you'll ever feel truly safe again? Nicole Lenway: No. Erin Moriarty: You'll always have to be looking over your shoulder? Nicole Lenway: I think so. It all still haunts Donovan Ford -- the shots fired, the woman he loves fighting for her life. Erin Moriarty: Do you still see that in your head? Donovan Ford: Absolutely. Oh, yeah. Erin Moriarty: Still fear that you could lose her. Donovan Ford: Yeah, mm hmm. All the time. Yet alongside the destruction, there are miracles in this story. Emile Clancy: Hello. Nicole Lenway: Hello. Emile Clancy: Good to see you again. Nicole Lenway: Good to see you too. Almost exactly a year. Emile Clancy: I know. Emilie Clancy: You looks so well! Nicole Lenway: Thank you! Emilie Clancy and Nicole Lenway reunited a year after the shooting. / Credit: CBS News "48 Hours" asked for this one-of-a-kind reunion with Emilie Clancy, who raced to help a stranger -- saving Nicole's life. Nicole Lenway: And we are expecting a baby! Emilie Clancy: Congratulations! Nicole Lenway: Thank you. Emile Clancy: Oh, I'm so happy for you. Nicole Lenway: Thank you. Ford and Nicole, now husband and wife, had just gotten the good news. Donovan Ford: And I was like, "are you serious?" And she's like, "yup." And then we're just hugging and happy. As for the child Nicole had with Tim Amacher -- Erin Moriarty: How old is Callahan now? Nicki Lenway: He's 6. Erin Moriarty: Does he know that his dad tried to kill you? Nicki Lenway: He does now. Erin Moriarty: And how did he take that? Nicki Lenway: Better than I thought he would. Donovan Ford: He's come out amazing That's a miracle too, just him being able to deal with all the stuff he's been through and still be the kid he is. If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic abuse, call 1-800-799-SAFE or visit thehotline.org. "48 HOURS" POST MORTEM This embedded content is not available in your region. What would you do if you saw someone shoot a stranger in broad daylight? Correspondent Erin Moriarty and host Anne-Marie Green discuss the case of the crime scene investigator Nicki Lenway in this week's podcast. Produced by Betsy Shuller and Jamie Stolz. Elena DiFiore is the development producer. Doreen Schechter is the producer/editor. Tamara Weitzman and Michelle Sigona are development producers. Atticus Brady and Joan Adelman are editors. Shaheen Tokhi is the associate producer. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer. Biden seeks to reaffirm U.S.-France ties in state visit D-Day: Eisenhower and the paratroopers key to success Lionel Richie on the making of "We Are the World" LAS VEGAS (KLAS) The American Red Cross of Southern Nevada emphasized the urgent need for blood donors as the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days of summer, according to the Red Cross. The 20th anniversary of World Blood Donor Day is on Friday, June 14. The Red Cross urges all Nevadans to join the global community to make invaluable contributions to lifesaving transfusions during emergencies and medical interventions. [A] single major accident with injuries can swiftly deplete a hospitals entire blood inventory, Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada said. During the summer months, hospitals fall short of donations. The American Red Cross is crucial in serving the countrys blood supply, collecting 12,500 blood and 3,000 platelet donations daily to serve patients at over 2,500 hospitals and transfusion centers nationwide. Southern Nevada in particular, relies on the Red Cross for more than 20 hospitals. Donors of all blood types are encouraged to donate and O-negative blood is particularly crucial for hospitals to have an adequate supply of. Trauma and accident victims need transfusions urgently and O-negative blood is the first resort medical members turn to. Currently, the Red Cross has fallen short of more than 20,000 donations needed to maintain the Red Crosss national blood supply. Donors who want to contribute to the cause will receive a $15 e-gift card to a merchant of their choice if they donate between June 10 to 30. Donors can schedule appointments using the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/DoGood. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. 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 Signs of higher voter turnout in Germany than in 2019 EU poll There are signs of greater interest in the European elections in Germany than five years ago, according to Federal Returning Officer Ruth Brand. By 2 pm (1200 GMT), 32.3% of eligible voters had exercised their right to vote, she said. Postal votes are not included in this figure. According to figures from 2019, the turnout at the same time was 29.4%. However, according to Brand, interim figures from 2019 and now are not exactly comparable in terms of methodology. It is not yet possible to provide precise figures for postal voters. Individual municipalities, such as Frankfurt, had reported a higher rate in 2024 compared to 2019, she said. In the European elections five years ago, there was an increase in voter turnout in Germany compared to the previous election in 2014, where the turnout by 2 pm was 25.6% and the overall turnout was 48.1%. Polling stations in Germany will be open until 6 pm on Sunday. Election workers open the European elections postal ballot boxes and spread out the envelopes with the ballot papers. Andreas Arnold/dpa UPDATE: OUACHITA PARISH, La. (KLFY) The Silver Alert has been canceled, according to Louisiana State Police. ORIGINAL: OUACHITA PARISH, La. (KLFY) Louisiana State Police issued a Silver Alert for 70-year-old Selma Lollie, who was last seen Sunday at 804 S. 19th St. in Monroe. Around 11:14 a.m., a neighbor discovered Lollie missing. Authorities said Lollie suffers from a medical condition that impairs his judgment, and he has a history of getting lost. Law enforcement officials describe Lollie as a Black male with gray hair and brown eyes, whos 5 feet, 9 inches tall and weighs approximately 190 pounds. Authorities believe he is moving on foot, wearing a pug shot shirt featuring a pug (dog) with gray and white checkered pajama pants, and tan house shoes. Anyone with information on Lollies whereabouts is urged to Ouachita Parish Sheriffs Office at 318-329-1200 or call 911. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now KLFY Daily Digest Latest Posts Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com. The K-9 who served with the Connecticut State trooper who was killed in a hit-and-run last month is set to retire and live with his partners family, Connecticut State Trooper First Class Aaron Pelletier had worked alongside K-9 Roso a German Shepard for nearly three years before his death during a routine traffic stop on May 30, according to the Hartford Courant. The CSP K9 Unit anticipates an imminent retirement for K9 Roso, who will remain with the Pelletier Family, the Connecticut State Police said in a Facebook post on Thursday. Pelletier, 44, was working overtime on the traffic enforcement detail when he pulled over a driver not wearing a seatbelt on Interstate 84 in Southington at around 2:36 p.m. TFC Aaron Pelletiers K-9 Roso is heading for retirement and return to life living with his partners family. Connecticut State Police As he was talking to the driver, a pickup truck entered the right shoulder and struck Pelletier, his cruiser and the stopped vehicle before fleeing down the road. Pelletier was pronounced dead at the scene. Roso was inside Pelletiers cruiser at the time of the crash, but wasnt seriously injured. Pelletier and Roso graduated together at the Connecticut State Police Academy in December 2021, the outlet reported. Roso will be living with Pelletiers widow, Dominique and their two young sons. GoFundMe Alex Oyola-Sanchez, the driver of the pickup, was arrested several towns over on I-84 and charged with second-degree manslaughter, operating under the influence of alcohol or drugs and several other crimes. Oyola-Sanchezs lawyers entered a not-guilty plea during a court hearing Thursday, the case was continued to July 2. In the wake of Pelletiers death, and a show of support for the fallen trooper, Wethersfield town Council Member Rich Bailey (R) suggested the town raise the thin blue line flag over town hall. The flag is traditionally flown to support police officers. The Wethersfield Town Council, consisting of 6 democrats and 3 republicans, shot down the request claiming that the flag represents divisiveness and racism to some. The council had already voted to fly the LGBTQ flag in honor of Junes Pride Month and ordered the flag along with the American and Connecticut state flags to be flown at half-mast after shooting down the request. Pelletier, 44, was working an overtime shift on the traffic enforcement detail when he pulled over a driver who was not wearing a seatbelt on Interstate 84 in Southington at around 2:36 p.m. AP Pelletiers wife flew her own thin blue line flag outside her home to honor her late husband on Friday, The Post reported. Dominique Pelletier, 34, who shared two sons with her husband, had the flag poignantly flying half-staff outside the familys home in Southington outside of Hartford even as she received threats for the symbolic gesture. The widow gave a tearful tribute to her husband at the ceremony saying Pelletier wasnt just her husband. You were my home. You were my heart. You were my safe place and my provider. My best friend. My secret keeper. My favorite gossiper, Dominique said at the funeral last Wednesday. Pelletiers widow gave a tearful tribute to her husband at the ceremony saying he wasnt just her husband. AP Pelletiers casket is carried out of Xfinity Theater after his funeral in Hartford, Conn., on Wednesday, June 5, 2024. AP The light in our smiles will be forever dimmed and the thought of this world without that laugh seems unimaginable but has already become real, she said. I promise to keep you alive in our home, in our heart and in our boys memories forever. I love you, and I miss you. With Post wires Hollywood creatives, including writers from Saturday Night Live and Parks and Recreation, have been meeting monthly for at least half a year to pitch ideas to Wont PAC Down, a new super PAC thats attempting to improve President Joe Bidens relationship with young voters, Politico reported Sunday. The super PAC has brought on millennial and Gen Z writers, directors and producers to help craft pro-Biden content thats specifically engineered to sell an octogenarian candidate to typically disillusioned and hard-to-reach voters under 30. The first ads, all written for and by millennials and Gen Z, are expected to hit social media and the news media in July. Travis Helwig, a former head writer for Crooked Media, heads the writer room and emphasized to Politico that the organization does not intend to over-use celebrity endorsements as part of its strategy. Theres a big difference between putting a celebrity on camera and having them say, if you liked me in Madame Web, then youre going to love voting, versus what were doing, he explained. Were taking the best young writers and directors, who are the age and demographics of the people were targeting, using poll-tested messaging, and shaping it in a way that will resonate with young people and get them excited. Specifically which directors and writers are involved were not immediately made clear. Wont PAC Down has enlisted the help of pollster John Della Volpe, who specializes in the youth vote, and Democratic strategist Doug Rubin. The question of the youth vote has dogged Biden for most of the year. A NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll from May 2024 showed that he led by 4 points with voters under 45 and by 6 points with Gen Z and Millennialswhen the groups were asked about a Biden/Trump match-up. But after independents Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Cornel West, as well as Green Party candidate Jill Stein were added, Biden fell 4 points behind Trump, and Trump led by 6 points with Gen Z/Millennial voters and 8 points with voters under 45. Lee Miringoff, director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, explained to NPR that there are several reasons young voters are having difficulty connecting to Biden. As NPR put it, Younger voters dont approve of the job Biden is doing, dont particularly like him very much, dont think he has the mental fitness to be president and dont think hes handling the most important issues very well. The post SNL and Parks and Recreation Writers Pitch Ads to Help Biden Reach Gen Z, Young Millennials appeared first on TheWrap. South Carolina man charged with shooting father and another man in Brevard GRANT-VALKARIA A South Carolina man is being held on charges related to the shooting and wounding of his father and another man at a Grant-Valkaria home in February. Sean Bigwood, 53, of Rock Hill, S.C., shot more than 30 times into a home on Puddle Duck Lane in Grant-Valkaria on Feb. 15 following a property dispute, Brevard County Sheriff Wayne Ivey said Saturday. Both victims were shot several times but survived their injuries. Following a monthslong investigation, Bigwood was arrested last week and was extradited to Brevard County. He is being held without bail in the Brevard County Jail Complex on two counts of attempted murder with a firearm, burglary with a battery, and armed burglary of a conveyance with a firearm. Brevard County sheriffs agents collect evidence at Grant-Valkaria shooting site where two men were wounded in February. Ivey, who described the suspect as a "violent scumbag," said that investigators spent hours reviewing surveillance videos from the victims home in Grant-Valkaria and also from Bigwoods South Carolina residence eight hours away. The suspect had fired over 30 times into the residence, Ivey said in a video statement posted to Facebook. The men, including the suspects father, were shot multiple times. Investigators were advised the shooter wearing a ski mask fired at the two of them from outside on the patio. The gunman was dressed in black, they told police. One of the callers stated that he believed the shooter was his son based on the stature of the shooter and a recent property dispute that was taking place between the two of them, Ivey said. Agents worked with the York County Sheriffs Office in South Carolina to secure a search warrant of the suspected shooters home in Rock Hill. Bigwood, investigators said, left work on the day of the shooting and drove to Florida after changing the appearance of his vehicle. Police did not release further details concerning the names and ages of the two shooting victims. More: Questions remain over helicopter, deputy presence over weekend in Melbourne Beach J.D. Gallop is a criminal justice/breaking news reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Gallop at 321-917-4641 or jgallop@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @JDGallop. This article originally appeared on Florida Today: S.C. man held on charges of shooting, wounding two in property spat A South Korean soldier is pictured during a live drill to broadcast propaganda to the people of North Korea on Sunday, June 9, 2024. Photo courtesy of South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff June 9 (UPI) -- South Korea's military has resumed loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts to undermine the regime of Supreme Leader Kim Jong-Un after North Korea sent around a thousand balloons filled with trash over the border. The military conducted the broadcast Sunday afternoon, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement on social media. "Whether our military will conduct additional loudspeaker broadcasts depends entirely on North Korea's behavior," the Joint Chiefs of Staff said in its statement. "We make it clear that North Korea bears full responsibility for this situation, and we strongly urge it to immediately stop its despicable behavior, including the release of filth balloons." Earlier, the Joint Chiefs of Staff said it had conducted a live drill in preparation for the broadcast. It marked the first time since 2018 that the military has conducted such a drill, which includes moving and installing loudspeakers and mastering operating procedures. The South Korean military said the drill and operation were made "to inform North Korean soldiers and residents about the reality of North Korea, South Korea's development, and K-culture." North Korea has yet to respond to South Korea's broadcast. South Korea began the broadcasts in 1963 to target North Korean soldiers and civilians living near the Demilitarized Zone with Korean pop music, known as K-Pop, and news from outside North Korea. The broadcasts were halted around 2004 and resumed in 2015 before they were halted again in 2018, when both sides agreed to dismantle their loudspeakers. In June 2020, North Korea was reported to have begun reinstalling its loudspeakers. South Korea's decision came after its Joint Chiefs of Staff said North Korea had sent slurries of white balloons filled with trash and manure in response to South Korean activists floating balloons filled with leaflets and USB drives over the border. By Jack Kim SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's main doctors' lobby group said on Sunday it would go on strike on June 18 to protest the government's healthcare reform plan, defying a warning by the prime minister that such action would damage the credibility of the medical community. The Korean Medical Association, which it says represents the country's 140,000 doctors, said 74% of the members who participated in a vote approved "collective action." Association President Lim Hyun-taek said the government's plan would destroy the country's medical system and do nothing to change the chronic problems of fewer doctors working in essential disciplines and inadequate compensation. "With the support of representatives throughout the country, the Korean Medical Association (KMA) will stand at the forefront of the fight to rescue the medical system," Lim told a meeting attended by representatives of various medical groups. Lim said members would stop work on June 18 and there were plans for a mass rally. South Korean doctors oppose a plan to increase the number of new students entering medical schools by 2,000 from the current 3,000, a centrepiece of the government's healthcare reform. Thousands of trainee doctors which include medical interns and resident doctors walked off the job on Feb. 20, forcing major hospitals to cut back non-emergency services and turn back patients at the emergency rooms. The government said the increase is necessary to make up an acute shortage of doctors which will worsen in the coming years. Just before the KMA meeting, the government called on the group not to take any action that would put the public's safety at risk, saying it would deal a blow to the reputation of doctors and diminish trust in the medical profession. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said any collective action by the doctors was illegal and deeply regrettable and repeated the call for dialogue to resolve the standoff. "The social trust that the medical community and patients have built over many decades must not be left to collapse because of radical demands by a few people," Han told a news conference. (Reporting by Jack Kim; Editing by Jacqueline Wong) Southern California veteran honored by president on 80th Anniversary of D-Day in France Southern California veteran honored by president on 80th Anniversary of D-Day in France A veteran from Inglewood who served in World War II was honored by President Biden in France on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Louis Brown, 98, took a trip to the shores of Normandy Beach where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during the war in the 1940s. Brown, originally from Mississippi, was drafted into the Army when he was a teenager in 1944. Being a little young fellow in there, we didnt know [anything], Brown said of joining the Army. You know, we were kind of excited to be over there. I didnt know I was making a part of history or anything like that. At such a young age, he said he didnt realize what he was stepping into and his eyes were opened to the world during a time of incredible strife and the threat of Adolf Hitlers Nazis in Europe. Brown eventually became a corporal in the 4036th Quartermaster, a convoy unit that was known to operate 24 hours a day, at times under enemy fire, to deliver urgent supplies to the frontlines. On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited the shores of Normandy Beach in France where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) Louis Brown sharing photos of his time in the Army during World War II with KTLAs John Fenoglio. (KTLA) Louis Brown joined the Army in 1944 and served during World War II where he became a corporal and later, a staff sergeant. (Brown Family) Louis Brown joined the Army in 1944 and served during World War II where he became a corporal and later, a staff sergeant. (Brown Family) Louis Brown and a fellow veteran reminisce on the 80th Anniversary of D-Day where he was honored in a ceremony with President Joe Biden in France. (Brown Family) On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited France for a ceremony where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited the shores of Normandy Beach in France where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited France for a ceremony where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) Louis Brown seen at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at a D-Day Anniversary ceremony held at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris, France. in June 2024. (Brown Family) Louis Brown and other veterans make their way down a parade path in France as locals cheered them on in June 2024. (Brown Family) On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited France for a ceremony where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) Louis Brown visited France on the 80th Anniversay of D-Day in June 2024. (Brown Family) Louis Brown relaxing outside of his home in Inglewood, California. (KTLA) On the 80th Anniversary of D-Day, Louis Brown, 98, visited France for a ceremony where he was honored alongside other veterans who served during World War II. (Brown Family) Plane ticket to France for the 80th Anniversary of D-Day. (Brown Family) Just days after the D-Day Invasion in June 1944, Brown arrived on Omaha Beach, one of the five landing areas of the Normandy Invasion. When we got there, the ocean was still bloody, Brown said. The ground was all blood. Thats where they killed killed everybody. There was a lot of blood. Brown also participated in the Battle of the Rhine and the Battle of Germany. In 1945, his unit was sent to Southern Germany to help liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp where tens of thousands of Jewish and other minority prisoners were held captive. Brown said it was a horrific experience that he will never forget. It was hard for me to believe that a man could survive that and live, Brown said of the concentration camp. There were bones sticking out of [the prisoners]. It was terrible. Thats the only thing I can say. Earlier this week, President Joe Biden honored Brown and dozens of other WWII veterans at a ceremony in France, honoring their service and remembering the over 4,400 Allied troops who were killed on D-Day. Video from loved ones showed Brown participating in a parade where French locals cheered him on. He later returned to the shores of Utah and Omaha beaches to honor his fallen comrades during a time that forever changed the course of history. To me, I was no hero, Brown said. But its an honor to serve your country, particularly if you love your country. Brown was discharged as a staff sergeant from the Army in 1946. He married in 1950 and had two daughters. He settled down in Southern California and worked as an equipment operator for the city of Los Angeles for 33 years. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. South Dakota's Capitol in Pierre. (Makenzie Huber/South Dakota Searchlight) South Dakota political leaders are condemning Nazi demonstrations that happened Saturday in Deadwood and on the Capitol grounds in Pierre. The state Department of Public Safety said in a news release that a group attempted an unscheduled protest on the Capitol grounds, without a permit. The Highway Patrol asked the group to leave and the march ended without incident, according to the news release. Images and video circulated online of about a dozen people dressed in red and black, with black masks covering their faces, carrying a Nazi flag and unfurling it on the steps of the Capitol. Images also surfaced of a similar march in Deadwood. On her personal X (formerly Twitter) account, Gov. Kristi Noem wrote, Nazis are not welcome here in South Dakota. We stand for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, she wrote. We reject all hatred and Nazis. A known neo-Nazi leader, Christopher Pohlhaus, appeared to claim responsibility for the march when he shared Noems post on his own X account and said we occupied your steps for the entire time we intended to be there. According to the Anti-Defamation League, Pohlhaus is a former Marine turned tattoo artist and leader of the neo-Nazi Blood Tribe. Other South Dakota political leaders also condemned the marches. U.S. Sen. Mike Rounds tweeted, This is disgusting. This racist behavior has no place in South Dakota or anywhere. U.S. Rep. Dusty Johnson tweeted of the incident, This is atrocious. The activity is part of a resurgence of in-person demonstrations among white nationalist, neo-Nazi and far-right reactionary groups throughout the country, according to the Southern Poverty Law Centers latest annual report on hate and extremism. For the first time since 2018, these racist activists, who together make up what is known as the white power movement, turned out in droves, holding 191 demonstrations in 2022 and 143 in 2023, the report says. EDITORS NOTE: This story has been updated with additional information several times since its initial publication. The post State political leaders condemn Nazi marches in SD appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com The Ohio General Assembly has drawn praise for what in 49 other states would be considered a given: Doing its job. Yes, thanks to a hard nudge from Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, the legislature, also Republican, passed a bill that should clear the way for Joe Biden, Democrats presumptive presidential nominee, to appear on Ohios ballot. The measure, House Bill 2 of a special legislative session DeWine called, delays to Sept. 1, from Aug. 7, the deadline for Democrats to certify to Ohios secretary of state that Biden will in fact be Democrats 2024 nominee. Ohio a laughingstock The Aug. 7 deadline was a problem because the Democratic National Convention wont meet in Chicago until Aug. 19 (through Aug. 22). Had Democrats not met the original Aug. 7 deadline, Biden couldnt appear on Ohios ballot. If anything, positive emerged from the falderal, it was to call national attention to the GOP-run General Assemblys dysfunction and partisanship, making Ohio on a good day a laughingstock. Still, to their credit, the GOP ringmasters of this circus, House Speaker Jason Stephens, of Lawrence County, and Senate President Matt Huffman, of Lima, got-r-done. 32 Republicans voted to keep Biden off the ballot That doesnt mean someone wont run to a courthouse, county or federal, to gum things up. Still, for now, Biden will be on the ballot, though according to polling Trump at the moment could comfortably capture Ohios electoral vote in November. Remarkably, even though the Biden ballot bill in effect assured Ohioan of an opportunity to readily exercise their right to vote, 32 Republicans in the General Assembly voted no on the Biden ballot bill. Given inevitable confusion at polling places over write-in voting procedures, requiring write-ins would arguably amount to depriving some of Ohios potential Biden voters there were 2.7 million in Ohio in 2020 of their rights. Even so, central Ohio legislators who voted no on the Biden ballot bill were Republican Reps. Thad Claggett and Kevin Miller, both of Newark; Jay Edwards, of Nelsonville; Darrell Kick, of Loudonville; Beth Lear, of Galena; and Brian Stewart, of Ashville. Yost and the foreign donations ban Meanwhile, the special legislative session also passed House Bill 1, an attempt to ban foreign contributions to Ohio ballot issue campaigns. To cut through the fog, a number of Statehouse Republicans think the ban could gum up potential a couple November statewide ballot issues thatd ban the gerrymandering of General Assembly districts and would increase Ohios minimum wage. (Hey: Dont Ohioans love their legislature just the way it is? And so what if the last time that per capita income in Ohio matched the nations was 55 years ago, in 1969, when Richard M. Nixon had just moved into the White House?) As passed by legislators and signed by DeWine, the H.B. 1 foreign donations ban also gives Republican Attorney General David Yost, an all-but-announced candidate for governor in 2026, exclusive power to enforce it, instead of the bipartisan Ohio Elections Commission, which is composed of three Republicans, three Democrats and one independent. The Elections Commission was established by the General Assembly in the wake of the federal Watergate affair. Coincidentally, an early challenge to the commissions power was filed by DeWine growing out of his victorious 1976 campaign for Greene County prosecuting attorney his first public office. The Ohio Court of Appeals (10th District) upheld the Elections Commission law. The Dispatch reported in 1977 that the commission said DeWine [had allegedly] violated the [Elections Commission] act by publishing a brochure contending [the Democratic incumbent] had lost cases sent to the grand jury that did not result in indictments. DeWine said through a spokesman he believes the 1977 complaint was dropped. In June 2014, in an unrelated case, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ordered lower courts to reconsider the constitutionality of Ohios false statement law, and Judge Timothy Black of U.S. District Court for Southern Ohio then struck it down. Thomas Suddes Yost, designated by his fellow Republicans to keep foreigners from donating to Ohio issue campaigns, is a master of self-publicity. Meanwhile, the General Assembly is starving the Elections Commission. Not counting seven part-time commissioners (annually paid $25,000 each), the commission has a three-person staff, and the General Assembly has budgeted just $625,000 it in a state with thousands of elected officials: As to good government, Ohio isnt exactly the heart of it all. Thomas Suddes is a former legislative reporter with The Plain Dealer in Cleveland and writes from Ohio University. tsuddes@gmail.com This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio GOP dysfunction put in spotlight thanks to Joe Biden ballot fiasco Stolen vehicle sold on Facebook Marketplace in Fairfield (KRON) A person bought a stolen vehicle on Facebook Marketplace, according to the Fairfield Police Department. Around midnight on Sunday, Fairfield police officers received a FLOCK automated license plate reader alert for a stolen vehicle. Responding officers were dispatched to North Texas Street and Air Base Parkway, where they located the vehicle unoccupied. Police surveilled the area with drones as a man returned to the vehicle. The officers were informed by the man that he recently purchased the vehicle on Facebook Marketplace. Fairfield PD provides residents with safety tips to ensure they do not buy a stolen vehicle: Check the sellers profile and reviews Meet in a safe place and bring a friend or two Scrutinize any paperwork for oddities before paying Check the Carfax if buying a car Never bring large amounts of cash Use a secure payment method, such as PayPal Never give out personal information when shopping, including your address Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A "Welcome to Billings" sign at the Billings Logan International Airport [Photo by Darrell Ehrlick of the Daily Montanan]. I dont know when the Merriam turkey was introduced to Western Montana, but it was and they have prospered. I can vouch for it. In the 1980s and 90s I broke out about 65 acres of timberland into cropland and I planted a lot of oats to tame the soil. I put up a lot of the oats as hay and word spread fast in turkey-dom. In short-order my haystacks began to look like the rear end of a threshing machine because the turkeys scratched the bales to get at the oat kernels and popped all the strings. This meant that I had to use a pitchfork to load the hay onto a wagon. I shall be forever grateful to Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks whose staff netted some 400 of them and relocated them to the Flathead where I am sure they were welcomed. To me, it was good riddance. So, when a neighbor of mine asked me, years later, Jim, how do you get rid of these turkeys? my advice was simple and straightforward. Stop feeding them. Which leads me from turkeys to tourists. Two Montana County Commissioners, Josh Slotnick, a Democrat from Missoula County and Joe Briggs, a Republican from Cascade County, have been working together to come up with a way to mitigate the hardships imposed on Montanans by the historic increase in residential property taxes. One of the first considerations in collecting taxes is what are the political repercussions going to be. And the best way to avoid repercussions in that regard is to tax people who cant vote for you. Enter the tourist, like the turkey, ripe for the plucking. To tax the tourists and use the receipts to offset residential property tax increases is not a terribly new idea and has been used successfully in several small taxing jurisdictions in Montana. A tourist economy is not entirely beneficial. There are costs associated with tourism that residents, not tourists, have to bear, and the argument is that tourists should pay their share of those costs. There are such things as the need for water and septic infrastructure improvements to address the increased use brought on by tourism. Places like West Yellowstone and the St. Regis Resort Area did not have the tax base to make improvements on the shoulders of residents alone, and the Resort Tax, first put into use by West Yellowstone in 1987, I believe, has helped the town immensely. Almost every town in the Mountain West has seen its economy change from one of industry to what the local governments see as their last best chance, tourism. So, we now have tourism as a major industry in Montana. One of the reasons that is so is due to the implementation, in 1987, of the Lodging Facility Use Tax which was expressly designed to market Montana to out-of-state tourists. In the last fiscal year (2023) the 4% tax brought in $59 million dollars of which 82.8% ($48.8 million) went to promote tourism in Montana. Some 60.3% went to the Brand Montana program administered by the Department of Commerce and 22.5% to regional tourism bureaus. (See https://brand.mt.gov/Programs/Office-Of-Tourism/Lodging-Facility-Use-Tax.) At one time I suggested to the Legislature that it would be simpler to tax tourists at the border. Years ago, there used to be actual gates on the highways leading into Montana which, except when snow closed the roads, were kept symbolically in the open position with a sign nearby which said Welcome to Montana, the gate is open. An effort to revive them in the 1989 Legislature failed, but today it might be tempting to re-invent the quaint and simple wooden bars with a tollgate and a sign that says Welcome to Montana, insert credit card to open gate. Conservatives who are not in favor of government subsidies might ask why the State of Montana is subsidizing a particular industry. Surely an industry which brings in an estimated $5.4 billion in income revenue to Montana should be, by now, big enough to stand on its own. Could that $48 million in tourism promotion be used to lower property taxes? Sure, but it wont be because the industry is too vested in the subsidy to permit it being diverted. Still, at some point youve got to stop feeding the turkeys. The post Stop feeding the turkeys appeared first on Daily Montanan. At least one and maybe two Su-57 Felon fighters , Moscows most advanced warplanes, were struck by drones at an airbase deep inside Russia, the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) claimed. GUR posted satellite images on social media it says show one of the aircraft was damaged. The extent of that damage is unclear at the moment, but it would be the first known instance of these aircraft being damaged or destroyed as a result of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On June 8, 2024, a Su-57 multi-purpose fighter of the aggressor state was hit on the territory of the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region of the Russian Federation, located 589 kilometers (365 miles) from the line of combat, GUR wrote on its Telegram channel Sunday. The pictures show that on the seventh of June the Su-57 was standing intact, and on the eighth, there were ruptures from the explosion and characteristic spots of the fire caused by the fire damage near it. Before and after satellite images published by the Ukrainian Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) of a strike on a Russian Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter. The imagery shows an Su-57 sitting under a framework for a shelter without any covering and what appears to be at least one major blotch on the tarmac right next to it. This, along with what may be a small crater, could be indicative of a strike. Another possible impact area is seen just above and to the right of the first, although this area was partially discolored prior to the supposed strike. The Su-57 also has large white blotches on its upper fuselage near where the primary blast would have occurred. It isn't clear what this is, but it appears unusual. Tarps covering damage are a possible explanation. While the aircraft appears intact, the blast and especially the shrapnel from such a nearby detonation would have very likely riddled it with holes and caused other damage. A satellite image from Planet Labs taken June 7, shows a Felon parked on the apron, which you can see at the bottom right below. Also note the silhouettes of aircraft painted on the apron that are intended to confuse enemy targeting, although outside of initial target planning, they are useless against GPS guided drones. TWZ was the first to report on the reemergence of this old tactic at Russian airbases. An Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter was observed in a June 7 Planet Labs satellite image parked on the apron at Akhtubinsk airfield in Russia. PHOTO 2024 PLANET LABS INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. REPRINTED BY PERMISSION. GUR commander, Lt. Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, told The War Zone that a second Felon may have been hit as well. The attack was carried out by drones, he told us, but would not say whether they were launched from inside Ukraine or Russia. Andrii Yusov, a GUR spokesman, stated the attack may have injured Russian troops as well. "Moreover, reports suggest that there have been casualties and injuries among Russian military personnel," Yusov said on national TV, according to Euromaidan Press . The pro-Russian Fighterbomber Telegram channel, which often writes about aviation losses and has deep connections to Russian Aerospace Forces, confirmed one Felon was hit and said the attack was carried out by three Ukrainian drones. The Su-57 was damaged by shrapnel; it is now being determined whether it can be restored or not, Fighterbomber wrote. If not, then this will be the first combat loss of the Su-57 in history. GUR said that there are a few units of the Felon in service with the Russian Aerospace Forces. The number of production configuration Su-57s in Russia's inventory is notoriously limited . As of early 2023, there were just around nine full-up Su-57s in Russia's stable, along with less than a dozen pre-production Su-57/T-10 prototype aircraft that are not fully equipped for combat operations. The number of production Su-57s has expanded since then, but not on a grand scale as Russia prioritizes production of 4th generation fighters, namely the Su-35, over the more complex and expensive Su-57. Russia's newest fighter's involvement in the war in Ukraine has been murky. As we reported back in January, the U.K. Defense Ministry (MoD) stated that the Su-57s were being used in Ukraine since at least June 2022. Prior to the MoD's statement, there had been on and off claims of the aircraft being used to launch standoff strikes, but not actually operating in highly contested airspace over the country, since not long after Russia's all out invasion kicked-off and quickly became bogged down. What conclusions can be drawn by this is debatable, but considering Russia lacks air superiority, not using its best asset that is supposedly capable of penetrating into contested airspace certainly is peculiar. The Su-57 has stealthy features and is reduced signature design, but it isn't not on par with 5th generation American fighters in this regard, which is by design. You can read more about its design influences here . A Russian Su-57 Felon new-generation fighter. (Russian MoD) The aircraft has dangerous stand-off air-to-air capabilities. It is armed with 124-mile-range R-37M (AA-13 Axehead) air-to-air missile, a weapon that one Ukrainian fighter pilot describes as fucking dangerous and which apparently first began to appear in combat in the summer of 2022. Additionally, it has R-77-1 (AA-12 Adder) air-to-air missiles, with a range of 68 miles, which are also capable of engaging Ukrainian aircraft over the border in some scenarios. Images of an R-37M can be seen on a Russian Su-35S Flanker fighter below. Felon also possesses long-range air-to-surface strike capabilities. As we reported in February , it is armed with Kh-69 stealthy cruise missile, intended to destroy small, hardened targets at distances of over 180 miles. It also carries Kh-58UShK anti-radiation missile with a maximum range of around 150 miles, depending on launch parameters. KTRV Kh-69 cruise missile presented at military-technical forum Army-2022. Mike1979 Russia/Wikimedia Commons The fighters have been operating out of Akhtubinsk since at least Dec, 25, 2022, the U.K. MoD claimed in a January 2023 Tweet. Accompanying information notes that the base is home to the 929th Flight Test Center and that this is the only known Felon base, meaning that these aircraft have likely been involved in operations against Ukraine. However thats not the only airbase that accommodates Su-57s. As The War Zone has noted in the past , Lipetsk has also received examples of the jet. The attack on Akhtubinsk is the latest in an ongoing Ukrainian campaign to strike at airbases deep inside Russia. On June 7, Ukrainian drones attacked Mozdok Air Base in North Ossetia, more than 530 miles from the front lines. The base is home to Tu-22M3 Backfire-C bombers which have been heavily engaged in Ukraine , primarily launching Kh-22/Kh-32 series (AS-4 Kitchen) supersonic standoff cruise missiles. It also houses MiG-31 Foxhound interceptors . It is unclear how much damage was caused at Mozdok, the first time Ukraine has hit a target in North Ossetia. The Kremlin-connected Rybar Telegram channel says that imagery emerging on social media shows debris and six engines, presumably from the Ukrainian-made Lyuty UAV. Authorities also claim that only minor damage and fires were recorded on the ground as a result of the attack. You can see images and video from that attack below. These attacks raise questions about the ability of Russias widely dispersed and heavily targeted air defenses to counter Ukrainian drone incursions and the ability to protect aircraft, almost all of which sit in the open without any sort of shelter, let alone hardened ones. In its report on the damaged Felon, the Russian Fighterbomber Telegram channel complained bitterly about the lack of protection from drone attacks. I'll tell you again. For the price of this Su-57 alone, shelters from UAVs could be built for all PTA aircraft in the country, the channel wrote. Of course, if you dont bully them along the way and dont give out kickbacks. It is worth noting that in this case, the Su-57 was under the framework for a shelter, although its cavas covering or metal cladding is not installed. Even a soft covering can help protect from low-yield drone strikes and make targeting much more challenging. The targeting of an Su-57 by Ukraine is a logical one. While the aircraft may not be a critical component of Russia's war effort, it is a highly symbolic and high-value target. Not only are these aircraft precious and very few in number, but they also represent Russia's the apex of military technology. Striking one hundreds of miles away from Ukrainian territory while it sits idle on the ground certainly is a statement. Getting satellite imagery showing the results of the operation is clearly a cherry on top that Ukrainian intelligence was elated to share with the masses. Update: June 10, 3:01 PM Eastern - We obtained new satellite images from Maxar Technologies that show a clearer view of the Felon Ukraine claims was damaged in a drone strike. The images also show three Felons present at the base before and after the June 8 attack. Most importantly, the images posted Sunday by Ukraine's Defense Intelligence Directorate (GUR) were tightly focused on the one Felon they claimed was damaged, but these wider before and after views offer much more context and opportunity for comparative analysis. You can see them in our story here . Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday called on Hamas to respond and accept the terms of an Israeli-proposed cease-fire and hostage release deal aimed at ending the war. President Biden announced the proposal late last month, stating it includes a three-part plan towards an end to the fighting and the release of the remaining hostages. By far the most effective, certain and right way to get all of the hostages out is to get a comprehensive cease-fire and hostage deal that President Biden described in public a few days ago, that Israel has accepted, and now that we are awaiting Hamas to respond to, Sullivan said Sunday in an interview on CBS Newss Face the Nation. If Hamas would say yes to that deal, there would be a cease-fire in place, hostages would be coming home, more humanitarian aid would be surging in, and a better day for the Palestinian people would be- would begin to unfold, he added. Hamas is believed to be still holding more than 100 hostages in the Gaza Strip, with more than 30 of them believed to be dead. The U.S.-designated terrorist group kidnapped more than 250 people from southern Israel during its surprise Oct. 7 assault, in which about 1,200 people were killed. About 100 hostages were released in a week-long cease-fire deal last November. Sullivans remarks came one day after a special operation was conducted in Gaza that saw the rescue of four hostages. The operation marked the largest recovery of living hostages since the war began. There could be a cease-fire tomorrow, today even, if Hamas would say yes to the deal. So, from our perspective, the world needs to continue to reinforce that message quite clearly and strongly, Sullivan said. We have not gotten an official response yetresponse yet from Hamas. Were waiting for one. Last week, the leaders of 18 countries with citizens held as hostages issued a joint statement urging Hamas and Israel to agree to the cease-fire proposal. There is no time to lose. We call on Hamas to close this agreement, that Israel is ready to move forward with, and begin the process of releasing our citizens, the statement read. At this decisive moment, we call on the leaders of Israel as well as Hamas to make whatever final compromises are necessary to close this deal and bring relief to the families of our hostages, as well as those on both sides of this terrible conflict, including the civilian populations. It is time for the war to end and this deal is the necessary starting point, it continued. Since the Oct. 7 attack, Israeli forces launched a counteroffensive in Gaza that has killed more than 36,000 Palestinians, per the Gaza Health Ministry. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed that innocent people were killed in the Israeli military operation that rescued four hostages over the weekend. The Israeli military said it rescued four hostages in a special operation in central Gaza on Saturday. CNNs Dana Bash asked Sullivan on State of the Union whether the U.S. can confirm how many people were killed in the operation, noting that two separate hospitals in the area said at least 236 people were reportedly killed. Sullivan explained that the Gaza Health Ministry and the Israeli military have put out differing numbers and that the U.S. could not confirm how many casualties there were. We, the United States, are not in a position today to make a definitive statement about that. The Israeli defense forces have put out one number. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry has put out another number, he said. But we do know this, Dana. Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number we dont know, but innocent people were killed. And that is heartbreaking. That is tragic, he added. He said that the Biden administration would prefer a cease-fire deal to get hostages home instead of military operations. He said Biden thinks the best way to get all of the hostages home is in a deal where theyre brought out diplomatically, where theres no need for military operations to get every last hostage out. In the absence of that, without Hamas saying yes to the deal, unfortunately, we are going to continue to see ongoing conflict and military operations in which Israel makes efforts to recover its citizens and, frankly, to recover American citizens. What we would much prefer to see is a cease-fire where the hostages come out peacefully, he added. The Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry said Sunday that at least 274 Palestinians were killed in the operation, and another 700 were wounded. The ministry also said that at least 37,000 have been killed in the ongoing fighting since the war began after Hamas Oct. 7 attack on Israel. Sullivan also said Sunday that the U.S. was not militarily involved in the Israeli hostage rescue mission. Well, the one thing I can say is that there were no U.S. forces, no U.S. boots on the ground involved in this operation. We did not participate militarily in this operation, he said. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Europeans started casting their ballots in the Netherlands, Ireland, and the Czech Republic on Thursday and Friday in what might turn out to be the most controversial elections in the EU's history, while the rest of the countries have yet to vote across the union this weekend. The moderate conservatives of the EPP are expected to win a clear majority in the overall vote, the Euronews Super Poll on eight EU countries predicted. The socialists are projected to be the second force. The liberals of Renew Europe should place third despite likely losing a considerable number of seats. As for the far right, despite its robust growth, pollsters say that it will not dominate the new European Parliament. "The vast majority of MEPs coming to Brussels following the elections will still remain robustly pro-European. Even delegations from ECR to certain degree will not question the absolute essence of the European Union," said Tomasz Kaniecki, Euronews Polls Centre analyst. Germany The EPP in Germany is set to reach a major score of slightly over 30% of votes. The far right is uncomfortably set at the second position, threatened by the slow but steady growth of the Social Democrats of Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The AfD has slightly slackened its growth after being hit by the scandals related to the embarrassing statements of sympathy to Nazi Germany's Waffen-SS veterans by its former European elections lead candidate Maximilian Krah and the spy cases with China and Russia that embroiled some of its members at the European Parliament during the electoral campaign. The pollsters don't rule out that the SPD's social-democrats (S&D) might surpass the far right. The distance between the AfD and the SPD is still too close to call. The Greens occupy a disappointing fourth position. The liberals of the FDP (Renew Europe) have been losing ground, dragged by the average negative trend of other Renew-affiliated parties in Europe. However, had these projections to be confirmed after the ballots counting, they would represent rather bitter results for the current so-called "traffic-light" national ruling coalition of the SPD, FDP and the Greens. Only the majority shareholders, the social-democrats, could claim a partially acceptable result thanks to their slow pace of consensus recovery. The result of the CDU-CSU (EPP) could be regarded as a relative and objective reverberating success of the outgoing European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, a historical member of the CDU and former defence minister in Angela Merkel's government. According to a pan-EU projections overview, the moderate forces could prevail over the so-called protest voters. Yet, on a country-by-country basis, the predictions for the far-right forces are still impressive, as in France. France The National Rally of Marine Le Pen, a member of Identity and Democracy, is expected to win large, taking advantage of the social discontent of the French. The RN list, led by Jordan Bardella, is expected to almost double Valerie Hayer's Renaissance liberals of Renew Europe.* President Emmanuel Macron's group at the European Parliament is expected to face an electoral defeat, pollsters forecasted the polls. Macron's popularity is low for national political reasons. The Elysee's group of reference in Strasbourg is Renew Europe. The French MEPs from the Renaissance party have been the backbone of the grand coalition despite its numerical minority size compared with its senior partners, the EPP and the S&D. Macronisme was regarded by the moderates across Europe as a dynamic political proposal that could have relaunched the EU after the financial crisis and Brexit, but according to the polls, it will hardly be the case again in the new legislature. The French Socialists (S&D) of Raphael Glucksman, like their pairs in other big European countries, are slowly and gently recovering, and they still hope to overtake Renew and settle in the second position. Italy War and peace and the Ukrainian question are likely to become the most important topics for the next EU legislature. The European Parliament's political forces will be asked to overcome their divisions to tackle this major geopolitical challenge, which is why the results of the European elections in Italy seem relevant for the next legislature. There, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's far-right party is set to win big. Her Brothers of Italy, or FdL, is a member of the European Conservative and Reformists (ECR) group that might back the moderate forces in order to create a functional majority. The pollsters and the EU politics "bookmakers" are betting on the fracture between the radical right of ECR and Le Pen's lead Identity and Democracy. If it happens, the current big tent coalition, which is likely to be revived, will count ECR's votes to make the European Parliament functional. The big shots of the ECR are Meloni's FdI and Kaczynski's PiS from Poland. Both parties are openly pro-NATO and pro-West. The EU could count on them when major decisions concerning Ukraine are to be adopted. Steven Van Hecke, a professor of EU Politics at the Ku Leuven, explained: "There is still a big divide, even between the ECR and the Identity and Democracy group. So I would rather see the EPP working together with the ECR to negotiate deals with the social democrats and the liberals than these two making deals with identity and democracy." Polls predict that the PD (S&D) has increased its ratings to two times that of Salvini's Lega. Spain After Germany, Spain is the other stronghold of the EPP in this election. The PP's moderate-conservatives are to win the elections. Yet, the socialists of Prime Minister Sanchez are right behind them in the polls, and the result is still too close to call. The Euronews Super Polls confirm that far-right Vox (ECR) will reach a rather good score, yet not as strong as its leadership and supporters expected. However, EU voters will clearly shift the balance of the union to the right, reverberating in the EU institutions and affecting the reality throughout the bloc at the national level. Poland Poland is politically peculiar, as pollsters say the centre-left and the left are almost nonexistent. The clash of the giants in the Central European country will be between the Coalition of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, KO (EPP), and the PiS (ECR) ultraconservatives. The PiS party is leading the polls over the KO,* yet the projections still suggest a result that is too close to call. Sheriff's office ID's suspect arrested after an attempted break-in at deputy's home A suspect is in custody after an off-duty Hamilton County Sheriff's Office deputy fired a shot at an intruder during a home break-in attempt in Reading Sunday morning. A suspect is in custody after an off-duty deputy fired a shot at an intruder during a home break-in attempt in Reading Sunday morning. Darrel Williams, 26, is facing one count of aggravated burglary after being arrested in connection to the attempted break-in, according to Kyla Woods, a spokesperson with the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office Woods said Reading police were called to the 1700 block of Keith Road at about 5:30 a.m. for the report of shots fired. Once they arrived, they discovered that the sheriff's office deputy was returning home from work and found an intruder in his home. During the confrontation between the deputy and the intruder, the deputy fired shots from his personal gun, Woods said. The suspect, later identified as Williams, fled the scene but was eventually apprehended by Cincinnati police. Williams was hit in the leg by one bullet and is suffering from non-life-threatening injuries, Woods said. It is unclear if the deputy was also injured during the incident. Hamilton County deputies are still investigating the matter. Enquirer media partner Fox19 provided this report. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Sheriff's office: Suspect arrested in break-in at cop's Reading home (Bloomberg) -- Swiss voters backed a government plan to boost domestic renewable energy, a decision that will make the construction of solar and wind plants in the Alps easier and ensure continued subsidies. Most Read from Bloomberg The proposal was approved by 69% of voters, the government said Sunday. Switzerlands biggest political group, the right-wing Swiss Peoples Party, had challenged the bill via a referendum after it was passed by parliament. In a separate vote on Sunday, Swiss electors turned down a plan of the Social Democrats to cap personal spending for health insurance, saving the budget from a hit of as much as $5 billion per year. Polling in the run up to the vote had suggested passing the measure would be a close call. Many voters had cited the additional fiscal expenditure as a reason for skepticism. A successful plebiscite earlier this year to raise pensions has already left the government struggling to find funding, with an increase of value-added tax now a likely options to secure the money. Two other proposals on the ballot also produced expected results. A Covid-era initiative to prevent vaccinations from ever becoming mandatory was rejected, as was a plan that would have seen fewer health treatments covered by mandatory insurance. (Updates with final results) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. (KRON) A man who was shot near Mission Dolores Park on Wednesday night has been identified as Luis Arguello Inglis, a 19-year-old San Jose State student. SJ State officials confirmed to KRON4 on Saturday that Inglis was enrolled and majoring in communications studies. The victims parents made a GoFundMe for Inglis, stating the following: We are deeply saddened to share that our beloved son, Luis, was tragically taken from us on Wednesday night. Luis was a bright light in our lives, filled with love, laughter, and boundless potential, the GoFundMe said. 15-year-old stabbed multiple times after botching robbery in Santa Rosa: PD The San Francisco Police Department said Inglis was found with multiple gunshot wounds lying on the ground near Mission Dolores Park on Wednesday night. Despite rendering aid to Inglis, the 19-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. His loss has left a void in our hearts that can never be filled, Inglis GoFundMe said, describing his loss as an unimaginable pain. The GoFundMe was meant to cover unexpected costs related to his death. The page has since surpassed its $10,000 goal by over $15,000 as of this report. District Eight Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said that Dolores Park has faced public safety challenges but is generally a safe place in the city. We cant live in fear, but people should be aware of their surroundings, the supervisor said. Mandelman told KRON that he has asked the San Francisco Police Department to increase its presence around the park. When theres been an incident like this, I think its appropriate for there to be more police in that area going forward over this summer, Mandelman said. Anyone with information is asked to contact the SFPD Tip Line at (415)-575-4444 or text a tip to TIP411 and begin the message with SFPD. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4. A rising political newcomer hoping to deal a blow to Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban mobilised tens of thousands of supporters in Budapest on Saturday in a final show of strength on the eve of a European Parliament election. Peter Magyar, a 43-year-old lawyer who in a matter of months has built up Hungary's strongest opposition party, hopes to use a good showing in Sunday's EU elections to propel himself and his movement toward defeating the nationalist Orban in the next national ballot scheduled for 2026. Once an insider within Orban's Fidesz party, Magyar has gained quick prominence through publicly accusing the prime minister and his allies of corruption and anti-democratic tendencies. He has drawn thousands of curious spectators on a tour of nearly 200 Hungarian cities, towns and villages in the last two months. In the blazing heat on Saturday, Magyar addressed the sprawling crowd that filled Budapest Heroes' Square, saying that he and his movement would build a more beautiful, peaceful and happy country and bring an end to Orban's 14 years in power. I was a spark that started the motor of change, he said. Recent polls show that Fidesz is likely to take a relative majority of votes in Sunday's election, but that Magyars party, Respect and Freedom (TISZA), could gain up to 30% and cause a loss of seats for Fidesz among Hungarys 21-member delegation in the EU legislature. TISZA has gained its base of support among voters disillusioned by both Orban's illiberal form of governance and Hungary's traditional opposition parties, which have proven unable to mount a serious challenge to the populist leader's rule since 2010. One Magyar supporter, 69-year-old Budapest resident Maria Nemeth, said on Saturday that she hasn't voted in any election since 2010, when she supported Hungary's right-wing Jobbik party. But now, she said, she plans to vote for TISZA because of the filth and lies in Hungarian politics that she attributes to Orban particularly about the war in Ukraine. If Peter Magyar hadn't come around, I wouldn't vote, Nemeth said. They tell so many lies about the war. Everyone wants peace, whether on the left or the right, everyone wants peace. Orban, known as the EU's closest Kremlin ally as nothing less than peace in Europe if his party wins, or a global conflagration if it loses. He has blamed pro-war politicians in Washington and Brussels for escalating tensions with Russia over its war in Ukraine, and portrayed his refusal to supply Kyiv with military aid and other support as a pro-peace position unique in Europe. During his campaign, Orban has claimed that a vote for those running against him would risk Hungarian youth being sent to the front lines in Ukraine. Magyar has pushed back on the claim, and on Saturday lifted a slogan Orban has used to promote his own party. Those who vote for peace vote for TISZA, he said. A staunch opponent of immigration, Orban has also campaigned on a promise that he will preserve Hungary as a migrant-free country, and has correlated past armed conflicts in Europe with what he sees as a deficit of white Christians on the continent. In the two (world) wars, 57 million Europeans died, and people are amazed that there aren't enough Christian, white, traditional Europeans in Europe, he said at a campaign rally on Thursday. Instead, there's a vacuum filled by migrants. Magyar has dismissed accusations by Orban that he or any other Hungarians are pro-war. In an interview with The Associated Press in May, he was unequivocal in pointing out the potential risks if Russia was permitted to retain the Ukrainian territories that it has occupied including the Crimean Peninsula, which Moscow annexed in 2014. In his final message to voters before the election on Saturday, he said he would to bring an end to Orban's fear-mongering propaganda, and work for a country where there's no left, no right, there's only Hungarians. TISZA aims to ensure that Hungarian families can live in peace and security, and that our children can live without the fear of war. The future is up to you now," he said. Police officers inspect the scene of robbery in the night at the Bulgari boutique in Via dei Condotti. Francesco Benvenuti/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa In a spectacular robbery at the luxury jeweller Bulgari in Rome overnight a gang of burglars made off with more than 500,000 ($540,000) worth of goods. The perpetrators broke into a branch of the high-end jeweller through a hole in the floor via a neighbouring house, initial police investigations showed on Sunday. Although the alarm system sounded shortly before midnight, the perpetrators were able to disappear before the first police officers arrived. The shop is located in Via Condotti, one of the Italian capital's luxury shopping streets in the immediate vicinity of the Spanish Steps. A hole was discovered in the floor that connected the shop to the basement of a neighbouring building. Investigators are hoping to obtain information from the surveillance camera footage. While the police put an intiail value of the stolen jewellery at 500,000, it could also be significantly higher. Police officers inspect the scene of robbery in the night at the Bulgari boutique in Via dei Condotti. Francesco Benvenuti/LaPresse via ZUMA Press/dpa Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators gathered outside the White House on Saturday to protest Joe Bidens response to Israels ongoing military strikes on Gaza. Footage posted to social media showed police using pepper spray on protesters, who faced arrest at the mass demonstration. At least one demonstrator also held a canister that released green and white smoke near the southern side of the White House. The demonstrator, who was dressed as the superhero character Spiderman, shouted along with a crowd: Biden, Biden, we cant wait! Well see you at the Hague! The Hague is the Dutch city that is home to the international criminal court that prosecutes war crimes. The protest comes after criticism aimed at the president over his handling of Israels continued strikes on Gaza in response to the 7 October 2023 attack by Hamas. VIDEO THREAD: Police attempted to make an arrest this afternoon outside the White House in the middle of the pro-Palestine rally kicking off now. A crowd surrounded them chanting "let her go!" and struggled with officers, who deployed mace against protesters and press. pic.twitter.com/klBpDEZSF9 Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) June 8, 2024 Saturdays demonstration featured a coalition of groups including Code Pink and the Council on American Islamic Relation, Reuters reported. Biden has claimed that Israels latest attacks on Rafah do not violate the USs red line or, limit with respect to support for its ally. The Biden administration has continued to provide American weapons to Israel, even as the Israeli military launched an airstrike against a tent city in Rafah two weeks earlier that killed at least 45 people. Saturdays protest also comes days after Biden told Time magazine that there is every reason to believe that the Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, is prolonging the war in Gaza for his own political gain accusations the Israeli government has criticized. On Saturday, protesters held a red banner around the perimeter of the White House to symbolize the USs red line with respect to Israel. They also held up Palestinian flags and protest signs decrying what they describe as a genocide in Gaza. Biden, you got blood on your hands, read one protest sign. Another sign simply read: Free Palestine. Demonstrators shouted slogans that condemned the presidents response, including: Biden, Biden, youre a sellout. Pack your bags and get the hell out! Protesters will reportedly be surrounding the White House all day. Saturday marks eight months since Israels current war against Gaza began, after Hamas killed 1,200 people in Israel and took 250 people hostage during the 7 October attack. Since the war began, more than 35,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israels military attacks. Gaza has also been pushed into a humanitarian crisis amid widespread hunger and disease within the territory. SANTEE, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI) Three people were arrested at a driving under the influence checkpoint in Santee Saturday night, authorities said. According to the San Diego County Sheriffs Department, officers conducted the checkpoint in the 8800 block of N Magnolia Avenue, located in Santee, between 8:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. Sunday. A total of 1,097 vehicles traveled through the checkpoint and authorities said 72 motorists were sent for a secondary evaluation. Date-rape drug testing kits coming to San Diego bars and nightclubs Six drivers conducted field sobriety tests and three were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol, the sheriffs department confirmed. The identities of those taken into custody were not immediately released. Additionally, seven drivers were cited for driving without a license or with a suspended license. Three vehicles were towed. The sheriffs department reiterated the following message to the public: Dont drive under the influence of alcohol or drugs. We also want to remind the public that impaired driving is not just from alcohol. Some prescription medications and over-the-counter drugs may interfere with driving. While medicinal and recreational marijuana are legal, driving under the influence of marijuana is illegal. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. I told a doctor about my weird sleep disorder its leading to major breakthroughs in Parkinsons and dementia research Stressed African American woman sitting in bed at night, unable to sleep and with her head in her hand In 1982, retiree Donald Dorff was the first person to be diagnosed with a sleep disorder that, unbeknownst to him at the time, would unlock monumental breakthroughs in research for dementia and Parkinsons. The disorder in question, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder or RBD, caused Dorff to engage in violent movement while asleep. He was able to inflict harm on himself during REM sleep, a period when the body is supposed to be paralyzed while dreaming. Limb jerking, twitching, throwing out your arm, throwing punches, kicking, sitting up, standing, jumping out of bed and running. Those behaviors are very typical with RBD, Dr. Carlos Schenck, a professor and psychiatrist at the University of Minnesotas Hennepin County Medical Center, told CNN. Dorffs diagnosis could be a canary in the mine for other neurodegenerative disorders, although Dorff himself did not develop Parkinsons nor dementia, per Schenck. Wordley Calvo Stock stock.adobe.com Schenck also treated and researched Dorffs disorder while he was based in Minneapolis and working at the Minnesota Regional Sleep Disorders Center at the time, publishing the first paper about RBD in 1986 as they observed similar behavior in multiple patients. On the surface, it seemed to merely be a sleep disorder, but, as researchers later discovered, it proved to be a canary in the mine for other cognitive conditions, like Parkinsons and dementia. Losing the paralysis of REM sleep that is the basis of RBD is the earliest and strongest predictor of a later diagnosis of Parkinsons disease and dementia with Lewy body, Schenck explained. Parkinsons can inflict damage to the brain steam, which can then impact the bodys ability to stay still while dreaming at night. Hallucinations are also common in patients with the neurodegenerative disorder, and can also occur in those with RBD. Because there are not ways to slow the progression of conditions like Parkinsons, dementia or similar neurological disorders, researchers are hoping to find answers by studying RBD, which could be the first sign of a neurodegenerative disorder. Schenck urged anyone over the age of 50 who suddenly develops unusual sleep behaviors like walking and talking to see a healthcare professional. Syda Productions stock.adobe.com Now, theres a clinical trial being conducted at nine centers around the nation, dubbed the North American Prodromal Synucleinopathy Consortium, that is searching for RBD treatments and a way to slow down its development. Currently, practitioners treat RBD with medications like melatonin or clonazepam, the latter of which treats seizures and relaxes muscles, and one or a combination of both works a majority of the time, according to Schenck. We know the mechanism for RBD very well, and we know how to treat it, said Schenck, who urged anyone over 50 with sudden, unusual sleepwalking or sleep talking symptoms to see a doctor. The next step is to slow down or halt the progression to Parkinsons disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. In our weekly list of business people on the move, we highlight Palm Beach County professionals who are making a difference. These are people from across the spectrum of public and private endeavors, those working in charities, court houses, private practices and beyond. They are moving up within their industry, advancing their careers and standing out for their services within our community. Here are this week's professional standouts: Feeding South Florida gains two board members Randy Friedlander Randy Friedlander, SVP, wealth advisor of Morgan Stanley and Dr. Jennyfer Paola Uzor, MD, FAAP, the founder and CEO of Allegra Family Pediatrics, were recently appointed to Feeding South Floridas board of directors for a three-year term. Feeding South Floridas board is a dedicated group of individuals committed the organizations mission to end hunger in South Florida by providing immediate access to nutritious food, leading hunger and poverty advocacy efforts and transforming lives through innovative programming and education. Feeding South Florida is a member of the Feeding America network and is the leading hunger-relief organization serving Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe Counties. Dr. Jennyfer Paola Uzor National firm with West Palm Beach office names two partners Cameron Baker In their West Palm Beach office, Fox Rothschild has promoted attorneys Cameron Baker and Vijay Choksi to partner. Baker handles a full range of family law matters including custody, support, divorce and partition of property. Choksi is an accomplished cannabis law attorney who leverages an insider's understanding of the business to serve the commercial and regulatory needs of clients in the medical and adult-use marijuana industries. Fox Rothschild LLP is a national law firm with 1,000 attorneys in offices coast to coast. Vijay S. Choksi Popular moving firm names director of media, marketing Lalita Bogatz Lalita Bogatz was recently hired as the director of media and marketing for West Palm Beach-based Good Greek Moving and Storage. She comes to Good Greek from WPTV-NBC 5 in West Palm Beach where she worked as an account executive in the sales department for the past 31 years. Premier Delray Beach county club appoints executive chef J. Daniel Montano Mizner Country Club has announced the appointment of chef J. Daniel Montano as its new executive chef. Montano is celebrated for his innovative culinary style, which blends traditional Hispanic flavors with contemporary techniques, adding a fresh perspective to this Delray Beach country clubs culinary landscape. His outstanding contributions to the culinary industry were recently recognized with his inclusion in the prestigious "40 Under 40" list by Club & Resort Business. With over 15 years of culinary expertise, chef Montano has risen from Chef de Cuisine to executive chef at private clubs across North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Florida. Mizner Country Club is one of Delray's premier country club communities, comprised of over 470 classic Mediterranean architecture luxury homes. Jones Foster attorney named to state supreme court group Theodore S. Kypreos Jones Foster is pleased to announce that vice chair Theodore S. Kypreos was recently appointed by order of the Supreme Court of Florida to the newly established Judicial Management Council Workgroup on Uncontested Probate Proceedings. The workgroup was created following an administrative order by chief justice Carlos G. Muniz and will make recommendations to redesign and improve the efficiency and effectiveness of Floridas processes and procedures for uncontested probate proceedings. Jones Foster is celebrating its centennial year as a full-service commercial and private client law firm headquartered in West Palm Beach with offices in Palm Beach and Jupiter. Boca Raton woman named account manager at Hutton Group Rachel Englander The Hutton Group Inspired Meetings & Events, a woman-owned and operated boutique company specializing in meeting and incentive planning and site selection, recently announced the addition of Rachel Englander as account manager. She will assist in all aspects of the site selection and contract negotiation processes. Englander, who lives in Boca Raton, was most recently a sales manager with the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort. If you are looking for more insight into the movers and shakers operating in the Palm Beaches, subscribe to our real estate newsletter, The Dirt, keep an eye out for stories and perspective from veteran reporters Kimberly Miller and Alexandra Clough. If you have an announcement for Business People on the Move, please send it to Pbbusiness@pbpost.com. Eddie Ritz is a journalist at The Palm Beach Post, part of the USA TODAY Florida Network. You can reach him at eritz@pbpost.com. Help support our journalism. Subscribe today. This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Best businesses, professionals, business people in Palm Beach County AUSTIN (KXAN) A Travis County assistant district attorney was arrested Saturday morning on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon following an argument with a roommate, according to an arrest affidavit. Joseph Frederick III, 51, was booked in the Travis County jail at 3:49 a.m. by the Austin Police Department, according to Travis County inmate records. According to the arrest affidavit, Frederick and his roommate got into an argument Friday after Frederick said his roommate was making googly eyes at a guest in their apartment. An argument escalated and the roommate went into his bedroom, locked his door and packed his belongings, the affidavit said. During this time, the roommate told police Frederick was trying to force the bedroom door open and caused damage to the door. The roommate told police he opened the bedroom door and saw Frederick pointing a silver revolver at him, according to the affidavit. The roommate left the room, and when he returned he saw Frederick point a gun at his face and say, Ill shoot you. Police said a video taken by the roommate showed Frederick walking around with a gun. Frederick is heard accusing the roommate of pushing him and saying that the gun is self-defense. Joseph Frederick III, 51, was booked in the Travis County jail at 3:49 a.m. by the Austin Police Department, according to Travis County inmate records. (Courtesy Austin Police Department) Police recovered a fully loaded silver revolver from Frederick, the affidavit said. As of 8 a.m. Sunday, Frederick was no longer in jail. His bail was set at $10,000. KXAN has reached out to Fredericks attorney for a comment. The Travis County District Attorneys Office said they will be reviewing the information of the case and do not have a comment at this time. Frederick currently works in the Travis County District Attorneys Office and received his Texas bar license in 2007, according to the State Bar of Texas. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin. Trial delayed for Marion man accused in deadly roadside ambush of New Mexico State police officer MARION COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW) A federal judge has delayed the trial date for a Marion man facing charges of killing a New Mexico State Police officer in March. U.S. District Court Judge James O. Browning on Tuesday granted a request by Jaremy Smiths defense team to push the trial back nearly a month to July 8. It was originally set to start on June 10. Smith, 33, is facing charges including carjacking resulting in death and kidnapping resulting in death stemming from the March 15 shooting death of Ofc. Justin Hare along Interstate 40 outside of Albuquerque. Smith-trial-orderDownload Smith was arrested March 17 by Bernalillo County sheriffs deputies in an Albuquerque neighborhood, who shot him several times following a brief foot pursuit. Timeline: Whats happened so far in the case of slain Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machado-Fore Smith was indicted by a federal grand jury on April 9, and prosecutors said they were considering the death penalty if hes convicted. Smiths attorneys said in court documents a mitigation presentation is expected in early July that could take the death penalty off the table. Preparing for that alongside a criminal trial, they say, is too much of a burden. There is still a great deal of work to be done, which cannot be accomplished by the current deadlines set by the court, Smiths attorneys said in their motion. He pleaded not guilty April 18 to charges including carjacking resulting in death, causing death by the discharge of a firearm during and in relation to a crime of violence, kidnapping resulting in death and interstate transport of a stolen vehicle. Smiths legal team last week also asked a U.S. District Court judge to delay the start of his trial, citing a voluminous amount of evidence that includes more than 7,700 individual items. The court finds that granting the continuance will strike a proper balance between the ends of justice and the best interests of the public, Browning wrote in his June 4 decision. He also said pushing back the trial was necessary because defense counsel anticipates plea negotiations with the government will begin shortly. Smith is also facing 17 charges in the death of Pee Dee paramedic Phonesia Machcado-Fore. Authorities found her body March 15 outside of Lake View in Dillon County. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. I tried store-brand Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Wegmans. The winner has a permanent spot in my fridge. I tried store-brand Greek yogurt from Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, Costco, and Wegmans. The winner has a permanent spot in my fridge. My family tried plain Greek yogurt from four grocery stores and ranked them from worst to best. I found Trader Joe's Greek nonfat yogurt too tangy, and my daughter gave it a thumbs down. The organic plain nonfat Greek yogurt from Wegmans had the perfect subtle flavor. My family consumes a lot of Greek yogurt. It's low in carbs, high in protein, contains probiotics, and serves as a filling breakfast or snack for my 9-year-old daughter. Greek yogurt has also become an increasingly popular grocery-store item in recent years. In fact, according to market intelligence company Skyquestt, the global Greek yogurt market is worth billions. Though many brands offer Greek-style varieties, I find they're often twice the price of standard plain yogurt. So, to see which Greek yogurt is the best value, I tried store-brand versions from Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Costco, and Wegmans. I bought the most basic plain Greek yogurt I could find at each store and sampled them without any toppings. All were nonfat except the 365 brand from Whole Foods, which contained 3.5% milk fat. Here's how the Greek yogurt stacked up, from worst to best. Trader Joe's nonfat plain Greek yogurt had a medium-thick consistency. I love Trader Joe's, so I wanted to like the store's nonfat plain Greek yogurt. Andrea McHugh I liked that Trader Joe's option didn't have the ubiquitous pool of milky whey that sometimes settles on top of yogurt when I open it. The yogurt seemed to have a nice, medium-thick consistency. At $5.50, the 32-ounce tub of Greek yogurt was the least expensive of the four brands I tried. The yogurt was creamy but a bit too tangy for my taste. I thought Trader Joe's nonfat plain Greek yogurt was a bit sour. Andrea McHugh Sadly, I thought this yogurt had an intensely tangy, almost sour flavor. Because of its standout creaminess, I'd be more inclined to buy Trader Joe's flavored Greek yogurt with honey the next time I'm at the store. The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt from Whole Foods was the most expensive option. The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt was the priciest yogurt I tried. Andrea McHugh At $6.70, this 32-ounce tub was the highest-priced yogurt I tried. When I opened the container, the yogurt looked creamy and smooth. The 365 Greek yogurt tasted mildly sweet, with no tanginess. The 365 organic 3.5% milk fat plain Greek yogurt was pretty good. Andrea McHugh The 365 Greek yogurt tasted fresh and was well-balanced mildly sweet and not too tangy or tart. I'd likely use this yogurt in one of my smoothies, as I don't feel it would alter the taste but would add a nice boost of protein. The Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt from Costco was the best bang for my buck. The Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt came in a 48-ounce tub. Andrea McHugh Costco sells many items in bulk, including the $6 Kirkland Signature organic nonfat Greek yogurt, which comes in a 48-ounce tub. At cost-per-ounce, it was the best-value item in this taste test. The entire tub was cheaper than the 365 organic yogurt from Whole Foods and contained 16 more ounces. The Kirkland Signature yogurt would make a great base for fruit or granola. I really liked the Kirkland Signature organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt, but it wasn't super thick. Andrea McHugh The Kirkland Signature yogurt was rich and full-bodied, with just enough tartness to give it some depth. I appreciated that this yogurt, though less dense than the others, didn't have a puddle of whey at the top. It seemed like an ideal base for fruit, granola, or other add-ins. Finally, I tried Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt. I was excited to try Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt. Andrea McHugh The 32-ounce tub of organic Greek yogurt from Wegmans cost $6 a pleasant surprise, as I thought it would be more expensive. Some whey floated at the top of the yogurt, but only creamy goodness remained once I dumped it out. The yogurt from Wegmans was my favorite. Wegmans' organic nonfat plain Greek yogurt was delicious from the first bite. Andrea McHugh This Greek yogurt was creamy and smooth with the slightest tang, making it a solid base for add-ins. I think its light consistency would also be ideal for recipes that call for Greek yogurt. Notably, this yogurt had the most sugar (7 grams) of all four options. My daughter also liked it the most, so I plan on packing it in a container with some toppings for her lunch. I liked this yogurt so much that I'm permanently keeping it in my refrigerator. The next time we need Greek yogurt, I'll reach for this one from Wegmans. Read the original article on Business Insider The Consumer Product Safety Commission, which was created a half-century ago, exists to keep Americans safe from faulty, defective, and dangerous products on the market. Just within the last week, they have pushed companies to recall lawn mower engines that occasionally catch fire, rock climbing ascenders that dont actually work, biometric gun safes that allow for unauthorized access, and baby sling carriers that dont properly secure infants. Very few Americans have a problem with this. Unfortunately, the ones that do are willing to spend a lot of money to stop it. Two recent lawsuitsone in Texas, another in Oklahomashow how the conservative legal establishment is mobilizing against the consumer watchdog agency. The results could be dangerous, if not deadly, for everyone else. In the Texas case, a group named Consumers Research filed a lawsuit in 2022 to challenge the agencys constitutionality. The lawsuit is a betrayal of the organizations founding mission. When it was created in the 1920s, Consumers Research was one of the original consumer advocacy watchdogs. It tested thousands of products on the market for their safety and efficacy, paving the way for successor organizations like Consumer Reports, which broke away from it in the 1930s. The current iteration of Consumers Research bears no resemblance to its original mission. In 1981, it was purchased by M. Stanton Evans, a prominent conservative editor and activist. Evans soon shuttered the groups product testing labs and hollowed out its staff. Millions of dollars of anonymous donor money flowed into Consumers Research in recent years as it turned its attention to fighting what it describes as woke companies. Among those influencing the shift is Leonard Leo, the Federalist Society leader who oversaw Trumps efforts to push the federal courts to the right. Undermining the CPSC would be a boon for companies that hope to sell defective and flawed products to American consumers. Consumers Research argued it had standing to challenge the organizations constitutionality on deeply cynical grounds. In 2021, it filed Freedom of Information Act requests to obtain voluntary safety regulations standards materials whose copyrights are owned by a private standards organization. The CSPC denied the request and told Consumers Research to obtain them from the organization itself. Each of these voluntary safety standards can be purchased for $46 to $195 from ASTM, Consumers Research said in its complaint. The Commission did not make a decision on the request for a fee waiver. Because the Commission denied this FOIA request, Consumers Research must pay ASTM to obtain these documents. Though it is funded by anonymous right-wing donors with deep pockets, the group argued that paying these fees for a service it voluntarily sought would amount to an imminent financial injury. It blamed the purported injury on the agencys structure, which it said was unconstitutional. (More on that later.) This is the kind of phantom case that right-wing legal groups often conjure up to get legal questions in front of ideologically sympathetic judges. The Oklahoma lawsuit, by comparison, has actual real-world stakes. It was filed by Leachco, a baby products company that is resisting a CPSC recall of one of its infant loungers. Pediatric and child safety organizations have long emphasized safe sleep standards to reduce the risk of sudden infant death. The American Association of Pediatrics recommends that babies sleep on their backs on a firm, fitted mattress with a tight fitted sheet. It discourages unsafe practices like co-sleeping or placing loose blankets, pillows, stuffed toys, bumpers and other soft items, all of which can lead to suffocation. In 2021, the CPSC issued a new rule that sought to remove unsafe baby sleep products from the American market. It ordered a recall of popular loungers like the Dockatot Deluxe because they did not meet the new standards, noting that multiple infant deaths had been associated with them. One of the products that violated the new rule was the Leachco Podster. Its pillow-like design is both its major selling point and its biggest problem, according to the CPSC. The softness and low sides can cause airflow obstruction if an infant rolls, moves, or is placed in a position where the infants nose or mouth are obstructed by the Podsters. While Leachco recommends against allowing babies to sleep in the Podster, the agency found multiple instances where babies had suffocated in them and noted that it takes actual consumer use into consideration. Most companies voluntarily recall their products when they are found to be unsafe by the CPSC. Leachco did not. The Oklahoma-based company instead filed a lawsuit in 2022 to block the CPSCs enforcement efforts, arguing that the agencys structure violated the Constitutions separation of powers, and continue marketing the product. Jamie and Clyde [Leach] see Leachco as their story of the American way: work hard, innovate, and never give up, they said in their complaint. They have always modeled these virtues for their children and hope their kids can carry on in the business one day. The Commissions baseless allegations and arbitrary administrative proceeding threaten everything the Leaches have worked so hard for. Supporting their lawsuit is the Pacific Legal Foundation, a prominent right-wing legal organization. As with other watchdog agencies, the CPSC enjoys a degree of insulation from day-to-day political forces. It is headed by a five-member commission, each of whom serves a staggered seven-year term after they are confirmed by the Senate. Commissioners cannot be fired by the president except for cause. Both Leachco and Consumers Research argue that the removal protections are unconstitutional because Congress constrained the presidents essential power to fire officers. This is a familiar argument from conservative anti-regulatory groups. The Supreme Court stripped the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau of their removal protections in a 2020 case on separation-of-powers grounds. The justices distinguished the CFPB director from other agency heads with similar protections by noting that those agencies typically had multi-member commissions heading them, which reduced the threat of arbitrary exercises of power. As the court noted, the CFPB itself was modeled after the CPSC when Congress established it in 2011. The Leachco complaint framed this argument in terms of liberty and the Framers intent. It quoted from founding-era political documents for a couple of pages to emphasize that the CPSCs broad powers threatened Americans individual rights. The Framers, of course, well understood how concentrated, arbitrary power could deprive Americans of their unalienable fundamental rights to life, liberty, and property, the company noted. Leachco even quoted specific complaints against the British Crown in the Declaration of Independence that it thought were applicable in its consumer safety case. Consumers Research did not bother with paeans to the Founders. It merely envisioned a world where the CPSCs work ground to a halt after a president fired most of the commissioners. If the Commissioners had been removed [when President Biden took office in January 2021], the Commission could not have adopted the FOIA rule on January 29, 2021, because [it] would have lacked a quorum, the organization said in its complaint. Similarly, if President Trump had removed the Commissioners during his term in office, the Commission would have lacked a quorum to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking for the FOIA rule on April 16, 2020. In the Texas case, a federal district court judge sided with the challengers and struck down the removal provision. But a three-judge panel in the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that decision and ruled in favor of the agency in Januarysort of. Consumers Research had strongly criticized the 1935 case Humphreys Executor v. United States in its arguments. In that New Dealera case, the court upheld the removal protections for the Federal Trade Commission and allowed Congress to enact them for similarly structured agencies. The panels conservative members agreed with that criticism but said they were nonetheless bound to apply it. As middle-management circuit judges, we must follow binding precedent, even if that precedent strikes us as out of step with prevailing Supreme Court sentiment, Judge Don Willett wrote for the panel. The logic of Humphreys may have been overtaken, but the decision has not been overruledat least not yet. Until that happens, Humphreys controls. The Oklahoma case faced a much rougher road. The district court rejected Leachcos request for a preliminary injunction against the CPSC, and the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals panel declined to reverse it last week. In its ruling, the Tenth Circuit panel noted that all of the available precedent pointed in the CPSCs favor, including the recent decision by the Fifth Circuit. Unlike the Fifth Circuit, however, the Tenth Circuit rejected the idea that the structure violated the separation of powers at all. Judge David Ebel observed in a footnote that the common right-wing theory about removal protections misunderstood how the laws actually worked. They were not restrictions imposed upon an unwilling executive branch, he wrote. Rather, the executive branch affirmatively chose to accept some insulation for its agencies and commissions from short term political control to ensure the good and faithful execution of its executive duties. The removal protections at issue in this case originated with the exercise of, rather than limitations on, presidential discretion. That is also why the conservative legal establishment is fighting so hard to remove those protections. The good and faithful execution of the agencies regulatory functions is seen as a bug, not a feature. Wealthy right-wing donors fund these lawsuits so that regulatory agencies will be more malleable by Republican presidents and their appointees. After former President Donald Trump installed his own appointees at the CFPB, for example, they began undermining its regulatory efforts against the financial services industry. Kathy Kraninger, who served as the agencys Trump-era director, went on to work for a crypto company and is now the CEO of the Florida Bankers Association. Neither Consumers Research nor Leachco have asked the Supreme Court to review the circuit courts rulings yet, though they still have time to do so. There is no real reason for the justices to take up the case since the lower courts are in agreement. But the Fifth Circuits conservative judges are strongly encouraging the court to do it anyway. When the court denied a request to rehear the Consumers Research case in April, Willett wrote separately to say that the justices should take up the case to overturn Humphreys Executor and the strange conclusion that he says that precedent forced him to reach. In a way, these cases would be a perfect vehicle for the conservative justices to overturn Humphreys Executor if they wish to do so. They illustrate exactly why watchdog agencies like the CPSC were designed to be insulated from day-to-day political forces, how wealthy right-wing donors stand to benefit if those removal protections are erased, and how Americans could be harmed if it happens. Conservative legal theories about the separation of powers may ultimately be of little comfort to grieving parents who bought an unsafe product without realizing it. Donald Trump has vowed to appeal his historic criminal conviction in New York City, but the awkward timing means a final decision might not come until days before the November electiontossing a flaming catalyst into an already combustible situation. Trump could be forced to spend time in a state prison, have his movements narrowly controlled on probation, or even be ordered to engage in community service over the summerlong before a higher court might overturn the first conviction of a former president. The alternative is that he remains out pending an appeal, with the judgment hanging over his head as he nears Election Day. The irony is that Trumpwho has always employed delay tactics to slow down the many legal actions against him, for sexually abusing a journalist, defrauding banks, faking business records, and so much morecould get a taste of his own medicine thanks to the bureaucratic New York court system. Were gonna be appealing this scam, Trump railed last week inside Trump Tower, just before calling the judge a tyrant. He was talking about New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan, who oversaw the seven-week trial that ended with a jury unanimously finding Trump guilty of all 34 felony counts of faking business records to pull off a cover-up. Trial Lawyer Lost 8 Lbs Skipping Trumps McDonalds Courthouse Lunches Merchan set sentencing for July 11, just three days past the First Judicial Department deadline to receive the basic appeal paperwork. The appellate divisions calendar shows that the soonest it can schedule oral arguments is Oct. 1, giving those judges only a few weeks to consider the case before voters go to the polls. Theres no avenue to get to the appellate court until theres a judgment of conviction. And the judgment of conviction is entered when hes sentenced, said Jill Konviser, a retired New York criminal court judge. Its difficult to see how to speed that up. Appellate judges are on their summer break. The First Department doesnt hear arguments in June, July, or August. In general, appellate work can move very slowly and deliberately. Nobody is generally in a rush to decide matters unless its something like a voting matter, said Alan David Marrus, another former New York state judge. Marrus noted that appellate courts sometimes expedite cases when considering election laws, like issues that relate to voter access, districting, or candidate qualifications. But while the conclusion to Trumps case could certainly affect how some people vote, its not strictly an election matter. Then theres the likelihood that Trump will pull off the same trick as his former White House chief strategist, the right-wing media personality Steve Bannon, who was convicted by a jury of criminal contempt for ignoring a congressional subpoena but managed to stay out of prison for two years until being ordered behind bars this month. Trumps fate is certainly a matter of political exigency. But it lacks legal urgency, noted Marrus, who was chief of the appeals bureau at the Bronx District Attorneys Office before becoming a judge in 1983. In a criminal case, the defendants get a stay of judgment if the court thinks theres a real issue, Marrus said. I dont know whats going to happen with the Trump case. Im assuming hes not going to be in jail while this appeal is being heard. So, whats the urgency to decide this case? You tell me. Why would they rush to decide this case? In reality, its up to Trumps own legal team. And thats whereonce againTrump could drag his feet. In his two federal trials against the journalist E. Jean Carroll, both of which he lost, Trump slow-walked every step of the rape defamation cases in an attempt to hold off on handing over the $88 million he owes her. Hes currently appealing a state courts bank fraud judgment pegged at nearly $500 million, one that allows the New York Attorney General to seize Trump properties. This criminal conviction is no different, Marrus noted. While Trump loves to tout how he packed the U.S. Supreme Court with three conservatives, tilting it rightward 6-3, hell first have to contest with an appellate court that oversees Manhattanand is made up of judges from the same progressive metropolis Trump keeps bashing. The lawyers can work as diligently as they want to. But I dont see them rushing it, Marrus said. I dont think theyre expecting to win in the appellate division. If this case were going to the Supreme Court, I can see them wanting to get this right away. But the First Department has it now, and these are the same kinds of judges who were on the trial bench. Theyre of the same mold: Elected and mostly Democrats from the New York area. Former prosecutor Tess Cohen said theres certainly an impetus for Trump to try to speed up the appeal. She said Trump is likely to start serving a sentencewhether thats at New York Citys dreaded Rikers Island jail or even a conditional freedom with strict rules attached. And while prison time could theoretically be put on pause by Justice Merchan or even an emergency stay from the appellate division, she said it isnt likely. Its almost never done. Thats a really rare thing. You basically have to have a very good chance at winning on appeal, she said. Trumps Whining About a Rigged Judiciary Is Ridiculous Asked whether Merchan seems amenable to thatafter watching Trump violate his gag order 10 times over, intimidate jurors, threaten the prosecutor, and even launch verbal attacks against the judges daughterCohen answered point blank. Not even remotely. And theres no reason for him to. No standard defendant would get a stay pending appeal after a trial like this. In some ways, Trump spun this tangled web himself. The trial was scheduled to start on March 25, but was pushed back three weeks after some last-minute legal maneuvering by Trumps defense team. Had the seven-week trial ended in mid-May, sentencing could have been set for mid-June, allowing Trump to argue for an appeal in September. Instead, its possible Trump will head to the polls against President Joe Biden while his conviction is under appealgiving MAGA apologists a lame-but-real excuse to say the judgment has not been finalized. And if the First Department does issue an opinion cementing Trumps fate by swiftly affirming the case in October? Cohen thinks Merchan is likely to push off the final court hearing until after the Nov. 5 electionraising the stark possibility that the judge who sentenced a former president might have to punish a president-elect. 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. What can Trump do about vaccines? More than you might think. Donald Trump, former Covid-19 vaccine booster, is now the nations most high-profile critic of immunization mandates. The former president has on the campaign trail promised to strip funding from schools with vaccine requirements and lambasted independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as a fake anti-vaxxer, while obscuring his role in speeding the development of the Covid shot when he was president during the pandemic. Trump's new anti-vaccine persona could have far-reaching consequences if he's elected to a second stint as president with far-reaching administrative powers. Public health experts say a White House opposed to immunization mandates could potentially cause upticks in cases of measles, polio and other vaccine-preventable diseases, or hamper efforts to fight a future pandemic. The CDC could pare back the number of vaccines it recommends children receive or eliminate those recommendations entirely. The CDC could change the paperwork required to be shared with parents to make vaccines sound less safe than they are. Or the FDA could increase the number of years of safety testing required for new vaccines and impose other onerous requirements for vaccines to be approved in the U.S. Trump also could, as a thank-you to vaccine skeptics for their support in November, appoint someone who opposes the governments traditional role in promoting vaccines, such as Kennedy or Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo, who called for a pause in the use of Covid-19 mRNA vaccines and did not encourage parents to vaccinate their children during a recent measles outbreak. The short version is they can create through their control over money, control over processes and infrastructure at the federal level enormous havoc, said Georges Benjamin, executive director at the American Public Health Association. If you want to see an organization not function, put somebody thats not qualified to be there, or who may have credentials on paper but is not motivated to really do the job in a way that enhances the publics health. Kennedys campaign did not respond to a question about whether he would consider joining a future Trump administration; the Florida Department of Health did not respond to requests for comment from Ladapo. The former presidents growing criticism of immunization mandates comes as Kennedy tries to woo Trumps increasingly vaccine-skeptical MAGA base, and as suspicion about the Covid-19 shots spills into other routine childhood immunizations. A POLITICO | Morning Consult poll last fall showed that Republican voters are less likely than Democrats or independents to say vaccines are safe for children; Trump primary supporters were twice as likely as other Republicans to say such vaccines are unsafe, the poll found. The Trump campaign has previously said that the former president is threatening to take away funding only from schools that mandate the Covid-19 vaccine, not other vaccines. Public health experts dont think Trump is personally opposed to immunization, and Trump and his wife, Melania, received the Covid-19 shot and in 2021 encouraged everyone to go get your shot. And states are responsible for establishing most immunization policies. But public health experts remain concerned about what Trump might do as president or whom he might appoint. Trumps campaign did not answer specific questions about what other vaccine policies the former president would or would not adopt, or whether he would consider appointing vaccine-skeptical individuals. The campaign pointed back to his promise to defund schools with vaccine mandates, which spokesperson Caroline Sunshine said in an email still stands. Former Trump administration officials argue some policy changes are needed to address concerns about how the government communicated with the public during the pandemic and that those policies arent anti-vaccine. The conservative Heritage Foundations Project 2025 blueprint, for instance, recommends breaking up the CDC to separate its scientific and policymaking functions. Because CDCs credibility has been so damaged because it bungled the Covid response, people rightfully have a lot more questions about recommendations for everything, vaccine-related and otherwise, said Roger Severino, vice president of domestic policy at the Heritage Foundation and director of HHS Office for Civil Rights under Trump. He added that he doesnt question the safety and efficacy of any vaccine, but that there is an additional burden on the CDC to explain with hard science the rationale for all the vaccines on the schedule being taken in combination." The CDC declined to comment. Former CDC Director Robert Redfield, who served under Trump, did not respond to a request for comment. Paul Mango, former deputy chief of staff for policy at HHS under Trump, said its unlikely the former president would prioritize anti-vaccine policies or appoint anti-vaccine officials in a second administration. Trump did, after all, champion Operation Warp Speed, a public-private partnership that helped develop the Covid-19 vaccine in record time. I guess its always a possibility, but I think its an extremely low probability, Mango said. I just dont see that as a priority. If there's someone whos great at all of that other stuff and they happen to be anti-vaccine, I dont know, I dont know who that individual is, but I dont think that would be a selection criterion. I really cant imagine that despite the political rhetoric and the campaign rhetoric. But Trump rewarded evangelicals for their support in 2016 with three conservative Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade, and public health experts fear what a similar reward might look like for vaccine skeptics. They worry he might appoint someone like Kennedy, who Trump, after he was elected in 2016, asked to chair a vaccine safety task force, or Ladapo to a top health position. Such appointments would represent a stark departure from the broadly respected personnel who served in the Trump administration, such as Alex Azar, a George W. Bush HHS appointee who was a top executive at the drugmaker Eli Lilly; Scott Gottlieb, who worked at the FDA under Bush; and Jerome Adams, who ran Indianas health department under then-Gov. Mike Pence. It would also deviate from the approach he took during the Covid-19 pandemic, putting scientists and doctors, such as Deborah Birx, at the forefront of the White Houses messaging. If he appoints any of those Fox News talking heads in a leadership position of the CDC or NIH or FDA, absolutely they could do a lot of damage, said Peter Hotez, co-director of the Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development. Kennedys campaign, in a statement, said that he opposes all vaccine mandates but has no intention of amending the CDC childhood recommended vaccine schedule and would not use the federal government to force state governments or schools to change their policy on vaccines if elected president. A second Trump administration could effect significant change even just by making tweaks to two top vaccine advisory committees the CDCs Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices and the FDAs Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. It could either appoint vaccine-skeptical individuals to the bodies or scrap them entirely. Such a move would likely have immediate impacts on states, many of which point directly to CDC and ACIP recommendations in their immunization statutes. The CDC puts out yearly recommended immunization schedules for both children and adults. Imagine what happens if CDC guidance changes to, Vaccination is a question for families. CDC recommends that families talk to their provider or minister about vaccines, and doesn't recommend anything, said Wendy Parmet, who directs the Northeastern University Law Schools Center for Health Policy and Law. Some state laws are going to change with a blink of an eye. The FDA, in a statement, said advisory committee members must be technically qualified experts in their field and be able to analyze detailed scientific data and understand its public health significance. It added that while committees provide recommendations, final decisions are made by the FDA. A future administration could also use the power of the purse, like withholding funding for the federal Vaccines for Children Program, to persuade states to adopt or remove certain vaccine policies. It could defund or reduce funding for the CDCs work on vaccine recommendations and promoting vaccination. CMS could remove vaccination as a quality measure. The NIH could decide not to fund certain kinds of vaccine research. Public health experts additionally fear Trump could also end all federal vaccine mandates, including for members of the military, which they say could undermine the nations defenses. Military members are required to receive a suite of shots before basic training against diseases like tetanus, measles and polio while others have to get additional vaccines protecting them against anthrax or smallpox, though they can opt out on health, administrative or religious grounds. Even if Trump takes none of those actions or loses the 2024 election public health experts warn that the former presidents campaign trail rhetoric is enough to give state and local officials the confidence they need to change their vaccine policies. Some state and local jurisdictions have already been moving in that direction. In West Virginia, the GOP-controlled Legislature voted to remove vaccine requirements for students in private and parochial schools, though Republican Gov. Jim Justice, who is running for Senate, vetoed the bill. A Houston-area school board voted in May to remove sections from science textbooks that address vaccines. Even if its your state legislators who are making the decisions that count, if they see a president elected who holds strong anti-vaccine views, or who appoints anti-vaccine administrators, that tells elected officials at the state and local level, Hey, this president was elected on this platform, this must be something that my constituents also care about, said Allison Winnike, director of the Western region for the Network for Public Health Law. It could overnight cause really lasting harms that would take a long time to try to combat. Former President Trump lauded Nevada Senate GOP candidate Sam Brown, calling him a good man during his Sunday rally in Las Vegas, but he declined to offer a full-throated endorsement ahead of Tuesdays primary. Trump attended a fundraiser on Saturday and spoke at a rally in the Silver State on Sunday, raising speculation that he might weigh in and make a last-minute pitch for Brown, who is running in the Republican contest to take on Sen. Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.) this fall. Brown faces two GOP challengers in the Republican primary, with his most serious competitor being former U.S. Ambassador to Iceland Jeffrey Gunter, who served in the Trump administration. But the former president only briefly touched on the GOP primary during his remarks, saying of the retired Army captain you have a good man named Brown, and he appeared to suggest hed win in November, describing him as a senator named Brown. Nevada is the only state with a competitive Senate GOP primary where Trump has declined to endorse a candidate. Though Brown is anticipated to defeat Gunter in the primary on Tuesday and has had the support of Senate Republicans, the former presidents lack of an endorsement is still a blow to Brown who reportedly traveled to Florida earlier this year to get Trumps backing. But it may also speak to Trumps decision to avoid weighing in between a candidate backed by Senate Republicans and a former official in his administration, Gunter, whos also a notable Republican donor. Trump attended a fundraiser hosted by Don Ahern on Saturday, who has also backed Gunter. Nevada is considered among a handful of states that will determine the race to the White House and control of the Senate. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nev.) narrowly won reelection in 2022 against Republican Adam Laxalt by less than a percentage point. The nonpartisan election handicapper Cook Political Report rates Rosens seat as a toss up. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. If Trump is re-elected in November, the downfall of our democracy is guaranteed | Opinion Downfall of our democracy Donald Trump is a liar and a criminal, Modesto readers say. Dont trust him | Opinion, (modbee.com, Aug. 6, 2023) Its a great day for supporters of Donald Trump. They now have an opportunity to vote for a twice impeached, sexual predator, adulterer and convicted felon. MAGA is so proud of their little dictator. The election was supposedly rigged in 2016 if Trump lost, rigged in 2020 when he did lose and now will be rigged this November since hes been found guilty. Yes, there is a pattern. And sadly, the Trump supporters dont have the mental capacity, patriotism or guts to understand their own ignorance. They are willing to flush our legal system down the toilet for Trumps fascist insults and threats. MAGA will gladly vote for Trump, ensuring the downfall of our democracy. Brooks Judd Turlock Opinion The golden calf Donald Trump is a liar and a criminal, Modesto readers say. Dont trust him | Opinion, (modbee.com, Aug. 6, 2023) In the Book of Exodus, while Moses is receiving the Ten Commandments from God, his disgruntled followers erect and begin to worship a golden calf. Today, for many Republicans, Donald Trump has become their golden calf... never mind the Ten Commandments. Glenore Flanders Turlock Our planet cant wait Trump guilty verdict a turning point for California, nation, (sacbee.com, May 30) The same Republicans who deny President Joe Bidens election, Donald Trumps felony convictions and reports of Russian electoral interference also say that climate change is a hoax. Lets stop playing politics with our only planet. Weve witnessed the stark fact that climate change is real and has disastrous implications all around the country and the world. Do not allow right-wing media to influence your vote. Democrats trust climate scientists and have already enacted basic legislation to combat global warming. We cannot stop now. Prepare to fight back by financially supporting and voting for Biden and every Democratic candidate this November. Our planet cant wait. Sandy White Fremont Honoring the flag Monday Top Ten: Honoring the American flag, (modbee.com, June 10, 2016) Flag Day is a time to celebrate, honor and reflect on the history, significance and symbolism of the American Flag, a recognizable and powerful reminder of our countrys ideals, principles, values, pride, resilience, spirit and unity. It reminds us of sacrifices made in the name of freedom and inspires and gives us hope. Respect for the flag and what it symbolizes is an integral part of American life. When we stand and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, it evokes a strong sense of collective patriotism, and we demonstrate our loyalty, and love of country. Linda Countryman Modesto Regulation, not prohibition California must ban kratom products, an opioid-like drug, (sacbee.com, May 31) Prohibition has consistently proven ineffective in addressing substance use issues, and kratom is no exception. Instead of making products inaccessible, which drives the market underground, we should focus on regulating kratom to ensure safety and transparency for consumers. Research from Dr. Oliver Grundman, a leading kratom researcher, highlights that not all kratom products are the same. Proper labeling and manufacturing standards are crucial to mitigate risks associated with kratom products. A regulated market would protect the estimated 15 million Americans who use kratom for legitimate purposes, offering them a viable natural alternative. Removing access is a failed approach from the war on drugs playbook, harming those who most need help. Regulation, not prohibition, is the responsible path forward. Matthew Lowe Executive Director, Global Kratom Coalition (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trump said hed scrap taxes on tipped earnings for hospitality workers if he wins the White House, calibrating his message for swing-state voters in Nevada as he fights back after his felony conviction. Most Read from Bloomberg Were going to do that right away first thing in office because its been a point of contention for years and you do a great job of service you take care of people, the former president said at a rally in Las Vegas on Sunday, his first since he was found guilty at his criminal trial in Manhattan. Trumps latest tax-cut pledge signaled a bid to appeal to Nevadas booming service industry dominated by young workers and people of color, two voter groups hes courting as he heads toward the Republican National Convention in mid-July. The rally took Trump to a crucial state that President Joe Biden won in 2020, but where the presidents softening support among Black and Hispanic voters threatens to create an opening for Trump. For those hotel workers and people that get tips, youre going to be very happy, he told the crowd. Because when I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on people making tips. A Bloomberg News/Morning Consult poll in May found support for Trump and Biden tied at 47% in Nevada. Trump led Biden by 48% to 44% among voters across seven swing states, including Nevada, that are likely to determine the outcome of the election. The Culinary Union, which represents workers in the hospitality industry, derided Trumps pledge. While relief is needed for tip earners, theres a difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon, Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement. The presumptive Republican nominee has stepped up campaigning after the New York trial largely kept him tied up in court, holding a town hall in battleground Arizona on Thursday and doing televised interviews. That follows a scaled-back campaign stretch with fewer rallies to preserve a war chest hit hard by legal fees. Earlier: Trump Guilty Verdict Adds Twist to 2024 Race: A Convicted Felon As a convicted felon running for president, Trump has thrust US politics into uncharted waters after a jury found him guilty on all 34 counts of falsifying business records to hide a hush-money payment to an adult film actress. He still faces three other criminal trials, but those are unlikely to take place before the general election in November. (Updates with union reaction in seventh paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Nevada on 9 June 2024 (AFP via Getty Images) Donald Trumps latest rant against immigrants and asylum-seekers labeled people who traveled hundreds if not thousands of miles to reach the US as lazy, while the former president spurred his crowd into chanting bulls***! in response to Joe Bidens efforts to address border security. The ex-president spoke in Las Vegas on Sunday afternoon and railed against an executive order Biden signed this past week to address illegal border crossings. The order, signed by the president on Tuesday, allows the president to freeze the US asylum application system if illegal border crossings are occurring at an average rate of more than 2,500 per day. This is a breaking story. More to follow... Not even 100-degree weather will force Donald Trump to consider his supporters well-being before they trek out to see him. The Trump campaign was moving ahead with a Las Vegas rally on Sunday despite record-high temperatures plaguing the U.S. Southwest. Trump was expected to speak around noon, according to the Associated Pressright when temperatures were expected to reach 100 degrees. The rally came days after 11 people were hospitalized for heat exhaustion during a Phoenix town hall, at which Trump railed against his recent conviction in his New York hush-money trial and urged an appeals court to overturn it. 11 Trump Fans Hospitalized Amid Scorching Heat at Arizona Town Hall: Report For the Nevada rally, the U.S. Secret Service permitted attendees to bring personal water bottles and umbrellas to combat the scorching heat. The Trump campaign also shelled out money for additional emergency medical services at the venuea mostly uncovered parkand planned to hand out misting fans and water bottles. The campaign also told the AP it planned to install cooling tents. The rally is Trumps third this year in Nevadaa swing state he has lost twiceand his second campaign event since he was found guilty of 34 charges in New York. On Sunday, a CBS News/YouGov poll put Trump and President Joe Biden neck-and-neck in battleground states. Nevada was one of seven states polled. The others were Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin. White-Collar Crook Billboard to Greet Trump Near His Rally CNN reported that Trump's visit to Las Vegas on Sunday would coincide with the launch of a new Latino Americans for Trump effort, as Republicans seek to capitalize on Biden's struggles with such voters. According to Politico, the Democratic National Committee planned to unveil a billboard ad close to Trump's rally calling him a convicted white-collar crook. 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. Donald Trumps summer campaign stops include locations in the middle of the desert, leaving supporters standing for hours in the merciless southwest heat. But it hasn't stopped his fans from standing in line for him even if it sends them to the hospital. Nearly a dozen of the MAGA faithful in Arizona required hospitalization earlier this month while waiting to attend a Trump campaign event in Phoenix. On Sunday, 9 June, the former president will again venture out into the desert, this time bringing his revenge and resentment tour to Las Vegas, Nevada and into the Mojave Desert. With a high of 104 degrees Fahrenheit (42C), the weather will once again pose a threat to lined up MAGA supporters on Sunday. This time, however, the Trump campaign has reportedly made plans to help prevent their fans from succumbing to the temperatures. The campaign has prepared thousands of water bottles in Las Vegas to hand out to supporters waiting in line for the event and for those already inside the event's security perimeter. It will also be erecting tents to provide spots for shade for those who need a break from the sun, and at least one of the tents will have air-conditioning, the New York Times reports. MAGA supporters protect themselves from the sun as they wait for Trump to appear at a rally in Las Vegas (AFP via Getty Images) Misting fans will be placed around the venue to help keep attendees cool, and the campaign has allowed participants to bring very small umbrellas with them for extra shade. Supporters sometimes have to wait hours before they can enter secured venues to see a president or former president speak. In most places, that's annoying. In the southwest in the summer, it's potentially deadly without preparation. Heat exhaustion which can cause dizziness, nausea, headache, and thirst, among other symptoms was what sent the 11 Trump supporters in Arizona to the hospital, and will likely be a constant thorn in the side for any campaign visiting the southwest this summer. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations' seasonal outlook calls for above normal temperatures for the next three months across the country. The number one way to battle heat exhaustion is to stay hydrated, to wear loose fitting clothes, and to protect yourself from sunburns, as sunburns affect the bodys ability to cool itself. As temperatures reach 108 degrees Farenheit (42C), a woman is tended to for heat exhaustion as supporters line up before former US President and 2024 Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump participates in a town hall event (AFP via Getty Images) That's of no concern to Trump, however. He has routinely downplayed the climate crisis, saying during a recent interview that the only warming that concerns him is "nuclear global warming." He also has no issue holding campaign events in extreme weather conditions. A severe blizzard forced Trump to cancel all but one of his rallies earlier this year in Iowa. Those who attended thee one remaining event had to trudge through subzero temperatures and were subjected to freezing winds while they waited in line. That time, the campaign provided a trio of buses where waiting supporters could warm themselves before heading back into the cold. Trump says only a psycho would call war dead suckers and losers which a general says Trump did Donald Trump is again denying that he called American soldiers who died in World War I in France suckers and losers, as attention has returned to the alleged comments during Joe Bidens recently concluded state visit to the country. During a rally Sunday in Las Vegas, the former president called the alleged comments disinformation reported by the fake news. Think of it from a practical standpoint, Im standing there with generals and military people, in a cemetery and I look at them, I say, These people are suckers and losers, he began. Now, think of it, he continued, unless youre a psycho or a crazy person or a very stupid personwho would say that anywaybut who would say it to military people? In fact, no one is alleging Trump made the insults at a French cemetery. Trump reportedly snubbed a planned commemoration for the 100th anniversary of WWI at Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, fearing his hair would become disheveled in the rain, The Atlantic reported in 2020. Why should I go to that cemetery? Its filled with losers, Trump reportedly told staffers, according to the magazine. The then-president also called the more than 1,800 Marines buried there suckers elsewhere during his 2018 trip in France, per The Atlantic. John Kelly, a former Marine Corps general and the White House chief of staff at the time, attended in Trumps place. Kelly, one of whose sons was killed in action while serving in Afghanistan in 2010, later told CNN Trump had in fact made the derogatory remarks, describing him in a statement as someone who rants that our most precious heroes who gave their lives in Americas defense are losers and wouldnt visit their graves in France. The Biden campaign, facing an extremely tight race against Trump in November, has sought to use Trumps comments about the military. A recent campaign ad cuts footage of dead American servicemembers returning home in coffins with Trumps past remarks denigrating soldiers. Donald Trump proposed eliminating taxes on tips at a Sunday campaign rally in Las Vegas as he looks to win over voters in a critical swing state that has a sizable number of service industry workers. The proposal which came at the presumptive GOP nominees first campaign rally since his historic conviction in his New York hush money trial last month was immediately slammed by the states powerful Culinary Union as wild campaign promises from a convicted felon. The former presidents Las Vegas visit follows a flurry of stops that included high-dollar fundraisers in California and a campaign town hall in Arizona. On Saturday night, he attended a fundraiser in Las Vegas hosted by construction equipment tycoon Don Ahern, a longtime ally. Trump co-campaign manager Chris LaCivita said Sunday the campaign and the Republican National Committee raised a total of $27.5 million from the four fundraisers Trump attended in recent days in California and Nevada. Trumps excursion out West comes at a critical juncture for his campaign as it looks to shift the narrative to his general election message after a seven-week criminal trial that culminated in his conviction on 34 felony counts related to a hush money scheme to pay off a porn star ahead of the 2016 election. During his visit to Las Vegas, the Trump campaign also launched a new Latino Americans for Trump coalition, as it looks to increase its outreach to Hispanic voters ahead of Novembers election. The decision to launch the new program in Nevada was no coincidence. Recent polling has indicated a noticeable shift toward Trump among Hispanic voters, who have traditionally voted Democratic. In a state like Nevada, where Latino voters make up a sizable portion of the electorate, siphoning away some of them could help deliver Trump the critical battleground state, and potentially the White House. Nevada has backed the Democratic nominee for president in four consecutive elections but Joe Biden carried it by just 2 points in 2020. Some of us believe that we might be better positioned in Nevada [this cycle] than we are even in Georgia, one source close to Trump told CNN ahead of the rally. Trump campaign sources pointed specifically to the Covid-19 pandemic as a reason for their optimism. Nevada was particularly hard hit by the pandemic, given its dependence on tourism and hospitality. One senior adviser said ahead of the event that there are also plans to try to work with the states Culinary Workers Union, which has traditionally worked closely with Democrats as part of a massive get-out-the-vote operation crafted by late Nevada Sen. Harry Reid. Last month, the union unendorsed several Democratic state lawmakers over their votes to remove Covid-era cleaning requirements placed on the casino industry. Attendees cheer at Trump's campaign rally on June 9, 2024, in Las Vegas. - John Locher/AP When I get to office, we are going to not charge taxes on tips, Trump said at his rally. Were going to do that right away, first thing in office because its been a point of contention for years and years and years and you do a great job of service you take care of people. The Culinary Workers Union Local 226 pushed back on Trumps promise, which would need congressional approval, on Sunday. For decades, the Culinary Union has fought for tipped workers rights and against unfair taxation, Secretary-Treasurer Ted Pappageorge said in a statement. Relief is definitely needed for tip earners, but Nevada workers are smart enough to know the difference between real solutions and wild campaign promises from a convicted felon. A critical moment As he did at his Phoenix town hall last week hosted by conservative group Turning Point Action, Trump on Sunday also railed against his conviction and touted the fundraising boon its been for his campaign. In a series of interviews over the past week, Trump has refused to back away from his threats to seek retaliation against his political opponents if he wins the presidency. Well, revenge does take time. I will say that, Trump said in an interview with psychologist Phil McGraw, better known as Dr. Phil. And sometimes revenge can be justified. Phil, I have to be honest. You know, sometimes it can. And while he called the people in prison for breaking into the Capitol on January 6, 2021, warriors and continued to falsely claim that the rioters were invited into the Capitol by police, Trump on Sunday also focused on immigration, which his team views as a core vulnerability for Biden ahead of November. In a potential attempt to address that vulnerability, Biden announced an executive action last week giving him the authority to effectively shut down the US-Mexico border to asylum seekers entering illegally when a daily threshold of crossings is exceeded. Trump bashed Biden repeatedly over the move during his Phoenix speech, calling it bullsh*t and vowing to revoke the new asylum restrictions if reelected. The Senate factor In addition to a marquee presidential race, Nevada is also playing host this year to what is expected to be one of the countrys most competitive Senate contests as Democratic incumbent Jacky Rosen seeks a second term. Trump has faced pressure to back Sam Brown, a retired Army captain who was severely burned by a roadside bomb in Afghanistan, ahead of Tuesdays GOP primary. And while he briefly complimented Brown at Sundays rally, he didnt endorse him until hours later in a post on Truth Social. Sam has already proven his Love for our Country, being horrifically wounded, and making the Comeback of a Lifetime, the former president wrote. Sam Brown has my Complete and Total Endorsement - HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN! Asked by CNN earlier Sunday whether he expected an endorsement, Brown who was at the rally handing out water said, Im just focused on getting through Tuesday. President Trumps got a lot on his plate too. I just know that coming through Tuesday, were all going to be focused on November 5. In April, Trump posted on social media that Brown and the former president were the Clear Choices of Nevadas Republican Voters and Donors. But Trump loyalists have bashed Brown for his ties to mainstream Republicans he was personally recruited to run by Montana Sen. Steve Daines, the head of the Senate GOP campaign arm. Instead, they have encouraged the former president to back Jeff Gunter, Trumps former ambassador to Iceland. Ahern, who hosted the event at his luxury boutique hotel, backed Brown when he unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for the states other Senate seat in 2022. But Ahern has thrown his support behind Gunter this cycle and has encouraged Trump to do the same. Dangerous conditions Trumps campaign, which has been holding outdoor rallies more frequently in recent months, was bracing for extreme heat on Sunday as temperatures were expected to reach 104 degrees Fahrenheit. In preparation, the Trump campaign doubled the amount of emergency medical staff on site for the rally, added new misting fans and significantly increased the amount of water available to attendees, according to a Trump campaign official. The official said the campaign would provide more than 38,000 bottles of water, 20 Power Breezer misting fans throughout the venue in Sunset Park in Las Vegas, at least one cooling tent with air conditioning and pop-up umbrella tents throughout the space. More metal detectors were also expected to be added to help expedite security lines. The new precautions came after 12 people were transported to the hospital from Trumps campaign event in Phoenix due to heat-related illness, a spokeswoman for the Phoenix Fire Department told CNN. This story has been updated with Trumps endorsement of Sam Brown. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Trump to sit for virtual interview with probation official Monday - NYT FILE PHOTO: Former U.S. President Trump attends a press conference, in New York WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former President Donald Trump will have a virtual interview with a New York City Probation Department official on Monday following his conviction of 34 felony counts of falsifying documents, the New York Times reported Sunday. The mandatory interview comes as that department prepares a sentencing recommendation for the judge. Trump is scheduled to be sentenced on July 11, and faces a maximum sentence of four years, though those convicted often receive shorter sentences. Trump was found guilty on May 30, making him the first U.S. president to be convicted of a crime. The jury found him guilty of falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence a porn star ahead of the 2016 election after two days of deliberation. He has said he will appeal the verdict. Trump campaign officials declined to comment on the interview Sunday. (Reporting by Pete Schroeder and Nathan Layne; Editing by Diane Craft) Trump tells rally-goers not to die in searing Vegas heat: I dont care about you, I just want your vote Donald Trump greets voters upon arriving at his rally in Las Vegas on 9 June 2024 (Getty Images) Donald Trump is no stranger to accusations that he has little regard for the well-being of his rallygoers. On Sunday, he added fuel to that fire. The ex-president was in Las Vegas, Nevada for a summertime rally in the searing heat high temperatures on the strip were projected to be around 103 degrees Fahrenheit. Trump himself hosted an outdoor rally in the citys Sunset Park, where thousands of fans poured in to see him. At several points in the rally, he addressed the heat, quipping to supporters that his campaign told attendees: do not come, which he then bragged resulted in only 20,000 showing up. But it was one moment wherein Trump remarked in jest that he only cared about his fans votes, not his supporters as people. I don't want anybody going on me. We need every voter, he said. I don't care about you. I just want your vote. As his supporters laughed, Trump then went on to say that reporters attending the rally would take his words out of context and tell viewers that the ex-president had said a horrible thing onstage. Despite his humor, the ex-president couldnt resist complaining about the heat as his rally went on. It's 110, but it doesn't feel it to me, Trump said. I'm up here sweating like a dog. They dont think about me. This is hard work. It likely did not hit 110 degrees during Trumps rally on Sunday, though similar temperatures were reached in the city only a few days ago. The ex-president did spend the entire speech, however, in his trademark heavy coat and tie, perhaps contributing to the short runtime of his remarks under an hour. He spent much of the speech insulting Americas immigrant population and describing incoming immigrants and asylum-seekers as criminals, mentally unstable, and not productive members of society. The presumptive Republican nominee rejected his opponents attempts to address border security via executive order as bulls*** and claimed without explanation that it would actually increase illegal immigration. Donald Trump greets voters upon arriving at his rally in Las Vegas on 9 June 2024 (Getty Images) His campaign rally went decidedly better than his recent appearance at the Libertarian Partys national convention in Washington DC. His most recent visit to the nations capital, in late May, the speech was something of a shock for the former president who was loudly booed by delegates throughout the event. Polling shows Trump leading President Joe Biden in Nevada, where the incumbent president won victory four years ago. As long as I can remember a verdict by a jury was something to be believed as the legitimate outcome of a judicial proceeding. Trump and his MAGA voters dont see it that way as they rant about the liberal coastal elites in New York City who were out to get Trump, claiming he was denied a jury of his peers. But who better to sit in judgment of Trump than his fellow New Yorkers, who have seen him in the news for years. Perhaps it all comes down to just who is a peer. Those MAGA voters in Kansas probably consider themselves his peer just because they hold the same political views. Indeed, Trump complained that only 5% of New Yorkers voted for him. But that has never been the objective of a trial in our justice system, to find someone who has already formed an opinion of the case without hearing any evidence. Heres how the Legal Information Institute at Cornells College of Law explains citizens constitutional right to be tried by their equals: It is an impartial group of citizens from the legal jurisdiction where they live. Note the emphasis on impartial. Its the average citizen who comes to the court day after day with no preconceived notion of guilt or innocence and seldom knows the particulars of the case for which they are called. Obviously, in Trumps trial, they would know something about the case although one juror said she didnt know about Trumps indictment until she was called for jury duty. Lets see who these jurors were who unanimously found Trump guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up hush money to a porn star. Were they out to get Trump from the get-go? One juror was from West Harlem, but originally from Ireland, and he sometimes watches Fox News and MSNBC. Another was an investment banker who follows Trumps Truth Social posts and reads the Wall Street Journal. There was an Asian man who is a corporate lawyer originally from Oregon. A high school graduate who works as a security engineer. A young black woman who didnt even know Trump was indicted until she was called for jury selection. She said she appreciates the fact that Trump speaks his mind, and Id rather that than someone whos in office who you dont know what theyre thinking. Who else was on the jury? A woman who was a software engineer. A man who was a civil litigator. A retired health manager who doesnt keep up with the news that much. An unmarried woman who is a speech therapist with a masters degree. A retailer who loves the outdoors. A woman who works for a multinational company. A woman who is a physical therapist with her doctorate. Some of the jurors were well read, but others claimed they didnt follow day-to-day news and the trials and tribulations of Donald Trump. Like most folks, they catch a bit of the news, but do not always get the specifics. Does the description of any one of those jurors sound like Trump whose entire adult life and career is nothing but a con game that preys on anyone who he can overpower with borrowed money and swindling tactics? To find a jury of what Trump calls his peers in this narrow sense, youd have to access the rolls of MAGA extremists or a list of what the criminal justice system politely calls white collar criminals. That means checking out the residents at our federal prisons where the feds provide housing and food for felons like Trump. And while youre visiting those federal prisons, seek out the insurrectionists who Trump inspired to attack our nations capital. Now those are folks Trump can count on in a jury trial. Hes already stated he will pardon them if he is elected in November. Of course, none of those felons like him can sit on juries Now lets poll the jury pool from which the Trump jurors were chosen to see if we can find who Trump would consider his real peers. First, Id like to call from the jury pool a man who dodged the draft thanks to a doctor pal of his dads. Next, lets call for someone who managed to get into Wharton School of Finance with daddys help and then lied about being first in his class when he didnt even make the Deans list. Does anyone in the jury pool have a history of four bankruptcies, one of which caused more than 400 employees at the Atlantic City casinos to lose millions in retirement savings? Is there someone in the jury pool who has publicly bragged about being able to grab a womans genitals and get by with it? Or someone who would shoot somebody on Fifth Avenue and not lose any voters. Please step forward. Has anyone in the jury pool posed as a successful businessman but is nothing but a grifter who NBC hired to fire people on The Apprentice? Could someone please step forward who told the New York police dont be too nice during arrests. (On that one, the Police Commissioner had to respond and say that all police action must be reasonable and necessary and anything other is Irresponsible.) So far, no hands have gone up. I know youre getting frustrated at our misfortune in not finding a peer of The Donald, but perhaps there is someone in the pool who has been sued for racial discrimination in housing by the US Department of Justice in the 70s. I guess not. Has anyone taken out an ad in the New York papers calling for the death penalty for five black teenagers who were imprisoned for years, but finally released when DNA proved they were innocent? No takers on that one. Could someone please step forward to serve on this jury who has been impeached twice by the Congress of the United States? Sorry, judge, no one in the pool meets that criterion. Has anyone bilked students out of tuition he charged for his phony university and incurred a penalty payment of $25 million? Has anyone in the jury pool had sex with a porn star, but then covered it up with hush money to hide it from voters in the 2016 election? Whoops, thats the case in which he was just found guilty of 34 counts of business fraud. It looks like Trump and his MAGA crowd may be right, but for the wrong reason. The jury that convicted Trump was not, by strict definition, a jury of his peers. If that were the case, the prosecution would have been searching for the grifters of New York City with a few insurrectionists thrown in for good measure. And Trump would skate free as he has so many times in his career. Instead, the prosecution called 12 average citizens to jury duty for a trial that will go down in the American history books. This time, the justice system of the United States of America prevailed, and Trump is now a convicted felon running for president of the United States. There may be more to come, but the system worked in this case and its those 12 average citizens, if not peers, who got the job done. Bob Kustra served as president of Boise State University from 2003 to 2018. He is host of Readers Corner on Boise State Public Radio, and he writes a biweekly column for the Idaho Statesman. He served two terms as Illinois lieutenant governor and 10 years as a state legislator. On Monday, newly convicted Donald Trump is scheduled to sit for a pre-sentencing interview with a New York City probation officer, and attorney Todd Blanche will be present with permission from Judge Juan Merchan. Possibly to avoid the "money shot" of him trudging through the city for such an appointment, Trump will participate in the interview via Zoom from his home at Mar-a-Lago, which legal experts are saying is a bit outside the lines. But so is a former president on probation. In a quote obtained from NBC News, Martin Horn, former commissioner of the New York City Department of Corrections and Probation, says, It is highly unusual for a pre-sentence investigation interview to be done over Zoom. But you can argue that Trumps appearance at the probation office on the 10th floor of the Criminal Court Building in Manhattan where his trial took place, with Secret Service and press following him, would be very disruptive to the probation office and unfair to other defendants who might not want to be identified. So in the end, this might be better for the probation officer. Horn notes that, typically, an interview of this nature is conducted in person to assess a criminal's living situation and, often, interview anyone else who lives in their home. The interview also takes into account a criminal's mental health, financial resources, and any physical or addiction issues. Following the interview on Monday, the probation officer will write up a report and send it over to Merchan. A Palestinian man carries a little kid to receive medical treatment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following simultaneous Israeli attacks on Nuseirat Refugee Camp, al-Bureij Refugee Camp and al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in broad daylight on Saturday from the Nuseirat refugee district in the centre of the Gaza Strip after 246 days in captivity, the army said. Omar Naaman/dpa Turkey has condemned Israel's operation to free its hostages in the Gaza Strip as a "barbaric attack" and accused Israel of war crimes. "With this latest barbaric attack, Israel has added a new one to the list of war crimes it has committed in Gaza," the Foreign Ministry in Ankara said on Sunday, without mentioning the hostage rescue. On Saturday, Israel's military freed four people kidnapped from Israel during the October 7 massacres. They were found in the centre of the Gaza Strip after eight months of being held captive. There were reportedly heavy air strikes and artillery fire that accompanied the rescue mission. Television pictures showed massive casualities and an overwhelmed hospital. The Hamas media office said 210 Palestinians were killed and around 400 injured in Nuseirat, one of the locations where the operation took place. The information could not initially be independently verified. The Israeli army said it was verifying the reports. Israeli army spokesman Daniel Hagari said there were fewer than 100 casualties. The Hamas-controlled health authority and medical sources in the Gaza Strip previously spoke of 55 deaths. A Palestinian man carries his injured little girl at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following simultaneous Israeli attacks on Nuseirat Refugee Camp, al-Bureij Refugee Camp and al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in broad daylight on Saturday from the Nuseirat refugee district in the centre of the Gaza Strip after 246 days in captivity, the army said. Omar Naaman/dpa Palestinians carry an injured man to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following simultaneous Israeli attacks on Nuseirat Refugee Camp, al-Bureij Refugee Camp and al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in broad daylight on Saturday from the Nuseirat refugee district in the centre of the Gaza Strip after 246 days in captivity, the army said. Omar Naaman/dpa Injured Palestinians receive medical treatment at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital following simultaneous Israeli attacks on Nuseirat Refugee Camp, al-Bureij Refugee Camp and al-Maghazi Refugee Camp. Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in broad daylight on Saturday from the Nuseirat refugee district in the centre of the Gaza Strip after 246 days in captivity, the army said. Omar Naaman/dpa Body of a Palestinian girl, killed during simultaneous Israeli attacks on Nuseirat Refugee Camp, al-Bureij Refugee Camp and al-Maghazi Refugee Camp, arrives at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al-Balah. Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in broad daylight on Saturday from the Nuseirat refugee district in the centre of the Gaza Strip after 246 days in captivity, the army said. Omar Naaman/dpa Two shot in Brooklyn deli late this morning after four wounded in overnight NYC shootings Four people were shot in three separate incidents across the Big Apple overnight, police said. Two men were wounded after a gunman walked into a Brooklyn deli and opened fire, police said. A 23-year-old man was shot in the stomach and a 77-year-old man was shot in the leg inside the Canarsie One Stop Market at 8702 Avenue L shortly before 11:15 a.m. Saturday, cops said. EMS transported the uncooperative victims to Brookdale Hospital in stable condition, the NYPD said. There were no arrests. Witnesses said the wounded men were customers and the 23-year-old appeared to be the target. On Friday, a 29-year-old man was shot in the head near 451 East 102nd Street, East Harlem around 8:30 p.m., cops said Christopher Sadowski Orlando Williams, 34, a truck driver from Canarsie was inside the deli when he heard what sounded like crackling fireworks. I seen the old man get shot and hit the floor. I ran to the back to get cover, Williams recalled.I went to tend to the old man. Came outside, seen the cop, flagged him down, Said Williams, who was making a pitstop at the deli before going fishing, Its just crazy. The minute it starts getting warm, people start getting crazy. I would never expect to see something of this stature here, the trucker said. The daylight double-shooting followed an overnight where people were shot in three separate incidents across the Big Apple, police said. In Brooklyn, a 35-year-old man was shot one time in the left forearm and a 19-year-old woman was shot twice in the left shoulder in the lobby of 335 Sutter Ave., Brownsville, shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, cops said. EMS transported the 29-year-old East Harlem shooting victim to the hospital in critical condition, the NYPD said. Christopher Sadowski EMS transported the uncooperative victims to Brookdale Hospital in stable condition, authorities said. Earlier in Manhattan, a 32-year-old man was shot once in the right leg outside 3845 10th Avenue in Inwood around 12:50 a.m. Saturday, cops said. EMS transported the wounded man to Harlem Hospital in stable condition, authorities said. There were no arrests. A bloody hat with a bullet hole at the East Harlem crime scene where a 29-year-old man was shot in the head Friday night. Christopher Sadowski Police are looking for one man wearing a black ski mask and all black clothing and a second man clad in a black sweatsuit. They were last seen running eastbound on West 206th Street, the NYPD said. On Friday, a 29-year-old man was shot in the head near 451 East 102nd Street in East Harlem around 8:30 p.m., police said. EMS transported the victim to New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Hospital in critical condition, the NYPD said. There were no arrests. Tyler Perry Condemns Racial Profiling Of Black Airport Travelers In Support Of Eric Andre And Clayton Englishs Lawsuit | Photo: Axelle/Bauer-Griffin via Getty Images Tyler Perry is speaking out against the racial discrimination of Black airport travelers. The producer and filmmaker penned an op-ed in The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, stating that his two friends, comedians Eric Andre and Clayton English, had filed a lawsuit earlier this year alleging that both men were racially profiled and harassed by authorities at Atlantas Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, Per The Hollywood Reporter, Perry said several other celebrities joined him in filing a friend-of-the-court brief as part of the suit. He also described how Andre and English were targeted by local police at the airport as they were about to take off to their destinations. Andre and English were targeted and stopped by Clayton County Police Department (CCPD) officers, several months apart, on jet bridges in Atlantas airport while they were steps from boarding their flights, Perry wrote. The Madea creator noted that both men had already passed through TSA security. However, as soon as they were set to board their flights, Andre and English were approached by plainclothed Clayton County police officers because of the color of their skin, Perry alleged. To support his column, Perry shared statistics from Andre and Englishs legal team, highlighting that Black travelers are disproportionately targeted by law enforcement for various reasons. Of the hundreds of passengers stopped by CCPDs special airport drug unit in the months between when Andre and English were stopped, a majority (56 percent) were Black, while only 8 percent of that airports domestic air travelers are Black, he added. Perry also wrote that when officers stop travelers at the airport, [they] are allowed to seize any property they claim is involved in a crime, including cash, a process known as civil asset forfeiture. Perry said reclaiming their property is notoriously difficult and expensive for victims even when they have not been charged with a crime, People reported. In other words, police can take money straight from the pockets of innocent people and put it into their departments coffers, Perry wrote. In the months between when Andre and English were stopped, CCPD raked in close to $1 million from travelers who never were charged with any crime. Perry, who owns a film studio in Atlanta, said the studio welcomes thousands of industry professionals every year to work in Atlanta. When racial discrimination occurs unchecked, it threatens that growth, he wrote. Black people must have the freedom to travel without worrying about being stopped because of the color of our skin. He added, Every act of racial discrimination is a broken promise, an affront to our dignity, an insult to Atlantas history and a vestige of a history that America must leave behind. San Antonio police say they're looking for three suspects who shot at a vehicle on the Northeast Side. kali9/Getty Images/iStockphoto San Antonio police are looking for three suspects who shot at a vehicle on the Northeast Side. The shooting happened around 4 a.m. Sunday in the 4200 block of Moana Drive. According to a preliminary police report, two men were sitting inside a parked vehicle when they were approached by three suspects who attempted to open the vehicle's door. Advertisement Article continues below this ad One of the men opened the door to confront the suspects, and the suspects fired shots at him, hitting the vehicle, according to the report. The vehicle's door was struck by the gunfire and the two men were not injured, according to police. The suspects then fled the scene, the report states. Police said they have not been able to locate any suspects. On March 14, 2024, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (DN.Y.), a man who 13 months prior had vowed at Jerusalem's Yad Vashem World Holocaust Remembrance Center that "as long as Hashem breathes air into my lungs, the United States Senate will stand behind Israel with our fullest support," peered solemnly over his glasses into the Senate's C-SPAN cameras and informed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that it was time for him to go. "The Netanyahu coalition no longer fits the needs of Israel after October 7," Schumer declared, referring to the shock Hamas massacre and mass kidnapping event just across the militarized border separating the Palestinian Gaza Strip from the Israeli envelope around it. "Nobody expects Prime Minister Netanyahu to do the things that must be done to break the cycle of violence, preserve Israel's credibility on the world stage, and work towards a two-state solution.At this critical juncture, I believe a new election is the only way to allow for a healthy and open decision-making process about the future of Israel." And if Netanyahu, in such an election, were to win enough votes to form another government, then continue prosecuting the war against Israel's attackers in ways Schumer doesn't approve? "Then," the highest-ranking Jewish elected official in U.S. history warned, "the United States will have no choice but to play a more active role in shaping Israeli policy by using our leverage to change the present course." It's an increasingly common refrain among American critics of Israeli policy, including many who are otherwise wary of Washington thumbing the scales on world affairs: The $3.8 billion that the U.S. gives each year should directly influence Israeli behavioron war, on humanitarian assistance to Gaza, on settlements in the West Bank, even on proposed reforms to the judiciary branchor be withdrawn. "The Netanyahu government, or hopefully a new Israeli government, must understand that not one penny will be coming to Israel from the U.S. unless there is a fundamental change in their military and political positions," Sen. Bernie Sanders (IVt.) said last November, reiterating a critique he and several other candidates made when seeking the 2020 Democratic presidential nomination. President Joe Biden, a stalwart supporter of Israel throughout his half-century in public office, seemed this spring to be moving closer to Sanders' point of view. Three days before Schumer's well-telegraphed speech, Politico reported, based on "four U.S. officials with knowledge of internal administration thinking," that Biden "will consider conditioning military aid to Israel if the country moves forward with a large-scale invasion of Rafah." The Rafah offensive was indeed tabled a few days later. But then, after the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on April 1 pulverized a World Central Kitchen aid convoy in Gaza, killing seven, Biden informed Netanyahu in a tense phone call that (in the words of a White House readout) Israel needed to "announce and implement a series of specific, concrete, and measurable steps to address civilian harm, humanitarian suffering, and the safety of aid workers," or else, for the first time in a generation, the U.S. would hold up military aid. Rep. Nancy Pelosi (DCalif.) and three dozen other members of Congress sent a letter to the president April 5 urging him "to reconsider your recent decision to authorize the transfer of a new arms package to Israel, and to withhold this and any future offensive arms transfers until a full investigation into the airstrike is completed." NBC declared this a potential "turning point" in U.S.-Israeli relations. But that turn lasted fewer than 10 days. On April 14, Iran fired more than 300 potentially lethal missiles and drones into Israel, marking the first time the Islamic republic had directly attacked the Jewish state, after decades of supporting proxy harassments from Hamas, Lebanon's Hezbollah, Yemen's Houthis, and various armed factions in Syria and Iraq. Largely thanks to the technological and regional military agreements that the U.S. and Israel have jointly forged, virtually all of the projectiles that did not misfire were intercepted. "Now is not the time to abandon our friends. The House must pass urgent national-security legislation forIsrael, as well as desperately needed humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza," Biden wrote in The Wall Street Journal three days later, in support of a supplemental $26.38 billion Israeli package. "I've been clear about my concerns over the safety of civilians in Gaza amid the war with Hamas, but this aidis focused on Israel's long-term defensive needs to ensure it can maintain its military edge against Iran or any other adversary." That same day, after months of delay, embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson (RLa.) announced that the aid bill would finally be introduced on the House floor. The only attached condition was imposed not on Israeli policy makers but on the controversial United Nations Relief and Works Agency operation in Gaza. So much for a turning point. Yet the conversation about leverage is precisely the one America needs to be having while confronting yet another deadly and seemingly intractable standoff in the Middle East. A realistic contemplation of Washington's regional and global system of carrots and sticks, at a time when American imperial appetites are on the noticeable decline, might reveal some awkward if potentially game-changing truths. Beginning with: There are many on the pro-Israeli side who want the same policy result as Bernie Sanders, for precisely the opposite reasons. (Photo: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with U.S. President Joe Biden; Jim Watson/AFP via Getty) End it, Don't Mend it Three months before the October 7 massacre, the American Jewish publication Tablet published a provocative essay by Jacob Siegel and Liel Leibovitz bluntly headlined "End U.S. Aid to Israel." The brief: "Israel ends up sacrificing far more value in return for the nearly $4 billion it annually receives from Washington. That's because nearly all military aid to Israelconsists of credits that go directly from the Pentagon to U.S. weapons manufacturers," they wrote. "In return, American payouts undermine Israel's domestic defense industry, weaken its economy, and compromise the country's autonomygiving Washington veto power over everything from Israeli weapons sales to diplomatic and military strategy." Critics of Israel, particularly in light of the subsequent war with Hamas, will surely blanch at the notion that Washington has anything like "veto power" over Tel Aviv. Yet America has nonetheless coordinated and consulted on policy far more closely with Israel, including during this conflict, than it has on, say, nearby NATO ally Turkey in its ongoing battles with Syrian Kurds. All at a time when the comparative purchasing power of America's Israeli aid has plummeted. "The Israel of 2023," Siegel and Leibovitz observed, "is immeasurably wealthier and more powerful than the dusty socialist country of 40 years ago, where local electrical grids could be overloaded by American hair dryers." Boy howdy is it. Israel now has a highergross domestic product (GDP) per capita than Japan and Italy, and is closing in fast on France and the United Kingdom. In 1981, as the hawkish former Assistant Secretary of State Elliott Abrams pointed out in Commentary last year, "the United States provided Israel with $4.5 billion in economic and military aid at a time when the entire GDP of the Jewish state was only $25.4 billion." Now? GDP is north of $500 billion. Annual U.S. aid has gone from 17.7 percent of the Israeli economy to 0.7 percent; even with the big new cash infusion, that figure goes up this fiscal year to just 5.7 percent. And as Biden himself crassly observed when selling the supplemental, the strings attached include "send[ing] military equipment from our own stockpiles, then us[ing] the money authorized by Congress to replenish those stockpilesby buying from American suppliers.[We're] help[ing] our friends while helping ourselves." So America is sending money that Israel no longer needs to lock in long-term contracts for the military-industrial complex. (The 10-year, $38-billion Memorandum of Understanding signed by President Barack Obama in 2018 allowed for Israel to spend about a quarter of the annual total on its own domestic defense production until this year, after which the percentage is to be ratcheted steadily down to zero.) This close military partnership, which has been the basic bilateral setup since not long after the 1967 Six Day War, has produced benefits for both Washington and Jerusalem. Israel gets some of the world's most advanced defense tech, such as the Iron Dome and David's Sling missile-interception systems; the U.S. gets premium intelligence in a volatile region and a privileged seat at the table for making commerce-lubricating peace deals. But it's also true those contracts could be freely entered into, without a cent of U.S. taxpayer money, just as both Sanders and anti-interventionist Republicans like Sen. Mike Lee (RUtah) would prefer. What would happen to American influence then? "Weaning Israel off of American assistance would have the added advantage of removing the issue of conditioning such aid or using it as leverage, ideas that sometimes surface when the United States and Israel differ on important policy issues, such as the peace process," former Israeli Justice Minister Yossi Beilin and former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Egypt Daniel Kurtzer wrote four years ago in The National Interest. In other words, say goodbye to Schumer'sand Biden'sserially insisted-upon "two-state solution," which has been a political non-starter in Israel especially since October 7. And don't be surprised if the country's regional Qualitative Military Edge, enshrined in U.S. law, would be deployed more freely in preemptively striking Iran's offensive capabilities, whether in missile production, nuclear development, or senior-level military planning. So would cutting aid to Israel actually lead to more, not less war? Making predictions in the Middle East is a fool's errand. But one way to think through the scenario planning, and move faster toward a world where foreign policy commitments are more commensurate with the domestic public opinion of the countries involved, is to remember a factor that too often escapes attention: Israel is hardly the only country along the Arabian Peninsula to receive billions in American military aid. What Leverage Bought If the U.S. permanently cut off all aid tomorrowand even if the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, the infamous "Israel lobby," were suddenly to close up shopthe bonds of affection between the two countries would still remain strong. According to a Gallup poll, Israel has for the past quarter-century been among the leading countries toward which Americans have the most favorable opinion. Eighty-five percent of the world's Jewish population lives either in the U.S. or in Israel, in roughly equal numbers (the numerical capital of Jewry is not Tel Aviv or Jerusalem, but New York City). There are some 200,000 dual citizens living in Israel; at least 33 were killed by Hamas on or after October 7, and five more were still believed to be held hostage as of May 1. Even as Americansparticularly Democrats, and the younghave soured on Israel's prosecution of the war, there remains between the countries a shared liberal democratic (and capitalistic) culture and decades' worth of human intercourse. Now consider Saudi Arabia. The country that has purchased more U.S. military equipment than any otherat $140 billion and countinghas been unpopular with the American public for the entire 21st century, and not only because it was home to most of the September 11 hijackers. The House of Saud's dictatorial monarchy routinely ranks near the bottom of global freedom indices, women only recently were granted the right to drive a car, and the regime infamously assassinated Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018. Saudi Arabia has been a prime mover in the brutal, decade-long Yemeni civil war, a conflict that the United Nations estimates has led to nearly 400,000 deaths, most of them civilian. Yet in the absence of any American sympathies at all, Riyadh has still been a key strategic partner with Washington for going on eight decades. Why? Oil production is certainly part of it, though Russia and Venezuela also have tons of the stuff. The truth is that the kingdom has been deft enough diplomatically, and flush enough with spendable petrodollars, to keep insinuating itself into whatever preoccupations the American empire has at the moment: the Cold War, the Gulf War, the Iraq War, containing Iran, and doing the often messy work of behind-the-scenes negotiations on military logistics, CIA skulduggery, and peace deals. It is in that latter category that the Saudis find themselves yet again the object of not-quite-requitable American desire, this time in the form of a tantalizing peace pact with Israel, one that could potentially dwarf in practical and symbolic significance the historic 2020 Abraham Accords between the Jewish state and Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the United Arab Emirates. The Saudi asking price thus far? Just a military security guarantee, the likes of which America has only with Japan, South Korea, and the members of NATO. Such are the realities of American leverage in the Middle East. Washington now includes among its major non-NATO allies Qatar (circa 2022, in exchange for help with U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan), Tunisia (2015, for its role in the Arab Spring), Morocco and Kuwait (2003, for assistance in the war on terror), Bahrain (2002, ditto), and more than a dozen other countries, including Israel and Egypt. When states are both relatively poor and militarily insecure, as Israel was in the 1970s and Egypt remains to this day, the lure of access to the world's dominant military can persuade otherwise reluctant leaders to do things they and/or their populations would rather not. Like siting U.S. military bases, or taking the American side in a regional conflictor recognizing Israel's right to exist. Israel since its 1948 inception has been the single largest recipient of U.S. aid, at north of $300 billion in constant 2024 dollars. Clocking in at No. 2, with more than $150 billion, is Egypt. This American money bought the modern Middle East's most foundational peace treaty. That 1979 deal, brokered by President Jimmy Carter, not only formally ended the longtime antagonists' various wars; it marked the first time an Arab country formally accepted Israel's existence. For that move against the preponderance of his country's public opinion, Egyptian President Anwar Sadat paid two years later with his life. Such are the inherent and ongoing tensions of bribing authoritarians to make unpopular deals, particularly in countries predisposed toward resenting Israelis and/or Americans. The basing of non-Muslim U.S. troops near Saudi Arabia's holy Islamic sites of Mecca and Medina was the original radicalizing complaint of Osama bin Laden. The Jordanian population, long encouraged to treat neighboring Israel as the enemy, was ill-prepared to accept King Hussein's 1994 signing of mutual recognition, nudged in part by President Bill Clinton's promise to forgive $700 million of the country's debt. A 2022 poll of the Hashemite kingdom by the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies found opposition to diplomatic recognition at a staggering 94 percent. That number would almost certainly be lower if the Jordanian monarchy didn't choose to stoke anti-Israeli sentiment in public while cooperating privately to such a degree that the country shot down several Iranian missiles before they could even cross into Israeli airspace. King Abdullah II called for three noisy days of national mourning last October over the deadly explosion outside of Gaza's Al-Shifa Hospital even after Israel's involvement and the initial death toll had both been convincingly debunked. Queen Rania that same month told CNN that the world "silence" in the face of Israel's war was "deafening," and that "to many in our region, it makes the Western world complicit." The kingdom tamps down criticism of the normalization deal (which it still publicly defends) and prevents protesters from ransacking the Israeli embassy but otherwise keeps the rhetoric ratcheted. A poor country with rampant unemployment, Jordan is a top-10 recipient of U.S. aid, and it relies heavily on Israel for trade and resource cooperation. Caught literally between Iran and Israel, home to a large and restive Palestinian population, beset by months of anti-Israel protests, the monarchy is increasingly fragile and constantly triangulating. If the U.S. were to suddenly pull the rug out from underneath Jordanian aid, some 6 percent of the country's GDP would go poof. It is easy to look upon such realities as an excuse to keep perpetuating the American foreign policy status quo. If leverage in the authoritarian Arab neighborhood has bought peace deals with Israel, the reopening of the Suez Canal, and the forging of an anti-Iran axis in the Persian Gulf, why threaten to unravel these projects by beating a hasty retreat? That question implies a far-too-rosy picture of the status quo, and it ignores the extent to which American public opinion deviates from the conventional wisdom in Washington. Imperial Autopilot The American-led world order, with its emphases on international cooperation, tariff reduction, and mutual military treaties, arose out of the ashes of World War II as a bulwark against communism. That comprehensible project, while the source of semi-constant controversy in implementation, was broadly popular in the United States; it was articulated regularly by every president from Harry Truman to George H.W. Bush. With the end of the Cold War, and the failure to secure an explicit postwar settlement, came the end of domestic support for America's starring global role. What happens when institutions wheeze on long after their rationales have collapsed? Elite corruption and populist revolt. Corruption doesn't necessarily have to mean self-enrichment, though surely the people near the top of the American foreign policy pyramid rarely have to scrounge up their next meal. It's more about the temptations of using America's unmatched power. In the immortal 1993 words of the United States' then-ambassador to the United Nations, Madeleine Albright, spoken to the more restraint-oriented Colin Powell, "What's the point of having this superb military that you're always talking about if we can't use it?" Albright's interventionist point of view ended up winning the battle for Clinton's foreign policy, and then Powell became the chief salesman for President George W. Bush's disastrous war of choice in Iraq. Afghanistan was America's longest and least popular war, yet imperial autopilot, along with the fallacy of sunken costs, meant that it took more than two decades until Biden finally (and messily) ended it. NATO, and Washington's preeminence within it, is still the dominant military paradigm on the decidedly non-American continent of Europe, even with the open skepticism about the alliance expressed serially by the former and possibly future president Donald Trump. America has already retreated under both Trump and Biden from its legacy role in reducing global tariffs, embracing instead the kind of made-in-America mercantilism that generations of their predecessors had mostly resisted. Wherever there is some 75-year-old, Washington-forged institution and commitments thereof, there is active domestic politics railing against it. Washington's leading role in the Middle East is somewhat younger, at around a half-century, but similarly archaic. We no longer need to counter the Soviet Union, no longer depend on foreign oil, and no longer cling to the messianic delusion that liberal democracy in the region can be spread at the point of a gun. If you could somehow wipe the slate clean and craft a new U.S. approach to the Middle East that would better align with public opinion, what would that look like? Almost certainly, the vast majority of foreign aid to this and other regions would vanish overnight. Nos. 3 through 10 on the 2022 aid-recipient listEthiopia, Afghanistan, Yemen, Egypt, Jordan, Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudanwould be cut off. But Nos. 1 and 2 might well remain. The Intolerability of October 6 The Republicans who unsuccessfully opposed the $95 billion aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan were onto something, as have been such presidential candidates as Pat Buchanan, 1992 Clinton, and 2000 George W. Bush. Americans are generally weary of throwing billions abroad at problems that should be solved by someone else, particularly when there are unresolved problems galore at home. But specifically, Americans favor helping with the defense of Ukraine (No. 1 on the 2022 aid recipient list), Israel (No. 2), and Taiwan. In the absence of a coherent and comprehensible strategy, one that reflects the more modest ambitions of voters, foreign policy remains subject to the temporal emotions and legacy attachments of the public. Jordan probably wouldn't win an up-or-down referendum on U.S. support; Israel almost certainly would. Both, however, could benefit from being cut off. The Israeli case for independence is largely about latitude, but not only: Having to spend $3.8 billion a year rather than receive it means making some responsible choices about budget priorities. Authoritarian Arab governments, too, need to take, rather than continue to shirk, responsibility. The horrors of October 7 revealed that the seemingly operable status quo of October 6 was in fact untenable. It was, and is, untenable for Israel to live next to neighbors, to the north and southwest, who regularly fire rockets into the country and sporadically dig tunnels to execute acts of terrorism. It's untenable for Gaza's residents to live under the dictatorial whims of a theocratic death cult that takes money from foreign governments not to build prosperity but to harass and murder Israelis. It's untenable for the region's autocrats to loudly pin the blame for their own heavy-handed misgovernance on American and Israeli scapegoats while quietly reaching out for assistance from Washington and Tel Aviv. Qatar enjoys the status of being a major non-NATO ally with the U.S. while also financing and sheltering the leadership of Hamas. That too is untenable, and the designation should be withdrawn. Residents of the Palestinian West Bank live in a harassed and conflict-ridden uncertainty and emasculation, with second-class property rights and lousy government services. Untenable. Iran flexes its muscle to turn parts of Israel's neighbors into vassal states rather than fully fledged independent entities. None of this is tenable. Meanwhile, the U.S. floats above the whole region, handing out aid and military contracts like a grand seigneur, hoping on Mondays to build peace, on Tuesdays to launch airstrikes, and on Wednesday try to tamp down the resulting messes from spreading into a regional war. It does deals with some of the most hideous regimes on earth while the captive populations seethe. It is axiomatic, yet catastrophically underappreciated in Washington: Those with the most power will inevitably behave corruptly, and those without responsibility will inevitably behave irresponsibly. An Israel less tethered may feel less constrained, sure, but it may also find itself more isolated on the world stage, and therefore a tad more cautious. Arab leaders without the American security blanket may find themselves having to speak blunt truths to their populations, including about the true sources of their comparative lack of prosperity and freedom. And a United States less compromised by getting its thumbs in every pie will potentially have more, not less, moral standing in the world. So cut off Israel. And Egypt, and Jordan, and Saudi Arabia as well. Let them bear the responsibility of their own actions, and the costs of their own security. It's time to consciously manage America's imperial drawdown, rather than careen between fading Atlanticism and resurgent populism. What's the point of having this superb military? To defend America. The post What If the U.S. Cuts Off Aid to Israel? appeared first on Reason.com. Razor wire along the Rio Grande on the Texas side of the U.S.-Mexico border. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) EL PASO, Texas Seventeen-year-old Karina Parababire gently rocked her 3-month-old daughter as they waited in a migrant shelter before a Friday night bus ride to Chicago. I want my daughter to have everything that I didnt have, Parababire, who traveled up the extremely dangerous route of the Darien Gap while pregnant, said in Spanish. The Venezuelan, who is traveling with her family, had to stop in Honduras to give birth to her daughter, Avis, before continuing to the United States. Once in Mexico, she and her family were granted an appointment through the CBP One app a tool the Biden administration uses to grant migrants a meeting with an asylum officer. Karina Parababire, 17, with her three-month-old daughter, Avis, waiting for a bus ride to Chicago. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/ States Newsroom) She had been at the Sacred Heart Church shelter with her family for four days. They planned to continue on to Chicago, where theyll be met by her cousin. Parababire hopes that after she gets to the Windy City, she can go back to high school and possibly enter college. Parababire and her relatives arrived in the U.S. just before President Joe Biden issued an executive order that partly bans asylum claims when unauthorized crossings exceed a daily threshold. Because the family was admitted using the CBP One app, they were allowed to continue their journey. As for other migrants at the U.S.-Mexico border, local leaders said last week they are anticipating the effects of the order to be somewhat beneficial in limiting unauthorized crossings, though there was also plenty of skepticism. Immigration advocates expressed deep concern the order issued after Congress failed to take action on sweeping immigration legislation would lead to more harm to already vulnerable people. Ive come here today to do what Republicans in Congress refuse to do, take the necessary steps to secure our border, Biden said in announcing the order, referring to a bipartisan border security deal Republicans walked away from earlier this year. This action will help us gain control of our border. Uncertainty about a new policy The shelter at Sacred Heart Church that housed Parababire currently has a relatively low number of migrants about 70 compared to a capacity of 120. The director, Michael DeBruhl, said its unclear how the order will affect the number of migrants who arrive not only at the shelter, but at the many ports of entry along the southern border. The thing is that the Border Patrol is going to take the brunt of this executive order and that they will have to process everybody, he said. The difference is going to be that there are nuances regarding how everything can apply to asylum, so theyre going to make it more difficult for you to apply to asylum. The big question, DeBruhl said, is how exactly they are doing that. Youre gonna have all these Border Patrol agents making these decisions, all these nuances, of a policy thats just been implemented, he said. Border wall in Sunland Park, New Mexico that borders Puerto De Anapra, Mexico. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) A Customs and Border Protection official declined to comment on the effects of the new executive order, but noted it would change the processing of noncitizens at the southern border. Local officials saw some positives. This is a start, but its just the beginning, the mayor of El Paso, Oscar Leeser, said during a Wednesday presentation to journalists with local border officials. Leeser was one of the several Texas mayors who attended the White Houses announcement of last weeks executive order. Leeser said he believes the order will stop unauthorized border crossings because the consequences are greater now and thats the difference. Presidential campaign The order, which is Bidens most drastic crackdown on immigration during his administration, comes five months before a presidential election in which its a top issue for voters and for his GOP rival, former President Donald Trump. The order is currently in effect because daily unauthorized crossings have reached a threshold of more than 2,500 encounters with migrants each day for a week at the southern border. Simply put, the Departments do not have adequate resources and tools to deliver timely decisions and consequences to individuals who cross unlawfully and cannot establish a legal basis to remain in the United States, or to provide timely protection to those ultimately found eligible for protection when individuals are arriving at such elevated, historic volumes, according to the text of the interim final rule from the executive order. The order goes away once government officials determine that fewer than 1,500 people a day have crossed the border in a weeks time span. Unaccompanied children are exempt, along with victims of human trafficking, people with visas, people with medical emergencies or those who report serious threats to their lives. Those migrants who arrive at ports of entry to claim asylum once the cap is reached and do not establish a reasonable probability of persecution or torture in the country of removal, will be removed and subjected to a five-year ban from applying for asylum in the U.S., according to the Department of Homeland Security. Returning to Mexico or home countries Leeser said the order will help manage high numbers of arrivals of migrants at ports of entry because it will allow the Biden administration to return those migrants either to their home countries or elsewhere in Mexico if their home country is deemed too dangerous. Leeser said because of this, he expects migrants to use more legal pathways, such as the CBP One app, through which appointments can be made with an immigration official to claim asylum. Through the CPB One app, more than 1,400 migrants are processed for appointments each day with an immigration official. The wait time for an appointment can take about five to eight months, according to a May report by the Robert Strauss Center for International Security and Law at the University of Texas at Austin, which documents asylum claims at ports of entry. When migrants first arrive at the Sacred Heart Church shelter, they are allowed to pick out their own clothes in the clothes closet, which has items for infants, children and adults, donated by the El Paso community. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) But Juan Acereto Cervera, the adviser to the mayor of Juarez, Mexico, which borders El Paso, expressed skepticism that the new White House policy will stop people from trying to cross the border to claim asylum. Nothings going to stop this migration, he said. Its because something is happening in their other countries that make these people to try to find the best country in the world, that is the United States. Thats the truth. Jorge Rodriguez, the coordinator for the El Paso City & County Office of Emergency Management, said that its common for the number of migrants that arrive in El Paso to fluctuate, based on immigration policy changes from the White House. With time what well see is how this one will ultimately play out, he said. Legal action looms Under U.S. immigration law, for a noncitizen to claim asylum, they have to reach U.S. soil and then make that claim. They can stay in the U.S. and receive due process if they have a fear of persecution based on their race, religion, nationality, membership in a particular social group or political opinion. The American Civil Liberties Union, which was at the forefront of many legal cases against the Trump administrations immigration policies including ones that restricted asylum has already stated it plans to sue the Biden administration over its executive order. Democratic U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar, whose district includes El Paso, said in a statement that she was disappointed that the Biden administration focused its executive order only on enforcement. It is my sincere hope that administrative actions on immigration relief, like parole in place for the spouses of US citizens and designations of Temporary Protected Status for vulnerable populations, will also happen, she said. A very dangerous place Immigration advocates and attorneys in El Paso said during a separate Wednesday panel with journalists they fear for the impact the executive order could have on migrants. I think we do kind of know whats going to happen it creates a backlog, said Imelda Maynard, an attorney at Estrella Del Paso Legal Aid. Maynard said she can easily see how the executive order will be misinterpreted by migrants who will think the 2,500 threshold is a quota to allow people into the U.S. What the government is trying to do, right, lessen the amount of irregular entries, I think thats going to increase, she said. Artwork from migrant children who have temporarily stayed at the Sacred Heart Church shelter before heading to another destination in the U.S. (Photo by Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) Father Rafael Garcia, a priest who serves Sacred Heart Church, said he expects the executive order will cause more migrants to wait in Mexico, which could burden Mexico and leave those migrants in dangerous situations. Its hard to know how this is gonna play out, but it doesnt look too good, Garcia said. The director of Sacred Heart Church, DeBruhl, said that he thinks it will take a few weeks to see the full impact of the executive order. The conservatives are saying that its not going to make any difference the (Biden) administration is saying this is going to have a specific (effect), and be quite impactful, he said. I dont think anybody really knows how this is going to play out. Aimee Santillan, a policy analyst at the Hope Border Institute, which advocates for solidarity and justice across the borderlands, said that the order will require many migrants to wait in Mexico, and right now, Mexico is a very dangerous place for migrants to be in. We think that this might exacerbate the situation, or push people to find other routes of entering the country that are less controlled, have less services, have less people receiving them and giving them assistance, she said. This story was reported through an El Paso-based fellowship on U.S. immigration policy organized by Poynter, an institute for the professional development of journalists, with funding from the Catena Foundation. The post On the U.S.-Mexico border, hopes and fears after Bidens order limiting asylum appeared first on North Dakota Monitor. Two Russian Sukhoi Su-57 jet fighters fly over the Red Square during the Victory Day military parade. A modern Su-57 combat jet has been damaged in an attack by Ukrainian forces inside Russian territory almost 600 kilometres from the frontline, Ukraine's HUR military intelligence directorate said on Sunday. --/Kremlin/dpa A modern Su-57 combat jet has been damaged in an attack by Ukrainian forces inside Russian territory almost 600 kilometres from the frontline, Ukraine's HUR military intelligence directorate said on Sunday. At least one aircraft had been damaged in the attack on the Aktubinsk airbase in Astrakhan, the statement said. The Sukhoi Su-57 is a stealth jet that has been in service with the Russian air force since 2020. HUR published a satellite photo claiming to show the attack. A HUR spokesman said later that a second jet could also have been damaged in the attack, Ukrainian media reported. On Saturday, the Russian Defence Ministry reported that three Ukrainian drones had been downed over Astrakhan. It has not responded to the latest statements from Kiev. The ministry said on Sunday that three Ukrainian drones had been downed in the Belgorod region close to the border with Ukraine. Doubts about this report were raised when photos and videos appeared on social media showing a large fire. Unconfirmed reports spoke of a strike on an ammunition dump. The reports did not make clear whether only Ukrainian drones were used in the two attacks. Several countries, including the United States and Germany, have recently eased restrictions on the use of their weapons on Russian territory where this is to protect the region around the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Belgorod lies some 70 kilometres north of Kharkiv. Ukraine and EU hold new round of talks on security agreement Negotiation on a security agreement between Ukraine and the EU. Photo: Ukrainian President's Office Ukraine and the EU have held another round of negotiations on a security agreement. Source: press service for the Ukrainian President's Office Details: Ihor Zhovkva, Deputy Head of the Ukrainian President's Office, and Charles Fries, Deputy Secretary General for Peace, Security and Defence of the EUs European External Action Service, have held another round of talks on EU security guarantees, the statement said. The talks are another step towards the conclusion of a security agreement between Ukraine and the EU. "The negotiating teams thoroughly discussed the text of the draft agreement and approved the algorithm of further actions for the near future," the statement said. Media reports indicated that EU ambassadors had agreed on a draft bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the European Union and planned to finalise it by the end of June. In the draft agreement, the EU pledges to provide further military assistance to Ukraine, help with military training, mine clearance, and defence sector reforms, cooperate in countering hybrid threats and cyberattacks, and assist with recovery. European officials emphasise that the agreement does not amount to a collective defence within NATO but rather a commitment to provide Ukraine with weapons and other assistance to strengthen its own security and deter any future invasion. Support UP or become our patron! Ukraine hit a Su-57 fighter jet stationed in Russia for the first time, Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on June 9. The aircraft was reportedly damaged after a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, 589 kilometers from the front line. Satellite images show that the jet was intact on June 7, but suffered explosive damage after an attack on June 8. On that day, Russia reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The plane is Russias most modern fighter jet with only a few units in service in the Russian air force. It can carry Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles that regularly attack Ukraine, including civilian targets. Ukraine managed to down six Russian fighter jets last month across front line regions. However, those were largely Su-25 jets used to close air support for ground troops. The defeat of the Su-57 is the first such case in history, HUR said. On May 17, Ukraine hit the Balbek Airfield in occupied Crimea. The attack damaged three planes stationed there: one Su-27 and two MiG-31s. Read also: Why did US hesitate to allow Ukraine to hit Russia with American weapons? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. KYIV (Reuters) - Ukrainian forces have for the first time hit a latest-generation Russian Sukhoi Su-57 fighter jet at an air base inside Russia, Kyiv's GUR defence intelligence agency said on Sunday, showing satellite pictures which it said confirmed the strike. In a Telegram post, the GUR did not specify how the Su-57 was hit or by which unit of the Ukrainian military. A popular Russian pro-war military blogger who calls himself Fighterbomber and focuses on aviation said the report of the strike on the Su-57 was correct and that it had been hit by a drone. The GUR said the aircraft was parked at the Akhtubinsk airfield, which it said was 589 km (366 miles) from front lines in Ukraine between Ukrainian and Russian invasion forces. "The pictures show that on June 7, the Su-57 was standing intact, and on (June 8th), there were craters from the explosion and characteristic spots of fire caused by fire damage near it," the GUR said, with the images posted alongside the message. Ukraine has been fighting a full-scale Russian invasion since February 2022. Both sides conduct regular strikes hundreds of kilometres into enemy territory with missiles and drones. Ukraine, which lacks the vast arsenal of missiles available to Moscow, has focused on making long-range drones to strike targets deep inside Russia. Russian blogger Fighterbomber said the jet fighter was struck by shrapnel and the damage was currently being assessed to see if the aircraft could be repaired. He said if the plane were to be deemed beyond repair it would be the first combat loss of a Su-57. Russian state-run news agency RIA Novostis military correspondent Alexander Kharchenko posted a cryptic message which did not directly acknowledge the strike but decried the lack of hangars to protect military aircraft. Despite being touted as a Russian fifth-generation fighter aircraft to rival its U.S. equivalent, the Su-57 was plagued by development delays and a crash in 2019. According to its manufacturer, serial production of the aircraft began in 2022. It is a heavy fighter jet capable of fulfilling a variety of battlefield roles. (Reporting by Max Hunder in Kyiv and Mark Trevelyan in London; editing by Mark Heinrich) Key developments on June 8, 9: Zelensky: Russia failed to fulfill its Kharkiv operation Military intelligence: Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 jet for first time Collaborator ex-mayor of Kupiansk in 'critical condition' after assassination attempt in Russia, military intelligence says Russia sends students from Africa to fight in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reports Biden warns that Putin is 'not going to stop at Ukraine' Russian troops failed their Kharkiv Oblast offensive, President Volodymyr Zelensky said in his evening address on June 8 after meeting with Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. Moscow launched a new offensive on May 10 in Kharkiv Oblast, where it reportedly managed to advance as far as 10 kilometers (6 miles) before Ukraine halted the advance near the first line of defense. "A very significant result is that the Russian army failed. The direction is strengthened. And it will be strengthened more," Zelensky said. Russia has reduced offensive operations in northeastern Kharkiv Oblast despite eyeing a further advance, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said earlier in the day. Ukrainian troops are restraining Russian forces "as much as possible" and destroying their units, according to Zelensky. Since launching a new offensive, Russia reportedly controls a handful of villages on two separate axes in Kharkiv Oblast, one near the town of Vovchansk and the other near Lyptsi village. Ukrainian forces control "most of Vovchansk" as of June 8, Nazar Voloshyn, the spokesperson of the Khortytsia group of forces, said on national television. The town is described by Ukrainian officials as almost destroyed, while Russia keeps attacking other neighboring settlements, inflicting civilian casualties. The most difficult battlefield situation is reportedly in Donetsk Oblast. Russia is continuing to push on multiple directions, Ukraine's General Staff said in its latest update. "We are working to provide more reserves for our army," Zelensky said. Read also: We took out so many of them: Ukraine stabilizes Kharkiv front after brutal Russian offensive Ukraine hits Russian Su-57 jet for first time Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on June 9 that a Su-57 fighter jet stationed in Russia has been hit for the first time. The aircraft was reportedly damaged after a strike on the Akhtubinsk airfield in the Astrakhan region in southern Russia, 589 kilometers from the front line. Satellite images show that the jet was intact on June 7, but suffered explosive damage after an attack on June 8. On that day, Russia reported a drone attack on several regions, including Astrakhan. The plane is Russias most modern fighter jet with only a few units in service in the Russian air force. It can carry Kh-59 and Kh-69 cruise missiles that regularly attack Ukraine, including civilian targets. Ukraine managed to down six Russian fighter jets last month across front line regions. However, those were largely Su-25 jets used to close air support for ground troops. "The defeat of the Su-57 is the first such case in history," HUR said. On May 17, Ukraine hit the Balbek Airfield in occupied Crimea. The attack damaged three planes stationed there: one Su-27 and two MiG-31s. Read also: Why did US hesitate to allow Ukraine to hit Russia with American weapons? Collaborator ex-mayor of Kupiansk in 'critical condition' after assassination attempt in Russia Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) reported on June 8 that a collaborator from Kharkiv Oblast is in "critical condition" after an assassination attempt in Russia. The life of Hennadii Matsehora, the former mayor of the city of Kupiansk in the country's northeast, was targeted on June 7 in the city of Stary Oskol in Belgorod Oblast, HUR reported in a Telegram post. It did not disclose further details about the incident. At the onset of the full-scale invasion, some local officials decided to side with Russia when their cities, towns, or villages especially in Kharkiv and Kherson oblasts were invaded by Moscow's forces. Ukraine has arrested its nationals who remain in Ukrainian-controlled territories and had worked for Russia's interests during occupation. According to HUR, Matsehora "voluntarily went into full cooperation" with Russian troops when they invaded Kupiansk shortly after the full-scale war began in February 2022, and the signed so-called protocol to establish proxy administration in the city. Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov has said in July 2022 that Matsehora provided Russian troops with transport, housing, fuel, and food. Many collaborators fled to Russia when Ukraine liberated swathes of territories in the northeast, including Kupiansk, during the successful counteroffensive of September 2022. Read also: State Bureau of Investigation has investigated over 1,600 treason cases since start of full-scale invasion Russia reportedly sends students from Africa to fight in its war against Ukraine Russia has added extra manpower for its offensive in Kharkiv Oblast, forcing "thousands of migrants and foreign students" to fight alongside its troops in its war against Ukraine, Bloomberg reported on June 9, citing unnamed European officials. According to the report, Russian officials have been threatening African students and young workers not to extend their visas unless "they agree to join the military." Such a tactic was first deployed by the Russian Wagner mercenary group, Bloomberg reported. While Russia has also been enlisting convicts, some Africans on work visas "have been detained and forced to decide between deportation or fighting," Bloomberg cited an anonymous European official. "Some of those people had been able to bribe officials to stay in the country and still avoid military service," the report reads. This is not the first time the Russian military is reported to have started bringing prisoners, migrants, and foreign nationals into its ranks. Last September, the U.K. Defense Ministry reported that Russia was stepping up its campaign to recruit foreigners in neighboring countries and exploited migrant workers for its war against Ukraine. The push to recruit foreigners and migrant workers "allows the Kremlin to acquire additional personnel for its war effort in the face of mounting casualties," the ministry said. Read also: As Russian losses in Ukraine hit 500,000, Putin buries future demographic risks at home Biden warns Putin 'not going to stop at Ukraine' During a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron on June 8, the U.S. President Joe Biden cautioned that the Kremlin's aggression would continue beyond Ukraine if successful. "(Russian dictator Vladimir) Putin is not going to stop at Ukraine.... All of Europe will be threatened. We are not going to let that happen," he said. "The United States is standing strong with Ukraine. We will not I say it again walk away." Biden arrived in France on June 5 and, along with Macron, attended the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings on June 6 in Normandy. He then met with President Volodymyr Zelensky on June 7. In his D-Day address on June 7, Biden emphasized the importance of defending democracy both at home and abroad. "As we gather here today, its not just to honor those who showed such remarkable bravery on June 6, 1944," he said. "Its to listen to the echo of their voices, to hear them because they are summoning us. Theyre asking us what we will do. Theyre not asking us to scale these cliffs. Theyre asking us to stay true to what America stands for." Read also: What are Frances Mirage 2000-5 jets, and how can Ukraine use them? Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent. The sources of the UK Sky News TV channel report that a Ukrainian combat aircraft struck a target in the territory of Russia for the first time on 9 June. A Russian command post was struck near the city of Belgorod. On 8 June, Ukrainian forces also struck a Russian landing ship in the Azov Sea. Source: Sky News with reference to a Ukrainian military source Quote by the source: "Whilst damage assessment is still occurring, it is confirmed as a direct hit. This is the first UAF air-delivered munition delivered against a target within Russia." Details: A Ukrainian military source added that on the evening of 8 June, Ukrainian forces launched a "coordinated strike" against a Russian landing ship that had recently moved to the Sea of Azov from the Black Sea. The vessel became the fifth out of the seven Ropucha-class landing ships that were sunk or "rendered unserviceable" by Ukrainian attacks, the source said. The source reported that Russian troops use such ships to transfer ammunition and equipment to the occupied city of Mariupol in Donetsk Oblast for further transit to the frontline. Background: On the afternoon of 9 June, a big fire and explosion were reported in Russias Belgorod Oblast. Support UP or become our patron! Miss Wisconsin recently made a stop in the Lake Geneva area to help raise money for the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA. Lila Szyryj, Miss Wisconsin 2023, participated in a fundraising event May 23 at the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, 7036 Grand Geneva Way in the town of Lyons. The event was hosted by Skip Harless, managing director for the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa, who was raising money for the Geneva Lakes Family YMCA as a contestant for the Mr. Lake Geneva Pageant, which was held June 1 at Badger High School, auditorium, 220 E. South St. in Lake Geneva. During the fundraising event, Szyryj participated in a guest bartender competition against Harless and VISIT Lake Geneva President and CEO Stephanie Klett, with the bartender receiving the most tips winning the competition. Szyryj was invited by Klett to participate in the fundraising event. Miss Wisconsin is my full-time job, so as a contracted employee of the Miss Wisconsin organization Im booked for events like this around the state, Szyryj said. So I was brought in by Stephanie Klett. Im under the impression that there is a competition Im going to be helping out with. A lot of times I get an appearance request and I show up and I dont always know what Im going to do until I get there. Since being crowed Miss Wisconsin in June 2023, Szyryj has attended several community events, business grand openings and school events throughout Wisconsin. Szyryj said serving as Miss Wisconsin has kept her relatively busy during the past year. She said she has a different schedule each day. Some days you might be getting up at 5 oclock in the morning. Other days, your day might not start until 5 p.m. It really depends on which appearances youre doing and where they are, Szyryj said. A drive for an appearance can be anywhere between 45 minutes to an hour and up to six hours. So it looks different every day and youre going to different events every day. Promoting her platform Szyryj also has been busy promoting her platform, Breaking Down, Breaking News, during the past year. The purpose of Szyryjs platform is to educate people about finding reliable news sources and recognizing misinformation that could be presented in the media. We have to be up to date with everything that is going on with the media, Szyryj said. So my goal is that you learn something new and my goal is that people are more able to recognize misinformation, recognize things that are happening in the media and basically trump any misconceptions that a lot of us have with journalism. Szyryj said people are often impressed with what they learn from her presentations regarding her platform. I think the general consensus is why arent very many people talking about this, Szyryj said. Its been a pretty positive response, and I guarantee you everybody learns at least one new thing from those presentations. Szyryj gradated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in journalism and mass communication. Besides her Miss Wisconsin duties, she works part time as a reporter for a television station in Madison. She said she decided to enter the journalism field because of her interest in reading and writing, and now she wants to educate people about the profession. When I became a journalist, I realized how little people really knew about the journalism world even though its around us all the time, Szyryj said. Theres a lot of misconceptions about news media, so I made it my work and my duty to educate people about it. I think the best thing I can do as a journalist is to be transparent about the work I do and how I do it. Participating in pageants Szyryj became interested in participating in pageants after receiving information about the National American Miss organization when she was 12 years old. It emphasized public speaking, and my parents thought it would be good for me because I was shy and they thought it would help me learn communication skills, Szyryj said. I was 12 years old at the time and I did it throughout my childhood. Szyryj said she decided to become involved with the Miss America organization while attending college. Once I got to college, I realized how expensive it was and Miss America is the largest scholarship provider for young women in the country, if not the world, she said. So learning that and doing something I was good at and something I loved, I saw it as an opportunity to earn some scholarship dollars. So it was a culmination of chasing my dreams and earning some scholarship dollars. Szyryj realized her dream when she participated in the Miss America pageant on Jan. 14. Coming to an end Szyryj is set to end her pageant competition career June 22 when she will crown the next Miss Wisconsin. I think Miss America was always my end goal. I knew that was as big as you could get. You can call it the Super Bowl of the pageant industry, Szyryj said. So after experiencing that and having a great time there and watching one of my closest friends win Miss America, Im just ending my competition career on a high note. I might continue life in the pageant world but maybe on the other side, helping other girls do the same thing I did and give back in that way. Before she advocates her crown, Szyryj has several public events to attend during the upcoming weeks including the Road America Car Race, an appearance with Miss Minnesota and a grand opening event for a business in Madison. So theres a lot of fun things, Szyryj said. So its pretty full on the calendar each weekend before the end. Szyryj said she has enjoyed serving as Miss Wisconsin during the past year, attending different events and meeting different people. Its that feeling of being in places that you never otherwise would attend, meeting people you would have otherwise never met, Szyryj said. I think you get a lot of opportunities with the networking that you are able to do. The beautiful thing is you can really make Miss America your own. Harless said he is pleased that Szyryj participated in his fundraising event. It is amazing to have her participation and her support for the Mr. Lake Geneva Pageant, Harless said. Klett, who was crowned Miss Wisconsin in 1992, said she enjoyed having the opportunity to bring Szyryj to the Lake Geneva area. Im a big supporter of the program to this day. So I love bringing, whether its Grace, who was Miss America, here or Lila, because Im a firm believer in the program, Klett said. Its the worlds largest organization for scholarships for young women and I just love talented women and women with drive and who have a focus on community. So having Lila here is a thrill. Klett helped bring former Miss America Grace Stanke to the Walworth County area in February 2023. Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke visits Badger High School and other areas of Walworth County Miss America Grace Stanke receives a gift basket from Superintendent Peter Wilson Superintendent Peter Wilson poses for a photo with some Miss America contestants Miss America Grace Stanke answers students' questions Miss Vermont Alexinda Federhen meets with school district students and staff Miss Nevada Heather Renner talks about her experiences with STEM Miss Vermont Alexinda Federhen talks about her platform and STEM careers Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a group selfie with a group of Badger High School students Miss America Grace Stanke talks to students at Badger High School Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke talks to Badger students about STEM education Watch now: Miss Maine and Miss Maryland talk about their platforms with Badger students Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke answers Badger students questions Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke meets with Badger students after her presentation Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a photo with a group of Badger High School students Watch now: Miss Nevada Heather Renner talks to Badger students about STEM careers Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke poses for a group photo with Badger students Watch now: Miss America Grace Stanke receives a gift basket from Superintendent Peter Wilson 'Ultimate surprise': How an Israeli raid freed 4 hostages and killed scores of Palestinians in Gaza Palestinians look at the aftermath of the Israeli bombing in Nuseirat refugee camp, Gaza Strip, Saturday, June 8, 2024. (AP Photo/Jehad Alshrafi) KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) They arrived in the middle of the day, when the squat concrete buildings of the Nuseirat refugee camp are stifling and the narrow streets outside are filled with people. No one suspected a thing until the shots rang out. The Israeli raid caught everyone off guard, from the Hamas militants guarding four hostages in two different buildings to the thousands of civilians who soon found themselves running for their lives through a blistering crossfire. By the time it was over, four Israeli hostages had been brought home alive and mostly unscathed, at least physically, and at least 274 Palestinians, and an Israeli commando, had been killed. For Israel, it was the most successful operation of the eight-month war, bringing nationwide elation and removing some of the stain from the army's unprecedented collapse on Oct. 7. For Palestinians, it was a day of horror that sent hundreds of dead and wounded flooding into already beleaguered hospitals. Here's how it unfolded, according to the Israeli military and Palestinian witnesses. THE ULTIMATE SURPRISE Noa Argamani, a 26-year-old who had emerged as an icon of the hostage crisis, was being held in one apartment and three male hostages Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were in another about 200 meters (yards) away. All had been abducted from a desert rave-turned-massacre site during the Oct. 7 attack that ignited the war. They had been moved among different locations but were never held in Hamas' notorious tunnels. At the time of their rescue they were in locked rooms guarded by Hamas gunmen. Israeli intelligence figured out where they were and commandos spent weeks practicing the raid on life-size models of the buildings, according to Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli military spokesman. It needs to be like a surgical operation, like a brain operation, he said. He said they decided to strike at midday because it would be the ultimate suprise, and to target the two buildings simultaneously. Planners feared that if they hit one first, the captors would hear the commotion and kill the hostages in the other. Hagari declined to say how the Israeli forces made their way to the heart of Nuseirat, a crowded, built-up refugee camp in central Gaza dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli war. Based on previous operations, at least some of the special forces who took part in the raid likely dressed like Palestinians and spoke fluent Arabic. Kamal Benaji, a Palestinian displaced from Gaza City who was living in a tent in central Nuseirat, said he saw a small truck with a car in front and another behind pull up in front of a building on the street where he had pitched his tent. The commandos sprang from the truck and one of them threw a grenade into the house. "Clashes and explosions broke out everywhere, he said. A VEHICLE GETS STUCK AND A FIREFIGHT ERUPTS The rescue of Argamani seems to have gone smoothly, while the team extracting the three other hostages ran into trouble. Chief Inspector Arnon Zamora, an officer in an elite police commando unit, was mortally wounded during the break-in, in which all the Hamas guards were killed, Amos Harel, a veteran defense correspondent, wrote in Israel's Haaretz newspaper. Then the rescue vehicle carrying the three hostages got stuck in the camp, he said. Palestinian militants armed with machine-guns and rocket-propelled grenades opened fire on the rescuers, as Israel called in heavy strikes from land and air to cover their evacuation to the coast. A lot of fire was around us, Hagari said. It was this bombardment that appears to have killed and wounded so many Palestinians. Mohamed al-Habash, another displaced Palestinian, was in the Nuseirat market looking for humanitarian aid or inexpensive food when the heavy bombing began. He took cover with a half-dozen other people in a damaged home. He said many other houses were hit. We heard very loud bombing and heavy gunfire," he said. We saw many fighter jets flying over the area. The Israeli rescuers eventually made it to the coast. Zamora was evacuated by helicopter and later died of his wounds in a hospital. The military renamed the operation in his honor. Footage released by the military showed soldiers walking the hostages along the beach toward the water and helicopters whipping up clouds of sand as they took off. We called the hostages diamonds, so we say we have the diamonds in our hands, Hagari said. THE AFTERMATH At the Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in the nearby town of Deir al-Balah, the dead and wounded arrived in waves men, women and children. It's one of the last functioning medical facilities in the area and was already packed with people wounded in heavy strikes in recent days. Samuel Johann, a coordinator with the international charity Doctors Without Borders, which operates in the hospital, said it was a nightmare. There have been back-to-back mass casualties as densely populated areas are bombed. Its way beyond what anyone could deal with in a functional hospital, let alone with the scarce resources we have here," he said in a statement released by the group. The Gaza Health Ministry said 274 Palestinians were killed and around 700 were wounded. The ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its tallies, but said the dead included 64 children and 57 women. Khulood Shalaq, who was being treated at another hospital with her wounded 1-year-old nephew, said 14 members of her family were killed in the raid, with some still buried in the rubble. She said at one point she saw four helicopters launching missiles into the camp. The streets are filled with dead bodies," she said. Hamas later released a video claiming that three other hostages, including an American, were killed in the bombardment, but it provided no evidence. The army said it does "not respond to statements by terrorist organizations. Hamas and other militants are still holding some 120 hostages, around a third of whom are believed to have died. Hagari acknowledged that a cease-fire deal would bring home more hostages than military operations, but said Israeli forces need to create conditions to bring them home. We are doing things that are unimaginable, and we will keep on doing things that are unimagined, he said. ___ Jeffery reported from Jerusalem and Chehayeb from Beirut. Associated Press writer Samy Magdy in Cairo contributed. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Gaza at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war Dalits protest their treatment after the rape and killing of a lower caste woman in 2020 - AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi Under the scorching noon sun of rural Uttar Pradesh, villagers seek whatever shade they can, gathering under trees or behind walls. It is one of those days when there is no power in the village of Bhogipur, a collection of shanty houses on unpaved roads that hosts a community of Dalits, the lowest Hindu caste in Indias stratified society. Without air conditioning, staying inside is not an option. Life has long been hard here, says Reshma, a 27-year-old Dalit woman. But the government of Narendra Modis Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which she voted for in 2014, had only made it harder. Our kids face discrimination in schools, she said. Our men are beaten, murdered for loving or intending to marry an upper caste women, our women are raped or treated as sexual objects. We face humiliation at all levels of society, including at religious places. But last week the tables turned. This small village is part of a quiet revolution that proved crucial in denying Mr Modi and the BJP a majority in Indias parliament. Uttar Pradesh is Indias largest region and elects 80 members of the 543-seat Lok Sabha. Mr Modi spared no effort in the attempt to hold the province, inaugurating a temple to the Hindu god Lord Rama in Ayodhya (controversially on the site of a pre-existing Muslim shrine) and providing free rations and housing loans to the poor. But in this years vote, the BJP won just 36 seats here down from 62 in 2019. That helped to leave Mr Modis party touted as an unstoppable force through much of the election run-up 32 seats shy of the 272 it needed to form a majority. On Sunday, Mr Modi was inaugurated for a third term as a chastened figure. Announcing his coalition with the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), Mr Modi on Friday touted the need for consensus politics, a far cry when his party was pledging to win 400 seats alone on the campaign trail. Key to the BJPs humbling was a shift in the voting habits of Dalits. Although officially abolished in 1950, Indias 2,000-year-old social hierarchy still exists throughout the country, categorising Hindus at birth. There are four main groups: Brahmins (priests and teachers), Kshatriyas (warriors and rulers), Vaishyas (traders and merchants) and Shudras (labourers). Narendra Modi, leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, has admitted that politics needs to be more conciliatory after election result - RAJAT GUPTA/EPA-EFE Those who fall outside these groups are known as Dalits, also known as untouchables, forced to take the jobs that nobody else wants, like cleaners, scavengers and latrine workers. While Mr Modi himself claims to be a member of what is known as the other backward classes (which some dispute), his party is dominated by middle and upper-caste Hindus. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) opposition coalition, led by the Congress party, turned the election into a referendum on Mr Modis pledges to help the poor and fight joblessness. That message appealed to the Dalits, who make up 166 million of Indias 1.3 billion-strong population and about 21 per cent of the population in Uttar Pradesh. Having long marginalised Indias Muslim voters (during his campaign, Mr Modi referred to them as infiltrators who have more children), the loss of Dalit support could not be made up with gains in other areas. Neeraj Kumar, 37, a Dalit man from the Barabanki constituency of Uttar Pradesh, told The Telegraph he had voted against the BJP because his crops had been overrun by cattle. It has been happening for many years now after the BJP banned the sale of beef, he said. What will my family eat when our crop is destroyed by the stray cattle? [The] cow is a holy animal but we should not kill human beings in her name. If we complain about the damage to our crops, the upper-caste BJP supporters harass us and even beat us with impunity, Mr Kumar said. Our community has suffered under every government but things turned ugly under the BJP rule, Reshma told The Telegraph. She said she feared that if the BJP had reached 400 seats, it would have altered the constitution to make it less favourable to Dalits removing their provisions of government jobs and welfare schemes. Rahul Shivgarh, a 30-year-old trainee nurse, agreed: The [constitution] is paramount. It gives us reservations and safeguards. If it is changed, we will lose them so we voted against [BJP], he said. Large sections of the upper castes also drifted away from Mr Modi in the region. Prem Shukla Haldar, a Brahman from Dighiya village in Rae Bareli who runs a small shop, shifted his vote against the party. They [Dalits] supported Modi over the past decade but have become estranged from him now, Mr Haldar said. There is this opinion that they have become economically worse off than earlier and feared that a majority BJP government in New Delhi would push them further to the margins. More than two-thirds of India are considered lower class and Dalits make up around a tenth of the population - MONEY SHARMA/AFP via Getty Images Yogendra Yadav, a pollster who accurately predicted the election, unlike the widely publicised exit polls, said that Mr Modis setback in Uttar Pradesh did not mark the death knell of his boisterous form of Hindu nationalism. I would not rush to declare a defeat of Hindutva politics because the BJPs [hardline] ideology poses a long-term threat to the foundations of the Indian nation state. That threat has not disappeared. In the national government, the BJP has had to settle for a coalition government with allies like Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and Janata Dal (United). Both espouse a secular political outlook. Mr Yadav, who campaigned for the INDIA opposition, warned the opposition against complacency about the larger threat of the RSS-BJP, referring to the paramilitary Hindu organisation that is a progenitor of the BJP. This result has given us a foothold, it has given an entry to the battleground. The battle is still to be fought because the battle against RSS BJP cannot be merely electoral, Yadav said. It has to be political, ideological, and cultural, which is a battle that remains to be, that challenge still remains. 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. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, casts her ballot for the European elections in a ballot box outside a polling station in the Hanover region. Julian Stratenschulte/dpa Ursula von der Leyen, seeking a second term as European Commission president, has claimed victory in the European Parliament elections. "Today is a good day for the EPP," von der Leyen said, referring to her centre-right European People's Party (EPP) group, which she campaigned for. "We have won the European elections, my friends," she said as estimated polls showed strong results for the EPP despite a challenge from far-right parties. Von der Leyen stressed that, together with other parties, she wanted to form a bulwark against the extremes from the left and the right. We will stop them, von der Leyen said. According to a forecast by the European Parliament, the EPP, counting Germany's centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its sister party the Christian Social Union (CSU) as members, will be able to fill 186 and thus a quarter of the 720 seats in the European Parliament. Ricarda Lang (R), Chairwoman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen) and and Omid Nouripour, Chairman of Alliance 90/The Greens (Buendnis 90/Die Gruenen), leave the stage after the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa A woman stands at the Green Party election party in the Columbiahalle during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections. Christoph Soeder/dpa Lisa Paus (C), German Minister for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, talks to Sergey Lagodinsky (L), lead candidate of the Greens for the 2024 European elections, and Hannah Neumann (R), Member of the European Parliament, during the announcement of the first forecasts for the results of the 2024 European elections at the Greens' election party in the Columbiahalle. Christoph Soeder/dpa US military says Israel did not use its pier for hostage operation Israeli hostage Almog Meir Jan (C), 22, speaks with family members at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa The US military is denying rumours circulating on social media that Israeli special forces used the makeshift pier constructed by US forces off the coast of the Gaza Strip to free four hostages. "The humanitarian pier facility, including its equipment, personnel, and assets were not used in the operation to rescue hostages today in Gaza," US Central Command (CENTCOM) said in a statement released Saturday evening. "Any such claim to the contrary is false," the statement read. A video had previously circulated online, apparently showing an Israeli military helicopter taking off from the beach near the pier. An an area south of the site was used by the Israelis to return the hostages to Israel, CENTCOM said. "The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help move additional, urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza," CENTCOM said. The Israeli military also rejected accusations that the troops had entered the area disguised in humanitarian aid vehicles or via the US pier. Israeli hostage Almog Meir Jan, 22, embraces a family member at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa Israeli hostage Shlomi Ziv, 41, embraces family members at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue by the Israeli army from captivity in the Gaza Strip. -/IDF Spokesperson's unit via GPO/dpa Maritime aid deliveries to Gaza resumed Saturday after a US-built temporary pier was repaired a day prior, US Central Command announced. Nearly 500 metric tons, or over a million pounds, of aid was delivered beginning Saturday morning local time, CENTCOM said in a post on X, the first delivery since the pier broke apart last month. The delivery came the same day the Israeli military rescued four hostages in an operation that authorities in Gaza said killed 236 people and injured more than 400 others. CENTCOM made it clear Saturday that the pier, including its equipment, personnel, and assets, was not used in the operation. The temporary pier on the coast of Gaza was put in place for one purpose only, to help move additional, urgently needed lifesaving assistance into Gaza, CENTCOM said in a separate post on X. And a US official told CNN on Saturday that the pier, called Joint Logistics Over the Shore, or JLOTS, was not used in the operation. It is our understanding that IDF did not use a vehicle with humanitarian markings, or any humanitarian platform, including the JLOTS facility, to conduct hostage rescue operations, the official said. The pier, used in addition to dropping aid out of planes and trucking it through border checkpoints, sustained damage and broke apart in heavy seas late last month. In the less than two weeks the pier was operational, it helped deliver some 1,000 metric tons of aid to Gaza. The US had faced a number of challenges with the pier, including planning around Israels operations in Rafah, establishing who would transport the aid from the pier into Gaza, and logistical issues such as sea and weather conditions. Eight months into the Israel-Hamas war, human rights groups have described unspeakable living conditions in Gaza. The United Nations food agency warned in May that Palestinians in the north are under a full-blown famine that is spreading south, and more than 1 million people, half of Gazas population, are expected to face death and starvation by mid-July, a UN report warned this week. While Israeli officials have insisted there is no limit on the amount of aid that can enter Gaza, the UN has accused authorities of imposing unlawful restrictions on relief operations, including blocked land routes, communications blackouts and air strikes. The US has made a number of air drops of humanitarian aid into Gaza in partnership with the Royal Jordanian Air Force, though they were suspended in recent weeks due to military operations in the north of Gaza, Vice Adm. Brad Cooper said Friday. Air drops are expected to resume in the coming days, he said. CNNs Jennifer Hansler, Philip Wang, Natasha Bertrand, Haley Britzky, Rachel Wilson and Sana Noor Haq contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com US struggles to deport illegal migrants at border amid shortage of flights President Biden at the White House unveils an executive order restricting asylum for migrants crossing illegally - Annabelle Gordon/Splash News The US is struggling to deport illegal immigrants because of a lack of flights to take them back. President Joe Biden announced a raft of measures to tackle the surge in migration through the southern border last week as immigration emerges as one of the biggest threats to Mr Bidens chances of re-election. Last week he issued a sweeping executive order which would shut the US Mexican border to migrants if illegal crossings hit a 2,500 average for seven successive days. According to polls, migration is one of the biggest concerns of voters ahead of the November election. Over the past year, the White House said that it had repatriated 750,000 people the highest number since 2010 but logistical problems are getting in the way. Asylum seekers arriving at the El Chaparral crossing for their appointments at the US-Mexico border - Carlos Moreno/Shutterstock In a detailed memorandum, the department of homeland security said that demographics and nationalities encountered at the border significantly impact its ability to deport people. It said border agents had been told to concentrate on migrants who could be easily removed, followed by those who were more problematic because of the need to get travel documents. There was then a final category very hard to remove those from countries which refused to accept US flights. According to official figures, US immigration and customs and enforcement made 679 deportation flights from January to May. Of these nearly 60 per cent were destined for Guatemala and Honduras. There were 46 flights to Colombia, 42 to Ecuador and 12 to Peru, carrying only a fraction of the illegal immigrants from those countries. But there were only 10 to Africa and just one to China, despite the arrest of nearly 13,000 Chinese migrants. Others were simply released including men from China, India, Colombia, Ecuador, Mauritania, Sudan and Ethiopia. Migrants are smuggled at the Tijuana-San Diego border, as they climb the wall to seek asylum to the United States - Carlos Moreno/Anadolu The US immigration difficulties have been intensified by a surge in the number of migrants from across the world trying to get into the country by crossing the US-Mexico border. Analysts suggested the difficulties could prove embarrassing for Mr Biden, who has been attacked by Democratic Left-wingers for his tougher approach. It depends on if it is a glitch which gets worked out, or a long-term thing, Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire told the Telegraph. Biden is staking a lot on this border action, a lot of folks in his own party are grumbling or worse. If it doesnt get started because of this, then he has gone out on a limb for not a lot of payback. 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. Senator Bob Casey (right) has been friends with Joe Biden for years, while his father, Bob Casey Sr (left) was one of the strongest opponents of abortion in the Democratic Party (Getty) In the upscale Philadelphia suburb of Glenside last month, Senator Bob Casey turned on the charm at a campaign office opening. A lesser-known, longtime veteran of the Senate, Caseys pullover sweaters and nice-guy demeanor have earned him comparisons to another son of Pennsylvania Mister Rogers as well as the nickname Mr Pennsylvania by his state counterpart, Senator John Fetterman. But beneath this folksy, Biden-esque persona is a steely operator whos supposed to prove a critical asset to the president in the 2024 race. A New York Times/Siena College poll showed Casey has a five-point lead in Pennsylvania against Republican Dave McCormick, a sign of Caseys high name recognition and popularity. But that doesnt mean hes in for a smooth ride in November. Last month, a super PAC supporting his former hedge fund executive rival, Dave McCormick, dropped $4 million on an ad buy, and it plans to spend $30m for him overall. Republicans know the importance of knocking off Casey is that it would end the Democrats one-seat majority in the Senate. Much is at stake. But Caseys recent change of heart when it comes to his stance on abortion could be what shifts the needle. For a long time he remained one of the few anti-abortion Democrats in Congress. But he says the Supreme Courts overturning Roe v Wade in 2022 changed his mind. If they can take a 49-year right away from women, they can take a right away from workers in the same court, Casey said at a campaign speech in Glenside in May. He went on to promise that he plans to concentrate primarily on protecting womens rights and voter rights. During an interview with The Independent, he notes: I think most Americans are looking at the issue of abortion with a very stark contrast in mind, which is: Do I want to ban abortion or not? And thats where the Republican Party is. Bidens secret weapon: Bob Casey pictured with the President (Getty Images) Abortion rights have become a lightning rod in this years election race, and if the midterms are anything to go by, a winning issue for Democrats. In Pennsylvania a critical brick in the blue wall that Biden needs to win to regain the White House 56 percent of voters think abortion should legal in either all or most cases. Yet McCormick is anti-abortion except in very rare instances. Since the Dobbs case and its fallout, he has tried to pivot from a previously hardline stance. But in 2022, when he ran for Pennsylvanias other Senate seat, he said, I believe in the very rare instances [when abortion should be allowed], there should be exceptions for life of the mother. Now, his website says he is opposed to a national abortion ban, and supports exceptions in the cases of rape, incest, and saving the life of the mother. McCormick is a former official in the Treasury Department during George W Bushs administration but he is also married to Dina Powell, Trumps former deputy national security adviser. Considering McCormicks stance, its clear that Casey is seen by reproductive rights advocates as the lesser of two evils, even if both are out of step with the more liberal views of Pennsylvania voters. A Democrat criticizing the court for ripping away Roe is not uncommon. But a Democrat with the last name Casey doing so is remarkable. Thats because along with being a staple of Pennsylvania politics, the Caseys have been the biggest opponents of abortion rights within the Democratic coalition. Like the Kennedys in Massachusetts and the Bidens once they moved from Pennsylvania to Delaware, the Caseys, a family heavily steeped in state politics, symbolized the Democratic Partys working-class Irish Catholic voting base for decades. And like many devout Catholics, the Caseys ardently opposed abortion. In 1989, Senator Caseys father, Governor Bob Casey, signed legislation in Pennsylvania that required patients seeking an abortion to wait for 24 hours after making their decision and inform either their husbands or, if they were minors, their parents. In response, Planned Parenthoods southeastern Pennsylvania arm sued. That same year, Governor Casey was prevented from speaking at the Democratic National Convention, which he claimed was because of his views on abortion. A decade later, his son continued in much the same tradition. The younger Casey ran for Senate in 2006 as a pro-life and pro-gun Democrat, blowing out incumbent Republican Rick Santorum. His stance helped him win over voters in rural and working-class counties like Berks, Beaver and Luzerne County where Democrats have struggled, as well as suburban counties like Bucks and cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. Two years later he spoke at the DNC and noted during his speech that, even though Barack Obama supported abortion rights, they mutually respected each other. Casey also voted for both of Obamas Supreme Court nominees Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan who leaned progressive on abortion rights, and voted against all three of Trumps nominees. In 2022, he voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the court. That same year, he went even further following the overturning of Roe, and announced he would support Democrats legislation to codify abortion rights into law. Sue-Ann DiVito, a Democratic activist and realtor based in Philadelphia, said at the Glenside event that she appreciated Caseys switch. I am very excited that hes supportive of womens rights. I believe some people evolve and we should welcome that, she told The Independent. Unsurprisingly, McCormicks campaign sees things differently. No Senator has made a more radical change to his position on abortion than Bob Casey Jr, and his extreme stance is out of step with Pennsylvania, with America, and with his own late father, Elizabeth Gregory, the Republicans communications director, told The Independent in an email. Asked by The Independent what he thought of Caseys change of heart on abortion, John Fetterman told The Independent that he believes his colleague is firmly on the side of choice and tried to paint McCormick as out of touch given the Republican hails from Connecticut. And of course, McCormick is against that, Fetterman who recently flipped a Republican seat in Pennsylvania largely due to female voter anger at the overturn of Roe v Wade continued. The two go way back: When some voters feared Fetterman could not do the job after he suffered a stroke, Casey criss-crossed the state for Fetterman. And Caseys low-key charm and family background balances out Fettermans more bolshy, hoodie-wearing personality nicely. Little wonder that Casey is seen by Joe Biden as a friend and somewhat of a secret weapon: the president affectionately refers to Bob Casey Jrs father as Bob, while he calls the currently serving Casey Bobby. The general consensus among Democrats is that winning a state in a post-Roe world now relies on putting the Fettermans of the world alongside the Caseys, and telling a story about reproductive rights that looks sensible and nuanced as opposed to highly ideological. It helps, too, that Fetterman and Casey have strong roots in the counties they intend to represent. I am always going to be 100 percent supportive of my friend and Mr Pennsylvania, Fetterman added. Especially over that guy from Greenwich. RIO RANCHO, N.M. (KRQE) Rio Rancho Regional Chamber of Commerce Visionaries held their second Brewathlon fundraiser on Saturday at Brew Lab 101. The event helped Honor Flight of Northern New Mexico raise funds for their mission. The national organization gifts World War Two and Korea veterans free trips to Washington D.C. every year in honor of their service to the country. The organization needed to raise funds to pay for the trips. Officials said its because they want to raise funds and have fun, and at least $5,000 was raised this weekend. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos. ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) A vigil was held Saturday for the teenager shot and killed June 5 in Roanoke. (Courtesy, Dustin Hennessey/WFXR News) Friends and family lined the road through the apartment complex Saturday evening after a balloon release in his honor. Dozens showed up to pay their respects and honor his memory. A memorial has been set up near his home with flowers, balloons, and a large photo. The William Fleming High School student was killed at the Ferncliff Apartments complex Wednesday afternoon and another teenager was arrested and charged. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. Are some voters' ballots not so secret? Texas lawmakers need to fix mess they created In certain circumstances, former Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir told me, it is an easy, simple, silly exercise. Scoop up the reams of cast vote records that Texas lawmakers have made more accessible to the general public since the 2020 election. Cross-check that information with other election-related records showing when and where a particular person voted, and by process of elimination, you might be able to figure out which ballot was theirs. It wont work all of the time, or even most of the time, said DeBeauvoir, who is nonetheless upset that it could work at all. This is one out of 100,000 or 200,000 votes that might get outed with some confidence level, she said, noting that the busier a polling place is, the harder it becomes for someone to later guess which ballot might have come from which voter. But still. With the news site Current Revolt recently publishing what it claims is the 2024 Dallas County primary ballot of former Texas Republican Party Chairman Matt Rinaldi, and with Votebeat and the Texas Tribune independently verifying that ballot identification techniques are possible with the vast election records available under state law, Texans are faced with the alarming possibility that some secret ballots arent so secret. Because of recent Texas laws, it has become possible under certain circumstances to identify how a specific person voted. "We're talking about a few," said DeBeauvoir, who retired in 2022 as Travis County's longtime elections chief and still advocates for ethical election policies. "But mostly it's done for embarrassment. It's done for intimidation purposes. It is not done for auditing. It is not done for the security of the election." While preaching about election security, Texas lawmakers buckled to the demands of election skeptics who wanted to run their own audits, making more election records available to the public without understanding how they could be combined and misused. And even if its only a relative handful of voters whose ballots are identified, the chilling effect could extend beyond them. Will people feel free to vote their conscience or want to vote at all if they fear theres a chance of exposure and retaliation? The problem is serious enough that the Texas Secretary of States Office issued emergency guidance Thursday, directing county elections officials to redact information that ballot sleuths might use, in conjunction with other records, to identify a voters picks. Every Texan has the right to a secret ballot, and that right must remain sacred, Secretary of State Jane Nelson said in a written statement. She said that anyone who publicizes someone elses ballot selections can face legal action if a voter is intimidated, bribed or coerced. Voters should continue to vote. The issues of our time are too important for voters to go quiet. But the lawmakers who created this mess must fix it in the next legislative session. We didnt arrive at this ballot predicament through one law, but through several efforts to make various elections-related records more accessible to the public. The most consequential was House Bill 5180, passed last year, which allows the public to obtain the records showing the selections on each voted ballot once 60 days have passed from the election. An attorney general's ruling in 2022 said those records should be made available promptly. Previously, those records werent available until 22 months after an election. Apart from the occasional political science professor, few people were interested in old ballots by then. That changed after the 2020 presidential election, when fleets of amateur auditors wanted to scrutinize the ballots themselves, skeptical of the official results. The law says any personally identifiable information should be redacted before election records are released. As it is, the ballot records dont contain a voters name or other personal data, such as a date of birth or Social Security number. But other data points can narrow things down. If someone is the only voter that voted in that race, or on that day of early voting, or whatever the situation may be, then the precinct (where they voted) makes it personally identifiable, said Randall County Elections Administrator Shannon Lackey, vice president of the Texas Association of Elections Administrators. The judge's signature on the back of that ballot could make it personally identifiable, because you would know what location they voted at, Lackey continued. Simply releasing the roster of early voting voters per day with the location on it can help tie that back. So we have to look at personally identifiable information in a way that we never have before. Redacting information that links ballots to a specific voting location, as the secretary of states emergency guidance suggests, is a good start, Lackey said. But the Legislature needs to shore up the laws to ensure that information is protected. We as elections administrators have done everything that's been asked of us for the sake of transparency, Lackey told me, and it almost feels like the transparency was used against us to try to breach a sense of security. Voters should never, ever question whether or not their vote is going to be counted, or is going to be private, she added. The revelation that some members of the public were using records to try to identify voters ballots goes against everything that we do. Elections offices have always run internal checks to ensure accurate ballot tallies. At any point, election data can be provided to trusted experts if an external audit is needed. But lets be clear: All of the data to run an audit should not be provided to the general public, not when the secrecy of individual voters ballots could be compromised. Election security should begin there. Grumet is the Statesmans Metro columnist. Her column, ATX in Context, contains her opinions. Share yours via email at bgrumet@statesman.com or on X at @bgrumet. Find her previous work at statesman.com/opinion/columns. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Texans' ballots might not be as secret as they think | Grumet Danny Santulli was rushed to a Columbia hospital after he became unresponsive following a hazing event at a Phi Gamma Delta party at the University of Missouri in October 2021. Santulli suffered brain damage from alcohol poisoning, and he remains blind and unable to walk or talk. Recent coverage of the Danny Santulli tragedy, about a young man harmed in a fraternity hazing incident three years ago, has shined an intense light on harmful hazing practices known to take place in a small number of fraternities. But the proven social and academic benefits of Greek life are numerous and often overlooked, and a lot has changed in three years. A forceful effort to stamp out this kind of conduct, both at the state and national level, has gained significant traction in the years since Danny Santulli was harmed and is showing positive results. Within weeks of the Santulli incident in 2021, the Mizzou Greek Alliance was formed by a group of fathers and grandfathers who were former fraternity members. Some of us had experienced hazing of some type in our youth and although most of it was harmless, we knew from our 300 or so years of combined experience as advisors that under the right circumstances it could become dangerous. We recruited dozens of Greek alumni to the cause and, channeling our determination, we immediately began a training and education campaign designed to raise awareness and ultimately stamp out hazing, hazardous drinking and other harmful conduct in fraternities. Sixteen fraternity chapters joined our group. We brought in speakers from around the country and we generated a YouTube video now viewed 1,300 times highlighting the worst hazing incidents over the years and the harsh consequences that befell those involved. Robert Selsor We also worked hand in hand with University of Missouri administrators to develop aspects of a new student conduct code that rewards student organizations for policing their own ranks, and punishes them when they dont stand up to bad actors. Our public website likewise highlights a wide variety of resources for chapter officers and advisors, as well as hard data on the problems presented and the solutions that have been proven to work. We have a bill in the Missouri General Assembly known as Dannys Law, in honor of Danny Santulli, that will give immunity from prosecution to anyone who is the first to call 911 to obtain help for a member of an organization that is in distress as a result of hazing or dangerous action. The University of Missouri has forcefully addressed the issue as well. Every new member of a Greek organization now has to participate in an interactive training session on hazing and alcohol abuse that teaches them to spot harmful conduct as it is beginning, and to empower them to confront it. National fraternities have likewise devoted millions of dollars in resources towards not only training and education, but also enforcement of conduct standards against rogue chapters and rogue members. Continuing public prosecutions of the worst abusers has also sent a strong message that this type of conduct will not remain hidden, nor will it be tolerated. The result of these and other efforts across the country appears to be translating into measurable results. According to the Hazing Deaths Database, while there were one to two hazing deaths nationally each year prior to 2021, there have been none in the past three years. Finally, lost in all of the rightful focus on these problems are the positive aspects of Greek membership. Most of the 6,000 Greek chapters do not engage in this kind of harmful conduct. Many provide needed support for their members. Large numbers of college students today are in emotional crisis, and much of it arises out of social isolation. According to the NIH, approximately 1,300 college students die annually by suicide. Hard data supports that members of Greek organizations statistically have lower rates of depression than the general public. Academic performance is also higher in Greek communities and, according to the Gallup organization, 84% of Greek alumni would still join their Greek house if they had it to do all over again. Greek alumni are over five times more likely to donate to their alma mater than graduates who did not join a fraternity or sorority. And Greek membership offers leadership experience and unparalleled opportunities to cultivate sociability. The takeaway from all of this is that, while serious problems remain, partnerships drive change and things are changing in Greek organizations in a meaningful way. And the benefits of Greek membership, which have been embraced by generations of college students, are needed more than ever before. Bob Selsor is a 1982 graduate of the University of Missouri and the president of the Mizzou Greek Alliance. This article originally appeared on Springfield News-Leader: After tragic Missouri hazing, changes to Greek life are compelling Weed is legal in Delaware. How residents affected by marijuana laws can enter the business Remember the War on Drugs? In the 1970s, President Richard Nixon instituted punitive drug laws and harsh prison sentences with devastating effects on marginalized communities, particularly the poor, Black and Latino populations. Marijuana played a central role in the mass criminalization of these groups. Now Delaware residents with past marijuana convictions or those living in areas most affected by rescinded marijuana laws are being invited to take part in the state's emerging marijuana industry. Beginning in September 2024, the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner will accept applications for "adult use" marijuana business licenses. To promote fair access, the office is holding a series of "social equity" workshops. The sessions are designed to inform potential applicants about the process of obtaining a social equity license in Delaware. The first workshop was held at Delaware Technical Community College's Stanton campus on June 5. Among the attendees was Santwan Williams, a Wilmington resident with a passion for plants and nature, particularly growing marijuana. He also said he was previously arrested for possession of marijuana. "I did 90 days down in Smyrna for marijuana," Williams said. "And now it's legal." The 35-year-old said the conviction made it difficult for him to get a job. Williams said he attended the workshop to learn more about the new laws on marijuana and how they might affect his chances of working in the legal cannabis industry in the future. Workshops cover legal and financial considerations Although marijuana is legal in Delaware, it remains illegal under federal law. The workshop provided insights into the significant financial investments and legal ramifications of entering the marijuana industry. Along with social equity qualifications, topics included banking, tax, legal and real estate considerations. Pre-rolled marijuana joints similar to these were given to volunteers 21 and older who participated in the "Joints for Junk" fall community clean-up in Millsboro, organized by the Delaware Cannabis Advocacy Network. Attendees had the opportunity to network with state officials, guest experts and professionals from the Delaware Cannabis Industry Association before the workshop presentations and panel discussion. Commissioner Rob Coupe opened the presentations with an overview of the process for obtaining a license and the timeline for the legal industry. Key points included: There is no government funding to support applicants, although legislation is pending. A social equity application fee is offered at the discounted rate of $1,000. Two-year social equity and microbusiness licenses issued by the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner are offered at a discounted fee of $4,000. Most banks will not provide loans for a marijuana business and most insurance companies will not offer coverage. Local municipalities have the authority to reject proposals for locating a marijuana business within its jurisdiction. Qualifying for a social equity license Out of the 125 licenses to be issued, only 47 of them will be social equity licenses. To be eligible to apply for social equity licenses, interested parties must meet the following criteria: Social equity applicants must have 51% ownership and control of the business. Have resided for at least five out of the last 15 years in a disproportionately impacted area as indicated on a map defined in Delaware Code regulating alcohol and marijuana. The map is being developed and will be published during summer 2024 before the application acceptance window opens. Was convicted of or found delinquent of a marijuana-related offense under Delaware law before April 23, 2023, except in the cases for delivery to a minor or for any offense involving a Tier 3 quantity of marijuana as defined in Delaware Code. Had a parent, legal guardian, child, spouse or dependent who was convicted of or found delinquent for a marijuana-related offense under Delaware law before April 23, 2023, except for delivery to a minor or for any offense involving a Tier 3 quantity of marijuana as defined in Delaware Code. More social equity workshop dates and their locations There are three more workshops scheduled for June. To sign up for a social equity workshop, visit the Office of the Marijuana Commissioner website. All workshops are scheduled from 3 to 5:30 p.m. Presentations will begin at 4 p.m. See below for the dates and locations: Sussex County June 12 - Owens Campus Delaware Technical Community College - 21179 College Drive, Georgetown. Wilmington June 18 - Wilmington Campus Delaware Technical Community College. 333 N. Shipley St., Wilmington. Kent County June 25 - DNREC, Richardson & Robbins Building, 89 Kings Highway SW, Dover. OBTAINING A CLEAN SLATE: Do you have a Delaware criminal history report? What to know about getting it cleared Applicants for all license types must meet minimum criteria, including: A business plan with an annual budget and pro forma financial statements. Experience, training and expertise of the applicant and managing officers. Programs for operations, training and staffing. Plans for safety, security and prevention of diversion. Sales of "adult use" recreational marijuana are expected to begin the spring of 2025. You can contact Anitra Johnson at ajohnson@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: Social equity workshops set for aspiring marijuana business owners NC Senate chamber (Photo: Clayton Henkel) NC House Republicans advance a proposed constitutional amendment to prohibit non-citizen voting The Legislative Building By Lynn Bonner Republicans in the state House are moving to put a question on the November ballot that would write a prohibition on non-citizen voting into the state constitution, even though non-citizen voting is already illegal. Asking voters to add another prohibition to non-citizen voting to the constitution could help boost turnout from voters who have illegal voting as a top concern and help Republican candidates highlight southern border crossings. [Read more...] Surprise GOP campaign finance law proposal prompts walkout by Democratic senators Senate Democrats hold a press conference By Rob Schofield and Ahmed Jallow In a surprise move that caught most Legislative Building watchers off-guard, Republican lawmakers unveiled legislation on Thursday that would make significant changes to state campaign finance law. The sudden move prompted all 20 Senate Democrats to walk out of the chamber in protest when the bill was quickly brought to a vote. It was approved 28-0 by the Republicans who remained on the Senate floor. The House is expected to take up the measure next week. The proposed law changes, which were appended to a conference committee report on a controversial and much-debated bill dealing with punishment for unlawful protests and the wearing of masks (see the box below), would make it easier for big dollar donors to funnel large sums of cash in relative anonymity to support North Carolina political candidates.[Read more] For a two-month delay in delivering drivers licenses, the DMV and its contractor blame each other Wayne Goodwin and Lisa Shoemaker (Screenshot) By Lynn Bonner Two adversaries sat side-by-side at a North Carolina hearing Thursday as House members tried to find the cause of a drivers license backlog that delayed delivery of permanent IDs to hundreds of thousands of residents. DMV Commissioner Wayne Goodwin said that what started as a problem with 2,150 licenses ballooned to a 354,697 backlog, where customers had to wait up to eight weeks for permanent licenses. He blamed the states longtime contractor, Idemia, for the backlog and a lack of communication about the growing problem. An Idemia vice president said DMV should have gone along with the companys recommendations for a quicker resolution. [Read more...] Legislation to clarify NC school suspensions finds initial bipartisan support Leah McGhee speaks to state senators By Clayton Henkel Tens of thousands of students are suspended each year; bill would expand due process rights Leah McGhee said when her son was suspended from Central Davidson High School, she could not appeal the punishment because it was less than 10 days. According to McGhee, her 16-year-old son was only seeking clarification when his teacher used the word aliens in class, and he asked whether that reference was to space aliens or illegal aliens who need green cards. The student received a three day out-of-school suspension for what was deemed a racially motivated comment which disrupted the class.[Read more] A push to keep NC autopsy reports secret ends for now Sen. Danny Britt By Lynn Bonner Republican senators have dropped immediate plans to prevent the public and family members from seeing autopsy reports that are connected to criminal cases. Last month, Sen. Danny Britt, a Robeson County Republican, presented a proposal to keep secret from the public autopsy reports in criminal cases until those cases were resolved. [Read more] After federal court hearing, use of toxic algaecide at Lake Mattamuskeet on hold The waters of Lake Mattamuskeet sparkle like diamonds on a sunny day. A clump of green reeds extends into the lake. By Lisa Sorg Young Kang, an attorney with the U.S. Department of Justice, had not even finished announcing his last name when Judge Terence Boyle cut him off. Why are you doing this? Boyle, who was appointed to the federal bench by President Reagan in 1984, barked at Kang. This is a drastic approach. [Read more...] Advocates for people experiencing homelessness anxiously await U.S. Supreme Court decision Homeless rights activists hold a rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court By Greg Childress Latonya Agard, executive director of NC Coalition to End Homelessness, is anxiously awaiting the U.S. Supreme Court decision in Grants Pass v. Johnson, an Oregon case testing a city ordinance that prohibits people experiencing homelessness from sleeping in public. An unfavorable ruling in the case, which is expected to be decided by the end of the month, could have severe consequences for the nearly 10,000 people in North Carolina who are experiencing homelessness, Agard said this week during a statewide conference where advocates gathered to discuss topics impacting people experiencing homelessness. [Read more.] Bonus read: Veteran journalist and housing advocate: We must change the narrative about homelessness North Carolina abortion pill restrictions struck down by federal judge Abortion rights demonstrators By Elisha Brown A federal judge on Monday blocked parts of North Carolinas law on medication abortions. Under the ruling by U.S. District Judge Catherine Eagles any health care provider not just physicians and pharmacists who are certified can prescribe abortion pills, patients can take mifepristone at home and they no longer have to make three-in person visits to a doctor.[Read more...] North Carolinas rapidly snowballing gambling mess (commentary) Young man sitting on the sofa at home using a smartphone for sports betting. (Photo: Getty Images/bluecinema) By Rob Schofield The physical therapy facility was a beehive of activity at 8:00 a.m. on a Tuesday. In a big and well-lit room, dozens of patients most of them aging and trying their best to stave off various ravages of time stretched awkwardly on tables or did their best to make use of exercise machines and various props, as busy therapists and assistants offered encouragement, and pecked away at laptops. It was a mostly friendly and positive environment in which privacy was relatively minimal and conversations sometimes overlapped. [Read more] The post Weekend reads: A GOP surprise, clarifying school suspensions, and NCs snowballing gambling mess appeared first on NC Newsline. Joe Bidens national security adviser Jake Sullivan confirmed reports that civilians appeared to have been killed during Israels mission to rescue four hostages held by Hamas over the weekend but said that the US was not in a position to verify an exact or estimated death toll from the operation. Sullivan appeared across the Sunday show circuit as the Biden administration appeared to be taking something of a victory lap on the development. He had, a day earlier, congratulated Israels government and military for the successful rescue in a statement which did not mention civilian casualties, even as initial reports across Saturday indicated that dozens of civilians had been killed in the operation. Palestinian health officials have said that more than 270 civilians were killed during the attack; IDF commanders have put their estimation at less than 100. We the United States are not in a position today to make a definitive statement about that, said the presidents national security adviser on Sunday. But we do know this, Dana, innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number we dont know, but innocent people were killed. While acknowledging that Palestinian civilians living in Gaza were going through hell, Sullivan stuck to the Biden administrations refrain: that the blame lies solely with Hamas for operating in areas tightly-packed with civilians. Every day that we see more innocent people lost is another horrible, awful, tragic day, said Sullivan. Israeli forces separately issued a statement denying reports that emerged on social media claiming the attack was carried out by Israeli forces concealed within aid trucks brought into Gaza by the floating pier set up by the US military to facilitate humanitarian aid shipments. On Saturday, as news of the rescue operation broke, the White House issued a statement congratulating the Israeli government. It also called on Hamas to accept a ceasefire deal with Israel, even as both governments have stated that a dissolution of the militant group is necessary as part of a path forward in Gaza. Palestinians look at the aftermath of the Israeli bombing of the Nuseirat refugee camp in Gaza (Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.) Today, Israeli security forces conducted a successful operation to rescue four hostages from the grips of Hamas in Gaza. All four were taken from the Nova Music Festival on October 7, and Hamas filmed the horrific abduction of Ms Argamani for the world to see. Now they are safe and reunited with their families. We commend the work of the Israeli security services that conducted this daring operation, Sullivan said on Saturday. The United States is supporting all efforts to secure the release of hostages still held by Hamas, including American citizens. This includes through ongoing negotiations or other means. The hostage release and ceasefire deal that is now on the table would secure the release of all the remaining hostages together with security assurances for Israel and relief for the innocent civilians in Gaza. Noa Argamani with her father Yakov and a family friend Nir Givon, in Ramat Gan following her rescue (via REUTERS) Sullivan said on Sunday that Hamas has not yet responded to the latest ceasefire offer brokered in part by the United States; US officials have repeated that assertion for several days while simultaneously deflecting concerns that Israels government or at the very least important parts of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus ruling coalition are not on board. Meanwhile, the death toll in Gaza continues to climb and aid agencies warn that the entire region is under severe risk of famine. Shocking images of carnage continue to spread across social media and demonstrations carry on in major cities around the globe calling for the war to end. On Saturday, one of those demonstrations took place in Washington, DC as activists formed a red line which encircled the White House with the aim of calling on President Biden to enforce his so-called red line in Rafah. The US president has said he will cut off some military assistance to Israel if a major operation takes place in the southern Gaza city. People gather at a candlelight vigil for victims of a mass shooting, which left 11 people dead, at a ballroom dance studio on Jan. 23, 2023 in Monterey Park, California. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) The White House is calling on hospital executives, doctors, and other health care leaders to take bolder steps to prevent gun violence by gathering more data about gunshot injuries and routinely counseling patients about safe use of firearms. Biden administration officials hosted back-to-back events Thursday and Friday at the White House for about 160 health care officials, calling gun violence a public health crisis that requires them to act. The strategy also reflects a stark political reality: Congress has been deadlocked on most gun-related legislation for years, with a deep divide between Republicans and Democrats. If Democratic President Joe Biden wants to get anything done quickly, he will need to look outside the Capitol. He has already enlisted educators to talk to parents about safe gun storage and community workers to help at-risk youth. The president has been clear: This is a public health crisis. So, to solve it, we need the leaders from the health care sector, Rob Wilcox, a deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, told KFF Health News. Those are the leaders that run the health systems and hospitals that we go to for treatment, and its those doctors, nurses, practitioners on the front lines. Health experts have long described gun violence as a public health crisis, one that disproportionately affects Black and Hispanic residents in poor neighborhoods. In 2022, more than 48,000 people were killed by guns in the U.S., or about 132 people a day, and suicides accounted for more than half of those deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. An additional 200-plus Americans are injured each day, according to estimates from Johns Hopkins University research. Guns are the leading cause of death for children and teens. Gun violence prevention advocates applauded the Biden administration for attempting to depoliticize the issue by focusing on its health impacts. The health-centric message also resonates with the public, said Fatimah Loren Dreier, executive director of the Health Alliance for Violence Intervention, who planned to attend the June 6 event. The idea that there can be a bipartisan-driven, apolitical way to address the gun violence problem has created tremendous opportunity, she said. But the initiative isnt just about messaging. Its about numbers and statistics. Relative to Americas other deadly threats such as cancer, HIV, and automobile crashes fewer federal dollars fund gun violence research, mostly because of politics. In 1996, Congress cut federal funding for gun control research by the CDC, essentially shifting the responsibility for funding and conducting the research to the private sector and academia and with a fraction of the previous budget. In 2019, Congress reversed course and has since agreed every year to allocate $25 million to the CDC and the National Institutes of Health for gun research, but public health experts say its not nearly enough. By comparison, roughly three times that amount was earmarked for research on the prevention and treatment of underage drinking in fiscal year 2023, and 10 times as much to Parkinsons disease research. Slashing CDC research funding for firearms created decades-long gaps in data and hamstrung efforts to respond to the crisis, researchers and health officials say. For instance, theres little government data available to researchers on firearms, even basic statistics such as firearm ownership by city and which guns are used in shootings. More timely and comprehensive data could give researchers a better understanding of the trends behind gun violence and the steps to take to prevent it, said Bechara Choucair, an executive vice president and the chief health officer at Kaiser Permanente, who planned to attend the June 6 White House event. Anytime you want to address a problem with a public health lens, you have to understand the data, he said. You have to understand the data at a granular level so you can design interventions and test interventions and see if it works or if it doesnt work. The White House is asking state and local health departments, health systems, and hospitals to boost timely data collection on emergency room visits for firearm-related injuries to support state and local jurisdictions in identifying and responding to emerging public health problems, Wilcox said. The goal is to inform prevention efforts, he said. The data will cover fatal and nonfatal injuries. Existing CDC data focuses on deaths, while its data on injuries is limited. For instance, one person was killed in the Feb. 14 shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl victory parade, but the CDC data likely will not count the roughly two dozen other people who were injured. Collecting more detailed data could be costly for hospitals, whose ERs see most gunshot injuries, said Garen Wintemute, an ER physician and the head of a violence prevention program at the University of California-Davis. Right now, hospitals gather medical information about gunshot wounds and usually dont get into other details, such as what type of gun or ammunition might have been used. Its not clear exactly what data hospitals will be asked to collect. Its an intensive process, Wintemute said. The clinicians are going to gather the data that they need in order to treat the patient, and that may not include all the data that a researcher later would want to know about what happened. Some of this data is already being collected on a limited basis. The CDC collects near-real-time reporting of gunshot injuries from ERs in about a dozen states. The White House wants data from across the nation. Wilcox added that federal grant dollars are available to health systems to conduct gun data collection through the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which Biden signed in 2022. This year, Biden asked Congress to again boost funding for CDC firearm research in his proposed fiscal 2025 budget, but his previous efforts have failed in the GOP-controlled House of Representatives. Lawmakers have yet to release a draft of their spending proposal for the Department of Health and Human Services. We should focus our CDC resources on infectious diseases, transmittable diseases, and certainly chronic diseases rather than controversial, political-charged activities, Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) said of Bidens 2024 funding proposal. Surveys show most Americans across political affiliations and regardless of gun ownership support policies that could reduce violence. At this weeks meetings with health leaders, White House officials will also encourage doctors to talk with patients and the public about gun safety and securing guns. When Wintemute talks with patients in the ER, he sits beside them and asks about their safety and the safety of others in their home, a practice he said many doctors already use to address an array of potential risks in a persons life. The White Houses call for physicians to talk about gun violence legitimizes that, he said. A health professional can do what we do about tobacco and alcohol and other sorts of potentially risky behaviors, and talk with patients about how do we minimize the risk, Wintemute said. This article was produced by KFF Health News, which publishes California Healthline, an editorially independent service of the California Health Care Foundation. 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. Subscribe to KFF Health News free Morning Briefing. The post White House Enlists Doctors and Hospitals To Combat Gun Violence appeared first on Washington State Standard. One of the hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the alt-right who marched during the Unite the Right rally Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) One of the hundreds of white nationalists, neo-Nazis and members of the alt-right who marched during the Unite the Right rally Aug. 12, 2017, in Charlottesville, Virginia. The Southern Poverty Law Center reported Tuesday that the number of white nationalist groups in the U.S. rose to a record high in 2023. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Emboldened by the mainstreaming of hard-right politics ahead of a presidential election cycle, white nationalist and anti-LGBTQ+ groups increased to record levels in the United States last year, according to the Southern Poverty Law Centers latest annual report on hate and extremism released Tuesday. The Southern Poverty Law Center, which has published the annual report since 1990, documented 835 active anti-government groups, up 133 from 2022s count, and 595 hate groups, an increase of 72 over the previous years figure. Accounting for a large portion of the increase was a 50% surge in white supremacy hate groups in 2023, the highest jump ever recorded by the SPLC, growing to 165 over 109 in 2022. White power and neo-Nazi rallies across the U.S. totaled 143 in 2023, down from 191 in 2022. SPLC saw a 33% rise in anti-LGBTQ+ organizations over last year, bringing the total to 86. The group said the growth was largely attributable to the anti-trans movement on the far-right. What were seeing now should be a wake-up call for all of us, Margaret Huang, SPLCs president and CEO, said on a call with reporters. Our 2023 report documented more hate and anti-government extremist groups than ever before. With a historic election just months away, these groups are multiplying, mobilizing and making, and in some cases already implementing, plans to undo democracy. Hate groups have increased in-person events and leafleting, according to the report. The SPLC tracked nearly 7,000 flyering incidents last year, many including language derived from racist and antisemitic conspiracies. The groups also launched campaigns to gain influence in mainstream politics, according to the report, namely through the conservative Heritage Foundations Project 2025 manifesto that outlines aspirations for anti-abortion, anti-free press and anti-LGBTQ+ priorities should presumed GOP presidential nominee and former President Donald Trump win in November. Nine of the anti-government and hate groups tracked by the SPLC are part of the coalition that supports Project 2025, the organization reports. Florida a leader in anti-government, hate groups Among the states leading in numbers of anti-government and hate groups are California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, New York, Virginia, Georgia, North Carolina, Washington and Ohio. California topped the list with 51 hate and 66 anti-government groups. The SPLC recorded the second-most groups in Florida, which has become a leader in book-banning incidents and restrictive policies on teachers. The Sunshine State is home to 43 hate and 71 anti-government organizations, according to the report, and is the birthplace of recently influential parental rights group Moms for Liberty. Moms for Liberty co-founder Tiffany Justice was invited in March 2023 to testify before a U.S. House Committee on the Judiciary subcommittee then chaired by Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana, who is now House speaker. The annual survey of hate groups tracked 116 hate-leafleting incidents in Florida, where the antisemitic groups rallied and flyered on multiple occasions, including over Labor Day when groups named the Goyim Defense League, The Order of the Black Sun and the Maine-based Blood Tribe marched in Orlando wielding flags with swastikas and making Nazi salutes. Antisemitism, already on the rise, became more pronounced following Israels continuing offensive on the Gaza Strip following the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023. Antisemitic conspiracies seeped into mainstream narratives at an alarming pace and 2023. Specifically after Hamass October 7 terrorist attack, the far right blurred the lines between legitimate criticism of the Israeli governments actions and outright antisemitism, R.G. Cravens, SPLCs senior research analyst for its Intelligence Project, said during Tuesdays call with reporters. Following the Hamas attack, the so-called Goyim Defense League distributed a flyer online and in person that read FREE PALESTINE, as a not-so-thinly-veiled attempt at stoking more antisemitism and using Palestinian people to further their own aims, according to the report. Christian dominionism The SPLC report also cited the expanding influence of extreme Christian nationalism as a driver for the growing number of anti-government organizations. The report expresses concern over the rise in the Republican ranks of Johnson, a former senior lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom, a Christian legal advocacy group behind the U.S. Supreme Court case that precipitated the overturning of the federal right to abortion. Johnsons far-right politics, including his anti-abortion and anti-LGBTQ+ positions and his advocacy to blur Christianity and the state, are well documented. Spokespeople for Johnson did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The Alliance for Defending Freedom describes SPLC as a discredited and scandal-ridden group, and denounces the organizations hate map. The SPLC currently has an interactive U.S. map pinpointing locations of anti-government and hate groups. Eventually, their definition of hate included huge swaths of well-respected, mainstream, conservative America, according to a post on the Alliance for Defending Freedom website. The SPLC report specifically warns about the rise of the National Apostolic Reformation, a Christian movement made up of dominionist leaders that aim to seize control of seven areas of society, including government, education and business. Decline in militias One area in which the report documented a decline is in the militia movement, which suffered after the hundreds of Department of Justice prosecutions following the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The numbers of militias dropped to 52 in 2023, from 61 in 2022. One of the most prominent militias, the Oath Keepers, significantly diminished its presence following the 2023 conviction and sentencing of its leader Stewart Rhodes for seditious conspiracy leading up to and during the Jan. 6 attack. The Oath Keepers active militia chapters dropped to 10 in 2023 from 79 in 2022. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post White nationalist, anti-LGBTQ activity on the rise, annual hate report shows appeared first on South Dakota Searchlight. A wildlife advocate wants the U.K. government to ban a certain plastic toy to keep seals safe. What's happening? Jenny Hobson of Friends of Horsey Seals drew up a petition to halt the sale of plastic flying rings, the BBC reported in mid-May. The hollow frisbee-like objects can get lodged around the mammals' necks, leading to devastating consequences, including death. Rehabilitation efforts can cost upward of 15,000 (more than $19,200). The petition needed 10,000 signatures for a government response and 100,000 to be considered for debate in Parliament, but it was canceled with the dissolution of the body Thursday. A general election is set for July 4. With or without the petition, conservationists are fighting for a solution to the problem. In March, the BBC reported that the "naturally inquisitive animals often interact with plastic in the sea." A seal had been found dead with a plastic ring around its neck. Thirty of the creatures were entangled by the rings in the past five years. Why is banning a plastic toy important? The death of the seal led Matthew Capper of the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust to say, "It feels like a failure." The beings, which may put their heads through the openings of the flying rings as pups, grow into adulthood with what is essentially a strangling device stuck around their necks. Capper told the BBC that beachgoers had been leaving behind more plastic trash than usual of late and urged people to "act responsibly and to think about plastic use." "I'm afraid they will die a very long and painful death through infection and starvation because it restricts their ability to hunt," said Hobson, who has worked on this issue for years. "When people see the images of the seals they've been immediately shocked and sympathetic but we're just not getting through nationally and I'm afraid it is a national problem now." What's being done to protect the seals? Countless organizations are on the case in addition to the government, which long ago enacted protections for gray and harbor, or common, seals, among others. Households in the United Kingdom bin 1.7 billion pieces of plastic each week, according to Greenpeace. Since there's no way to keep up with all that garbage, the organization suggested that the British government lead the way to a binding global pact to cut plastic production by 75% by 2040 and ban plastic waste exports by 2027. Hobson asked companies that manufacture the flying rings to make them solid and from biodegradable materials rather than plastic but didn't get much response. Individuals can change the way they consume plastic, opting to ditch certain items and support environmentally friendly brands. Join our free newsletter for cool news and cool tips that make it easy to help yourself while helping the planet. NEW YORK (PIX11) Two TAKE 5 winning draws were sold in New York for Fridays evening draw, both top-tier prizes, lottery officials announced on Saturday. The first winning ticket was sold at a Sonoco gas station in the Bronx. Officials said the second winning ticket was sold at an Upstate Wegmans Food Market in Liverpool, N.Y. More Local News Both tickets are worth $19,275, according to the New York Lottery website. The winning numbers from the Friday evening draw were 13, 17, 23, 33, and 36. Winners have up to one year from the date of the drawing to claim their winning prize. 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. Wisconsin church gets unexpected parishioner when deer crashes through window VIROQUA, Wis. (WFRV) A church in western Wisconsin got an unexpected parishioner on Sunday morning after a deer came crashing through a window. A Facebook post from the Viroqua Police Department states that the deer visited The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and with help from Viroqua PD officers, the deer was able to get back outside. Large sinkhole forms near a Wisconsin park, authorities warn of unstable ground Officers noted that the deer appeared to be uninjured and joked that it had now been cleansed of its sins. Viroqua Police Department Viroqua Police Department Viroqua Police Department A gentle reminder that all visitors are welcome! Viroqua PDs post ended by saying. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton. BUTLER, Penn. (NEXSTAR) Pennsylvania authorities say despite a womans claims, she is not Cherrie Mahan, who went missing as an 8-year-old girl in 1985. State police are, however, continuing to investigate. Nearly 40 years ago, Mahan was last seen getting off a bus about 100 yards from her home in Cabot, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Authorities believe a bright blue 1976 Dodge van with a mural of a mountain and a skier may have been involved in her disappearance, but Mahan has never been found. In May, a woman posted in a Facebook group dedicated to finding the little girl that she is Mahan. However, Mahans mother, Janice McKinney, said in the same group that she had contacted Pennsylvania State Police to report the post as fraudulent, according to USA Today. I talked to the police, they are investigating, McKinney wrote in Memories of Cherrie Mahan, the outlet reported. This is very hard on me so please be aware I see everything. Man found dead with puncture wounds on Bronx park bench: NYPD Pennsylvania State Police were investigating the womans claims, Myles Snyder, communications director for the agency, told NewsNation last week. They were, however, unable to make contact with the woman, who was also removed from the Facebook group. On Thursday, Trooper Bertha Cazy with the Pennsylvania State Police, released a statement, saying the agency was still unable to make contact with the woman. Cazy noted the woman also left a voicemail, but returned calls to the woman went unanswered. Pennsylvania State Police were able to obtain fingerprints for the name left by the female caller, the statement continued. An initial review of these fingerprints indicate that she is not Cherri Mahan [sic]. If the woman were to make herself available to the Pennsylvania State Police or any other law enforcement agencies, her claim will be investigated, Cazy said. New bill allows NYC to expand red light camera program: What happens now? Three other women have claimed to be Mahan throughout the years. Mahan, who would now be 47 years old, was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue denim skirt, blue leg warmers, and beige boots. She has dark hair, brown eyes, and pierced ears. Anyone with information about Mahans disappearance or her current location is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Polices missing persons unit at 724-284-8100. Tips can also be submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children online or by calling 1-800-843-5678. A $5,000 cash reward is still being offered for any information leading to an arrest in the case or finding Mahan, KDKA reported in February. NewsNations Cassie Buchman contributed to this report. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11. BUTLER, Penn. (NEXSTAR) Pennsylvania authorities say despite a womans claims, she is not Cherrie Mahan, who went missing as an 8-year-old girl in 1985. State police are, however, continuing to investigate. Nearly 40 years ago, Mahan was last seen getting off a bus about 100 yards from her home in Cabot, about 30 miles north of Pittsburgh. Authorities believe a bright blue 1976 Dodge van with a mural of a mountain and a skier may have been involved in her disappearance, but Mahan has never been found. In May, a woman posted in a Facebook group dedicated to finding the little girl that she is Mahan. However, Mahans mother, Janice McKinney, said in the same group that she had contacted Pennsylvania State Police to report the post as fraudulent, according to USA Today. I talked to the police, they are investigating, McKinney wrote in Memories of Cherrie Mahan, the outlet reported. This is very hard on me so please be aware I see everything. Woman says shes missing girl Cherrie Mahan; mom doesnt believe it Pennsylvania State Police were investigating the womans claims, Myles Snyder, communications director for the agency, told NewsNation last week. They were, however, unable to make contact with the woman, who was also removed from the Facebook group. On Thursday, Trooper Bertha Cazy with the Pennsylvania State Police, released a statement, saying the agency was still unable to make contact with the woman. Cazy noted the woman also left a voicemail, but returned calls to the woman went unanswered. Pennsylvania State Police were able to obtain fingerprints for the name left by the female caller, the statement continued. An initial review of these fingerprints indicate that she is not Cherri Mahan [sic]. If the woman were to make herself available to the Pennsylvania State Police or any other law enforcement agencies, her claim will be investigated, Cazy said. New details released on stabbing death of toddler outside grocery store Three other women have claimed to be Mahan throughout the years. Mahan, who would now be 47 years old, was last seen wearing a gray coat, blue denim skirt, blue leg warmers, and beige boots. She has dark hair, brown eyes, and pierced ears. Anyone with information about Mahans disappearance or her current location is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Polices missing persons unit at 724-284-8100. Tips can also be submitted to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children online or by calling 1-800-843-5678. A $5,000 cash reward is still being offered for any information leading to an arrest in the case or finding Mahan, KDKA reported in February. NewsNations Cassie Buchman 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 Queen City News. In her own words, Cheryl Bartlett Fann describes how she escaped the infamous Cook brothers Cheryl Bartlett Fann, Bud Coates and their son, Eric Coates Just after midnight on Jan. 27, 1981, Cheryl Bartlett Fann, then 18, surprised her fiance, Bud Coates, 22, by meeting him after his shift at the Toledo, Ohio, grocery store where he worked as a meat cutter. As they walked home, the young couple was ambushed by two brothers Anthony and Nathaniel Cook who raped her before shooting her in the back. Woozy from the blood she was quickly losing, all she could think about was their 15-month-old son, Eric, and what would happen to him if she died. She had no idea she was one of many victims of the notorious Cook brothers, who went on a terrifying killing spree in Ohio in the early 1970s and 1980s. Though Fann provided details of what her attackers looked like, she was dismayed that authorities were unable to use her description to convict Anthony and Nathaniel. "I was furious and I felt let down," she tells PEOPLE. But in 1982, Anthony was found guilty of killing businessman Peter Sawicki and sentenced to life in prison. Nathaniel was arrested in 1998 for the murder of Thomas Gordon. The prosecutor at the time offered both brothers a plea deal in Gordons death something Fann didn't want. Under the terms of the agreement, Anthony would remain in prison, but Nathaniel would be eligible for parole in 20 years if both confessed to all of their rapes and slayings. Anthony confessed to eight murders between 1971 and 1983 and Nathaniel confessed to three. (Anthony was already in prison for killing his ninth victim.) In 2018, Nathaniel was released from prison on parole. Now 61, Fann who appears on a new episode of People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer on Sunday, June 9 at 9/8c on ID and streaming on Max tells PEOPLE in her own words how she managed to escape death when so many others did not. (An exclusive clip of the episode is shown below.) In January of 1981, Bud and I moved into our own apartment in Toledo. It was on the other side of town from my parents. We were only living in our apartment, I think maybe a week or two when this happened. On Jan. 27, 1981, Buds brother Donnie, cut my hair and did my makeup and I thought, I'll walk up there to the store where Bud worked and surprise him. When I first walked through the door, Bud was mad at me because I walked up there by myself. Then he calmed down and it was about 1 a.m. by the time we were walking home. We were chatting about our wedding and about having another baby. All of a sudden my body started shaking like something bad was going to happen. I started freaking out. 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. A week before this, I dreamt I got shot. The night before I dreamt I got raped and shot. But I couldn't make out the faces of who was doing it. I told my mom about it and my mom said, I need you to stay in the house. Dont go out. But I was 18 years old, and I'm thinking, Oh, I can take care of myself. After I was freaking out I saw a man who I later learned was Anthony kitty corner from where we were, coming across the street. Related: 'People Magazine Investigates' : Inside the Mother-Daughter Murders at Horseshoe Lake 24 Years Apart I said, Bud, something's not right. And he kind of yelled, You need to calm down. Nothings going to happen. I will protect you. I hate those words to this day. I started freaking out more because of the dream than anything. It was like, The dream's coming true. I wanted to run off but I didn't know exactly where I was because we just moved there. Anthony came up to us and I offered him my gold diamond engagement and wedding ring set so he could let us go. Bud gave him his wallet. Lucas County Sheriff's Office (2) Nathaniel Cook; Anthony Cook Anthony threw ski masks at us and told us to cover our faces. I kept pulling mine up and saw what he looked like. Anthony yelled at me to put the mask back on. Then he made us go down an alley. Right before we got to the garage where it happened, I saw another guy coming down the other side of the street. He made us go into the garage. I was scared. I thought for sure I was going to be dead. I thought I was never going to see Eric again. I thought, Whos going to raise him? I'm going to miss him going to school, his graduation, getting married, having kids, all that. I also thought I should have listened to my mom. I kept hearing my mom's words in my head, and my dad pleading with me, Don't go out, and here I was, thinking I'm not going to make it out of this. 'Then they shot me in the back' When they were done violating me, they made me stand up, get dressed and told Bud to hold me tight. Then they shot me in the back. I heard the gun click. It didn't have any more bullets. If they had any more bullets, we would've been dead right there until somebody found us. They ran off and I just started screaming and I heard one call to the other, Let's go, Tony. I didn't know I was shot because I didn't feel the bullet go in. Bud grabbed me and we ran around the front of the house and when we stopped, he said, You've been hit, because I had blood down my back. That made it even worse because I started really hyperventilating. I was thinking, I'm dead for sure now because I've been shot. We went to two houses where the people didnt want to help us. We went to a third house where the guy said I could come in, but also said, I don't want you getting blood all over everything. Bud took off to the apartment to let Donnie know what happened because they stole his wallet. They had to hurry up and get Eric out of there in case they came to our apartment. Bud and Donnie took Eric to the neighbors we knew, who kept him. I was at the stranger's house and the next thing I knew, I passed out. The rescue squad came and took me to the Ohio Medical Career College. I was in the hospital for three and a half weeks. I have had more than 20 surgeries since then because of the bullet, which broke apart when I was shot. Ripple effects of traumatic event Afterward doctors had to sedate Bud because he lost his mind over it. I figured there was nothing I could do about anything, because it already happened. I had to live my life and I had to take care of my child. But Bud was upset that he couldnt protect me and he left us because of me being raped. I was so in love with him and I had a rough period after Bud left us. I started taking my anger out on men. They would fall in love with me. Then I would think, No, it's time to push him away and leave them. Meeting and marrying her 'hero' I got married three times and had three sons before I met my husband Danny (Fann) when I was 26. I met him when I moved to Tennessee to get away from everything in Ohio. We have been together for almost 37 years. Ive spent over half my life with him. He is my hero. I started seeing a therapist after the attack then stopped. Now my best therapy is my husband, Danny. He will listen. He doesn't sit there and say, you shouldn't have been out. He doesn't criticize. One of the things that still bothers me to this day is that I never got my rings back. The police told me that robbing people wasn't Anthony and Nathaniel's M.O. but how do they know that because most of the other people are dead. But I would like the rings back. I would love to give them to my son, Eric, especially since his father died in 2009. Maybe someone knows what happened to the rings. Oh my goodness. Jelly Roll's song Save Me is one of my favorite songs because it reminds me of my past life - how I went through hell and how I rose above everything. That song is me. Now I'm just a person trying to live day by day and trying to put things behind me. If I could help somebody else, that would be nice. I've always wondered: what was my purpose in life? Now I know what it is. People Magazine Investigates: Surviving a Serial Killer airs on Sunday, June 9 at 9/8c on ID and streams on Max. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Woman, teens injured in 2 Florida shark attacks on the same day Three people were injured in two separate shark attacks in Walton County, on the Florida panhandle, Friday afternoon, prompting authorities to temporarily close the area for swimmers. The incidents occurred at two neighboring beaches and within 90 minutes of each other, according to South Walton Fire District Fire Chief Ryan Crawford. Around 1:20 p.m., a 45-year-old woman was reportedly swimming just past the first sandbar with her husband near WaterSound Beach when she was attacked by a shark, Crawford said Friday in a news conference. She received significant trauma to her midsection and pelvic area as well as amputation of her left lower arm. Lifeguards and deputies responded immediately and initiated care on the beach. She was later airlifted to a medical center, where she was listed in critical condition. The second incident occurred just before 3 p.m. at the Sandy Shores Court area of Seacrest Beach, about 4 miles east of the first location. Two teenage girls, believed to be between 15 and 17, were with a group of friends inside the first sandbar in waist-deep waters when they were attacked. One victim received significant injuries to one upper and one lower extremity and was transported to a local trauma center in critical condition. The other teenager had minor injuries on her right foot. She was transported to a medical center in stable condition, Crawford said. The attacks led the Walton County Sheriffs Office and the South Walton Fire District to temporarily close some beaches in the county. We are encouraging beachgoers to be cognizant that lifeguards and beach deputies may be trying to keep people out of the water in the immediate area, the sheriffs office said in a statement Friday afternoon. Double red flags, which warn the public of dangerous conditions and close beach waters for swimming, are now flying on the beaches in the surrounding area. Anyone entering the ocean is subject to a $500 fine. World Food Programme Executive Director Cindy McCain said its operations are paused in Gaza due to concerns about the safety of its workers. CBSs Margaret Brennan asked McCain on Face the Nation how food distribution is going in Gaza now that the U.S. pier for humanitarian aid has been reopened. The U.S. military said Saturday that the first aid from the pier was delivered to Gaza after it was recently repaired, The Associated Press reported. Well, right now, were paused because Im concerned about the safety of our people after the incidents yesterday, she said. Two of our warehouses, warehouse complex, were rocketed yesterday, so weve stepped back just for the moment to make sure that were on safe terms and on safe ground before well restart. But the rest of the country is operational, she added. She said one of the organizations workers was injured in the rocket attack that hit one of their locations. She said she didnt know how they were attacked when asked, noting that that was a good question. Its the kind of thing thats why a cease-fire is necessary. Thats why we need to stop this so that we can get in at scale with our aid and other aid from other organizations as well. We cant continue this in a way, because what almost happened in the north with famine could happen in the south, she said. And so thats what were trying to avoid right now. And its been very difficult, just because of whats going on, she added. World leaders and aid organizations have repeatedly warned of a humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza amid Israels operations in the territory. The U.S. military built the pier for humanitarian aid off the coast of Gaza last month, but it needed to be repaired after high winds and seas damaged it. The Associated Press contributed. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A middle school rite of passage is no more for the students of one Long Island town after school officials had the bathrooms fitted with vape detectors. Lindenhurst Middle School installed the FlySense FS300 vape detectors which are capable of detecting the presence of both nicotine and THC found in marijuana in the air. The detectors can also sense air quality as well as shifts in sound. Lindenhurst Middle School installed the FlySense FS300 vape detectors in its bathrooms. Wayne Carrington That means the special equipment can even alert school officials when fights break out inside the restrooms. Derek Peterson of Soter Technologies told CBS the detectors possess an AI algorithm that can differentiate between a door and toilet lid slam and when somebody is roughhousing in the bathroom. Peterson said there are no microphones built into the detectors. Once anomalies are detected, the schools principal, Frank Naccarato, is sent an immediate email. The special equipment are capable of detecting the presence of both nicotine and THC found in marijuana in the air. pavelkant stock.adobe.com The busted students will then be connected with professional intervention services. Theres still a consequence, but now weve added that education piece, Naccarato said. They also have to do a component of research based on vapes, how it hurts you. The district looked into the detectors at the suggestion of 15-year-old student Vanessa Probst, who noticed her classmates were so addicted to vaping, they were rushing to do it in the bathroom between classes. I was doing research on it, and I saw the side effects and how you can get popcorn lung, all the severe cancer you can get, Probst told CBS. Once anomalies are detected, the schools principal, Frank Naccarato, is sent an immediate email. VisualProduction stock.adobe.com The district installed the devices weeks ago, and theyve already caught two student vapers. The same detectors will soon be installed in school bathrooms in Copiague and Wyandanch. New York social worker, 56, clinging to life after savage beating during home visit Photos associated with this story. A New York social worker is clinging to life after being savagely beaten nearly to death while conducting a home visit last month. Maria Coto, 56, of Westchester, has been on life support ever since the savage May 14 attack in Peekskill left her with facial fractures and severe brain swelling and bleeding. Authorities have arrested the suspected attacker, Hasseem Jenkins, 31, and charged him with attempted murder and assault with intent to cause physical injury, according to online court records. The residential building where Maria Coto was attacked last month while making a home visit. CBS Coto was checking on a client when the unprovoked attack unfolded. Jenkins repeatedly punch[ed] Coto with his fists and did repeatedly kick Ms. Coto with heavy boots above the head and body causing Ms. Coto to sustain severe brain bleed, swelling of the brain, and multiple facial fractures, reads the criminal affidavit, obtained by the Peekskill Herald. She was rushed to the Medical Center in Valhalla, where she underwent emergency surgery. Cotos union said it was one of the worst attacks on a social worker to date. CBS After the attack, Westchester County Executive George Latimer approved an emergency contract, expanding security escorts for social workers Oftentimes, caseworkers will conduct home visits in pairs. A statement from Cotos union said it was the most horrific attack on a social worker to date. We are devastated our member was assaulted while working in the community, reads the statement, adding the assault on Coto is a tragic reminder of the risks CSEA members face providing essential services. The attack is not Jenkins first brush with the law. He was previously busted for assaulting a 19-year-old in 2011, and he was arrested last fall by Peekskill Police on a disorderly conduct charge after punching one of his relatives. Boy, 12, dies after being swept into Provo River on trip to Utah Boy, 12, dies after being swept into Provo River on trip to Utah UPDATE 6/8 7:13 p.m. The boy who was swept into the Provo River on Saturday passed away, according to the Utah County Sheriffs Office. The UCSO posted on social media on Saturday evening, just hours after the boy had been rescued from the river. In the latest update, the sheriffs office said the boy was 12 years old and was visiting Utah with family, officials said. He fell in the water near Bridal Veil Falls & was pulled out 4 miles downstream in Orem, officials said in the social media update. ORIGINAL STORY: Young child rescued, taken to the hospital after being swept into Provo River in Utah PROVO, Utah (ABC4) On Saturday, crews with the Utah County Sheriffs Office rescued a young child who fell into the Provo River. According to officials, the child who was initially estimated to be about 10 years old, but later said to be 12 fell into the Provo River near Bridal Veil Falls. The child was found and removed from the water after about 30 minutes, officials said. READ NEXT: Utah hiker stumbles upon phone, sees recording of woman go missing in river Sergeant Garrett Dutson with the Utah County Sheriffs Office told ABC4.com that a call came in around 1:45 p.m. on Saturday about a child falling into the river at Bridal Veil Falls. Were not quite sure what the circumstances were, but the child ended up falling into the water, Dutson said. Dutson said several members of various rescue teams jumped into the water to save the child at different times. When the child was removed from the water, a rope was wrapped around a rescuer and tied to a tree, and the rescuer and child were then pulled to the bank of the river and rescued. While the child was in the water, they traveled more than four miles, according to officials. When they were removed from the water, they were transported to the hospital in unknown condition. The Provo River is said to be running about 1,800 to 2,000 cubic feet per second, officials said. Dutson encouraged families to steer clear of bodies of water if the water is moving fast, especially if they have small children. Dutson also advised Utahns to call 911 if they see someone swept away in the river, and cautioned against jumping into the water to help. If you get swept away in the water, Dutson said to reach for branches or trees to hold onto, and try to make your way to the shoreline. The incident with the young child happened less than 24 hours after the Utah County Sheriffs Office announced that Provos Bureau of Reclamation declared an Emergency Level 1 alert for high flows coming out of Deer Creek Dam. The sheriffs office said on Friday that there may be minor flooding along the Provo River over the next few days. The sheriffs office also advised Utahns in the area to be cautious. Hold on to young children to avoid a tragedy! the Utah County Sheriffs Office said on social media on Friday. On Saturday, the Provo Police Department posted on social media to remind Utahns to stay at least 40 feet away from riverbanks. The Provo River is currently running at a very fast rate throughout the county, Provo police said. Consider alternative locations until the flow returns to normal. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. 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. New Zealand was on Saturday night expected to revoke a ban on drilling for oil and gas amid fears of blackouts, as Labour plans to impose a similar crackdown on the North Sea. The countrys coalition government is preparing to invite energy companies to resume exploration in the three major offshore fields that supply most of its gas. It comes after National Grid operator Transpower was last month forced to warn families to limit their electricity usage to avoid a shutdown during a cold snap. The decision to reverse the ban, made by resources minister Shane Jones, will be a setback for green activists and likely to be regarded as a blow for Labour after Ed Miliband has repeatedly pledged to halt new drilling for oil and gas in UK waters. However, New Zealands change of course has been cheered by industry leaders. John Carnegie, chief executive of trade body Energy Resources Aotearoa, said: We welcome a return to sensible, pragmatic policy settings that fairly manage the upstream oil and gas sector to the benefit of all New Zealanders. New Zealand faces an energy shortage which threatens our electricity system and the competitiveness of our exporters. We now urgently need to attract further investment in exploration and production to keep the lights on, our houses warm and business humming. The exploration ban was introduced by Jacinda Ardern, who announced her resignation as New Zealand prime minister in early 2023. In an election that autumn her party was thrown out of office and replaced by a right-wing coalition. Mr Carnegie said the policy had driven investors away, destroyed jobs and created energy chaos. British politicians should see New Zealands plight as a warning, he said, adding: If you cut off your own supplies then you push up prices and destroy jobs Our politicians wanted to look like leaders in tackling climate change but instead they generated an energy crisis. Mr Milibands attack on the offshore industry has already come under fire from two of the Labour Partys key union funders, the GMB and Unite. Sharon Graham, the Unite general secretary, has told Labour leaders that the policy will destroy jobs and force the UK to import more oil and gas. She said in a statement: Labour needs to pull back from this irresponsible policy. There is clearly no viable plan for the replacement of North Sea jobs or energy security. Unite will not stand by and let these workers be thrown on the scrap heap. North Sea workers cannot be sacrificed on the altar of net zero. 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. Zelenskyy on preparation of agreement with US: We're doing all we can to make American leadership felt President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reported that work on the bilateral security agreement with the US is underway. Source: Zelenskyys evening address Quote: "These days, we are also meticulously preparing a bilateral security agreement between our country and the United States. We are doing everything we can to ensure that America's leadership is tangible. Thank you to everyone who is helping!" Details: Zelenskyy noted that "new agreements for Ukraine with European partners, in particular with Germany, on additional support measures" are also being prepared. Background: Zelenskyy announced in early May that Ukraine was preparing seven new bilateral security agreements, including one with the US. The Presidents Office reported that "tangible progress" had been made by Ukraine and the US on the bilateral security agreement to follow up on the G7 declaration on security guarantees, and said the parties hoped to agree on the final text in May. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the future bilateral security agreement with Ukraine would cover military assistance in a variety of sectors and could bring the country closer to NATO membership. Support UP or become our patron! News Weekly: Samsung slips up and leaks its foldables, Google is getting rid of a Maps feature, and more AC News Weekly News Weekly Logo News Weekly is our column, where we highlight and summarize some of the week's top stories so you can catch up on the latest tech news. This is Android Central's News Weekly, your go-to source for a concise roundup of the week's most significant tech stories. This is where we delve into the top headlines that provide the latest developments and innovations contributing to the digital landscape. This week, Samsung accidentally leaked its own upcoming foldables, Google Maps is getting rid of Timeline on the web, Spotify is hiking its prices, first look at the Galaxy watch FE, and Google says it won't confiscate Pixels parts anymore. Samsung slips up leaks its Foldables Read more here. Earlier this week, Samsung accidentally released official marketing images showcasing the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Z Flip 6 on the company's Kazakhstan website. According to a Reddit post, the ad showcases the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and the Z Flip 6 alongside the popular Galaxy AI features, which will likely debut with the flagship foldable phones next month. The shared image showcases the new design of the Galaxy Z Fold 6, which will now have sharp corners and flat sides similar to the Galaxy S24 Ultra. The Fold 6 will have a triple camera system at the rear, where all the cameras are stacked vertically. The Z Flip, on the other hand, may not see many changes when it comes to design. However, the foldables are said to be powered by Snapdragon 8 Gen 3. Samsung has been "dropping hints" about its summer Unpacked event, which we expect will take place on July 10. We expect to see the launch of the Galaxy Ring, Galaxy Watch 7, and foldables next month. Another Google Maps feature bites the dust Google Maps navigation. Read more here. In its latest update, Google stated that it will remove the Timeline feature on the web version of Google Maps. The timeline, originally named "location history," is a feature that lets you keep track of the places you've visited and the routes traveled. In December 2023, Google changed where the location history was being stored. Users who have chosen to turn Location History on (its off by default) will see Google Maps' Timeline saved directly on their device rather than the web, giving them even more control over their data. This means that if you access Google Maps on the web, the Timeline will not show any history of the places you've visited. Instead, the company is pushing users to download the app and continue accessing the feature. Users have until December 1, 2024, to shift from the web version to the app. Otherwise, all the saved data will be lost. However, the company says it will try moving up to 90 days of Timeline data to the "first-signed- device" after the deadline. Any routes or visits made before that period will be auto-deleted. Spotify ups its prices, Gemini extension on the way Spotify logo on an Android phone Read more here. Spotify announced Monday (June 3) that it would raise its Premium prices for the second time in a year. As a result of the change, Spotify Premium will cost more than other competing music streaming services like Apple Music and Tidal. In a press release, as well as in an email to subscribers, Spotify justified the price increase by saying it would allow it to "invest in and innovate on our product features and bring users the best experience, we occasionally update our prices." "Over the next month, subscribers in the U.S. will receive an email explaining what this update means for their subscription." The price for a Premium Individual plan is now $11.99, a dollar more than the old rate. Spotify Premium Duo is up by $2 and costs $16.99the old price of the Spotify Premium Family plan. Premium Family will now cost $19.99, a $3 increase. The updated prices are being rolled out nearly a year after Spotify's last price hike, which was in July 2023. Additionally, a discovery in Google's app suggests that the company is working on a Spotify extension for Gemini. As spotted in version 15.22.2 of the Google app, a Spotify extension for Gemini might be coming. The availability of a Spotify extension would (ideally) let users quickly access their created playlists and discover songs, genres, artists, and more. Gemini will alert users with a string that reads, "starting to play on Spotify." This looks like a message users see after telling the AI to play a certain song or playlist. Sneak a peek at Galaxy Watch FE Read more here. According to recent leaks, Samsung could be brewing a Fan Edition Galaxy Watch, and this week, we got the first look at a possible Galaxy Watch FE. The leak comes from Sudhanshu Ambhore on X, who said that the watch features an aluminum body with water resistance up to 50 meters thanks to its 5ATM and IP68 rating and could come in Black, Blue, and Rose/Pink colorways. The tipster also shared that this budget smartwatch will sport a 1.2-inch AMOLED display accompanied by an Exynos W920 dual-core CPU with 1.18GHz clock speeds. Featuring 1.5GB of RAM paired with 16GB of onboard storage, and it will ship with Wear OS out of the box. Keeping the lights on is a 247mAh battery capacity with a 30-hour battery life promise, and it also supports wireless charging. The watch will likely be launched alongside the Galaxy Watch 7 series in July. Google's Pixel repair policy The inside of a Pixel phone from iFixit. Read more here. A recent discovery by YouTuber Louis Rossmann, highlights Google's repair policy that will confiscate your Pixel if it has parts the company didn't approve. The policy, effective since July 19 of last year, grants Google the right to retain Pixel devices sent in for repair if unauthorized components are discovered. The specific clause, as found on Google's website, states: "You will not send in a Device containing non-Google-authorized parts if You do, Your Device will not be returned to you." This policy creates a conflict between your right to fix your own phone and Google's desire to keep things under its control. Google's repair policy extends to any accessories, like your favorite Pixel 8 cases, which will likely be relegated to the lost and found bin, assuming your phone even passes the "authorized parts" inspection. However, following significant backlash from customers, the company says it will not retain phones for repair due to non-OEM parts. "If a customer sends their Pixel to Google for repair, we would not keep it regardless of whether the phone has non-OEM parts or not," a Google spokesperson told Android Central. "In certain situations, we won't be able to complete a repair if there are safety concerns. In that case, we will either send the phone back to the customer or work with them to determine next steps. Customers are also free to seek the repair options that work best for them. We are updating our Terms and Conditions to clarify this." Those are some of the biggest stories from this week. Meanwhile, here are some other stories that are worth catching up on: Well, folks, its almost time. WWDC 2024 Apples annual developer conference kicks off in a matter of hours. The Worldwide Developers Conference is always a big deal for Apple, but this years gathering is especially important. In addition to the usual array of software updates, WWDC 2024 is where Apple is expected to have its big AI moment. After headlines being dominated by ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, and Samsung Galaxy AI, WWDC 2024 is where well almost certainly see Apples vision for an AI future. Because of this, Apple is under a lot of pressure. Its one of the few big tech giants that hasnt made a splash in the AI world yet, and given the companys pedigree, theres an expectation for it to do something special. As we rapidly approach WWDC 2024s opening keynote, theres just one thing on my Apple AI wish list that I desperately hope to see, The boring state of smartphone AI today Joe Maring / Digital Trends As I write this in early June 2024, artificial intelligence has crept into a lot of smartphones already. Take the Google Pixel 8 series as an example. When Google announced the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro last October, so much of the companys focus was on the phones AI features. What kind of AI features? Well, theres the Magic Editor, which gives you a lot more creativity and control over your photo editing. Its a powerful tool, but it can also be downright horrifying. Then theres Best Take, which can harness the power of AI to swap out faces in a group photo to make sure everyone is smiling and has their best face on. You can also use a text prompt to generate AI wallpapers. These are all perfectly fine, and they certainly add to the Pixel 8s toolkit. But are they reason alone to buy a Pixel 8 over a competing smartphone? Hardly. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends What has Samsung been up to? Galaxy AI, which launched on the Galaxy S24 series and has since expanded to numerous other phones, is in a similar boat. Samsung has its own suite of AI-assisted photo-editing tools, some of which are better than Googles. If you ever find yourself talking on the phone to someone in a different language, it can provide real-time translations. Galaxy AI can also adjust the tone of a text or email youre typing, and its incredibly bad at it. AI on phones today is a bit all over the place. Some AI features are fantastic, others are just fine, and some are embarrassingly bad. However, they all have one thing in common: As impressive as some of them are, none of them feel all that special. Is it cool that I can change the sky of a picture I took? Sure. Is it technically impressive that Samsung phones offer real-time, on-device language translation without a required internet connection? Yep. But even when good AI smartphone features work well, they never rise to the level of being something that changes the way I use my smartphone. Theyre extra features on my phone that I sometimes use, and thats about it. Apple has a chance to do something different Apple Leading up to WWDC 2024, weve heard plenty of rumors about what Apples AI features in iOS 18 will look like. So far, they sound mighty similar to what weve seen already from Google, Samsung, and others. Leaks suggest that iOS 18 will offer AI-assisted search capabilities through Spotlight Search and Safari, AI-generated emojis, notification/message summaries, suggested replies, new photo-editing tools, etc. In other words, many of the same features that are available on Android phones today. These things are all fine, and Apple should offer these features. But what I really want to see from Apple is something completely new. I want to see AI capabilities so fresh and so imaginative that no one else has thought of them yet. AI on phones today can be useful, sure, but I want something so incredibly impressive that Ill feel like Im missing out if I dont have an iPhone. No other AI smartphone feature has managed to do that quite yet, and Im holding out hope thatApple will be the first company to change that. Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Although iOS 18 leaks dont suggest anything quite so groundbreaking is on the horizon, leaks dont always paint a complete picture. Leading up to the iPhone 14 Pro, there were endless leaks surrounding its hole-punch cutouts at the top of the display. However, no one predicted it would be accompanied by the Dynamic Island one of the most whimsical iPhone features weve had in the last few years. Surprises like that are rare, but they do still happen. And thats precisely what I hope to see at WWDC 2024. Give me the boring and expected AI features, but follow those up with something thatll knock my socks off. If any company is going to make me a firm AI smartphone believer, its Apple. And the time to do it is now. Three major companies team up on a technology for the world's first 'bioships' here's how they work Three huge Japanese companies are joining forces to develop a "bioship" a ship powered by biomass. Tsuneishi Shipbuilding, NYK Line, and NYK Bulk & Projects Carriers plus British renewable energy company Drax Group have signed an agreement to collaborate on the project. It will see new ship technology that utilizes biomass pellets for fuel, according to Renewable Energy Magazine. Though biomass sounds like a futuristic concept, it's actually one of the oldest energy sources in human history, as biomass is a broad category of renewable energy that includes wood, agricultural waste, and manure. By definition, biomass is any renewable organic material that's sourced from plants or animals. Drax's biomass pellets are made of wood and forest waste. The company purchases biomass in different forms, including sawdust, whole logs, and woodchips, according to its website. The idea behind biomass-fueled ships is a little complicated: The hypothetical bioship would include a biomass fuel plant featuring a gasifier that burns biomass pellets. The burning of the pellets would then create and trap carbon monoxide, methane, and hydrogen, which would fuel a generator that provides energy for the ship. The biomass fuel plant could reduce the carbon pollution of a given ship by 22%. Since international cargo shipping is responsible for about 3% of global pollution every year, cutting even a fraction of a ship's carbon footprint could have a substantial environmental impact if widely adopted. "This initiative is part of NYK's long-term target of net-zero emissions of greenhouse gas by 2050 for the NYK Group's oceangoing businesses," Shinichi Yanagisawa, the executive officer of NYK Line, told Renewable Energy Magazine. "The NYK Group is committed to providing its expertise in low-carbon and decarbonized maritime transportation as per this MOU and will utilize the knowledge gained in this research and development to promote initiatives related to various energy-saving technologies." "Drax aims to be carbon negative by 2030, and decarbonizing our supply chain is critical to reaching this goal," Paul Sheffield, Drax's chief commercial officer, added. "This MoU is an important step in the development of the technology required to power and launch the world's first bioship, which will support Drax's decarbonization goals but could also drive the innovation needed to transform shipping and cut carbon emissions and fuel costs in global supply chains." If the biomass technology is successful, the companies could begin building the bioship by the end of 2029, per the magazine. Other biomass breakthroughs are helping pave the way toward a cleaner future. Scottish and Australian scientists have developed a plan to introduce biomass generation in India. Also, Indonesia's state-owned power company uses over a million tons of biomass per year, and a Georgian company is using biomass to create renewable jet fuel. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the coolest innovations improving our lives and saving our planet. Colleges and universities in the United States are increasingly creating climate change study programs. They are meeting the demand from students who want to help find ways to deal with the effects of climate change. Kathy Jacobs is director of the University of Arizona Center for Climate Adaptation Science and Solutions, which launched 10 years ago. She said, Lots of centers and departments have renamed themselves or been created around these climate issues. The aim, she added, is to appeal to students and professors. Students are increasingly interested in climate-related study programs. For some, the interest comes from seeing the effects of climate change in their own lives. For others, a rise in climate-related jobs is driving their interest, experts say. In the last four years, schools like Stanford University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have started climate-related studies. The University of Texas at Austin plans to have climate studies offerings in the fall. And Hampton University, a private, historically Black university in Virginia, is building one now. Columbia University in New York City opened its Climate School in 2020. It offers graduate degrees now and is working on creating undergraduate programs. Other schools that have created climate-related education programs include the University of Washington, Yale University and Utah State University. In these programs, students study the science of climate change. The offerings require professors who teach biology, chemistry, physics, and social sciences, among others. But students also study ways to communicate about climate change with the public. They look at the ways communities can prepare and deal with climate change before it worsens. And they learn about the roles lawmakers and businesses play in cutting greenhouse gasses. Meeting a growing demand When colleges and universities put their programs together, they often use existing meteorology and atmospheric science studies. But climate studies need to go beyond those departments to satisfy some incoming students. In Kennebunk, Maine, high school student Will Eagleson has lived through storms that caused coastal destruction. The sea level is rising in his hometown. As the 17-year-old considers college, he said he is looking for schools that offer more climate change-focused programs. He added that he is looking for climate study programs that go beyond the usual Earth and environmental study programs. Lucia Everist is a student at Edina High School in Minnesota. She said she wants to attend a program that goes deeper into the effects that climate change can have on human populations. She noted that climate change is especially affecting minority populations and poorer neighborhoods. Everist, who is 18, said she only applied to programs that had course offerings on the social effects of climate change. Many American colleges and universities are losing students and public financial support. This is pushing them to offer new programs that interest students. They hope that offering such programs will bring more students and more money. John Knox is an undergraduate coordinator for the University of Georgias Atmospheric Sciences program. He is considering whether the school should offer a climate certificate. Knox said colleges and universities do have to pay attention to consumer demand when making decisions about courses they offer. But, he added, In the end, Im worried more about our students succeeding than marketing something to somebody. Im Gregory Stachel. Alexa St. John reported this story for The Associated Press. Gregory Stachel adapted it for VOA Learning English. Quiz - More US Universities Deliver Climate Change Programs Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________ Words in This Story graduate adj. of or relating to a course of studies taken at a college or university after earning a bachelor's degree or other first degree meteorology n. a science that deals with the atmosphere and with weather undergraduate n. a student at a college or university who has not yet earned a degree coordinator n. a person who organizes people or groups so that they work together properly and well certificate n. a document that is official proof that you have finished school or a course of training consumer n. a person who buys goods and services Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. At night, there was shelling, many people were killed, and the hospital was destroyed... Unfortunately, we see these realities every day since the beginning of the full-scale war in Ukraine. However, doctors advise not to start the day with bad news, as it is significantly harmful to health. ADVERTISIMENT Oleh Chaban, a Ukrainian psychiatrist and doctor of medical sciences, advises not to read negative news in the morning on the YouTube channel "Sukhanov Speaks". And not to support this horrific picture with photos from the frontline or places of shelling. "Google conducted a study on what happens if you start your morning with bad news. More than 10 thousand people were interviewed. It turned out that the analysis of their behavior during the day is very specific. A person who starts with bad news (assaults, bombings, destruction) intuitively looks for bad news throughout the day. That is, right at the start, you start a program of some kind of danger," said Oleg Chaban. ADVERTISIMENT And this program continues to drive us further. Without realizing it, we accumulate this negativity. "You get in the car and automatically start listening to the radio news, which starts with information from the front line, shelling, rocket traffic, etc. We come to work and start sharing this news with our colleagues, as well as asking them: where did you sit through the alarm, what happened to you at four in the morning, and where did you take the kids? In other words, we continue to develop the same topic," the psychotherapist continued. ADVERTISIMENT Oleh Chaban also emphasized that photos of the war make our consciousness even more loaded. "We often reinforce negative news with photos. And photographs have a much faster effect on the mind than read information. And in the evening, we bring home a huge KAMAZ, a truck full of bad news," the doctor says. The psychotherapist said that this load of negative information significantly affects our physical and psychological health. After all, information has a huge impact on our lives and perception of reality. So he advises starting the day with positive thoughts and news. "I have a phrase that my patients really like. I always say that no one thinks about your mood in the morning, so think about it yourself!" the doctor emphasizes. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on the OBOZ.UA Telegram channel and Viber. Do not fall for fakes New Delhi: PM-designate Narendra Modi is all set to take oath as Prime Minister for the third time today at 7:15 PM. Modi is going to create history by becoming the only Indian PM after Jawahar Lal Nehru to be elected for the countrys top job for the third consecutive term. As Modi is all set for his swearing-in ceremony today, the Chinese Ambassador congratulated Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term. Responding to China's congratulatory message, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said in a social media post on X that we will pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties. "Thank you MFA China for congratulating PM Narendra Modi on his election victory. Will continue to pursue efforts towards the normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity," the post read. Thank you @MFA_China for congratulating PM @narendramodi on his election victory. Will continue to pursue efforts towards normalisation of India-China ties based on mutual respect, mutual interest and mutual sensitivity. https://t.co/8Ths98c38k June 8, 2024 Earlier, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson congratulated BJP and NDA for the election victory, "Congratulations to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP and the National Democratic Alliance on the election victory. We look forward to a healthy & stable China-India relationship," the post read on social media X. As a stage for the swearing-in ceremony is all set and scheduled to be held at today's evening, several top leaders and distinguished guests across the globe will also attend the ceremony, which will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. New Delhi: After leading the BJP as its national president for more than four years, JP Nadda returned to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers on Sunday. The 63-year old took oath as a Cabinet minister, becoming the sole representative from Himachal Pradesh in the BJP-led government. It is not yet known which ministry will be assigned to him. He served as Union health minister in Modi's first term from November 9, 2014, to May 30, 2019. "Grateful to PM Narendra Modi ji for reposing faith in me. Under Modi ji's visionary leadership, India has achieved remarkable milestones, fostering growth, innovation, and prosperity," Nadda said in post on X. "I pledge to work tirelessly with utmost dedication and sincerity to fulfill the responsibilities entrusted to me. Together, we will embark on a journey toward a brighter, more inclusive future for every citizen, ensuring that no one is left behind on our journey of progress and development," he added. Nadda, who holds a degree in law, started his political journey with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students' wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). He became president of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the BJP's youth wing, in 1991. He held various key positions in the BJP, headed its election campaign in a host of states -- from Bihar to Uttar Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra and Punjab. He also served as a minister in BJP's governments in his home state of Himachal Pradesh. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha in 2012 and made a member of the BJP's parliamentary board in 2014 when Amit Shah took over as party president. After the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, Nadda was made the BJP's working president. He was later elevated to the position of BJP president in January 2020 after Shah, the then BJP chief, was appointed as Union home minister. Nadda took over as BJP chief at a time when the party was witnessing vigorous challenges from a united opposition in assembly elections in several states amid signs that it needed to rework its electoral strategy. Despite its overwhelming win in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the BJP suffered several defeats in assembly polls since 2018, except in Haryana where it formed a government in an alliance with the Jannayak Janta Party. The BJP won new allies and strung up a series of impressive assembly wins on Nadda's watch. During his term as BJP chief, the party consolidated its strongholds and expanded its footprints despite some occasional setbacks. With his term coming to an end in June, the low-key leader from Himachal Pradesh would have liked to demit office on the high of having achieved yet another impressive Lok Sabha poll win but the BJP's victory in the just-concluded Lok Sabha polls came with reduced numbers. The party fell short of a majority on its own as it won just 240 seats in the parliamentary polls. The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) won 293 seats, setting the course for a third consecutive term as prime minister for Modi despite the opposition's resurgence. Nadda is considered within the party an epitome of political correctness, with his manners unfailingly polite in public and his attacks on rivals never triggering any unseemly controversy. He enjoys warm relations with Modi, who was for a long time in charge of the party's affairs in Himachal Pradesh. NEW DELHI: Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership in the past 10 years, Bhutan's Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay on Sunday said that India has grown spectacularly and the development in infrastructure - airports, roads, rails, seaways has been unprecedented. Speaking to ANI, Tobgay called foreign policy as one of the biggest accomplishments of PM Modi's leadership. He expressed happiness on being in India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Modi. He noted that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) enjoy the confidence and trust of the people, which reflects their performance. Asked on how he envisions India under the leadership of Modi, Tshering Tobgay said, "Well, to look forward, you look backwards and you see the last 10 years. During the last 10 years of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji's leadership, India has grown spectacularly. Infrastructure, the development in infrastructure has been unprecedented - airports, roads, rails, seaways, IT, all of that growth has been spectacular." "In the area of FDI, there's been a lot of FDI, a lot of manufacturing, renewable energy, particularly solar energy, agriculture, poverty alleviation. So to see what's going to happen in Modi 3.0 and then Modi 3.0, you just have to look back to see what has happened and one of the biggest accomplishments has also been foreign policy, whether it is the immediate region and Neighborhood First Policy or even the successful outcome of the G20 under India's chairmanship or beyond also. So I can see a lot more growth. I can see a lot more economic growth. I can see a lot more foreign policy successes under Modi 3.0," he added. Tobgay called it a big day for India and said that he is honoured to represent Bhutan King and the people of Bhutan at the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate PM Modi. He congratulated India for the successful outcome of the Lok Sabha elections. On the swearing-in ceremony, Bhutan's PM said, "Well, I'm delighted to be in India. I'm delighted to be back so soon after my last visit here. That was barely three months ago. This is indeed a very big day for India and I'm honoured to be here representing His Majesty the King and the people of Bhutan at the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi ji and that too for his third consecutive time." "I congratulate the people of India for a successful outcome of the recent elections. And for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, for BJP and for the NDA, they have gotten the mandate from the people. They enjoy the trust and confidence of the people, which reflects their performance in the past 10 years. So it is a big day for India. It is also a big day for the region as Prime Minister Narendra Modi personally has invited us and we are delighted to be here," he added. Earlier in the day, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay landed in the national capital to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi today. He was warmly welcomed at the airport by Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor. Stressing that the ties between India and Bhutan will get stronger, Tobgay said, "Well, the ties between our two countries are very strong. I think it's going to get stronger. And it will get stronger simply because at the highest levels in Bhutan, under the enlightened leadership of our monarchs, His Majesty the King, and in India from the President to the Prime Minister, to many of the leaders and the regard for our two respective countries is very strong and it is only growing." Recalling PM Modi's last visit to Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay said that he received the highest civilian honour and announced support for all the initiatives of Bhutan. He stated that PM-designate Modi had given unconditional support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City. On being asked about expectations on India-Bhutan relationship under PM Modi's third term, Tobgay responded, "During Prime Minister Modi's visit to Bhutan, he has been very generous with his time in that. He came to Bhutan in spite of his very, very busy schedule. It was at the end of his tenure and he still came to Bhutan where he received the highest civilian award from His Majesty the King. During the visit, he also announced his support for all our initiatives, our development initiatives, our plans for the Gelephu Mindfulness City." "Prime Minister Modi has given us unconditional support for the Gelephu Mindfulness City and then for our development plan. Our economy is still recovering. So, he's announced an assistance package of 15 billion rupees, 1,500 crores for our economic stimulus package. And then for our 13 five-year plan, he's announced an assistance package of 8,500 crores. So all this is going to be extremely useful for us and going forward we have a lot to do together," he added. Bhutanese PM Tobgay is among the distinguished guests set to attend the eagerly awaited ceremony in which BJP leader Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time. With BJP bagging 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance securing 293 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seat, PM Modi is set for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections. He will equal Jawaharlal Nehru's record of becoming India's PM for the the third time after completing two full terms. Several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. PM-designate Modi will take the oath of office at 7:15 pm today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement route arrangements have been made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for PM-designate Modi's oath ceremony on Sunday. Apart from this, NSG commandos, drones, and snipers will also guard the Rashtrapati Bhavan for the mega event. Combining clothes of different colors can make a look more interesting and sophisticated. However, if you choose the wrong shades, you risk getting the opposite effect by emphasizing your flaws. ADVERTISIMENT Too bright or dull colors can make your outfit a failure. Artwork Flow told us what combinations to avoid. Black and navy blue Black items always look stylish. But if you combine them with navy blue, you run the risk of getting a too depressing look. Yellow and green Although both colors are among the most popular in the world, their combination looks bad. Warm yellow and cool green contrast too much, creating an unpleasant and "cheap" look. ADVERTISIMENT Combining neon colors Bright colors look bold and daring. One accent element can create a stylish look. However, the combination of two neon shades will look inappropriate and colorful. Brown and orange Although both colors are warm, they are not very appealing to the eye. Orange and brown are dark shades that blend together and look dull when combined. Red and purple These two colors are quite striking and interesting on their own. However, when combined, they lose their uniqueness. ADVERTISIMENT Only verified information is available on our Telegram channel OBOZ.UA and Viber. Do not fall for fakes! Kerala Lottery Results Sunday 09-06-2024 Live: The Kerala lottery "AKSHAYA AK-653" Result, on behalf of the Kerala government, will be announced today, June 09, 2024, at Gorky Bhavan Near Bakery Junction in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala State Lotteries department, which releases the lottery in 12 series (subject to change), will draw the result. Each week, 108 lakh tickets are made available for purchase, and the series may vary. The first-place winner stands to receive a substantial 70 Lakh Rupees as the bumper prize. For those eagerly awaiting today's draw, the AKSHAYA AK-655 outcome for June 09, 2024, can be checked on this website. Stay tuned to ensure you don't miss the live results of Kerala Lottery AKSHAYA AK-655. Kerala Lottery Result 09-06-2024 May: FULL LIST OF WINNING NUMBERS FOR AKSHAYA AK-655 LOTTERY LUCKY NUMBER FOR 1ST PRIZE OF RS 70 LAKHS IS: AC 565734 LUCKY NUMBER FOR 2ND PRIZE OF RS 5 LAKHS IS: AL 208300 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 3RD PRIZE OF RS 1 Lakh ARE: 1) AA 334569 (PATTAMBI) 2) AB 547849 (ERNAKULAM) 3) AC 595078 (KANNUR) 4) AD 402469 (KOLLAM) 5) AE 566382 (PALAKKAD) 6) AF 549902 (ERNAKULAM) 7) AG 121255 (IRINJALAKUDA) 8) AH 951985 (WAYANADU) 9) AJ 756276 (WAYANADU) 10) AK 555239 (PATHANAMTHITTA) 11) AL 591015 (KOZHIKKODE) 12) AM 956446 (KOLLAM) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR CONSOLATION PRIZE OF RS 8,000 ARE: AA 565734 AB 565734 AD 565734 AE 565734 AF 565734 AG 565734 AH 565734 AJ 565734 AK 565734 AL 565734 AM 565734 (For The Tickets Ending with The Following Numbers below) LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 4TH PRIZE OF RS 5,000 ARE: 0162 0643 1659 2009 2367 2439 2451 2773 4836 5189 5461 5717 5888 6344 6432 6609 7498 9074 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 5TH PRIZE OF RS 2,000 ARE: 1463 3944 3951 4128 4130 4314 6237 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 6TH PRIZE OF RS 1,000 ARE: 1484 1809 2403 2710 2774 2807 2812 3363 3429 3613 4434 4792 4977 5273 5722 6040 6243 6386 6516 7656 7869 9076 9386 9633 9770 9985 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 7TH PRIZE OF RS 500 ARE: 0273 0363 0478 0523 0543 0588 1085 1356 1361 1636 1753 1925 2166 2343 2346 2702 2862 3016 3081 3087 3562 3729 3785 3836 3895 3963 3980 4079 4316 4559 4586 4779 4793 4855 4869 4919 5336 5372 5627 5859 5892 5958 6068 6114 6370 6522 6942 7021 7069 7230 7326 7725 7878 7988 8041 8207 8227 8692 8712 8848 9058 9063 9187 9325 9444 9493 9524 9546 9610 9620 9638 9989 LUCKY NUMBERS FOR 8TH PRIZE OF RS 100 ARE: 0148 0226 0275 0350 0355 0474 0502 0571 0660 0783 0883 1105 1108 1111 1139 1193 1233 1234 1355 1459 1565 1575 1607 1745 1977 1985 2030 2096 2215 2235 2339 2359 2505 2523 2584 2597 2628 2809 2870 2876 2928 2945 3222 3397 3502 3629 3739 3916 3922 4120 4134 4310 4464 4500 4551 4553 4640 4709 4929 5166 5190 5213 5223 5320 5549 5642 5815 5872 5982 5994 6038 6151 6174 6225 6676 6763 7033 7049 7120 7153 7271 7312 7330 7334 7366 7376 7393 7555 7735 7745 7898 7918 7943 7972 8069 8095 8188 8268 8365 8482 8501 8555 8573 8595 8801 8806 8835 8914 9028 9054 9079 9094 9255 9324 9329 9401 9589 9622 9662 9863 9969 9983 9996 KERALA LOTTERY RESULT 09-06-2024 May TODAY: AKSHAYA AK-655 LOTTERY PRIZE DETAILS 1st Prize: Rs 70 Lakhs 2nd Prize: Rs. 5 lakhs 3rd Prize: Rs. 1 Lakh 4th Prize: Rs. 5,000 5th Prize: Rs. 2,000 6th Prize: Rs. 1,000 7th Prize: Rs. 500 8th Prize: Rs. 100 Consolation Prize: Rs. 8,000 (NOTE: Lottery can be addictive and should be played responsibly. The data provided on this page is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice or encouragement. Zee News does not promote lottery in anyway.) PM Modi's Swearing-In Ceremony: Firmly backing New Delhi's 'neighbourhood first' doctrine and the significant constructive role that India has played in international affairs over the past 10 years, several top leaders and distinguished guests from the region will be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan today. World Leaders In Attendance The attendance of Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lanka President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay, Seychelles Vice-President Ahmed Afif and a host of other leaders along with top diplomats at the landmark event will once again showcase India's growing stature on the world stage. Since 2014, India has given the highest priority to its like-minded and long-standing strategic partners, consolidating relationships which are based on the principles of SAGAR (Security And Growth for All in the Region), 'Neighbourhood First' policy and the 'Five S' vision of Sammaan (Respect), Samvaad (Dialogue), Sahyog (Cooperation), Shanti (Peace) and Samriddhi (Prosperity) articulated by PM Modi. India-Bangladesh Relations Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate Prime Minister Modi after the BJP-led NDA's third straight victory in the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, was also one of the first distinguished guests to set foot in New Delhi on Saturday for the swearing-in ceremony. Both leaders share an excellent personal rapport and have repeatedly acknowledged the significant improvements achieved in the lives of the people of both countries in the last decade. In 2019, then Bangladesh President Abdul Hamid attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi as Hasina was unable to travel in person because of a prior commitment. However, in 2021, PM Modi chose Bangladesh for his first visit to a foreign country since the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, travelling to Dhaka for a two-day visit in connection with the commemoration of three epochal events - Mujib Borsho, the birth centenary of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 50 years of the establishment of diplomatic ties between India and Bangladesh; and 50 years of Bangladesh's War of Liberation. Since then, the two leaders have pledged to continue working together to further deepen the historic ties and realise their dream of having a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 and a 'Smart Bangladesh' by 2041. India-Maldives Relations Heading In A Positive Direction? Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, who has termed Sunday's swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Modi as a 'historic event', is also looking forward to further strengthening the close relations between the two countries during his visit. After he was presented PM Modi's invitation by India's High Commissioner to Maldives Munu Mahawar on Saturday, Muizzu noted that the bilateral relations are heading in a 'positive direction', as would be demonstrated by his visit. Seychelles Aims To Address 'Global Challenges' With India Seychelles President Wavel Ramkalawan also strongly believes that PM Modi's third term will not only strengthen bilateral relations, but also help in strongly addressing the 'multiple global and regional challenges' that confront both the nations in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Sri Lankan Prez To Arrive Soon Similarly, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, who will be arriving in New Delhi by this afternoon, has emphasised that, as the closest neighbour, the island nation is looking forward to further strengthening its partnership with India. The BJP-led NDA's victory, he said on June 4, demonstrates the confidence of the Indian people in the progress and prosperity under the leadership of PM Modi. The presence of top leadership from Nepal, Mauritius and Bhutan at the swearing-in ceremony will further cement the deep-rooted cultural and civilisational bond that India shares with these countries. 2019's Oath-Taking Ceremony In 2019, then Nepal PM K.P. Sharma Oli, Bhutan Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Thai Agriculture Minister (special envoy of Prime Minister of Thailand) and many other leaders from the BIMSTEC grouping attended the swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi. 2014's Oath-Taking Ceremony In 2014, when PM Modi took oath as the Prime Minister of India for the first time, leaders from the SAARC member states travelled to New Delhi to attend the oath ceremony. In addition to participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also attend a banquet to be hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. New Delhi: Congress leader and MP from Amethi, Kishori Lal Sharma said that the party collectively desires Rahul Gandhi to take up the office as a Leader of the Opposition. "Kharge ji is our leader, and it is our collective wish, as well as the party's wish," he said. Following a recent resolution by the Congress Working Committee, sources indicate that Rahul Gandhi is to be appointed as the leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, ANI reported. Kishori Lal Sharma expressed his happiness regarding Sonia Gandhi's re-election as the chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party, stating, "I am very happy because under her guidance I will work as an MP in the Parliament." On Saturday at the CPP meeting held at the Central Hall of Parliament, Sonia Gandhi was re-elected as the chairperson of the Congress Parliamentary Party. During the meeting of party MPs, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge proposed Sonia Gandhi's name for the position of chairperson of the parliamentary party. After being re-elected as the chairperson of the Congress parliamentary party, Sonia Gandhi urged the party members to remain proactive and vigilant and asked them not to allow the ruling party to muzzle and stifle the Parliament which the NDA has done in the last decade. She also said that the Lok Sabha election result was the political and moral defeat of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Kishori Lal Sharma won the election 5,39,228 votes defeating BJP leader Smriti Irani with a margin of 1,67,196 votes in the Lok Sabha election 2024. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election, Smriti Irani won the seat of Amethi by defeating Rahul Gandhi by a margin of over 55,000 votes. The counting of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was held on June 4. As per ECi data, the Samajwadi Party (SP) won 37 seats, the BJP won 33 seats, and the Congress won 6 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Uttar Pradesh. Delhi: Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday before his swearing-in ceremony met with members of Parliament who're likely to be appointed to his Cabinet and Council of Ministers. Before tonight's big event, the PM-designate hosted the traditional high tea at his home at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the nation's capital. BJP leader and three-time former Congress MP Ravneet Singh Bittu attended the meeting of likely ministers to join the Modi cabinet 3.0, despite not winning the Ludhiana seat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Bittu confirmed his inclusion in the cabinet while talking to reporters following the tea meeting. "It is a very big thing for me that they (NDA) have chosen me in their cabinet even after losing the elections. Punjab has been given priority this time,"he said. The BJP leader shared his aspirations to become the Chief Minister of Punjab and pledged to prepare the ground to ensure BJP's victory in 2027 Punjab Assembly elections. "I will prepare the ground for BJP to win the Assembly elections in 2027...Just 2 years ago, the people of Punjab rejected Congress, everyone knows the work that AAP is doing. So, people have only one option which is BJP...I would like to become the Chief Minister of Punjab if given a chance...', Bittu added. #WATCH | Delhi: After attending the tea meeting at 7 LKM, BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu says "...It is a very big thing for me that they (NDA) have chosen me in their cabinet even after losing the elections. Punjab has been given priority this time...I will prepare the ground pic.twitter.com/5Na9Izbru6 ANI (@ANI) June 9, 2024 Going by the visuals of Modi's meeting with his likely council of ministers, more than 65 ministers are expected to take oath on Sunday evening. Odisha Assemble Elections 2024: The swearing-in ceremony for the first BJP government in Odisha has been rescheduled from June 10 to June 12, party leaders Jatin Mohanty and Vijaypal Singh Tomar confirmed here on Sunday. Mohanty explained that the postponement was due to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's commitments. Modi will be busy with his own swearing-in ceremony on Sunday and meeting party MPs the following day. Additionally, the first legislature party meeting of the newly elected members is now set for June 11. During the election campaign, Modi had said Odishas first BJP government would be sworn in on June 10. BJP state president Manmohan Samal had also confirmed this on Saturday. However, the decision to change the date was taken on Sunday, party sources said. Meanwhile, suspense still remains over the new chief minister. Senior BJP leader and newly elected MLA Suresh Pujari rushed to New Delhi, triggering speculation that he may be among the main contenders for the top post, sources said. Pujari, who was elected to the Lok Sabha from Bargarh in the 2019 polls, won the recent election from Brajarajnagar assembly constituency. His supporters believe he was called to New Delhi for discussions with central leaders. While the BJP central leadership is yet to zero in on any leader for the CM post, Odisha party unit president Manmohan Samal on Saturday told reporters to wait for two more days for a clear picture to emerge. After returning from New Delhi, Samal said the parliamentary board of BJP would take a decision on the chief minister at its meeting. The BJP secured a comfortable majority in the 147-member Assembly, winning 78 seats. The party went to the elections under the leadership of Modi without naming a chief ministerial candidate. Meanwhile, preparations are on to organise the oath-taking ceremony at Janata Maidan in Bhubaneswar. In today's competitive job market, companies are increasingly recognizing the importance of employee well-being not just as a moral imperative, but as a strategic advantage. One often overlooked aspect of fostering a healthy workplace culture is the role of employer branding. Here are five ways shared by Amandeep Kaur, Founder & CEO, of Phoenix TalentX Branding in which employer branding enhances employee wellness programs: 1. Attracting Top Talent: A strong employer brand communicates the company's values, culture, and commitment to employee welfare. When prospective candidates perceive a company as caring and supportive, they are more likely to be drawn to it. This attracts individuals who prioritize their well-being and are more inclined to actively engage in wellness programs once they join the organization.Example: Google's renowned employer brand highlights its emphasis on employee happiness and well-being through perks like free gourmet meals, on-site wellness and fitness facilities, and generous parental leave policies. This branding not only attracts top talent but also fosters a culture where employees feel valued and supported in prioritizing their health. 2. Boosting Employee Engagement: An authentic employer brand fosters a sense of belonging and loyalty among employees. When individuals feel connected to their workplace and believe in its mission, they are more likely to actively participate in wellness initiatives. This can range from attending mindfulness workshops to taking advantage of mental health resources provided by the company.Example: Salesforce, a company known for its commitment to social responsibility and employee well-being, regularly organizes volunteer opportunities and community service projects. By aligning its employer brand with values such as compassion and giving back, Salesforce cultivates a culture of engagement where employees are motivated to support both their own wellness and that of their communities. 3. Fostering a Culture of Health: A well-defined employer brand sets clear expectations for workplace behavior and norms. When health and wellness are integral components of the brand identity, employees are more likely to prioritize self-care and support one another in their wellness journeys.Example: Johnson & Johnson's credo, which emphasizes a responsibility to employees, customers, and the community, has been a cornerstone of its employer brand for decades. By incorporating wellness into its brand messaging and policies, the company has created a culture where employees feel empowered to prioritize their health without fear of stigma or judgment. 4. Driving Retention and Loyalty: Employees who feel supported and valued by their employer are more likely to stay with the company in the long term. By investing in employee wellness programs and promoting a positive employer brand, organizations can reduce turnover rates and retain top talent.Example: Patagonia's commitment to environmental sustainability and work-life balance is deeply ingrained in its employer brand. The company's generous benefits, including flexible work arrangements and onsite childcare, contribute to a high level of employee satisfaction and loyalty. This, in turn, reduces turnover costs and strengthens the company's reputation as an employer of choice. 5. Enhancing Reputation and Brand Image: A company's employer brand is closely linked to its overall reputation and brand image. Organizations that prioritize employee well-being and promote a positive workplace culture are viewed more favorably by customers, investors, and the general public.Example: Airbnb's inclusive employer brand, which celebrates diversity and belonging, has not only attracted top talent but also enhanced the company's reputation as a progressive and socially responsible organization. By publicly advocating for issues such as LGBTQ+ rights and racial justice, Airbnb has solidified its position as a brand that values both its employees and the communities it serves. In conclusion, employer branding plays a crucial role in shaping the success of employee wellness programs. By aligning brand messaging with a commitment to employee well-being, organizations can attract top talent, boost engagement, foster a culture of health, drive retention, and enhance their reputation. In today's competitive landscape, investing in employee wellness is not just a perkit's a strategic imperative for long-term success. Mumbai: Telugu star Ram Charan landed in Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh on Saturday for the final leg of his shooting schedule for the political action thriller film Game Changer. This leg of the shoot will see Ram Charan working alongside Sunil and Naveen Chandra, who play substantial supporting roles in the film. The film also stars Kiara Advani, Jayaram, and Anjali in pivotal roles. Sources said that the Rajahmundry schedule of the film is expected to mark the completion of Ram Charan's portions in the film. Following this, he is expected to shoot for a couple of days in Hyderabad. These final scenes may be filmed towards the end of June or early July as per a new development. With Charan wrapping up his role, director S Shankar will then have approximately 20-25 days to complete the remaining shoot, indicating a swift pace towards the film's release. Game Changer is directed by the renowned S Shankar, and is touted to be a cinematic spectacle with an estimated budget of Rs 240 crore. Ram Charan will be seen in a triple role, adding another layer of intrigue to the film's narrative. Dil Raju, known for his production excellence, is backing the project under the banner of Sri Venkateswara Creations. New Delhi: Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan added a touch of glamour to the oath-taking ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi. SRK arrived at the venue accompanied by his manager Pooja Dadlani, exuding charm in his black attire and signature ponytail look. The ceremony witnessed the presence of not only prominent political figures but also Industrialist Mukesh Ambani, the Chairman of Reliance Industries, who arrived with his son Anant Ambani. Watch The Video Here: #WATCH | Actor Shah Rukh Khan and Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani along with his son Anant Ambani attend the oath ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi pic.twitter.com/sCcNCIZLZS June 9, 2024 Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi is all set to assume office for a third consecutive term, marking a significant moment in India's political history. Alongside him, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath this evening, reflecting the unity and shared vision of the new government. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) secured an impressive victory in the Lok Sabha elections, winning a total of 293 seats. This achievement solidifies their position in the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, where the minimum majority figure is 272. PM Modi's success in winning a third term puts him in an exclusive league, making him only the second Indian leader to achieve this feat after the founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. As anticipation builds for the evening ceremony, Delhi is adorned with posters featuring the PM-designate, creating an atmosphere of excitement and celebration. To ensure the smooth flow of the event, around 1,100 traffic police personnel from the Delhi Police have been deployed. Additionally, an advisory has been issued to the public regarding the traffic movement route arrangements made for the delegates attending the Prime Minister's oath ceremony. The swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi has attracted several distinguished guests, including leaders and state heads from neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region. This display of unity and solidarity serves as a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, emphasizing the importance of fostering strong relationships with neighbouring nations. If you decide to make a delicious, light, truly summer-like and at the same time unusual dessert, this recipe will definitely become your favorite. The dessert is based on two types of graham crackers, seasonal berries, fruit, and yogurt. As for the decor, it's up to your imagination: mint, chocolate, icing, nuts and dried fruit will do. And everything is prepared in a matter of minutes, you don' t even have to bake it. ADVERTISIMENT Food blogger Victoria Didus (victoria_didus) shared a recipe for a light dessert with graham crackers that doesn't require baking on her Instagram page. Ingredients: graham cracker cocoa cracker strawberry banana yogurt mint for decoration chocolate for decoration Method of preparation: ADVERTISIMENT 1. Crush butter and chocolate graham crackers separately. 2. Chop the strawberries and banana. 3. Put a layer of graham crackers on the bottom of the glass, followed by a layer of strawberries and banana. 4. Fill with yogurt. 5. Top with a layer of chocolate graham cracker, strawberries and banana. 6. Pour over yogurt. 7. Garnish with grated chocolate, mint and strawberries. It is advisable to leave in the refrigerator for a while. ADVERTISIMENT Police Chief William McManus, an avid cat lover, adopted three stray cats as part of Animal Care Service's "Adopt a Cat Month." Salgu Wissmath/San Antonio Express-News The city of San Antonios Animal Care Services has a notable spokesperson for its Adopt a Cat Month. Police Chief William McManus has adopted three stray cats and hopes that others will follow suit and adopt some friendly kitties this month. In a video posted to the San Antonio Police Departments Facebook, McManus is seen with cats in all shapes, sizes and colors. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There are several ways for people to help a feline friend, said ACS officials, including by fostering kittens through the Community Cat Program, a program that McManus has participated in. In April, McManus, an avid cat lover, posted a video of the return of a cat that was part of a feral herd he feeds. This feral cat, part of the little herd I feed, disappeared for a few monthsshe returned from where the other day. Took her a little, but she finally remembered, the post reads. For information on the ACS adoption process, go here. Ten people were injured, nine of them by gunfire, when at least one person opened fire during a Downtown rooftop party early Sunday, Madison police said. "It is truly a miracle that no one is dead," Police Chief Shon Barnes said afterward. Officers were initially dispatched to The Lux apartments, 433 W. Johnson St., at around 12:45 a.m. for a disturbance reported at a party on the building's rooftop. The shooting broke out as police were responding, police spokesperson Stephanie Fryer said. Most of people at the party were high school students, with the victims' ages ranging from 14 to 23, Police Chief Shon Barnes said. Several people on the scene suggested the gathering may have been a graduation party, as Madison's four comprehensive high schools held their commencement ceremonies earlier in the day. Nine people suffered gunshot wounds or grazing, and another was injured by broken glass in the area, Barnes said at a press conference Sunday morning. None of the victims injuries were life threatening, he said. Madison Fire and EMS took five of the victims to hospitals in ambulances, while additional victims took themselves to hospitals. As of 4 p.m. Sunday, at least one victim still remained in the hospital. The person's condition was unknown. No arrests had been made as of Sunday afternoon. Officers estimated that several hundred people were on the building's rooftop early Sunday morning. Police recovered approximately 10 shell casings from the scene. Two separate types of casings were found, indicating there may have been two weapons, Barnes said. "Although one person could have two" weapons, Barnes said, "we'll probably say we probably want to be looking for more than one person." A chaotic scene unfolded in the aftermath of the shooting, with bar patrons mingling with partygoers fleeing the building as police worked to assess the situation. Police reported dozens of people running from the building. Police believe the shooting was confined to the rooftop, but officers combed each of the building's 160 units for potential witnesses, victims or perpetrators, ultimately coming up empty-handed. Built in 2016, the Lux was initially intended as a living space for young professionals. However, it was sold to an international student housing company in 2020, and the majority of its current residents are college students. Efforts to reach the owner of The Lux Sunday were unsuccessful. For more than an hour, Ald. Mike Verveer lingered beyond the squad cars barricading the crime scene, conferring with Barnes and other officials and trying to make sense of the senseless. "The fact that a mass shooting occurred on an apartment rooftop in downtown Madison is absolutely horrifying and shocking," he said. "It just goes to show there are way too many guns in our community. We have such a problem with guns. "It's even more alarming when you hear that the party was mostly attended by teenagers." By 3:30 a.m. the scene had been mostly cleared, the roadblocks had been removed from Johnson Street and the majority of the initial police responding had dwindled to a few squad cars. Police asked anyone with information on the shooting to come forward by calling Crimestoppers at 608-266-6014, or getting in touch with their local police department. State Journal reporters Francesca Pica and Seth Nelson contributed to this report. Violent crime is up and also down, according to new federal data Violent crime is up and also down, according to new federal data Federal reports show similar long-term trends in violent crime, but diverge significantly on year-over-year changes Despite the long-term trends, the two reports differ more than ever before on the year-over-year change in violent crime. Property crime went up in 2022 One undeniable trend: Violent crimes against young people doubled Still, most crimes are not reported to the police Four graduating classes from Madison public schools brought the energy to the Alliant Energy Center in ceremonies throughout the day Saturday. The first of the days four renditions of pomp and circumstance began promptly at 10 a.m. as graduates from Vel Phillips Memorial High School filled the arena. Valedictorian Lola Hernandez congratulated her classmates. Soon enough, we will be exposed to completely new environments, enveloped by new ideas and ways of thinking. Its daunting to contemplate, but weve done this before, she said. Im sure weve all been flooded with a myriad of emotions these past few weeks. She credited an innate sense of drive and determination for taking her and her classmates from the kindergartners frightened to let go of their parents hands to the young adults they are now. She recalled her classmates efforts to fight for the rights of sexual assault victims, immigrant workers and the teaching of Asian and Hmong history. We are strong at our core, perhaps even more than we ever realized, she said. In our prospective careers, we will thrive, building the foundations of our collective future. My theater family Family members, friends and other spectators came in their finest, filtering in and out between ceremonies. For the most part, foot traffic was smooth and hundreds of strangers enjoyed a harmonious day in the Coliseum, tangled in shiny balloon strings and bouquet wrappings. In the arena-level tunnels below their loved ones, the graduates formed a line, fussing over hairpins and collars before they made their grand entrance. The prospect of being onstage in front of so many people may have added to the graduation day nerves for some, but thanks to East High Schools theater program, graduate Noah Ehresmans worries were few: He was used to putting on a show, even if the shows happened to be limited to only virtual performances his freshman year due to the pandemic. One of my favorite memories was meeting my theater family that I created over the internet and actually, like, seeing the people I was working with, Ehresman recalled. This was the community that I was able to set aside, like, my worry of failing. Still, as he embarks on the next chapter of his life, Ehresman wont be too far from home: Hell attend UW-Madison in the fall, where hes considering a major in education or music, perhaps going on to teach performing arts like the educators who affected him so deeply in his early high school years. I cant wait to meet my roommate. I cant wait to make new connections and see where those take me. But Im also excited to take what I love to the next level, Ehresman said. I have learned so much over high school, and Im very much appreciative of everything that everyone has done for me. A surreal moment As many of the graduates adjusted their rain-spotted caps and tassels or fixed errant shoelaces, they started to realize that Saturday was to be their last high school memory. The moments with the kids theyd mostly known their whole lives would only exist in Snapchat stories and Instagram reels from here on out. It is like a very weird feeling for me to be like, Oh, like these are people that Ive known since I was 7 years old, and Im probably never going to see them again, Madison West High School graduate Alli Nolte said Friday. Probably the most surreal thing will be, like, being with all my close friends who Ive been friends with since, like, middle school and then realizing that this summer is probably the last time that well be hanging out as a group consistently. Joy A Madison West student dances into the arena for the high school's 2024 commencement ceremony Saturday at Alliant Energy Center. A mixture of joy and grief have punctuated Noltes last few months as a high school student. The movie Ferris Buellers Day Off has taken on new meaning to her as she files this era of her life into the nostalgia category, preparing for the next: fall semester at Brigham Young University, where she plans to study community development and health care, a field she fell in love with while interning at Commonwealth Development in Madison. I really like being involved in my community and just, like, knowing whats going on, even if I cant change every little thing, she said. Eager for next challenge Building stronger, more equitable communities was a common thread connecting graduates from multiple Madison high schools. The steps she took to cross the stage as part of La Follette High Schools class of 2024 were the first of many in Melissa Hidalgo Jimenezs journey toward a career in fighting for immigrants rights. Im kind of obsessed with getting to know new cultures and, like, learning from different types of people, Hidalgo Jimenez said. I feel like theres a lot of things that we can do, and I would like to be in the history books trying to help. Learning about new cultures is something Hidalgo Jimenez is already well versed in: She immigrated to the area from Costa Rica just before her junior year of high school. Since then, acclimating to the different schooling structure, language and temperature patterns have been among the top challenges for her, but she credits her success against the odds to her language classes and Latinx Club peers among others. Her next stop will be UW-Milwaukee in the fall. Im so grateful for everything, for all the help of my teachers and for all the help of my mom. Im just pretty excited, she said. Which U.S. cities are best for new college graduates? Which U.S. cities are best for new college graduates? Top 10 places for new college graduates Which U.S. cities are best for new college graduates? Even though summer often indicates a break from school, June ushers in National Higher Education Day. This annual event focuses on the accessibility of higher education and aims to prepare students scholastically and financially to achieve their college goals. At Continuing Studies, we aspire to make higher education more accessible to a variety of students outside the traditional undergraduate population, and that includes returning adult students like Dora Aranda. Dora faced numerous barriers as a nontraditional student going back to school, including health struggles, family issues and financial challenges. But with support and resources, she just completed a bachelors degree in biochemistry at UWMadison and is striving to expose more women and people with underrepresented backgrounds to STEM fields. My dream ever since I was a little girl was to be a scientist, she said. I cant wait to be in the industry. How can students like Dora access the education they need to thrive, and how can universities and colleges be more accessible? Flexibility. Returning adult students often have full-time jobs, families and other responsibilities in addition to studying for school. They need flexible class schedules, fewer on-campus requirements and structured curriculum. Online courses and degree programs help, as do weekend and evening options or hybrid programs. The key is to provide ways that make it easier to fit school into an already full life. Transfer credit. Many colleges and universities are adapting to meet the needs of returning adult students by offering credit for prior learning. If you earned college credit from an accredited institution, theres a good chance you can transfer that credit to a new degree program. Many students find community colleges a great option to save money and transfer credit to an institution that offers bachelors degrees. Financial aid. Tapping into scholarships and aid can be key for any student, including those coming back to school as adults. Dora received a UWMadison Outstanding Undergraduate Returning Adult Student Award to help fund her education. Students can look for scholarships outside of school at community centers or with small or large businesses or organizations. Working adults might also ask their employers if they provide funding for education. And of course, filling out the FAFSA and applying for financial aid from the government is encouraged. Support systems. Heading back to school after a break in education can be daunting, and most colleges and universities offer academic advising, tutoring help and career counseling to their students. Community and peer networks can also play an important role in helping learners navigate unique challenges. Students can access places such as disability, veteran or multicultural centers to find affinity groups and resources. To celebrate National Higher Education Day, congratulate a returning adult student for their perseverance and determination. If youre ready to go back to school, contact us, and lets have a conversation about how you can better access the education you need to meet your goals. MADRID, SpainDerided as Club Med nations during the European debt crisis 15 years ago, the economies of Spain, Greece and Portugal are now outperforming their northern peers thanks to a rebound in tourism. The three nations had to endure harsh austerity measures in the early 2010s imposed by their European Union partners, who were quick to blame their fiscal laxity and lack of competitiveness for their economic woes. - Advertisement - But the situation has changed since the Covid-19 pandemic ended, said Zsolt Darvas, an economist at Bruegel, a Brussels-based think tank. Today, those countries are growing faster than the European Union average, they are no longer seen as black sheep. Spains gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 2.5 percent last year, while Portugals economy grew by 2.3 percent and Greece by 2.0 percent. AFP An Antigua and Barbuda-flagged cargo ship caught fire after it was hit by a missile off the coast of Yemen on Saturday night, maritime security firm Ambrey said. The ship was heading southwest along the Gulf of Aden at a speed of 8.2kts when the forward station was struck by a missile. A fire started but was neutralised, Ambrey said in a statement. - Advertisement - A second missile missed and small boats in the vicinity opened fire on the ship causing it to change direction to port. No injuries were reported, the security firm added. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), run by Britains Royal Navy, said in a separate statment that it was informed of an incident southeast of Aden on Saturday night, and that authorities were investigating. Vessels are advised to transit with caution, it said. The attack comes amid a campaign of drone and missile strikes against Israeli-linked shipping by Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels. The rebels attacks, which they say are in support of Palestinians, have prompted some shipping companies to detour around southern Africa to avoid the Red Sea, a route that normally carries about 12 percent of global trade. Since January, the United States and Britain have launched retaliatory strikes on Huthi targets in Yemen in response to the attacks on shipping. The strikes have done little to deter the Huthis, who have vowed to target US and British vessels as well as all ships heading to Israeli ports. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has nominated career diplomat Raymond Balatbat as the new Philippine Ambassador to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, with concurrent jurisdiction over the Republic of Yemen. Surigao del Sur Rep. Johnny Pimentel said the President nominated Balatbat on June 3, and his papers were received by the Commission on Appointments (CA) on June 5. - Advertisement - The new posting or place of assignment of an ambassador as well as the rank promotion of senior foreign service officers are both subject to CA confirmation, Pimentel, CA assistant minority leader, said in a statement on Sunday. Balatbat is the current Philippine ambassador to Lebanon and one-time executive director of the Department of Foreign Affairs Office of Middle East and African Affairs. He entered the foreign service in 1997 and previously held key roles in several Philippine diplomatic missions abroad. At present, the Philippine Embassy in Riyadh is headed by charge daffaires Rommel Romato. Saudi Arabia is the Philippines third-largest source of cash transfers from overseas Filipino workers, after the United States and Singapore, according to Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas records. The more than 700,000 Filipino workers in Saudi Arabia sent home to their families in the Philippines a total of $2.1 billion (P117 billion) in cash remittances coursed through the banking system in 2023. The amount does not include dollars sent home via non-bank money transfer channels or physically brought home by returning Filipino workers. Pimentel said the CA has also received the appointment papers of Commodore Francisco Tagamolila Jr., who is being promoted to the rank of rear admiral. Tagamolila is the new head of Naval Forces Western Mindanao based in Zamboanga City. Pimentel likewise confirmed that the CA has received the new appointment papers of Department of Migrant Workers (DMW) Secretary Hans Leo Cacdac, who was bypassed last month. The CA wont be able to act on any new nominations or appointments until mid or late August at the earliest, Pimentel said. Congress adjourned on May 25 and wont resume session until July 22. The Constitution empowers the 25-member CA to vet the competence, fitness and integrity of key presidential appointees and to approve or reject them. The CA is composed of 12 members each from the House of Representatives and the Senate, with the Senate President as ex-officio presiding officer. Pimentel has been urging the public to submit to the CA secretariat any information or complaints against appointees pending confirmation. In March, the CA bypassed an Army colonels promotion to brigadier general after his estranged wife complained of alleged physical abuse, adultery, and neglect in providing financial support to their children. Slovakia's interior minister revealed the assassination attempt of Slovakia's Prime Minister Robert Fico was politically motivated based on "initial interviews with the suspect." During a news conference outside of the hospital where the prime minister is being treated, Interior Minister Matus Sutaj Estok told reporters: "This assassination attempt was politically motivated, and the suspect made the decision to do it shortly after the presidential election." Defense Minister Robert Kalinak, who spoke alongside Estok, added, "It is clear this was politically motivated. Fico has "suffered multiple injuries." However, no details were provided when reporters inquired as to whether the prime minister was shot in the stomach, reported CNN News. Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot multiple times and rushed to a hospital in "life-threatening condition" in an attack after a political event on Wednesday. Fico, 59, was shot in the stomach after four rounds were fired outside the House of Culture in the town of Handlova. Fico has publicly opposed military aid to Ukraine and is critical of the European Union and NATO. Thousands of people took to the streets of Bratislava in March to display their solidarity with Ukraine and express their disapproval of Slovakia's close relationship with Russia. National Security Adviser Eduardo Ano said on Saturday that the statement of Chinas Foreign Ministry that we should first notify China to get access to Ayungin Shoal is absurd, nonsense and unacceptable. We reaffirm our commitment to uphold our sovereign rights and jurisdiction over Ayungin Shoal, which is well within our EEZ as recognized by international law and the 2016 Arbitral Award, Ano said in a statement. - Advertisement - We do not and will never need Chinas approval for any of our activities therein, he added. Chinas Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it will only allow the Philippines to ship supplies to the BRP Sierra Madre if the country notifies China in advance. However, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that the Philippines may not use this as an excuse to transport materials of construction to its naval vessels in an attempt to permanently occupy Renai Reef [Second Thomas Shoal]. The comment from the Chinese Foreign Ministry was a response to the Philippine Coast Guards report that China interrupted the evacuation of Filipino servicemen bound for medical treatment. Ano likewise called out Chinas earlier incursions in the West Philippine Sea, calling them reprehensible and should warrant an inquiry. The incident on May 19, 2024, involving the China Coast Guards aggressive actions against a Filipino vessel evacuating a sick soldier from the BRP Sierra Madre is barbaric and inhumane. Such actions are not only violations of international maritime laws but also of basic human rights, Ano said. The recent reports of Chinese forces allegedly seizing food and medical supplies meant for our advance post in Ayungin Shoal are equally reprehensible and warrant a thorough investigation and accountability, he also added. The Philippines will continue its maintenance and supply operations to its outposts, including the BRP Sierra Madre, without need of Chinas permission. Nonetheless, the Philippines remains open to dialogue and peaceful negotiations to resolve disputes in the entire South China Sea, Ano said. However, such dialogue must be based on mutual respect and adherence to international law. We call on China to respect the arbitral ruling and to cease any actions that escalate tensions or undermine regional stability. Meanwhile, in a forum led by international think tank, Stratbase ADR Institute, in partnership with the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines, maritime specialists say that stronger partnerships with like-minded nations are crucial in improving maritime and economic security in the region. The hybrid event titled Forging Bonds: Exploring the Nexus Between Maritime Security and Economic Security was held in Makati City on Thursday. Acting Deputy Ambassador Johanna Stratton of the Embassy of Australia in the Philippines opened the discussion by emphasizing the unprecedented maritime cooperation between Manila and Canberra. She also stressed the need for alliances to ensure a stable and secure Indo-Pacific region, where our maritime and marine environments are protected. Australia is deeply concerned when countries pursue claims or engage in activities that are inconsistent with international law, when they undertake activities that are provocative and destabilizing, when they dont respect the freedoms and rights of others, and when they advance their claims by intimidation or coercion, Stratton said. Stratbase President Dindo Manhit said bolstering cooperation with partners like Australia is a tactical move. We, at Stratbase ADRi, believe that enhanced cooperation with like-minded states is key to the Philippines achieving both maritime and economic security, and ultimately, promoting a free and open Indo-Pacific, Manhit said. He added that amid geopolitical and geoeconomic challenges, such partnerships are strategically necessary to foster regional stability and prosperity. RIYADH Saudi Arabia has said security forces had cleared hundreds of thousands of unregistered pilgrims from Mecca ahead of the hajj which begins next week. Crowd management is a major concern during the annual pilgrimage, one of the five pillars of Islam which drew more than 1.8 million Muslims last year, according to official figures. - Advertisement - Those turned away in recent days from the holy city, home to the Grand Mosque, include 153,998 foreigners who travelled from abroad on tourist visas rather than the required hajj visas, the official Saudi Press Agency said. In addition Saudi authorities have arrested 171,587 others who are based in Saudi Arabia but are not residents of Mecca and did not have hajj permits, SPA said. The hajj, which begins on June 14, must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means. It involves a series of rituals completed over at least four days in Mecca and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia. Many seek to complete the rites through unofficial channels as obtaining the formal permits and travel packages can be extremely costly, with limited quotas for pilgrims from each country. Saudi Arabia is home to the holiest shrines in Islam at Mecca and Medina, and the Gulf kingdom makes billions of dollars each year from the hajj and from pilgrimages, known as umrah, undertaken at other times of the year. The pilgrimages are also a source of prestige for the Saudi monarch whose official title includes Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques in Mecca and Medina. Large crowds have proved hazardous in the past during the hajj, most recently in 2015 when a stampede during the stoning the devil ritual in Mina, near Mecca, killed up to 2,300 people in the deadliest-ever hajj disaster. Fears of a repeat have spurred Saudi officials to crack down on off-the-books pilgrims. More than 1.3 million registered pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the hajj as of Saturday, Mecca regional authorities said on X. NEW DELHI Indias Prime Minister Narendra Modi was set to be sworn in Sunday for a third term after worse than expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. With Modi yet to announce the makeup of this Cabinet, the ceremony at the presidential palace on Sunday evening will be keenly watched when some 30 ministers-to-be also take the oath on the Constitution. - Advertisement - Modis Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analysts expectations and exit polls. He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with the 15-member coalition, the National Democratic Alliance, which guaranteed him the parliamentary numbers to govern. Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support. The Hindustan Times described days of hectic talks, while the Times of India said the BJP had sought to pare down their partners demands. It is widely reported that the Telgu Desam Party, the largest BJP ally with 16 seats, has extracted four cabinet positions. The next biggest party, the Janata Dal (United) with 12 seats, has negotiated two. Modis previous cabinet had 81 ministers. But Indian media reported widely the top jobs including the four most powerful posts of the interior, foreign, finance and defence would remain in the BJPs grip. Key ministries like home, defence, finance, and external affairs are off-limits, the Times of India reported. It suggests that top Modi aides Amit Shah, Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari interior, defence minister and transport ministers respectively will be in the new team. Analysts said that the coalition will shift parliamentary politics and force Modis once domineering BJP into a somewhat more conciliatory approach. In the past, the BJP has had confidence because of its sheer majority, said Sajjan Kumar, head of the Delhi-based political research group PRACCIS. The coalition will now force the BJP to engage in more consultation. Zoya Hasan of Jawaharlal Nehru University said Modi faced potential challenges ahead warning he may be meeting his match in the crafty politicians of the TDPs Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)s Nitish Kumar. Security was tight in the capital New Delhi on Sunday, with thousands of troops and police deployed as regional leaders flew in. Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as leaders including those of Bhutan, Nepal and the Maldives are to due to attend the ceremony and following state banquet. Neighboring rivals China and Pakistan are notably absent in not sending a top leader. Modi on Sunday laid flowers at the memorial to father of the nation Mahatma Gandhi, before the Hindu nationalist leader paid his respects at the national war memorial. Modis chief rival, Rahul Gandhi, was nominated on Saturday to lead Indias opposition in parliament, after he defied analysts forecasts to help the Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers. It was Congresss best result since Modi was swept to power a decade ago, rescuing the party from the political wilderness. A meeting of the Congress leadership on Saturday voted unanimously to recommend Gandhis election as Indias official opposition leader, a post that had been left vacant since 2014. Gandhi is the scion of the dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades and is the son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, beginning with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru. If elected, as expected, he will be recognized as Indias official opposition leader when the new parliament sits, which local media reports suggest will happen as soon as early next week. Parliamentary regulations require the opposition leader to come from a party that commands at least 10 percent of the lawmakers in the 543-seat lower house. The post has been vacant for 10 years because two dismal election results for Congress once Indias dominant party left it short of that threshold. A grand jury will consider charges against a Martinsville man in the beating death of a Martinsville woman. Judge M. Frederick King listened for an hour to evidence presented last week in Martinsville General District Court in the case against Randy Jurden Largen, 52, but took less than a minute to certify charges of first-degree murder and entering a home to commit assault and battery in the death of Cindra G. Martin. Martin was severely beaten in her apartment at Martinsville Lofts on Rives Road on July 23, 2020, and Largen was arrested that day, but it took 13 continuances over nearly four years for Largen to appear in court last week, shackled and wearing an orange Martinsville jail inmate jumpsuit. There was no weapon, just feet and hands, but Ms. Martin was beaten horribly, said Pittsylvania County Commonwealths Attorney Bryan Haskins. It was a horrifying beating, but she still managed to get away from him. Haskins said after the hearing that he had been asked to represent the commonwealth in the case against Largen because of a potential conflict with Martinsville Commonwealths Attorney Andrew Hall. The conflict was due to Martins previous employment with the Martinsville Police Department where she worked at the front desk and greeted the public. Martinsville police said the 911 Communications Center received a hang-up call from the Martinsville Lofts Apartments at 900 Rives Road at 7:07 a.m. and as officers were en route to the residence, they were flagged down at the intersection of Starling Avenue and Mulberry Road by a woman in a car who identified herself as the person who had made the call. Friends of Martin told the Bulletin that she managed to escape after being attacked, but succumbed to her injuries on Aug. 4, 2020. He broke her door down and beat her to death, Hazel White said. She worked at the city police department but had stopped working when she got sick. Martin was transported to Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where she died of her injuries, 12 days after she was beaten. Largen was charged with the murder of Martin two days later. The Virginia Judiciary Online Case Information System showed that Largen had been in the custody of a mental hospital, but did not list which facility. Jason Eisner, Largens attorney, told King that the evidence against his client was circumstantial. Other than the damage to her door, there is no evidence he was in her apartment and she didnt die right away. This case lacks premeditation. The burden of proof has not been met here on either of these charges. Weve identified him [Largen] circumstantially, but the circumstantial evidence in this case is very strong, said Haskins. He [Largen] retreats back to his apartment tracking blood, and it was her blood on the heels of his shoes. Over a dozen family and friends of Martin had gathered in the courtroom on Thursday to witness the proceedings and filed quietly out of the courtroom after King certified the charges against Largen. A Martinsville grand jury will be convened on July 22 to consider the charges against Largen. In Virginia, first-degree murder is a Class 2 felony that can result in a maximum sentence of life in prison and a fine up to $100,000. 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 Menopause used to be a taboo topic in many quarters. Now, it's frequently in the news. In March 2024, the White House announced an initiative to "Galvanize New Research on Women's Midlife Health." In May, Sen. Patty Murray introduced bipartisan legislation that would spend US$275 million to improve menopause care and midlife health. The actor Halle Berry went to Capitol Hill to help draw attention to the measure. While she was there, she shouted: "I'm in menopause." This new focus on menopause and the greater openness to talking about it is occurring at the same time as scientific studies are underscoring the benefits of hormone therapy to treat menopausal symptomstwo decades after it suddenly fell out of favor. The three of us believe open discussions about menopause are long overdue. We write and teach about employment discrimination, aging and the law, and feminism. Having teamed up to write a book about menopause and the law, we are closely following the changes in how researchers assess the benefits of hormonal treatment and what that means for its availability. Menopause basics Technically, menopause is a point in time. It typically starts 12 months after the last menstrual cycle and marks the end of fertility, and it usually occurs between ages 45 and 55. It's preceded by perimenopause, a transitional phase during which menstruation changes but continues, that can last as long as a decade. People who have gone through menopause are in postmenopause for the rest of their lives. Menopause results from the body decreasing production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones made by the ovaries. In the long term, estrogen loss also affects bone density, the cardiovascular system and other parts of the body. Menopause can also occur early and abruptly, such as after the surgical removal of the uterus or ovaries. Each year, more than 2 million Americans reach menopause. Millions more are experiencing perimenopause at any given time. While the average age of menopause is 51, there is variation along racial, ethnic and income lines. As life spans get longer, half the population may spend one-third of their lives in postmenopause. In particular, Black women tend to experience menopause earlier than white women. Their symptoms, such as hot flashes, are more acute, and those symptoms last longer. But Black women are less likely than white women to receive medical care for these symptoms. What about perimenopause? During perimenopause, which typically begins after age 40, the body gradually stops making estrogenoften bringing on menopausal symptoms. It can be hard to know whether someone is experiencing perimenopause, as estrogen levels fluctuate and there is no definitive test to determine it. The most common symptoms are hot flashes and night sweats . Other symptoms include sleep problems, depression, brain fog and vaginal dryness. Periods become irregular, and bleeding may be heavier. Not everyone going through menopause experiences symptomsalthough 85% doand their severity varies. Hormonal treatment and controversy Menopausal hormonal therapy, including estrogen alone and estrogen combined with progesterone, has been prescribed to help with those symptoms for decades. Hormones were also used to treat the long-term risks associated with menopause, including heart disease and osteoporosis. By the year 2000, approximately 1 in 4 women used hormonal therapy. Then, in 2002, the preliminary results of one study shook the medical world. They were from the Women's Health Initiative, a placebo-controlled study of menopausal hormone therapy that recruited thousands of women to analyze this treatment. Launched by the U.S. government's National Institutes of Health in 1991, it remains the largest women's health prevention study ever conducted. In 2002, an interim analysis found that menopausal hormone therapy was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, coronary heart disease and stroke. The research was halted because of these results. Within a few months, the use of hormone therapy to treat menopause symptoms fell by almost one-half. The share of all women using these prescription drugs plummeted to 4% within two decades and has been slow to bounce back despite the growing recognition of the limitations of the 2002 study. A more complex story about menopausal hormone therapy has emerged in recent years, along with a careful review of the conclusions that led to the early termination of significant parts of the Women's Health Initiative study. One concern is that the typical age of the women participating in that study was 63, meaning they were many years beyond perimenopause when they enolled in it. Another was that the study focused on the role of hormones in the prevention of chronic disease, rather than the alleviation of menopausal symptoms. A third was that it only evaluated one form of hormonal treatment. Treatment today Fittingly, many doctors are prescribing hormonal therapy for menopausal symptoms more frequently todayparticularly for women who are under 60 when they begin to take it and had their last periods within the prior decade. Hormonal therapy can be dispensed through tablets, skin patches, gels or vaginal suppositories. Tablets offer the convenience of oral administration, while skin patches provide a steady release of hormones through the skin. Gels allow for easy application and absorption through the skin, offering flexibility in dosing. Vaginal suppositories target local symptoms such as dryness and discomfort more directly. It is also available with synthetic or bioidentical progesterone, although it's not clear that those versions are safer or more effective. However, there are patients with underlying conditions for whom hormonal treatment is riskier than for others and should be avoided, including those with a history of breast cancer, other estrogen-sensitive cancers and coronary heart disease, among other conditions. New, nonhormonal treatments for hot flashes are in development, too. In 2023, the Food and Drug Administration approved fezolinetant, sold as Veozah. It's the first drug designed specifically to treat hot flashes and night sweats. A second new drug may be marketed soon. Antidepressants, epilepsy medications and other nonhormonal drugs are also being prescribed off-label to treat some menopausal symptoms. Moving forward Unfortunately, many patients and even health care providers aren't fully aware of the latest evidence about effective treatments for menopausal symptoms. Rates of menopausal hormone therapy use varies by race and ethnicity: White women have the highest rates, while Black and Hispanic women have the lowest. Without insurance, a month's supply of generic estrogen costs approximately $29. With insurance, costs may be much lower. What all of the research shows is that symptoms should not be ignored, and individualized treatment is key. Given the new openness to discuss and deal with menopause, as well as potential research funding and new treatments, we're becoming more optimistic that this inevitable life stage may finally get the attention it deserves. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: CC0 Public Domain A backlash against EDIA (equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility) is gripping Canadian medicine. This is no surprise for a historically conservative institution, but as a family physician who has dedicated more than 20 years to ensuring we address social inequities in front-line care, I worry our efforts to prioritize the health of those most socially marginalized could face a setback. The latest outcry started with the November 2023 call for feedback on an interim report from the group shaping the next iteration of the renowned CanMEDS framework. CanMEDS outlines the core competencies of medical professionals in Canada and guides medical school curricula. The interim report includes a powerful direction statement on EDIA that suggests an intentional focus on the root causes of inequity as they shape medical practice. Within hours of its release, the report was attacked by physicians on X (formerly Twitter). Many illustrated their critiques with sarcasm and personal vitriol. A deluge of comments poured into the CanMEDS website. The pushback has continued, including a recent opinion piece in the Toronto Star. A false dichotomy The EDIA report's critics target a call to "de-center" medical expertise in favor of a focus on equity and related concepts like anti-oppression, decolonization and anti-racist practice. They promote a misguided premise: that training physicians to approach their interactions with equity front of mind will diminish their ability to learn and provide the highest quality expert medical care. This is a false dichotomy. Medical expertise and an equity lens do not sit in oppositionthey easily co-exist, and in fact strengthen each other. The report's authors clarified, in two commentaries in peer-reviewed journals and in a debate on a Canadian Medical Association Journal podcast, that they did not intend to devalue medical expertise, but rather to embed a deeper focus on equity in the core of medical education and practice. Physicians will always prioritize applying sound scientific evidence, wisdom and skills to the complex realities of human bodies and lives. We have done that well for centuries. Our challenge now is to do that well for everybody, and to accept that those realities include differences in health caused by discriminatory structures of our society. Unequal health outcomes Medicine has a history of complicity in the systems of power and privilege that cause harm to groups with the least power. The health outcomes we achieve for people from these groupsincluding Indigenous, Black, women and queer individualsare markedly worse than for people with more social privilege. The institution of medicine has been built on the same foundations of power inequality, racism, colonialism and oppression as the rest of our society. As Canadian society grapples with the daunting task of identifying and trying to root out these inequities from social structures, so must medicine. Truth and reconciliation for Indigenous Peoples, explorations of anti-Black racism and commissions on gendered differences in pay pose dramatic challenges to all our social institutions. Medicine, by necessity, is very much engaged in this movement to change. The proposal to "de-center" medical expertise suggests we enhance our knowledge with a new understanding and skill set, one specifically targeted at reducing disparities in health outcomes. Medical expertise alone is great for those with social privilege, but not enough for the rest. Equity-oriented change A body like CanMEDS, deeply embedded in and reflective of the institutions of medicine, does not set out to lead change. It seeks to reflect the current and evolving state of medical practice. The developers of this framework must keep up with contemporary, evidence-based understandings of how medicine can best position itself to provide services in a world increasingly aware of differences in power and privilege. The reasons for this backlash are complex. They sit within a more general revolt against EDIA, perhaps in response to the rapid implementation of equity-focused programs in the past few years. It is no surprise that these changes feel particularly threatening in medicine, an institution deeply embedded, and complicit, in constructs of social privilege. The process of equity-oriented change, however, is well on its way and is hopefully unshakeable. The health and social goals of medicine will not changeto apply our expertise and skills to improve health for all. If challenging health inequities requires questioning structures of power, then this must, and will, sit at the center of the work of all physicians. The evidence supports this transformation and the pillars of the profession, like the CanMEDS competencies, are appropriately reorienting. No change is easy. In this case it is necessary, inevitable and will position us to achieve healthier outcomes for everyone we serve. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. 23:22 Bharatiya Janata Party's National Democratic Alliance partners have got five cabinet ministerial berths in the third term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as against none in the outgoing government, given the party's dependence on allies for a majority in the Lok Sabha. While the outgoing council of ministers had two ministers of state from BJP's allies -- Anupriya Patel of the Apna Dal-Sonelal and Ramdas Athawale of the Republican Party of India-Athawale -- this time, there are two ministers of states with independent charge and four ministers of state (MoS). H D Kumaraswamy of the Janata Dal-Secular, Jitan Ram Manjhi of the Hindustani Awam Morcha, Rajiv Ranjan alias Lalan Singh of the Janata Dal-United, Kinjarapu Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party and Chirag Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party-Ram Vilas took oath as cabinet ministers on Sunday at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Prataprao Jadhav of the Shiv Sena and Jayant Chaudhary of the Rashtriya Lok Dal took oath as MoS with independent charge. There were no MoS with independent charge from BJP's allies in the second Narendra Modi government. While Athawale and Patel have been retained as ministers of state, new representatives from allies among junior ministers include Ramnath Thakur of the Janata Dal-United and Chandra Sekhar Pemmasani of the Telugu Desam Party. The BJP had absolute majority in the previous two terms -- the 16th and 17th Lok Sabhas -- which reflected in the council of ministers with only a few alliance partners being given space. In the first Modi cabinet, formed after the BJP came to power in 2014 with 282 seats in the Lok Sabha, four cabinet berths went to allies. Ram Vilas Paswan of the Lok Janshakti Party was given the consumer affairs ministry, Ashok Gajpati Raju of the Telugu Desam Party got the civil aviation ministry, Harsimrat Kaur Badal of the Shiromani Akali Dal became the food processing minister and Anant Geete of the Shiv Sena was the heavy industries and public enterprises minister. Four MoS positions had also gone to BJP allies in the first Modi government, including in the human resource development ministry for Rashtriya Lok Samta Party leader Upendra Kushwaha. Telugu Desam Party's Y S Chowdhury became MoS in the science and earth sciences ministries in November 2014. Ram Das Athawale of the RPI-A became MoS in the social justice ministry and Patel of the Apna Dal-S MoS in the health ministry in the July 2016 reshuffle in the council of ministers. Among them, the two ministers from the Telugu Desam Party resigned in March 2018 over their party's demand to give special status to Andhra Pradesh. A week later, the Telugu Desam Party quit the NDA. In December 2018, Kushwaha resigned from the ministry and left the alliance, accusing Modi of not fulfilling his election promises for Bihar. In the second Modi government, when the BJP came back to the Lok Sabha with an improved tally of 303, all together seven leaders from allied parties served in different ministerial positions over its five year tenure. Soon after winning, it gave ministerial berths to allies such as the Lok Janshakti Party, Shiv Sena and the Shiromani Akali Dal. Paswan was given the consumer affairs ministry, a position that he held till his death in October 2020. Harsimrat Badal was again given the charge of the food processing Ministry, which she held till September 2020, when she resigned in view of the farmers' protest. The Shiromani Akali Dal later left the alliance. Arvind Savant of the Shiv Sena was made the heavy industries and public enterprises minister, but he resigned in November 2019 amid an ongoing power tussle between the BJP and his party following 2019 Maharashtra assembly elections. As the Lok Janshakti Party split in two factions after Ram Vilas Paswan's death, Pashupati Paras, his brother, was given the food processing ministry in July 2021. He resigned just ahead of the 2024 general elections as the BJP came to a seat-sharing agreement with LJP-RV, the faction led by Ram Vilas's son Chirag Paswan. Ramchandra Prasad of the Janata Dal-United was made the minister for steel in July 2021, and continued on the post till 6 July 2022. In the second Modi cabinet, Athawale held the post of MoS Social Justice and Patel was the MoS Commerce. -- PTI New York celebrity stylist Aleksander Janik was charged with a hate crime Friday after a confrontation with a rabbi outside New York's Chelsea Hotel, according to reports. Rabbi Chezky Wolff said the encounter occurred when Janik's dog ran toward the doors of the Chelsea Shul last Tuesday and Wolff asked Janik to leash the dog. Wolff claims Janik muttered a Jewish slur in response, and the rabbi then followed him down the street, filming him. Wolff claims Janik then allegedly swung his tote bag, allegedly hitting the rabbi in the face and knocking his yarmulke off his head. Janik, however, told the Daily Beast that his dog lay down in front of the shul to shelter from the heat when Wolff opened the door and ordered the two to leave. Janik claims that Wolff called him a Polish slur before he started kicking his dog. He told the New York Post earlier this week: "Yes, I pushed him. I pushed him with my bag." Sources told the Post that Janik was charged Friday with assault as a hate crime. Janik, 52, a personal shopper to the stars, pleaded not guilty at his Friday evening arraignment in Manhattan Criminal Court just hours after he was arrested, the Post reported. He was reportedly released without bail. Janik vehemently denied using a Jewish slur because he's Jewish. "I'm Jewish. I love Jewish. I love Jews," Janik told The Daily Beast. He called the accusation that he used a Jewish slur "disrespectful" and "absolutely appalling," adding: "My grandmother was in Auschwitz." 10:39 Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde said that the country will be ranked the third largest economy in the next 5 years. "Today is a very happy day for us. After 50-60 years today is a historic day because Narendra Modi has become the Prime Minister for the third consecutive time after 60 years. In the next 5 years the goal of making India the greatest economy is going to be fulfilled and the country will be ranked third largest economy. India will develop and move ahead in the next 5 years," Shinde said. The newly elected Union Minister Chirag Paswan credited the Prime Minister for entrusting his party, Lok Janshakti Party (RamVilas), with significant responsibilities, vowing to deliver on the trust placed in him. "It's a big moment but moreover it's a huge responsibility for me. I will focus all my attention and dedicate myself wholeheartedly to fulfilling the immense responsibility entrusted to me by Prime Minister Ji, with complete honesty and hard work, ensuring that I can fulfil it to the best of my ability," Paswan said. Kailash Vijayvargiya, Madhya Pradesh minister, expressed confidence in PM Modi's leadership assuring India's resurgence as a global leader (Vishwaguru)."The people of the country have again blessed PM Modi to make India develop, we are all very proud. I believe that India will once again become the 'Vishwaguru'," Vijayvargiya said. Speaking on PM Modi's third time in office, Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) founder Jitan Ram Manjhi said, "There is a lot of hard work to be done. Narendra Modi is determined that we will do more work than in the first and second terms. In the third term, we will make India the third largest economy of the world." TDP leader Ram Mohan Naidu said, "I am very happy about the whole oath-taking ceremony and it was a larger-than-life experience to be doing it at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in the presence of Narendra Modi and esteemed guest from our neighbouring country. Whatever responsibility I get, I will fulfil it with all my heart, we will work fast." Suresh Gopi, BJP MP, acknowledged the beginning of a new chapter, expressing readiness to expand BJP's presence in southern India. "Today's celebration is only a kick-off (beginning). There are lots of things to be revealed. I was not expecting to be in the Council of Ministers. As an MP I have to work to expand the BJP in the South," Gopi said. Bihar Deputy Chief Ministers Vijay Sinha and Samrat Choudhary lauded PM Modi's leadership and predicted a period of accelerated development under his tenure. "Congratulations to all the newly appointed ministers. The people of the whole country are celebrating Prime Minister Modi's third term... The pace of development will double," Sinha said. The President of India Droupadi Murmu appointed Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of India at the magnificent swearing-in ceremony that took place on Sunday with 30 cabinet ministers, 36 MoS, 5 MoS (independent charge) from the BJP and its allies joining the party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. After Narendra Modi was sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive term on June 9, leaders from the BJP-led NDA coalition voiced confidence and enthusiasm for the formation of the Modi 3.0 government, highlighting ambitious goals for India's future. Narendra Modi, elected leader of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will take oath as India's prime minister for a historic third term on Sunday evening at 7:15 PM. After a decade of full majority governance, Modi will now run a coalition government, with the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United) as key partners. Despite being in coalition, experts feel that there won't be much change in the new government's economic agenda. Economists believe that Modi 3.0 will not slow down the reforms and to achieve the goal of Vikshit Bharat by 2047, economic reforms and policy reviews need to be continued across multiple sectors, including infrastructure, labour, and manufacturing. These reforms are deemed essential to drive economic growth and development in India. "The oft-repeated target of becoming a developed country by 2047 requires far-reaching reforms in the factor market, opening up of the economy and infrastructure development and a thrust towards labour intensive manufacturing. In a coalition environment it may not be easy to carry out big bang reforms, but the thrust of incremental reforms should be in this direction," said M Govind Rao, Member, Fourteenth Finance Commission and former Director, National Institute of Public Finance and Policy. Economists have noted that spending on populist measures will increase because of coalition politics, however, the government will continue with its focus on "Made In India" reforms. Sectors like infrastructure and manufacturing will remain the priority of the government. "There's likely to be a swerve towards greater populist spending and some commitment of resources to states of alliance partners is also likely. But India's public finances are in relatively robust health and to be augmented by significant reserves from the RBI. India's infrastructure spending will continue apace but perhaps with greater private sector participation. Expenditure on defence modernisation and indigenisation will also undoubtedly continue" said Gautam Sen, retired political economist London School of Economics and author, Former member of the Indo-UK Roundtable and Senior Consultant UNDP. The full budget expected to be announced in July, will reflect the economic agenda of Modi 3.0. Many economists expect the Budget will likely see a spurt in welfare and support schemes mainly for farmers and poor. The Budget will indicate the policy priorities for the new coalition government and decide the growth trajectory for the next five years, On the economic front, economists have cautioned the government about the potential setbacks from a sluggish global economy and geopolitical crisis. "One constraint remains the sluggish world economy, which could suffer worse setbacks next year, though Indian growth has risen despite it. The unknown is the impact of external shocks of intensifying wars and uncertainty over energy prices" added Sen. Meanwhile, in a significant boost to the start of Modi 3.0, the Reserve Bank of India on June 7 revised upwards the GDP growth projection for the current fiscal to 7.2 per cent from 7 per cent on rising private consumption and revival of demand in rural areas. RBI Governor Shaktikanta Das said estimates released by the National Statistical Office (NSO) placed India's real gross domestic product (GDP) growth at 8.2 per cent in 2023-24. (ANI) Despite continues selling by pressure by Foreign Portfolio Investors, Indian markets at all-time high. The BSE Sensex touched an all-time high on Friday, while the Nifty 50 index closed positively at 23,267.75, marking a gain of 446.35 points or 1.96 percent, and hitting a high of 23,320.20. However, the Foreign Portfolio Investors are net sellers in Indian markets for the third consecutive month in June. According to the NSDL (National Securities Depository Limited) website, FPIs have offloaded equities worth over Rs 14,794 crore in the equity markets so far this month. This follows a similar trend from last month when foreign investors were also net sellers, leading to heightened volatility in the Indian markets. "FPIs regard Indian valuations to be very high and, therefore, capital is getting shifted to cheaper markets. The FPI pessimism regarding Chinese stocks appears to be over and there is a trend of investing in Chinese stocks listed in the Hong Kong Exchange since the valuations of Chinese stocks have turned very attractive" said Dr. V K Vijayakumar, Chief Investment Strategist at Geojit Financial Services. In May, FPIs sold equities worth Rs 25,586 crore as per NSDL data, indicating a pattern of sustained and excessive selling in the cash market. For the year 2024 so far, FPIs have divested equity worth Rs 38,158 crore. A notable trend in FPI activity is the considerable selling through exchanges while simultaneously buying through the primary market route. The market is gradually stabilizing following the high volatility triggered by the election results, including both exit polls and the actual outcomes. Market experts highlight the high valuations of Indian stocks, particularly in the broader market. These high valuations are likely to attract further selling by FPIs in the future. The budget will also give a policy direction of the new government and market will adjust itself as per budget announcements The pattern of FPIs being net sellers extends back to April as well. During that month, the geopolitical crisis in the Middle East prompted investors to withdraw funds from their portfolios. Despite being net buyers for the first three months of the year until mid-April, FPIs cumulatively sold stocks worth Rs 8,671 crore by the end of the month. Overall, the selling by FPIs is contributing to the ongoing volatility in the Indian markets. The perception of high valuations in Indian equities, coupled with attractive valuations in other markets like China, is driving this trend. As FPIs continue to adjust their portfolios in response to global market conditions and geopolitical developments, the Indian markets are likely to react accordingly. (ANI) Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani, along with son Anant Ambani, attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Union Council of Ministers, which was held at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening. PM-designate Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. Apart from two terms as Prime Minister beginning 2014, Narendra Modi also has the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat, with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014. PM Modi led the BJP-led NDA to a third successive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP won an absolute majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls winning 282 and 303 seats respectively. PM Modi leads an NDA coalition with 292 seats in the Parliament and has laid the thrust on making India a developed nation by 2047. Among those who were sworn in are Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Nirmala Sitharaman and S Jaishankar. BJP President JP Nadda, who was the health minister in the Union Cabinet during the first term of Prime Minister Narendra Modi was brought back this time, while former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan was inducted as a Cabinet minster for the very first time. Four former chief ministers -- Jiten Ram Manjhi, Manohar Lal Khattar, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, and HD Kumaraswamy -- took oaths as Union ministers. (ANI) Soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took oath of office for the third term on Sunday from the Rashtrapati Bhavan premises, Indian industry bodies congratulated him and his alliance partners, as they look forward to working together for the good of the country. "The third consecutive term for the NDA paves way for continuity in the reform agenda. We look forward to progressive policies and measures that will foster economic and social development and build strong foundation for 'Viksit Bharat'," said industry body FICCI's President Anish Shah. "As India looks towards becoming the third largest economy, a stable government at the Centre will further strengthen the economic landscape and help us achieve this feat within next few years," Shah said. Industry body Assocham said that the Indian corporates are feeling elated about Narendra Modi starting his third term as the Prime Minister. The industry body expressed confidence that under PM Modi's leadership, "India would go from strength to strength gaining further stature in the global ranking, powered by an inclusive and sustainable economic growth for the next several years." "With your taking oath as the Prime Minister for the third term India Inc is feeling confident that with under leadership the country will be steered to greater heights, maintaining the fastest pace of growth amongst the major economies of the world, '' ASSOCHAM Secretary General Deepak Sood said in his congratulatory message to the Prime Minister. He said the Indian industry and global investors are feeling reassured of fast and bolder reforms well beyond the economy, touching upon wider governance, quality and ease of living and leveraging upon the aspirational young population. In his congratulatory message, ASSOCHAM President Sanjay Nayar said, ''The entire ecosystem of industry, trade and financial markets are re-energised with the beginning of new innings. '' The ASSOCHAM said it would soon be forwarding its suggestions to the new finance minister with regard to Budget proposals and the way forward for giving impetus to manufacturing, boosting productivity, exports and keeping up with public and private investment in infrastructure. Priti Adani, Chairperson, Adani Foundation, also congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Congratulations to Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi ji on taking oath for his historic third term. Under your able leadership the country has touched new heights of progress in the last 10 years. And we are confident that in the coming years your 'Developed India' campaign will move forward at double the speed," she wrote in Hindi in an X post. Sanjeev Krishan, Chairperson, of multinational professional services PwC in India, suggested the new government consider prioritising the allocation of resources and efforts around three actions. He suggested that the new government must enhance its trust quotient with the youth by gainfully engaging them with a host of skill driven employment and entrepreneurship initiatives; collaborate with industry and academia to build policy and regulatory frameworks to transform technologies and leverage it more meaningfully in the Indian context; and embed sustainability as a core principle in the planning and execution of key governmental initiatives. Meanwhile, PM-designate Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, which was attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. Apart from two terms as Prime Minister beginning 2014, Narendra Modi also has the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat, with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014. PM Modi led the BJP-led NDA to a third successive victory in the Lok Sabha polls. The BJP won an absolute majority on its own in the 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha polls, winning 282 and 303 seats, respectively. PM Modi leads an NDA coalition with 292 seats in the Parliament and has laid thrust on making India a developed nation by 2047. Born on September 17, 1950, in a small town in Gujarat, his family belonged to the 'other backward class' which is among the marginalised sections of society. In his initial years, he worked with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and later devoted himself to politics, working with the Bharatiya Janata Party organisation at the national and state levels. (ANI) Speaking to media persons at the airport, the actor expressed his admiration for Modi's consecutive third term as Prime Minister. "Narendra Modi will be sworn in as PM consecutively for the third time. This is a very big achievement. My wishes to him. People have also elected a strong opposition in this Parliament election. It will lead to a healthy democracy. I received an invitation for Chandrababu Naidu's swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh CM. I will update you about going there," he said. Rajinikanth also congratulated Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman for recording a predominant vote share in the election. Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of the country for the third consecutive term today at 7:15 PM. He is the only leader after former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to have been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath on the same day. Ahead of the evening ceremony, posters featuring the PM-designate have been put up in Delhi. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed, and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement route arrangements made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's oath ceremony on Sunday. Several leaders and state heads of neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. (ANI) As the city buzzed with excitement, people from all walks of life started pouring in to witness this historic event. Dressed in a printed green saree, Hema Malini spoke to ANI before heading to the ceremony. Expressing her excitement, she said, "It is a happy moment for all of us that Narendra Modi is going to take oath for the third time as PM. Whatever work is left, we will definitely complete it in the third term." Hema Malini won the Mathura constituency for the third time in a row. She defeated Congress' Mukesh Dhangar by a huge margin of 2,93,407 votes. Malini (75) garnered 5,10,064 votes. While Congress candidate Dhangar and BSP candidate Suresh Singh received 2,16,657 and 1,88,417 votes respectively. Hema Malini also won the seat in 2014 and 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi will assume office as prime minister for a third consecutive term today. Alongside him, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath this evening. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. Notably, PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Ahead of the evening ceremony, posters featuring the PM-designate have been put up in Delhi. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed, and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement route arrangements made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's oath ceremony on Sunday. Several leaders and state heads of neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. (ANI) During a conversation with ANI, Massey said, "This is a historic third term... I am looking forward to the next 5 years with the NDA government... The government has worked in the last 10 years. I have witnessed change. India is a big country and change doesn't happen overnight, it requires time." https://x.com/ANI/status/1799791757409845435 Producer Mahaveer Jain also arrived to attend the oath ceremony. PM Modi will take the oath of office at 7.15 pm today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. PM Modi will assume office as prime minister for a third consecutive term as the BJP-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath this evening. Ahead of the evening ceremony, posters featuring the PM-designate have been put up in Delhi. Around 1,100 traffic police personnel of the Delhi Police have been deployed, and an advisory has been issued to the public for the traffic movement route arrangements made for the delegates as part of the arrangements for Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi's oath ceremony on Sunday. Several leaders and state heads of neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. (ANI) Megastar Rajinikanth attended the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which took place at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. Clad in a white outfit, Rajinikanth was seen in his signature style at the grand ceremony https://x.com/ANI/status/1799795391954931907 Earlier today, speaking to media persons at the airport, the actor expressed his admiration for Modi's consecutive third term as Prime Minister. "Narendra Modi will be sworn in as PM consecutively for the third time. This is a very big achievement. My wishes to him. People have also elected a strong opposition in this Parliament election. It will lead to a healthy democracy. I received an invitation for Chandrababu Naidu's swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh CM," he said. Rajinikanth also congratulated Naam Thamizhar Katchi (NTK) coordinator Seeman for recording a predominant vote share in the election. The national capital of India was abuzz with excitement and anticipation. The event witnessed the presence of prominent personalities from various walks of life, adding a touch of glamour and prestige to the auspicious occasion. One of the highlights of the evening was the arrival of Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar, who attended the ceremony in his formal attire, donning a pink shirt and black pants. Kumar also met Navneet Kumar Sehgal, Chairman of Prasar Bharati and BJP MP-elect Dharmendra Pradhan at the event. Earlier, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, dressed in stylish black attire, also arrived at the event. Other stars from the film fraternity including Anupam Kher, Vikrant Massey, Rajkumar Hirani, and producer Mahaveer Jain also attended the oath ceremony in Delhi. Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani and his son Anant Ambani were also present. The main highlight of the evening, however, was the momentous occasion of Prime Minister Narendra Modi assuming office for a third consecutive term. Alongside him, members of his council of ministers also took their oath, symbolizing the beginning of a new chapter in India's political landscape. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA's resounding victory in the Lok Sabha elections paved the way for this historic moment. Securing an impressive 293 seats in the lower house of the Indian parliament, PM Modi's party exceeded the minimum majority figure of 272 seats, solidifying their position as the ruling party. Notably, PM Modi joins the ranks of India's esteemed leaders who have won a third term, following the country's founding prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. As the evening ceremony approached, the streets of Delhi were adorned with vibrant posters featuring the PM-designate, symbolizing the excitement and support of the public. To ensure a smooth and secure event, around 1,100 traffic police personnel were deployed by the Delhi Police. An advisory was also issued to the public, detailing the traffic movement route arrangements made for the delegates attending the oath ceremony. Ia testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy, several leaders and state heads from neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region were invited as distinguished guests to PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony. This gesture highlighted India's commitment to fostering strong relationships with its neighbouring countries and strengthening regional cooperation. (ANI) The ace actor looked elegant and stunning as she graced the ceremony. Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is being attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. PM Modi was seen wearing a full-sleeved white kurta with churidar and blue half jacket. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 240 seats on its own. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. Notably, PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. (ANI) An Oregon man's dog made like Lassie and heroically ran four miles for help after its owner accidentally drove off the road and down a steep embankment, leaving him injured and stranded in a national forest. Brandon Garrett was traveling with his four pet pooches north on Forest Service Road 39 in rural Baker County, Oregon, when he "failed to negotiate a curve" on the afternoon of June 2, according to the Baker County Sheriff's Office. Garrett's truck plunged into a brush-covered ravine, coming to rest on its side in a creek, according to an official photo posted on Facebook along with a Tuesday news release. Garrett, of Halfway, Oregon, was headed to a campsite where his family members were staying at the time of the crash. After the accident, one of his dogs "traveled the nearly four miles to their camp, which alerted the rest of the party that something was wrong," the sheriff's office said. Garrett's relatives found the crash site the next morning but couldn't reach it due to the treacherous terrain, so his brother called 911 around 9:30 a.m. Sheriff Travis Ash responded to the scene and spotted the wrecked truck and one of Garrett's dogs. Ash was trying to find a way down to the creek when he heard Garrett yell for help from the other side, about 100 yards above his truck, where he'd crawled the day before. The sheriff clambered down, reached Garrett and administered first aid, after which volunteers from the Pine Valley Rural Fire Protection District and U.S. Forest Service employees used chainsaws to clear a path for rescuers. Members of the Baker County Search and Rescue Ropes Team then set up an elaborate "highline" rope system that was used to hoist a rescue basket holding Garrett into the air and across the ravine. He was then loaded into a helicopter the flown for treatment at a regional hospital. The three other dogs were also rescued, the sheriff's office said, with an unconfirmed Facebook message saying that two suffered broken bones and were being treated by a veterinarian. A fire erupted in four shops adjacent to a bus stand in Vartej village of Bhavnagar district on Sunday morning, officials said. According to the fire service officials, fire tenders rushed to the spot promptly in a bid to douse the flames and prevent further devastation. The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Further details are awaited. Earlier, a massive fire broke out at a gaming zone in Gujarat's Rajkot city on May 25 evening resulting in the loss of 27 lives including children. In connection with the case the Gujarat High Court has asked the State government why only junior-level officers were suspended and not the city municipal commissioner, an official said. President of Gujarat High Court Advocates' Association Brijesh Trivedi further added that the Gujarat High Court also asked why 302 IPC was not invoked in the case. "The court has taken the matter very seriously. The court asked the State government why only junior-level officers were suspended and not the city municipal commissioner. It also asked why 302 IPC was not invoked in the case. The SIT is expected to submit its report before the court soon," Trivedi told ANI. Meanwhile, a plea was filed in a court here demanding that 13 more officers be booked in connection with the Rajkot gaming zone fire incident. The complaint has been lodged by an advocate at the Rajkot District Court. It demands that the names of 13 officers be included in the FIR that was registered at Taluka police station after the fire incident. The court has accepted the petition and has set the date of the hearing on June 20. Earlier, the Gujarat government ordered the suspension of seven officials, including two police inspectors and civic staff of Rajkot Municipal Corporation, for dereliction of duty in connection with the same case. (ANI) In a post on X CM wrote, " Reached Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in New Delhi and met former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Governor of Maharashtra, respected Shri Bhagat Singh Koshyari ji and enquired about his well-being." Koshyari who was appointed Governor of Maharashtra on September 5, 2019 held the post till February 17, 2023. He has also been a Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha MP from 2008 to 2014. He was elected MP from the Nainital-Udham Singh Nagar seat. He has also been a member of the Legislative Assembly and Council and also been the Leader of the Opposition in the Uttarakhand Legislative Assembly from 2002 to 2003. He was a member of the State Legislative Council during the undivided UP. Koshyari also held the post of BJP's National Vice President. (ANI) He will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for a historic third time today at 7:15 pm. He will equal Jawaharlal Nehru's record of becoming the prime minister of India for the third time after completing two full terms. Earlier today, PM-elect Narendra Modi signed the visitor's book after laying a wreath at the National War Memorial. Meanwhile, several Uttar Pradesh and BJP leaders expressed happiness over Prime Minister-elect Narendra Modi's re-election for a third consecutive term. UP Minister Girish Chandra Yadav said India will become Viksit Bharat and self-reliant under Narendra Modi's leadership. "Narendra Modi will take oath as the Prime Minister today...Under his leadership the nation will develop, India will become Viksit Bharat and self-reliant," Yadav told ANI. UP Minister Yogendra Upadhyaya called the swearing-in ceremony of PM-elect Narendra Modi a "historic moment for India." Speaking to ANI, Yogendra Upadhyaya said, "This is a historic moment for India as Narendra Modi is becoming the Prime Minister for the third time...I hope that the entire country will stand with him for the creation of Viksit Bharat." Meanwhile, UP Minister Jaiveer Singh greeted the people of the country for their approval of the work done by Narendra Modi in past years. "It is a matter of pride that PM-designate Narendra Modi will take the prime minister's oath. Greetings to the people of the country for their approval of the work done by Narendra Modi," Jaiveer Singh said. The BJP bagged 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance has secured 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. The Congress secured 99 seats. Samajwadi Party got 37 seats, while Trinamool Congress got 29. DMK managed to win 22 seats. (ANI) BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu on Sunday said that he is "very happy" to have been chosen to be inducted into Narendra Modi's council of ministers. "It is a very big thing for me that they (NDA) have chosen me in their cabinet even after losing the elections. Punjab has been given priority this time...I will prepare the ground for BJP to win the Assembly elections in 2027," Bittu said. The BJP leader and three-time former Congress MP was present at a tea meeting hosted at the 7 Lok Kalyan Marg residence of the Prime Minister earlier today "...Just two years ago, the people of Punjab rejected Congress, everyone knows about the work being done by the Aam Aadmi Party. So, people have only one option which is BJP...I would like to become the Chief Minister of Punjab if given a chance...," Bittu said. Meanwhile, Punjab Congress President Amarinder Singh Raja Warring how defeated Bittu in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections said,"....If he (BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu) is becoming a minister, it is good as more work related to Punjab will be done. There are many expectations from the Modi government..." Bittu is the grandson of former Punjab Chief Minister Beant Singh and the son of former Punjab minister Tej Parkash Singh. He had switched over to the BJP from the Congress prior to the 2024 elections and contested and lost the Ludhiana Lok Sabha seat to Punjab Congress chief Warring by over 20,000 votes. In the 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, Bittu had defeated Simarjeet Singh Bains from the Lok Insaaf Party by 76,372 votes. In 2014, he defeated the Aam Aadmi Party's (AAP) Harvinder Singh Phoolka with a margin of 19,709 votes. Bittu was previously elected as Lok Sabha MP from Anandpur Sahib in 2009 and then from Ludhiana in 2014 and 2019. Before the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday evening, all MPs who are set to be part of the council of ministers attended a tea programme at the PM's residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg. Republican Party of India Rajya Sabha MP Ramdas Athawale who was also present at today's tea meeting at the PM residence said he will be part of the new ministers to be inducted later this evening. "Today, Narendra Modi will take oath as the PM for the third time. It is a matter of pride for the entire country. The oath-taking ceremony will be done today, and the portfolios will be decided tomorrow. I will be happy with whatever portfolio I am given... Around 60 leaders of the NDA were present in the tea meeting today..." PM Modi will take the oath of office at 7.15 pm today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. (ANI) "I want to congratulate the Prime Minister and also thank him because he has invited us. Tomorrow I will also take oath (as the CM of Sikkim). This time our party has performed well in Sikkim and I want to thank the entire public for this," said Tamang. He emphasised, "My priorities are water, electricity, roads, education, health and infrastructure development..." Meanwhile, Narendra Modi on Sunday morning offered tribute to Mahatma Gandhi, former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, and also offered homage at the war memorial ahead of his swearing-in as the Prime Minister. PM Modi will take the oath of office at 7:15 PM today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. With today's swearing-in, Narendra Modi will become the only leader after former PM Jawaharlal Nehru, who has been elected for a third consecutive term after completing the full tenure of each previous term. All security measures have been put in place for the mega event. Five companies of paramilitary forces will be deployed to ensure the safety and security of Rashtrapati Bhavan. The BJP bagged 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance secured 293 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seats. Congress fought the election as part of the INDIA bloc and the parties together were able to prevent BJP from getting a majority on its own in Lok Sabha. (ANI) According to an official statement, at 9 PM based on behaviour detection, CISF surveillance and intelligence staff of Terminal-3, IGI Airport, noticed suspicious activities of a foreign passenger at the check-in area. On suspicion, he was diverted to a random checking point for a thorough checking of his check-in baggage. On checking his baggage through the X-BIS machine, some doubtful images of two pieces of logs were noticed. In the presence of customs officials, two pieces of logs were detected which were concealed inside his check-in baggage. Further, customs officials examined two pieces of logs and raised doubts about the authenticity of the said logs. Then, forest officials were contacted by CISF to verify the authenticity of the said logs. Later, forest officials confirmed the logs to be red sandalwood. The passenger was later identified as Nguyen Thanh Tung, (Vietnamese) who was bound to travel from Delhi to Hanoi by Viet Jet flight. (ANI) In a significant move to provide housing for the underprivileged, the Haryana government led by Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, under the Mukhyamantri Gramin Aawas Yojana, will issue possession certificates of 100 sq yard plots to more than 7500 BPL beneficiaries on June 10. "The BPL families who were promised 100 yard plots were cheated by just showing the plot space but no registration or possession of land was done in their names," said CM Saini. "There were many who struggled to get the plot. To provide people with plots and registry, Manohar Lal Khattar formed a scheme and, in Sonipat, all the beneficiaries will be given plot positions and registry," said CM Saini. He further added that to allocate plots and registries, events will be held at various places in the state of Haryana. "The beneficiaries will be provided what was promised. All the state ministers and MLAs will be present over there. The beneficiaries will be given position and registry there only," said CM Saini. Earlier on Thursday, after taking oath as Bharatiya Janata Party Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Karnal, the Chief Minister of Haryana, Nayab Singh Saini thanked the people of Karnal for bestowing their trust in him. He further expressed his confidence to emerge victorious in the upcoming assembly elections in the state of Haryana. Nayab Singh Saini had recently won the assembly by-elections in the Karnal assembly constituency. Earlier, he was serving as the Member of Parliament from Kurukshetra Lok Sabha constituency and was sworn in as Chief Minister of the state just before the announcement of Lok Sabha election dates. He also served as the state president of Haryana BJP. Meanwhile, the BJP turned in a sub-par performance in the Lok Sabha Polls in Haryana. The party won 5 seats with the Congress also winning 5 seats. The BJP registered a vote share of 46.11 per cent while the Congress registered a vote share of 43.67 per cent and its alliance partner the Aam Admi Party registered a vote share of 3.94 per cent. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections the BJP had won all 10 seats from the state. (ANI) Actor-turned-politician Suresh Gopi on Sunday evening was sworn in as Minister of State in Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s Council of Ministers marking a historic first for the Bharatiya Janata Party which managed to breach the Kerala bastion in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Also inducted into the Prime Minister''s Council of Ministers today was BJP Kerala general secretary George Kurian. Gopi became the face of the ''Modiyude Gaurantee'' (Modi''s Guarantee) promise to Kerala as the actor became a part of the union council of ministers in the government of Prime Minister who was sworn in today for a historic third term. The 65-year-old actor won the parliamentary seat of Thrissur in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections defeating advocate and CPM candidate VS Sunilkumar by 74,686 votes. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held his first poll roadshow in Thrissur in December last year and later the Prime Minister also made another visit to the constituency to attend the wedding of Gopi''s daughter at Guruvayoor Srikrishna Temple. Suresh Gopi''s Lok Sabha win during this elections is significant for the BJP in Kerala, as the party has previously struggled to establish a strong presence in the state. The actor took oath as minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. Suresh Gopi is the the first BJP Lok Sabha MP from Kerala. On June 4, the day when election results emerged indicating his win, he told ANI that he was escatic. " I am in totally an ecstatic mood. What was very impossible became gloriously possible...it was not a 62-day campaign process, it was an emotional carriage for the past 7 years...I work for Kerala as a whole. My first pick will be to have AIIMS..." Meanwhile, the BJP state general secretary Kurian had previously served as the national vice president of the Yuva Morcha. In the year 2017 he became the first from Kerala to be appointed the vice-chairman of the National Minorities Commission. A lawyer by profession he was also the officer on special duty (OSD) to BJP leader O Rajagopal, during his term as Union minister in the Atal Behari Vajpayee government. In the year 2016, he contested and lost Assembly elections from Puthuppally which was considered, a Congress stronghold. (ANI) BJP leader Jyotiraditya Madhavrao Scindia sworn in as union minister in the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government. Jyotiraditya Scindia, a descendant of the former royal family of Gwalior, severed his ties with the Congress party in 2020 after 18 years and joined the BJP along with his 22 loyalist MLAs in Madhya Pradesh. After Scindia joined the BJP, the party nominated him to the Rajya Sabha and entrusted him with the responsibility of the Civil Aviation Ministry. Scindia began his journey in public service in 2002. He has also been a five-term Member of Parliament, which includes four terms in the Lok Sabha (2002-04, 2004-09, 2009-14 and 2014-19), and the current term in the Rajya Sabha, representing the state of Madhya Pradesh. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls Jyotiraditya Scindia won from Madhya Pradesh's Guna Lok Sabha seat with a margin of 540929 votes. The Guna constituency has been a stronghold of the Scindia family for a long time. His grandmother, Vijaya Raje Scindia, who is fondly remembered as the Rajmata of Gwalior, represented this constituency for four successive terms from 1989 to 1998 as a BJP leader. In 2014, he was appointed as Chief Whip of the Congress in the Lok Sabha, and in 2019 as the All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary In-Charge for Uttar Pradesh West and Member of the Congress Working Committee (CWC). In 2008, he served as the Minister of State for Telecommunications, Posts and IT; in 2009 as the Minister of State for Commerce and Industry, and then, in 2012 as Minister of Power (Independent Charge). Scindia's tenure as Minister of State for Telecommunications, Posts and IT ushered in the transformational Project Arrow that modernised the Indian post offices through new branding and IT-enabled procedures. (ANI) Congress leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha Pramod Tiwari on Sunday said that he did not get invitation to the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi and took potshots at PM Modi, saying that he is more interested in inviting foreign guests than Opposition leaders. "I am the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in Rajya Sabha. I haven't received any invitation for the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi nor have the INDIA alliance partners. To turn the ceremony into an international event, Narendra Modi is more interested in inviting foreign guests," Tiwari told ANI. Tiwari criticised PM Modi, saying his only expertise is in event management and he did not do any substantial work. Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister for his third successive term at an impressive ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday evening with 71 MPs from the BJP and its allies joining the party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to PM Modi and members of his ministers team at the ceremony which was attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. The colourful event, which reflected the rich diversity and vibrancy of India, was attended by senior political leaders, diplomats, leading industralists, Bollywood actors and several other prominent personalities. Meanwhile, Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attended the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Speaking to ANI, Kharge said, he is attending the event because of the "constitutional duty." "I am attending this event because of the constitutional duty. I being the LoP in the Rajya Sabha, this is my duty," Kharge said. When asked if he would congratulate PM-designate Narendra Modi, he said, "If I meet, I will see." Meanwhile, Mamata Banerjee, an ally of the INDIA bloc has said she won't be attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Delhi, adding that she has also not been invited. "I have neither received (the invitation), nor will I go. I have already said that I wish well for the people in the country for not voting for him (PM Modi)," Banerjee said when she was asked by reporters if she would attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday. "I am sorry, but I cannot wish well to an unconstitutional, illegal party for forming the government. My best wishes will be for the country," the Chief Minister added. Congress leader KC Venugopal had on Saturday said that the party leaders have not received any invitation to the scheduled swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi. "So far we have not received any information from the government. We have not received any invitation...foreign leaders have been invited. Being the principal opposition party and the INDIA bloc leadership, we have not been informed. I do not know what the mood of the government is," Venugopal told ANI. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh informed that "only international leaders" have been invited to the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Narendra Modi, and added that the INDIA bloc will think about attending the event if they receive the invitation. "Only international leaders have been invited for the swearing-in ceremony. Our leaders have not received the invitation yet. When our INDIA alliance leaders receive the invitation, we will think about it," Jairam Ramesh said. (ANI) A woman and her 4-year-old daughter were fatally shot in a car on Florida's Turnpike, authorities say. Members of the Florida Highway Patrol found the woman mortally wounded and her daughter dead inside a vehicle parked in the left hand breakdown lane when they responded to a report of a shooting on the northbound turnpike in Hollywood late Friday. An unidentified suspect fired at the car shortly after 11 p.m., the Broward County Sheriff's Office said in a release The mother, identified as Beatrice Saintvil, was rushed to a local hospital where she died. The 4-year-old girl's name was not immediately released. Santvill ran a hair-braiding business and photos posted on Facebook show her daughter wearing a pink tutu as she prepared for her fifth birthday party in May. The sheriff's office is investigating and a $5,000 reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest. President Droupadi Murmu, along with several BJP leaders, have expressed their deep condolences over the loss of lives in the Reasi terror attack and condemned the attack on a bus carrying pilgrims to Shivkhori in Reasi district. As many as nine people are feared dead and 33 others injured in the attack. President Droupadi Murmu said in a post on X, "I am deeply distressed to learn of a bus accident in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir in which a number of pilgrims have died. My condolences to the families of the victims. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured." Calling the act as a crime against humanity Murmu added, "I am anguished by the terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. This dastardly act is a crime against humanity, and must be condemned in the strongest words. The nation stands with the families of the victims. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured." Union Minister and BJP leader Jagat Prakash Nadda said, "Deeply pained by the cowardly attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Reasi, J&K, my deepest condolences go to the families of those who lost their loved ones in this heinous act against pilgrims. I am praying for the speedy recovery of the injured and for God to give strength to the bereaved families to endure the pain during this difficult time. Om Shanti!" Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, in a post on X, termed the attack as "extremely sad" and paid his tributes to the deceased. "The cowardly attack on the bus carrying pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely sad. My humble tributes to the departed souls! My condolences are with the grieving families. I pray to Lord Shri Ram to grant the departed souls a place at His feet and to provide a swift recovery to all the injured," Yogi said in a post on social media. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also condemned the attack, stating, "The news of several casualties in the terrorist attack on devotees in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, is extremely distressing. I condemn this cowardly attack and can say with full confidence that these enemies of humanity will not be spared," Dhami said. "I pray to God for peace to the departed souls, strength to the grieving families to bear this immense pain, and a speedy recovery for the injured," he added. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai expressed his condolences on X, labelling the attack as "highly condemnable" and extended his prayers for the peace of the departed souls and swift recovery of the injured. "Sad news is coming in about the death of 10 people in a terrorist attack on a bus carrying pilgrims from the Shiv Khori temple in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir. There are also reports of many people being injured in the attack. This cowardly attack by terrorists is highly condemnable, and I strongly denounce it" Sai said. "I pray to God for the peace of the departed souls and for providing strength to the grieving families, as well as for the swift recovery of the injured," he added. BJP leader Dilip Ghosh linked the attack to the political scenario, claiming, "The results of I.N.D.I Coalition winning 232 seats are being seen now. In Kashmir, a terrorist attack targeted a bus carrying Hindu pilgrims, with the passengers being fired upon. Ten passengers were killed, and many others were injured," said Ghosh on his official Twitter account. "Those hiding in their burrows for so long are now trying to raise their heads again. But they won't last long. We will suppress them with a firm hand. There is no place for terrorists in Bharat," he added. Meanwhile, the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir condemned the attack and assured that those behind it would be punished. "I strongly condemn the cowardly terror attack on a bus in Reasi. My condolences to the family members of the martyred civilians. Our security forces and JKP have launched a joint operation to hunt down the terrorists," the LG said in a post on X. "PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji took stock of the situation and has asked me to constantly monitor the situation. All those behind this heinous act will be punished soon. Hon'ble PM has also directed that all the injured are provided the best possible medical care & assistance," he added. According to Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma, the bus, en route from the Shivkhori shrine to Katra, came under attack when terrorists opened fire, causing the driver to lose control and the bus to plunge into a gorge. Speaking to ANI about the bus accident, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Reasi, Mohita Sharma, said, "It is a very unfortunate incident. Initially, what we received in reports suggested that the bus came under a terrorist attack after they opened fire at the passenger bus." "The bus had been arriving from the Shivkhori shrine and was on its way to Katra. After the terrorist firing, the bus driver lost control and the bus fell down into a gorge," said the SSP. The rescue operations are complete, with the injured being referred to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. The passengers are believed to be from Uttar Pradesh. Adding further, the official said, "Rescue operations are complete. Nine are feared dead and 33 injured. They were immediately referred to Naraina and Reasi District hospitals. The passengers were not locals. Their identities were not clear but from initial reports, they belonged to UP," said Sharma."Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done," added the SSP. Earlier, Deputy Commissioner Reasi Vishesh Mahajan said, "10 people died as a bus rolled down a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi." (ANI) Former US Defence official Elbridge Colby stressed that an attack by China against Taiwan could happen with little warning as China has given up on "peaceful unification", reported Taiwan News. Former US President Donald Trump's administration official Elbridge Colby has served as deputy assistant secretary of defence for strategy and force development in 2017-2018. He has also been named as a possible candidate for a national security office if Donald Trump is elected president in the November presidential elections. In an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun conducted in Washington DC, Colby said that the military needed to be strengthened so it could deliver any immediate response against Chinese aggression. An attack could happen with little clear warning, he added, according to Taiwan News. The former Pentagon official said that Chinese leader Xi Jinping had probably concluded that peaceful unification of Taiwan with China was not possible. Colby said that a cross-strait war might involve the US, and US troops in the Asia Pacific, Japan, Australia, and the Philippines, as reported by Taiwan News. Previous commentators, however, have said that China might find it difficult to launch a surprise attack against Taiwan, noting the range of preparations needed for such actions. Colby advised the US to shift its support from Ukraine to Taiwan because Asia was now the "primary theater." Additionally, he said that Washington should not abandon Europe, however, he sees Europe as much more able to handle Russia on its own than Asia would be facing China. Earlier this month, China's Minister of National Defence Admiral Dong Jun warned "external forces" for emboldening Taiwan Independence separatists in an attempt to contain China with Taiwan and said that these malicious intentions are dragging Taiwan into a dangerous situation." He said that anyone who dares to separate Taiwan from China will "end up in self-destruction." Chinese Defence Minister said that some external forces keep "hollowing out" the one-China principle and continue to sell arms to Taiwan. He said that external forces were taking these actions to "Taiwan Independence separatists in an attempt to contain China with Taiwan" and stressed that these intentions are dragging Taiwan into a dangerous situation. Days after Lai Ching-te was sworn in, China launched two-day-long military drills, surrounding Taiwan in what it called "punishment" for so-called "separatist acts," CNN reported. The reason for China's drill is Lai's inaugural speech, in which he called on Beijing to stop intimidating the island nation, over which China continues to make its claim. (ANI) "These attacks resulted in the deaths of over 150 Palestinian civilians and the injury of hundreds more, constituting a blatant violation of all provisions of international law and international humanitarian law, as well as all values of humanity and human rights," said the statement. Egypt holds Israel legally and morally responsible for this flagrant assault, demanding that Israel comply with its obligations as an occupying power and cease the indiscriminate targeting of Palestinian civilians, including those in areas where they have been displaced," the foreign ministry said. The statement also condemned the wanton destruction of all infrastructure in the Gaza Strip. Egypt called on influential international parties and the Security Council to urgently intervene to stop the Israeli war against Gaza. "Egypt emphasised the necessity of responsible action to end this humanitarian crisis, which has claimed the lives of over 36,000 people," the statement said. The statement underscored the imperative of achieving a complete ceasefire throughout the Gaza Strip and the unrestricted entry of humanitarian aid and relief supplies through all land crossings into the territory. (ANI/WAM) Russian ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov celebrated the rescue of Russian-Israeli Andrey Kozlov and three other hostages, however, did not mention Hamas or the October 7 terror attacks, reported The Times of Israel. Russian Ambassador to Israel Anatoly Viktorov released a statement, stating, "Without the full knowledge of the details of the rescue operation carried out by the Israel Defense Forces, first of all, I would like to share with the relatives and friends of the now former hostages the joy of the safe rescue of their relatives from eight months of captivity and reunification with their families." The Russian ambassador to Israel further said that Russia has prioritized the release of hostages since the very beginning. "Russia has prioritized the release of hostages from the very beginning of the unprecedented escalation in the Palestinian-Israeli conflict zone," Viktorov said, according to The Times of Israel. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Israeli counterpart Israel Katz discussed Russian citizens being held in Gaza on June 7, the statement noted. Three Russian citizens including, Ron Krivoy, Irina Tatty and Elena Trufanova were previously released. Meanwhile, Alexander Trufanov and Alexander Lobanov still remain in captivity, reported the Times of Israel. Viktorov emphasised that "not further escalation, but only an early cessation of hostilities adequately responds to the solution of all urgent humanitarian problems, including the release of the hostages remaining in Gaza." The Israeli Foreign Ministry announced on Saturday the successful recovery of four hostages from Hamas captivity in Gaza during an operation in Nuseirat. All four of them were taken hostage by the Hamas terrorist organization at the 'Nova' music festival on October 7. In a joint statement from the Israel Defence Forces, Israel security agency and the Israel police, the authorities said that the four were recovered in a "complex special operation" in the central Gaza Strip. The statement said, "This morning (Saturday), in a joint IDF, ISA and Israel Police (Yamam) complex special daytime operation in Nuseirat, four Israeli hostages were rescued. Noa Argamani (25), Almog Meir Jan (21), Andrey Kozlov (27), and Shlomi Ziv (40), were kidnapped by the Hamas terrorist organization from the 'Nova' music festival on October 7th. "The hostages were rescued by the IDF, ISA and 'Yamam' forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat." the statement added. Noa Argamani (26), one of the hostages rescued by the IDF operation from Hamas captivity was safely reunited with her family in Israel. Both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Isaac Herzog personally congratulated her on the safe return home. In an emotional phone call with President Isaac Herzog, he expressed his happiness at Noa's release. Speaking directly to Noa, President Herzog's words were laden with emotion. "The entire nation of Israel embraces you. There is no woman in the world named Noa who has not changed her name and image on social media to yours in solidarity. You are a global figure," he said. (ANI) PML-N President Nawaz Sharif asserted his stance on Saturday, stating that he harboured no intentions of seeking retribution against anyone, including those who had previously sought to thwart his political ambitions, Dawn reported. Emphasising his commitment to reconciliation, he identified Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan as a primary impediment to fostering political harmony nationwide. Chairing a second parliamentary party meeting since reclaiming his position within the party, Nawaz Sharif commended the efforts of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif for their roles in significantly reducing the prices of essential commodities. "I am not one to pursue political vendettas," Nawaz Sharif affirmed, highlighting his non-vindictive approach. Expressing his desire for further reductions in gas and electricity tariffs, he expressed optimism for Pakistan's recovery from ongoing crises, advocating for policies aimed at lowering utility prices, as reported by Dawn. While disavowing personal grudges, the PML-N leader directed criticism towards incarcerated PTI leader Imran Khan, citing alleged wrongdoings and political victimisation. "Imran once vowed to drag me through the streets, yet I have not requested the removal of air conditioning from his jail cell," Nawaz remarked, sarcastically noting his willingness to tolerate Khan's purportedly privileged incarceration conditions. Drawing attention to developmental setbacks under the PTI's tenure, Nawaz Sharif cited examples such as the controversial Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project in Peshawar, deriding it as a failure and emblematic of mismanagement and corruption. "The nation must discern who has led the country astray and who has steered it towards progress," Nawaz Sharif declared, attributing developmental achievements solely to the PML-N. Reflecting on his commitment to fostering democratic values, he referenced the Charter of Democracy, a pact he signed with former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, underscoring his dedication to political reconciliation and stability, Dawn reported. (ANI) Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' Sunday afternoon departed for India for a two-day visit. He flew down to New Delhi to attend the swearing-in ceremony of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi scheduled for this evening. PM Modi-led NDA (National Democratic Alliance) is set for a historic third term in power after the results of the mammoth parliamentary elections were announced. At the invitation of PM Modi, Dahal departed for India from the VVIP terminal of the Tribhuvan International Airport. He was accompanied by his daughter Ganga Dahal, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Padam Giri, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Head of South Asia Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Bhrigu Dhungana, Chief of Protocol Bishnu Prasad Gautam, Protocol Officer Prabin Bhattarai and three security personnel of the prime minister, as per a release from Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Dahal is among the distinguished guests who will attend the grand swearing-in ceremony of PM Modi, who is scheduled to take place at 7:15 PM (IST) at Rashtrapati Bhavan this evening. PM Modi will assume office as prime minister for a third consecutive term as the BJP-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath this evening. Apart from the Nepali Prime Minister several leaders and State heads of the neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited to PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, as a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement on Saturday said, "President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend." Meanwhile, highlighting the significance of the event, the MEA emphasised, "The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its 'Neighborhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision." Additionally, the MEA mentioned that besides participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also grace a banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, later in the same evening. Nepal's then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala attended the first swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2014. The 2014 swearing-in ceremony of the Prime Minister was then called the mini-SAARC summit for being attended by the member nations of the regional organisation. The second swearing-in ceremony also gained the highlight as Modi invited countries from the BIMSTEC group. It was Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli who had attended the second swearing-in ceremony of Modi in May 2019. (ANI) Bhutanese Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay has landed in the national capital to attend the oath-taking ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi today. He was warmly welcomed at the airport by Ministry of External Affairs Secretary (West) Pavan Kapoor. "PM Tshering Tobgay of Bhutan arrives in New Delhi for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers. Warmly welcomed by Secy (West) Pavan Kapoor at the airport. The visit will further strengthen close bonds of friendship and cooperation between India and Bhutan," said MEA Official spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal in a post on X. PM Tobgay is among the distinguished guests set to attend the eagerly awaited ceremony in which BJP leader Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time. With BJP bagging 240 seats and the National Democratic Alliance secured 292 seats out of 543 Lok Sabha seat, PM Modi is set for a third consecutive term as Prime Minister of India with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) emerging victorious in the parliamentary elections. He will equal Jawaharlal Nehru's record of becoming the prime minister of India the third time after completing two full terms. Several leaders and State heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement on Saturday said, "President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend." Of these guests, Bangaldesh PM Hasina, Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Maldivian President Muizzu; Mauritius PM Pravind Kumar Jugnauth have arrived. India and Bhutan share a unique and enduring partnership which is rooted in mutual trust, understanding and goodwill. Diplomatic relations between the two were established in 1968 with the establishment of a special office of India in Thimphu. PM Modi paid a State visit to Bhutan in March this year. The visit was in keeping with the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between India and Bhutan and the Government's emphasis on its Neighbourhood First Policy. During the visit, Prime Minister received audience with Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, the King of Bhutan and Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the Fourth King of Bhutan. During the visit, the Prime Minister also held talks with his Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay. After PM Modi's historic 3rd consecutive win in the world's biggest elections, Bhutanese Prime Minister Tobgay congratulated him while vowing to work closely with PM Modi-led "Bharat" to strengthen ties between India and Bhutan. "Congratulations to my friend PM @narendramodi ji and NDA for the historic 3rd consecutive win in the world's biggest elections. As he continues to lead Bharat to great heights, I look forward to working closely with him to further strengthen the relations between our 2 countries," he said in a post on X. (ANI) World Health Organisation (WHO) South-Asia Regional Director Saima Wazed shared a picture with her mother, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina ahead of the oath ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi on Sunday. PM Hasina is in India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of PM-designate Modi scheduled to be held today evening. "A quick bite with Ma, ahead of Prime Minister @narendramodi's inauguration in #Delhi later today," Wazed posted on social media platform X. https://x.com/drSaimaWazed/status/1799736334833332716 Earlier in the day, Sheikh Hasina paid a courtesy call to Bharat Ratna and veteran BJP leader LK Advani at the latter's residence in New Delhi. She is one of the distinguished guests invited to New Delhi to attend the much-awaited ceremony. She landed in the national capital on Saturday afternoon and was the first foreign leader to arrive here for the ceremony. Secretary (CPV & OIA), Muktesh Pardeshi received Prime Minister Hasina at the airport. Narendra Modi will take the oath of office at 7.15 pm today along with his council of ministers in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unanimously passed a resolution to elect Narendra Modi as their leader on June 5. BJP-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections in the 543-member lower house of the Indian parliament. BJP, which won resounding majorities of 282 seats in 2014 and 303 seats in 2019, fell short of the majority mark (272) on its own this time. Alongside Narendra Modi, members of his council of ministers will also take their oath this evening. PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third consecutive term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. India and Bangladesh enjoy warm ties, which have further expanded under the leadership of PM Modi and Sheikh Hasina. PM Modi was one of the first leaders to congratulate Hasina after she won the general elections in January this year. Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina was among the first foreign leaders to congratulate PM Modi. He invited PM Hasina for the oath-ceremony, which was accepted by the Bangladesh PM. PM Modi's invitation to neighbouring leaders reflects India's ongoing efforts to engage with countries in the region. In 2014, he convened leaders from SAARC nations, and in 2019, he invited countries from the BIMSTEC group. (ANI) PM Hasina is in India to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister-designate Narendra Modi scheduled to be held today evening. She is one of the distinguished guests invited to New Delhi to attend the much-awaited ceremony. PM Hasina was the first foreign leader to arrive here for the ceremony. She landed in the national capital on Saturday afternoon. The veteran BJP leader's daughter, Pratibha Advani was also present as PM Hasina called upon him. Prime Minister Modi was elected leader of the National Democratic Alliance on Friday and also met veteran BJP leader and Bharat Ratna Lal Krishna Advani at his residence. PM Modi greeted the veteran BJP leader. He also met senior party leader Murli Manohar Joshi at his residence. PM Modi presented bouquets to the two veteran BJP leaders. The meetings with two senior BJP leaders came ahead of PM Modi staking claim to form his third successive government. PM Modi is set to be sworn in as Prime Minister for the third consecutive term on June 9, the Rashtrapati Bhavan said on Friday. On Wednesday, PM Modi invited his Bangladeshi counterpart to attend his swearing-in ceremony on Sunday. Sheikh Hasina accepted the invitation. Over the years, India and Bangladesh have forged a multifaceted relationship, marked by a shared history, culture, and geographical proximity. Several leaders and state heads of neighbourhood region and Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India's 'Neighbourhood First' policy. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official statement on Saturday said, "President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay, have accepted the invitation to attend." Additionally, the MEA mentioned that besides participating in the swearing-in ceremony, the leaders will also grace a Banquet hosted by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan, later in the same evening. (ANI) Bharatiya Janata Party leader S Jaishankar took oath as Union Cabinet Minister at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Sunday. The BJP leader served as External Affairs Minister during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's second term (2019-2024). He has been a BJP MP in Rajya Sabha from Gujarat since 2019. The PM-designate hosted a customary high tea at his residence at 7 Lok Kalyan Marg in the national capital before the grand ceremony this evening. He interacted with members of Parliament who were likely to be inducted into his Cabinet and Council of Ministers. S Jaishankar was present at the high tea. Jaishankar, who has made headlines for his witty replies and oratory skills, has been at the centre stage in the team shaping India's foreign policy for the last decade. Prior to being the EAM in 2019, Jaishankar also served as India's Foreign Secretary from 2015 to 2018. Notably, he also became the first Foreign Secretary to assume the role of External Affairs Minister. Jaishankar's tenure in 2019 as India's EAM came amid massive uncertainties owing to global turbulence and conflicts. His tenure saw episodes like the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Israel-Hamas war and the Covid pandemic, all of which left a strong impact on not just the Indian economy but also that of the whole world. But, during these turbulent times, India's stand was marked by the priority of 'Nation First'. Regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict, India has always condemned civilian killings and called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. However, despite pressure from the West, India has not refrained from purchasing Russian oil below the price cap. In the Israel-Hamas war, India strongly condemned the October 7 terror attack but has also continued with its weight behind the 'two-state solution' to the long-running Israel-Palestine conflict. India also sent humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza as part of its commitment. Jaishankar, who entered India's Foreign Service in 1977, has served as India's envoy in several prominent countries such as the United States (2013-15) and China (2009-13). He also served as India's Ambassador to Czech Republic (2000-04) and Indian High Commissioner to Singapore (2007-09). In his earlier stints, he served as third secretary and second secretary at the Indian Embassy in the Soviet Union (before the disintegration of the Soviet Union). Jaishankar also worked as an undersecretary in the Ministry of External Affairs' Americas Division. In one of his most famous statements, referring to the Western pressure of taking a 'strong position' against Russia, Jaishankar said, "Somewhere Europe has to grow out of the mindset that Europe's problems are the world's problems but the world's problems are not Europe's problems." In another strong remark slamming the Western hypocrisy in buying of Russian oil, he said, "Our total purchases for the month would be less than what Europe does in an afternoon." Recently, Jaishankar also made a deeper foray into politics, by taking part in the election campaign for the Bharatiya Janata Party. He addressed several interactions and events and elaborated on how India has asserted it globally with its foreign policy. During one of the events, Jaishankar slammed the Western media over the "negative" coverage of Indian elections and said that the countries that "have to go to court for deciding election results" are giving "gyan" on conducting polls. In another event, he underscored that "Viksit Bharat" is not just a slogan but a serious commitment towards India's future. "I can feel today that we are at the point of something very big. The world is also watching us. I see these 25 years as a period of new opportunities, new technologies, and new challenges," he said. As Jaishankar gears up for his second stint as the EAM, an even rockier geopolitical situation awaits him and India to manoeuvre for the next couple of years. (ANI) Greek police believe they have discovered the remains of missing British celebrity doctor Michael Mosely days after he disappeared during a walk on an island beach. Passengers on a private boat spotted the body Sunday morning, a police spokesperson told the Associated Press. Officials are still awaiting a formal identification to confirm that the remains Mosley. Mosley, 67, is known in the United Kingdom for his frequent appearances on BBC popular television shows including "Trust Me, I'm A Doctor." He was last seen hiking on the island of Symi around 1:30 p.m. last Wednesday. He never returned from the walk, and his wife reported him missing some six hours later. Symi Mayor Lefteris Papakalodoukas told the AP that he was on a boat Sunday morning when passengers spotted Mosley's remains on the Agia Marina beach. The body was littered with rocks and lying face up against a fence and at the bottom of a steep slope. "We zoomed with the cameras and saw it was him," Papakalodoukas told the wire service. Mosley's disappearance had prompted a major search and rescue operation. Officials from other Greek islands, drones, helicopters and trained dogs were deployed in Symi to aid search efforts. "We've got every service possible out there looking for him," a police chief told the Guardian after his disappearance. "He was officially reported missing this morning and now there are police, firemen and volunteers involved in the search." The ministers reviewed the paths of joint cooperation between the UAE and New Zealand and the prospects for advancing them in all sectors, including economic, trade and renewable energy. The two sides also discussed the two countries' efforts to reach a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), which will open up promising prospects for cooperation in many development fields. H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed highlighted the distinguished relations between the UAE and New Zealand, noting to a common desire and will from the two friendly countries to further strengthen them in all areas to serve their mutual interests and benefit their peoples. Sheikh Abdullah and Peters also discussed a number of issues of common interest, as well as developments on the regional and international arenas and in the Middle East region. (ANI/WAM) Norway's ambassador to India, May-Elin Stener, attended the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi at Rashtrapati Bhavan today. She said that Norway looks forward to continuing "strong and robust" bilateral ties between the two nations in various sectors, including blue economy, energy, trade, investments, environment and climate. In a post on X, May-Elin Stener stated, "Representing Norway at swearing in of new Indian govt led by @narendramodi We look forward to continuing strong & robust bilateral relations in areas including #blueeconomy #energy #trade #investments #environment #climate & more!" Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is being attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Narendra Modi, followed by other members of his team of ministers. PM Modi was seen wearing a full-sleeved white kurta with churidar and blue half jacket. Apart from two terms as Prime Minister beginning 2014, Narendra Modi also has the distinction of being the longest-serving Chief Minister of Gujarat with his term spanning from October 2001 to May 2014. As Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister for a third consecutive term, several leaders from the neighbourhood and Indian Ocean attended the oath ceremony on Sunday. Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe; Maldivian President, Mohamed Muizzu; Seychelles Vice-President, Ahmed Afif; Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Bhutan Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, attended the event. These leaders also met Prime Minister Modi on stage later in the day. Dahal, Wickremesinghe, Tobgay, Muizzu, Jugnauth, Ahmed Afif, and Sheikh Hasina also greeted President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar on stage. All the leaders also posed for a group picture. Most of these leaders were among the first global leaders to congratulate PM Modi after victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Highlighting the significance of the event, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday said, "The visit of the leaders to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his third consecutive term is in keeping with the highest priority accorded by India to its 'Neighbourhood First' policy and 'SAGAR' vision." (ANI) As Narendra Modi took oath as the Prime Minister for the third consecutive term, a number of global events are lined up, where India''s participation will play a crucial role in shaping geopolitics. India has emerged as a strong voice in the past decade. PM Modi has prioritised positioning India as the ''Voice of the Global South'' with the ''Vishwa Bandhu'' approach. The G20 Summit was held under India''s presidency with the theme of ''Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam''. Here are the major events that will take place in recent months after Modi 3.0 taking charge: BRICS Foreign Ministers Meeting The first assignment for India''s foreign policy will come with the BRICS Foreign Ministers'' meeting which is scheduled to take place on June 10-11, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia, with participation from foreign ministers of the member states. BRICS is an intergovernmental organisation comprising 10 nations. The organisation includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Four new countries: Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates joined the grouping as full members last year. Russia took over the chairmanship of BRICS on January 1, 2024. The Ministry of External Affairs recently said that BRICS is an important platform and India looks forward to participation in meetings organized by Russia as BRICS chair this year. G7 Summit 2024 The next big assignment for India will come with the Group of Seven (G7) Summit 2024 in Italy, scheduled from June 13 to 15. Prime Minister Modi will himself participate in the event. Italian PM Giorgia Meloni invited Prime Minister Modi to the summit in April. The Group of Seven (G7) is an informal forum that brings together Italy, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America. The European Union also participates in the Group and is represented at the summits by the President of the European Council and the President of the European Commission. Italy assumed the Presidency of the G7 for the seventh time on January 1 this year. The Italian Presidency will last till December 31, 2024. Swiss Peace Summit The global peace summit in Switzerland aims to chart a path to the resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This is another big global event, which is scheduled to take place on June 15-16. It is pertinent to note that India has not confirmed its presence at the event. The summit is part of Ukraine''s ongoing effort to secure diplomatic support for its 10-point peace plan announced in November 2022, which includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops and accountability for war crimes committed by Russia. The summit is the highest-level event yet in Ukraine''s "peace formula" initiative. It follows four lower-level conferences held since June 2023. Ukraine expects attendees at the summit to develop an action plan on three key aspects of its 10-point peace plan. The first point, free navigation, involves protecting port infrastructure in the Black Sea and global food security. The second focus is energy and nuclear security, which includes an end to strikes on Ukraine''s critical infrastructure. And the third focus will be the exchange of captives and the return of children illegally abducted to Russia. In a recent press conference, the Ministry of External Affairs said that India has received an invitation from the Swiss side, but the decision regarding participation is still pending. US Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Switzerland for the summit. China has indicated that it might not attend the Ukraine Peace Summit set to be held in Switzerland. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that they have confirmation from 106 countries regarding participation in the summit. The Russia-Ukraine conflict -- that started on February 24, 2022, after Moscow launched ''special military operations'' against Kyiv -- has dragged on for over three years and has caused heavy damage to infrastructure and civilian casualties in both countries. US NSA Jake Sullivan''s India visit United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will be coming to India for an official visit. Recently, during a telephone conversation, US President Joe Biden congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on his third consecutive win in the general elections. The two leaders also discussed about Sullivan''s upcoming visit. Sullivan''s visit aims to engage the new government on shared US-India priorities, including the trusted, strategic technology partnership. SCO Summit in Kazakhstan The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit is scheduled to take place later this year under the presidency of Kazakhstan. India participated in SCO Foreign Minister and Defence Minister meetings earlier this year. MEA Secretary (ER) Dammu Ravi participated in the SCO Foreign Ministers meeting and Defence Secretary Giridhar Aramane participated in the SCO Defence Ministers'' meeting. The SCO, established in Shanghai in June 2001, is an intergovernmental organization primarily focused on regional security concerns and combatting terrorism, ethnic separatism, and religious extremism. In recent years, the SCO has expanded its priorities to include regional development initiatives. India, which was the SCO chair in 2023, held the SCO Leaders Summit this year on July 4 in a virtual format last year. Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is being attended by leaders from India''s neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 240 seats on its own. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. Notably, PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Several leaders and state heads of neighbouring regions and the Indian Ocean region have been invited for PM Modi''s swearing-in ceremony as distinguished guests, a testament to India''s ''Neighbourhood First'' policy. President of Sri Lanka, Ranil Wickremesinghe; President of Maldives, Mohamed Muizzu; Vice-President of Seychelles, Ahmed Afif; Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina; Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal ''Prachanda''; and Prime Minister of Bhutan, Tshering Tobgay attended the event on Sunday. (ANI) Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe; Maldivian President, Mohamed Muizzu; Seychelles Vice-President, Ahmed Afif; Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina; Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth; Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda'; and Bhutan Prime Minister, Tshering Tobgay, attended the event. These leaders also met Prime Minister Modi on stage later in the day. Most of these leaders were among the first global leaders to congratulate PM Modi after victory in the Lok Sabha polls. Norwegian Ambassador to India, May-Elin Stener, Singapore High Commissioner to India, Simon Wong and several other dignitaries also attended the oath ceremony. Prime Minister Modi's invitation to neighbouring leaders reflects India's ongoing efforts to engage with countries in the region. In 2014, he convened leaders from SAARC nations, and in 2019, he invited countries from the BIMSTEC group. India has emerged as a strong voice in the past decade. PM Modi has prioritised positioning India as the 'Voice of the Global South' with the 'Vishwa Bandhu' approach. He has also laid emphasis on cooperation in the Indian Ocean with the SAGAR initiative. The G20 Summit was held under India's presidency with the theme of 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam'. A major accomplishment of the summit was the African Union's inclusion as a permanent member of G20. Narendra Modi took oath as Prime Minister of India for his third successive term on Sunday at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan which is being attended by leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region. The Bharatiya Janata Party-led NDA secured 293 seats in the Lok Sabha elections. BJP won 240 seats on its own. In the 543-strong lower house of the Indian parliament, 272 is the minimum majority figure. Notably, PM Modi is the second Indian leader to win a third term after founding prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru. (ANI) Biden pledges to stop Gaza war escalating in region as hes given state visit to France President Joe Biden vowed on Saturday to push for a ceasefire stop the Israel-Hamas war from escalating into a regional crisis during a state visit to France. "We wont stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached," Biden said at the Elysee presidential palace in Paris. We are redoubling efforts together to avoid a regional explosion, particularly in Lebanon, French presiden Emmanual Macron added. Since October, Israel and the Iran-backed militia movement Hezbollah in Lebanon have been trading cross-border strikes. The comments came as Israel announced it freed four hostages taken by Hamas at a music festival during the militant groups suprise attack on October 7 that ignited Israel-Gaza war. More than 210 Palestinians were reported killed in fighting around Nuseirat, where the rescue occured. The White House has continued to push for a ceasefire in the conflict in Gaza. Brigitte Macron, Joe Biden and Emmanuel Macron,share a toast during a state dinner at the Elysee Palace in Paris (AP) In late May, President Biden unilaterally revealed what he said was an Israel-backed proposal to stop the conflict, seen by observers as an attempt to ratchet up pressure on Israel and Hamas to make a deal. The proposal called for a six week temporary ceasefire, the release of some hostages, and the withdrawal of the Israeli military from populated areas of Gaza, with mediators to seek an eventual permanent end to hostilities. Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in response to the proposal, said he wouldnt agree to a permanent ceasefire in Gaza unless Hamas is no longer in military or government power, a position the group considers a non-starter. The US has consistently voiced its concern over the war effort and the staggering civilian death toll of Israels operations in Gaza, but has continued to arm the US ally, which seems little impacted by White House rhetoric. In May, the State Department concluded it was reasonable to assess Israel used American arms in ways that are inconsistent with international law. The International Criminal Court has also called for the arrest of Netanyahu, one of his government ministers, and the leaders of Hamas, accusing them of war crimes. The White House, earlier this month, warned Israel it might pause weapons shipments if Netanyahu crossed Bidens red line and initiatied a full-scale invasion of Rafah, a southern city where over 1 million Palestinians were forced to flee to as Israel invaded northern Gaza. The US did pause a weapons shipment over its Rafah concerns, but has continued to provide materiel to Israel as its Rafah offensive got underway. As The Independent has reported, the Biden administration also ignored persistent internal and external warnings that Israel was creating a famine in Gaza. The UN warned this week that over 1 million people in Gaza could face famine-like conditions by the middle of this month. Israel has reportedly killed at least 36,000 Palestinians in the conflict so far, the majority of them civilians. Driver killed when pickup truck runs off South Carolina road, Highway Patrol says One person was killed Sunday in an early morning crash on a Midlands road, according to the South Carolina Highway Patrol. The single-vehicle collision happened at about 2 a.m. in Kershaw County, said Master Trooper Mitchell Ridgeway. A 2014 Toyota pickup truck was driving north on Veterans Row, according to Ridgeway. Thats close to U.S. 1 in the Elgin area. Near the intersection with Chestnut Road, the pickup ran off the left side of Veterans Row and crashed into a guard rail, Ridgeway said. The driver died at the scene, according to Ridgeway. The Kershaw County Coroners Office has not publicly identified the driver. No other injuries were reported. There was no word if the driver was wearing a seat belt. Information about what caused the pickup to veer off the road was not available, but the crash continues to be investigated by the Highway Patrol. Through June 2, at least 386 people had died on South Carolina roads in 2024, according to the state Department of Public Safety. Last year, 1,030 people died in crashes in South Carolina, DPS reported. At least four people have died in Kershaw County crashes in 2024, according to DPS data. There were 11 deaths reported in the county in 2023, DPS said. How four Holland third graders designed an all terrain train PARK TWP. A team of students from West Ottawas Lakewood Elementary took home gold medals last week in the Michigan Design Councils 2024 Design Prize Challenge. A student team Cambrea Farner, Finley Soderholm, Ivan Glarner and Abe Kupke guided by teachers Casey Wollenzier and Jennifer Hopkins, took first place in the competition, which culminated with an event in Detroit on Monday, June 3. The students, all in third grade, competed with peers across the state in third, fourth and fifth grades. The challenge this year was to conceptualize a physical product that improves access and mobility for visitors to Michigans National Parks. Cambrea Farner, Finley Soderholm, Ivan Glarner and Abe Kupke, students at Lakewood Elementary, took first place in the Michigan Design Council's 2024 Design Prize Challenge. Farner, Soderholm, Glarner and Kupke came up with The All Terrain Train or T.A.T.T. They described T.A.T.T. as a dune buggy-style train with connecting cars. It has fat boy tires and large retractable windows. The train can run by solar power or an electric charge. Riders are able to get on and off using retractable ramps." Seeing what our students can do is absolutely amazing, Wollenzier wrote in an email to The Sentinel. We have partnered with a variety of groups the last couple of years and every single adult is always blown away by what students come up with. We have some super special design thinkers coming up through the ranks. The future is bright for these students who have no barriers, think outside the box and have passion to design and innovate." Students were invited to participate in the challenge in an after school group through the Ottawa Area ISDs Future PREPd Program. The group met once a week for six weeks to move through the creative sequence observation, investigation, incubation, solutions and validation. Wollenzier said the project started with a trip to Mt. Pisgah in January to emphasize that natural landmarks may not be accessible to everyone. We wanted the kids to feel some empathy about how hard making that climb is, but how beautiful and fun it is, Wollenzier wrote. They did not know our question at that point. Once we returned to school, we then had them guess the driving question and they quickly understood that accessibility at Mt. Pisgah is very limited. The students initial idea was an elevator-style lift. After researching national parks; meeting with a park ranger, engineer and park-goer; working through protocols and making prototypes, they settled on the T.A.T.T as their final solution. Subscribe: Receive unlimited access to your local news coverage Once the team was selected as a finalist, the students worked with a real designer to create a rendering, which they saw for the first time at the awards ceremony. Learn more at michigandesigncouncil.org. Contact reporter Mitchell Boatman at mboatman@hollandsentinel.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: How four Holland third graders designed an all terrain train San Luis Obispo hit 91 degrees on Tuesday, the first time this year that the city reached at least 90 degrees, while Santa Maria recorded an 81-degree reading, its first 80-plus-degree mark of the year. Paso Robles reached 104 on Wednesday, its first triple-digit temperature in 2024. To the southeast of the Central Coast, Death Valley reported 122 degrees, besting the daily high-temperature record of 121 set in 1996 on Thursday, while Phoenix hit 113, beating the previous daily record of 111 set in 2016. Next week will be a different story. For most of this week, cooler conditions are expected. A trough of low pressure over the Central Coast will produce moderate northwesterly winds and a deep marine layer June gloom with below-seasonal temperatures through Thursday. A significant shift in the weather pattern will occur Friday into next Sunday as northwesterly winds and fog free skies with warmer conditions developing. A trough of low pressure along the California coastline for most of this week will produce moderate to fresh (13 to 24 mph) northwesterly winds during the afternoon, decreasing during the night and morning, which will allow a deep marine layer with pockets of fog and mist to develop during the overnight. The marine layer will clear from the inland valleys (Paso Robles) in the morning, the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo) by the early afternoon, and many beach communities by the late afternoon. However, a few coastal locations will remain overcast throughout the day. Temperatures over this period will reach the low to mid-80s in the inland valleys, while the coastal valleys will see cooler temperatures, ranging in the low to mid-70s. The beach communities will experience the coolest temperatures, with highs in the low 60s. Moderate gale-force to fresh gale-force (32 to 46 mph with gusts to 55 mph) afternoon northwesterly winds along the coastline will mix out the temperature inversion layer, leaving behind clear skies throughout San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties on Friday through next Sunday. Over this period, high temperatures will reach the high 80s in the inland valleys (Paso Robles), high 70s in the coastal valleys (San Luis Obispo), and 60s along the beaches, except for Cayucos, Avila Beach and Shell Beach which will reach the mid-70s. Surf report A 3- to 5-foot northwesterly (290-degree deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 14-second period) is forecast along the Central Coast on Saturday, becoming a 5- to 7-foot northwesterly (305-degree deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 13-second period) on Sunday as strong northwesterly winds developed off the coastline. This sea and swell will lower to 4- to 6-feet (with a 7- to 12-second period) on Monday. A 4- to 6-foot northwesterly (295-degree deep-water) swell (with an 8- to 11-second period) is forecast on Tuesday and will remain at this level through Thursday. Gale-force northwesterly along the Northern and Central California coastline winds will generate a 9- to 11-foot northwesterly (310-degree deep-water) sea and swell (with a 5- to 8-second period) on Friday into next Sunday. Combined with this northwesterly sea and swell, will be 1- to 2-foot southern hemisphere (205-degree deep-water) swell (with a 15- to 19-second period) on Saturday through Friday. Seawater temperatures will range between 54 and 57 degrees through Thursday, decreasing to 49 to 52 degrees on Friday through next Sunday. On this date in weather history (June 9): 1953 - A tornado hit the town of Worcester MA killing ninety persons. The northeastern states usually remain free of destructive tornadoes, however in this case a low-pressure system, responsible for producing severe thunderstorms in Michigan and Ohio the previous day, brought severe weather to New Hampshire and central Massachusetts. The tornado, up to a mile in width at times, tracked 46 miles through Worcester County. It mangled steel towers built to withstand winds of 375 mph. Debris from the tornado fell in the Boston area, and adjacent Atlantic Ocea. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel) 1987 - Lightning struck Tire Mountain near Denver, destroying two million tires out of a huge pile of six million tires. Thunderstorms spawned three tornadoes around Denver, and a man was killed at Conifer, Colorado, when strong thunderstorm winds lifted a porch and dropped it on him. A thunderstorm near Compton, Maryland, produced 2-inch hail, and high winds which destroyed 20 barns and 10 houses, injuring five persons. 2020 - San Luis Obispo hit 94 degrees, breaking the old record of 92 set back in 1973. Santa Maria also reported 94 degrees but did not break the record of 96 set in 1979. Paso Robles checked in with another 94-degree reading but was well short of the 106-record set in 1994. The Point Buchon weather station along the coastline reached 84 degrees. This weeks temperatures LOWS AND HIGHS, PASO ROBLES SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 50, 80 49, 82 53, 86 53, 82 51, 81 52, 85 53, 87 52, 88 LOWS AND HIGHS, SAN LUIS OBISPO AND COASTAL VALLEYS SUN MON TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN 52, 70 53, 72 55, 75 54, 73 54, 71 53, 76 54, 77 54, 78 John Lindsey is a retired PG&E marine meteorologist. Email him at JohnLindseyLosOsos@gmail.com or follow him on Twitter @PGE_John. Its been a while since I left the Alamogordo Daily News, heading west over the Organ Mountains to Las Cruces. But now Im back, 17 years later, just like the cicadas. In case you hadnt heard, El Rito Media, a New Mexico-based group of investors, purchased the Alamogordo News June 1, along with the Ruidoso News and the Carlsbad Current-Argus. The El Rito folks hired me to lead the transition in both Alamogordo and Ruidoso. Harvey Yates of Artesia, one of those investors, knows the mission to revive local newspapers in these communities is a formidable challenge. And the Alamogordo News wont soon look anything like it did when I left in 2007. Back then we had about 35 employees, printed our newspapers on site, and had a legion of carriers delivering the newspaper door-to-door. Richard Coltharp, publisher of the Alamogordo Daily News But Yates and a dedicated group of others, including myself, believe the challenge is worth making. After all, a free press is something protected in our Constitutions First Amendment and, we believe, something very important to a free society and especially a small community. And so, we are making the first baby steps of bringing these newspapers back. It will not be easy. I love the fact the Alamogordo News is once again New Mexico-owned. That has not been the case since Alamogordoans Aubrey Dunn and Billie Holder sold the newspaper to the Donrey Media Group in 1983. While I am forever grateful Donrey brought me to southern New Mexico in 1995, I was always a bit saddened knowing so many of the companys profits went back to Donrey headquarters in Fort Smith, Arkansas. Subsequent ownerships have sent proceeds to Birmingham, Alabama; Denver, Colorado; McLean, Virginia; and who knows where else, frequently benefiting shareholders who may not even know New Mexico is one of the 50 United States. But El Rito is a company that not only is New Mexico-based, its executives can tell you the subtle differences in their favorite red or green enchiladas around the state, and can tell you without hesitation their favorite green chile cheeseburger. Since I returned and have visited with people in the Alamogordo and Ruidoso areas, I have been pleasantly surprised at the incredible amount of work being done in these communities to make life better for their citizens. When you drive by a place along the highway, you cant know the passion going on inside those buildings every day, motivating people to improve. I see that everywhere here, whether its the dedicated airmen at Holloman Air Force Base, moviemakers in Alamogordo, small business owners in Ruidoso, or charitable event organizers in Tularosa. Its been wonderful re-connecting with old friends and meeting new ones. A frequent question people have asked is: What are the most striking changes you see in Alamogordo? Thankfully, there are a lot of great things that are still the same, but heres a list of things that are gone or drastically changed. The water tower on the campus of the New Mexico School for the Blind and Visually Impaired. Sadly, many of the beautiful cottonwood trees that adorned Alameda Park for the better part of a century, are now reduced to stumps. The El Camino Mexican restaurant on White Sands Boulevard, whose unique red enchiladas I consumed on many a Friday afternoon. Hastings, which I always viewed as the cultural center of Alamogordo, and regularly took my money for books, music and even the Batman steering wheel cover that was on my Zia yellow Nissan Xterra for 21 years. Perhaps saddest of all, Kids Kingdom. I worked on that project the first month I arrived, back in 1995, and it remains one of the best examples of what this community can do when it works together. There are also a number of really good things that have arrived in Alamogordo since I left, including the following items. A burgeoning number of tempting food trucks. Live music, seemingly everywhere, including at the Wine Down Wednesdays at Heart of the Desert Pistachios Another place that features both food trucks and live music, and may have replaced Hastings as Alamogordos cultural center: 575 Brewing Company. The recognition of the national Altus Trophy, which formalizes what weve always known: Holloman and Alamogordo is among the best base-and-community partnerships in America. Another thing that has changed is me. Im about 15 percent heavier, and my hairs about 85 percent whiter. I told someone recently Its great seeing these Alamogordo folks again. Theyve got the same great smiles and energy. Only thing is, people are a little grayer up top and a bit slower in their walk. My friend replied, Have you looked in the mirror lately, Richard? Between Alamogordo and Las Cruces, Richard Coltharp has practiced journalism in southern New Mexico for 29 years. You can reach him by phone or text at 575-439-7548. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: Looking back, looking ahead Tens of millions of people were voting across Europe on Sunday in pivotal elections expected to shift the European Union's parliament to the right amid increased nationalism, populism and politically motivated violence. Polls suggest the EU's center-right ruling coalition will maintain its majority but will lose seats to populist and far-right parties, including those that lead governments in Italy, Hungary and Slovakia, according to the Associated Press. "Right is good," hardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban told reporters after casting his ballot. "To go right is always good. Go right!" Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EU's rotating presidency until the end of the month, warned that Europe was "at a crossroads" and "more under pressure than ever" after voting in the Flanders region. Major issues facing voters who will elect 720 members to the European Parliament in Brussels include Russia's war against Ukraine, immigration and the cost of efforts to stem climate change. The parliament plans to issue an EU-wide exit poll around 6:30 p.m. GMT, or 2:30 p.m. ET in the U.S., and the first provisional result after voting ends in Italy at 9 p.m. GMT, or 5 p.m. ET, according to Reuters. The four-day voting period began Thursday in the Netherlands, with other countries in the 27-nation bloc opening their polls on Friday, Saturday or Sunday, when the bulk of ballots are expected to be cast. The youth vote could be crucial to the results, with 16-year-olds voting for the first time in Germany and Belgium, which this year joined Austria and Malta in allowing teens that young to cast ballots, according to the BBC. There are an estimated 1.4 million 16- and 17-year-olds eligible to vote in Germany. The far-right Alternative for Germany party has claimed success in attracting young males through online campaigns on TikTok and other social media websites, the BBC reported. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, right, greets Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, before giving his address in the House Chamber on opening day of the regular legislative session, Monday, March 11, 2024, at the Louisiana State Capitol in Baton Rouge. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, right, greets Rep. Raymond Crews, R-Bossier City, before giving his address in the House Chamber on opening day of the regular legislative session, March 11, 2024, at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge. (John Ballance/The Advocate, Pool) Louisiana legislators spent nearly five months debating, bargaining and deal-making over the course of two special and one regular law-making sessions. Lawmakers went home exhausted, while lobbyists and assorted stakeholders counted a mixed bag of victories and defeats. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry emerged with a slate of victories for his arch-conservative agenda but didnt escape unscathed. Most notably, the governor didnt get the constitutional convention he requested or broad public records exemptions. Still, Landry didnt exactly leave the Capitol empty handed once lawmakers adjourned for good Monday evening. He will soon hold more power than any other Louisiana governor has exercised in decades. Lets look at who else prevailed during the 60-workday regular session, as well as those who came up short. VICTOR: Jeff Landry Its long been said that Louisianas governor is all powerful, but it apparently wasnt enough for Landry. At his urging, lawmakers approved five bills expanding the governors authority to close off his offices records from public scrutiny. Assuming he signs the legislation, Landry will now have more control over who leads hundreds of state boards and commissions, including high-profile public university and college board chairs. He will also be able to stack the state Board of Ethics with more of his own direct appointees. Information on the governors whereabouts will also be kept private under a new set of laws. At Landrys request, legislators approved bills to withhold records and information about the Governors Mansion from the public. People seeking documents from the governors office will also now have to be state residents. Those living outside of Louisiana including journalists, businesses, policy experts and researchers will face barriers toward accessing information about the governor and his activities. Landry will also be able to deny public access to information he deems a security risk for him or his family. A student at Ben Franklin High School in New Orleans wears a mask with the transgender Pride flag painted on it Friday, March 31, 2023. VANQUISHED: LGBTQ+ youth After years of gubernatorial rejection of anti-LGBTQ+ proposals, several bills that seek to limit discussion of LGBTQ+ identity and restrict what bathrooms transgender people can will become law. The Legislature easily passed a bill to restrict discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public schools and one to prohibit transgender and nonbinary youth from using their preferred names and pronouns even if they legally change them in public schools. Another bill restricts what bathrooms, changing rooms and sleeping quarters transgender people can use in public facilities. Critics have repeatedly warned the bills could have a detrimental impact on vulnerable LGBTQ+ youth. Louisiana deserves better than laws that undermine the dignity of its youth, Peyton Rose Michelle, executive director of Louisiana Trans Advocates, said in a statement. VICTOR: Correctional facilities Louisiana lawmakers put a lot of money toward prisons and jails, bringing the state budget in line with Gov. Jeff Landrys tough-on-crime agenda. Legislators took $157.6 million out of a state savings account to spend on criminal justice and public safety projects. Approximately $100 million of the funding is expected to go to local and state juvenile justice facilities. Additionally, local police agencies will receive $1.2 million to incarcerate people under 17. The Louisiana Office of Juvenile Justice also received $11.3 million for private security and $5.8 million to hire staff at the Swanson Center for Youth, a recently renovated juvenile prison in Monroe. The state prison system also gets an additional $9.2 million for staff, benefits and compensation as well as $9.8 million for an offender management system and software. The state is also spending $9.9 million to install fiber optics at four prisons. VANQUISHED: Early childhood education Legislators cut $9 million out of early childhood education programs. That equates to losing approximately 800 of the current 16,000 seats, according to advocates. VICTOR: State police Louisiana State Police has received significantly more funding in the new state budget. Troopers will get raises worth $9 million, and patrol personnel will see a 50-cent-per-hour wage increase to $5 per hour for work abnormal hours. That will cost the state $3.2 million. Landry is also adding a new state police troop in New Orleans, a $10 million expense. VICTOR/VANQUISHED: Higher education With new laws that give colleges more financial autonomy, higher education is going into the potential 2025 fiscal cliff with more tools to make it through the hard times. A long-fought battle, giving faculty and staff the ability to seek better retirement options, provides more financial flexibility to long-time employees. But a proposal that would allow the governor to select the chairs of higher education governing boards has the potential to introduce even more politics into higher education, and a bill requiring an accounting of all diversity, equity and inclusion programs signals future restriction on that front. A technician performs an ultrasound scan on the abdomen of a patient VANQUISHED: Pregnant people Lawmakers refused to pass legislation doctors supported to help them manage miscarriages under the states strict abortion ban. Physicians have consistently complained Louisianas abortion law could interfere with pregnancy care by not giving them enough flexibility to treat pregnancies that have gone wrong. Additionally, lawmakers passed a law to classify two drugs used to treat a variety of pregnancy conditions as controlled dangerous substances. Mifepristone and misoprostol are used to administer an abortion with medication, but they also help manage miscarriages of wanted pregnancies and to induce labor. The new classification of the drugs could make them more difficult to access. VICTOR: Anti-abortion movement Anti-abortion advocates were not only able to shut down all legislation to add flexibility to the state abortion ban, they also got lawmakers to allocate $4 million to anti-abortion pregnancy resource centers. Its more public money than those organizations have received in the past. Rules for how the $4 million in state funding can be spent are also more flexible than those for federal dollars the centers used to receive. Anti-abortion advocates were also able to push back on efforts to update the states in vitro fertilization laws. Fertility treatment advocates wanted to remove a description of embryos as human beings from the state law to ensure IVF remains available in the state, but opponents were uncomfortable with the language change. VANQUISHED: Public schools and teachers For the second straight year, lawmakers chose not to advance a revised formula for the Minimum Foundation Program, which determines how much money the state provides per pupil to public schools. The ripple effect for local school districts could mean they have to pony up more of their money to support their schools. It will also be two years in a row that public school teachers and staff received $2,000 and $1,000 stipends, respectively. This is lieu of a permanent raise that Republican legislative leaders avoided, citing a pending state revenue shortfall. Critics said the temporary pay bump shows the continued lack of lawmakers commitment to education. Public schools would also see less money once Louisiana adopts an education savings account program. The Legislature agreed to have the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education set up the framework needed for families to use public money on private schools, but it did not commit any dollars for the actual vouchers. The earliest such spending could take place in the 2025-26 school year. A person seated in a library reads the book "Gender Queer," with the book obscuring their face. VICTOR/VANQUISHED: Libraries Ultra-conservative lawmakers walked into the session with a slew of proposals to criminalize librarians. While the most extreme proposals stalled, two that play off the library culture wars currently waging in Louisiana are headed to the governors desk. In a surprise move in the final days of session, the Senate passed a bill to allow parish library systems hire directors who are not certified librarians. Senators added language that House committee rejected to allow library board members to be dismissed without cause. The revived language is a response to some parish governing authorities who have sought to remove library board members opposed to becoming allies in their conservative culture wars. VICTOR: Domestic violence survivors Landry removed $7 million domestic violence shelters expected to receive from his initial state budget proposal, but legislators added the funding back. The money, which the shelters had received last year, is being used to add shelter beds and provide programs for children. VANQUISHED: Constitutional convention Louisiana looks a lot less likely to hold a constitutional convention this year. Landry initially pitched having the event at the end of the regular session, but lawmakers were unwilling to go along with that proposal. The governor then got on board with the idea to hold a convention in August, which would have allowed the proposed new version of the constitution to appear on the November ballot. Senators werent willing to go along with that proposal either, however. The Legislature adjourned without any firm commitment to hold a convention, so its not clear the event will happen. VICTOR: Louisiana seafood Reports of a struggling local seafood industry priced out by cheap foreign catch spurred lawmakers to pass sweeping changes. They untangled a confusing patchwork of laws that were not being enforced. Every restaurant and eatery in Louisiana that serves shrimp or crawfish will now have to state explicitly and clearly, either on menus or a sign at the entrance, where the product comes from even when it is domestic. This is an enhanced version of a 2019 law that required such disclosures only from restaurants that serve imported shrimp or crawfish, a provision many restaurants have ignored with impunity. The new law should help limit vague or misleading dish descriptions on menus. Violations will carry fines of up to $2,000. Pile of shrimp sitting on table on a boat Another aspect of the law applies to seafood wholesalers and grocers. It prohibits misleading packaging or marketing that uses Louisiana-related images and phrases on any foreign seafood products sold in Louisiana. Foreign companies can continue to use such marketing if they indicate the seafoods country of origin on the front of the package. The legislation also empowers state agencies to test commercial seafood for banned veterinary chemicals and issue heavy fines for any misrepresentations of a seafood products origin. The law also requires all school districts, state agencies and state institutions that serve seafood use only domestic shrimp and crawfish. The changes take effect Jan. 1, 2025. VICTOR/VANQUISHED: Government transparency The session saw an unprecedented number of bills that threatened to weaken or outright repeal major elements of the Louisiana Public Records Law, which allows citizens to examine and copy government documents a core element of a transparent democracy. Among them was a measure from Sen. Heather Cloud, R-Ville Platte, that would have almost entirely negated the public records law, and a proposal by Rep. Michael Melerine, R-Shreveport, that would have exempted the governor from having to follow the law. Neither made it through the Legislature. Lawmakers did pass a bill from Rep. Steven Jackson, D-Shreveport, that will allow local governments to withhold economic development records from the public for up to two years, including any expenses related to business negotiations. VANQUISHED: Disabled veterans A controversial new law stems from an often misunderstood issue involving military veteran disability benefits and loopholes in federal law that have created an unregulated industry. Upstart businesses have made windfall off of claims consulting, a practice that is illegal under federal law but difficult to enforce. Tons of non-accredited claims consulting companies offer to assist veterans in getting higher disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs in exchange for a percentage of their payments. The assistance involves telling veterans how to fill out forms, a service available for free from many VA-accredited organizations such as the American Legion. Landry allowed the bill to become law by neither signing nor vetoing it despite strong opposition from his own state VA secretary and a long list of veteran service organizations such as the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars and Disabled American Veterans. VICTOR: The anti-vax crowd Armed with medical misinformation, Rep. Kathy Edmonston, R-Baton Rouge, succeeded in gaining approval for two measures that reinforce parents existing ability to let their school-age children opt out of mandated vaccinations. One specifically singles out the COVID-19 on the state-approved list for required immunization. Current law already allows families to bypass any vaccine for medical or religious reasons. The other proposal calls on schools to notify parents that their children can forego vaccines. Critics note theres no corresponding information going out to families explaining how vaccines work or the importance in limiting outbreaks of highly contagious diseases. Both of Edmondstons bills are on the governors desk. A sign noting the acceptance of electronic benefit transfer (EBT) cards that are used by state welfare departments to issue benefits is displayed at a grocery store on Dec. 4, 2019 in Oakland, California. VICTOR/VANQUISHED: Hungry families Lawmakers stood up to the governor and included $3.6 million in the state budget to pull down $71 million more from Washington to provide summertime food assistance for students. David Matlock, Landrys secretary for the Department of Child and Family Services, said in February the program doesnt lead Louisiana recipients toward the path to self-sufficiency. Hogwash was the response from Rep. Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, after being told DCFS and the state education department werent able to coordinate efforts to dole out the food assistance this summer. McFarland, the Legislatures lead author on the state budget, and Senate President Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, saw to it that the Legislature provided the money needed, although the governor could still issue a line-item veto to remove it. Landry has already rejected two bills that would have allowed the state to provide grants and loans to grocers that want to open stores in the states food deserts. Sen. Royce Duplessis, D-New Orleans, and Rep. Edmond Jordan, D-Baton Rouge, each sponsored a version of the Healthy Food Retail Act. In his veto message for both proposals, the governor noted lawmakers had not appropriated any money for the loans and grants and labeled the bills unfunded mandates. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Louisiana legislative session 2024: Victors and the vanquished appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) and late night host Bill Maher differed in their opinions on whether President Biden can win reelection on Mahers show Friday. Hes actually the only American thats ever beat [former President Trump] in an election, Fetterman said on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher when the host asked him about if Biden is the best one for Democrats to put forward, in a clip highlighted by Mediaite. Fetterman later added that he thinks Biden is the only Democrat that could win. I do believe Joe Biden has that ability to win, Fetterman said to Maher. And we have a great we have a great bench, but I think its a very distinct kind of situation right now. Maher then remarked that he was surprised at that, but that he would move on. Im not on the same page there, but okay, Maher said. I mean, its probably gonna be Joe Biden and Ill vote for him. The Pennsylvania Democrat has staunchly defended Biden ahead of this years presidential election, once pushing back against those in his own party who have heightened their criticism of the president ahead of November, stating that they might as well put on a MAGA hat. I dont understand why, Fetterman said on Morning Joe on MSNBC. I dont know whats in it for you to do that whether youre just chasing clout or you want to make it in the news or anything like that. But if youre not willing to just support the president now and say these kinds of things, you might as well just get your MAGA hat, because you now are helping Trump with this. Earlier in the MSNBC interview, Fetterman said Biden is going to win here in Pennsylvania, and Ive always believed that whoever wins Pennsylvania is going to be the next president as well, too. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The MAGA speakers who preceded Donald Trump at his Las Vegas rally evoked religious language to describe their leader. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene compared Trump to Jesus, saying that the messiah was also a convicted felon. The Democrats and the fake news media want to constantly talk about President Trump is a convicted felon,' the congresswoman told the crowd. Well, you want to know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon. And he was murdered on a Roman cross. Greene: The Democrats and the fake news media want to talk about Trump is a convicted felon. You want to know something? The man that I worship is also a convicted felon. And he was murdered on a Roman cross pic.twitter.com/R4a4JQKvvc Acyn (@Acyn) June 9, 2024 This isnt Greenes first time saying Trump is just like Jesus. On the day of Trumps New York arrest in April 2023, Greene told Right Side Broadcasting Network, Trump is joining some of the most incredible people in history being arrested today. Nelson Mandela was arrested, served time in prison. Jesus Jesus was arrested and murdered by the Roman government. She continued, There have been many people throughout history that have been arrested and persecuted by radical, corrupt governments, and its beginning today in New York City. I just cant believe its happening, but Ill always support him. Hes done nothing wrong. Another speaker at Trumps Vegas rally, Nevada Republican Party Chair Michael McDonald, likened Trump to God. What more can be said than, thank God were here in Sunset Park to worship and bring back the greatest president weve ever known in our generation. Michael McDonald, chair of the Nevada Republican Party, admits people are at the Trump rally in Vegas today to "worship" him pic.twitter.com/nPYdJdGSpZ Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 9, 2024 Attendees at the rally will need a miracle if they want to keep cool. Las Vegas temperatures are expected to exceed 100 degrees on Sunday, and many rally seats appear to be in areas with little to no shade. Rally organizers are handing out water bottles as attendees wait in line to help prevent dehydration. The campaign told The Washington Post that ample medical staff will be present. They added that limited tent space with shade and air conditioning will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. According to Climate Central, human-caused climate change is responsible for the recent unusually warm temperatures in the southwest United States. Trump, however, has repeatedly denied the impact of climate change. When Trump spoke in Phoenix last Thursday, temperatures reached 110 degrees in the city, and 11 people were transported to the hospital with heat exhaustion, according to fire department officials. More from Rolling Stone Best of Rolling Stone Vladimir Putin has warned that Europe is defenceless and unprepared for a nuclear conflict with Russia. In a typically bellicose speech at the St Petersburg Economic Forum this week, Putin also predicted that Nato would fail to protect Europe in a war with Russia. Europe does not have a developed early warning system. In this sense they are more or less defenceless, he said, sitting on stage alongside Luis Arce, Bolivias president, and Emmerson Mnangagwa, Zimbabwes president. Putin has previously boasted of Russias nuclear arsenal but he intensified his rhetoric this week at the forum, held as Nato allies marked the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings at Normandy. This included using one of his first interviews with Western media to claim that he had no intention of attacking Nato, although he also said that he was prepared to arm allies of Russia with long-range missiles to strike Europe. During his four-hour speech and question and answer session on Friday at the end of the business-orientated forum, the moderator asked Putin if he should hold a nuclear pistol to the West. A Russian RS-24 Yars missile launcher during the Victory Day parade at Red Square in Moscow, on May 9 - Getty Images Europe The use is possible in an exceptional case, in the event of a threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. I dont think that such a case has come. There is no such need, replied Putin. The Russian president has unnerved commentators in the West by testing missiles that can be armed with a nuclear warhead. Russian media has also talked up the possibility of the Kremlin test-firing its first nuclear weapon since 1990, a threat that Putin repeated on Friday. If necessary, we will conduct tests. So far, there is no need for this, he said. With his forces on the offensive in Ukraine, Western politicians squabbling over military aid for Kyiv and the successful purge of Russias Ministry of Defence, blamed for the botched initial invasion of Ukraine, Putin has appeared more relaxed and confident in the past month. And Russians milling around outside the main forum hall said that Putin was a hero who had saved Russia. Many were queuing to buy T-shirts branded with his quotes justifying his war in Ukraine. Although economists have warned that Russian GDP growth is premised mainly on military spending, Putin boasted that Western sanctions had failed to dent Russias economy and he was strengthening Russias ties with countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. Russian soldiers training to use nuclear weapons, in the country's southern military district, in May - Russian Defence Ministry/REUTERS Positive macroeconomic trends are gaining momentum, he said. This will allow our country to keep its place among the leading economies of the world. As well as pushing his nuclear threat, Putin used the forum to promote his two daughters who gave speeches on Thursday and Friday. Maria Vorontsova, 39, is a genetics researcher; Katerina Tikhonova, 37, is a tech investor. Putin has never publicly acknowledged the two women as his daughters and this was the first time they had both attended the business forum. Russia's missile forces holding a tactical nuclear weapons drill in the southern military district of the country - AFP Analysts said that the appearance of Putins two daughters did not mean that they were being groomed for power but did fit a pattern of promotion for the children of Kremlin insiders. Ksenia Shoigu, daughter of Putins loyal former defence minister, also took part in panel events at the forum and last month Putin promoted Dmitry Patrushev, son of former Security Council secretary Nikolai Patrushev, to become a deputy prime minister. The rise of the princess, children of representatives of the political elite has begun, said Yevgeny Minchenko, a political scientist whos worked with the Kremlin. Follow the latest updates below 12:40 PM BST Thats all for today Thank you for following our live coverage. The key developments were: Vladimir Putin has said Europe is defenceless against nukes and that his country has many more than the continent. The Ukrainian Ground Forces reported that soldiers from the 47th Mechanised Brigade are holding back at least three Russian combat brigades on the Pokrovsk front. The Ukrainian Ground Forces reported that soldiers from the 47th Mechanised Brigade are holding back at least three Russian combat brigades on the Pokrovsk front. Lord Cameron was the victim of a hoax video call and messages from someone claiming to be the former president of Ukraine, it has emerged. Ukrainian air defence and mobile drone hunters groups shot down nine out of 13 Russian drones over four regions of the country, the air force said on Saturday. 11:56 AM BST Ukrainian drones spotted over North Ossetia 11:43 AM BST Russia says not cutting off dialogue on nuclear arsenal Russia will keep dialogue lines open with nuclear powers, but will respond accordingly if the United States deploys more strategic nuclear weapons, foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova has said. Her comments to state news agency RIA followed a statement from Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday that the country could make adjustments to its nuclear doctrine. That prompted a speech by a White House aide who said that the United States may have to deploy more strategic nuclear weapons in coming years to deter growing threats from Russia, China and other adversaries. We did not stop any dialogue with anyone. We did not cut ties. We did not, by the way, cut energy ties. We did not cut off dialogue platforms, Ms Zakharova said. We have always declared that even in the most difficult situations there is room for dialogue ... Therefore, there is no sense in calling us to dialogue, we have never refused it. Pranay Vaddi, the top US National Security Council arms control official, made his comments in a speech on a more competitive approach to arms control. 11:21 AM BST One Ukrainian brigade holds back three Russian brigades on Pokrovsk front The Ukrainian Ground Forces have reported that soldiers from the 47th Mechanised Brigade are holding back at least three Russian combat brigades on the Pokrovsk front. Here, the enemy is trying to advance into the depths of our territory. Soldiers of the 47th Mechanised Brigade are holding back at least three Russian combat brigades, the Ukrainian Ground Forces said. With huge reserves of manpower, the Russians quickly replenish their huge losses and throw [new soldiers] into battle again and again. The fighting does not cease for a moment. 10:52 AM BST Pictured: Aftermath of Lugansk attack Rescuers work at the site of a missile attack in Lugansk, Russian-controlled Ukraine - STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images A Ukrainian missile strike on the Russian-controlled city of Lugansk on June 7 ripped through a block of flats, killing four and injuring over 40, Russia-appointed officials said - STRINGER/AFP via Getty Images 10:35 AM BST Russia jails French citizen detained on charges of collecting military data A court in Moscow has ordered a French citizen accused of collecting information on military issues in Russia be held in jail pending investigation and trial. Laurent Vinatier was arrested in the Russian capital on Thursday as tensions have flared between Moscow and Paris following French president Emmanuel Macrons statements about the possibility of deploying the countrys troops in Ukraine. The authorities accused Mr Vinatier of failing to register as a foreign agent while collecting information about Russias military and military-technical activities, which could be used to the detriment of the countrys security. They did not provide details of the accusations beyond alleging that Mr Vinatier repeatedly travelled to Russia to collect this information. Under Russian law, it is a criminal offence punishable by up to five years in prison. The judge ordered Mr Vinatier to be remanded in pre-trial detention until Aug. 5. Vinatier is an adviser with the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, a Geneva-based non governmental organisation, which said it was doing everything possible to assist our colleague Lauren. The charges against Mr Vinatier stem from a recently adopted law that requires anyone who collects information on military issues to register with authorities as a foreign agent. Human rights activists have criticised the law and other legislation adopted lately as part of a multi-pronged Kremlin crackdown on independent media and political activists intended to stifle criticism of its actions in Ukraine. 10:17 AM BST Russia destroys three Ukrainian drones over North Ossetia, local head says Russian air defence units destroyed three Ukrainian drones on Saturday in Russias town of Mozdok in the Republic of North OssetiaAlania, regional head Sergey Meniaylo said. It was the first drone attack on the region, Russian news agencies reported. Mr Meniaylo, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that the attack had caused minor damage and fires, and that no one was injured. The drone was aimed to attack a military airfield, he added. 10:00 AM BST Listen: Russia opens new front in war on West 09:45 AM BST Lord Cameron victim of hoax call from former Ukrainian president By Nick Gutteridge, chief political correspondent Lord Cameron has been the victim of a hoax video call and messages from someone claiming to be the former president of Ukraine, it has emerged. The Government has made public what happened to stave off any attempts to manipulate video footage of the Foreign Secretary from the communications. A statement from the Foreign Office said a number of text messages were exchanged followed by a brief video call between the Foreign Secretary and someone purporting to be Petro Poroshenko, former president of Ukraine. Mr Poroshenko served as Ukrainian president between 2014 and 2019, and has remained a prominent figure in the country since leaving office. Lord Cameron is said to have become suspicious and terminated the call when the hoaxer asked for the contact details of fellow members of the Government. It is understood that the call took place in the last few days. The Telegraph understands that he was also keen to publicise the hoax to warn other of the risk. Read more 09:42 AM BST Ukrainian men abroad can now register for military service at foreign consulates Ukrainian conscripts and reservists living abroad for more than three months can now register for military service at foreign consulates, Ukraines Defense Ministry announced on June 7. Previously, military conscripts living abroad for more than three months needed to visit a military registration office inside Ukrainian territory. Ukraine has made steps to update the legal framework around conscription to ramp up mobilization over the past year, with Volodymyr Zelensky signing a new law on mobilization on April 16. 09:39 AM BST Ukraine air defence downs 9 out of 13 Russian drones over four regions Ukrainian air defence and mobile drone hunters groups shot down nine out of 13 Russian drones over four regions of the country, the air force said on Saturday. The Iranian-made Shahed drones were downed over the central Poltava region, southeastern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and the Kharkiv region in the northeast, the statement said. One X-59 Russian missile launched from Russias Kursk region was also downed. Serhiy Lysak, Dnipropetrovsk regional governor, said the overnight drone attack damaged commercial and residential buildings and also a power line. Details of the damage in other regions were not immediately clear. 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. As of July 1, Iowa will officially purge the longstanding state divisions for the status of women, of African-Americans, of Latinos, of Asian and Pacific Islanders, of Native Americans and of people with disabilities. Also gone will be the related state commissions that helped set policies and priorities. Those are among the 67 commissions slated for extinction representing marginalized and underrepresented communities, including people with autism, children with special health needs, aging adults and more. If purge conjures up the statewide book bans already in effect, its no coincidence. The goals overlap: to stifle the lessons, experiences and histories of marginalized communities and to take away their voices and seats at the table. Also vanishing as of July 1 will be a gender-balance requirement in effect since 1987 the nations first requiring proportional representation by men and women on state boards and commissions. The state Legislature and Gov. Kim Reynolds have also banned offices and personnel dedicated to diversity, equity, and inclusion, or DEI, at public universities, except where required by federal or accreditation standards. Proponents of the purge on commissions claim it will be more efficient and cost-effective to roll their diverse goals and priorities into a single, multipurpose board. Thats laughable. The Human Rights Board is now part of the Health and Human Services Department, since the human rights agency was eliminated. Only seven of the 12 board members will have voting rights. How will the governor choose which minority representative gets to vote? A seemingly public process produces 'exactly what the governor wanted' Where lawmakers and the governor see Efficiencies, some of us see Erasure. And to the efficiency point, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency has found that eliminating those boards and commissions will bring a minimal decrease in state expenses. The process began last summer, according to Sen. Janet Petersen, a Polk County Democrat, when a new, governor-appointed Boards & Commissions Review Committee held a series of meetings aimed at reviewing and reforming the states many citizen-led panels. Petersen doesnt think periodic reviews are necessarily bad, but, as it turned out, in her words, The process, instead, felt like a charade, and ended, predictably, with a report suggesting exactly what the governor wanted. Petersen is now fearful that many of the eliminations threaten the safety and well-being of Iowans and jeopardize funding streams for programs that save Iowans money. Democracy without public input, public access, and oversight is not democracy, she said. The political motivations are blatant. Its decreasing the number of voices that might not agree with the governor, observed Keenan Crow, a lobbyist for One Iowa, the LGBTQ rights organization. The LGBT community hasnt even had a state commission but registered its official opposition to the bill eliminating the 67. The rationale given for dispensing with the gender-balance requirement on boards and commissions is likewise unconvincing. The governor-appointed task force that supported the proposal said each of the state's top elective offices has at some point been held by a woman, so there should be no problem now. But one token woman in one higher position one time means little especially if that woman opposes broad representation of others. Sarah Young Bear-Brown speaks using American Sign Language during a hearing with the state Boards and Commissions Review Committee at the Iowa State Capitol on Wednesday, September 6, 2023 in Des Moines. We've very much not solved problems of inequality and discrimination Rooting out historically and culturally embedded inequities is an ongoing process. The specific issues may shift, but entrenched mindsets and biases remain. Some examples: Women in Iowa earn on average 82% of what men here make. The city of Des Moines just paid out $2.4 million to resolve four female employees sexual harassment and discrimination lawsuits. And Iowa women may also soon lack the right to terminate their pregnancies after six weeks if the courts allow a law signed by Reynolds to stand. The closures take effect so swiftly that no ones saying if the annual Iowa Womens Hall of Fame ceremony, held since 1975 by the Iowa Commission on the Status of Women, is still on. Its scheduled for Aug. 24, Iowa Womens Equality Day. The Iowa Commission on the Status of Women office was established in 1972. For 22 years starting in 1985, its executive director was Charlotte Nelson, who initiated the newly expunged gender-balance legislation for state boards and commissions. She also initiated equal pay legislation, advocated for womens pensions, welfare, insurance, divorce rights, nontraditional jobs, housing, education, and credit. She worked with the Iowa coalitions against domestic violence and sexual assault to train police, prosecutors and judges on rape within marriages, and laid the groundwork for that to become a crime. Nelson passed away last July. Dianne Fagner, a friend of hers who worked with her against domestic violence, had planned a public celebration of her legacy later on the day of the Hall of Fame ceremony. Fagner now sees Nelsons legacy being erased with the dismantling of the apparatus that enabled changemaking. Thats why those commissions exist, said Fagner, noting of the governor and Legislature, Theyre erasing those voices. Nelson saw the writing on the wall back in 2011 when she herself was inducted into the Hall of Fame. The state's commitment to equality is not clear, she said then. A strong state agency to advocate for women is vital." Iowa is 88% white. Differential treatment by law enforcement and disproportional incarceration rates endure. So do gender and race-based pay inequities. So does assault. Misogyny and racism remain deeply rooted in our institutions. Even with laws in place, new violations continue to arise, and must be thoughtfully tackled. That takes awareness-raising, story-sharing and training of service providers. The anti-DEI impact on higher education is already being seen. In a video clip making the rounds, as Iowa State University President Wendy Wintersteen tells the Board of Regents how ISU is complying with state law, she talks of establishing learning communities so that a young man, young white man, from rural Iowa, could come and be in a learning community and find the place where they could belong. It sounded, as the online journal Newsone quipped, as if she were suggesting a young white man would have a hard time fitting into a school thats more than 72% white. A plan to 'make America white again'? To be fair, Wintersteen was describing what she called an ongoing ISU initiative since its inception in the 1860s to help everyone feel they belonged. But its also true that nowhere in her point-by-point report on how ISU is meeting the many anti-DEI directives did she address the special challenges minority populations often face on campuses and how the new rules would set back progress. Ako Abdul-Samad, a Des Moines Democrat who just retired from his Iowa House seat after 18 years, said the impact of the cuts and bans and office closures will be devastating. He sees a national Republican agenda to make America white again, filtering down to the states. And he thinks most Iowa Republicans dont understand the damage people of color will suffer. You attack the whole system of equality at every level, he says of whats happening here. Indeed. Iowas big table has fewer and fewer seats around it, making it less representative, less equitable and less democratic. Rekha Basu staff photo, Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2021. Rekha Basu is a longtime syndicated columnist, editorial writer and reporter, whose work has appeared in all but two U.S. states. She retired in 2022 as a columnist for The Des Moines Register. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: In purging diversity, Iowa attacks 'the whole system of equality' Romanian officials are discussing the idea of supplying Ukraine with a state-of-the-art Patriot defence system. However, the Romanian president said it must be approved by the Supreme Council of National Defence. Euronews Romania spoke with the nations Prime Minister, Marcel Ciolacu, about how this would work. "In the first place, the specialists must speak" he said, "This does not mean that if a system covers part of Ukraine, it does not also cover Romania. Here it is about specialists sitting at the table and finding the best solutions, and then the SCND can make the decision with all available information, so that it takes the best decision. So, at this moment, the proposal is under analysis". Local media clarified that this meant the issue will not be discussed in public - but instead privately with military experts. "This proposal goes to the SCND", Prime Minister Ciolacu explains, "If you want me to make a decision now, on the show, I can't. I am not a specialist. I am the Prime Minister of Romania, I have to listen, in an institutional framework, a secret one, because it is a decision regarding Romania's defence, and then we make the decision together. It is not a discussion, in the first place, that it can become an electoral topic, because it would be a disaster and an incorrect approach towards our NATO partners. It is not a discussion to be made public. I know it is an interesting topic. I would create a breaking news, but I think we have reached the political maturity to avoid such things in matters so important, and we see this not only for Romania but for the whole of Europe. This decision will certainly create breaking news, and all my questions are for the people. I am thinking about what interests them. It is known, and this one surely, yes, it is of maximum interest. To live in security... It is certain... I am firmly convinced that the decision will not be such as to weaken Romania's security. What does Romania's defence system look like now? In 2017, Romania signed a deal to obtain Patriot defence systems but so far have only one that is operation. Ukraine needs 25 Patriots to protect the country from Russian attacks, says Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Their current focus is to secure at least seven to protect Ukraine's largest cities, according to Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Patriots are a surface-to-air missile and anti-ballistic system considered one of the most sophisticated in the world. Their capacity to stop cruise missiles and short-range ballistics before they reach their intended target makes them so sought-after. Watch more in the player above. TOKYO, Jun 09 (News On Japan) - Princess Aiko and other members of the Imperial Family paid their respects at the gravesite of Prince Katsura, a cousin of the Emperor Emeritus. The "10th Memorial Service" was held at the gravesite of Prince Katsura in Bunkyo Ward, Tokyo. The event was attended by Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, as well as Princess Aiko, the eldest daughter of the Emperor and Empress. Prince Katsura passed away ten years ago on June 8 at the age of 66. This marked the first time Princess Aiko attended the "Graveside Memorial." Neither the Emperor and Empress nor the Emperor Emeritus and Empress Emerita attended the service, but they sent imperial envoys in their place. Source: ANN Beauty queen Bailey Anne Kennedy made history this month when she became the first transgender woman ever crowned Miss Maryland USA. Kennedy received her crown on June 1 at the culmination of the Bethesda, Maryland pageant. She will go on to compete in the Miss USA pageant in Los Angeles on August 1. "Not everyone has to agree with the spaces that you occupy, [but] it doesn't mean that you aren't worthy of these opportunities," Kennedy wrote in an Instagram post, days after her victory. "The work that I will do for the remainder of my life is to make sure that children who feel like me will never have to worry about the consequences of being who they are by simply being myself and being a positive contribution to society," she added. Kennedy will also be the first Asian American to represent Maryland in the Miss USA pageant. The 31-year-old's victory is also notable because the 2024 season is the first time that the Miss USA pageant is open to women over the age of 27. In 2023, the pageant struck down its age limit, along with restrictions on women who were married or divorced, and women who had children. "I felt confident in my own skin at 31, which is past the old age limit, which is 28, as you know, the Miss Universe Organization [has lifted] the restriction now, so every woman of all ages can compete," she told DC News Now. Kennedy is married to a United States Marine and plans to use her platform to work with the USO. "I can't wait to start my reign and get back to the USO office and start serving lunches & personally thank our active duty service members like I originally planned to yesterday because that's what actually matters to me," she concluded her celebratory Instagram post. Bailey will be the second transgender woman to compete in the Miss USA competition, after Kataluna Enriquez represented Nevada in the 2021 pageant. TOKYO, Jun 09 (News On Japan) - The construction industry has long been known for its tough and demanding image, leading to a noticeable labor shortage. The proportion of young workers in the industry has been declining each year, while the aging workforce continues to grow. With the additional challenges posed by the 2024 labor regulations, the situation is becoming increasingly dire. In response, major industry player Sekisui House Group has launched a new strategy to attract young carpenters. Their innovative approach aims to rebrand the profession. "We aim to become crafters," says a newly recruited chief. "We call ourselves crafters because it sounds cool and appealing." "Crafters" are skilled workers who build houses. This year, Sekisui House Construction adopted this stylish new term to enhance the profession's image. The company collaborated with Beams to develop uniforms that appeal to a wide age range, from students to adults, in an effort to dispel the "tough" image of the construction industry. The industry is undergoing a transformation. "Congratulations to all new recruits. You are taking your first step towards becoming professional house builders," announced a spokesperson. New recruits who joined the construction industry this year have started their training at Sekisui House's dedicated training school, where they will spend six months learning the essential skills and knowledge needed for construction. At the training center, the new recruits will gain hands-on experience in foundational work and interior finishing, observing and learning from experienced mentors. "In the current environment, where construction techniques and standards are advancing, structured education is crucial for growth," explained an instructor. The construction industry faces significant challenges with a decreasing proportion of young workers and an increasing aging workforce. Additionally, new regulations on overtime hours from April 2024 are exacerbating the labor shortage. In response, Sekisui House has raised the starting salary for new recruits for two consecutive years and increased the chief crafter's annual salary to a maximum of 9 million yen. This move is part of a broader effort to improve working conditions. The company has also expanded training hours to ensure that future crafters can build houses independently. The number of trainees has increased by 1.7 times compared to last year. "By training versatile crafters who can handle both interior and exterior work, we can reduce inefficiencies and improve productivity," said a company representative. As a result of these improvements, the number of new recruits has grown from 39 last year to 134 this year. "I've always loved building things since I was a child," says a trainee. "My dream is to build a house for my family." This trainee, originally from the Philippines and fluent in four languages, hopes to leverage his language skills to work in Sekisui House's international operations. After completing their training, the new recruits will work on actual construction sites, focusing on exterior work while striving to become full-fledged crafters. "I'm not ready to graduate yet; I want to learn everything about the job and become a chief crafter," says another trainee. "It's heartening to see so many young people interested in construction. It gives us a sense of responsibility to train them well and send them off with confidence," says an instructor. The construction industry continues to grapple with its negative image. Can these innovative efforts by Sekisui House serve as a model for others? Source: YOMIURI TOKYO, Jun 09 (News On Japan) - As solo activities like "solo BBQ" and "solo karaoke" gain popularity among Generation Z, a new trend called "solo wedding"where individuals take photos dressed in wedding gowns aloneis emerging. We explored the appeal of this trend. In the makeup room of a photo studio in Harajuku, Tokyo, Fumika Nakatani, a woman in her late 20s, is getting her hair and makeup done. Nakatani, trying out solo wedding: "I am very excited to see how it will turn out." Wearing her dream wedding dress, Nakatani smiles at the staffs compliment, "You look beautiful." Ami Tokyo Harajuku Studio Photographer, Kazuki Watanabe: "You look super cute. Let's move to the back of the stairs. Thank you." The solo wedding involves taking photos of oneself dressed in a wedding gown. Bathed in light, the photo session proceeds cheerfully, with Nakatani's college friends accompanying her and watching. Watanabe: "Try to close your mouth a bit and give a slight smile. Perfect, not a smirk but a bright smile. Youre very good at this. Thats a wrap." The 30-minute photo session wraps up quickly. Nakatani explained why she decided to do a solo wedding, "I don't have plans to get married, but being in my late 20s and at the right age, I wanted to wear a dress while I still look good. Im very satisfied." The basic plan, including one dress, accessory rental, makeup, dressing assistance, and about 30 image data cuts, starts from 39,000 yen. The studio receives about 20 reservations per month. Ami Tokyo Harajuku Studio Counselor, Emi Konishi, said, "Many customers are in their late 20s to 30s. I think they want to capture their beauty while it lasts or their interest in this has grown." Yukiko Miyajima, who had her wedding 16 years ago, did a solo wedding in her 40s after raising her children. Miyajima, trying out solo wedding in her 40s: "I only wore a kimono at my wedding, so I wanted to try a dress." Miyajima gave up wearing a wedding dress due to her husband's refusal to wear a tuxedo. She lost 30 kg over a year to look good in photos, and in May, her 16-year-long dream came true. Miyajima said, "I am truly happy and its a lifelong treasure. Many people around me were surprised and expressed their desire to do the same, which was unexpected." The solo wedding trend is spreading among women who aspire to see themselves in their dream bridal attire. The value of wearing a wedding dress once in a lifetime is changing. Source: FNN TOKYO, Jun 09 (News On Japan) - Prime Minister Kishida is set to hold a summit meeting with Ukrainian President Zelensky on June 13th, where they will sign a joint document committing to continued support for the next ten years. According to government officials, Prime Minister Kishida is finalizing plans to meet individually with President Zelensky, who is scheduled to attend the G7 Summit in Puglia, Italy, as a guest starting on the 13th. This will be their first face-to-face meeting since the "Hiroshima Summit" in May last year, approximately one year ago. The G7 leaders pledged long-term security cooperation for Ukraine last July, with each country expected to discuss specific support measures. In line with Japan's constitutional restrictions, the joint document will outline non-lethal equipment and supplies provision, along with intelligence cooperation such as information gathering and analysis. The document is also expected to include continued financial support and enhanced energy assistance, such as providing generators. To ensure long-term support, the document will have a "10-year" validity period, and if an agreement is reached, the two leaders will sign it. Source: ANN WASHINGTON (AP) Inflation in the United States dropped last month to its lowest point since it first began surging more than three years ago, adding to a spate of encouraging economic news in the closing weeks of the presidential race. Brazil, represented by its Foreign Minister, Mauro Vieira, applauded the openness and modernization underway in Morocco, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, labeling it as a credible and influential partner on the international stage. Vieira, on his first official visit to Morocco, expressed this position in a Joint Communique adopted at the end of his talks, Friday, with Moroccos Foreign Minister, Nasser Bourita, in Rabat. The two ministers discussed at their meeting several initiatives spearheaded by King Mohammed VI to foster stability, security, and economic prosperity in African countries. In this connection, they focused on the recent Royal Atlantic Initiative, which aims to provide landlocked Sahel countries with access to the Atlantic Ocean, and the Morocco-Nigeria gas pipeline project, which seeks to promote regional integration and economic development along the African Atlantic coast and beyond. Both officials expressed interest in further collaboration in the area of food security in Africa. In a press briefing after the talks, the Brazilian official reiterated that Morocco stands out as an important model for development on the African continent. I have no doubt that Morocco is an important model of development in all sectors, social, economic and educational, in the region, said the Brazilian Foreign Minister. In this respect, he welcomed the Kingdoms very important role, under the leadership of King Mohammed VI, in strengthening coordination and consultation with Brazil, in the service of the two countries joint action at regional level. He also stressed the importance of Moroccos support for the initiatives put forward under the Brazilian presidency of the G20, a role that will further consolidate bilateral relations between Rabat and Brasilia. Vieira noted that his visit coincides with the 20th anniversary of the monarchs state visit to Brazil in 2004, a visit, he said that opened up a new path of bilateral cooperation and established the fundamental lines of development of relations between the two countries. Somali authorities said Ethiopian troops, stationed in the country as part of an African Union peacekeeping mission, should leave the country before December 2024. The decision came as the missions mandate expires in a context of worsening ties between Mogadishu and Addis Ababa. Ethiopian forces will not be part of an African Union force that will stay in the country to protect key installations for one year starting January 2025, Somali National Security Adviser Hussein Sheikh-Ali told the media. Relations between Somalia and Ethiopia deteriorated since Addis Ababa signed a memorandum of understanding with the breakaway region of Somaliland, allowing Ethiopia to use a Somali Red Sea port in return for recognition as a state and economic benefits. Somalia opposed the deal and denounced it as a violation of its sovereignty and an act of aggression by Ethiopia. Kenya offered to mediate in the conflict between the two neighbors. Seven African countries collected $2.4 billion of additional revenue through tax transparency, exchange of information and related measures in 2023 than over the 13 preceding years combined, a new progress report for the so-called Africa Initiative has found. Launched at a recent 15th Meeting of the Africa Initiative in Lome, Togo, the Tax Transparency in Africa 2024: Africa Initiative Progress Report makes a strong case for an ever-sharpening political attention on the matters of transparency and international tax co-operation. Since 2009, African countries have identified over $4.1 billion in additional revenue as a result of the use of the exchange of information on request (EOIR), automatic exchange of financial account information (AEOI), and voluntary disclosure programs (VDPs). International cooperation based on transparency and effective exchange of information standards for tax purposes has become a crucial tool in addressing global challenges of tax avoidance and evasion. According to the Tax Transparency in Africa 2023: Africa Initiative Progress Report, the countries on the continent lose up to $60 billion annually in illicit financial flows. The report also highlighted that African countries identified over $340 million through exchange of information on request between 2019 and 2022. Kenya, as one of the African members of the Global Forum, has been rated Largely Compliant (LC) on EOIR implementation during a recent 46th Peer Review Group meeting at the OECD Conference Centre in Paris, France. This collaboration is pivotal in maintaining the integrity of the EOI standard and enhancing efforts to combat tax evasion, corruption, and money laundering, Humphrey Wattanga, Commissioner General of Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) noted. A high-level meeting in Cameroons capital Yaounde has failed to reach a consensus on merging three central African economic blocs, the official reason being that the process would take longer than the leaders had expected. Analysts have long argued that breaking down economic barriers among member countries of the Central African Economic and Monetary Community (CEMAC), the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), and the Economic Community of the Great Lakes Countries (CEPGL) would boost trade and growth in a region that counts among the worlds poorest and most conflict-ridden. But during a recent meeting in Cameroons capital, presidents and finance ministers from eleven central African countries have failed to agree on combining these three economic blocs into one. According to Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, the ECCAS president, the process of fusing the economic blocs is taking longer than planned because of a lack of political will, conflicting interests and bureaucratic duplication among three rival economic groups. Speaking in a recent webinar titled Unifying Regional Economic Communities: Are We on Track in Central Africa?, Jacob Kotcho, director of the ECCAS common market, pulled no punches in his assessment of the moribund rationalization process agreed to by heads of state back in 2009. In his view, the policy paralysis is due to the lack of consensus on the methodology whether to fold CEMAC and the CEPGL into ECCAS or dissolve all existing bodies to create an entirely new community. The different perceptions of the rationalization approach has been the main stumbling block, Kotcho stated bluntly. Over a decade of dithering has eroded credibility and ruptured trust between regional actors. ECCAS, created in 1983, is officially recognized by the African Union as central Africas regional economic community, while CEMAC was launched in 1999 and ECCAS four years later. India is stepping up its critical mineral acquisition plans in Africa, with New Delhi reportedly eying to sign new and updated mineral pacts with about a dozen African countries, in bid to challenge Chinas dominant position on the continent. Indias Ministry of Mines has said it was in discussions with Cote dIvoire, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe to secure mining collaborations and access agreements. Negotiations are ongoing with around a dozen countries, and more will be added to the list soon, said a senior government official. We aim to secure Indias mineral supply chain, and African countries have all the minerals we require. These mineral agreements aim not only to meet Indias demand for critical minerals, including cobalt, nickel, graphite, diamonds, platinum, and uranium, but also to address all of its mineral requirements. While India currently has MoUs with six African countries Malawi, Mali, Morocco, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe New Delhi has also courted several other African nations under multilateral initiatives, such as the International Solar Alliance and Global Biofuel Alliance. Through these, India aims to establish a stronger presence in the African mining sector to counterbalance the dominant position of China, which is, for example, estimated to control over 5% of cobalt processing facilities in the DRC. In Zimbabwe, Chinese-funded new lithium plants are set to begin operations in 2024, while others in the pipeline are Mali, Ethiopia, and Namibia, according to S&P Global. The Israeli military on Sunday accused a Palestinian journalist of holding three Israeli hostages in his family's home before they were rescued during a deadly raid in Gaza. In a message posted on social media, the Israel Defense Forces called Abdallah Aljamal a "Hamas terrorist" and attached a screenshot of a photo and profile apparently from the Al Jazeera website. The profile described Aljamal as a "Gaza-based reporter and photojournalist" who "often reports from the ongoing 'March of Return' protests at the fence separating besieged Gaza from Israel." No "press vest can make him innocent of the crimes he has committed," the IDF said on X, formerly Twitter. Journalist Abdallah Aljamal was a Hamas terrorist holding Almog, Andrey and Shlomi hostage in his familys home in Nuseirat. No press vest can make him innocent of the crimes he has committed.@AlJazeera whats this terrorist doing on your website? pic.twitter.com/1EM8C7csnw Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) June 9, 2024 The IDF also directed a question to the X account of Al Jazeera's public relations team, asking: "What's this terrorist doing on your website?" The Al Jazeera website shows that Aljamal cowrote an opinion column published on Jan. 22, 2019, with the headline, "Tales of torture from Israel's prisons." Earlier Sunday, Al Jazeera denied what it called "rumors" tying it to Aljamal. "This man is not from Al Jazeera, and he did not work for Al Jazeera at all, and he is not listed as working for Al Jazeera neither now nor in the past," Jerusalem bureau chief Omar al-Walid said, according to the Times of Israel. "We do not know him, and all the rumors that have been spread are empty of content and not true at all." Last month, Israel ordered Al Jazeera to close its offices in Israel, removed its channels from the country's main cable and satellite providers, and seized some of its equipment. Ramy Abdul, chairman of the Geneva-based Euro-Med Human Rights Monitor, wrote on X that Israeli commandos "executed" Aljamal, 36, his wife and father after using a ladder to break into the older man's home in Nuseirat on Saturday. In an initial testimony documenting the killings committed by the Israeli army in the Nuseirat camp today, the @EuroMedHR reported that the Israeli army used a ladder to enter the home of Dr. Ahmed Al-Jamal. The army immediately executed 36-year-old Fatima Al-Jamal upon pic.twitter.com/DjfjerIZTf Ramy Abdu| (@RamAbdu) June 8, 2024 Abdul described Aljamal as a freelance journalist who formerly worked for several media outlets and more recently was the spokesperson for the Palestinian Ministry of Labor. Hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Koslov and Shlomi Ziv were rescued from Aljamal's family home, the IDF said. Another hostage, Noa Argamani, was also rescued reportedly from another apartment in Nuseirat. All four were kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the surprise attacks Hamas launched against Israel on Oct. 7, sparking the latest Mideast War. At least 274 Palestinians were killed during Saturday's rescue mission, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't distinguish between civilians and combatants. Israeli officials have said its military caused fewer that 100 casualties in response to what it described as heavy fire against its forces from all sides. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said that "innocent people were tragically killed," but blamed Hamas for holding hostages and putting military encampments "in the heart of crowded civilian areas" in Gaza. Clean hydropower is produced in several parts of the world with around 60 percent coming from China, Brazil, the United States, Canada, Russia, India, Norway, Venezuela, Sweden, and Japan. Now, more countries want to exploit their hydropower potential as governments worldwide push for a green transition. However, the industry faces a multitude of challenges, mainly associated with climate change. Recent periods of drought in several countries around the globe have driven down hydropower production rates and threaten future output. Hydropower is one of the oldest forms of renewable energy production. It uses the flow of water to power a generator and produce electricity. Companies traditionally place hydroelectric power plants on or near a water source. The volume of the water flow and the change in elevation from one point to another determines the amount of energy available in moving water. The greater the flow of water or the greater the elevation change the greater the quantity of electricity that can be produced. There are two types of conventional hydropower operations. The first is the run-of-the-river system, which relies on the force of the rivers currents to power a turbine. Some of these operations use a weir to divert the water towards the turbines. The second is the storage system, which uses reservoirs created by dams on streams and rivers to collect water that can then be released through turbines, providing a high level of pressure. Pumped-storage hydropower facilities are an example of a less conventional hydropower system where water is pumped from the source to a storage reservoir higher up. The water can then be released from an upper reservoir to hydro turbines below. However, this process requires more electricity than conventional facilities. The amount of available water greatly affects hydropower production. For example, the quantity of rainwater that drains into rivers and streams in any particular area determines the amount of water available for hydropower production. This varies by season and can also shift long-term as precipitation patterns change. Droughts, therefore, can have an extremely negative impact on hydropower production. The energy analyst Ember believes around 8.5 percent of hydroelectricity generation loss is associated with droughts. This is most common in China, which accounted for around three-quarters of the global decline last year. China is the largest producer of hydroelectricity in the world in terms of capacity. The U.S. also experienced a six percent reduction in hydropower output last year. The U.S. Energy Information Agency said that it was largely due to above-normal temperatures rapidly melting the snow in the northwest of the country, where most hydroelectricity is generated. Although drought conditions improved in California, which helped it boost production levels. As hydropower production has been falling in Canada it has become more reliant on the U.S. for energy imports, with U.S. electricity exports to Canada reaching their highest level since 2010 in March this year. A recent decrease in the amount of rain and snow in Canada has driven down production at its hydropower plants. While some are hopeful that this is a temporary phenomenon, climate experts believe that it could be owing to a long-term shift in weather patterns due to climate change. Chris ORiley, the CEO of the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority, stated, Weve all got to be humble in the face of more extreme weather We manage from year to year the ups and downs of water, and when we have the downs like were having, the lower levels, its common for us to import power, and we expect to continue that this year. Large hydroelectric facilities were once considered a stable source of electricity. However, in recent years, low reservoirs in California, around Hoover Dam and recently in Canada have made hydropower electricity production less certain. The Middle East is experiencing a long-term decline in hydropower capacity due to widespread drought. The Euphrates-Tigris River basin is one of the fastest-drying regions on earth, meaning that both agriculture and electricity production in Turkey, Syria and Iraq are being hit hard. There has been around a 25 percent decrease in electricity generation at three hydropower dams in Turkey over the last 30 years. Dursun Yildiz, the president of the Turkish NGO the Hydropolitics Association, explained, the diminishing precipitation and snowfall is linked to climate change, and will ultimately lead to a 30 to 40 percent reduction in Euphrates River flows by the end of the century. Meanwhile, in the African region, hydropower is the largest source of renewable energy on the continent, contributing almost one-quarter of the total electricity generation in sub-Saharan Africa. Several countries are more at risk than when it comes to a decrease in hydropower generation due to climate change, as they have few alternative energy sources available. These include the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zambia, Mozambique and Sierra Leone. This demonstrates the severe need for the development of a more diverse energy mix across the continent. There is significant potential to develop more hydropower in several regions of the world, particularly in Africa. However, the worsening effects of climate change are threatening the previously reliable renewable energy source. If droughts happen more frequently, those countries affected will have a reduced hydropower capacity, meaning they may come to rely on alternative energy sources or energy imports from other countries. By Felicity Bradstock for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Oil and gas production in the United States hit record highs at the end of 2023 but has since trended lower, and the growth in output has slowed year-over-year. U.S. companies have slowed production growth rates as oil prices stabilized at lower levels last year compared to the 2022 highs, and U.S. natural gas prices saw a slump to multi-decade lows early this year. This year's increase in shale and overall U.S. crude production will be much lower than in the past two years, analysts and forecasters say. The decline in oil and gas prices compared to the spikes seen in 2022, the ongoing merger wave in the U.S. shale industry, and the focus on shareholder returnsinstead of production growthhave all combined to drag output growth lower in recent months. The total number of active drilling rigs for oil and gas in the United States saw no change in the last week of May, according to data from Baker Hughes. The total rig count stayed the same at 600, compared to 696 rigs this same time last year. Meanwhile, U.S. crude oil production stayed the same for the eleventh week in a row at an average of 13.1 million barrels per day (bpd) for the week ending May 24down by 200,000 bpd from the all-time high of 13.3 million bpd. Moreover, Primary Vision's Frac Spread Count, an estimate of the number of crews completing wells that are unfinished, fell by 6 in the week ending May 24, to 257. Related: Hopes of Fed Cut Jolts Oil Prices As a result, growth from the Lower 48 basins was no more than 500,000 bpd in March 2024 from the same month last year, per EIA data cited by Reuters columnist John Kemp. This compares to yearly growth of up to 1 million bpd in the second half of 2023. In other words, U.S. oil production is growing, but at a much slower pace than in 2022 and 2023. Amid the ongoing consolidation in the American oil and gas industry, producers have become bigger and are focusing on shareholder returns. They wouldn't be inclined to respond to every price spike with a major boost in drilling that ultimately floods the market with oil and depresses prices. As the U.S. industry matured and balance sheets and market valuations strengthened after the record-high earnings of 2022, a wave of consolidation began towards the end of 2023. The big companies are looking to become bigger by adding premier assets of the takeover targets to their portfolios. And the key driver of the industry now is returning more to shareholders and preparing for inventory stacked up for years of production ahead without the need to grow organically by investing too much cash flow into the drilling of new locations and wells. U.S. natural gas production is also off the recent record highs as major producers have curtailed some output in the spring in response to the natural gas price slump earlier this year, which saw prices tumble to a three-decade low. America's oil production growth may be slowing, but it will still be leading global supply growth from non-OPEC+ producers, according to OPEC's latest estimates. This year, liquids supply growth from non-OPEC+ is expected at 1.2 million bpd, pushed up by rising output in the U.S., Canada, Brazil, and Norway, OPEC said in its latest Monthly Oil Market Report in May. Last year, U.S. shale oil production rose by 600,000 bpd, mainly from the Permian, supported by improvements in drilling and completion. This year, U.S. crude oil and condensate production is anticipated to grow by half that volume, 300,000 bpd, per OPEC's forecasts. "Shale firms acknowledged that higher costs and falling prices forced some of them to cut back drilling and completion activities, especially during the first half of last year. However, improvements in well productivity, rig performance, and operational efficiencies supported strong production levels throughout the year, leading to the growth of 2.4 mb/d, y-o-y, in December 2023 over December 2022," OPEC said. Slower U.S. shale growth in 2024 could make OPEC's oil market and price management efforts easier over the next two years. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Argentine oil driller Petrolera Aconcagua Energia SA is making arrangements to join the countrys stock market to raise funds for expansion as President Javier Mileis reforms start to attract capital back to Argentine markets, the Buenos Aires Times has reported. Last month, Aconcagua revealed that its bidding for aging oil fields being sold by state-run giant YPF SA as the company looks to expand its current production clip of 13,500 boe/d. It isnt clear yet if the Petrolera exploration and production unit would list alone, or if the entire Aconcagua Energia group will be involved in the upcoming IPO. There are growing signs that Argentine credit and equity markets are starting to open up as President Milei--a libertarian--moves to deregulate the countrys tightly controlled economy in his first year in office. Aconcagua is hardly alone in its quest to go public. Last year, New York-listed Corporacion America Airports SA (NYSE:CAAP) filed a prospectus that allows it to sell up to US$250 million of new stock in one or several offerings. CAAP stock has jumped 66% over the past year to give the company a valuation of $2.9B. Blowing Up The System Four years ago, Javier Milei made his debut in politics with a mission to"blow up" the system. However, few predicted he would have a chance to do the shake-up from the highest office in the land. But thats exactly what the economist and former TV pundit is now doing. Last December, Milei sent a wide-ranging omnibus reform package containing more than 300 articles to Congress, seeking to enforce shock economic policies, such as lifting import controls, undertaking sharp spending cuts, and devalue the peso by more than 50%. Related: U.S. Oil, Gas Activity Declines As you would expect with such a sweeping reforms package, the bill has had mixed success, with Argentinas Chamber of Deputies giving it a nod of approval in general terms in February before the Senate rejected it the following month with Milei describing the vote in a tweet as "the political caste versus the Argentine people." The decree has, however, yet to be repealed because it needs to be rejected by both the upper and lower house of Congress for that to happen. It remains to be seen what parts of the bill will be approved or rejected by Argentina's Congress. However, the bill in its original form was set to have far-reaching implications for the country's energy sector. At a time when a wave of nationalization is sweeping through Latin America, Milei has gone in the opposite direction and has proposed to privatize 41 state-owned companies, including national oil firm YPF SA, nuclear power company Nucleoelectrica Argentina and energy infrastructure player Energia Argentina. Milei is also seeking to unshackle crude exports and leave local fuel prices at the mercy of market forces. His bill contains free-market provisions that aim to replace old rules that date back to the 1960s that prioritize securing affordable fuel supplies for the average citizen. Those rules allow the government to get directly involved in crude and gasoline pricing and also gives refiners the right to first refusal on export cargoes. However, the rules have come under increasing criticism for holding back the countrys vast shale patch known as Vaca Muerta. Energy prices will couple with international values. The most radical change is eliminating the requirement to satisfy the needs of the local market its an historic rupture with a century of Argentine tradition, Juan Jose Carbajales, energy consultant and former oil and gas undersecretary, wrote in a report. Gasoline prices in Argentina have skyrocketed since Milei was elected as president in November to $3.68 per gallon currently from $2.62 in September 2023. Source: Trading Economics Mileis energy reforms are, however, viewed as a big win for YPF SA as well as dozens of Vaca Muerta oil and gas companies such as Chevron Corp. (NYSE:CVX), Shell Plc (NYSE:SHEL) and Vista Energy (NYSE:VIST) whose shale investments have been curtailed by low oil prices and protectionist policies that primarily favor national energy companies. Last year, Bloomberg reported that Exxon Mobil Inc. (NYSE:XOM) was seriously mulling an exit from Vaca Muerta with repeated efforts to ramp up development of its flagship Bajo del Choique-La Invernada site having hit a wall at just 15K boe/day. The company confirmed in February that its still seeking to sell assets in the Shale Patch worth $1bn (838.97bn pesos) although no timeline for a decision was set. The report, however, says Exxon does not intend to sell its three Argentine offshore exploration blocks. Located in the oil-rich Neuquen province, Vaca Muerta is a massive shale play estimated to hold 16 billion barrels of oil and 308 trillion cubic feet of natural gas in recoverable hydrocarbon resources, making it the second-largest shale gas deposit in the world. Indeed, Vaca Muerta is similar to the prolific U.S. Eagle Ford shale but on steroids because its dry gas window has proven to be commercially viable. By Alex Kimani for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Three events Saturday will celebrate the culture and history of North Omaha ahead of Juneteenth. Omahas annual celebration of Juneteenth has grown over the years and now includes a parade followed by two festivals. Calvin Williams, organizer of the Omaha Freedom Festival, said that around five years ago, he started thinking celebrating Juneteenth in Omaha should go beyond just the annual parade on North 24th Street. I just felt like African Americans needed a place to celebrate their heritage, he said. Now, the Freedom Festival and Juneteenth Joy Fest both continue the celebration after the parade. Juneteenth, which is celebrated annually on June 19, marks the day in 1865 when federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and announced the slaves were now free. That date came two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. President Joe Biden declared Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021. Juneteenth parade hosted by NAACP The annual Juneteenth parade hosted by the Omaha NAACP will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday and travel north on 24th Street from Lake to Sprague Streets. This years theme is This is Us, according to the organizations website. Last years parade featured dozens of entries and performances by local drill teams. Omaha Freedom Festival Following the parade, the fourth annual Omaha Freedom Festival will take place from noon to 5 p.m. at the Malcolm X Memorial Foundation at 3448 Evans St. The festival is free, but a pass is required. Passes are available on the events website. Children under age 15 must be accompanied by an adult. The festival will kick off with a reading of President Abraham Lincolns Emancipation Proclamation and a performance of Lift Every Voice and Sing. It will include giveaways, a kids zone, family activities, music, food and beverage vendors, local artists and free health screenings. After the festival, a concert starting at 7 p.m. will feature artists Joe, Case and Enjoli & Timeless. Tickets for the concert start at $75. Juneteenth Joy Fest The fourth annual Juneteenth Joy Fest also will take place Saturday and will run from noon to 10 p.m. at North 24th and Ohio Streets. The festival is designed to uplift the community and culture of North Omaha and honor its history, festival curator Alajia McKizia said. This years theme focuses on the legacy and history of North Omaha. The festival will be headlined by Terrace Martin, son of Omaha legend and drummer Curly Martin, and includes performances by several other artists, DJs and poets, according to the website. A Black flea market, nonprofit partners and public art also will be part of the festival, McKizia said. Photos: 2023 Omaha NAACP Juneteenth Parade Some of Omahas best tacos are in South Omaha, about a five mile drive from the College World Series HQ, but if youre short on time before a game, youll find some more than credible versions near Charles Schwab Field: Hook & Lime 735 N. 14th Street The proprietors of this north downtown favorite say they have gourmet tacos made from scratch. And theyre delicious. Try trendy birria tacos with consomme, chile grilled tacos, tacos al pastor, chile and beer-braised chicken tacos. Hours Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday: Closed Tuesday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Lula Bs 902 Dodge Street #101 This breakfast and lunch place has also latched on to the birria taco craze. It uses a traditional recipe from Mexico City: marinated beef, Colby jack cheese, onions, salsa verde, cilantro and fresh lime, served with traditional Mexican consomme. Yum. It also has shrimp, carne asada, guajillo chicken and chorizo tacos. Hours Monday-Thursday: 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday-Sunday: 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mexitli Restaurant 1620 Harney Street You can get about a dozen varieties of tacos at this hidden gem in Omahas Keeline Building, including traditional meats and unusual fillings such as ham, pumpkin flower and squash blossom. And rumor has it they are among the best and most reasonably priced in the city. Hours Sunday-Thursday: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Jams 1101 Harney Street This modern bistro in the Old Market puts its own spin on tacos, and its a winner. It serves fish tacos with either beer-battered or blackened mahi in flour tortillas with avocado salsa, red cabbage and cumin-carrot crema; or beer-battered lobster tacos in fried flour tortillas with pineapple habanero pico de salsa, arbol chili aioli, red cabbage and havarti cheese. They arent super traditional, but theyre super tasty. Hours Sunday-Thursday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. La Poblanita 2322 S. 20th Street This one breaks the rules a little: Its 2.9 miles from the stadium (a 10-minute drive or a long-ish walk). But its customized version of the birria taco is a must-try. Omaha food blogger Dan Hoppen says the taco, called the fuego, comes on a crispy grilled handmade corn tortilla, the stew meat is rich and the melty cheese oozes out the sides. Sounds like its worth the trip. Its only available on weekdays. Hours Sunday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday: Closed Tuesday-Friday: 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Hana Ikramuddin is a Hearst Fellow in Connecticut. She spent the first part of her fellowship at the Houston Chronicle. Raised in the Twin Cities, Hana majored in journalism and political science at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She has held internships with the Star Tribune, APM Reports and Sahan Journal. In her free time, she loves to cook, make chai and take care of her houseplants. A pregnant school teacher, mother and two children were among the lucky victims rescued from the scene of the building collapse. However, they sustained degrees of injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention. The Pashi Willoughby CDA executive member, Kazeem Lawal, could not make it as it was learnt that he just returned from his night duty as a security guard and was in his room sleeping when the incident occurred. His body was brought out and taken to the General Hospital mortuary, Lagos Island. A barber, Mr. Adeyemo, also lost one of his twin daughters to the incident as the first to be rescued survived the incident. Ambulances from nearby areas were used in carrying the rescued victims while officials of state Fire Service, security operatives, Lagos State government officials worked together with street urchins on the rescue mission. A heavy crane, belonging to Julius Berger, was also brought to scene to assist rescuers. Share this: The Independent National Electoral Commission shed light on what led to the postponement of the 2019 general elections few hours before commencement of voting. The Chairman of the electoral body, Prof Mahmood Yakubu, while addressing stakeholders at a meeting in Abuja on Saturday, pointed at fire incidents that ravaged it offices in Abia, Anambra and Plateau States as one of the reasons the elections were postponed. Prof Yakubu also blamed some late court judgments that altered its preparation for the elections, adding that the judgments ordered the commission to add some parties on ballot papers that were already printed. According to him, the commission was able to address some of the unforeseen challenges but they had a negative effect on the overall planning of the polls. In this regard, the commission has been sued or joined in over 640 court cases arising from the nomination of candidates. As of today, there are 40 different court orders against the commission on whether to add or drop candidates. The net effect of these is that there is usually roughly a one-month window for the commission to print ballot papers and result sheets and either fly or transport them to several destinations until they finally get to each polling unit. Apart from these logistical challenges, we also faced what may well be attempts to sabotage our preparations. In a space of two weeks, we had to deal with serious fire incidents in three of our offices in Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area of Abia State, Quan Pan Local Government Area of Plateau State and our Anambra State Office at Awka. In all three cases, serious disruptions were occasioned by the fire, further diverting our attention from regular preparations to recovery from the impact of the incidents. In Isiala Ngwa South, hundreds of PVCs were burnt, necessitating the recompiling of the affected cards and reprinting in time to ensure that the affected voters are not disenfranchised. I am glad that all the cards were quickly reprinted and made available for collection by their owners. Perhaps the most serious was the fire incident in our Anambra State Office at Awka, which destroyed over 4,600 Smart Card Readers being prepared for the elections. These Card Readers take at least six months to procure. Despite this setback, we have practically recovered from this by mopping up every available card reader. Two female suicide bombers struck on Sunday, detonating explosives near Muna Garage General area of Jere Local Government Area, Borno State. It was gathered that two female suicide bombers detonated the explosive devices at five minutes interval, leading to the death of over five persons, including the bombers. Reports indicated that about 30 other persons sustained injury with some in critical conditions. The injured persons were taken to the General Hospital in Maiduguri, Borno State, for urgent medical treatment. Meanwhile, the female suicide bombers struck in less than 48 hours that President Muhammadu Buhari told world leaders in Jordan that Boko Haram terrorists have been eliminated in Nigeria. thus, they may be sending a message to the world to prove the president wrong. Post Views: 47 Miffed with the spate of killings and kidnappings in the north-east zone, Honorable Adamu Chika, a lawmaker representing Shiroro/Rafi/Munya, Niger state, condemned the act, noting that he cant travel to his village and sleep for the fear of Boko Haram, bandits, kidnappers and armed robbers. Disclosing this on Thursday, during the plenary, Hon. Adamu asked that a lasting solution be adopted by the government to address the security challenges. His words, Mr Speaker, where are we going? I cannot go to my village, spend a night and sleep as Im speaking to you. For the last year, I cannot go to my village and sleep, I feel very insecure. And this is where I find myself, it is terrible, we have to do something about it. Invest In Social Force & Get 50% Click HERE >> To Buy Cheap MTN & GLO Data Click HERE >> According to Punch Metro, the Department of State Service has twice on Friday blocked a bailiff of the Federal High Court in Abuja from effecting a fresh service of the court order for the release of the convener of #RevolutionNow protest Omowole Sowore. It was learnt that the bailiff first arrived the DSS headquarters in Abuja, where he (Sowore) had been held since August 3, 2019, around 9.30 a.m. on Friday, but was asked to return by 12 noon when the Director-General of DSS, Yusuf Bichi, would be around. But it was learnt that the bailiff returned to the DSS headquarters at 12.14 p.m. on Friday, but was denied access. One of Sowores lawyer, Sam Ogala, who was at the main gate of the DSS office during the bailiffs attempt to serve the security agency, confirmed the development to our correspondent. Sowores legal team led by Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), had on Thursday expressed shock over DSS claim that it had not been served with the order issued by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja granting bail to Sowore. On Thursday, after DSS spokesperson denied that the agency had been served with the court order, Falana said, Ayuba Adam of the Legal Department of the DSS received the court order on behalf of the agency on September 24, 2019 (Tuesday). The DSS denial came after news broke that Sowores legal team had commenced a contempt suit against the DSS boss for failing to comply with the court order for Sowores release. The DSS, on August 3, arrested Sowore, the publisher of SaharaReporters and former presidential candidate in the 2019 general elections over his call for a revolution protest scheduled to hold on August 5. Justice Taiwo, on August 8, granted an ex parte application by the DSS permitting the security agency to keep the activist for 45 days. The 45 days period expired on Saturday. Barely 24 hours to the expiration of the 45-day detention order, the Attorney-General of the Federations office filed charges of treasonable felony, cybercrime offences and money laundering against him before the Federal High Court in Abuja. On Tuesday, following Falanas application, Justice Taiwo ordered the release of Sowore, from the custody of the DSS pending his arraignment in court. The judge ordered him to submit his passport in the courts registry as the sole condition for the bail. Sowores lawyers have said that the terms of his bail have since been fulfiled, however, he has yet to be released. The peace committee set up by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to reconcile all stakeholders in Bayelsa and Kogi States ahead of the November 16 governorship elections, has initiated serious talks with former President Goodluck Jonathan, Governor Nyesome Wike of Rivers State, and former Governor Idris Ibrahim of Kogi State, among others. The committee, sources said, would formally meet with Jonathan, who is expected to return to the country today after weeks of telephone talks on the future of PDP in Bayelsa State, particularly as it affects the November election. Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who leads the partys national campaign council on Bayelsa, had urged the Bukola Saraki-led reconciliation committee to leave no stone unturned in pacifying Jonathan, whom he noted had suffered some measure of disrespect in the state. Inside sources in the committee hinted that the former Senate President had initiated several telephone conversations with Jonathan, which had proved useful in the peace efforts. Saraki, according to the source, had equally met with Wike, who is believed to have some serious political interest in the election. Both were said to have reached agreement on the need to work for PDP to continue ruling Bayelsa. The peace committee has equally met with Timi Alaibe, who is a very strong contender in Bayelsa politics and all is going smoothly. We expect a better results in the next few days when the committee is supposed to receive him, the source added. In Kogi, the committee was said to have met some PDP stakeholders, including Senator Dino Melaye, who earlier rejected the job of leading the PDP campaign for the party flag bearer, Engineer Musa Wada. The committee, it was further learned, had also spoken to former Governor Ibrahim Idris. The Cross River State government has announced that five foreigners who came into the state from Lagos on Friday February 28, are being observed for symptoms of coronavirus. Cross River states commissioner for health, Beta Edu confirmed the development and also disclosed that two of the foreigners are from Europe, one from India and two from China. Accoriding to the commissioner,None of the persons under observation has shown symptoms of the deadly disease. Beta said; LOS ANGELES Dick Van Dyke has won a historic Daytime Emmy at age 98. The actor was honored Friday night as guest performer in a daytime drama series for his part as amnesiac Timothy Robicheaux on Peacock's Days of Our Lives. I dont believe this. I feel like a spy from nighttime television, he said. Im 98 years old. Can you believe it? This really tops off a lifetime of 80 years in the business. If I had known I would have lived this long I wouldve taken better care of myself. Van Dyke received a standing ovation as he used a cane to make his way to the stage, accompanied by his wife, Arlene, who held the trophy. I brought this lady up because she was also on the show, he said. She played the cop who arrested me. Van Dyke is the oldest Daytime Emmy winner. Producer Norman Lear was 100 when he received his final Primetime Emmy nomination in 2022 and died the next year. Van Dyke has won four Primetime Emmys, including three in the 1960s for his classic comedy series The Dick Van Dyke Show. Van Dyke beat out last year's winner Alley Mills of General Hospital, Australian actor Guy Pearce of Amazon Freevees Neighbours, Linden Ashby of The Young and the Restless, and Ashley Jones of The Bold and the Beautiful. Robert Gossett of General Hospital and Courtney Hope of The Young and the Restless won supporting acting honors. Gossett, a first cousin to the late Oscar-winning actor Louis Gossett Jr., was honored for the second straight year for his role as Marshall Ashford on the ABC soap opera. Hope, who plays Sally Spectra on the CBS soap, originated the role on The Bold and the Beautiful in 2017 before moving to B&B in 2020. The ceremony honoring soap operas, talk and game shows aired live on CBS from The Westin Bonaventure hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The 51st annual Daytime Emmys returned to their usual place on the calendar, just six months after the show's 50th edition aired in December after being pushed back because of last year's Hollywood writers and actors strikes. Photos: Dick Van Dyke through the years 1960: Dick Van Dyke and Chita Rivera star in "Bye Bye Birdie" 1963: Dick Van Dyke and wife Margie 1963: Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews in musical "Mary Poppins" 1963: Dick Van Dyke and Jerri Markwell in "What a Way To Go" 1964: Dick Van Dyke at "Mary Poppins" premiere 1964: Dick Van Dyke 1964: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore win Emmys 1965: Dick Van Dyke 1966: Dick Van Dyke and Carl Reiner 1967: Dick Van Dyke and Queen Elizabeth II 1968: Dick Van Dyke and Sally Ann Howes 1977: Dick Van Dyke and Carol Burnett 1979: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore on "Tonight Show" with Johnny Carson 1987: Dick Van Dyke wins People's Choice Award 1988: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore 2004: Dick Van Dyke at 40th anniversary of "Mary Poppins" 2007: Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews 2008: Dick Van Dyke 2009: Dick Van Dyke, Dick Van Patten and Michael Gross 2011: Dick Van Dyke 2012: Dick Van Dyke and Mary Tyler Moore 2013: Dick Van Dyke accepts Lifetime Achievement Award at SAG Awards 2013: Dick Van Dyke 2014: Dick Van Dyke 2016: Dick Van Dyke and Bryan Cranston 2017: Dick Van Dyke 2018: Dick Van Dyke and Lin-Manuel Miranda 2020: Dick Van Dyke 2021: Kennedy Center honoree Dick Van Dyke Claire Hao is a reporter on the Houston Chronicle business desk covering the Texas power grid, the clean energy transition and other electricity-related topics. Claire previously spent a year on the climate and environment team of the San Francisco Chronicle. She has written for the news desks of Bloomberg Law and the Chicago Tribune as well as for the editorial board of the Washington Post. Claire graduated from the University of Michigan. JOLIET Months after surviving a knife attack in unincorporated Will County that killed a 6-year-old Palestinian boy, the childs mother has sued the alleged attacker, his wife and brother for wrongful death, battery and negligence. Joseph Czuba, 72, is currently awaiting trial in the Will County Adult Detention Facility for allegedly stabbing Wadea Al-Fayoume 26 times and seriously injuring his mother, Hanaan Shahin, over his anger about the war between Israel and Hamas in October 2023. In the days between Hamas initial attack on Israel and the Oct. 14 attack in unincorporated Plainfield, Czuba reportedly became heavily interested in the conflict through conservative talk radio and targeted the pair because they were Muslim and Palestinian, according to the Will County Sheriffs Office. Wadeas death drew condemnation from elected officials across the state and country. President Joe Biden named him in a national address shortly after he died and federal authorities launched investigations into the attack shortly after it occurred. Shahins attorney, John Simon, said the lawsuit, filed late last month in Will County Circuit Court, had been delayed due to the federal hate crime investigation that is currently underway and which has limited some discovery. We are welcoming the opportunity to get to the bottom of what caused this man to do this and who knew about it, he said. This is a racially and religiously charged incident and anyone who had any ability to stop it should have intervened. The complaint accuses Czubas wife, Mary Czuba, and his brother, Daniel Czuba, of failing to warn Shahin that Czuba had extreme and violent thoughts and opinions towards Palestinians and Muslims, including Hanaan and Wadea Al-Fayoume, and presented a risk of foreseeable physical harm to Hanaan Shahin and Wadea Al-Fayoume. The suit also accuses Czuba himself of wrongful death and battery and names his and his brothers rental corporations as defendants. The 39-page complaint states that Shahin had identified the rental property through Daniel Czuba and moved in about two years before the attack. According to the complaint, Joseph Czuba approached his tenants several times over the week between the start of the war and the attack to tell them he hated Muslims. When Shahin told Mary Czuba about those interactions, Mary Czuba allegedly assured her that she and Wadea were safe. Czuba also allegedly asked Shahin and her son to move out of the house and told Mary Czuba that he feared Shahins Palestinian friends would hurt them about three days before the attack. According to the complaint, Czuba first attacked Shahin while she was giving Wadea a bath and returned to stab Wadea after she had called 911 and before authorities arrived. The last words Shahin heard her son say were oh no, the complaint said. Simon said that should the jury find the case in Shahins favor, it would be up to them to determine how much she would be awarded in monetary damages. The public defender representing Czuba in criminal proceedings did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday night. Czubas next criminal court date is 9:30 a.m. June 14, according to Will County sheriff records. Photos: Pritzker Military Archives Center A 24-year-old man who stole a laptop of an artiste who offered him a place to sleep has been sentenced to 12 months in prison by an Accra Circuit Court. The HP-branded laptop he stole was valued at GH3,500. David Boateng was charged with stealing and he pleaded guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Susan Eduful convicted Boateng on his plea. Prosecution led by Chief Inspector Wisdom Alorwu told the court that the complainant Evans Kotey Djanie was an artiste residing at Teshie First Junction and that the accused person was an Ashaiman resident. The prosecution said on May 5, 2024, at about 2:00 pm, the complainant was having a voice training at Teshie Roman area when the accused person, now convict, approached him and told him that he (accused) had come from Koforidua to Accra to work but had no place to sleep and needed help. According to the prosecutor, Djanie took Boateng home, left him in his room and went back for the training. The prosecution said at about 3:30am, the complainant returned home only to detect that Boateng had stolen his laptop computer valued at GH3,500. Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Families with father and child look-alikes are set for a fun-filled experience at Achimota Mall (ARC), as the Centre gets busy identifying some chips off the old block for special treatment and reward on Fathers Day. The hunt for Father and Child Look-alikes is ARCs prime episode for this years Fathers Day celebration, and is already in top gear as patrons began posting their entries last week. The Mall will continue to receive entries throughout the week until Thursday, June 13, management announced at the weekend. ARC management says it launched the Father and Child Look-alike campaign to celebrate the bond between fathers and their children by inviting them to showcase their resemblance in a fun and engaging fashion. The competitiveness of the episode helps to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children, while it provides a memorable experience for all participants. Five of the best entries to pull through will receive special gift items, have a shopping experience and dine in a food court restaurant of their choice, all by courtesy of ARC. Marketing Manager, Mrs Linda Pappoe, told newsmen that ARC patrons and visiting families who participate in the fun contest simply have to share photos of themselves with their look-alike fatherand caption the post with three words which best describe their father. To participate, you must first follow Achimota Retail Centre on Facebook and Instagram. Then you post a picture of you and your father on your personal Instagram or Facebook, with a caption that best describes your dad, Mrs Pappoe explained further, stressing that every post must tag @AchimotaRetailCentre and use the hashtag #AchimotaFathersDay. Five entries with the most striking physical resemblance between father and child with captivating captions, that manage to attract the highest number of likes on their posts will be declared winners. Winning entries will be announced on Friday, June 14 and will receive their awards on Fathers Day. Mrs Pappoe said ARC is offering the most enticing experience for this years Fathers Day celebration, as the Centre sets up for that congenial ambience which is best suited for every member of the family. Theres so much fun in the air at the centre and so much to give away; with soothing live-band music streaming through the food court and the walkways, and a professional Master of Ceremonies coordinating the variety of festive activities at the centre, ARC is, no doubt, the familys ideal destination for this years Fathers Day celebration, she said. Achimota Retail Centre is Accras most popular open mall. It is home to a wide range of Ghanaian and international brands with offerings in different retail categories including, fashion and clothing, electronics, grocery, health and wellness, a childrens games arcade and a range of alluring delicatessen and eateries. The Centre is located at Dome, off the Accra-Nsawam highway. It provides, retail shopping services and quality recreation to catchment communities like Achimota, Dome, Tantra Hills, Taifa, Kwabenya, Ashongman and the entire north-eastern quarter of the capital. 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. Featured Video Energy Minister Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh on Sunday 9th June, 2024 joined his grandfather, the Asantehene Otumfuo Osei Tutu II, to the durbar of the Ga State in honour of His Royal Majesty Otumfuo Osei Tutu II. The event follows the Ga Mantses recent participation in the 25th anniversary celebration of Otumfuo Osei Tutu IIs ascension to the golden stool as well as his 74th birthday celebration. The reciprocal visit is a testament of the strong bond of affection between the two traditional rulers. The Energy Minister, who had earlier on Friday June 7, 2024 paid a courtesy call on the Ga Mantse, reiterated the need for enhanced cordial relations among Ghanaian ethnic groups which, to him, forms the foundation for progress and development in the country. The Asantehene pledged GH500,000 as seed money to establish an Education Endowment Fund for the Ga State. 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. Featured Video The largest opposition party, National Democratic Congress (NDC) has questioned the credibility of a recent survey undertaken by a senior research fellow at the Kumasi Technical University, Professor Smart Sarpong. Professor Smart Sarpong, indicated that Ghanaian voters prefer Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia as the next President of Ghana to the candidate of the NDC, John Dramani Mahama. Thw survey conducted across the various regions in Ghana revealed that, there is a deeper preference for the Vice President. From all indications as far as the findings of the research is concerned, Bawumia leads as the preferred Presidential Candidate with 38.9% in the 2024 general elections. The survey also revealed that the opposition party, the NDC is the most popular party. This findings has elicited varied conversations amongst the public with some persons gravely disagreeing with the findings. Top amongst those who disagree are the members of the opposition party who are of the view that, the researcher was already tinted with bias thereby, discrediting the research work. Deputy Communications Director of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Malik Basintale, in an interview with Umaru Sanda Amadu on Citi FMs Eyewitness News on Thursday, June 6, stated that, the research lacks credibility adding that the survey does not accurately reflect the sentiments of the Ghanaian electorate. According to him, Prof Sarpong was a sympathiser of the NPP, and an admirer of Dr. Bawumia, which raises the questions of credibility. Malik Basintale said, The credibility of the researcher is as important as the research work. And so, if I wanted to look at the research work of Sarpong, I would have out-rightly attributed many stories to him. I will just say that look he is a known NPP person, we know him from Kumasi Technical University." "We know his penchant love for the NPP. We know his agape love for Dr Bawumia in fact in many of his releases as far back as November, he said in his own interest, he feels that Dr Bawumia should be president of this country. the NDC Communicator added. The survey further indicated that all other Presidential aspirants put together are making up to 3.6% gains. The survey also indicated that about 21.4 % of prospective voters are yet to decide which Presidential candidate to vote for as of the end of April 2024. Source: Kobina Darlington/peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Lawyer Clement Opoku Gyamfi, the District Chief Executive (DCE) for Amansie South District, has warned those verbally attacking the Attorney-General, Godfred Yeboah Dame, to refrain from such attitude. Lawyer Opoku Gyamfi, affectionately called "CID", contributing to Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show, outlined the dangers with what the critics of lawyer Godfred Dame are doing to his image, stressing the ethics of law call for respect for every legal practitioner. He, therefore, reminded the critics of the position of the Attorney-General saying "the Attorney-General is the leader of the bar, regardless of his age. Regardless of the number of years he has practiced, he is the leader of the bar". "When he enters the court, he is the one who is given audience first", this, he stated with an aim to extinguish the verbal attacks and invectives on the A-G. Background The Attorney-General has sued Minority Leader, Cassiel Ato Forson, and one Richard Jakpa at the High Court presided by Justice Afia Serwah Asare-Botwe. Richard Jakpa is on trial with Dr. Ato Forson over an alleged financial loss to the State. They are accused 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 took an interesting turn with Richard Jakpa 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. Nonetheless, the audio recording which was tendered in court, according to the presiding Judge, contains no incriminating evidence against the A-G. 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. Featured Video The Ghana Police Service has strongly denied allegations made by Johnson Asiedu Nketia, the National Chairman of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), regarding the arrest of three individuals in the Awutu Senya East Constituency. At a press conference on Saturday [June 9], Mr. Asiedu Nketia claimed that high-ranking police officials had told him that the arrests were ordered from above. In an official statement, the police clarified that the claims made by Asiedu Nketia are "false and without any basis." The statement said at no point did the Accra Regional Police Commander, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID), or the Inspector-General of Police make such statements. According to the police, the three suspects were arrested after a Pump Action gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in their vehicle at the Electoral Commission's office in Ofaakor, Awutu Senya East constituency. The suspects have since been cautioned and granted bail. "The attention of the Ghana Police Service has been drawn to a video in which Mr Johnson Asiedu Nketia is heard claiming that the Accra Regional Police Commander, the Director-General of the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) and the Inspector-General of Police had indicated to him that the arrest of some three persons for possession of firearms at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East Constituency was based on an order from above," the statement said. "We would like to categorically state that the claims are false and without any bases. None of the officers mentioned in the video has at any point in time made any such pronouncement. "We wish to emphasize that all three suspects were arrested when a Pump Action gun with four rounds of ammunition was found in their vehicle at the offices of the Electoral Commission at Ofaakor in the Awutu Senya East constituency of the Central region. They have subsequently been cautioned and granted bail". Mr. Johnson Asiedu Nketia, also known as General Mosquito, addressed the media on June 8, following the release of the NDCs parliamentary candidate for Awutu Senya East, Phillis Naa Koryoo Okunor, from police custody. He issued a stern warning to the Ghana Police Service and other security agencies to act impartially as the 2024 general elections approach. He asserted that no Ghanaian laws were designed to intimidate citizens and vowed that the NDC would resist any attempts to misuse state power against its members. "We will fight for freedom. We will not allow the coercive powers of the state to be used against us," he declared. Naa Koryoo's detention at the Cantonments Police Station on June 7 sparked outrage among NDC supporters, leading to a protest at the station. The incident drew condemnation from various quarters, including former President John Dramani Mahama. Some, like Naa Koryoos assistant Delali Sewarkpor, described the detention as politically motivated, attributing it to influences within the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Actress Yvonne Nelson and colleague John Dumelo led #DumsorMustStop protesters on Saturday, June 8 to register their grievances against the power outages being experienced across the country. The protest march started from the University of Ghana main entrance to the Tetteh Quarshie Roundabout, where the organisers addressed the press. Some of the notable faces present were Member of Parliament for Madina Constituency, Francis Xavier Sosu and comedian DKB. Below are some photos from the event Actress and movie producer, Yvonne Nelson and the #DumsorMustStop campaigners put paid to their quest to demonstrate against the prevailing erratic power supply in parts of the country. They paraded through some principal streets of Accra highlighting the inconvenience, health and financial implications of the dumsor menace. Below is a copy of the petition meant to be presented to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on June 8, 2024. 1. Healthcare: Our hospitals are struggling to provide adequate care, especially during critical moments such as childbirth. The lack of reliable power supply puts both mothers and newborns at risk, undermining our healthcare system and endangering lives. 2. Businesses; Entrepreneurs and businesses, from small vendors to large enterprises, are experiencing significant operational challenges due to the inconsistent power supply. This is leading to financial losses, layoffs, and, in some cases, the closure of businesses. Our economy cannot thrive under such conditions. Your Excellency, Mr. President, and Dr. Prempeh, we urge you to prioritize this issue with the urgency it demands. We need transparent and effective solutions to ensure a stable and reliable power supply for all Ghanaians. We implore you to take the following actions: 1. Immediate Measures; Implement short-term strategies to mitigate the current power shortages and provide relief to affected areas. 2. Long-term Solutions: Develop and communicate a comprehensive plan to upgrade and expand our power infrastructure, incorporating sustainable energy sources to prevent future occurrences of Dumsor. 3. Accountability: Ensure transparency in the management of our energy resources and hold those responsible for inefficiencies accountable. Ghana has the potential to be a beacon of progress and development in Africa, but we cannot achieve this if we are constantly hindered by power crises. We are confident that with decisive action and commitment, we can overcome this challenge and build a brighter future for our nation. Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We look forward to your prompt response and to seeing tangible improvements in our power supply situation. Yours sincerely, Yvonne Nelson Henry Akoto Osei Selorm Dramani Dzramado Source: graphiconline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain The British electorate has been more volatile than ever in recent years. The elections of 2015 and 2017 saw the highest number of voters switching parties in modern history. And current polling suggests we're about to see more of the same. Understanding what's happening in people's brains when they are making decisions helps us understand why certain political messages appeal to them and why they might decide to switch parties. Political scientists talk about Pedersen volatility, named after the distinguished Danish scholar Mogens N. Pedersen. There is a forbidding mathematical equation for this, but it all amounts to "the net change within the electoral party system resulting from individual vote transfers". In plain English, volatility is simply the number of people who change party in an election. In late 1960s Britain, the Pedersen index stood at just over 10%, now it is closer to 40%. There has been much talk about the increased use of social media and its influence on election outcomes. A recent study by Professor Hanspeter Kreisi, a Swiss election expert, reported that "a steady stream of argument and voting cues [are] allowing voters to make enlightened choices that are in line with their preferences". This might well be true, but a recent study found that while politicians post more on social media during election campaigns, overall the number of posts with policy content is lower not higher. The voting brain One of the more interesting developments in electoral studies is that we are now able to use social neuroscience methods to understand voting behavior. In the past decade, neuroscience has enabled us to identify the parts of the brain that get activated when you watch political adverts. What these results show is that most people are driven by fear and emotion rather than by rational argument in election campaigns. In practice, this means that voters are more susceptible to messages that stress the negative rather than the positive. Researchers found that negative images and statements about products led to heightened activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which is also associated with decision making. For example, negative information about a brand of cola made subjects more likely to buy the competing brand. However, when this experiment was repeated with political parties rather than soft drinks, the negative effect was three times higher. Negative political advertising works, and we now have the fMRI scans to prove it. Politics is a bare-knuckle fight, and our brains reflect that. Evolution has conditioned us to be driven by fear when we are under threat. We want to survive above all. By playing on our fear and anger, those who devise election slogans are producingperhaps deliberatelymessaging that triggers parts of the brain associated with revenge and pent up rage, including the so-called anterior cingulate cortex (or ACC), deep in the front part of the fissure that separates the two brain-hemispheres. So, if I am furious that Rishi Sunak has not brought NHS waiting lists down, it is likely that the ACC has gone into overdrive. Older peoplewho tend to vote in higher numbersare particularly interesting here. This is because as we age, we become more prone to activating the so-called dorsolateral prefrontal cortexan area of the brain associated with caution. It is unlikely that Rishi Sunak has delved into the finer points of neuropolitics but his strategy is consistent with what we know from social neuroscience. His emphasis on need to "stick to the plan" and not gamble on the opposition appeals to those with oversensitive dorsolateral prefrontal corticesnamely the older voter cohort he most needs to convince. But more broadly, people of all ages have a strong tendency to activate the amygdalaa part of the brain associated with fear. Only rarely do we activate the parts of the brain associated with ethical evaluation such as the so-called ventromedial prefrontal cortex. No wonder the two main parties in the British election are focusing on fear and caution. Maybe Machiavelli got it right when he observed that voters are "avoiders of danger"? Appealing to this fear, we see Rishi Sunak repeatedly warning in a very unspecified way that the world is more "dangerous" than ever. And clearly realizing that voters respond to promises of security, the two parties are labeling policies as a "triple lock", be it on pensions or the nuclear deterrent. The age of economic voting The other rich seam of academic research on why voters change their minds relates to the knowledge that since the 1970s or so, voters have been more prone to base their decisions on macroeconomic performance. Thus, political parties that have presided over significant financial downturns get blamed. This explains why the Conservatives lost in 1992 and Labour lost in 1979. Voters even change their minds based on recent economic performance even if the economic downturn is beyond the control of the government, as was the case for former Conservative prime minister Edward Heath, who lost power after the 1973 oil crisis (precipitated by a war in the Middle East). Once a government has been associated with economic illsincreases in mortgage rates, cost of living and the likethey get blamed even if the economy is in recovery. The current government's slogan that the plan is working might be economically correct, but history suggests it will not prevent voters from changing parties. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski during the Pledge of Allegiance before public comments about employing chaplains at the Katy ISD school board meeting at Katy ISD Educational Support Building on Monday, Feb. 26, 2024, in Katy. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Katy ISD Superintendent Kenneth Gregorski was the districts highest-paid employee in the 2023-24 school year, earning about $429,000 in his fifth year leading the district. Rounding out the rest of Katy ISDs top earners this school year were members of Gregorskis executive leadership team, members of the districts legal counsel, and leaders of the districts operations and human resources departments, eight of whom made salaries over $200,000. By comparison, the average teacher salary in the district this year was about $69,300. The Houston Chronicle analyzed staffing files from the Texas Education Agency for the 2022-23 and 2023-24 school years to see which employees earned the most in the district and how those salaries changed compared to last year. The data reflect employee payroll information submitted by the district during the annual October snapshot each school year. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Katy ISDs employee salaries are broken into two categories in the data: base salary which includes an employees regular annual pay and supplemental pay which includes any additional pay an employee received from the district as a part of their compensation package, such as stipends or other allowances. The Chronicle has combined these two amounts to calculate the total salaries for each employee in the district. Gregorskis 2023-24 total pay included a base salary of about $384,500 and roughly $45,000 in supplemental pay bringing the superintendents total compensation to $429,000. As a part of his contract, Gregorski receives $1,000 a month for a car allowance and $100 a month for his cell phone, which account for $13,200 of his supplemental pay reported in the data. The district said the remaining $31,800 in Gregorskis supplemental pay was for contributions to the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, the states pension program. TRS contributions, which have a rate of 8.25% of members salaries in 2023-24, are covered by the district as a part of the superintendent's compensation package. Katy ISD Superintendent Ken Gregorski, center, greets students and their parents at Russell and Cindy Fallen Elementary on the first day of school for Katy ISD, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023, in Katy. Jason Fochtman/Staff photographer Advertisement Article continues below this ad Most of the other top-earners in the district each received $6,600 of supplemental pay in 2023-24 for phone and car allowances, but some received less depending on the specific stipends they qualified for based on their position in the district. Under his contract, Gregorski also receives a raise each year equal to the highest percentage raise given to teachers in the district or whatever amount is agreed upon by the school board. The superintendents base salary increased by 3% in the 2023-24 school year compared to last year, which matched the average percentage raise the districts teachers received. Katy ISD trustees recently approved 3% raises for teachers for the upcoming 2024-25 school year. Based on Gregorskis contract, the superintendent's pay will likely increase by 3% next year as well. Take a look at the district's top-paid employees for this school year below. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: A herder sits with his horse on an open plain in Inner Mongolia, China, July 2019. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature. Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP The horse transformed human historyand now scientists have a clearer idea of when humans began to transform the horse. Around 4,200 years ago, one particular lineage of horse quickly became dominant across Eurasia, suggesting that's when humans started to spread domesticated horses around the world, according to research published Thursday in the journal Nature. There was something special about this horse: It had a genetic mutation that changed the shape of its back, likely making it easier to ride. "In the past, you had many different lineages of horses," said Pablo Librado, an evolutionary biologist at the Spanish National Research Council in Barcelona and co-author of the new study. That genetic diversity was evident in ancient DNA samples the researchers analyzed from archaeological sites across Eurasia dating back to 50,000 years ago. But their analysis of 475 ancient horse genomes showed a notable change around 4,200 years ago. That's when a specific lineage that first arose in what's known as the Pontic-Caspian Steppe, a plains region that stretches from what is now northeastern Bulgaria across Ukraine and through southern Russia, began to pop up all across Eurasia and quickly replaced other lineages. Within three hundred years, the horses in Spain were similar to those in Russia. A herder tracks a horse on an open plain in Inner Mongolia, China, July 2019. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature. Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP "We saw this genetic type spreading almost everywhere in Eurasiaclearly this horse type that was local became global very fast," said co-author Ludovic Orlando, a molecular archaeologist at the Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse in France. The researchers believe that this change was because a Bronze Age people called the Sintashta had domesticated their local horse and begun to use these animals to help them dramatically expand their territory. Domesticating wild horses on the plains of Eurasia was a process, not a single event, scientists say. Archaeologists have previously found evidence of people consuming horse milk in dental remains dating to around 5,500 years ago, and the earliest evidence of horse ridership dates to around 5,000 years ago. But it was the Sintashta who spread the particular horses they had domesticated across Eurasia, the new study suggests. Horse herder catching one of his horses with a lasso on the Khomiin Tal plaeau, Mongolia, May 2014. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature . Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP Herders guide horses on an open plain in Inner Mongolia, China, July 2019. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature. Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP Herders guide horses on an open plain in Inner Mongolia, China, July 2019. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature. Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP Horse and mule trains carrying heavy loads across the Peruvian Andes, in the Salkantay mountains region, August 2024. Scientists analyzed ancient horse genomes to calculate dates for the domestication of the modern horse -- 4,200 years ago, according to new research published Thursday, June 6, 2024, in the journal Nature. Credit: Ludovic Orlando/Centre for Anthropobiology and Genomics of Toulouse, CAGT via AP Researchers believe the very earliest horse ancestors arose in North America, then sauntered across the Bering Strait into Asia around a million years ago. They flourished in Asia, but went extinct in the Americas. People had domesticated other animals several thousand years before horsesincluding dogs, pigs, cattle, goats and sheep. But the new research shows that the shrinking genetic diversity associated with domestication happened much faster in horses. "Humans changed the horse genome stunningly quickly, perhaps because we already had experience dealing with animals," said Laurent Frantz, who studies the genetics of ancient creatures at the Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich and was not involved in the study. "It shows the special place of horses in human societies." More information: Pablo Librado, Widespread horse-based mobility arose around 2,200 BCE in Eurasia, Nature (2024). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-024-07597-5. www.nature.com/articles/s41586-024-07597-5 Journal information: Nature 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Iowas Democrats plan to have a Democrat running in as many state House, Senate and local races as possible during the 2024 election. The goal is to have a Democrat facing off against a Republican in almost every election in the state, Democratic leaders said during a fundraising dinner on Saturday. While the primary has passed, parties can still nominate candidates by convention. As part of the effort, Democrats announced Phil Wiese will run against state Rep. Bobby Kaufmann in the 82nd District. Wiese, 43, said an official announcement will be made Tuesday in Tipton. Wiese farms just outside of Blue Grass and is a sales specialist at Premier RV of Blue Grass. The announcement was made during the Scott County Democrats annual Red, White & Blue fundraising dinner, held Saturday at the Rogalski Center at St. Ambrose University in Davenport. Im running because I believe politics in Iowa need to be more respectful and less divisive, Wiese said. He said Kaufmann's policies were "anti-women," discriminate against the LGBTQ+ community and worsen the public education system. Im running for the Iowa House to end the culture wars and work for hardworking Iowans, Wiese said. "Im running so no Iowan is left behind. Wieses announcement came as Kay Pence, Scott County Democratic chair, told a crowd of about 250 that the Democratic Party throughout the state will be working to fill almost all election vacancies before the August deadline to ensure that there is a Democratic candidate running against almost all Republican candidates. State Rep. Jennifer Konfrst, 43rd District, the Iowa House Democratic leader, told the audience there is work to be done this election season. No path to the majority in the Iowa House exists without Scott County, she said. We need you, we need more of you and weve got to get to work. The contrast couldnt be clearer between what Republicans are offering for Iowans and what Democrats are offering for Iowans. Were introducing legislation in the House to lower costs for Iowa families, to defend reproductive freedom, to legalize marijuana for adult use and defend public education. What theyre doing is hurting our state in ways that are quantifiable and its our duty to tell people. Konfrst said that in 2022, 92,577 Democrats did not vote. While that is a depressing number, she said it is also opportunity for the Democrats. Thats 92,577 people who already are with us. Weve just got to get them to vote. Were a purple state, she added. With a focus on door knocking, raising money and messaging on topics like education and abortion, Konfrst said Democrats will be able to win more seats in the Statehouse and "surprise Iowa on election day." With only 150 days until election day, she said, there is not a day to waste. Iowa Senate Democratic leader Pam Jochum, 36th District, said that Senate Democrats have been working to recruit Democrats to run in the Senate districts where no Democrat ran in the primary. We have recruited 80% of those seats right now and we plan to have the rest of them recruited before the Aug. 15 deadline, she said. Jochum said that Konfrst is doing the same in recruiting House candidates. This is the first time in years that the House and Senate Democrats have filled this many seats to hold the Republicans accountable and give voters a real choice in this state, she said. Jochum said Senate Democrats have contacted 21,000 persuadable voters, that resulted in 4,500 conversations, 32% of which have already identified themselves as a Democrat, with 66% of those saying they havent decided. Only 2% identified as Republican, she added, so there is hope. The party also has mailed postcards to 10,833 inactive Democrats asking them to reengage with the party, Jochum said. Were moving in the right direction. Rita Hart, Chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, told the audience that Scott County is crucial to the Democrats performing well. Scott County has always been a Democratic stronghold along with many of the counties up and down the Mississippi River, and we have not performed well over the last few cycles, Hart said. But this election, Hart said, Scott County is ready to step up and turn that around. As you can see, we have a lot of candidates running, she said. They recognize that they are not being well represented and they are angry about certain things. The Republican legislature has become too extreme, she added. To get a Democrat to run in every open seat in the state is an ambitious plan, Hart said. Democrats are not fired up emotionally and believing that theyre going to turn this state blue on a dime," she said. "What they are is determined. They are very determined to get better leadership, get better representation. Photos: Scott County Primary Election Children play in the surf before a scheduled launch of Starship on Monday, April 17, 2023, at Isla Blanca Park in South Padre Island. Jon Shapley/Staff photographer With nearly 370 miles of coastline along the Gulf of Mexico, choosing the perfect beach for a summer getaway can feel overwhelming. But dont fret, USA Today has got you covered. The media company has released its top 10 Texas beach destinations of 2024. To create the rankings, an expert panel nominated its top picks and then readers voted for their favorites. Topping the list is Isla Blanca Park on South Padre Island. The ranking celebrated the beachs soft white sands, turquoise waters and vibrant beach culture. Beachgoers of all ages can enjoy activities from snorkeling in the warm Gulf waters to playing beach volleyball. Plus, theres an abundance of convenient amenities like beachfront pavilions and rentals. Advertisement Article continues below this ad In second place is Rockport Beach, the Lone Star States first designated Blue Wave Beach that prides itself on its clean, crescent-shaped stretch of sand." Its calm, shallow water is preferred by families, and its shaded picnic areas, grills, playgrounds and walking path offer recreational opportunities year-round. Boca Chica Beach, an expanse of blinding white sand situated next to SpaceX Starbase in Cameron County, came in third. The first Corpus Christi beach to make the list landed in fourth, with USA Today praising Malaquite Beach for its family-friendly swimming area free of public driving and its location near a pavilion with a visitor center, observation decks, showers and restrooms. A parking lot is next to the visitor center. The fifth best beach in Texas, according to the list, is I.B. Magee Beach Park in Port Aransas. Located on the northern end of Mustang Island, the 167-acre shoreline offers beachgoers the ability to camp on the soft sand and enjoy fresh gulf seafood from the Horace Caldwell Pier. Ranked in sixth, Surfside Beachs four-mile coastline offers the perfect fishing, surfing, horseback riding, swimming and sunbathing opportunities to Houstonians looking to escape the city, which is 60 miles away. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Another Corpus Christi favorite, Whitecap Beach, was listed seventh and applauded for often being among the least crowded beaches in the area despite being one of the most picturesque. It also hosts a variety of activities including surfing, kayaking, dolphin watching and jetty fishing. Just six miles away is Mustang Island State Park, which was ranked eighth. The popular park is dog-friendly, great for beach camping with drive-up campsites and firepits and paddling trails along the barrier islands coast. The 60 miles of undeveloped shores of Padre Island National Seashore also broke into the list at number nine. With driving and RV and tent camping allowed on the beach, it is a popular getaway for those looking to escape the busy beaches of South Padre Island. Advertisement Article continues below this ad IN THE NEWS Greene, McGuire shouted down by protesters U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greenes visit to Albemarle County started late and ended early Wednesday afternoon, after loud chants from protesters overwhelmed her megaphone and cut short her campaign rally for fellow Republican John McGuire. The Georgia congresswoman dropped into Virginias 5th Congressional District on Wednesday, where McGuire, a state senator, is challenging incumbent Rep. Bob Good in the upcoming GOP primary. While the 5th is a deep-red district in the heart of Virginia, Albemarle County is a longtime Democratic stronghold and that much was clear Wednesday. Greene and McGuire arrived at a polling station at the Albemarle County Social Services building Wednesday in a bus emblazoned with the name and likeness of former President Donald Trump, who recently endorsed McGuire over Good. In Albemarle County, McGuire and Greene found a group of roughly 50 protesters waiting for them, greeting them with chants of Go home and No hate in our state." PIPELINE PROBLEMS: Tests of the almost-completed Mountain Valley Pipeline through the end of March revealed about 130 potential problem areas that required additional analysis, according to records from a federal safety agency. Caliper tool runs, which involve running a device though sections of the buried pipe to check for dents and other weaknesses, showed that 50 anomalies needed to be excavated for further analysis or remediation, the records state. A second type of test, in which an electric current is administered to the steel pipe and monitored from the ground, indicated that 80 excavations needed to be completed to either validate the data or remediate the coating applied to the pipe. THEY SAID IT These people see that were suffering. Were not just a number. And they let us know that on a daily basis. Jennifer Hughes, a member of the HARP pod at Chesterfield County Jail. HARP (Helping Addicts Recover Progressively) is a program started by a licensed counselor who lost her son to a drug overdose in 2019. Hughes will be released from the jail in December and is working to curb her addiction through HARP. The Times-Dispatch visited the jail last month to learn more about a new gadget that will use electric shock to stop withdrawal symptoms. BY THE NUMBERS $35M Amount Envigo, a company that breeds and sells animals for scientific research, has agreed to pay in a settlement with the U.S. government after pleading guilty to conduct that resulted in the death of hundreds of dogs and harm to thousands more. At its Cumberland County facility, Envigo ignored multiple warnings, allowing thousands of beagles to live in their own feces, depriving them of adequate food, clean water and health care and euthanized dogs without providing anesthesia. ODDS AND ENDS COMFORT CASES: The American Electric Power Foundation awarded a $25,000 grant to Comfort Cases, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to providing hope and dignity to youth in foster care. Comfort Cases are new backpacks or duffle bags filled with several essential items for children transitioning into foster care. The AEP Foundation grant will allow Comfort Cases to distribute several hundred Comfort Cases backpacks across Appalachian Powers three-state service territory, including Roanoke, according to a news release from the power company. Funding from the AEP Foundation is making nearly 500 Comfort Cases possible for organizations supporting youth in foster care across Appalachian Powers service territory, including Western Regional CASA and West Virginia CASA for Children. IN THE NEWS Transportation a Va. budget priority Virginias latest spending plan includes efforts to provide hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to a prominent transportation agency in Northern Virginia, toll relief in Hampton Roads and highway widening along a stretch of Interstate 81 in Southwest Virginia. The state budget, adopted in May, includes a stark change from one of Gov. Glenn Youngkins transportation-related amendments: The newly enacted budget allows the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission the regional body of jurisdictions responsible for funding the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority to keep its trust fund intact. Late in the monthslong budget deliberations, Youngkin proposed additional funding for Metro, but it wouldve stripped money from NVTCs investment fund thats used by Northern Virginia jurisdictions. The governor eventually agreed with lawmakers on a spending plan that didnt dip into NVTCs fund. OVERDOSE: A woman whose 2-year-old child overdosed on fentanyl while eating hash browns in a Stafford County home last year was ordered Monday to serve three years in prison. Tabitha Marie Williams, 26, of Triangle, aka Tabitha Harper, pleaded guilty in Stafford Circuit Court to child neglect, possession of illegal drugs and obstructing justice. Three other charges were dropped in exchange for her guilty pleas. According to the evidence presented by prosecutor Ryan Frank, deputies and medical workers went to Thomas Jefferson Place on Nov. 19 in response to a call regarding a choking child. They found the child in the bathtub being held by his father, Mark Anthony Cole. Cole is also charged in connection with the case and is scheduled to have his charges resolved July 1. Chihuahua man with outstanding warrant for sexual abuse arrested in Playa del Carmen human trafficking bust Playa del Carmen, Q.R. A man from Chihuahua with an outstanding warrant for sexual abuse was arrested Friday night during a bar raid in Playa del Carmen. During the operation, 29 women were also removed from the premises. Local authorities were escorted by National Guard Friday night during a search of a bar on Benito Juarez Avenue and 50 North Avenue in central Playa del Carmen. Arrested was Alejandro N from Chihuahua who was wanted in that state for sexual abuse. During the operation, 19 foreign women and 10 Mexican women were removed from the club. The State Attorney General (FGE) reported the rescue of 29 women who were alleged victims of sexual exploitation. Investigative police officers assigned to the Special Prosecutors Office in Combating Human Trafficking were in charge of completing the court ordered search of the bar. According to the FGE, the women were recruited to work providing sexual services and erotic dances that clients paid between 5,000 and 10,000 pesos for. Among the foreign women are nine from Colombia, six from Venezuela, two from Cuba, one from Peru and one from Norway. Seven were made available to the National Migration Institute (INM) for the corresponding procedures. MONETA The Smith Mountain Lake Association kicked off its second annual A Day at the Lake on Saturday by announcing $150,000 in state funding to study harmful algal blooms. The news came as a part of the daylong event promoting lake health and safety. The goal of the study will be to find potential causes for the algae to prevent the economic impacts that occurred last summer when the appearance of harmful blooms led to a swim advisory for much of the summer for a portion of the lake. The SMLA will work with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and Virginia Tech to develop the study that is expected to begin later this year. The funding was included in Virginias finalized state budget. The funding will be provided to DEQ as part of Virginias finalized state budget. It is the first time the state has allocated money to Smith Mountain Lake specifically to study algae growth. Smith Mountain Lake Association became an active advocate late last year and throughout the spring budget season with the Virginia General Assembly and various budget committees, said Bill Butterfield, SMLA president. That advocacy led to support from members of the Virginia General Assembly. One supporter, Del. David Bulova, D-Fairfax, spoke briefly at Saturdays event, emphasizing the importance of the lake and its connection to the overall economy of outdoor recreation statewide. Its a big deal because people dont realize just how big outdoor recreation is as part of our economy and our growth here in Virginia as well as our quality of life, Bulova said. Outdoor recreation at Smith Mountain Lake is dependent on its health and safety. Several lake organizations joined SMLA in supporting the cause on Saturday at Goodhue Boat Company, Blackwater which was formerly known as Crazy Horse Marina. Some of the participating organizations included the Smith Mountain Lake Marine Volunteer Fire Department, Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources, the Scruggs Dive Team and Ferrum College, which partners with SMLA to conduct its water quality monitoring program each summer. Members talked with attendees while emphasizing lake health and safety. Following Saturdays announcement of the state funding, SMLAs Lake Quality Council chair Keri Green said the study will be included with other, smaller efforts currently ongoing at the lake to monitor harmful algal blooms. The SMLA spent $40,000 recently to study watershed conditions along the Blackwater River arm of the lake that are conducive to algae bloom growth. The results of the study are expected later this month. The study uses computer modeling by compiling data including areas of farmland or forest and septic systems along the shoreline. That is added to data on rainfall and stream flow to find areas with a potentially high nutrient load that could be a breeding ground for harmful algae. The SMLA also started a Dock Watch program that takes water samples at multiple sites around the lake each week. The samples are then analyzed at a lab at the SMLA office in Westlake. Green said no harmful algal blooms have appeared in samples collected so far. She is optimistic the lake may avoid the swim advisories that impacted recreation for much of the summer last year. I think it is going to be a good year, Green said. I was 22 the first time I went to the McKittrick Hotel. I was 22 the second time I went, and the third, too; by the time my 24th birthday rolled around, I had spent almost every spare weekend there. The McKittrick Hotel is not, of course, a real hotel. Rather, despite its insistent marketing, this New York City converted warehouse is in fact a performance venue: home to the red-velvet, Art Decothemed Manderley Bar (complete with nightly cabaret shows), a rooftop bar inspired by Scottish witch folklore, and, at one point, a restaurant inspired by 1930s night trains. But at the heart of the McKittrick is Sleep No More, British theater company Punchdrunks sprawling, intoxicating dance-based pastiche of Shakespeares Macbeth and Hitchcocks Rebecca. Advertisement Sleep No More, inarguably the most famous contemporary immersive theater production in New York, is closing its doors on July 7, bringing an end to 13 years of phantasmagoric dreamscapes. Its most ardent fans have been steeling themselves for months, since Punchdunk announced that the show would wrap up at the end of January, and then February, then March, then April, and so on. (Over the weekend, Punchdrunk extended this final extension to July 28.) There are final trips to coordinate, actors to see one last time in our favorite roles, drinks to order at the Manderleyall part of the ritualistic nature of a fandom that has, for better and for worse, become an obsession for many. In 2012, when I started going, just a year into the shows run, Sleep No More had not yet spawned its legions of immersive interactive successors. The productions premise600 or so audience members wear uncanny white plague masks, and are released to silently wander a six-story dreamscape at their leisure, following favored characters, rifling through props, or gaining a coveted one-on-one interaction with an actor in a private roomwas relatively novel. Social media had not yet streamlined the shows secrets, although dedicated Sleep No More superfans (and I soon became one) had already started posting elegiac recaps of their experiences on Tumblr. Some of us went dozens of times. Some hundreds. One or two obsessives got close to 1,000. We made fan playlists, fan costumes. We came up with ritualistic one on one encounters of our own, performing them at McKittrick parties with one another and receptive performers alike. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Back then, we thought of, and spoke of, the McKittrick as our home. Most of us superfans, in one way or another, were disillusioned with what seemed like the ordinary lives we lived; I was a restless graduate student, unsure of what I wanted or what I believed. But whenever we entered the Manderleygreeted with extravagant flair by men in tuxedos and women in black sequined dressesor got taken into a secluded chapel to pray with Lady Macduff, or received a lipstick kiss from the queen witch Hecate, we became strangers to ourselves. The world of the McKittrick, we believed (or let ourselves pretend to believe), was an enchanted one; not just by the witches who herald Macbeths downfall, but by a stranger and more widely suffused magic. Every line of Macbeth, Punchdrunks leadership was fond of saying, could be found somewhere in the McKittrick: translated into a flock of dead birds in the Macduffs apartments, a hidden letter in an antique drawer, a secret room in the asylum where Lady Macbeth performs, wordlessly, a version of Out, damned spot! That meant that every moment of our show experience meant something; within the McKittricks walls, we could livefor three hours, at leasta life surrounded by significance, even if we were little more than shadows in that world. The times I spent at the McKittrick were among the most formative of my life; a decade later, I based my novel, Here in Avalon, the story of an immersive theater troupe that may or may not be a cult, on the midnights Id spent at the Manderley Bar. Advertisement Advertisement At its best, Sleep No Moreand the legions of immersive and interactive productions it inspiredgalvanized us to reimagine theater as a site not of disengaged spectatorship, but of participatory witness. By inviting us to be part of the stories these productions told, challenging us to examine our own complicitystanding silently, say, during the murder of the innocent Lady Macduff, or else seduced by the orgiastic gyrations of the distinctively sultry witchesSleep No More challenged us to remember the ritualistic origins of theater as a place for audience and performer alike to lose ourselves, to emerge transformed. If there was something even a little bit religious about the encounter, that was the point. In contrast to the heady explorations through the McKittricks corridors, ordinaryproscenium, that istheater began to feel pallid and removed. Compared to getting a kiss from a perfumed witch in a boudoir, watching a Broadway musical or reading a piece of new writing felt almost like watching television. And, at a time when smartphone culture was just beginning to proliferateSleep No More premiered in March 2011, less than a year after the release of the iPhone 4 and the launch date of Instagramparticipatory theater felt like a tantalizing, even subversive, rejoinder to a life already starting to narrow under the algorithmic flattening of content. Not only could you not use your phones in the McKittrick, you couldnt even show your face. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Related From Slate How a Sufjan Stevens Album Became a Breathtaking New Broadway Show Read More By now, of course, things have changed. Today, Sleep No Mores particular brand of vintage nostalgia and interactivity has become a virtual requisite for shows seeking to seduce audience members with the promise of, rather than genuine artistic encounter, a mediated capital-E experience: a chance to dress up, drink, and participate in a highly curated, and often social mediafriendly, atmosphere. There are highly eroticized immersive experiences like Cocktail Magique, by burlesque troupe Company XIV, which blend striptease with thematically selected cocktails. There are adventure theatre walking tours like Accomplice: The Village, which blends storytelling with escape roomstyle puzzles. There are immersive adaptations of classic IP: a Roaring Twenties immersive Great Gatsby, for example, as well as Shawshankd, an interactive cocktail experience which encourages audience members to take on the role of the incarcerated, Shawshank Redemptionstyle. Some of these productions dispense with the pretense of theater altogether, instead branding themselves as made-for-Instagram immersive exhibits, like the recently closed Midtown installation Wonderland Dreams, by artist Alexa Meade, and the ongoing custom-curated immersive experiences at the Hall des Lumieres in New Yorks Financial District. Advertisement At their best, immersive productions offer a magical, intricate, wonderful experience you just get lost in for a few hours, says Nick Atkinson, a former Sleep No More performer who originated the role of Maximilian Martel, one of the Manderleys in-show cabaret hosts. But, increasingly, immersive has become a catchall branding term, bearing the same relationship to genuine experience as content does to art. At worst, the popularity of productions that bill themselves as immersive play to the audiences potential narcissism: our collective desire, affirmed by a culture driven by social media, to be the main characternot only of our own lives, but also of someone elses show. In this context, immersive theater can be less an escape from smartphone culture so much as its natural extension: another place for us to narrate, whether through social media or simply our own consciousness, the story of our own livesless a place to lose ourselves than to reify our selfhood. By becoming part of the show, often in highly aestheticized ways, we pass up the opportunity to experience the sheer otherness of theater: encounters with characters whose stories, for a few hours, become far more important than our own. Contrary to what so many of us once found in Sleep No More, many of todays shows that bill themselves as immersive merely foster the idea that the audience is the staror, as Atkinson puts it, gotta get those selfies to put out there. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Much of this shift can be felt even at the McKittrick Hotel these days, with Sleep No More less a piece of avant-garde theater than a requisite must-do for out-of-towners or couples on their third or fourth app-facilitated date. Sam Booth, another longtime Punchdrunk collaborator who has performed in the companys two most recent U.K. shows, The Drowned Man and The Burnt City, reflected on how the social media era had changed the audience dynamics of the shows hed worked on. Once, Atkinson recalls, he was performing as Maximilian in the Manderley, pouring my heart out onstage, and a spectator sat down with their back to him, texting and scrolling through Instagram. And although Punchdrunk performers have traditionally separated audience members from the companions theyd arrived withencouraging them to explore the space on their ownin recent years, audience members have become more resistant to breaking off from their friends or dates. The promise of a solo transformative experience, however risky, is, for many audience members, less compelling than the social element of attending a now notoriously aesthetically exciting production. Audience participation has given way to harsh entitlement in other ways; among the biggest challenges for Sleep No More cast and crew, former staffers have alleged, is the persistent tendency of audience members to disrupt, and sometimes sexually harass, actors. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The more we become accustomed to living our lives as a source of content, the more we want our relationship to artistic production to be one that centers our own subjectivity. It would be possible to read Sleep No Mores popularity, and its wider legacy of immersive content, as a harbinger of a wider cultural shift: one in which we have begun to expect artistic experiences to revolve around usor indeed, to think of encountering art as a specific kind of personal experience. The more we become accustomed to living our lives as a source of content, the more we want our relationship to artistic production to be one that centers our own subjectivity. More and more of us hunger for experiences where we are not asked to pay attention to others, but where othersperformers includedinteract with, and pay attention, to us. The idea that we should be part of the show, once a transgressive invitation to challenge the boundaries of us and them, has now become an all-too-common excuse for treating theatrical outings as a backdrop boost to our ego. Advertisement Advertisement But to blame immersive theater itself for this shift, Booth warns, would be to ignore the very factors that made Sleep No More such a potent production in the first place. Immersive theater, he points out, has its roots in the kind of all-encompassing religious rituals that were once an ordinary part of human social life. The churches were the art centers of their day, Booth notes; they provided a very rich sensory experience, from the art to the music to the physicality of being there. The idea that you could experience a transcendent shared reality outside the ordinary has long been not just an aesthetic phenomenon but a spiritual one: one that seems all the more necessary in an era where, as Booth puts it, many of us live in artificial urban environments, disconnected from nature, from our bodies, from spirit. I do not know if I was most or least myself when a witch kissed my cheek in a perfumed, darkened room. But I know that, for those moments, I was part of a story that had nothing to do with my daily life, or who I was in it. Those are the moments that Sleep No More, at its best, offered us. And, in its wake, those are the ones we need most. Earlier this year, when the Kansas House Education Committee introduced a bill that would require all school districts in the state to prohibit the use of cellphones during school hours, Kim Whitman, a mother of two and co-founder of the Phone-Free Schools Movement, reached out to her state representative to get a sense of whether she planned to support it. Much to the contrary, the legislator kind of lost it, Whitman told me, emotionally denouncing any bill that wouldnt allow her to maintain contact with her children throughout the school day. Floating the possibility that her kids could still keep phones in their lockers did little to appease her, because then she wouldnt know which specific classroom they were in, in case there was an active shooter, Whitman said. So thats what were dealing with. The legislators response shocked Whitman, but it didnt surprise her. Having spent the past few years advocating for schools to tighten their loose cellphone restrictions, Whitman knows the idea is unpopular among parentsaccording to one survey, just one-third of public school parents say theyd support such a measure. The No. 1 reason we hear from administrators that havent implemented a policy is theyre afraid of parent pushback, Whitman told me. And shootings top the list of parental objections, Sabine Polak, a fellow co-founder of the movement, told me. When Daniel Oppenheimer, an Austin-based parent of two, tried and failed to build parental support for more restrictive phone policies at his kids school last year, the issue of guns came up multiple times, maybe more than any other reason. Polak suspects guns are the reason that the U.S. has been slower than other countries to crack down on school phone use. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Many of those keeping tabs on the mounting evidence of the social, mental, and emotional harms of heavy smartphone use among teens find the shooting argument somewhat befuddling. School shootings are exceedingly rare, even in the U.S. Very few of the children who fall victim to gun violence each year are shot at school. The vast majority of those who are do not die in the sort of deliberate, indiscriminate attacks that get extensive media coverage. And the idea that having a phone in a shooting would meaningfully impact a childs survival is (people who advocate for stricter phone policies like to argue) tenuous at best. In fact, phones have the potential to hinder student safety by distracting kids from emergency response directions, overwhelming communications systems, or producing lights and sounds that may give away a students location, Shawna White, director of school safety for the education nonprofit WestEds Justice and Prevention Research Center, told me. And parents flocking to the school in response to their kids panicked calls could swamp traffic routes needed for first responders. Advertisement To Oppenheimer, the fact that so many parents are convinced that a phones hypothetical utility during such an exceptional scenario would outweigh the damage it causes the rest of the time seems to reflect some combination of denial and magical thinking. Whitman suspects that the phones mostly operate as an emotional safety blanket for parents more than anything else. They feel like, Well, if I can contact my child, maybe somehow I can control the situation, which is, you know, of course, false, Whitman said. Advertisement In conversation with such parents, I was surprised by how readily most admitted to all this: the harms of smartphones, the relatively low risk of a school shooting, and the limits of their ability to protect their child from one over a phone line. Their hesitation to part with whatever sense of security the phones seem to offer them seems to lie deeper than anything a broad statistical analysis can counter. For while the educational and social harms of phones at school are obvious to most, they do not affect all kids equally. While shootings are rare, the methods America has chosen to protect children from them make them difficult to put out of mind. Theres a clash of realities here. Proponents of stronger phone bans think opponents are clinging to an illusion of control. What those parents opposing bans would argue is that schools, with their bulletproof doors and active shooter drills, are guilty of the very same wishful thinking. Advertisement Advertisement The ongoing collapse of teen mental health across the developed world is making it harder to dismiss concerns about the negative impacts of smartphones and social media as prudish grumbling. Even those who arent sold on the idea that smartphones are driving teens to suicide must concede that they are highly disruptive in school; a robust body of research suggests that having a phone on you in class or while studying, even if its in your pocket or in the hands of a peer, hinders academic performance. The Program for International Student Assessment goes so far as to blame digital distraction for the decadelong decline in test scores across OECD countries. And then theres all the social weirdness of attending a smartphone-saturated school: the loss of face-to-face conversation when students spend every spare moment scrolling, the looming anxiety of having your blunders captured and posted to social media. School administrators report spending huge amounts of time dealing with fights, threats, and other drama instigated by social media, Whitman told me. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Of the several parents I interviewed for this piece, not one contested the idea that phones are causing real problems in schools, for students and teachers alike. Kids should have less access to phones and social media generally, Sarah Gavin, a mother of four who lives in a Seattle suburb, told me. And having a phone sitting at your desk that youre able to take a look at anytime that youre supposed to be learning is bad. 1,000 percent. In an ideal world, Gavin and others agreed, schools would ban phones. But we dont live in an ideal world; we live in America, where kids are sometimes shot to death at school. And a childs life is far more precious to a parent than their GPA. I recognize all the educational arguments and psychological arguments, David Davalos, a father of one teenage daughter, told me. But it beats a dead child every time. Advertisement Advertisement That said, few of these parents reported serious phone-related worries about their own children. Nam Le, a father of two who lives in Denver, got his children smartphones at a pretty young age, which he admits he did largely because he couldnt keep his own phone away from them. But he has few regrets about doing so. His children, now teens, are both straight-A students and seem well adjusted. Le and others expressed some skepticism that smartphones bear all the blame for modern kids woes. A lot of what were talking about is also parenting, Davalos told me. We have raised our kid to be responsible with phone use Im not prepared to surrender my ability to contact her directly because some other kid cant handle using the phone properly. Advertisement Advertisement Compared to what they perceive as the largely diffuse and abstract concerns about phones, attention, and socialization, the threat of a school shooting seemed to weigh far more heavily on these parents minds. Here, it was impossible to ignore the ways that the steady stream of high-profile mass shootings had shaped their thinking. Multiple parents noted that they were in high school when Columbine happened, and remembered how immediately it shattered their sense of safety. Most credited what happened at Robb Elementary in Uvalde in 2022the utter timidity of the police response, the bravery of the mother who rescued her own children from the school, the tragedy of the student begging a 911 dispatcher for helpfor cementing their conviction that their children would not go to school without a phone on them. Advertisement But the sense of vulnerability to gun violence parents expressed went beyond mere media sensationalism. Le, who lives just a few miles from Columbine High School, noted that other schools in his area have had school shootings in recent years. Davalos lives in Boulder, which made national news a few years ago when a gunman opened fire at a King Soopers grocery store. The fact that such incidents are statistically rare is of little comfort when you know people who have fallen victim to them. Its also extremely rare to be killed while youre shopping for groceries. But we know people who were, Davalos said. Even smaller tragedies seemed to contribute to a pervasive sense that guns are not something any American parent has the luxury of forgetting. Ryan Mayo, a father from Southern California whose son is starting school in the fall, recalled a childhood friend who accidentally shot himself to death soon after his high school graduation. Mayos concerns seemed to stem not from the scourge of school shootings in particular but the free flow of guns throughout the country that makes it so easy for a misguided or angry teen to get one. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement None of the parents I spoke to had children whod been through a school shooting, but most of them had experienced gun-related lockdowns, which is hardly surprising. Shots were fired on [an American K12] campus more than 300 times last year, but that really pales in comparison to all the other times that schools are locked down for threats or reports of weapons, or swatting or other things, David Riedman, a data scientist who runs the K12 School Shooting Database, told me. According to Pew data, nearly 1 in 4 school teachers said their school had an unplanned gun-related lockdown last year. Parents noted that the communication from schools during these incidents is typically limited and slow, and that they relied on their kids to fill in the gaps. Both of the lockdowns Davalos daughter underwent turned out to be false alarms, but he said it was a solid 30 minutes after word of the emergency initially reached parents that the school followed up to reassure them there was no threat. Thats a long half hour for a parent, when I can hear from her in five minutes, Davalos said. Sometimes, these parents said, there is no follow-up. In one recent episode, Le said he received a text message from the school about a weapons-related incident, as he does a few times every year. The school didnt carry out a lockdown, and only the following day did he learnfrom his childrenthat a student had brought a gun to school. He found it baffling that such a situation didnt warrant so much as an email, but it came as no surprise to Riedman. Its really rare for the schools to provide that information, because theyre not legally mandated to. And it looks bad for a school official to release information that says a gun was found on the campus, Riedman said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The frequency of such lockdowns are, to some extent, a byproduct of how weve chosen to deal with the threat of school shootings as a countrynot by reining in easy access to guns, but by fortifying schools. The lockdowns at Davalos daughters school were triggered after someone used the wrong entrance. The schools Gavins teens attend have been locked down a few times over the years because there was a shooter somewhere in the broader neighborhood of the school. Les son went through a lockdown a few years ago when the schools active shooter alarm went off by accident. (According to Le, when the alarm went off, his sons teacher immediately called his family to say goodbye.) Such false alarms have become increasingly common as schools have added an array of new technologies to help prevent or manage shootings, Riedman told me. A Texas high school went into lockdown last fall when the schools new A.I. gun-detection system mistook some shadows and brush for a rifle. In Riedmans view, kids being equipped with phones during such false alarms could prevent parents from unnecessarily swarming a school. Advertisement Parents were largely grateful for these hypervigilant systems. Id rather they err on the side of caution, Davalos told me. But while extensive safety protocols may reassure parents that schools are taking the threat of a shooting seriously, they also heighten the sense that shootings are a serious threat. In addition to trigger-happy lockdown protocols, schools have staffed up with school resource officers and security guards, erected bulletproof entrance vestibules and metal detectors, and adopted rigid drop-off and pick-up protocols and regular active shooter drills. Theres a sort of tangible sense of fear around, or just awareness around, the possibility of violence, Oppenheimer said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Beyond reassurance and speedy information, parents felt that phones offered them, if not control, at least the opportunity to do something. Mayo heard from a friend that the best method for surviving a shooting is to get as far away from the building as possible, as quickly as possible, which is exactly what he intends to instruct his child to doregardless of what the school tells him. Gavin wants her children to be able to communicate with their peers, many of whom have group chats set up for the specific purpose of coordinating in the event of a school shooting. This is something that our kids have to think about day in and day out. And they see their phone as a way to protect themselves, Gavin told me. And if their children didnt end up making it out alive, parents wanted an opportunity to say goodbye. If we cant save her, then we at least want to be with her, you know, to the extent that we can, Davalos said. Advertisement Parents admitted that the odds of their phone making or breaking their childs survival was slim, but they refused to believe it was nonexistent. Again, everyone seemed to feel that Uvalde offered proof that parents can make a difference, and that a child with a phone could be a resource to responders. And they largely scoffed at the idea that a phone might make their child less safe. Le doubted there was any proof of that being the case. Mayo thought it seemed sort of ridiculous that kids would not have their phones silenced, as his always is. Gavin found the implication that kids would be on TikTok during an emergency insulting. I think teachers and kids are smarter than to be distracted when theyre in a life-and-death situation, Gavin said. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When I ran these points by school safety experts, they admitted theres quite a bit of gray area. They werent aware of any specific research on whether phones help or hinder safety during a shooting. And they couldnt discount that there are scenarios where phones have proven helpful. There are few absolutes and many, many factors and judgment calls at play, White conceded. Nevertheless, she told me, I generally still feel that cellphones have more potential for harm than good. Thats a sensible response, but I found myself doubting that it would mean much to the parents I consulted. For parents to believe that their kids are better off without a phone during a school shooting, theyd first need to believe that American schools know how to reliably protect students from guns. And that is one strand of magical thinking that parents seemed wholly unwilling to entertain. They were once common, but only two individuals have been spotted recently. The mountain Apollo is becoming rarer and rarer in Slovakia. (Source: WIKIMEDIA CC) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Share In the past, one of the largest butterflies in Europe was prevalent in the Liptov region, northern Slovakia. However, the situation has changed drastically, with experts saying that only two adult individuals were registerd in recent years in the area of Liptov Castle. "This is pitifully few to maintain a stable population in this location," describes Erika Feriancova, a Tatra National Park zoologist. The insect's population density has significantly decreased in most monitored locations and the situation is becoming alarming. With a wingspan of around 6 to 8 centimetres in males and up to 9 cm in females, the mountain Apollo (Parnassius apollo) is a typical mountain butterfly with off-white colour and striking red and black eyespots. It is also protected. Early mowing does not help the Apollo In order for the Apollo to thrive, regular mowing of its habitat is necessary, usually at the end of July or August. If done earlier, the butterfly is unable to gather enough food from honey plants and the population cannot grow. Last year, the area around Liptov Castle was mowed in June, which was too early according to the zoologist. Mowing is necessary to prevent invasive plant species to take root. The zoologist adds that in the past, suitable conditions for the butterfly were maintained by grazing and managing of rocky cliffs. In addition, illegal capture for collecting purposes also has a negative impact on the species. That is why experts do not make the areas the Apollo inhabits public. Feriancova also adds that hikers should not catch the butterfly or pick flowering plants. Related article Washington Nationals' Keibert Ruiz runs the bases on his three-run home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Nationals Park, Sunday, June 9, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON (AP) Keibert Ruiz homered as part of a seven-run fourth inning and the Washington Nationals defeated the Atlanta Braves 8-5 on Sunday, spoiling the major league debut of Hurston Waldrep. CJ Abrams drove in three runs for Washington, which won the last three of four from Atlanta and improved to 6-2 this season against the Braves. This group is fun, they play with a lot of energy and it showed in this last series, Nationals manager Dave Martinez said. Seventeen games in a row without a day off, theyre going out and battling and grinding. These last few games were amazing. Atlanta has dropped four of five and at 35-28 is nine games behind Philadelphia in the NL East. It is the first time the Braves are as few as seven games over .500 since being 12-5 on April 17. Waldrep, the Braves first-round pick in the 2023 draft who was called up from Triple-A Gwinnett earlier Sunday, was undeterred by a 35-minute weather delay at the start. The 22-year-old right-hander breezed through three innings without allowing a hit. He is the fourth member of last years draft class to reach the majors and the second pitcher along with Pittsburghs Paul Skenes to do so. He was on the verge of escaping a two-on, one-out jam before Luis Garcia Jr. poked an RBI single to left. Ruiz then smacked a first-pitch fastball for a three-run homer into the Nationals bullpen, where reliever Jacob Barnes caught it between warmup pitches. I feel a lot better at home plate than when I came back (from) the flu (in late April), said Ruiz, who added a sacrifice fly in the fifth and is hitting .291 over his last 16 games, raising his average from .157 to .202. I feel like Im hitting the ball better. Waldrep (0-1) sandwiched two walks around a single to load the bases before ending his outing. Abrams hit reliever Aaron Bummers first pitch into the right-field corner, scoring three runs and making it 7-2. Waldrep surrendered seven runs in 3 2/3 innings. It started out really good and baseball happened, Waldrep said. I got some unlucky breaks and also gave up some hits I didnt need to give up and missed some pitches, walked some guys. It is what it is. Its part of the game. The seven runs scored were the most in an inning for Washington since it had eight in the sixth inning at Kansas City on May 26, 2023. Barnes (3-2) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the victory. Kyle Finnegan recorded the final three outs for his 18th save in 20 attempts after Jarred Kelenics three-run homer off Jordan Weems in the ninth pulled the Braves within three. Atlantas Michael Harris II opened the scoring with an RBI single in the second before Washington starter DJ Herzs struggled with is command. Orlando Arcia walked on four pitches, and Herzs first pitch to Kelenic was up and in, but grazed Kelenics bat. Kelenic took exception when Herz buzzed his head later in the at-bat. Herzs next throw was his second wild pitch of the inning, allowing Travis dArnaud to score. Herz allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings in his second major league start. TRAINERS ROOM Braves: Atlanta optioned RHP Daysbel Hernandez to Gwinnett and transferred OF Ronald Acuna Jr. (torn ACL) to the 60-day injured list to make room for Waldrep. Nationals: RHP Josiah Gray (forearm flexor strain) allowed three runs in three innings Sunday for Class-A Fredericksburg. Gray struck out two and walked one in the outing, his first since he was placed on the injured list April 9. UP NEXT Braves: Atlanta is off Monday. LHP Max Fried (6-2, 2.93 ERA) will start the first of a three-game series Tuesday at Baltimore. Nationals: Washington is also off Monday. The Nationals will start LHP Mitchell Parker (4-3, 3.47) when they begin a three-game series Tuesday at Detroit. ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/buddhist-values-acquire-growing-importance-in-polycentric-world-1118882039.html Buddhist Values Acquire Growing Importance in Polycentric World Buddhist Values Acquire Growing Importance in Polycentric World Sputnik International Buddhist values are acquiring ever greater importance in todays increasingly polycentric world, Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Russian Republic of Buryatia, underscored on the sidelines of SPIEF 2024. 2024-06-08T20:14+0000 2024-06-08T20:14+0000 2024-06-09T11:23+0000 russia spief 2024 st. petersburg international economic forum (spief) buddhism multipolarity multipolar world https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/09/1118882670_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e4f0d88e6da521add8c077bac3966e91.jpg Buddhist values are acquiring ever greater importance in todays increasingly polycentric world, Alexei Tsydenov, head of the Russian Republic of Buryatia, underscored on the sidelines of SPIEF 2024.As part of the discussion at the forum, he noted that the US, UK and the European Union form only 10.3% of the total population of the Earth, while countries in which Buddhism has historical roots account for almost 50%.Multipolarity, polycentricity, was an important point of Russian President Vladimir Putins speech at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).It seems to me that the preservation of such life value guidelines that exist today in Russia, in our Orthodoxy, in Islam, in Buddhism - this is also polycentricity, this is what we are talking about today, said Tsydenov.Buryatia has been hosting Buddhists from around the world for the second year in succession. The 2nd International Buddhist Forum will take place in August 2024 in the capital of the republic, Ulan-Ude and the Ivolginsky datsan - the center of the Buddhist Traditional Sangha of Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/photos-exciting-highlights-from-spief-2024-1118863868.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko buddhism, buddhism in modern world, buddhism in polycentric world, russia, st petersburg international economic forum, 27th st petersburg international economic forum, spief 2024, petersburg hosted the 27th edition of the st.petersburg international economic forum https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/us-begins-withdrawal-of-troops-from-niger--joint-statement-1118878990.html US Begins Withdrawal of Troops From Niger Joint Statement US Begins Withdrawal of Troops From Niger Joint Statement Sputnik International The United States has begun withdrawing its troops from Niger with the departure of the first aircraft, the two countries' defense ministries said in a joint statement. 2024-06-08T21:20+0000 2024-06-08T21:20+0000 2024-06-08T21:19+0000 us niger niamey us department of defense (dod) us withdrawal us foreign policy africa https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106398/21/1063982184_0:378:4032:2646_1920x0_80_0_0_80b2b0eac1cfa17f7c0c9db733d60b28.jpg "The US Department of Defense and the Nigerien Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Niger announce that the withdrawal of U.S. forces and assets from Niger has progressed from initial preparations to redeployment. This significant transition began with the departure of a US Air Force C-17 Globemaster III from Air Base 101 in Niamey on June 7, 2024," the statement read. Moreover, some US forces have already redeployed from Niger to their home stations after concluding their missions, the statement read. At the same time, a small contingent of US military personnel arrived in the African country to assist with the withdrawal of troops from Air Bases 101 and 201, it added.The US and Niger agreed to complete the withdrawal of US troops from the African country no later than September 15.There is an estimated 1,100 US personnel in Niger. The military pullout was initiated in March after a Nigerien military spokesperson said the country's transitional government, which took power in July 2023, had terminated the military agreement with the US with immediate effect, citing the interests of the Nigerien people. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240411/russian-specialists-arrive-in-niger-to-train-local-forces-on-combating-terrorism-1117879317.html niger niamey africa Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International united states begun withdrawing, us force in niger, niger us ties relations, us africa presence, us world military bases https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/austrias-defense-minster-western-permission-to-strike-targets-in-russia-crosses-red-line-1118880000.html Austrias Defense Minster: Western Permission to Strike Targets in Russia Crosses Red Line Austrias Defense Minster: Western Permission to Strike Targets in Russia Crosses Red Line Sputnik International Austrian Defense Minister Klaudia Tanner said that allowing Ukraine to strike targets in Russia using Western-donated weapons crossed a red line. 2024-06-09T04:30+0000 2024-06-09T04:30+0000 2024-06-09T04:30+0000 world ukraine russia austria nato ukrainian crisis ukrainian conflict us arms for ukraine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/19/1118635499_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_7fb22c5d865fad753acdff0727461f22.jpg "The red line was crossed. That is why I am very happy about the clarification from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that NATO will not send troops to Ukraine," Tanner said on Saturday in an interview with Austrian newspaper Die Presse.The comment came after recent decisions by the US and some of its allies to allow Ukraine to use US- or Europe-supplied weapons to strike targets across the internationally recognized borders of Russia for counter-fire purposes. Western countries have also been discussing sending troops or military instructors to Ukraine. Western countries have been providing massive military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it will lead to an escalation of the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240606/natos-routes-for-troop-redeployment-to-russia-run-via-italy-norway-balkans---reports-1118814100.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/natos-actions-threaten-world-peace---bolivian-president-1118832392.html ukraine russia austria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International strike targets in russia, us eu russia relations, us eu arms in ukraine, austrian defense minister klaudia tanner, ukrainian conflict crisis escalation https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/fire-engulfs-ship-near-yemens-aden-port-after-shelling---uk-maritime-trade-authority-1118880619.html Fire Engulfs Ship Near Yemen's Aden Port After Shelling - UK Maritime Trade Authority Fire Engulfs Ship Near Yemen's Aden Port After Shelling - UK Maritime Trade Authority Sputnik International The United Kingdom Maritime Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday that a fire broke out on a ship off the coast of the Yemeni port of Aden after shelling. 2024-06-09T06:30+0000 2024-06-09T06:30+0000 2024-06-09T06:30+0000 world middle east aden yemen united kingdom (uk) ansar allah houthis houthi red sea crisis https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0b/15/1115097020_0:160:1620:1071_1920x0_80_0_0_ae51d30cece1ee06e58af37d027f0b28.jpg The United Kingdom Maritime Operations (UKMTO) said on Sunday that a fire broke out on a ship off the coast of the Yemeni port of Aden after shelling. The incident occurred 70 nautical miles southwest of the port. "The master reports that the vessel was hit by an unknown projectile on the aft section, which resulted in a fire. Damage control is underway, the Master reports no casualties and the vessel is proceeding to its next port of call," the UKMTO said in a statement on X. Ships have been advised to transit with caution and report any suspicious activity, according to the statement. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240607/houthis-vow-to-continue-targeting-us-carrier-group-after-unveiling-new-hypersonic-missile-1118852457.html aden yemen united kingdom (uk) Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International the united kingdom maritime operations (ukmto) said on sunday that a fire broke out on a ship off the coast of the yemeni port of aden after shelling. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/gaza-to-look-like-playground-compared-to-lebanon-if-israel-hezbollah-standoff-spirals-1118881563.html Gaza to 'Look Like Playground Compared to Lebanon' If Israel-Hezbollah Standoff Spirals Gaza to 'Look Like Playground Compared to Lebanon' If Israel-Hezbollah Standoff Spirals Sputnik International Gaza will look like a playground compared to Lebanon if the current Israel-Lebanon tensions were to spiral out of control, pundits told Sputnik. 2024-06-09T12:20+0000 2024-06-09T12:20+0000 2024-06-09T12:20+0000 analysis israel benjamin netanyahu lebanon hezbollah hamas middle east gaza strip palestine-israel conflict palestine https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/09/1118881647_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_0d0aa354a1dac00f2eae472744491603.jpg If current Israel-Lebanon tensions were to spiral out of control, this could impose a heavy toll on both countries in this conflict, Joseph Helou, assistant professor of political science and international affairs at the Department of Social and Education Sciences at the Lebanese American University, told Sputnik.From the outset of the Arab-Israeli conflict in 1948, the entire Middle East has been, to varying degrees, a powder keg fraught with continuous rounds of conflict, he noted, adding that now the Israeli prime minister seems to be making aggressive moves to render future conflicts very costly in terms of human lives and material losses.Looking at the dynamics of the escalation, he recalled that after the Palestinian-Israeli conflict spiraled in the wake of the attack by Hamas in October last year, there was only limited military border skirmishes between Hezbollah and Israel. Hezbollah claimed it was its way of offering a supportive front for Gaza, claiming that the group would end the combat once the war on Gaza is terminated. Once Israel struck the Iranian Consulate in Damascus, Syria, on April 1, and intensified attacks on villages in southern Lebanon, Hezbollah beefed up its own drone attacks. Recent developments have shown that Hezbollah possesses advanced techniques to command operations via Iran-made drones, the scholar said, and recalled that Hezbollah officials have publicly stated that only part of their military panoply has been used so far.Stopping short of speculating on the sort of operations that Israel would be capable of carrying out in the northern regions of the country and in southern areas of Lebanon, the professor stressed:Increased capabilities on both sides of the conflict places the situation on high alert, rendering any real impact assessment of military operations very tentative. He noted that Hezbollah has bypassed and even destroyed Israeli defenses on several occasions.This qualitative improvement has shifted the type of operations in the conflict, rendering the next episode of this ongoing war very hard to anticipate, Joseph Helou said. According to him, this requires the international community to intervene to avoid further dangerous escalation. Prolonged peace is only possible if a two-state solution becomes reality, Helou emphasized.An independent Palestinian state, negotiated with a wide array of international support, could help bring about some semblance of order in a chaotic Middle East, he added. There is also a need to engage Iran in international diplomatic efforts towards a peaceful outcome, the expert said, as Tehran possesses stakes in the conflict through their support of Hezbollah and other regional proxies.Gaza will look like a playground compared to Lebanon if the current escalation "results in Iran trying to help Hezbollah and Lebanon, Dr. Shaul Bartal, a retired lieutenant colonel and researcher at Israel's Bar-Ilan Universitys Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, told Sputnik.He noted that a further regional war may end in the destruction of entire regions in Israel, but also in colossal destruction in Lebanon and Iran.Currently, Israel's goal in the standoff with Hezbollah is to remove the Lebanese Shiite movement from the border "as far as beyond the Litani River, and even beyond a range of 10-15 km, Dr. Bartal remarked. If there is a political agreement with the Lebanese government according to which only its army is allowed to operate in southern Lebanon and Hezbollah is removed from the border, then the war in the north will end, he noted.However, failing that, in a further tit-for-tat, Hezbollah could use the 150,000 missiles it has against Israel, while Tel Aviv, in turn, would wreak enormous destruction upon Lebanon. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240605/israel-ready-to-take-decisive-actions-against-hezbollah---netanyahu-1118784934.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/israel-cant-win-all-out-war-against-lebanons-hezbollah-heres-why-1118878260.html israel lebanon gaza strip palestine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko israel-lebanon tensions, israel and lebanon inch towards war, can israel beat hezbollah, who is stronger israel or hezbollah, can israel crush hezbollah, israel war in lebanon, hezbollah hits idf, https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/german-authorities-try-to-please-us-by-preparing-to-conflict-with-russia---kremlin-1118884077.html German Authorities Try to Please US by Preparing to Conflict With Russia - Kremlin German Authorities Try to Please US by Preparing to Conflict With Russia - Kremlin Sputnik International The statements made by the German authorities about preparing for war with Russia are related to the need to please Brussels, Washington and NATO, as Germany has been experiencing problems with its sovereignty since the end of World War II, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Sunday. 2024-06-09T13:00+0000 2024-06-09T13:00+0000 2024-06-09T13:00+0000 world dmitry peskov vladimir putin boris pistorius washington russia brussels nato bundeswehr kremlin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0b/0f/1104144155_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8c9680012d259ed1cde28923b0796b2a.jpg German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said the country must prepare for war by 2029 amid "increasing Russian threats."That is why their position is so complicated, Peskov said."Can you imagine them tearing up [between Brussels, NATO and Washington]?" he added.Meanwhile, Bundeswehr Deputy Inspector General Andreas Hoppe said Sunday that the German armed forces were planning to significantly increase the number of reservists in connection with the ongoing conflict in Ukraine."It is impossible without reserves. We see this in Ukraine ... We must adapt the reserve to the current challenges of security policy so that it can adequately support the Bundeswehr in carrying out tasks for the defense of the country and the alliance," Hoppe told the DPA news agency.The goal is to build up the reserve to 60,000 people for basic purposes, who will be trained for clear tasks and included in the planning of future operations, the official said.In addition, the Bundeswehr is currently considering how many people could potentially be drafted into the army "in case of defense," he said."We proceed from the fact that about 800,000 people can be drafted according to the laws of wartime. Basically, this is everyone who has ever served in the Bundeswehr, retired and is suitable for age," Hoppe said.Western countries have been providing massive military and financial aid to Kiev since the start of Russia's military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. The Kremlin has consistently warned against continued arms deliveries to Kiev, saying it will lead to an escalation of the conflict.Kremlin on Putin's Meeting With Foreign Journalists: Russia Needs to Explain Its PositionWestern authorities are imposing censorship on their media while preparing for war and this can be seen "with the naked eye," but Russia has to continue to explain its position, Dmitry Peskov also said on Sunday. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin held a meeting with representatives of international news agencies on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum. Even the most respected publications in the United States and the United Kingdom publish their materials "exactly as told," Peskov added. "We have to try to explain our position. It's like riding a bike. You can't stop, you have to do it all the time. You have to pedal all the time," Peskov said when asked if there was any point in talking to Western media at this point. All media representatives at the meeting agreed to meet with Putin once again, he said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240602/scholz-and-pistorius-bicker-over-how-to-make-germany-fit-for-war-as-ukraine-drains-coffers-1118744803.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240604/threat-to-arrest-russian-journalists-signals-growing-political-persecution-in-west-1118762137.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240531/clooney-foundation-project-targets-russian-journalists-with-secret-arrest-warrants-1118714459.html washington russia brussels Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International the statements made by the german authorities about preparing for war with russia are related to the need to please brussels, washington and nato, as germany has been experiencing problems with its sovereignty since the end of world war ii, kremlin spokesman dmitry peskov said on sunday. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/in-court-were-all-abused-like-donald-trump-1118879783.html In Court, Were All Abused Like Donald Trump In Court, Were All Abused Like Donald Trump Sputnik International For most people, the legal system feels like a meatgrinder. Court fees and lawyers bleed you dry. Your reputation is at risk. So is your sanity. Nothing makes sense. 2024-06-09T04:16+0000 2024-06-09T04:16+0000 2024-06-09T04:16+0000 analysis us donald trump americans democratic party republican joe biden us justice system bias https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/0c/0c/1115533846_0:317:3070:2044_1920x0_80_0_0_b0e8d824bb813b3861ab939bf3cf4bb0.jpg For most people, the legal system feels like a meatgrinder. Cops and officials, paid by you the taxpayer, treat you like dirt. Court fees and lawyers bleed you dry. Your reputation is at risk. So is your sanity. Nothing makes sense.The courts impose a series of annoying and painful experiences that belie the fundamental constitutional guarantees they teach us in school and cast doubt on the assertion that we all enjoy equal justice under the law. Like a surgical procedure, time spent in an American courtroom is best gotten through as fast as possible and quickly forgotten. Never mind full-fledged reform; even incremental improvement of the legal system is usually unthinkable.High-profile trials open a rare window into countless indignities suffered by everyday litigants and defendants. If change is possible, it can only result from the bright spotlight of a full-fledges media circus like Donald Trumps legal travails, and especially his recently-concluded New York hush-money trial at which he was convicted on all 34 counts of falsifying business records in order to influence the 2016 presidential election. If we pay attention, this is an excellent chance to take notice of outrages that affect everyone, not just the former president.Movie location scouts gravitate toward ornate 19th century and austere wood-paneled courtrooms for legal dramas. Trump, on the other hand, got the same bleak experience most New Yorkers suffer through when stuck in court: windowless, well-worn and poorly climatized.Courtrooms are tiny fiefs where there is basically no recourse to counter the word of the feudal lordthe judgewho may or may not be intelligent, well-intentioned or kind. As judges go, Justice Juan Merchan of New York State Supreme showed moments of decency, like when he ruled in favor of Trumps request to attend his sons high school graduation ceremony. Really, though, making allowances for lifes landmarksbirths, funerals, a loved ones medical emergency, an important business meetingshouldnt be up to the whim of a jurist. Continuanceslegalese for delaysought to be automatically granted with rare exceptions, like a credible threat to public safety. No matter what you think of Trump, he never should have had to worry that he might not be able to see his kids commencement because he was on trial. No parent, Democrat or Republican, should.Like countless defendants before him, Trump was forced to sit through day after day for weeks of mind-numbing tedium: jury selection, motions and countermotions and, of course, testimony. Like the rest of us, Trump could have made much better use of his timein his case, campaigning for president, fundraising and managing his businesses, with the option to attend the proceedings if and when he desired. Since Trump didnt testify, there should have been no requirement that he attend every stultifying momentnor should there be for you and me. Let the lawyers handle it, as many do in traffic court.This goes double because the courts are so slowwwww. Attorneys, who are paid by the hour to the tune of hundreds of dollars each, love it. But there has to be a better way. Court supervisors in every state should figure out how to speed things up, beginning by hiring more judges. Which would also unclog the courts. Given the relatively straightforward facts of Trumps case, there was no reason for his trial to drag on for a month or for closing arguments to run all day.Everyone should enjoy a reasonable expectation of impartiality in court. Reality is different. Justice Merchan donated money to Bidens campaign and has a daughter who worked as a Democratic Party fundraiser. Maybe he was fair, maybe not, and the donation amount was tiny. Still, this behavior is the very definition of a conflict of interest. It demands recusal. When I was suing the Los Angeles Timeswhich was partly owned by the union of the LAPD, the police agency that had ordered the Times to fire metwo of the judges who considered my case were former prosecutors. They both ruled against me. No one will ever convince me that they were or could have been fair to me or to anyone else on the wrong side of the cops. Democrats should not brush aside Republicans complaints about Merchans biases.Is it really so hard to find a judge who isnt ethically compromised in such a direct way?Trumps case highlights the widespread phenomenon of prosecutorial overcharging, in which multiple counts are larded over one another in crimes that really boil down to a single discrete act and where relatively minor offenses are turbocharged into serious felonies using tortured interpretations of legal codes. Trump may have falsified 34 business records in the Stormy Daniels case but this is one crime, not 34. Mislabeling a campaign expense as a legal expense is sleazy, arguably a misdemeanor, but hardly a heinous offense calling for a maximum of four years in state prison. These tactics are used to coerce guilty pleas from defendants who are terrorized into compliance rather than faced with the justifiable consequences of their actions.Sadly, it seems unlikely that Republican supporters of Trump, or even Trump himself, who push tough on crime legislation, would learn from the inherent unfairness of the legal system that abused and insulted the presumptive Republican nominee and work to improve it. But one can hope. After all, we all go through this crap at one point or another.If they can do this to me, they can do this to anyone, Trump commented after his conviction. And they do.(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/20240602/trump-says-hes-ready-to-do-prison-time-after-being-found-guilty-in-hush-money-trial-1118749658.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20190713/us-criminal-justice-system-ignores-crimes-like-epsteins-while-punishing-the-vulnerable-1076231538.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240602/democrats-lawfare-makes-trump-look-like-martyr-not-crook-1118741910.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Ted Rall https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125340_0:0:360:360_100x100_80_0_0_1ed1a3494a53cde87e19521c3658fe92.jpg us courts, donald trump case, us justice, us judicial system, is there justice in us https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/narendra-modi-sworn-in-as-indias-prime-minister-1118885547.html Narendra Modi Sworn In as India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi Sworn In as India's Prime Minister Sputnik International Narendra Modi was sworn in on Sunday as Indias new prime minister for a third term after his coalition, the National Democratic Alliance, had won the country's parliamentary elections 2024-06-09T15:51+0000 2024-06-09T15:51+0000 2024-06-09T20:09+0000 world narendra modi national democratic alliance (nda) india https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0a/1f/1102865998_0:41:3025:1742_1920x0_80_0_0_bf8a32f011c29494e3bc5ded45f99bfa.jpg Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party did not win an absolute majority for the first time in 10 years, receiving 240 seats, 32 short of the majority needed to form a government. However, with the votes of the parties that make up the Modi-led National Democratic Alliance, the bloc won 293 seats in parliament, allowing it to form a new coalition government. After taking office, Modi became the first Indian leader to hold the office for three terms in a row after the first Indian prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru. Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh, who had served in the previous cabinet as interior and defense ministers, respectively, and remained in the new cabinet, were also sworn in. Modi's swearing-in ceremony is being held with increased security. Over 2,500 people, including five companies of paramilitary forces, commando units, drones and snipers, are being deployed to prevent disturbances in the area of the presidential palace where the ceremony is taking place. The ceremony is attended by leaders of neighboring states, including Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Seychelles, Bangladesh, Mauritius, Nepal and Bhutan. A source in Modis party has said the guest list is reflecting the priorities of the new government. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240320/putin-modi-discuss-international-agenda-including-situation-around-ukraine-1117447434.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International narendra modi, modi sweared in, how long is modi pm, india's longest-serving pm https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/russias-north-group-of-troops-eliminates-up-to-225-ukrainian-soldiers---mod-1118883962.html Russia's North Group of Troops Eliminates Up to 225 Ukrainian Soldiers - MoD Russia's North Group of Troops Eliminates Up to 225 Ukrainian Soldiers - MoD Sputnik International hit four Ukrainian brigades in the Kharkov region and repulsed seven counterattacks over the past 24 hours, eliminating up to 225 soldiers 2024-06-09T12:39+0000 2024-06-09T12:39+0000 2024-06-09T12:39+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine russia ukraine kharkov https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/12/1118523956_0:347:3023:2047_1920x0_80_0_0_e677c46dc65889928f8076f7af17810a.jpg "The enemy's losses amounted to up to 225 servicepeople, seven vehicles and a 152-mm D-20 howitzer. Three Ukrainian field ammunition depots were destroyed," the ministry said in a statement.Meanwhile, the Zapad (West) group of Russian troops eliminated up to 400 Ukrainian servicepeople, one tank and two armored vehicles, the ministry said. The Tsentr (Center) group of troops repelled six counterattacks by Ukrainian assault groups, eliminating up to 300 soldiers, the ministry said.At the same time, the Yug (South) group of troops destroyed up to 375 Ukrainian servicepeople, an ammunition depot and two armored vehicles, the ministry added. In the Kherson region, Kiev lost up to 25 servicepeople near the villages of Dudchany and Respublikanets.The Vostok (East) group of troops eliminated up to 140 Ukrainian soldiers, the ministry added. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240608/prospect-of-ukraine-child-soldiers-shows-us-desperate-will-set-public-against-zelensky-1118858395.html russia ukraine kharkov Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-ukraine update, ukraine losses in war, ukraine-russia war, how many ukrainian soldiers died https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/ukraine-did-not-attack-transnistria-because-it-is-de-jure-part-of-moldova---ex-president-1118881122.html Ukraine Did Not Attack Transnistria Because It Is De Jure Part of Moldova - Ex-President Ukraine Did Not Attack Transnistria Because It Is De Jure Part of Moldova - Ex-President Sputnik International Ukraine has not attacked Transnistria only because it is de jure part of the Eastern European country, and Kiev needs Chisinau's consent, Igor Dodon, Moldova's former president and chairman of the opposition Party of Socialists, told Sputnik. 2024-06-09T07:54+0000 2024-06-09T07:54+0000 2024-06-09T07:54+0000 world igor dodon moldova transnistria ukraine chisinau spief 2024 https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/0b/0b/1081133787_0:0:2967:1669_1920x0_80_0_0_24bf76fb704dfe39ed86d0b07fd8bd12.jpg "Ukraine has not yet attacked Transnistria only because the region is de jure part of Moldova internationally. If Transnistria had been independent, as it wanted for the past 25 years, I told [Vadim] Krasnoselsky [the region's head] when we met, as president, I told him that the only guarantee of security for Transnistria is to be part of Moldova," Dodon said on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) in Russia. Two years ago, the Transnistrian authorities sent a letter to Chisinau proposing to unite and settle every issue politically, he noted. The talks on the Transnistrian settlement in the "5+2" format involve Chisinau and Tiraspol as parties to the conflict, Russia, Ukraine, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) as mediators, and the European Union and the United States as observers. The last round of talks in this format took place in Bratislava on October 9-10, 2019. Transnistria, 60% of whose population are Russians and Ukrainians, sought to secede from Moldova even before the collapse of the Soviet Union, fearing that Moldova would join Romania on a wave of nationalism. In 1992, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Moldovan authorities to resolve the problem by force, Transnistria became a territory virtually outside of Chisinau's control. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240411/transnistria-president-says-forum-in-moldova-without-pmr-russian-participation-a-mistake-1117859920.html moldova transnistria ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International ukraine has not attacked transnistria only because it is de jure part of the eastern european country, and kiev needs chisinau's consent, igor dodon, moldova's former president and chairman of the opposition party of socialists, told sputnik. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/ukraines-door-to-nato-shut-as-likely-to-weaken-bidens-re-election-chances-1118884397.html Ukraines Door to NATO Shut as Likely to 'Weaken Biden's Re-election Chances' Ukraines Door to NATO Shut as Likely to 'Weaken Biden's Re-election Chances' Sputnik International No matter how insistently Ukraines Zelensky pounds on NATOs door, it will remain shut for the time being, as opening it could weaken Bidens chances of getting reelected, reported Business Insider. 2024-06-09T16:18+0000 2024-06-09T16:18+0000 2024-06-25T05:33+0000 world us ukraine nato nato membership volodymyr zelensky joe biden jens stoltenberg vladimir putin https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/06/09/1118883532_0:109:3036:1817_1920x0_80_0_0_30275bd0bd3dbee4433fae24c197af0f.jpg US President Joe Biden has blocked Ukrainian membership of NATO for fear of dashing his re-election hopes.No matter how hard Ukraines Zelensky bangs on NATOs door, it will remain shut as any invitation could ruin Bidens chances of winning November's election, Business Insider reported."Biden is trying to solidify the idea for the US public that the US is not getting involved so he doesn't weaken his chances of getting reelected," Leo Litra, a visiting fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, told the news site. "No one in NATO and especially not in the US, wants to have to test Article 5," he added.Article 5 of the NATO Treaty stipulates that an attack on any one member state is an attack on them all.Biden said he was not prepared for the NATO-isation of Ukraine, in an interview with Time Magazine recently. Peace doesn't mean NATO, he said ahead of the alliance's summit from July 9 to 11.He also acknowledged witnessing "significant corruption" in Ukraine on visits there during his term as vice president. Instead of NATO accession, the Kiev regime will have to settle for security guarantees."Ukraine pinned its hopes on a membership timeline breakthrough at the NATO summit in Washington. But in April, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said an agreement on Ukraine's entry into the bloc was not expected at the gathering.To have that decision, we need all allies to agree, we need consensus, we do not need a majority but actually 32 allies to agree." Stoltenberg said. "I do not except that we will have that agreement by the summit in July."US envoy to NATO Julianne Smith reiterated that stance in May, promising Kiev a security package as a "bridge" to alliance membership. Labouring the metaphor, Smith said it "will be well-lit and made of steel, and we will do everything we can to help our friends from Ukraine, step by step, walk across that bridge to membership eventually."Lack of progress on the NATO membership issue is raising tensions in US-Ukrainian relations, the Financial Times reported. When the Vilnius NATO summit in 2023 ended without offering a timeframe for Ukrainian access, Zelensky fumed that the delay was unprecedented and absurd.A G7 Joint Declaration made at the summit in Vilnius pledged "long-term security commitments and arrangements" with Ukraine to be negotiated bilaterally. To date, Ukraine has signed bilateral security agreements with NATO member countries such as the UK, Germany, France, Denmark, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Finland, Latvia, Spain, Belgium, Portugal, and Sweden.The UK was the first to sign such a deal with Ukraine in January, promising to provide extensive military and financial support to Kiev over the next 10 years. Washington is completing negotiations on its own security agreement with Kiev, a US official was quoted as saying.The Kiev regime has criticised those agreements as limited in both scope and enforcement mechanisms, and a poor substitute for NATO membership. The lack of any specific military aid commitments to Kiev beyond 2024 "reflects the current challenges faced by Ukraine and its allies and divisions within NATO," said Stefan Meister, head of the Eastern Europe program at the German Council on Foreign Relations.Both the US and Germany have vocally opposed Ukraine's rapid accession to the alliance. American officials US Secretary of State Antony Blinken insisted in April that Ukraine will eventually join NATO, but steered clear of committing to a date. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin even admitted in congressional testimony that Ukrainian membership of NATO goes against Russian national interests.After a sweeping post-Cold War expansion in violation of the West's commitment to not move any closer to Russias borders, NATO absorbed Finland in March 2023 and Sweden a year later. Moscow has repeatedly warned that the military bloc's ongoing buildup along Russia's borders threatens the country's security.Russian President Vladimir Putin has reiterated that Moscow considers Ukraine's continued non-aligned status vital to ending to the years-long conflict. Kievs stated goal of joining the alliance was among the Russia's reasons for launching its special military operation in February 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240430/potential-security-agreement-between-us-and-ukraine-likely-obliges-nothing-1118185341.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20240208/how-natos-obsession-with-ukraine-transformed-into-existential-threat-to-russian-heartland-1116674539.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko ukraine's membership, membership in nato, will ukraine join nato, will ukraine be offered a timeline to join nato, does biden want ukraine to join nato, why is us against ukraine joining nato https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/us-fails-threatening-hamas-leaders-with-sanctions-via-qatar-egypt---reports-1118879511.html US Fails Threatening Hamas Leaders With Sanctions via Qatar, Egypt - Reports US Fails Threatening Hamas Leaders With Sanctions via Qatar, Egypt - Reports Sputnik International Qatar and Egypt, at the direction of the US admin, threatened the leaders of Hamas with possible arrests, sanctions and expulsion from their refuge in Doha, The Wall Street Journal reported. 2024-06-09T03:10+0000 2024-06-09T03:10+0000 2024-06-09T03:10+0000 world us qatar egypt israel hamas the wall street journal israeli-palestinian conflict israel-gaza conflict palestine-israel conflict https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e8/05/07/1118325160_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_3efb3cc7bb61f6777d9a94b5a05ab496.jpg The report noted, however, that these efforts led to the opposite result: Hamas has said it will not agree to a deal that does not meet its conditions.Last week, US President Joe Biden said that Israel had offered Hamas a new three-phase proposal with a road map that would lead to an enduring cessation of hostilities in the Gaza Strip and the release of all hostages. The first phase includes a complete ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli troops from all Gaza population centers and the release of some of the hostages held by Hamas, including the wounded, the elderly, and women, as well as the release of detained Palestinians from prisons. The second phase involves an indefinite cessation of hostilities in exchange for the release of the remaining hostages. The third phase of the initiative is to begin reconstruction of the war-torn Gaza. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240527/idf-eliminated-head-of-hamas-headquarters-in-west-bank---statement-1118647641.html qatar egypt israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International hamas israel truce deal, us gaza truce proposal, israel us hamas conflict, hamas leader threats, us sanctions on hamas https://sputnikglobe.com/20240609/us-scrambles-to-develop-hypersonic-missiles-to-catch-up-with-russia-china-1118881261.html US Scrambles to Develop Hypersonic Missiles to Catch Up With Russia, China US Scrambles to Develop Hypersonic Missiles to Catch Up With Russia, China Sputnik International US is racing to develop hypersonic weapons for its military fleet, advancing its Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO) program. 2024-06-09T11:07+0000 2024-06-09T11:07+0000 2024-06-09T11:07+0000 military us military & intelligence raytheon lockheed martin hypersonic weapons hypersonic missiles raytheon missile systems https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/107957/15/1079571538_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_77ddea7d9a4068104b754c560f5d8004.jpg Desperate to catch up with Russia and China, the US is racing to develop hypersonic weapons for its Navy.Towards that end, the US Navy is advancing its Hypersonic Air-Launched Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (HALO) program. If all goes according to plan, it would equip surface and subsurface fleets with hypersonic anti-ship cruise missiles, as reported by The War Zone. Contracts have reportedly already been awarded to defense contractors Raytheon and Lockheed Martin for competing missile designs said to be powered by ramjet or scramjet engines. A flight demonstration has been inked in for fiscal year 2027, with air-launched HALO missiles to be fielded sometime by 2029. From vessel-launched, these will potentially be expanded to surface- and subsurface-launched configurations.The HALO program itself is part of the Offensive Anti-Surface Warfare (OASuW) Increment project of the US Navy. On an even wider scale, it feeds into the Pentagons broader hypersonic technology ambitions, such as those pertaining to the Air Forces Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM).The Air Force awarded RTX subsidiary Raytheon a contract for HACM an air-breathing, scramjet-powered cruise missile that can fly at speeds greater than Mach 5 in 2022. The scramjet is to be supplied by Northrop Grumman. The Air Force hopes to field the weapon by FY27. OASuW/HALO is described by the US Navy in its fiscal 2025 budget request as an offensive weapon system that is a vital component of the Joint Force Anti-Surface Warfare capability and incorporates new and emergent technologies to support an increased offensive strike capability utilizing multiple weapons.Currently, very few nations Russia, China, Iran, and India lead the pack when it comes to developing advanced hypersonic missiles. Despite US defense contractors undertaking a number of hypersonic projects, they fail to match the speed, power, and maneuverability displayed by Russia's Kinzhal, Zircon, or Avangard missiles, military pundits told Sputnik earlier.Russia has already used its Zircon hypersonic missile in its special military operation in Ukraine. The US Navy, meanwhile, still relies on high subsonic speed missiles such as the Tomahawk, the Harpoon, and its Naval Strike Missile (NSM). North Americas skies are defenseless against not only Russian, but even Iranian missiles, a briefing by senior Pentagon officials to lawmakers from the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces revealed earlier in the year. In the US, despite lavish budgetary financing, close to a dozen hypersonic weapons projects for and by the Army, Air Force, Navy, and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) have been mired in development delays, cancellations, and test failures. https://sputnikglobe.com/20240522/dubious-eagle-why-has-pentagon-pumped-756-mln-into-hypersonic-missile-that-doesnt-fly-1118583903.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20231129/faster-than-you-think-russias-zircon-hypersonic-cruise-missile-1115281780.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 2024 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rossiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko development of hypersonic weapons, us hypersonic air-launched offensive anti-surface warfare program, what is us halo program, which countries have hypersonic weapons, does the us have hypersonic weapons, us playing catch up with russia, china on hypersonic weapons, can us defend against russian missiles, can us defend against iranian missiles and drones, can us defend against houthi missiles and drones, Be Dazzled Lou A let favourite Red Right Hand do the heavy lifting on the front, then roared by him in the stretch to capture Saturdays (June 8) feature at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows. In his second start off a three-week freshening, Be Dazzled Lou A was quite content to let Red Right Hand dictate the pace in the $17,123 conditioned pace. When Dave Palone asked him for pace in the lane, though, the five-year-old Sweet Lou-Dazed And Confused gelding was much the fresher horse, drawing off to down Red Right Hand by two lengths in a career-best 1:50.2. Miki Minaj was a ground-saving third. Alicia Hanners trains the winner for Royal Rock Racing, LLC and Luke Hanners. Palone and Anthony MacDonald each enjoyed a triple on the 13-race card. The program was marred by a three-horse accident in the third race involving Hunter Myers, Palone and Mike Wilder. Wilder was unseated from his horse, Battleshoe Hart. According to Wilders wife, Heather Wilder, her husband was briefly unconscious while prone on the track before being LifeFlighted to a Pittsburgh hospital for observation and testing. There, he was alert and chatting on the phone. Palone and Myers were uninjured and able to complete their days assignments, but Battleshoe Hart was euthanized on the track. Live racing at The Meadows resumes Wednesday when the 13-race program features a $638.15 carryover in the Pick 5. First post is 12:45 PM. Please join Standardbred Canada in offering condolences to the connections of Battleshoe Hart. (With files from The Meadows Standardbred Owners Association) Crazly did it calmly. Under a confident drive from J Harris, Crazly made every call a winning one to capture the 2024 Ken Houston Memorial Pace on Saturday, June 8 at Hanover Raceway. Pointed to the top as the wings of the gate folded, Crazly paced through initial fractions of :28.2 and :59 in the $4,600 contest, and then repelled the stout challenge of favoured Acefortyfour Lady (Jason Ryan) down the backside before a 1:28.1 third station. With that rival no longer a factor, Crazly paced home in :29.2 for the career best 1:57.3 decision. Dusty Lane Zoro (Paul MacKenzie) sat the pocket throughout and finished second, two lengths back with Acefortyfour Lady staying for third. Rick Wade of Woodstock, Ont,. trains and co-owns Crazly, a five-year-old Bettors Delight - Crazy Luv Bug gelding, with Linda Grummett of Stratford, Ont. The race was named in honour of Houston, who began his career in Holyrood, ont. in the 1960s. In 1981 the family moved to Pike Lake where they continued their love and passion for racing Standardbred horses all across Ontario for the next 30 years. His biggest success came with a pacer named Fish My Pal, named after his best friend and partner, Don Fisher. Ken passed away in January at the age of 78. For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Hanover, click the following link: Saturday Results - Hanover Raceway. (Standardbred Canada) There were just 10 horses entered in the eliminations for the 2024 edition of the Moores Mile Breeders Stakes on Saturday, June 8 at Century Downs, but those two $14,000 five-horse elims certainly weren't lacking for action. Grey Horizon and Brandon Campbell appeared to be a 1:54.2 winner as the 2-5 choice in the first Moores Mile elim, holding off a late-surging Rum N Custard (Kelly Hoerdt) by three-quarters of a length. After reviewing the final turn footage, however, judges determined that Grey Horizon was inside two consecutive pylons turning for home and thus was placed behind the lapped-on second-place finisher, Rum N Custard. Thus Grey Horizon finished first but was placed second, elevating Rum N Custard to first. Come On Santana (Jamie Gray) and Nevada Dragon (Nathan Sobey) completed the top four to punch tickets to the Moores Mile final. The time of 1:54.3 is a new lifetime mark for Rum N Custard (Custard The Dragon - Rummy Command), now a two-time winner for Hoerdt, who trains and co-owns the gelding with Fred Gilbert of Brandon, Man. A $2 win wager on Run N Custard returned $17.00. Campbell appeared to on his way to victory in the second Moores Mile elim as One Hot Minute looked to be getting the better of pacesetter Matteuse (Sobey) turning for home. However, One Hot Minute got fumbly gaited and lost ground and momentum around that turn, while Jamie Gray launched YYC On The Horizon from the back of the pack. Through a :29.1 final panel, YYC On The Horizon had the wire in his sights, and he got there a length ahead of Matteuse and One Hot Minute in a maiden-breaking 1:56.2. Tzilacatzin (Chris Brown) was fourth best. YYC On The Horizon (Vertical Horizon-Divas Dragonfly) is trained and co-owned by Gray along with Wild Dunes Stables of Delta, B.C. As the second longest shot on the board at 16-1, he paid $35.20 to win. The 2024 Moores Mile Breeders Stakes is for Alberta-foaled three-year-old male pacing colts. Next week's final features a $90,000 purse. David Kelly was shut out during stakes action, but the horseman did connect for a natural training hat trick in the races leading up tp the Moores Mile elims. Kelly clicked with General Custard (1:54.3; $5.30) in the second, Lunch Pail Guy (1:57; $4.00) in the third and Tin Can Timmy (1:54.3; $5.90) in the fourth, driving all three to victory as well. Century Downs shifts its schedule next week, with no racing on Friday, June 14. Instead, the Calgary, Alta. area oval will host live harness racing on Saturday, June 15 and Sunday, 16 with first post time 12:45 p.m. (MDT). For the results from Saturday's card of harness racing at Century Downs, click the following link: Saturday Results - Century Downs. (Standardbred Canada) While some regulars that compete in the Eldorado Scioto Downs open events were missing in action this week, there was no shortage of good horses to race in those spots. On Friday (June 7), Flemsteen narrowly took the $35,616 Open Trot in 1:52.4, while Tickertape Hanover took the $31,506 Open II Pace on Saturday (June 8) in 1:50.2. Tony Hall sent Chase H Hanover straight to the lead Saturday in the Open II Pace and clocked fractions of :26.1, :55.3 and 1:22.3. Tyler Smith was tight on his back with Tickertape Hanover, while Burnout (Josh Sutton) made a first-over bid and kept Tickertape Hanover locked in and loaded in the pocket. Jumping into the passing lane, the stablemates duked it out right to the wire, with Tickertape Hanover getting up to win by a neck over Chase H Hanover. Saulsbrook Genesis tipped three-wide around the last turn to get up for third. Tickertape Hanover is a four-year-old gelded son of Huntsville out of the Well Said mare Time Saver Hanover. Owned by Odds on Racing and trainer Virgil Morgan, Jr., Tickertape Hanover now has nine lifetime wins and $233,826 in earnings. In Fridays Open Trot, Smoking Jet (Chris Page) left off the car to hit the opening quarter in :27 with Flemsteen (Trevor Smith) settling in. Going into the second turn, Wildfire Seelster (Jeremy Smith) flushed Flemsteen out to come first up by the :56 half. Straightening out in the backstretch, Smoking Jet went off stride, but Flemsteen was still parked, just a half-length in front of Iwont Backdown AS (Tony Hall) who was sitting in the pocket. By the 1:24.1 three-quarters, Iwont Backdown AS put his head in front and through the turn, seemed to have put away Flemsteen. However, the two battled down the stretch, with Flemsteen winning by a head. Rose Run Valor (Kayne Kauffman) finished just a half-length back in third. Flemsteen is trained by Chris Beaver, who owns the six-year-old gelded son of Explosive Matter with Bill Manes and R.B.H. Ventures. The win on Friday was Flemsteens 23rd of his career and fourth on the year, which pushed his seasonal earnings to $139,396 in 15 starts. In anticipation of the influx of two-year-olds getting ready, qualifiers will move to Mondays at Eldorado Scioto Downs starting June 10. There are 15 qualifiers carded starting at 12:00 p.m., with nine dedicated to the freshmen class. All Scioto qualifiers are available on RTN through streaming services, such as Roku, Amazon FireStick and online at rtn.tv. Program pages are also available for each qualifier, and live racing program, on the Scioto Downs website. On Monday, June 24 Scioto and the Ohio Harness Horsemens Association will host Brunch with the Babies, providing food and drinks for those in attendance. The 90-day 2024 Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs through Saturday, September 14. Races are held Tuesday-Saturday with a first post of 5:45 p.m. each day, except for Thursday, July 4th with a post of 3:15 p.m. and Friday, September 13 which will have a 6:15 p.m. post to help accommodate horsemen attending the Ohio Selected Yearling Sale. (With files from Eldorado Scioto Downs) The field for the 41st Pepsi North America Cup at Woodbine Mohawk Park is set for Saturday, June 15 after three $50,000 eliminations were contested on a rainy Saturday, June 8 in Campbellville, Ont. Captains Quarters, Funtime Bayama and Nijinsky captured the 2024 Pepsi North America Cup eliminations (click the link for more details). The top-three finishers from each split punched their ticket to next Saturdays $1 million final. Metro Pace winner Captains Quarters converted off a perfect second-over trip to win the first elimination in 1:49.1 for driver Jody Jamieson and trainer Herb Holland. Funtime Bayama edged Legendary Hanover in 1:50.1 to take the second Cup elimination for driver Sylvain Filion and trainer Richard Moreau, while the third and final elimination saw Nijinsky continue his winning ways for driver Louis-Philippe Roy and trainer Anthony Beaton. The 2024 Pepsi North America Cup field in alphabetical order is as follows, with the post draw set for Tuesday, June 11 at Mohawk. Captain Albano (2nd in first elim) Captain Luke (3rd in second elim) Captains Quarters (1st in first elim) Funtime Bayama (1st in second elim) Ivy Park (3rd in first elim) Janelle Granny (4th in first elim) Legendary Hanover (2nd in second elim) Nijinsky (1st in third elim) Storm Shadow (2nd in third elim) Total Stranger (3rd in third elim) Who do you think will win? Have your say in our latest SC web poll. (Standardbred Canada; Photos courtesy Curtis Salonick, New Image Media, Jessica Hallett, Elin Gustafsson, Conrad Photo) 22 September 2022 Reverse Engineering MenuetOS 64 - Primary Boot Loader Background on Booting There are two types of boot systems in x86/x64 environments: UEFI and BIOS-based. UEFI provides a standard and reference implementation for the code that executes between the CPU being released from reset and the computer transferring execution to code stored on fixed media, such as hard disks and USB drives. The code executes between these two boot stages is located on a dedicated memory chip on the motherboard, usually a form of SPI NOR storage. But before UEFI, there were BIOS-based implementations. BIOS-based boot environments execute between the same two stage delimiters as UEFI based environments, and perform many of the same functions. However, BIOS code did not have a reference implementation or any sort of open source standard library. As such, it was up to Independent BIOS Vendors to implement the code that executes off SPI ROM and eventually transfers control over to fixed-media stored code. A hard disk (which is a form of fixed-media storage) can contain code that should execute after the code that executes off SPI ROM. A hard disk stores data in 512-byte chunks called sectors. In BIOS-based environments, the first sector of a hard disk is the first 512 bytes stored on that hard disk. That is the very first sector of the hard disk and is known as the Master Boot Record (MBR). When the code on the SPI NOR chip is running, the processor is in what is called 16-bit real mode. 16-bit real mode uses a 20 bit addressing scheme that divides memory into segments which are 64 kilobytes in size. The lower 16 bits are considered the offset within the segment. Segments are kept track of by the cs register. The code that runs off the SPI ROM is responsible for memory mapping the contents of the MBR to the memory address 0000:7c00. Getting the Image Head over to http://www.menuetos.net/download.htm and download the 64-bit version. The latest as of this writing was v1.44. Also I want to make it clear that the 64-bit version of the project is closed source. With regards to the analysis that is provided below, I have written this blog post for educational purposes and made my research freely available to all. Analysis Now that we have the MenuetOS 64 disk image file (M6414490.IMG), it is time to analyze! We will analyze the image file both statically and dynamically. Static analysis is reading and analyzing code without running it, whereas dynamic analysis is running the code and watching how it changes registers and memory during execution. Each analysis mode compliments the other; there are some things that can only be discerned through code execution, like register values or stack layout at a specific point in time during execution. Static analysis is useful for filling in the blanks when executing code to understand what the code should do next (or just did). Since MenuetOS 64 is written in Intel x64 assembly, our static analysis will consist of memory mapped disassembly in Ghidra. After reading this post, readers should understand how to launch a MenuetOS 64 virtual machine using QEMU as well as how to attach a debugger (gdb) to QEMU in order to debug while code is executing. Also, readers should understand how MenuetOS 64 begins the boot process as control of execution is passed to MenuetOS 64 code from the virtualization firmware. MenuetOS 64 relies on legacy BIOS-based firmware for booting, as opposed to the more modern UEFI-based firmware. BIOS-based firmware relies on the Master Boot Record (MBR) disk scheme. MBR specifies a first stage executable, otherwise known as the Primary Bootloader (PBL), that exists in the first sector of the hard disk. Being constrained to one hard disk sector means the PBL can only be at a maximum 512 bytes in length. MenuetOS 64 uses only 328 of the available 512 bytes. The term hard disk is used in this context to refer to the virtual floppy drive that the MenuetOS image is built to run from. MenuetOS boots off a virtual floppy disk. From a practical standpoint, this means that the floppy disk image is mapped to memory address 0x7c00. This corresponds to the first 512 bytes of the virtual floppy image file. The actual memory mapping of the floppy disk to memory address is handled by the virtualization BIOS within QEMU, and is thus beyond the scope of this writing. As such, the very first thing we want to investigate is the first 512 bytes of M6414490.IMG. This first disk sector forms the Primary Bootloader (PBL) for the MenuetOS 64 image. This small portion of code is responsible for loading two logical units of data from disk. The first is the MenuetOS Kernel, which contains all the hand-written assembly code that powers the operating system itself. The second is the configuration for the MenuetOS installation. This configuration is a text file with specific contents that can be saved back to disk if modified. After the PBL loads both the kernel and configuration into memory, the PBL hands off control of execution to the kernel. The kernel, in turn, references the configuration data in memory. Using either a Linux host, or Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL), we can carve out the first 512 bytes by running the following dd command: $ dd if=M6414490.IMG of=PBL.BIN bs=512 count=1 Figure 1: Carve out the first 512 bytes of the virtual floppy disk image using dd. Now, we can open PBL.BIN in a hex editor. For example, using xxd: 00000000: eb3c 904d 454e 5545 544f 5300 0201 0100 .\<.MENUETOS..... 00000010: 02e0 0040 0bf0 0900 1200 0200 0000 0000 ...@............ 00000020: 0000 0000 0000 2900 0000 004d 454e 5545 ......)....MENUE 00000030: 5420 3634 2020 4641 5431 3220 2020 31c0 T 64 FAT12 1.\ 00000040: 8ed0 8ed8 8ec0 bc00 7cbd 317d e825 00b8 ........\|.1}.%.. 00000050: 2f0e 30ff cd10 31c0 8ed0 8ed8 8ec0 bc00 /.0...1......... 00000060: 7cbd 3c7d b800 54a3 477d e807 0068 0010 \|.\<}..T.G}...h.. 00000070: 6800 00cb b80e 02bb 00a0 b902 00ba 0001 h............... 00000080: e88e 0089 de56 89ef b90b 00f3 a674 0d5e .....V.......t.\^ 00000090: 83c6 2081 fe00 bc72 ece9 8a00 5e8b 6c1a .. ....r....\^.l. 000000a0: b809 02bb 00a0 b902 00ba 0000 e862 00a1 .............b.. 000000b0: 477d 8ec0 31db e829 0072 6b8c c783 c720 G}..1..).rk.... 000000c0: 8ec7 89ef d1ef 01ef 81c7 00a0 8b05 d1ed ................ 000000d0: 7303 c1e8 0425 ff0f 3df0 0f72 01c3 89c5 s....%..=..r.... 000000e0: ebd4 b82e 0e30 ffcd 1089 e883 c01f b912 .....0.......... 000000f0: 0031 d2f7 f152 31d2 b902 00f7 f188 c588 .1...R1......... 00000100: d658 88c1 fec1 30d2 b801 0231 dbe8 0100 .X....0....1.... 00000110: c355 bd14 004d 740e 5053 5152 cd13 5a59 .U...Mt.PSQR..ZY 00000120: 5b58 72f1 5dc3 b03f b40e bb07 00cd 10eb [Xr.]..?........ 00000130: fe4b 4552 4e45 4c20 204d 4e54 434f 4e46 .KERNEL MNTCONF 00000140: 4947 2020 4d4e 5400 1000 0000 0000 0000 IG MNT......... 00000150: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 00000160: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 00000170: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 00000180: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 00000190: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 ................ 000001f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 55aa ..............U. Figure 2: MenuetOS Primary Bootloader We see in this hex editor output that near the beginning of the PBL.BIN file there is a string MENUETOS. This and the following 31 bytes form a FAT header that is then followed by executable code. MENUETOS seems to be a magic string denoting the name for the MenuetOS 64 floppy image. Magic strings are common in binary executable formats as a way of easily identifying the code that follows. Background: BIOS Interrupt Functions Before we begin reverse engineering the MenuetOS 64 primary bootloader, there is a small amount of prerequisite background that will help us in understanding how the PBL works. The BIOS implementation exposes several functions through semi-standardized software interrupts. The implementation of these interrupts is specific to the BIOS vendor, and in our case the BIOS is provided by the QEMU virtualization software - so we neednt concern ourselves with the implementation except to understand the API we can utilize to send data to the BIOS to pass along to hardware devices. The BIOS that QEMU comes bundled with for Intel processor types is called Seabios. If you are interested in learning more about SeaBios, head over to https://seabios.org/ or browse the project source code at https://review.coreboot.org/plugins/gitiles/seabios/+/refs/tags/rel-1.16.0. Memory Segmentation The segment register maps to memory at %cs multiplied by 16. For example, if the code segment register is set to the value 0x0100 and the offset is zero (0100:0000 in 16 bit real mode addressing format), this maps to memory address 0x00100000. BIOS Interrupt I: Reading from Disk The first interrupt we will discuss (int 0x13) allows the bootloader to read arbitrary data from disk into memory. The reason why this is necessary is because the PBL needs to load a more fully featured Secondary Bootloader (SBL) and then transfer control of execution to it. One of the arguments to int 0x13 is the memory location to load the contents of the disk to. Since the PBL executes in real mode, it uses a segmented memory model. The %es register contains the segment and %bx contains the offset within the segment to write the data at. Another important argument is the value stored in %al, which determines the number of sectors to be read from disk. Lastly, it is important to note that the carry flag is set on the %eflags register upon failure. This means if the carry flag is not set, the operation was successful. The SBL is responsible for transitioning from 16-bit real mode to 64-bit extended mode as well as for loading the kernel into memory. Once the kernel is loaded into memory, the SBL transfers control of execution to the kernel, whereby the OS has fully booted. There is a great description of the BIOS interrupt handlers in the legacy grub implementation for the primary bootloader. These comments are located in the grub legacy project at stage1/stage1.S. This makes sense, as the legacy grub implementation is also a primary bootloader for BIOS-based systems, performing many of the same functions as the MenuetOS 64 PBL. /* * BIOS call "INT 0x13 Function 0x2" to read sectors from disk into memory * Call with * %ah = 0x2 * %al = number of sectors * %ch = cylinder * %cl = sector (bits 6-7 are high bits of "cylinder") * %dh = head * %dl = drive (0x80 for hard disk, 0x0 for floppy disk) * %es:%bx = segment:offset of buffer * Return: * %al = 0x0 on success; err code on failure */ Figure 3: BIOS Interrupt documentation for disk read from grub-legacy source code Source: https://salsa.debian.org/grub-team/grub-legacy/-/blob/debian/0.97-80/stage1/stage1.S#L325 BIOS Interrupt II: Printing to Video Out The second interrupt we need to be aware of (int 0x10) writes a given ASCII character to the terminal character device. By passing a character as the lower byte of %ax and issuing the int 0x10 instruction, that character will be printed out on the video output screen. /* * Use BIOS "int 10H Function 0Eh" to write character in teletype mode * %ah = 0xe %al = character * %bh = page %bl = foreground color (graphics modes) */ Figure 4: BIOS Interrupt documentation for print character from grub-legacy source code Source: https://salsa.debian.org/grub-team/grub-legacy/-/blob/debian/0.97-80/stage1/stage1.S#L415 If you are interested in learning more about other BIOS-based interrupts, there is a comprehensive x86 BIOS Interrupt List on the web: http://www.cs.cmu.edu/~ralf/files.html. Static Analysis To perform static analysis of this section of code, we need to analyze it in 16-bit Intel x86 Real Mode. In Ghidra, we import PBL.BIN as a Raw binary using the LanguageID x86:LE:16:Real:Mode:default. Figure 5: Selecting the appropriate LanguageID within Ghidras Import Binary workflow. After selecting the LanguageID, we need to set the base address. As noted before, this is the default MBR load address, which is 0x7c00. Figure 6: Setting the proper Base Address within Ghidras Import Binary workflow. After importing the binary and opening it in Ghidras CodeBrowser, we will see the disassembly of the MBR record. Please note that in the following disassembly, I created all annotations to make it clear what action each function or label is performing. // // ram // ram:0000:7c00-ram:0000:7dff // assume DF = 0x0 (Default) 0000:7c00 eb 3c JMP _start 0000:7c02 90 NOP 0000:7c03 4d 45 4e ds "MENUETOS" 55 45 54 4f 53 00 [...] 0000:7c2b 4d 45 4e ds "MENUET 64 FAT12 " 55 45 54 20 36 34 _start 0000:7c3e 31 c0 XOR AX,AX 0000:7c40 8e d0 MOV SS,AX 0000:7c42 8e d8 MOV DS,AX 0000:7c44 8e c0 MOV ES,AX 0000:7c46 bc 00 7c MOV SP,0x7c00 0000:7c49 bd 31 7d MOV BP,0x7d31 0000:7c4c e8 25 00 CALL _load_next_stage 0000:7c4f b8 2f 0e MOV AX,0xe2f 0000:7c52 30 ff XOR BH,BH 0000:7c54 cd 10 INT 0x10 0000:7c56 31 c0 XOR AX,AX 0000:7c58 8e d0 MOV SS,AX 0000:7c5a 8e d8 MOV DS,AX 0000:7c5c 8e c0 MOV ES,AX 0000:7c5e bc 00 7c MOV SP,0x7c00 0000:7c61 bd 3c 7d MOV BP,0x7d3c 0000:7c64 b8 00 54 MOV AX,0x5400 0000:7c67 a3 47 7d MOV [0x7d47],AX 0000:7c6a e8 07 00 CALL _load_next_stage 0000:7c6d 68 00 10 PUSH 0x1000 0000:7c70 68 00 00 PUSH 0x0 0000:7c73 cb RETF ************************************************************* * FUNCTION ************************************************************* undefined __cdecl16near _load_next_stage () 0000:7c74 b8 0e 02 MOV AX,0x20e 0000:7c77 bb 00 a0 MOV BX,0xa000 0000:7c7a b9 02 00 MOV CX,0x2 0000:7c7d ba 00 01 MOV DX,0x100 0000:7c80 e8 8e 00 CALL _read_disk_sectors 0000:7c83 89 de MOV SI,BX LAB_0000_7c85 0000:7c85 56 PUSH SI 0000:7c86 89 ef MOV DI,BP 0000:7c88 b9 0b 00 MOV CX,0xb 0000:7c8b f3 a6 CMPSB.RE ES:DI,SI 0000:7c8d 74 0d JZ LAB_0000_7c9c 0000:7c8f 5e POP SI 0000:7c90 83 c6 20 ADD SI,0x20 0000:7c93 81 fe 00 bc CMP SI,0xbc00 0000:7c97 72 ec JC LAB_0000_7c85 0000:7c99 e9 8a 00 JMP _print_question_mark LAB_0000_7c9c 0000:7c9c 5e POP SI 0000:7c9d 8b 6c 1a MOV BP,word ptr [SI + 0x1a] 0000:7ca0 b8 09 02 MOV AX,0x209 0000:7ca3 bb 00 a0 MOV BX,0xa000 0000:7ca6 b9 02 00 MOV CX,0x2 0000:7ca9 ba 00 00 MOV DX,0x0 0000:7cac e8 62 00 CALL _read_disk_sectors 0000:7caf a1 47 7d MOV AX,[0x7d47] 0000:7cb2 8e c0 MOV ES,AX 0000:7cb4 31 db XOR BX,BX LAB_0000_7cb6 0000:7cb6 e8 29 00 CALL _print_period 0000:7cb9 72 6b JC _print_question_mark 0000:7cbb 8c c7 MOV DI,ES 0000:7cbd 83 c7 20 ADD DI,0x20 0000:7cc0 8e c7 MOV ES,DI 0000:7cc2 89 ef MOV DI,BP 0000:7cc4 d1 ef SHR DI,0x1 0000:7cc6 01 ef ADD DI,BP 0000:7cc8 81 c7 00 a0 ADD DI,0xa000 0000:7ccc 8b 05 MOV AX,word ptr [DI] 0000:7cce d1 ed SHR BP,0x1 0000:7cd0 73 03 JNC LAB_0000_7cd5 0000:7cd2 c1 e8 04 SHR AX,0x4 LAB_0000_7cd5 0000:7cd5 25 ff 0f AND AX,0xfff 0000:7cd8 3d f0 0f CMP AX,0xff0 0000:7cdb 72 01 JC LAB_0000_7cde 0000:7cdd c3 RET LAB_0000_7cde 0000:7cde 89 c5 MOV BP,AX 0000:7ce0 eb d4 JMP LAB_0000_7cb6 ************************************************************* * FUNCTION ************************************************************* undefined __cdecl16near _print_period () 0000:7ce2 b8 2e 0e MOV AX,0xe2e 0000:7ce5 30 ff XOR BH,BH 0000:7ce7 cd 10 INT 0x10 0000:7ce9 89 e8 MOV AX,BP 0000:7ceb 83 c0 1f ADD AX,0x1f 0000:7cee b9 12 00 MOV CX,0x12 0000:7cf1 31 d2 XOR DX,DX 0000:7cf3 f7 f1 DIV CX 0000:7cf5 52 PUSH DX 0000:7cf6 31 d2 XOR DX,DX 0000:7cf8 b9 02 00 MOV CX,0x2 0000:7cfb f7 f1 DIV CX 0000:7cfd 88 c5 MOV CH,AL 0000:7cff 88 d6 MOV DH,DL 0000:7d01 58 POP AX 0000:7d02 88 c1 MOV CL,AL 0000:7d04 fe c1 INC CL 0000:7d06 30 d2 XOR DL,DL 0000:7d08 b8 01 02 MOV AX,0x201 0000:7d0b 31 db XOR BX,BX 0000:7d0d e8 01 00 CALL _read_disk_sectors 0000:7d10 c3 RET ************************************************************* * FUNCTION ************************************************************* undefined __cdecl16near _read_disk_sectors () 0000:7d11 55 PUSH BP 0000:7d12 bd 14 00 MOV BP,0x14 _read_sectors_loop 0000:7d15 4d DEC BP 0000:7d16 74 0e JZ _print_question_mark 0000:7d18 50 PUSH AX 0000:7d19 53 PUSH BX 0000:7d1a 51 PUSH CX 0000:7d1b 52 PUSH DX 0000:7d1c cd 13 INT 0x13 0000:7d1e 5a POP DX 0000:7d1f 59 POP CX 0000:7d20 5b POP BX 0000:7d21 58 POP AX 0000:7d22 72 f1 JC _read_sectors_loop 0000:7d24 5d POP BP 0000:7d25 c3 RET _print_question_mark 0000:7d26 b0 3f MOV AL,0x3f 0000:7d28 b4 0e MOV AH,0xe 0000:7d2a bb 07 00 MOV BX,0x7 0000:7d2d cd 10 INT 0x10 _tight_loop 0000:7d2f eb fe JMP _tight_loop 0000:7d31 4b 45 52 ds "KERNEL MNTCONFIG MNT" 4e 45 4c 20 20 4d [...] Figure 7: Ghidra disassembly of Primary Boot Loader Overall the flow of the first stage bootloader is to load the next boot stage from disk into memory at address 0x10000 and then transfer execution to the instructions that exist at that memory address. The PBL does this by using BIOS interrupts to read all sectors from the virtual floppy disk into memory at a specific address. Data is stored on the virtual floppy disk in Cylinder-Head-Sector format. This is an older format that breaks data on disk into addressable chunks or blocks. The implementation doesnt use the Cylinder or Head parameters of this addressing scheme, making sectors the most important component of data addressing. Instruction by Instruction 0000:7c00 eb 3c JMP _start Figure 8: First executable instruction This is the very first instruction that MenuetOS 64 executes. It transfers control of execution to the location 0x3c bytes beyond the current value of the %pc register, which I have labeled _start. _start 0000:7c3e 31 c0 XOR AX,AX 0000:7c40 8e d0 MOV SS,AX 0000:7c42 8e d8 MOV DS,AX 0000:7c44 8e c0 MOV ES,AX 0000:7c46 bc 00 7c MOV SP,0x7c00 0000:7c49 bd 31 7d MOV BP,0x7d31 0000:7c4c e8 25 00 CALL _load_next_stage Figure 9: _start label This can be thought of as the main function for the primary bootloader operations. This code loads different chunks of data from disk into memory and then performs a far return to the memory location where the disk contents are loaded. The first four lines clear the segment registers, and then lines 5-6 set the stack pointer (%sp) and the base pointer (%bp), effectively setting up the stack. There are two calls to _load_next_stage in the _start function. Between the two calls is a BIOS Interrupt to print a forward slash to the video output. 0000:7c4f b8 2f 0e MOV AX,0xe2f 0000:7c52 30 ff XOR BH,BH 0000:7c54 cd 10 INT 0x10 Figure 10: BIOS Interrupt for Video Out After the three instructions to print the forward slash, there is the second call to _load_next_stage. Like before the first call, the segment registers are zeroed out and the stack pointer is assigned to the same value as before. However, the base pointer is a slightly higher memory address, denoting a larger stack. The last two instructions before the CALL instruction move the immediate value 0x5400 to the memory location 0x7d7. 0000:7c56 31 c0 XOR AX,AX 0000:7c58 8e d0 MOV SS,AX 0000:7c5a 8e d8 MOV DS,AX 0000:7c5c 8e c0 MOV ES,AX 0000:7c5e bc 00 7c MOV SP,0x7c00 0000:7c61 bd 3c 7d MOV BP,0x7d3c 0000:7c64 b8 00 54 MOV AX,0x5400 0000:7c67 a3 47 7d MOV [0x7d47],AX 0000:7c6a e8 07 00 CALL _load_next_stage Figure 11: Caller for _load_next_stage The last three instructions of this routine push two values onto the stack. These values are specific to the far return instruction which is the third instruction. The far return instruction pops two 16-bit values off the stack and uses them to return to a location. The first value is popped into %ip and the second value is popped into %cs. 0000:7c6d 68 00 10 PUSH 0x1000 0000:7c70 68 00 00 PUSH 0x0 0000:7c73 cb RETF Figure 12: Far return to transfer control of execution to loaded disk sectors _load_next_stage After the stack pointers are initialized, the primary code stub (_start) calls a function which I have called _load_next_stage. %ax, %bx, %cx, and %dx are all arguments to the _read_disk_sectors function. _load_next_stage begins by setting these arguments for a call to the function _read_disk_sectors. 0000:7c74 b8 0e 02 MOV AX,0x20e 0000:7c77 bb 00 a0 MOV BX,0xa000 0000:7c7a b9 02 00 MOV CX,0x2 0000:7c7d ba 00 01 MOV DX,0x100 0000:7c80 e8 8e 00 CALL _read_disk_sector Figure 13: _read_disk_sector caller within _load_next_stage Referring to the comments we identified within the legacy grub code, we can understand what each one of these bytes means: Register Value (Hex) Value (Decimal) Meaning %ah 0x2 2 INT 13 Function Id %al 0xe 14 Number of Sectors to Read %bx 0xa000 40960 Memory segment offset for writing data from disk sectors to %ch 0x0 0 Cylinder to read from %cl 0x2 2 Sector to read from %dh 0x1 1 Head to read from %dl 0x0 0 Drive (0x0 for floppy, 0x80 for hard disk) Stated otherwise, this piece of code will read 14 floppy disk sectors starting at sector 2 (offset 0:0x0400) and load the data from that location into the memory region beginning with address 0xa000. The next section of code attempts to read data off of the virtual floppy disk at a specific sector, incrementing the sector index after every successful read. If the read fails, the program skips to _print_question_mark. _print_question_mark is a sort of error handling routine, whereby if some disk read operation fails, the question mark character is printed out to the console and then the entire system goes into a tight loop that it cannot break out of. 0000:7c83 89 de MOV SI,BX LAB_0000_7c85 0000:7c85 56 PUSH SI 0000:7c86 89 ef MOV DI,BP 0000:7c88 b9 0b 00 MOV CX,0xb 0000:7c8b f3 a6 CMPSB.RE ES:DI,SI 0000:7c8d 74 0d JZ LAB_0000_7c9c 0000:7c8f 5e POP SI 0000:7c90 83 c6 20 ADD SI,0x20 0000:7c93 81 fe 00 bc CMP SI,0xbc00 0000:7c97 72 ec JC LAB_0000_7c85 0000:7c99 e9 8a 00 JMP _print_question_mark Figure 14: caller for _print_question_mark _read_disk_sectors This function is responsible for actually performing the interrupt instruction for reading data from the disk. It utilizes %ax, %bc, %cx, %dx as arguments specified by the caller. The function loops until the disk read fails. Remember, when the read fails, the carry bit is set. The function should load no more than 20 (0x14) sectors as BP is set to this value and decremented by one on every iteration. If BP reaches zero, the subroutine breaks out by JMPing to _print_question_mark, which is a general error condition denoting something unexpected happened. What sort of unexpected operation might happen? The disk image might be truncated improperly, leading to load a full sector that might not entirely exist. undefined __cdecl16near _read_disk_sectors () 0000:7d11 55 PUSH BP 0000:7d12 bd 14 00 MOV BP,0x14 _read_sectors_loop 0000:7d15 4d DEC BP 0000:7d16 74 0e JZ _print_question_mark 0000:7d18 50 PUSH AX 0000:7d19 53 PUSH BX 0000:7d1a 51 PUSH CX 0000:7d1b 52 PUSH DX 0000:7d1c cd 13 INT 0x13 0000:7d1e 5a POP DX 0000:7d1f 59 POP CX 0000:7d20 5b POP BX 0000:7d21 58 POP AX 0000:7d22 72 f1 JC _read_sectors_loop 0000:7d24 5d POP BP 0000:7d25 c3 RET Figure 15: _read_sectors_loop caller Experiment What happens if we truncate half the virtual floppy image and try to boot it? Cut the floppy disk in half and find out! The version of MenuetOS 64 we are testing against is 1474560 bytes in length. Divided by two, the size is 737280. We run the following Linux command to take the first half of the virtual floppy disk image: $ dd if=M6414490.IMG of=M6414490.HALF.IMG bs=737280 count=1 Now lets see what happens when we try to run the first half of the image: Figure 16: QEMU Video output of error state Likewise, if we have a debugger attach at this point and we send an interrupt signal by pressing CTRL+C at the gdb prompt, we will see that the CPU is in the tight loop that is the last instruction of the PBL: Program received signal SIGINT, Interrupt. 0x0000000000007d2f in ?? () (gdb) x/1i $rip => 0x7d2f: jmp 0x7d2f Figure 17: Code breakpoint for error condition. _print_question_mark As noted above, this subroutine exists as an error handler for the rest of the PBL. This group of five instructions simply prints out a question mark character to the console, and then continues executing to a JMP instruction that JMPs to itself, forming a tight loop that the processor is not able to break out of. This is most likely for debugging purposes - to allow the developer to understand what sector the disk read failed at. In any other operating system, it would probably make more sense to HLT the CPU at this point; or to at least RESET. _print_question_mark 0000:7d26 b0 3f MOV AL,0x3f 0000:7d28 b4 0e MOV AH,0xe 0000:7d2a bb 07 00 MOV BX,0x7 0000:7d2d cd 10 INT 0x10 _tight_loop 0000:7d2f eb fe JMP _tight_loop Figure 18: error condition static analysis disassembly. Dynamic Analysis What happens when we run the Linux file command against our virtual floppy disk image? $ file M6414490.IMG M6414490.IMG: DOS/MBR boot sector, code offset 0x3c+2, OEM-ID "MENUETOS", root entries 224, sectors 2880 (volumes \<=32 MB), sectors/FAT 9, sectors/track 18, serial number 0, label: "MENUET 64 ", FAT (12 bit), followed by FAT Figure 19: file command output for MenuetOS 64 virtual floppy image. How do we run our virtual image? qemu-system-x86_64.exe -drive "file=M6414490.IMG,format=raw,if=floppy" -boot a -m 1024 -gdb tcp::1234 -S Argument descriptions: -drive: specifies a drive that MenuetOS 64 will boot from. file: this is the path to the MenuetOS 64 floppy image if: mark the drive as a floppy drive format: needs to be raw so that disk writes to block 0 can occur. Skipping this argument results in an errors like this: WARNING: Image format was not specified for 'M6414490.IMG' and probing guessed raw. Automatically detecting the format is dangerous for raw images, write operations on block 0 will be restricted. Specify the 'raw' format explicitly to remove the restrictions. -boot: sets the boot device to the floppy drive (a) -m: specifies 1G of RAM -gdb: expose GDB stub on TCP port 1234. -S: do not start the CPU until a client connects to the GDB stub. We need to connect to the QEMU gdb stub (target remote :1234). Next we need to set a breakpoint at the memory location 0x7c00 (b *0x7c00). After the breakpoint is set, we can then continue execution (c). $ gdb [...] (gdb) target remote :1234 Remote debugging using :1234 [...] 0x000000000000fff0 in ?? () (gdb) b *0x7c00 Breakpoint 1 at 0x7c00 (gdb) c Continuing. Breakpoint 1, 0x0000000000007c00 in ?? () (gdb) display/16i $pc 1: x/16i $pc => 0x7c00: jmp 0x7c3e 0x7c02: nop [...] (gdb) stepi 0x0000000000007c3e in ?? () 1: x/16i $pc => 0x7c3e: xor %eax,%eax 0x7c40: mov %eax,%ss 0x7c42: mov %eax,%ds 0x7c44: mov %eax,%es 0x7c46: mov $0x31bd7c00,%esp 0x7c4b: jge 0x7c35 0x7c4d: and $0xe2fb800,%eax 0x7c52: xor %bh,%bh 0x7c54: int $0x10 0x7c56: xor %eax,%eax 0x7c58: mov %eax,%ss 0x7c5a: mov %eax,%ds 0x7c5c: mov %eax,%es 0x7c5e: mov $0x3cbd7c00,%esp 0x7c63: jge 0x7c1d 0x7c65: add %dl,0x47(%rbx,%riz,4) (gdb) info reg rax 0xaa55 43605 rbx 0x0 0 rcx 0x0 0 rdx 0x0 0 rsi 0x0 0 rdi 0x0 0 rbp 0x0 0x0 rsp 0x6f00 0x6f00 r8 0x0 0 r9 0x0 0 r10 0x0 0 r11 0x0 0 r12 0x0 0 r13 0x0 0 r14 0x0 0 r15 0x0 0 rip 0x7c3e 0x7c3e eflags 0x202 [ IOPL=0 IF ] [...] Figure 21: Example GDB session attached to MenuetOS 64 PBL. When gdb breaks at 0x7c00, we can analyze the state of the VM before it has executed any instructions contained in M6414490.IMG. We can then step through each instruction (stepi) and examine how the registers and stack change. At this point, the video output looks like this: Figure 22: QEMU Video output before any MenuetOS 64-specific instructions have been executed. Lets try setting a breakpoint after this line of code executes, at memory address 0x7c56: 0000:7c54 cd 10 INT 0x10 If we let execution continue to this break point, the video output changes to look like this: Figure 23: QEMU Video Output after the rest of the MenuetOS 64 image is loaded from floppy into memory. The video output displays a long string of periods (ASCII: 0x2e); one for each disk sector loaded from the virtual floppy disk. The period string is concluded by a forward slash (ASCII: 0x2f). This forward slash signifies that the kernel has been loaded and that all periods that will follow signify the configuration data being loaded from disk into memory. What happens at the end of the PBL under normal operating systems, when all disk sectors have been read into memory as expected? We know that the far return is going to jump to physical memory address 0x10000, so let us see what kind of data exists at this memory address at this point. (gdb) x/i 0x10000 0x10000: jmp 0x10776 Unfortunately, setting a breakpoint at 0x10000 results in a GDB error: Program received signal SIGTRAP, Trace/breakpoint trap. But we do know now that immediately upon execution of this instruction the kernel will JMP to memory address 0x10776, and setting a breakpoint there will pause execution as expected. We also find that the location of this code is at offset 0xf400 in the M6414490.IMG file. Conclusion This has been a brief look at the primary bootloader for MenuetOS 64-bit. Press Release June 9, 2024 CHIZ CALLS FOR EXPANDED ROLE OF OSG DURING ITS 123RD ANNIVERSARY Senate President Francis "Chiz" G. Escudero has challenged the Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) to broaden its scope and help shape the nation's future by taking on roles beyond its traditional function as the government's chief legal defender. Speaking at the 123rd founding anniversary of the OSG, Escudero highlighted its long history and important contributions since its inception in 1901, making it one of the oldest and most historically significant government offices in the Philippines. He noted that for 123 years, the OSG has been at the forefront of legal battles and has played a critical role in shaping the country's legal landscape. However, the Senate chief underscored the need for the OSG, under the current leadership of Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra, to adapt and innovate in response to new challenges. "Hindi pa huli para mag-isip pa tayo ng iba pang pamamaraan kung sa papaano pa natin huhubugin ang ating kasaysayan gamit ang kasalukuyan at hinaharap na kapangyarihan, responsibilidad at obligasyon ng Office of the Solicitor General," Escudero remarked. He expressed his support for Guevarra's desire to have a dedicated building for the OSG and stated his willingness to help achieve this goal. In return, Escudero urged the OSG to play a more proactive role in the legislative process by assisting in the formulation of laws in the Senate and the House of Representatives. He pointed out that since the OSG defends these laws when questioned in the Supreme Court, it would be beneficial for the OSG to be involved in the law-making process to avoid potential constitutional issues. "Kayo rin naman ang magtatanggol ng mga batas na ipinapasa namin tuwing ito'y kinukwestyon sa Korte Suprema. Eh kung bakit hindi ninyo kami samahan habang hinuhubog pa lamang namin ang mga batas na ito upang sa gayon maiwasan na ang mga kwestyon na maaaring makaapekto sa constitutionality o unconstitutionality ng mga batas na ipinapasa ng Kongreso," he said. Escudero proposed regular consultations with the OSG for legal advice on pending legislation to ensure that laws are robust and less likely to face legal challenges. "Kung mamarapatin ninyo palagi namin kayong iimbitahan para hingan ng ligal na payo kaugnay sa mga pinag-uusapan na mga panukalang batas," he told the OSG. The Senate President also highlighted the importance of the OSG in foreign policy and international disputes. He suggested that the OSG should file cases to gain recognition of foreign judgments or arbitral rulings in favor of the Philippines, which would guide current and future presidents regarding these rulings and limit the President's power to alter them as part of foreign policy. "This will guide the current president, but more importantly future presidents with regard to this arbitral ruling para hindi na pwedeng baguhin ang arbitral ruling na ito pabor sa ating bansa dahil bahagi ito ng umiiral na desisyon ng Korte Suprema...Magbibigay ito ng limitasyon sa kapangyarihan [ng Pangulo] kung ano ang pwede at hindi pwedeng gawin," Escudero explained. Escudero likewise proposed an expanded role for the OSG in settling disputes between government agencies before they reach the courts. He suggested that the OSG's scope should include dispute settlements involving various agencies, including government-owned and controlled corporations, to avoid the costly and time-consuming process of litigation. Escudero served as the keynote speaker at the OSG's 123rd founding anniversary celebration held on June 7 at the Grand Ballroom of Hotel Sofitel in Pasay City. First Lady Liza Araneta-Marcos also graced the occasion. LINCOLN The Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation has named Weston Svoboda as its 2024 Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholar. Svoboda is a fifth-generation agriculturalist from Burwell. Being raised in the family business, he says he quickly developed a passion for the beef industry. While studying ag economics at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, he continued learning and developing ag advocacy skills through involvement in various student organizations. A current law student, Svoboda ultimately plans to be involved on the family ranch while serving the legal needs of fellow agriculturalists focusing on estate planning and generational transitions of family farms and ranches. It is an incredible honor to be this years recipient of the Nebraska Cattlemen Beef State Scholarship, he said. I try to live by the motto: honor the past, enrich the present, forge the future. Im excited to apply this mentality as I seek to contribute to the continued success of our beef industry and the people who make it great. In addition to the $10,000 Beef State Scholarship, the Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation awarded nearly $60,000 in scholarships to 55 students furthering their education in the 2024-2025 academic year. Nebraska Cattlemen Foundation Scholars from Central Nebraska include: Cassidy Maricle of Albion, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; Emily Jonas of Ansley, $1,200 West Central Affiliate Scholarship; Rio Remund of Arnold, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; Marshall Humphrey of Aurora, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; David Switzer of Burwell, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; William Ford of Cairo, $1,200 Bill Heller Memorial Scholarship; Katherine Mohr of Genoa, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; Jaylea Pope of Ravenna, $1,200 Vance Uden Memorial Scholarship; Kacey Dethlefs of Ravenna, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; Colton Bernt of Spalding, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; Abigail Hirschman of St. Paul, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship; and Zachary Hirschman, $1,000 Retail Value Steer Challenge Scholarship. All scholarship recipients will be recognized at the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear Meeting set for Thursday, June 13, in Ogallala. Delayed coal-fired power plant in southern Vietnam secures $980 mln loan from Eximbank Malaysia By Hai Yen Sun, June 9, 2024 | 1:35 pm GMT+7 Malaysia-based Toyo Ink Berhad and its wholly-owned Vietnam subsidiary, Song Hau 2 Power Company Ltd., have secured a $980 million loan from Eximbank Malaysia to develop a $3 billion coal-fired power plant in southern Vietnam. Representatives of Toyo Ink Berhad and Song Hau 2 Power Company Ltd. ink an agreement with Eximbank Malaysia for a $980 million loan on June 7, 2024. Photo courtesy of Nang Luong Vietnam (Vietnam Energy) magazine. The financing will be used for the design, equipment purchase, construction, and operation of the long-delayed Song Hau 2 thermal power plant in Chau Thanh district, Hau Giang province. Singapore-based i-Power Solutions Pte Ltd will arrange capital for equipment purchases for the project via Eximbank Malaysia. Hau Giang province and Toyo Ink Behard signed a facility agreement for the 2,120 MW project under the build-operate-transfer (BOT) format in December 2015. Vietnams Power Engineering Consulting JSC 2 (PECC2) and Sunway established the Sunway-PECC2 consortium as the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor for the project in December 2022, the Malaysian investor clarified in a filing sent to the Bursa Malaysia stock exchange in May. The project missed the initial deadline for completion in Q2/2022, partly due to the investors inability to meet its capital obligations. The power plant is one of five coal-fired power projects prioritized in the national Power Development Plan VIII (PDP VIII). The Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade has extended its deployment deadline to June 2024, failing which it could be terminated. Bahrain Mumtalakat Holding Company, the sovereign wealth fund of the Kingdom of Bahrain, has announced a strategic partnership with M42, an Abu Dhabi-based global tech-enabled health powerhouse, that will see the launch of the Amana Healthcare facility in Bahrain. According to Mumtalakat, this move aligns with the healthcare objectives of Bahrain's Vision 2030, which aims to upgrade clinical outcomes and address the evolving healthcare requirements of the Kingdom to ensure the welfare of all citizens and residents. Amana Healthcare, a CARF and JCI-accredited subsidiary of the M42 group, is expanding into Bahrain to replicate its successful care model from the UAE, it stated. The Bahrain Amana Healthcare facility, scheduled to commence operations in 2025, aligns with Mumtalakat's ongoing efforts to invest in and for Bahrain and M42's commitment to delivering world-class health solutions tailored to the specific requirements of the local community. Furthermore, it aims to establish Bahrain as a global frontrunner in specialised rehabilitation and long-term care while generating employment prospects for Bahrainis in the clinical field. On the new venture, Mumtalakat CEO Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa said: "Our partnership with M42 signifies a shared commitment to developing sustainable, long-term collaborations. Together, we aim to contribute to the Kingdom's economic development, particularly in vital sectors such as healthcare." "This presents an opportunity to enhance the existing healthcare landscape in Bahrain by addressing crucial gaps and delivering added-value services to the community, in addition to creating high-skilled jobs for Bahrainis," he stated. Hasan Jasem Al Nowais, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of M42, said that this expansion will leverage M42's advanced health and medical expertise to deliver personalised and precise care to communities across Bahrain. The new facility in Al Jasra will provide long-term care services for people with complex medical needs requiring extended inpatient stays. The facility aims to offer world-class, tech-enabled services, featuring a dedicated laboratory, radiology, pharmacy, therapy rooms, gym, hydrotherapy, majlis and recreational spaces. It will also offer tailored social programmes and non-clinical services, such as community gatherings and recreational events, to help patients and their families adjust to life after hospitalisation. "The collaboration is aligned with M42's vision to transform health by positively impacting lives, enhancing outcomes for people, and improving overall quality of life. We look forward to providing our world-class, long-term care offering in Bahrain," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Ubuy, a leading global e-commerce platform, and DHL Express Kuwait, a global leader in logistics, are celebrating 10 years of a strategic partnership that has provided seamless cross-border logistics solutions to online businesses worldwide. This collaboration, now in its first decade, aims to overcome geographical limitations and logistical complexities to help customers find new products globally and deliver them to their doorsteps, said a statement from Ubuy. Ubuy said its expansive marketplace seamlessly connects consumers worldwide to over 300 million products sourced directly from the global market. The GCC region stands out as a major market for Ubuy, including Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Bahrain and Qatar, said the US-based group. Customers have the convenience of purchasing products from Ubuys strategically located warehouses, which are already operational in the US, UK, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Korea, and Turkey, it added. Dhari Alabdulhadi, Ubuys CTO and Founder, said: "Our decade-long partnership with DHL Express Kuwait empowers us to deliver the extensive range of products on our platform reliably and efficiently to customers worldwide." "DHL Express Kuwait's unparalleled expertise and infrastructure have played a pivotal role in facilitating our cross-border operations over the past ten years," noted Alabdulhadi. "Through its extensive transportation networks across 220 countries and territories, DHL Express Kuwait facilitates and supports Ubuy's global value chain and provides maximum coverage internationally," he added. Makram Raad, the Country Manager at DHL Express Kuwait, said: "For the past decade, we have been honoured to be a part of Ubuy's remarkable growth journey. We did so with our range of logistics solutions customized specifically for e-commerce customers." "This long-standing cooperation demonstrates how our global expertise and infrastructure can empower online retailers to effortlessly expand into new regions," he stated. Together, Ubuy and DHL Express Kuwait are revolutionising cross-border e-commerce by providing solutions that transcend geographical barriers. Their partnership not only opens new markets for merchants but also grants them access to previously untapped customer demographics, said Raad. With streamlined customs clearance, real-time shipment tracking, and reduced transit times, Ubuy and DHL Express Kuwait are redefining the standards for reliable and efficient cross-border logistics in the e-commerce industry, he added.-TradeArabia News Service TotalEnergies and Air Products have signed a 15-year agreement for the annual supply in Europe of 70,000 tons of green hydrogen starting in 2030. This first long-term deal follows TotalEnergies call for tenders for the supply of 500,000 tons per year of green hydrogen to decarbonize TotalEnergies European refineries. Under the agreement, Air Products will deliver at TotalEnergies Northern European refineries doorstep, green hydrogen from Air Products global supply network. This hydrogen will avoid around 700,000 tons of CO each year. The contract awarded to Air Products is a first step towards achieving TotalEnergies' objective of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions from its operated oil and gas operations (Scope 1+2) by 40 per cent by 2030 compared to 2015 levels. Air Products, worldwide leader in terms of hydrogen supply, has been a first mover, committing more than $15 billion dollars to real, large-scale energy transition projects and launching several large low carbon hydrogen projects in the world, making it a leading and reliable supplier. This deal with Air Products, the first signed following the call for tenders launched last year, is a steppingstone towards our goal of decarbonizing the hydrogen used in TotalEnergies refineries in Northern Europe by the end of the decade. We are proud to partner with Air Products, a pioneer in low carbon hydrogen production, under the leadership of Seifi Ghasemi. Once again, we demonstrate our capacity to pioneer the energy transition and contribute to the emergence of a green hydrogen industry by offering long-term contracts with our six refineries and two biorefineries in Europe. We are also happy to extend our partnership with Air Products by becoming ourselves a supplier of green power to Air Products and contributing to Air Products own decarbonization roadmap, said Patrick Pouyanne, Chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies. Today, one of the largest energy companies in the world has committed to use renewable hydrogen to decarbonize its refineries in Northern Europe, and we at Air Products are honored and proud to be the producer and supplier of the green hydrogen required, said Air Products Chairman, President and CEO Seifi Ghasemi. Noting that Air Products started on the journey of producing clean hydrogen seven years ago, Seifi Ghasemi added, We always believed that if we made clean hydrogen available at commercial scale, the demand would be there. This contract validates our long-term strategy. Clearly the demand is here, and it will grow significantly as we move forward, playing an essential role in decarbonizing heavy industry and other sectors. I also want to express my admiration for Mr. Patrick Pouyannes vision and courage in acting as a first-mover towards creating a cleaner future for the world. At the same time, TotalEnergies and Air Products have signed a memorandum of understanding for the supply of renewable power, which entails the signing of a first Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for 150 MW produced at a solar project in Texas. The parties also plan to explore together further PPA opportunities in the UK, Poland and France. This agreement, which strengthens the partnership between TotalEnergies and Air Products, will contribute to Air Products decarbonization roadmap and is in line with TotalEnergies integrated electricity strategy along the value chain. --OGN/TradeArabia News Service Knowledge Oasis Muscat (KOM), the technology arm of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (Madayn) has signed an agreement with Solar Wadi Company for the establishment of a solar PV power plant with a capacity of 1.4 MW. The plant, which is being set up at an investment of RO500,000 ($1.3 million), will be installed and fully operational within a year at KOM. As per the 25-year contract, Solar Wadi Company will be responsible for installation, operation and maintenance of the plant. This agreement aligns with Madayns objective to promote clean energy and contribute to the sultanates efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, said a spokesman for the company. Madayn is continuously working towards creating a dynamic live-work-play environment model while ensuring environmental preservation, particularly in the industrial sector, he stated. In collaboration with its partners, Madayn is committed to raising awareness among investors in various industrial cities, encouraging the adoption of safe, sustainable, and innovative alternative sources, he added. A major player in the industrial sector in the region, Madayn focuses on several key areas, including managing hazardous and non-hazardous waste, controlling liquid waste disposal into marine environments, reducing emissions of air and noise pollutants in addition to ensuring proper handling and usage of chemicals (including storage, transportation, and loading), storing hazardous materials, safely demolishing buildings and disposing of asbestos, mitigating land pollution, and optimising water and energy consumption.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi oil giant Aramco has retained the top spot this year in the Forbes Middle East Top 100 List with a whopping $660.8 billion in assets and $1.9 trillion in market value. Unveiling the list of the regions largest, most valuable, and most profitable firms, Forbes Middle East said the GCC firms reigned the list with 92 entries, led by the UAE with 32 companies, followed by 31 from Saudi Arabia. The ranking also features 14 companies from Qatar, 10 from Kuwait, four from Morocco, three from Bahrain and two entries each from Egypt, Jordan, and Oman, said Forbes in a statement. The banking and financial services sector continues to be the most represented with 45 entries generating combined sales of $223.5 billion and holding $3.3 trillion in assets. Six of the top 10 companies operate in banking and financial services. However, the energy sector, with five companies, remains the most profitable, boasting total profits of $127.5 billion, largely due to Aramco. Telecommunications and industrials are the second and third most represented sectors, with nine and seven entries, respectively, it stated. In January 2024, Aramco and Rongsheng Petrochemical announced their plans to buy stakes in each others units. In the same month, Aramco allocated an additional $4 billion to its global venture capital arm, Aramco Ventures, increasing its total investment allocation to $7 billion. Saudi National Bank and the International Holding Company complete the top three. According to Forbes Middle East, collectively, the 100 companies experienced a 5.1% decline in sales, dropping from $1.1 trillion in 2022 to $1 trillion in 2023. Their net profits also fell by 13.5% to $240.2 billion, and their total market value saw a slight reduction of 4.4% to $3.6 trillion as of April 2024. Nonetheless, the total value of their assets increased by 5.4% to $4.9 trillion in 2023 compared to the previous year, it stated. Despite a challenging economic year for businesses globally, Forbes Middle East said the 2024 list featured six newcomers - Adnoc Gas, Borouge, PureHealth Holding and Adnoc Logistics & Services (all from UAE) and Saudi Arabias Elm and ADES Holding. While notable dropouts include Sabic - ranked second last year - after reporting a $102.5 million loss in 2023, compared to a $6.3 billion profit in 2022, it stated. The top 10 companies in the Forbes Middle East 2024 list are: *Aramco - Saudi Arabia (Energy) *Saudi National Bank (SNB) - Saudi Arabia - Banks & Financial Services *International Holding Company (IHC) - UAE - Investments *QNB Group - Qatar - Banks & Financial Services *First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) - UAE - (Banks & Financial Services) *Emirates NBD - (UAE) - Banks & Financial Services *Alrajhi bank - Saudi Arabia - Banks & Financial Services *Taqa Group - UAE - Utilities *Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) - Saudi Arabia - Utilities and *Kuwait Finance House (KFH) - Kuwait - Banks & Financial Services Forbes Middle East said to construct the list, it had collected data from listed stock exchanges in the Arab world and ranked firms based on their reported sales, assets, and profits for the 2023 financial year, along with market value as of April 26, 2024. Each metric was given equal weight, and companies with the same final scores were given the same rank. Companies that had not disclosed their 2023 audited financial statements as of April 26, 2024, were excluded, it added.-TradeArabia News Service Riyadh Air, the newest national airline of Saudi Arabia, has signed an agreement with Air China, Chinas national flag carrier, at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting in Dubai, that is aimed at opening significant opportunities for connectivity in both Beijing and Riyadh, two major G20 capital cities. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed on June 3, 2024, will enable both airlines to work together on potential cooperation in business subjects, including interline traffic, codeshare and more. Tony Douglas, CEO of Riyadh Air, said: Our partnership with Air China, a leading global carrier with a vast network in key Chinese markets, complements Riyadh Airs ambitious future plans. This MoU represents a significant step towards establishing a long-term partnership that will facilitate seamless travel for passengers between China and the Middle East and beyond. Together, we will solidify our positions as vital links, further strengthening the economic and cultural ties between our regions, and aligning with both Chinas Belt and Road Initiatives and Saudi Arabias Vision 2030. Riyadh Air will connect guests to over 100 destinations around the world by 2030. TradeArabia News Service Cathay and Singapore Airlines (SIA) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on a broad range of sustainability initiatives that are aimed at giving development a push, and advocating the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) in the Asia-Pacific region a critical decarbonisation lever for the sector, and sharing best practices to boost sustainability performance. The MoU was signed by Cathay Group Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Ronald Lam and Singapore Airlines CEO Goh Choon Phong in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on the sidelines of the 80th International Air Transport Association (IATA) Annual General Meeting and World Air Transport Summit (June 2-4). The agreement, which focuses on two key areas, underscores both carriers commitment to achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, and affirms their aspiration to help drive sustainability changes in the airline industry. Firstly, Cathay and SIA will jointly advocate for the greater use of SAF in the Asia-Pacific region. Initiatives in this area will include raising public awareness about SAFs critical role in decarbonising aviation, advocating for supportive policies in the region, and promoting the creation of a standard global accounting and reporting framework to ensure the transparency and verifiability of emission reductions from the use of the fuel. The airlines will also explore potential opportunities for joint procurement of SAF at selected locations. These are aimed at boosting SAF production and supporting its wider adoption in the airline industry. The second area of focus will be the exchange of best practices to reduce single-use plastics, minimise waste, and improve energy efficiency in ground and cargo operations. This will allow Cathay and SIA to improve their sustainability performance, and speed up the development and implementation of sustainable solutions in their operations. Ronald Lam, Chief Executive Officer, Cathay Group, said: As part of our collaborative ethos of Greener Together, we actively seek like-minded industry leaders for strategic partnerships in transitioning to sustainable aviation. Our collaboration with Singapore Airlines aims to accelerate and support the development of the SAF supply chain in the region, fostering a reliable SAF ecosystem to enable the industry to achieve its long-term decarbonisation goals. Cathay was one of the first airlines in Asia to set a target of 10% SAF for its total fuel consumption by 2030, and we are undertaking a multi-pronged approach to contribute to the aviation industrys transition towards a greener future. Mr Goh Choon Phong, Chief Executive Officer, Singapore Airlines, said: Singapore Airlines is committed to embedding sustainability in all aspects of our operations. At the same time, we recognise that we cannot achieve our targets alone. Our partnership with Cathay signifies our mutual ambition to enhance collaboration in sustainability initiatives in the Asia-Pacific region. Together we are helping to set the foundation for a more sustainable aviation industry, and ensure that future generations continue to reap the benefits of air travel. TradeArabia News Service Emirates will launch flights to Madagascar from September 3, offering more choice and connectivity for travellers, and driving inbound leisure and business travel to the country. The four-weekly flights between Dubai (DXB) and Antananarivo (TNR) will operate via a linked service with the Seychelles. Boosting international travel to and from Madagascar, the flight times have been scheduled to optimise connections to and from key points in Europe, the Far East, West Asia and the Middle East/GCC, the airline said. EK707 will depart from Dubai to the Seychelles at 0855hrs, arriving in Mahe, Seychelles, at 1335hrs, and will continue on to Antananarivo to land at 1650hrs. The return flight EK708 departs Antananarivo at 1835hrs, landing in Mahe at 2220hrs. The flight then takes off from Mahe at 2350hrs to Dubai, landing at 0420hrs the next day. Flights will operate on Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. Travellers wanting to combine two holidays in one also have the option to conveniently fly between the Seychelles and Madagascar, Emirates said. Tourism is a key pillar in Madagascars economy, contributing to the creation of thousands of employment opportunities that support the countrys goal to serve one million tourists by 2028. Emirates new route will provide connectivity from over 140 points in its global network, supporting the Ministry of Tourisms strategy to diversify target markets and introduce international travellers to the islands many natural attractions. Emirates is also in discussion with Air Madagascar to offer further global connectivity to promote tourism and trade. Adnan Kazim, Emirates Deputy President and Chief Commercial Officer, said: Madagascar has historically been underserved, despite growing appetite from travellers for authentic ecotourism experiences. Emirates understands the importance of offering customers efficient connectivity and premium travel experiences and were confident that this new service will have a positive impact on boosting Madagascars connectivity, offering more opportunities for travellers to discover the hidden gem that is Madagascar, in addition to opening new international business opportunities. "The Malagasys government is spearheading efforts to grow its tourism sector by enticing more tourists to experience the islands renowned biodiversity and natural attractions. Emirates is ready to support Madagascars tourism agenda by helping bring visitors from around its network. We thank the Malagasys government for their partnership and support in establishing this route and we look forward to welcoming passengers onboard soon. Manambahoaka Valery Ramonjavelo, Madagascars Minister of Transports, and Meteorology, said: Our agreement between the United Arab Emirates and Madagascar opens the way to this new Antananarivo-Dubai route and represents a significant step forward for the development of tourism and trade between the two countries. This is extremely positive news in more than one way, as it opens a new door between Madagascar and the world, through the Dubai hub, the biggest international hub in passenger numbers. "It will also introduce the whole world to the incredible touristic and cultural treasures of Madagascar, while also creating opportunities for new business streams. The association of our national airline combined with this new Emirates route it will strengthen connectivity for our regions. Madagascar is the worlds fourth largest island, boasting stunning scenery from white sandy beaches and emerald waters, to lush rainforests and national parks and the fossilized shells on limestone plateaus. Colloquially referred to as Treasure Island, it is home to three World Heritage UNESCO sites. Adventurers can partake in a number of exciting activities, such as hiking, trekking or quad biking, or take to the seas with kite surfing, scuba diving or whale watching. Animal lovers can visit Lemurs Park and discover nine types of lemurs, along with other wildlife and fauna, while food aficionados can sample the traditional cuisine and delicious local produce. Madagascar is also home to a wealth of precious biodiversity, with 5% of the planets plant and animal species found only on the island. To protect the intricacies of the natural world, Madagascar encourages ecotourism, enabling visitors to immerse themselves in the abundance of nature and embrace the local culture while respecting the environment. The Dubai- Antananarivo route will be served by the Boeing 777-300ER, with 8 First Class suites, 42 Business Class suites and 310 seats in Economy. -TradeArabia News Service Finance Minister Colm Imbert says AR-15 semi-automatic rifles are murderous weapons and legislation is needed to ban them. At the Parliament sitting yesterday, Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley spoke to the need to make legislative intervention to ban assault weapons. In response, Opposition MP Ravi Ratiram said assault weapons were already banned in T&T, and he quoted a firearms expert. Its sad. Its hurts me. Although she was not born in Arima, or from Arima, her heart was f The Opposition Leader cited figures that showed the official entertainment for the Office of the Prime Minister moved from a revised estimate of $240,000 in 2024 to an estimated expenditure of $30 million in 2025. This is an increase of 12,400%. The likely impending cutback, if not disappearance, of a certain class of Central Arizona Project water supply is raising uncertainty about an agencys ability to support future suburban development through recharge. The water in question is called NIA water, and it has made up more than 20% of the CAPs historic total supply. It was formerly called non-Indian agriculture water because it used to be delivered to farmers. But as CAP water rights were gradually transferred from farmers, the NIA supplies found their way to cities, mines and other industries, tribes and other entities. Now, that supply is in jeopardy as water negotiators for the seven Colorado River Basin states grapple over how to cut their water use to keep the declining river from ever drying up. That (NIA) water is gone, Arizona Department of Water Resources Director Tom Buschatzke told a Colorado River conference in Boulder on Thursday. He was looking ahead to how the basin states will carve up the rivers diminishing supplies for a new operating agreement. That raises questions about how the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District can meet future legal obligations to recharge renewable CAP water into aquifers to compensate for groundwater pumped for many suburban subdivisions in growing areas near Phoenix and Tucson and in Pinal County. Under state law, developers of new subdivisions in those areas must prove they will have an assured, 100-year water supply for them to be built. If that supply is to be pumped groundwater, the replenishment district must find renewable water supplies such as CAP water to put back into the aquifer to compensate for whats pumped. Until now, the district has always been able to find such replenishment supplies since it began operations in the middle 1990s. A February 2024 document, outlining how the district plans to obtain renewable supplies for the period covering 2025 through 2044, shows a major reliance on NIA supplies to meet replenishment obligations. Showing where the supplies will come from is a key element of the districts next plan of operations that would cover the same period. The plan must be submitted to the Arizona Department of Water Resources for approval. But at this time, agency officials dont have answers to questions about how cutbacks of the NIA supply could affect its future activities. In fact, its not clear when the board will even vote on a proposed plan, CAP Board President Terry Goddard told the Arizona Daily Star on Friday. Despite Buschatzkes comment, Goddard said hes not ready to completely write off hopes of getting NIA supplies in the event of future good water years. But when asked how confident he is of finding replacement supplies if that becomes necessary, Goddard replied, Thats the $64,000 question, and I cant really give you a high degree of confidence. The nature of this particular situation is one of water scarcity. Thats behind our questions about this. While possible future replacement supplies clearly exist to meet the districts recharge needs, obviously, any dependable replacement supply is going to be a difficult to find, he said. The district recharges CAP supplies in Maricopa, Pima and Pinal counties for developments built in areas not served by a water utility such as Tucson Water or the city of Phoenix that have formal state designations of having an assured, 100-year water supply. In the Tucson area, developments supported by recharge by the district include Quail Creed east of Green Valley and Saddlebrooke and Saddlebrooke Ranch, lying just north of the Pima County line in southern Pinal County. Developments served by this district tend to be in farther-flung suburban areas such as the unincorporated communities of Green Valley, Quail Creek and SaddleBrooke near Tucson, and fast-growing Phoenix-area suburbs including Buckeye and Queen Creek. The likely disappearance of the NIA supplies came into public view on Thursday, at the annual Colorado River conference in Boulder, sponsored by the Getches-Wilkinson Center for Natural Resources and the Environment. There, Arizona water chief Buschatke said the NIA water will go away, based on the numbers we negotiated among the three Lower Basin states to reduce river water use to wipe out a longstanding structural deficit between use and supplies. To eliminate that deficit, the three states Arizona, California and Nevada have already agreed to trim their river water use by 1.5 million acre-feet a year about 20% of the Lower Basins annual river water supply. On Friday, ADWR spokeswoman Shauna Evans said NIA water supplies would be eliminated starting in 2027 if the seven river basin states go along with that action when they conclude now-contentious negotiations over how to replace their current operating regime for the river. It expires at the end of 2026. That supply would be part of 760,000 acre-feet of Arizonas river water supplies that the state has agreed to give up as part of the Lower Basin agreement aimed at wiping out the rivers structural deficit. As of now, which Arizona users will take how much of the remaining cuts, beyond the loss of NIA water, isnt known. Arizona officials havent started a process to decide how the cuts should be apportioned, ADWR spokeswoman Evans said. Buschatzke had been talking at the conference about how the NIA water has helped support several CAP-based water rights settlements with tribes approved since 1999 to help satisfy their legal claims to river water. Those include settlements with the Tohono Oodham Nation in Southern Arizona and the Gila River Indian Community in Sacaton in Central Arizona. But, referring to a recently reached settlement between Arizona and the Navajo and Hopi tribes to obtain some river water rights, Buschatzke said, It was a tough discussion with the Navajo and Hopi to say that (NIA) water is off the table. We did that to say its totally unreliable. Its not there. Theres not enough water in the system anymore. Tribes indeed are among the biggest recipients of this water, controlling well over one-third of the total NIA water rights available. The Gila River Indian Community has about 120,000 acre-feet of NIA water, more than one-third of its total supply giving it the largest such share of that water in Arizona. Phoenix is next in line with nearly 38,000 acre-feet. The Tohono Oodham Nation has about 28,000 acre-feet of NIA water, roughly one-third of its total CAP supplies. But its water rights settlement requires the feds to upgrade that supply to a standard municipal CAP supply thats more likely to survive any early cuts in river water supplies. The Gila tribe is also supposed to have about 15,000 acre-feet of its NIA supply similarly upgraded. Tucson Water has no NIA water. Marana controls 515 acre-feet of it. Rosemont Copper and Resolution Copper Co. both have small supplies of NIA water to be used for their proposed mines in the Santa Rita Mountains and near Superior, respectively. But few entities are more reliant on NIA water today than the Central Arizona Groundwater Replenishment District, which is part of the CAPs governing agency. Its share of NIA water is small compared to that of the Gila tribe. But of about 77,000 acre-feet of water it plans to use for replenishment from 2025-44, roughly half, or 38,870 acre-feet, would come from NIA water, says a report from the district. The rest of its planned supplies are more reliable. They include other, non-NIA tribal waters and municipal and industrial CAP supplies that will last longer, if not indefinitely, during shortages. Another chunk of the water consists of completely reliable long-term storage credits, which represent CAP supplies that the agency has recharged into the aquifer to be used in times of shortages. The districts current array of replenishment supplies is more than sufficient to meet its legal obligations for the next 20 years when CAP isnt in shortage, the districts February 2024 document says. Under the worst possible shortage envisioned by the Colorado Rivers 2019 drought management plan, which is less restrictive than a post-2026 cutback plan will be, the district would still have enough supplies for replenishment. But it would rely heavily on other supplies besides whats shown in its planned replenishment supply portfolio, including some reserves its accumulated for times of shortage, the district document shows. Under a shortage thats deeper than the worst possible shortage envisioned by the 2019 drought plan, the district could still meet its replenishment requirements in the Phoenix area for some time, but the severity and length of shortage would determine how long its reserves would be relied on, the document said. The post-2026 Colorado River operating guidelines could increase the scale of shortage reductions by an unknown amount, the district said. Asked by the Star how the disappearance of NIA water would affect CAPs ability to meet its replenishment obligation, agency spokeswoman DeEtte Person replied, This issue is to be addressed in the CAGRD 2025 Plan of Operations. CAP Board President Goddard told the Star, NIA is in jeopardy. Im not willing to wipe it all away, but if there continues to be a shortage, its possible it will not be there at all. Hope springs eternal. If we have a good water year, some of it will come back. Board consideration of this issue for sure wont be there until August and I expect it to be later in the fall, due to the uncertainties, said Goddard, a former state attorney general and Phoenix mayor. Asked about possible replacement supplies, Goddard mentioned importing groundwater from the Harquahala Valley west of Phoenix, by putting it into the CAP canal to deliver it to the Phoenix, Tucson and Pinal County areas. Or, the water district could buy water rights from farms or other parties controlling river water supplies for cities or farmland along the river which are less likely to be cut than CAP supplies during shortages. Or, it could build infrastructure to transfer Salt River Project water in the Phoenix area into the CAP canal for delivery to its customers, Goddard said. Yet another potential supply could come from the proposed raising of the Bartlett Dam on the Verde River north of Phoenix so it could store more water for growing cities to use, he said. But many of these ideas face potential roadblocks, either bureaucratic, legal or financial. No outside supplies can, for instance, be put into the CAP canal until the federal Bureau of Reclamation that built the CAP agrees on standards for the quality of the water that would go into the canal, he said. The Bartlett Dam elevation project is expected to cost about $1 billion and must be approved by Congress. Communities along the river have fiercely opposed past efforts to transfer water rights from there to growing cities. While all these supplies could be obtained, none will be easy or cheap to get, Goddard said. Overall, he said, I dont think there is an abundant supply of reliable water for replacement for the NIA water right now. Im skeptical we can find a complete replacement for NIA water. Looking beyond the NIA waters future, Goddard said he will personally make an effort to ensure that whatever settlement the seven river basin states reach will be fair to Arizona. The four Upper Basin states (Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming) and have so far said all future cuts in river water use must be borne by the Lower Basin states a position Goddard and other Arizona users say is totally untenable. Everyone has some cuts, but were adamant. You cant just balance the books on the water users on CAP. If cuts to our system are in the 500-600-700,000-acre-foot range, weve got obligations to tribal and industrial users, obligations to the existing economy of central and southern Arizona, Goddard said. You simply cant talk about cutting us that far. Archivist's note: This Only in Oklahoma column reported the troopers in the wrong vehicles and in the wrong confrontations. Highway Patrol Troopers Billy Young, 50, and Houston F. (Pappy) Summers, 62, were killed in a gun battle with two prison escapees near Kenefic on May 26, 1978. Lt. Pat Grimes, 36, was killed and Trooper Hoyt Hughes, 46, was wounded in a gun battle later that day with the same prison escapees in Caddo rather than near Kenefic. The two prison escapees also were killed. May 26, 1978, is known as the Oklahoma Highway Patrol's darkest day. Two troopers were killed near Kenefic, in southern Oklahoma, and one was killed in nearby Caddo in shootouts with two Oklahoma State Penitentiary escapees who became known as "thrill killers" and who also were killed in the Caddo shootout. Gov. David Boren called the troopers' deaths "the worst single tragedy in the 40-year history of this outstanding law enforcement agency" and directed a weeklong period of mourning. Lt. Pat Grimes, 36, of Moore and Trooper Houston F. Summers, 62, of Enid were killed about 10:30 a.m. as they drove toward Kenefic on a country road and met a car occupied by the fugitives, who opened fire. As he was dying, one trooper transmitted a brief radio message -- "V-54 . . . we're hit" -- but was unable to give a location. Troopers in an OHP helicopter saw the fugitives' speeding pickup a few minutes later and kept it in sight to direct officers on the ground to its location in Caddo. Trooper Billy G. Young, 50, of Woodward was killed and Trooper Hoyt Hughes, 46, was wounded as they drove up to a house in Caddo and met a fusillade of gunfire from the fugitives, who had arrived moments earlier. The escapees tried to run away and OHP and other law enforcement officers opened fire, killing Claude Eugene Dennis as he crouched in front of the stolen pickup and killing Michael Lancaster as he tried to run behind a house. Bystanders said the convicts were "shot all over." A woman who lived near the scene of the shoot- out said "everybody in town has really been scared for about a month" because of the convicts' actions. She said Dennis and Lancaster had family members in the area. The shootouts ended a month-long, three-state wave of terror in which five other people, four in Texas and one in Alabama, were killed and a Texas woman was kidnapped and raped by Dennis and Lancaster, who had escaped April 23 from the prison at McAlester. Lancaster, 25, of Manhattan, Kan., was serving 25 years for armed robbery. Dennis, 35, who was reared in Bristow and had lived in Bryan County, was serving 50 years for killing a Stephens County couple and 20 years to life for killing a Bryan County bulldozer operator. Both had escaped from county jails, and Lancaster had exchanged gunfire with a trooper after a liquor store robbery following one of his escapes. Authorities called Dennis "cold blooded; he just shoots people." The convicts escaped through a partially flooded abandoned utility tunnel that passed under a wall at OSP into the basement of an old power plant outside the wall. They used a sledgeham mer, crowbar and shovel to break through a 30-inch concrete plug inside the tunnel. Once outside the prison's walls, the two burst into the home of Lt. Sam Key, a corrections officer at the prison, threatened his wife with a knife and fled in the family car, taking a 12-gauge shotgun, a .357-caliber Magnum revolver and a .30-30 rifle. They headed to Texas, where they killed two men in Garland, a man in Hemphill and a man in Denison, taking vehicles from some of their victims to use in their foray. The two forced the wife of the Denison victim to accompany them, but she managed to escape when both fugitives went to sleep after one had raped her twice. The fugitives headed to Alabama, where an officer in Butler was shot seven times as he walked up to their car to question them. Although seriously wounded, the officer recovered. Dennis and Lancaster were tagged as "thrill killers" after they killed a 68-year-old retired teacher in Cuba, Ala., as she returned home from a church social. She had been hit in the head and shot behind an ear, the same method used in the Texas killings. More than 200 Alabama law enforcement officers searched for the pair. Roadblocks were set up in Mississippi, but the two slipped through, returning to the Lake Texoma area. After the escapees were killed, an Alabama trooper who had tried to stop the two and was met with gunfire said they got what they deserved, adding, "I just wish I could have been there to do it." Like this column? Read all the columns in the Only in Oklahoma series from the Tulsa World Archive. $3 million grant approved for north Tulsa economic development In the summer of 2023, the Indian Nations Council of Governments assisted the Tulsa Economic Development Corp. with a federal funding request to support the renovation and repurposing of a former hospital that will become Greenwood Entrepreneurship @ Moton. In mid-May, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Economic Development Administration awarded a $3 million grant to create the business and entrepreneurship center. This investment in Tulsa will turn a former place of healing into a place of opportunity, supporting broad-based entrepreneurial services to bolster small businesses, helping everyone in the region, especially historically underserved communities, to thrive, said U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. Located near historic Black Wall Street, GEM will be an entrepreneurial hub and support center that will help provide local entrepreneurs with the resources and opportunities that will help them succeed, an INCOG news release said. The original Moton, a municipal hospital, opened in 1932 as a replacement for the Maurice Willows Red Cross Hospital, which had begun serving patients at 314 N. Hartford Ave. in the wake of the destruction of Black Wall Street. Moton was named for Robert Russa Moton, an African-American educator and second superintendent of the renowned Tuskegee Institute. After Moton briefly closed in the late 1960s, it reopened as a clinic, and two other buildings were added to the small complex over the next decade. The name was changed in 1983 to honor Dr. W.A. Morton, a local physician. In 2006, operations transferred to a new 60,000-square-foot clinic less than a half-mile away at 1334 N. Lansing Ave., Morton Comprehensive Health Services. Tulsa-based Volt receives $3 million in seed funding Volt, a Tulsa-based messaging operations infrastructure platform that enables software companies to integrate with multiple SMS providers and streamline number registration compliance and delivery reporting, announced the closing of its $3 million seed round. The round was led by Mercury, with participation from Atento Capital, Uncorrelated Ventures, Stout Street Capital, and Yellow Rocks. The new funding will enable Volt to further enhance and accelerate its product development and strategically expand its team. SMS is a technology for sending short text messages between mobile phones. The SMS marketplace has grown significantly in recent years as a result of increased marketing and customer support efforts, evidenced by a 20.3% compound annual growth rate from 2019 to 2025, according to a news release. Volt, launched in the middle of 2022, was founded by Martin Langelo Lien and Matt Morfopoulos. The idea for the business was born out of the founders experience with the inefficiencies of compliance for SMS operations firsthand while running a text marketing company for three and a half years, during which they recognized the fundamental need for infrastructure to ensure compliance was maintained across carriers. Volt was built to help companies manage the complexities of large-scale text messaging and significantly reduce the engineering hours spent on the upkeep of internal infrastructure. Attorney to lead GPA Midstream Tulsa-based GPA Midstream Association announced Sarah Miller will replace Joel Moxley as the top executive. Millers career includes 17 years with Williams Companies, including serving as the companys senior vice president and general counsel. As a shareholder and director practicing in the energy and natural resources group at the law firm of Hall Estill based in Tulsa, Miller has served as GPA Midstreams general counsel since October 2019. Her legal practice focuses on commercial contracting for midstream service companies and producers, construction and procurement contracting, acquisition and divestitures, and corporate governance. Shaping the U.S. midstream energy sector since 1921, GPA Midstream sets standards for natural gas liquids, develops simple and reproducible test methods to define the industrys raw materials and products, manages a worldwide cooperative research program, provides a voice for the industry on Capitol Hill, and is the go-to resource for oil and gas technical reports and publications, a news release said. From Staff Reports The Tulsa World is where your story lives Spain, Ireland and Norway said Wednesday that they would recognize a Palestinian state on May 28, a step toward a long-held Palestinian aspiration that came amid international outrage over the civilian death toll and humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip following Israels offensive. The almost simultaneous decisions by two European Union countries, and Norway, may generate momentum for the recognition of a Palestinian state by other EU countries and could spur further steps at the United Nations, deepening Israels isolation. Malta and Slovenia, which also belong to the 27-nation European Union, may follow suit. Some 140 of 190 represented in the U.N. countries have already recognized a Palestinian state. Heres a look at how and why the new European announcements could be important: WHY DOES IT MATTER? The 1948 U.N. decision that created Israel envisaged a neighboring Palestinian state, but some 70 years later control of the Palestinian territories remains divided and bids for U.N. membership have been denied. The United States, Britain and other Western countries have backed the idea of an independent Palestinian state existing alongside Israel as a solution to the Middle Easts most intractable conflict, but they insist Palestinian statehood should come as part of a negotiated settlement. There have been no substantive negotiations since 2009. Though the EU countries and Norway wont be recognizing an existing state, just the possibility of one, the symbolism helps enhance the Palestinians international standing and heaps more pressure on Israel to open negotiations on ending the war. Also, the move lends additional prominence to the Middle East issue ahead of June 6-9 elections to the European Parliament, when some 370 million people are eligible to vote and a steep rise of the extreme right is on the cards. WHY NOW? Diplomatic pressure on Israel has grown as the battle with Hamas stretches into its eighth month. The U.N. General Assembly voted by a significant margin on May 11 to grant new rights and privileges to Palestine in a sign of growing international support for a vote on full voting membership. The Palestine Authority currently has observer status. The leaders of Spain, Ireland, Malta and Slovenia said in March they were considering recognizing a Palestinian state as a positive contribution toward ending the war. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said Wednesday, This recognition is not against anyone, it is not against the Israeli people, he said. It is an act in favor of peace, justice and moral consistency. WHAT ARE THE IMPLICATIONS OF RECOGNITION? While dozens of countries have recognized Palestine, none of the major Western powers has done so, and it is unclear how much of a difference the move by the three countries might make. Even so, their recognition would mark a significant accomplishment for the Palestinians, who believe it confers international legitimacy on their struggle. Little would likely change on the ground in the short term. Peace talks are stalled, and Israels hardline government has dug its heels in against Palestinian statehood. WHAT IS ISRAELS RESPONSE? Israel reacted rapidly Wednesday by recalling its ambassadors to Ireland, Norway and Spain. The Israeli government slams talk of Palestinian independence as a reward for the Hamas Oct. 7 attack on southern Israel that killed 1,200 people and led to the abduction of over 250 others. It rejects any move to legitimize the Palestinians internationally. Steps like the ones by the three European countries Wednesday will harden the Palestinian position and undermine the negotiating process, Israel says, insisting that all issues should be solved through negotiations. Israel often responds to foreign countries decisions deemed as going against its interests by summoning those countries ambassadors and also punishing the Palestinians through measures such as freezing tax transfers to the cash-strapped Palestinian Authority. WHO RECOGNIZES PALESTINE AS A STATE? Some 140 countries have already recognized Palestine, more than two-thirds of the United Nations' membership. Some major powers have indicated their stance may be evolving amid the outcry over the consequences of Israels offensive in Gaza, which has killed more than 35,000 Palestinians according to Gazas Health Ministry. The ministry does not distinguish between noncombatants and fighters in its count. British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said no recognition of Palestine could come while Hamas remains in Gaza, but that it could happen while Israeli negotiations with Palestinian leaders were in progress. French President Emmanuel Macron said in February its not taboo for France to recognize a Palestinian state. The administration in Ho Chi Minh City has approved a plan to organize the 2024 Cashless Day festival, dedicated to Promoting the Development of Safe Cashless Payments, on Nguyen Hue Pedestrian Street in District 1 from June 14 to 16. The event will feature a payment technology exhibition, seminars, and food booths applying cashless payment methods. It is meant to encourage residents to experience new payment methods and create opportunities for small- and medium-sized enterprises to access modern payment technologies. The Ho Chi Minh City administration assigned the municipal Department of Industry and Trade to coordinate with Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper, the State Bank of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City Branch, commercial banks, relevant agencies, districts, and Thu Duc City to execute the plan to hold the Cashless Day. The city also required the State Bank of Vietnam - Ho Chi Minh City Branch and commercial banks to proactively offer cashless payment services, especially during the festival. The Department of Industry and Trade, Department of Culture and Sports, and Department of Tourism should join hands with relevant agencies to encourage cashless payments in all activities during the event, from vehicle parking to shopping. The city also required ensuring security, traffic safety, fire and explosion prevention and control, and hygiene to make it a success. The municipal administration also emphasized the importance of cashless payment methods to enhance the transparency and effectiveness of economic management activities and contribute to developing a smart and modern society. The 2024 Cashless Day will feature 82 booths for product and service display, including booths for online public services, a sales area accepting cashless payments, and food booths. The event series will also include a concentrated promotion program called shopping season, set to last from June 15 to September 15 at most of the trade centers and supermarkets in the southern metropolis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Prof. Dr. Nguyen Vu Quoc Huy, rector of Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Hue UMP) in Hue City, Thua Thien-Hue Province, central Vietnam received the title of Knight of the National Order of Merit of France, conferred by the French president, on Saturday. French Ambassador to Vietnam Olivier Brochet, on behalf of French President Emmanuel Macron, awarded the order of merit to Prof. Huy at a ceremony held at Hue UMP, which is under the auspices of Hue University, for his great contributions to the Francophone medical community in Thua Thien-Hue as well as to the France-Vietnam relations. As a member of the Francophone medical community in Hue since the early 1990s, Prof. Huy has made significant contributions to its development for over three decades. He has been a strong advocate for establishing relationships between the community and its partners, including universities, university hospitals, regions, and non-governmental organizations in France, as well as the international Francophone community. The rector has also championed and supported the teaching and learning of specialized French and promoted French-Vietnamese cultural exchanges. These efforts have created opportunities for young Vietnamese doctors to take refresher courses in France for at least one year. Addressing the ceremony, Ambassador Brochet highly appreciated Prof. Huys scientific research achievements and his major contributions to fostering the cooperative relations between Vietnam and France, as well as between Hue UMP and French universities and organizations, especially in medical cooperation and French language promotion, the Vietnam News Agency reported. With his relentless efforts, Prof. Huy has helped hundreds of Vietnamese and French doctors pursue overseas study, enhancing their professional knowledge and experience, remarked Brochet. The French ambassador commended Vietnamese doctors participating in training programs in France for their exemplary professional skills, diligence, and hard work. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Le Anh Phuong, director of Hue University, praised Prof. Huy as an easygoing, exemplary, and highly qualified teacher and scientist, devoted to his colleagues, students, and patients. Phuong added that Prof. Huy has made significant contributions to the development of Hue UMP and Hue University over the past many years. Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Huy remarked that the Order of Merit is for everyone in the Francophone medical community in Hue, recognizing their valuable contributions over the past 30 years. Prof. Huy earned his doctorate degree from Germanys University of Dusseldorf in 2003 and was promoted to professor in 2019. Currently serving as chairman of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association in Thua Thien-Hue, Prof. Huy is also an honorary member of the Vietnam-France Friendship Association in the province and the French Association of Obstetrics and Gynecology. Like us on Facebook or follow us on X to get the latest news about Vietnam! ANAHUAC, Mexico -- Thousands of dead fish have blanketed the surface of a lagoon in Mexico's northern state of Chihuahua, and local officials are blaming an intense drought. The fish deaths at the Bustillos Lagoon, by the town of Anahuac in Chihuahua, came during long dry spells as temperatures have climbed above 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). The lagoon's water levels are dangerously low, officials said. Some form of drought is afflicting nearly 90 percent of Mexico, the highest rate since 2011, according to government data. Chihuahua state has been hit particularly hard with most of its territory engulfed by the most extreme levels of dryness. There was much less water in the lagoon for the fish to live in, and the remaining water was of poor quality, according to Irma de la Pena, head of the Ecology Department in the city of Cuauhtemoc. "When the amount of water decreases, the pollutants become more concentrated and therefore they also affect the species that live here," De la Pena said. Mass fish deaths in the area have happened in previous years when the lagoon dried up and fish stranded. Livestock, including cows and donkeys, are also perishing as dams run low and farmers struggle to secure water. Heat and drought have become so severe that many people who rely on agriculture have packed up and left. "It's very abandoned because since it doesn't rain... they no longer dare to continue living here," said Jesus Maria Palacios, a raiser of livestock in Cuauhtemoc. At the lagoon, local authorities are racing to cover the dead fish with lime, concerned their rapid decomposition under the baking sun could endanger public health by attracting insects and spreading disease. They are asking local organizations to help. "What we need is support, especially with the potential we have for a health issue," said Saul Sausameda, president of the Anahuac community. A dead fish lies in the dry bed of the Bustillos Lagoon as high temperatures have caused an intense drought, in Anahuac, Chihuahua state, Mexico June 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters Thousands of dead fish lie in the dry bed of the Bustillos Lagoon as high temperatures have caused an intense drought, in Anahuac, Chihuahua state, Mexico June 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters A municipal worker spreads quicklime over dead fish to reduce the stench, at the dry bed of the Bustillos Lagoon as high temperatures have caused an intense drought, in Anahuac, Chihuahua state, Mexico June 7, 2024. Photo: Reuters Check out the latest news in Vietnam today: Society -- A police agency in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday imposed an administrative fine on a 28-year-old New Zealander as he was caught vandalizing a property along Nguyen Du Street with graffiti. The man was also required to restore the original condition of the facilitys roll-up door. -- Seventeen households living near the National Highway 14 section passing through Gia Nghia City in the Central Highlands province of Dak Nong have sent requests for help to local authorities, expressing their fear that the aftermath of severe landslides and fissures which hit the route nearly one year ago could pose a threat to their safety, said an official on Saturday. -- A three-hour-long downpour and powerful winds lashed many locales of An Giang Province, southern Vietnam on Saturday afternoon, uprooting lots of trees, damaging several homes, and left four residents injured. Business -- The Hanoi Childrens Hospital projects phase one, which spans an area of over 67,8000 square meters in Ha Dong District, is scheduled to commence operations on October 10 this year. The new facility is expected to ease overcrowding at the Hanoi-based Vietnam National Childrens Hospital and those in neighboring provinces. Lifestyle -- Sparkling fireworks lit up the night sky over the Han River in Da Nang City, central Vietnam on Saturday, marking the opening of the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival 2024, scheduled to take place between June 8 and July 13 in this coastal city. -- Residents of Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday flocked to a green fair, an annual event hosted by the citys Department of Natural Resources and Environment, to exchange their recyclable trash and items for gifts like plants, eco-friendly tote bags, and stationery. World News -- Former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra said on Saturday he was ready to face charges of insulting the monarchy that mark a setback to a political heavyweight whose allies are currently in government, according to Reuters. -- Thousands of dead fish have blanketed the surface of a lagoon in Mexico's northern state of Chihuahua, and local officials are blaming an intense drought, Reuters reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Police in Ben Thanh Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City on Saturday levied an administrative fine on a 28-year-old New Zealander after he was caught vandalizing a property along Nguyen Du Street with graffiti. The man sullied the roll-up door of the house at 114 Nguyen Du Street and was discovered early on Saturday morning while police officers went on patrol in the area. The man admitted to his act of vandalism. Therefore, he got an administrative fine for his offenses of spraying paint, scrawling graffiti, or attaching any image to walls, power poles, and other locations in public places, apartment buildings, and residential areas without permission from authorities. The foreigner was also required to restore the status quo of the facilitys roll-up door. Residents are urged to film and report similar incidents of vandalism to the nearest police station so local authorities can impose strict penalties on offenders in an effort to combat the issue in the southern metropolis. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A vibrant Play Day for Children took place at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on Saturday in celebration of the upcoming International Day of Play, highlighting the crucial role of play in childrens development. Co-organized by UNICEF, Think Playground, and the Culture and Science Center of the Temple of Literature, the event was attended by hundreds of children from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities and from vulnerable situations, as well as their families. With a focus on inclusivity, culture, and nature, the event provided a diverse mix of interactive games, competitions, and recreational activities. These activities were specifically designed to cater to all age groups and abilities, ensuring every child, along with their parents, had the opportunity to participate and experience the joy and benefits of play. Participants pose for a group photo at the Play Day for Children held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on June 8, 2024. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam Besides, 31 vibrant paintings were on display, adding a special touch to the event. These artworks were selected from a UNICEF-organized drawing contest for children aged 6-15 in Vietnam to envision their ideal inclusive and eco-friendly playground. Over 8,000 submissions were received, showcasing the creativity and voices of children from diverse backgrounds, including ethnic minorities and those with disabilities. UNICEF Vietnam representative Rana Flowers plays with children at the Play Day for Children held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on June 8, 2024. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam Today, we're joining a global movement pushed by the Vietnamese government to celebrate something fundamental to every child's life: play! said UNICEF representative in Vietnam Rana Flowers. She elaborated that play is essential for a good education, strong brain development, learning 'soft skills' for the future workforce, and is critical for positive mental health. Creativity, innovation, problem-solving, working with others are learnt most effectively through play, she continued. Ngo Tan Loc (L) and Tran Ngoc Minh (R), 5th-grade students at Vinschool, speak about the importance of play for children at the Play Day for Children held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on June 8, 2024. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam For this reason, education systems in many countries, including Vietnam, have introduced participatory learning approaches that promote social and emotional learning. Play is not just fun, it's life-changing, Flowers added. The right to play for children is enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child and in Vietnams Law on Children. However, not all children have the opportunity to play freely. An estimated 160 million globally are forced into work; some parents do not allow time for play; some children are excluded because the spaces were not designed with them in mind and many children lack safe spaces for playtime. Governments, policymakers, educators, parents, and communities have a responsibility to recognize the educational, psycho-social and emotional benefits of play, to uphold and promote the right to play for all children. This includes providing safe and inclusive spaces for play, ensuring access to play materials and resources, and recognizing the value of play in children's overall well-being and development. Ngo Tan Loc and Tran Ngoc Minh from Hanoi, who were among the children participating in the drawing contest at the Play Day, articulated their desire for more time and opportunities to play. Both Loc and Minh also expressed the need for greater investment in children's well-being, specifically by safeguarding their right to play. This would not only allow them to enjoy their playtime but also foster the development of their social skills through play. 'Your Dream Playground' children art's exhibition at the Play Day for Children held at the Temple of Literature in Hanoi on June 8, 2024. Photo: UNICEF Vietnam According to Le Xuan Kieu, director of the Culture and Science Center, this event served as a significant gift for children on the advent of the 2024 summer vacation. Chu Kim Duc, director of Think Playgrounds Social Enterprise, expressed her deep appreciation for the support and collaboration of government agencies, local authorities, partner organizations, and local communities in their endeavor to advocate for children's right to play. Duc added that the International Day of Play is a crucial milestone for raising awareness about the children's right to play. It also stimulates further investment from the state, private sector, and social enterprises in the creation of safe, inclusive, and creative play spaces for all children. The Play Day for Children commemorates the inaugural International Day of Play, to be observed on June 11 every year. This global initiative highlights the significance and remarkable benefits of play in promoting a child's physical, mental, social, and emotional well-being. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Filmmaker and journalist Tim Noonan Hunt For Truth: Tasmanian Tiger investigates the ultimate wildlife mystery to find out if the worlds rarest, most elusive animal the Tasmanian Tiger is gone for good or just very good at playing hide and seek. To solve natures greatest cold case, Tim joins a team of scientists from the University of Tasmania as they launch the most comprehensive search in history for the legendary creature. Using thousands of camera traps, scientists have transformed the islands wilderness into a big brother for wildlife. The Tasmanian Tiger, or Thylacine, was an Australian carnivorous marsupial unlike any other known animal it had a head like a wolf, legs like a kangaroo, stripes like a tiger, and a pouch like a koala. Along the way, the two-time Walkley Award-winning filmmaker is drawn into the strange world of tiger treasure hunters and conspiracy theories and discovers that delving into mysteries can lead to madness. Episode One: Laureate professor Barry Brook is helming the camera trap operation and is the worlds leading authority on the Tasmanian Tiger. He tells Tim, If it exists, our cameras will catch it. While they wait six months to see what the last cameras in the wilderness will reveal, Tim hits the road to do some investigations of his own and record the most compelling eyewitness accounts on camera. He gets a tip-off about Tasmanias most infamous modern-day tiger hunter; a secretive scientist with a cult-like following known only as Tigerman. Wednesday, 12 June at 7.30pm on SBS. Samiya Chopra, TwoCircles.net New Delhi: I sometimes feel that my identity is the root cause of my lack of mental peace. Wearing a hijab, I often find myself grappling with my identity, expresses Rukhsana (name changed), a young Muslim woman. She recounts instances of receiving stares and intrusive questions from strangers in public, which leave her feeling anxious and unsettled. She has now come to terms that she cannot escape such encounters. Support TwoCircles Communalism in contemporary Indian politics exacerbates the isolation of religious and caste minorities, leading to detrimental effects on their mental well-being. The social marginalization and discrimination they endure on a daily basis take a toll on their mental health. Rukhsana says that news of hate crimes against Muslims deeply disturbs and worries her for herself and her family. The prevalence of such crimes makes her fear that she, too, could become a victim. What is even more distressing is that despite constitutional guarantees of equality, minorities continue to struggle for their rights, she adds. Numerous studies have shown that individuals belonging to minority groups experience higher levels of mental health issues such as anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Prejudices and intergenerational trauma prevalent in society contribute to these challenges, hindering the healing process for marginalized communities. Reflecting on her own mental health journey, she admits to experiencing periods of depression. However, due to the pervasive stigma surrounding mental health and a lack of awareness about therapy, she hesitated to seek help, and her feelings gradually subsided. I was not ready to acknowledge it or convince myself to seek help. I also doubted whether a therapist would offer a non-judgmental ear, she explains. Pragya Kashyap, who is pursuing masters from the Delhi University, became aware of her caste identity after relocating to New Delhi. She recalls facing derogatory remarks, insinuating that her admission to the DU was solely due to her caste and not because of her hard work. Belonging to Assams Kaibarta community, a Scheduled Caste (SC), she grapples with a constant sense of identity crisis and fear, compounded by societal prejudices. As an SC Assamese woman who doesnt fit the stereotype of a typical north-easterner, I constantly feel my identity is under scrutiny. It leads me to perpetual fear, Kashyap laments. She feels unjustly blamed and belittled because of her caste, and the political landscape offers her little solace. The issue of minority mental health remains largely overlooked in India. Studies such as Life Satisfaction and Well-Being at the Intersections of Caste and Gender in India published by Psychological Studies in 2022 highlight the disparity in well-being scores between lower caste and upper caste individuals. Speaking about her own struggles with mental health, Kashyap acknowledges the need for therapy to address the anxiety stemming from societal judgments. However, she acknowledges that therapy remains a privilege inaccessible to many. If given the chance, time and resources, I would seek therapy. I aspire to find inner calmness, understand the root causes of my feelings and feel validated, she shares. Sadaf Vidha, a Mumbai-based practicing therapist and founder of the Guftagu Therapy, underscores how discrimination based on identity can trigger anxiety, depression, panic attacks and self-esteem issues. Feeling unsafe or being denied opportunities can foster emotions of helplessness, hopelessness and self-doubt, she elaborates. She notes that while some individuals seek therapy, specifically due to their minority status, their experiences are often intertwined with other predisposing factors. She draws parallels between communal tensions in India and minority mental health, citing instances like the protests against the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the Israel-Palestine conflict and caste-based violence as triggers for seeking counselling. Discussing therapy models for minorities, Vidha emphasizes an affirmative approach that validates the clients identity, known as multicultural or anti-bias counseling. This approach acknowledges the clients cultural context and experiences, ensuring therapists are mindful of their own biases to prevent re-traumatization. The mental health landscape in India predominantly comprises upper caste and upper class Hindus, leading to insensitivity or dismissal of minority issues. This has fueled the demand for therapists from similar cultural backgrounds, as individuals feel understood and validated by those who share their experiences. Support groups further facilitate healing by fostering a sense of community among individuals facing similar challenges. In response to these needs, initiatives like The Blue Dawn and Ruh Care have emerged, offering mental health support tailored to marginalized communities. These organizations prioritize community healing and provide access to affordable and culturally sensitive therapy. As the stories of Rukhsana and Pragya illustrate, identity-based discrimination takes a significant toll on the mental health of people belonging to marginalized communities. Addressing communal narratives and promoting equitable mental health care are imperative steps towards fostering a healthier and more inclusive society. Samiya Chopra is a freelance journalist based in Delhi. She reports on culture, gender and health. Huneza Khan, TwoCircles.net Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has upheld its claim by winning all 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, becoming the only major state where the saffron party has achieved a remarkable 59.26% vote share. The Congress party secured 32.44% of the vote but failed to get any seats. While the rest of India rejected aggressive Hindutva politics, Madhya Pradesh embraced it wholeheartedly. This mandate echoes the 1984 landslide victory when the Indian National Congress won all 40 seats in undivided Madhya Pradesh. Support TwoCircles In the 2019 general elections, the BJP had secured 28 out of 29 Lok Sabha constituencies. This time, the saffron party penetrated the Congress stronghold of Chhindwara, where BJP candidate Vivek Banti Sahu defeated sitting MP Nakulnath by 1.13 lakh votes. States former Chief Minister Digvijaya Singh also lost his native constituency, Rajgarh, by 1.46 lakh votes. Nationally, the BJP secured 240 seats with a 36.6% vote share, a slight drop from 37.3% (303 seats) in the 2019 general elections. Meanwhile, the Congress-led INDIA alliance won 234 seats, securing 41.09% of the national vote share. Despite not reaching the magic number of 272, the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) will form a government with the support of its allies Andhra Pradeshs Telgu Desam Party (TDP) headed by Chandrababu Naidu and Bihars Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) led by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, which secured 16 and 12 seats respectively. Narendra Modi will be sworn in as the Prime Minister of India for a third consecutive term. Religious Polarisation, Misuse of Administrative Tools Ravi Parmar of the NSUI (National Students Union of India the student wing of the Congress party) accused the BJP of polarizing politics in Madhya Pradesh, alleging that saffron party leaders who defected from the Congress damaged the grassroots cadre through coercion or monetary inducements. He highlighted the alleged misuse of the administration and the Election Commission (EC) in favor of the BJP and criticized the religion-based campaign, particularly focusing on the Ram Mandir issue. Complaints were lodged with the EC, but no action was taken. Local issues failed to influence the public as the election campaign in Madhya Pradesh was entirely religion-based. The early phases saw relatively low voter turnout. The BJPs campaign vehicles played songs like Ram Ko Jo Laye Hain, Hum Unko Layenge (We will bring those who brought Ram). They misused the administration by mobilizing government employees and engaged in booth capturing through ASHA and Anganwadi workers who connected with the public through individuals who possessed all relevant information, said Parmar. He noted attempts to frame the Congress as a Muslim-only party. State President Jeetu Patwari continued to hold public meetings, while Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Digvijaya Singh also addressed the public. In Indore, our candidate was taken away in a vehicle by BJP workers to withdraw their nomination, commented Parmar. There was a continuous defection of Congress workers and leaders to join the BJP. Soon after Rahul Gandhis Bharat Jodo Yatra (Unite India March) in Madhya Pradesh, former Union Minister Suresh Pachouri, along with other Congress leaders in the state, switched loyalties to the BJP. This included former MLAs and MPs. In another blow to the Congress, Amarwara MLA Kamlesh Shah defected to join the BJP. The BJP gained a lead of more than 15,000 votes from Shahs seat, where the Congress had been ahead by 22,000 votes in the last election. Former MLA Deepak Saksena also joined the BJP, which resulted in a lead of 13,000 votes from his area, a significant shift from the 15,000-vote lead the Congress had in 2019. Weak Campaign Rajesh Shukla of Bhopal criticized the Congress for its failed election campaign, contrasting it with the BJPs meticulous preparation over two years. He pointed out that the BJP actively engaged in meetings with booth-level workers and maintained momentum even after the state assembly elections. In contrast, the Congress faced internal challenges, including changes in state leadership and the uncertainty surrounding Kamal Naths potential defection to the BJP. These crises left Congress workers disillusioned as the top leadership seemed disinterested in campaigning. While BJP leaders actively connected with voters in villages and towns, the Congress lagged behind in candidate announcements, introducing them only a day before nomination leaving little time for engagement. The absence of effective grassroots management like Panna Pramukh (incharge of electoral rolls) and booth-level management in the Congress campaign deviated from the BJPs careful approach even for single-seat victories, ultimately weakening the Congress, concluded Shukla. The BJP claimed that over 16,000 Congress leaders and workers joined their party since March 21. The grand old party denied the claims, putting the figure at 600. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi addressed five public meetings, while Priyanka Gandhi addressed one. Congress National President Mallikarjun Kharge made only one public address, and Jeetu Patwari conducted 130 meetings in the state. On the contrary, Prime Minister Narendra Modi did two roadshows and eight public meetings. Union Minister Amit Shah carried out a roadshow in Chhindwara and addressed five public meetings in other areas. BJPs national president, J. P. Nadda, held two meetings and seven public meetings. BJPs Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav campaigned across all 29 seats in the state. Former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan addressed 66 meetings in key seats. Political Laboratory of BJP In 2004, the BJP organized a convention for representatives who had won in Madhya Pradeshs civic body elections. The partys national president, Lal Krishna Advani, attended the function on December 5. What he said that day proved to be a milestone in many years. Madhya Pradesh is a political laboratory for the Janata Party. The party keeps experimenting continuously to see whether it can take its ideology to the next level here, he said. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in October 2023 claimed that Advani wrote a book in which he stated that the original laboratory of BJP-RSS was not in Gujarat but in Madhya Pradesh. BJPs propaganda, social media campaigns and effective booth-level management left the Congress struggling to keep up. Disheartened by their earlier loss in the state assembly elections, the Congress failed to boost morale or make a plan to improve the on-ground situation. Meanwhile, the BJP worked with relentless energy, ensuring their strategies were effectively implemented. The sweeping victory of the BJP in the state signals a continued embrace of its Hindutva ideology and strategic nerve. The saffron partys dominance suggests a saffronised future for the state with a firm grip on all 29 seats. The Congress, on the other hand, faces a significant challenge to rebuild its base and counter the BJPs well-oiled machinery. By Jan Strupczewski BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The rise of euro-sceptic nationalist parties in the European election is likely to complicate Ursula von der Leyen's bid to get a second term as president of the powerful European Commission, though she remains the front-runner for the job. To secure another five years as boss of the EU's executive arm, von der Leyen needs a "qualified majority" of the 27 European Union leaders and also a majority in the 720-seat European Parliament. In 2019 she barely scraped through that vote with just nine votes more than needed, despite her centre-right European People's Party (EPP) being the biggest grouping in the legislature. She also had the backing of the second biggest, the Socialists, and the liberals, the third biggest. The EPP remains the biggest group in parliament and first projections of seats showed that if the centre-left, liberals and Greens all vote for her, she would have more than the required majority of 361 votes. But nationalist and euro-sceptic political groups as well as the far-right German AfD would jointly gain 22 deputies to a total of 149. Their gains could be much bigger, depending on how many of the 102 now non-affiliated members decide to formally join one of the euro-sceptic parliamentary groups. This would leave much less room for manoeuvre for von der Leyen, especially that it is not clear how many deputies from her potential coalition might not vote for her even if their party leaders give their support. In 2019, some 100 MEPs from the EPP, centre-left and liberals' coalition did not vote for von der Leyen but she got the votes she needed from right-wing Polish deputies. These are unlikely to support her now especially since she helped push through the EU's Green Deal and was tough on rule-of-law issues. To assure support in parliament, von der Leyen has been signalling readiness to cooperate on important issues with the European Conservatives and Reformists Party (ECR) which groups euro-sceptic parties like Brothers of Italy, Spain's Vox and Poland's Law and Justice. Diplomats say this could shift EU policymaking more to the right at the proposal stage, since the draft legislation is prepared by the Commission. But flirting with the ECR puts von der Leyen at risk of losing her usual allies because the Socialists, liberals and Greens have all said they would not support her if she cooperates with the right. EU LEADERS Things may be a bit easier with European leaders, who have to nominate her for the job before parliament votes. Though only 13 of the 27 leaders belong to the EPP, they will take into consideration the fact it remains the biggest group. Von der Leyen is also seen by most as having done a good job over the last five years, especially with delivering vaccines for the EU early in the pandemic and with uniting the EU in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The qualified majority she needs means 15 of the 27 EU leaders, from countries that together represent 65% of the EU's population, must back her nomination. The 13 EPP-ruled countries, among which Poland is the biggest, together represent only 26% of the EU's citizens. In practice, this means von der Leyen also needs the vote of the liberal French President Emmanuel Macron as well as the Socialist German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, though not necessarily the nationalist Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni. But French support is not guaranteed. Macron has been touting former Italian Prime Minister and ECB head Mario Draghi as a person who should "play a role" in the several top EU jobs that have to be decided this year. EU diplomats point out Draghi is not linked to any party and therefore lacks a broader political base. Each of the EU's big political families - the EPP, the Socialists, Liberals, Greens, the Left, the right-wing ECR and far-right ID, all have their candidates for the top European Commission job. Adding to the complexity, the top Commission job will be part of a package of senior EU posts decided this year, with political groups trading their support not only for policy promises but also key positions for their representatives. (Reporting by Jan StrupczewskiEditing by Keith Weir) By Jeff Mason BELLEAU, France (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, stopped at an American cemetery in France on Sunday that former president Donald Trump declined to visit in 2018, drawing widespread criticism at the time. As they conclude their trip to France, the Bidens visited Aisne-Marne American Cemetery in Belleau, about 85 kilometers (50 miles) east of Paris, to pay respects to U.S. soldiers and marines killed during World War One. "The idea that we're able to avoid being engaged in major battles in Europe is just not realistic," Biden told reporters. "That is why it's so important, the alliances that we have." Biden, a Democrat, is running against Trump, a Republican, for reelection in November. Trump's White House said in 2018 that the then-president, who was also on a trip to France, could not visit the cemetery because of bad weather. His chief of staff at the time, John Kelly, a retired general, attended instead, in light rain. Without mentioning Trump by name, Biden said he would not have come to Normandy without also visiting Aisne-Marne. "America showed up. America showed up to stop the Germans, America showed up to make sure that they did not prevail, and America shows up when we're needed," Biden said. He also said he had reached an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron on the use of profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. Biden is finishing a five-day trip that included a commemoration of the 80th anniversary of D-Day with World War Two veterans in Normandy and a state visit in Paris. He has made subtle references to Trump without naming him throughout the trip, including in a speech at the Normandy coast site where U.S. Army Rangers scaled a 100-foot (30.5-meter) cliff during the D-Day landings. Biden has pushed to uphold strong U.S. alliances while Trump has been critical of NATO and threatened not to defend its members if they don't pay more for their defense. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; editing by Mark Heinrich and Bill Berkrot) From trade to climate, five takeaways from the EU election People gather on the Place de Republique following the results of the European elections, in Paris BRUSSELS (Reuters) -The European Parliament took a shift to the right after a four-day election concluded on Sunday, with more eurosceptic nationalists and fewer mainstream liberals and Greens. The parliament's most important role is reviewing and approving new legislation and it generally comes up with amendments on which it and EU governments need to agree before EU regulations or directives can enter force. The EU assembly will also need to approve the next president of the European Commission - most likely incumbent Ursula von der Leyen for a second term - and their 26 other commissioners. The rightward shift could have a bearing on a series of important policy areas in the next five-year term. CLIMATE The next five years will be crucial for determining whether Europe achieves its 2030 climate change targets. The EU spent the last five years passing a bumper package of clean energy and CO2-cutting laws to hit its 2030 targets, and those policies will be hard to undo. But a more climate-sceptical EU Parliament could attempt to add loopholes to weaken those laws, since many are due to be reviewed in the next few years - including the bloc's 2035 phase-out of the sale of new combustion engine cars, which faced criticism during the EU election campaign, including from lawmakers in von der Leyen's centre-right political group. The European Parliament will also negotiate with EU countries a new, legally binding target to cut emissions by 2040. That goal will set the course for a future wave of policies to curb emissions in the 2030s in every sector, from farming, to manufacturing, to transport. DEFENCE, UKRAINE Foreign and defence policy are primarily the domain of the EU's member countries, not the European Parliament. So the election result should not have any immediate impact on EU support for Ukraine or military matters. However, the Parliament will have a role to play in plans to encourage pan-European cooperation between countries and companies on defence projects and to get governments to buy more European military kit. The European Commission's Defence Industrial Programme, which aims to realise those goals, needs the consent of both EU governments and the European Parliament. Gains for parties that oppose greater European integration may make these ambitions more difficult to achieve. Similarly, for the Commission's plans to carry any real clout, they will need serious money from the next long-term EU budget, which must also be approved by the Parliament. TRADE The European Parliament's principle role in EU trade policy is in approving free trade agreements before they can enter force. It is not directly involved in trade defence, such as the imposition of tariffs. The European Commission and some EU leaders argue that the bloc needs more trade agreements with reliable partners to make up for lost business with Russia and to reduce dependence on China. A number of trade agreements are still waiting for approval, such as with Mexico and the South American bloc Mercosur, while the European Commission is also seeking to strike deals with the likes of Australia. All those deals, and the Mercosur agreement in particular, have faced opposition and pushing them through parliament could be even more difficult with greater numbers of nationalist eurosceptics. CHINA, U.S. RELATIONS The European Commission argues that the EU needs to present a united stance towards major rivals such as China and the United States, particularly if former President Donald Trump returns to the White House. It also says the European Union needs a clearer unified industrial strategy to remain a major industrial base for green and digital goods as rivals pump in massive subsidies. Critics say the nationalist right-wing parties advocate a looser, more fragmented Europe that will be less able to rise to these challenges. ENLARGEMENT, REFORM The EU needs to reform its internal agriculture policy and the way it supports its members to equalise standards of living before it admits new countries, especially big ones such as Ukraine, because the current system of transfers is already seen as too costly. To admit new members - Ukraine, Moldova and the Western Balkan countries - the EU will also need to change how it makes decisions, reducing the need for unanimity, which is proving increasingly difficult to achieve. If such reforms are proposed in the next five years, the parliament will have a crucial role to play in shaping them and a stronger voice of the far-right, which opposes deeper EU integration, might have an important impact. (Reporting by Philip Blenkinsop, Jan Strupczweski, Kate Abnett and Andrew Gray; Editing by Alex Richardson) By Ronald Popeski (Reuters) - Russian forces appear to be making headway towards their longstanding goal of capturing the strategic Ukrainian town of Chasiv Yar, according to reports on Sunday from both sides of the more than two-year-old conflict. Chasiv Yar stands on high ground about 20 km (12 miles) to the west of Bakhmut, a town Russian forces seized a year ago after months of battles that flattened nearly all its buildings. It is seen by both sides as a potential staging point for Russia to advance on the key cities of Kramatorsk and Sloviansk. Ukrainian media outlet Ukrainska Pravda quoted a military source and a blogger as saying that Russian forces had begun occupying a district of the town alongside a canal. "Over the past week, there have been more than 1,500 instances of shelling of the outskirts of Chasiv Yar from the north to the south," it quoted its source as saying. The source said Russian troops were using guided aerial bombs to clear areas along a major road "and with the support of multiple long-range missiles and...drones they have begun to move forward and build up their forces". Russia's 98th Paratrooper Division, posting on the Telegram messaging app, said Ukrainian forces were "doing everything possible to ensure our units do not move across the canal and take up positions in the 'New' district on the other side". Russian assault units were continuing to clear the canal district, it said. Video posted by both sides showed soldiers making their way through virtually destroyed areas of an urban centre and checking buildings. Russian forces have been making gradual progress in areas of the eastern front since the town of Avdiivka fell to Russian troops in February. They have also launched a cross-border incursion into parts of northeastern Kharkiv region, though Ukraine says that advance has been stopped. Ukraine has long anticipated a Russian advance and its top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, last month said Moscow's forces had hoped to capture Chasiv Yar in time for May 9 ceremonies marking the anniversary of the Soviet victory in World War Two. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in his nightly video address on Sunday, made no mention of Chasiv Yar, but said the area around the town of Pokrovsk, to the southwest, remained the most difficult sector to defend. "This is the toughest area along the entire front line, the one where pressure from the occupiers is the greatest," he said. "Every day this is the site of the highest number of engagements. Only yesterday, there were more than 40 assaults and as of this hour today, there have been more than 20." (Additional reporting by Bogdan Kochubey; Editing by Mark Trevelyan) MADRID (Reuters) -Spain's centre-right People's Party (PP) came out on top in Sunday's European election, garnering 22 seats out of the 61 allocated to the country, and dealing a blow to the Socialist-led government of Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. Sanchez's Socialists, spearheaded by Energy Minister Teresa Ribera, earned 20 seats after a campaign in which the opposition honed in on private corruption allegations against the premier's wife and an amnesty law for Catalan pro-independence leaders passed just one week before the election. With 99.7% of the vote counted, far-right Vox finished third with six lawmakers, up from the four it had in the previous legislature. Still, in terms of vote share, support for Vox dipped to 9.6% from 12.4% in the July 2023 general election. The far-right party is struggling to break a vote ceiling of 14%, making it an outlier compared to its peers in other EU countries. Alvise Perez, a far-right social media influencer running against what he describes as universal corruption, managed to obtain three seats with a campaign mostly conducted through the messaging app Telegram. The combined right won nearly 50%, while the left followed with 43%. The leftist vote was split between Sumar - the junior partner in the government coalition - that won three seats and hard-left Podemos, led by former Equality Minister Irene Montero, which got two. (Reporting by Belen Carreno, Andrei Khalip and Graham Geeley; Writing by David Latona; Editing by Andrei Khalip) Sony Delivers 'Legends of the Fall' and 'Talk of the Town' on 4K UHD December 3rd A map of Viet Nam made from 5,000 lotus pots is now on display in Cao Lanh City of the Mekong Delta province of ong Thap. The 30 metre-long map can be seen floating on the surface of Lake Khong Tu in the Temple of Literature Park in Cao Lanh. The map shows Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos, the capital of Ha Noi, and other large cities in Viet Nam. The project is part of the 2024 Lotus Festival with the theme "Radiant in Lotus Colour". This is the second year that the Lotus Festival has been organised in ong Thap, to highlight lotus cultivation and enhance the value of the flower, the province's symbolic plant. A professional team spent three days arranging the lotus pots into position to form a Viet Nam map. Workers frequently take care of the lotus pots to maintain the fresh, green look of the unique map. The project contributes to making the Temple of Literature Park of ong Thap a much-loved attraction, drawing many visitors and admirers while enhancing the general impression of the wider area To promote the province's lotus plants, the ong Thap Lotus Festival Organising Committee is offering more than 4,000 bags of lotus seeds to people and tourists attending the festival. In each bag, there are five varieties of ong Thap lotus, with a QR code to guide the process of cultivating the seeds. Lotus is one of the main crops and emblems of ong Thap, and covers over 1,800 hectares. Farmers in ong Thap cultivate it for its roots, blooms, leaves, and seeds. Lotus blossoms are frequently used in ceremonies and gatherings, as well as in food and beverages, as part of the local people's traditional culture and lifestyle. There are 56 distinctive and outstanding products made from lotus under the ong Thap brand, including lotus-infused tea, paintings, and silk. The province is promoting lotus products to the global market, with Japan successfully receiving a 15-tonne shipment of ong Thap lotus roots recently. VNS CAO BANG President To Lam visited and presented gifts to officers and soldiers of Soc Giang border guard station in the northern mountainous province of Cao Bang on June 9. Established in October 1959, the Soc Giang border guard station is responsible for managing and protecting a border section spanning over 20 km, including 55 border markers, and ensuring security and order in Soc Ha and Truong Ha communes of Ha Quang district. Expressing his delight at visiting the station, a heroic unit of the armed forces, on the occasion of the 65th anniversary of its traditional day, President Lam hailed the unit for following the policies and guidelines of the Party, State and army and accomplishing important tasks. He encouraged the border guard officers and soldiers to uphold their tradition, remain a reliable support for the people, foster internal unity, and collaborate in Party and political building to meet new requirements in the new situation. While in Cao Bang, the State leader paid tribute to General Vo Nguyen Giap and 34 soldiers of the Propaganda Unit of the Liberation Army at Tran Hung ao Forest, a special national relic in Tam Kim commune of Nguyen Binh district. Earlier, President Lam and his delegation visited the historical relic site of Na Tu in the northern mountainous province of Bac Kan where President Ho Chi Minh visited the youth volunteer unit that was directly tasked with protecting the Na Cu bridge, a target of enemy bombings along Highway 3 on March 28, 1951. - VNS By Anh Ngo (Additional reporting by Tran Khanh An) If you ever drive through Tho Ha, an ancient village nestled on the banks of the Cau River in Bac Giang Province, you will likely wonder what all the bamboo racks are on the side of the road. They are used to the dry rice paper and rice crackers, specialities that are testament to the village's enduring culinary craft. The local people placed them everywhere along the roads to the communal houses and even on house roofs, creating a unique landscape. Rice paper has been synonymous with this village for generations. Nearly 90 per cent of the people in the village make rice paper while the remaining produce rice crackers, Nguyen Thi Mai, a resident whose family has been working here for three generations, told Viet Nam News. Special feature Making rice paper requires meticulousness, from selecting white rice, soaking in water, grinding into fine batter, spreading the mixture on hot plate to cook, and sun drying. A little haste can ruin a whole batch of the product. The ingredients for making rice paper are simple but crucial: quality rice. In other places, people mix refined cassava and arrowroot flour, but here, we only use quality rice flour. Nothing else is added, Mai said. The rice flour used here is finer. Therefore, our sheets of rice paper are pliable. They do not break easily when wrapped. Before becoming the perfect 'blanket' to wrap up pork and other ingredients for spring rolls, these sheets are dried in the sun -- a process that can be challenging, depending on the weather. On sunny days, drying takes two to three hours, but it may take all day in humid conditions. If it rains, the paper will easily become mouldy or if it is dried under strong sunlight, the paper will easily crack, said Mai. "A hundred round sheets sell for about VN25,000 (US$1). Nowadays, with application of machines, productivity has increased significantly. We can produce around 3,500 sheets of rice paper in just one hour, she said. Famed trademark Tho Ha Village is also renowned for its rice crackers. Trinh ac Hanh told Viet Nam News that since he was young, his grandparents and parents had made rice crackers. I watched them and then I learned and followed the craft, he said. The production process now involves spreading rice batter on a hot plate, cooking it briefly before adding another layer, and then steaming it for a minute. Roasted peanuts and shredded coconut meat are sprinkled on top before the cake is flattened and hung on bamboo racks to dry. Hanhs family continues to follow traditional methods, producing up to 200 sheets of rice cracker a day. I usually work from 4am to around 7pm. Each sheet currently sells for VN15,000, he said, while his hands continuously flipped the sheets during the grilling process. According to Trinh Thi Tam, a rice cracker maker, grilling is the most difficult part of the rice cracker-making process. The heat in the stove is extremely hot. It is also hot when people dry rice crackers in the sun. When there is no sunshine, we have to machines to dry them inside our workshop. It is a tough job, but the local people are still attached it, she said. The rice paper and rice crackers from Tho Ha are not only staples in Vietnamese cuisine but also popular gifts for visitors. Many tourists in the village purchase the special products for their relatives and friends, further spreading the fame of Tho Ha's culinary heritage. VNS By My Ha It seems every week that the food in Viet Nam wins a culinary prize somewhere. The latest place to make headlines is Ho Chi Minh City, the southern metropolis of close to 9 million people. TimeOut UK ranked the city fourth among the worlds top 20 culinary destinations. It deserves it. As the country's biggest rice granary that feeds a greater part of the population, rice grown in the Mekong Delta is exported the world over. But growing rice only wont make a region a culinary haven. Its the people who live there that do that. The southern city, sometimes still referred to as Sai Gon -- its former name -- is a melting pot for not only Vietnamese who head to the city from all corners of the country, but also Vietnamese of Chinese descent, and the Cham and Khmer, people of different ethnicities from the Northwest or the Central Highlands. Over the past 30 plus years, the booming economy, and migration of people from different regions to the city have made it a real haven for food supplies, trends and flavours. With bustling business activities, the flow of money and travelling people, the city means it offers everything from culinary staples to food art and Michelin-starred eateries. One good side to the country being at the acme of food fashions is that it gets people to talk and come to visit. The not-so-flattering side is that this quick flame can burn or sweep away, as trends, by definition, are not long-lasting. Many years ago, I would freak out upon reading a pho review in The New York Times that described it as a popular noodle soup to be consumed with tofu and several herbs. Today, even with a national pho day and a pho festival in Nam inh Province, no one can set the record straight. Pho in the North and South may bear the same name, but they are two entirely different things. Even in Ha Noi today, some pho shops serve sweet basil and mung bean sprouts as a side dish to add to a beef pho. Pho with roasted duck, or pork roast and intestine sausages, or sour pho, which are from the northern mountains, can be ordered for delivery any time in Ha Noi now. And not only in Ha Noi, a market in downtown Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, has been serving bamboo shoot pickles as a side dish to pho for a long time now. And the pho storm that travels the world has also been transforming into something beyond recognition, which yours truly would refuse to even call pho (check out Page 20 for more musings on what makes authentic Vietnamese food). A recent cooking session on UK TV even told people how to sear a half-an-inch thick steak with crispy edges to top a bowl of pho, with any type of noodle to your liking, including egg or glass noodles. Treason! The Vietnamese diaspora around the world may have had to make do with limited ingredients in the past if they wanted some flavours. But with todays commerce thats no excuse, and you can have all authentic ingredients to make the best pho possible outside of Viet Nam. To be honest, it irked me to hear that my friend had her best beef pho in Australia and best free-range chicken pho in Belgium. My friend later explained that Australian beef and bones are superb, so make the great broth. As for the fresh noodles, they can buy them from a local Vietnamese store. In Japan, a Vietnamese company now produces fresh pho noodles every day, with Japanese standards, and supplies all pho shops and supermarkets. In Ha Noi, we have to accept machine-cut pho noodles, which are too narrow and not so good as fresh hand-chopped ones. If our local traditional pho houses do not get together in some kind of professional guild or association, then someday they wont even be able to compete with international pho, which will have better broth, thanks to advanced cow-rearing practices, fresher noodles and fragrant organic herbs. Lets pray that day will never come. Lets hope that Ho Chi Minh City will maintain the significance of a dish we all can definitely call pho. VNS Waco residents have complained that a $50 surrender fee for bringing certain animals to the city animal shelter penalizes people trying to help lost dogs, but an informal report suggests expanding the fees in next years budget. The animal services department report presented Tuesday to the Waco City Council comes at a time when the shelter has been operating at 120% capacity for close to a year and could be at risk of losing its no-kill status if animal intake is not limited, animal shelter officials have said. The shelter adopted its $50 surrender fee in 2013. The report states the fee was designed to encourage residents to try to find alternative solutions for the animals other than the shelter. The shelter does not charge a surrender fee if the animal is compliant with Waco ordinances, including being spayed or neutered, vaccinated and microchipped. Fee-free surrenders are not common in most municipalities and are not recommended by shelter experts, according to the report. City staff propose applying the $50 surrender fee to all animals, regardless of ordinance compliance, and increasing reclaim fees from $125 to $250 for animals that have not been spayed or neutered. The report also outlines existing programs to help residents avoid the $50 surrender fee. The Firehouse to Your House Program allows residents to bring found animals to fire stations near where the animal was found to be scanned for a microchip containing the owners contact information. If the animal is not microchipped, the fire station will provide the resident a free-surrender voucher for the animal to be brought to the shelter. Pets are required to be microchipped in Waco, and owners who fail to do so could face a fine. The Safety Net in Found Fosters, or S.N.I.F.F., Program allows animals to stay in foster homes close to where they were found for 72 hours before they enter the shelter. Fosters will actively search for the dogs owner by posting on social media platforms and local lost and found pet groups. Waco City Manager Bradly Ford said the report was prompted by public comments at the May 21 council meeting. Ken Willis was one of the residents who spoke about the animal shelter at that meeting. Willis said shelter staff do not always inform residents about the firehouse program. He also said it is wrong to ask residents to pay the $50 surrender fee after they take the time to bring a stray animal to the shelter. Why cant the city worker at the shelter scan the dog? It takes 10 seconds, Willis said. Why have the good Samaritan go through the loops of going back to the fire department, taking this dog thats scared stiff in the car again to the fire department, just to have it scanned for a chip? Animal services operations manager Melissa Sheldon said the firehouse program is intended to keep animals close to where they were found, statistically increasing their likelihood of being reconnected with their owner and staying out of the shelter. There have been a lot of studies that have come out recently showing that most strays are found within a mile of their home, Sheldon said. Trying to keep an animal close to where it was found is its best chance of going back home. Most shelters nationwide see about a 20% chance of an animal going back to their owner. Were kind of a little bit lower in that percentage. Any way we can get animals closer to their home so they can hopefully be reunited is kind of the goal. Sheldon said the shelters policy is to scan an animal for a microchip after it has been impounded, as it is required by law. Before the animal is impounded, animal shelter staff will alert the resident of the $50 fee. If the resident is concerned about the fee, staff will discuss the shelters waived fee program options. There have also been instances of the animal shelter waiving fees or the Humane Society of Central Texas paying fees for residents facing financial crisis, she said. The report details other measures shelter staff are working on to decrease surrender fees for residents who can show proof of trying to locate the original owner or rehome the animal. This would include posting on local Facebook or Nextdoor groups, filing a report on 24PetWatch or putting up signs in the area the animal was found. The shelter has 770 animals under its care, with 244 staying in the shelter and the rest in foster placements. To maintain its no-kill status, the shelter must have a 90% live exit rate. Sheldon said it is important for the shelter to limit intake to help it maintain its no-kill status for as long as possible. We need the communitys help to maintain that no-kill status and what that means is adopting, fostering, keeping animals from coming into the shelter that dont need to come to the shelter, Sheldon said. That way we can reduce the burden on the shelter and allow us to allocate our resources to animals that truly need us. According to the report, the intake fees are also crucial for offsetting the costs of intake and animal care. The intake process at the shelter includes an exam, vaccinations, deworming, collecting blood for a heartworm test and administering preventive treatments for common parasites. The cost for intake medications and treatments is about $34 per animal. Further costs for each animal include $2 a day for food. There are a range of additional expenses for medical treatments, medications and staffing. Animals that enter the shelter stay on average for 30 days, but Sheldon said that average is increasing. She said increased intake and average stay time can be attributed to more animals being born during the pandemic and people having less time or money to care for those animals. City council members did not discuss the report at the Tuesday meeting but did approve the purchase of more property next to the animal shelter. The city will purchase 2000 Circle Road for $215,840 and previously acquired 2020 Circle Road in 2022 for $334,159. Ford said purchasing property in the area will allow the city to expand animal shelter facilities in the future. Not that we have any imminent plans to expand the housing of animals, but we are looking to expand services like the medical care facility thats in the budget, Ford said. In the upcoming year were building a $4 million medical care facility for our animals, so just making sure were thinking of that site for a generation. We have such a large investment there already, but we need to be thinking down the road. If there are opportunities to pick up a parcel or two were going to do it. Three of Iowas U.S. House members have requested more than $115 million in earmarks to be included in next years appropriations bills for local community projects. Republican Reps. Ashley Hinson, Mariannette Miller-Meeks and Zach Nunn each submitted the maximum number of requests. Rep. Randy Feenstra didnt submit any for the fourth straight year. His office did not respond to a message seeking comment. Each House member can submit up to 15 eligible projects to receive federal funding for fiscal 2025. The sum of Miller-Meeks requests is the highest, at over $52 million. Hinson is second with over $38 million, while Nunn requested nearly $25 million. The project requests include funding for road work, water treatment facilities, flood control, airport improvements, buildings and hospital expansions. Some requests are focused on education and research, workforce development and health care access. I am proud to submit 15 community projects that would greatly benefit Iowas 1st Congressional District, Miller-Meeks said in a statement. These initiatives range from investing in expanding trained workforce resources for local hospitals, to rebuilding our aging infrastructure in the state and improving our wastewater facilities. Appropriations bills signed into law by Democratic President Joe Biden earlier this funding the government through the end of the current federal fiscal year on Sept. 30 included more than $82 million for designated projects in Iowa. That includes more than $74 million approved as part of the $67.5 billion minibus spending package Biden signed in law in early March that provides full-year funding for federal departments and agencies covered by six of 12 appropriations bills. A second tranche of six bills signed March 23 by Biden representing $1.2 trillion in government spending also includes $8 million for Dubuque flood mitigation gates and pumps. All four of Iowas Republican U.S. House members voted for the first minibus package. Miller-Meeks, Hinson and Nunn voted for the second package. Feenstra voted against. Hinson is the only Iowan now serving on the budget-writing House Appropriations Committee. Her projects received more than $27 million in earmarked funding out of $37.06 million requested. Projects submitted by Miller-Meeks received about more than $28 million in earmarked funding, out of more than $40 million requested. More than $26 million was approved in earmarked funding for projects Nunn submitted; he had asked for more than $41 million. Democrats and others have criticized House Republicans for demanding steep budget cuts across the federal government to nondefense discretionary spending while asking for millions of dollars to support projects in their own districts. As a Member of the House Appropriations Committee, I am laser focused on cutting the Biden Administrations wasteful spending while delivering targeted and impactful investments for Iowa, especially in rural communities that have often been overlooked by the federal government, Hinson said in a statement to The Gazette. From improving clean drinking water infrastructure to helping law enforcement better protect our communities, and expanding maternal care access, Ill continue working to secure vital investments for Iowans and return as many taxpayer dollars as possible to the district. A full list of requested funding and projects are available on the members congressional websites. Here are just a few of the 45 total requests from the three lawmakers for the coming federal fiscal year: Buchanan County Project Name: Independence Wastewater Treatment Plant Replacement Requested Amount: $4 million Hinson requested the funds to help the city of Independence modernize its wastewater treatment plant constructed in the 1970s. This project would include upgrades in the treatment process, including advanced biological treatment to remove nutrients and a new anaerobic digestion process to reduce sludge volume. Fayette County Project Name: Gundersen OB Department Upgrade Request Amount: $1,100,000 Intended Recipient: Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital & Clinics Full Street Address of the Intended Recipient: 112 Jefferson St., West Union, IA 52175 This project would fund the expansion and modernization of the maternity health care unit at the Gundersen Palmer Lutheran Hospital and Clinics in West Union, Iowa. While West Union is a town of only 2,490 people in a county with limited maternity care options, this rural obstetric care department still manages to serve patients from neighboring counties that are listed as maternity care deserts. Specifically, the project would fund construction of a new labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum (LDRP) room, converting the smallest existing room into a lactation consulting room to support new mothers learning to breastfeed, and the purchase of essential medical equipment, including: five LDRP beds, one isolette (an incubator for premature newborns), five hospital-grade nursery bassinets, three new emergency carts, five external fetal monitors, and one infant warmer. This will significantly improve access to high-quality maternal care in a rural community, directly addressing the maternal care crisis in the region, improving the patient experience, and saving moms and babies. Tama County Project Name: Dysart Public Works Maintenance Facility Renovation Requested Amount: $275,000 Intended Recipient: City of Dysart Project Location: 713 Wilson St., Dysart, Iowa 52224 Full Street Address of Intended Recipient: 601 Wilson St., Dysart, Iowa 52224 archives 6 Oct - 13 Oct (1) 29 Sep - 6 Oct (1) 22 Sep - 29 Sep (1) 15 Sep - 22 Sep (1) 18 Aug - 25 Aug (5) 4 Aug - 11 Aug (2) 21 Jul - 28 Jul (6) 7 Jul - 14 Jul (3) 30 Jun - 7 Jul (2) 23 Jun - 30 Jun (5) 16 Jun - 23 Jun (2) 9 Jun - 16 Jun (3) 2 Jun - 9 Jun (2) 26 May - 2 Jun (3) 19 May - 26 May (2) 12 May - 19 May (3) 5 May - 12 May (3) 28 Apr - 5 May (1) 14 Apr - 21 Apr (1) 7 Apr - 14 Apr (3) 17 Mar - 24 Mar (1) 10 Mar - 17 Mar (1) 3 Mar - 10 Mar (1) 11 Feb - 18 Feb (2) 4 Feb - 11 Feb (1) 21 Jan - 28 Jan (1) 14 Jan - 21 Jan (1) 7 Jan - 14 Jan (3) 10 Dec - 17 Dec (1) 26 Nov - 3 Dec (1) 29 Oct - 5 Nov (1) 3 Sep - 10 Sep (1) 27 Aug - 3 Sep (2) 6 Aug - 13 Aug (1) 30 Jul - 6 Aug (6) 9 Jul - 16 Jul (1) 2 Jul - 9 Jul (6) 18 Jun - 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Or, as they would say in the language we know, he confused the Rams. Scholz said that the Russian President must admit that Ukraine is strong and cannot be brought to its knees. Ukraine? What is this? Today b. Ukraine, to put it simply, is something like a dominion, which is directly controlled by the United States and NATO countries. She, although not without difficulty, is completely contained by them. It, despite the protests of its own population, receives all types of the most lethal weapons. Even the strange guy with the nasty, lumpy face, Borrell, admitted that the conflict in Ukraine could be ended in a couple of weeks if the transfer of weapons to Kyiv was stopped. Where is the power then, sausage maker? In a crazy gushing corruption? In the total theft of Western aid by the Zelensky clique? In a dying people, half of whom live in Russia and Europe? Ashamed. He, the asshole, should just kneel down and repent to the Ukrainians. For lying about the inevitable outcome. For dooming them to extermination, at the same time sacrificing the well-being of the Germans entrusted to him. For the revival of Nazism in the form of Bandera. For the indescribable mediocrity of management. For the historic loss of confidence in the SPD, from which Willy Brandt and Helmut Schmidt turned over in their graves many times over. However, a nonentity is a nonentity in everything. Dixi. Medvedev WtR On Friday the University of South Alabama celebrated a major expansion to the facilities for its marine sciences program, a step officials say will benefit research, education, and even public policy on Alabamas coast. The expansion to the Stokes School of Marine and Environmental Sciences adds about 13,000 square feet of space for the program, housed in USAs Education Outreach Building. Its $8 million price tag includes classroom and research space, new analytical equipment and even a 600-gallon aquarium that lets some local marine life occupy a prominent spot in the lobby. A conflict between two men at a Birmingham apartment resulted in a gunfight that has left one dead, another injured and a woman who was an innocent bystander in the hospital this afternoon. The violence erupted around 11 a.m. at Carson Crest Apartment on Carson Road in east Birmingham, said police spokesman Officer Truman Fitzgerald. Police said a woman who was at a nearby church was taken by emergency responders to a hospital with non-life-threatening gunshot injuries. Fitzgerald said two adult males were taken to St. Vincents East by private vehicle. One of the men was pronounced dead and the other has life-threatening injuries. When officers began investigating, they found out the two males had been involved in an argument and one of the males pulled out a gun and the two got into a shootout with one another, Fitzgerald said. We think the female was just caught in the crossfire. By Oscar Medina, Bloomberg News (Tribune News Service) Colombia is set to ban coal exports - including from an Alabama company operating within its borders - to Israel in a bid to pressure the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to end the conflict in Gaza. The ministers of foreign affairs, finance, energy and trade decided to halt sales of the fuel to the Jewish state, according to a draft decree published Friday on Colombias trade ministrys website. The Andean nation is Israels biggest supplier of the fossil fuel. The measure will take effect once President Gustavo Petro signs off on it, likely after he returns from a trip to Europe. Israels relations have worsened with governments across Latin America this year. But, until now, this has mainly been expressed through diplomatic measures rather than trade sanctions. Colombia supplied Israel with about $450 million of the coal last year. Drummond Company Inc., based in Alabama, and Glencore Plc. are the only two suppliers of Colombian coal to Israel. While coal has accounted for a fifth of Israels electricity production, its expected to drop to as low as 3% next year. In times of special need, two of Israels main power stations can switch to coal as an emergency backup. Last month, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan almost completely halted trade with Israel. The move is an escalation in a clash between two countries that have historically had warm relations, and which have had a free-trade agreement in force since 2020. The relationship frayed in recent months, with Petro describing the intervention in Gaza as genocide, while Netanyahu called Petro an antisemitic supporter of Hamas. The two countries broke off diplomatic relations in May. ___ 2024 Bloomberg L.P. Visit bloomberg.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Kate Middleton apologized this week for missing the rehearsal of King Charles annual birthday parade as she continues undergoing cancer treatment. The Irish Guards, who are leading Trooping the Colour this year, said in a tweet they were deeply touched by the letter they received Saturday morning from the Princess of Wales, 42, who serves as their honorary colonel and traditionally would have participated in this weekends Colonels Review. I wanted to write and let you know how proud I am of the entire Regiment ahead of the Colonels Review and Trooping the Colour, Middleton wrote. I appreciate everyone trooping this year has been practicing for months, and dedicating many hours to ensuring their uniforms and drill are immaculate. Noting that she regards her position as colonel a great honour, Middleton said shes very sorry that Im unable [to] take the salute at this years Colonels Review. Please pass my apologies to the whole Regiment, however I do hope that I am able to represent you all once again very soon, she wrote. Both the princess in her letter and the Irish Guards in their tweet signed off with the regiments motto, Quis Separabit a Latin phrase taken from the Order of St. Patrick that translates to Who shall separate us? The letter comes just over a week after Kensington Palace confirmed the princess would not take part in the Colonels Review ahead of the parade, set for June 15. Middleton would normally be a major part of Trooping the Colour, the yearly military exhibition marking the sovereigns official birthday. After undergoing a successful abdominal surgery in January, Kensington Palace announced Middleton would likely refrain from public duties until after Easter. Speculation about the royals condition soon followed especially as her hospitalization overlapped with that of the 75-year-old king, who shortly thereafter announced his cancer diagnosis. In March, the Princess of Wales confirmed she too had been diagnosed with cancer and was undergoing preventative chemotherapy. A spokesman for the palace told BBC last month that Middleton is not expected to return to work until its cleared by her medical team. 2024 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Saturday marks a year since a groundbreaking Supreme Court ruling forced Alabama to redraw congressional maps to allow voters a greater chance of electing a second Black member of congress from the state. Since then, the Allen v. Milligan case has resulted in a race for the newly redrawn 2nd District in central and south Alabama where a Black Democrat has a competitive chance to win in a contest against a white Republican. Democrat Shomari Figures and Republican Caroleene Dobson will face off in the November general election in the newly configured district which was previously solidly white and Republican. The high profile race is the result of a surprise Supreme Court ruling that Alabamas congressional district map likely violated the Voting Rights Act . Proponents of the decision celebrated its political result on Saturdays anniversary. This incredible progress is worthy of celebrationall the more so because it did not come easily, former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder said in a statement. Holder is Chairman of the National Democratic Redistricting Committee, which was part of the efforts to change voting maps. The justices upheld a lower courts ruling that Alabamas 2021 congressional voting maps diluted the power of Black voters, in violation of the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Allen v. Milligan brought more representative electoral maps to states once were thought to be shut off to Black voters, including Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, Holder said. Holder compared the fight by state leaders against the ruling and new maps to battles decades earlier in the Civil Rights era. From defying federal court orders to attempting to use litigation as a vehicle to roll back voting protections for citizens, the resistance to the enforcement of Allen v. Milligan over the past year mirrored the sordid history of the Jim Crow era, Holder said. That continued, concerted effort to achieve unearned, illegitimate power at the expense of communities of color demonstrates that our country remains too far from the Promised Land envisioned by those who sacrificed their lives for civil and voting rights. Alabama, which is about 27 percent Black, currently has one Black in its congressional delegation Rep. Terri Sewell, D-Birmingham - whose district spans most of the Black Belt. The Supreme Court ruling forced the Republican-controlled Legislature to draw a new map. They proposed an alternative map that still featured one majority Black district, which was also tossed out, resulting in the creation of a final map under the federal court oversight. At the time of the historic Supreme Court ruling a year ago, U.W. Clemon, retired U.S. District Court judge and longtime civil rights attorney predicted a showdown. Clemon in a June 2023 panel discussion at Miles College said that not even the order would be enough to make the state Legislature give Black residents greater representation in Washington. Clemon, who was also one of the first two Black people elected to the state Senate since the era of Reconstruction, correctly predicted that the federal court would have to intervene to enforce the ruling. I have absolutely no faith that the Alabama Legislature is going to do the right thing. It never has, he said at the time. The Legislature of course is going to do what it usually does. Former President Donald Trump and former Vice President Mike Pence will both address groups gathered in Indianapolis during the Southern Baptist Conventions annual meeting next week. Trump, who is seeking a second term, will virtually address attendees on Monday during a Life and Liberty Forum free event and luncheon presented by the conservative Danbury Institute, according to Baptist News Global and the organizations website. Trump received much support among white evangelical Protestants during his 2020 run for office, according to Pew Research Center. The former president and presumptive Republican presidential nominee, though, has been mired in legal woes. Recently, a New York jury convicted him on 34 felony counts in a hush money case involving a porn star. Roughly 11,000 messengers have preregistered for the annual convention, which will tackle a host of issues including reaffirming a ban on women in pastoral roles , reproductive technologies and religious liberty. Other speakers during Mondays event include R. Albert Mohler Jr., president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky: Shane Winnings, CEO, of Promise Keepers, an evangelical Christian mens nonprofit; and Sam Brownback, a former Republican governor of Kansas and former ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, according to the Danbury Institute website. The institute describes itself as an association of churches focused on educating and mobilizing around cultural and public policy issues from a Judeo-Christian perspective. Then, on Tuesday, former Vice President Mike Pence, who has often spoken about his deep faith, will speak at a lunch event sponsored by the SBCs Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission. Pence was among a field of candidates that challenged his former boss to be the presumptive nominee for the GOP. He ended his bid to be the Republican presidential candidate last October. 2024 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Visit at ajc.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Birmingham police announced Sunday the arrest of one of the two suspects who entered the Texaco gas station, 108 Oxmoor Road, and robbed the clerk at gunpoint. The suspects stole money and items from the business. The clerk was not injured. Chad Stephen Parker, 40, of Falkville, Alabama, was arrested in connection with the Texaco robbery, according to a statement Sunday from Officer Truman Fitzgerald, assistant public information officer for the Birmingham Police Department. Parker has been charged with first degree robbery and is being held at the Jefferson County Jail. The second suspect has not yet been arrested. Authorities said the investigation is still ongoing. Anyone who knows anything about the robbery is asked to contact Crime Stoppers, (205) 254-7777. Tips can be made anonymously. Birmingham police are investigating a Saturday shooting that left one dead and two others wounded. Zetarius Free, 23, of Birmingham, was shot and killed at the Carson Crest Apartment Complex, according to a statement released Sunday from Birmingham Police Officer Truman Fitzgerald, Assistant Public Information Officer/Public Information Division. East Precinct officers were dispatched about 11 a.m. Saturday to a call of a person shot at 1401 Carson Road, the Carson Crest Apartment Complex. When officers arrived on the scene they learned a shootout had taken place inside the complex. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel located an adult female at a nearby church who was suffering from an apparent gunshot wound. Birmingham Fire and Rescue personnel transported her to a local area hospital with a non-life-threatening injury. Officers learned the victim and an additional adult male arrived at St. Vincents East Hospital by private vehicle. The two were suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. St. Vincents Hospital staff pronounced Free deceased. The second male gunshot victim has life-threatening injuries. Authorities said the preliminary investigation suggests that Free was involved in an argument with the second male gunshot victim and the two exchanged gunfire. Authorities said they believe the female victim was caught in the crossfire. Anyone with information on the case is asked to contact Birmingham Police Departments Homicide Unit, 205-254-1764, or Crime Stoppers, 205-254-7777. This is Birminghams 59th murder investigation of 2024 with 5 justifiable death rulings, according to the statement. The Top of Alabama Regional Council of Governments is seeking to address environmental concerns after receiving a $1.5 million Federal Brownfield Assessment Grant from the Environmental Protection Agency. TARCOG Economic Development and Planning Director Lee Terry said in a news release the funding will be used to inventory, conduct environmental assessments, develop 15 cleanup plans, three revitalization plans, and support community engagement activities in each of the communities for input on redevelopment potential over the next four years. This is an opinion column Click here to sign up for the Comeback Town newsletter. Todays guest columnist is Barbara Keight Staub. I wouldve beaten King if those damn merchants hadnt given in. Bull Connor, Commissioner of Public Safety, 1963 Nine years after Brown vs. Board of Education ordered the integration of public schools, most private facilities in the Deep South were still segregated in 1963. Banks refused to hire Black tellers, there were no Black reporters at white-owned newspapers, corporations wouldnt allow Black employees to hold executive positions, and department stores were void of Black salespeople. At age 90, Michael Pizitz may be the last person still alive who attended the meeting of Birminghams downtown merchants in June 1963. I feel fortunate to hear this story firsthand, sitting in his familys office near Highland Avenue. In the spring and summer of 1963, Black Southerners and their allies were advocating for integration by boycotting retail stores in downtown Birmingham. Meanwhile, Bull Connorwhose position gave him administrative authority over the police, fire departments, libraries and other public spaces in Birminghamenthusiastically defended segregation. Dr. King, Rev. Shuttlesworth and other Birmingham ministers had been busy visiting the local giants of commerceincluding U.S. Steel, Birminghams largest employer at the timeand asking them to integrate. They were turned away. Segregation was the law of Birmingham, Michael explained. Eventually, the reverends realized the only people they could effectively pressure were the stores. You could boycott a retail store more easily than you could a utility company. Prominent civil rights leaders urged Black shoppers to avoid Birminghams downtown stores. It was not uncommon for Black shoppers to be confronted by organizers on the streets and encouraged to take their buying power elsewhere. By May 1963, retail owners felt the pressure. Stores such as Lovemans and Pizitz, which had basement stores that sold goods at discounted rates, attracted more Black shoppers than their competitors and were hit hardest by ongoing boycotts. While Black citizens boycotted stores that adhered to segregation, white citizens vowed to boycott stores if they integrated. Michael estimated that sales were down 10 to 15 percent during the most intense period of social unrest. The Pizitz family had also been receiving threats at home. Michael remembers his family blowing a whistle loudly into the phone to deter callers. His mother went to the police, fearing harm to the family or the store. The same month, hundreds of Black elementary and high school students were arrested by Bull Conners forces during a peaceful march. Images of children being attacked by hoses and police dogs were widely reported, standing out against even the darkest injustices that occurred during the Civil Rights Movement. It was a watershed moment. We all realized that this couldnt go on forever. The violence downtown was escalating. A decision was made that the store owners needed to find a path toward integration, Michael explained. Every store downtown was invited to a meeting to discuss next steps. Michael was 29 when he accompanied his father to represent the Pizitz Department Store, which his family had operated on the corner of 19th Street and 2nd Avenue North since its opening in 1925. The meeting was not publicly advertised. There were about 20 stores represented, including Pizitz, Lovemans, Woolworths, Newberrys, Burger-Phillips, S. H. Kress, Blachs, Parisian, Sears and numerous smaller stores. The meeting wasnt recorded or transcribed. Michael admits his memory is hazy, although he understood the gravity of the moment. Well never know exactly what was said, but we do know what was decided. On the Monday after the meeting, the stores removed their segregated water fountain signs. To the best of my knowledge, that vote was unanimous, Michael said. It was agreed that on Monday of the following week, the restroom signs would come down. On the third Monday, the five stores that had restaurants within their buildings agreed to desegregate them. Sears was the only outlier, opting to close their lunch counter instead. The final task was more controversial: hiring Black salespeople. It was a heated discussion. The call to action was for large stores to hire two Black salespeople, while smaller stores were asked to hire one. Michael shared that while Pizitz and a handful of others agreed to this, the majority wouldnt budge. Those who refused to do it expressed a fear that White staff would lose their jobs, he said. Nonetheless, Pizitz soon had two Black salespeople, both promoted from within the store. They had been with us for 15 years or so, if I recall. They were well-respected by their colleagues, Michael shared. He doesnt remember there being any conflict in the store following their promotions. In roughly four short weeks, Birmingham retailers had gone from separate water fountains, bathrooms and restaurants to having White and Black salespeople working alongside one another. Within six months, Black salespeople became much more common. Pretty soon after the retail integration, the threats died down. The violence and picketing slowed, Michael said. Bull Connor finally left town, moving to Montgomery for a state position. The passing of the Civil Rights Act would follow in 1964, outlawing segregation and discriminatory employment practices in stores, theaters, restaurants and more. In the end, it was economic pressure and threats of violence which prompted powerful Birmingham families into integrating their retail businesses. Michael himself doesnt view it as heroic, but rather, a story worth documenting. If you have loved ones who lived through this period of turmoil and change in Birmingham, take time to ask them about it. Recorded memories are a powerful tool for preserving our citys history for future generations. Barbara Keight Staub is a writer and internal communications manager. She moved to Birmingham in 2011 and earned her bachelors degree in journalism from UAB in 2015. Her work has appeared in many Birmingham publications. David Sher is the founder and publisher of ComebackTown. Hes past Chairman of the Birmingham Regional Chamber of Commerce (BBA), Operation New Birmingham (REV Birmingham), and the City Action Partnership (CAP). Click here to sign up for our newsletter. Invite David to speak for free to your group about how we can have a more prosperous metro Birmingham. dsher@comebacktown..com. An all new episode of When Calls the Heart is set to premiere on the Hallmark Channel Sunday, June 9 at 9/8c. During episode 10 of the new season, Allie makes a daring decision, however, Nathan and Elizabeth rush to intervene. Meanwhile, uncovered memories shift Lucas plans, Faith takes a big step and Mei cooks for Hickams family. Where can I watch When Calls the Heart season 11? Though airing on the Hallmark Channel, those without a basic cable set up can still watch new episodes of When Calls the Heart on Sundays with either Philo or Fubo. Both streaming services offer free trials for new subscribers. However, Philo is the cheaper streaming option at $25 a month after its 7-day free trial. What is the difference between Philo and Fubo? Philo is considered one of the cheaper live streaming services available as it allows users to stream over 70 live TV channels for just $25 a month after its free trial. Popular channels offered with Philo include the Hallmark Channel, MTV, AMC, HGTV, History Channel, Discovery Channel, CMT, TLC, BET and more. Meanwhile, Fubo is also an alternative to a regular cable subscription, but with more exclusive channel options that Philo does not offer such as ABC, CBS, NBC, ESPN, FOX and more. While Fubo considers itself a sports-focused streaming service, its standard streaming package comes with over 100 TV live channels for $79.99 a month after its free trial. What is When Calls the Heart about? The official series description of When Calls the Heart is as follows: Elizabeth Thatcher is a young teacher accustomed to high society, so she experiences culture shock when she gets her first classroom assignment in Coal Valley. Life in the small mining town is filled with challenges. A recent explosion has killed more than a dozen of the towns miners, compelling the widows of those men to work in the mines to earn money. One of them - Abigail Stanton, whose husband was foreman at the site of the tragedy - welcomes Thatcher and tries to help her adjust to frontier customs. Constable Jack Thornton is not as welcoming, though, because he believes Thatchers wealthy father doomed his career by assigning him to Coal Valley so he could protect Elizabeth. Janette Okes books about the Canadian West inspired the program. In 2084 Mars is ruled by dictator Vilos Cohaagen. On Earth construction worker Douglas Quaid, after killing 4 Mars agents in self defense, is told by his own self to "get your ass to Mars" to help a rebel group, but he doesn't recall ever being there. The real plan is for Quaid, who is unknowingly Cohagen's pal Hauser with a blocked memory, to find the mind reading mutant rebel leader so Cohagen's spies can eliminate him. In a daring feat masterfully executed, the Israeli Defense Force rescued four of the hostages in Gaza. Most touching of all was the rescue of Noa Argamani, whose mother is dying of brain cancer, who had prayed shed be reunited with her daughter before she died. The hostages had been held by private citizens in two separate apartments 200 feet apart within the central market of Nuseirat in Gaza, and the rescuers had to stage a difficult simultaneous operation to free them. They operated under heavy fire from Hamas and local citizens. One IDF soldier, Arnon Zamora, was killed in the rescue, and a significant number (who can trust reports from Hamas?) of those who attacked the rescuers and hostages were killed. Lieutenant Colonel Arnon Zamora, may he rest in peace, led the team in breaching the building where three hostages were held (Noa was held in another building about 200 meters away). Zamora was injured during the confrontation with the terrorists and later succumbed to his injuries at the hospital. The hostages were held by Hamas guards in homes of Arab families (Hamas paid the families to hold the hostages -- indicating there are no innocent bystanders). The IDF entered Nuseirat in trucks and civilian vehicles with Gazan license plates. Many terrorists from Nuseirat fired upon the IDF, including anti-tank missile fire, resulting in a firefight where many Palestinians were killed. The confrontation occurred near Nuseirat's market. The rescue vehicle was hit, caught fire, and became stuck. Forces from Brigade 98: Paratroopers, Kfir, Givati Brigade, Golani Reconnaissance Battalion, and Shayetet 13 attacked Nuseirat from multiple directions under heavy bombardment from the Air Force, helicopter fire, Navy ship fire, and artillery fire, successfully bringing the hostages to a waiting helicopter landing zone. The terrorists fired several anti-tank missiles at the helicopters in an attempt to shoot them down -- unsuccessfully (the firing was carried out by activists of the Popular Front who claim they hit the helicopter). Noa Argamani told her family: 'There was knocking on the door -- 'It's the IDF, we've come to rescue you.' In the video: Initial moments of the rescue bombardments. In the second video: The street destroyed by the IDF to rescue the hostages." Via @orfialkov Through the wonders of the internet and the open-sourcing of X, you can see some scenes of the battle to save the hostages. Heres the first footage of the rescued hostages being helicoptered out to Israel. Over 100 hostages still remain, though their fate remains unknown. Among them are five Americans, about whom the administration remains silent. The response from Hamas and the Palestinian Authority leaders shows how idiotic U.S. policy is. The Palestinian Authority: In response to Israel rescuing 4 hostages in Gaza, the Palestinian Authority President, who pays terrorists for slaying Jews, announced his anger [Ed: and sought an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council]. This is who Biden wants to put in charge of Gaza. The Jordanian government is calling on Israel to immediately ceasefire. Look -- theyre not hiding who or what they are. Only the Democrats pretend theyre something else. Hamas: We will not surrender: Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh the fat billionaire living in comfort in Qatar fumes after Israel frees hostages. The AP and CNN keep reporting the Hamas handouts as if true. Indeed, one CNN chyron referred to this as a release of the hostages. CNN just devoted a substantial video segment to Palestinian civilians killed or injured in the rescue of the 4 Israeli hostages and never once mentioned that the civilians were the ones holding the hostages, that the civilians were ones who took them hostage in the first place, that the civilians were the ones firing at IDF during the rescue, that the civilians are the ones who kept the hostages in the center of a populous area in order to purposefully use civilians as human shields. The Palestinians orchestrated the very conditions that created the casualties; they reaped what they sowed. In a rare act of integrity, the AP concedes the Hamas claims of genocide are bunk. Benny Gantz, doubtless with the urgings of Blinken and Biden, was to announce his departure from the war cabinet and continue his efforts against Benjamin Netanyahu. He has now abandoned that plan. The EUs Josep Borrell outrageously characterized the rescue as another civilian massacre. Outside the White House, the pro-Hamas crowd battled with police, who responded with tear gas and rubber bullets. No National Guard in sight. Taking a step away from this exciting rescue, we notice that the scarf lady, Deborah Birx, who admits to manipulating the data to persuade then-President Trump to announce a lockdown, is now CEO of a pharmaceutical company working on a Bird Flu vaccine. She and the WHO are drumming up scares about the Bird Flu and its effects on food production and human life. Interestingly, the one report of human infection seems utter fabrication. The purported victim was an overweight, ill prisoner, and the Mexican Health Secretary denies WHOs claim that the citizen died of bird flu. He was a 59-year-old man who had diabetes, hypertension, and no contact with poultry. And if the Deep State has plans to force us to take unproven vaccines again, the Ninth Circuit Court of appeals just rendered an opinion that should make such draconian, unconstitutional efforts much harder to pass judicial muster. Health Freedom Defense Fund, et al v. Alberto Carvalho, et el, Case No. 22-55908 (9th Cir.). Brant Hadaway @BrantHadaway My client, @theHFDF, has won another huge victory, this time in the 9th Circuit! This was a case that I prosecuted in Central District of California challenging @LASchools mandatory COVID vaccination mandate for all school employees. A majority panel of the 9th Circuit held that, first, the case was not mooted by another attempt by @LASchools to manipulate a court's jurisdiction and, second, because the district court misapplied the SCOTUS's 1905 decision in Jacobson v. Mass. For the first time, as far as I am aware, a circuit court has explicitly drawn limits on Jacobson -- a decision to which nearly every court in country genuflected when considering challenges to COVID mandates. The majority's ruling holds that Jacobson only applied to measures to prevent the spread of disease, and that we had credibly pled that the COVID vaccines were not designed or intended to prevent disease spread, but were only designed to reduce the severity of illness in infected persons. Therefore, the majority held that Jacobson does not apply. [emphasis supplied.] In a concurring opinion, Judge Collins wrote that measures to protect an individual from getting sick, as opposed to preventing disease spread, fell under a separate line of authority for the proposition that each person has a constitutionally protected liberty interest in refusing unwanted medical treatment. That was exactly our theory of the case. Now we will see what happens on remand! Facts have long established that the Covid vaccine did not prevent the spread of Covid, and the CDCs redefinition of vaccine was surely designed to fool people into thinking otherwise. Julie Hamill emphasizes the nub of the ruling: Jacobson held that mandatory vaccinations were rationally related to preventing the spread of smallpox. (citation). Jacobson, however, did not involve a claim in which the compelled vaccine was designed to reduce symptoms in the infected vaccine recipient rather than to prevent transmission and infection. (citation). The district court thus erred in holding that Jacobson extends beyond its public health rationale -- governments power to mandate prophylactic measures aimed at preventing the recipient from spreading disease to others -- to also govern forced medical treatment for the recipients benefit."[/quote[] All told, it was a wonderful ending to the week. I was about ten years old when I first learned about Joan of Arc, the 14-year-old peasant girl who, against all odds, led the army of France against the British in the Hundred Years War. I had checked out from our school library a little cloth-bound book (A Candle in the Sky) that told her story, and I must have read it a dozen times, she so fascinated me. Her audacity, her courage, her unwavering faith was both inspiring and horrifying to my young mind. I am now aged well beyond that point, and she still haunts me. On May 30th of 1431 Joan of Arc was burned at the stake. The English, who were vying for the throne of France, accused her of witchcraft (a conveniently vague charge). They accused her of wearing mens clothing -- a suit of armor, evidently a capital offense. Her main flaw was success at what she set out to do - to lead her army to vanquish the English, and to crown the Dauphin at Orleans. She was just 19 when she died. On Passover roughly 2,000 years ago Jesus Christ was tried in six illegal trials, and even though the Roman governor Pontius Pilate, exonerated him, Pilate gave in to the mob and crucified him anyway. The Pharisees convinced themselves that Jesus was healing lepers and paralytics and driving out demons all by the power of Satan. If it was true that He did those things because He was God, then He was an existential threat to their power. They couldnt do those things. Jesus could. He too had succeeded too well and upset powerful people. On May 30th of 2024 Donald Trump was convicted of 34 counts of unspecified misadventure. The trial was as illegal as the trials run by the Pharisees and the Romans, as vague and abusive as the tribunal that convicted Joan. Im not making a moral equivalence argument here. Trump would lose that contest for sure. Nor am I relegating Christ to mere human status. He was both man and God. It is interesting that the trials of both Jesus and Joan were meticulously recorded by eyewitnesses at times not known for record-keeping. Its good that we know what happened. Quite frankly, Ive never known what to make of Joan of Arc, but the timing and the parallels are quite striking. And foreboding. Are we to take this as a warning of things to come? Is there a way to prevent a similar end for Donald Trump? Is our government now so convoluted, so tangled in its own petty double-binds that it cant just act on the basis of justice alone? I am grateful for the fact that we no longer crucify people or burn them at the stake, but Trump will be just as dead if hes attacked some night by a jailhouse suicide ghost. His family will be just as bereft of him, his country even more so. The Donald, just like Joan, will not rise from the dead. And like both Joan and Jesus, his charisma, his panache, his energy cant be duplicated by anyone else. He is the man for this time. His name is even appropriate for the task hes been given. So, what do we do? We -- as average American citizens -- do what we are doing. Rallying around him in support -- literally and figuratively. Donating money to his campaign. Using every forum to which we have access to express our support for this man and our disdain for the evil forces that beleaguer him -- and all of us. And we must pray. Is there a civil war in the offing? We all hope not. America cant really win unless we win via our Constitution and the rule of law. It is lawlessness that plagues us now. Violent reaction wont cure that; it will only be another symptom of what ails us. You see, Joan didnt have anyone on her side. No one came to her rescue. It was a totalitarian time and her army had failed to prevent her capture. Their love for her meant nothing once she was in the hands of the enemy. Neither did Jesus loyal disciples come to His rescue. Most of them scattered. Peter denied knowing Him three times, just as Jesus had told him he would. No one on a white horse came riding to His rescue. Neither of these people had a bank of lawyers behind them. Neither had senators and congressmen and pundits and podcasters acting on their behalf. Neither had more than half of the most powerful nation on earth demanding justice. The stakes are astronomically high. Good and Evil are facing off in a jousting match far more pivotal than whether or not the ineffectual French prince got properly crowned. Of course, nothing was or ever will be as important as what Christ accomplished hanging on the cross. Theres no comparison. What He did for us all is eternal. Trumps success or failure will only be temporal, but it is hard to imagine a more pivotal situation for the whole worlds 21st-century welfare. Already evil forces are plotting ways to break apart the power and effectiveness of the Supreme Court. They are aiming at Alito and Thomas, but it will be the whole Court, and the whole country, that will suffer the damage if this attack is successful. Those same powers are working to ensure that the 2024 election will be as fraught with fraud as was 2020. Our vote is our most treasured possession and many of us have already lost the power originally attached to that vote. I lost mine back when my state established mail-in-only voting. I have no sense that my vote is ever counted. With mail-in and early voting so easily passed out, many of you will be joining me in symbolic voting. Add to that the presence of millions of illegals having access to voting since few states have cleaned up their voting rolls or require ID to vote -- who knows what will transpire in November. But we do know this: not since the geopolitical mess that was the Civil War has this nation been in such peril. Government has only one real purpose and that is the maintenance of justice. Not only have the last four years demonstrated our governments utter failure at that, but these Biden years have shown us what happens when evil -- not just incompetence, but evil -- gets a foothold in the halls of power. That ordinary citizens have been languishing in deplorable conditions, serving prison sentences that they clearly dont deserve, is a neon sign declaring the end of American justice, the end of freedom and therefore the end of prosperity. That no one in a position of power has pushed for their release, or rushed to Trumps rescue, is a humiliation that lands on us all. If we dont rise to the occasion and demand a return to both righteousness and justice, we will find ourselves without recourse when they come after us. Donald Trump, for all his faults, is demonstrating almost superhuman courage, dogged determination, and strong faith in both God and America. I pray daily for his safety. Too often successful people have met with untimely ends - Julius Caesar, Abraham Lincoln, John F. Kennedy, to name a few. Like these men, Trump will not rise from the dead. Nor will he be canonized centuries later. He must beat the historical odds now, or America and her dream will not survive. Deana Chadwell is an adjunct professor and department head at Pacific Bible College in southern Oregon. She teaches writing, logic, and literature. She can be contacted at 1window45@gmail.com Image: American Thinker They are undocumented immigrants seeking asylum desperate to escape tyranny and poverty. How dare you call these poor human beings aliens? Have you no compassion? Youre just another MAGA-hillbilly xenophobe! Our friendship is over! So went my banishment from the court of a progressive associate. Never actual friends other than in a Facebook list, my grieving was thankfully brief. Confrontation with facts proved too much for my fragile friend, and hurling slurs while spitting sand from a head deeply buried in the progressive narrative was the only option, apparently. So, as a MAGA-hillbilly, I wondered: what is the definition of xenophobe, anyway? The president himself denigrated our Japanese allies with the term. A favorite suffix for plastering academic credibility on a slur, -phobic or -phobe indicates an extreme or irrational fear of something. Meanwhile, the prefix xeno- indicates of relating to a foreigner or foreigners, or simply other; different in origin. So then xenophobe is an irrational fear of a foreign other from a different place. Why would a nation screen foreign others and actually limit immigrant access to taxpayer-funded hospitality of housing, health care, food, and funds? In progressive New Zealand, for instance, Immigration NZ demands criminal background checks and medical certificates before awarding a visa for individuals with skills in demand. As a New Mexican U.S. citizen working in New Zealand, my fingers are stained from inking for the FBI and my chest irradiated from x-rays for tuberculosis. I can attest that no crime sprees or infections will afflict New Zealand, at least not from me. Of the some 16 million illegals flooding the United States under the aegis of Sec. Mayorkas, how many are fingerprinted for criminal backgrounds? Are they simply released into the U.S. from hostile countries like Venezuela, Uzbekistan, and China? What certainty can the Biden administration provide that none of the guests of American taxpayers are contagious with diseases like polio and leprosy, now appearing on American soil? Much less, how many of these illegals possess any economically beneficial skills other than organized crime? Answers for these questions, highlighted by illegal alien crime waves or threats of terrorist attacks exceeding the horror of 9/11, are denied. Massaging statistics to claim falls in illegals and outright refusals to provide actual data to Congress mask the ongoing disaster. Apparently, the administrations objective is something other than protecting America from violence and disease. Covertly dispersing illegals across the nation and refusing to notify cities and states victimized by the effort suggests that this regime is fully aware of its industrial-scale betrayal of America. So, if not protecting America as constitutionally mandated, what is the objective? Consider that Senator Durbin (D-Ill.) recently demanded that Biden issue an executive dictate extending amnesty not just to illegals living and working in the country, but all. This is not new. Note also that showering illegals with services like food stamps requires registration to vote, as per the National Voter Registration Act. A factory of pliant voters for the regime is cranking up, all perversely funded by the American taxpayer. As a U.S. citizen with all the rights and responsibilities thereof, I dutifully complained about Sen. Durbins plan to Sen. Lujan, D-N.M., co-signatory of the demand. My senator from New Mexico provided me a carefully worded and thoughtful response of...nothing. I was ignored. With a conveyor belt of millions of compliant voters funded by U.S. taxpayers ensuring that the regime need not heed the bleats of American citizens, why would Sen. Lujan care one whit about a constituents concerns? Observe the scheme: a Potemkin village of a democracy where government-subsidized voters fix a veneer of credibility over a corrupt regime. Disenfranchisement of the American electorate unfolds before us, and the keystone of the constitutional republic accountability to the tax-paying citizenry is under demolition. Calls to action by True the Vote and bills such as the SAVE Act countering the illegal voting juggernaut must be heeded. Engage now, or be forever disengaged. Cries at the birth of the American experiment haunt the land: No Taxation Without Representation. Meanwhile, my progressive friend retreats into a safe, sanctimonious bubble, cautiously evading any thorny truths typically dismissed as disinformation by so-called fact-checkers. Steady streams of advocacy journalism manufacture bubbles of consent on an industrial scale. No wonder roughly the same proportion of voters trusting the propaganda embrace the regime. Unfortunately for the bubble-wrapped believers, it is a world of thorny truths. As a lifelong independent voter, the pejorative MAGA-hillbilly strikes me now as rather a badge of honor for yelling fire while the House of America burns. Banished from the delusional herd? So be it. Better to suffer sticks and stones while calling out the Biden administrations fire department for protecting America, with hoses spraying not water, but gasoline. Dr. Means is a mathematical biologist and Christian apologist with numerous publications in scientific journals, marveling at the wholesale redefinition of public servant in America into unaccountable overlord. Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. When was the first time you ever heard of the word Islamophobia, as best you can remember? Other than very young readers, who have heard it their whole lives, the likely answer for most would be about 20 years ago -- say, following the 9/11 terrorism attack and its aftermath. There is a reason why that answer would be very common, but maybe not the reason you expect. As many also will recall, America was rather agitated against the 9/11 terrorists at the time, and could not help noticing that they were all Muslims, as are nearly all terrorist groups worldwide (per the U.S. State Departments listing of international terrorist organizations). So, the propaganda arm of international Islam realized it had a public relations problem. People are on to us; they are beginning to realize our movements true, violent nature, they might have thought. But what to do about it? Their response strategy is obvious to anyone who knows anything about marketing and PR: They decided on a propaganda campaign to equate any criticism of Islam with bigotry, thereby intimidating potential critics into submitting to that constraint and effectively silencing any opposition. QED. Widespread Muslim PR was around earlier, of course, but it intensified, of necessity, after 9/11. Evidence of this? Your own memory: Have you ever seen any criticism of Islam that was not immediately denounced as bigotry, i.e., Islamophobia? In fact, how rare is it to see or hear criticism of Islam, period -- especially relative to the provocations? Evidence of the campaigns effectiveness: Why is it that there is one and only one particular religion we are not allowed to criticize? In contrast, surely you have noticed abundant public criticism of Christianity and Judaism. In some Muslim countries, practice of either religion is a capital crime! But does Islam, the so-called religion of peace, deserve any criticism? And is it really so protected against criticism? An example, based on publicly available information that no one seems to have noticed, answers both: Shortly after 9/11, the Pew research organization began polling of the populations in most of the Muslim-dominated nations. This massive survey work continued through 2014. A striking finding, when results are read correctly, is that a very large fraction of the polled Muslims -- nearly half -- actually reported that they favor terrorist mass murder against the West. Really. The findings plausibility has been cross-validated recently, in a way, by the 75-80% of Palestinians who declare support for the October 7 Israeli massacre. Read correctly? What possible issue of correct interpretation of the Pew survey results could there be? The relevant questionnaire item was simple enough, asking whether violence such as suicide bombing... against civilian targets can be justified, with listed response options often, sometimes, rarely, and never. Unfortunately, in an amateurish error, Pew and others have construed the rarely answer as non-support of terrorism. But what could rarely mean to a survey respondent? Only one 9/11-type atrocity every 20 years? Once every five years? No more than every six months -- or once a week at the most? The frame-of-reference problem is apparent. Pointing out this ambiguity and tabulating past Pew results correctly is a major part of a paper I have presented at a national academic conference and published in an international refereed journal. The paper has also been accepted at two international conferences. Recently, however, after having been accepted at the annual conference of a leading behavioral science association, the paper was cancelled from the conference program. Why? Because one self-identified Muslim participant declared the paper Islamophobic (and that it had reduced him to tears). Upon that, the sponsoring organization caved. The grounds offered by the conference officials were flimsy and bogus. They claimed a lack of scientific rigor in the paper, but there is no way such a judgment could have been made based on the only relevant materials available, i.e., a short abstract and a few PowerPoint slides. Moreover, I am not the one who collected the data. I merely reported on what was collected by the venerable Pew polling operation. Islamophobic? The journal that published the paper is an Islamic journal from an Islamic university in Pakistan! Readers can assess the likelihood of such an institution supporting Islamophobia. So what does Islamophobia mean? The natural, inherent meaning is fear of Muslims. Obviously, however, the prevailing usage has transmuted into a practical meaning of hostility toward Muslims, as any online dictionary can confirm. Clearly, my paper and I do not demonstrate the latter nouveau meaning. We are only hostile toward the large proportion of world Muslims who support terrorism and mass murder. Shouldnt we all be? You have a problem with that? Yet we also cannot deny that the grounding for such violent Muslim sentiment can be found in the Qurans aggressive advice and the murderous example of Mohammed himself. So, I also suggest that genuine, devout Muslims, presumably including the conference critic, take a hard look at their religion -- and the barbaric behavior practiced in its name. By the same token, fear of Muslims can indeed be reasonable, given the violent record of the religions most intense adherents along with the sects core purpose of imposing submission on the entire world, by force if necessary. Islam, you see, by its own testimony, is not only a religion but a cultural, social, and military movement -- with all non-Muslims targeted, so to speak. Sorry to break the news this way. Allahu Akhbar, and heaven help the rest of us. Be afraid, be very afraid. And remember my name, just in case this short opus makes me the next victim of a fatwa, jihad, or Charlie Hebdo-type mayhem. Can we imagine what Islams record of violence would be if it were not such a religion of peace? John F. Gaski, Ph.D. is anAdjunct Scholar at the Indiana Policy Review Foundation. The authors research specialization is social and political power and conflict. Image: Aia Fernandez via Flickr The European dream of peace and security for all of Europe can be within reach by correcting an ongoing and prevailing Europe NATO malady. While NATO was originally based on a model of shared responsibility, it has inappropriately morphed instead into 21 -out-of 32-member country exceptions for non 2% GDP contributing allies. With a Ukrainian-Russian war ongoing, this is detrimental to the NATO alliance and the rest of non-NATO Europe, particularly Ukraine. While NATO countries ought to have fulfilled their GDP defense obligation of 2%, this has woefully never been done. The vast majority of NATO countries maneuvered not to fulfill this obligation. European countries comprise 30 of the 32 NATO members, together with the U.S. and Canada. Of the 30 European members, only 10 (33%) fulfilled their 2023 2% GDP goal. This leaves a sobering 20 European NATO countries (67%) that do not fulfill their minimum. The Honorable 10 European NATO Countries that do pay their dues are: Poland (3.9%), Greece 3.01%, Estonia 2.73%, Lithuania 2.54%, Finland 2.45%, Romania 2.44%, Hungary 2.43%, Latvia (2.27%), UK (2.07%), and Slovak Republic (2.03%). Outside of Europe, the U.S. paid 3.49% of GDP and Canada 1.38%. Overall, it is the 10 honorable European countries and the U.S. that carry Europes defense burden. A decade ago, the Obama administration made it clear in regard to NATO countries not meeting their funding obligations: Everyone has to step up. The subsequent Trump administration called for burden-sharing. Yet no improvement has been made. Europe's welfare state, by the way, has grown exonentially as its defense spending has fallen, and CESIfo, a respected European think tank, has many papers exploring this issue. The non-fulfilling NATO countries have failed to grasp that todays global security threat is not just limited to Europe. Their assumption that the U.S. would always be available in an emergency to protect them is no longer viable. The U.S. is overextended militarily and economically beyond Europe due to its worldwide security obligations. By necessity, Americas security focus has shifted away from Europe to two other strategic regions: The Indo-Pacific and the Middle East. These increased global threats have necessarily drawn down U.S. defense resources away from Europe. This should have been recognized by the non-contributing European countries long ago, but it hasn't. It is now time for Europe to have a reality check and to initiate new corrective actions to remedy the ongoing malaise. The sooner the better. The non-compliant NATO countries justifiably deserve to be nudged out of their self-imposed NATO Welfare Cocoon. Everything is to be gained by it. While Russia is rated as the worlds third or fourth military power, it would pale in comparison to an honestly and fully funded European NATO superpower. Economically, it would become a European Titan v. a Russian Pauper. Demographically, it is NATO Europes billion inhabitants v. Russias 144 million inhabitants. The European component of NATO alone would then have an undeniable deterrence supremacy that would cast a protective veil over all of the like-minded European countries. As such, Russia would cease to be a bona fide threat to Europe. The most prominent measure is to correct the present European security deficiency is to end the manipulation by the majority non-paying NATO countries at the expense of the ten fully contributing European member countries. As currently maneuvered by the majority member countries, the position of NATO Secretary General is locked into one of their own. As such it is important that a new Secretary General be appointed from one of the ten honorable contributing countries This would reshape the leadership of NATO Headquarters into one which would effectively move to have all members contribute the minimum 2% of GDP to defense. Within NATOs 2% GDP paying countries, there are well qualified senior European leaders ready to lead NATO Headquarters. Such a new leadership will be more capable of nudging its allies to pay up. It will result in a fully funded NATO with a viable and credible deterrence power within Europe. A new-era Secretary General leadership to also reshape NATO and redirect it toward Europes real-world milieu with redefined core principles. These principles may well include: (1) Europe itself is now Europes strategic responsibility, as allied with the U.S. and Canada; (2) Realizing Americas staggering global defense commitments extend beyond Europe; (3) the U.S. Army can no longer to be deemed as Europes defensive army. (4) All European members are to contribute their minimum 2% of GDP; (5) Europe is no longer to be afraid of Russia, Russia is to be deterred by a powerful NATO Europe. The underlying principle addressed here is that a fully funded NATO would become the dominant defensive power in Europe. The resulting nexus of such NATO supremacy interconnected with the remainder of Europes non-NATO countries is undeniable. In terms of Russias own blustering terminology of Russias Near Abroad, a new reformed and fully funded "European Centric NATO Superpower" may tangibly view Europes non-NATO countries as NATOs Near Abroad. Such a resulting nexus of a new NATO superpower together with its shared interests with its neighboring European countries will strongly influence peace and security throughout all of Europe. Dr. Warren G. Christolon is an international contributor of commentary and analysis in the areas of Geo-Economics, Security Policy, Defense, Military Technology, and International Affairs. His work has been published in professional journals, prominent magazines, major domestic and foreign newspapers, and online publications. He has been a member of President-elect Ronald Reagans Transition Team: Foreign Affairs Council. He has served as a guest lecturer with the U.S. Department of State, Foreign Service Institute; His previous service has been as a U.S. Military Attache: U.S. Embassies in Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Education includes George Mason University, The Antonin Scalia Law School; The Hague Academy of International Law; US Army Command & General Staff College; The Johns Hopkins University, School of Advanced International Studies; The University of Stockholm; University of Denver, Graduate School of International Relations. Image: Public domain logo, via Wikimedia Commons "The close relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan offer promising avenues for cooperation across various sectors, including infrastructure, oil and gas, ICT, and pharmaceuticals". Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, Ms. Raniya El Mashat, highlighted these opportunities, expressing eagerness for enhanced collaboration in the near future, Azernews reports. Anticipating the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Egypt, Minister El Mashat emphasized a desire for expanded cooperation, particularly in the realm of business. Acknowledging Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29, Minister El Mashat congratulated the nation, citing the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change. She emphasized the significance of COP as a platform for mobilizing funding for climate action and achieving global climate goals. Furthermore, Minister El Mashat underscored Egypt's commitment to research and collaboration in areas pertinent to climate change, signaling active participation in COP29. She expressed readiness to engage with international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to ensure the successful implementation of climate-related projects. In conclusion, Minister El Mashat conveyed Egypt's anticipation for active engagement in COP29 and extended congratulations to Azerbaijan for hosting this pivotal conference, wishing them success in their endeavors. In Joe Bidens proposed agreement to end The Israeli Military Offensive (and Defensive) actions, he puts releasing the hostages as the third stage in his preferred sequences of events. For Biden, now and before October 7, 2023, releasing the hostages has been a very low priority. Evidently, terrorist activities are rewarded, not punished. When the world was stable (before Joe Biden), Western nations, including America, understood that negotiating with terrorists was not an option. The reason for this rule of thumb is that negotiating with terrorists about their terroristic behavior would reward this type of immoral behavior. This type of reward would lead to more terroristic behavior (it works, so why not?). Its worth noting that there are American hostages in Gaza. The United Nations and the United States of America have chosen not to set a high priority of rescuing the hostages. This is just another action that screams, You are Jews, and your right to live and defend yourselves is not the same as it is for the rest of the worlds population. (Remember the Bring Back Our Girls campaign?) Their actions and lack of actions speak louder than the anti-Israel / Anti-Jewish rhetoric being spewed across the West. Image: The original Democrat hostage crisis in Tehran, 1979. Public domain. This is not the first time the Far Left / Democrat / Progressive Agenda, which includes refusing to act against hostage takers, has led the world to instability and dysfunctionality. During the Jimmy Carter administration, Iran seized more than 60 American hostages from the US Embassy, in addition to over a dozen other hostages. President Carter, the Democrats, and sundry other leftists established a policy of diplomacy and restraint. The result was that hostages were held for 444 days in inhumane conditions. The Carter Presidency ended with President Carter losing his reelection bid. He left office in shame. It wasnt until Reagans inauguration that Iran released the hostages. They did so in large part because they feared the new Republican, conservative administration would launch a military offensive. In September 2023 (two months before the October 7th attack on Israel), the Biden Administration made a very low-profile $16 billion contribution to Iran by unfreezing funds. The deal was in part to release hostages already in Iran. The Biden administration assured all and sundry that the money did not go to fund Irans war machine. Despite Irans admitted role in the October 7 attack, the Biden administration has not penalized Iran. The worlds nations, including America, have blood on their hands because of their liberal stance on terrorism against Israel. Fortunately, as Israels recent daring risk of four hostages reveals, Israel is not similarly constrained. If the West, including America, supported Israels focus on recovering hostages without concessions, this war would be over, and the hostages would be homejust as happened when Jimmy Carter lost re-election. Ronald Reagan won office because of the threat of military action unless the hostages in Iran were released. Joe Bidens administration recently announced an executive order that will shut down the southern border. The administration claims that the new border policy will shut down the U.S.-Mexico border once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day between ports of entry for seven consecutive days. This so-called shutdown is a joke because it still permits at least 1.8 million illegal aliens into the U.S. every year, even if its properly enforced. The executive orders sole purpose is to provide political cover so Democrats can say theyre doing something about the southern border. There are, of course, exceptions. The new order allows entry for: Exception Reason 1 illegal aliens to cross the border who use the CBP One mobile application at a port of entry 2 unaccompanied children 3 victims of a severe form of trafficking 4 those who face an acute medical emergency 5 those who face an imminent or extreme threat to life and safety There are other exceptions. Curiously, one legal reason for crossing is included in the exceptions: a non-citizen who has a valid visa or some other lawful permission to enter the United States. But there are several troubling points in the executive order that can be interpreted as doing nothing about illegal alien crossings. For the first exception, if an illegal alien stands on the Mexico side of the border at a port of entry and uses the CBP One mobile application, does he magically become legal and free to enter the U.S.? For the second exception, if a family of illegal aliens stands on the Mexico side of the border, and the parents wander off, do the children magically become legal and free to enter the U.S.? For the third, fourth, and fifth exceptions, who determines if the illegal aliens qualify and may enter? I know this is shocking, but illegal aliens have been known to lie about their status. Most troubling is what the phrase between ports of entry precisely means. There are twenty-seven ports of entry on the southern border. Does it mean that a border shutdown will occur once illegal crossings hit 2,500 per day for seven consecutive days between those twenty-seven ports of entry? Do only those 17,500 illegal aliens count toward shutting down the border? What about the illegal aliens who cross at overwhelmed ports of entry? The executive order has lots of wiggle room. But do we expect anything less from Joe Biden and the Democrats? Image: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. Once upon a time, we were told that the peoples of the Western world which includes countries like Australia and New Zealand, although located in the Eastern Hemisphere are heirs and trustees of Western civilization, imbalances and excesses included. Often referred to simply as the West, Western civilization is a broad concept used to understand the cultural, social, political, and economic norms, traditions, values, and institutions that originated in or are associated with Europe. It has its roots in Ancient Greece and Rome as well as in Christianity, humanism, the Renaissance, the Enlightenment, and the Industrial Revolution. It values rationalism, democracy, and individual freedoms and rights. Later on, Marxist and otherwise far-left historians argued that the history of the West is marked by exploitation and conflict among different social classes, from feudal lords and serfs in the Middle Ages to capitalists and workers in the modern era. Marxists, in particular, introduced the concept of cultural hegemony, formulated by Antonio Gramsci to describe ideological domination of the bourgeoisie over the proletariat. In other words, according to this type of approach, the dominant cultural norms and values of Western civilization serve to maintain the power of the ruling class. As of now, the left-wing narrative is that Western civilization is an illusion. Postmodern and deconstructionist historians have claimed that the West is a late invention of the 18th-century philosopher. Skeptical of the grand narratives that have historically been used to describe Western civilization, such as progress, enlightenment, etc., they argue that these narratives often oversimplify complex histories and marginalize alternative perspectives. It is in this context that the new book How the World Made the West, written by Josephine Quinn, professor of ancient history at Oxford University, needs to be read. Its aimed to bring to fulfillment the goal and the dream of legions of leftists the world over and from time immemorial. Quinns purpose is not to trash what generations of schoolchildren and college students have been taught to take pride in as Western values and achievements. Rather, she wants to demolish the underlying concept of what she calls civilizational thinking, which suggests that there is no such thing as Western civilization. By the way, as she puts it, this civilizational thinking provided the cultural rationale for western European supremacy during the 19th century, enabling colonial expansion and racial hierarchies. Quinn points out that Western civilization would not exist without its Islamic, African, Indian, and Chinese influences, and that so-called Western values freedom, rationality, justice and tolerance are not only or originally Western. Rather, the West itself is in large part a product of long-standing links with a much larger network of societies. Nobody has ever thought that ancient cultures existed in hermetical separation. The trouble with Quinn is that if there are no monolithic civilizations, she seems to deny even that there are (at least) distinct cultures. This is, quite frankly, the same as thinking a square has five sides, a challenge to common sense and to the most evidence-based certainties. In short, Quinns radicalism or a (perhaps unconscious) desire to please the woke and cancel culture people is her Achilles heel. It is inevitable, at this point, to recall G.K. Chestertons prophetic words: Everything will be denied. Everything will become a creed. It is a reasonable position to deny the stones in the street; it will be a religious dogma to assert them. It is a rational thesis that we are all in a dream; it will be a mystical sanity to say that we are all awake. Fires will be kindled to testify that two and two make four. Swords will be drawn to prove that leaves are green in summer. What is perhaps most surprising about the book is its warm welcome from critics in the United Kingdom, where How the World Made the West was published by Bloomsbury on February 29, 2024. This unequivocally means that the capitulation of the British cultural establishment to woke culture and other elite obsessions is complete. Take a look at these reviews to get an idea: The history of the West is not quite what you learned in school (The Economist), How the World Made the West by Josephine Quinn review rethinking civilisation (The Guardian), The myth of the West (New Statesman), How the World Made the West a scuttling of civilisational myths (Financial Times). The latter has a good question (after generous praise): At the end of this supremely professional history, I was left with the question of who is it for? Approaching the 50th anniversary of Edward Saids seminal Orientalism, our undergraduates certainly dont lack for cultural relativism or calls for decolonisation. In the UK, Generation Z already has precious little appetite for defending western civilisation, with a recent YouGov poll showing 38 per cent of under-40s say they would refuse to serve in the armed forces in the event of a new world war, and 30 per cent say they would not serve even if Britain was facing imminent invasion. The book will be published in North America by Penguin Random House on September 3, 2024. Samuel Robert Piccoli is a blogger and the author of several books, among them Being Conservative from A to Z (2014) and Blessed Are the Free in Spirit (2021). He lives in the Venice area. Image: Korido via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Crazed MSNBC analyst Donny Deutsch recently urged the U.S. military to release an ad campaign against former President Donald Trump ahead of the upcoming presidential election. True story, as Joe Biden might say. According to MEAWW, a newer internet publication, Deutsch said: Contrast is everything in this election. And I think the military is the greatest example to show the contrast between two men. You see Donald Trump who, you know, got off, didnt serve because of bunions and allegedly told John Kelly, his chief of staff as they were in a cemetery looking at fallen heroes, why would any person be a sucker and give their life for their country? And thats all you need to know about Donald Trump. The alleged story has been revealed to be less of a story and more 'alleged.' It's like nearly everything else said of Trump by those who are so blinded by Trump Derangement Syndrome that they can no longer see anything that doesnt feed their hatred or comport with their agenda. And anyone who ends their comments about something that someone allegedly did by remarking, And thats all you need to know about that someone is a cad whose apocryphal story should be automatically dismissed. The MSNBC anal-ist also, incredibly, stated: I think the most compelling advertising campaign would be centered around the military. If we got Mattis, McMaster, Milley and Kelly, to go to screen and say, look this country cannot stand Donald Trump. The defense of this country will not stand Donald Trump. We are great Americans. We believe in the country. We trust this country. We know this country. You cant vote for Donald Trump. I think the military is the secret weapon in this election and I hope those ads come to fruition. Thats ironic. He thinks the military is the secret weapon that should tell the American people: You cant vote for Donald Trump? What happened to the long-cherished American concept of separating the civilian government from the military? Democrats disdain for civilians combined with their control of the military. Thats what happened. Deutsch has previously spoken of the evilness of Donald Trump and labeled him as nothing more than the Chief Crime Boss. In this particular appearance, he slandered nearly half of all Americans, stating, If you vote for Trump, youre the bad guy. Ironically, as Deutsch directly translates to German, Donny Boy also said of Trump supporters, You, not Donald Trump, are standing at the border, like Nazis, go(ing) you here, you here. Let me see if I have this straight: To progressives, Kink shaming is bad, but MAGA shaming is a defense of democracy?! I, for one, have had enough of these deviants, these projecting perverts. They are the bad guys and gals and whatever other genders they care to name or invent. How do we know this? If you silently pray outside of an abortion mill, they want you arrested. If, however, you protest for Hamas, a terror group who killed many innocent women on or about October 7 by using a blowtorch on their genital regions, they will speak up for your right to do so if not actually praise you for your courageeven as you claim to be the real victim yourself. (Of course, they also support the genital mutilation of young people in this country who profess gender confusion, however briefly, so ) Anyone who proposes that the party in power use the military to affect the outcome of the next presidential election to save our democracy either has no understanding of democracy or is clinically insane. Or evil. Or some combination of the three. In any case, they have no business lecturing or threatening the rest of us. Image: Screen shot from video, via YouTube. Video from Piers Morgan Uncensored has the whole panel laughing at a leftist who cant even answer the basic question: what crime did Trump commit? Since the D.A., Alvin Bragg, and the judge in the case, Judge Merchan, failed to articulate a crime in the case, Michael Knowles challenged her to articulate the crime of which President Trump was convicted. Hilarity ensues as she ends up rambling around in circles, desperately trying to come up with a cogent answer, unable to explain his crime. Then it gets even better, when Mark Geragos, famed defense attorney and admitted lifelong Democrat, who is no fan of Trump, who says he never voted for him and never will, systematically demolishes her answer. Youre going to want to watch that a few times and share it. Note that the original video from Piers Morgan Uncensored is here, and the Rumble version of the Dave Rubin video is here, along with an archived version here. Keep in mind that the man who demolishes her answer states that they probably agree on 80% with their worldviews. He goes on to attack the way this was conducted, stating that these kinds of shenanigans in the criminal courts have no place in a federal election. This was A Sham Case, and Everyone Knows It, as stated by Racket News hardly a conservative news source. All this shows that they went to any means necessary to attain the goal of claiming that Donald Trump is a felon, fulfilling the infamous quote from Lavrentiy Beria, director of the Soviet secret police, who played a major role in the purges of Joseph Stalins opponents: Show me the man and Ill find you the crime. And right on cue, Alex Soros (does that name ring a bell?) posted this on X: Democrats should refer to Trump as a convicted felon at every opportunity. Repetition is the key to a successful message and we want people to wrestle with the notion of hiring a convicted felon for the most important job in the country! This is more than hypocritical, since Soross Open Society Foundation wants to Ban the Box and refrain from talking about such things, but if the fascist far-left ruling class didnt have double-standards, it wouldnt have standards at all. But as Simon de Hundehutte termed it in a perfectly framed meme: The Felon or the Fascist, the choice is yours, America. Choose wisely, people. D Parker is an engineer, inventor, wordsmith, and student of history, former director of communications for a civil rights organization, and a longtime contributor to conservative websites. Find him on Substack. Image via Pxfuel. The family of a boy thrown from the 10th floor of the Tate Modern art gallery say they are proud of his progress and he is now able to play by himself. The French youngster was six when he was badly hurt in an attack by teenager Jonty Bravery at the London attraction four years ago. The child, who was on holiday with his parents in August 2019, survived a 100ft (30m) fall but suffered life-changing injuries, including a bleed on the brain and broken bones. His family, who call him notre petit chevalier our little knight said, in an update posted on a GoFundMe page he has begun to chose activities for himself. The youngster, who spent months in intensive care, is said to be gaining maturity and independence. He can go play in the garden with the dog, sit down to draw, build with his Legos, take a board game or read in his room, his family said. He is more careful in his movements and in his actions in general, which allows him to start helping in the house by feeding the dog for example, or clearing his plate. He is very proud now to be able to open his shutters by himself and above all to finally access the refrigerator to serve himself his dessert. The boy has gained strength on his left side, making him more stable when standing, the family said. This progress allows him to guide his horse a little alone, at the horse-assisted therapy with adapted reins. They said the youngster is having to work a lot harder than the other children in his class at school to keep up with lessons, but is continuing to progress and learn new concepts. They added: His memory has greatly improved. He is now able to remember events that happened to him that same day or to talk spontaneously about a subject mentioned an hour previously. This remains very fragmentary compared to normal, but it is enormous progress which really helps our daily life. We continue to be proud of our sons efforts and his progress. We are in awe of his courage. As always, a huge thank you to all of you for following and supporting us throughout our sons healing journey. We stay on course and dont give up. Autistic teenager Bravery was in supported accommodation at the time of the attack but allowed out unsupervised. A court sketch of Jonty Bravery (Elizabeth Cook/PA) He intended to select and kill someone, a court was later told. Bravery, who was 17 at the time, pleaded guilty to attempted murder and was jailed in 2020 for 15 years. London nurse Vicky Diplacto, whose brother was paralysed after an accident overseas, set up the GoFundMe appeal to help. Rishi Sunak was absent from the campaign trail on Sunday but close ally Mel Stride insisted there was no question that he would lead the Tories on polling day. Here are the key moments from day 18 of the campaign: Going nowhere The Tories were quick to quash rumours that Rishi Sunak could quit as Prime Minister before polling day to allow someone else the chance to boost Conservative chances at the ballot box. I have always said that Cameron was popped into the Lords and into a senior ministerial post for a reason. I thought maybe it was to replace Sunak at an earlier stage. Rumours around tonight that Sunaks about to fall on his sword. There are no MPs only Ministers. If Rt Hon Nadine Dorries (@NadineDorries) June 8, 2024 Speculation about the unlikely-sounding scenario had been fuelled by former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries, an arch-critic of the Prime Minister, who said late on Saturday there were rumours around tonight that Sunaks about to fall on his sword in the wake of the D-Day row. But Cabinet minister Mel Stride, who helped run Mr Sunaks leadership campaign, said the Prime Minister would absolutely be in place for polling day and suggested there was time for the Tories to turn around their campaign. He told Skys Sir Trevor Phillips: To your point about whether all is lost, we have four weeks, thats a long time in politics. Away from the spotlight Mr Sunak himself was keeping a low profile on Sunday, away from the media, after a Saturday event at which he dodged questions from reporters. Rishi Sunaks absence from the international D-Day 80th anniversary event continued to cause difficulties for the Tories (Abaca Press/Alamy/PA) A Labour source said the Tory campaign was descending further into farce and Sunak will surely have to come out of hiding soon and explain how families can afford five more years of this madness. New skirmish in political Battle of Normandy Nigel Farage was accused of using dog whistle tactics by claiming Rishi Sunaks early exit from the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations showed he did not understand our culture. Labours Shabana Mahmood said his criticism of the British-Asian Prime Minister was completely unacceptable while Mr Stride said it left him feeling very uncomfortable. Asked what he meant by his comments, Mr Farage told BBC1s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg that Mr Sunak is utterly disconnected by class, by privilege, from how the ordinary folk in this country feel. Meanwhile, Mr Stride suggested the Prime Minister had been hurt by the backlash to his decision to skip the international event on Omaha Beach in Normandy. I think he will be feeling this personally, very deeply because hes a deeply patriotic person. He will be deeply uncomfortable with what has happened, Mr Stride told Sky News. No return to austerity Labours manifesto will commit the party to not increasing income tax, national insurance or VAT despite the parlous state of the public finances. Institute for Fiscal Studies director Paul Johnson said both Labour and the Tories dont really want to talk about the scale of the challenge facing them in terms of public spending. Because they had ruled out increasing simple taxes, he told Skys Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips there was a risk of ending up with complicated and actually quite economically damaging taxes in order to avoid spending cuts across the public sector. Many areas of spending are still at lower day-to-day funding levels than in 2009. These areas are unlikely to be able to weather further significant spending cuts without strain. [10/11] pic.twitter.com/SnOiiaIAvE Institute for Fiscal Studies (@TheIFS) June 9, 2024 But on a campaign visit in Essex, Sir Keir Starmer said his priority was to raise money by growing the economy and insisted we are not returning to austerity. Class warfare Labour frontbencher Emily Thornberry acknowledged that her partys plan to charge private schools VAT could increase class sizes in the state sector as parents switch to save money. The shadow attorney general told GB News there were spaces in her local primary and secondary schools and if the private pupils wanted to come there its fine. Labour's policy on larger class sizes: "it's fine" It's clear: Labour would destroy our education standards as they have done every time they've had power. pic.twitter.com/gGWki57Pw8 Gillian Keegan (@GillianKeegan) June 9, 2024 If we have to, in the short term, have larger classes, we have larger classes, she said. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan said that would mean Sir Keirs party punishing children to pay for their plans, with pupils impacted by Labours politics of envy. Picture of the day Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer talks to the media at a General Election campaign event in Grays, Essex (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Quote of the day Social media moment Great to be back in Bedale this morning. People across Britain know it's only the @Conservatives that have a clear plan to deliver a more secure future. pic.twitter.com/4vbUF6wfEz Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) June 9, 2024 Despite keeping away from press cameras, Mr Sunak posted a picture on his X feed showing him stroking a dog which appeared to be wearing a Tory rosette in Bedale. The North Yorkshire town was part of his constituency but boundary changes have moved it into the neighbouring Thirsk and Malton seat. Whats happening tomorrow? The Liberal Democrats will launch their manifesto at the start of a week which is also expected to see the Tories and Labour set out their promises to the nation. Mr Sunak will face Nick Robinson for a BBC Panorama special interview at 8pm. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage will lead a press conference to set out his plans for the economy. Former Scotland and Liverpool defender Alan Hansen is seriously ill in hospital. The club are providing support to the family of the 68-year-old, who retired in 1991 to start a successful career as a television pundit. The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital, a Liverpool statement read. The thoughts and support of everyone at Liverpool FC are with our legendary former captain Alan Hansen, who is currently seriously ill in hospital. Liverpool FC (@LFC) June 9, 2024 The club is currently in contact with Alans family to provide our support at this difficult time, and our thoughts, wishes and hopes are with Alan and all of the Hansen family. We will provide any further updates as we receive them in due course, and we request that the Hansen familys privacy is respected at this time. Hansen joined Liverpool from Partick Thistle in 1977 and won three European Cups, eight league titles, two FA Cups and three League Cups in 620 appearances for the Anfield side. Hansens former Match of the Day colleague Gary Lineker wrote on X: Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family. Horrendous news. Thoughts are with Alan, Janet and all the family. https://t.co/PrBCrHiA4D Gary Lineker (@GaryLineker) June 9, 2024 The BBCs Match of the Day account said: The thoughts and prayers of everyone at Match of the Day are with Alan and his family at this difficult time. Ex-team-mate John Aldridge, chairman of the former players association Forever Reds, also sent a message of support. All our thoughts as ex-LFC players are with Alan (Jocky) Hansen and his family. Lets hope he can pull through his illness. ynwa, he wrote on X. Hansens long-time central defensive partner Mark Lawrenson posted on X: Come on Big Al-you can beat this..Love to Janet,Adam,Lucy & all the family.xx Labour has set out plans to turn primary school classrooms into 3,300 new nurseries to create an extra 100,000 childcare places. Sir Keir Starmer said a shortage of childcare meant parents were being held back in their careers and children were starting school already behind. Under Labours plan, empty or under-used classrooms in Englands primary schools could be converted to nurseries. The spare capacity in schools has been caused by declining birth rates and under the plan some 3,334 classrooms would be converted at an average cost of 40,000. The nurseries could be run by the schools themselves or local private or voluntary-sector providers. Funding for the scheme would come from imposing VAT on private schools. Labour said it would target its new school nursery places at areas of highest need, where parents are struggling to find childcare. Sir Keir said: Childcare is critical infrastructure. Its vital for childrens opportunities, and essential for a stable economy. After 14 years of Conservative government, too many children are starting school already behind, and too many parents are being held back from fulfilling their career ambitions. This election is about change. Labour will roll up our sleeves and take the tough decisions needed to support parents progression, improve kids life chances and ultimately, drive growth. We will create the childcare places needed to turn the page, and rebuild Britain. Sarah Ronan, director of the Early Education and Childcare Coalition, said: Labours commitment to increasing the number of places is the right one, however if you boost places you have to also boost staff numbers, so underpinning its plan for reform must be a new workforce strategy that will attract more people into the sector and see early years professionals receive the pay, conditions and respect they deserve. Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders union NAHT, said: There is certainly a clear logic in using free space in primary schools to expand nursery provision. It is positive to see that Labour have made clear that schools that wish to do this will be able to access the necessary funding. Having the right space is one part of the picture, and it will be equally important that there is a strong focus on attracting more people into the early years workforce. https://x.com/ckfarquharson/status/1799922597418926248 The Institute for Fiscal Studies associate director Christine Farquharson said: By far the biggest choice Labour has made on childcare was the decision to sign up to the hugely ambitious expansion of funded childcare entitlements that the current Government has introduced. By contrast, the plans announced today to pay for the conversion of 3,300 primary school classrooms (going spare because of falling pupil numbers) may nudge the market in a different direction but certainly wont transform it. Targeting provision at childcare deserts could help to expand access to childcare in under-served areas but a sensible plan would take into account the likely local demand for childcare, not just the (lack of) supply. Labour has said its commitment to delivering free breakfast clubs in primary schools will save parents more than 400 a year and cut almost half a million days of school absence. In the first phase of the partys childcare plan, it promises to slash absence and save primary school parents hundreds of pounds a year. By Labours estimates, for parents who already pay for alternative before-school childcare such as childminders, funded breakfast clubs could cut the cost by up to 50 a week, delivering savings of almost 2,000 across a school year. Labour has said it will roll out the fully funded breakfast clubs across all primary schools in England (David Parry/PA) Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said the breakfast clubs plan is the first step towards delivering a transformation in childcare which supports families from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school. Ms Phillipson said: Families childcare needs dont end when their kids leave nursery, thats why well put free breakfast clubs in every English primary school. Well fund our clubs by clamping down on tax dodgers and save hardworking parents over 400 every year. Breakfast clubs are proven to improve kids behaviour and grades, and get those regularly missing class back into school giving them a great start to their day and getting them ready to learn. Labour has said it will roll out the fully funded breakfast clubs across all primary schools in England, expanding significantly from the Conservatives plans which it claims reach just one in every seven primary schools. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson during a visit to a school in Harlow in Essex (Ian West/PA) In addition to providing vital childcare for parents, Labour analysis claims breakfast clubs could also cut 450,000 days of school absence among primary school pupils. School attendance has been described as a national crisis as the number of children not attending school has risen in recent years. Becca Lyon, head of child poverty at Save the Children UK, said: These commitments are a welcome start to rescuing the English childcare system, ensuring families can get the places they want and need. We look forward to seeing more detail on how gaps will be plugged in childcare funding, as well as a path towards all families being eligible for childcare help. We strongly encourage all political parties to now set out their plans to rescue and reform the childcare system. Conservative Treasury minister Laura Trott said: HM Treasury officials have found Labours policy costs four times more than Labour claims that means new tax rises to pay for it. Not only have Labour admitted their schools tax raid will mean larger classes in state schools which will damage childrens futures, this unfunded policy is part of Labours 38.5 billion black hole requiring 2,094 of tax rises on every working family. Labour have denied they will implement 2,000 of additional taxes. Linn Grant came from 11 shots back at the start of the day to become the first woman to win two DP World Tour titles, as runaway 54-hole leader Sebastian Soderberg saw the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed title slip through his fingers. Swede Soderberg took an eight-shot lead into the final round but a front-nine wobble saw his advantage cut to four strokes at the turn. And with 2022 champion Grant piling on the pressure with a flawless final-round 65, Soderberg made yet more mistakes on the back nine, with bogeys on the 13th and 15th reducing his cushion to one shot with one hole remaining. Things then went from bad to worse for the overnight leader as he three-putted from 25 feet on the 18th green to not only scupper his chances of winning outright but also miss out on a play-off. It's history AGAIN for Linn Grant on the DP World Tour! With the biggest final day comeback on Tour, she wins the Volvo Car Scandinavian Mixed for a second time in three years.#VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/ZgNItixKIw DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2024 Home-town hero Grant, who had been preparing for the possibility of extra holes, suddenly found herself in the winners circle, with her 17-under-par total proving good enough to earn a second win in this event, which saw 78 men and 78 women compete for one prize fund and one trophy. Soderbergs closing 77 meant he finished in a share of second place alongside Scotlands Calum Hill on 16 under, with Swedish Ladies European Tour star Johanna Gustavsson three shots further back in a tie for fourth with Englishmen Alex Fitzpatrick and Andy Sullivan. Grant flew out of the blocks on day four, making four birdies in five holes from the second to close the gap. The 24-year-old took dead aim at the ninth to set up a six-foot birdie before holing from 15 feet on the 10th for back-to-back birdies. She gave herself further chances down the stretch but could not add to her birdie count until the 18th, where she chipped in from the bank around the green to finish with a hole-out gain. "It's mixed emotions. I'm so speechless" A classy interview from our champion, who wins with her brother on the bag in front of friends and family #VolvoScandinavianMixed pic.twitter.com/aSv5XdRQzi DP World Tour (@DPWorldTour) June 9, 2024 Grant said: Im so surprised. Standing here, now as a winner again in my home town. Amazing. Honestly I just tried to go out today and give myself an opportunity. I didnt even think that I had the chance of winning 11 shots is a huge gap. So I just wanted to go out, have fun and make as many birdies as possible. And enjoy it with my brother on the bag and being at home. It turned out to be an incredible day. Matt Wood was caught going 90mph down the M27 as he responded to an emergency call - DAILY ECHO/SOLENT NEWS & PHOTO AGENCY An ambulance driver who was taken to court for speeding while responding to a blue light emergency has called the proceedings embarrassing. Matt Wood, 27, was caught going at 90mph on the M27 as he drove to Southampton Airport in January last year to pick up an unstable patient arriving from Guernsey, in the Channel Islands. The emergency worker, who was driving an unmarked ambulance, provided evidence he was responding to a medical emergency but was still prosecuted, which he has branded a complete waste of time. He attended Southampton magistrates court after receiving a notice of intended prosecution (NIP), but the case was eventually dismissed because of the evidence he provided. He said: I couldnt believe it even got taken to court. Its very odd this has happened. I am pleased the case has been dropped but it is a waste of everyones time. Its embarrassing it has even got this far. I am hoping this wont happen again. Matt Wood was still prosecuted despite providing evidence he was responding to an emergency Hampshire Constabulary said records indicated the vehicle used was not equipped to transport people and was not marked as an ambulance. Though the emergency vehicle he was driving was an unmarked Volvo, he did use blue lights. Mr Wood argued their cars must be unmarked as they are kept at their homes. He said: We serve the emergency flights from Guernsey we dont know in advance what time they will be arrivingThe patient was deemed to be an emergency case. It was argued it was not an emergency as we shouldve known what time the flight would be arriving. When the NIP was served on me, I didnt know whether to laugh or not. Its quite embarrassing, especially as it is our job. Working in this field, my colleagues and I know there is a risk of this happening, not when it is clear cut. In these cases we always make it clear to Driving Standards and the police who we are and what we are doing, and they tend to leave it alone, but not this time. A Unison spokesman said: NHS vehicles equipped with blue lights have arrangements in place for handling speeding tickets when dealing with emergencies. Ambulance workers can claim exemptions for going over the speed limit, but issues may arise if theyre in unmarked cars. The Crown Prosecution Service said a reviewing lawyer took the view the case should be brought to trial after police submitted a file of Mr Woods speeding. A spokesman added: The CPS have a duty to continually review cases, and in light of Mr Woods evidence, the lawyer in court took the decision to offer no evidence and stop the prosecution. Angela Merkel discussed the Russian gas pipeline with Joe Biden in 2021 - Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America Angela Merkel knew that Russia could attempt to blackmail Europe into launching a major gas pipeline but concealed the information, according to Handelsblatt, the German newspaper. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was designed to double the flow of Russian gas directly to Germany but it was hugely controversial because of the risk it posed to Ukraine. Critics feared that if it supplied gas directly to Europe, Russia would be able to starve Ukraines economy of the transit fees it had been collecting. As those fears were voiced and the pipeline also awaited approval for other regulatory hurdles, Russia began reducing gas supplies through its Nord Stream 1 pipeline, which also carried gas from Russia to Germany. Critics feared that if it supplied gas directly to Europe, Russia would be able to starve Ukraine's economy of transit fees - Sean Gallup/Getty Images Europe In her final months as German chancellor in 2021, Ms Merkel told Handelsblatt that there had been no reason to believe Russia was limiting gas deliveries. However, according to confidential documents seen by the newspaper, the economy ministry warned that Russia was filling gas storage facilities very slowly and that relying on the Kremlin for gas could have dramatic consequences. The revelation comes as new documents published by Suddeutsche Zeitung, the newspaper, also showed that two consecutive Merkel governments intensively pushed for Nord Stream 2 to come online, claiming its deal with Gazprom, the energy company which is majority state-owned was a private-sector project. This was despite repeated criticism of the project from the US and European allies, which said the pipeline would make Europe too reliant on Russian gas. Other European governments said the link was vital to secure energy supplies amid a surge in gas prices in 2021. Germany told the Kremlin that a condition of the deal, which had been set to transport Russian gas 761 miles through the Baltic Sea, was that Russia would continue to use onshore gas pipelines through Ukraine. But internal economy ministry documents warned after a meeting with Gerhard Schroder, the former German chancellor-turned-Gazprom lobbyist, that the state fossil fuels giant could not be forced to do so. After Russia invaded Ukraine, Nord Stream 2 was officially cancelled. Both pipelines Nord Stream 1 and 2 were then destroyed by unknown attackers in September that year. Various leaders including Angela Merkel turn a wheel to start the symbolic flow of gas through Nord Stream 1 in 2011 - Sean Gallup/Getty Images Reacting to the newspaper revelations, Robert Habeck, the Green Vice-Chancellor, called the previous governments judgment a historic mistake. We should have never made ourselves dependent on Putins gas. Felix Banaszak, the Green MP, went further, calling for a public inquiry and describing Nord Stream 2 as the biggest economic, energy and foreign policy failure since the founding of the federal republic. Queues for security outside Birmingham Airport on Sunday - WesAndPete/X Birmingham Airport bosses have blamed a government U-turn on the 100ml hand luggage liquid rule for security delays at the weekend. Passengers were stuck in queues snaking out of the airport entrance for as long as two hours on Sunday morning. An airport spokesperson said the queues had built up because the Government re-imposed its ban on carrying liquids greater than 100ml in hand luggage on Sunday morning. Birmingham Airport bosses had expected DfT (Department for Transport) officials to lift the limit from June 1, and had designed and resourced a new 60-million security screening hall around scanners capable of handling larger bottles. The airport had been waiting for the go-ahead from the DfT to use the new scanners with containers bigger than 100ml. In the meantime, staff remove larger bottles at manual liquid-check stations before passengers put their bags through the scanners. Yet the DfT said last Friday that the 100ml limit would temporarily be reintroduced across the whole country from Sunday morning, amid concerns that the new scanning technology is not secure enough. The new scanners will accept bottles of up to two litres - Chalabala A Birmingham Airport spokesperson said: Our new security area was designed, and resourced, to accommodate the increase to two litres being carried in cabin baggage, this currently cannot be operated with the temporary restriction. The airport previously said it expected to raise the 100ml limit to two litres from June 1, bringing it into line with other airports such as London City and Teesside International. Following the DfT re-imposing the lower limit, however, all airports are now subject to the maximum-of-100ml-rule until further notice. The explanation for the delays will have provided little comfort to passengers who were stuck in lengthy security queues outside Birmingham Airport on Sunday morning. Interior designers Wesley and Pete Richards, who were flying to Cyprus from the Midlands airport on Sunday morning, joined the security queue at 5.18am and got to the other side at 6.58am. A terrible start to the holiday Got through Birmingham Airport security queue with the boards telling us final call, Wesley posted on X, formerly Twitter, as he chronicled the couples time in the queue. No time to buy anything, get food, go to the loo, make use of the lounge Ive paid for or sit down after being on our feet for well over two hours. Absolutely shambles and a terrible, stressful, exhausting start to the holiday. Nick Barton, the airports chief executive, said passengers were partly to blame for the lengthy queues. A non-compliant bag with liquids over 100ml can add up to 20 minutes to each passengers journey through security, he said. Since opening our new security area, and despite being one of the first UK airports to comply, we have been limited on the use of our multi-million-pound equipment due to an outstanding regulatory restriction meaning we had to limit liquids to 100ml, he told the BBC. Despite the 100ml rule still being in place, we continually have non-compliant bags with liquids over the allowance which have led to inefficiencies of our equipment and resulted in extended queuing time for customers. It is now imperative that all customers comply with the nationwide rule to ensure a smoother and simpler transition through the airport. Senior Tory MPs have called for Boris Johnson to play a more prominent role on the campaign trail - Andrew Parsons /Parsons Media The Conservatives should deploy Boris Johnson in a push to turn around the partys election campaign, former ministers have told Rishi Sunak. Senior Tory MPs called for Mr Johnson to play a more prominent role on the campaign trail following a series of gaffes in the fortnight after Mr Sunak called the July 4 vote. The Prime Minister was forced to apologise after leaving D-Day commemorations early, and the Conservatives trail Labour by an average of around 20 points in the polls. While Mr Johnson will be abroad for the majority of the election campaign, friends have said he would help from afar and senior Tories urged the party to make more of his appeal on the doorstep. Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg, a former business secretary, said: Boris is a very effective campaigner, while Dame Andrea Jenkyns, an education minister under Mr Johnson, said: We should definitely get Boris out there on the campaign. Ive been saying this for a long time. He should tour the Red Wall, Rishi should concentrate more on the Blue Wall. One MP in a Red Wall constituency who is receptive to the idea said Mr Johnson would be very welcome in my seat, saying: Hes still incredibly popular in Red Wall areas. Hes a great campaigner, brings a bit of personality why not? A spokesman for Mr Johnson said: Boris Johnson is, as always, strongly supporting the Conservatives and encourages everybody to do the same. In an interview with The Daily T podcast last month, Mr Sunak revealed that he had recently talked to Mr Johnson about the risk that Sir Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, posed to the country. However, some allies of Mr Johnson cast doubt on whether he wanted to directly help the party under Mr Sunak, whose resignation as chancellor accelerated the end of his premiership. One Tory MP supportive of the ex-prime minister said: He has largely stayed out of it, thats what the party seems to have wanted. Its absolutely bonkers not to use your assets, whoever they are. But there we go. Another supporter of Mr Johnson claimed he would be pretty heartbroken by the missteps of the campaign in light of the scale of his own electoral success in 2019. David Campbell Bannerman, the chairman of the Conservative Democratic Organisation, a grassroots pressure group set up after Mr Johnson and Liz Truss were ousted in quick succession, said there was a great deal of residual support for Boris. Im not sure hell do it for Sunak, I think thats the issue, he said. Hes a great asset in the Red Wall, in particular. Hes away, as I understand it, and hes out of it really apart from occasional comments on Twitter. They may well be trying, but I dont think its credible to me. Macron said in a televised announcement that he had faith in the capacity of French people to make the best choice for themselves and future generations. Photograph: Christophe Petit-Tesson/EPA In a shock move, Frances president, Emmanuel Macron, has called a snap parliamentary election that will be held within the next 30 days. What happened exactly, why and what might come next? Whats the story? After suffering a crushing defeat at the hands of Marine Le Pens far right National Rally (RN) in the European parliamentary elections, the French president on Sunday evening unexpectedly announced a snap general election. According to usually accurate projections, Macrons centrist list, headed by MEP Valerie Hayer, scored between 14.8% and 15.2% in the European poll, less than half the 32%-33% tally booked by RN, whose lead candidate was the partys president, Jordan Bardella, 28. The president won re-election in 2022. His current term runs until spring 2027 and he cannot stand again. What were Macrons reasons? The president said the decision was a serious and heavy one, but that he could not resign himself to the fact that far-right parties ... are progressing everywhere on the continent. He described it as an act of confidence, saying he had faith in Frances voters and in the capacity of the French people to make the best choice for themselves and for future generations. Macron added: I have confidence in our democracy, in letting the sovereign people have their say. Ive heard your message, your concerns, and I wont leave them unanswered. The French presidents centrist coalition lost its parliamentary majority in the 2022 elections and has since resorted to pushing through legislation without a vote in the assembly, using a controversial constitutional tool known as 49/3. Analysts have long predicted that he would face severe difficulties in parliament in the wake of a heavy defeat to RN in the European elections, potentially including censure motions and the collapse of the government. Sundays dramatic move, however, is a huge gamble: Macrons party could suffer yet more losses, effectively hobbling the rest of his presidential term and potentially handing Marine Le Pen even more power. The president has presented it as an existential choice for French voters: do you really want to be governed by the far right? It seems unlikely that he is counting on securing a majority: the front republicain, or republican front, that blocked RNs advance in the past has weakened almost to the point of disappearance, and Macrons popularity is in steady decline. Most analysts, however, predict that while the far-right party may emerge with more MPs, it will probably not win enough seats to give it a majority either meaning the next parliament may be even messier and more ineffective than the current one. It could be that he is looking at a neutralising cohabitation effect. If RN were to score well and, for example, Bardella were offered the job of prime minister, two and a half years in government may be just enough time to render the far right unpopular too. How and when will the elections be held? Article 12 of the French constitution allows presidents to dissolve the assemblee nationale to resolve political crises, such as permanent and irreconcilable differences between parliament and the executive. Voters must be called to the polls in the 20 to 40 days following the assemblys dissolution. The first round of these elections is scheduled for 30 June and the second on 7 July. Considering Paris is due to host the Olympic games at the end of July, its going to be a busy few weeks for Macron. How have National Rally responded? Bardella was the first to urge Macron to call snap legislative elections, telling supporters after the projections were announced that French voters had expressed a desire for change. The country has given its verdict and there is no appeal, he said. Le Pen, the partys figurehead and presidential candidate, said she could only welcome this decision, which is in keeping with the logic of the institutions of the Fifth Republic. She said the party was ready to take power if the French people have confidence in us in these forthcoming legislative elections. We are ready to put the country back on its feet, she said. We are ready to defend the interests of the French people. Is there a precedent for early presidential dissolution? Previous presidents have dissolved parliament, including in 1962, 1968, 1981 and 1988, when the presidential term was seven years but the parliaments only five, meaning the head of state often found himself facing an opposing majority in the assembly. It has not always worked in their favour; in 1997, the then centre-right president, Jacques Chirac, called snap legislative elections only to see the left win a majority, leaving him to endure five years in cohabitation. No president has dissolved parliament since then, partly because the presidential and parliamentary terms were synchronised in 2000 and voters since then have given each incoming president a parliamentary majority until Macrons re-election. Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said: 'Breakfast clubs are proven to improve kids' behaviour and grades' - Christopher Furlong/Getty Images Europe Empty primary-school classrooms will be turned into nurseries under Labour plans to create an extra 100,000 childcare places. The party aims to create more than 3,300 new nurseries using spare capacity caused by declining birth rates, and the proposal will be funded by its VAT raid on private schools. Labour said it would target its new school nursery places at areas of highest need, where parents are struggling to find childcare. Sir Keir Starmer said a shortage of childcare meant parents were being held back in their careers and children were starting school already behind. Sir Keir said: Childcare is critical infrastructure. Its vital for childrens opportunities, and essential for a stable economy. After 14 years of Conservative government, too many children are starting school already behind, and too many parents are being held back from fulfilling their career ambitions. This election is about change. Labour will roll up our sleeves and take the tough decisions needed to support parents progression, improve kids life chances and ultimately, drive growth, the Labour leader said. We will create the childcare places needed to turn the page, and rebuild Britain. On Sunday, the party also claimed families would save more than 400 a year through its plans for free breakfast clubs for all primary school children. Labour claimed the plan to extend breakfast clubs to all primary schools in England would cut almost 500,000 days of school absence by pupils. The party says its plans go further than the Conservatives scheme, which currently reaches around one in every seven primary schools. It confirmed that it would spend 365 million to pay for the free breakfast clubs, using money generated by extending its non-dom tax plans to their overseas earnings and cracking down on other tax avoidance. An analysis, based on figures estimating the median cost of 2.23p per pupil, showed that it would save a family 423 if a child attended on all 190 school days a year. By Labours estimates, for parents who already pay for alternative before-school childcare such as childminders, funded breakfast clubs could cut the cost by up to 50 a week, delivering savings of almost 2,000 across a school year. Delivering breakfast clubs across all primary schools could also cut 450,555 days of school absence, if the results from a study by the Institute of Fiscal Studies (IFS) were replicated nationwide. Bridget Phillipson, the shadow education secretary, said the breakfast clubs plan was the first step towards delivering a transformation in childcare which supports families from the end of parental leave to the end of primary school. Ms Phillipson said: Families childcare needs dont end when their kids leave nursery, thats why well put free breakfast clubs in every English primary school. Well fund our clubs by clamping down on tax dodgers and save hardworking parents over 400 every year. Breakfast clubs are proven to improve kids behaviour and grades, and get those regularly missing class back into school - giving them a great start to their day and getting them ready to learn. Labour said breakfast clubs were a lifeline for parents: a quarter of professionals reported that they needed them to help juggle childcare, while nearly a third of public sector managers and office workers found them essential to get to work on time. They also support parents working shifts who start early. They generally open between 45 minutes and one hour before the school day starts, depending on the decision by local schools headteachers. Labour has not given a timescale for when they will be rolled out nationally but pledged the plans would start as soon as they came into Government. School attendance has been described as a national crisis as the number of children not attending school has risen in recent years. In 2022/23, 21.2 per cent of pupils were recorded as persistently absent, defined as missing 10 per cent or more of possible school sessions. Laura Trott, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: HM Treasury officials have found Labours policy costs four times more than Labour claims that means new tax rises to pay for it. Not only have Labour admitted their schools tax raid will mean larger classes in state schools which will damage childrens futures, this unfunded policy is part of Labours 38.5 billion black hole requiring 2,094 of tax rises on every working family. Greek odyssey: Gaias dining room, with its warm clusters of globe lights and tasteful objets dart. Photograph: Sophia Evans/The Observer Gaia, 50 Dover Street, London W1S 4NY (gaia-restaurants.com). Starters 10-55; mains 32-230; desserts 14-36; wines from 45 Oliver Putnam, the washed-up Broadway director played by Martin Short in Only Murders in the Building, would adore Gaia, named after the goddess earth mother. Famously, Putnam lives on dips and Gaia is a veritable dip heaven. It starts with a dollop of soft, whipped, herb-flecked feta. That is followed by an indecently luscious taramasalata, like a savoury Chantilly, just begging to be scooped away with the accompanying hoop of still-warm sesame-crusted koulouri bread. Theres a fava bean dip, and a smoked aubergine dip and a tzatziki. Dip, my darlings. Dip like the wind. Mind you, the notoriously skint Putnam wouldnt be able to access that which he so desires. For this is also dip heaven in that it can only be afforded by the gods; by those who can carelessly spend 12 on a thumb-high whorl of whipped cods roe. Gaia, which hilariously describes itself as a refined taverna, much I suppose as the Ritz across the road is a refined Travelodge, represents London right now, or at least that version of London north of Piccadilly. It is owned by a Russian who is based in Dubai and has a kitchen overseen by a Nigerian-born chef who has written a menu of Greek dishes to be served to a fully Botoxed clientele from Asia, the Middle East and Europe who need never look at the menus right-hand column. So why did I go? Partly, because its intriguing to see whether there is a significantly elevated version of traditional dishes (spoiler: there isnt) and partly because to point and laugh at stupid things, you must first pay for the stupid things. So sit down alongside me on the pale blue banquette and take in the warm, glowing clusters of globe ceiling lights which, depending on your level of bitter cynicism, dangle like bunches of grapes or like haemorrhoids begging for treatment. Enjoy the tasteful objets dart and the artisanal linens, the Zaros mineral water imported from Greece and the trophy cabinet of big wines downstairs by the loos, packed with La Tache, Chateau Latour and 1994 Petrus for those punters who are only prepared to go so far with the whole humble, peasanty Greek thing. The menu is divided into starters and larger dishes all of which are meant to be eaten family style by people who may well have several of them. Id describe the food as nosebleeding expensive, but that might make a mess of all the creamy linen. A 350g goat dish is 75. A rib-eye is 95. The whole grilled chicken with fried bread and winter truffle is 130, and the T-bone steak is 230, though that does include chips. Interestingly, the day I went some of the prices online were between 5 and 8 lower. Id warn you to be aware of that, but we all know youre not going. Equally, while theyre all doubtless lovely, this newspapers expenses wont cover them. Instead, we have three dolmades for 16 and they are fine: loosely rolled, a good sharp lemony edge to the rice filling, a dainty scattering of fresh herbs and pine nuts across the top. They are not, however, twice as good as those that cost half the price. Theyre just a little prettier. The small, flat splodge of ground beef moussaka for 24 is so spoonable, so very soft, you could eat it without recourse to teeth. Then again, dental implants are expensive. You wouldnt want to risk them. I would like to have tried the courgette tempura and the cheese pies, but theyre all out of courgettes and cheese today. Instead, we have baby squid, which is very much on the chewy, adolescent side of baby. Its nowhere near as good, for example, as the version at Mandarin Kitchen, which is twice the size for less than two-thirds the cost. Much better is the half corn-fed chicken, with dark marinated skin and a herb-stuffed breast. Its a lovely dish for 24. Except its 42. For that money I want the whole thing. This one is missing its wing. Wheres my bloody chicken wing? A 12 portion of broccoli with a fine dice of chilli and garlic is just a bunch of accountants laughing uproariously at us. The omnipresent service is solicitous, verging on the infantilising. They are constantly attempting to portion up our dishes for us. I assure them we can cut up our lunch ourselves. At the heart of the offering is the fish market, an ice-stacked counter full of red mullet, Dover sole and the like, priced by the kilo. Theres a solitary black Canadian lobster, still alive, its limbs twitching as if its trying to make a run for it. I know how it feels. You choose your fish and theyll fry, grill or salt bake it as you wish. The prices force me to call Rex Goldsmith of the renowned Chelsea Fishmonger. He tells me his kilo price for mackerel is 12.50. I tell him at Gaia its 100. Rex gasps. Christ, he says. At that price the fish should give you a blowjob. I am merely the reporter here. A kilo of John Dory retails for 26.50. Here its 150. Red mullet is 36. At Gaia its 140. And so on. For dessert our waiter cheerily recommends the frozen yoghurt with honey and caramelised walnuts. Of course he does. Its the most expensive choice at 36. Sorry to bang on about the prices but they are the gilded, diamond-encrusted, Jimmy-Chooed elephants in the room. What do you get for that? Who knows. Im not about to find out. Theres also something called a Tarta me Fistikia, which is a name that conjures many images. It turns out to be a truly magnificent layered fridge cake with a crunchy base of peanut shortbread, stacked with salted caramel and a deep chocolate mousse. The portion will serve two for 18, so 9 a head. It is by far the best value on the menu and the best thing we eat. Come for a scoop of the exceedingly good tarama. Fill up on the free bread. Finish with the peanut tart. Laugh at the facelifts. Go home. The day after my visit, I am emailed by Fundamental Hospitality, the company behind Gaia, offering me a free meal in any of their esteemed locations in exchange for coverage. Damn. I could have saved the paper 200 (with no booze), and still written this piece. This is how Western civilisation ends: not with a bang, but with a 20 plate of mediocre calamari. News bites A new restaurant operator is attempting to turn the threat of a meal out being a total nightmare into a certainty with the launch in Birmingham this summer of a horror film-themed restaurant and bar. Merlins, which is scheduled to open in early August on the citys Corporation Street, will apparently have a restaurant and cocktail bar inspired by the themes in Stranger Things, Beetlejuice and other horror-based movies and shows. After 6pm the upstairs bar area will become adults only. As the company behind the venture says, Every detail at Merlins has been carefully crafted to provide a positively horrifying experience. And so on. Sales of chain restaurant branded foods to eat at home have jumped, according to numbers from supermarket delivery company Ocado. Sales of products, including Franco Manca pizzas, Gourmet Burger Kitchen burgers and meals by the Asian-inspired Itsu have risen by 50% in the past year, while sales of Hawksmoor-branded steaks are up over 30%. Ocado says purchases seem to be clustered around weekends, which they are ascribing to people replacing expensive take-aways with cheaper fake-aways, a word which will never again appear in this column. Chesters hoteliers are to be balloted on the proposed introduction of a 2-a-night tourist tax. The levy would aim to raise around 1m a year from the citys 27 hotels, which would then be spent on various visitor events and festivals. A similar 1-a-night project in Manchester, raised 2.8m in its first year. Email Jay at jay.rayner@observer.co.uk or follow him on X @jayrayner1 Noa Argamani, a rescued hostage embraces her father, Yakov Argamani, after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip For a nation burdened by sorrow, besieged by enemies, parched with anxiety and tormented by international mendacity, this was a dream-like moment of joy. When Israeli special forces rescued four hostages in central Gaza in an audacious daytime operation that had been planned for weeks, the country erupted in happiness. On Tel Aviv beach, lifeguards announced the news to cheers and dancing. As the families of the freed left their apartments to be reunited, neighbours sang from windows and wept in jubilation. Across the country and throughout the Jewish world a single phrase was on everyones lips. Am Yisrael chai. The people of Israel live. The moment of joy contained a moment of clarity. Israels war in Gaza is not one of aggression, bloodlust or conquest. Despite the propaganda of Hamas and its armies of sympathisers at the UN, in the international media and on the Left of politics, the Jews of 2024 do not relish the deaths of children any more than their forebears in Norwich did in 1144 when that lie was first levelled against them. Dont listen to those who reframe a hostage rescue as an atrocity. This is a war of defence, of humanity and of love. Not love of Hamas and their outriders. Love of family. In the aftermath of October 7, Jews around the world were often asked whether they had any relatives in Israel. There was only one answer: nine million of them, with hundreds in captivity in Gaza. That is why we wept at the pictures of the hostages coming home. That is why we root for the IDF. Those brave soldiers who leave their parents and their children for the maw of the death cult are not motivated by enthusiasm for killing, but to release their countrymen, to protect their families and their home. They do not risk their lives for the genocide of civilians, an allegation that is shameful even in repetition. They go into action behind a vanguard of warnings to vacate the battlefield and deploy as precise munitions as possible, despite the human sacrifice strategy of the enemy. Who among us held out hope that Noa Argamani, the 26-year-old Israeli partygoer last seen screaming on the back of a Hamas motorcycle, was still alive? Who dared to hope she might be returned to her mother, who is suffering with cancer? In a single day, Noa has gone from a symbol of tragedy to a symbol of hope, that alchemical force on which the Jewish state was founded and that continues to sustain it, even through this darkness. Her rescue, as well as that of Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and 41-year-old Shlomi Ziv, proves the value of military pressure. Hamas needs to hurt. While the world tells Israel to lay down its arms, dreaming up ever more spurious arguments stop fighting and Hamas will vanish, ceasefire and your daughters will be freed, be kind and they will come to love you, give them a state and they will allow you to live the IDF must carry on. On Friday, Israeli troops took the Philadelphi corridor, a narrow strip of land between Gaza and Egypt peppered with smuggling tunnels. On Saturday, they rescued four hostages. Next week they will continue to advance through Rafah, neutralising Hamas house by house and destroying them in their tunnels. A million civilians have been evacuated to safety. The political plan for Gaza remains frustratingly vague but the military strategy has been vindicated. Hamas is licking its wounds. The terror group had its exhilaration on October 7 and now the tables have turned. This is a struggle of family against depravity. Israel celebrates freedom, not murder; those holding firm for us are family too. Thank you. Jake Wallis Simons is editor of the Jewish Chronicle and author of Israelophobia Surgery director Thangadorai Amalesh in the new elective surgical hub at King George Hospital, east London. Photograph: Andy Hall/The Observer Just two weeks after he was diagnosed with cancer, John Harvey was in a hospital ward on Thursday for a three-hour operation which he hopes will cure him. Harvey, 79, from east London, expected an anxious wait for treatment after being diagnosed with colon cancer but has benefited from a drive to cut waiting times at the London trust where he is being treated. I thought the wait would be weeks and weeks, he said. I was surprised. Harvey, who was in hospital for an operation to remove part of his colon, and millions of others like him are on the frontline of a key election battleground: the NHS waiting list. Rishi Sunak said in January last year that he would fix the NHS, pledging that waiting lists will fall and people will get the care they need more quickly. The waiting list is 330,000 longer than when he made his pledge. Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer clashed over the NHS waiting list in the ITV general election debate on Tuesday when the prime minister claimed waiting lists were coming down. Starmer responded: [They were] 7.2 million when you said you would get them down. They are now 7.5 million, I would like you to explain how theyre coming down. Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting says a new Labour government will create an additional 40,000 appointments, scans and operations a week in England to cut the waiting list, equivalent to more than 2m extra appointments a year. Yet one key question remains for the millions languishing on the list: will it work? Medical teams at King George hospital, part of the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University hospitals NHS trust, where John Harvey was being treated last week, are already implementing some of the innovative measures which could finally cut the waiting lists. The hospital is in a neighbouring constituency to Streetings, and he has highlighted their work as genuinely groundbreaking and nationally leading. We decided to establish what we described as a hospital within a hospital The goal is to avoid cancellations and ensure that medical resources, from operating theatres to diagnostics equipment, are used effectively. Or, as one director of surgery put it last week, to sweat the assets. There is also more weekend working and partnerships with independent providers to ensure faster diagnosis and treatment. Planned operations, known as elective surgery, are routinely cancelled in hospitals across the country because high-dependency beds are unavailable or surgical teams and operating theatres are needed for emergency admissions. The delays cascade down the lists. Thangadorai Amalesh, divisional director of surgery at the Barking, Havering and Redbridge University hospitals NHS trust, said that during the pandemic the medical teams looked at the best ways to avoid cancellations. We decided to establish what we described as a hospital within a hospital, where we protected King George hospital in our trust as an elective hub, he said. The new dedicated hub was set up with ringfenced beds, facilities and staff. It meant patients could be admitted without worrying that their operations may be cancelled and surgeons could start operations earlier in the morning, knowing that a high-dependency bed would be available for the patient afterwards. The clinical teams looked at various aspects of their operations, with several projects to increase productivity. It included bones weeks to tackle backlogs in orthopaedic patients, with theatres operating 12 hours a day over weekdays and the weekend. The answer is never bureaucracy but rather to focus on how you remove bottlenecks in the system, said Amalesh. We learned a lot of lessons from the pandemic on how to be more flexible. The standalone elective hub set up at King George hospital during the pandemic was one of the first to be established. There are now about 100 across England, focusing mainly on high-volume, low-complexity surgery. The King George hub was expanded with the opening of a 14m extension including two operating theatres last month. It will allow 100 additional operations a week. The trust cut the number of patients waiting more than a year from 2,430 in March 2021 to 1,783 last March, and officials say they could have got this down to zero had there been no industrial action. Despite this success, the most recent figures show overall waiting lists at the trust are still rising over the year, highlighting the fact that inpatient operations are only a small proportion of the overall waiting list. Matthew Trainer, the trusts chief executive, said: This is not going to be a quick fix. Its a programme of recovery. Nine out of 10 people on the waiting list are not waiting for an inpatient surgical procedure. They are waiting for appointments and diagnostics. Independent providers are helping to assess patients after GP referrals, and there is a drive by the trust to increase the number of clinics and tests. Trainer said that further initiatives could be introduced nationally to check whether people on the waiting list needed to be on it or whether they could be better treated in the community. He also said there should be greater investment in public health to ensure healthier lifestyles to reduce the burden on the NHS. Kathryn Marszalek, senior analytical manager at the Health Foundation, said that Labours pledge of an additional 2m appointments a year should not be seen on its own as a silver bullet. The health system is in desperate need of capital investment, and the industrial action with junior doctors needs to be solved. We cant rely exclusively on trying to increase activity with one feature, such as weekend working. Labour plans to cut waiting list times with weekend clinics, using spare capacity in the private sector and doubling the number of scanners to deliver faster diagnoses. It says its plan will cost 1.3bn, paid for by a crackdown on tax avoidance, but it is a small proportion of the annual NHS budget for England of about 165bn. So far the party has given no indication of the amount of money it is prepared to spend on fixing crumbling hospitals or increasing the workforce. It will definitely make a difference, but how big a difference is the big unknown Rob Findlay, a specialist in NHS demand and capacity planning at the data management solutions firm Insource, said the NHS undertakes 92m outpatient appointments, tests and operations a year, which includes follow-up appointments. The additional 2m appointments a year promised by Labour represents an increase in activity of only about two per cent. This extra activity will need to be targeted to bring the waiting times and the waiting list down, he said. It will definitely make a difference, but how big a difference is the big unknown. Israeli soldiers in Hurfeish, northern Israel, on Wednesday. Ori Gordin, general of the Northern Command, said the deployment for a major offensive against Hezbollah has been completed - Xinhua/Shutterstock Before the war began, winery owner Rami Naaman loved to photograph the sunrise breaking over the distant Golan Heights from the porch of his ancient stone home in the Upper Galilee mountains. On Oct 7, Mr Naaman and his wife Bettina joined tens of thousands forced to flee Israels agricultural heartland under sustained rocket and drone attacks from Hezbollah militants along the nearby Lebanese border. For the past eight months, he has made the perilous journey once a week from his temporary refuge near Tel Aviv to tend to his vineyards on the frontlines of tit-for-tat fire between Israeli and Hezbollah forces, facing the rising risk of bombings as he prepares the land for the summer harvest. This week his village of Ramot Naftali had seen even more assaults than before, said Mr Naaman. There were several incidents around our very close area every day. There were rockets inside our village and next to it, he said. It feels like we have been abandoned and nobody cares. But the grinding conflict in the north has come into sharp focus again in recent days after cross-border strikes reached a new level of intensity with larger and more sophisticated weaponry that has deepened fears of an all-out Israel-Hezbollah conflict or even a regional war. An Israeli soldier carries an injured comrade after projectiles were fired from Lebanon towards Israel, in Hurfeish on Wednesday - Avi Ohayon/REUTERS On Saturday, Hezbollah took responsibility for at least 10 attacks in northern Israel and claimed to have fired a volley of heavy Falaq-2 rockets at a military base in Beit Hillel. If verified, it would mark the first use of this weapon which is manufactured in Iran and features a 60kg warhead and a range of 11km. Earlier, Israel was shocked when a soldier was killed and 10 others wounded in the town of Hurfeish by Hezbollahs explosive-laden drones. Public outcry over dramatic bushfires sparked by incoming missiles spurred Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, to rush to the near abandoned northern town of Kiryat Shmona on Wednesday. As he arrived, he threatened an extremely powerful response and strong action to restore security to the north. While the low-intensity confrontation on the northern border is becoming untenable, few believe the Israeli government barring its more extreme elements wants to open up a second front in its eight-month war. Rockets fired from southern Lebanon are intercepted by Israel's Iron Dome air defence system over the Israeli-annexed Golan Heights on May 17 - JALAA MAREY/AFP Hezbollah this week, through its deputy chief, Sheikh Naim Qassem, also indicated the Iran-backed militia was not seeking to widen the conflict with Israel but would not withdraw from the Lebanon border until the war in Gaza ends. But agreement by Gazas Hamas leadership to a US-backed ceasefire deal that would halt hostilities in exchange for the return of Israeli hostages and Palestinian prisoners remains elusive. While both sides of the Israel-Lebanon border have so far kept a lid on conflict spiralling out of control, experts warn that the latest round of hardball strategising risks tipping the region into a major war. The problem with low intensity war is that it is almost prone to miscalculation and escalation and in the last few days it reached really a dangerous level, said Prof Yossi Mekelberg, an associate fellow at the Chatham House think tank. It is a very delicate moment between the two. Rationally neither side would like to confront each other in a full-blown war but the question is at what point they cross the point of no return. Israel was unable to disconnect the situation in the north from the south, leaving it in a vicious circle said former senior Israeli intelligence official Sima Shine. Firefighters extinguish a fire at a kibbutz in Naftali caused by a drone attack from Lebanon, on Tuesday - Amir Levy/Getty There is no decision yet made but I can tell you that in the security establishment there is a growing pressure to go for something wider. This could involve a combination of air strikes and a ground operation to meet growing demands for a bufferzone to be established on the Lebanese side of the border, she suggested. While there had been talk of this zone extending to meet the terms of the 2006 UN Security Council resolution 1701, which required Hezbollah militias to retreat north of the Litani river, some 18 miles from the Israeli border, the buffer would likely be narrower, she said. Israel, meanwhile, had good intelligence about the location of Hezbollah targets, but it faced the same phenomenon as it did in the south, that the militants had integrated themselves into local communities, raising the risk of civilian casualties, she said. Brig Gen (Res) Assaf Orion, former head of the Israel Defense Forces strategic division, said an offensive would probably involve massive intelligence-driven precision strikes on Lebanese Hezbollah targets across Lebanon and a land manoeuvre to destroy its army and suppress its short-range rocket fire. But a political agreement in the north may still be within reach if a ceasefire deal was reached with Hamas, suggested Avraham Levine, an analyst at the Alma Research and Education Centre. Diplomatic agreement with Lebanon While this would allow Israelis in the north to go back to our normal lives it would not remove the long-term threat from Hezbollah, said Mr Levine, who lives 2.5 miles from the Syrian border in the Golan Heights. Israel could also seek a diplomatic agreement with Lebanon or help from UN forces to push Hezbollah back across the Litani River. The last option would be a ground manoeuvre similar to the Gaza operation with combined air force with armoured tanks and full force infantry, probably from more than one direction, he said. This kind of operation would be focused on southern Lebanon but not exclusively, as Hezbollah also has infrastructure in the Bekaa valley and the capital Beirut, he added. The stakes would be alarmingly high for both sides. Since October, about 100,000 Lebanese civilians, including many farmers, have already been displaced from the border region. An extension of hostilities would leave the conflict-weary population facing further economic ruin. Militias in Syria, Iraq and Yemen On the Israeli side, a ground operation would be grave and more difficult than Gaza, said Mr Levine, as it would face a much better prepared and armed enemy that could unleash its heavy weaponry on major Israeli cities and important infrastructure. The Alma institute estimates Hezbollah has a formidable armoury including 150,000 mortars, 65,000 rockets with a range of up to 50 miles, 5,000 rockets and missiles with a range of 50-124 miles, 5,000 missiles with a range of 124 miles or more and 2,500 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). This could enable a daily air assault difficult even for Israels sophisticated defence systems to withstand. Lebanese Hezbollah would fire by all means available and launch Radwan cross-border attacks, said Brig Gen Orion, referring to the militias commando division. The damage in Israel will be severe, and in Lebanon catastrophic. How does this war stop, and will the US have Israels back remain serious questions. The chilling scenario of widespread destruction in Israel and Lebanon through an escalating conflict that could draw pro-Iranian militias in Syria, Iraq and Yemen into the fight, has prompted the Biden administration to caution Israel against the notion of a limited war in Lebanon. Of most beautiful places on Earth For vintners like Mr Naaman, exiled from his home and watching his business being slowly destroyed, the prospect of a war raging out of control only increases a sense of helplessness. A diplomatic solution would be the best option to allow Galilees residents to return and restore peace in one of the most beautiful places on Earth, he said. I think the best hope is if the government is changed and the fanatics move out and some more logical steps can be taken, Mr Naaman added. Gan Haim, a fellow winemaker, who can now only access his boutique winery with the permission of the military, said he also favoured a diplomatic solution to the crisis. A military operation would be a disaster for Lebanon, a disaster for Israel, he said, adding: We should be smart and look at the long term. Israel was now a sad society, we are in deep grief, said Mr Haim. Even our vineyards are sad. When you have fires and endless gunpowder and people are going to the vineyards and they are scared, he said, before adding: We will prevail. People took to the streets to celebrate the rescue of four Israeli hostages from the Gaza strip. Photograph: Sharon Eilon/SOPA Images/Rex/Shutterstock Eight months after the horrors of 7 October, Saturday was a rare, joyful day in Israel after four hostages were rescued safely from Gaza in a special forces operation. Street parties were held across the country; the weekly demonstration in Tel Aviv demanding that the government strike a deal with Hamas to release the remaining 120 captives was invigorated by the news. Israeli media celebrated the reunion of the Nova festivalgoer Noa Argamani with her terminally ill mother, and broke the sad news that the father of another freed Nova hostage, Almog Meir Jan, had died just hours before his son arrived home in a military helicopter. Meir Jan is the only one of the four to have made any public comment so far, telling state broadcaster Kan Radio on Saturday: Thank you, thank you to everyone. I am fine. I am with my supportive family. Family members of the hostages said that their loved ones were aware while in captivity of the grassroots protest movement pressuring the government to bring them home. The painstaking planning and intelligence gathering for the mission, the bravery of the ground troops and the accompanying morale boost for the public and army have been endlessly dissected: Saturdays operation is likely to be remembered as one of the most daring rescues in Israeli history, drawing comparisons to the famous raid on Entebbe airport in 1976. In the midst of such catharsis after eight months of a steady trickle of news that more and more hostages have died, there was little bandwidth in Israel for the renewed suffering in Gaza that the operation has caused. A total of 274 people were killed and another 696 were injured, according to medics in the devastated Palestinian territory, the majority in airstrikes that allowed the commandos to escape after one of their vehicles broke down when they under fire from militants. Even a column in Haaretz Israels leading leftwing newspaper mentioned the Palestinian deaths only in the context of how they will further damage Israels image internationally, calling the operation a dizzying success in which the price could have been much heavier after one special operations officer was killed. Gazas health ministry does not differentiate between civilian and militant casualties, but graphic images and videos from the scene in Nuseirat and a local hospital suggested dozens of women and children were among the dead and dying. Ben Saul, the UNs special rapporteur on counter-terrorism and human rights, has suggested that the operation may be deemed a war crime if it was anticipated that civilian casualties would be excessive. Related: Outrage over massacre in Gaza as Israel rescued four hostages Mairav Zonszein, a senior Israel analyst at the International Crisis Group thinktank, said the Palestinian deaths during the rescue mission were unlikely to have much impact on the Israeli public. Theres been so much death and destruction, and no let-up from the crisis in Gaza and with Hezbollah This is a major moment of relief. Everyone cried when they heard the news that four hostages were free, said Zonszein. People have not cared about the Palestinian casualty count the whole time, and the media doesnt really report it, so I wouldnt expect them to start caring about it now, during of all things a rescue operation. As we have seen before, there is an Israeli narrative in the war, and an international narrative, and they dont really meet. Saturdays rescue of Argamani, 25, Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, was not the first successful rescue of the conflict. The eighteen-year-old soldier Ori Magidish was brought home in October in an operation in which two Hamas militants were killed, according to the IDF, and a similar raid in Rafah in February freed two elderly men from the Nir Yitzhak kibbutz in a mission that reportedly left at least 67 Palestinians dead. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has long insisted that military pressure, rather than a hostage release and ceasefire deal, is the best way to bring the remaining captives home a position widely believed to be politically motivated. Public support for negotiations is still strong; polling from last month suggested the majority of Israelis prioritise a deal over military action. On Sunday, Hamas claimed without evidence that three other hostages had been killed during the rescue operation, including a US citizen. If anyone believes that yesterdays operation absolves the government of the need to strike a deal, they are living a fantasy. The opposite is true. The joy over the successful rescue of the four only evinced the need for a deal. There are people out there who need to be saved, and the sooner, the better, columnist Nahum Barnea wrote in the centre-right Israeli daily Yedioth Ahronoth. Netanyahu has also been widely criticised at home for capitalising on the successful rescue mission, breaking Shabbat convention to meet the released hostages and pose for photographs. He is yet to meet or contact many hostage families whose loved ones are still missing or have been killed. Avi Marciano, the father of the dead 19-year-old hostage Noa Marciano, wrote on his Facebook page: When the ending is bad, the prime minister doesnt show up. He doesnt call, either. Narendra Modi is sworn in as PM at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. Photograph: Manish Swarup/AP Narendra Modi has been sworn in as prime minister of India for a historic third term, ushering in a new era of coalition politics for Indias strongman leader. The ceremony, which took place at the presidential palace on Sunday evening, marked Modis return to power, only the second leader in Indias history to win three consecutive terms. A beaming Modi stood next to two Bharatiya Janata party (BJP) heavyweights, Rajnath Singh and Amit Shah, who were both confirmed to return as cabinet ministers. As he stepped up to the podium to make his pledge to the president, Droupadi Murmu, loud cheers erupted from the vast crowds gathered to watch the ceremony. Modis third term is likely to take a very different shape from his previous decade in office after his BJP faced an unexpectedly challenging election. The party won the most seats in the polls, which took place over almost two months with the results finally announced on Tuesday, but fell short of an absolute majority. Related: Indian democracy fought back: Modi humbled as opposition gains ground Modi had to rely on coalition partners, notably smaller regional parties, to give the BJP enough seats to claim a parliamentary majority and form the government. It is the first time that Modi, who is used to leading from the front, has been forced to govern in a power-sharing arrangement, with coalition partners taking several cabinet and ministerial posts. Analysts believe the BJPs new dependence on secular coalition parties could present a challenge for Modi and may curtail some of the more authoritarian and dictatorial tendencies of his government in the past, in particular his pursuit of Hindu-first policies. Since he came to power in 2014, Modi has reshaped the secular country with an aggressive Hindu nationalist agenda, gaining widespread support among Indias 80% Hindu majority. His supporters credit him with Indias economic growth and elevated standing on the world stage, but he lost swathes of votes in the election because of issues such as chronic unemployment and fears over Indias democracy. Speaking to his coalition parties over the weekend, Modi pushed back at the opposition alliance who have claimed that the election was a defeat for the prime minister. We did not lose, he said but also struck an unusually conciliatory note, adding: To run the government, a majority is necessary. But to run the nation, a consensus is necessary. The opposition alliance, which goes by the acronym INDIA, performed far better than polls had predicted in the election, and will be returning to parliament with more than 230 seats, more than double the previous election. Heads of state from neighbouring countries, including the prime minister of Bangladesh, Sheikh Hasina, and the Sri Lankan president, Ranil Wickremesinghe, flew in to attend Modis swearing in ceremony. Also in attendance were two of Indias richest industrialists, Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, who are seen to enjoy a close relationship with Modi, and the Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Mallikarjun Kharge, the president of the Congress party, attended the ceremony as a representative for the INDIA opposition alliance, but all other opposition leaders snubbed it. Mamata Banerjee, the head of the opposition Trinamool Congress party, said she would not be attending as the government was being formed illegally and undemocratically, adding that governments sometimes last only for a day. This article was amended on 9 June 2024. Ranil Wickremesinghe is Sri Lankas president not prime minister as an earlier version said. Job vacancy rates in the social care sector are running at about 10%. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian Nearly half of all care workers in England earn less than a real living wage, according to research. Analysis by the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) for the Living Wage Foundation found that 400,000 workers in social care (43% of the workforce) in England are paid less than 12 an hour, the amount required to cover living costs. In London the picture is even starker, with 80% of care workers paid less than 13.15, the London living wage. In Scotland and Wales, social care workers earn at least the real living wage. With job vacancy rates running at about 10% and turnover almost double the average of other sectors, campaigners want all English care staff to have the same guarantees. Matthew Bolton, the executive director of Citizens UK, a campaign group, said: Its not right that those caring for our loved ones when they need it most are barely surviving because of their low wages. This also has knock-on effects for the sector: staff turnover is high, the quality of care is compromised and morale is low. It simply cant continue this way. We urge the next UK government to ensure all care workers are paid at least the real living wage and build on the example set by Scotland and Wales. The IPPRs analysis shows it would cost 415m to pay all social care workers in England the real living wage, but as higher wages would generate extra income tax and national insurance revenues, it calculates that the total net cost to the next government would be 330m, less than 2% of the social care budget for the coming year. The leaders of 18 local authorities have signed an open letter to Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer calling for the next government to ensure all care workers in England earn at least the real living wage, including for travel time and sleep-in shifts. Care work is vital, demanding, skilled work and people taking on this responsibility should earn more than the legal minimum, the letter states. If we want to build a social care workforce which is fit for the demands of the future, we must ensure that staff earn enough to meet their everyday needs. The signatories, who include the leaders of Liverpool and Dorset councils and eight London boroughs, say that while some local authorities have been able to implement the real living wage for care workers, many cannot afford it without greater support from central government. Simon Bottery, a senior fellow in social care at the Kings Fund thinktank, said improving social care pay would be popular with the public but needed to be rooted in a wider workforce strategy to improve training and career development, rather than tackled in isolation. Nina Hemmings, a Nuffield Trust researcher, said: For too long pay and conditions for care workers have been pitiful and unattractive compared to roles in other sectors, with the result being chronically high vacancy rates and around one in five care home workers living in poverty and deprivation. Boosting pay for care workers in line with the real living wage is one of several measures that could be taken to fix this. The next government should be emboldened by the precedent set by the Scottish and Welsh governments. Social care pay is likely to feature in a number of election manifestos. The Liberal Democrats have pledged to introduce a carers minimum wage set 2 above the standard minimum wage to tackle the huge shortage of care workers. Rayner with Keir Starmer and shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves at the launch event for Labour's campaign bus. Photograph: Lucy North/PA Labours campaign bus is rolling on through the outskirts of Manchester, and Angela Rayner is pointing at me with mock outrage. Tom! What have you done to my lettuce? Im not owning up and insist I never even touched it. Well, someone has done something, she says suspiciously. The vegetable has been decorated to make it resemble the one that infamously triumphed in the Daily Stars competition to see whether it could outlast Liz Truss as prime minister. Labours deputy leader decrees it needs surgery and a small operation is performed to replace a missing googly eye. Then the lettuce is put back in a fridge that itself has become an unlikely star of this election. It all began when Rayner told Sky News of her plan for a 5,000-mile tour of Britain on her new election battle bus, before adding, with perfect deadpan comic timing: Youre gonna love it its got a fridge. Both fridge and lettuce have since appeared in a TikTok video filled with the kind of freewheeling spirit thats sometimes a bit absent from the more buttoned-up approach Keir Starmer has taken to this campaign. After the bus arrives in Manchester, to be greeted by a crowd of supporters, the regions mayor, Andy Burnham, compares Rayner to John Prescott, the former deputy leader once famed for his election bus tours. The difference this time, he says, is: Angela has the ability to connect with people without actually punching anybody. Indeed, in Friday nights BBC TV debate, she was restrained as Tory opponent Penny Mordaunt repeatedly goaded and interrupted her. But Rayner knows part of her role in this election is to lighten up Labour and, sitting on the back row of the bus with her, the next display of down-to-earth humanity is never far away. At one point, she wrinkles her nose at some food on the table. Is it vegan? she asks. After being reassured it contains all kinds of animal products (that lettuce really is just for show) she bites into a pie. Oh, look at that. Ham! A bit of real ham! Rayner then opens her arms wide and describes feeling unleashed now shes been cleared by the police of any criminal wrongdoing over the sale of her former council home in Stockport. But those weeks when she was under investigation have clearly been bruising. The controversy fuelled what sometimes seems like a prurient interest in her personal life and living arrangements that included getting pregnant with her first child before her GCSEs and then having two more with her now ex-husband. She thinks political opponents just want me to stay in my lane and tell me, get back in your place. She adds: Its horrible to have people telling you that youre not all right in how you speak or conduct yourself. They try to make you feel you dont belong. Ive always felt like I had to prove myself. As a young mother I got the same tone from the housing department. Its different if you have a child in your 20s but at 16, people judge you. I had to prove I could look after my child. There was hypocrisy, she says, in the attacks on her by very wealthy men whose non-domiciled status had allowed them to avoid legally paying many millions of pounds more in tax than the comparatively tiny sum she was accused of dodging. When I bought my house, I had an estate agent and a conveyancing solicitor, she points out. Thats what normal working people do. I didnt have loads of tax advisers and accountants. Does she fancy moving into another form of public housing, such as the stately home of Dorneywood, usually given to those holding the post of deputy prime minister? I havent even thought about that. I love my little flat in London. Shes not going to make the mistake of measuring the curtains for power when the election is not won yet and, in any case in a place like that, itd be quite a lot of curtains, wouldnt it? Rayner is at pains to deny that the obvious contrast in style between her and Starmer represents more profound differences of the kind they had in 2021, when she found out from the media that he was trying to demote her. Indeed, the steadfast support he gave Rayner when she was under attack recently has, according to both sides, strengthened a relationship which helps keep the partys big tent upright. We work well together, she says, we have each others backs and have a bit of banter now. Sometimes hell tell me Im wrong on some issue and sometimes Ill tell him. When youre looking at a problem, you dont just want yes people around you. Questioning each other is good. Even so, there have been claims in this campaign that shes undermining Starmer, first by publicly backing Diane Abbotts right to be a Labour candidate, then proclaiming she wanted multilateral disarmament on the day he was seeking to emphasise Labours support for Britain having nuclear weapons. Keir and me arent in a different place with respect to Diane, she says, before going on to describe how the Labour leader would never have authorised the anonymous briefing suggesting Abbott was banned from standing. I kind of know how he ticks and thats not how he conducts himself. Hes a stickler for following the rules. Is it true she telephoned Faiza Shaheen, another leftwinger who unlike Abbott has been blocked from standing? Im not going to get into what personal conversations I have, replies Rayner, suddenly stiffening. Ive got no holiday booked for the summer. The opportunity to make change could come and go quickly On nuclear weapons, she expresses astonishment that anyone would think her remarks were controversial. Margaret Thatcher was a multilateralist, says Rayner, as she insists that voting against renewing Trident eight years ago didnt make her a unilateralist. I would sincerely hope that every leader would want a world where we didnt have these weapons, but we now live in one where theres Putin and we have to have our nuclear deterrent. This is part of the serious side to her which is too easily ignored. For instance, it is noteworthy that someone seemingly as tribal as Rayner wants to have a meeting with Michael Gove old Govey as she calls the levelling up secretary about housing policy now that he has announced that he is to quit frontline politics. I actually respect him in some ways. He identified some of the problems and solutions. He wanted to do some things on planning reform, but the Tory MPs stopped him. Then she breaks into a smile again as she adds: Both me and Michael like a disco, dont we? He could pay the fiver for me to get in and we could have a disco together afterwards. In government, there will be less room for jokes and dancing. If we win on July the fourth, the real work begins on July the fifth. Ive got no holiday booked for the summer. The opportunity to make change could come and go quickly. Keir wont have us around the table if were not up for it. She points out that this is the most working-class shadow cabinet in a generation. Its not just her and Starmer, but also people such as Bridget Phillipson, who was brought up on benefits by a single mother and is passionate about education because she knows what it did for her. Rayner then pauses and looks straight ahead as she adds: It makes us feel this real sense of responsibility. This is not a game for us. Keir Starmer: The Biography, by Tom Baldwin, is published by William Collins (25). To support the Guardian and Observer order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply Buildings damaged during Israeli attacks in the Nuseirat refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip. Photograph: Xinhua/Rex/Shutterstock Israeli attacks in central Gaza killed scores of Palestinians, many of them civilians, amid a special forces operation to free four hostages held there, a death toll that has caused international outrage. At least 274 Palestinians were killed and 698 wounded in Israeli strikes on the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, Gazas health ministry said on Sunday. The Israeli military said its forces had come under heavy fire during the daytime operation. The EUs top diplomat, Josep Borrell, called Saturdays events a massacre, while the UNs aid chief described in graphic detail scenes of shredded bodies on the ground. Nuseirat refugee camp is the epicentre of the seismic trauma that civilians in Gaza continue to suffer, Martin Griffiths said in a post on X, calling for a ceasefire and the release of all hostages. The bodies of 109 Palestinians, including 23 children and 11 women, were taken to nearby al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital in Deir al-Balah, which also treated more than 100 wounded, a spokesperson, Khalil Degran, told AP. He also said more than 100 people killed in Israeli attacks had been taken to al-Awda hospital. That figure was also given by the Hamas media office, but could not be verified. Fierce bombing and shelling in central Gaza continued on Sunday, killing six people, medics said, while tanks moved further into the centre of Rafah, Gazas southernmost city and its main gateway to the outside world. The Israeli military spokesperson Rear Adm Daniel Hagari confirmed on Saturday that dozens of Palestinians had been killed in the raid. He knew that under 100 casualties had been reported, but could not say how many were civilians, he told a briefing. The rescue in Nuseirat, a built-up refugee camp dating to the 1948 Arab-Israeli conflict, was Israels largest such operation of the war, freeing Noa Argamani, 25, Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40. All four were healthy and were reunited with their families on Saturday after medical tests. Scores of hostages are believed to be held in densely populated areas or inside Hamas labyrinth of tunnels, making such operations extremely complex and risky. A similar raid in February rescued two hostages and killed 74 Palestinians. While Israelis celebrated their return, Palestinians in Gaza mourned the many dead or watched over injured loved ones in the overcrowded al-Aqsa Martyrs hospital. Bombing of Nuseirats busy market area began soon after the raid started at around 11am (9am BST), turning the neighbourhood into smoke and flames, Muhannad Thabet, a 35-year-old resident, told AFP. People were screaming young and old, women and men, he said. Everyone wanted to flee the place, but the bombing was intense and anyone who moved was at risk of being killed due to the heavy bombardment and gunfire. At least one wave of heavy airstrikes was launched to secure the passage of the three men, who had been held together. Argamani was rescued alone, from a separate location. The special forces team extracting the male hostages was confronted by militants, Israels Channel 12 television reported, and when a rescue vehicle got stuck, called in backup from Israels air force and other troops in the area. They escaped under heavy bombardment, the report said. Eyewitnesses also reported tank and drone fire. Special forces operated under heavy fire in a complex urban environment to carry out the rescue, the Israeli defence minister, Yoav Gallant, said, describing it as one of the most extraordinary operations he had seen in a decades-long military career. Israels prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, said the raid only the third successful military rescue of the war was proof that Israel does not surrender to terrorism. He has long insisted that military pressure is the best way to ensure the return of all Israelis captured on 7 October. But beyond Israel, the hostages joyful reunions with their families were overshadowed by the horror at the number of people killed during the operation. Borrell, in a post on X, condemned in the strongest terms reports from Gaza of another massacre of civilians. He called for a ceasefire and the release of all remaining hostages. The bloodbath must end immediately, he said. Related: Thousands gather at White House for pro-Palestinian protest Israels foreign minister, Israel Katz, lashed out at critics of the operation in a post on X: Only Israels enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices. Gary Epstein, a writer for the Times of Israel, said: Hamas engaged in kidnapping and hostage-taking. Hamas embedded itself in hospitals, schools and United Nations facilities. Hamas uses human shields. Hamas holds hostages in residential neighbourhoods. Where is the outrage? What is Israel supposed to do in these circumstances? As the war drags on into its ninth month, Netanyahu has come under increasing international pressure to agree a ceasefire deal and domestic pressure to secure the return of all Israelis still held in Gaza. The rescue operation may give the prime minister temporary relief at home. After the news broke, his political rival Benny Gantz, a security cabinet member, delayed a speech planned for Saturday evening. He had been widely expected to announce his departure from government, having given Netanyahu an ultimatum to form a long-term plan for Gaza. The prime minister urged him not to step down on Saturday, but in a statement, Gantzs office said the minister would speak on Sunday evening instead. Hostages families have been quick to repeat their demands for a ceasefire deal to release their loved ones, saying in a statement on Saturday evening that the military could not bring back all those still held captive. The hostages dont have time. We cant free everyone in operations and we must go for a deal that will save lives, said Ayala Metzger, the daughter-in-law of the hostage Yoram Metzger, 80, who this week was announced to have died in captivity. Israeli forces have now freed seven hostages, but the majority of those who are now home were handed over under a temporary ceasefire deal last November. There are still 120 held in Gaza, at least a third of whom are presumed to have died. On Sunday, Hamass armed wing posted a video to its Telegram channel showing what appeared to be three unidentifiable corpses with censor bars over their faces, claiming that the bodies belonged to three hostages, including a US citizen, who were killed during the Israeli rescue operation. Internationally, the death toll in Gaza may isolate Netanyahu further and give additional weight to calls for a halt to fighting. American intelligence was reportedly involved in supporting the Israeli mission. The US president, Joe Biden, welcomed the return of the four hostages, but also said efforts to reach a deal to halt the war and secure the return of everyone held in Gaza would continue. While the US remains Israels largest supplier of weapons and most important international ally, Biden has personally pushed hard for an agreement and apparently been frustrated by resistance in the Israeli government. He suggested in a recent interview that Netanyahu may be prolonging the war to protect his personal political interests. Hamas has still not officially responded to the latest deal on the table proposed by Israel and outlined by Biden last week. Some pagans use tarot cards for meditation and guidance - John Lawrence New rules to cope with the growing numbers of pagan prison inmates ban nudity but allow wands, tarot cards and altars. There were 79 pagans in prisons in England and Wales at the start of the millennium, compared with 1,172 now, making them the fourth most common religion registered by offenders. It puts them behind Christians (37,601), Muslims (14,991) and Buddhists (1,643), but ahead of Rastfarians (794) and other religious groups including Hindus, Sikhs and Jews each numbered fewer than 600. Academics have linked the rise to the sense of belonging and the society that paganism provides in the environment of a prison. Others have pointed to its association with Right-wing ideology. It mirrors to some extent a rise in pagans in society, from 57,000 in 2011 to 74,000 in 2021, according to the census. Skyclad (naked) worship not permitted The new prison guidance covering all religions represented in prisons, from Zoroastrianism to Humanism includes the artefacts that pagan inmates are allowed to have and how they should be handled. Although most wear ordinary clothes for worship, some traditions have special dress such as a hoodless robe, the guidance notes, but adds: In prison, Skyclad (naked) worship is not permitted. Some pagans use tarot cards for meditation and guidance, which, governors are advised, may be allowed under the supervision of their prisons pagan chaplain. If a prisoner requests to be allowed to retain a part or full pack in possession, this may be allowed, but only following a local risk assessment, to determine whether there is any reason to preclude cards being kept in possession, it says. Altars are allowed ie desk, small table, box or similar as long as there is space and at local discretion. They are also permitted a flexible twig for a wand, rune stones, pendulum, crystals, chalice and religious jewellery such as pentagram necklace or ring. However, it warns: Such jewellery should be risk assessed in the usual way. The wearing of a ring which symbolises the persons adherence to paganism or a particular pagan path is common. The removal of such a ring may cause considerable distress. Data routinely published by the Ministry of Justice shows how many prisoners follow the major religions, but excludes paganism and Rastafarianism. The loudspeaker broadcasts were suspended in 2018 but have now resumed - Kim Hong-ji/Reuters South Korea has resumed blasting propaganda into North Korea with a sound of freedom broadcast that touted Samsungs achievements and reported on North Korean mental health. South Koreas National Security Council said it had started measures that may be unbearable for the North Korean regime in retaliation after Pyongyang sent hundreds of bags of rubbish over the border attached to balloons. Among these measures was the resumption of the loudspeaker broadcasts, which were suspended in 2018 when relations between the two countries warmed for a time. South Korean news site YNA said the speakers were playing a psychological warfare broadcast dubbed voice of freedom but did not say where they were located or give full details of the content. One of the news outlets reporters said the broadcast resumed around 5pm local time with the message: Hello, fellow North Koreans. From now on, we will begin a freedom broadcast that delivers the sound of truth and hope. The speakers are mounted in military vehicles like this one - Ahn Young-joon/AP A number of news items then followed, aimed at punching through the Norths tight censorship, which includes restrictions on broadcasts from outside the country. Among these was the announcement that the South had suspended its 2018 military agreement with the North which was intended to defuse tension. The broadcast also lauded Samsungs position as one of the worlds top exporters of smartphones and warned of the regime in the Norths censorship. [T]he number of North Korean residents complaining of mental pain is increasing due to the sudden strengthening of crackdowns and censorship on the viewing and distribution of external videos, YNA cited the broadcast as saying. The resumption of the broadcasts came after the South warned its northern foe to stop the rubbish balloons, which began in May. On Saturday, about 330 were launched, with about 80 of them landing south of the border, South Koreas military said. The contents of the broadcasts have not been reported in full - Kim Hong-ji/Reuters Among the items contained in the bags attached to the balloons have been animal faeces, toilet paper and rubbish. The South said the balloons clearly violate international laws and seriously threaten the safety of our people. The North says the rubbish dumping was in response to the use of balloons by activists in South Korea to disseminate of leaflets criticising its regime and flash drives containing K-pop music and Korean dramas. Seoul did not say how long it will continue with the broadcasts, but experts say they could have serious implications, with previous propaganda tit-for-tats having significant consequences for inter-Korean relations. The broadcasts are in retaliation for rubbish balloons - SK Defence Ministry/Reuters There is a high possibility the resuming of speakers could lead to an armed conflict, Cheong Seong-chang, director of the Korean peninsula strategy at Sejong Institute, told AFP. With the resuming of the speakers, North Korea will not stay put. It is likely that North Korea will resume firing in the West Sea or fire at the balloons if the South sends any again, Mr Cheong said. In 2018, during a period of improved inter-Korean relations, the leaders of the two Koreas agreed to completely cease all hostile acts, including stopping the leaflets. The 650 million policing plan will be included in the Tory manifesto - RFStock/E+ Rishi Sunak has pledged to recruit an extra 8,000 bobbies on the beat to tackle car thefts, burglaries and anti-social behaviour. The officers will be specifically dedicated to neighbourhood policing to ensure that people feel safe in their areas. The 650 million plan will be included in the Tory manifesto, which is being published on Monday, and would be funded by a 25 per cent increase on all visas for foreign workers and visitors and a 30 per cent increase in the health surcharge for overseas students. It would take the total number of police officers in the UK to their highest level at nearly 180,000 eclipsing the previous peak of 172,000 in 2010, the last year of the Labour government. It comes after an extra 20,000 police officers were recruited in England and Wales in the three years to last April. Mr Sunak said: People deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhood. More bobbies on the beat and increased powers will give police forces the tools they need to drive down neighbourhood crime even further. Labour has no plan and no idea how to fund more police officers. Our clear plan will create a more secure future for neighbourhoods up and down the country. The Tories have been criticised for a rise in crime recorded by police, including near-record levels of knife offences. Labour has said it plans to put an extra 13,000 police and police community support officers (PCSOs) on the streets, but Mr Sunak will claim the plan for 8,000 fully warranted officers is better than that. Labour is proposing 3,000 extra officers, 4,000 PCSOs who do not have powers of arrest 3,000 special constables and 3,000 officers ring-fenced from the previous 20,000 increase. It comes ahead of a second seven-way TV debate involving representatives from all the parties on Thursday, and Skys leader interviews with Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday. Last Friday, Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, used the first seven-way debate to claim crime was so bad that people generally dont even bother to report it. The extra officers would be recruited over the next Parliament, reaching 8,000 in 2027-28, equivalent to an additional bobby on the beat for every ward in England and Wales. The funding will come with conditions that the extra officers cannot be removed from neighbourhood duties unless there are exceptional reasons. To ensure a genuine increase, forces will be barred from using them to replace current bobbies on the beat. Visa fees, excluding the health surcharge to fund the NHS, have risen from 184 million in 2003, when the Blair government introduced them, to 2.2 billion in 2022. They have been increased since then, with the health surcharge increasing 66 per cent last year. The 25 per cent increase will mean visitor fees will increase from 115 to 144, and skilled workers will go up from 719 to 899, while the surcharge for students will jump from 750 to 1035. The Tory manifesto will also pledge to roll out hotspot policing where officers focus on known problem areas for crime and anti-social behaviour across England and Wales. The security and safety British people deserve Every neighbourhood needs a bobby on the beat. It is essential for cutting crime, boosting community cohesion and improving trust between locals and the police, writes James Cleverly. This is what people expect from their government, and rightly so. We get it. We are the only ones with a clear plan to continue to deliver this. We made good on our pledge for 20,000 more police officers since 2019, meaning there are now more police officers than ever before. And it has made a massive difference, with overall crime down by 54 per cent since 2010. Coupled with record numbers of coppers, we have pioneered new policing methods like our hotspot policing programme which means we can target resources at tackling specific crimes like violent assaults and anti-social behaviour. This plan is working, with anti-social behaviour down by up to half in some places. Hotspot policing programme But we will not stop there in our fight against the common criminal. We will deliver 8,000 more police officers, one extra for every ward in England and Wales. We will add conditions to this extra funding too, ensuring these officers will be mainlined into the coalface of neighbourhood policing. We will roll out the hotspot policing programme, which has been so effective at stamping out anti-social behaviour, across England and Wales. The alternative could not be clearer. Labour is putting a lot of effort into trying to convince people they are strong on crime, but how can they be when they have no plan? Soft on crime We all know Labour are soft on crime. Wherever they are in power, crime is higher. Starmer is trying to take the British people for fools, but we can see through his patronising platitudes and weasel words. He is a wolf in sheeps clothing. Only 3,000 of their alleged 13,000 are actually new full-time, fully warranted officers. The rest are either officers this Conservative government has already recruited, community officers who do not have the power to arrest or volunteer Special Constables, who generously volunteer and dont work full time. On the other hand, we have a strong track record of delivery in getting bobbies on the beat. We had a clear plan in 2019 to get 20,000 extra police officers which we delivered a year early, and we have a clear plan now. We are the only ones that can be trusted with this important task. No place in a Conservative Britain Anti-social behaviour, burglaries and violent crime can wreak havoc on an otherwise peaceful neighbourhood. We will make it clear that these criminals have no place in a Conservative Britain. Our new officers will be 8,000 more foot soldiers in our war on these crimes. I want these new police officers to make a noticeable difference. To do so, these officers will need new tools and powers to get on with the job of tackling ever-evolving crime. Ranging from facial recognition technology to greater powers to seize knives and stolen goods, we will have more police with more power to take on criminals. Neighbourhood crimes can blight a local area and make life a misery for people going about their daily lives. Our plan will give local areas the security and safety British people deserve. Without one, wed let the not-so petty criminals get away scot free. Sir Keir Starmer Sir Keir Starmer, like Sir Tony Blair before him, has done his best to detoxify the Labour brand and convince voters there is nothing to fear in voting for him. But where Sir Tony was a lifelong centrist, Sir Keir started his political life on the extreme left, and questions remain over the extent to which he has abandoned his Trotskyist beliefs. When he was in his mid-20s, in the year he became a barrister, he wrote an article in a socialist fringe magazine musing on whether the police should have any role in civil society. At a similar age he is reported to have said he did not believe in imprisonment for anything, ever. A Labour spokesman said there was no proof that Sir Keir said this, while stopping short of denying outright that he ever said it. Just seven years ago he praised Jeremy Corbyns astonishingly Left-wing election manifesto as a foundational document for Labour, and when he was running for leadership in 2020 he promised to close immigration detention centres, having previously said there was a racist undercurrent to all immigration law. A Labour spokesperson said: Keirs first step priorities for Britain are delivering economic stability, securing our borders, cutting NHS waiting times, setting up GB Energy, cracking down on antisocial behaviour and recruiting 6,500 more teachers. After 14 years of Tory failure, working people have paid the price. All that the Conservatives have to offer is five more years of chaos and division. Its time to turn a page with a Labour government. Here we examine what the prospective prime minister says now on key issues, and what he has said about them in the past. Policing and prisons What he says now: Labours website says the party will rebuild security on Britains streets, with a mission to halve serious violence and rebuild confidence in policing and the criminal justice system. Labour has pledged to put 13,000 extra police and PCSOs on the beat to give every community a named officer they can get in touch with, so policing gets back to doing what its supposed to do. In May this year, Sir Keir criticised Rishi Sunak over his early release scheme for prisoners, saying he should stop issuing get out of jail free cards to prisoners. What he said then: In an article for the magazine Socialist Alternatives in 1987, when Sir Keir was 24, he wrote about the battles between the police and print workers on the picket lines at Rupert Murdochs printing plant at Wapping, east London, accusing the police of paramilitary methods. In his late 20s, Sir Keir had such liberal beliefs on law and order that one friend, quoted by Lord Ashcroft in his biography Red Knight, recalled him saying he did not believe in imprisonment for anything, ever. Personal taxation What he says now: Labour will not increase income tax, National Insurance or VAT (except on private school fees). The partys website also says it will close the loopholes which allow some non-dom mega rich people who live in the UK to avoid paying tax. Labour will tax fairlywe will introduce a new fiscal lock, guaranteeing in law that any government making significant tax and spending changes will be subject to an independent forecast from the Office for Budget Responsibility. He has dismissed Tory claims that Labour will put up taxes by 2,000 per family as garbage. What he said then: When he campaigned for the Labour leadership in 2020 one of his pledges was to: Increase income tax for the top 5 per cent of earners. He described this policy as nothing less than economic justice. According to the Office of National Statistics, the top 5 per cent in 2024 earn 87,012 per year. In 2022, Sir Keir vowed to bring in a new tax band for those earning more than 150,000. Under the current system, tax is charged at 40 per cent on earnings above 50,270 and 45 per cent on earnings above 125,140. Gordon Brown introduced a 50 per cent tax rate on earnings of more than 150,000, which came into effect weeks before the 2010 general election before being scrapped by Lord Cameron. The economy What he says now: In July last year, Sir Keir wrote in The Observer: Frankly, the Left has to start caring a lot more about growth, about creating wealth, attracting inward investment and kick-starting a spirit of enterprise. It is the only show in town for those who dream of a brighter future. Speaking to Tony Blair in 2023, Sir Keir said that we need three things: growth, growth, growth. What he said then: At his 2020 leadership campaign launch, Sir Keir said: The idea that economic growth alone will solve societys ills and make us all prosper is wrong and outdated. He argued that Labour should rebuild our economic model in place of the failed free market one. In the July 1986 edition of Socialist Alternatives, Sir Keir criticised then Labour leader Neil Kinnocks economic policy because it presumably safeguards the freedom of capital in Britain whilst showing little regard for the freedom of the workforce and community to extend their political control. The magazine, which he helped to produce, argued the working week should be cut to 32 hours. Business What he says now: In an interview with The Times last weekend Sir Keir said: I think its a good thing that people are aspirational. When I say our number one mission is economic growth, you could say our number one mission is wealth creation. Rachel Reeves said on an election visit to Rolls Royce: The Labour Party is today the natural party of British business. On business taxation, Labour will impose a tax on oil and gas companies and will keep corporation tax at 25 per cent. What he said then: In an article for Socialist Alternatives, Sir Keir claimed that collective bargaining was not Left-wing enough because it gave too much power to employers. Nationalisation What he says now: In July 2022, Rachel Reeves, the shadow chancellor, told the BBCs Today programme that nationalising public services just doesnt stack up against our fiscal rules, pointing out that such commitments in the 2019 election campaign secured our worst results since 1935. On the same day, Sir Keir said: I take a pragmatic approach rather than an ideological one, I agree with what Rachel Reeves said this morning. Last week, he fleshed out his plans for Great British Energy, revealing it would be an investment vehicle rather than an energy provider. Labour has promised to renationalise nearly all passenger rail services within the next parliament. What he said then: When he ran for the Labour leadership, Sir Keir said public services should be in public hands, not making profits for shareholders, specifically mentioning rail, mail, energy and water. This was widely perceived as a commitment to nationalise those industries, a key plank of Jeremy Corbyns manifesto in 2017. When he was interviewed for pupillage as a barrister at Doughty Street Chambers, Sir Keir is said to have repeated French anarchist Pierre-Joseph Proudhons adage that all property is theft. Immigration and free movement What he says now: Labours website says it supports a points-based immigration system for legal migrants and will speed up the return of illegal migrants to safe countries. It also says a Labour government will prioritise strong border security and deliver a properly managed and controlled asylum system which returns people who have no right to be here. Sir Keir says he will ditch the Rwanda scheme but has refused to rule out offshore processing or sending asylum seekers abroad to have their claims processed. What he said then: In a 1988 edition of the magazine Socialist Lawyer, Sir Keir, who was 26 at the time and had been called to the Bar, said there is a racist undercurrent which permeates all immigration law. Then, when he was running for the Labour leadership in 2020, he wrote to the Labour Campaign for Free Movement, saying he was proud to have served as Jeremy [Corbyns] shadow immigration minister, and boasting he had taken the last Labour government to court for cutting benefits for asylum seekers. Complaining that the immigration system aims to deter, not support migrants coming to Britain illegally, he said he would close immigration detention centres, allow asylum seekers to work, liberalise family reunion rules, and give some foreigners the vote. Ireland What he says now: A referendum on Irish unification is not even on the horizon, Sir Keir said before last Octobers Labour Party conference. He has previously said he would campaign for Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK if such a referendum were ever to be held. What he said then: In 1987, he became a member of the editorial committee of a magazine called Socialist Lawyer. It is the official journal of the Haldane Society of Socialist Lawyers. The Haldane Society had a clear policy at that time of supporting a united Ireland, saying: We call for British withdrawal. A Labour Party spokesman said Sir Keir never personally wrote in support of a united Ireland. After the Winchester Three who had been convicted of plotting to kill Tom King, the Cabinet minister, in an IRA plot had their convictions overturned on a technicality, Sir Keir wrote an article headlined King Size Blunder in which he highlighted the Haldane Societys role in getting the convictions overturned. Workers rights What he says now: According to the partys website: Labour is pro-worker and pro-business, and we will work in partnership with trade unions and business to deliver our New Deal. Rather than division and decline, Labour will offer people the hope that comes from a long-term plan, working with employers and workers to get Britain moving forward. From now until the General Election, well show how our plans will be turned into a reality benefiting those who contribute to our economy. We will invite businesses, trade unions, and civil society to input on how we can best put our plans into practice. What he said then: In his leadership campaign launch, Sir Keir was clear that: We walk with the trade unions. In Socialist Alternatives in the 1980s, Sir Keir called for an enlargement of the unions, saying that in the 1984 miners strike: Darkened buildings in Kharkiv in March. Ukraine is suffering lengthy power cuts. Photograph: Sergey Kozlov/EPA Russian damage to Ukraines power grid has led to calls for a recovery conference starting in Berlin on Tuesday to pivot away from long-term reconstruction and focus on preventing prolonged energy blackouts this winter. Lengthy summer power cuts, as well as domestic price increases, are already afflicting Ukraine, with state agencies forced to cut energy use, adding urgency to the calls to boost air defences. The conference, due to be addressed by the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, will include the unveiling of 95 investment projects needing western funds as well as a mass of progress reports against more than 200 reform targets set by the EU and multilateral banks. Ukrainian NGOs have been expressing fear that a two-day discussion about a plan for reconstruction after a currently theoretical Russian military defeat may seem irrelevant to the immediate need of boosting resilience. In one of the many calls for the conference to focus on immediate crises, Mattia Nelles, the chief executive of the German-Ukrainian Bureau, said: Stop talking about abstract long-term recovery. Lets focus on not just providing Ukraine with sufficient weapons and ammunition but also helping focus on energy resilience. With well over 50% of the countrys energy production destroyed, the situation looks increasingly dire. Speaking on Friday, Ukraines deputy finance minister Olga Zykova said Russias terror attacks on Ukraines power grid had destroyed 8 gigawatts of capacity, forcing a fall in the GDP forecast from 4.6% to 3.5%. Restoration was a top priority. She added it was now certain that the war would not be over in 2024. Geoffrey Pyatt, the head of the G7+ energy coordinating group, said Ukraines energy system was in an extremely fragile state as a result of Russian attacks on energy infrastructure. Top officials from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development visited Kyiv this week to sign a plan to offer 300m (250m) of new funding for Ukraines state-owned energy sector companies and to explore further support for the energy sector. At the weekend the US president, Joe Biden, announced a $225m (180m) package of extra air defence interceptors in an attempt to slow the damage. This is on top of the money distributed to the multinational energy support fund which has been so far reliant on grants from Germany, the EU, Sweden and the UK. Western diplomats have expressed concerns at the dismissal a month ago of the deputy prime minister for restoration, Oleksandr Kubrakov, and a plan to split his ministry in half. Josh Rudolph, a senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund thinktank, said Kubrakov and his team had been regarded as innovators in fighting corruption and building transparency. He said: Central power has come to wipe out the team that was building a transparent system of national restoration and replaces it with loyalists. Kubrakov had set up internet-based forms of transparency. Related: Ukrainian author turned soldier Oleksandr Mykhed: This is not Putins war. This is a war waged by the whole Russian nation One analyst said: The words reconstruction and recovery are like a lightning rod, in fact recovery has become a toxic word. Ukrainians are sick and tired of the international conference about recovery. They say they dont need a recovery conference. We want to prevent recovery from being needed, and that requires a harder edge about resilience, weapons and energy. Last years event, held in London in the optimistic context of an imminent Ukrainian offensive, focused on building private sector involvement in Ukraines economic recovery. Berlin has been planning for the conference for months and has set out four broad themes including mobilising the private sector for reconstruction and economic growth, social capital and human capital for the future of Ukraine, recovery of municipalities and regions, and finally the necessary internal reforms to meet EU accession criteria, including revamping the supreme court to root out corruption. Facility fees are often impossible to anticipate or estimate they can range from $0 to thousands. Photograph: Darwin Brandis/Getty Images Hospitals are gobbling up doctors offices and theyre bringing higher prices to patients when they do, even if a patient never sets foot on a hospital campus. Enter the hospital facility fee: a charge hospitals can add to bills from doctors offices, outpatient surgical clinics and diagnostics centers that they own, rebranding them as outpatient hospital departments, even if the facility is miles from a hospital campus. Its one of the most egregious examples of hospital financing at the expense of consumers, said Liz Hagan, director of policy solutions at the United States of Care, a non-profit advocacy group that released a new report on the practice. The report, Behind the Bill argues that hospitals are at the center of a massive market failure, where consolidation is driving price hikes for patients. There is no data on how often people are hit with the charges. But its widespread enough that one of US of Cares own staff members was charged while writing the report a facility fee of $154.52 was added to a bill for a flu test. Ultimately, consumers are left paying the price for that either through higher [insurance] premiums, because hospital costs are built into premium costs, or at the point of service, Hagan said. Facility fees are rooted in how hospitals have historically billed patients. For decades, hospital bills have been broken into two parts professional fees charged by doctors and facility fees charged by institutions. Trade groups such as the American Hospital Association have lobbied against efforts to rein in facility fees. The cost of care delivered in hospitals and health systems and any associated sites of care operated by the hospital takes into account the many unique services that only they provide to their communities, the American Hospital Association (AHA), a trade group, said. This includes the costs of maintaining standby capacity for traumatic events and delivering 24/7 care to all who come through the emergency department, regardless of ability to pay or insurance status. Prohibiting facility fees would constitute substantial and unprecedented cuts to hospitals, they argue. The AHA also argues that private equity, not hospitals, are purchasing the majority of physicians groups. What is not in dispute is accelerated consolidation in healthcare, and how facility fees have increased alongside. As of 2022, 41% of doctors offices are now affiliated with hospitals, up from 29% in 2012, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. We have data showing, for the same service, hospital fees are about 150% higher than ambulatory surgical centers in the same county, said Ge Bai, a healthcare accounting professor at Johns Hopkins Carey School of Business, referring to a 2023 research letter published in Jama Health Forum. An ambulatory surgical center is any clinic that provides surgical services outside of a hospital. One study, which used data from private insurers, found 10% of physician practices were bought in a six-year period from 2006-2013. In that study, merging with a hospital led to an average 14.1% price increase. Notably, facility fees are often impossible to anticipate or estimate. They can range from $0 to thousands, without any relationship to the particular service being provided, according to the journal Health Affairs. In just one example of how facility fees vary, a study of Florida hospitals found facility fees ranged from $5,213 to $15,759, with for-profit hospitals charging the most. That studys author, a Miami emergency room physician, Dr Tony Zitek, said he chose the topic because he believes fees should be transparent. His own mother was hit with a facility fee at a clinic she was very annoyed, he said. My mom goes to hospital-based clinics, and then [was] surprised by a facility fee, said Zitek. Patients can go to another clinic that offers exactly the same service and you dont get that fee. Critics argue government policy incentivizes consolidation. Care provided by hospitals is paid more by Medicare and Medicaid, public health insurance programs which cover seniors, the disabled and low-income Americans 115 million Americans together. Once a clinic is purchased by a hospital, it can be reclassified as an outpatient hospital department then a facility fee can be charged. Large hospital groups can also demand more money from private health insurers the companies that provide care to Americans through their employer because they are now more essential to have in an insurers network. The AHA argues that insurers, not hospitals, are responsible for price hikes by concocting complicated reimbursement schemes, such as one recently revealed with a company called Multiplan. Facility fees have attracted the attention of bipartisan state lawmakers. However, despite growing consolidation and concern over how hospitals have leveraged their status to increase payments, Congress ditched reforms in February, according to Stat. Authors of the report by US of Care called on legislators to stop paying more to hospital-affiliated doctors offices, require reporting on facility fees and facility fee disclosure in bills, noting: In many ways, hospital facility fees and the growing affordability burden they are placing on patients are the symptoms of rampant provider consolidation. Nigel Farage Election , Clacton on Sea, UK, 8, June,2024 A few weeks ago I asked readers if I should vote Tory. Now the question is, should I vote Reform? The debate in my head is no longer about who will form the next government thats over, its Labour but who small-c conservatives would prefer to see as the opposition. Its not inconceivable that on July 4, the Tories will have fewer seats than the Lib Dems and fewer votes than Reform. In that event, their historic claim to be the monopoly party of the centre-Right is dead. Last week kicked life into a boring election. Rishi had a good debate but Nigel Farage stole the show by taking back control of Reform and announcing a bid for Clacton-on-Sea. Then Sunak skipped D-Day. He has my sympathy: I hate long ceremonies and once invented a car accident to get out of a wedding. But his early departure seemed designed to infuriate the Tory base, to remind them how artless and unempathetic Rishi really is. The heirs of Blair have professionalised British politics to the point of amateurism. To add insult to injury, the PM has used his last days in office to parachute chums and allies into safe seats. Happily, many of them will lose. Sadly, enough might win to ensure the parliamentary rump that survives the July massacre will be dominated by liberals who think the Tories went down in flames because they didnt spend enough, tax enough or let in enough immigrants. It is this stupidity, so predictable, that makes one want to clear out the lot of em in one fell swoop. I feel like a toothless sans-culottes surveying a row of juicy heads: to the guillotine, thwack, thwack, thwack! But heres the thing: conservatives are not revolutionaries, were monarchists. We like peace and order, to take a good, hard look before we leap. What, then, is this thing called Reform? Most polls indicate a surge in support, but to varying heights. Savanta puts them on just 11 per cent; YouGov has Reform two points behind the Tories at 17; Redfield & Wilton says they are ahead among men and the elderly. If a crossover in poll position is possible, it needs to happen soon for this is manifesto week, which will dominate the headlines. Farage depends on free media for publicity. He thrives on controversy. Reminded by Laura Kuenssberg that one of his advisers has a conviction for fraud, he said he believes in forgiveness and sticks by his friends (bravo). During the seven-way debate last Friday at which Penny Mordaunts hairdo resembled a bird of prey, mid-flight he answered the immigration question with a precise and disturbing recital of numbers. The decision of Labour and Tories to run super-controlled presidential campaigns now looks like a gamble when faced by a Teflon entertainer who could sell a used car to Arthur Daley and the triumph of personality disguises Reforms problems. For one, the party is nothing without Nigel. Critics call it a shell company, owned by Farage but till recently reliant upon Richard Tices money: in mid-May it was reported that Tice had been responsible for around 80 per cent of its declared funding in loans and donations since 2021. This helps explain its underwhelming performance in by-elections; Reform didnt command the volunteers or infrastructure necessary to compete, and it lacked the galvanising issue of Brexit. It is riven by squabbles. When Farage announced he was running for Clacton, Reforms current candidate, Tony Mack, dutifully stepped aside the last time I saw Mack, he was on top of the Reform bus, waving at punters. Days later, he announced he would run as an independent candidate instead. He shared a post on Facebook that denounced sneaky f*****s who disguise themselves as good people. I met a lot of nice, fun Reformers in Clacton. I also met some racists, plus fans of Tommy Robinson. In the past decade, Ukip/Brexit Party/Reform has played an important, uncredited role of defusing the far-Right by channeling anger into legitimate politics but a party defined by a yearning for sovereignty will always be a magnet for deplorables, and this might be the theme that brings Reforms honeymoon to an end. Journalists have already tracked down candidates who have said asylum seekers are natural liars or compared black people to monkeys. In defence of Reform, its been quick to ditch bigots and the Green Party, hardly Right wing, has also been forced to take action against candidates accused of anti-Semitism. Meanwhile, if Blue Wall voters find Reform illiberal, Red Wall voters might have been surprised to hear Nigel at the debate calling for a new funding structure for the NHS. The partys website suggests this means expanding private sector capacity rather than selling off wards to Tesco, but the populist Right has often struggled to reconcile a poor mans cultural values with a rich mans economics and Farage is at heart a dissident Thatcherite. Labours attack lines write themselves. In short, those weighing up replacing the Tories with Reform are swapping a party with history, experience and breadth with a one-man band totally unacceptable to core parts of the electorate (and catnip to Scottish nationalists). Nevertheless, the prospect of Reform winning seats, however few, changes the way one thinks about the future of the British Right. I suspect it will involve not a mass defection to Reform, but a reconciliation of Reform and the Conservatives, producing a hybrid movement that shifts politics decisively towards the populism we see on the Continent. The legacy of Brexit is to make us more politically European. Some day, Prime Minister Miriam Cates shall elevate Nigel Farage to the Lords. Effecting this long-term realignment is far more interesting than the current election. Im unmoved by the thought of Starmer winning. Despite some light hysteria, no one believes hes a socialist, and theres nothing the Tories say Labour might do that the Tories havent already done in historic numbers. Thats why the party label is discredited. Millions of us will vote candidate-by-candidate, combing through individual voting records or statements hardcore Tories, Reform or the Social Democratic Party to select the MP wed most like to have in place when the British conservative movement is rebuilt apres le deluge. Cole, the deaf therapy dog, works alongside his owner at the Dr. Mennies School in the South Jersey school district. This precious Pit Bull is deaf and in a recent social media video, this may not be the worst thing at certain times of Cole's day. Like at school concert assemblies. Just Check out how relaxed Cole is despite all the noise. The adorable video was shared by the TikTok account for @DeafCole and people just adore this pooch. One person said, "We adopted our deaf dog and they didnt realize she was deaf. Her bio included: SLEEPS THROUGH ANYTHING!!!" LOL! Another added, "My dog is not deaf and still does this. She grew up 5 miles from Disney, fireworks are her lullabies." Related: Adorable Deaf Shelter Dog Has Been Waiting Over 400 Days For a Home Someone else added, "Theres a deaf dog at the place I work and she was just snoozing while everyone else was going crazy." Cole is such a wonderful dog and all the kids at school just adore him. Dogs are so great for kids and provide them with stress relief, and also teach them empathy at a young age. I'm sure Cole makes all these kiddos excited to come to class every day. About Cole The Therapy Dog Cole's website explains that, "Cole is a deaf pit bull pup, but hes helping the world hear with their hearts! His message is simple and profound: a disability is not an inability, it's a superpower! Passed up by countless families at the South Jersey Regional Animal Shelter because he was deemed "broken," Cole started impacting lives with his message when he was adopted by a public school music teacher (Chris Hannah) in April of 2017. Cole amazed Chris with his keen ability to respond to sign language and seemingly endless capacity to show tenderness and love. Cole, along with Chris deaf nephew have taught children that it is ok to be different, helped students recover courage and self-respect, and inspired acts of kindness throughout the community. Cole now works, alongside his music teacher dad, every day at Dr. Mennies School and became the inspiration for launching a unique social-emotional learning program in the South Jersey school." If you would like to learn more about this absolutely adorable therapy dog, please visit his website here. Looking for more PetHelpful updates? Follow us on YouTube for more entertaining videos. Or, share your own adorable pet by submitting a video, and sign up for our newsletter for the latest pet updates and tips. Douglas Rosss position as Scottish Tory leader has been significantly undermined after he chose to stand as a General Election candidate over colleague David Duguid, John Swinney has said. The Scottish Tory leader has faced criticism after he announced his candidacy in the Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency last week after Mr Duguid was blocked over health concerns. Mr Duguid had hoped to contest the seat, which replaced his previous Banff and Buchan and part of Mr Rosss former Moray constituency under new boundary rules. Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross announced he is standing to become an MP (Andrew Milligan/PA) However, Mr Duguid is currently in hospital after becoming unwell in April and said the partys membership candidate had de-selected him as a candidate. Mr Ross previously said he would not contest his seat at the General Election, instead promising to focus on his MSP role and leadership responsibilities. While Mr Ross has defended his position to stand, citing the very unique circumstances around Mr Duguids health and the timing of the election as his motivations, SNP leader and Scottish First Minister John Swinney accused his opponent of naked self-interest. He said: I think his ability to continue as Scottish Conservative leader is significantly undermined by his behaviour. Douglas Ross has no credibility whatsoever he has been telling us all that he wants to be leader of the Scottish Conservative Party so that he can become the first minister of Scotland. But he is now taking a decision to try to get back to the House of Commons so he is just exercising constant naked self-interest in the decisions that he takes. Mr Duguid has denied claims he is unable to stand in the election. A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: The party management board took an incredibly difficult decision to conclude that David Duguid could not stand at this election for health reasons. David has been a fantastic local MP for the last seven years and Douglas worked incredibly well with him as the neighbouring MP in Moray. Everyone wishes David well in his continued recovery and looks forward to his return to frontline politics. Given the short timeframe to ensure we had a candidate in this key seat, Douglas decided he needed to lead from the front and stop this area being represented by an SNP MP who would only focus on independence, rather than local peoples real priorities. Anas Sarwar has said a Labour government would put Scotland at the global forefront of medical research. The Scottish Labour leader has taken aim at the SNP and the Conservatives, accusing both parties of undermining the sector. Speaking ahead of a campaign visit to Glasgow, Mr Sarwar said the world-class research would form a key part of the partys industrial strategy. Mr Sarwar said: Life sciences is a Scottish success story creating jobs and attracting investment while making a crucial contribution to the fight against diseases like Scotlands biggest killer, cancer. But this fantastic sector is being held back by two bad governments putting needless obstacles in its way. Tory chaos and SNP incompetence have undermined Scotlands world-class research sector, but Labour will back these key industries and unlock the benefits for our economy and our healthcare system. A Labour government will ensure Scotland is at the global forefront of life sciences and on the cutting edge of medical research, making these industries an unstoppable force in our economy. This is an opportunity for change that Scotland cannot afford to miss. The deputy leader of the Scottish Conservatives has dismissed claims Douglas Rosss leadership has been significantly undermined by the deselection of David Duguid as a General Election candidate. Meghan Gallacher praised her Scottish Tory boss for his leadership as she campaigned alongside Luke Graham on Sunday. Mr Ross came under fire after he announced his candidacy in Aberdeenshire North and Moray East constituency last week after Mr Duguid was blocked over health concerns. David Duguid (Chris McAndrew/UK Parliament/PA) Mr Duguid had hoped to contest the seat, which replaced his previous Banff and Buchan constituency and part of Mr Rosss former Moray seat under new boundary rules. But he is currently unwell in hospital and said the partys membership board had de-selected him as a candidate. Scotlands First Minister John Swinney has been among the critics of Mr Ross, accusing the Scottish Tory leader, who is also an MSP in Holyrood, of naked self-interest. Mr Ross had previously pledged to step aside from Westminster to focus on his Holyrood and leadership responsibilities. Speaking to the PA news agency on the campaign trail in Perth, Ms Gallacher said it was a difficult situation to deselect Mr Duguid, adding the management board who took the decision had a duty of care to the former MP. Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross confirmed he would stand as a candidate in the General Election (Jane Barlow/PA) And she defended her boss, stating: Douglas Ross always leads from the front you can see that by his leadership in the Scottish Parliament. It was only last month due to Douglas Ross that Humza Yousaf had to resign. Were now all focused on taking forward the general election. She said the party was focused on particularly taking seats from the SNP. However, SNP leader Mr Swinney said: I think his ability to continue as Scottish Conservative leader is significantly undermined by his behaviour. Douglas Ross has no credibility whatsoever he has been telling us all that he wants to be leader of the Scottish Conservative Party so that he can become the first minister of Scotland. But he is now taking a decision to try to get back to the House of Commons so he is just exercising constant naked self-interest in the decisions that he takes. Mr Duguid has denied claims he is unable to stand in the election. A Scottish Conservative spokesperson said: The party management board took an incredibly difficult decision to conclude that David Duguid could not stand at this election for health reasons. David has been a fantastic local MP for the last seven years and Douglas worked incredibly well with him as the neighbouring MP in Moray. Everyone wishes David well in his continued recovery and looks forward to his return to frontline politics. Given the short timeframe to ensure we had a candidate in this key seat, Douglas decided he needed to lead from the front and stop this area being represented by an SNP MP who would only focus on independence, rather than local peoples real priorities. The Irish premier has branded Sinn Feins performance in the council elections as an unmitigated disaster, but has refused to call an early general election despite government parties performing better than expected. It comes as the leader of Sinn Fein said she is sorry that her candidates did not perform better in Irelands local elections, amid criticism of the partys strategy in the council races. Mary Lou McDonald made the comments as vote counting continues for Irelands local and European elections. Simon Harris said that the Irish public did not want to buy what Sinn Fein were selling. Sinn Fein Leader Mary Lou McDonald speaking to the media at the Royal Dublin Society during the count for the European elections (Damien Storan/PA) Mr Harris also accused Ms McDonald of making comments that were quite insulting to the Irish people when she tried to second guess them. Speaking at the RDS count centre in south Dublin, Mr Harris said: I was very disappointed to hear her comments in relation to, maybe the people on this occasion didnt really understand this. The people of this country are sovereign. As I travelled around the country, I think the people knew exactly what Sinn Fein were selling, and they just didnt want to buy it. He added: I think what Sinn Fein needs to realise here is that the Irish people will see through the noise. The Irish people dont believe they live in a failed state. The Irish people dont believe in all of the negativity and the rah rah rah but the Irish people want is pragmatic delivery. The Irish people do want change. They want credible change. Thats the sort of change Im offering with Fine Gael and our coalition colleagues. This is the second local election that Mary Lou McDonald has had the honour of leading her party into, its the second local elections that have been an unmitigated disaster for them. They can carry out all the reviews they want, I dont get distracted by their business. Leadership issues in Sinn Fein are a matter for Sinn Fein. Asked why he would not call a general election off the back of the results, Mr Harris said: Because weve lots to do. Earlier, Ms McDonald said she was disappointed that more of her candidates were not elected. Early indications show there will be no Sinn Fein surge, while Government parties do not appear to have suffered a major electoral blow. The fuller picture of the state of play for political parties and independents will become clear throughout the evening. Commentators have noted that Sinn Feins strategy in some constituencies had led to its vote being split too much. Ms McDonald said: Clearly, we didnt get that right. She added: Its not just the number of the candidates, but the fact that in so many cases they were first-time candidates. Speaking at a count centre in Dublin, Ms McDonald said: We have made some gains, they are modest, but theyre there. It hasnt been our day. Clearly frustrations anger indeed with government policy on this occasion has translated into votes for independents and others. We have to now prepare ourselves for the general election, whenever that will happen. Well take time to reflect. Counting staff at Cork City Hall sort ballots for the local elections (Jonathan Brady/PA) Asked about whether the lacklustre result would affect her leadership, Ms McDonald said she absolutely committed to staying on in the role. I will lead this reflection and this process, she said. Irish voters have voted to elect almost 1,000 new councillors, 14 members to the European Parliament and, for the first time, one citys citizens were asked to pick their mayor. Tanaiste Micheal Martin speaks to the media at Cork City Hall (Jonathan Brady/PA) Despite winning 24.5% of first preference votes in a historic result in the 2020 general election, and hovering above 30% in opinion polls for a long time, the fate of many of Sinn Feins candidates is expected to depend on transfers. However, Sinn Fein has made some gains on the 2019 election, where it won around 9% of first preference votes and 81 council seats out of 949. Irelands deputy premier Micheal Martin said that the moral of the story of the Irish elections was that polling should not be taken as gospel. The Tanaiste and Fianna Fail leader said that there had been 15 national opinion polls, which had Fianna Fail averaging at 16% and Sinn Fein averaging at 26.6%. He said internet polling has flaws and does not capture the dynamic of an electoral campaign, or various other factors including personality, geography and policies. Despite the strong showing for government parties so far, ministers stuck to the line that the coalition government would go the full distance to February or March before a general election is called. Mr Martin said he would not be making the error of drawing conclusions from the local election results about a future general election, saying that it would have a different dynamic and cover different issues. The full results of the European and local elections will take days to be finalised thanks to Irelands system of proportional representation which allows voters to rank every candidate in each race by order of preference. The process means ballot papers are sorted and counted multiple times by hand. Counting in the European elections began on Sunday morning and the results of the first tally will not be declared until after 10pm because of ongoing voting in other EU states. Irish politics is currently dominated by a housing crisis, the cost of living and migration. The coalition partnership of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party has been battling criticism domestically and on the continent over other issues including climate action, agriculture policy and defence co-operation in the EU. Political parties have been relying on opinion polls to judge voter sentiment for the previous four years since the last nationwide elections. Counting starts at Curragh Racecourse, County Kildare, for local and European elections (Niall Carson/PA) The results will also be an indicator of how new Fine Gael leader and Mr Harris is faring, having assumed the roles some eight weeks ago after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar. The first results for the European elections will not be announced until polling closes in each member state late tonight. In Dublin, incomplete tallies suggested Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty were leading. Green Party incumbent Ciaran Cuffe, Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan, Labour representative Aodhan O Riordain and Sinn Fein hopefuls Daithi Doolan and Lynn Boylan will be fighting over the remaining two seats. In the South constituency, Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher are in strong position to be re-elected, but a first count is not expected until Monday morning. Sinn Fein will be hoping to regain a seat in the region with Kathleen Funchion, while Independent TD Michael McNamara is predicted to take a seat. Candidate Luke Ming Flanagan in Castlebar (Niall Carson/PA) In Midlands-North-West, there are 27 candidates fighting for five seats in the massive electoral region which spans 15 counties. Fine Gael is running former jockey Nina Carberry alongside incumbent MEP Maria Walsh, while Fianna Fail has fielded three candidates: Lisa Chambers, Barry Cowen and Niall Blaney. Doubt has been raised over Sinn Feins chances after splitting the vote with two hopefuls: current MEP Chris MacManus and Michelle Gildernew. Observers eyeballing stacks of ballots processed by first-preference determined the main contenders, by midday, were Ms Walsh, Mr Cowen and Independent candidate Luke Ming Flanagan, with Ms Carberry, Ms Chambers, Mr MacManus, Aontu leader Peadar Toibin and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly also performing well. Speaking to reporters at the TF Royal count centre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Mr Flanagan said: Theres quite a lot of candidates here who are going to get a significant amount of votes and I think its nearly odds on that were going to have some sort of a recount. All I know is we booked a place to stay for the next week in Castlebar. In the south west, voters in Limerick city and county also had the opportunity to directly elect a mayor with executive powers on long-term strategic planning. Tallies show that Independent candidate John Moran, a former secretary general at the Department of Finance, is in the lead, with Independent candidate Helen ODonnell in second place. Dr Michael Mosley has been praised by friends and colleagues for innovating the world of science and health broadcasting after the body of the TV doctor was found on a Greek island. His widow, Dr Clare Bailey Mosley, confirmed a body discovered on Sunday morning in a rocky area near Agia Marina beach on Symi was that of her husband, describing the loss as devastating. She said the 67-year-old, who went missing after leaving his wife and friends at Agios Nikolaos beach on Wednesday, appeared to have undertaken an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldnt be easily seen by emergency search teams. An initial examination by a coroner has ruled out foul play but further tests are due to be carried out on the father-of-four in Rhodes to confirm a cause of death, the Daily Mail has reported. The news has sparked an outpouring of grief from his loved ones and fans of his science programmes and films, which included the BBC series Trust Me, Im A Doctor, which looked at healthcare in Britain, and the BBC Radio 4 podcast Just One Thing, where he revealed tips to help improve your health. His co-presenter on Trust Me, Im A Doctor Chris van Tulleken hailed him as one of the most important broadcasters of the last few decades as he paid tribute. Michael wasnt just a rock solid friend, he was an incredibly generous human to everyone he worked with, Van Tulleken wrote on X, formerly Twitter. He basically invented a genre of science broadcasting: experimenting on himself, talking about his medical problems, being a curious human being not an ivory tower expert. He supported me and so many others at every stage of our careers, always at the end of the phone for support or advice. He also sent his love to Mosleys family while praising his widow Clare, describing their joint-live show which he saw last month as funny, informative, scientific, warm and centred around family. Michael wasnt just a rock solid friend, he was an incredibly generous human to everyone he worked with. He basically invented a genre of science broadcasting: experimenting on himself, talking about his medical problems, being a curious human being not an ivory tower expert. pic.twitter.com/nTodhErQoS Chris van Tulleken (@DoctorChrisVT) June 9, 2024 Dr Saleyha Ahsan, who also presented on Trust Me, Im A Doctor, described him as a national treasure and a hugely talented man who had an ability to explain complex science in an accessible way to everyone. Mimi Spencer, who co-wrote The Fast Diet with Mosley, praised him as an immediately likeable, genuinely funny person who had an innate enthusiasm about life, while physicist and TV presenter Brian Cox said he was a mentor to many of those starting out within science broadcasting. Mosley first trained as a doctor in London before moving into the world of media, becoming a presenter, documentary maker, author and columnist. Announcing the news of his death, Dr Bailey Mosley said in a statement from his agent to the PA news agency: I dont know quite where to begin with this. Its devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together. I am incredibly proud of our children, their resilience and support over the past days. Michael Mosley with his wife Clare Bailey in 2013 (Alamy/PA) My family and I have been hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world. Its clear that Michael meant a huge amount to so many of you. Were taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldnt be easily seen by the extensive search team. Michael was an adventurous man, its part of what made him so special. She said the family are also so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi who worked tirelessly to help find Mosley, with some working from dawn until dusk unasked. Dr Bailey Mosley added: I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael. Thank-you all. Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, after the body of TV doctor and columnist Michael Mosley was removed from the rocks on the right-hand side of the compound (Yui Mok/PA) Mosleys four children joined their mother, a GP and cookery book writer, on Symi earlier this week to help with the search effort. His body was discovered around mid-morning on Sunday beneath a fence that runs around a bar on Agia Marina beach, which is surrounded by hilly, rocky terrain. Police arrived at Agia Marina around 20 minutes after the body was discovered about 90 metres from the coastline, with firefighters later arriving just after 2pm local time to take the body away from the island on a boat. On Saturday, an emergency services helicopter spent hours flying across the mountainous search site on Symi between Pedi bay and Agia Marina, and hovered over the spot where the body was later found. Agia Marina bar manager Ilias Tsavaris, 38, first saw the body alongside journalists after the islands mayor saw something by the fence of the bar and alerted staff. The search effort had been widespread, operating in dangerous conditions and high temperatures, and included police, firefighters with drones, Greek Red Cross workers, divers, a search dog and a helicopter. (PA Graphics) Greek authorities shifted their focus on Saturday after CCTV footage from a house at the edge of a small marina in Pedi showed the presenter walking towards a mountainous path at about 2pm local time on Wednesday. New footage released on Saturday also appeared to show Mosley walking unimpeded with an umbrella near to the marina. Sophie Laurimore, director of The Soho Agency which represented Mosley, said it is with profound sadness that they bid farewell to the wise, wonderful and lovely man. Michael loved what he did and found it a pleasure and a great privilege to work with his colleagues in TV, radio, publishing and at his business, The Fast 800, she added in a statement shared to PA. He was immensely grateful for how receptive the public were to the ideas he had the privilege to share and to the many scientists whose work he had the honour to help popularise. Our hearts are with Clare and the children. Michael was unique. The work he did was important. We will miss him dreadfully. In this photo taken on Friday, April 26, 2024 and released by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, a Russian soldier poses for a photo next to a 2A65 "Msta-B" howitzer at a position in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraine on Sunday said its forces hit an ultra-modern Russian warplane stationed on an air base nearly 600 kilometers (370 miles) from the front lines, after its Western allies allowed Kyiv to use their weapons for limited strikes inside Russia. Kyivs main military intelligence service shared satellite photos it said showed the aftermath of the attack. If confirmed, it would mark Ukraine's first known successful strike on a Su-57 fighter plane, a twin-engine stealth fighter lauded as Moscow's most advanced military aircraft. In one photo, black soot marks and small craters can be seen dotting a concrete strip around the parked aircraft. According to the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraines Ministry of Defense, the strike took place on Saturday at the Akhtubinsk base in southern Russia, some 589 kilometers (366 miles) from the front line. It wasnt immediately clear what weapons were used, but the airfields distance from Ukraine suggests that it was likely hit by drones. The strike comes after the United States and Germany recently authorized Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv. Ukraine has already used U.S. weapons to strike inside Russia under newly approved guidance from President Joe Biden that allows American arms to be used for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city. The Ukrainian agency said that the plane, which is capable of carrying stealth missiles across hundreds of kilometers (miles), was among a countable few of its type in Moscow's arsenal. According to reports by Russian agencies, Moscow's armed forces obtained more than 10 new Su-57s last year, while 76 are set to be produced by 2028. Moscow did not immediately comment on the reports. Russia's Defense Ministry on Saturday claimed its forces downed three Ukrainian drones in the Astrakhan region, home to the Akhtubinsk airstrip. Since Moscow's full-scale invasion more than two years ago, Kyiv has ramped up domestic drone production and used the drones to strike deep inside Russia, including a gas terminal near St. Petersburg that lies over 1,000 kilometres (620 miles) north of the Ukrainian border. Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces kept up drone attacks on Russia's southern border regions, according to local Russian officials. Three drones hit Belgorod province late on Saturday, damaging a power line and blowing out windows but causing no casualties, said Gov. Vyacheslav Gladkov. Another two drones and a Ukrainian-made missile were brought down over the region on Sunday, the Russian Defense Ministry said. Across Ukraines front-line provinces, Russian shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded at least nine others on Saturday and overnight, according to reports by regional officials. A man died and two women suffered wounds in the village of Khotimlya, east of Kharkiv, Gov. Oleh Syniehubov said. Shelling also damaged the local school, a council building, a shop and private homes, Syniehubov said. Heavy battles continued in the area as Ukrainian troops try to beat back Russia's invading forces after a weekslong push by Moscow that sparked fears for Kharkiv, located just 20 kilometers (12 miles) from the Russian border, and a wave of civilian evacuations. Russias coordinated new offensive has centered on the Kharkiv region, but seems to include testing Ukrainian defenses in Donetsk farther south, while also launching incursions in the northern Sumy and Chernihiv regions. The easing of restrictions on the use of Western weapons will help Ukraine protect Kharkiv by targeting Russian capabilities across the border. It is unclear what other impact it may have on the direction of the war, in what is proving to be a critical period. The move drew a furious response from Moscow, and warnings it could embroil NATO in a war with Russia. But Jake Sullivan, Biden's national security adviser, described it as common sense. What was happening up around Kharkiv ... was a Russian offensive where they were moving from one side of the border directly to the other side of the border, and it simply didnt make sense not to allow the Ukrainians to fire across that border, to hit Russian guns and emplacements that were firing at (them), Sullivan said Sunday in an interview with CBS's Face the Nation. ___ Kozlowska reported from London. ___ Find more of APs coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine The diary of a 17-year-old Navy seaman survived the Second World War but the 100-year-old veteran who wrote it has told how he hoped it would be lost during Nazi raids on the Arctic Convoys. Sir Thomas Baird joined the Navy in August 1941 in Plymouth, Devon, and his first impressions are recorded in a journal which midshipmen the lowest ranks were obligated to write. He enrolled in Dartmouth College aged 13 and later became Vice-Admiral Sir Thomas Baird, head of the Royal Navy in Scotland and Northern Ireland, during a 41-year career. Sir Tom recalled how he hated the diary and hoped it would be lost, but it provides a first-hand account of the war, including a poem describing his desire for noise and excitement, bleak boredom, and a Nazi firefight. An entry from September 1, 1941 described how teenage sailors were bumped along uneven roads with luggage piled up one end of the lorry to their digs, and added: By the end of the evening I knew practically everyone and felt I might have lived among them for years. Sir Thomas Baird recently celebrated his 100th birthday (Jane Barlow/PA) Aged 17, Sir Tom served on HMS Trinidad as part of the Arctic Convoys, which delivered supplies to the Soviet Union in a gesture of support from 1941 after Hitler breached a treaty of non-aggression two years earlier. The route was treacherous due to its proximity to Nazi-occupied Norway and ice made the ship unstable, but Sir Tom said he was one of the lucky ones as around 18 of his friends were killed in 1941, also aged 17. Nazi warplanes attacked HMS Trinidad near Murmansk, Russia, and she was scuttled by Allied destroyers on May 16, 1942 which Sir Tom felt was good news as it would absolve him from completing the hated journal. However an eager colleague rescued the diaries from a safe, and Sir Tom was reunited with it the day before he turned 18. Pages of the diary kept by Sir Thomas Baird (Jane Barlow/PA) A poem titled HMS Trinidad described his excitement at being proud to belong of my ship and proud to belong/To a service so great, a tradition so high as the crew departed from Scapa Flow, Orkney, and its dramatic demise in the Arctic. It added: For weeks I was cold, I was bored, I was tired/of those bleak Arctic seas/I was tired of the endless grey day and cold night/I wanted the noise and excitement of a fight/I wanted excitement and danger and thrill/Yet still/We just sailed in those bleak Artic seas. It described the firefight: Planes were roaring!/Guns were flashing!/Men were shouting. Until bombs crashed/On to our deck. It concluded: And now the midnight sunshone clear and bright/Beneath a quiet and empty sky/How strange it seemed in that unnatural light/Just to stand and watch her die. Sir Thomas Baird told how he had hoped his diary would have been lost as his ship sank (Jane Barlow/PA) Around 750 sailors were evacuated, including Sir Tom who was taken to Iceland, and around 50 were killed. Sir Tom said: I didnt like having to keep a journal and have it inspected by an officer. I thought it was good news the ship was going to be sunk, as my journal would be going down with it. One of the other midshipmen was going past the gunroom and he collected the journals from the safe being a well-behaved and responsible person he collected them and gave them to us on board the destroyer. I was made to recommence writing my diary. Sir Tom, who has five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren, now lives in Symington, South Ayrshire, where his late wife Angela was from. In 1979 Sir Tom became Flag Officer, Scotland and Northern Ireland the most senior role and he retired just before the Falklands War in 1982. An Oklahoma teen and her family are speaking out after the 19-year-old was attacked by a shark last month in Galveston, Texas. Damiana Humphrey, 19, told "Good Morning America" she was wading in the water about waist-deep when a 4 to 5-foot shark latched onto her hand. She says she started punching the shark until she was freed. "When I finally saw my hand, that's when I started freaking out," she told "GMA." PHOTO: In this undated file photo, a bull shark swims off the coast of Florida. (STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images) Humphrey's father, Troy, also spoke to "GMA." "I noticed that she had her hand held up and that it was bleeding down her arm," he said. The teen was rushed to the hospital, where she had surgery on her hand. "I severed four tendons. And then I basically had a big hole on the top of my hand that they had to sew together," she said. "That shark was looking for food for prey, and in murky water, all they see is a flash of movement, and so that shark came in to investigate, and this was just a case of mistaken identity," Dr. Kesley Banks, a research scientist at the Harte Research Institute, told "GMA." PHOTO: Galveston Island Beach in Texas is shown in this undated file photo. (STOCK IMAGE/Getty Images) With summer approaching, several shark attacks have recently made headlines across the U.S. Three swimmers, including two teens, were attacked by sharks in two separate incidents while they were at beaches in Walton County, Florida, on Friday. In Hawaii, a 25-year-old woman was taken to a hospital following a shark bite incident off Oahus North Shore on Friday at around 2 p.m. local time, the Honolulu Emergency Services reported. "EMS responded to the Haleiwa Small Boat Harbor where the patient had been brought ashore. EMS treated her for multiple serious lacerations before transporting her to an emergency room," the agency stated. A 46-year-old man was left with "significant" injuries after being bit by a shark in Southern California earlier this month, officials said. While experts and officials advised beachgoers to take precautions, including avoiding swimming at dusk or dawn, Damiana Humphrey said the shark attack hasn't stopped her from getting back in the water. 19-year-old speaks out after surviving shark attack in Texas originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com BELLEAU, France (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Sunday he had reached an agreement with French President Emmanuel Macron on the use of profits from frozen Russian assets to help Ukraine. Asked if the two men had discussed the issue and whether they had come up with an agreement, Biden replied "Yes and yes." The Group of Seven nations and the European Union are considering how to use profits generated by Russian assets immobilized in the West to provide Ukraine with a large up-front loan now and secure Kyiv's financing for 2025. Around 260 billion euros ($280.9 billion) of Russian central bank funds are frozen worldwide, most of it in the EU. The funds generate 2.5 billion to 3.5 billion euros a year in profit, which the EU says is not contractually owed to Russia and therefore represents a windfall. The idea, championed by the U.S., is to use this profit as a steady revenue stream to service a large loan of $50 billion that could be raised on the market. Russia says any diversion of the profits from its frozen funds would amount to theft. Tapping profits from Russian assets has drawn concerns from some countries, but a U.S. Treasury official said on Tuesday that the United States and its G7 partners were making progress. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Katharine Jackson; Writing by Arshad Mohammed; Editing by Scott Malone and Bill Berkrot) National security adviser Jake Sullivan on Sunday said an enduring ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas is the only credible path forward after an Israeli hostage rescue mission that Gazan officials say killed at least 274 people. The best way to get all of the hostages home and to protect Palestinian civilians is to end this war. And the best way to end this war is for Hamas to say yes to the deal President Biden announced and that Israel has accepted, which lays out a roadmap to an enduring ceasefire and the return of all hostages, Sullivan told CNNs Dana Bash on State of the Union. Thats what we are driving for. And thats what were asking the world to call upon Hamas to accept, Sullivan added. His comments come after the Israeli military on Saturday rescued four hostages in a special operation in the Nuseirat refugee camp, central Gaza, that Gazan authorities said killed 274 people and injured nearly 700 others. CNN has no way of verifying casualty numbers reported by Palestinian officials in Gaza. Medical records in the war-torn enclave do not differentiate between civilians and militants killed. The IDF has disputed those numbers, saying it estimated the number of casualties from the operation was under 100. Innocent people were tragically killed in this operation. The exact number, we dont know, but innocent people were killed and that is heartbreaking. That is tragic, Sullivan said Sunday. The president himself has said in recent days that the Palestinian people are going through sheer hell in this conflict because Hamas is operating in a way that puts them in the crossfire, that holds hostages right in the heart of crowded civilian areas, he added. Pressed by Bash on whether the US was comfortable with how the mission was carried out, Sullivan called for a diplomatic solution where theres no need for military operations to get every last hostage out. Unfortunately, we are going to continue to see ongoing conflict and military operations in which Israel makes efforts to recover its citizens and, frankly, to recover American citizens. What we would much prefer to see is a ceasefire where the hostages come out peacefully, he said. The Biden administration has been pushing allies in the Middle East to make specific threats to Hamas as part of an urgent campaign to push the group toward accepting the latest Israeli ceasefire and hostage proposal that would pause the fighting in Gaza. US officials have publicly called on the group to accept previous ceasefire proposals on the table as Israel and Hamas have engaged in months of back-and-forth negotiations, but there has never been an all-out pressure campaign marked by specific asks to individual countries as part of the Biden administrations push. While the US has not confirmed Hamas claims that other Israeli hostages held inside Gaza were killed during the mission, Sullivan said broadly that it is always a risk, going on to advocate for the ceasefire deal Biden has been lobbying for in recent days. This story has been updated with additional information Sunday. CNNs Sam Simpson contributed to this report. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Coco Gauff ended her French Open campaign with a title as the American and her partner Katerina Siniakova won the womens doubles final at Roland Garros Sunday. Gauff and Siniakova beat Italians Sara Errani and Jasmine Paolini 7-6 (7-5) 6-3 in just under two hours on Court Philippe-Chatrier, securing Gauff a first doubles trophy at a grand slam. Defeat for Paolini came less than 24 hours after her straight-sets loss to Iga Swiatek in the womens final Saturday. Gauff and Siniakova were the fifth seeds. - Clive Brunskill/Getty Images Gauff and Siniakova who has now won eight major doubles titles, with three of those at the French Open came together at the start of the tournament following Jessica Pegulas withdrawal due to injury, Gauffs usual doubles partner. Thank you, Katerina for playing with me. We decided to do it two days before the tournament started, said Gauff, who had previously lost two major doubles finals, after the match. Last week, reigning US Open champion Gauff had lost in the singles semifinals in straight sets to eventual champion Swiatek. The mens doubles title was won by ninth seeds Marcelo Arevalo and Mate Pavic, who beat Italian 11th seeds Simone Bolelli and Andrea Vavassori 7-5 6-3. CNNs Kevin Dotson contributed to reporting. For more CNN news and newsletters create an account at CNN.com Editor's Note: This page is a summary of news on the Israel-Hamas war for Sunday, June 9. For the latest, view our story for Monday, June 10. Militant-held Israeli hostages were among the more than 200 people killed in the raid that freed four captives and has been lauded as heroic in Israel but described as a massacre across much of the Middle East, Hamas officials said Sunday. As Israel celebrated the hostage rescue, the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was shaken by the resignation of War Cabinet minister Benny Gantz, adding instability to Netanyahu's already fragile ruling coalition. Abu Obaida, spokesman for the Hamas Al-Qassam Brigades military wing, called Saturday's raid a "complex war crime." He said three hostages were killed in the attack, including one holding a U.S. passport, a claim Israeli military spokesperson Peter Lerner said should be taken "with a pinch of salt." "By committing horrific massacres, the enemy was able to free some of his prisoners, but at the same time, it killed some of them," Obaida said. "The operation will pose a great danger to the (remaining hostages) and will have a negative impact on their conditions and lives." The Israeli operation Saturday involved hundreds of troops and heavy air support that pounded the Nuseirat refugee camp. Freed captives Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrey Kozlov, 27',; and Shlomi Ziv, 40, were in good health and being reunited with their families, Israeli authorities said. Lerner said they were held "in civilian homes, putting them within the civilian arena." Neighboring Egypt and Jordan expressed outrage at the Israeli attack, calling it a violation of international law. Lebanons foreign ministry condemned the massacre." Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, secretary-general of the Gulf Cooperation Council, called the attack "a heinous and terrorist crime that targeted defenseless innocents with brutality." But Netanyahu remained ecstatic Sunday, saying in a social media post: "Happy is the people that is blessed with its heroes. We will continue together to do our utmost to return all of the hostages, and to achieve victory over our enemies." 'Miraculous triumph': What we know about Israel's operation to rescue 4 hostages Developments: Netanyahu proposed the rescue operation be dubbed Operation Arnon in honor of the "hero of Israel Arnon Zamora," the commander of the assault force who was killed during the effort. Sixty-four of the dead were children and 57 were women, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said Sunday. Netanyahu's office said he will appoint lawmaker Danny Danon to again serve as Israel's ambassador to the United Nations. Ambassador Gilad Erdan announced a week ago that he would step down after four years; Danon served five years in the post before Erdan. Palestinians children search through the rubble of their home on June 9, 2024, a day after an operation by the Israeli Special Forces that freed four hostages. Centrist Gantz drops out of Netanyahu's right-wing coalition Gantz, a popular former military leader, called on Netanyahu to set an autumn election date. Gantz resigned despite Netanyahu's social media post hours earlier urging him "not leave the emergency government. Don't give up on unity." The move does not bring down the government but removes the only centrist from Netanyahu's conservative coalition. Far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir demanded Gantz's Cabinet seat. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Gantz's decision "important and just." He called for replacing the "extreme and promiscuous government with a sane government" that will secure the return of the hostages, repair Israel's economy and restore Israel's international standing. "Netanyahu is preventing us from advancing toward true victory," Gantz said at a news conference. "That is why we are leaving the emergency government today, with a heavy heart but with full confidence." Netanyahu coalition clings to majority The exit of Gantz and the National Unity party he leads reduces the coalition government by eight seats. The five remaining parties are all conservative Netanyahu's Likud, far-right Religious Zionism and Otzma Yehudit, and ultra-Orthodox Shas and United Torah Judaism and hold 64 seats in the 120-member Knesset. Gantz, however, provided a palatable voice in Netanyahu's government for the U.S. and other nations as Israel faced global accusations of war crimes because of the tens of thousands of civilian deaths linked to Israel's military offensive. Palestinian death toll rises in hostage raid Gaza's Health Ministry said Sunday that 274 Palestinians were killed in the raid, up from 210 it reported on Saturday. At least 64 of the dead were children and 57 were women, the Hamas-run Gaza government media office said. An additional 698 people were wounded. Israel said Arnon was the only Israeli soldier killed, in an exchange of gunfire with militants. Israeli special forces posed as Rafah refugees Some special forces slipped into the Nuseirat refugee camp in a car with mattresses on top posing as Palestinians fleeing Rafah, according to Saudi-owned Asharq news channel in a report translated by the Times of Israel. They told locals they were escaping the Israeli attack on Rafah and would be staying in the building near a market a building where Argamani was being held. The other freed hostages were being held in another building nearby. Biden, Macron welcome rescue: Repeat call for cease-fire Rafah shelters empty as refugees flee again Only about 100,000 of the more than 1 million residents and refugees who occupied Rafah a month ago remain in the city, according to the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees UNRWA. Rafah, on the Egyptian border in southern Gaza, had become home to Palestinians fleeing Israeli attacks that left much of northern and central Gaza in ruins. With Israel military operations now focused on Rafah, many Palestinians are heading back toward their destroyed communities, the agency said. "All UNRWA shelters in Rafah have been vacated. Many of the people who were based in Rafah have fled up the coast seeking safer locations in both Khan Younis and the middle area of Gaza," UNRWA said in a statement. Contributing: Reuters This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Israeli war updates: Heroic raid to free Gaza hostages or massacre? South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) said former President Trump choosing a woman to be his running mate would be beneficial to him. I think that that would be beneficial, according to the polling that Ive seen for him and a lot of swing states, is that having a woman that is helping his campaign makes a difference, she said on CNNs State of the Union when asked if Trump should pick a woman as his vice president. Noem, a vice-presidential hopeful for Trump, told co-host Dana Bash that all the polls tell him in the swing states that a woman on the ticket helps him win. One in four Republican women havent made up their minds because they want to have a woman talking to them about the issues they care about. And women arent monolithic. They dont care about just one issue, she said. They care about health care; they care about their children; they care about their futures. They care about having an opportunity to have a business and to have a career. And all of that is being threatened [under] Joe Biden, but yes, the women vote is extremely important, she added. Trump has not chosen his running mate yet but has sent vetting materials to a handful of vice presidential contenders, including North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum (R) and Sens. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.) and JD Vance (R-Ohio), a source confirmed to The Hill. ABC News reported that Rep. Byron Donalds (R-Fla.), Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Ben Carson were also sent some materials, but its not clear how much they received. Noem did not say if she knew whether she was still being considered for the vice-presidential slot on Trumps ticket when pressed by Bash. I told President Trump over and over again, he needs to pick whoever helps him win. I have been loyal to him since the very beginning when he first started to run in 2016, she said. He told me his priority is picking a running mate that can govern on day one, that has been loyal to him, that has experience and runs businesses, knows how to be a CEO, but also supports him in his policies. I dont care. I love my job in South Dakota. I care about the fact that I want him to win, and he knows that I will do that, she added. Copyright 2024 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. 15 years after the movie's release, Catherine Marie Thomas tells PEOPLE the custom piece that Sandra Bullock wore was made even better by White's ad-libbing in the film Alamy Sandra Bullock and Betty White in The Proposal Some projects and some people stay with you long after you leave them behind. That was the case for costume designer Catherine Marie Thomas, who worked on The Proposal, which was released exactly 15 years ago on June 9, 2009. Thomas tells PEOPLE that it was a "very special group" of people who came together to make that movie. Starring Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock, the film tells the story of an editor in chief, Margaret (Bullock) who needs a green card, so she enlists her assistant Andrew (Reynolds) to marry her. The two lead characters have wildly different personalities, which Thomas balanced through their wardrobes, but she tells PEOPLE that one of her standout moments from filming came from the late Betty White. "Betty White can do no wrong," she says of the late actress, who died on Dec. 31, 2021 at 99. "I mean, really and truly, this was such an honor to work with her. She's so funny, so sweet. But the wedding dress scene! It's hilarious. God bless her." In the scene, Margaret is gifted with Grandma Annie's (White) wedding dress, and she tries it on for Annie to tailor. However, the dress doesn't fit her. At all. (This is a comedy, after all.) Thomas says White ad-libbed parts of that scene as they shot it over and over, making it funnier each time and it was already funny to begin with. But at the core of the scene, Thomas still had a beautiful dress that was actually two dresses. Alamy Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal "We backtracked by thinking that if it was Annie's dress, it would've been probably from the 1930s or somewhere in there," Thomas says. "So we just started looking at stuff from the 1930s with Sandy because she loves to, and it was a really fun process. She loved the idea of having something really elegant but sort of covered." Thomas continues, "We started by figuring out what it would look like on Sandy, and then we made another version of it in a comically large scale [for the fitting scene]. It's actually harder than you would think to make something look like that but in a bigger scale." Recalling the scene still makes Thomas smile, she says, because Bullock and White had so much fun with it, especially with White really going for the joke about how "chesty" she was in comparison to Bullock. "She was beyond a treasure," Thomas says. Related: Betty White's Life in Photos The costume designer, who also worked on projects like Kill Bill, Mr. Robot, The Heat and more, says that working on The Proposal was a unique challenge because the story takes place in such a short time period: essentially a weekend. Margaret and Andrew visit his family in Alaska for the weekend, so much of what Thomas had to work with clothing-wise had to theoretically fit into the characters' weekend bags. "It's tricky when you have a storyline that takes place in such a concise period of time," she says. "You know what I mean? To be able to tell that story without it feeling totally unrealistic. You don't want the viewer to be like, 'Where'd she get that from?'" Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up to date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Before the duo left the big city for Alaska, though, viewers meet hardcore Margaret, and Thomas crafted a custom wardrobe for her that took her level of uptight to an extreme. "That style of suit didn't really exist at the time," she says of the custom pieces she put Bullock in at the beginning of the film. "It was to the point where she almost couldn't walk in that long pencil skirt. It was sort of 1940s-style. There was definitely an homage to that silhouette, plus the big shoulders. Now I think you see it more, that very masculine yet feminine silhouette. It was this play on making her feel stilted but also very powerful and sexy." The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now! Alamy Sandra Bullock in The Proposal Thomas wanted Bullock's character to slowly loosen up while in Alaska, but there was a short timeframe and limited luggage space to do so. Plus, Margaret doesn't truly loosen up in just a few short days. "She's very fashionable, so she doesn't ever let go of this or the shoes and the Birkin bag. If you know, you know," Thomas says with a laugh. "I don't think she really expected any of those people [in Alaska] to know what she was ever wearing. The yellow V-neck Dries Van Noten sweater and the black pants is where she starts to loosen up just a little bit." But Margaret does let loose ever so slightly as she falls in love with Andrew over the course of their short weekend together. Thomas admits, though, that even in the end, "she's still Margaret," and her wardrobe still reflects that. "She's still put together, but she's a little softer and a little less severe." Alamy Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds in The Proposal Related: Sandra Bullock Recalls Silly Moment Doing Nude 'Proposal' Scene with Ryan Reynolds: 'I Didn't Look!' With Reynolds, Thomas says it's "impossible" to make him look anything other than "handsome," and it was especially fun to put him in a suit for his assistant role. She says her biggest challenge at the time, though, was finding the right denim for him during the Alaska scenes because he's so tall. "At the time there wasn't a lot of great denim with long inseams," she says with a laugh. "I imagine it's a bit easier for him now. He's got really, really long legs! But the Alaska scenes were fun with his wardrobe because we wanted to make him look comfortable because he was supposed to be around family and friends, plus he was doing masculine things like chopping wood." Alamy Ryan Reynolds and Sandra Bullock in The Proposal Related: Ryan Reynolds Says 'the World Looks Different Now' Following the Death of Betty White Looking back on the film now, after 15 years, Thomas says she loves that the clothes and the movie feel "timeless." "Sometimes you look at rom-coms and you can date the fashion, which is not a bad thing," she muses. "That's rom-coms. They don't have to disguise that. But I do think this movie really is pretty timeless, which I love about it. A timeless movie with a magical group of people." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. NEW DELHI (AP) Narendra Modi was sworn in Sunday for a rare third consecutive term as Indias prime minister, relying on his coalition partners after his party failed to win a parliamentary majority in a surprise outcome. Modi took the oath of office, administered by President Droupadi Murmu, at Indias presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. The 73-year-old popular but polarizing leader is only the second Indian prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for a third five-year term. His Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, which won by landslides in 2014 and 2019, failed to secure a majority to govern on its own in the latest national election. However, Modi's National Democratic Alliance coalition won enough seats to form a government, with him at the helm. This is the first time the BJP under Modi has needed support from its regional allies to form a government after a decade of commanding the majority in Parliament. 20-foot IUD in front of Union Station in DC A giant, inflatable IUD is going to travel across the country to help educate people about birth control this coming election season, after it made its first appearance in Washington, D.C., before the Senate voted against the Right to Contraception Act. Americans for Contraception inserted the IUD, a form of birth control, last week to "educate, inform and empower the American public on what is under threat," Chris Fleming, a spokesperson for the group, told USA TODAY. The 20-foot inflatable made its first appearance in front of D.C.'s Union Station. It garnered a lot of attention online when people began to post photos of it and jokes on social media. Explainer: What is the 'Right to Contraception Act'? A look at how the bill failed and what was in it "I hope Union Station took an ibuprofen before getting its giant IUD," posted one account to X, formerly known as Twitter. what if we kissed under the giant inflatable IUD https://t.co/TpPR4jdY0q samantha reid (@sammmreid) June 5, 2024 "What if we kissed under the giant inflatable IUD?" posted another. Why an IUD? "It was an attention-grabbing way to educate the public, and it worked," said Fleming. He adds that the reaction has been overwhelmingly positive. AFC inserted the IUD on Wednesday, the day the Right to Contraception Act was brought before the Senate. "It's going to be making appearances across the country in important areas and states for the November election," said Fleming. "It's also gonna be in places where folks might not expect to see it, like in the South." Jenny Marten, the health training manager at Planned Parenthood of Metropolitan Washington, DC, said she saw the IUD. "I think it is a great opportunity for us to bring attention to a very important topic," Marten told USA TODAY. Fleming did not reveal where exactly the IUD would pop up but said that it would continue to travel throughout the election year. The giant, inflatable IUD outside Union Station the last few days appears to have been removed. The display was meant to draw attention to legislation seeking to preserve access to contraception, which failed this week amid Republican opposition. pic.twitter.com/f8DMaFZAOv Mike Sisak (@mikesisak) June 7, 2024 What is an IUD? An IUD, or Intrauterine Device, is a form of reversible birth control. It's a plastic device that's shaped like the letter T and the size of a quarter, according to Marten. Doctors can place it in a person's uterus, and it can temporarily prevent future pregnancies. "It's one of the most effective forms of birth control available," said Marten. It's also growing in popularity. Between 2006 and 2010, only 8% of women relied on an IUD for birth control, but, between 2015 and 2019, the number jumped to 20%, stated Marten. While it works well to prevent pregnancies, people with IUDs can get them removed whenever they want to. Those who decide to have a baby can get it removed and immediately start trying to conceive. "Every patient is different, but typically a person can get pregnant once the IUD has been removed," said Marten Different types of IUDs There are five different brands of IUDs, according to Planned Parenthood's website: Paragard - Copper, works for up to 12 years Mirena - Hormonal, works for up to eight years Liletta - Hormonal, works for up to eight years Kyleena - Hormonal, works for up to five years Skyla- Hormonal, works for up to three years Some IUDs, which are fully plastic, prevent pregnancy by administering a hormone called progestin. Other IUDs, like Paragard, are nonhormonal and are wrapped in copper. Both work by changing the way sperm cells move in the uterus and prevent them from reaching an egg. Emergency contraception IUDs can also be used as a form of emergency contraception. Similar to Plan B, they can be used to prevent pregnancy for up to 5 days after having unprotected sex, according to Marten. However, despite common misconceptions, IUDs do not induce an abortion. "Research has shown that IUDs are very effective and they're safe," she said. "Research has also shown that IUDs do not induce an abortion." Right to Contraception Act The Right to Contraception Act set out to protect a person's right to access birth control, and a medical provider's right to prescribe it. However, Senate Republicans blocked the bill. Sen. Marco Rubio and other Republican senators who voted against the bill, signed a letter that explained why they opposed the bill. "There is no threat to access to contraception," states the letter. It adds that the bill infringes on parental rights. The senators who signed the letter called it a "stunt legislation." "Why do you need a law to address a problem that doesn't exist?" asked Rubio at a press conference that was posted on X. However, Democrats disagree. President Joe Biden said GOP lawmakers have already attacked access to contraception by proposing to defund the Title X Family Planning Program, the only program that is only dedicated to family planning. "Dangerous and extreme abortion bans are putting women's health and lives at risk, and disrupting access to critical health care services, including contraception, as health care providers are forced to close in states across the country," said Biden. "Attacks on contraception are an affront to women's dignity and their ability to make their own decisions about their lives." Though the bill was rejected,. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., changed his vote to "nay," which will allow him to bring the legislation to the floor again in the future. Contributing: Rachel Barber, USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Union Square's giant IUD removed, will travel to different cities in US As we race towards Election Day in the UK, it is the TV debates which are dominating the media. Prime Minister Sunak was the first to demand at least six debates with the leader of the Labour Party, Sir Keir Starmer one per week. However, to be honest there was barely any enthusiasm among viewers as neither Mr Sunak nor Mr Starmer are likely to set the Thames on fire. But even though they tried to give us an ill-tempered first debate to add some excitement to the fray, it is unlikely to skew the outcome either way. Honestly, after boisterous Boris and lettuce Lizzie we are longing for a non-thrilling Prime Minister who just does his work. Mr Sunak could have continued but then he surprised everyone by calling an early election. So now it is actually the debates with the others which are garnering eyeballs and include some rather interesting women the finance minister hopeful Rachel Reeves, the hopeful for Deputy PM Angela Rayner and the ever-hopeful replacement for Rishi Sunak, Penny Mordaunt. And then also the hopeful right winger Nigel Farage who is tired of being just a celebrity and wishes to be a politician again. This lot is a motley assortment it is like watching the Eurovision contest without the tedious singing and dancing. One of the abiding political topics over the last few years has been Brexit the UK leaving the European Union. But because so much has happened it is the little things that really count especially where trade is concerned for instance, strawberries! Let us remember that the UK when trading with neighbouring countries across the channel has to obey the strict rules imposed in other European countries. British strawberry growers have faced the problem for some years now. So now they have found a way around it. The locals like their strawberries large, red and sweet. But the market now for British strawberries has opened up in Japan miles away, so the British strawberry growers have adapted themselves to Japanese tastes who like small pale strawberries that can be used to adorn cakes. Small strawberries travel more easily so off to Japan go these sweet small strawberries. Hmmm thats the new shape and taste of Brexit. Meanwhile Shakespeare goes on providing business to the West End century after century. Of course, producers are free to let their imagination run riot. Thus at the Globe Theatre we have a new look Richard the Third. This story of a cruel king (with a hunchback) is a challenge as Shakespeare has packed a lot of English history into the play. Michelle Terry who is the creator of this latest reincarnation has decided to stage it with an all-female cast .The physical deformity of Richard (we are told) is all in his masculinity and not necessarily visible. It is attracting a lot of attention, even though the Bard is re-interpreted over and over and over What is the connection with Taylor Swift and London? Or maybe the UK ? Her popularity graph keeps rising here and one of the reasons could be that, as per the gossip columns, she has had a line of British boyfriends since 2012. Her love affair with the UK is reflected in the towns she performs in as they link themselves with her recently Beatle Liverpool rebranded itself (albeit temporarily ) as Taylor Town, and when in 2015 she said she has Scottish ancestry the sponsors of the show changed their tag line from Scottish Gas to Scottish Lass. Later it was revealed that her great-grandfather Lance G. Findlay had Scottish and South African ancestors though he lived in London. And now with her latest sold out show in Edinburgh this weekend she is charging ahead of Madonna without resorting to conical bras and other stunts. Among the richest star performers today Taylor Swift is also one of the few not afraid of mixing politics with music, especially in the US where she has not kept her priorities hidden just like she has worn her heart on her sleeve for the very special city of London. And here we go again with the cancel culture. An organisation called Fossil Free Books is insisting that Baillie Gifford (an investment firm that invests in fossil fuels) pull out of all the festivals it supports. The Hay Festival and the Edinburgh international book festival decided that they would reject its sponsorship. These are all noble intentions but then oddly enough, we are all, as authors, happy to use paper to publish our books which is made from pulping trees. And when we travel for literature festivals we are constantly adding to our carbon footprint. Everything we do the food we eat, the clothes we wear makes the world a poorer place. Yes, we must take a stand and shine a light but each time we must hold ourselves accountable as well. And lets not forget, that there is a Baillie Gifford literary prize, too! So to remain sane we all need to visit the upcoming exhibition on Barbie at the Design Museum. As per the publicity, Highlights include a rare first edition of the very first doll released by Mattel in 1959 (Number 1 Barbie), the groundbreaking Day to Night Barbie from 1985 and the best-selling Barbie of all time, 1992s Totally Hair Barbie which sold over 10 million across the globe. For intellectual stimulation during election season, it sounds perfect! From the time the final Lok Sabha tally was out and it was clear that Narendra Modi would fall short of a majority, all eyes have been on the role that his newly-acquired allies in the National Democratic Alliance would play. On Friday, after the meeting of the NDA members of Parliament, it became clear that both Nara Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish Kumar are now shadows of their past selves. It would, however, be unfair to criticise them for this. Age takes its toll. Politics too. Both need Prime Minister Modi as much as he needs them. And, all said and done, Mr Modi is not Atal Behari Vajpayee. NDA 2.0 is not NDA 1.0. The national media was agog with speculation that Mr Naidu would be a tough customer and would keep Mr Modi on a short leash, extracting concession after concession, dictating appointments, securing favours and so on. That was how he played it in NDA 1.0 with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee. In 1998, Vajpayee returned to power determined to hold on to it after having lost it in 1996, after a 16-day term. In 1999 he was voted out and regained power with the support of allies like the Telugu Desam Party that remained loyal during his one year in office. Between 1996 and 2004, through the tenures of H.D. Deve Gowda, Inder Kumar Gujral and Vajpayee, Mr Naidu tasted the fruits of power in New Delhi. Those nine years as chief minister of united Andhra Pradesh, working with PMs dependent on his support, defined the political personality and national image of Chandrababu Naidu. He used the opportunity to lay the foundations of the Greater Hyderabad of today adding Cyberabad to the twin cities of Hyderabad-Secunderabad. Mr Naidus local, national and global image was made by that opportunity. What todays commentators forget, however, is that not only did Vajpayees BJP have a mere 182 seats in Lok Sabha, but that the TDP had as many as 29, thanks to the size of united Andhra Pradesh. In the 18th Lok Sabha, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has 240 MPs while Mr Naidu has only 16. Numbers matter. But, more than numbers, what a political leader wants to do, needs to do, has to do, with those numbers also matters. As chief minister of a truncated Andhra Pradesh, Mr Naidu needs money to deliver development and a new capital to the people of Andhra. He wants to ensure a smooth succession within his own party, helping son Lokesh inherit the mantle. Mr Naidu is older, wiser but also in some hurry. Staying with Mr Modi is what he will do. Even so, Mr Naidu can still make a difference. Consider the message and body language of Mr Naidu and Mr Kumar at the meeting of the NDA MPs. Mr Nitish Kumar sought to ingratiate himself to Mr Modi. He behaved like a supplicant, feeding the masters ego. He pooh-poohed the INDIA constituents, desperate to remain the chief minister of Bihar. Moreover, he cannot count on the loyalty of his own 12 MPs. The BJP can easily swallow them. Mr Naidu, on the other hand, appeared confident, was poised and, while acknowledging the BJPs help in his victory, made it a point to also thank Rajnath Singh and Nitin Gadkari. He made a political point. While Mr Naidus demands on Mr Modi may be restricted to the needs of Andhra Pradesh, as the seniormost chief minister in India today (he first became CM in September 1995), he can play a constructive national role as the voice of a more federal polity. Recall the fact that the TDP came into being in 1982, led by the indomitable N.T. Rama Rao, in opposition to the centralisation of power in New Delhi and the misuse of that centralised power. It was NTR who made Prime Minister Indira Gandhi appoint the Sarkaria Commission that recommended restoring balance to Centre-State relations. While NTR remained a provincial politician as chief minister, he played an important national role as the voice of the states. He reminded one and all the opening lines of the Constitution: India, that is Bharat, is a Union of States. NTRs famous quote, that I often heard Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deploy with a smile to disarm chief ministers making too many demands on him, was: The Centre is a conceptual myth. During Mr Modis decade in New Delhi, he weakened Indias federal structure. He wound up the Planning Commission and the National Development Council. As a CM, Mr Modi was a voice of the states against the Centre. As a PM, he has centralised power not just in Delhi but in the PMs office. Mr Naidu would have to speak for the states. He would also have to lend his voice to all those who have been demanding greater balance and transparency in the functioning of the Union government. While Mr Naidus role in national politics during the United Front and Vajpayee years is often commented on, few today may be aware of what it actually was. Mr Naidu was the first CM to use the space offered by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao and finance minister Manmohan Singh to directly approach the World Bank and undertake a state-level structural adjustment programme. He became the blue-eyed boy of corporate leaders in India and overseas and was the first CM to commission a long-term development strategy with his AP: Vision 2020 report. Long before Mr Modi spoke of Amrit Kaal and the next 25 years, Mr Naidu worked to a plan and a strategy. The problem with Mr Naidu, as I told him at my last meeting with him a few months back, was that he is resting on his laurels. Brand Naidu was about what he did. Not what he would want to. Over the next five years, Mr Naidu will of course be judged by the administrative leadership he provides in Andhra Pradesh, building a new capital and improving state finances. However, he would and should also be judged by the political leadership he is able to provide at the national level. The former is a role he is used to and handled well in the past. The latter is a new role and he will have to play that well for him to be remembered not just as an Andhra Pradesh leader but as a national leader. 9 June 2024 17:55 (UTC+04:00) By Farman Aydin, AZERNEWS As Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan takes sound steps in the peace issue, external pressures against Yerevan are starting to increase. First of all, the delimitation and demarcation of the borders, then the return of 4 occupied villages to Azerbaijan, positive progress in the peace issue after the Alma-Ata meeting, and finally Armenia's support for the COP29 international event, which will be held in Baku in November this year, have driven both the Armenian lobby and the opposition forces totally crazy. This is a trend towards madness among the opposition and lobbyists in the truest sense of the word. The Lemkin Institute, a non-governmental organization established in Pennsylvania and named after the Polish Rafael Lemkin, has long been popular with its anti-Azerbaijan propaganda and rhetoric. The American-Armenian diaspora has been cooperating for a long time, and it is no secret that the manipulation and propaganda operating from America are aimed at inciting hatred in the masses of some radical Armenians. The institutes core mission in preventing "genocide" was greatly influenced by World War I and its aftermath. However, in choosing a nation subjected to genocide, Lemkin, the founder, unfortunately, purely chose the "crusaders", turning a blind eye to the rest of the world, subjected to genocide and ethnic cleansing. Certainly, he has not forgotten the Armenians, in every possible way there are references to the "genocide of Armenians" at the hands of the Turks, and we all know the "narrative" that Armenians have been voicing for years on every platform. Again, the Institute is "disappointed" with the decision of the Armenian authority to support the global event to take place in Azerbaijan which is under the spotlight of the world in terms of its global initiatives and contributions to climate activity. The radical institution, which once again appealed to the UN based on absurd claims, spoke about the rights of criminal separatist leaders imprisoned in Baku. First, human rights is a sensitive issue, and separatist elements in Baku prison have yet to respond. It is completely against the law to approach a criminal like Araik Harutyunan, who threatened the civilian population with rocket attacks during the Second Garabagh War in 2020, from the standpoint of human rights. Has Ruben Vardanyan, a failed project of Russia, paid the price for the crime he committed by illegally provoking the people in the territory of another state? The Lemkin Institute does not seem to want to answer these questions. The hypocritical Lemkin Institute continues to play a double game, and if only a certain amount of contribution is made to the treasury, then at the whim of Armenians they will talk about genocide and find a reason for propaganda. It is necessary to remind the Institute about the natives of Pennsylvania, who once in the past inhabited these lands and lived in peace until the policy of colonising and ethnic cleansing of the powerful countries brought misfortune to the inhabitants. The first genocide worth mentioning to the Institute is that of the Delaware, Susquehannock, and Shawnee Indians, the original inhabitants of the land on which "Americans" settled. By 1776, the Swedes and Dutch had replaced and settled the indigenous inhabitants. This is a little gist about the institute that is now anxious about the current progress in the South Caucasus. Most likely, the propaganda of Armenians will intensify until they sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Being in harmony with the Armenian churches, the institute tries to instigate the conflict that only gives them pleasure. However, they forget that the peace they want to prevent is a joint step taken not only for Azerbaijan, but also for the safe future of all Caucasian peoples. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 08:30 (UTC+04:00) Elnur Enveroglu Read more President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Egypt strengthened the foundations for mutual relations and cooperation between Baku and Cairo, which aims at covering almost all business spheres. It is necessary to remind that the meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on economic, technical, and scientific cooperation between Azerbaijan and Egypt took place in 2022, and at that meeting, negotiations were held between the two countries regarding the development of trade, industry, mutual investment, education, culture, and tourism. Even in February of the same year, an Azerbaijani-Egyptian business forum was organized with the participation of business representatives of the two countries. Furthermore, the fifth meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Technical, and Scientific Cooperation between the two states had a significant impact on further enhancing cooperation in a number of areas. Following the results of the meeting, the protocol of the fifth meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Commission on Economic, Technical, and Scientific Cooperation between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Arab Republic of Egypt and several documents were signed. As a reference to earlier, diplomatic relations between the two countries were established on March 27, 1992. The Egyptian Embassy in Baku has been functioning since April 1993, and the Azerbaijani Embassy in Cairo since January 1994. The year 1994 also coincides with the historical visit of the national leader Heydar Aliyev to Egypt, which had a significant role in the development of the ties between the countries. The well-laid foundations played an exceptional role in further strengthening the relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan and in developing them in the comprehensive field today. The foresight of President Ilham Aliyev and the strong policy that has been continuously pursued as inherited by the Great Leader until today is yielding the most positive results. Today, in the true sense of the word, there is great potential for the development of economic and trade relations between Baku and Cairo. During the last visit of President Ilham Aliyev to Egypt, the development of relations in energy, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, various fields of industry, transport, and other fields were already discussed. Egypt is a large country with a population of just under 100 million, a large market, and a strategic geographic location. The country is located in a very geostrategic location with access to Africa, the Middle East, and other regions. It should be noted that before that, the President of Egypt visited Azerbaijan in January 2023. For this reason, the visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Egypt was a turning point in the development of bilateral relations. In addition, many common values unite Azerbaijan and Egypt. Thus, the close cooperation and mutual support of Azerbaijan and Egypt in the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, Non-Aligned Movement and other international formats adds a synergy to those values. In addition, the contributions of Azerbaijan and Egypt to the strengthening of Islamic solidarity are of special importance. In this regard, Egypt and Azerbaijan make an important contribution to the strengthening of Islamic solidarity in the world and the development of moderate Islam. It is no coincidence that the President of Azerbaijan discussed issues of cooperation between the two countries in the religious and spiritual sphere while in Egypt. During the visit, President Ilham Aliyev met with the Grand Sheikh of Al-Azhar Sharif, Grand Imam Ahmed Mohamed Ahmed El-Tayeb. The head of state noted that Azerbaijan hosts significant events to promote dialogue among religions, cultures, and civilizations, thus contributing to interfaith dialogue. During the conversation with the religious leader, President Ilham Aliyev also spoke about the mosques destroyed because of the Armenian vandalism during the occupation in Garabagh and informed about the reconstruction of those mosques based on Azerbaijan's own funds in recent days. The Azerbaijani President also invited grand imam Ahmed Mohammed Ahmed El-Tayeb to visit Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan is a country that constantly contributes to Islamic solidarity, and attaches great importance to issues that are of concern to the Islamic world. Azerbaijan has always had a fair and principled position on the Palestinian issue. Azerbaijan is a supporter of the solution of the Palestinian issue based on the two-state principle, with East Al-Quds as the capital, based on the 1967 borders. Azerbaijan has always tried to promote these principles even when it chaired the NAM. Despite some recent claims, Azerbaijan's diversification of this principled position in Egypt, which is one of the centres of the Arab Islamic world, is of particular importance. The warm meeting between Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi is a clear manifestation of continuous relations and promising avenues between the two countries. After that, the areas to be developed thanks to mutual cooperation will include infrastructure development, oil and gas, information and communication technology (ICT), and pharmaceuticals. Because expanding cooperation in these sectors in the near future foreshadows a deepening of economic ties between the two countries. Thus, Azerbaijan, which is considered a reliable ally of the West and is especially known as a guarantor of the energy security of European countries, does not lag behind in its relations with Eastern and Islamic countries. The foreign policy of Azerbaijan, the political course aimed at the development of cooperation in all directions in the world, opens wider horizons for it. Relying on its political will and strategic partnership experience, Baku, which resolved the Garabagh conflict in a short time, is expanding its relations with the countries of the region, Iran, Central Asia, the Middle East, and the European Union. Azerbaijan already has a say not only in the Caucasus region but also among the leading countries of the world. The visit of the President of Azerbaijan to Egypt also demonstrated that Azerbaijan's relations with the Arab world, which has a large and historical geography, are at a high level. --- Elnur Enveroglu is AzerNews deputy editor-in-chief, follow him on @ElnurMammadli1 Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 14:30 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Faisal Khalifa Al-Sawwag, Chairman of the Board of Kuwait and Arab Electronic Media Unions, has issued a resolute statement in support of COP29, as relayed by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Kuwait, Azernews reports. The statement emphasizes: "International cooperation is imperative to address the dire consequences of climate change, which have reverberated globally in recent years. Embracing universally accepted principles, nations must demonstrate solidarity, recognizing their role in fostering a humane and civilized world. Every country bears a global responsibility. Therefore, we enthusiastically welcome the decision to host the 29th session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change - COP29 - in Azerbaijan. This exemplifies Azerbaijan's proactive stance in aligning with global trends. COP29 promises to bolster mutually beneficial collaborations with influential states in global politics and fortify Azerbaijan's standing in international arenas. The collaboration between Kuwait and Azerbaijan holds promise in addressing several climate-related challenges worldwide. Particularly, Azerbaijan's expertise in fostering a green economy and advancing sustainable practices is of great significance to Kuwait. Azerbaijan's ongoing efforts in environmental stewardship, marked by the declaration of this year as the "Year of Solidarity for the Green World," underscore its commitment to sustainability. We are confident that this initiative will amplify the impact of state policies on the environment and our planet. Hosting such international gatherings entails significant responsibility for each participating state. Azerbaijan, with its extensive experience in organizing international events, is well-equipped for the task. We are optimistic that COP29 will be conducted with remarkable success by Azerbaijan. As Kuwait and Arab Electronic Media Unions, we pledge to contribute to media coverage in Kuwait and the Arab world, ensuring widespread awareness of this international event. Azerbaijan's innovative proposals have garnered acceptance and implementation by partner countries, laying the groundwork for its dynamic development in the years to come." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 17:10 (UTC+04:00) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan Issues Statement Regarding 'Parliamentary Elections' in Georgia's Tskhinvali Region, Azernews reports. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan has reiterated its unwavering support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia. In a recent statement, it emphasized that Azerbaijan does not recognize the legitimacy of the so-called "parliamentary elections" conducted in the Tskhinvali region of Georgia on June 9, 2024, nor does it acknowledge their outcomes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 17:31 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more "The close relations between Egypt and Azerbaijan offer promising avenues for cooperation across various sectors, including infrastructure, oil and gas, ICT, and pharmaceuticals". Minister of International Cooperation of Egypt, Ms. Raniya El Mashat, highlighted these opportunities, expressing eagerness for enhanced collaboration in the near future, Azernews reports. Anticipating the outcomes of President Ilham Aliyev's visit to Egypt, Minister El Mashat emphasized a desire for expanded cooperation, particularly in the realm of business. Acknowledging Azerbaijan's hosting of COP29, Minister El Mashat congratulated the nation, citing the importance of international cooperation in addressing climate change. She emphasized the significance of COP as a platform for mobilizing funding for climate action and achieving global climate goals. Furthermore, Minister El Mashat underscored Egypt's commitment to research and collaboration in areas pertinent to climate change, signaling active participation in COP29. She expressed readiness to engage with international financial institutions and multilateral development banks to ensure the successful implementation of climate-related projects. In conclusion, Minister El Mashat conveyed Egypt's anticipation for active engagement in COP29 and extended congratulations to Azerbaijan for hosting this pivotal conference, wishing them success in their endeavors. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 09:00 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Azerbaijani Ambassador to India and the Kingdom of Bhutan, Elchin Huseynli, presented his credentials to Bhutanese King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck, Azernews reports. The King of Bhutan congratulated Ambassador Huseynli on his appointment and wished him success in his endeavors. He highlighted the reforms implemented in Bhutan and the progress made in protecting biodiversity and the environment. Ambassador Huseynli announced that Azerbaijan would host the 29th Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP29) in November. He also mentioned that Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev had sent a letter inviting the Bhutanese King to attend the World Climate Action Summit in Baku on November 12-13. During his visit, Ambassador Huseynli met with various Bhutanese officials, including the prime minister, the minister of foreign affairs and external trade, the speaker of the National Assembly, and the secretary of the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources. Discussions focused on enhancing cooperation between Azerbaijan and Bhutan in both bilateral and multilateral formats. The parties expressed a willingness to expand interparliamentary relations and cooperation in education, tourism, environmental protection, and renewable energy. Ambassador Huseynli also shared insights into Azerbaijans initiatives during its Chairmanship of the Non-Aligned Movement (2019-2023) and the countrys preparations for the COP29 Conference, expressing hope for Bhutans active participation in this prestigious event. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 18:21 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more In a joint statement, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron urged the ruling party of Georgia to recommit to the Euro-Atlantic path, Azernews reports. "The United States and France reaffirm their unwavering support for the Georgian people's aspirations towards Euro-Atlantic integration. Both presidents stressed the importance of the ruling Georgian Dream party honoring the will of the public and resuming its course towards Euro-Atlantic integration," the statement emphasized. Furthermore, the heads of state expressed their solidarity in promoting "a just and enduring peace in the South Caucasus, rooted in respect for international law and the fundamental principles of sovereignty, border integrity, and territorial sovereignty." --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 18:45 (UTC+04:00) Nazrin Abdul Read more Kyrgyzstan is set to launch several small hydropower plants totaling 80 MW in capacity across existing reservoirs between 2024 and 2027, as outlined in the country's National Energy Program until 2035. The program, presented by the Cabinet of Ministers to the Kyrgyz Parliament, lays out a detailed roadmap for this endeavor, Azernews reports. The proposed projects include: - The Balasaryu HPP, generating 21 MW, located in the Kirov reservoir (scheduled for commissioning in 2024). - The Orto-Tokoy reservoir HPP, with a capacity of 21 MW (to be commissioned in 2026). - The Kara-Kul HPP, boasting 18 MW capacity (to come online in 2026). - The Papan HPP, with a planned capacity of 20 MW (set to be operational by 2027). According to estimates provided by the Institute of Water Issues and Hydropower of the National Academy of Sciences of Kyrgyzstan, the country's hydroelectric resources stand at 245.2 billion kWh, with a technically feasible exploitable potential of 142.5 billion kWh. The report highlights the concentration of hydroelectric potential in key river basins, notably Naryn (36 percent), Fergana Valley (27 percent), Sary-Jaz (10.7 percent), and Chuy (9 percent). The Naryn River basin emerges as particularly promising, with a potential capacity of 6,970 MW, alongside the Sary-Jaz River basin, boasting a capacity potential of 993 MW. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 9 June 2024 23:16 (UTC+04:00) The body of a 45-year-old woman, reported missing in Indonesia, was found inside a python's stomach, Azernews reports. The incident occurred in Kalempang village, South Sulawesi province. Farida went missing on the evening of June 6. The following day, villagers searching for her encountered a 5-meter long reticulated python with a noticeably swollen belly in the nearby forest. Upon dissecting the snake, they discovered Farida's entire body. While such occurrences are uncommon, Indonesia has seen several instances of pythons consuming humans in recent years. In one incident last year, an 8-meter-long python fatally attacked and ingested a man on Muna Island, Southeast Sulawesi. In 2018, a 54-year-old woman's body was found inside a 7-meter-long python in another town within the province. A year prior, a villager was swallowed alive by a 4-meter-long python in West Sulawesi. The reticulated python, known for its intricate web-like skin patterns, is native to South and Southeast Asia. This endangered species ranks as the world's longest snake and the third heaviest, after the anaconda and Burmese python. Despite being hunted for their skin and medicinal properties, reticulated pythons primarily prey on vertebrates and birds, capable of swallowing animals up to a quarter of their length and equivalent weight. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Now that Kamala Harris has been coronated the Democratic Socialist designee for nomination as their candidate for President of these United States, after that political party's contrived primary process "democratically" elected Joseph R. Biden: What are your feelings about this party's progressive posture within their self-styled exercise of "Saving Democracy for America," and how truly critical the outcome of this presidential election will be? 8.7% I am ecstatic that this "Democracy's" First partially Black, First partially Indian, First female Co-Parent, and this nation's primary necessity is to her elect our First woman president.26.09% I really do not care about all these "Firsts." I will continue to pray, and work for this Representative Republic to elect someone competent, and brilliantly patriotic to be our next president.65.22% I will never vote for any politician that "first" does not have the core values to understand how dire this Constitutional Republic's situation has become. Nigel Farage, hero of Brexit and recently returned as leader of the populist nationalist anti-immigration Reform Party in the UK, was the clear winner of the BBC's televised election debate among seven parties contesting the July 4th parliamentary election. A post-debate poll of 1,000 debate watchers found that 25% of them rated Farage the winner of the debate, significantly ahead of all the other party leaders including those of the major Labour and Conservative parties. 14% said there was no winner. Second place went to Labour's leader with 18%. Farage's strong debate performance comes only days after the most recent poll of voting intentions found that Reform had surged to within two points nationally of the governng Conservatives. In the debate, Farage focused primarily on two issues, immigration and crime. The Reform Party has long opposed the climate alarmist Net Zero CO2 agenda which it calls "Net Stupid" but Farage put a new spin on the term when he called for Net Zero Immigration and explained how he intended to achieve that. It was only after the campaign started that the Reform Party announced that Farage was leaving his slot as a TV commentator on GB News and resuming his role as leader of the party that he had originally founded as the Brexit Party That has energized the party's campaign. Farage is now the Reform candidate for parliament in the Clacton constituency, once won by the Brexit Party, where he is expected to easily defeat the Conservative incumbent. https://www.express.co.uk/showbiz/tv-radio/1908894/bbc-general-election-debate-figures-nigel-farage The EU election is ongoing currently with member countries voting on a number of different days. Polls have been predicting gains by the populist naitonalist right, losses for the left and greens, and little movement either way for the traditional conservatives. In the Netherlands, which has already voted, exit polls show gains for the right, especially the populist right. The populist nationalist anti-immigration Party for Freedom led by Geert Wilders is set to win 7 seats, a gain of 6 from the last EU election. The Farmer Citizen Alliance, campaigning against what it calls "climate communism" will win its first 2 EU seats ever. The traditional conservative VVD is on 4 seats, and the center-right Christian Democratic Appeal on 3 seats. The ultra-conservative Reformed Party and the populist nationalist anti-immigration New Social Contract will win one seat each. Parties of the left and greens will win 9 seats and the liberals 3. In France, which has not yet voted, final election polls predict a blowout for the populist right against the governing globalist centrists. The populist nationalist anti-immigration National Rally led by Marine LePen is in first place with 33%, more than doubling the 15% of President Macron's coalition which is in second place. The Socialists are third with 14% followed by the far left France Unbowed at 8%, the traditional conservative Les Republicains at 7%, and the more strident populist nationalist anti-immigration Reconquest Party at 6%. https://europeanconservative.com/articles/news/dutch-exit-poll-wilders-predicted-to-make-huge-gains/ UPDATE: Here are the exit polls on Germany with seat allotments: CDU (traditional conservative) 23 (no change); AfD (populist nationalist anti-immigration right) 17 (gain of 6); Social Democrats (center-left) 14 (loss of 2); Green Party (left) 12 (loss of 9); Christian Social Union (Bavaria based staunch conservatives) 6 (gain of 1); BSW (populist anti-immigration anti-globalist left) 5 (new party); Free Democrats (small government center-right) 5 (no change); Free Voters (populist nationalist anti-immigration right) 3 (gain of 3); Left Party (far left) 3 (loss of 5); Volt (pan-Europeanian federalist party) 3 (new). In Austria, it is being reported that the populist nationalist anti-immigration Freedom Party is running first, with the tradional conservative Austrian Peoples Party second. LePen's populist natiionalist anti-immigration National Rally has opened a wide lead in France over Macron, so much so that Macron has announced he is dissolving the national French parliament and calling a snap election for it. UPDATE: Exit poll seat allocation in France: National Rally (populist nationalist anti-immigration right) 31 (gain of 8); Macron's coalition 14 (loss of 9); Socialists 13 (gain of 7); France Unbowed (far left) 8 (gain of 2); Les Republicains (traditional conservatives) 6 (loss of 2), Greens 5 (loss of 8); Reconquest (populist nationalist anti-immigration right) 4 (gain of 4). That is an overall gain by the right of 10 seats with the populist right up 12 and the traditional right down 2. The left had a net gain of 1, and the center a net loss of 9. A plaque installed at Carnlough in Co Antrim to honour a messenger pigeon which was used by the RAF during World War II has been totally destroyed. Among those to condemn the incident was UUP leader Doug Beattie who described the reported act of vandalism as utterly pointless and disgraceful. Paddy the Pigeon was raised as a carrier pigeon by Andrew Hughes of Carnlough village in Co Antrim. During World War II, thousands of trained messenger pigeons were enrolled by the Royal Air Force (RAF) to help military service personnel by carrying secret coded messages between the Allies from the war front back home to Britain. Paddy was awarded Dickin Medal on September 1, 1944, which is given for gallantry or devotion to duty while serving in military conflict and is often known as the animals Victoria Cross. Sharing images of the broken plaque on social media, WartimeNI posted: Pretty harbour. Petty sectarianism. Equal parts saddened and angered to see the commemorative plaque to Paddy the Pigeon totally destroyed overnight in Carnlough, Co. Antrim. Wednesday would be the 80th anniversary of his Dickin Medal-worthy exploits in Normandy. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Other people commented to say it was so disappointing, adding that his friends had visited the area a number of weeks ago and thought it was honourable and brilliant that the animals that helped us are remembered. In light of the incident, he suggested a full model should be made to recognise the amazing birds that helped us. Paddy the Pigeon was trained at the air forces Hurn Base, where the officers became impressed with his abilities during Air-Sea rescue operations. Paddy was later used in service with the First U.S. Army during covert missions as part of the Normandy landings. In an operation known as U2, Paddy was to carry coded information on the Allied advance in Normandy back to the British in Hampshire. Not only did Paddy have to avoid anti-air fire, but German forces had also stationed specially trained hawks to take out carrier pigeons in the Calais region of France. But Paddy managed to fly all the way back to the base in Hampshire from Normandy in four hours and 50 minutes, which became the fastest record by message-carrier pigeon during the Normandy landings. Paddy the Pigeon eventually returned to his home in Carnlough with Andrew Hughes. He lived until 1954, dying at the age of 11. In 2019, a plaque was unveiled to honour his memory in Carnlough. The PSNI said it is investigating after a memorial plaque was damaged in Carnlough overnight. The marble tile was torn from its mount at the Heritage Centre on Harbour Road and smashed, a police officer said. Anyone who witnessed the damage being caused or who may have other information regarding this crime is asked to contact police on 101, quoting reference 481 09/06/24. Austen Lennon, who was election agent for ex-DUP man turned independent unionist North Down candidate Alex Easton, has quit. The Westminster election agent for Alex Easton has been stood down after racist, Islamophobic and anti-trade union posts on his social media accounts were revealed. Mr Easton confirmed the departure of Austen Lennon on Sunday. The independent unionist candidate in North Down said Lennons past comments had caused him great hurt and did not reflect his views. It came hours after the Sunday Life published details of controversial comments shared on Lennons social media accounts. Alliance candidate Stephen Farry, who is seeking re-election in North Down, said today the posts were "disgusting". In the messages Lennon: * Described striking public sector workers as lazy and selfish; * Appeared to suggest a racial element behind a gang of luxury watch thieves; * Said man-made global warming was a fraud, and; * Claimed those vaccinated against Covid are more at risk of infection than those who are not. All the messages appear to have been deleted from Lennons social media profiles. Mr Easton said today: After the comments made by my election agent which were said on his social media in the past, (he) has now stepped down. I knew nothing about these comments and they don't reflect my views or beliefs, and I condemn the comments made in the past. This has caused me great hurt and I hope people realise the type of person I really am and not to be fooled by these dirty tricks. My election agent will not be taking any further part in my election campaign. Under Electoral Commission guidelines, Lennon can't resign so Mr Easton will have to remove him and appoint a new agent. Mr Easton also accused the Alliance Party of attacking him relentlessly with smears and seeking to damage me. An Alliance spokesperson, whose candidate Stephen Farry is Mr Eastons main contender for the seat, had told Sunday Life that Lennons posts beggar belief. And reacting today, Mr Farry said the comments were disgusting. These are disgusting comments and dangerous tropes from the man Alex Easton appointed as election agent for this election and previously, he said. Many of these posts are from earlier this year, he said. Values and judgement really matter." When approach by Sunday Life, Lennon claimed the posts were only being brought up to damage Mr Eastons election chances and dismissed questions about them as pure garbage. Translink has said it is engaging with all relevant communities after a request by Belfast City Council for Irish language signs to be placed at the new Grand Central Station and surrounding Weavers Cross area. Translink gave a non-committal reply to a letter from the council urging the transport company to install bilingual signage at the new station and wider Weavers Cross. At a City Hall committee meeting in April, elected representatives by a majority vote approved a Sinn Fein motion supporting dual language Irish signage at Grand Central Station, currently under construction, as well as Irish signage in the wider Weavers Cross area, which is still in the early stages of regeneration development. At the Standards and Business Committee, 12 members voted for the proposal and five against and it was declared carried. Unionist members voted against. Last month the council received a reply from Group Chief Executive of Translink, Chris Conway. The letter states: Translink acknowledges the motion, and we further acknowledge the importance placed on matters of language by all sections of the community. It is important we reach out to engage with all relevant communities and stakeholders. We are currently planning a series of meetings with a range of interested parties during the coming weeks, where we will listen carefully to all viewpoints, and will consider a response once this process has completed. The council motion, by Councillor Rois-Maire Donnelly, states: Belfast City Council acknowledges the significant progress made in promoting the Irish language within our jurisdiction, including the formulation of a Language Strategy in 2018, the revision of the dual language street signage policy in 2022, and the formulation of a draft Irish language policy in 2024. To further this commitment, the council fully supports the installation of bilingual internal and external signage at Cros na bhFiodoiri Weavers Cross Belfasts new Grand Central Station. As a result, this council will write to Translink urging them to install bilingual signage at Weavers Cross and to ask what steps they are taking to fulfil their obligations under the European Charter for Regional and Minority Languages, and ensuring shared public spaces are welcoming and cater to the bespoke needs of the Irish language community. The new world-class integrated transport hub, set on an extended site beyond the old Great Victoria Street bus and train station, is rapidly progressing through the last stages of final construction. It is due to be completed towards the end of 2024, with full project completion, including all public realm upgrades, expected in the third quarter of 2025. In 2022, Belfast City Councils Planning Committee unanimously approved outline permission for the Weavers Cross regeneration development plan, on lands freed up by the future closure of the existing Europa Bus Station and Great Victoria Street train station. A mixed-use development will be located to the east and west of Durham Street, south of Grosvenor Road, stretching as far as Sandy Row, and involves new office space, residential apartments and a hotel. It is also planned to provide new public realm space, active travel, hospitality and community uses. Around a fifth of this space has been proposed for housing, with a fifth of the residential space set aside for social/affordable housing. This means that half of this final allotted space will be social, the other half affordable. The council received 14 letters of support and 143 letters of objection to the Weavers Cross development, including an objection from the County Grand Orange Lodge of Belfast. The majority of the objections related to the removal of the Boyne Bridge and introduction of new pedestrian crossings associated with the Belfast Grand Central Station plan. The funeral of murder victim Patricia Patsy Aust (81), whose body was found in a house in Hawthorne Court in Bangor last Sunday, is due to take place on Thursday 13 June. The brother of the retired school-teacher appeared in court earlier this week charged with her murder. Her funeral service is set to take place at 11.30am in St Andrews Presbyterian Church, Bangor, and afterwards at Roselawn Crematorium. A funeral notice read that she was deeply loved by all her family and friends. It concluded: Only the best memories of you Patsy and the happiness you have brought to us all. You will never be forgotten, and we shall try to support ourselves with our memories of having you to cherish and love. We are grieving with loss but also with love. Jim Moore (85) is accused of killing Patsy Aust (81) in Bangor last weekend. Read more Man charged with Bangor murder is brother of alleged victim Patsy Aust Moore, from Clandeboye Place in the city, was wearing a grey tracksuit when he stood in the dock at Newtownards Magistrates Court on Tuesday. He spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charge against him, answering 'yes' on both occasions. No details of the incident were revealed in court, however a police officer said they could connect Moore to the charge. Defence solicitor Dermot Bowes confirmed he was not applying for bail on behalf of Moore at this stage. Watch: Police at the scene of sudden death in Bangor A prosecuting lawyer asked for the case to be adjourned to the videolink list. Remanding Moore into custody, District Judge Francis Rafferty put the case back to June 26. Moore waved briefly at a number of people in the public gallery as he was led from the dock. Ms Aust had lost her son, Garreth (47), who died in September 2023. On Monday Rev Mark Johnston, of St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Bangor, said people are struggling to understand what has happened. Rev Johnston said the family were regular churchgoers and that Mrs Aust was a devoted and hands-on grandmother. Local politicians also said there was a great sense of shock and sadness in the area. Irelands Housing Minister Darragh OBrien said Sinn Fein will not be satisfied with its electoral performance (Brian Lawless/PA) Irelands Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien said Sinn Fein will not be satisfied with its electoral performance, as the main opposition party suffers a set back in its bid to be in the next government. Despite polling highly over the last four years, Sinn Fein has not gained the surge in votes that was predicted in the local elections. Mr OBrien said that this was a party that was apparently just going to waltz into Government. Despite polling highly over the last four years, Sinn Fein appears not to have gained the surge in votes that was predicted (Jonathan Brady/PA) Its obviously clear that weve parts of the country where theyre in single digits, Dublin probably at 11 (or) 12%. They cant be satisfied with that performance, he told RTE Radio 1. Of course, theyll make gains because theyre coming from a very low base of about 9%. I dont think the main opposition party can be satisfied with a gain like that. Mr OBrien was asked if the positive results for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in the Europe elections means that the Irish general election should be held earlier than March next year, but he disagreed. We have been very clear. Weve an important budget to do in the autumn, weve important legislation to pass like the Planning and Development Bill which is advancing through the Dail, he said. I expect as the three leaders have said, the Taoiseach (Simon Harris), Tanaiste (Micheal Martin) and Minister (Eamon) Ryan, that the Government will do its course. We have important work to do. Yes, of course, the results here today and for government parties are good because we want good councillors running our local authorities and representing our people. The European elections obviously well know later on today as well. I expect the Government to see out its term. Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane said the party is not where we want to be. Indications show that the party has won around 11% of first preference votes based on declarations so far in the local elections. The party won 24.5% in the 2020 general election and had been polling above 30% until recent polls indicated a slide in their support. Mr Cullinane warned against underestimating the resilience of the Sinn Fein party and said some council seats would come down to very complicated transfers. Obviously, we expected to do better, Im not saying that it was a good result for Sinn Fein, of course Im not, he said. Absolutely there was no complacency. When we dont have a good day we accept it. We will have to ask the questions you asked me why did we not get the votes that we expected to get? Mr Ryan, the Green Party leader, said he believes that the incumbent MEP Ciaran Cuffe remains in the mix for a seat in the Dublin constituency. However, he has ruled out party colleague Pauline OReilly gaining a seat in Midlands-North-West. For the last couple of years, theres been a lot of attacks on our party, a lot of myths, untruths that were not in supporting rural Ireland. We are. Its our first consideration, Mr Ryan added. Green party leader Eamon Ryan speaking to the media (Cillian Sherlock/PA) Its not an easy environment to be in but that comes with politics so you have to try and win the argument back and try and explain why this is going to be the right transition for all of Ireland. Pauline I dont think is in line for running for a seat but we are keen for her to do as best she can. We are an all-island, right across the country, party. We ran 130 local election campaigns and three really good European election campaigns. You dont win every time, but I think its a hard thing to run for election. Its a real test for character when you see your vote and it doesnt come home. Meanwhile, government minister Patrick ODonovan said that Fine Gael has returned an awful lot of people. The Minister for Further and Higher Education added that there are a few unfortunately who will not make it over the line. In my own electoral area we are getting close to 40%, the one next to me we are getting close to 38%, he added. Theyre very, very rural. So we must be doing something right in rural areas where a councillor who stood in the last election has tripled his vote, a 300% increase. Asked about the possibility of general election taking place soon, he said: It never fails to surprise me that the king is dead, long live the king. Nobody is really looking at yesterdays results in detail. Before we start rushing into deciding you know, theres ballot boxes here that the hinges are still warm from being open and were talking about a general election. I would like if there could be a bit of narrative as to why is that? The people of Ireland rejected unanimously across many counties the narrative of darkness and the narrative of absolutely everythings wrong and the failed state and all of that, they rejected all of that. At the end of it, theyre looking at the United States and the United Kingdom and Irish people have decided the centre has not done us too badly over the last 102 years and it is this time to stick with the centre. Thats the story of this election. A woman exits a voting booth after casting her vote in European Parliament and local elections in Baleni, Romania (Vadim Ghirda/AP) Tens of millions of people across the European Union are voting in parliamentary elections in a massive exercise of democracy that is expected to shift the bloc to the right and redirect its future. The war in Ukraine, migration and the impact of climate policy on farmers are some of the issues weighing on voters minds as they cast ballots to elect 720 members of the European Parliament. Surveys suggest mainstream and pro-European parties will retain their majority in Parliament, but they will lose seats to hard-right parties like those led by Italian premier Giorgia Meloni, Hungarian leader Viktor Orban, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, and Marine Le Pen in France. That would make it harder for Europe to pass legislation and could at times paralyse decision-making in the worlds biggest trading bloc. Official results of the elections, which are held every five years and began in the Netherlands on Thursday, cannot be published before the last polling station in the 27 nations close those in Italy at 11pm local time. French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte prepare to vote during the European election, in Le Touquet-Paris-Plage, northern France (Hannah McKay/Pool/AP) EU politicians have a say in issues from financial rules to climate and agriculture policy. They approve the EU budget, which bankrolls priorities including infrastructure projects, farm subsidies and aid delivered to Ukraine. They also hold a veto over the appointment of the powerful EU commission. The elections come at a testing time for voter confidence in a bloc of some 450 million people. Over the last five years, the EU has been shaken by the coronavirus pandemic, an economic slump and an energy crisis fuelled by the biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War. But political campaigning often focuses on issues of concern in individual countries rather than on broader European interests. An unofficial exit poll on Thursday suggested Mr Wilderss anti-migrant hard-right party should make important gains in the Netherlands, even though a coalition of pro-European parties has probably pushed it into second place. Geert Wilderss anti-migrant party is believed to have made gains in Holland (Peter Dejong/AP) Casting his vote in the Flanders region, Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo, whose country holds the EUs rotating presidency until the end of the month, warned that Europe is at a crossroads and more under pressure than ever. Since the last EU election in 2019, populist or far-right parties now lead governments in three nations Hungary, Slovakia and Italy and are part of the ruling coalition in others,including Sweden, Finland and, soon, the Netherlands. Polls give the populists an advantage in France, Belgium, Austria and Italy. Hungarian Prime Minister Mr Orban, who leads a stridently nationalist and anti-migrant government, told reporters after casting his ballot on Sunday: Right is good. To go right is always good. Go right. After the election comes a period of horse-trading, as political parties reconsider their places in the continent-wide political alliances that run the European legislature. The biggest political group the centre-right European Peoples Party (EPP) has moved right during the present elections on issues like security, climate and migration. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban and his wife Aniko Levai cast their votes at a polling station in Budapest (Szilard Koszticsak/MTI/AP) Among the most watched questions is whether the Brothers of Italy the governing party of populist Ms Meloni, which has neo-fascist roots stays in the more hard-line European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) group or becomes part of a new hard-right group that could form in the wake of the elections. Ms Meloni also has the option to work with the EPP. A more worrying scenario for pro-European parties would be if the ECR joins forces with Ms Le Pens Identity and Democracy to consolidate hard-right influence. The second biggest group the centre-left Socialists and Democrats and the Greens refuse to align themselves with the ECR. Questions also remain over what group Mr Orbans ruling Fidesz party might join. It was previously part of the EPP but was forced out in 2021 due to conflicts over its interests and values. The far-right Alternative for Germany was kicked out of the Identity and Democracy group following a string of scandals surrounding its two lead candidates for the European Parliament. The election also ushers in a period of uncertainty as leaders are chosen at the helm of the European institutions. While the new MEPs are jostling over places in alliances, governments will be competing to secure top EU jobs for their national officials. Chief among them is the presidency of the powerful executive branch, the European Commission, which proposes laws and watches to ensure they are respected. The commission also controls the EUs purse strings, manages trade and is Europes competition watchdog. Other plum posts are those of European Council president, who chairs summits of presidents and prime ministers, and EU foreign policy chief, the blocs top diplomat. East Belfast UVF offers drug dealers amnesties New terror bosses give olive branch to pushers linked to former leaders Lee McAuley Ciaran Barnes Sun 9 Jun 2024 at 08:09 The East Belfast UVF has offered an amnesty to drug dealers facing charges connected to former elements of the gang so long as they cooperate with cops. Lyra McKee killed for the cameras: MTV footage shows dissident warning of violence minutes before shooting Unaired documentary key to case against three men accused of killing journalist and seven charged with rioting on the night the New IRA took her life Lyra McKee Ciaran Barnes Sun 9 Jun 2024 at 08:08 A leading dissident on trial for rioting on the night Lyra McKee was murdered boasted to TV cameras about how he led a New IRA paramilitary parade through Derry. NI couple on their adoption journey: 'You have to be 100% committed or its not going to work' Paedophile friends caught with stash of more than 500 child images But judge suspends prison sentences after eight-year delay in case reaching court Billy Crowe John Toner Sun 9 Jun 2024 at 08:12 Two paedophile pals have avoided prison despite admitting to making and possessing hundreds of indecent images of children. PITTSFIELD Under gray skies, the hot pink dresses of a handful of drag queens popped out amid a sea of rainbow flags and T-shirts at the Berkshire Pride parade Saturday. It was a day of celebration, love and acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community. Eagle Reels: Andrew Fitch discusses Pride Month and LGBTQ+ community growth in the Berkshires Andrew Fitch is a small business founder, a nonprofit worker and community leader who was elected to the North Adams City Council last fall. Fitch, one of the organizers of North Adams Pride, has called North Adams a beacon of creativity, freedom, expression and safety in a world and a time which is not always so welcoming to the LGBTQ+ community." Eagle Reels host Dalton Delan recently spoke with Fitch about Gay Pride Month and what makes North Adams home for him. Nearly 60 groups carried banners showing their solidarity, marching from Park Square northward onto North Street, before turning onto Eagle Street and then into First Street, ending with a festival at The Common featuring 200 vendors. It dovetailed with the Pittsfield Farmers Market. Not many people were on the sidelines as allies appeared to march with their friends in the LGBTQ+ community. There was just one vehicle a maroon pickup truck, decked out in rainbow streamers. Members of Shakespeare & Company rode in it and on the bed, donning smiles and interacting with onlookers. Many groups from the Berkshires came, including churches, schools and Pittsfield City Hall, where a rainbow flag hung just underneath the Stars and Stripes. Emma Lenski of Pittsfield, director of education and outreach for Berkshire Pride, wasn't sure how many people were attending this year's parade, the organization's third annual one. What do the colors of rainbow Pride flags mean? Here's who the colors represent... Here are some of the flags youre likely to see this month and a general idea behind the color choices and who they represent. "There's been a lot of bills passed across the country, mostly directed at trans and nonbinary and gender diverse youth," Lenski said. "It's really hard for anybody in the LGBTQ community to feel supported when bills like that get passed. We're lucky in Massachusetts, and especially in the Berkshires, that it's a pretty liberal area for the most part." While there have been counter-protests in the past, there wasn't one this year. "Overall, we're definitely privileged to be in the Berkshires," she said. Lenski said Berkshire Pride offers a safe space certification program to train both agencies and individuals. In addition to heightening awareness, that program raises funds for Berkshire Pride, she said. This year's Pride events stretched over nine days, culminating with a tea dance on Sunday at Naumkeag in Stockbridge. Echo Phoenix came to the parade for community, noting both violence and laws targeting the LGBTQ+ community. "Right now it's kind of like the time to really show up, and show people that we're here and we're not going to be intimidated," Phoenix said. Anne Sheridan of Sheffield brought her Corgi, Watson, to the parade. She was the last in line, carrying a pink, blue and purple flag. She said the parade was great, noting that people were throwing candy. Some also blew bubbles in the line of march, perhaps for their rainbow effect. "All it needed was a band on a flatbed truck," she said. "I think it's really important to support everybody. There's too much mindless hate going on. And we need to get out and show that everybody is worthy of applause." BillOReilly.com is not available in this country. We apologize for any inconvenience. In response to reports of a potential terrorist attack, Czech police have bolstered security measures in public spaces, Azernews citing the "Idnes" news portal. Heightened security protocols are now in place at railway stations, public transport hubs, and shopping centers across the country. First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, Vit Rakusan, affirmed that the police are proactively implementing preventive security measures. "While a suspect has been detained, we are implementing enhanced security measures as a precaution," the minister stated on his social media account. Further details will be communicated to the public following the State Security Council meeting. Actress Miriam Margolyes has claimed that if author Charles Dickens was alive today then he would have supported the Palestinian people. The Harry Potter film series star, 83, who has been outspoken about her pro-Palestine views amid the war in Gaza, was speaking at the Queens Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday evening. Advertisement The audience included Britain's Queen Camilla, BBC Sport presenter Clare Balding and her wife Alice Arnold as well as members of the public. Gyles Brandreth and Miriam Margolyes (Chris Jackson/PA) Margolyes was asked by broadcaster and trustee of the Queens Reading Room charity, Gyles Brandreth, about when she first discovered the writer of David Copperfield and Oliver Twist. Advertisement She told the What The Dickens! Miriam Margolyes And Friends session: When I was 11, I read Oliver Twist, that was the first one. And I just loved it. It was all about criminals. And I enjoyed the danger of it, the humour of it. But I was mystified because of the (reference to the) Jews and Im Jewish. And I thought why is he talking about the slimy Jew (Fagin) sliding along the page, and I was concerned about this. I didnt realise that antisemitism was part of life. And dont worry, I am very political and I am very pro-Palestine, I just want that to be very clear, and so would Dickens if he was (here) but it fascinated me and so I was drawn into that world and I never left. Advertisement Margolyes did theatrical Dickens-associated readings alongside other actors including Karl Collins, Miranda actress Patricia Hodge, Tipping The Velvet actress Rachael Stirling and Game Of Thrones star Julian Glover. The Queens Reading Room Festival took place at Hampton Court Palace (Chris Jackson/PA) Brandreth asked Collins about being in Doctor Who, and Margolyes chimed in saying she was in the long-running science fiction series but did not know which episode. Advertisement I dont know what it was called, my character was called the Meep, Margolyes said. Collins replying saying: Oh did you do the voice of the Meep, I was in that episode. She said: Oh, well, I never met you. Collins was in The Star Beast special, where Margolyes lent her voice to an evil furry creature called the Meep, and he portrayed Donna Nobles (Catherine Tates) husband Shaun Temple. Author Sir Ian Rankin has said fans of his Rebus series are more concerned about the health of the books detective than his own. The Scottish writer (64) appeared at Saturdays Queens Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey, alongside other crime authors including Lee Child and Ann Cleeves, as part of a panel about their genre of fiction. Advertisement Rankin talked about when he goes to John Rebus favourite pub, the Oxford Bar in Edinburgh, and is met with people always slighted disappointed that the guy they see is not the complex, dark and dangerous, brooding fictional detective. Advertisement He described himself as a guy sitting in a corner with a pint of beer and a crossword and a safe person instead of the complex hero. Rankin added: Theyre much more worried about Rebuss health than my health. As long as the books keep coming, they dont care. I could have a terrible cold or I could be on the point of death. He said that when Rebus developed chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) after years of smoking, fans asked if the detective would be OK living with the condition, and dont care about the authors ailments. Advertisement He said he had thought the end of his latest book, A Heart Full Of Headstones, which sees Rebus waiting in prison for a trial, would be a terrific ending to the series, but fans bullied him into writing another book, as they needed to know what happens next. The latest book, Midnight And Blue, is to be released later this year, with the author accidentally giving spoilers at the event, and pointing to what appeared to be Rebus relationship with pathologist Deborah Quant. Lee Child, author of the Jack Reacher series (John Stillwell/PA) Advertisement Rankin said: There was a kind of friends with benefits thing going on recently with a pathologist. But now hes in chokey (prison), thats not so easy. And since she gave evidence against him at his trial you dont find this out until the next book which is published in October, so forget I said that. He also said he has not yet watched the latest BBC instalment of the 2024 series of Rebus, which is on BBC iPlayer, as he watches in real time. So Ill be in my hotel room in London tonight at (9.15pm) with my wife because we havent seen it, so well watch episode four tonight, he added before joking: And I just hope that the screenwriter has toned down the swearing, hes got a very potty mouth. Advertisement Elsewhere, Child spoke about how indebted he is to his female readers, who make up an estimated 65% of buyers of his Jack Reacher books. He told the audience: I think you go into it imagining that women readers are going to want something more soft and human but the reverse is absolutely true and its an age thing as well the most fearsome readers are older ladies. I call them the killer grannies. They absolutely love the mayhem and the blood and the broken bones and all of that, which took me by surprise, really Reacher wouldnt think of himself as specifically a feminist, but he would regard himself as a rational human being. Ann Cleeves (ARC/NENC/PA) And that makes you a feminist, in my opinion, that if you look at the world, like it really is, you see people as completely equal until proven otherwise. Child, whose real name is Jim Grant, said his series is post-feminism as it does not matter if the bad guy is male or female because the lead character, a former US army officer, will break their neck. Male readers are so frustrating because theres a huge demographic of men that are, first of all, rich enough to afford to buy books, and secondly, literate enough to read them, he added. But they have a terrible bias against fiction. They prefer to read about some president who died 200 years ago and so getting through to those people is difficult. The Coventry-born writer also said he sets his books in America as he can take advantage of scale of the country, such as in Die Trying, which sees Reacher thrown into a van and driven 1,500 miles to a remote mountain hideout while still being in the US. He added: What really attracted me to writing about America was, as I say, the audience, theyre very into crime fiction, theyre into thrillers, they will take a chance. And Britain is much more reserved about taking the chance on new things I find. It is time for a general election, a Fine Gael TD has said. Early indications from the ongoing counts of European and local elections suggest that Government parties do not appear to have suffered a major electoral blow. Advertisement Speaking to reporters at the TF Royal count theatre in Castlebar, Co Mayo, Michael Ring said the party has had a great election. Asked if he would support an early general election, the Mayo TD said it was a decision for the Taoiseach but added: I think Fine Gael would be well to go the country. Go to the country in October, not wait. We had two winter elections and I dont ever want to see a winter election again. After Christmas, bad weather, people in bad form and credit bills coming in in February. Now is the time. Advertisement The general election must be called by March next year but senior Government ministers have publicly said that the coalition should run its full term. Fine Gael appears to have had a Harris hop in the polls after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar as leader of the party earlier this year, leading to Simon Harris taking over that position as well as the role of Taoiseach. Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Simon Harris (Niall Carson/PA) Advertisement Mr Ring said: Lets call a spade a spade. We were in a bad place a few months ago and nobody thought we would lift the party again and people actually thought wed have to reorganise after the general election, but thats not the case. Now, I have to say that and I am going to be honest if there had have been a leadership battle, I would have voted for Paschal Donahoe. But I have to say Simon Harris has really, really, really impressed me. Hes done a superb job. Mr Ring said he had recently canvassed with the new party leader when he was interrupted by the Burke family, which has staged a number of protests. Advertisement We were being followed but he has them steps. He was running all over the place and I tell ya, even the Burkes couldnt catch him. During a slump in opinion polls, several high-profile party TDs have previously indicated that they will not run in the next general election. Asked if he expected them to reconsider, Mr Ring said: Guys might start thinking again. Mr Ring refused to confirm whether he himself would run in the general election: When I make that decision, youll be the first to know. Advertisement He added: I havent made up my mind. But if I go see I lost a half stone in this campaign. And there were days I had three candidates with me; morning, after dinner, in the evening. They were all half my age, but I had them killed by the evening. So Im ready for action whenever the action comes. Fianna Fail minister of state Dara Calleary (Niall Carson/PA) Also speaking in Castlebar, Fianna Fail junior minister Dara Calleary said there was a need to be careful. Local elections are very different from national elections. We stood here in this count centre in May 2019 and then we came back six months later to a very different result. So lets not get carried away. He added: The energy of the last few weeks goes in now to getting ready for that general election whenever its going to be. Getting our policies ready, our candidates elected, getting team out there. And what people want is us to focus on their problems, not on political parlour games. Asked if it should be sooner rather than later, Mr Calleary replied: Way above my pay grade but I want a budget done still a lot of issues, cost of living is still a major for people. Sinn Fein are to dust themselves down after early indications showed the party has not had the result it had hoped for in the local elections. It comes after the Minister for Public Expenditure said the expectation that Sinn Fein would be in the next government has been shattered by early indications in the local elections. Advertisement Irelands main opposition party faces a tough local election battle over the weekend, after Government parties Fianna Fail and Fine Gael appeared on Saturday to have polled strongly. A day after voters headed to the polls in three highly anticipated elections, the ballot boxes were opened at 9am on Saturday and counting began in the local elections. Irish voters will elect almost 1,000 new councillors, 14 members to the European Parliament and, for the first time, one citys citizens were asked to pick their mayor. Advertisement Ballot boxes in Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) Tally indications show a surge in the Sinn Fein vote has not materialised in the local elections, while the Government coalition parties are welcoming early results. Despite winning 24.5 per cent of first preference votes in a historic result in the 2020 general election, and hovering above 30 per cent in opinion polls for a long time, the fate of many of its candidates are now expected to depend on transfers. Despite this, Sinn Fein is expected to still make some gains on the 2019 election, where it won around 9 per cent of first preference votes and 81 council seats out of 949. Advertisement Sinn Fein TD for Donegal Pearse Doherty told RTEs Six One programme that it will make gains in some counties, but would have to dust themselves down and look at the lessons that can be learned. Its Cork North Central TD, Thomas Gould, said that the party still has a chance of increasing its seats across Cork city and county. Its just that we dont know how much yet, he said at the Cork City Hall count centre, adding that despite poor turnout in some core areas, were hopeful. Tanaiste Micheal Martin argued that his Fianna Fail party had performed far better than predicted, while public expenditure minister Paschal Donohoe said the results so far showed Fine Gael was not a spent political force. Advertisement Finance Minister Michael McGrath said there had been no massive breakthrough for the far right in the Irish elections, despite concerns raised during the campaign. The early tallies show that there is a large majority of people who are willing to vote in a very different way to how extremists and the far right will make the case for, Mr Donohoe said. I think there is a very compelling narrative to be made at a very early stage in this that Fine Gael has been successful in getting out its votes, that our campaign has made a difference, and that the approach of the Government parties has been recognised by voters. Despite the strong showing for government parties so far, ministers stuck to the line that the coalition government would go the full distance to February or March before a general election is called. Advertisement Asked about Fine Gaels performance compared with Sinn Fein, Mr Donohoe said: Overall, the portrayal that some have offered of Fine Gael as a tired party that narrative, that claim, has been shattered by the results that were seeing potentially coming through at the moment. And the other narrative that theres anything inevitable about Sinn Fein being in government thats been shattered too. Mr Martin said the focus would be on putting together a budget for October as his party looked to win an MEP seat in the Midlands-North-West constituency for the first time in 15 years. Public Expenditure Minister Paschal Donohoe (Niall Carson/PA) The idea that Fianna Fail would be coming in a distant third is completely disproven, the Tanaiste said. Ive been looking at opinion polls now for the last three years. This internet panel polling having Fianna Fail at 14% and 15% clearly Fianna Fail will be well ahead of that and will be over 20% by the time all of these counts are collated and put together. We put up a very robust performance and were holding our own compared to our performance in the general election of 2020. Michael McGrath speaks to the media at Cork City Hall (Jonathan Brady/PA) The full results of the elections will take days to be finalised due to Irelands system of proportional representation which allows voters to rank every candidate in each race by order of preference. The process means ballot papers are sorted and counted multiple times by hand. Counting in the European elections will not begin until Sunday morning and the results of the first tally will not be declared until after 10pm due to ongoing voting in other EU states. Irish politics is currently dominated by a housing crisis, the cost of living and migration. The coalition partnership of Fine Gael, Fianna Fail and the Green Party has been battling criticism domestically and on the continent over other issues including climate action, agriculture policy and defence cooperation in the EU. The polls will provide political parties with evidence of voter sentiment, having had to wait more than four years since the last nationwide elections. They are also an indicator of how new Fine Gael leader and Taoiseach Simon Harris is faring, having assumed the roles around eight weeks ago after the shock resignation of Leo Varadkar. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan (Cillian Sherlock/PA) While the count for the European elections has not officially begun, the segregating of the ballot papers allowed observers to get a sense of which candidates are performing well. In Dublin, incomplete tallies by noon suggested Fianna Fails Barry Andrews and Fine Gaels Regina Doherty were leading. Green Party incumbent Ciaran Cuffe, Independent Ireland candidate Niall Boylan, Labour representative Aodhan O Riordain and Sinn Fein hopefuls Daithi Doolan and Lynn Boylan will be fighting over the remaining two seats. Mr Cuffe was asked if he believed he could stay ahead of Mr O Riordain and Social Democrat Sinead Gibney, the at-risk MEP added: For the wildebeest, you just have to stay ahead of the lion. In the South constituency, Fine Gaels Sean Kelly and Fianna Fails Billy Kelleher are considered to be in contention for re-election. Sinn Fein will be hoping to regain a seat in the region with Kathleen Funchion, while Independent TD Michael McNamara is predicted to take the fourth seat. Early voters waiting for a polling station to open (Niall Carson/PA) In Midlands-North-West, there were reports of strong support for Fine Gaels incumbent Maria Walsh and her running mate Nina Carberry. Ireland Local and European election results: Andrews tops... Read More Fianna Fails Barry Cowen, Independent Ireland candidate and former RTE correspondent Ciaran Mullooly and Independent MEP Luke Ming Flanagan have also polled well in some regions across the vast constituency. In the south west, voters in Limerick city and county had the opportunity to directly elect a mayor with executive powers on long-term strategic planning. A cross-party tally from midday indicated that Independent candidate John Moran, a former secretary general at the Department of Finance, was in the lead with around 25 per cent of the votes, with Independent candidate Helen ODonnell in second place. Minister for Housing Darragh OBrien said Sinn Fein will not be satisfied with its electoral performance, as the main opposition party suffers a set back in its bid to be in the next government. Despite polling highly over the last four years, Sinn Fein has not gained the surge in votes that was predicted in the local elections. Advertisement Mr OBrien said that this was a party that was apparently just going to waltz into Government. Despite polling highly over the last four years, Sinn Fein appears not to have gained the surge in votes that was predicted (Jonathan Brady/PA) Its obviously clear that weve parts of the country where theyre in single digits, Dublin probably at 11 (or) 12 per cent. They cant be satisfied with that performance, he told RTE Radio 1. Advertisement Of course, theyll make gains because theyre coming from a very low base of about 9 per cent. I dont think the main opposition party can be satisfied with a gain like that. Mr OBrien was asked if the positive results for Fine Gael and Fianna Fail in the Europe elections means that the Irish general election should be held earlier than March next year, but he disagreed. We have been very clear. Weve an important budget to do in the autumn, weve important legislation to pass like the Planning and Development Bill which is advancing through the Dail, he said. Advertisement I expect as the three leaders have said, the Taoiseach (Simon Harris), Tanaiste (Micheal Martin) and Minister (Eamon) Ryan, that the Government will do its course. We have important work to do. Yes, of course, the results here today and for government parties are good because we want good councillors running our local authorities and representing our people. The European elections obviously well know later on today as well. I expect the Government to see out its term. Advertisement Sinn Fein TD David Cullinane said the party is not where we want to be. Advertisement Indications show that the party has won around 11 per cent of first preference votes based on declarations so far in the local elections. The party won 24.5 per cent in the 2020 general election and had been polling above 30 per cent until recent polls indicated a slide in their support. Mr Cullinane warned against underestimating the resilience of the Sinn Fein party and said some council seats would come down to very complicated transfers. Obviously, we expected to do better, Im not saying that it was a good result for Sinn Fein, of course Im not, he said. Absolutely there was no complacency. When we dont have a good day we accept it. We will have to ask the questions you asked me why did we not get the votes that we expected to get? Mr Ryan, the Green Party leader, said he believes that the incumbent MEP Ciaran Cuffe remains in the mix for a seat in the Dublin constituency. However, he has ruled out party colleague Pauline OReilly gaining a seat in Midlands-North-West. For the last couple of years, theres been a lot of attacks on our party, a lot of myths, untruths that were not in supporting rural Ireland. We are. Its our first consideration, Mr Ryan added. Green party leader Eamon Ryan speaking to the media (Cillian Sherlock/PA) Its not an easy environment to be in but that comes with politics so you have to try and win the argument back and try and explain why this is going to be the right transition for all of Ireland. Pauline I dont think is in line for running for a seat but we are keen for her to do as best she can. We are an all-island, right across the country, party. We ran 130 local election campaigns and three really good European election campaigns. You dont win every time, but I think its a hard thing to run for election. Its a real test for character when you see your vote and it doesnt come home. Meanwhile, government minister Patrick ODonovan said that Fine Gael has returned an awful lot of people. The Minister for Further and Higher Education added that there are a few unfortunately who will not make it over the line. In my own electoral area we are getting close to 40%, the one next to me we are getting close to 38 per cent, he added. Theyre very, very rural. So we must be doing something right in rural areas where a councillor who stood in the last election has tripled his vote, a 300 per cent increase. Asked about the possibility of general election taking place soon, he said: It never fails to surprise me that the king is dead, long live the king. Nobody is really looking at yesterdays results in detail. Ireland Sinn Fein spent 16,150 on election day digital ad... Read More Before we start rushing into deciding you know, theres ballot boxes here that the hinges are still warm from being open and were talking about a general election. I would like if there could be a bit of narrative as to why is that? The people of Ireland rejected unanimously across many counties the narrative of darkness and the narrative of absolutely everythings wrong and the failed state and all of that, they rejected all of that. At the end of it, theyre looking at the United States and the United Kingdom and Irish people have decided the centre has not done us too badly over the last 102 years and it is this time to stick with the centre. Thats the story of this election. Narendra Modi has been sworn in for a rare third consecutive term as Indias prime minister, relying on his coalition partners after his party failed to win a parliamentary majority in a surprise outcome. Mr Modi and his cabinet ministers took the oath of office, administered by Indian president Droupadi Murmu, at Indias presidential palace Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Advertisement The 73-year-old popular but polarising leader is only the second Indian prime minister after Jawaharlal Nehru to retain power for a third five-year term. People watch as Narendra Modi is sworn-in as the prime minister of India by President Draupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi (Manish Swarup/AP) His Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which won by landslides in 2014 and 2019, failed to secure a majority to govern on its own in the latest national election. Advertisement However, Mr Modis National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition won enough seats to form a government, with him at the helm. This is the first time the BJP under Mr Modi has needed support from its regional allies to form a government after a decade of commanding the majority in parliament. Final election results released on Wednesday showed Mr Modis BJP won 240 seats, well below the 272 needed for a majority. Together, the parties in the NDA coalition secured 293 seats in the 543-member lower house of parliament. Advertisement Mr Modis coalition government now largely depends on two key regional allies the Telugu Desam Party in southern Andhra Pradesh state and Janata Dal (United) in eastern Bihar state to stay in power. Meanwhile, Mr Modis political challenger, the INDIA alliance led by the resurgent Congress party, put up a stronger-than-expected fight, doubling its strength from the last election to win 232 seats. An avowed Hindu nationalist, the prime minister is considered a champion of the countrys Hindu majority, who make up 80% of Indias 1.4 billion population. Advertisement Narendra Modi is sworn in as the prime minister of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan (Manish Swarup/AP) His supporters credit him with rapid economic growth and improving Indias global standing since coming to power. But critics say he has also undermined Indias democracy and its status as a secular nation with attacks by Hindu nationalists against the countrys minorities, particularly Muslims, and a shrinking space for dissent and free media. His political opponents have questioned his governments economic record, pointing to high unemployment and growing inequality despite strong growth. Advertisement Several South Asian leaders attended the swearing-in ceremony, including Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe, Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu. Tensions between India and Maldives have grown since Mr Muizzu was elected last year. He has since taken a pro-China stance and removed Indian troops stationed on one of Maldives islets. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party will replace the Conservatives as the opposition to Labour after the UK general election. Speaking to the Sunday Express, Mr Farage claimed his party is the real opposition now and that the election on July 4th is our beginning. Advertisement This election is over. Labour are going to win by a mile, he said. The only question for voters now is who the opposition is going to be. Mr Farage referred to British prime minister Rishi Sunak leaving 80th anniversary D-Day commemorations in France early to attend a TV interview in England, saying: One more gaffe like that and they could all lose their seats. Advertisement Most of those people saying they are going to vote Labour are saying it because they dont want to vote Conservative. I think well dig into the Labour vote much more than they think. His comments come as the Labour Party is talking tough on law and order and vowing not to hike taxes, while the Tories seek to move on from Mr Sunaks D-Day decision with a benefits overhaul plan. Sir Keir Starmers party has pledged to crack down on the antisocial use of off-road bikes and relieve pressure on overstretched prisons. Advertisement Police will be given new powers to scrap noisy dirt and quad bikes within 48 hours, instead of having to keep them impounded for two weeks, if Labour wins the UK general election. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are attempting to put a lid on the fallout from the UK prime ministers early return from D-Day commemorations. UK work and pensions secretary Mel Stride will tout a Tory pledge to halt the rising costs of welfare by reforming the benefits system on Sunday. The UK prime minister is campaigning in Yorkshire without media on Sunday after facing accusations of dodging reporters questions the previous day amid continuing criticism of his D-Day actions. South Korea has resumed anti-North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas in retaliation for the North sending more than 1,000 balloons filled with rubbish and manure over the last couple of weeks. The move is certain to anger Pyongyang and could trigger retaliatory military steps as tensions between the war-divided rivals rise while negotiations over the Norths nuclear ambitions remain stalemated. Advertisement Hours after the South resumed loudspeaker broadcasts, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned that the South created a prelude to a very dangerous situation. Advertisement She said South Korea would witness an unspecified new response from the North if it continues with the broadcasts and fails to stop civilian activists from flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. I sternly warn Seoul to immediately cease its dangerous activities that would further provoke a crisis of confrontation, Kim Yo Jong said in a statement published by North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency. It came shortly after South Koreas military said it detected North Korea launching what appeared to be more rubbish-carrying balloons on Sunday night. The military did not immediately confirm the number of suspected balloons or whether any of them had already landed in the South. Advertisement South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the military conducted a loudspeaker broadcast on Sunday afternoon. It did not specify the border area where it took place or what was played over the speakers. Whether our military conducts an additional loudspeaker broadcast is entirely dependent on North Koreas behaviour, it said. The South had withdrawn loudspeakers from border areas in 2018, during a brief period of engagement with the North under Seouls previous liberal government. Advertisement At an emergency meeting led by national security director Chang Ho-jin, South Korean officials berated Pyongyang for attempting to cause anxiety and disruption by sending the balloons to the South and stressed that North Korea would be solely responsible for any future escalation of tensions. A balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea on the Han River in Seoul (South Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff/AP) The North said its balloon campaign came after South Korean activists sent over balloons filled with anti-North Korean leaflets, as well as USB sticks filled with popular South Korean songs and dramas. Advertisement Pyongyang is extremely sensitive to such material and fears it could demoralise frontline troops and residents and eventually weaken leader Kim Jong Uns grip on power, analysts say. South Korea has in the past used loudspeakers to blare anti-Pyongyang broadcasts, K-pop songs and international news across the rivals heavily armed border. In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported. Last week, as tensions spiked over the rubbish-carrying balloons, South Korea also suspended a 2018 agreement to reduce hostile acts along the border, allowing it to resume propaganda campaigns and possibly restart live-fire military exercises in border areas. South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik in a meeting with top military commanders called for thorough preparation against the possibility that the North responds to the loudspeaker broadcasts with direct military action, his ministry said in a statement. North Korea continued to fly hundreds of balloons into South Korea over the weekend, a third such campaign since late May. The Souths military said the balloons that did land dropped rubbish, including plastic and paper waste, but no hazardous substances were discovered. In her statement, Kim Yo Jong claimed the North used about 1,400 balloons to drop 7.5 tons of rubbish from Saturday night to Sunday morning. She also complained that anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets flown from South Korean activists had been discovered in border areas in recent days. South Korean soldiers wearing protective gear check the rubbish from a balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea (AP) She said the North had initially planned to halt its balloon launches on Sunday but decided to send more because the South restarted loudspeaker broadcasts. The Souths military, which has mobilised chemical rapid response and explosive clearance units to retrieve the North Korean balloons and materials, alerted the public to beware of falling objects and not to touch balloons found on the ground but report them to police or military authorities. In North Koreas previous two rounds of balloon activities, South Korean authorities discovered about 1,000 balloons that were tied to vinyl bags containing manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth, waste batteries and waste paper. Some were popped and scattered on roads, residential areas and schools. No highly dangerous materials were found and no major damage has been reported. A South Korean civilian group led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak said it launched 10 balloons on Thursday carrying 200,000 anti-North Korean leaflets, USB sticks with K-pop songs and K-dramas, and one dollar notes. South Korean media reported another activist group also flew balloons with 200,000 propaganda leaflets towards North Korea on Friday. Kim Jong Un in recent years has waged an intensifying campaign to eliminate South Korean cultural and language influences. In January, Mr Kim declared the North would abandon its longstanding goal of a peaceful unification with the South and rewrite its constitution to cement the South as a permanent enemy. Experts say Mr Kims efforts to reinforce the Norths separate identity may be aimed at strengthening the Kim familys dynastic rule. Childlike CiCi | Photo Credit: Drea Nicole June 7, 2024 (Nashville, TENN.) Hip hop artist Childlike CiCi is the latest breakout rapper to join Capitol Christian Music Group and today, the Brooklyn, NY native is revealing her debut single, "Rest of My Life. This captivating summer anthem is poised to make waves with its heartfelt testimony and resonant message of devotion to God's unwavering loyalty. Written by CiCi and produced by Alexandria Dollar and Jeffrey (Juberlee) Shannon, the track features guest vocals by Alexandria and Jordan Dollar. "Rest of My Life" encapsulates CiCi's personal journey and her heartfelt desire to live a life devoted to faith. With its compelling lyrics and uplifting rhythm, the single aims to connect deeply with listeners who have shared similar life experiences and spiritual paths. Childlike CiCi has been making a significant impact in the music world since releasing her first single, "Souls," in March 2022. This marked the beginning of her self-titled "Christian rap ministry," which has since engaged a growing audience of over eight hundred thousand combined social media followers and over 19 million views across social media and streaming platforms. Although music has always been a passion for CiCi, it wasn't until her senior year in high school that she began sharing her talents publicly. Initially finding success in secular music spaces, she garnered attention from several artists, labels, and teams. However, in 2019, a pivotal moment in her life led her to surrender to Christ, prompting a three-year hiatus to strengthen her relationship with God. Upon her return, CiCi's focus shifted to redefining what it means to follow God, breaking free from cultural and religious limitations, and spreading her message through music. Childlike CiCi is no stranger to the spotlight. Her recent support on KBs Glory Nights Tour in the Spring of 2024 further showcased her dynamic performance ability. CiCi's music, characterized by its powerful flow and lyrical prowess, rivals even the hottest secular rappers, making her a force to be reckoned with. For more information on Childlike CiCi and Rest of My Life visit https://www.childlikecici.com. Kim Walker-Smith - "Trample" | Merge PR NASHVILLE, TENN. (JUNE 07, 2024) Today, worship leader and songwriter Kim Walker-Smith releases her first new album in three years. The latest project, Trample, features 12 new songs including the released songs "Boxes," "Let Revival In," "Mama," and the title track. Click here to listen to Trample. "As an artist and songwriter, so often our songs and new projects express the process we find ourselves in," explains Kim Walker-Smith. "Ive written many songs from a dry and difficult season. Ive written songs that convey the wrestling that I feel in my spirit. But this collection of songs was written on the other side of the fight. Trample is a compilation of songs written from a place of victory. Victory is not expressed purely and only with joy, as you will hear in the song Horizon, but it is also expressed with humility and an understanding of what is needed to continue moving forward." Other songs on the project include Mercy Seat which was written to express the vulnerability and total honesty of what Kim has learned in the fight. As Long As I Have You and Only Jesus Could," solidify her resolve for the one thing that matters most to her in the battle and the victory; thats Jesus. Kim adds, "My hope and my prayer with Trample, is that these words and melodies will prophetically awaken the resolve and determination inside of the listener, to stand in victory through Jesus. I pray the honesty of the lyrics brings repentance where its needed and straightening to crooked paths. And lastly, I hope this album makes clear where Im headed and I hope others will join me; worship belongs to Jesus and all the glory is His alone." With more than 20 years of worship leadership, Kim Walker-Smith is known for her spirit-led worship anthems. She will be touring internationally this summer with a nearly sold-out South Africa tour followed by a headlining tour in the US this fall. Skye Reedy | Merge PR NASHVILLE, TENN. (JUNE 07, 2024) Worship leader, songwriter, and vocalist Skye Reedy releases her debut live album, Your Church, available now. This new album features her songs "Crown Him," the powerful anthem "Promise Keeper feat. Joe L Barnes," a love song of a life surrendered, "Only Jesus," and "Names of God," which was written after a beautiful moment of spontaneous worship. Listen to the new album here. This album - Your Church - is meant to be a meeting place with God," shares Skye Reedy. "These worship songs came from deeply healing encounters with Gods presence. My prayer is that the same healing love would be experienced as you worship and sing these songs. Not a newcomer to the musical scene, Skye Reedy is a seasoned vocalist having worked with artists such as Michael W. Smith, Amy Grant, Cece Winans, Cody Carnes, Brandon Lake, Brooks & Dunn, Disney, and more. For more than two decades she has traveled around the world leading worship in more than 10 countries. She has also been part of performances on programs including Good Morning America, the ACMs, CBS This Morning, and the Dove Awards. After dealing with a long season of life-threatening sickness and chronic disease, Skye Reedy has experienced her own personal healing miracle while worshiping God in her home being completely healed. Singing from her own experience, each song on her debut album is an anthem of praise and prayer for healing for others. Click below to watch the live performances of songs from Your Church, including the title track that debuted today. Long wait times for mental health appointments are pushing more people onto online services, but experts say smartphone apps can play an important role in providing care provided they are backed by evidence. Clinical psychologist Dr Aliza Werner-Seidler, a researcher at the Black Dog Institute, said surveys conducted by the institute suggested teenagers were waiting an average of three months for a first mental health appointment, leaving them vulnerable to poor quality online advice in the interim. After initial wariness, more mental health professionals are encouraging patients to use apps. Credit: Digital Vision Maybe an influencer is sharing their experience of anxiety or depression, but that might not really helpful, or it may just contain misinformation, she said. Despite attempts by social media companies to clean up their platforms, Werner-Seidler said there continued to be ample content glorifying or normalising self-harm and eating disorders on social media. 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 Sydney chartered accountant Scott Whiddett was the tallest person to participate in this years Outback Car Trek, squeezing into the smallest vehicle, a 1971 Blue Datsun, to bump along dirt roads to raise funds for the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Whiddett and his co-driver, his 25-year-old daughter, Emma, one of the youngest participants, were among the 215 people in 80 cars (two-wheel-drive bombs at least 30 years old) to raise $1.2 million in the annual fundraiser. On an outback road between Burra and Arkaroola. Credit: Wolter Peeters Leaving Bendigo in Victoria eight days ago, they travelled about six to seven hours a day through outback NSW, South Australia to Queensland, ending at Sea World on the Gold Coast on Sunday morning. Whiddett said it was a bit like an outback scavenger hunt. It required participants to follow and understand coded directions for 3898 kilometres. Emma said she enjoyed visiting small towns such as Burra in South Australia. Fifty-cent fares will now apply to the $1.4 billion Brisbane Metro network when it begins services later this year, Transport Minister Bart Mellish finally confirmed on Sunday. The 60 mega-buses are expected to be popular with university students, suburban commuters and people travelling to Brisbanes main hospitals. Brisbanes Metro buses each carrying 170 passengers will begin operating with 50-cent fares. Credit: Brisbane City Council There is a signed agreement already in place with the Miles government for Brisbane City Council to commence Brisbane Metro in November [if the system is ready], Mellish said. I look forward to the commencement of Metro services, which will include the Miles governments 50-cent fares. Police are investigating whether speed played a role in a serious crash in Brisbanes south-west in which two vehicles flipped and five people were hospitalised with life-threatening injuries. Early details indicate a Mercedes sedan was heading south along Forest Lake Boulevard on Saturday night when it hit a Toyota Landcruiser just after 10pm at the intersection of Renoir Crescent in Forest Lake, police said in a statement. The wreckage of one of the two cars that flipped in the high-impact collision. Credit: Queensland Ambulance Service The 28-year-old male driver of the Mercedes, his two 22-year-old male passengers and a 20-year-old female passenger, along with the 52-year-old female driver of the Toyota, were all taken to hospital. A Halls Head mother has been charged over the Wheatbelt car crash that killed her twin seven-year-old daughters in February. Rachel van Oyen with her twin daughters, Macey and Riley, who died in a crash in February. Credit: Facebook Rachel van Oyen, 31, was charged on Sunday with two counts of careless driving causing death and grievous bodily harm or bodily harm. Her daughters Macey and Riley were killed on February 18 when travelling on Great Eastern Highway in Carrabin and the Toyota Camry sedan they and their mother were in veered off the road and crashed into a tree. The children were travelling to Perth with their mother after visiting family in Kalgoorlie. It is understood all passengers were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The first Palestinian-Australian federal politician is likely to be installed in place of a veteran Labor MP, providing a new voice for the government in its ferocious political dispute with the Greens over the conflict in Gaza. Maria Vamvakinou, one of the partys most sympathetic Palestinian supporters, told this masthead she had informed Prime Minister Anthony Albanese she would end her 23-year-long political career at the next federal election. Maria Vamvakinou has represented her Melbourne seat for more than two decades. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen Basem Abdo, a communications specialist, has won the support of key Socialist Left figures, including Vamvakinou. Preselection for the seat will take place later this year, but Abdos backing from the Socialist Left means he is poised to replace the veteran MP. Born in Kuwait to parents from a village in the occupied West Bank, Abdos family sought refuge in Jordan during the Gulf War before migrating to Australia in 1991. U.S. Considers Expanding Nuclear Arsenal Amidst Russian, Chinese Expansion (Photo: United States Department of Defense/Public Domain) The United States may be forced to expand its nuclear weapons arsenal in the coming years to deter growing threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, according to a stark warning from Pranay Vaddi, Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Arms Control at the White House. In a speech to the Arms Control Association on Friday, Vaddi outlined a policy shift aimed at pressing Moscow and Beijing to reverse their rejections of U.S. calls for arsenal limitation talks. "Absent a change in adversary arsenals, we may reach a point in the coming years where an increase from current deployed numbers is required. We need to be fully prepared to execute if the president makes that decision," Vaddi said. "If that day comes, it will result in a determination that more nuclear weapons are required to deter our adversaries and protect the American people and our allies and partners." Vaddi's comments come amid growing tensions between the U.S. and both Russia and China, sparking fears of an all-out war. In May, Russia conducted tactical nuclear weapons drills "in response to provocative statements and threats by individual Western officials," while hosts and guests on Russian state TV have repeatedly threatened nuclear strikes on Western powers, including the U.S., France, the U.K., and the Netherlands. The U.S. currently observes a limit of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads set in the 2010 New START treaty with Russia, despite Moscow's "suspension" of its participation last year over U.S. support for Ukraine. Vaddi's speech marks a shift from National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan's remarks to the same group a year ago, in which he stated there was no need to increase U.S. strategic nuclear arms deployments to counter the arsenals of Russia and China. Vaddi warned that Russia, China, and North Korea "are all expanding and diversifying their nuclear arsenals at a breakneck pace, showing little or no interest in arms control." He also claimed that these three powers, along with Iran, are "increasingly cooperating and coordinating with each other in ways that run counter to peace and stability, threaten the United States, our allies and our partners and exacerbate region tensions," including by sharing advanced missile and drone technology. According to Statista figures for January 2023, Russia had the largest nuclear arsenal in the world with 5,889 warheads, followed by the U.S. with 5,244. China had 410 warheads but is rapidly expanding its arsenal, while American allies France and the U.K. had 290 and 225 nuclear warheads, respectively. On Wednesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned he could deploy conventional missiles within range of Western powers after a number of these gave Ukraine permission to hit Russian military targets on its own soil with their weapons for the first time. However, on Friday, Putin said Russia had no need to use nuclear weapons to secure victory in Ukraine. U.S. nuclear doctrine, Vaddi said, reserves nuclear weapons to deterring attacks by adversaries "on us and our allies and partners," while remaining committed with Britain and France to "transparency" on nuclear policies and forces. However, if U.S. adversaries boost reliance on nuclear weapons, "we will have no choice but to adjust our posture and capabilities to preserve deterrence and stability," he said. During an interview with Fox News host Sean Hannity on Thursday morning, Donald Trump, the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee, claimed that nuclear war is a bigger threat to the U.S. than climate change. "This is obliteration, maybe world obliteration, and we have a man is not capable of discussing it. The only global warming that matters to me is nuclear global warming. Because that's the real deal," Trump said. Several States Struggle with Rising PFAS Drinking Water Contamination (Photo: Pixabay) The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has highlighted a critical issue facing the United States: significant contamination of drinking water systems with perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals" due to their persistent nature. The latest data reveals that New Jersey, Massachusetts, California, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania are the states most affected, grappling with high levels of these hazardous substances. According to EWG's interactive map, these states report the highest number of water systems exceeding proposed PFAS limits. New Jersey tops the list with 556 systems, followed by Massachusetts at 439, California at 263, New Hampshire at 202, and Pennsylvania at 125. David Andrews, EWG's Deputy Director and Senior Scientist, noted the association of PFAS presence with industrial activities. "There's a strong association with urban areas in particular. It goes along with industrialization, the use of consumer and industrial products, but, in particular, some of the highest sources of contamination have been firefighter training facilities or airports," he explained, as reported by Newsweek. These findings come at a time when regulatory bodies and state governments are increasingly focused on addressing the issue. California has been proactive in this regard, having monitored PFAS since 2019. "The proposed maximum containment levels for the six PFAS are well in line with our compliance advisory levels," said a spokesperson for the California State Water Resources Control Board. They emphasized the importance of source control by "eliminating it from nonessential uses and at the industrial manufacturers that may be using it." Pennsylvania has also taken significant steps by setting regulatory limits for select PFAS in drinking water, thus moving ahead of the EPA's guidelines. "Pennsylvania moved ahead of the EPA's PFAS limits in protecting drinking water," a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection shared. They added that the state is actively working to align its regulations with upcoming federal rulemaking. Amid these state-level efforts, the federal government under President Joe Biden has introduced national limits on PFAS in drinking water, marking a significant policy shift aimed at safeguarding public health. This move requires water systems across the country to meet the U.S. EPA maximum contaminant level (MCL) for PFAS within five years. Andrews remarked on the proactive measures some states have already taken: "That contamination has been identified a number of years before this regulation passed, and in many cases, the water systems in those locations of the highest contamination have already taken action or reached settlements with some of the polluters to install filters over the next couple of years." This regulatory momentum is essential, not just for states already grappling with PFAS contamination but also as a preventative measure nationwide. For instance, in Michigan, comprehensive testing and regulation of water systems have been implemented. "Michigan is already well ahead of many states regarding PFAS and has established its own drinking water standards-known as maximum contaminant levels-for seven PFAS compounds," said a spokesperson for the Michigan PFAS Action Response Team. Suri Cruise tries to keep a low profile online, but fans spotted her in a recent TikTok that reveals she'll be attending Carnegie Mellon come the fall. Suri Cruise and Katie Holmes have lived in New York City for years. The teen and her famous mom are often spotted out and about together in Manhattan. That is all about to change soon. Katie Holmes will be dealing with an empty nest in just a couple of months. Suri Cruise has committed to attend a college that will take her out of New York City and drop her directly in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Suri Cruise is leaving New York City, at least for a while Did you know that Suri Cruise is a graduating senior? The daughter of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes is preparing to graduate from Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts later this month. She has her college plans all figured out, too. A TikTok video uploaded by a classmate revealed exactly where Suri Cruise plans to attend college in the fall. LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts | Deb Cohn-Orbach/UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty Images Suri doesnt upload public TikToks, but she was spotted in a classmates TikTok video. Last week, a student at LaGuardia High School shared a video of the schools commitment day celebration. In the video, the teen checks in with friends and classmates to see where they will attend school in the fall. Suri Cruise was spotted in the video wearing a Carnegie Mellon sweatshirt. She smiled for the camera while showing off her university choice. The student who uploaded the video has since set their account to private. Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise | MEGA/GC Images Carnegie Mellon is a top-tier research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1900 by Andrew Carnegie, Carnegie Mellon offers students a metropolitan campus and plenty to see and learn. The institution has several incredibly competitive programs. What will Suri Cruise study in college? While Suri has spent a fair bit of her time at LaGuardia High School appearing in school plays, Just Jared claims the 18-year-old might not be considering a career in Hollywood. The publication alleges the teen is interested in fashion and may be heading to Carnegie Mellons prestigious design school. Katie Holmes and Suri Cruise | James Devaney/WireImage Suri did not reveal what she plans on studying during her brief TikTok appearance. The famous teen could study any number of subjects at the Tier 1 school. Carnegie Mellon is known for its research capabilities and world-renowned STEM program. The school also has a well-respected drama department and a competitive design program. Whatever she chooses to study, Suri will surely enjoy her time at the school, even if it takes her far from her New York City base. On July 17, the worlds largest stegosaurus skeleton ever found will be auctioned by Sothebys in New York. It is estimated to fetch up to $6 million. However, some scientists are concerned that the sale of the fossil will make it inaccessible to researchers. The specimen, known as Apex, is 20 feet long and 11 feet tall. It includes 247 fossil bones. The skeleton was excavated near the Morrison Formation in Colorado in 2023, according to the auction house. The dinosaur appeared to have lived a long life and showed no signs of injuries from combat or predators. It is believed to be between 146 million and 161 million years old. If you combine size, completeness, and bone preservation, it is the best Stegosaurus Ive seen, said Rod Scheetz, a curator with the Brigham Young University Museum of Paleontology. Stegosaurus was herbivorous and lived during the Jurassic period. It had spikes on its tail that were used for defensive purposes and bony plates on its back, which may have been used to regulate body temperature or to recognize another member of the species. Stegosaurus could weigh nearly 14,000 pounds, growing up to 30 feet long and 13 feet long. Their fossils have been discovered in multiple parts of the world, including North America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Apex is over 30 percent larger than the previously most complete Stegosaurus skeleton, Sophie, located in the National History Museum in London. The sale of Apex has stirred up a longstanding debate about dinosaur fossils going to private collectors instead of research institutions. Some argue that this can prevent scientific discoveries from being made since the fossils may not be available to the public after their purchase. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. In the 1970s and 80s, five mafia families ruled the streets of New York. Their presence and activities sparked terror and chaos in the area. A group of FBI agents were tasked with taking the mobsters down, a highly dangerous mission that required a lot of courage, deception, and meticulous strategy. One of the most famous agents involved in this takedown was Joseph D. Pistone. He infiltrated the Bonanno crime family under the alias Donnie Brasco. Starting in 1976, Pistone, an experienced undercover agent, posed as a jewelry thief to gain the trust of key members of the mafia. Initially, the undercover operation was meant to last just six months, but he quickly discovered that it wasnt nearly enough time for him to get introduced to the top guys. However, no one had anticipated that the operation would last as long as it did. For six years, Pistone built up his reputation within the mob, abandoning his personal life in the process. He was forced to cut ties with his family in order to protect them. He made friends with influential figures like Benjamin Lefty Ruggiero and Dominick Sonny Black Napolitano, gathering vital information about the crimes the mafia committed, all without blowing his cover. During his time in the mob, Pistone told a lot of convincing lies and made moves with extreme care and caution. The smallest slip-up could cost him his life. Eventually, he was considered for initiation as an official member of the mafia. Pistones infiltration provided the FBI with a lot of insight into the leaders and the inner workings of the mafia in New York, as well as Florida and Michigan. The operation concluded in June 1981 after the FBI decided that it was too much risk to allow Pistone to continue remaining undercover. Ultimately, the operation led to more than 100 federal convictions of mafia members and associates. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. During the middle of the 19th century, the whaling industry in the United States was at its peak. The oil from captured whales helped fuel the machinery of the Industrial Revolution. At that time, steam engines were not commonly used at sea yet, so captains and their crews relied on the wind to steer them toward their prey. They kept records of the wind, which often involved vague descriptions of the winds strength each day. Without the advanced technology of today, they had to estimate wind speed through visual observations and calculate wind direction by compass. For instance, they documented wind speeds as a light breeze or a strong gale. Now, hundreds of years later, scientists are using the weather patterns that sailors jotted down in their logbooks to assess climate change in remote areas of the world. Details of their work can be found in a paper published in the journal Mainsheet. A team of researchers in England is analyzing 4,200 logbooks from New England whaling vessels, beginning the process of turning the wind descriptions into actual data to measure how global wind patterns have shifted since the 18th and 19th centuries. The team used the Beaufort Wind Scale, which was created in 1805, to convert descriptive terms to quantitative measurements and implement them into climate computer models. They are focusing on parts of the ocean where little data exists. The Indian and Southern Oceans were popular destinations for whalers, but aside from that, other ships had no reason to venture into those areas. So, the whaling logbook records are some of the only information scientists have of the weather back then. According to Caroline Ummenhofer, a co-author of the study and an oceanographer at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution in Falmouth, Massachusetts, whalers used a really strong belt of westerly winds called the Roaring Forties to pass through the tip of South Africa to the Pacific Ocean. Sign up for Chip Chicks newsletter and get stories like this delivered to your inbox. Home News Episcopal Church dioceses in Michigan are a step closer to merger Two Episcopal Church dioceses in Michigan are considering merging into one regional body. The final decision is pending approval by the denominational leadership later this month. At a special convention held in March, the Diocese of Eastern Michigan and the Diocese of Western Michigan voted to approve a merger to become the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes. The decision to combine the dioceses received 85% approval from Eastern Michigan delegates and 82% from Western Michigan delegates. It will next go before the 81st General Convention as resolution C025, which was recommended for approval by the General Conventions committees on Governance & Structure in late May. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Katie Forsyth, communications officer for both dioceses, told The Christian Post that the decision to merge followed five years of discernment. As a result of this long-term discernment, the facilitating committee came back with a recommendation that juncture would make the new diocese a better steward of resources (finances, people, and more), give us more tools and routes for the formation of disciples, and would better equip us to lead in the changing church more adaptive and attuned to the realities of modern life, she said. According to Forsyth, the Primary Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of the Great Lakes is already scheduled for Oct. 18-19 in Mount Pleasant, Michigan. At this convention, the new regional body will consider adopting a new Constitution and Canons. For the last several years, the dioceses have been aligned in operations and programming as much as possible except for areas required to remain separate (financials, legal status, etc.), Forsyth told CP. This intentional practice has given us some experience already with operating as one on the ground and with near total bi-diocesan staffing. As part of the unification efforts, the Joint Standing Committees of the regional bodies created several working groups focused on handling areas like staff organization, finalizing a constitution and canons, and episcopate ministry. A formal bishop search is expected to commence sometime following the Primary Convention of the new diocese in October, Forsyth added, noting that both dioceses are being overseen by a parttime assisting bishop, the Rt. Rev. Gladstone Adams, III, while the Joint Standing Committees hold the ecclesiastical authority. The Michigan dioceses are not the only local bodies of the Episcopal Church that are considering merging, with final approval expected at the General Convention. Last month, the Episcopal dioceses of Eau Claire, Fond du Lac and Milwaukee voted to become the Episcopal Diocese of Wisconsin, with the Rev. Matthew Gunter expected to lead the new body. Known as the Episcopal Wisconsin Trialogue, the merger process has often been identified as a reunification since the three dioceses were initially founded as one body in 1847. For his part, Gunter stated in an April 2022 video that the world is changing and the Church, as we are right now, is not ready to engage with the realities and the people shaped by them. We need to adapt, he said. With two of the bishops of the dioceses in Wisconsin retiring at the end of 2020, we have an opportunity to take a fresh look at how we are organized. To become one diocese, not just to create a bigger version of what we have been, but to look at what it might mean to reconfigure ourselves and organize ourselves as a diocese, so that we can be about mission. Home News IDF rescues 4 Israeli hostages kidnapped from music festival, held in Gaza They risked their lives to save the lives of our hostages. This is what we do in Israel The Israel Defense Forces, in collaboration with the Israel Security Agency and Israel Police, successfully extracted four Israeli hostages from Hamas captivity on Saturday. The military operation, which involved simultaneous raids at two separate locations, secured the release of the captives, who are now reported to be in good medical condition. The hostages Noa Argamani, 25; Almog Meir Jan, 21; Andrei Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 40 were kidnapped on Oct. 7 during the Supernova music festival near Reim, Israel, and held in the Nuseirat region of central Gaza. IDF forces' meticulously planned rescue mission early Saturday resulted in the safe retrieval of Argamani from one location and Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv from another, the IDF declared in a post on the social media platform X. Following the rescue, all individuals were transported to the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Center for comprehensive medical evaluations. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe This high-risk operation was carried out under heavy cover of airstrikes, which supported the ground troops by targeting Hamas sites in the vicinity, The Times of Israel said. The airstrikes and the ground operation resulted in a significant number of casualties among the Hamas ranks, according to IDF statements. Following the rescue, both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli President Isaac Herzog spoke with Argamani, who was transported separately from the other hostages, The Wall Street Journal reported. Netanyahu reportedly reassured her, saying, Not for a moment did we give up on you, while Herzog expressed his emotion during the call, stating, It just brings tears to my eyes. Argamani, a university student, had been abducted from the festival with her boyfriend, who remains captive in Gaza. Her mother, originally from China and now battling terminal brain cancer, had made heartfelt appeals to be reunited with her daughter. In the military operation, Israel successfully liberated more hostages than it had in all previous rescue efforts combined over the past eight months, raising the total number of hostages freed through military action to seven, the Journal noted. The newspaper, however, added that the operation disrupted ongoing cease-fire talks that aim to free the remaining 116 hostages and, for Hamas, the release of a number of Palestinians serving time in prison. The successful military operation provided a substantial boost to Netanyahus standing amid political tensions and an expected resignation from his chief rival, Benny Gantz. "Israeli forces have been preparing for his rescue mission for weeks. They underwent intensive training. They risked their lives to save the lives of our hostages. This is what we do in Israel," said Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, the Israeli militarys chief spokesperson, at a press conference. "When we are happy, and our four hostages are home, we will not lose sight that 120 hostages are still being held by Hamas in Gaza men, women, children. We will not stop fighting for their freedom." Hagari acknowledged the dense urban setting of the raid led to a high number of Palestinian casualties, reported by Gazas Health Ministry to include 210 deaths and over 400 injuries. Hagari, however, said about 100 Palestinians were killed or injured, with some identified as militants. The U.S. was involved indirectly in the rescue operation, providing intelligence and logistical support, though no American forces were reported on the ground. At a joint press conference Saturday in Paris with French President Emmanuel Macron, U.S. President Joe Biden affirmed continued U.S. commitment to securing a cease-fire and the safe release of all hostages. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is scheduled to visit Egypt, Israel, Jordan, and Qatar beginning Monday. Home News This week in Christian history: Good News Club wins at Supreme Court, SBC revises Baptist Faith and Message Throughout the extensive history of the Church, there have been numerous events of lasting significance. Each week brings anniversaries of impressive milestones, unforgettable tragedies, amazing triumphs, memorable births and notable deaths. Some of the events drawn from over 2,000 years of history might be familiar, while others might be unknown to many people. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe The following pages highlight anniversaries of memorable events that occurred this week in Christian history. They include the Evangelical Free Church of America merger, the Southern Baptist Convention adopting the 2000 Baptist Faith and Message, and the Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Good News Club. Home News 'I saw them kill my husband': Widow of Christian killed for his faith in India flees village Relatives of Christians were barred from attending village festival, leading to murder NEW DELHI The young widow of a Christian in Indias Chhattisgarh state who was killed for his faith is living in fear a month after she fled for her life. I saw them kill my husband right before my eyes, said Jime Kawasi, whose husband, 22-year-old Kosa Kawasi, was slain in Bastar District on May 4. I was assaulted, but somehow I managed to escape. I still fear that my husbands killers will find me and kill me. Fleeing Kapanar village, in Darbha block, she took refuge in a house far from the murder site. The five other Christian families in the village, unable to find her, fled the same day, including elderly parents and young children. Get Our Latest News for FREE Subscribe to get daily/weekly email with the top stories (plus special offers!) from The Christian Post. Be the first to know. Subscribe Relatives furious with Kosa Kawasi killed him after villagers forbade any families with Christian members to participate in tribal festival offerings to local gods, sources said. A mob of about 20 villagers, including Kosa Kawasis uncle, Dasru Kawasi, and cousin, Madiya Kawasi, went to his house at 10 a.m. and began to argue with him, telling him to renounce Christ, said area Christian leader Santosh Mandavi. When Kosa Kawasi refused, they began to assault him and his wife, he said. They hit the couple with wooden sticks, kicked them with legs and fists, Mandavi said. When Kawasi persisted in his faith, his uncle and cousin stabbed Kosa with the knife thrice in his stomach. Kosa Kawasis wife and younger brother managed to rescue him, took him toward the road and called for an ambulance, but as they were waiting, some people from the mob tried to slit his throat, Mandavi said. Kosas brother and his wife again saved him and carefully continued to carry him away from the ferocious mob, he said. His uncle and cousin then got an axe and struck Kosa on the head, killing him instantly, Mandavi said. Police arrived after about an hour and took his body. Kosa Kawasis brother, Hidma Kawasi, is also a Christian, and he had fled when the mob, led by Dasru Kawasi and Madiya Kawasi, previously approached his house. Thankfully, Hidma fled and is still alive, though the mob tore down Hidmas house, destroying it completely, a local source told Morning Star News. Months prior, Kosa Kawasi faced immense pressure from family members and villagers, including death threats, if he refused to renounce Christ and return to Hinduism, said the pastor. Despite Kosa Kawasis repeated complaints to the Darbha Police station about the threats to his life and those of other Christians, authorities took no action, refusing to file a First Information Report, a source said. Mandavi said he went to Kapanar on May 6 and saw police scattered throughout the village. The police station chief informed him that Jime Kawasi was hospitalized in a Dantewada government hospital 28 miles away for injuries sustained in the assault. When I met her, she was extremely terrified, Mandavi said. She narrated the entire incident and the brutality with which her husband was killed. The day after the attack, police arrested Dasru Kawasi and Madiya Kawasi on homicide charges, but no further arrests were made, Mandavi said. Festival motive Prior to the killing, village leaders decided that if just one member of a family were Christian, the entire household would be banned from attending Kapanar villages Ammajugani festival, where the first mango harvest is offered to the local gods, Mandavi said. This infuriated Kawasis cousins, uncle and his family, and in their anger, they attacked Kawasi and his wife and killed Kawasi, Mandavi told Morning Star News. The other Christian families also were under threat of being attacked by their relatives, and Kawasis brutal killing set a precedence for other relatives to attack their Christian member, so all of them fled for their lives. During the festival, everyone in the village sings, dances, offers mangos and animal sacrifices to their gods, and then eats together. Whoever does not attend the festival is forbidden from using mangoes throughout the mango season, Mandavi said. The area source who requested anonymity condemned the villagers for pressuring extended families to the point of murder for adhering to their Christian faith. We dont expect the village heads to behave in such immature ways, he said. They caused so many homes and lives to be shattered and spoiled. Kosa lost his life, Jime is a young widow now, Dasru Kawasi and Madiya Kawasi are in jail, and their families will also pay for their actions. Jime Kawasi, still feeling physically weak and frightened, lives with five other Christian families several miles away, uncertain when or if she can return to her village. I want to continue to follow and serve Jesus, she said. It was for this Jesus that my husband was willing to be faithful to the point of death; I, too, will follow in his footsteps. Please pray for me, I need your prayers. India ranked 11th on Christian support organization Open Doors 2024 World Watch List of the countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian. The country was 31st in 2013, but its position worsened after Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power. The hostile tone of the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), against non-Hindus, has emboldened Hindu extremists in several parts of the country to attack Christians since Modi took power in May 2014, religious rights advocates say. Originally published by Morning Star News Christian candidate sues Lib Dems as thousands sign petition calling for reinstatement Over 20,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Lib Dems to reinstate David Campanale, who is suing the party over his deselection. Campanale has launched legal action against the party claiming that he was deselected because of his Christian beliefs. The Lib Dems have denied the claim and said they are "home to people of all faiths and none, including many Christians". A separate complaint lodged with the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) over the matter alleges that Campanale, a practising Anglican and former BBC journalist, was "mocked and abused" over his faith. He has been replaced as the candidate for Sutton and Cheam by Luke Taylor. An appeal of his deselection is ongoing. It is believed to be the first time that a political party has been sued for discrimination because of someone's Christian faith. The petition, on CitizenGo, calls on Ann Glaze, Chair of London Liberal Democrats, to reinstate Campanale as the candidate for Sutton and Cheam. It claims that Campanale has faced "undue hostility" for his Christian faith and says that not reinstating him will be "damaging" to the party. "It suggests Christians are unwelcome in the party," reads the petition, which has been signed by 23,000 people so far. Critics have drawn parallels with the fate of Tim Farron who resigned as party leader in 2017 after facing intense media scrutiny over his Christian faith. At the time he said that "remaining faithful to Christ" was incompatible with being party leader. The Bishop of Guildford, the Rt Rev Andrew Watson, is among the signatories of the petition in support of Campanale. He said that conservative Christians can be subjected to "hostile and degrading questions" that other people of faith are not asked. "We are quite rightly as a nation very aware of and critical of other parts of the world where people are discriminated against on the basis of their religion and faith," he told The Telegraph. "It is important that we are not pointing the finger at others whilst doing the same thing ourselves. It is important that people of faith can participate in public life." Other signatories include Lord Alton, a former Lib Dem MP and now crossbench peer, who said that party leader Ed Davey "needs to reverse a shocking decision". "I have signed this petition against appalling treatment that is neither liberal nor democratic and hope others will do so too," he wrote on X. The Bishop of Winchester, Philip Mounstephen, author of the government's 2019 review into persecution, responded to the tweet by saying, "I agree." "The deselection of David Campanale on the grounds of his beliefs alone is shockingly illiberal. On this basis [19th century liberal prime minister] Gladstone wouldn't have been allowed to stand in Sutton and Cheam," he said. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form UPPER ARLINGTON, Ohio -- Vouchers emerged in the United States as a tool to combat public school integration in southern states following the 1954 Supreme Court decision in Brown v. Board of Education. Led by Virginia, state legislatures provided public funds for white students to attend private schools often referred to as segregation academies. A new era of vouchers rebranded as school choice has swept the country in recent years, including Ohio, resurrecting segregation academies on wealth and racial lines. Last June, Ohios Republican supermajority added massive EdChoice voucher expansion to the budget, making all students in grades K-12 eligible for state subsidies to attend private schools, regardless of income. Full benefits ($8,407 for grades 9-12: $6,165 for K-8) are being awarded to all families with incomes at or below 450% of the federal poverty level. Beyond that level, there is a sliding scale downward, but even the wealthiest families get a minimum subsidy of $650 for K-8 students and $850 for those in grades 9-12. As of mid-April, the year-to-date cost of EdChoice Expansion vouchers was $430 million, with thousands of applications under review before Fiscal Year 2024 ends on June 30. These costs will almost certainly go much higher next year and beyond, driving property taxes higher everywhere in Ohio lest public schools die on the vine. EdChoice voucher giveaways tripled this year. Ninety percent of new recipients were already enrolled in private schools, based on a March analysis by News 5 Cleveland, with many coming from wealthy, white families sending their kids to Christian, Catholic or Jewish academies. Many private schools now require parents to apply for EdChoice vouchers because they reduce the financial aid provided from their own coffers. This trend will resegregate Ohios schools and siphon badly needed funds from public education by design. Private schools participating in EdChoice voucher programs are not subject to the same regulatory standards as public schools. These include standards for licensing of teachers, criminal background checks for employees, curriculum requirements, building safety codes, publicly reporting the results of state and national tests, or accepting students with special needs. The Ohio Department of Education issues annual report cards that measure the performance of districts and individual schools using five rating categories: achievement, progress, gap closing, graduation and early literacy. One in five Ohio students leave a district that outperforms the charter to which they go in all five rating categories, according to a 2022 analysis published in the Columbus Bar Lawyers Quarterly that also found that the average Ohio charter school has a lower four-year graduation rate than all but one of Ohios 611 school districts. In 2020, the Cincinnati Enquirer conducted a review of nearly 2.5 million student scores on proficiency tests issued by the state of Ohio during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, covering approximately 150 Ohio municipalities. The study found that in 88% of the municipalities in the analysis, a public school district achieved better state testing results than those private schools with an address in the same municipality. Ohio Republicans have proposed using public money to build private schools in rural areas they call school choice deserts. This is a cruel political joke being played on all but the wealthy in rural Ohio, because private schools know the game now and have raised their tuition fees far beyond the reach of most families, even after EdChoice voucher giveaways. Jim Collier received his Ph.D. from the School of Communication at Ohio State University, where he earned four separate teaching awards.Courtesy of Jim Collier Ohio parents have always had school choice, but now have the privilege of sending their kids to private schools on the backs of other taxpayers, with most benefits going to wealthy, white families and privately operated schools that are largely free to operate as they wish, and often underperform. The mission is clear: Bleed public schools to feed private schools. Jim Collier received his Ph.D. from the School of Communication at The Ohio State University, where he earned four separate teaching awards. He lives in Upper Arlington, Ohio, and conducts research in the areas of cognition and media psychology. Have something to say about this topic? * Send a letter to the editor, which will be considered for print publication. * Email general questions about our editorial board or comments or corrections on this opinion column to Elizabeth Sullivan, director of opinion, at esullivan@cleveland.com. 302001.8 News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. China's biggest food delivery platform is seeing a trend: more spending on experiences. "More and more consumers are willing to allocate a larger portion of their budget to travel," Wang Xing, CEO of Hong Kong-listed Meituan , said Thursday during a first-quarter earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. "Their demand is not only growing, also probably more diverse, which brings substantial opportunity for us," he said. Meituan operates a hotel bookings and travel-related business, albeit far smaller than its food delivery operation. HSBC analysts on Friday raised their price target on the stock by 5 Hong Kong dollars (64 cents) to 170 Hong Kong dollars after an improved earnings outlook across all of Meituan's segments. Mimicking U.S. The tourism industry's growth, despite a more sluggish macro backdrop in China, is similar to what happened in the U.S. after the pandemic. American consumers have kept spending on experiences, including concerts and cruises . In a report last week about China's consumer market potential, Bank of America Securities analysts chose hotel operator H World as one of its top picks. "We believe H World is best positioned to capture long-term growth in the China hotel industry given best-in-class execution," the analysts said. "While RevPAR (revenue per available room) growth could remain under pressure near-term due to slower business travel recovery and high base of leisure travel, we believe its long-term unit growth story remains intact." BofA rates H World a buy, and expects its U.S.-listed shares can reach $47. That's 30% above where H World shares closed Thursday. The company's brands include hotels with sleek, modern styles at a relatively affordable price. In China, H World also owns master franchisee rights for Mercure, Ibis and Ibis Styles, and co-development rights for Grand Mercure and Novotel. Goldman Sachs' latest Asia Pacific conviction list, published last week, lists H World as its only travel stock pick with an even higher price target of $52 a share. The analysts rate the stock a buy and expect it to benefit from "value-focused consumption trends" and industry consolidation. Inbound visits Travelers are also coming to mainland China from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and the rest of the world. Morgan Stanley expects that inbound tourism revenue has "meaningful upside potential" and can grow by around 11% a year through 2033, according to a mid-year outlook last week. China's retail sales grew by 7.2% in 2023, and slowed to 2.3% growth in April 2024 from a year ago. Gross transaction value for Meituan's in-store, hotel and travel businesses grew by more than 60% year-on-year in the first quarter. Average order value in each category declined as consumers have become more price sensitive, CEO Wang said. But he noted that "some young people are willing to allocate more budget for experience in travel." Despite a high base, domestic hotel room nights booked grew year-on-year and exceeded pre-pandemic levels, the company said. Meituan counts famed Chinese early-stage investor Neil Shen as a non-executive director. According to the company's 2023 annual report, Shen is also an independent non-executive director of China-based travel site Trip.com and a non-executive director of BTG Hotels Group . Shanghai-listed BTG Hotels closed at 14.10 yuan ($1.95) on Friday, leaving upside of nearly 35% to Jefferies' price target of 19 yuan set in late April. The report followed BTG's first-quarter results that showed the company opened 205 hotels including 66 mid-to-upscale ones and closed 173. As of the end of the quarter, BTG had more than 1,700 mid-to-upscale hotels, operating about 40% of the company's total number of rooms. "The company is investing in mid-and-upscale segment development, while maintaining its market position in the economy hotel segment," the Jefferies analysts said. They rate the stock a buy. Mainland China and Hong Kong stock markets are closed Monday for the last public holiday on the mainland until September. But public schools typically close for the summer holidays by the end of the month. High school students began the annual multiday college entrance exam on Friday. As of June 6, Trip.com said domestic summer vacation bookings so far have increased significantly versus a year ago. Summer 2023 had seen nearly 1.84 billion domestic tourist trips , more than the same period in 2019. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report. This photograph shows European countries' flags waving in front of the European Parliament building in Strasbourg, eastern France, on June 6, 2024. (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON / AFP) (Photo by SEBASTIEN BOZON/AFP via Getty Images) Sebastien Bozon | Afp | Getty Images The final, and biggest, day of voting in the European Union elections was underway on Sunday, with millions expected to cast their vote. Estonians kicked off proceedings with a three-day head start on Monday, and polling stations have since opened across the 27 EU member countries. The majority of votes will be cast on Sunday. Over 400 million people are eligible to vote for the 720 members of the European Parliament (MEPs). In some countries, this includes young people the voting age is 16 in Austria, Belgium, Germany and Malta and 17 in Greece. Voter turnout was just above 50% in the last EU election of 2019, according to official data. Exit polls so far This year's election is taking place against a backdrop of growing support for far-right parties in Europe, many of which have also been increasingly successful domestically. This includes Dutch nationalist Geert Wilders' anti-immigration party, which recorded significant gains in Thursday's Netherland's EU election, according to the latest exit polls. The eight seats expected for the country's left-wing Labour and Green parties give them only a slight lead over Wilders' Party for Freedom's (PVV) seven seats. Wilders also secured a decisive victory in the Dutch national elections last November. Besides the Netherlands, voting has also already closed in the Czech Republic, Malta, Latvia, Slovakia and Ireland. EU-wide exit polls are expected out late on Sunday and should provide a strong indication of what the bloc's parliament will look like for the coming years. The European Parliament French President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with members of the AI sector at the Elysee Presidential Palace in Paris, France, on May 21, 2024. French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday said he would dissolve the country's parliament and call for a new legislative nationwide vote after suffering a heavy defeat at EU elections. The shock announcement came after exit polls published by public broadcaster France TV indicated that Marine Le Pen's far-right National Rally (Rassemblement National, or RN) is set to win around 31.5% of the vote, compared to 14.5% for Macron's Renaissance party. "I will ... not be able, at the end of this day, to act as if nothing had happened," Macron said in a TV address, according to a translation by CNBC. The first round of the parliamentary election will take place on June 30, with the second round on July 7, Macron said. After requesting that Macron call an election, Le Pen welcomed the news, saying on X: "We are ready for it." Calling the legislative election is a risky move by Macron, who could be left with no control over France's domestic issues if Le Pen's RN wins a parliamentary majority. Macron's presidency isn't due to end until 2027 and he's unable to stand for a third term. People attend a funeral procession for the late Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six other passengers and crew who were killed following a helicopter crash, in Qom, Iran, May 21, 2024. Iran's Guardian Council on Sunday approved the country's hard-line parliament speaker and five others to run in the country's June 28 presidential election following a helicopter crash that killed President Ebrahim Raisi and seven others. The council again barred former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a firebrand populist known for the crackdown that followed his disputed 2009 re-election, from running. The council's decision represents the starting gun for a shortened, two-week campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protege of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei once floated as a possible successor for the 85-year-old cleric. The selection of candidates approved by the Guardian Council, a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Khamenei, suggests Iran's Shiite theocracy hopes to ease the election through after recent votes saw record-low turnout and as tensions remain high over the country's rapidly advancing nuclear program, as well as the Israel-Hamas war. The Guardian Council also continued its streak of not accepting a woman or anyone calling for radical change to the country's governance. The campaign will likely include live, televised debates on Iran's state-run broadcaster. Candidates also advertise on billboards and offer stump speeches to back their bids. So far, none of them has offered any specifics, though all have promised a better economic situation for the country as it suffers from sanctions by the U.S. and other Western nations over its nuclear program, which now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Such matters of state remain the final decision of Khamenei, but presidents in the past have leaned either toward engagement or confrontation with the West over it. The most prominent candidate remains Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, many remember that Qalibaf, as a former Guard general, was part of a violent crackdown on Iranian university students in 1999. He also reportedly ordered live gunfire to be used against students in 2003 while serving as the country's police chief. Qalibaf ran unsuccessfully for president in 2005 and 2013. He withdrew from the 2017 presidential campaign to support Raisi in his first failed presidential bid. Raisi won the 2021 election, which had the lowest turnout ever for a presidential vote in Iran, after every major opponent found themselves disqualified. Khamenei gave a speech last week alluding to qualities that Qalibaf's supporters have highlighted as potentially signaling the supreme leader's support for the speaker. Yet Qalibaf's role in crackdowns may be viewed differently after years of unrest that have gripped Iran, both over its ailing economy and the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her headscarf, or hijab, to the liking of security forces. Other candidates include Saeed Jalili, former senior nuclear negotiator, who ran in 2013 and registered in 2021 before withdrawing to back Raisi. Tehran mayor Alireza Zakani also withdrew in 2021 to back Raisi. Mostafa Pourmohammadi is a former minister of justice. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Raisi's vice president, ran in the 2021 presidential elections and came in last with just under 1 million votes. Masoud Pezeshkian is the only reformist candidate among a slate of hardliners, and is not seen as having much chance. The Guardian Council disqualified Ahmadinejad, the firebrand, Holocaust-questioning former president. Ahmadinejad increasingly challenged Khamenei toward the end of his term and is remembered for the bloody crackdown on the 2009 Green Movement protests. He was also disqualified in the last election by the panel. It also blocked former speaker of parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a conservative with strong ties to Iran's former relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani. It was the second election in a row in which Larinjani was barred from running. Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, who ran in 2021, and Eshaq Jahangiri, who served as vice president under moderate President Hassan Rouhani, were also disqualified. The election comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the West over its arming of Russia in that country's war on Ukraine. Its support of militia proxy forces throughout the wider Middle East has been increasingly in the spotlight as Yemen's Houthi rebels attack ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were killed in the May 19 helicopter crash in the far northwest of Iran. Investigations are continuing, though authorities say there's no immediate sign of foul play in the crash on a cloud-covered mountainside. Raisi was the second Iranian president to die in office. In 1981, a bomb blast killed President Mohammad Ali Rajai in the chaotic days after the country's Islamic Revolution. watch now Populist, far-right parties could have a bigger hand in European policymaking over the next five years after initial results from the EU election on Sunday suggested the parliamentary landscape is being redrawn. Gains for the nationalist Identity and Democracy (ID) party and losses for the Greens/European Free Alliance could leave centrist parties dependent on the right for key votes in the 720 seat European Parliament. The Parliament has, in the past, been led by a strong majority of centrist parties, who typically vote together on issues to win a majority in the 720 seat chamber. Indeed, the center-right European People's Party (EPP) is once again projected to win the most parliamentary seats and retain its dominance in the chamber. But a centrist coalition led by the EPP might now depend on support from the right-wing European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) to pass certain legislation, with research firm Eurasia Group describing the ECR in a pre-election note as potential "key players." Meanwhile, an emboldened ID party could apply pressure on Parliament to alter its stance on other contentious issues. Armida van Rij, a senior research fellow for the Europe Programme at the Chatham House thinktank who was speaking before the results, told CNBC that the influence of the far right was "already being felt" in the EU, but that it could result in further policy shifts and "back pedaling" in the new Parliament. Here's a look at how these shifts could impact EU policy. Immigration Immigration will remain front and center of the policy agenda in the next Parliament, with right-wing parties expected to advocate for increased border security and a tougher stance on arrivals from outside the EU. Implementation will remain a key sticking point, however, with clear divisions between the north and south on the most credible strategy. "While there is a consensus about the need to curb immigration from third countries into the bloc, disagreements on the mechanism to achieve this will persist," Verisk Maplecroft analysts Mario Bikarski and Laurent Balt wrote in a research note Tuesday. Green agenda Climate policies, which have already come under pressure amid a cost-of-living crisis and weak economic growth, are likely to face further pushback. Enacting the "Green Deal" the EU's flagship carbon neutrality program is now at "real risk," according to van Rij, with Parliament having already watered down some legislation to appease the right. watch now Agricultural policy will likely avoid further restrictions following a spate of farmer protests earlier this year. Meanwhile, plans to implement a ban on the sale of new internal combustion engine vehicles by 2035 could also be scrapped, the analysts said. Elsewhere, the bloc could shift its focus from renewable energy to shoring up cheaper energy supplies, potentially backing plans for more nuclear power plants or even gas fracking, Citi analysts wrote in a note last month. Ukraine and defense Support for Ukraine has come under question amid some EU member states' ties to Russia. Dutch ECR member Dorien Rookmaker told CNBC Friday that she does not expect to see a change in stance with the incoming Parliament, adding "I do believe it is in the interests of Europe to keep peace on the continent." Nevertheless, the issue of European defense and how it is funded will be a hot topic, particularly amid talk of a shared EU defense budget. "Some of Europe's far right and far left parties have close ties with Russia and China, which could potentially make them obstruct more defence spending," Citi analysts wrote. "But [they] are also opposed to U.S. influence in Europe, which could make them support a more European focused defence architecture." Industrial strategy The EU's industrial strategy could shift as the bloc treads a fine balance in the ongoing rift between close ally the U.S. and key trade partner China. The bloc will likely continue to focus on its high-tech and green industries, continuing 2023's European Chips Act and the Critical Raw Materials Act, according to Verisk Maplecroft's Bikarski and Balt, while potentially taking a tough stance on Chinese imports. "The incoming Commission and Parliament are likely to continue the trend towards greater protectionism and intervention in strategic industries, although the EU will remain an open, trade-dependent economy," they wrote. EU enlargement Elsewhere, enlargement of the EU could face further setbacks with a larger euroskeptic presence in Parliament. "EU policy towards enlargement will remain supportive on paper, but weak political will and nationalist domestic politics within many member states will likely prevent the acceptance of new members during the term of the next Commission," Bikarski and Balt said. "This, coupled with sluggish progress on accession negotiations in all candidate states, means that the EU is expected to remain a 27-member bloc by 2029," they added. Coordinating the right Every year, before the Berkshire Hathaway shareholders meeting, hundreds of people line up outside the CHI Health Center Arena in Omaha, Nebraska, to hear Warren Buffett speak. Some people come for investing tips. Others crave Buffett's life advice, as CNBC Make It reported last month. But despite his reputation, Buffett wasn't always a natural orator. The thought of public speaking made him "physically ill," and he specifically chose college courses to avoid talking in front of a class, he told author Gillian Zoe Segal in an interview for her 2015 book, "Getting There: A Book of Mentors." After graduating from Columbia Business School in 1951, Buffett became determined to overcome his fear. He enrolled in a $100 public speaking course at Dale Carnegie Training, an institute named for the influential speaker and author of "How to Win Friends and Influence People" and other bestsellers. DON'T MISS: The ultimate guide to becoming a master communicator and public speaker "[The class] certainly had the biggest impact in terms of my subsequent success," Buffett told Segal. "A relatively modest improvement [in your communication skills] can make a major difference in your future earning power, as well as in many other aspects of your life." Professionals can still benefit from the lessons Buffett used in that public speaking course, Dale Carnegie CEO Joe Hart told CNBC in 2019. Here are some of the more effective ways to become a better communicator: Learn as much as you can Carnegie himself once wrote: "Talk about something that you know and know that you know. Don't spend ten minutes or ten hours preparing a talk: Spend ten weeks or ten months. Better still, spend ten years." Being an "active learner" like Buffett is important for public speaking for a number of reasons, Hart said: It can help broaden, and deepen, your knowledge on a variety of subjects. "It's something that's made him very successful," Hart added. Talk about your own experiences Making a speech personal is the shortest route to winning people over, Carnegie wrote. Buffett often does this in his talks, adding anecdotes from his life and career to make a point. "Carry a sheet of paper with you for a few weeks and write down, as you think of them, all the subjects that you are prepared to talk about through experience," Carnegie suggested. Jot down notes, not a draft When Buffett speaks, he rarely looks at notes: One of Carnegie's core principles is that a good speech is never fully transcribed beforehand. Refer to brief notes, Carnegie suggested, because reading from a script can keep you from being present. "When you stand up to talk, you will probably find yourself trying to remember what you wrote," he wrote. "That will keep you from speaking naturally and with sparkle." Get excited about the topic Smiling, having "positive energy" and exuding confidence make a huge difference, said Hart. Buffett became passionate about investing, money and achieving success at a young age. That enduring enthusiasm comes through in his speeches and interviews. As Carnegie put it: "Even people with only mediocre speaking ability may make superb talks if they will speak about something that has deeply stirred them." Want to be a successful, confident communicator? Take CNBC's new online course Become an Effective Communicator: Master Public Speaking. We'll teach you how to speak clearly and confidently, calm your nerves, what to say and not say, and body language techniques to make a great first impression. Sign up today and use code EARLYBIRD for an introductory discount of 30% off through July 10, 2024. Plus, sign up for CNBC Make It's newsletter to get tips and tricks for success at work, with money and in life. NEW MEXICO Endangered listing for rare lizard could slow drilling Federal wildlife officials declared a rare lizard in southeastern New Mexico and West Texas an endangered species on May 17, citing future energy development, sand mining and climate change as the biggest threats to its survival in one of the world's most lucrative oil and natural gas basins. "We have determined that the dunes sagebrush lizard is in danger of extinction throughout all of its range," the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said. It concluded that the lizard already is "functionally extinct" across 47% of its range. Much of the the 2.5-inch-long, spiny, light brown lizard's remaining habitat has been fragmented, preventing the species from finding mates beyond those already living close by, according to biologists. The decision caps two decades of legal and regulatory skirmishes between the U.S. government, conservationists and the oil and gas industry. Environmentalists cheered the move, while industry leaders condemned it as a threat to future production of the fossil fuels. The decision provides a "lifeline for survival" for a unique species whose "only fault has been occupying a habitat that the fossil fuel industry has been wanting to claw away from it," said Bryan Bird, the Southwest director for Defenders of Wildlife. The Permian Basin Petroleum Association and the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association expressed disappointment, saying the determination flies in the face of available science and ignores longstanding state-sponsored conservation efforts. Scientists say the lizards are found only in the Permian Basin, the second-smallest range of any North American lizard. The reptiles live in sand dunes and among shinnery oak, where they feed on insects and spiders and burrow into the sand for protection from extreme temperatures. Officials warn of heat-related health effects SANTA FE Health officials in New Mexico warned residents to take precautions as daytime temperatures are expected to climb over the coming days in eastern and southern parts of the state. Since April 1, the state Health Department said there have been at least 51 heat-related visits to emergency departments across New Mexico as record high temperatures have been recorded. The state in 2023 logged more than 900 heat-related hospital visits between April and September with nearly half of those occurring in July. This marked a sharp increase from previous years, and forecasts for this summer are calling for above-average chances for more hot and dry weather. In New Mexico, temperatures were expected to climb to the upper 90s in Roswell and Carlsbad and remain in the 90s in Las Cruces through late May. Authorities there told motorists not to leave children or pets in the car, even if the windows are cracked. State health officials said symptoms of heat-related illnesses can range from rash and sunburn to cramps and exhaustion. Those who are more vulnerable include people who work outside, children, older adults and those with chronic medical conditions. KANSAS Governor vetoes bill limiting foreign land ownership TOPEKA Proposed restrictions in Kansas on the foreign ownership of land died on May 10 when the state's Democratic governor vetoed a bill that top Republican lawmakers argued would protect military bases from Chinese spying. The Kansas House's top GOP leader accused Gov. Laura Kelly of "apathy" toward serious national security threats from China and other nations declared by the U.S. government to be adversaries "of concern," including Cuba, Iraq, North Korea and Venezuela. The bill would have prohibited more than 10% ownership by foreign nationals from those countries of any non-residential property within 100 miles of any military installation or most of Kansas. A Kansas State University report last fall said Chinese ownership accounted for a single acre of privately owned Kansas agricultural land and all foreign individuals and companies owned 2.4% of the state's 49 million acres of private agricultural land. The bill would have required the university to compile annual reports on all foreign real estate ownership, including non-agricultural business property. Kelly said in her veto message that while Kansas needs stronger protections against foreign adversaries, the bill was so "overly broad" that it could disrupt "legitimate investment and business relationships." Kansas already limits corporate ownership of agricultural land. More than 20 other states restrict foreign land ownership, according to the National Agricultural Law Center. A few Republicans in the state Senate balked at the restrictions, and the bill appeared to be just short of the two-thirds majority necessary to override a veto. The bill would have given affected foreign individuals and companies two years to divest themselves of their Kansas properties. IDAHO Drag performer awarded $1.1 million in defamation case COEUR D'ALENE A jury has awarded more than $1.1 million to an Idaho drag performer who accused a far-right blogger of defaming him when she falsely claimed that he exposed himself to a crowd, including children, during a Pride event in June 2022. The Kootenai County District Court jury unanimously found on May 24 that Summer Bushnell defamed Post Falls resident Eric Posey when she posted a doctored video of his performance with a blurred spot that she claimed covered his "fully exposed genitals," the Coeur D'Alene Press reported. In reality the unedited video showed no indecent exposure, and prosecutors declined to file charges. "The judicial system did what needed to be done," Posey said after the verdict. Jurors awarded Posey $926,000 in compensatory damages for defamation. Because Posey proved that Bushnell knew her allegations were false when she made them or that she made the accusations with reckless disregard for the truth, the jury awarded $250,000 in additional punitive damages. Posey, who uses the stage name Mona Liza Million, performed three times at the Pride in the Park celebration wearing a long-sleeve leotard, black shorts and tights, with a shiny metallic boa around his waist. He did not remove clothing. The Pride event made national news at the time when 31 members of a white supremacist group called Patriot Front were arrested nearby and charged with conspiracy to riot. The next day Bushnell published the edited version of the video, which she obtained from a local videographer. It garnered many thousands of views, sparking national news coverage and a police investigation. She suggested he had committed a felony and urged people to call police and have him arrested. Bushnells attorney, Colton Boyles, told jurors that his client's allegations were "close to the line" but not defamatory. He maintained that Bushnell's "honest belief" was that Posey exposed himself, though she admitted on the witness stand that she never saw the "fully exposed genitals" she described to others. ARIZONA Bear shot dead after swipe attack on teen ALPINE A black bear was shot and killed by Arizona fish and game officers after it entered a home through an open door and injured a teenager in a mountain community near the New Mexico state line, wildlife officials said. The 15-year-old boy received wounds to his face and arm when the bear swiped at him, and he was treated at a hospital after the May 22 incident in Alpine, the state Game and Fish Department said. His mother, Carol Hawkins, told AZFamily TV in Phoenix that the bear attacked her son while he was alone and watching television. Hawkins said her other son heard screams and went to help. Wildlife officials said the bear entered the home a second time before it fled. "Not many kids can say they got in a fight with a bear and came out on top," Hawkins said in a Facebook post that included a photo showing cuts on her son's nose and arm. Wildlife officers found and shot the bear, which the agency said was believed to be about 3 years old and would be tested for disease by department specialists. The attack was the 16th by bears on people in the state since wildlife officials began keeping records in 1990, including two that were fatal, the department said. If you have the mysterious blood that makes bugs love to bite you, youre well aware that their numbers tend to creep up in the summertime. For reasons unknown, however climate change, coincidence, a vengeful god summer 2024 is going to bring some uniquely terrifying swarms to the approximate location of your face. Keep several eyes out for 4 Cicadas Thanks to a once-in-two-centuries event in which two different broods of periodical cicadas are emerging from underground at the same time, trillions of the suckers have already descended upon the southern and central U.S. to terrorize residents with their screams. In fact, theyre even already dying off, but theyve still got a good several weeks to go. In the meantime, the freaky little things have begun passing around a sexually transmitted disease that turns them into zombies and makes birds that eat them trip balls, so theres still plenty of horror to go around. 3 Joro Spiders How do you feel about the words giant venomous flying spiders? Not great? Well, weve got bad news if you live on the East Coast, where the Joro spider is currently spreading. The good news is theyre easy to spot, as their four-inch stripey legs and bright yellow bodies look straight out of a Tim Burton joint, and they arent actually dangerous to humans as long as they dont scare you to death. 2 Spotted Lanternflies Advertisement Also cruising up the East Coast like an entomological road trip is the spotted lanternfly, which is similarly harmless to humans but will straight-up murder lots of important crops. Theyre so deadly that transporting them across county lines is a crime in some places, and officials have encouraged residents in no uncertain terms to squish the bastards. If youve got any lethal rage to get out, thats one way to do your civic duty and avoid your own Netflix true crime documentary. Often when communities consider consolidation or sharing services, theyre talking about obvious areas that overlap, like road maintenance and My dogs all 48 of them are a huge part of my life. My heart breaks when I lose one of them. Every animal lover will understand the pain of that. But if Labour gain power next month, I fear that many will have to be destroyed, and with them the most joyous part of my life. I do not trust that, armed with a large majority in the Commons and drunk on a metropolitan self-righteousness, they will not follow through on the threat made earlier this year to ban hunting with dogs, effectively taking a bolt gun to a much-loved country pursuit about which they are clueless. On Friday, Labour Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Reed pledged to end trail hunting, the practice of dogs following the scent of an animal's urine on a rag that a person trails through the countryside. This is not foxhunting in any shape or form. About drag hunting which uses an artificial scent, like aniseed, and follows a pre-determined route Reed has kept quiet. Ivan Massow is the hunting master of the Coakham pack in Kent and East Sussex and is responsible for 48 bloodhounds As a huntsman, Ivan's job is to ride close to the hounds, communicating with them constantly and calling them off if they look like making a wrong turn This has not always been so, for in February he unequivocally declared his desire to ban drag hunting as well as trail, promising a total ban 'in the first term of a Labour government'. My dogs are bloodhounds, which I employ in 'clean boot hunting' a form of drag hunting that doesn't use scent, relying on the formidable sense of smell the breed has. As the hunting master of the Coakham pack in Kent and East Sussex, I'm responsible for these tear-jerkingly wonderful creatures, the most loving animals you could find. These dogs like the 13 other bloodhound packs across the country never harm a living thing when we hunt. They chase human runners, not foxes and when they catch their prey, as they always do, the only danger is that they might lick someone to pieces. Even the hunt saboteurs know it. These class warriors still wage unending war on traditional fox hunts, which have not been allowed to chase foxes since Tony Blair banned the practice in 2004. But they leave us alone because they know the Coakham is law-abiding and has never hunted any animal since it was set up in 1976. Despite this, Labour's stance on hunting of any form is always hostile, misguided and plays to the ignorance of city dwellers who assume all hunting must be cruel and that all huntsmen and huntswomen are ultra-privileged landed gentry. Both those assumptions are completely wrong. If you join us on a hunt day, the first thing you'd see is we are not posh in the slightest. I left school with one O-level (in metalwork) before becoming an entrepreneur. Most rural people aren't wealthy. We don't wear red coats or mill around the stable yards of stately homes while flunkeys serve sherry on silver platters. The hunt begins when the runners leave, half an hour ahead of the dogs. When the dogs set off, there's no thrill like it. Their sense of smell is so exceptional, it's all we riders on horseback can do to keep up with the pack, often running at up to 30mph. Ivan, left, with his partner Ed and son Theo at the stables What I can do with 48 bloodhounds, if Labour cancels the Coakham, I have no idea. The thought is too awful to contemplate, writes Ivan Massow The Coakham has two senior officials, the field master (a job I did for the best part of 20 years) and the huntsman (which is what I am now). Their combined responsibility is to look after the dogs, the people and the land itself. As field master, I would walk every stretch of land before a hunt, looking for hidden dangers a piece of farm machinery, hidden on the far side of a hedge or wall, or a piece of wire that could injure or kill a horse or its rider. On the day of the hunt, I'd be making sure the hunt followers kept back at a safe distance. Now that I'm the huntsman, my job is to ride close to the hounds, communicating with them constantly and calling them off if they look like making a wrong turn. Cynics who suspect this is all an elaborate cover for hunting foxes couldn't be more wrong. Bloodhounds don't have that instinct. And it's very rare that any foxhound pack kills a fox, even by accident. Nowadays, not only are the remaining 170-odd packs mostly well-run and law-abiding, everyone with a smartphone has a video camera now, so no hunt could possibly get away with a kill, even if they wanted to. I have no desire to hunt foxes or to defend doing so but the hunting ban has done nothing to protect these wild animals. The reverse is true. Some landowners exterminate foxes entirely easily done with a modern infra-red night-sight on a rifle. It's not constantly and calling them off if they look like making a wrong turn. It's a very close relationship, almost as tight-knit as that between a shepherd and his collie. Cynics who suspect this is all an elaborate cover for hunting foxes couldn't be more wrong. Bloodhounds don't have that instinct. And it's very rare that any foxhound pack kills a fox, even by accident. Nowadays, not only are the remaining 170-odd packs mostly well-run and perfectly law-abiding, everyone with a smartphone has a video camera in their pocket now, so no hunt could possibly get away with a kill, even if they wanted to. Bloodhounds chase human runners, not foxes and when they catch their prey, as they always do, the only danger is that they might lick someone to pieces I have no desire to hunt foxes or to defend doing so, but the hunting ban has done nothing to protect these wild animals. In fact, the reverse is true. Some landowners reverse is true. Some landowners exterminate foxes entirely easily done with an infra-red night-sight on a rifle. It's not uncommon for professionals to slaughter a couple of dozen in a night. Where this isn't done, though, foxes can wreak havoc on not only farmland, killing lambs, but on the number of ground-nesting birds such as larks. But then hunting with dogs has never been a issue where rational argument prevailed. Even Blair now admits Labour could have far more usefully directed its energies elsewhere: Parliament spent 700 hours debating hunting, a complete waste of time. Why Starmer is intent on pursuing this bad example defies understanding. It's nothing more than a return to the politics of envy, in keeping with his misguided proposal for VAT on school fees. If Labour's urban activists are genuinely concerned about isolated instances of fox-killing, a more effective solution would be to issue licences to packs. Then no master would dare do anything that risked losing the licence. Instead, the party will punish all countryside people for the occasional misdemeanours of a few. Labour is a metropolitan party, led by a North London lawyer (though as the Mail revealed last weekend, his forebears lived in a castle). All this sends a message that the party doesn't like Britain's rural communities, understand them or respect their traditions. For many, that's compounded by the drive to cover fields with solar panels and giant wind turbines in pursuit of 'net zero'. It makes us feel as though, to Labour, the countryside is a mere resource to be exploited and mistreated. Farming can be a tough, isolated life. In a recent poll, 95 per cent of farmers designated poor mental health as one of the biggest problems. Many farmers have told me how much they look forward to our hunt's annual visits between October and March. If the Coakham is shut, they will suffer for it and lose its enormous community benefits across Kent and East Sussex. But worst affected will be the dogs. Each year I expect a handful to retire and I work hard to find loving homes for them. As they get older, hounds still want to run but can develop creaky joints and sore paws. Some can be nursed back to health. I've got half a dozen around the house, recuperating. There are usually two or three suitable takers on my books to adopt a bloodhound. They are wonderful family pets. But what I can do with 48, if Labour cancels the Coakham, I have no idea. The thought is too awful to contemplate. lIvan Massow is a finance and tech entrepreneur who teaches entrepreneurship at Cambridge University. I have still never got over the nastiest political broadcast I have ever seen in a free country. I watched it by accident, as I flopped down in front of the TV after a long day on the 1997 campaign trail. The lush Elgar music for Land Of Hope And Glory played throughout. Scenes from a Tory conference were shown, speeded up or slowed down to leave Cabinet Ministers with their mouths hanging open stupidly. The technique could be used to make anyone look foolish or even evil. This wasn't criticism, or even mockery. It was hatred and contempt. As the music slowed, the scene switched to a dark and dingy hospital with patients in corridors. There were cruel shots of an old people's home. Then we went back to the Tories at their conference, grinning away as if they were pleased by such things. Then a dark street with a mugging taking place. Then some glum-looking children in a crowded classroom. As all this misery unrolled, subtitles asserted that all this was the Tories' fault. Well, some of it must have been after 18 years in office. But you could have made the same film in 2010, after 13 years of Labour. Labour's 1997 political broadcast wasn't criticism, or even mockery. It was hatred and contempt, writes Peter Hitchens The lush Elgar music for Land Of Hope And Glory played throughout the political broadcast As the music slowed, the scene switched to a dark and dingy hospital with patients in corridors As all this misery unrolled, subtitles asserted that all this was the Tories' fault It was the subtitles which really astounded me. They went a lot further. The one that made me almost leap from my seat stated that the Tories would 'abolish the state pension'. Amid the vague propaganda smears, this was a specific, checkable assertion. And it was a flat lie. That night I just felt a great foreboding. This was not British politics as I had known it all my life. This was hard, almost Communist stuff, indifferent to the truth and filled with actual loathing of the other side. I recalled a warning I'd had a few weeks before from a senior Blair adviser, my old friend Philip Bassett. Philip told me, as the campaign began and he left journalism to go and toil for New Labour, that I had 'no idea how extensive the Blair project was'. Indeed, I did not, though it was dawning on me fast. READ MORE: PETER HITCHENS: The obsession with ADHD has led to a growing drug crisis in which normal human behaviour now has to be treated by pills Advertisement I offer two lessons from this. Ignore any Labour complaints about alleged dishonesty by others. They have absolutely no scruples, either about telling lies or about concealing the truth about themselves, as they are now doing. My guess is that Sir Keir Starmer was slow to challenge Rishi Sunak's wobbly claims about Labour tax schemes because he was scared the Tories had actually got their hands on his real secret plans. Since 1997, Labour has been a different kind of party from what it once was, It is a party which does not really think its opponents have the right to exist. Its own poison broadcast claimed of the Tories on April 21, 1997: 'Imagine what would happen if the Tories got in again. They'd do as they pleased. And nothing could stop them.' But they were really talking about themselves. Don't risk a repeat of 1997. We couldn't cope without France, that sweet foe I ought to be angry that the French demanded to see the passports of British paratroopers marking the D-Day anniversary in Normandy. If ever there was a moment to stretch a point, this was surely it. It's not as if the French don't look the other way when it comes to their own affairs. The late Lord (Nigel) Lawson used to joke that he liked living in France because the silly bureaucratic pettifogging of the European Union did not seem to apply there. By contrast, we used to enforce EU rules rigidly and in some cases still do. But actually it just makes me laugh, as do plans for the French to try to be more polite to British tourists. Please don't do it. The French demanded to see the passports of British paratroopers marking the D-Day anniversary in Normandy One of the many reasons I love visiting France is that I enjoy the way they resent us. They rage inwardly when we mangle their lovely language. They are affronted as we barge into their shops and cafes without first saying 'Bonjour!', a grave breach of manners to them. They're appalled by our taste in food and (with reason) by the way we bring up our children. Yet it's one of the few countries in the world which still takes us seriously, thanks to our centuries of war and rivalry. Waterloo, Trafalgar and our role in the burning of Joan of Arc are all fresh in their memories, as they aren't in ours. They also remember that they, not we, won the Hundred Years War. What would we do without them, that sweet enemy? Our relationship is like a 50-year marriage whose bickering spouses would be desolated if the quarrelling ever stopped. Whoever devised the passport check for the paratroopers deserves to join the Legion d'honneur. Such an ingenious tease. Starmer thinks we're here to serve the NHS The most significant moment so far in the election is Sir Keir Starmer's declaration that he will not resort to private medicine. This is even if a close family member is suffering in a long NHS queue. Many don't believe him. I do. Because, as I have been trying to explain for some time now, Sir Keir is a dogmatic revolutionary, not a normal politician. His formative years were spent as a very hard Leftist indeed, active and fierce. He has not changed that much this also explains his problem over women having penises. Sir Keir Starmer's declaration that he will not resort to private medicine is a statement that is close to madness for most of us, writes Peter Hitchens For most of us, Sir Keir's statement is close to madness. It makes no sense. For a start, it is not as if we don't pay for the NHS. They don't work for nothing. Indeed, Sir Keir, as a high earner, pays more for it than most. So what's the problem about paying a private doctor? But NHS-worship, especially on the militant Left, is a sort of religion and so does not need to make sense. The grim irony here is that if the Left ever get full control of this country, the socialist elite will have excellent medical care, which they will pretend is just like everyone else's. They already pretend that the exceptional state schools they send their children to (almost always in costly secluded catchment areas) are normal comprehensives. Emmanuel Macron is gambling not only his own career but the stability of all Europe on this desperate throw of the dice. Faced with a surge to the hard-right National Rally party led by Marine Le Pen, he has called a snap election. His Renaissance party garnered fewer than half as many votes 15 per cent of the turnout in France, compared with Le Pens 32 per cent. Thats an even worse deficit than the Conservatives are currently showing against Labour in UK opinion polls. Many pundits thought Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was reckless to the point of stupidity when he announced a July election, instead of waiting till the autumn. Macrons decision makes Sunak look like a model of caution. Perhaps the French president calculates that he might repeat the cunning success of his predecessor Francois Mitterand, who allowed the right-wing government of Jacques Chirac to take over at a crucial moment in the late 1980s. Chirac bungled the job, and Mitterand was able to posture as the nations saviour when the electorate backed him at a later election. But many historians are more likely to remember Edward Heaths ill-fated challenge to UK voters in 1974 when, as a miners strike plunged the country into darkness, he campaigned for re-election under the slogan: Who governs Britain? Emmanuel Macron announces his decision to dissolve the French parliament today Not you, the voters replied. Heath was ousted. Now Macron is asking the French: What do you want stability with me or chaos with Le Pen? Yet with Europe in its current febrile mood, the knee-jerk reaction of many French voters will be to embrace chaos. The support base for the technocratic Macronistas is evaporating, as young people become increasingly polarised drawn towards the hard-Right or far-Left. The far-Left in France is led by Jean-Luc Melenchon, an unpredictable firebrand. He might actually throw his hand in with Le Pen to deny Macrons supporters any chance of a majority - so he can swing the country to socialism once the electorate becomes disillusioned with Le Pen. READ MORE: French President Macron calls snap election in wake of huge far-Right gains in European vote Advertisement The big difference with Frances system is that, even if his party is trounced at the polls, Macron will not be forced to step down as president. He holds that office regardless, until 2027. But with Le Pen as prime minister, he would be not so much a lame duck, more a cooked goose. A Le Pen regime would be intensely antagonistic to Frances burgeoning Muslim population, and one likely consequence could be an increase in terrorist attacks. But the biggest impact could be on the war in Ukraine. Although Macron was initially an appeaser of Putin, for the past six months he has been increasingly anti-Kremlin, bringing to bear Frances weight with its seat on the UN Security Council as well as its nuclear status. Meanwhile, Le Pen has often voiced admiration for Russia and its dictator, and is likely to withdraw support for President Zelensky in Kiev. Compound that with the strong possibility of Donald Trumps return to the White House at the beginning of next year, and the real winner of Macrons extraordinary decision could be Russia. A woman who was raised within the ultra-strict Mormon faith has shared some of the fascinating dating slang used by members of the church. Former Mormon Alyssa Grenfell, 31, often shares her experiences from living within in the strict religion, culminating with her leaving the church. In a recent clip, Alyssa shared the commonly used slang - and what they mean in the Mormon community. The first one was 'NCMO' - which stands for non-committal make out session. 'This is essentially the Mormon version of a booty call and is very common at BYU (Brigham Young University - a private Mormon college),' the mom-of-two explained. Former Mormon Alyssa Grenfell, 31, who was raised in the ultra-religious church has shared some of the popular dating slang used by members Former Mormon Alyssa Grenfell, 31, who was raised in the ultra-religious church has shared some of the popular dating slang used by members Next, she moved on to 'Levi lovin,' which the former Mormon explains is a 'Mormon term that refers to dry humping.' 'This is basically the motions of having sex while clothed,' she explained. Alyssa then listed an infamous term that non-Mormons may be familiar with - soaking. When couples don't want to 'sin' by having premarital sex, some instead engage in an act called soaking, which refers to a man sexually penetrating a woman without thrusting or moving. 'Though I swear this is just a Mormon myth,' the YouTube personality quipped. Another term used in Mormon communities was 'Fill your canteen.' As Alyssa explained, the term comes from when a member of the church serves on a Mormon mission. 'They can have no physical contact with the opposite sex so that means they have to fill their canteen with as many NCMOs as possible,' she said. Alyssa renounced the religion age 25, proudly undergoing a post-Mormon 'glow up' After leaving the Mormon church in 2017 at age 25, she happily started implementing previously banned luxuries like coffee (pictured) into her life Alyssa graduated from the religious school BYU with degrees in English and teaching in 2016 In another video, she described the 'painful' process of getting married in the Mormon church when she was 23 '[It's so] they have something to remember when they are lonely missionaries,' she said cheekily. The last term was 'sweet spirit' - which Alyssa says is a 'mean term' for a girl who is unattractive 'but has a kind heart.' 'There's a song about this in a Mormon movie and the best line is she's only getting married if we bring back polygamy,' she said. She captioned the YouTube video: 'Never going to find an eternal companion if youre just someones NCMO.' Alyssa grew up within the confines of an ultra-strict household but escaped the uptight lifestyle, and began to focus on reclaiming her body after leaving the Mormon church with her husband in 2017. Alyssa, who now lives in Austin, Texas with her husband and two children, previously opened up about what it was like to attend the strict religious college BYU. The college is known for its campus culture and regulations, which are closely aligned with the teachings of the faith. After renouncing the religion age 25, Alyssa proudly underwent a post-Mormon glow up that included getting a nose ring and tattoos as well as wearing a bikini for the first time at 28 years old. In another video, she described the 'painful' process of getting married in the Mormon church, with the church controlling every aspect of the wedding, including choosing her dress for her. She's also since come out with a book called How to Leave the Mormon Church: An Exmormons Guide to Rebuilding After Religion, which she recently snuck onto the shelves of BYU's library, as she documented on TikTok. When anyone asks Sarah Hawkins if she has children, she answers: 'Yes, two daughters.' Sometimes she lets herself pause, for the briefest of moments, before uttering the unimaginable words: 'But one of them is dead.' Harriet, Sarah's first-born child, would have turned eight in April. She often imagines her playing with her younger sister Lottie, who is four and a half, giggling and chasing her around the kitchen. She wonders if Harriet would have shared Lottie's mop of blonde curly hair, or had the same impish grin. Lottie has lots of questions about her big sister, too. Can Harriet come to her birthday party next year? Does she mind if Lottie cuddles her teddy? Is she lonely, wherever she is? It breaks Sarah's heart that her two girls never got the chance to meet. For Harriet was stillborn, eight awful years ago, after a perfectly healthy pregnancy and with no underlying complications or health conditions. Sarah and Jack Hawkins first-born child Harriet was stillborn after a perfectly healthy pregnancy and with no underlying complications or health conditions Sarah when 35 weeks pregnant with Harriet. She had been told her pregnancy was low-risk, normal Their daughter was pronounced dead on April 17, 2016, due to a catalogue of failings, negligence and woeful mismanagement by hospital staff at the very NHS Trust where both Sarah, a former senior physiotherapist, and her husband Jack, an acute medicine consultant, worked. Sarah, who had already been in labour for five days, then had to endure another nine agonising hours more than double the clinically recommended time to deliver Harriet, all the while knowing the baby she would cradle in her arms would never take a breath. 'I was pushing all that time, knowing Harriet was dead and no one was coming to help,' she says. 'It was inhumane. I thought I was dying, too. But to tell you the truth, I didn't really care.' Since that day, she and Jack have been fighting, not only to keep their daughter's memory alive, but to hold to account the individuals and organisations responsible. In their search for justice from Nottingham University Hospitals (NUH) NHS Trust, they have joined forces with other families with shockingly similar stories to tell and, in doing so, revealed endemic shortcomings in maternity care at the institution. In 2017 an external review found no fewer than 13 failures in the Hawkins' case and concluded that Harriet's death was 'almost certainly preventable'. Four years later the family received a 2.8 million settlement from the Trust, believed to be the largest of its kind. They would, they say, have paid it back in an instant to have Harriet alive today. But their journey, which is charted in a documentary, Maternity: Broken Trust, on ITV1 tonight, did not end there. Harriet's death is now part of an independent review by senior midwife Donna Ockenden, ongoing since 2022, which is scrutinising more than 1,800 cases of stillbirths, neonatal and maternal deaths and injuries to women and babies over ten years at NUH. And in September, the police launched a criminal investigation into these incidents something Jack and Sarah hope might bring them justice once and for all. Sarah holds up a babygrow as she clears out the nursery following baby Harriet's death Harriet at her 20-week scan. She was stillborn after a six-day labour at Nottingham University Hospital 'We're not going to stop until someone's in jail,' admits Sarah. 'It sounds awful, but they killed our daughter, they ruined our careers and they ruined our lives. Somebody has to pay.' Certainly, the pain of losing Harriet has taken a devastating toll on both Sarah, 41, and Jack, 54. Neither has been able to return to work, instead finding their days and nights consumed by the enormity of paperwork, emails, phonecalls and meetings involved in fighting their case. Working for the NHS again is something they cannot yet perhaps ever contemplate. Both have had extensive counselling and suffer from depression, PTSD and flashbacks. For years, they couldn't bear to look at babies, pregnant women or proud, smiling parents with their children. Sarah still has terrible nightmares. In one, she is standing with Harriet in her arms, screaming and screaming for help, while all around her people are laughing. For his part, Jack is racked by guilt. He admits: 'There's still a bit of me that thinks, 'I'm a doctor, why on earth did I allow this to happen to my family? I've failed to protect my family.' ' Though they maintain a united front for their daughter's sake, their relationship has not weathered this wretched and arduous course. They split up four years ago, just after Lottie was born, and now live in separate houses in Nottingham, a short distance from one another. 'It's been really difficult,' says Sarah. 'After Harriet died, I made sure that Jack was involved in everything, because it's so easy for fathers not to be involved, and then I got to a point where what I'd been through wasn't recognised, and I just felt really alone.' 'It exposed how different we are, which is I suspect how everybody might be if their child died,' Jack adds. 'You think you're similar, but wait until you have to deal with this, and then leaving the cap off the toothpaste becomes divorce material. 'It's an awful lot to put people through. I hold individuals responsible for my daughter's death, for my mental health, for [the breakdown of] my marriage.' This is far from how Jack and Sarah, who met at work in 2008 and married in 2013, ever imagined they would feel. 'We're both one of four, so we would have liked to have had a big family,' Sarah says. 'Jack wanted three children, but that's an odd number so I said it had to be four.' Her pregnancy with Harriet was 'low-risk, normal,' she recalls. The pain of losing Harriet has taken a devastating toll on both Sarah, 41, and Jack, 54. Neither has been able to return to work, instead finding their days and nights consumed by paperwork, emails, phonecalls and meetings involved in fighting their case Jack and Sarah have charted their experience and journey in a documentary, Maternity: Broken Trust, on ITV1 that airs tonight 'We did a trip to Belize when I was 20 weeks pregnant I remember thinking that would be my last non-kid-friendly holiday for a while.' They didn't find out the gender of the baby, instead preferring to wait for a surprise at the birth. The nursery was newly decorated and filled with freshly laundered babygros and teddies. The couple hadn't discussed a birth plan. As they were due to have their baby at the place where they both worked, they put their faith in NHS colleagues. 'I didn't want to make this massive plan they were the experts; we trusted them,' says Sarah. That trust turned out to be tragically misplaced. Sarah went into labour on April 12, 2016, a day after Harriet's due date. She was nervous but ready for the ordeal ahead, and excited to meet their baby. A community midwife found her to be 2cm dilated, and advised her to call the Queen's Medical Centre, where she was booked to give birth. They were invited to come into the labour ward that evening, but sent home again as Sarah was told her contractions were too far apart to be in 'established labour'. Over the next five days she and Jack called the hospital another 11 times. They also returned to the labour ward, only for Sarah to be assessed, reassured and discharged without proper examination. Several times she begged to be admitted again, but her pleas were refused. On one occasion she was given diamorphine (a strong painkiller), codeine and paracetamol in quantities Jack describes as 'huge'. 'I just cannot imagine giving those doses of those medicines and sending someone home,' he says. But Sarah's pain was intensifying at one point she collapsed and the couple became increasingly frantic. 'The midwife on the phone told me to have a bath and sniff some lavender,' Sarah recalls. 'I'd never done this before, it was awful, but I assumed it was normal labour.' By early morning on April 17, however, they both knew something was wrong. 'I was lying on the sofa, crying, in excruciating pain,' Sarah recalls. 'I didn't know it at the time but I was pushing, and then something started to hang out between my legs.' They rushed to Nottingham City Hospital the other one under the Trust's care, as the Queen's Medical Centre was understaffed driving straight there rather than waiting for an ambulance, expecting midwives to be ready for an obstetric emergency. Instead they put Sarah in the birthing suite, examined her she was 9cm dilated, with Harriet's head visible between her legs and checked for a foetal heart rate, falsely mistaking it for Sarah's. When another midwife couldn't find Harriet's heart rate, a doctor was called and he announced the heart-wrenching news: 'I'm sorry, your baby's dead.' Sarah's screams echoed through the ward. Ultimately, they later learned, an obstruction from her mother's bladder which should have been identified and resolved much earlier led to Harriet suffocating in the womb. Jack and Sarah with their four-and-a-half-year-old daughter Lottie. They split up four years ago, just after Lottie was born, and now live in separate houses in Nottingham, a short distance from one another Jack believes Harriet was already dead or dying by the time they arrived at hospital the final time. When the midwife realised, she accused Sarah of not telling them she hadn't urinated, suggesting that she, as a physio, ought to know that was a sign of a problem. Harriet Hawkins, a perfect 6lb 12oz, was born after a painful and unimaginably difficult labour, culminating in surgical intervention. Jack couldn't bring himself to cut the umbilical cord and, initially, neither he nor Sarah could bear to hold her, so broken were they by grief. They asked a midwife to tell them the colour of her eyes. When they did cuddle her, the pain was 'extraordinary', Jack says. 'Her skin was so soft. I remember holding her, just wishing that she would come back to life. I couldn't understand it.' They have only a handful of photographs of Harriet from that time. She is pink-cheeked and peaceful, her little eyes forever shut, while her parents' are red-rimmed and hollow. One picture shows her feet, chubby and crinkled feet that would never take first steps, or try on school shoes, or learn to dance. They had ten days with their daughter, whose tiny, beautiful body was kept cold, before she went for a hospital postmortem, something Sarah and Jack who knew that something untoward had happened requested. 'I read her a story, I Love You To The Moon And Back, and then we said goodbye to her, we put her down, and left that room and walked out,' recalls Jack. What followed were, as they put it, 'pretty dark days'. They drove home with an empty car seat. Friends and family cleared the house of newborn things. Their sadness was engulfed by anger: why was their healthy baby girl dead? Under the current law which they are campaigning to change if a baby dies before or during labour, the death is classified as a stillbirth and cannot be investigated by a coroner, so there was no inquest to find out what had gone wrong. Almost immediately the hospital tried to pass her death off as an infection a claim since proven to be false, but one which might have convinced bereaved parents with less medical training. And so began their long and frustrating fight for Harriet, the daughter whose absence from family occasions every Christmas, birthday, Mother's Day since has left a gaping hole in their lives. It took two years, during which investigations were being carried out, for Harriet to be released from the mortuary, to allow them to have a funeral. In yet another crushing blow, they learned her body had not been preserved during that time, and had started to decompose. Inside her tiny white coffin was not the perfect newborn they had left at the hospital, but three black bin bags of remains. 'They should have told us,' Jack says. 'What we've been through feels like being punched repeatedly in the face.' And the heartbreak continued. Sarah and Jack suffered secondary infertility after Harriet's death, so had to go through IVF to conceive again. The hospital setting was also triggering Sarah was so emotionally scarred she couldn't wear a hospital gown during egg collection. When she fell pregnant in early 2019, she was petrified. The couple decided to go privately, with consultant-led care at the Lindo Wing, at St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, where the Princess of Wales had her three children, using money borrowed from family. They had multiple extra scans, weekly heartrate checks and refused to plan anything for Lottie's birth no clothes, toys or nursery just in case their worst nightmare was repeated. 'I'd planned an elective C-section, but Lottie decided to come early so I actually went into labour again,' Sarah says. 'I phoned up once and said, 'I don't feel right.' They told me to come in straight away. That's what the NHS should be doing.' Today, Lottie knows all about her big sister. Once a year she helps her parents sing 'happy heavenly birthday' to Harriet and blows out a candle on her cake. Every Christmas she hangs a bauble bearing her name on the tree. 'We talk about her quite often,' Sarah says. 'It's difficult, you never know the right thing to do. We keep it clinical Lottie knows she's died, but we use phrases like 'born sleeping'. 'I tell her that the midwives and doctors didn't look after mummy and Harriet very well, but the doctors who delivered Lottie did a good job. 'I worry I get the balance wrong. I try to keep Harriet's memory alive but not pass the trauma on. I get very upset about that. 'The people who did this have stolen Lottie's innocence, too. It's not just me and Jack: she's a four-year-old having to say to her friends, 'I've got a sister, but she's dead.' ' Since losing Harriet, the couple have found some comfort in meeting others who have suffered similarly to them. Sarah and Jack now head a group of hundreds of bereaved parents who, together, are fighting for wide-reaching changes to maternity care and convictions for those responsible for their babies' deaths, many of whom have never been reprimanded and remain in their posts. It is, explains Jack, 'the most horrific community you could want to be part of'. Their anger, eight long years on, is palpable. Some days they are overwhelmed by grief. Others, they feel nothing but numb. 'Fighting for Harriet keeps her memory alive,' says Sarah, who admits she can't imagine a time when all this might be over. 'I will do whatever I have to, for however long it takes, so that she is never forgotten.' lMaternity: Broken Trust is on ITV1 & ITVX at 10.20pm tonight. A Taylor Swift megafan who attended the star's show nine-months pregnant went into labour at her concert but decided to stay to the end of the gig. Jenn Gutierrez, 31, was 38 weeks pregnant when she flew a whopping 412 miles from Canberra, Australia, to Melbourne, to see her favourite artist perform. Clearly towing the line by attending the concert near her due date Jenn, her husband Michael Sin, 31, and twin sister Dani - who all paid $600 AUD (311) for VIP tickets - said they would stop at nothing to experience the megastar's Era's tour. But barely an hour into the concert and while dancing a jig, Jenn was struck down with labour pains. In a video of the crazy moment, Jenn can be seen taking deep breaths before eventually continuing on with her two step. This is the surreal moment Taylor Swift megafan, Jenn Gutierrez, (pictured) went into labour at her concert Jenn attended the gig with her husband Michael Sin, 31, (pictured right) while she was 38 weeks pregnant A few days later in February 2024, Jenn gave birth to a 'happy' and 'healthy' baby girl weighing 7lbs 7oz - who she is raising to be a fellow Swiftie Jenn, an executive assistant, described the moment as 'euphoric'. She said: 'I thought 'I'm not going anywhere. If this baby comes she coming out now. 'The contractions got progressively worse. In the Midnights set [the last of the evening] I thought "OMG, I'm going to have this baby right now". 'I was so shocked. I was a bit taken back. My twin sister was next to me monitoring me. My husband was keeping an eye on my heart rate on my Apple watch. 'It was a euphoric experience'. Jenn and Dani have always been big Taylor Swift fans and couldn't believe it when they bagged VIP tickets on the third day of ticket releases in November 2024. Despite being nine months pregnant Jenn was cleared to fly six days before the show, but she had prepared to do the eight-hour drive if not. Jenn, Michael and Dani flew out on the morning of the show and got glammed up in cowboy boots and sparkles for the big event. But an hour into the concert and just as Taylor Swift began performing songs from her Reputation album, Jenn felt sudden contractions. The contractions continued for the rest of the gig however Jenn somehow managed to keep dancing and singing through them. Despite being nine months along, Jenn was cleared to fly six days before the show (pictured before the concert) In a video of the crazy moment, Jenn can be seen taking deep breaths before eventually continuing on with her two step The group are big Taylor Swift fans and couldn't believe it when they bagged $600 AUD VIP tickets on the third day of ticket releases in November 2024 Looking back, Jenn admits she was 'cutting it close'. 'We were doing the maths and we didn't think I was going to be that pregnant initially' she recalled. 'We then realised we were cutting it close [but] we were adamant about going. 'No way we were going to miss the show. I hope the girls behind me didn't think I'm not a real Swiftie because I kept sitting down'. Things went from bad to worse as by the end of the show Jenn was struggling to stand and walk. 'I felt the baby on its way out because she was so low' she said. 'Imagine standing for three hours with a bowling ball between your legs. I waddled out of the stadium'. Jenn's twin sister (pictured right) also attended the concert Jenn took an Uber back to her hotel where she managed to ease her contractions after she had calmed down. She specified sitting with her 'legs up on the bed' as the main tactic for delaying the impending birth. Despite the drama, the group were able to fly back home the next morning. A few days later in February 2024, Jenn gave birth to a 'happy' and 'healthy' baby girl weighing 7lbs 7oz. She quipped: 'I said "you can come as soon as we touched down"'. For the new mother, it's only right she raise her daughter to be a fellow Swiftie - starting with the very first song she played for her newborn. Jenn added: 'The first song she listened to was Fearless by Taylor Swift. She is an imbedded Swiftie'. 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Jessica Manning, 30 - who underwent a double heart and liver transplant eight years ago - was moving house from New Zealand to Australia and had the organ in her hand baggage when she was stopped by officials. She told how workers wanted to rule out any cross border health hazards, but let her continue on her journey after she revealed her story and past medical history. Jessica said: 'I was there for about an hour trying to get this dang heart through to Australia. I have it now though and it's safe in my wardrobe.' Jessica, originally from New Zealand, was born with six heart defects which led to her having multiple heart surgeries growing up. Jessica Manning, 30, New Zealand, revealed how she was recently stopped by airport security - because she was taking her old heart through customs Her first three open heart surgeries being at five-months, three-years and six-years-old. This eventually resulted in a full heart and liver transplant. She said: 'When I was 19, I went into heart failure. And then when I was 22, I was diagnosed with liver disease. The liver disease was due to a procedure I had when I was three-years-old. 'In December 2016, I was assessed for heart and liver transplant, but because it had not been done in New Zealand or Australia on someone born with heart issues it took them a long time to decide whether it was something that they were willing to risk. 'I ended up being put on the transplant list in April 2017 and I waited 16 months for my transplant.' After her transplant, Jessica who works as a teacher decided to keep her heart, she explained: 'In New Zealand due to the Maori culture they firmly believe that you should be returned to the body the way God created you so we do get the option of keeping our organs. 'I'm not Maori, but I still think that the belief is really cool but I actually donated both my organs to medical research and science so that is why I don't have my liver because it went to a university for studies about liver cirrhosis.' However that wasn't the last she'd see of her heart, she said: 'About 10 months later, I received a call, stating they no longer needed my heart and asked if I wanted it back. After her transplant Jessica, who works as a teacher decided to keep her heart, (pictured in hospital in 2017) She told how workers wanted to rule out any cross border health hazards, but let her continue on her journey after she revealed her story and past medical history Jessica, originally from New Zealand, was born with six heart defects which led to her having multiple heart surgeries growing up Jessica pictured as a newborn after doctors discovered she had heart problems Jessica had heart surgery when she was just three years old. This eventually resulted in a full heart and liver transplant When she was 19, Jessica went into heart failure and then when she was 22, she was diagnosed with liver disease 'I said yes because I wanted to bury it on a property that meant something to me so maybe the first house I buy and then I wanted to plant a tree on top.' Jessica has recently moved from New Zealand to Australia and that's where she encountered problems with security. She explained the encounter with airport security as they saw her heart in a bag: 'He didn't quite know what to do with it so he went to go talk to his boss and this is when my tears started because the guy was as nice as he could be and I understand he was just being very cautious. 'His main issue was that I was bringing in a new disease to the country and he didn't want me to bring in something that was a hazard to Australia. 'But I'm pleased it was all cleared and I was allowed to continue on my journey, and I still my old heart with me.' This is the sweet moment Queen Camilla met her 'biggest fan', before joking she was 'horrified' with her guest for not taking a bow. Her Majesty hosted some of the world's top authors at her second annual Reading Room Literary festival, which took place at Hampton Court Palace in South West London yesterday. During the aftermath, American thriller writer Harlan Coben introduced the Queen to her 'biggest fan' New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin, who proclaimed it was 'an honour of a lifetime' to meet the royal. The 11-time best selling writer also revealed she had 'slept on the streets' just to get a glimpse of the Queen during her coronation in May 2023. Upon meeting the royal she took a bow, before apologising on behalf of Harlan for failing to do the same. Revealing her down to earth nature, Camilla quipped she too would be 'horrified' if she was Emily, before bursting into a sweet giggle. This is the sweet moment Queen Camilla met her 'biggest fan', New York Times bestselling author Emily Giffin (pictured: Queen Camilla with American thriller writer Harlan Coben and author Emily Giffin) The 11-time best selling writer proclaimed it was 'an honour of a lifetime' to meet the royal Sparking the conversation was Harlan Coben, who said to the Queen: 'I just want to introduce you to number one New York Times best selling author Emily Giffin who is your biggest fan - and she is so excited to meet you'. 'It is an honour of a lifetime' added Emily. 'I came over for your Coronation. I just so admire you' she continued. Stunned by such dedication, Camilla asked 'you came over?' to which Emily replied 'Yes I slept on the street for two nights... it was an honour of my lifetime'. The author then went on to thank the Queen for hosting the festival and for 'all the wonderful work you do'. But things took a hilarious turn when Emily shared she had once trained Harlan on the customs of the British Royal Family, most notably bowing etiquette. When Harlan conceded he 'messed up' when it came to remembering the rules, Emily took it upon herself to apologise for his slip up. 'He's very sorry that he didn't bow before he shook your hand' she said. The pair then burst into what sounded like nervous laughter. Camilla then quipped: 'I'd be horrified if I was you' and launched into a little giggle of her own. Upon meeting the royal she took a bow, before apologising on behalf of Harlan for failing to do the same. Revealing her fun nature, Camilla quipped she too would be 'horrified' if she was Emily Emily shared she had once trained Harlan on the customs of the British Royal Family, most notably bowing etiquette The Queen is pictured attending her second annual Reading Room Literary festival, which took place at Hampton Court Palace in South West London yesterday Queen Camilla was involved in every aspect of her literacy festival at Hampton Court yesterday. The Queen's annual Reading Room festival took place on Saturday June, 8 and was founded by Her Majesty as an independent charity to promote reading and literacy in the UK and globally. A year on from it's inaugural edition - which played host to King Charles, Sir Derek Jacobi, Richard E Grant and Dame Joanna Lumley - and the Queen is said to have worked 'all year round' to ensure it is of excellent standard. This year the Queen met with authors and spoke with Harlan Coben, Emily Giffin, Lee Child and Miriam Margolyes among others. She also had discussions about her busy week attending D-Day commemorations in France and King Charles' health. This year the Queen met with authors and spoke with Harlan Coben, Emily Giffin, Lee Child and Miriam Margolyes among others Camilla looked stunning in a floor-length navy blue gown with three-quarter sleeves and zip detailing Vicki Perrin, CEO of Her Majestys The Queens Reading Room literacy charity shed light on what the festival means to the Queen, while fondly referring to it as her 'baby'. Speaking to the Mail this week, she said: Her Majesty has been really involved, she is such an extraordinary supporter of the arts and she understands the value of literary festivals and how precious they are in the UK. She and I have been working on this for a year to shape it into the best event it can possibly be. We have bounced ideas around, who should appear, who should talk to whom, which actors can get involved, what authors we should cover. 'Its very much her baby. Shes always asking me "how many tickets are we at now?" - and looks like we will fill 10,000 seats on Saturday, which is amazing. She cares so much about getting it right and making it accessible and open to as many people as possible'. The Queens Reading Room festival sold out within ten hours and was forced to move to a bigger capacity. Princess Elisabeth, 22, was educated at Oxford and will go to Havard next year Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium joined her three younger siblings today as they headed to cast their vote in the the Belgian general and regional elections, as well as the European Parliament elections. Elisabeth, 22,the Oxford-educated eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde smiled as she submitted her ballot paper at a polling station in the Laeken district of Brussels. The heir to the Belgian throne, who has a degree in History and Politics, was dressed casually in an open-neck, beige jumper, navy trousers and navy Adidas trainers with a tan cross-body bag. She wore her highlighted hair loose and tucked behind her ears to reveal a pair of large earrings. Princess Elisabeth was accompanied by her brothers, Prince Gabriel, 20, and Prince Emmanuel, 18, and her sister Princess Eleonore, 16, all of whom queued patiently to enter the polling station. Crown Princess Elisabeth, 22, smiled as she submitted her ballot paper on Sunday morning The voting age in Belgium was lowered to 16 in 2022, making Sunday's elections the first that Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore were eligible to participate in. The three younger royal children were also dressed in casual clothes with Prince Gabriel opting for a coral polo shirt, blue jeans and white trainer and Prince Emmanuel sporting a grey sweatshirt, beige chinos and a pair of Nike trainers. Fresh-faced Princess Eleonore, meanwhile, chose a green, sleeveless jumper paired with white trousers and matching trainers. In Belgium it is compulsory for over-16s to vote in the elections for the European Parliament, the Chamber of Representatives and Community and Regional Parliaments. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will stay neutral in the election and not cast their vote, however other royals can. One of Europe's most accomplished young royals, Princess Elisabeth will be heading off to Harvard University later this year. Prior to earning her degree from Oxford University, Princess Elisabeth attended the famous UWC Atalantic college in Wales, which is a favourite among European royals and has been dubbed the 'hippie Hogwarts'. The young Belgian royal has also completed military training Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Alexia of the Netherlands also attended the prestigious school. Crown Princess Elisabeth (left), who is heir to the throne, was accompanied by her siblings Prince Emmanuel (second from left), 18, Princess Eleonore (second from right), 16, and Prince Gabriel (right), 20 Prince Emmanuel, 18, who sported a grey sweatshirt and beige chinos, shows his vote ID to an election official Princess Eleonore, who celebrated her 16th birthday in April of this year, smiled as she prepared her ballot paper The royal children clutched their voter IDs as they waited patiently outside the polling station in the Laeken district of Brussels Nicknamed 'Hippie Hogwarts', the school curriculum has included unusual activities such as Tai Chi and Tibetan literature. It has a remarkable clifftop location in a 12th-century castle in the Vale of Glamorgan. Elisabeth enrolled on a 67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school. Before her two-year course in Wales, she attended the Dutch-speaking secondary school Sint-Jan Berchmanscollege in Brussels. The Princess also attended the Yale Young Global Scholars Program at Yale University. Later, she completed a one-year course in social and military sciences at the Royal Military Academy, which teaches the four components of Belgian defence: Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical. Alongside her training, in October 2021, the Princess began studying History and Politics at Lincoln College, Oxford. There, she rowed for Lincoln College Boat Club under the name 'Elisabeth de Saxe-Coburg'. According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history 'anonymously' so that her social status would not affect her marks. Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with graduates from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life. Princess Eleonore wore a green, sleeveless sweater and white trousers while her eldest brother, Prince Gabriel, opted for a coral polo shirt and blue jeans Princess Eleonore will be one of the youngest Belgians to vote in the elections since the voting age was lowered to 16 two years ago Princess Elisabeth, who has a degree in History and Politics from Oxford University, looked casual in a beige sweater and navy trousers She smiled as she interacted with election officials inside the polling station Princess Eleonore (left), Prince Emmanuel (centre) and Princess Elisabeth (right) waited their turn to vote Elisabeth - who speaks Dutch, French, German, English, and has also taken classes in Mandarin Chinese - began attending royal engagements from a young age and was just nine when she delivered a speech at the opening of the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital. At Harvard, Elisabeth will be completing a two year Masters degree in Public Policy, the Brussels Times reports, and will be based at the college's Kennedy School campus. The palace told the outlet: 'The Princess was also selected for an "Honorary Award" from the Fullbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange programme.' Princess Elisabeth will be following in her father, King Philippe's footsteps. The Belgian monarch attended Stanford University where he studied political science, graduating in 1985. A mother has opened up about a series of failures by the NHS which led to the loss of her unborn baby. Sarah Hawkins was told to stay home for six days while she laboured in agony, only to deliver her daughter Harriet stillborn. Speaking in new ITV1 documentary Maternity: Broken Trust, she recounted her heartache in 2016 when her and then husband Jack suddenly realised she was giving birth at home and raced to the hospital, only to be told little Harriet was already dead. The former couple are just one of many parents whose babies have allegedly died in the care of the Nottingham University Trust trust, and who have now launched a campaign for justice. Looking back, Sarah said her countless calls for help were ignored. 'It's been nearly eight years since Harriet died and I remember every second of it, it feels like it was yesterday,' she told the new documentary. Sarah Hawkins has has opened up about a series of alleged failures by the NHS which led to the loss of her unborn baby (pictured with ex-husband Jack) Sarah described the events that led up to the death of her baby Harriet, including how staff at Nottingham University Hospital (NUH) told her to stay home for six days while she laboured in 'agony' (Sarah pictured clearing out baby Harriet's nursery after her death in 2016) Speaking in new ITV1 documentary Maternity: Broken Trust, she recounted her heartache in 2016 when a doctor told her Harriet was dead 'I made thirteen contacts with the hospital. They just weren't listening to me when I was asking for help'. Although almost a decade ago Sarah's memory of the incident is as sharp as ever, especially the agonising labour pains she endured. She said they went on for six days and through it all, staff at NUH told her to stay home. On day six, her and Andrew knew their baby was on the way and so decided it was time to check into the hospital. But when they arrived they encountered a tragedy that would mar their lives forever. 'They called for the doctor' recalled Sarah. 'And then the doctor scanned and said, "I'm sorry, your baby's dead". 'I think I just wanted to die. Yeah, you know, I was asking for help'. Sarah narrates the horrible ordeal both through conversations with her ex husband - who she shares second daughter Lottie, four, with - and voiceovers, both for ITV. At this point the mother is visibly on the verge of tears. She later explained how tough it was to let go of her unborn child after already envisioning their lives together. Although almost a decade ago Sarah's memory of the incident is as sharp as ever, especially the agonising labour pains she endured (Sarah in 2016 pregnant with Harriet) Sarah said her countless calls for help to NUH went ignored She said: 'I think Id convinced myself it was a boy I quite liked Arthur. 'I remember when we saw her, I was like, "oh, she definitely looks like a little Harriet". Harriet Ella Rene Hawkins. She was perfect, wasn't she?" The tumultuous event would take a drastic effect on their lives, leading to the loss of their jobs as senior clinicians at the trust, as well as the end of their marriage. Jack told how in the wake of baby Harriet's death, minor disagreements turned into 'divorce material'. 'It just exposed how different we are, which is, I suspect, how everybody might be if their child died' said Jack. 'You think you're similar, but wait till you have to deal with this, and then leaving the cap off the toothpaste tube becomes divorce material, because it's an awful lot to put people through. 'And, you know, I hold individuals responsible for my daughter's death, my mental health, my marriage. In order to start healing, we need justice. The programme takes a look at the Hawkins' campaign for justice which has since been joined by hundreds of families Sarah appeared on the verge of tears while narrating her horrific ordeal 'I want to see people in court for the death of my daughter and so many other babies and mothers'. The programme takes a look at the Hawkins' campaign for accountability which has since been joined by hundreds of families. Their campaigning helped pressure the NHS into setting up an independent review, which has now been extended to include over 1,800 families - with a Nottinghamshire Police investigation also announced. The documentary Maternity: Broken Trust, investigates failures in maternity care at the trust, which is currently the subject of the largest review of its kind ever held in the UK. Between 2012 and 2023, 467 mothers and babies died while under the care of NUH, a figure which doesn't include stillbirths. Among the stories told in the documentary is that of Jack and Sarah Hawkins, who first exposed a failure to provide appropriate maternity care after their daughter Harriet was born dead in 2016. Also in the programme was Natalie Needham (pictured), who revealed her son Kouper died overnight despite her raising concerns with staff that he had never moved, opened his eyes, or eaten During the Hawkins' campaign, they discovered hundreds of other families in the Nottingham area had suffered similarly traumatic experiences while in the maternity care of the trust. Natalie Needham, revealed that her son Kouper died overnight despite her raising concerns with staff that he had never moved, opened his eyes, or eaten. She recalled: 'All I got told by midwives was he was my fifth child, and I should know how to wake a baby and feed him and to go away and do it. He died at quarter past two in the morning while we were asleep'. Natalie and her husband were later arrested on suspicion of killing Kouper, though they were later released without charge. A subsequent inquest found that Kouper died of natural causes, which Natalie disputes. Carly, the mother of Ladybird, was shocked to her core when jumbled test results lead to an unnecessary abortion and the loss of their precious unborn. 'We were told that she probably wouldnt survive the birth. We decided to end the pregnancy because we didnt want our daughter to suffer' said Carly. 'We found out the test results came back completely clear. You cant imagine that feeling. The consultant said you could have miscarried anyway'. The NUH were fined 800,000 after being criminally prosecuted for the death of Wynter Andrews, who died in her mother Sarah's (pictured) arms NUH NHS Trust were fined 800,000 after being criminally prosecuted for the death of Wynter Andrews, who died in her mother Sarah's arms. Sarah recalled: 'After Wynter died, we were in the bereavement suite when the coroner rang us and the coroner said, "I've been looking at your notes from when you came in on Sunday", And I said, "I didn't come in on Sunday, I came in on Saturday". 'At which point the coroner realised that the trust hadn't sent all the correct records over. We later, at inquest, discovered that they'd actually ticked the box to say that Wynter's death was an expected death. 'Wynter was a perfectly healthy baby, there was no reason for her to die. The coroner ruled that she died due to the neglect of the trust'. Maternity: Broken Trust also features access to the leader of the review, senior midwife Donna Ockenden. Donna expects her review to take at least 18 months. In a statement to the programme, Anthony May, chief executive of Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust (NUH) apologised to the women and families for their 'pain and suffering'. He said: 'I know we have failed too many women and their families, and I acknowledge the pain and suffering they continue to experience as a result. For that, I am truly sorry. 'We have further to go, but the most recent Care Quality Commission (CQC) report published in September 2023, reflects the progress we are making, with an improved rating for our maternity services. 'The report underlines the improvements we are making to how we listen to women and families, and highlights key improvements in areas such as triage, staffing levels and training, which are due to the hard work and determination of our colleagues'. Maternity: Broken Trust, airs on ITV1 and ITVX at 10.15pm tonight (Sunday June, 9). A group of senior doctors is planning to sue the General Medical Council in an unprecedented attack on the NHS's growing reliance on physician associates (PAs). They claim that PAs medics who have only two years' healthcare training and are supposed to work alongside doctors and GPs are increasingly being used to plug staffing gaps in the Health Service. The group, Anaesthetists United, has raised more than 50,000 to take the GMC to court, claiming that its plan to start regulating the so-called 'cut-price medics' fails to set out clear rules over what PAs can and cannot do. PAs are supposed to have limited responsibilities, including taking patients' medical histories, performing basic physical examinations and analysing test results, all of which should be carried out under the supervision of a doctor. Some PAs are also allowed to assist in the sedation of patients prior to surgery, and are known as anaesthesia associates (AAs). Actress Emily Chesterton, 30, died after a PA mistook the symptoms of a blood clot for anxiety However, doctors claim that staffing crises mean that hospitals are 'bending the rules' to allow PAs to work unsupervised and in roles beyond their expertise. In the past year there have been reports of PAs requesting prescriptions, discharging patients from hospital without a sign-off from a doctor and even taking part in brain surgery. There have also been cases where mistakes by PAs have led to the deaths of patients. Doctors involved in the legal action say they want the GMC the independent regulator of doctors in the UK to clearly define the limits of associates' roles to stop them performing complex medical tasks which could put patients in danger. Consultant anaesthetist Dr Richard Marks, who is leading the group, told The Mail on Sunday: 'No one actually knows what a physician associate is. 'Their scope of practice has not been clearly defined, and I think that's deliberate. 'It's effectively a green light for health bosses in local trusts to push them into whichever roles they want. 'But how can you regulate a profession when there are no clear boundaries which define the limits of their role?' The NHS plans to recruit some 10,000 PAs by 2038 to relieve the strain on the NHS and free up time for doctors and nurses. However, this has been staunchly opposed by doctors who say it confuses the role of doctors with associates. The British Medical Association, which represents doctors, described it as a 'slap in the face' and said the move would not boost patient safety. The Mail on Sunday first raised the alarm about PAs last year and has since been running a campaign to Rein In The Physician Associates. We told how Colleen Howe, 34, died from breast cancer following delays in her treatment when a lump was misdiagnosed by a PA as a blocked milk duct. And actress Emily Chesterton, 30, died after a PA mistook the symptoms of a blood clot for anxiety, while Norman Jopling, 79, was left fighting for his life after a serious brain bleed was mistaken for a painful headache. Experts say these tragic failures are often due to the fact that PAs are being asked by hospital managers to perform tasks they are not qualified to do. A group of senior doctors is planning to sue the General Medical Council in an unprecedented attack on the NHS 's growing reliance on physician associates (PAs) In September 2023 it was reported that a PA had told The Physician Associate Podcast that he had taken part in brain surgery. And earlier this year, a Freedom of Information request revealed that PAs at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust had ordered more than 1,000 scans, including X-rays and CT scans a task which only doctors are allowed to do. The hospital claimed that this was due to a 'system error' and that no patients were harmed as a result. Dr Marks pointed out that many associates were 'brilliant, and really talented' but added: 'It does raise questions about patient safety if associates' roles can't be defined. 'We need this to protect patients, but also to protect associates from being forced into doing things beyond their expertise, which we know is happening. 'I can't just say to my anaesthetist registrar, who might not have paediatrics experience, to look after a three-year-old, but with PAs they can just switch specialties and there's no mechanism to restrict that. 'Things will get missed.' Anaesthetists United wrote to the GMC about its concerns in March but was 'unsatisfied' with the regulator's response and said 'the only route left' was a legal one. Having raised more than 50,000 to fund the legal challenge, it has now set a new target of 100,000 to help fight the case in court. The group also wants the GMC to ensure PAs are not referred to as 'medical professionals' so patients cannot confuse them with doctors, and that patients are always told when they are treated by a PA. 'I don't understand why the GMC wouldn't want to make regulation more robust,' Dr Marks said. 'They set standards for doctors why would they allow themselves to cheapen their brand?' A GMC spokesman said: 'We note the campaign by Anaesthetists United. We continue to listen to views from doctors, PAs and AAs and others.' A daily pill to tackle the deadliest lung tumours, 'smart bomb' drugs that stop blood cancer in its tracks and a jab so potent it could significantly slash the global death toll from skin cancer. These were just some of the breakthroughs reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in Chicago last week. Thousands of the world's top cancer clinicians gathered to hear how science is gaining ground in the battle against a disease which still kills about 167,000 people each year in the UK. And it's no exaggeration to say that some of the advances unveiled are potentially among the most significant we have ever seen. As one of the reporters covering the event, I heard gasps from audience members as researchers unveiled findings that promise to slash deaths from forms of the disease that were, until fairly recently, considered a death sentence. Among the new therapies is a 'smart-bomb' drug which seeks and destroys cancer cells can extend the lives of patients with incurable blood cancer It's fair to say some results were beyond everyone's expectations, including those doing the studies. Better still, many of the findings apply to drugs and treatments that could be making a difference to cancer patients' lives in a matter of months, not years. Others may be further down the line but still offer hope that cancer at least most forms of it will one day be no more than a disease that affects people's lives but will no longer shorten them. In pole position is a whole new generation of vaccines, custom-made to stop cancers returning. And one of the highlights from Chicago was the news that thousands of NHS patients will get personalised cancer jabs over the next year as part of a major push by the NHS to enrol Britons in dozens of vaccine trials. 'These vaccines are the most promising I've seen,' said Dr Julie Gralow, one of the most senior cancer experts in the US and ASCO's chief medical officer. She added that it may be several years before doctors are able to routinely use them on the front line, but 'there is a bunch of practical stuff which could change patient care tomorrow'. So what are the key take-home developments away from the headlines that, as The Mail on Sunday's Health Editor, I think you need to know about? Read on to find out... Skin cancer drugs work better before surgery Giving patients with aggressive melanoma skin cancer immune-boosting drugs before they undergo surgery significantly reduces the risk of the disease returning. The effect was so pronounced that most patients who received immunotherapy before surgery needed only two doses, compared with those who got the drugs afterwards who needed 12. 'These results are unprecedented,' says Dr Lynn Schuchter, a melanoma expert at the University of Pennsylvania and ASCO president. 'Patients currently receive a whole year of treatment after melanoma surgery. But we now know that, for many, just two rounds of immunotherapy before the procedure are enough. 'When I go back to my patients, I'll have a new approach on how to treat them.' Melanoma affects more than 15,000 Britons every year, and often spreads to other parts of the body. It is the most deadly type of skin cancer, killing about 2,500 Britons every year. It often looks like an oddly shaped mole, usually black or brown in colour. Currently, NHS doctors will surgically remove the melanoma as well as nearby lymph nodes bean-shaped structures throughout the body that filter out harmful substances such as viruses. The lymph nodes are often the first place that melanoma spreads. Following surgery, patients usually get immunotherapy treatment drugs which train the body to spot and destroy cancer cells. But if melanoma has spread into the lymph nodes, there is a good chance the disease will return, with 50 per cent of this patient group living no longer than five years after diagnosis. In this new study, by the Netherlands Cancer Institute in Amsterdam, more than 200 patients were either given two immunotherapy drug infusions nivolumab and ipilimumab twice over a six-week period before surgery, or 12 times over a year after surgery. When their lymph nodes were removed, the tissue was tested for the presence of cancer cells. If there were signs of the disease, then participants received immunotherapy for another year. However, six out of ten were cancer-free, meaning they did not need further treatment after surgery. Patients who received immunotherapy before surgery were 45 per cent less likely to see their cancer return within a year than those who got the drugs afterwards. Experts believe this stark difference is because there are more cancer cells in the body before surgery, which gives the immune system more opportunities to learn to recognise the disease. Once-a-day tablet for lung cancer In my opinion, this is arguably one of the most significant cancer breakthroughs in recent times a daily pill to treat a particularly nasty type of lung cancer. And I'm not alone. When the findings were presented at ASCO, they got a standing ovation from other scientists. About eight in ten lung cancer patients in the UK have a form of the disease called non-small cell lung cancer. Of those, roughly 15 per cent carry what is known as a genetic EGFR mutation, which raises the risk the body will create abnormal, cancerous cells, meaning the disease is likely to return regardless of how it is treated. The new study, at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, gave 100 EGFR mutation patients with extensive lung tumours a daily tablet called osimertinib once they had completed chemo. Osimertinib is designed to interrupt the EGFR gene's protein production, stopping it from creating any more cancer cells. The new study, at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia, gave 100 EGFR mutation patients with extensive lung tumours a daily tablet called osimertinib once they had completed chemo When the trial data was presented, there were audible gasps. Patients carrying the EGFR mutation who were given osimertinib were 84 per cent less likely to die or see their cancer grow, compared with those who received a placebo. On average, patients taking osimertinib did not die or see their cancer progress for three-and-a-half years. Those not on the treatment typically died or saw their disease spread in less than six months. Some trial participants are living healthy lives more than seven years later (see panel below). Osimertinib is already available on the NHS for patients with EGFR who have had successful surgery to remove lung cancer, as well as those with advanced cancer that has spread throughout the body. But experts say there is an unmet need for patients who have cancer that has spread throughout the lungs, making it impossible to surgically remove, but has not moved into other organs yet. These so-called locally advanced patients make up a quarter of all new lung cancer cases in the UK. 'This will be practice-changing for locally advanced patients,' says Dr David Spigel, a lung cancer expert at the Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee. Tumour-zapping immunity booster There was more good news on lung cancers a new drug regime to tackle one of the most aggressive types, small cell lung cancer, which affects around 7,000 people in the UK annually and is usually caused by smoking. For patients in the early stages of the disease, when the cancer has not yet begun to spread, treatment has remained largely unchanged since the 1980s, with most receiving regular doses of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Despite this, less than a third of patients will survive longer than five years after diagnosis, as the cancer spreads outside of the lungs. But the new study found that offering an immune-boosting drug called durvalumab extends their lives by slowing this spread. Durvalumab is a PD-L1 inhibitor, which helps the body spot cancer cells hiding from the immune system, allowing it to target and destroy them. It is given as a monthly infusion after the patient has had 12 weeks of chemotherapy and six weeks of radiotherapy. Three years after beginning durvalumab, patients were 25 per cent less likely to die compared with those on a placebo, buying them roughly two extra years. Experts said that the 730-patient trial by the Sarah Cannon Research Institute may change how early-stage small cell lung cancer is treated. 'These are very encouraging times for lung cancer patients,' says Dr Suresh Ramalingam, Oncologist and executive director at Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Georgia, and lead investigator of the osimertinib trial. 'We're getting better at curing the disease.' A smart-bomb to halve blood cancer deaths A new 'smart-bomb' drug which seeks and destroys cancer cells can extend the lives of patients with incurable blood cancer. Nearly 6,000 Britons are diagnosed with multiple myeloma each year, and 1,500 die. It affects plasma cells a type of white blood cell found in the bone marrow. While it can be slowed, most cases cannot be cured. And only a third of patients will survive for ten years or more after diagnosis. 'Triplet' or 'quadruplet' treatments giving patients multiple drugs at once are particularly effective at slowing multiple myeloma. In a game-changing trial, by the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto, a new drug, belantamab mafodotin, was combined with two existing drugs, pomalidomide and dexamethasone. The new drug is an antibody drug conjugate that binds to cancer cells and directly delivers a potent dose of chemotherapy. The combination was given to multiple myeloma patients who had failed to respond to one previous treatment. The belantamab mafodotin was given monthly as an infusion, while the other two were taken as daily tablets. Nearly two years after beginning it, participants were half as likely to die or see their cancer spread, compared with those taking pomalidomide, dexamethasone, and a cancer drug called bortezomib. Experts say the trial means belantamab mafodotin will be offered to multiple myeloma patients who have not responded to less intensive treatment. 'This is poised to be the new treatment option for these patients,' says Dr Oreofe Odejide, oncologist at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, US. When ovarian cancer may not need surgery Not all studies concluded that patients needed more treatment. In fact, one key piece of research found that, for ovarian cancer, it's better to have less. In a decade-long trial, researchers found that a common surgical procedure a lymphadenectomy may do more harm than good. It involves removing the lymph nodes near the ovaries in case the cancer has spread there, and is often carried out by the NHS on patients whose cancer has spread around the body. However, lymph node removal surgery complications are common, often causing infections or severe blood loss. Some 7,500 women in the UK are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year. As few symptoms arise during the early stages, it's usually detected only once the disease has spread around the body. About 4,000 Britons die from ovarian cancer every year. In the new study, the Nantes University in France enrolled 380 patients with advanced ovarian cancer who did not have signs of the disease in their lymph nodes. Half had a lymphadenectomy. Nine years later, there was no difference in the number of patients still alive among both groups, fewer than half the participants had survived the disease, with the majority seeing it return within two years. However, those who did not have a lymphadenectomy were nearly one-third as likely to require additional surgery due to complications such as bleeding. 'We don't want to give patients unnecessary surgery,' says ASCO chief medical officer Dr Julie Gralow. 'We really need to focus on new drug therapies for ovarian cancer as it's not the lymph nodes which are killing people, it's the disease spreading elsewhere.' The mystery food behind an outbreak of E.coli is more likely to be a 'ready to eat' item rather than something which is cooked, a top scientist has suggested. Hugh Pennington, emeritus professor of bacteriology at the University of Aberdeen, said historically, there have been a large range of foods associated with the rare Shiga toxigenic (STEC) bug. But he believes it is 'very likely' to be a 'ready-to-eat product possibly with a dairy origin'. Health officials are racing to identify the source of the STEC infection which has struck down 113 people, mostly young adults, between May 25 and June 4, with more cases expected. At least 37 people have required hospital treatment. The mystery food behind an outbreak of E.coli is more likely to be a 'ready to eat' item rather than something which is cooked, a top scientist has suggested (stock image) Of the 113 cases - which range in age from two to 79 - 81 were in England, 18 in Wales and 13 in Scotland. There has been one case recorded in Northern Ireland, but officials think the person was infected in England. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it believes the wave of cases stem from a 'nationally distributed food item' or 'multiple food items'. Professor Pennington told the Mail on Sunday: 'We've had STEC outbreaks with food that is going to be cooked, the traditional kinds were meat products, mince and burgers and so on, and cooking kills the bug stone dead. 'You'd have to expect if it was a food that's going to be made safe by cooking, all the people who've fallen ill haven't been cooking their food properly.' He said this was 'very unlikely' and as a result undercooked meats would 'certainly not be top of my list' of suspects, adding: 'It would be much more likely to be foods that are not going to be cooked before they are consumed. 'We've had outbreaks associated with the dairy products, for example. 'Cheese is a classic, ice cream, we've had ice cream before. There's a whole range, any dairy products, that are being processed.' Asked what he thought the mystery food could be, he said: 'I would be casting my net very widely because the trouble is, any food that is processed, could in theory be contaminated. 'Now some products are higher on the list, like cheeses for example. One of the questions that I'm sure all the people were being asked is 'have you eaten cheese made from unpasteurised milk?' 'That would be one thing I would be looking at fairly high up on the list because we've had outbreaks of STEC associated with cheese from unpasteurised milk.' Professor Pennington told the Mail on Sunday that cheese made with unpasteurised milk is high on his list of contaminated foods that may have caused the outbreak (stock image) Professor Pennington also stressed there are other non-dairy products which also 'could be in the frame'. He said identifying the mystery food can be 'bloody difficult' as officials will be heavily reliant on infected peoples' memories of what they have eaten, which could have faded and therefore be inaccurate. Officials, he said, would be doing 'old fashioned detective work' to identify the source, but that even if they do, there could be little evidence left if it is not evenly spread between batches or those contaminated parts have already been eaten. To limit the risk of infection, people are being urged to regularly wash their hands, fruit and vegetables and cook food properly. People with symptoms of the bug, including severe and sometimes bloody diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting and fever, are advised to stay off work and school for at least 48 hours after symptoms stopped to avoid passing it on. Those with diarrhoea and vomiting are urged not to prepare food for others. Walking in high temperatures the Greek isle of Symi has seen temperatures of between 35C and 40C in recent days can be dangerous for even a healthy person not taking adequate precautions. Heat can put a great deal of strain on the body as it struggles to maintain its normal temperature of 37C (97.6F). It can cause heat cramps, exhaustion and feelings of confusion and nausea. At its most extreme we can suffer heatstroke, which can bring on organ failure and prove fatal. Agia Marina in Symi, Greece, close to where Dr Mosley's body was discovered during a search and rescue operation Heat can put a great deal of strain on the body as it struggles to maintain its normal temperature of 37C (97.6F) It can cause heat cramps, exhaustion and feelings of confusion and nausea. (Stock Image) At its most extreme we can suffer heatstroke, which can bring on organ failure and prove fatal. (Stock Image) The body's main weapon to stop overheating is sweating. As sweat evaporates, it cools the body. But humid conditions reduce the effectiveness of sweating as the moister the air, the less moisture can evaporate from the skin. As the body overheats and heatstroke sets in the ability to sweat shuts down, and the body's temperature can spiral higher. Excessive sweating also puts a strain on the heart. It has to pump harder to send blood, which carries heat from within the body to the surface. The danger mounts as the body's internal temperature heats up past its normal level. Between 39C and 40C, fatigue sets in as our brain tells our muscles to slow down. Exhaustion occurs between 40C and 41C, as our organs begin to lose the ability to function. The next stage when the body's temperature rises above 41C is heatstroke. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. Ms I.A. writes: My two siblings and I inherited 320,000 from my father when he died in 2017. He employed Abacus Wills & Trusts Limited to prepare his will and set up a family trust, and he asked the company's owner, Ms Tehsin Aslam, to be the executor. Eventually, she distributed 120,000 to us, with more due last December. But we heard nothing and believe we are still owed 200,000. Tony Hetherington replies: Since you contacted me in January, there have been more twists and turns to this tale than you could expect from a barrel full of rattlesnakes. And more stings in the tail than you would get from a nest of wasps. I have never seen such a complete, confusing, contradictory mess made of a deceased's estate. Estate of chaos: Tehsin Aslam, above left, put her will writing firm into liquidation Sheffield-based Abacus Wills & Trusts Limited no longer exists. Its director, Ms Tehsin Aslam, put it into liquidation in 2018 when it faced debts of about 68,000. I found an unsatisfied County Court Judgment against the company for 2,250. In 2019, Aslam set up the similarly named Abacus Wills & Trusts Global Limited, now based in High Wycombe. It also has an unsatisfied court judgment against it, for 1,682. Aslam was named as your father's executor in the will she drafted in 2015, and her new firm took over obtaining a Grant of Probate and then distributing bequests. Applying for a Grant of Probate involves making a tax declaration. Aslam valued your father's estate below 325,000, so less than the starting point for inheritance tax. But she left out completely the value of a house your father owned in Wembley, North-West London, now said to be worth around 600,000. Aslam told me: 'Mr A was divorced from his former wife. As part of the financial settlement, Mr A was ordered to give his wife the property.' True, except that the court order made this conditional on a payment to your father of 70,000, which your mother refused to pay. The transfer was never filed with the Land Registry. And if Aslam believed the 2008 divorce meant your mother owned the Wembley house, then why did she include it in your father's will in 2015? Or, if your mother still owes the 70,000, then why did Aslam fail to declare this in the probate application? I asked, but she failed repeatedly to produce her tax calculations. Your father's will leaves the bulk of his estate to a family trust, with Aslam as the trustee. But your father guided by Aslam set up two different trusts. Why, I wondered, and had your father signed both? Aslam told me two separate deeds were sent to your father. She added: 'He decided to keep all trust documents in his possession. He did not send them to my office for storage as we would have checked to see if the documents had been executed correctly.' Garbage. You and your family held a certificate confirming the firm was storing both deeds. The certificate was signed by Aslam herself. Then there is an Expression of Wishes, signed by your father, listing his investments and saying which beneficiaries should receive them. Such letters are not legally binding, but executors often honour them. However, your father's wishes contradicted his will. Aslam claimed ignorance. She told me she met your family after your father died, and she said: 'They did not mention the existence of an Expression of Wishes document.' And she protested: 'The Expression of Wishes is prepared by the client personally, we are not privy to that.' Garbage again. When I told her I had a copy of the document, laid out in the same way as other Abacus documents and printed in the same typeface, Aslam finally admitted it had been prepared by her company. Then there is the massive delay in paying bequests. Aslam blamed delays on Covid. This really is like saying the dog ate her homework. Your father died in 2017 and we are now in 2024. Just one final example of this mess is that Aslam admitted that your father's estate still holds premium bonds. This is ridiculous! Bonds can only win prizes for one year after the holder's death. So any prizes since 2018 should be disallowed, and the money tied up in bonds should have been earning interest. At the heart of all this is the fact that anyone can set up a will-writing company, draft wills, name themselves as executor and then create a mess for the family of the deceased. No legal qualifications are needed. Aslam is not going to step aside. Please, please, hire a proper solicitor to get a court order to kick her out, appoint a replacement and then consider suing her and her company for wasting seven years. Amazon in a muddle on missing MacBook D.W. writes: I ordered an Apple MacBook Air from Amazon, costing 1,444. When it arrived, the package contained not a computer but stationery. I returned this, and Amazon said a refund should take two weeks. No refund arrived, so I called Amazon and answered questions about the returned package. Weeks later Amazon asked the same questions again. I replied, but Amazon's response has been to send me identical questions. Disappearing act: An Apple MacBook Air from Amazon turned out to be nothing stationery Tony Hetherington replies: I contacted Amazon, which promptly said it would refund you. But bizarrely, it threatened to snatch back the refund unless you returned the stationery, which you had already done. And next, Amazon decided your computer had been stolen and with impeccable American terminology it asked you to contact the 'Police Department' for your 'zip code'. I told Amazon that the police would ignore a theft report from you as you never had the computer. Amazon was the real victim and should report the theft. This worked. Amazon told me: 'We are sorry that customer experience in this case did not meet the high standards we expect.' Amazon has now repaid the full 1,444 to your bank account. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Elon Musk is the worlds richest man and the most talked about business leader on the planet. But has he lost the plot? Between 2014 and 2023, investors profited from a stunning 1,000 per cent rise in shares in his electric car company Tesla. But since the start of the year, they have fallen by 40 per cent amid concerns over his increasingly eccentric behaviour and questions over whether the maverick is focused enough on the company. Many private investors in the UK hold Tesla shares either directly, or through a fund such as the Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust. So should they hang on to them, sell up, or even buy more? There are a number of reasons to be fearful: On Thursday, investors will decide whether to vote in favour of a $56 billion (44 billion) rewards package for Elon Musk Outsize pay packet A key test of the tycoons credibility will be the annual meeting this Thursday, where investors will decide whether to vote in favour of his $56 billion (44 billion) rewards package. This is based on Teslas market value and how well its operations performed from 2018 to 2023. The sheer size of it has led to criticism that he has been overcome by greed and grandiosity. Objectors include the California Public Employees Retirement System, one of the worlds largest pension fund managers. If shareholders wave it through, Musk will add to his $200 billion fortune and leave his nearest rivals in the wealth stakes LVMHs Bernard Arnault, Amazons Jeff Bezos and Metas Mark Zuckerberg far behind Rivals catching up It has taken the traditional giants of the automotive industry time to wake up to the electric vehicle revolution, but they may soon overtake Tesla. Musk has for years promised to deliver completely driverless Teslas, saying his electric car company would be worth basically zero if it didnt prioritise self-driving technology. But his company, say critics, is falling behind on that front. Rivals such as Ford have already introduced hands-free driving systems. Spread too thin The tycoon, say his critics, is distracted from Tesla by his eclectic portfolio of other business interests. These include his 2022 purchase of social media site Twitter, now known as X. This led to a long-running wrangle with US watchdog the Securities and Exchange Commission, which is investigating whether he broke federal securities laws. The billionaire has said the SEC is trying to harass him with a number of subpoenas, damaging the reputation of Tesla and hitting the companys share price. The wider issue is the range and variety of his activities, which may mean he is not spending enough time on Tesla. Theres SpaceX, where he built the worlds most powerful rocket, infrastructure startup The Boring Company, as well as Neuralink, a developer of interfaces to connect humans and computers. One analyst said: Musk is stretching himself too thin between his pursuits of an automotive revolution, a Mars colony, cyborgs and the worlds definitive social network. Political backlash The Tesla founder is an ally of Donald Trump and a poster boy for the US right. He and Trump speak several times a month since privately meeting in March at the home of billionaire investor Nelson Peltz. The two have discussed an advisory role for Musk if Trump wins back the White House in November potentially giving the Tesla boss influence over economic and border policies. Asked last year if he was becoming more political, Musk said: I guess if you consider fighting the woke mind virus, which I consider to be a civilisational threat, to be political, then yes. Threat from China This is the biggest threat of all. The dominant electric car makers in the world now are Chinese. BYD, a carmaker Musk once ridiculed, overtook Tesla at the end of last year as the top seller of electric vehicles on the planet. The situation is set to get worse for Tesla as Chinese manufacturers continue to flood Western markets making up 25 per cent of nearly all cars sold. Musk is well aware of the danger, stating earlier this year that Chinese electric vehicle companies will crush competitors in the absence of trade restrictions. On the other hand... Musk does still have high profile backers, notably US fund manager Cathie Wood at Ark, though she herself has struggled of late. She forecasts Tesla shares could reach $2,000 in five years. They are trading at $175 and this is based on the arrival of a more affordable Tesla model, probably in 2026. But most powerful of all is Musks loyal band of small investors, who hold 30 per cent of the stock. Many are active on social media platforms Reddit and X. Musk has been energising these followers to get his pay package over the line, taking out adverts, and offering private tours of Teslas factory in Texas. Musks appeal to his followers stems from his charismatic, often antagonistic behaviour, and regular brushes with authority. He has appeared with Joe Rogan a famous US broadcaster smoking cannabis. He openly talked about the benefits he believes he has experienced from taking ketamine and frequently had run-ins with the Wall Street regulators. But there are reasons a more sceptical investor might consider Tesla shares a hold, or a buy, too. They offer exposure to two major trends: the move to green energy and artificial intelligence. Tesla has led the way and its name is almost synonymous with electric cars. The shares have been volatile as has Musk himself but he has often proved his critics wrong. It has taken the traditional giants of the automotive industry time to wake up to the electric vehicle revolution, but they may soon overtake Tesla Still unsure? Here's what the experts say In total, 45 analysts across the globe cover Tesla. Of those, 16 have a buy rating on the stock, 20 have a hold recommendation and just nine are advising their clients to sell. SELL: JP Morgan American Investment Trust Manager Felise Agranoff says: We sold it earlier this year. Demand for electric cars in the US has been disappointing. Yes, Tesla has a strong market position, but the market is becoming more competitive and more political. HOLD: Deutsche Bank Cracking the code on full driverless autonomy is a significant technological, regulatory and operational challenge, says analyst Emmanuel Rosner. Electric vehicle investors may start throwing in the towel and be replaced by AI tech investors. BUY: Wedbush Dan Ives, analyst at US wealth manager Wedbush, says Musk and Tesla are under attack from all directions. But he adds: We have been here before a number of times over the last decade as the doubters have said the Tesla story is done and electric vehicles are a fad, not a long term transformational trend that will change the auto industry. How do I buy Tesla shares? Tesla shares can be bought via platforms such as Hargreaves Lansdown and AJ Bell. But for those who want to deal with a professional fund manager, Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust and the Vanguard US index fund both offer exposure. Concern: Top investors have warned that courting Shein reeks of desperation The British Fashion Council (BFC) has warned Shein's planned 50 billion float on the London Stock Exchange is a 'significant concern' to the industry. In a snub that could dent the Chinese online fashion giant's efforts to woo the City, the influential trade body said 'questions remain' about the group's controversial business practices. Shein has been criticised for using suppliers who exploit low-paid garment workers in China in order to sell its clothes at knockdown prices. The BFC's intervention comes at a critical time for Shein as it reportedly finalises plans to list London in what would be this year's biggest flotation. A backlash from the BFC's US equivalent, the National Retail Federation, was one of the reasons that Shein had to ditch its original plans to float in New York. Shein is not part of the BFC, whose members include Mulberry, Burberry and Jimmy Choo, while patrons include River Island and Jigsaw. The BFC did not comment on whether Shein would be allowed to join in future. Caroline Rush, chief executive of the trade body, said: 'At a time when global fashion leaders are rightly focused on making our sector more socially, environmentally, and economically sustainable, the Government's courting of Shein to list on the London Stock Exchange, and Shein's decision to do so, is of significant concern to UK fashion designers and retailers. 'Whilst we appreciate that Shein has committed to meeting acceptable industry standards, questions remain about the ethicality and sustainability of a business model and supply chain that consistently undercuts British designers and retailers, and these still need to be answered.' The BFC wants the Government to do more to support an ethical fashion economy and pledge to strengthen clothing market regulation. Ministers must act to 'ensure a level playing field for all businesses in the sector,' Rush said. High Street retailers are also unhappy because Shein is able to dodge hefty custom taxes as it ships directly to online shoppers from China. Due to its size, the Chinese group would automatically join the ranks of the FTSE 100 alongside other British fashion staples such as M&S and Frasers Group. Many in the City have been hoping it will revive the beleaguered stock market, which has grappled with an exodus of companies and a dearth of blockbuster listings. But top investors have warned the LSE that courting Shein reeks of desperation. Shein has hired top PR firms and joined the British Retail Consortium in a bid to win over the business community. Chairman Donald Tang has also met with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and discussed a listing with the Labour Party in recent weeks. A Shein spokesman said: 'Shein is investing millions of pounds in strengthening governance and compliance across our supply chain.' The spokesman said that regular audits of suppliers are showing a 'consistent improvement in performance and compliance' and that includes making sure workers are paid 'fairly'. Shein is based in Singapore but its main manufacturing operations are in China. As a result, it needs approval from Beijing regulators to list its shares in London. They blocked Shein's plans to float in New York amid worsening US-China relations. On a recent, blustery evening at the Oval I found myself among a group of South African finance executives who had moved HQ from Johannesburg to London. As early results came in from Africa's most sophisticated nation showing the post-Mandela era of African National Congress rule was endangered, there was huge anxiety about what that would mean for the country's fragile economy. If the ANC were to align itself with the progressive parties of the Left then free markets, including dealing on the vibrant Johannesburg Stock Exchange, could be threatened. A better choice was seen as a coalition or working deal with the centrist Democratic Alliance, the successor to the anti-apartheid Progressive Party. Mexican wave: Claudia Sheinbaum will hope to build exports to US Elections in three of the world's largest emerging markets India, South Africa and Mexico have each, in their own way, produced unexpected results. They have shown democracy to be alive and well on three continents. They also offer the prospect of revived investment opportunities in a world torn apart by conflict, geopolitics, fragmented trade and diminishing buying opportunities. India has long offered the most intriguing possibilities. China's fall from grace in Western chanceries has revived interest in South Asia. A UK frustration has been failure to secure a British-India free trade deal. The Hindu nationalist BJP, led by Narendra Modi, dramatically failed to secure the 273 majority which would allow it to rule alone. The loss of control by the BJP led to a 1.2 billion sell-off as the results became known. Indeed in the last month some 3.4 billion of value has been wiped out. But some analysts see a silver lining. In a government more inclusive of opposition voices there may be less focus on nationalism and more chance of spreading the benefit of a dynamic 7 per cent growth rate. Nonetheless, the Indian market premium, achieved as a result of government stability, is dissipating. Global fund managers are likely to hold off and bosses of the world's leading financial groups, who have flocked to Mumbai in recent times, may take a breather. But many remain underweight in Indian investments. And it is possible that in an effort to shore up confidence restrictions could be eased on foreign funds. In contrast to South Africa and India, the result in Mexico has, if anything, strengthened the hold of the ruling party. The landslide victory of Nobel-prize winning scientist Claudia Sheinbaum, the country's first female president, produced optimistic headlines and images in the Western Press. She promises a government 'honest, without influence and corruption'. Markets were less happy and the peso plunged with the key stock market index falling 5 per cent. With a population of 130 million and membership of the US-Mexico-Canada trade group, the country is the second-largest economy in Latin America after Brazil and the 15th largest in the world. Sheinbaum wants to continue the pro-worker, populist policies of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. But as the Right-wing US Heritage Foundation noted, it will take more than fine words to end a 'dangerous course that has empowered drug cartels and brought skyrocketing overdoses and uncontrolled migration to the US'. Mexico should be well placed to benefit from its proximity to the US and the efforts by American multinationals to disentangle production from China. Last year Mexico overtook China as the biggest exporter to the US, selling $593 billion (474 billion). But inward investors are wary, knowing the strength of cartels and widespread extortion and protection rackets. Overcoming such ingrained obstacles will be tricky. Amid the furore of Britain's own Election campaign and this weekend's elections to the European Parliament, with fears of a right wing sweep, attention on the South African, Indian and Mexican outcomes has been scant, and market reaction broadly negative. In the long run, the triumph of moderation in India and South Africa should be a force for economic stability and expansion, and a net plus for inward investment. Mexico's struggle with violence makes its future an enigma. But the significance of three of the new world powers to global output and investment should not be ignored. Carlos Pena had served the people of North Hollywood for thirty years, designing signs, banners, and clothes for grateful customers across the neighborhood. But on August 3, 2022, his humble print shop was decimated by a bombardment of grenades that tore through his walls, windows and ceilings. The father-of-two had been caught in the middle of a police pursuit of a dangerous fugitive, who had barricaded himself in Pena's store. Now, the unfortunate businessman has been left to shoulder the costs of $60,000 in repairs after insurers and the city refused to pay out. And he is not alone. Carlos Pena watched on in horror as his print shop in North Hollywood was destroyed by a bombardment of grenades thrown by a SWAT team in pursuit of a dangerous fugitive Amy Hadley had her home in South Bend, Indiana, razed to the ground by police in a desperate search for a murder suspect who was never even there As unlucky as he is, American property owners are being caught in the crossfire of destructive SWAT raids every couple of weeks, according to Pena's attorney, Jeffrey Redfern. Just months before Pena's store was raided, Amy Hadley had her home in South Bend, Indiana, razed to the ground by police in a desperate search for a murder suspect who was never even there. In August last year, Austin Police caused $23,000 of damage to the home of Glen and Mindy Shield, an innocent couple, after they busted the wrong property. And Mollie Slaybaugh was left with $70,000 of repairs after a SWAT team assaulted her home with dozens of tear gas canisters during a manhunt. Some of these properties should never have been raided. In other cases, there has been a clear public interest in apprehending a dangerous criminal. But in none is it right that the innocent bystanders should be left to pick up the tab. Yet insurers say this is what is happening across America, because acts of government are not covered by their policies, while city authorities can claim immunity from damages. All of that could change, however, if Vicki Baker wins a landmark case set to go to the Supreme Court in the Fall. Baker's $300,000 property was destroyed in July 2020 after a SWAT team stormed her house, launching tear-gas grenades through windows, knocking down doors and leveling a fence with an armored vehicle in pursuit of fugitive Wesley Little. The 79-year-old had not been living at the house in McKinney, Texas, but had spent a year fixing it up for a sale. She had even found a buyer, who unsurprisingly pulled out after the raid left the house in a mess. Little killed himself in the master bedroom. Vicki Baker's $300,000 property was destroyed after a SWAT team launched tear-gas grenades at her house and leveled a fence with an armored vehicle in pursuit of a criminal Baker, who lives in Lakeside, Montana, remembers one of her first conversations with a city official, who told her she 'wouldn't see a dime' if she tried to claim compensation. Those words were still ringing in her ears on June 22, 2022, when a federal jury ruled that she was entitled to $60,000 in damages. It came after U.S. District Court Judge Amos Mazzant III rejected the city's argument that police action should be exempt from the requirement that the government pay for property it destroys. Redfern, an attorney for the Institute for Justice (IJ), described the decision as a 'sea change in the law'. 'Everyone agrees with the general proposition that the government has to pay for the property it takes,' he said. 'But courts across the country had held that this rule just did not apply to the police. But the police are part of the government, which this victory makes abundantly clear.' Baker was able to win her case because Texas is one of only two states in the country, alongside Minnesota, that hold that this kind of damage is compensable. Redfern said the fact that these states have had these rulings on their books for decades without them adding any discernible strain on municipal budgets shows that city's can afford to pay out. Having won Baker's case at state level, it is now being fought out in federal courts, where a victory for the IJ could pave the way for similar relief for other unfortunate homeowners. Grim pictures of Baker's home following the raid in July 2020 shows bloodstained hallways For now, however, hard-working citizens like Pena, most soldier on with their lives still in tatters. Unable to afford the costly repairs, he has been forced to work out of his garage, causing a loss of revenue of more than $120,000. He is in the process of selling his home. Earlier this year, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California ruled he was not entitled to compensation, a decision the IJ is appealing. Pena recognizes that the police were doing their job, but can't understand why he should have to suffer for it. 'I'm not the guilty one,' he adds. 'I shouldn't have to pay for it. It's ridiculous. They [the insurers and the city] just wash their hands of it. 'They practically destroyed me. Thirty years in the business and it just went down the drain.' For over 100 years, Native American children were subjected to ruthless sexual abuse at the hands of priests and teachers after being forced to live in culture-destroying boarding schools, an investigation has revealed. Through a systematic effort to eviscerate Native American society, the federal government sent tens of thousands of children to over 500 boarding schools across America between 1819 and 1969. While the measures were intended to seize indigenous land and rid generations of Native Americans of their identity, an investigation by the Washington Post revealed how they also opened the door to sickening sexual abuse. Deborah Parker, a citizen of the Tulalip Tribes and the chief executive of the National Native American Boarding School Healing Coalition, told the outlet the Catholic church-run Indian boarding schools now stand as 'a national crime scene.' 'They committed crimes under the cloak,' she said. 'They did it in the name of God.' Staggering levels of sexual abuse have been uncovered at Native American boarding schools, where tens of thousands of Indigenous children were forcibly sent from 1819 to 1969. Pictured: The student body at the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania in 1885 The majority of the 500-plus boarding schools were funded by the US government, and essentially designed to strip Native American children of their culture. To this end, teachers and priests would carry out punishments including beating the children if they spoke their native language over English, forcibly cutting their long hair, and humiliating them. The measures deeply scarred Native American society, and by 1900, one in every five school-age Indigenous children were attending the sadistic boarding schools. But while the campaign still stands as a national disgrace, the problems ran far deeper in the 80-plus boarding schools ran by the Catholic Church and its offshoots, extending the harrowing levels of pedophilia within the organization that have been revealed in recent years. According to the Washington Post investigation, at least 122 priests and ministers from 22 of the boarding schools were directly accused of sexually abusing Native American children. Shockingly, 18 of these schools were found to have employed a credibly accused priest or minister for 91 consecutive years. The abuse, a majority of which was notably in the final years of the federal boarding program in the 1950s and 1960s, was reportedly perpetrated against over 1,000 children who were ripped from their families. Clarita Vargas, 64, was left helpless at the age of 8 as she was sent to a boarding school before being targeted by a Catholic priest, which she said 'haunted me my entire life' St. Mary's Mission in Omak, Washington (pictured), where Vargas was sent, was among 80 Catholic Church-ran boarding schools, which an investigation found were rife with sexual abuse Isolated and afraid, children such as Clarita Vargas, now 64, told the outlet that she was left helpless when she was sent to St. Mary's Mission in Omak, Washington when she was 8. She said a priest guided her to his office to watch a movie with other students, before he groped and molested her as she sat on his lap. Vargas said she had nowhere to turn as the sexual abuse continued for three years from then, and even today, says it 'haunted me my entire life.' 'The Church wounded my spirit, took away my soul and robbed me of my childhood,' she said. 'If somebody says you get over the abuse, trust me, you dont get over it,' added Geraldine Charbonneau Dubourt, 75, who was sent to a boarding school in Marty, South Dakota. At the age of 16, she said a Catholic priest raped her repeatedly in a church basement, and was later forced to get an abortion. She was one of nine sisters who were reportedly targeted by priests at the school. Survivors said the schools were designed in such a way that made them feel isolated and unable to speak out, as an expert described the boarding schools as a 'predator's wonderland' In recent years, scrutiny has fallen on the treatment of Native children in both Canada and the United States, amid the discovery of mass graves found at several sites where the boarding schools were located. In total, estimates place the number of Native American children who died at schools at around 40,000. But the level of sexual abuse remained in the dark even as victims spoke out about their ordeals, and the Washington Post admitted that its investigation likely missed victims who never came forward, or never had the chance to. For many, this was down to how the boarding schools were designed. Native American children were often moved hundreds of miles away from their families, and alienated in a way that made speaking out near-impossible. Patrick J. Wall, a former Catholic priest who admitted he was a 'fixer' for the church when faced with sexual abuse claims, told The Post that the schools were a 'perpetrator's wonderland.' 'They can scream for help, but no ones going to hear them or believe them,' said the priest, who now works for victims of the boarding schools. The revelations about widespread abuse within the Catholic Church, and the unraveling of its ability to systematically cover up cases, led some survivors to finally feel they can share their trauma. 'Ive been waiting 67 years to tell this story,' Jim Labelle, a 77-year-old former student at the Wrangell Institute in Alaska, told The Post. Like many, he was sent 700 miles from home in the Inupiaq tribe, also in Alaska, and from the time he was torn away from his family and culture, he wasn't even permitted a name. The Native American boarding schools were essentially designed to destroy Indigenous culture, with students ripped from their families, subjected to horrific abuse, and even deprived of having a name or speaking their native language Now, individuals are pointing to the Catholic Church's crimes because following the previous revelations, 'it showed that people could stand up against a powerful entity like the church, and that people could be held accountable', said Native American victim attorney Vito de la Cruz. The Catholic Church, while notably apologizing to some victims such as in Canada for its role in 'cultural destruction', has never commented or apologized for abuse rampant among their boarding schools. When asked by The Post about the abuse allegations, Chieko Noguchi, spokesperson for the US Conference of Catholic Bishops, said: The Catholic Church recognizes and acknowledges that the history that is brought to light regarding the boarding school period of American history may cause deep sorrow in the Native and Indigenous communities. 'But we also prayerfully hope it may bring real and honest dialogue and lead towards a path of healing and reconciliation with the impacted communities.' Ashley Biden had a torrid affair with a violent junkie who terrorized his family and stole from friends before succumbing to a fatal drug overdose, DailyMail.com can exclusively reveal. The President's daughter, 42, who turned up at a Delaware court Monday to support her half-brother Hunter praised Eric Dengler's 'style and swag' after falling for him during a stint in rehab writing in her diary: 'He is a great kisser. And he is calming + sweet. Ashley recalls in the diary how she was always 'boy crazy' and how she had 'sex with friends @ a young age'. She wrote of affairs with two men when she was in rehab. 'I don't know if I even need to kiss a guy just come over and f*** me sober,' she writes at one point. One of the men she hooked up with was Dengler. 'He is a surfer not highly educated barely knows his grammar/ but he does know how to love,' she wrote. But the 6ft 6in con's former victims remember him as a brazen criminal who spent a total of six years in Florida prisons for robbery, drug trafficking and theft. Ashley Biden turned up at a Delaware court Tuesday in support of her half-brother Hunter as his trial on federal gun charges began Eric Dengler in the photo used for his online obituary in 2019 (left) and in a 2015 mugshot after he was arrested for a series of thefts. He was known as a violent junkie but Ashley thought he was 'calming' and 'sweet' Ashley said she was having serious trouble in her marriage to surgeon Howard Krein, saying they had little in common. They married in an interfaith Catholic-Jewish ceremony in 2012 'All he cared about was surfing and getting wasted,' scoffed one former acquaintance. 'That guy was a danger to himself and others.' Dengler's lifestyle caught up with him in April last year when he was found dead at age 39 after overdosing on a cocktail of fentanyl, oxycodone and morphine. Dengler was one of two lovers Ashley wrote about in the diary. The other is a wealthy, married businessman who she identifies as 'Kevin'. Ashley hooked up with the men while she was undergoing treatment for drug and sex addiction in 2019 in a rehab in Boca Raton, Florida. The First Daughter detailed the flings in a diary that was later stolen from a house in Florida where she was staying and has been published online. Ashley the only child from Joe and Jill Biden's marriage has confirmed in a court filing that the tell-all tome is authentic. Dengler, who lived in Stuart, Florida, was only 21 when he was first sent to prison in 2004, serving a four-year stretch for trafficking in illegal drugs. Three months after his November 2008 release, he turned up at his sister Julie's house in Orlando demanding money to buy drugs. When her boyfriend kicked him out, Dengler got into his car and sped towards the house, only slamming on the brakes at the last second. Eric Dengler, a 6ft 6in 'barely educated' surfer dude, died of a drug overdose at age 39 'Started hanging out with a new guy, Eric, who has been through a lot and is clean + sober these days,' Ashley wrote on February 4, 2019. He died four years later from a drug overdose Ashley complained about the state of her marriage to Howard Krein in her diary, saying they had little in common. Krein is seen on Saturday joking with two Secret Service agents outside the couple's Philadelphia home Ashley wrote in her diary that she took showers with her father adding 'probably not appropriate'. She is pictured with her father aged six in 1987 Dengler was charged for stealing and pawning his girlfriend's jewelry in 2013 'I kicked him out of the house because I'd had enough of his crap. That's when things got crazy,' Julie's ex recalled in an interview with DailyMail.com. 'He got in the car, jumped the curb and drove straight at me. I didn't move because there was so much adrenaline in my system I didn't think about the consequences. 'He was only a few inches away from slamming into the front door when he stopped. It was real close.' The terrifying stunt saw Dengler charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assault on a law enforcement officer for resisting arrest. The ex, who asked to be referred to only by his first name, Rafael, said he would typically show up and threaten his sister when he needed money for a fix. 'He was always f****d up on heroin or molly. I never saw him sober. The guy was a bum, he never had a job,' Rafael said. ' He had anger issues also. The cops would get called because he was screaming and hollering at his sister. It was pure hell to be around it all.' The fracas earned Dengler 15 months behind bars. Weeks later the tattooed felon was charged again over a separate battery and robbery incident, bringing the total to 18 months. Dengler was found dead in his Delray Beach apartment on April 6 last year wearing nothing but a pair of red socks and with a syringe clutched in his hand, according to an autopsy report obtained by DailyMail.com. His girlfriend Gianna Correia told cops he was a heroin user and had survived two previous overdoses in March 2016. Between dozens of arrests and various prison stints, Dengler set up a car and boat detailing business but the venture appeared to be short lived. By 2013 he had violated his probation and was sent back to jail for rifling through a roommate's jewelry collection and callously pawning her diamond charm and antique gold bracelet. But to former social worker Ashley Biden, Dengler was 'refreshing' and 'calming'. 'Started hanging out with a new guy, Eric, who has been through a lot and is clean + sober these days,' she wrote on February 4. 'He lives in Florida. And he is so cute has his own style and swag. It's been refreshing to be able to kiss another man he is a great kisser. And he is calming + sweet. 'I can tell we both could fall for one another and that's a little scary but taking it day by day b/c ya never know what the future holds.' The diary goes on to hint that Ashley was contemplating a future with Dengler when she moved to Florida around that time, although she admonishes herself by declaring: 'Don't move for a man.' She also wondered if her father's impending Presidential run would scupper the fledgling romance, writing: 'If Dad runs it truly messes up everything with homeboy.' At another point she said of Dengler: 'I so wish I could see him tonight just lay with him but it will be too late + I need to prepare myself for him abruptly walking away.' Dengler's mother, Carol Price, who moved to Lubbock, Texas, after her son's death, refused to discuss his life, telling a DailyMail.com reporter: 'You cannot speak of my son any longer. He is deceased.' Asked if she knew if he had had a relationship with the President's daughter, she added: 'I have no comment on that.' Ashley wrote about sex and drug addiction, cheating on her husband, and childhood trauma including 'showers with my dad' in the diary which covers a period from January to September 2019. She wrote about her unhealthy relationship with sex and how she believed it stemmed from traumatic incidents in her childhood'. 'I have always been boy crazy,' she wrote. 'Hyper-sexualized @ a young age. What is this due to? Was I molested. I think so I can't remember specifics but I do remember trauma. 'I remember having sex with friends @ a young age; showers w/ my dad (probably not appropriate).' Ashley devoted several pages of the diary to her affair with the second man, Kevin, describing an 'instant yet unattainable attraction' to him, an initial flirtatious text conversation, then a secret meeting with 'magic' kissing and 'mind blowing sex'. But Kevin's commitments encroached on the budding love affair, Ashley wrote. Ashley wrote that she went to a rehab in Boca Raton, Florida in early 2019 for drug and sex addiction, but got frustrated with 'relapsing over and over' Ashley Biden, the only child of Joe Biden's marriage to First Lady Jill Biden, left her private journal behind at a home in Palm Beach, Florida after she moved to Philadelphia in June 2020 Ashley and her husband Howard Krein accompanied then-Second Lady Jill Biden to the Taj Mahal the monument to love during a 2013 trip to India 'Towards the end your wife called and you rushed to kick me out of the car,' the diary entry said. 'I smoked a cigarette while you sat in the car talking to her and I remember thinking this is a disaster.' Ashley wrote that she 'didn't want to be a mistress + honestly didn't want to be 'that' woman to your wife,' but revealed they continued 'sending each other pictures' and 'sexting at 5am'. As they both battled with feelings of guilt, they both relapsed. Ashley wrote she 'broke down + numbed my feelings in cocaine' and she wrote that Kevin texted her 'you haven't left my mind. I relapsed.' He is a surfer not highly educated barely knows his grammar/ but he does know how to love Ashley wrote that Kevin was 'like a drug' and 'sex was incredible for the first time in a long time', but that she was 'feeling used, an innocent victim in your twisted/wicked games'. Several pages later, she wrote a list weighing up the 'pros' and 'cons' of a 'continued relationship with Kevin', including pros of 'insane/deep sex' and cons of his 'wife, child', 'not sober', 'no romance or real intimacy' and 'long distance'. Later, on February 8, she chastises herself for telling too many people about their relationship. 'I spoke to too many people about my situation with Kevin,' she wrote. I asked for too many opinions and tried to get validation that I am good enough, sexy enough, hot enough, etc...And for that I am sorry.' Ashley's diary entries paint a picture of her severely fraying marriage, behind closed doors. She listed 'cons' of her husband Howard, writing that they 'Don't share similar interests. Guns vs. fashion. No sense of adventure. Content @ Tracy Shore every weekend w/ family. No language of love. Casual user. Lying (white). No intimacy. Don't kiss. Built up resentments. Don't like friends/can't hang out.' On February 22 2019 she had a meeting with her husband and wrote she was considering that 'Maybe I do try + make this marriage work'. But two days later she said it was finished. 'My marriage is over + it breaks my heart in two. There are no feelings of 'I need to be with him.' - 'I need to see him.' - 'I need to kiss him.'. I am chalking this up to an [illegible] and moving on from here.' However, the couple may have later patched things up. Five years on they have yet to publicly file for divorce. Ashley appeared to hold some resentment against her doctor husband for his involvement in her brother Beau's treatment towards the end of his life. 'All of the affection all the trust went out the window the day that Howard went ahead with the feeding tube,' she wrote. 'I have forgiven - but don't think that I am able to get it back.' Joe and Ashley Biden kiss on stage during a Juneteenth concert on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC in 2023 Ashley wrote that she was 'hyper-sexualized' and that she remembered having sex with friends 'at a young age'. Her father carried her in his arms when he was sworn in as a senator in 1985 as her half brothers Beau and Hunter held the bible Aimee Harris stole the diary while staying at Ashley Biden's Delray Beach, Florida, residence in 2020. She sold it to right wing group Project Veritas for $20,000 and was sentenced to one month in prison Ashley wrote down the pros and cons oof staying with her lover a Long Island businessman called 'Kevin'. In the plus column was 'Insane/deep sex' but among the minuses was 'daughter resents me' The President's daughter struggled to stay on the straight and narrow from as early as her college years. She was arrested in 1999 for possession of marijuana. The then-18-year-old student at Tulane University in New Orleans was released on a $1,000 bond, and the local district attorney declined to prosecute. Two years later she was arrested again for underage drinking in Howard County, Maryland. She was issued a bench warrant after she failed to show up to a hearing for the charge. She later pleaded guilty and was fined $125. She had a third run-in with the law in August 2002, when she was arrested for allegedly obstructing officers trying to break up a bar fight in Chicago. She reportedly 'blocked the officer's path and made intimidating statements' after one of the assailants threw a bottle at the police. According to federal prosecutors, Ashley left the diary behind when she moved out of a friend's Delray Beach house in 2020 and it was found by a woman named Aimee Harris. Harris admitted selling it for $20,000 to right wing activists from Project Veritas and in April was sentenced to a month in jail and three years of supervised release. One company tried to poach his employee, 71, due to his exemplary reputation A businessman has revealed all the staff at his firm are above the age of 50 as he believes older workers have more 'sense' and know how to get things done. Peter Stewart, 64, who runs Aberdeenshire pest control firm Aberkil, has denied having a prejudice against young people despite all of his workers ranging from the age of 55 to 71. He admitted that while he was once accused of treating youngsters unfairly, he gives everyone an equal opportunity. Peter, who also does giggs as a Louis Walsh lookalike, explained that pest-control wasn't for the faint-hearted and claimed that he has previously hired 30-year-olds who couldnt hack the job. He added that in his experience many youngsters are 'shy' and unable to 'look him in the eye', while others are easily distracted by their phones, meaning they unable to keep up with the fast pace of the job. Peter Stewart (pictured), 64, who runs Aberdeenshire pest control firm Aberkil, divulged that his tends to be older because they bring a sense of 'maturity' and 'trust' to the firm Although some have questioned whether he has a preference for older staff, The Aberkill boss is adamant that it all boils down to the interview He told MailOnline: 'They [older staff] can look you in the eye and speak to you. 'I find that a lot of the youngsters are shy and theres nothing wrong with that - they just havent matured, they can communicate with customers. 'I'm not saying it works out well all the time but the problems in the past have been people in their 30s who couldnt hack the job. You are working all day. 'There isn't time to be sitting on looking at mobile phones or Facebook it's on to the next job.' It isn't only pesky and slimy pests you have to be ready for, you have also got to be prepared for customers from all walks of life, according to the entrepreneur. 'In our industry we deal with all sorts of people very elderly people, young people professional people, teachers, so maturity and trust is essential.' Praising his 'adaptable', 'magnificent' and 'compassionate' team, Peter confessed he has 'absolute trust' in his employees and doesn't monitor them closely despite having trackers. 'They jump in their van, the supervisor gives them their work load and they go and get on with it,' he said. 'I find that a lot of the youngsters are shy and theres nothing wrong with that - they just havent matured, they can communicate with customers,' he said 'I know it wouldnt be going right if I got customer complaints and touch wood we dont get many of them. 'I know some will watch their trackers all day and be like why were you five minutes late - I couldnt live like that.' Although his older workforce functions like a well oiled machine, the pest industry business hasn't always been plain-sailing for Peter. Originally a one-man team, the former tank driver, who drove through a divided Berlin in 1981, joined the industry after a troubled childhood and poor performance at school. 'I went to this funeral, and a teacher of mine aired his frustrations with us,' he said. 'It was the best thing that will happen and everything came through by age 27.' However his first pest control business came crumbling down after a divorce at the age of 42. But after a few years of living as a lorry driver in a metal porta cabin in London, Peter returned to Aberdeen to start over. Peter confessed he has 'absolute trust' in his team and rarely monitors them because they just 'get on' with the job at hand Peter slowly built up a new pest control service while reducing his truck driving hours from full to part time - and even employing staff. 'I came back and I got the van and thought it would just be me working, but it grew quick. It grew too quickly,' he joked. Although his business was proving to be fruitful once again, Peter experienced a close brush with death and required a triple bypass at 57. Describing it as the 'most vulnerable moment of his life', Peter said: 'I had three blocked arteries. When I met a surgeon they told me: "You should be dead".' Following the ordeal, Peter was not only thankful for his health and the ability to work - but also for his Aberkil team who helped pull him through. 'I had an ex-navy supervisor - very intelligent guy - at the time and while I was lying in hospital he ran the business for me. 'He died aged 49. It broke my heart. It really hit home, especially aged 64 myself.' Tearfully reminiscing on the good times with his ex-employee, he added: 'Id like to think all my employees have had a great time with me.' However his pest control journey hasn't always been smooth sailing as he was forced to close his first business after a divorce and financial woes (stock image) However he quickly bounced back after a short stint as a lorry driver in London and his team quickly grew (stock image of cockroaches) And it such is true as many of Peter's employees are still keen to work for him despite being eligible for retirement. 71-year-old Nathan, came out of retirement because he was 'bored' and soon began working for Aberkil. The former helicopter pilot in the Malaysian Army has been dubbed 'an incredible worker' by his boss. Peter said: 'If I had ten workers life that than wow what a workforce. Hes a really great guy. The customers love him. 'After I put him up for an award somebody tried to poach him - at the age of 70!' Peter's current supervisor, 57, is also a huge 'workaholic' and 'grafter', having sometimes rung him at 9pm at night while still on the job. But his most recent edition to the team - a 55-year-old pest control worker - is always keen to work and do overtime, according to the entrepreneur. One company even tried to poach his 71-year-old team member because his reputation among customers was so exemplary (stock image) Another staff member who was previously in the prison service revealed he felt 'far too young' to call it a day on the world of work just yet. Peter believes he would struggle to get a new job at his age let alone his 71-year-old staff member. 'Id probably have no chance, but Id urge employers to look past age, and not to think of older people as done for,' he told the i. 'I know so many people in their late fifties being made redundant, who think its the end of the world. Dont forget, loads of us can and want to work, and I urge older people to never give up. 'We bring life experience, and that counts for a lot. Youth is wonderful, but it isnt everything.' The discovery of a mysterious network of hidden tunnels beneath a Florida city has sparked wild theories about their origin. The passageways under Ybor City, a suburb near downtown Tampa, remained hidden for decades before a string of discoveries revealed the subterranean network. Historians have since speculated widely over their use, from moving moonshine, human trafficking and cash smuggling to simply 'as a sewer'. The latest tunnels were found in 2018 near the Old Florida Brewery, close to East 6th Avenue and Noccio Parkway, while construction was being carried out on a new office building. Workers were tearing down a warehouse when they found the hidden passage, tall enough to stand up in with a rounded ceiling. Spacious tunnels that may have been used for smuggling in Chinese-Cuban prostitutes during Prohibition have been discovered during construction in Tampa, Florida's Ybor City History professor and researcher Dr. Gary Mormino described the tunnels to DailyMail.com as, 'nothing too remarkable to look at,' flat on the bottom, and wide, making them unsuitable as a sewage system, and all the more interesting to those wondering why they exist Several of the tunnels are brick-lined and only a few feet tall by a few feet wide - just enough for an adults to crouch or crawl through. The layered brickworks suggests they were constructed by skilled laborers. There's been talk about mysterious passageways underneath the suburb of Ybor City in Central Florida going back about 20 years, according to University of Southern Florida - St. Petersburg professor Emeritus of history Dr. Gary Mormino. Professor Dr. Gary Mormino said the tunnels were likely part of a criminal network, and that Ybor City officials would have known Mormino, 77, who has been researching the history of Ybor City for about 40 years, said the first tunnels of this kind were unearthed about two decades ago when work was being down below a Blue Ribbon grocery store. 'That provoked the question, "Why would you build a tunnel in an area that has a water table of about one foot below sea level?"' he previously told DailyMail.com While some have guessed the underground passages may have been used by bootleggers, Mormino said that doesn't make sense, and it's more likely they were used to bring in prostitutes or Chinese laborers from Cuba. Mormino described them as, 'nothing too remarkable to look at,' flat on the bottom, and wide, making them unsuitable as a sewage system, and all the more interesting to those wondering why they exist. Dr Mormino's work has attempted to 'rule out' uses for the tunnels, as well as establish their purpose. 'I'm asking myself, "What were the tunnels not used for?"' he said. While some are quick to guess they may have been used to transport bootlegged alcohol during the 1920s and early 1930s, Mormino said that doesn't make any sense, either. In this undated photo federal authorities are shown unearthing a buried whiskey cache in the backyard of a Ybor City home Mormino told DailyMail.com they were likely part of a criminal network, and that Ybor City officials would have had to be in on the construction; Ybor City's 7th Avenue Historic Street is pictured in a file photo from November 28, 2016 'I interviewed a lot of people in the 1970s and '80s who would have been involved in bootlegging of '20s and '30s and they've all said the only people who feared the police were those who weren't involved in the rackets' he said. 'If you paid off the police, you were fine.' Mormino shared a story about one of his interview subjects named Sam, who said his father was an Italian bootlegger, who would receive a call once each month from the police telling him he had to come in and be arrested and pay his fines. Once at the station, Sam said the police would ask his father what name he wanted to be arrested under 'this time,' and the next day the front page of the newspaper would read, 'Seven Italian bootleggers arrested,' as part of a ruse intended to appease the public. In fact, Mormino said Sam also told him he used to deliver crates of bootlegged alcohol to shops and when the police were there, they would open the door and help him carry the boxes in, praising him for being such an enterprising young man. So, Mormino has determined, the tunnels probably weren't used for bootlegging. The tunnel walls are constructed with several layers of brickwork The tunnels are a just large enough for an adult to crawl or crouch through Instead, he said, it's far more likely they were used for 'white slavery related to bringing women across interstate lines for immoral purposes,' along with smuggling in Chinese laborers and Chinese-Cuban prostitutes. Mormino said Ybor City has had a large Chinese-Cuban population dating back to 1886. 'Chinese people were brought to Cuba after slavery ended in late 19th century to replace slaves and work in the sugar industry,' Mormino said. Ybor City was founded in the 1880s by cigar tycoon Vicente Marinez-Ybor and became a hub of America's tobacco industry. Immigrants from Cuba, Spain and Italy rolled millions of cigars in the city's factories. Mormino guessed that around the turn of the 20th century, city of Tampa officials may have been in on creating the tunnels which would have otherwise been a massive and expensive undertaking for a criminal enterprise. Researchers used imaging techniques to map the direction and depth of some of the tunnels Another image shows how one tunnel leads away from an industrial building Mormino believes that local leaders may have extending the passages down to the port. 'Basically, corrupt politics likely allowed the criminal elements to use those tunnels as part of a vast, interconnected network,' he said. But, Mormino made sure to mention, that while it's fun to guess about what may have gone on in those hidden passageways all those years ago, anything anyone has come up with is just a guess. 'I don't know if we'll ever know the truth, to be honest,' Mormino said. 'It's a rather elusive story now. Dr. Lori Collins with USFs Center for Digital Heritage said the tunnels are 'quite substantial. Rodney Kite-Powell of the Tampa Bay History Center added that the tunnel found under the Blue Ribbon store might have been connected to the former Ybor Cigar Factory. He said that could have been used to transport money, adding: 'It may have been a way to move cash around in the very early years... because it was kind of lawless.' A report in 2020 by the University of South Florida said several historians believe the tunnels were in fact sewers. A young and successful entrepreneur has left Australia behind because he was fed up with 'tall poppy syndrome'. Rylan Kindness, 22, founded and developed Parking Deals Australia when he was just 16. The platform over the next seven years raked in up $250,000 a month in revenue for parking companies and amassed about 500,000 users before he sold the lucrative business in April for an undisclosed sum to Parkhound and moved to Dubai's lavish Island, Palm Jumeirah. Despite his young age, it wasn't his first business venture. Mr Kindness also launched a website he hoped would rival Gumtree when he was in high school - and that's when he says he got his first taste of others trying to drag him down. 'Kids at school found out about it and they listed a teacher's house for sale on it - and a lawyer's house - and I was made to take it down,' he explained to Daily Mail Australia. 'I never expected that if you're trying to be successful there are people who will actively try and stop you. 'But that's what Australia does best - try to rip down people who are trying to be successful and to give it a go.' Rylan Kindness, 22, (pictured travelling in London) founded and developed Parking Deals Australia when he was just 16 The entrepreneur said there wasn't any one specific incident that made him leave the country, but rather an accumulation over the years of experiencing resentment and jealously from others. 'Tall poppy syndrome is the real reason I live in Dubai,' Mr Kindness said. 'Here, the government supports business and no-one cares about your successes. There is always a bigger fish.' While he considers Australia a 'safe and great place, with plenty of opportunity', Mr Kindness feels there isn't enough support for those looking to get ahead. 'I love Australia, I love being Australian, but I find it suffocating there. There's just too much red tape. 'Everything seems to be an issue. There's always problems. Dubai is a lot more loose to get things done. They've made it simpler.' Below, Mr Kindness, who is currently diving back into the entrepreneurial world via the entertainment industry, lays out his eight key tips for Aussies looking to get started on their entrepreneurial journey. Rylan Kindness said tall poppy syndrome is the real reason he lives in Dubai (pictured at his home in Palm Jumeirah) 1. Take the time to find your passion The former professional BMX athlete was always encouraged by his parents to have a back-up plan and work out what he wanted to do in case he was injured. Mr Kindness said budding entrepreneurs also need to work out their end goals and what they are interested in. 'Take the time to figure out and explore your passions,' he said. He suggest students don't blindly work towards getting into university. 'Instead of going to uni I was already up and running a business because I had taken the time to figure out my passion,' he said. 'I knew early on that's what I wanted to do.' Poll Do you agree with Mr Kindness? Is there too much tall poppy syndrome in Australia? Yes - Australians are just jealous of success No - Successful people should be more humble Do you agree with Mr Kindness? Is there too much tall poppy syndrome in Australia? Yes - Australians are just jealous of success 268 votes No - Successful people should be more humble 133 votes Now share your opinion 2. Don't care about what other people think of you 'If you think about what other people think of you, you will never do anything. You shouldn't let it impact you.' The entrepreneur said young people need to remember that it's their life and they need to take control of it. 'Do something for yourself and don't listen to other people like parents or teachers who might tell you what you should be doing,' he said. 3. Don't be a lunchtime talker This is a tip that many adults can relate to - stop talking about your ideas and make them happen. 'I was talking to a friend of mine and he was telling me his idea he wanted to do and I realised he had been talking about the same idea at lunchtime when we were in school,' he said. 'It was seven or eight years later and I was thinking why has it taken so long'. Mr Kindness said as you get older, there are always more things in life that make it harder to get your idea off the ground, so the sooner you start, the better. 'It you take no action, you will get no results. People think the idea is valuable but it is the action. Talk is cheap, action is valuable.' Mr Kindness (pictured at Abu Dhabi F1) is currently entering the entrepreneurial world in the entertainment industry Mr Kindness (pictured with his dad) also launched a website he hoped would rival Gumtree when he was in high school - and that's when he says he got his first taste of others trying to drag him down 4. Just start 'If you're committed to your end goals and constantly chip away at them - and you will have setbacks along the way - but if you keep going, you'll get there,' he said. The entrepreneur advises that all it takes to start is a blank page and that those looking to get started 'don't need a massive plan'. 'Just start. Simple as that.' 5. Learn and observe Those hoping to succeed should be always asking questions. 'I had no idea, no money, I didn't know about business strategy but I watched people and observed what they did,' he said. Young people can learn the same way by 'hanging around successful people' and learning from them. 'Success Leaves clues.' 6. You have nothing to lose The entrepreneur wants teenagers to realise what a perfect time it is to try things, because they aren't paying rent and do not have other adult responsibilities. 'There's always going to be opportunities in every generation. This era, it is so easy to access something online,' he said. 'There's low risk and little money needed to start something. It's a great opportunity because the barrier to enter is so low.' The young entrepreneur said it is easier doing business in the United Arab Emirates, whereas Australia has a lot of red tape 7. Fight for what you want to listen to The entrepreneur said the biggest challenge for a young person is to weed out information on their feeds. 'Young Aussies are so distracted. There is so much opinion and information on social media. So investing in business doesn't seem like the 'funnest' thing to do,' he said. 'I don't admire the guy who comes to Dubai for a month and posts pics of himself at glamorous parties and with lambos - which are all rented - and then goes home and sells himself as the 'product' on how to be successful. 'It has f***ked up a lot of teens because it's focusing on lifestyle. Business isn't glamorous, it's hard work.' Mr Kindness said entrepreneurship isn't about 'flexing your lifestyle' and that your youth should be seen as a great learning phase. 8. There's always a way to make money The businessman said teens should be aware there are multiple ways to make money. 'You just have to spend time to find solutions. But some people would rather whinge instead of go out and make money,' he said. When he was a child, he and his dad would go to garage sales, markets and curbside collections to fix things up and make money. 'The lesson I learnt is not to be afraid to get my hands dirty. People are too lazy to fix things up or clean items and you can make good money by doing that and reselling them.' A sleepy southern city has transformed into a boomtown thanks to a huge local corporation, but not everyone is excited about the drastic change. Bentonville, Arkansas, about three hours outside of Little Rock, has gone from a quiet, cattle-filled metropolis to a trendy city filled with amenities often found in major destinations like New York and Austin. The small city, with a population of about 60,000, has rapidly evolved with the help of Walmart, one of the nation's largest corporations, after the company planted its headquarters in the 34.25 square-mile city decades ago. The influx of residents is expected to skyrocket after Walmart announced that a massive new corporate campus featuring a pickleball court and child care center is on the way. The multinational retailer, which was first incorporated in October 1969 under Delaware General Corporation Law, moved into the southern city in 1971 and opened up its first home office and distribution center there. Bentonville has since been dubbed the new 'capital of cool,' as farmland and a slower way of life has been replaced with craft cocktails, chef-run restaurants, bohemian coffee shops, and a $255-a-month exclusive social club with a waitlist. Bentonville, Arkansas, about three hours outside of Little Rock, has gone from a quiet, cattle-filled city to a trendy hub filled with amenities often found in major cities like New York and Austin The city has rapidly evolved with the help of Walmart, which planted its headquarters in the 34.25 square-mile city decades ago, with a new one on the way. (pictured: The Walmart Museum) Gil Curren, 88, who has lived in the city since 1971 with his wife Sue, said that they have been trying to embrace the change, but they fear that the hype could cause too many people to relocate there. 'We still have a really great lifestyle here. And I would recommend that to anyone. But dont tell them: I dont want anyone else moving here,' Gil told CNBC. Gil and his family moved from their home in Kansas City to a farmhouse in Bentonville. The retiree recalled times when he used to watch rural moments take over their city, including when cows broke free after a nearby river overflowed. Now, more than five decades later, he said that those experiences have turned into distant memories as he looks outside his window to see a bustling, lively city, filled with bike riders, and plagued by unrecognizable construction. 'In the last 10, 15 years, its just exploded,' Gil said. 'Every time I go to town now, theres new construction.' Many of the people who have moved into the city are Walmart employees, as the corporation helped change the area to attract talent to fill its many positions. With more residents coming in, the cost of living has increased and concerned locals like Gil and Sue. Besides Walmart, other well-known companies based in the area have brought in more people, such as Tyson Foods and the transport service J.B. Hunt. Recently, the city has been undergoing a massive project, the new Walmart headquarters facility that is expected to be placed on a 350-acre campus Other companies, including Hershey, Mattel, PepsiCo and Duracell have planted offices in or near Bentonville to be closer to Walmart's headquarters. In 2010, Bentonville's population was 36,000, and by 2022, it shot up to 58,000. By 2050, the predicted population of the city is set to reach 200,000, the U.S. Census Bureau reported. Recently, the city has been undergoing a massive project - the new Walmart headquarters facility that will take over a 350-acre campus. Inside the immense new home office, employees can enjoy a food hall, walking and biking trails, a fitness center and day care. The gym and day care have already opened their doors and other parts of the huge center will launch in phases over the coming year. The campus will be located between Central Avenue and 14th Street, near Highway 102 in downtown Bentonville, where old company warehouse spaces and office buildings once sat. The giant grocer knocked down existing buildings to replace them with 12 new office buildings, several amenity buildings, parking decks and lush green space. In addition to the new headquarters, the company is also revamping the Walmart Museum that founder, Sam Walton, opened in 1990. The new version will be modernized and tech-driven, with a massive hologram of Walton to help answer visitor's questions. Inside the massive building, the company will offer employees a food hall, trails for walking and biking, a fitness center, and day care A temporary location has been set up at the Walmart Museum Heritage Lab on 240 S. Main St in the meantime. Walton's family made sure to keep his entrepreneurial legacy alive after he died in 1992, with his grandsons, Tom and Steuart building luxury apartments and high-end restaurants in the city. Walton's daughter, Alice, has also made her mark in the evolving community, founding the American art museum, Crystal Bridges. She plans to open a medical school in the area. Kristen Boozman, a local realtor, told CNBC News she has seen just how popular Bentonville has become. 'Ten years ago, we had 14 homes that sold for over a million dollars. Last year, 2023, we had 244,' Boozman revealed. Along with pricey homes, the city's median income has soared to $99,000 a year, more than the $55,432 median household income in all of the state. Not only are locals struggling to keep up with the rise in prices, but prospective Walmart employees looking to relocate to Bentonville have as well. According to the corporation's most recent proxy statement, an average Walmart employee makes a little more than $27,640 a year. Walmart has already started moving their corporate employees to the city, with the company announcing just last month that workers from Atlanta, Toronto and Dallas will be transferred to Bentonville or other corporate areas. One employee who previously lived in the Big Apple, Washington D.C. and Miami, uprooted her life and moved to Arkansas for her job at Walmart. The giant grocer knocked down the existing buildings to replace them with 12 new office buildings, several amenity buildings, parking decks and green space. (pictured: A rendered version of the future Walmart headquarters) Tracy Robinson, a team leader who coordinates with manufacturers that create baby products for the grocer's private-label brands, said that before her relocation, she had never even been to Bentonville. After adjusting to her new life, Robinson said that she settled in quite well, but was shocked to see that the price to dine out in the city was nearly identical to restaurants in Miami. Despite the culture shock in the city, Curren said that there are pros and cons to the change. 'We can go to the Walmart store and not meet one person that we know in there,' he said, adding that traffic has been severely congested. On the other hand, he enjoys seeing his city filled with families and experiencing all the new adventures that have come along the way. Trent Stagg's campaign paints him as a successful business fixer, but the Utah Senate candidate filed for bankruptcy in 2010 claiming he had liabilities of almost $1 million. On August 12, 2010, Staggs filed for personal bankruptcy with $818,825 in liabilities and $459,317 in assets. Liabilities included a $50,000 judgment from a civil case in Clark County, Nevada. He disclosed income of $1,954 a month in unemployment insurance. The bankruptcy was discharged on November 18, 2010. DailyMail.com previously reported that right wing Utah Senate candidate Staggs was once tapped to a lead a company that was shut down after the FDA alleged it had falsely marketed its 'natural' Viagra product. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Staggs' race last month. A right-wing Utah Senate candidate used to lead a fraudulent company that was shut down by the FDA over its 'natural' Viagra product Staggs was pressed on the bankruptcy filing during an event - and avoided answering. 'This room is full of people who value personal responsibility and accountability. I have in my hands a bankruptcy petition filed in 2010 by a Trent Philip Staggs. My first question is that you? And two if you value personal responsibility and integrity and accountability, how can you file for bankruptcy and foist your debts upon the public?' 'Next question,' said Staggs. Kirk cut in. 'Do you like Donald Trump or not? Donald Trump used the bankruptcy laws for his own good and purpose.' Trump's companies filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection six times. 'Some people have no choice but to declare bankruptcy and call tomorrow a better day!' Kirk went on. Also in 2010 JP Morgan Chase filed a lawsuit against Staggs and Tahitian Tan LLC over failure to repay a loan. In July 2010, the court awarded JP Morgan Chase a total judgment of $26,839.63 including interest and attorneys fees, according to court documents seen by DailyMail.com. As of the filing of the lawsuit, Staggs owed the bank $21,766.63. Staggs' defense had tried unsuccessfully to argue an obscure monetary theory as to why he should not have to repay the loan. Known as 'vapor money theory,' he said the loan was not enforceable because the bank did not loan any 'real' money backed by gold or silver, the bank put nothing into the transaction and therefore no enforceable debt accrues. Trent Staggs, a member of the Mormon Church making a bid for the Senate to replace Mitt Romney, brands himself as a 'classic Utah success story.' His website notes he has 'more than 20 years of experience running and managing successful Fortune 500 companies to small- and medium-sized enterprises.' Staggs has scored the endorsement of a number of big political names, including Trump and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake Staggs' (pictured with his wife) campaign to replace retiring Sen. Mitt Romney is being propped up by Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., who will campaign with him in Utah this week. He's served as the mayor of Riverton since 2018 But Staggs took over as president of soon-to-be defunct company Regeneca in 2015. The company was forced to recall its erectile dysfunction medication, RegenErect, three years earlier, after the FDA alleged the so-called 'natural' product contained ordinary Cialis and Viagra which they had not disclosed, potentially putting users at risk of deadly health complications. The FDA also alleged that the company's weight loss supplement that was marketed as 'all natural' was actually just amphetamine - a stimulant drug. Staggs noted that he was not the leader of the company when it was selling the erectile dysfunction medication, and he'd been brought on to turn things around. 'All of these issues, which predated my arrival, are exactly why they brought me into the company as interim president. The owners needed someone to evaluate the business and see if there was a path forward,' he told DailyMail.com in a statement. Staggs has also scored endorsements from pro-Trump politicians like Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake, former Trump Administration officials Kash Patel and Ric Grenell. He's one of 11 Republican vying in a primary to succeed Romney. Residents in a tower block claim they face 'bankruptcy' and homelessness after a council demanded they pay part of a 1.1 million bill for new windows. They have been told to pay thousands of pounds for the windows, which an independent surveyor said were unnecessary. A group of them are contesting the 'insane' bill from Labour-ran Hammersmith and Fulham council. Twenty-five leaseholders, including nurses, midwives, teachers and the elderly are being asked to fork out between 17,500 and 21,5000 for the windows. Many living at Verulam House say the bill equals their annual salaries and it will mean defaulting on mortgage payments and mean they are forced to leave. Diego Bertoni, chairman of the Tenants and Residents Association, described the situation as 'madness' Verulam House where twenty-five leaseholders, including nurses, midwives, teachers and the elderly are being asked to fork out between 17,500 and 21,5000 for the windows Many living at Verulam House say the bill equals their annual salaries and it will mean defaulting on mortgage payments and mean they are forced to leave The authority is the freeholder of the 1970s block, where 25 of the 59 properties have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme. They will have to meet the cost of the window replacement. Other projects include in 2022 the council writing to leaseholders to say they were installing scaffolding to remove cladding - which still remains in place two years on - causing 'chaos'. And it 'blindsighted' residents by saying it had decided to replace uPVC windows installed 26 years ago because they were nearing their 'end of life'. Diego Bertoni, chairman of the Tenants and Residents Association, described the situation as 'madness'. The 40-year-old said: 'The council is on a mission to bankrupt leaseholders and leave taxpayers with a colossal cost to replace windows that do not need replacing. 'It's extraordinarily incompetent. It makes absolutely no sense. 'I cannot get my head around it. It's been managed appallingly. There is absolutely no need for new windows, they are fine and of good quality. 'It just feels like another opportunity to make money from leaseholders. It is seriously wrong. We are very upset.' Mr Bertoni said residents had been hit with a 'wall of silence' when they demanded answers from the authority as to why the windows were needed. He added: 'The costs are higher than the net salaries of some key workers who live here. How on earth is that fair? What sort of message does that send out? 'It's going to force them out of their home. 'We have had no answers. No explanation or anything. Just a wall of silence. It's so frustrating. People are really worried about this.' One woman, who did not want to be identified, said: 'I fear being made homeless. Where do they think I am going to find the money? 'It feels like a punishment. All I do is work hard to try and provide for my family in very tough times. And then we get hit with this. It's crazy. 'The cost is insane.' The authority is the freeholder of the 1970s block, where 25 of the 59 properties have been sold under the Right to Buy scheme. They will have to meet the cost of the window replacement Other projects include in 2022 the council writing to leaseholders to say they were installing scaffolding to remove cladding - which still remains in place two years on - causing 'chaos' Mr Bertoni said residents had been hit with a 'wall of silence' when they demanded answers from the authority as to why the windows were needed NHS worker Annabel Diaz, 39, accused the council of showing 'no sympathy' for those impacted. She said: 'The cost is ridiculous. 'They do not care. The impact of this could be huge. People will be forced out for something which does not need to happen anyway.' A Hammersmith and Fulham spokesman said: 'We have a legal duty as a landlord to ensure our buildings are safe and kept in good repair for all residents. 'Building safety works are already being undertaken at no cost to leaseholders and they are only being requested for a 49 per cent contribution to the total costs of the work to Verulam House. 'To assist and support homeowners, the council offers sympathetic repayment options.' Sun-bathing topless on a beach, this is Laure Ferrari - the vivacious French woman dating Nigel Farage - as you've never seen her before. The picture shows fun-loving Laure soaking up the sun while reading French political magazines on a sandy European beach. Described by friends as the 'power behind the Farage throne', stunning brunette Laure is believed to have inspired her lover to make his dramatic U-turn and decide to run for Parliament next month after all. Former colleagues have also claimed that the former restaurant waitress put her own ambitions aside to support Farage's new bid for power. Laure was previously best known to the British public for her appearances in support of her partner when he came third on last year's I'm A Celebrity game show - but more generally has tried to keep a low profile. Sun-bathing topless on a beach, this is Laure Ferrari (pictured) - the vivacious French woman dating Nigel Farage - as you've never seen her before Nigel Farage, pictured with his girlfriend Laure Ferrari, at his 60th birthday in March Laure Ferrari kisses Nigel Farage on the cheek after he finished third on last year's I'm A Celebrity game show Friends who have known her since before she began dating the Brexiteer say he fell for her because she is charming, fun and highly intelligent. 'Laure is solely responsible for smartening Nigel up and making him look respectable,' a close friend has revealed. 'Laure made him ditch the red trousers most of the time, put on a suit and cut out the cigarette dog-breath as much as possible. 'She has had him get new suits and look like a potential leader. 'She is a lovely bubbly woman. Intellectually she can hold her own against him. 'Laure is classy, elegant but she brings Nigel down to earth. 'And she prefers the quiet life. She is quite happy to be living in Kent with their two Labradors, Pebbles and Baxter.' A former colleague added: 'Laure is much more intelligent than Nigel.' Laure Ferrari met Farage while working as a waitress at the upmarket 'Cornichon Masque' restaurant in Strasbourg in 2007. She later worked as an administrator for UKIP in Brussels and Strasbourg before seeking office herself with the 'patriotic' Debout La France party. Nigel Farage and Laure Ferrari have been together for seven years (pictured in March at the Inspiration Awards For Women) Nigel Farage gets a kiss from a supporter as he launched his candidacy to be MP for Reform UK in Clacton - but Laure Ferrari was not with him this week Laure looked glamarous at a polo event she attended with Nigel last week and there is speculation she could join him on the campaign Laure Ferrari met Farage while working as a waitress at the upmarket 'Cornichon Masque' restaurant in Strasbourg in 2007. They are pictured here at last year's I'm A Celeb Laure Ferrari was instrumental in creating the alliance between the Debout La France and UKIP that was the founding bloc of the anti-EU integration Alliance for Direct Democracy in the European Parliament. 'I was with Laure Ferrari and Nigel Farage when the met in Paris during the 2014 European elections to discuss setting up the group,' Julien Chatel, former communications director of Debout La France said. 'Laure is very bright and competent. She was a collaborator between UKIP and Debout La France.' But after she failed to get elected she took a step back from public life to ensure not to jeopardize Nigel Farage's position. Former UKIP MEP Godfrey Bloom told MailOnline: 'Laure is very politically astute. She knows her stuff. She is sharp as a razor and has a keen sense of humour. 'I gave her a job. And after that she stood for political office in France, for Debout La France. But that didn't work out. Laure and Nigel met in 2007 when she was working as a waitress in Brussels and he was a MEP Holly Valance attended Nigel Farage's announcement on Monday in London, as he announced he would stand for election. She claimed she helped persuade him 'She is incredibly capable but she took a back seat after that. 'She could get a very senior job in Paris or London but she has stifled her own career to allow Nigel to flourish.' Godfrey Bloom added: 'I met Laure by chance at a restaurant [in Strasbourg]. 'We used to have a few drinks together and I introduced her to Nigel. 'She was very popular in Strasbourg. 'I could meet her friends away from the nasty smell of politics. 'She was already working for me in about 2007 and I would guess that she got together with Nigel in about 2010. 'Everyone loved Laure apart from Nigel's thwarted lovers.' Farage and Ferrari were first photographed together leaving the same central London home in 2017. His second wife Kirsten Mehr announced that their marriage had been over for a while shortly afterwards. Former acquaintance, guitarist Gaelle Breton added: 'I knew Laure all those years ago. 'She was so much fun. After work we would go to this cocktail bar around the corner from the restaurant where she worked. It was wild!' Ms Ferrari stood for far-Right French party Debout la Republique (Arise the Republic) at the 2014 European Parliament elections, but the party failed to win any seats Born in Epinal in eastern France, Laure Ferrari moved with her family to Strasbourg at a young age. Her father Bertrand ran a haulage company before retiring and her sister June has a beauty salon in the city. Today both declined to comment on Laure's role in Nigel Farage political career. This week the former UKIP MEP and Brexit Party leader announced that he was standing for parliament in Clacton, Essex, as a candidate for the Reform UK party - before being attacked by a milkshake wielding Only Fans model. Farage was an MEP for 15 years between 2004 and 2019 but has failed to be elected to the UK parliament seven times. The Liberal Democrats are mounting a fresh push for new laws to crack down on 'cruel' puppy and kitten smuggling. Sir Ed Davey's party will commit to introducing new legislation to combat the 'vile' trade in their general election manifesto. It comes after previous plans for new laws, backed by the Government, were abandoned following Rishi Sunak's decision to call the election for 4 July. There are fears that thousands of animals are imported illegally into Britain every year, before being sold for huge profits by organised crime networks. Total dog import numbers have soared in recent years, doubling between 2020 and 2023. They increased by a staggering 61 per cent (101,000) in just one year from 2021 to 2022. The Liberal Democrats are mounting a fresh push for new laws to crack down on 'cruel' puppy and kitten smuggling Party leader Sir Ed Davey pictured with Danny Chambers (left), the Lib Dem general election candidate for Winchester who is also a practising vet The Tories pledged in their manifesto before the 2019 general election to crack down on the illegal smuggling of dogs and puppies. But Mr Sunak scrapped planned animal welfare legislation - known as the Kept Animals Bills - after he became PM. The Government later backed a Private Members' Bill focused on bringing forward tougher powers to tackle illegal cat and dog smuggling. Yet the Bill was unable to complete its passage through Parliament before Mr Sunak called this year's election earlier than most had expected. Under the Lib Dems' proposed new legislation, there would be a reduction in the number of pets that people can bring into the country. It would empower police and customs officials to restrict the import of pregnant animals, and animals that have been mutilated - such as with cropped ears and tails. Authorities would also be allowed to seize any animals they deem as vulnerable or suspect to have been smuggled, with prosecutions for anyone charged under the new laws. Tim Farron, the party's environment spokesman, said: 'The Conservatives have an appalling record on pet smuggling, letting criminals off the leash. 'It's utterly shameful that they've abandoned puppies to smugglers and don't seem to care. 'We're a nation of dog and cat lovers we must do everything in our power to keep animals and their owners safe. 'Liberal Democrats would tackle this with dogged determination, to crack down on these vile criminals and deliver justice for thousands of victims.' Danny Chambers, the Lib Dems' general election candidate in Winchester, said: 'As a practising vet I have seen so many animals who have suffered at the hands of criminals. 'The owners of these dogs, whether bought as a puppy or rescued, are unaware of the criminal activities behind them arriving in the UK. 'It is sadly a common occurrence to see dogs who have been cruelly mutilated and brought into the UK to be sold at high prices. 'The Conservatives' failure to bring forward legislation has had a devastating impact on animal welfare and pet owners in this country. 'I am proud that the Liberal Democrats have committed to stop this cruel practice.' Rescued Israeli hostage Noa Argamani has finally been reunited with her terminally ill mother - more than seven months after being snatched from a music festival by Hamas terrorists on October 7. Noa, 26, was among four captives rescued by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops during a fearless raid on two Hamas-controlled buildings in the Nuseirat refugee camp earlier on Saturday. Dramatic footage showed her being loaded into a helicopter wearing a flak jacket and a protective helmet - as three other hostages held in another building were rushed to another waiting chopper following gun battles with their captors. She was quickly reunited with her father Yakov, with whom she was finally able to celebrate his birthday. But within hours rushed to the Ichilov Medical Centre in Tel Aviv to see her mother, Liora Argamani, who has stage four cancer. Noa became known across the world when she was taken hostage by Hamas on the back of a motorcycle at the Supernova music festival on October 7. She will be treated alongside Liora, who had urged Hamas for months to free her daughter. Israel reportedly planned its 'complex daytime operation' for months - rescuing Noa alongside Almog Meir Jan, 21, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40 after launching the effort at 11am (8am GMT). But the mission left one officer, father-of-two Arnon Zmora, 36, dead - 'mortally wounded' during the firefight with Hamas terrorists. A Gaza hospital claims scores of Palestinians were killed in related operations in Nuseirat. Noa Argamani, with her father Yakov, on her way into Ichilov Hospital to see her mother Liora hours after she was rescued from Hamas by the IDF Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage four brain cancer and had repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again She had reached out to US president Joe Biden urging him to help rescue her daughter (pictured in November 2023) She was able to celebrate her father Yakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity Noa Argamani (in pink top, jeans and helmet) is seen being helped into an IDF helicopter to escape Hamas after being rescued Noa smiles while having a drink of Coca Cola with her father Yakov after being reunited today Images from the scene showed a group of around 11 running along the ground in Gaza and into the waiting helicopter to escape after the daring raid Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks Noa, who is 26, was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken into Gaza A video circulated on social media which allegedly showed Noa in captivity in Gaza Rescued hostage Noa Argamani embraces her father, Yakov Argamani, after being saved The mission left one officer Arnon Zmora (pictured) dead after the rescue operation The IDF has released images of the Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant (in black) approving the operation to rescue the hostages together with top military chiefs Noa Argamani returned to the arms of her father today after 245 days spent in dire captivity in the beleaguered Gaza Strip. Noa, who was taken hostage by Hamas on the back of a motorcycle on October 7, was among four hostages rescued in a dramatic firefight with IDF forces earlier today. Emotional scenes showed Noa, 26, reunited with her father on his birthday - the first time in more than half a year that they had seen each other since her capture from the Supernova Music Festival. Video showed Noa reintegrating back into civilian life, pictured hugging her father Yakov - and calling with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to express her relief. Special forces simultaneously raided two Hamas sites in central Gaza's Nuseirat area with one helicopter attending each site. At one location, Noa Argamani was rescued, while Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were at the second location. The helicopter mission to rescue Noa went quickly and easily, but the squad set to retrieve the other three met stiff resistance and descended into a firefight with Hamas terrorists. It was during the latter rescue mission that officer Arnon Zmora was fatally injured. The IDF later said the married father of two, 36, had led a battle against Hamas gunmen on October 7 at the Yad Mordechai kibbutz. He was part of the squad that broke into one of the Hamas buildings where the hostages were being kept and was fatally injured, it said. The Israel police force said in a statement: 'The Israel Police and the Border Police announce with great sorrow and grief the death of the late officer Arnon Zmora... who was mortally wounded in the operation to return the hostages this morning in Gaza'. The IDF said: 'Arnon is an Israeli hero, who loved and protected his country. He led the force that rescued the four hostages from the central Gaza Strip and returned them to Israel. The IDF salutes his memory.' It later said the rescue operation would be retrospectively named 'Operation Arnon' in his honour. Released hostage Almog Meir Jan reacts after emerging alive from the central Gaza Strip after he was rescued by soldiers in the mission today Hostage Shlomi Ziv reunited with family after eight months in captivity An injured person is evacuated from an Israeli air force helicopter landing in the grounds of Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre in Ramat Gan today The injured soldier came home after the daring raid in Gaza today A view of Israeli helicopter, carrying four Israeli hostages that were retrieved after a military operation in the area The rescued prisoners were photographed disembarking with soldiers from an air force CH-53 Sea Stallion military helicopter which landed in the grounds of the Sheba Medical Center Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage embraces his mother, Orit Meir Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage reacts with his mother, Orit Meir, after the rescue Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage embraces loved ones Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage embraces a loved one Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage is greeted by a loved one The father of released hostage Shlomi Ziv, stands at a medical center after the military carried out the daring rescue Almog Meir has also been found. He was also captured at the Nova music festival Shlomi Ziv has also been found. He was also captured at the Nova music festival on October 7 Hostage Shlomi Ziv smiles with medical staff after his safe return to Israel Freed hostage Almog Meir Jan smiles with family after a gruelling eight months in captivity Family members of hostages react as they walk towards a medical center after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip today Supporters and family members of hostages walk react to the news of the rescue Andrey Kozlov, an Israeli hostage who was kidnapped in the deadly October attacks, has been found Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks during a news conference at the Sheba Tel HaShomer Hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel, today Netanyahu said the 'entire nation salutes you' to his defence chiefs at a press conference after the successful mission Among the hostages freed during today's operation was Andrey Kozlov, 27, a Russian who moved to Israel in 2022. He had been working as a security guard at the Nova festival when he was kidnapped. Almog Meir, 21, tried to flee the festival, but he and a friend only managed to drive a short distance in the friend's car before being forced to stop. He phoned his mother during the attack. Shlomi Ziv, 40, was part of the security detail at the festival and managed to call his sisters as the attack unfolded, according to an interview with The Times of Israel. He phoned his sisters during the attack, telling them he did not want them to worry. The operation is understood to have been planned for months. The Israeli forces practiced for the operation using models of the two houses where the hostages, referred to as 'diamonds' were being held, according to The Telegraph. The two houses, which were 200m apart, were raided simultaneously 'like a surgical operation' to reduce the risk of the hostages being killed in either one, the IDF said. It is understood they were being held in locked rooms in apartments containing both families and armed guards. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the 'entire nation salutes you' to his defence chiefs at a press conference after the successful mission. During the operation, heavy airstrikes were carried out in the area against Hamas sites. After the operation, the freed Israelis were sent to the Tel Hashomer Sheba Medical Center for further medical examination, where families of the hostages celebrated their arrival. Mr Netanyahu spoke at a news conference at the Sheba Tel HaShomer Hospital in Ramat Gan following the successful mission. He thanked his defence chiefs and said: 'The entire nation salutes you and the courageous fighters who today risked their lives in order to save lives. 'Yet again you have proven that Israel does not surrender to terrorism and acts with boundless valor and resourcefulness to return home our hostages. 'We are obligated to do the same in the future. We will not relent until we complete the mission and return all our hostages home, both the living and the deceased.' Almog Meir Jan, 21, rejoices after his safe return home People wave Israeli flags as they celebrate after hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. were rescued from Gaza Strip Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage walks through Sheba Medical Center People wave flags towards Israeli special forces outside Tel HaShomer Hospital in Tel Aviv Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said: 'It was one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations I have witnessed over the course of 47 years serving in Israeli defence' IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari (pictured last month) spoke to reporters about the operation The IDF has released images of the Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant approving the operation together with IDF Chief of the General Staff and other generals. He said it was 'one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations' he has witnessed in over the course of 47 years serving in Israeli defence. IDF Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said: 'We are talking about Al-Nuseirat, in the centre of Gaza, where Hamas in a very cruel and cynical way is holding hostages inside civilian buildings, in apartments in buildings of three to four floors. 'Holding them the way that it will be impossible to reach to without going through civilians of Gaza. 'There are three hostages in one apartment, three male ones, and Noah Algamani in the second apartment. 'There are only around 200 meters between those two buildings. We decided to do the operation on both of them because if we would have chose one only, the risk that in the other one they would kill our hostages is a huge risk. 'They might have been thinking that we are preparing for another raid. 'You have to understand that they're moving the hostages from flat to flat, it happens from week to week. 'We need to be very, very accurate. We gather the intelligence in multiple ways in order to make sure that we are ready for this operation. 'It has a lot of details, like in a puzzle, and we never have all the links, but we need to make sure that we have enough links. 'We were building models of those houses in order to practice. It needs to be like a surgical operation, like a brain operation. Because if one little bit happens before another, you might kill the hostages. 'Why did we choose daylight? Because we understood that in those apartments with those guards, daytime will be the ultimate surprise. 'The tension in the command room was very, very high. General Levi said the approval word, 'Go,' and the forces start going out at 11am. The raid was at around 11.25am. 'The raid started simultaneously in both buildings. It was very, very complex, very, very intense. 'In one building, Noa Argamani's building we surprised them completely, but it was still hard. 'In the other building, where the three male hostages were, we had to fire and crossfire with the guards. 'In the crossfire, the warrior of the squad, the squad commander was facing the terrorists and he died. 'He was injured in the beginning, and he was brought in a severe injury to the hospital, and he died in the hospital. He has a wife and two children, 36 years old, a brave warrior who gave his life bringing home four hostages alive. 'There was a lot of fire. A lot of fire was around us, running terrorists in the street with RPGs. Freed hostage Almog Meir Jan reunites with family after eight months in captivity Shlomi Ziv kisses his tearful family after the successful rescue operation This is the moment Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas motorbikers on October 7, was reunited with her father 'They were using the civilians to fire on the Israeli forces when they go out from the operation. So much fire was on our forces, and we needed to fire from the air and on the street. 'We had to put the heli down next to the beach and take out the forces because of the warrior that was wounded. 'We took out the hostages in two helis, the first took Nao Argamani and the second one took the three hostages and the wounded warrior that lost his life in the in the hospital. Very heroic operation. 'We don't forget that we have now 120 hostages. We don't forget that need to do everything. 'We know that we cannot do operations to rescue all of them, because they won't have the conditions that will allow it. 'We used the operational division in the Southern Command that was in this area in order to conduct this operation. They gave a shield to the Special Forces in this operation. 'I saw the picture, the father of Noah Argamani raising up his hands coming to the hospital to take his wife to see her daughter before she dies. 'He's saying: 'The IDF, the IDF brought my daughter back.' When you see the warriors going out with the hostages from the helis to the hospital it gives us a lot of a lot of power, and we are very, very determined. 'We need to bring the hostages back home.' Hagari said there were 'under 100' Palestinian casualties. He also revealed revealed that previously special units have been ready to raid apartments with other hostages in them 'three or four times' but 'did not execute'. Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant said: 'This is one of the most heroic and extraordinary operations I have witnessed over the course of 47 years serving in Israel's defense establishment. 'IDF, ISA and Special Forces, as well as the forces who supported [those in the field] have conducted an unprecedented operation - daring in nature, planned brilliantly and executed in an extraordinary fashion. 'The various security agencies cooperated closely - acting as one single unit. 'Our troops showed so much courage - operating under heavy fire in the most complex (urban environment in Gaza). 'I do not remember having completed operations of this kind - at this intensity and with this level of cooperation and success. 'I would like to commend and thank those leading the IDF, ISA and Yamam (Special Forces). We will do everything possible to return all the hostages home.' U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday welcomed the return of four Israeli hostages rescued alive in Gaza Speaking at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macon, Biden said he joined his host in welcoming the return of the hostages and vowed, 'We won't stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached' Hostage Andrey Kozlov shakes the hand of medics after he is checked over Shlomi Ziv hugs his family tightly following the successful mission An emotional Mr Ziv almost breaks down after seeing his family for the first time in eight months A Hamas official said Israel's freeing of four hostages after nine months was 'a sign of failure not an achievement', according to Reuters. The terrorist organisation said dozens of people, including children, were killed and injured in the operation. The Hamas-run health ministry claimed 210 people were killed, including children. U.S. President Joe Biden on Saturday welcomed the return of the four Israeli hostages rescued alive in Gaza. Speaking at a news conference with French President Emmanuel Macon, Biden said he joined his host in welcoming the return of the hostages and vowed, 'We won't stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached'. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on X, formerly Twitter, that he had sent messages to the families of Noa Argamani and Shlomi Ziv. He added: 'I renew my appeal for the immediate and unconditional release of all hostages and for an end to this war.' Israelis have reacted with a mixture of joy and anger following the news - happy that some hostages have been freed, but angry at prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu's ongoing refusal to agree a ceasefire deal that could see the others returned before it is too late. In Tel Aviv, Israelis hailed Saturday as a 'very emotional day'. Uriya Bekenstein, 42,told the AFP news agency: 'We have had these hostages in our thoughts for every day for the better part of a year now - to have even a few of them rescued against all odds, it means the world.' But scores of Israelis also gathered in the city to call for Netanyahu to resign, waving signs that also urged him to agree a ceasefire deal with Hamas. More than 30 people were arrested after sitting in a road in protest as Israeli police also used water cannons to disperse those calling for an end to the war. Netanyahu himself rushed to the hospital to meet the freed hostages. His office released a stream of pictures of him meeting the families of those saved - prompting criticism from those who died before they could be rescued. Avi Marciano, father of Noa Marciano, who was murdered in captivity before her body was returned from Gaza, said in comments reported by the Times of Israel: 'I'm looking at Yaakov, the father of Noa Argamani, and can't not be moved. 'I'm genuinely happy for all the families who got to embrace their loved ones. I'm also jealous. 'This highlights how our ending was bad. When it ends badly, the prime minister doesn't come. He also doesn't call.' The images of Noa, a Chinese-born Israeli citizen, being kidnapped on the back of a motorcycle became symbolic of the horrors faced by civilians at the festival and across southern Israel when the violence erupted. A video of Noa receiving a telephone call from Israeli President Isaac Herzog was distributed by his office. 'I am so happy to be here. Thank you for everything, thank you for this moment,' said a smiling Argamani, sitting with her father in a hospital room. In another video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Noa said, 'I am very moved. I haven't heard Hebrew for so long.' She was kidnapped along with her boyfriend Avinatan Or from the Supernova festival on the morning of October 7. Her boyfriend is still believed to remain in captivity. Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv to celebrate the rescue of hostages - but to also call for Israel to agree a ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the release of others still held captive Some held up banners protesting against Benjamin Netanyahu, who has repeatedly refused to agree ceasefire deals with the terror group Protesters with fake blood on their hands and clothes wave banners calling for an end to the war in Gaza Noa was one of just 19 women that are still being held by the terror group She later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January In a statement, the IDF said: 'The hostages were rescued by the IDF, ISA and 'Yamam' forces from two separate locations in the heart of Nuseirat. 'They are in good medical condition and have been transferred to the 'Sheba' Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre for further medical examinations. 'The security forces will continue to make every effort to bring the hostages home.' The rare rescue comes eight months into war with Palestinian Hamas militants in Gaza. Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant said on X: 'Noa, Almog, Andrey and Shlomi - we are overjoyed to have you home.' The Hostages Families Forum Headquarters - a volunteer-based organisation set up to help bring hostages home - called the recovery of the four hostages 'a miraculous triumph', and called on Israel's government to bring home those still being held. They said in a statement: 'The heroic operation by the IDF that freed and brought home Noa Argamani, Shlomi Ziv, Andrey Kozlov, and Almog Meir Jan is a miraculous triumph. 'Now, with the joy that is washing over Israel, the Israeli government must remember its commitment to bring back all 120 hostages still held by Hamas - the living for rehabilitation, the murdered for burial. 'We continue to call upon the international community to apply the necessary pressure on Hamas to accept the proposed deal and release the other 120 hostages held in captivity; every day there is a day too far.' After Noa was captured in October, she later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January, speaking to camera alongside fellow captives Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38. The two men were later reported to have been killed, with Noa forced to announce their deaths. Hamas also published a 'psychological terror' video of what was believed to be the voice of Noa Argamani on May 31. The Mail On Sunday front page after the October 7 attacks - featuring Noa's plea 'Don't kill me' Noa was filmed hugging her father today in emotional scenes after her long stint in captivity In a video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Noa said, 'I am very moved. I haven't heard Hebrew for so long' Noa's father (pictured in November), Yakov, said doctors have told the family his wife, Liora, does not have long to live in November Yakov sits with Noa's friends in November, who arranged for a song to be performed in honour of Noa and her boyfriend Avi Natan, who was also abducted from the Nova festival Her boyfriend, Avi Nathan, distraught and helpless, was also seen on video being kidnapped on October 7. Her boyfriend is still believed to remain in captivity A photograph taken in 2023 of Avi Natan, who was also abducted from the Nova festival In another video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Noa said, 'I am very moved. I haven't heard Hebrew for so long' It sparked outcry from her family and campaigners who have called for the government to bring her and the other hostages in Gaza home. The voice identified as Noa can be heard saying: 'I am imprisoned with Al-Qassam Brigades [the armed wing of Hamas]. 'I have been in captivity for more than 237 days and do not know till when. Noa's conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu Noa: Hello? Netanyahu: Hello Noa, welcome home. Noa: Thank you very much. Netanyahu: How are you feeling, Noa? Noa: I'm very excited. I haven't spoken Hebrew for such a long time. Netanyahu: Now, both Hebrew, and at home, and that's important. We have not given up on you for one minute. I don't know if you believed it, but we believed it, and it has materialized. Noa: Thanks a lot. Netanyahu: Be blessed with your family, and hug your mother for me and for my wife. Noa: Thanks a lot. Advertisement 'I say to the people of Israel: Have you become government partners with Netanyahu, Gallant and Gantz? Will my fate together with my colleagues be like Ron Arad's fate?' Ron Arad was an Israeli airman who bailed out of his plane during a mission over southern Lebanon in 1986 and was taken hostage. Israel has tried to locate him for decades but he is now presumed dead. The Argamani Family initially released a statement via the Hostages & Missing Families Forum shortly after the video began circulating asking that it not be broadcast. But soon after, the forum provided the following statement, allowing the publication of the video with the family's approval. 'After assessing the situation and receiving additional information, the Argamani family has approved the use of a video in which Noa Argamani was heard while being held hostage by Hamas,' it said. 'Alongside Noa's voice, drawings are shown, which the family believes to be scribbles that Noa has drawn.' The forum statement continued, saying, '125 men and women have been held hostage by Hamas for 238 days. The Israeli government must hear the call and act decisively, without the need for any propaganda video from Hamas, to swiftly reach a deal to bring the hostages home!' Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again. Late last year, the 61-year-old made a last ditch plea to US President Joe Biden begging him for the opportunity to 'hug' her daughter 'one last time' before she dies. Relatives of rescued Israeli hostages that were freed pose with an Israeli flag outs Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on June 8, 2024 People react after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages All smiles outside the medical center in Israel after four hostages were recued alive from the central Gaza Strip on Saturday Supporters of the hostages waved Israeli flags and filmed themselves today Sickening footage showed the moment Israeli hostage Noa was seized by Hamas and driven to Gaza on the back of a motorbike (pictured) on October 7 The chilling video showed Noa surrounded by at least ten gun-toting terrorists (pictured) who can be heard jeering and shouting at her In the footage published in April, the woman can be heard wailing as she is manhandled by a Palestinian fighter, who holds her head down as he places a black bag over her face (pictured) This picture of Noa - her arms outstretched toward her boyfriend as she screams for help - became one of the most recognisable images of the atrocities after it was published by The Mail on Sunday on October 8 She said: 'I am terminally ill with Stage 4 brain cancer. All that's running through my mind before I part ways with my family forever is the chance to hug my daughter, my only child, one last time 'My daughter Noa is a contagiously happy and resilient young woman. 'She loves to dance, loves music, loves being with her friends and family.' In March, she made another please to the President, saying in a video message: 'My heart really hurts. On one hand it's physical, it's not working the way it should. One the other hand, because my daughter is a hostage. 'Since the kidnapping, when I see her look in this picture, it chokes me up. 'How beautiful she is, how amazing she is. I want to see [my daughter] one more time. Talk to her one more time,' she pleaded. 'I am asking you President Joe Biden, I don't have a lot of time left in this world. It may be my last wish, I am really begging you.' The young woman was among more than 100 people who are believed to still be being held hostage in Gaza. She is one of just 19 women that are still being held by the terror group. Some of the survivors who have been released from Gaza during the hostage exchange and ceasefire deal in November have described being tortured, sexually assaulted and starved in captivity. A poster of Noa is seen in the Florentin neighborhood of Tel Aviv, Israel, May 11, 2024 Noa's voice was heard on May 31, accompanied with drawings which her family believe were done by the young woman Israeli civilians were taken off the street and driven back into Gaza on October 7 Footage showed hostages being taken by Hamas militants into Gaza on October 7 Hamas and independent observers have accused Israel of breaching international law with its bombing and other operations in Nuseirat, which have flattened buildings and reportedly killed scores of Palestinians. The area is home to a refugee camp north-east of the city of Deir al-Balah Hamas said in a separate statement: 'There are dozens of bodies of martyrs and wounded lying on the ground, in the streets, and in safe rooms.' The group added that Israeli forces were engaged in a 'brutal and savage aggression on Nuseirat camp'. It has claimed the IDF has also killed some hostages during the operation in messages shared on Telegram. Israel has labelled the claim a 'blatant lie'. Hamas spokesperson Abu Obaida said: 'The enemy was able, by committing horrific massacres, to free some of his captives, but at the same time he killed some of them during the operation. 'The operation will pose a great danger to the enemy prisoners and will have a devastating impact on their conditions and lives. 'What the Zionist enemy carried out in the Nuseirat area in the middle of the Gaza Strip is a complex war crime, and the first to be harmed by it were its prisoners.' Iran's foreign ministry said the raid was a 'horrific and shocking crime'. The country is supportive of and has funded Hamas. The Jordanian foreign ministry also labelled the military operation a 'violation of international law', as did neighbouring Egypt. Graphic images filed by press photographers and videos shared on social media showed casualties from Israeli attacks on the refugee camp. Children were clearly among the injured and dead being carried away. 'The bloodbath must end immediately,' the European Union's foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on the social platform X, formerly Twitter. Palestinians evacuate dead and wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Deir al Balah today A Palestinian man carries a casualty in the aftermath of an Israeli strike today Palestinians evacuate dead and wounded in Deir al Balah today Palestinians evacuate dead and wounded in the Israeli bombardment of the Gaza Strip in Deir al Balah on Saturday Injured Palestinians at Al Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir al Balah, Gaza following Israeli strikes A Palestinian civil defense firefighter inspects the smoking ruins of a building hit by Israeli shelling at Nuseirat refugee camp AFPTV video showed thick plumes of smoke billowing into the sky from several buildings in Nuseirat. Other footage posted online showed Kozlov and Meir Jan arriving in Israel and beachgoers erupting into cheers in Tel Aviv after a lifeguard announced the four had been rescued. In recent weeks the military has carried out intense air and ground assaults in and around Nuseirat. On Thursday, the military struck a school turned shelter run by the UN agency for supporting Palestinian refugees, also known as UNRWA, which the Al-Aqsa hospital said had killed 37 people. The Israeli military acknowledged it conducted the strike in the Nuseirat refugee camp that targeted the UN school, saying it killed 17 'terrorists' there. In February, another rescue mission freed two hostages, but the health ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza said heavy air strikes that accompanied that mission killed around 100 people in Rafah, southern Gaza. Around 1,200 people were killed in Israel during the October 7 attacks and around 250 people were taken hostage. More than 100 hostages were released during a ceasefire in November in exchange for Palestinian prisoners in Israel. There are now 116 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead. Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed at least 36,731 people in Gaza, mostly civilians, according to the Gaza health ministry. Of those, some 15,000 were said to be children. As they filed to their giant Airbus A400M transport planes, ready to be flown to Normandy, 250 British paratroopers were walking in the footsteps of history thanks to The Mail on Sunday. Wednesday's mass parachute drop to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day was saved after this newspaper alerted Defence Secretary Grant Shapps to the fact that only one plane was available, rather than the four required. Three more were found paving the way for the poignant salute to the drop behind enemy lines that marked the start of the invasion of Nazi-occupied France. The MoS travelled with the paras from RAF Brize Norton, Oxfordshire, in the lead A400M. Troops included Lance Corporal Addy Carter, 22, of the Royal Army Medical Corps the first female soldier to pass the tough All Arms Pre Parachute Selection that proves personnel have the abilities needed for the Airborne Forces. Wednesday's mass parachute drop to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day was saved after this newspaper alerted the Defence Secretary that there weren't enough planes Troops involved in the parachute jump included Lance Corporal Addy Carter, 22, (pictured) of the Royal Army Medical Corps the first female soldier to pass the tough All Arms Pre Parachute Selection The view from the hold of the plane. Soldiers re-enacted the poignant salute to the drop behind enemy lines that marked the start of the invasion of Nazi-occupied France As she waited to be 'dispatched' into fields near Sannerville, where the 8th Battalion Parachute Regiment landed on June 6, 1944, Carter said it was an 'honour' to be 'part of history'. But unlike their heroic predecessors, jumpers had to show their passports at an impromptu border control post in a field. Brigadier Mark Berry, Commander of 16 Air Assault BCT, said: 'It is important we keep alive the memory of what was achieved on D-Day. Our predecessors jumped at night into enemy territory, using considerably less sophisticated equipment than we have now. It requires courage to jump out of an aircraft, but to do it those circumstances is hard to comprehend.' A cosmetic clinic that offered 'boob jobs for the cost of a cup of coffee a day' has been ordered to pay $25million to more than 1,000 of its former patients. The NSW Supreme Court this week signed off on the settlement against The Cosmetic Institute (TCI), which was found to have 'ruined' the lives of the clients who formed the 2017 class action. TCI offered breast augmentation surgery for as little as $5,990 and used a 'One Size Fits All approach' to streamline its services. '[This system] was allegedly employed regardless of a patient's anatomy ... and the associated requirement for different or additional surgical approaches and techniques,' Justice Richard Weinstein said, news.com.au reported. TCI is currently under liquidation. The Cosmetic Institute has been ordered to pay $25million to its former patients whose lives were 'ruined' by botched boob jobs Narelle Bayon (pictured) suffered neurological damage from her $6,000 boob job under TCI's 'One Size Fits All approach' The massive lawsuit was led by 12 women who gave detailed evidence of the intimate procedures by TCI, which led to serious health complications. Justice Richard Weinstein acknowledged the 'lasting harm' the women faced during the proceedings. 'Without their participation, this representative proceeding, which will benefit so many women, would not have been possible,' he said. 'In this case the expert reports refer to the plaintiffs' breast augmentation surgery in detail and they have had their private anatomy examined multiple times and photographed. 'It is reasonable to expect that the discomfort and embarrassment caused by this intrusion into their privacy was magnified because of the intimate nature of the claims.' Those 12 women are set to receive $2.81million to split between them. An estimated $10million of the settlement will pay the class action's legal and administrative costs. The remainder of the money - about $12.19million - will be shared by the more than 1,000 lawsuit signers. Several horror stories about TCI have come to light in the last 10 years with the affected clinics based in Sydney and the Gold Coast. Sarah Jaremenko (pictured) revealed a breast implant from TCI had migrated to her armpit and caused severe damage TCI offered breast augmentation surgery for as little as $5,990 and used a 'One Size Fits All approach' to streamline its services In 2015, former patient Sarah Jaremenko revealed a breast implant from TCI had migrated to her armpit and caused severe damage. 'I've now got torn ligaments, torn muscles, implant displacement, I need a complete reconstruction and it's just a mess,' she told 7News. That same year, a woman went into cardiac arrest after receiving a high dose of local anaesthetic from the company's Bondi clinic. One woman has suffered seizures since her procedure with TCI while another was forced to undergo emergency surgery. Narelle Bayon suffered neurological damage from her $6,000 boob job. 'It's pushing on nerves on my arm and that's creating pain every day, I've got pins and needles,' she said. Other issues mentioned in the class action included heart problems and punctured lungs. CNN has come under fire for its use of language in its reporting of the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas since October, in a raid in Gaza on Saturday. During an interview discussing the hostage rescue operation a headline appeared on the screen stating the hostages had been 'released' as opposed to having been 'rescued'. On-air, news anchor Victor Blackwell was interviewing Ian Bremmer of Eurasia Group - although neither of the men used the word 'release' in their discussion. Critics quickly pounced on the news network, claiming they had got the angle of the story completely wrong - at least on screen. Their point being that Hamas had not willingly 'released' the hostages and that the Israel Defense Forces had actually rescued them. IDF operatives were able to secure the four hostages in what military chiefs branded a 'complex daytime operation'. CNN has come under fire for its use of language in its reporting of the rescue of four hostages held by Hamas since October, in a raid in Gaza on Saturday. CNN said they were 'released' IDF operatives were able to secure the four hostages in what military chiefs branded a 'complex daytime operation' Critics quickly pounced on the news network, claiming they had got the angle of the story completely wrong - at least on screen 'Come on @CNN the four hostages were RESCUED not released. Do better,' tweeted the account StopAntisemitism. Another critic, Yaari Cohen, an Israeli student branded the chyron 'disgusting' adding the network 'should be ashamed.' 'Hamas didn't 'release' these Hostages, the IDF rescued them after Hamas held them for 8 months!!' Cohen wrote on X. 'Yeah, they were released after the IDF killed about 24 Hamas Terrorists That were guarding the hostages', wrote Chief Woodman. 'What is this CNN? Hostages were rescued, they were not released. This is an important distinction,' argued another user. 'CNN is fake news. The terrorists didn't 'release' the hostages, they were rescued. Can't you guys ever just say the truth', agreed one X poster. 'CNN so glad that Israeli commanders released the hostages from the terrorists holding them. I wondered why no one trusts the media anymore - such a mystery.' Israel named the rescued hostages as Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41. They were taken to hospital for medical checks and were in good health, the military said. Later on Saturday evening, video footage showed Meir Jan celebrating with his friends after his rescue earlier on Saturday. There were scenes of euphoria as he was reunited with them for the first time in more than eight months. Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen being kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks last October Noa smiles while having a drink of Coke with her father Yakov after being reunited on Saturday Among the hostages rescued Andrey Kozlov (pictured), 27, a Russian who moved to Israel in 2022. He had been working as a security guard at the Nova festival when he was kidnapped Rescued hostage Almog Meir Jan reacts after emerging alive from the central Gaza Strip after he was rescued by soldiers in the mission on Saturday 'He is one of us, and we won't give him up!' the group chanted as they danced in a circle around him while smothering him with hugs and kisses. All four of the hostages rescued on Saturday were all kidnapped from the Nova music festival during the deadly raid by Hamas-led Palestinian militants on Israeli towns and villages near Gaza on October 7, which precipitated the devastating war. The hostage rescue operation and an intense accompanying air assault took place in central Gaza's al-Nuseirat, a densely built-up and often embattled area in the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian territory's ruling Islamist group. The mission left one officer Arnon Zmora (pictured) dead after the rescue operation An Israeli military spokesperson said the operation took place in the heart of a residential neighborhood in Nuseirat where Hamas had kept the hostages in two separate apartment blocks. Israel's forces came under intense fire during the assault and responded by firing 'from the air and from the street,' the spokesperson, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said. 'We know about under 100 (Palestinian) casualties. I don't know how many from them are terrorists,' he said in a briefing with journalists. An Israeli special forces commander was killed during the operation, a police statement said. Gazan paramedics and residents said the assault killed scores of people and left mangled bodies of men, women and children strewn around a marketplace and a mosque. The mission also left one officer, father-of-two Arnon Zmora, 36, dead - 'mortally wounded' during the firefight with Hamas terrorists. Israeli News 12 broadcast footage of Argamani reunited with her father, smiling and embracing him. Video of Argamani's kidnapping, showing her shouting 'Don't kill me!' as she was driven into Gaza on a motorbike, had circulated soon after she was taken on October 7. A smiling Argamani was shown speaking by phone to Israeli President Isaac Herzog from hospital surrounded by family and friends, in footage released by the president's office. People wave Israeli flags as they celebrate after hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on Oct. 7. were rescued from Gaza Strip President Joe Biden spoke to the press on Saturday in Paris. But rather than a press conference, officials said the event was a 'press statement' without any questions 'Thank you for everything, thank you for this moment,' she said. 'I am so excited to hear your voice, it brings tears to my eyes ... Welcome home,' Herzog said. U.S. President Joe Biden welcomed the return of the four Israeli hostages rescued in Gaza. 'We won't stop working until all the hostages come home and a ceasefire is reached,' Biden said at a news conference in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron. Two Australian brothers who were allegedly killed with their friend in Mexico have been laid to rest on home soil during an emotional funeral service. Jake and Callum Robinson, 30 and 32, and their American mate Jack Rhoad, 30, went missing while on a surfing trip in the Mexican province of Baja California in April. The desperate manhunt sparked global headlines until the grim discovery of their bodies at the bottom of a 15-metre-deep well near their camp. Local police allege they were shot after resisting the theft of their truck. On Saturday, hundreds of bereaved friends and family gathered at a private service at the Sacred Heart College in Sorrento, in Perth's north-west, where the brothers graduated from school. Brothers Jake and Callum Robinson (pictured), 30 and 32, and their American mate Jack Rhoad, 30, went missing while on a surfing trip in the in the Mexican province of Baja California sx weeks ago Their devastated parents, Debra and Martin Robinson (pictured), fought through tears to farewell them and the 'pure love' they emanated in their short lives Their devastated parents, Debra and Martin Robinson, fought through tears to farewell them and the 'pure love' they emanated in their short lives. 'They loved life and they followed their dreams,' Ms Robinson said. 'They were intelligent, respectful men with so much more to offer the world.' The cover of the memorial brochure featured a picture of the two brothers smiling with their arms around one another, accompanied by the words: 'live bigger, shine brighter, love harder'. Callum was an accomplished lacrosse player who represented Australia and played professionally in the US. Meanwhile, Jake was a doctor who was about to start a new job at a hospital in Geelong. 'We're not here to dwell on the where or the how or try to understand the why of their passing but instead to say goodbye to two young men and hopefully start the healing process for everyone,' Ms Robinson added. 'We love that Jake was curious, kind and happy and never judgmental. 'Callum always made a conscious decision to wake up and be positive every day. He saw so much fun in life. 'We love that they loved every single dog in the world.' The cover of the memorial brochure featured a picture of the two brothers smiling with their arms around one another, accompanied by the words: 'live bigger, shine brighter, love harder' (pictured) They were killed alongisde their friend American Jack Carter Rhoad (pictured) Ms Robinson urged those gathered to 'find your own way to honour them in the way you live your life'. 'We have cried many tears and we will cry many more We miss you beyond description,' she said. 'Callum and Jakey boy, please shine on us.' The heartbroken parents were forced to fly over to Mexico to identify their son's bodies after they were discovered in the well. Three Mexican nationals have been arrested over their deaths; the alleged ringleader Jesus Gerardo, his brother Cristian Alejandro and Gerardo's 23-year-old girlfriend Ari Gisel. In an Ensenada court, prosecutors claimed that Jesus had driven his girlfriends car to the area where the Robinsons and Mr Rhoad were camping and later ambushed the trio. Gisel was later stopped by cops on a routine patrol in Ensenada on May 1, when when she allegedly threw a small bag containing 100g of meth on the ground and tried to run away, Telediario reported. An iPhone belonging to Mr Rhoad was also allegedly found following an inspection of the vehicle. The two men were arrested soon afterwards. Only Gerardo has been charged with forced kidnappings over the killings. He is yet to enter pleas but his charges are expected to be upgraded to murder. He will remain in custody until November when he is next due to appear in court. A 91-year-old billionaire was arrested on Friday for sexual assault charges that span multiple decades. Frank Stronach, who once oversaw a sprawling auto-parts empire, was charged with five criminal offences, including rape, sexual assault, indecent assault on a female, and forcible confinement. The Peel Regional Police revealed that the alleged sexual assaults lasted from the 1980s to 2023. The Austrian-Canadian businessman was arrested in the posh Toronto suburb of Aurora, before being released on conditions. According to a police statement, Stronach will appear at the Ontario Court of Justice in Brampton at a later date. The Peel Regional Police revealed that the alleged sexual assaults spanned the 1980s to 2023. Stronach with Carmen Stamboli at the Miss Vienna contest in 2014. The Austrian-Canadian businessman was arrested in the posh Toronto suburb of Aurora Stronach's defense attorney stated that the billionaire 'categorically denies' all of the allegations Peel Regional Police Constable Tyler Bell confirmed that there were multiple accusers, but he declined to specify how large the number was. 'Obviously, this is a high-profile case. Our special victims unit is bound to protect the victims and in doing so that's why we're being vague,' Bell said. 'There is more than one victim but we won't confirm that number yet,' he added. To head up his defense team, Stronach has tapped distinguished lawyer Brian Greenspan, whose previous notable clients included Naomi Campbell and Justin Bieber. In a statement, Greenspan said that the 91-year-old billionaire 'categorically denies' all of the allegations that have been brought against him. Greenspan continued: 'He looks forward to the opportunity to fully respond to the charges and to maintain his legacy as a philanthropist and as an icon of the Canadian business community.' Born in Austria in 1932, Stronach grew up under Nazi rule before moving to Canada in the mid-50s. In 1957, the entrepreneur launched Magna in his garage, and over the years, he built it into one of the world's biggest suppliers of auto parts. In 1957, Stronach launched Magna in his garage, and over the years, he built it into one of the world's biggest suppliers of auto parts. Outside of business, he's dabbled in politics, forming the Austrian political party Team Stronach in 2013. Here Stronach is pictured at the final election campaign in Vienna Stronach was named to the Order of Canada, one of the nation's most prestigious honors. Pictured here with Stronach is his wife, Elfriede, (far left) and daughter, Belinda, (middle) Magna currently has a market capitalization of $12.52 billion. The auto-parts giant issued a statement saying that they had 'no knowledge of the investigation or the allegations that have been raised beyond what has been reported in the media.' They further noted that 'Stronach has had no affiliation with Magna since he relinquished control in 2010.' Some of the entrepreneur's other business ventures included the creation of The Stronach Group, a company that specializes in horse racing. In 2013, the auto-parts tycoon returned to Austria, where he dabbled in politics by founding and leading a populist right-wing political party called Team Stronach for Austria. Two months later, Stronach moved back to Canada, where he named to the Order of Canada, one of the nation's most prestigious distinctions. Some of the entrepreneur's other business ventures included the creation of The Stronach Group, a company that specializes in horse racing In 2018, the billionaire sued his daughter (pictured), two grandchildren, and former business associate Alon Ossip for over $500 million in Ontario Superior Court In 2018, the billionaire sued his daughter, two grandchildren, and former business associate Alon Ossip for over $500 million in Ontario Superior Court. Stronach alleged that they had mismanaged the family's assets, of which he wished to regain control. Belinda Stronach, a former Canadian Member of Parliament and CEO of Magna, countersued her father, saying that he had lost an enormous amount of money on pet projects. The case was eventually settled. Horrified witnesses have described the moment a fairground ride 'ripped apart', catapulting a carriage into the crowd, with four people including an 11-year-old girl taken to hospital - as a major health and safety probe begins. Emergency services were called to the scene at Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park, London yesterday at around 6.20pm. Among those injured included an 11-year-old girl, a man in his 50s, another male in his 40s and a woman in her 40s. Kareen Swaby, 41, had gone to the event for 'just a nice family day out' with her loved ones before things took a terrifying turn. Ms Swaby witnessed the shocking incident and told MailOnline how she saw a carriage on a ride 'come off its hinges and smacked the man in his head'. She was stood next to a man who was injured by the ride, and said: 'Blood was pouring from his head. He got back up and he just collapsed again. At this time, I didn't know if he was conscious or not.' Ms Swaby described how as the situation unfolded, she heard a 'little girl screaming at the top of her lungs'. Emergency services were called to the scene in Brockwell Park today and four people were taken to hospital, according to the police Horrified fairground goers told MailOnline how 'all hell broke loose' and that people were screaming and crying after a ride reportedly suffered a catastrophic fault, that sent people 'flying through the air' The rides stopped soon after the incident, according to an eyewitness She added: 'So I've said to her, are you okay? Wheres your parents? Your family? Who you with? She said, thats my granddad. My granddad, that's him. 'So shes screaming, hes on the floor.' The Metropolitan Police said how 'enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances' and that 'the Health & Safety Executive will be informed'. Other fairground goers told MailOnline how 'all hell broke loose' and that people were screaming and crying after a ride reportedly suffered a catastrophic fault, that sent people 'flying through the air'. One person described the scenes as 'like a horror movie' with another adding: 'People were running towards us and crying and screaming.' An eyewitness added: 'People were running towards us and crying and screaming ... Saw a lady with blood streaming down her face. She had paramedics carrying her off the ride. 'As we were leaving they were putting up higher fences where someone was on the floor, they were being looked after by paramedics and the higher fences had black sheets around them and you couldn't see so someone was very injured and they were giving them privacy.' The witness said that the rides stopped soon after the incident and said: 'I heard someone say that someone had come off the ride but I didn't see it.' Another eyewitness said: 'I am told a ride collapsed and all hell broke loose. 'It was horrific. The screams were terrible. Four people flew off and went through the air. It was like a horror movie.' It's thought the ride that ripped apart was the 'Froggit' jump 'n' smile roundabout. A Lambeth Council spokesperson said: 'The incident was reported at around 6.20pm today and emergency services were quickly on the scene to treat four people who were injured. 'Paramedics and on-site teams cordoned off the area and those who were injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for further treatment. Another witness described the shocking incident as 'like a horror scene' 'The situation is being closely monitored. The area around the ride is secure and the funfair has been closed. 'A thorough investigation is being conducted to determine the cause of the malfunction. 'Additional safety inspections are being carried out on all rides and attractions at the show 'We thank the emergency services for their swift response and dedication. The safety and well-being of our visitors remain our top priority.' Lambeth Police said: 'Emergency services responded at around 6.20pm on Saturday to a fairground ride having failed at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. 'Four people have been taken to hospital. We await an assessment of their conditions. Nobody is trapped on the ride.' They added: 'Enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances. Cordons are in place at the location. The Health & Safety Executive will be informed.' The force later added: 'The four people taken to hospital from Brockwell Park are a man and a woman aged in their 40s, a man aged in his 50s and an 11-year-old girl. 'None of the four is believed to be in a life-threatening condition. We await full hospital assessments.' A London Ambulance Service spokesperson said: 'We were called at 6:18pm today to reports of an incident at Brockwell Park, SE24. 'We sent multiple resources to the scene including four ambulance crews and members of our hazardous area response team. We also dispatched London's Air Ambulance. 'We treated four people at the scene and took them all to major trauma centres.' The Princess of Wales has promoted her 'Girl Friday' Natasha Archer to a key position at Kensington Palace, I can reveal. In a move that has been interpreted in Royal circles as a reward for her loyalty, Ms Archer has been appointed to the new role of senior private executive assistant to Kate and William. Ms Archer, 36, updated her profile on the LinkedIn career website last week to reflect her upgraded status. The Princess of Wales has promoted her 'Girl Friday' Natasha Archer (pictured) to a key position at Kensington Palace Princess Kate pictured during her personal message video released by Kensington Palace Previously she was a PA and stylist, and was pictured carrying Kate's bags on and off planes for Royal tours. Ms Archer's promotion follows reports that she personally collected The Princess of Wales from the London Clinic after her abdominal operation earlier this year. After that, the mother of two was brought into the innermost circle of select friends and family members who have been supporting the Princess through her private cancer battle. Sources say Ms Archer, who is married to Royal photographer Chris Jackson, has been dedicated to her employer. She has been inseparable from Kate in recent months, often assisting her as she travels to and from hospital appointments. Now she will have a title and salary that reflects her trusted status. A source said: 'Natasha deserves this boost she's unfailingly discreet and loyal to Kate. The salary boost will be welcome too. This appointment means we can expect to see Natasha by Kate's side for years to come. Kate and Natasha pictured watching a rugby game together at Allianz Stadium in Australia in 2014 'It seems to be Kate's way of thanking her for her loyalty.' Before joining William and Kate, Ms Archer worked in the private office of the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who she joined in 2007. She attended the 48,000-a-year Uppingham School in Rutland, whose alumni also include Stephen Fry. Hollywood star Hugh Jackman also once famously worked there as a teaching assistant. Labour has announced plans to crack down on nuisance off-road motorbikes terrorising rural communities. The policy will be part of manifesto pledges to tackle antisocial behaviour. Police will be given new powers to scrap noisy dirt and quad bikes within 48 hours, instead of having to keep them impounded for two weeks, if Labour wins the General Election. Sir Keir Starmer's party also wants to hike on-the-spot fines for using off-road bikes or ignoring officers' instructions to stop, which are currently as low as 100. The Labour leader and shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper are expected to promote the plans on a visit on Sunday. Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper speaks on day three of the UK Labour Party annual conference in Liverpool in October 2023 Police will be given new powers to scrap noisy dirt and quad bikes within 48 hours, instead of having to keep them impounded for two weeks, if Labour wins the General Election (file pic) Shadow Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said that if Labour wins the General Election, police will get the powers to take the bikes that are a 'nightmare for communities' off the streets for good. Other plans being put forward by Labour include extending closure notices for drug dens from 48 hours to 72 hours, giving police more time to get them shut down at court. Data-driven hotspot policing would target the most prolific antisocial offenders under the party's proposals. Ms Cooper said: 'Noisy off-road bikes speeding round local streets and neighbourhoods, deliberately disturbing and intimidating local residents, are a nightmare for communities. 'Yet too often the culprits get away with it again and again, and even when the police take action, the bikes still end up back on the streets. 'Cracking down on antisocial behaviour will be one of next Labour government's first steps because everyone should feel safe on their streets. 'Labour will give police the powers they need to take illegal, dangerous and antisocial bikes off the streets for good, as well as tough measures to close drug dens. 'We will also rebuild the neighbourhood police that has been dismantled by the Tories and put police back on the beat where they belong.' Labour's manifesto this week will also promise laws to crack down on violence against shop staff. 'Labour is determined we will pass a new law to make a specific offence of assaults and abuse against shop workers and to make sure it's taken seriously by the police,' the Labour frontbencher told The Mirror. Sir Keir Starmer 's party also wants to hike on-the-spot fines for using off-road bikes or ignoring officers' instructions to stop, which are currently as low as 100 (file pic) She also vowed to end the 'shoplifters' charter' under which police will not press charges unless the value of stolen goods is more than 200. The party also promised to deliver 14,000 more prison places as it blamed Conservative inaction for the prison estate 'bursting at the seams'. Classifying prisons as sites of national importance so ministers can take control of planning decisions would stop the 'powder keg waiting to explode' behind bars, shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said. The Tories hit back that they are already 'overseeing the largest expansion to the prison estate since the Victorian era'. Labour's manifesto this week will also comprise pledges to set up 80 new specialist rape courts across and England and Wales, introduce specialist rape units in every police force, and introduce laws to crack down on violence against shop staff, according to Sunday newspapers. And in a bid to kill off the Tories' much-disputed claim that Labour would hike taxes by 2,000, Sir Keir will include a cast-iron pledge in the manifesto not to raise income tax, national insurance or VAT for five years, The Sunday Times reported The Tories meanwhile are set to tout a Tory pledge to halt the rising costs of welfare by reforming the benefits system. The party claims it would help save some 12 billion a year by the end of the next parliament, although the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said this 'looks difficult in the extreme' as the measures have been previously announced and have therefore already been incorporated into the Budget forecasts. Those already floated measures include a 700 million investment in NHS mental health treatment, a pledge to reform the disability benefits system and a tightening of the criteria for work capability assessments. The former assistant city attorney of Atlanta, who was also a life advice podcaster, has been jailed for seven years after fraudulently obtaining approximately $15 million in COVID relief loans. Shelitha Robertson, 62, used the illegally gained funds to splash out on luxuries such as a 10 carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce and a motorbike. The former police officer had obtained the money under the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), a federal stimulus program that was set up during the pandemic. But only weeks before she was imprisoned, Robertson was still gleefully appearing on her daughter's 'Mommy & Me' podcast in which the pair would give their advice on dealing with the world - including advising listeners on how to earn money though hard work and 'integrity'. But Robertson didn't follow her own advice and decided to make her money through deception, submitting one false loan application after another to the COVID relief scheme claiming she needed the cash to support four businesses she owned. What she said in the loan documents was extraordinary, claiming she had a workforce of more than 400, meaning she was entitled to millions of dollars in handouts for each of the companies she claimed to run. Shelitha Robertson, the former Assistant City Attorney of Atlanta, was sentenced to seven years in prison for fraudulently obtaining approximately $15 million in COVID relief loans Shelitha Robertson, 62, and her daughter Brii Renee, presented a Mommy & Me podcast in which the pair would offer 'life advice' to their 300,000 followers Court documents show that Robertson falsely claimed she was responsible for a 427 employees. The number of 'staff' in her 'companies' allowed her to obtain enormous PPP loans, which were designed to keep legitimate businesses afloat through the pandemic. In an October episode of the podcast Robertson presented alongside her daughter Brii Renee, she was asked if she would choose integrity over poverty when asked how she would react to the chance to make money quickly. 'I choose integrity and whatever else it brings. I don't choose selling your soul to the devil. Because that would mean I am willing to belittle myself and degrade myself for the love of what? Of a dollar,' Robertson began, knowing full well the Department of Justice were already investigating her. 'How my kids view me and respect me, means more to me than earning a quick dollar for me to be something that I'm not,' Robertson said, just weeks before she was hauled off to jail. Robertson used the multi-million dollar proceeds from her loans to purchase luxury items, including a 10-carat diamond ring worth at least $150,000, as well as luxury vehicles, including the Rolls. Robertson will be almost 70 by the time she's released from prison, leaving behind her influencer daughter Brii Renee, who boasts over 600,000 Instagram followers, seen here The DOJ also said she transferred funds to a co-conspirator, Chandra Norton, and other family members. The pair had no such qualms about abusing such a scheme, even submitting false tax documents to back up their inflated income statements within each loan application. A jury convicted Robertson of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and money laundering, with the judge sentencing her to seven years and three months in prison, followed by three years of supervised release. Robertson will be almost 70 by the time she's released from prison, leaving her influencer daughter Brii, who has over 600,000 Instagram followers, without a podcast partner. It's quite the fall from grace for Robertson who was Atlanta's Assistant City Attorney and had been a city cop too In the 'Mommy and Me' in which the pair discuss 'navigating life's challenges', according to an Apple Podcasts preview. In one episode of the podcast from October 2023, Robertson advises followers to 'chase their dream' because 'the money will come'. 'When you have a passion for something that you love, you can do it for free. Don't ever chase the money. The money will come. Chase your passion, Chase your dream. The money will come,' Robertson insists. Her daughter, who was born through artificial insemination, posted a glowing tribute to her mother. 'I wouldn't be who I am today without the amazing mother, example, hustler, you are!', daughter Renee wrote just a few weeks ago. 'Thank you for every sacrifice you made and every dream you pushed me to achieve!' In court, Robertson tried to appeal to the judge before her sentencing. The money was intended for legitimate businesses who needed it to survive the pandemic 'I'm dead broke,' she said. 'My business is gone. My (law) license is gone. My assets are gone. The only thing I have left is my family and my faith in God.' She said she was deeply sorry for the impact her conduct has had on her family, wife and community. 'I'm not that person that tries to take advantage of anybody or any situation,' she said. 'I've owned up to what I've done.' Snippet from the criminal indictment of Shelitha Robertson that show the fictitious companies into which millions of dollars were paid through government funds Court documents show how millions of dollars were distributed to Robertsons made up firms Robertson regularly appeared on her daughter's podcast where she would advise followers to work hard and not to be motivated by money As part of her spending, the 62-year-old splashed out on a Rolls Royce car U.S. District Judge Steven D. Grimberg said the loss of the $14 million in funds was staggering. 'It was her level of direction and confidence in being able to commit this level of fraud without being detected that instigated it in the first place,' Grimberg said in court. 'Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that were designated to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,' said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. ' 'It was her level of direction and confidence in being able to commit this level of fraud without being detected that instigated it in the first place,' Grimberg said in court. Robertson used the loan proceeds to purchase luxury items, including a 10-carat diamond ring Robertson has run for public office several times including that of Superior Court Judge 'Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that were designated to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,' said U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan. ' 'Today the defendant in this case was held accountable for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program and using those stolen funds to enrich herself, while small businesses were struggling during the pandemic,' added Kyle Myles, Special Agent in Charge of the FDIC. 'The FDIC Office Inspector General remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who took advantage of such pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of our Nation's financial institutions.' Peter Dutton has vowed to ditch Australia's commitment to the Paris Agreement on climate change, sparking fury from environmental campaigners. The Opposition leader confirmed he will dump the legally-binding commitment to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 if he becomes prime minister. The Coalition has argued that remaining committed to the Paris Agreement is doomed to fail, while smashing Australian industry in the process. Instead, Mr Dutton said he was committed to reaching net zero by 2050 but wants to see nuclear power play a role in that ambition. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton (pictured) has confirmed he will dump Australia's legally-binding commitment to reduce emissions by 43 per cent by 2030 if he achieves power, arguing that it is unachievable The Coalition has argued that remaining committed to the Paris Agreement is doomed to fail, while smashing Australian industry in the process (pictured, a solar farm in Gunnedah, NSW) 'They (Labor) just have no hope of achieving the targets and theres no sense signing up to targets you dont have any prospect of achieving,' Mr Dutton told The Australian. He added: 'You cant have the Prime Minister saying we arent going to have coal, we arent going to have gas and were not going to have nuclear power and we are going to keep the lights on thats just fantasy. 'We now have a debate about energy which I think we can win.' Energy Minister Chris Bowen slammed the move, saying the Paris Agreement was internationally-binding. 'At the moment, the countries outside the Paris accord are Libya, Yemen and Iran. Is Mr Dutton proposing to take Australia into that company now,' he said. This criticism was reflected by environmental groups who accused the Liberal party of adopting a 'wildly inappropriate' position. 'Mr Dutton's plans would be an international disgrace and it would trash our relationships with key allies who are depending on Australia to adhere to keeping 1.5 degrees alive,' Australian Conservation Foundation chief executive Kelly O'Shanasy said. 'Mr Dutton is also banking on a nuclear fantasy which Australia does not need and Australians do not want.' Mr Dutton said he was committed to reaching net zero by 2050 but wants to see nuclear power play a role in that ambition (stock image of a nuclear power station) Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured) said Mr Dutton 'was never serious about climate change' Climate Council chief executive Amanda McKenzie said opting out of the Paris Agreement would make Australia a 'global laughing stock'. 'Dutton's climate policy is a disaster, and the consequence for Australians would be more extreme heat, fires and floods,' she said. 'Instead of ripping up Australia's 2030 climate targets, Peter Dutton must listen to the communities already ravaged by worsening climate disasters.' Meanwhile, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Mr Dutton 'was never serious about climate change'. 'He still wont tell the Australian people where he plans to put his nuclear reactors - or how much they will cost,' Mr Albanese wrote on X. A brave NYPD officer was 'dragged' along the street while trying to apprehend a moped driver during an operation targeting scooter-related crime on Thursday. A set of pictures taken at the scene captured the harrowing moment when the officer, whose identity isn't yet known, confronted the suspected criminal. According to the NYPD, the 18-year-old driver attempted 'to flee' the authorities. The photos show the suspected criminal desperately leaning forward on his bike. The intrepid cop, however, refuses to let go or weaken his grip around the driver's waist- even as he's towed pulled over the rough street. As the pictures progress, it appears that the biker loses his balance and the police officer is eventually able to wrestle him to the ground. According to the NYPD, the 18-year-old driver attempted 'to flee' the authorities. The photos show the suspected criminal desperately leaning forward on his bike The final image in the series shows the moped driver sprawled flat on the ground, with the daring officer pinning the suspected criminal down with his knee and placeing cuffs around his wrists. The cop's pant leg is torn and tattered from where it was dragged along the street. The moped operator was later charged with reckless endangerment and resisting arrest. The officer sustained bruises and abrasions to his legs and arms from his heroic action. Kaz Daughtry, the NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Operations, posted the pictures of the incident to his X.com account on Friday night.'Not on our watch!' Daughtry wrote. 'Addressing lawlessness and community quality of life concerns, Times Square Public Safety, MidtownSouth and Midtown North precincts conducted a joint Moped Operation.' A brave NYPD officer was 'dragged' along the street while trying to apprehend a moped driver during an operation targeting scooter-related crime on Thursday Daughtry went on to state that they had successfully confiscated '39 mopeds/motorcycles,' and that they had issued '40 summonses.' At the end of his post, the Deputy Commissioner said: 'Special thank you to the brave officers of these commands.' Daughtry went on to state that they had successfully confiscated '39 mopeds/motorcycles,' and that they had issued '40 summonses.' At the end of his post, the Deputy Commissioner said: 'Special thank you to the brave officers of these commands.' As the pictures progress, it appears that the biker loses his balance and the police officer is eventually able to wrestle him to the ground The final image in the series shows the moped driver sprawled flat on the ground. The daring officer pins the suspected criminal down with his knee and places cuffs around his wrists The incident involving the fugitive moped driver occurred during a city-wide operation targeting illegal vehicles. Mayor Adams and Police Commissioner Caban are pictured here before confiscated bikes Thursday's operation was part of an ongoing effort by the NYPD to crack down on the illegal use of moped and scooters, which are increasingly being used in crimes throughout the city. Earlier in the week, Deputy Commissioner Daughtry posted another series of pictures to X.com, in which a pile of confiscated illegal bikes is shown. In one of the pictures, Mayor Eric Adams and Commissioner Edward A. Caban proudly stand before the heap of sized vehicles. In another picture, a bulldozer trundles over the bikes, flattening them. 'CRUSHING crime and lawlessness,' Daughtry captioned the pictures. Thursday's operation was part of an ongoing effort by the NYPD to crack down on the illegal use of moped and scooters, which are increasingly being used in crimes throughout the city. Mayor Adams is seen here with a seized bike He wrote: 'Today, thanks to the leadership of @NYCMayor and @NYPDPC, many of the illegal motorized scooters and bikes seized by your hardworking NYPD officers were crushed for scrap metal.' He added: 'If you think you can commit crime, operate an illegal vehicle, or ride recklessly in the five boroughs, think again!' Last week, Mayor Adams boasted that the NYPD has seized more 41,000 illegal vehicles over this past year- a state record. On his X.com account, the mayor uploaded a video in which two bulldozers can be seen crushing the confiscated bikes. 'Illegal and dangerous vehicles, like mopeds and scooters, have been terrorizing our people for far too long,' the Mayor Adams captioned the video. In one of Deputy Commissioner Daughtry's pictures, a bulldozer trundles over the bikes, flattening them According to the Mayor's office, in the first five months of 2024, there has been a total of 79 robberies using illegal scooters and mopeds- eight times the figure from two years ago. In May, there was an uptick in thefts and felony assaults, which has been 'largely fueled by offenders fleeing crime scenes on illegal, unregistered motorized scooters, bikes, or other vehicles.' In response, Mayor Adams announced a crusade against unlawful possession of vehicles. 'Mopeds and scooters are not only endangering pedestrians when they are driven recklessly, but we have also seen an exponential increase in criminals using them to ride around and snatch property from New Yorkers.' In early June, a teenage Venezuelan migrant opened fire on two NYPD officers after they tried to pull him over on his scooter. Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, 19, the teen who shot two NYPD officers on Monday night in Queens, allegedly told police he is a part of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua The NYPD officers involved in the shootout were filmed leaving Elmhurst Hospital in the daylight several hours later. One was wheeled out (pictured) as colleagues gave them a standing ovation Bernardo Raul Castro-Mata, 19, was approached by police as he drove the unregistered motorbike the wrong way down a one-way street in Queens. The migrant responded by opening fire on the officers with an unlicensed gun, striking one cop in the leg while the other sustained a shot to their bulletproof vest. He then fled the scene on foot at around 1.40am, the NYPD said. Mata, who illegally entered the US at Eagle Pass, Texas, last July, allegedly told police that he is part of the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, law enforcement sources told the New York Post. The 'coordinator' of the 'snatch and grab' gang is known to provide their members with mopeds that are used in robberies, including stealing cell phones. The notorious gang has been referred to as 'an invading criminal army' by US lawmakers and a member is suspected of the brutal murder of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley. Mata is believed to be a member of the gang based on his social media posts and a distinctive tattoo on his arm of a clock attached to an anchor, which is known to be tied to the group, the sources said. The sources also told the New York Post that Mata first checked into a shelter on Ditmars Boulevard in Queens along with three other people, but he hadn't been living there since May 15. Officers pursued Mata after noticing that he was riding the scooter without a helmet, in the wrong direction, without a license plate, on a crosswalk filled with pedestrians, prosecutors said. The NYPD said officers chased him for 'several blocks' after he discarded the scooter and jumped on a two-wheeler. The 'coordinator' of the 'snatch and grab' gang is known to provide their members with mopeds that are used in robberies. (pictured: Mata's discarded scooter at the scene) Another image showed three officers carrying Mata away from the crime scene in East Elmhurst, Queens, by his arms and legs as he screamed A third officer, Sgt. Nicholas Condos, joined the pursuit as Mata pointed his gun and shot Officers Christopher Abreu and Richard Yarusso, both 26. The gun he used was recovered at the scene. On Wednesday, law enforcement sources confirmed that the .380-caliber Hi-Point pistol belonged to a woman who purchased the firearm in Raleigh, North Carolina in 2017. She said she did not know it had been stolen. During the violent altercation, the teen was shot in the ankle. He underwent surgery early Monday morning at New York-Presbyterian Queens. In February, New York City police officers arrested seven Venezuelan migrants who allegedly stole wallets and cellphones from 62 women with the help of their mopeds. One of the most shocking thefts involved a migrant on a moped dragged a 52-year-old woman along a Big Apple street to steal her phone - a robbery caught on surveillance footage. The scooter thief reportedly stole her bag, phone, credit cards, keys, glasses, $60 cash and her ID last month in the Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn. One of the gang members is seen dragging a 52-year-old woman he Sheepshead Bay section of Brooklyn last month. They reportedly stole her bag, phone, credit cards, keys, glasses, $60 cash and her ID The suspects arrested were stealing the iPhones to use the Apple Pay feature and use the owners' credit cards to buy items, police said. NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said the scooter drivers were paid $100 a day and the phone snatchers were paid between $300-$600 per phone. 'These perpetrators are part of a sophisticated criminal enterprise made up of immigrants who have recently arrived in the United States,' said Kenny. 'This network of thieves predominantly lives in the migrant shelter system.' NYPD Commissioner Eddie Caban said, 'Theyre essentially ghost criminals.' A woman has received a two-year suspended sentence after signing a mother and her late daughter up for swimming lessons just two days after the toddler drowned. Alana Jade Osborne, 29, faced Pine Rivers Magistrate Court, north Brisbane, on Friday where she pleaded guilty to one count of unlawful stalking, harassment, intimidation or abuse against Central Queensland mother Tahlia Kay Murphy. The court heard Ms Murphy's 17-month-old daughter, Taidyn 'Totty' Murphy, drowned in a spa bath at the family's home in Gracemere, south of Rockhampton, while Ms Murphy was at work during September 2022. Ms Murphy lost her job the same day. She is not accused of any wrongdoing in her daughter's death. The toddler's tragic death triggered a year-long barrage of 'mental torture' for Ms Murphy, who was targeted by Osborne and co-accused Jessie Ella Ayling. Tahlia Kay Murphy (pictured with Taidyn 'Totty' Murphy) suffered over a year of 'mental torture' following the death of her toddler Taidyn 'Totty' Murphy (pictured) drowned in a spa bath at the family's Gracemere, south of Rockhampton, home The court heard between August 12, 2022 and December 7, 2023 the pair created a number of social media accounts to 'make a mockery' of Taidyn's death, the Courier Mail reported. On one occasion, just two days after the drowning, Osborne signed Ms Murphy and Taidyn up for a swim school. Ms Murphy was left very distressed after the school subsequently contacted her to make arrangements for lessons. Osborne and Ayling would use their series of online profiles to share content and comments about little Taidyn's drowning, including on Facebook and TikTok. The content further distressed Ms Murphy as it could be seen by grieving family members, including her older then-12-year-old daughter. The court heard the harassment wasn't just limited to social media, though, with the pair emailing Ms Murphy's boss demanding she be sacked and Osborne at one point sending pizza deliveries to the family's home. Magistrate Annette Hennessey recalled Ms Murphy's emotional victim impact statement in which she detailed her struggle to properly process her young daughter's death amid the onslaught from the co-accused. 'She said that the harassment and torment caused by yourself and the co-defendant, during one of the most stressful and heartbreaking times of her life, made her feel mad, angry and stressed and she contemplated taking her own life on multiple occasions,' Magistrate Hennessey said. 'She says she felt betrayed and stressed by both the content of the posts and messages that you and the co-defendant sent online. 'When she was in the thick of her grief and then tormented online, she couldn't think or focus on organising her daughter's funeral because of your actions. 'She had an older daughter at the time, who was 12, and she refers to you contacting the daughter with distressing content as well.' Alana Jade Osborne and Jessie Ella Ayling harassed Ms Murphy (pictured with Taidyn), including one occasion when Osborne signed the pair up for swimming lessons just two days after the toddler's death Police prosecutor, Mr Shiyaad, described Osborne and Ayling's actions as 'malicious and depraved'. 'For the defendant and co-defendant to make a mockery of this death, to harass the grieving victim, it is inexcusable,' he said. 'The method employed by the defendants to inflict this act of mental torture was complex and relentless. 'It is further aggravating that these (two women) not only contacted the aggrieved but also her systems of support, being her family and her friends. 'These were cold, calculated and premeditated acts.' Ms Murphy shared a complicated relationship with both Osborne and Ayling. She described Osborne as her best friend between 2017 and 2021 with Ms Murphy opening her home to her for four-to-five months in 2020 as Osborne recovered from amphetamine addiction. Osborne's lawyer, Andrew Ferrett, said the pair knew each other since 2012 but became especially close from 2016 as they had children around the same time. However, Osborne started to feel resentment towards Ms Murphy for failing to empathise with her addiction struggle. 'She (Osborne) managed to get herself off amphetamine and during a period of time, moved up to Rockhampton to stay with the victim,' the court heard. 'Their relationship became a little fractured during that period of time because my client felt the victim was quite insensitive towards her plight with amphetamine addiction at the time. 'She felt the victim could be patronising towards her and insensitive about her predicament.' Osborne and Ayling would post online content and comments about the death of Taidyn (pictured) After leaving Ms Murphy's home, Osborne moved to Brisbane. Ms Murphy suspected her husband was having an affair with Jessie Ayling in the city and asked Osborne to investigate their relationship. It is understood Mr Murphy was in a relationship with Ayling during a brief split from Ms Murphy in 2022. 'My client then came into contact with the co-defendant, while she was in a relationship with the victim's partner and ironically became close to the co-defendant (Ayling),' Mr Ferrett said. 'She did start to have a difficulty with the victim and this was enhanced by the acrimonious relationship between Jessie (Ayling) and the victim Tahlia, as a result of Tahlia's partner Cecil having a relationship with Jessie.' Several factors of Osborne's life and upbringing were heard by the court, including the fact she was mostly raised her by controlling mother, whom she had a 'difficult' relationship with. That strained relationship resulted in Osborne facing periodic homelessness during her childhood, alongside other issues. The court also heard Osborne was looking after four children, including a nine-year-old boy whose parents were in jail. She currently works as a retail assistant and service station assistant but is undertaking a Certificate III in pathology. Osborne is being considered for the position of an Indigenous Liaison Officer with Metro North Health and hopes to have a career in medical science. Ms Murphy said she was unable to properly grieve Taidyn (pictured) due to the unrelenting harassment Mr and Ms Murphy have both already been sentenced for a revenge attack on Ayling and Osborne, with the aid of a third party, on November 30, 2022 at Taigum. On February 26, 2024, they were given a 2.5 year wholly suspended sentence for firebombing Osborne's car. Ayling was sentenced by Ipswich Magistrates Court on May 17 to 12 months' probation for using a carriage service to menace, harass, or cause offence and breaching bail conditions. Osborne was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment, wholly suspended for two years. Magistrate Hennessey also imposed a five-year restraining order on Osborne to not contact Ms Murphy. Her conviction was recorded. Shocking dash cam footage has captured the moment a sleeping driver crossed multiple lanes of traffic before hitting a house and multiple parked cars. Footage captured on Thursday shows the red Cadillac drifting across a main road in Ogden, Utah. After initially crossing one lane, the Cadillac continues on its path and manages to avoid colliding with oncoming traffic who swerve to avoid the rogue vehicle. As it crosses the road, the car then bounds over a sidewalk and collides with multiple parked cars before plowing into a home. Police later confirmed that the driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old John Green had fallen asleep at the wheel. Dashboard camera footage captured a car slowly crossing multiple lanes of traffic and oncoming cars before hitting a house and a parked vehicle, sending a man to the hospital A social media post from a witness said the car plowed through three front yards, damaging three houses in the process 'Two traffic investigators responded to the scene and determined that the driver had fallen asleep behind the wheel, which caused him to cross lanes and strike the parked cars,' wrote Ogden police Lt. Will Farr in a statement posted on Facebook. 'This incident serves as a critical reminder of the dangers associated with drowsy driving. 'Drowsy driving is a serious and often underestimated hazard. It can slow reaction times, impair decision-making, and significantly increase the risk of accidents.' One man was working on his stationary car, parked in his driveway, when the car crashed into him. Dezmond Guillen, the brother of the injured man, Edgar Guillen, said the 30-year-old was 'crushed' when he was hit. 'He has nine ribs broken. His two lungs from both sides have holes in them that are collapsed,' Guillen told KSL. Traffic investigators determined that alcohol and drugs were not factors that caused Green to doze off, who escaped from the collision unscathed. Even so, he still received a citation for 'failure to keep safe and improper look out,' but released him from custody shortly after. The car also collided with two other vehicles before flipping over and stopping Edgar Guillen (pictured), 30, was working on his car parked in his driveway when the car crashed into him. He has nine ribs broken and two collapsed lungs. Dezmond Guillen (pictured) and his family believe that Green actually was under the influence, citing bloodshot eyes and stumbling out of the car Dezmond Guillen and his family believe that Green actually was under the influence , citing bloodshot eyes and stumbling out of the car. 'He got out of the car. He ran from the scene. He came back out there. He saw the ambulance. He came back in a different shirt,' Dezmond Guillen said. The family said they believe Green deserves a harsher punishment than just a citation. 'I feel like there's a lot more that needs that had to be done,' Dezmond Guillen said. 'Just seeing (my brother) in pain and not being able to move and just being so confusing him, not knowing where he's at and he just makes me really upset that it ended up having to go this route.' The Guillen family has set up a GoFundMe for Edgar Guillen. Anthony Albanese has been accused of committing a 'dog act' over a detail in a seemingly innocent photo of the Prime Minister and his cavoodle Toto. Mr Albanese shared a couple of pictures to X of his pet pooch on a walk outside Parliament House in Canberra on Saturday morning. In one photo, 'Australia's First Dog' sat and posed for the camera alongside her owner with Parliament House and its famous 81-metre flag pole in the background. Mr Albanese, who was shielding his eyes from the bright winter sun behind a pair of sunglasses and a cap of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs, captioned the post: 'Lawn at Parliament House = Toto approved'. In another photo, Toto could be seen roaming around on the lush green grass at the heart of government without a lead on. Eagle-eyed observers pounced on the light-hearted post, questioning whether Toto was allowed off the leash. In one picture, 'Australia's First Dog' sits and poses patiently for the camera alongside her owner with the buildings of Parliament House and its famous 81-metre flag pole in the background Mr Albanese, who was shielding his eyes from the bright winter sun behind a pair of sunglasses and a cap of his beloved South Sydney Rabbitohs, captioned the post on X: 'Lawn at Parliament House = Toto approved' ACT Government rules state that the area around Parliament House is prohibited for dogs - whether they are on the lead or not - and the fine for a breach is $150. It is unclear whether Mr Albanese has a permit for Toto that allows her to be walked on parliamentary grounds. Daily Mail Australia contacted the Prime Minister's office and the National Capital Authority for comment. Social media users accused Mr Albanese of flouting the rules. 'Apparently the law doesn't apply to Albo and his dog,' wrote one . 'Dogs are prohibited anywhere in or around Parliament House. Rules for thee but not for me.' Another directly addressed the ACT government-run Transport Canberra and City Services' 'Are you going to issue a fine for Albo for walking his dog and having it off leash in a prohibited area?' they asked. Others simply stuck the boot in, accusing the Prime Minister of being out of touch. 'For one day - just one day - can you not demonstrate how entirely disconnected you are from reality or entitled you are?' one asked. ACT Government rules state that the area around Parliament House is prohibited for dogs - whether they are on the lead or not - and the fine for a breach is $150 The reaction on X, formerly Twitter, was not pretty for the Prime minister Toto, who is believed to be eight years old, made headlines in October last year when her travel habits came under scrutiny. Nationals Senator Bridget McKenzie grilled Air Force Chief Robert Chipman at a Senate hearing about Toto's jet-set lifestyle. 'Could you provide a list of all flights since the 21st of May 2022 on which animals and specifically an animal called Toto have been permitted on-board special purpose aircraft?' she asked. Mr Chipman confirmed that a pet had been known to travel on the special purpose aircraft primarily used by the Prime Minister for official duties. Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister, and became a celebrity in her own right during the intense campaigning period ahead of the 2022 election The pooch splits her time between her owner's residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament is sitting (pictured: Toto, Mr Albanese and his partner Jodie Haydon) 'I am aware that there is a history of VIPs travelling with pets on VIP aircraft,' he said. '(But) we do not keep comprehensive records of when animals travel on VIP aircraft.' It is not the first time Mr Albanese has found himself in hot water over social media posts of Toto. In 2022, the Labor leader shared a picture of his beloved cavoodle, Toto, watching on as he did a series of live crosses to the ABC and the Nine Network's Today Show on Friday morning. However, the picture was swiftly deleted from social media as it clearly showed the wannabe prime minister's phone number on the dog's collar. Toto is often pictured with the Prime Minister, and became a celebrity in her own right during the intense campaigning period ahead of the 2022 election. The pooch splits her time between her owner's residences at Kirribilli House in Sydney and The Lodge in Canberra when parliament is sitting. 'Toto has a particularly brand of dog food, it's the only one she will eat yes, she's a princess,' the Prime Minister told Nova radio station last year. Fans of Toto created an account on X, formerly Twitter, for the pet pooch. The bio for Toto's profile reads: 'Office of Toto Albanese, Australias First Dog.' An Australian renter has shared the 'tone deaf' email they received from their real estate agent asking them to donate their $300 energy rebate to their fundraiser. The angry Melbourne tenant shared the email from Woodards Croydon Rentals on Saturday. The email detailed the agent's plan to participate in the Vinnies CEO Sleepout, which raises money for rough sleepers, and asked tenants to donate. Further infuriating the tenant, the email highlighted the $300 energy rebate every household around Australia will receive as money that could be donated. The rebate will not be delivered in cash, but will be provided as a quarterly discount on energy bills, paid directly to the provider. The furious Melbourne tenant shared the email from Woodards Croydon Rentals (pictured) on Saturday which asked them to donate their $300 energy rebate 'I'm reaching out to you with a heartfelt request to support my participation in the 2024 Vinnies CEO Sleepout,' the real estate agent wrote. 'As you may already know, this initiative aims to raise awareness and crucial funds to combat homelessness in our community. 'With the recent announcement of the Federal Budget's cost-of-living relief, which includes a $300 rebate on energy bills for all Australian households, I've been reflecting on the privilege many of us have and the opportunity to make a real difference. 'While this rebate offers a welcome reprieve to many facing financial challenges, it's important to recognise that not everyone is fortunate enough to have a roof over their head.' The agent then asked tenants to 'join me in paying it forward by donating your rebate'. 'Just imagine, a $300 contribution can help relocate someone sleeping rough to accommodation services, providing them with safety, support, and hope for a better future,' they said. 'Together, we can make a tangible difference in the lives of those in need. 'So, if you're in a position to do so, I kindly ask you to consider making a donation to support this important cause. Thank you for your generosity and compassion. 'Let's come together to create positive change and build a brighter future for our community.' The $300 energy rebate was announced in the Federal Budget in May in response to the cost-of-living crisis. From July 1, all households will see a $300 credit automatically applied to their electricity bills and one million small businesses will receive $325 off their bills. Energy companies will apply $75 credits to each quarterly power bill under the rebate scheme The receiver of the email was left stunned by the request and questioned why it was sent to the agency's tenants instead of landlords. The agent then asked tenants to 'join me in paying it forward by donating your rebate' (stock image of a homeless person on a park bench) 'My real estate want ME to give money so people can afford to live in a house,' they wrote on Reddit. 'The sheer audacity and tone deaf request that a renter, not a property owner, be asked to give their money because property is unaffordable for other people. 'In this climate of unaffordable housing which is cause by real estates, this is a slap in the face.' The tenant described the email as a 'tone deaf plea for money'. 'How dare the peasants be given any reprieve or handouts, we should ask for them to donate that, even though they themselves could be at risk of homelessness,' they said. 'Here is a better idea, keep housing at an affordable cost so people don't become homeless in the first place.' Woodards CEO Nigel O'Neil told Daily Mail Australia the agency has a long history of participating in the CEO Sleepout. 'Woodards has been participating in the CEO Sleepout since 2017 and since then we have raised just over $713k, which has been used to purchase 8 soup vans and directly provided 921,347 meals for people in need,' he said. 'For the past two years, we have been the number one fundraising team in Victoria and second nationally. 'In addition, a percentage of every Woodards sales commission and every leasing fee is donated to our Foundation where it's distributed to organisations who assist Victorians who are homeless. 'We are committed about helping provide housing and support to the most vulnerable members of our community.' As for why the email was sent to tenants, Mr O'Neil said: 'This year, as per the past eight years, directors, employees and business partners have been participating in the CEO Sleepout. 'Participants reach out to all contacts for donations, as in this case. 'We can appreciate that not everyone is in the position to donate, but if you can, it's a great cause, as everyone deserves the fundamental needs, such as shelter and food.' Several commenters recommended the tenant send the email to the agency's head or a governing body, like Consumer Affairs Victoria. The agent then asked tenants to 'join me in paying it forward by donating your rebate', a request which was slammed as 'tone deaf' 'Forward the email to the principal of the agency telling them you are not sure why you are receiving this email. Emphasise that you are concerned that someone has hacked their data and ask if it is a scam,' one wrote. Another added: 'Mention and highlight the silliness of it. 'Surely asking people who don't own homes, to donate to people who don't own homes, was a mistake? Shouldn't this have been emailed to the people who own multiple houses?'.' A third said: 'Was there any mention in the lease, residential tenancy act or consumer law about using your contact details for marketing? Might be worth contacting the tenants union or Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.' Others said they needed to keep the rebate for themselves and were surprised the real estate agent mentioned the relief package. 'Your energy rebate is none of their damn business,' one said. 'What a tone deaf letter. I always try not to judge people but I really struggle with real estate agents. So many slimy pricks in that industry,' another wrote. 'They can f**k right off. How about they take a cut from their PROFITS to donate. Selfish, greedy bastards,' another said. An Aussie woman has slammed a group of young men who repeatedly wolf-whistled and called out to her while she was walking to her car alone after a concert. Jeannine Baird said the group made a 'deliberate attempt to intimidate a lone female' in Cronulla Mall, in Sydney's south. In an open letter, she said she was walking across a dimly lit Woolworths car park, following a recent Brass Monkey concert, when the group targeted her. 'I was completely covered, wearing a hat and scarf (over my outfit). I had on jeans and low block heeled shoes. I have greying frizzy hair,' she wrote on Facebook. Ms Baird also posted a photo of herself so 'there will be nobody blaming me or attempting to imply I was somehow enticing you to behave that way'. Jeannine Baird (pictured) said a group of young men made a 'deliberate attempt to intimidate a lone female' in Cronulla Mall, in Sydney's south. She then reported the matter to Sutherland Police in the hope CCTV would reveal their identities. Ms Baird said she hopes other women who have similar experiences feel brave enough to make statements. 'The more we call out their attempts to embarrass or frighten us, the more ridiculous and cowardly their behaviour will become,' she said. 'We women have a right to feel safe, in any context we find ourselves. On streets, in venues, in our homes and schools and churches and clubs.' She also addressed the men who made her feel uncomfortable by their catcalling. 'I pray your mums, sisters, and future girlfriends, wives and daughters never experience anything like this, or worse, and that you become able to speak up in future when one of your mates decides it is funny to whistle at a woman by herself, when you are in the safety of your mob,' Ms Baird wrote. Social media users thanked the brave woman for speaking out. 'So perfectly said. I'm sorry you were put in this situation, thank you for standing up for yourself and all women,' one person said. 'I pray that one day a post like this never has to be repeated, because everyone has learnt to live respecting each other and their right to feel safe.' 'As a mother of a son, I hope he would NEVER behave like this,' another wrote. 'No woman should feel scared or intimidated in our country walking alone,' one person said. Social justice campaigner Janine Hendry, who founded the March4Justice movement, said the problem is that men strive to assert dominance over women by intimidating them. She said some young men learn this kind behaviour from their peers or from their family environment, explaining that they often 'egg each other' on thinking it's funny without considering the consequences. 'This happened quite late at night... they are making a woman not feel safe in their own space. It's about controlling how people feel, and it comes from when men feel very disempowered in another area of their life,' Ms Hendry told Yahoo. At least 35 women have allegedly been killed by men in Australia this year At least 33 women have allegedly been killed by men so far this year. Melissa Perry, CEO of White Ribbon Australia, said was no place for intimidating or predatory behaviour in our society and women had the right to feel safe at any time of the day or night. She said the events Ms Baird described speak to the sense of male entitlement that allows men's violence to thrive. She also said men had to be part of the solution in order to end gender-based violence, and that they could do this by making it clear that sexism is not ok. 'This isn't something new, but the emergence of the so-called online influencers like Andrew Tate are filling the void in the narrative because 'good men' are failing the stand-up and call out of misogyny, harassment and sexism where they see it,' Ms Perry said. 'Domestic homicide or sexual assault are extremes, but incidents like this, where a group of guys are making derogatory comments towards a woman, reinforce harmful attitudes and behaviour.' A World War II veteran and centenarian and his 96-year-old sweetheart bride tied the knot near the D-Day beaches of Normandy. On June 8, Harold Terens and Jeanne Swerlin tied the knot inland of the D-Day beaches in Normandy, France. Beaming with joy, the couple who met in 2021 said 'I do' at the historic Carentan-les-Marais town hall, the same location the Allied forces invaded all those years ago, altering the course of war against the Nazis. Terens, originally from the Bronx, New York, enlisted in the Army Air Force more than 80 years ago. He served in the military from 1942 until 1945 as a radio technician. With a collective age nearing 200, the bubbly bride-to-be said on their way into the nuptials: 'It's not just for young people, love, you know? We get butterflies. And we get a little action, also.' Pictured: 100-year-old American World War 2 veteran Harold Terens and his 96-year-old bride Jeanne Swerlin Terens kiss before taking their vows during at the Carentan-les-Marais Town Hall on June 8, 2024 Terens, originally from the Bronx, New York, enlisted in the Army Air Force more than 80 years ago. He served in the military from 1942 until 1945 as a radio technician As the swing of Glenn Miller and other period tunes rang out on the streets, well-wishers lined up a good hour before the wedding After both declaring 'oui' to vows read by Carentan's mayor in English, the couple exchanged rings. 'With this ring, I thee wed,' Terens said. She giggled and gasped, 'Really?' With Champagne flutes in hand, they waved through an open window to the adoring crowds outside. 'To everybody's good health. And to peace in the world and the preservation of democracy all over the world and the end of the war in Ukraine and Gaza,' Terens said as he and his bride then clinked glasses and drank. The crowd yelled 'la mariee!' - the bride! - to Swerlin, who wore a long flowing dress of vibrant pink. Terens looked dapper in a light blue suit and matching pink kerchief in his breast pocket. Following the ceremony, they were invited to the state dinner at the Elysee Palace on Saturday night with French President Emmanuel Macron and President Biden. 'Congratulations to the newlyweds,' Macron said, prompting cheers and a standing ovation from other guests during the toast praising French-American friendship. Together, the collective age of the bride and groom was nearly 200 Terens, left, and Jeanne Swerlin, 96, smile from a window after celebrating their wedding at the town hall of Carentan-les-Marais, in Normandy, northwestern France, where they were married by the mayor The couple was set up by the daughter of Swerlin's most recent partner, who died after sharing 25 years together Terens became a Morse code operater and was paired with a four-pilot P-47 Thunderbolt fighter squadron when he shipped off to Great Britain in 1942. None of the original pilots Terens worked with survived the war. On D-Day, Terens was sent to repair returning planes from France to they could rejoin the battle. Half of his company's pilots died that day. Terens was sent to Normandy twelve days after the landings to bring back the prisoners of war. 'I brought back some American fliers that were released prisoners of war from German stalags,' he said. 'A bunch of emaciated pilots, bombardiers, navigators, gunners, all in very, very bad condition.' 'I did that about six times [also] bringing back Germans who were taken prisoner in Normandy, and some British soldiers as well.' He said he still has nightmares about his time in the service, and didn't even think he would return home to his family alive. 'It was a disgusting war. Normandy was just a horror to look at. I still have nightmares about the war.' 'I never thought I would ever see my mother, father, sister or brother again. I was going to get killed. This is how you feel when you are a kid, about 20 years old, and you are a soldier, and there's a war on. What the hell? I was going to get killed anyway.' On D-Day, Terens was sent to repair returning planes from France to they could rejoin the battle. Half of his company's pilots died that day Terens and Swerlin were flown to France courtesy of Delta for both the wedding and D-Day 80th anniversary celebrations through Delta Air Lines, who upholds a tradition of flying surviving veterans out to commemorate the historic invasion While Terens was fighting in the war, she was in high school dating soldiers who brought her back gifts to impress her - a juxtaposition the two laugh about today While Terens was fighting in the war, she was in high school dating soldiers who brought her back gifts to impress her - a juxtaposition the two laugh about today. When he returned from the war, Terens married his first wife Thelma in 1948. The couple had two daughters and a son. He became a U.S. vice president for a British conglomerate, while his wife was a French teacher. Thelma, who retired from teaching in 2006, died in 2018. The couple had been married for 70 years and share eight grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren. Swerlin married her first husband at 21, whom she shares two daughters and a son with, but was widowed in her 40s. Her second husband died after 18 years of marriage. She had a long-term partner, Sol Katz, for 25 years before he died in 2019. Swerlin has seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. A yearbook scandal has rocked a New Jersey high school after the names and picture of a group of Jewish students were deleted, and their group photo was swapped for one showing Muslim students. The controversy first emerged on Tuesday, when about 375 yearbooks were distributed at East Brunswick High. In the yearbook, the section for the Jewish Student Union was completely cut out, with the names of the members removed. The picture of the group was swapped out for one showing Muslim students who are unassociated with the club. Superintendent of the East Brunswick school system, Victor Valeski, said it could have been a 'legitimate mistake'. However Brunswick mayor Mayor Brad Cohen described the photo switch as a 'blatant anti-semitic act'. A yearbook scandal has rocked a high school after the names and picture of a group of Jewish students were deleted, and their group photo was swapped for one showing Muslim students In the yearbook, the section for the Jewish Student Union fell between the Tenor Bass group and the Key Service Organization, both of which have names listed next to their photos. For the Jewish Student Union, however, there is no text - only a blank space Superintendent Valeski, after apologizing to both Jewish and Muslim students, urged the community not to jump to conclusions. 'I sent a message out to the community today saying that we're investigating- and I wished people would give us time to investigate, not rush to judgment,' he told NBC4. He said the error may have been innocent and without any anti-Semitic motives. 'I'm gonna wait to find out what the investigation finds because it could be a legitimate mistake.' He added: 'I don't want to call it antisemitism yet.' Mayor Cohen, however, said there was no other tenable explanation. Of the yearbook scandal, he said: 'It sparked a lot of outrage in the community because it's hard for most people to fathom how this happened 'by accident.' If the textbook incident was the product of anti-Semitism, Mayor Cohen has wondered whether or not it should be considered a hate crime. Superintendent Valeski, after apologizing to both Jewish and Muslim students, urged the community not to jump to conclusions. He speculated that the error could have been innocent, and one without anti-Semitic motives In a statement, East Brunswick Mayor Brad Cohen called it a 'blatant Anti-Semitic act' 'I think the community - both the Jewish community and community at-large - deserve an answer quickly,' Cohen said. 'It's downright upsetting and outrageous for you not to call it out for what it is: It is an anti-Semitic act.' Once the issue in the yearbook was detected, the members of the Jewish Student Union reconvened to take a new photo, which will be included, along with their names, in amended versions. The school district has also engaged an outside law firm to launch a probe into the matter and get to the bottom of it. 'Hate has no place in East Brunswick and Anti-Semitism will not be tolerated,' Mayor Cohen said. Once the issue in the yearbook was detected, the members of the Jewish Student Union reconvened to take a new photo, which will be included, along with their names, in amended versions School buses drive from the campus of East Brunswick High School after the school day on February 22, 2018 Meanwhile, the New Jersey office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations called for a 'transparent and fair investigation.' The yearbook incident 'has triggered heinous backlash against some Muslim students who had no knowledge on their photo being misused,' spokesperson Aya Elamroussi said in a statement. Tensions have flared across college and school campuses following the October 7 Hamas attack on Israel. On Saturday, Israel managed to rescue four people in a hostage rescue operation in the heart of Nuseirat. Durham university postponed a debate on the war in Gaza at the last minute after a 'mob' of pro-Palestine protesters 'locked' students inside a chamber for more than two hours. Students preparing the chamber for the Friday night debate - about whether 'Palestinian Leadership is the Biggest Barrier to Peace' - found themselves locked inside when protesters created a human chain around the building. Those who were set to defend the argument were Natasha Hausdorff, of UK Lawyers for Israel, investigative journalist David Collier and Lance Forman, a former Brexit Party MEP. Students preparing the chamber 'locked themselves in to prevent the mob entering the building', Mr Forman told the Mail. Union members called the university authorities to request police assistance to clear the entrance for the debate. Mr Forman said: 'The university did not act and before long the mob grew in size and formed a human chain around the building to prevent access. Protesters standing outside the building at Durham university, with one sign reading: 'Genocide is not up 4 debate' A protester holds a megaphone outside the building where the debate was set to take place. It is not suggested the people pictured were among the 'masked thugs' who forced students to lock themselves in Union members called the university authorities to request police assistance to clear the entrance for the debate 'The students inside were by this point terrified that they would also break in. It was up to the University to speak to the police to facilitate this. But they backed down and caved into the mob.' The Mail understands that the university could have classified the protesters as 'trespassers'. If they had done so, the police would have been able to remove the protestors and allow the event to take place, but the university chose not to do this. Throughout the night, the protestors banged drums, shouted chants and sang songs, including 'From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free', 'Israel is a terrorist state' and 'Durham Uni you can't hide, we charge you with genocide'. Mr Forman condemned the university's actions, stating: 'It was an absolute disgrace that the University behaved in this way and did not allow us to make our case. 'They chickened out or were deliberately ensuring their students would not hear from outstanding speakers. 'If universities can't protect free speech within academia they need to replace the chancellors with those who will.' He said the students involved 'were devastated and we were all looking forward to the engagement which would have helped shed light on a very fraught situation'. David Collier and Lance Forman with Natasha Hausdorff as they prepared for the postponed debate One sign read 'Genocide is not up 4 debate' as protesters stood outside the building Union members called the university authorities to request police assistance to clear the entrance for the debate David Collier also criticised the 'outrageous cowardice' of Durham Uni, writing on X: 'I personally saw Durham students yesterday in tears and fearful for their safety because Durham University allowed masked thugs to cage them inside a room for two and a half hours. 'How is this allowed in the UK? Durham University should hang its head in shame.' Those opposing the motion included Chris Doyle, the director of the council for Arab-British Understanding, Dr Peter Shambrook, a specialist Middle Eastern historian and Mohab Ramadan, a Durham university undergraduate. Ramadan, a passionate pro-Palestinian activist who has been involved with the encampment on Palace Green since it began, visited the protestors at their invitation on Thursday to read them his speech and ask for their input. As he entered the camp, he was shouted at and called a 'Zionist pig', a 'traitor' and told to 'f*** off and never come back'. Ramadan said: 'Granting yourself what you're denying to others is shameful. 'To deny others the freedom to speak and debate when you yourself have encamped on Palace Green and have been tolerated, allowed to speak and be heard by the entire university is unforgivable. 'Your actions have alienated the very people you seek to persuade.' Another sign at the protest read: 'What debate? 15,000 dead children' The debate was set to take place in a building at Durham University UK Lawyers for Israel were due to live stream the debate tonight, saying how 'the speakers for the motion will deliver the speeches they had prepared for the debate and discuss the university's obligation to secure freedom of speech within the law'. Matthew Brooker, president of the Durham Union Society, said: 'We feel that Durham University has bent over backwards to accommodate the protesters. 'Many students, irrespective of their opinion on the motion, are devastated that the debate was prevented from going ahead. They feel that free speech died in Durham last night. One student said 'it felt like we were abandoned.' 'Those trapped inside became increasingly distressed as the protesters' screaming, drumming and chanting was coming from all sides. 'Despite the fear of those inside, every person in that room was adamant that they wanted to continue with the debate and that we wouldn't be bullied into giving up.' Durham University said: 'On the evening of Friday 7 June, Durham Union Society, an independent debating society run by students, held an event which involved external speakers on University property on Palace Green, Durham City. 'They were debating the motion This House Believes Palestinian Leadership is the Biggest Barrier to Peace. 'The event went ahead with the full support of the University, in line with our code of practice on freedom of expression. 'We were expecting a protest at the event, having been made aware in advance. We made appropriate security arrangements, taking the advice of Durham Police, to ensure the welfare, safety and security of all involved and our wider community. 'The event was underway. In response to further intelligence and advice from the police about a risk to public safety, the University regretfully took the decision to end the event. 'While disappointed, the Durham Union Society accepted the reasons for this decision. They are an independent society and not formally part of the University. 'University Security worked closely with Police to manage the safe dispersal of people from the Palace Green area. All attendees safely left the building within a short time. 'Durham University has repeatedly affirmed our commitment to lawful demonstration, we robustly uphold freedom of speech, and we actively ensure the welfare, safety and security of all our community. 'The University will liaise with the Durham Union Society on rescheduling the event at the earliest possible opportunity and on providing a secure venue.' The Barefoot Investor has issued a stern warning to everyday Aussies thinking of taking up day trading claiming even the savviest traders have gone broke. Scott Pape gave the advice after a concerned reader wrote to him explaining her firefighter husband wanted to invest some of their $75,000 in savings. Day trading is a notoriously volatile form of investing whereby individuals seek to profit from short-term fluctuations in stocks, currencies and other assets. 'My husband wants to invest in day trading, and has been doing a trading course to "educate" himself,' the worried wife wrote in a column for the Daily Telegraph. Scott Pape (pictured), who wrote the best-selling financial advice book The Barefoot Investor in 2016, was quizzed on whether day trading was a risky financial move by a concerned wife whose firefighter husband wanted to invest some of their $75,000 in savings 'Im not very investment savvy and would definitely be the more money-cautious out of the two of us. She said it appeared 'risky' but her husband assured her it was an opportunity to make their money 'work'. But Mr Pape was quick to pour cold water on the idea. 'Im hearing a fire alarm, and your firefighting, risk-taking hubby is running towards the danger, he responded. 'The only problem is that if he begins day trading its your money that hes going to set on fire.' Mr Pape said that even the 'savviest day traders' he knew had gone broke several times, claiming that the investment strategy was even harder nowadays with the rise of AI bots tracking and predicting fluctuations in the market. 'Its just not a game you can reliably win,'he said. The finance guru likened the couple's financial situation to summiting a mountain. Instead of relaxing in retirement, Mr Pape said the husband's desire to embark on a crash course in day trading was akin to strapping a snowboard to his feet and performing tricks, rather than enjoying the view. 'Id gently remind him that your money is working for you, via your superannuation. Id focus on how much you need to contribute to it to live comfortably,' he said. 'Once that is set up, Id get him busy thinking about all the exciting things he could be doing with his time, rather than risking his money.' Day trading is a notoriously volatile form of investing whereby individuals seek to profit from short-term fluctuations in stocks, currencies and other assets (stock image) In 2021, there were over 1.25 million active online traders in Australia, of which almost half a million placed their first trade on a share market in 2020, according to research firm Investment Trends. Almost half of first-time investors were aged between 25 and 39. Only a small fraction of day traders make a profit. Four Israeli hostages who were rescued from a Gaza refugee camp cried tears of joy as they embraced their families eight months after being kidnapped by Hamas. Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas's October 7 attack that sparked war. Israel announced its forces rescued the four hostages on Saturday from the Hamas-run camp in a 'complex' mission. Footage of the rescue saw them being extracted by helicopter and then reuniting with loved ones in emotional scenes at a Tel Aviv hospital. The group, whom the Israeli military said were in 'good medical condition', were saved in Israel's largest hostage rescue operation since the war began. Almong Meir Jan, 22, is seen crying as he is greeted by his close relatives at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue from the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army on Saturday Shlomi Ziv, 41, who was captured while serving as a security guard at the festival, was seen hugging and kissing his loves ones and in a tearful reunion at the hospital on Saturday. His sister Revital Nasi and cousin Liat met him at the hospital The four hostages were taken to safety out of central Gaza in a heavy air and ground assault on Saturday, the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) said. Meir Jan, Kozlov, and Ziv were rescued at one site in Gaza's Nuseirat camp. Argamani was rescued at another nearby building. The group were reunited with their families at Ramat Gan's Sheba Medical Center on Saturday, just hours after the IDF's rescue operation. In a video released by the Israeli military, Meir Jan is seen crying as he is greeted by his close relatives. One of his family members could be heard jokingly asking him 'How many pitas [did he eat in Gaza]?', The Times of Israel reported. His friends also appeared on a video call, cheering, jumping and blowing kisses to him through the screen. They yelled his name and said that they loved him as they wiped their tears. He was later reunited with his friends in person who cheered and applauded before rushing over to embrace him as they chanted: 'He's one of us and we will not give him away!' The 22-year-old, who was due to start a new job in Israel's hi-tech sector on October 8, had gone to the music festival with friends to celebrate his new position. He called his mother around 7.45am the morning of his abduction and said he loved her, she previously told The Jewish Chronicle, as he hid during the attack. His mother later saw him in a video from the raid that in which he and four other men were 'all lying on the floor, some beaten, and their hands were tied'. She said that he was 'covering his face with his hands' and appeared 'frightened'. Speaking for the first time since his rescue, Meir Jan told Kan public radio on Saturday: 'Thank you, thank you everyone, Am Yisrael Chai. I'm completely fine now, I'm with the supportive family. Thanks for everything.' Andrey Kozlov, 27, had been working as a security guard at the music festival after immigrating from Russia to Israel alone a year and a half earlier. He is seen crying at the hospital as he connects with his loved ones via telephone Almog Meir Jan, a released hostage reacts, after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip on Saturday Images from the scene showed a group of around 11 running along the ground in Gaza and into the waiting helicopter to escape after the daring raid on Saturday Kozlov, 27, had been working as a security guard at the music festival after immigrating from Russia to Israel alone a year and a half earlier. Video released by the IDF on Saturday showed him receiving aid at the hospital in Tel Aviv. He was seen walking, sitting and revealed that he had been aware of the weekly demonstrations demanding the hostages' release. Kozlov was also seen embracing Meir Jan as the pair were surrounded by medical staff. His parents boarded a flight from Russia to Tel Aviv to be reunited with their son, according to the Israel Foreign Affairs Ministry. They arrived this morning and were transported to the hospital where Kozlov is currently receiving care. The consulate general of Israel in St. Petersburg accompanied them on their journey, The Jerusalem Post reported. Kazlov's partner, Jennifer Master, thanked the army for their efforts and his aunt Anna, added that there was 'a lot of happiness' and 'a lot of tears'. Shlomi Ziv, pictured at the hospital on Saturday, was also reunited with his wife of 17 years, Miran. She told him: 'My heart, you're a hero' Andrey Kozlov, a released hostage reacts, after the military said that Israeli forces have rescued four hostages alive from the central Gaza Strip on Saturday Rescued hostage Noa Argamani embraces her father, Yakov Argamani, after being saved Ziv, who was also captured while serving as a security guard at the festival, was seen hugging and kissing his loves ones and in a tearful reunion at the hospital on Saturday. His sister Revital Nasi and cousin Liat met him at the hospital. Revital, who issued a statement from the medical facility, thanked the family of an officer who was fatally wounded in the rescue mission. 'We are so sorry and just want to say thank you,' Revital said on Israeli television, directly addressing Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora's family, before echoing the hostages' call for a deal with Hamas. 'We have to bring everyone home, and it can't always be through military operations'. Ziv, after the rescue, thanked his sister and cousin for 'everything you have done' in their fight for this release. The 42-year-old was also reunited with his wife of 17 years, Miran, on Saturday. The pair first spoke in a video call before she arrived at the hospital. 'My heart, you're a hero,' Miran reportedly said as the both cried on the call, according to The Times. Ziv then asked his wife about the whereabouts of his wife's cousin and fellow security guard Aviv Eliyahu, who was murdered in the October 7 attack. She told him they would 'speak about Aviv' and asked if she could bring him anything, before he replied 'just come'. Ziv, who studied design, was expected to start a new job soon after the festival. He had was working the event to help Eliyahu, according to The Jerusalem Post. Noa Argamani, with her father Yaakov, on her way into Ichilov Hospital to see her mother Liora hours after she was rescued from Hamas by the IDF Noa Argamani was able to celebrate her father Yaakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks Argamani had been one of the most widely recognized hostages after being taken, like the three others, from a music festival. The video of her abduction showed her seated between two men on a motorcycle as she screamed, 'Don't kill me!' Dramatic footage showed her being loaded into a helicopter wearing a flak jacket and a protective helmet - as the three other hostages held were rushed to another waiting chopper following gun battles with their captors. She was quickly reunited with her father Yaakov Argamani, with whom she was finally able to celebrate his birthday, on Saturday. Yaakov reportedly recited the Jewish Shehecheyanu blessing after their reunion and said his daughter looked 'excellent'. He also urged people to continue to attend the weekly hostage deal protest in Tel Aviv, saying: 'Let's not forget, there are still 120 hostages, and we have to free them. 'We have to make every effort, in any way we can, to bring them to Israel and to their families.' He reiterated that officials needed to do 'everything, and as soon as possible' to bring the other hostages the home. Within hours of being reunited with her father, Argamani was rushed to the Ichilov Medical Centre in Tel Aviv to see her mother, Liora Argamani, who has stage four cancer. Her mother, Liora, has brain cancer and had released a video pleading to see her daughter. Israel's Channel 13 said Argamani was moved to the hospital where her mother is treated. In a message released by the government, Argamani told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu she was 'very excited,' saying she hadn't heard Hebrew in so long. Netanyahu in a statement vowed to continue the fighting until all hostages are freed. The operation was 'daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion,' Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. The IDF has released images of the Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant (in black) approving the operation to rescue the hostages together with top military chiefs A view of Israeli helicopter, carrying four Israeli hostages that were retrieved after a military operation in the area The rescued prisoners were photographed disembarking with soldiers from an air force CH-53 Sea Stallion military helicopter which landed in the grounds of the Sheba Medical Center An injured person is evacuated from an Israeli air force helicopter landing in the grounds of Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre in Ramat Gan on Saturday The same day as the rescue, aid began trickling back into the devastated Gaza Strip via a rebuilt, temporary pier, according to the US Central Command. The pier, built by the US military to boost the delivery of direly needed relief supplies, was only briefly operational before it suffered storm damage at the end of May. After repairs, it was re-established on Friday. CENTCOM said crews delivered about 492 tonnes (1.1 million pounds) of 'much needed humanitarian assistance' via the pier on Saturday morning, and stressed that the facility was in no way connected to Israel's hostage rescue operation. In Nuseirat, where the hostages were being held, Palestinians described coming under intense bombardment and heavy gunfire. The hostages are among seven that Israeli forces have freed alive since Palestinian militants seized 251 people in their October attack on southern Israel. There are now 116 hostages remaining in Gaza, including 41 the army says are dead. Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage embraces his mother, Orit Meir Freed hostage Almog Meir Jan smiles with family after a gruelling eight months in captivity Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage reacts with his mother, Orit Meir, after the rescue Hostage Shlomi Ziv reunited with family after eight months in captivity News of the freed captives was met with celebrations and cheers in Israel, while anxieties over the fate of the remaining hostages prompted thousands to gather in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the eight-month-old war. 'They won't be able to release all of them in a military operation,' said Michael Levy, whose brother Or is still being held. Near Nuseirat on Saturday, an AFP photographer saw scores of Palestinians running for cover in fear of further Israeli strikes. After the operation, piles of smouldering rubble and chunks of concrete clogged the streets. The Hamas media office said 'the number of victims from the Israeli occupation's massacre in the Nuseirat camp has risen to 210 martyrs and more than 400 wounded'. Israeli police said an officer was mortally wounded during the rescue operation. Nuseirat resident Khalil Al-Tahrawi described hearing gun battles and shelling from his shelter. 'The Israeli warplanes began bombing us in all directions to cover up the withdrawal process,' he said. The operation came days after an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which a Gaza hospital said had killed 37 people and the military said targeted 'terrorists'. UNRWA condemned Israel for striking a facility it said had been housing 6,000 displaced people. Israel accuses Hamas and its allies in Gaza of using civilian infrastructure, including UN-run facilities, as operational centres, charges the militants deny. The war has brought widespread devastation to Gaza, with one in 20 people dead or wounded, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Most of Gaza's 2.4 million inhabitants are displaced. Aid groups and the United Nations have also accused Israel of blocking or delaying the entry of food, water, medicines and fuel into Gaza, depriving people of lifesaving supplies. Israel has blamed shortages on aid agencies' inability to distribute supplies. UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that 135 UNRWA workers have died in the war, the highest number of UN personnel killed in a single conflict. 'This horror must stop,' he said. Supporters and family members of hostages walk react to the news of the rescue Almog Meir Jan, a rescued hostage embraces a loved one Hostage Shlomi Ziv smiles with medical staff after his safe return to Israel US President Joe Biden reiterated his call for a ceasefire while welcoming news of the Israel's freed hostages. 'We won't stop working until all the hostages are home and a ceasefire is reached. That's essential to happen,' he said. He was speaking in Paris alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, who said: 'We rejoice at the release of the four Israeli hostages.' Israel faces growing diplomatic isolation, with international court cases accusing it of war crimes and several European countries recognising a Palestinian state. Thousands of people marched through London on Saturday calling for a ceasefire, while demonstrators outside the White House protested against Washington's support for Israel amid Gaza's deadliest-ever war. The Hamas attack that triggered the war resulted in the deaths of 1,194 people, mostly civilians, according to an AFP tally based on Israeli official figures. Israel's retaliatory military offensive has killed at least 36,801 people in Gaza, also mostly civilians, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Efforts to mediate the first ceasefire in the conflict since a week-long pause in November appear to have stalled after Biden offered the latest plan for a multi-phase truce and hostage release. Major sticking points include Hamas insisting on a permanent truce and full Israeli withdrawal from all parts of Gaza - demands Israel has rejected. Netanyahu also faces pressure from within his government to end the war, with war cabinet minister Benny Gantz threatening to quit. This is the moment Noa Argamani, who was kidnapped by Hamas motorbikers on October 7, was reunited with her father Hostage Andrey Kozlov shakes the hand of medics after he is checked over Supporters of the hostages waved Israeli flags and filmed themselves outside the hospital on Saturday after the military said that Israeli forces had rescued four hostages Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to celebrate the rescue of hostages - but to also call for Israel to agree a ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the release of others still held captive Gantz cancelled a news conference scheduled for Saturday where Israeli media had speculated he would announce his resignation. In brief remarks on Israeli television, Gantz on Saturday evening urged his colleagues in government to 'look responsibly' into 'how we can continue from here'. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Saturday called on Hamas to accept the latest truce proposal outlined by Biden at the start of the month. 'The only thing standing in the way of achieving this ceasefire is Hamas. It is time for them to accept the deal,' he said. Blinken is set to visit Israel and key regional partners Egypt, Jordan and Qatar from Monday. Dr Michael Mosley might have 'collapsed with the heat' during his walk through 'treacherous' terrain on the island of Symi, the Greek mayor has claimed. Mayor Eleftherios Papakalodouka said searchers had been looking in the wrong place for the first two days of the hunt to find the missing Mail columnist who was last seen on Wednesday afternoon. Dr Mosley, 67, was on the secluded St Nicholas beach when he set off to walk to the town of Pedi from where he was expected to catch a bus back to his villa in the port of Symi. But the CCTV footage taken in Pedi at about 2pm shows him heading for the mountains instead. Since then and despite a massive search operation involving dogs, drones, helicopters and divers there has been no sighting of the writer and broadcaster. Mr Papakalodouka said Dr Mosley had no water with him when he set off, telling the Sun on Sunday: 'You cannot survive in this weather.' CCTV appears to show Dr Michael Mosley walking towards rocky hills Dr Michael Mosley with his wife Clare Bailey, who last saw her husband on Wednesday Dr Mosley was on the secluded St Nicholas beach when he set off to walk to the town of Pedi from where he was expected to catch a bus back to his villa in the port of Symi He added: 'We're almost sure he walked into the hills [...] with no shade. If you ask me I think he collapsed with the heat. It was just too much.' Previously, the mayor had expressed concern that Dr Mosley may have been bitten by a snake. Symi is home to the Ottoman Viper, which is one of Europe's most deadly kinds of snake. Rescue teams desperately hunting for Dr Mosley are now focusing their search on a dangerous cave complex known as The Abyss. Their efforts in the network of caverns and 'endless' underwater tunnels on Friday found no trace of the TV medic, but his wife Clare Bailey has vowed the family will 'not lose hope' of finding him. Greek police on Friday released new CCTV footage of Dr Mosley taken on Wednesday afternoon, the day he vanished on the island of Symi. He was carrying an umbrella to protect himself from the 35C (95F) heat and walking purposefully towards a mountain trail. This is the picture of Dr Mosley posted with an appeal after he went missing while walking on holiday in Greece on Wednesday A rescue helicopter joined the search yesterday, seen here hovering over Pedi Speaking yesterday for the first time since her husband's mysterious disappearance, Dr Bailey spoke of the 'longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children'. In a statement yesterday Dr Bailey, 62, said: 'It has been three days since Michael left the beach to go for a walk. The longest and most unbearable days for myself and my children. 'The search is ongoing and our family are so incredibly grateful to the people of Symi, the Greek authorities and the British Consulate who are working tirelessly to help find Michael. We will not lose hope.' Sources told The Mail on Sunday Dr Bailey had been called in again to give rescuers further details about what her husband had with him when he disappeared. An official said: 'It's been four days and no trace has been found of him so it was just to go over things again. 'She explained he was wearing a khaki backpack and had his wallet, bottle of water and a watch, which was not a smart watch.' On Friday, the couple's four grown-up children travelled to Symi to join their mother. Volunteers walk mountain paths on Symi where Michael Mosley may have gone after disappearing on Wednesday They were understood to be part of the search party yesterday scouring the two-mile path from Pedi to Agia Marina, as small beach near The Abyss, where rescue efforts will continue today. To enter those treacherous caves, Dr Mosley would have to have swum from the Agia Marina beach the same way the coastguard and divers accessed them yesterday. Rescuers have also been searching around a separate rocky path close to Agia Marina, which rises across jagged limestone terrain and leads by a longer route back to Symi. But it is not marked and guidebooks warn it is a 'technically difficult' trail. The Mail on Sunday walked a section of this path this weekend and, although manageable, it would certainly be hard work under a fierce sun. One member of the search team who we encountered said: 'We have footage of him going this way from the last house in Pedi. 'This is a difficult walk at the best of times and should not be done between 11am and 5pm. We think he was here during the hottest part of the day, at 2pm.' Rescuers are concerned for Dr Mosley's welfare because of the dangerous heat and described the hunt as a 'race against time' with every minute invaluable. All boats have been asked to keep an eye out for him in the water and in a sign of how urgently they were treating the situation, firefighters who had been tackling blazes on the nearby island of Kos were transferred to Symi after bringing the flames under control. At the purpose-built Agia Marina, beach, staff told The Mail on Sunday police had asked to check their CCTV. One employee said: 'I'm pretty certain I would have remembered a man with an umbrella but no one came this way dressed like that. 'It's a climb to the top of the mountain, then you walk down and it climbs again before you meet a road taking you into the town. It would take about an hour, hour and a half maximum. 'There is nothing between here and Symi apart from stones, more stones and sheep and goats. It's all exposed and I wouldn't try and walk it in this heat.' Do YOU live nearby the proposed new block? Email aidan.radnedge.mol@mailonline.co.uk The Good Life sitcom star Felicity Kendal has joined a residents' rebellion against plans for a new 34-storey tower block looming over the Thames. The actress is among locals objecting to the proposed new development in Battersea, south London, which she has branded a 'silly joke' of a scheme. The new estate, on 134-year-old Battersea Bridge, has prompted opposition from people highlighting how the surrounding area has previously been untouched by high-rise properties. Kendal, 77, has asked Wandsworth council in dismay: 'Who on earth would think that building such a massive tower by this bridge was a good idea?' Other local celebrity objectors include rock star Eric Clapton, who owns a home in nearby Chelsea. The Good Life actress Felicity Kendal, seen here attending a performance of Arthur Miller's A View From The Bridge in London last Tuesday, has objected to a Battersea Bridge development This is the latest image from developers of how the mooted 34-storey tower block would look The new 119m-tall building, on the site of a building called the Glassmill which would be demolished as part of the plans, has been proposed by Promontoria Battersea. The company is a subsidiary of US investment firm Cerberus Capital Management, run by billionaire Donald Trump ally Stephen Feinberg. The tower is touted to be even taller than lofty London landmarks such as St Paul's Cathedral, Centre Point and the neighbouring Battersea Power Station. But local opponents have sent hundreds of protest letters to the local authority Wandsworth Council which is deliberating over whether to grant permission. Kendal, whose other TV appearances including being a Strictly Come Dancing contestant in 2010, said: 'When I first saw the plan for this development I thought that it must be some kind of silly joke. 'But it is clearly not a joke, so I am backing the campaign.' The actress, who has lived in Chelsea since 1991, added: 'I have loved this stretch of the river for decades. 'It is beautiful and relatively untouched by high-rise property compared to elsewhere. So much of the river in London has been ruined by great tower blocks of apartments. Local opponents have sent hundreds of protest letters to the local authority Wandsworth Council which is deliberating over whether to grant permission for the proposed building, seen here in an earlier design image The scheme has been drawn up for the site at 1 Battersea Bridge Road, south of the Thames The project would involve demolishing the six-storey Glassmill building beside the river 'This section must be protected and not just handed over to foreign investors to make a pile of money for themselves. 'This whole plan is totally wrong and must be dismissed. It simply cannot be allowed to happen.' More than 1,000 people have now signed a Change.org petition opposing the proposals, set up Chelsea resident and writer Rob McGibbon. He said: 'One Battersea Bridge is a monstrous development. It is a monument to avarice and arrogance and simply must not go ahead. 'The strength of feeling against it locally is very strong and united.' Developers say the project would provide much-needed 142 homes including 45 'affordable' properties, as well as offices and community space. Felicity Kendal starred alongside Richard Briers in 1970s BBC sitcom The Good Life Developers behind the new Battersea proposals say they would provide much-needed 142 homes including 45 'affordable' properties, as well as offices and community space A formal planning application was submitted to Wandsworth council in London last month A spokesman said: 'Designed by the world-renowned architect Farrells, the scheme includes 100 per cent affordable office space, a new community hub for local charities, and public realm improvements to regenerate this under-utilised location.' A formal planning application was submitted to Wandsworth council last month, with public consultation due to run until Thursday next week. It comes as think-tank New London Architecture released a report telling how 270 tall buildings of at least 20 storeys have been built in London over the past decade. Another 583 are in various stages of planning, largely around the City of London and Canary Wharf, the organisation said. Israel has carried out its largest rescue operation since the Hamas war began, taking four hostages to safety out of central Gaza in a heavy air and ground assault. Israeli forces pulled off the daring Operation Seeds of Summer mission in broad daylight on Saturday after raiding a heavily-guarded refugee camp in the heart of Nuseirat whilst under fire. Undercover operatives from Yamam, the secretive antiterrorism unit of the Israeli police, and Shin Bet, Israel's equivalent of MI5, simultaneously raided two apartments in Nuseirat after smuggling themselves into the overcrowded refugee camp, The Sunday Times reported. The plain-clothed rescuers came under heavy fire as they moved out, including from gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades from within the neighborhood. Noa Argamani, 26; Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, were then extracted by helicopter during the 'complex' mission, which an Israeli Army spokesman has described has being 'like a surgical brain operation'. The hostages had been held in captivity for 245 days after being abducted from the Nova music festival during Hamas' October 7 attack that sparked war. They were then reunited with loved ones in emotional scenes at a hospital in Tel Aviv. Israel carried out its largest rescue operation since the Hamas war began on Saturday, taking four hostages to safety out of central Gaza in a heavy air and ground assault. A helicopter transporting the hostages out of Gaza is seen landing outside a hospital in Tel Aviv on Saturday Undercover operatives from Yamam, the secretive antiterrorism unit of the Israeli police, and Shin Bet, Israel's equivalent of MI5 , simultaneously raided two apartments in Nuseirat after smuggling themselves into the overcrowded refugee camp. Pictured is Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant on Saturday approving the operation to rescue the hostages Israel's Defence Forces (IDF) said it freed the four hostages in a daytime operation in Nuseirat on Saturday. IDF spokesman Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari said that military intelligence determined some time ago that the hostages were being held in two apartments, about 200 meters away from each other, in the heart of the Nuseirat camp. He said the forces had trained repeatedly on a model of the apartment buildings. Hagari said the forces moved in simultaneously in broad daylight on both apartments, believing this ensured the 'ultimate surprise'. He explained that 'tension in the command room was very, very high' when IDF Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi approved the mission at 11.25am. The captors holding 26-year-old Argamani were 'taken by surprise' and 'swiftly killed' by Israeli forces as they raided the apartment were she was being held, according to The Sunday Times. She was rushed to a helicopter on a beach near the camp. A gunfight ensued in the second apartment, where Meir Jan, Kozlov and Ziv were being held, as the soldiers tried to leave. Noa Argamani, 26, is pictured at the hospital on Saturday after the rescue, apparently speaking to loved ones on the phone. Her captors had been 'taken by surprise' and were 'swiftly killed' by Israeli forces as they raided the apartment in Nuseirat were she was being held, it has since emerged Almog Meir Jan, 21, (pictured) raises his hands after arriving by helicopter to the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel on Saturday. He was rescued from a second apartment in the refugee camp along with Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41 Shlomi Ziv, a rescued hostage, on Saturday embraces his sister, Revital Nasi, and his cousin, Liat Ariel, who struggled for more than 8 months to bring him home Chief Inspector Arnon Zmora was critically wounded n the exchange and later died from his injuries. 'When we started to go out from the buildings [with the hostages], a lot of fire was around us,' Hagari said, adding that 'terrorists were running in the streets with rocketpropelled grenades'. One of Israel's vehicles was disabled in the gunfight and abandoned as the convoy rushed to the beach, where a second helicopter had been waiting. The two helicopters flew the hostages, who were said to be in 'good medical condition', out of the Gaza strip. They were then taken to hospital for medical checks and tearful reunions with loved ones. Hagari, explaining that the mission was carried out as thousands of people, including civilians, roamed the camp, said they decided to raid both apartments simultaneously to reduce the risk to the hostages. 'If we'd have chosen only one, there was a risk to the other one. The killing of our hostages was a huge risk,' he said. 'They would have known we were preparing for another raid.' A US hostage cell provided advice and support throughout the process of locating and rescuing the hostages, according to a Biden administration official, who was not authorized to comment and requested anonymity. The hostage cells are multi-agency teams. Hamas took some 250 hostages during the Oct. 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. About half were released in a weeklong cease-fire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under 5 and two men in their 80s. Andrey Kozlov, 27, had been working as a security guard at the music festival after immigrating from Russia to Israel alone a year and a half earlier. He is seen crying at the hospital as he connects with his loved ones via telephone Noa Argamani is reunited with her father Yaakov after at the medical centre in Tel Aviv on Saturday after she had spent eight months in captivity Andrey Kozlov, Almog Meir Jan and Shlomi Ziv are pictured with Israeli forces outside a hospital in Ramat Gan, Israel on Saturday after they were rescued from the central Gaza strip Saturday's operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven. Two were freed in February and one was freed in the aftermath of the October attack. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the fighting until all hostages are freed. Saturday's operation was 'daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion,' Defense Minister Yoav Gallant added. News of the freed captives was met with celebrations and cheers in Israel, while anxieties over the fate of the remaining hostages prompted thousands to gather in Tel Aviv demanding an end to the eight-month-old war. 'They won't be able to release all of them in a military operation,' said Michael Levy, whose brother Or is still being held. Near Nuseirat on Saturday, an AFP photographer saw scores of Palestinians running for cover in fear of further Israeli strikes. After the operation, piles of smouldering rubble and chunks of concrete clogged the streets. The Hamas media office said 'the number of victims from the Israeli occupation's massacre in the Nuseirat camp has risen to 210 martyrs and more than 400 wounded'. The operation came days after an Israeli strike on the Nuseirat school run by the UN agency for Palestinian refugees, UNRWA, which a Gaza hospital said had killed 37 people and the military said targeted 'terrorists'. UNRWA condemned Israel for striking a facility it said had been housing 6,000 displaced people. Israel accuses Hamas and its allies in Gaza of using civilian infrastructure, including UN-run facilities, as operational centres, charges the militants deny. Supporters of the hostages waved Israeli flags and filmed themselves outside the hospital on Saturday after the military said that Israeli forces had rescued four hostages Israelis gathered in Tel Aviv on Saturday night to celebrate the rescue of hostages - but to also call for Israel to agree a ceasefire deal with Hamas to secure the release of others still held captive People wave Israeli flags to helicopter carrying hostages who were kidnapped in a Hamas-led attack on October 7 and were just rescued as its lands at the Sheba Medical Center in Ramat Gan, Israel, Saturday, June 8, 2024 The war has brought widespread devastation to Gaza, with one in 20 people dead or wounded, according to the Hamas-run territory's health ministry. Most of Gaza's 2.4 million inhabitants are displaced. Aid groups and the UN have also accused Israel of blocking or delaying the entry of food, water, medicines and fuel into Gaza, depriving people of lifesaving supplies. Israel has blamed shortages on aid agencies' inability to distribute supplies. UN chief Antonio Guterres said on Saturday that 135 UNRWA workers have died in the war, the highest number of UN personnel killed in a single conflict. 'This horror must stop,' he said. A landlord who was being treated for cancer was left more than $6,500 out of pocket after heartless tenants stopped paying the rent. The landlord, a father aged in his 50s, was receiving treatment for brain cancer, when he decided to sell an investment property he owned in Clyde, in Melbourne's southeast in June 2023. The four-bedroom home had been rented out to a family since 2020 and the tenants were charged $430 a week in rent, which they frequently did not pay on time. The landlord put the property up for sale in a bid to support his family due to the ongoing massive costs of his treatment. The tenants were given 60 days to find a new place to live after they were handed a notice to vacate the home. But they refused to leave and in September last year they stopped paying the rent altogether sparking a lengthy battle in the Victorian Civil and Administrative Appeals Tribunal (VCAT). A landlord in Melbourne was left more than $6,500 out of pocket after tenants who lived in an investment property he owned stopped paying rent (pictured stock image) VCAT ruled that the tenants did not need to move even though they had stopped paying rent and the property had been listed for sale. The tenants argued it was 'their home' and their children attended school nearby so it would inconvenience them. The landlord therefore was not allowed to repossess the property and was forced to sell it with the rental agreement in place and the tenants still living in the dwelling. The property was eventually sold forcing the tenants to move out prior to settlement with the new owners, but they still haven't paid the hefty $6,500 in rental arrears. Ray White property manager Hannah Taylor, said her client went through an exhausting regulatory process to have his matter dealt with. 'We had numerous VCAT hearings trying to get the arrears, but unfortunately the member just continued to side with the renters,' Ms Taylor told Yahoo News. 'The landlord was going through treatment. We even had to supply medical documents to the courts to be able to prove that, whereas the renter didn't supply a single document and was let off.' The landlord ended up being locked in a eight-month long battle with the tribunal before a warrant of possession was finally granted. When the police executed the warrant at the property, the tenants had already left the home and the rental was settled the next day. Ms Taylor said she was forced her to take time off after the property had been settled. Ray White property manager Hannah Taylor (pictured) said her client went through an exhausting regulatory process to have his matter dealt with 'Even as a property manager, taking on that stress for them was massive. I had to take mental health days just to cope with it all because we were not getting the outcome that we needed,' she said. The unaccounted expenses forced the landlord to finance the mortgage repayments himself. His insurance was not able to cover the cost of the repayments due to a loophole. He also had to pay the cost of having his matter dealt with by the tribunal, including almost $400 in application fees and $500 for the tribunal hearings. Ms Taylor urged for financial assistance to be given for landlords and those who own properties, who are struggling to make their repayments. She said landlords don't have the same access to funds to cover their financial obligations like renters do. Ms Taylor also said tribunals need to consider the situation of a landlord in a rental agreement and said they should have the right, to evict a tenant who does not pay their rent. Rental providers in Victoria, can give tenants a 14 day notice to vacate the property if their rent is overdue by two weeks. Daily Mail Australia has contacted the VCAT for comment. A teenage bashing victim nearly killed after being repeatedly stomped on by a gang of youths has unleashed at the justice system that says his attackers are too young to understand right from wrong. The 15-year-old male victim, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was allegedly attacked in a shopping centre carpark on Sydney's Northern Beaches by the group while on his way home from school on March 18, 2024. In the alleged racially motivated attack the teen received as many as 60 blows to the head as he was 'repeatedly stomped on'. It was allegedly filmed and shared on social media. Police allege the gang then returned with tasers and knives, and used the tasers to shock the 15-year-old in the back and leg, before a stranger 'stopped her car to save his life'. Despite clinicians saying the teen would have died if he wasn't wearing bike helmet, the 13-year-old alleged ringleader of the gang had multiple serious charges against him dropped. The 15-year-old was allegedly a victim of a racially motivated attack in Sydney's Northern Beaches (pictured). The 13-year-old ringleader of the gang had charges dropped due to his age and not knowing the difference between right and wrong, in the eyes of the law The victim's parents have pleaded with NSW Premier Chris Minns (pictured) to change the law The victim and his family were told that because of the offender's young age, he 'does not have the ability to form criminal intention' and couldn't understand right from wrong under NSW's 'doli incapax' common laws. Doli incapax 'presumes that a child between the age of 10 and 14 years does not possess the necessary knowledge to have criminal intention, that is, the child is incapable of committing a crime due to a lack of understanding of the difference between right and wrong'. But the victim said he wanted the NSW premier, Chris Minns to change the law 'so other victims don't have to be let down by the system', reported The Daily Telegraph. 'At 13 years of age, a teenager should know right from wrong,' the victim said. 'Particularly when they have been charged and spoken to by the police on many occasions. All teenagers would know it's criminal to viciously assault another person. 'I hope this brings about a change in the law.' The teen now says he is a prisoner in his own home and he is receiving death threats from the gang. The victim also said he knew the difference between right and wrong 'as an eight-year-old'. The teen's mother has written to the Premier, pleading with him to change the law. 'Whilst on bail for the attack on our son, he has continued to commit other serious offences, including another serious assault on a child,' she wrote. 'These additional charges are yet to proceed to Hearing. In comparison, a 16-year-old attacker was immediately imprisoned for 5 months. 'We wish to draw this to your attention as an example of our broken justice system,' she wrote. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley (pictured) said the NSW government takes youth crime 'seriously' and has recently 'strengthened laws'. 'Our son has received repeated death threats since the attack and has to be escorted to and from school for his safety. 'Victims and the police are all fed up with these young offenders knowing they are untouchable and literally capable of getting away with murder.' The mother said her son's attack could be 'a catalyst for change'. NSW Attorney-General Michael Daley described the details of the attack as 'disturbing' to The Daily Telegraph. Mr Daley said the government had 'strengthened' laws this year and takes 'youth crime seriously'. The NSW Attorney-General said in NSW the minimum age of criminal responsibility is ten-years-old but says it does not give children a 'free pass' as it is something that can be rebutted if proven a child understood the seriousness of their crime. In the past, The High Court of Australia has previously recognised children as young as 10 have the ability to understand the serious wrongness of their acts. Bhutan PM, Sri Lankan President arrive in Delhi to attend PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony Bhutan PM Tshering Tobgay and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe arrived in New Delhi on Sunday for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Council of Ministers. Upon arrival, Tshering Tobgay was welcomed by Secy (West) Pavan Kapoor, and the Sri Lankan President received a warm welcome from OSD (ER & DPA) P. Kumaran at the airport. Earlier, Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth arrived in the national capital to attend the swearing-in of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. PM Modi is set to take oath as the leader of the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan at 7.15 p.m. Security has been enhanced, and Delhi Traffic Police has issued an advisory regarding the diversion and restrictions on surrounding roads of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Meanwhile, Section 144 CrPC has been already imposed in the national capital. Additionally, air-to-ground surveillance is operational in Delhi to ensure the safety of the guests. Several top leaders from India's neighbourhood and Indian Ocean region will be attending PM Modi's swearing-in ceremony, keeping in line with India's 'Neighbourhood First' and 'SAGAR' (Security and Growth for All in the Region) vision, a government official confirmed on Saturday. Additionally, the leaders who will be participating in PM Modi's oath ceremony include Seychelles Vice President Ahmed Afif, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and Nepal PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', among others. The Tories have been accused of 'dirty tricks' after a Reform UK candidate withdrew from the general election to hand ex-minister Sir Gavin Williamson an easier ride. Tom Wellings, who was Reform's candidate in Stone, Great Wyrley and Penkridge, pulled out of the race at the last minute. He also announced he would now be supporting Sir Gavin, the Conservative former Cabinet minister, who is standing for re-election in the Staffordshire constituency. Mr Wellings expressed concern that by standing as a Reform candidate in the seat, he risked splitting the right-wing vote and handing victory to Labour. But Reform chairman Richard Tice vented his fury at Mr Wellings and accused the Conservatives of 'dirty tricks'. Amid the row, the insurgent party have fallen short of their target of fielding candidates in 630 out of the UK's 650 constituencies on 4 July. The Tories have been accused of 'dirty tricks' after a Reform UK candidate withdrew from the general election to hand ex-minister Sir Gavin Williamson an easier ride Reform chairman Richard Tice vented his fury at former party candidate Tom Wellings and the Conservatives Mr Tice told the Sunday Mirror: 'Wellings put his papers in on Wednesday then in the last hour without telling us withdrew them. 'I am challenging Gavin Williamson to say whether money, jobs or a safe seat was offered to Wellings to do this. He added: 'One of our candidates in the same region was offered a safe council seat and two jobs to stand down. He sensibly rejected the offers and told us what was going on.' In messages seen by the newspaper, Mr Wellings announced his defection by telling supporters: 'I understand many of you were looking forward to having a Reform UK candidate. 'However after careful consideration and extensive analysis of recent local polling data I have made the decision to withdraw my candidacy. 'I care deeply about the future of Staffordshire. Therefore I have decided to support Conservative candidate Gavin Williamson who has considerable experience in government. 'I am confident Gavin is well positioned to effectively challenge a leftwing Labour government.' Sir Gavin, the former defence secretary and former education secretary, rejected the claims and said it was 'certainly not the case.' A Tory spokesman described Mr Tice's accusations as 'utter rubbish'. Tesco has urgently recalled two chocolate bars and have issued a 'do not eat' warning. The supermarket chain is pulling its own own-brand Tesco Nutty Nougat Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack and Tesco Dreamy Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack from the shelves. The sweet treats contain peanuts which are not mentioned on the label. In a statement Tesco told MailOnline: 'We are recalling specific date codes of our Tesco Nutty Nougat Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack 6 X 40g and Tesco Dreamy Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack 6 X 40g. 'Due to a mispack, there is a risk of peanuts not being declared as an ingredient in the product. This poses a possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to peanuts.' The Government's Food Standards Agency echoed the Tesco warning. In a statement they said: 'If you have bought the products do not eat them. Instead, return them to any Tesco store for a full refund. The supermarket chain is pulling its own own-brand Tesco Nutty Nougat Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack and Tesco Dreamy Caramel Chocolate Bars Multipack from the shelves Tesco said in a statement that the chocolate bars are a 'possible health risk for anyone with an allergy to peanuts' (stock image) The statement added: 'The company has also issued a recall notice to its customers. These notices explain to customers why the product is being recalled and tell them what to do if they have bought the product.' People who are allergic to nuts and come into contact with some can go into anaphylactic shock. In extreme cases, and without urgent treatment, their throats could balloon and they might choke to death. Their immune system starts to collapse, blood pressure drops and their airway can tighten so they can't breathe and lose consciousness. Less severe reactions include hives, eczema or swelling and rashes on the skin, runny nose and sneezing, red or watery eyes, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea. The Anaphylaxis Campaign, which helps sufferers, said 'Anaphylaxis is a severe and potentially life-threatening allergic reaction affecting more than one body system such as the airways, heart, circulation, gut and skin. 'Symptoms can start within seconds or minutes of exposure to the food or substance you are allergic to and usually will progress rapidly. On rare occasions there may be a delay in the onset of a few hours. 'The common causes include foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, shellfish, fish, sesame seeds and kiwi fruit, although many other foods have been known to trigger anaphylaxis. 'There may also be a dramatic fall in blood pressure (anaphylactic shock). The person may become weak and floppy and may have a sense of something terrible happening. 'This may lead to collapse, unconsciousness and - on rare occasions - death.' The affected Tesco Nutty Nougat Caramel Chocolate Bars have a best before of February 28 2025 and the affected Dreamy Caramel Chocolate Bars have a best before of between January 31 2025 and February 28 2025. A D-Day veteran who sailed Arctic convoys during WWII has revealed he tried to send his Russian medal of bravery back to Moscow in disgust after Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Alec Penstone, 99, who was a sailor with the Arctic Convoy during the Second World War, said he wanted to hand it back because of the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people. The decorated war veteran, who is now blind, was one of the thousands of sailors who made journeys to the Soviet Union's northern ports to deliver essential supplies while it fought Hitler's invasion. Mr Penstone served on board HMS Campania, an escort aircraft carrier, and his service earned him the Russian Medal of Ushakov for bravery, which was even signed by Putin. He said he tried to give the medal back in February 2022 after the invasion was launched but explained his friends stopped him from doing it. Veteran Alec Penstone, 99, stands with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty at the 80th anniversary of the World War II D-Day Allied landings in Normandy on June 6 As a teenager, Mr Penstone (pictured) was one of the thousands of sailors who made journeys to the Soviet Union's northern ports to deliver essential supplies while it fought Hitler's invasion The war veteran wanted to hand back his Russian medal because of the atrocities committed against the Ukrainian people 'A bravery award signed by Putin of all people. I'm disgusted and disappointed', he told The Telegraph. 'He wants taken off this earth and the sooner the better. I've never said anything like that before but it will be a pleasure when I know that he's dead. And all his tribe as well.' The war hero said Putin's actions threatened the way of life he, and so many of his friends, fought and died for in the Second World War. On D-Day, the teenaged Mr Penstone played a crucial role as his ship's crew searched for U-boats, swept for mines and listened for torpedoes. During the D-Day 80th Anniversary events this week, the Isle of Wight veteran continued to wear the Ushakov medal on his lapel, much to his disdain. Earlier this year, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's invasion began, with a similar number of civilian casualties suspected. Over four years, the convoys delivered 7,000 warplanes, 5,000 tanks and other battlefield vehicles, ammunition, fuel, food, medicine and further emergency supplies. Above: Some of the routes taken by the ships The war hero said Putin's (pictured on June 7) actions threatened the way of life he, and so many of his friends, fought and died for in the Second World War Mr Penstone served on board HMS Campania (pictured), an escort aircraft carrier, and his service earned him the Russian Medal of Ushakov for bravery, which was even signed by Putin Earlier this year, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed since Russia's invasion began It was an operation described by Winston Churchill as the 'worst journey in the world'. Pictured: British troops chip away at ice on board HMS Vansittart, one of the Royal Navy vessels tasked with escorting the supply convoys The big guns of a battleship in Northern water coated with ice. Pictured just before the chipping party got to work to clear the guns for action A stock photo of the Medal of Ushakov, Soviet Union, 1944 silver. Mr Penstone received one for bravery in 2013 During the D-Day 80th Anniversary events this week, the Isle of Wight veteran continued to wear the Ushakov medal on his lapel (pictured top left), much to his disdain On D-Day, the teenaged Mr Penstone played a crucial role as his ship's crew searched for U-boats, swept for mines and listened for torpedoes. A top-secret bunker in Liverpool was the nerve centre of the operation. Pictured: The bunker in April 1945 Churchill (right) proposed the convoys following Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of Russia. Cabinet documents reveal he promised to supply Stalin (middle) 'at all costs'. Above: The pair at the Yalta conference in February 1945 A group of the famous Arctic Convoys who left Liverpool for Russia in the 1940s. The Arctic Convoys saw 1,400 merchant ships make the journey between 1941 and 1945, carrying four million tons of supplies for use by Soviet forces fighting on the Eastern Front Despite his old age, Mr Penstone was seen with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at the event and was seen dancing and singing Auld Lang Syne. Mr Penstone received the Medal of Ushakov for bravery in 2013, along with 200 other former servicemen. The UK Government had originally not allowed the medal to be handed out as it was from a foreign state, but made an exception. Some of the veterans were also handed the Arctic Star campaign medal for their work in the convoys. At the time he received the medal, Mr Penstone recalled of the convoys: 'It was freezing cold. 'As well as the enemy you had the weather against you. 'You look back and you thank your lucky stars you made it.' Speaking recently about his service on D-Day, Mr Penstone told a news agency: 'As night fell on 5 June everything happened. I was on an escort ship, a converted merchant ship. We had Swordfish and Wildcats (aircraft) on board and overnight all our planes had been painted with white stripes to show they were friendly planes. Mr Penstone, who is now blind, is pictured with the top deck of his ship HMS Campania in the background. The background image was taken in July 1944, off the Isle of Arran, Scotland, showing a Fairey Fulmar fighter aircraft which had crashed when landing Alec Penstone (centre) walks with other D-Day veterans during a parade in Arromanches les-Bains, Normandy, France, Thursday, June 6 'And then in the early hours of 6 June all hell broke loose. I was 27 feet down beneath the waterline and the only communication I had with the bridge was a telephone. 'And we heard then that it was an invasion and we were going over to Normandy. 'We were the cover force protecting the invading craft from the U-Boats. We were kept quite busy. We were Action Stations for nearly 40 hours. Without us there would have been a massacre. We weren't the only ships doing it.' Mr Penstone's story in the convoy's was described in the book My Ten and a Half Arctic Convoys: My Life and Times. He said he plans to come back to Normandy to commemorate D-Day as many times as he can. Pictures of the gruelling conditions sailors faced on the Arctic convoys revealed crew members wearing heavy winter coats would regularly remove ice during bitter sub-zero conditions to stop their top-heavy ships from capsizing. The cost in lives was horrific, with more than 3,000 UK seamen that took part killed in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. Above: Sailors on board HMS Narcissus pose for a photograph amid the icy conditions Stunning photos that were colourised in 2018 revealed the full horror of the icy conditions that soldiers and sailors were faced with They showed soldiers chipping away at ice-covered ships and other vessels grappling with huge waves Victory in Europe had been declared on May 8 not least thanks to the sacrifice of the heroes of the Arctic convoys. Above: British sailor on board HMS Belfast amid the wintry conditions Ships sailed through the darkness, fog and appalling cold of the Arctic winter as they were battered by huge waves. But the weather was nothing compared with the fear of being attacked by German warplanes, battleships and U-boats. A total of 78 convoys delivered four million tons of vital cargo and munitions to the Soviet Union allowing the Red Army to repel the Nazi invasion. The cost in lives was horrific with more than 3,000 UK seamen killed in the icy waters of the Arctic Ocean. Their sacrifice on those terrifying trips kept Russia supplied and fighting on the Eastern Front. In total, 85 merchant and 16 Royal Navy vessels perished between 1941 and 1945. But it is likely Nazi Germany would have won the Second World War had the convoys not eventually succeeded. Churchill proposed the convoys following Operation Barbarossa, Germany's invasion of Russia. Cabinet documents reveal he promised to supply Stalin 'at all costs'. Hellcats warm up and prepare for launch on the snow-covered deck of HMS Emperor during abysmal weather conditions. The ship was deployed in March 1944 along with sister carriers HMS Searcher, Pursuer and Fencer to defend convoys All hands on deck: Hardened British sailors would often scrape away snow and ice with their bare hands. Crew are pictured on board the cruiser HMS Sheffield in December 1941 at a Russian base ahead of deployment. The vessel hit a mine off Iceland on March 3, 1942, but rejoined the Arctic Convoy effort after repairs were completed A total of 78 convoys delivered four million tons of vital cargo and munitions to the Soviet Union allowing the Red Army to repel the Nazi invasion. A colourised image shows some of the many ships that made their way to and from freezing northern ports He knew that if Russia fell, the full weight of the Nazi military machine would be targeted at the West. Over four years, the convoys delivered 7,000 warplanes, 5,000 tanks and other battlefield vehicles, ammunition, fuel, food, medicine and further emergency supplies. Norway and the Baltic states had been captured by Germany so the only way to get the goods to Russia was through the northern ports of Murmansk and Archangel, both inside the Arctic Circle. The first convoys set off from Iceland and Loch Ewe in the Scottish Highlands. Two or three reached their destination unscathed. The final convoy departed from the Clyde on May 12, 1945, and arrived at Kola Inlet, near Murmansk, on May 20. It sailed back into Glasgow ten days later. Victory in Europe had been declared on May 8 not least thanks to the sacrifice of the heroes of the Arctic convoys. An ambulance driver who was taken to court for speeding - while on a blue light emergency call - has branded the proceedings as 'a waste of time'. Matt Wood was on his way to Southampton Airport to pick up an 'unstable' patient arriving from Guernsey, in the Channel Islands, when he was clocked doing 90mph. The 27-year-old, who was driving an unmarked ambulance, provided evidence he was responding to a medical emergency but was still prosecuted in what he has slammed as 'embarrassing' proceedings. After receiving a notice of intended prosecution, he had to attend Southampton Magistrates' Court, where the case against him was eventually dismissed thanks to evidence he provided. Speaking afterwards, he said the prosecution was a 'complete waste of time'. Matt Wood (pictured) was on his way to pick up an 'unstable' patient when he was clocked doing 90mph The 27-year-old, who was driving an unmarked ambulance, provided evidence he was responding to a medical emergency Mr Wood was working for Criticare UK Ambulance Service at the time of the incident in January 2023. He said: 'I couldn't believe it even got taken to court. It's very odd this has happened. 'I am pleased the case has been dropped but it is a waste of everyone's time. 'It's embarrassing it has even got this far. I am hoping this won't happen again.' Hampshire Constabulary said records indicated the vehicle used was 'not equipped to transport people and was not marked as an ambulance'. Mr Wood, from Nursling, Hampshire, was in Portsmouth when he got the call to pick up the patient. Despite providing documents to prove he was an ambulance driver to Driving Standards and Hampshire Constabulary, the case was still prosecuted. The emergency vehicle he was driving was an unmarked Volvo, but he did use blue lights. Mr Wood continued: 'Our vehicles must be unmarked as they are kept at our homes. 'We serve the emergency flights from Guernsey - we don't know in advance what time they will be arriving. 'It was argued it was not an emergency as we should've known what time the flight would be arriving. 'The patient was deemed to be an emergency case. 'When the NIP was served on me, I didn't know whether to laugh or not. It's quite embarrassing, especially as it is our job. 'Working in this field, my colleagues and I know there is a risk of this happening, not when it is clear cut.' He added: 'In these cases we always make it clear to Driving Standards and the police who we are and what we are doing, and they tend to leave it alone, but not this time. 'I am hoping this won't happen again.' A UNISON spokesperson said: 'NHS vehicles equipped with blue lights have arrangements in place for handling speeding tickets when dealing with emergencies. 'Ambulance workers can claim exemptions for going over the speed limit, but issues may arise if they're in unmarked cars.' After receiving a notice of intended prosecution, Matt Wood had to attend Southampton Magistrates' Court, where the case against him was eventually dismissed The Crown Prosecution Service said a reviewing lawyer took the view the case should be brought to trial after police submitted a file of Mr Wood's speeding. A spokesperson added: 'The CPS have a duty to continually review cases, and in light of Mr Woods' evidence, the lawyer in court took the decision to offer no evidence and stop the prosecution. 'The CPS does not decide whether a person is guilty of a criminal offence, but makes a fair, independent assessment about whether the case should be considered by a criminal court.' More than 1,000 furious locals attended an anti-tourism protest in Menorca amid backlash at 'overcrowding' fuelled by boozy UK holidaymakers. The mass demonstration on the Plaza de la Biosfera, in front of the island's council building, saw people turn up with deckchairs, towels and sunshades to create a mock beach for the day on the concrete. Ahead of the protest yesterday, lead organiser GOB Menorca slammed 'colonising tourism' and in particular Airbnb-style holiday rentals, which have been linked to a lack of affordable housing, claiming: 'For years Menorca has been increasing excess tourism and the congestion is getting worse. 'Colonising tourism has been gaining ground, first on the coast, then in the countryside, then towns and now also in our homes.' At the protest locals carried placards bearing angry messages in Catalan. Protesters pictured at an anti-tourism demonastration in Menorca on Saturday. It comes amid backlash at 'overcrowding' fuelled by boozy UK holidaymakers A young girl pictured at the protest holding up a sign. The mass demonstration on the Plaza de la Biosfera, in front of the island's council building, also saw people turn up with deckchairs, towels and sunshades as they mocked up a beach for the day on the concrete At the protest locals carried placards bearing angry messages in Catalan One read, 'whoever loves Menorca doesn't sell it', while another said, 'I can't swim in the sea because it's full of boats.' Local Pau Marques, who turned up in swimming trunks under a hotel-style spa robe, said: 'Today we're dressing up as tourists so perhaps they'll listen to us.' GOB spokesman Miquel Camps, insisted the protestors were not 'anti-tourist'. He said: 'We're not going to sit back and do nothing if our politicians are not capable of putting the brakes on the tourist saturation.' Last month it was reported that furious Menorcan residents living in a resort town known as 'Spain's Mykonos' had chained up their streets in their latest bid to stop holidaymakers intruding on their private properties. The nearly 200 homeowners of Binibeca Vell, which lies on the south of the island of Menorca, said they do not want any visitors before 11am or after 8pm. Anti-tourist signs attached to thick rope and chains were hung up throughout the holiday hotspot. Locals there have long complained of rowdy tourists disrespecting their homes by climbing stairs, scaling private balconies and even entering doorways to locals' homes as they hunt for picture perfect spots. The nearly 200 homeowners of Binibeca Vell say they do not want any visitors before 11am and after 8pm Known for its whitewashed cottages and twisting walkways, Binibeca can only accommodate 500 permanent residents in the summer Nearly 800,000 people visit the picturesque village of Binibeca every year Binibeca, famed for its whitewashed cottages and twisting alleys, can accommodate just 500 permanent residents in the summer, but every year around 800,000 tourists pile in and cause havoc for locals. But recent images show the small town almost completely deserted as several alleyways have ropes and chains hanging between the entrances with round signs indicating no trespassers. The new blockades are Binibeca's first anti-tourist measure before residents take a vote on whether to ban holidaymakers altogether in August. The latest protest in Menorca comes days after similar demonstrations in Ibiza and Majorca. An estimated 15,000 people took part in the protest in the Majorcan capital Palma on April 25, which led to one of the organisers having to apologise afterwards for abuse directed at foreign holidaymakers. Shocked tourists were booed and jeered by some locals as they ate evening meals on terraces in Palma's Weyler Square. Marchers were also heard chanting 'tourists go home' as they passed through the central square on the 20-minute route to the iconic street Paseo del Borne. Campaigners waved banners including one with the offensive message: 'Salvem Mallorca, guiris arruix' which in Catalan means 'Let's save Majorca, foreigners out'. Protesters shout at shocked holidaymakers enjoying dinner and drinks in Palma Protesters hold a banner reading 'Mallorca is not for sale' during a demonstration to protest against mass tourism and housing prices Pictures emerged last week of empty beaches in the popular resort of Magaluf Your browser does not support iframes. On Friday it emerged protesters are planning a huge demonstration across the Balearic Islands next month at the height of the holiday season, with July 21 put forward as the probable date. The show of unity will see people protest across the archipelago, which lies off eastern Spain, including in Majorca, Ibiza, Menorca and Formentera. Organisers predict that it will be the largest protest of its kind in Spain since thousands took to the streets across the Canary Islands on April 20. Government officials admitted at the time that 30,000 people had taken part in the Tenerife march alone but demonstration leaders estimated the figure to be 80,000. Margalida Ramis, head of affiliated group GOB Mallorca which is set to take a leading role in the organisation of July's plans, said: 'We are already working on this and are in contact with groups on the other islands. 'We're hoping those who supported the recent protests in Majorca and Ibiza will take part along with others like tourist industry workers. 'Tourist overcrowding affects people from different sectors. 'The reality of the current situation for many people in the Balearic Islands is job and life insecurity, lack of housing, and the impossibility of forging life projects in the islands. Tourist saturation also brings with it environmental and ecological issues.' Jaume Pujol, of Fridays for Future Mallorca, added: 'We want to mobilise the older people of the island who have seen how it's been destroyed, migrants who have come here looking for work, teachers and doctors who can't pay rents.' In a separate protest, campaigners have vowed to 'reclaim' a Majorcan beach, which has been turned into a holiday hotspot by influencers, after accusing British tabloids of 'provocation'. The words 'Go Home Tourist' were scrawled in English over a wall underneath a real estate promotion billboard in Nou Llevant, Mallorca, a neighbourhood that has seen a massive influx of foreign buyers over the past few years Campaigners held up banners in Ibiza saying 'We don't want an island of cement' and 'Tourism, yes but not like this' as they massed outside the island's council HQ The noisy protest kicked off on May 24 at 8pm in Ibiza Town The organisers of the Ibiza demo, a group called Prou Eivissa - which literally translates to 'Enough Ibiza', met with Ibiza's president Vicent Mari before taking to the streets The picturesque cove of Calo des Moro on the island's south-east coast is set to become the latest battleground on June 16. Mallorca Platja Tour - Majorcan Beach Tour - started their campaign on June 1 at south coast Sa Rapita Beach. It was billed as the first show of strength for a 'big event' on June 16 with the slogan: 'We fill the beach with Majorcans.' Rishi Sunak will 'absolutely' lead the Tories into the general election on 4 July despite widespread fury at him for skipping a D-Day event, a Cabinet ally said today. Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, dismissed suggestions the PM could quit amid the outrage at his early departure from Normandy commemorations. He said Mr Sunak would be feeling the anger at his actions 'very deeply indeed' and would be 'deeply uncomfortable with what has happened'. But he insisted the embattled premier's 'commitment and his patriotism' were 'beyond doubt'. Many Conservatives fear their slim general election hopes have been dealt a hammer blow by the PM's decision not to attend a major international ceremony on Thursday. Mr Sunak attended the UK national D-Day event at Portsmouth on Wednesday and then the British ceremony in Normandy on Thursday, the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings. But he left France before world leaders including US President Joe Biden gathered for the main international ceremony on Omaha Beach on Thursday afternoon. Instead, Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron was the senior UK minister at the event and was pictured with Mr Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Olaf Scholz. It later emerged Mr Sunak had conducted a TV interview on his return to Britain from northern France. Rishi Sunak will 'absolutely' lead the Tories into the general election on 4 July despite widespread fury at him for skipping a D-Day event, a Cabinet ally said today Mel Stride , the Work and Pensions Secretary, dismissed suggestions the PM could quit amid the outrage at his early departure from Normandy commemorations Mr Sunak's early departure from Normandy left Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to join US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Olaf Scholz on Omaha Beach Reform UK leader Nigel Farage defended his claim that Mr Sunak's early exit from D-Day commemoration events demonstrated he did not understand 'our culture' Ex-Tory minister admits Labour will 'clearly' win the election Amber Rudd, the former Tory Cabinet minister, today admitted Labour would 'clearly' win the general election. The ex-home secretary suggested PM Rishi Sunak should now reframe his message and stress the importance to voters of the Conservatives providing a 'strong opposition' to Sir Keir Starmer's party. Ms Rudd also dismissed the chances of the Tories performing a mid-campaign comeback as Jeremy Corbyn's Labour did in 2017 to deny Theresa May a House of Commons majority. Speaking to the BBC, the former MP admitted the Conservatives had suffered a 'very difficult few weeks'. 'You just have to look at the polls, it's clearly going to be a Labour victory,' Ms Rudd said. 'And I think a lot of Conservatives and Conservative voters are saying 'we need a strong opposition, don't let them have a landslide, make sure there's a strong opposition and we can be the ones to do that - so vote for the Conservative candidate you know'.' Asked about the prospect of a 2017-style campaign turnaround in the polls, Ms Rudd added: 'It doesn't feel like that. 'In 2017, we went from something like 17 points ahead down to neck and neck. 'That was about the campaign and the campaign Labour are leading at the moment appears to be very strong.' Advertisement Asked on Sky News this morning if the PM would continue to lead the Tories into the general election - despite the D-Day row - Mr Stride said: 'Absolutely. 'There should be no question of anything other than that. Because what matters now... is there's a clear choice for the British people.' The Cabinet minister admitted he had not spoken directly to Mr Sunak since the row broke out, but said the PM would be 'feeling these things personally very deeply indeed'. 'I do know Rishi pretty well, in fact I consider as something of a friend,' Mr Stride said. 'And I know he is a deeply patriotic who cares greatly about this country.' He added: 'Of course he understood the weight of this event. This man cares very deeply about our country and I know that because I know him well.' The Work and Pensions Secretary said that Mr Sunak's 'commitment and his patriotism is, in my opinion, beyond doubt'. 'That's not the same thing as saying a mistake was not made,' he added. 'He accepts that, he didn't run away or resile from that situation. 'What he did was he stood up, he put his hands up, he accepted a mistake had been made and he unequivocally apologised. 'I know he will be feeling these things personally very deeply indeed. Asked what other commitments had caused Mr Sunak to leave the D-Day commemorations early on Thursday, Mr Stride said: 'I've not discussed it. 'What I do know is that he has recognised that he has made a mistake. He deeply regrets that, he has apologised unequivocally for that.' Reform UK leader Nigel Farage this morning defended his claim that Mr Sunak's early exit from D-Day commemoration events demonstrated he did not understand 'our culture'. Asked if he was trying to highlight Mr Sunak's British-Asian background, Mr Farage pointed to the contribution made by Commonwealth troops and suggested he was talking about the PM's 'class' and 'privilege'. The Reform leader told the BBC's Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg programme: 'I know what your question is leading at 40 per cent of our contribution in World War One and World War Two came from the Commonwealth. 'He is utterly disconnected by class, by privilege from how the ordinary folk in this country feel. He revealed that, I think spectacularly, when he left Normandy early. 'And out there now there are millions and millions of people who were Conservative voters, traditional Conservative voters, not the red-wallers, who are now thinking 'Do we go on supporting the Conservatives or do we support Reform?' 'And this is going to be, I think, the acid test of this election.' Mr Farage claimed Mr Sunak had 'made the biggest mistake of his political career', adding: 'If it wasn't an election campaign there'd be a leadership challenge against him this week. The man is not fit to lead the country'. But Mr Stride said Mr Farage's attack on the PM for not understanding 'our culture' was 'deeply regrettable'. He told the same programme: 'I think they are suggesting things I'm not going to go any further than that because I didn't want to stoke this whole thing up but it just seems to me that that's an ill-advised thing to have said.' The Work and Pensions Secretary added: 'I feel very uncomfortable with that. 'We've had in our country, and it's a source of great personal pride as somebody who supported the PM, wanted him to be the leader of our party and our prime minister that I've sat around a Cabinet table that's the most diverse in history. 'And I'm very proud of the fact that we have a British Asian who is right at the top of our Government.' Labour's shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood suggested Mr Farage's comments were a 'dog whistle' attack. She said: 'I think this is a classic Nigel Farage trick, lean just enough to signal a bit of a dog whistle and then lean straight back and sound perfectly reasonable and say something good about the contribution that Commonwealth soldiers, ethnic minorities made towards the war effort. 'We can all see exactly what Nigel Farage is doing, he's got form, it is completely unacceptable. 'This is a man that has a track record of seeking to divide communities who just wants to do it with a veneer of respectability whilst he's at it.' There is a multiple car pile-up on a major Sydney highway with people being treated at the scene and motorists stuck in traffic. The major crash on M1 Pacific Motorway, approaching Ku-Ring-Gai Chase Road, occurred around 5.47pm on Sunday at Mt Colah, in Northern Sydney. A NSW Police spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia four vehicles were involved in the incident. Two people were reportedly trapped in the wreckage but are understood to have now been freed. Two people are being treated at the scene after being in a four-car pile-up Paramedics are treating two people at the scene and multiple police and fire and rescue crews are also in attendance. The pile-up has caused the closure of lane three south-bound and motorists have been warned to exercise caution and to expect delays. More to come Ukrainian forces knocked out one of Vladimir Putin's newest warplanes when a kamikaze drone exploded a Su-57 multi-purpose fighter plane, it has emerged. The 51million aircraft was on the ground in Akhtubinsk military airfield in the Astrakhan region of southern Russia. The drone - one of three - flew some 365 miles from the frontline, evading Russian air defences. Kyiv's main military intelligence service on Sunday shared satellite photos it said show the aftermath of the attack, though the regional authorities had denied any of the drones had hit the airbase. It is the first time a new fifth generation Su-57 fighter plane has been hit, and a first Ukraine hit on this airfield. The attack comes after Ukraine's Western allies allowed Kyiv to use their weapons for limited strikes inside Russia. Kyiv's military said satellite images show that 'on June 7 (left) the Su-57 is standing intact, and on June 8, (right) ruptures from the explosion and characteristic spots of fire, which arose as a result of fire damage, appeared near it' It is the first time a new 51million Su-57 fighter plane (pictured) has been hit, and a first Ukraine hit on this airfield According to Kyiv's military intelligence service, the strike took place on Saturday at the Akhtubinsk base in southern Russia, some 366 miles from the front line. It was not immediately clear what weapons were used, but the airfield's distance from Ukraine suggests it was likely hit by drones. Satellite images appear to confirm the damage caused by the strike. In one photo, black soot marks and small craters can be seen dotting a concrete strip around the parked aircraft. Kyiv's military said the images show that 'on June 7 the Su-57 is standing intact, and on June 8, ruptures from the explosion and characteristic spots of fire, which arose as a result of fire damage, appeared near it'. 'Su-57 damage is the first such case in history.' Aleksandr Sivakov, the deputy head of the Akhtubinsk City Administration, had earlier said Russian air defences 'managed not only to prevent, but also to repulse the enemy's attack'. But Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber confirmed the strike on Akhtubinsk military airfield. 'The Su-57 was damaged by shrapnel,' said the channel. 'It is now being determined whether it can be restored or not.' Ukraine's GUR (military intelligence) shares pictures of Russia's newest and the most advanced combat fighter Sukhoi Su-57 hit in an apparent drone attack at Akhtubinsk air base in Astrakhan region, Russia Russian Telegram channel Fighterbomber confirmed the strike on Akhtubinsk military airfield, saying: 'The Su-57 was damaged by shrapnel. It is now being determined whether it can be restored or not.' Pictured is the damaged warplane at Akhtubinsk air base According to Kyiv's military intelligence service, the strike took place on Saturday at the Akhtubinsk base (pictured) in southern Russia, some 366 miles from the front line The channel accused the Russian authorities of failing to spend money to protect its main strike aircraft from Ukrainian drones. 'For the price of this Su-57 alone, shelters from UAVs could be built for all PTA aircraft in the country.' The Su-57 has been used against Ukraine to strike Kh-59 and Kh-69 missiles. Russia has previously boasted the warplane is 'the best combat fighter in the world'. The Ukrainian agency said the plane, which is capable of carrying stealth missiles across hundreds of miles, was among 'a countable few' of its type in Moscow's arsenal. According to reports by Russian agencies, Moscow's armed forces obtained 'more than 10' new Su-57s last year, while 76 are set to be produced by 2028. Moscow has not immediately commented on the reports. A Russian Ka-27PS helicopter in the Black Sea destroys a Ukrainian kamikaze marine drone Russia's Defence Ministry on Saturday claimed its forces downed three Ukrainian drones in the Astrakhan region, home to the Akhtubinsk airstrip This is the moment an Ukrainian kamikaze marine drone was destroyed by a Russian Ka-27PS helicopter in the Black Sea Ukraine also staged its first ever attack on Mozdok military airfield in North Ossetia, a distance of some 560 miles from the frontline. Russia's Defence Ministry on Saturday claimed its forces downed three Ukrainian drones in the Astrakhan region, home to the Akhtubinsk airstrip. Ukraine reported it was still clarifying what damage had been caused. The strike comes after the United States and Germany recently authorised Ukraine to hit some targets on Russian soil with the long-range weapons they are supplying to Kyiv. Ukraine has already used US weapons to strike inside Russia under newly approved guidance from President Joe Biden that allows American arms to be used for the limited purpose of defending Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city. Since Moscow's full-scale invasion more than two years ago, Kyiv has ramped up domestic drone production and used the drones to strike deep inside Russia, including a gas terminal near St Petersburg that lies more than 620 miles north of the Ukrainian border. Footage shows the first known use of US-supplied HIMARS missiles by Ukraine hitting a key military target inside Russia on June 3, 2024 Aerial footage shows the moment Ukrainian troops destroy Russian T-80BV tank on June 3 Elsewhere, Ukrainian forces kept up drone attacks on Russia's southern border regions, according to local Russian officials. Three drones hit Belgorod province late on Saturday, damaging a power line and blowing out windows but causing no casualties. The Russian Defence Ministry said another drone was shot down over the nearby Bryansk region. Across Ukraine's frontline provinces, Russian shelling killed at least three civilians and wounded at least nine others on Saturday and overnight, according to reports by regional officials. A man died and two women suffered wounds in the village of Khotimla in Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region, where shelling damaged the local school, a council building and a shop. Heavy battles continue in the area as Ukrainian troops try to beat back Russia's invading forces after a week-long push by Moscow that sparked fears for Kharkiv and a wave of civilian evacuations. A 'serious campfire mishap' has put six young males at a popular outback desert race in hospital after they suffered burns when a car part exploded. The incident took place near the Deep Well checkpoint, which forms part of the Finke Desert Race circuit, located around 80km southwest of Alice Springs on Saturday. Six people suffered burns following the blast at a bonfire, before they managed to get to the checkpoint where they were treated by paramedics from St John Ambulance NT. The spectators are understood to have suffered first and second degree burns and were taken to Alice Springs Hospital to be treated.' The campfire incident was caused by the explosion of a shock absorber device,' NT Health told Daily Mail Australia. Six spectators who were watching the annual Finke Desert Race (pictured) in the Northern Territory on Saturday, have been injured following a mysterious explosion The spectators are understood to have suffered first and second degree burns and were taken to hospital for treatment, while some were flown interstate to receive specialist care (pictured competitors taking part in the race) 'Six male patients from Victoria, aged between 18 and 23 years, were admitted to Alice Springs Hospital (ASH) on Sunday, 9 June as a consequence of a serious campfire mishap near the Finke Desert Race track on Saturday, 8 June,' NT Health said. 'Three patients were transferred to Royal Adelaide Hospital (RAH) via the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) and two patients were transferred to The Alfred via CareFlight on Sunday, 9 June. 'Our thoughts are with the patients, family and friends of the injured young men and any witnesses to the distressing incident at the Finke Desert Race event. 'NT Health would like to thank first responders, St John Ambulance, NT Police and all NT Health staff involved in the response, particularly staff at Alice Springs Hospital and the Medical Retrieval teams for their excellent response and care of the injured patients.' The Finke Desert Race, which is held annually on the Kings Birthday long weekend, is an off road multi-terrain race that is the biggest sporting event in the Northern Territory. The race is held over four days along a 460km stretch of dirt road from Alice Springs to the remote Indigenous community of Aputula. More than 600 competitors take part in the race with drivers racing their motorbikes, sprint cars, and utes on the rugged terrain. The race (pictured) is held every year during the Kings Birthday long weekend, along a 460km stretch of dirt road from Alice Springs to the remote Indigenous community of Aputula Spectators had been warned by race organisers to be cautious when lighting fires and to ensure, all fires are extinguished when people had finished using them (spectators gathered at a checkpoint at a part of the Finke Desert race circuit) The race organisers told Daily Mail Australia that St John Ambulance Medical teams are stationed at each check point along the Finke Desert Race track. 'We understand they were able to assist the campers once they presented themselves last night,' a spokesperson said. 'Campers have always been advised to take extreme care and monitor all fires along the track. 'Finke Desert Race organisers have overall been pleased with spectator behaviour and are looking forward to welcoming the top riders and drivers back to the Alice Springs finsh line on Monday.' Race organisers issued a warning to spectators on their website and their social media pages earlier on Sunday and urged them to follow all safety measures, that have been put in place. 'We need all spectators along the track to always follow all safety instructions. These instructions are in place to keep you and others safe,' they said. This included standing at least 30m back from the track, staying behind all bunting and signage, and to obey spectator no go zones. The warning stated that the race will be stopped if spectators do not comply with the safety instructions. Campers were also warned to be extra cautious when lighting fires according to website. 'Remember to bring your own firewood. Take extreme care with all fires - these need to be monitored carefully, and fully extinguished when finished with,' they said. Northern Territory Police have been contacted for comment. Jeremy Hunt has vowed to do more to help those on six-figure salaries if the Tories win the general election - and he clings on to his own seat. The Chancellor suggested, if he remains in charge of the Treasury beyond 4 July, he would be focused on removing 'cliff edges' for high earners in the tax system. Mr Hunt pointed to how the Government's offer of free childcare for parents is not available if one of them is earning over 100,000. The tax-free personal allowance is also removed for those earning 125,140 or above. But the Chancellor's hopes of staying in 11 Downing Street not only rely on the Tories winning the general election, but also on whether he is personally re-elected. Mr Hunt is facing a fierce challenge from the Liberal Democrats in the Godalming and Ash constituency. He admitted he could be facing a 'Portillo moment' on 4 July - in reference to the shock defeat of Tory then-Cabinet minister Michael Portillo in Enfield Southgate at the 1997 general election. Jeremy Hunt has vowed to do more to help those on six-figure salaries if the Tories win the general election - and he clings on to his own seat The Chancellor admitted he could be facing a 'Portillo moment' on 4 July - in reference to the shock defeat of Tory then-Cabinet minister Michael Portillo at the 1997 general election In an interview with the Sunday Times, Mr Hunt revealed he was facing local anger at the fact the Government's childcare offer is withdrawn for those earning over 100,000. 'Around here the childcare reforms have been pretty popular,' the Chancellor said, as he spoke to the newspaper in Bramley, Surrey. 'But people also do raise the fact that one person earning over 100,000 means you don't get access to them and that creates a cliff edge. 'Because it was a big commitment we just couldn't afford to do more when I made the original announcement. 'But those are things I think we definitely want to make progress on, yes.' He added: 'I've always said that if you want to be economically productive we have to get rid of the cliff edges in the tax system. 'The removal of the personal allowance, the fact that childcare support stops when one person in a household is earning over 100,000. 'If you speak to economists, they will say the most damaging things in the tax system are when you have things with a high marginal rate. 'So it is absolutely on our list as something we would like to do more on.' Mr Hunt was also quizzed about the prospect of being ousted from Parliament at the upcoming general election amid a tight race in his Surrey constituency. The Chancellor, who was first elected to the House of Commons in 2005, said: 'I have mixed feelings about it. 'Part of me would like to be out on the national campaign trail talking about big national issues as I have been doing as Chancellor for the last 18 months.' But Mr Hunt added it is a 'fantastic thing' about British democracy that 'when the Chancellor does knock on doors in this patch, people aren't surprised, they don't go, "Oh my God, it's the Chancellor." They say, "Too bloody right, I'm very cross about this, about that, what are you going to do about it?".' The Chancellor said it was a 'point of pride that I look after the area that I grew up in'. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the death of a pedestrian on Highway 242 in Concord early Sunday. Paul Chinn/The Chronicle 2014 A pedestrian was struck and killed Sunday by a vehicle on Highway 242 in Concord, according to the California Highway Patrol. A driver in a burgundy Tesla Model 3 was traveling south in the No. 1 lane on the highway when the vehicle struck a person around 5:22 a.m. just south of Clayton Road, the agency said in a news release. The pedestrian whose identity was not immediately released was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the Tesla was not injured, authorities said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad It was not immediately clear whether drugs or alcohol played a role in the crash. A defiant Adam Bandt has pushed back against alleged 'slander' directed at Australia's pro-Palestine movement and Greens party, telling protesters 'we are going to prevail'. It follows a bruising week in federal parliament in which both Labor and the Coalition accused the Greens of stirring up social division over the Israel-Gaza war. Speaking to rallygoers in Melbourne on Sunday, the Greens leader praised protesters for showing up for '35 weeks' across major cities and criticised suggestions the movement was anything other than 'peaceful'. 'Let me say this, not for your benefit because you know this already, but for their benefit, for everyone who has been slandering this movement for peace,' he said. 'We all know, there is no place for violence against people, against politicians, against the people who work for them, or against their offices. 'We all know that. What we are pushing for is peace. 'Peace here and peace in Gaza. Peace for the Israelis and for the Palestinians. That is what we are pushing for.' Greens leader Adam Bandt has taken aim at Anthony Albanese and Peter Dutton who accused the Greens of stirring up division over the Israel-Gaza conflict Pro-Palestine protesters in Melbourne on Sunday afternoon Last Wednesday during question time, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called out the Greens for what he called 'misinformation' over the Israel-Gaza conflict. 'Unacceptable that misinformation is being consciously and deliberately spread by some Greens senators and MPs, who have engaged in this in demonstrations outside offices and online', the Prime Minister said. 'That includes knowingly misrepresenting motions that are moved in this parliament. 'Enough is enough.' He was backed by Opposition Leader Peter Dutton. The electorate offices of MPs have been vandalised with pro-Palestine slogans in recent weeks, including graffiti accusing members of complicity in alleged 'genocide'. Mr Dutton on Thursday called the Greens 'evil' on the 2GB radio station. Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese showed rare unity by both slamming the Greens this week Mr Bandt was unapologetic about his positions on Sunday and reiterated his call for the Labor government to ramp up diplomatic pressure on the Jewish state 'I think that people need to have a conversation with their kids and their grandkids, with their next-door neighbours, just about how evil the current Greens party is, that they're nothing about the environment,' he said. 'They're all about radical causes.' But Mr Bandt was unapologetic about his positions on Sunday and reiterated his call for the Labor government to ramp up diplomatic pressure on the Jewish state. He called on the government to expel the Israeli ambassador to Australia, sanction Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and cancel any military trade with Israel. Mr Bandt also said the pressure within parliament was 'building' and the pro-Palestine movement was 'growing in strength'. 'When they first ignore, after ridiculing you, and then they turn on you and try and fight you by slandering you ... you know that they know that they are wrong,' he said. The rally attended by hundreds outside the Victoria State Library was organised by Free Palestine Melbourne 'And this is the final step before they admit they are wrong and take action. 'Because I can tell you, from inside that building, the pressure is growing. 'This peaceful and powerful movement to end the invasion and end the occupation ... is just growing in strength. 'We are going to prevail.' Free Palestine Melbourne organised the rally, which was held at the State Library. Protesters chanted '1,2,3,4 ... we don't want your bloody war, and 5,6,7,8 ... Israel is a terrorist state.' They also chanted: 'Albo, Albo, shame, shame ... you don't speak in our name.' An asylum seeker who tried to bring cannabis onboard the Bibby Stockholm bit a police officer as he was being arrested. A court has heard that when Kenson Noel, 29, arrived at the migrant barge in Portland Port in Dorset he admitted to staff that he had brought a small amount of marijuana with him. After this revelation, the asylum seeker from Trinidad and Tobago was searched and staff found in his possession 6.5g of cannabis, a set of scales, bags and 800 of cash. Noel was then arrested but as he was placed in handcuffs he turned on the police officer, Christopher Grant, and bit him on the elbow. He has pleaded guilty to possessing a class B drug and assaulting a police officer. The Bibby Stockholm migrant barge where Kenson Noel attempted to bring cannabis on board. After he was stopped by staff, Noel then bit a police officer as he was being arrested Magistrates in Weymouth heard that Noel fled Trinidad and Tobago after being threatened by gangs. Christina Norgan, prosecuting, said: 'The defendant arrived as a new resident of the Bibby Stockholm barge. 'He made staff aware that he had cannabis on him and was told he would not be allowed to take it onto the barge. A staff member called Portland Port Police to assist. 'They took him to a cabin and searched him, they found the cannabis alongside scales, bags and large quantities of cash - 800 was found. During the search, he was arrested and had to be restrained. 'He bit the victim on his left elbow, broke the skin and caused it to bleed. He was then arrested for assaulting an emergency worker.' Ms Norgan added: 'In interview, he admitted the cannabis was for his own personal use. He has no previous convictions and is of previous good character.' Ian Brazier, mitigating, said his client thought the amount of cannabis he had was legal as it was for his own use to help him sleep. He claims Noel had the scales so he could be sure how much cannabis he had and the cash was from his family in Trinidad and was later given back to him. Mr Brazier said: 'In many Caribbean countries, possession of a limited amount of cannabis is legal, up to 28g. It was not understood by him that this amount of cannabis was illegal in this country. He finds it helps with his anxiety and helps to calm him down. 'He was honest and open about the fact that he had cannabis. However, how can it be that a man who is being fully co-operative ends up biting a police officer? 'The officer conducted a search, the defendant said he had cannabis in his bag. When the officer goes to look in the bag, Noel puts his hand into the bag, his hand is grabbed and he is put in handcuffs. 'He complained about the tightness of the handcuffs and was being restrained. 'This is a man in handcuffs, a warrant for cannabis does not require handcuffs. He was cornered, handcuffed, anxious. It feels a bit like using a sledgehammer to crack a walnut.' The case was adjourned for pre-sentence reports. Noel is the second migrant from the Bibby Stockholm to be convicted. Ahmed Haffa (pictured), 24, punched and bit the two security guards as they tried to stop him for shoplifting in Weymouth in December 2023 Noel, who is now staying in a hotel in Bournemouth, was granted unconditional bail and will appear at Poole Magistrates' Court next month. He will be sentenced at a later date. He is the second asylum seeker from the Bibby Stockholm to be convicted of a criminal offence since the controversial barge arrived in Dorset last summer. Ahmed Haffa, 24, punched and bit the two security guards as they tried to stop him for shoplifting in Weymouth in December 2023. He failed to show up for his court case in February and was found guilty of assault and theft in his absence. Although a warrant was immediately issued for his arrest Haffa remains at large to this day. James Cameron has revealed the US Coast Guard investigation into the doomed Titan submersible has still not spoken to him despite volunteering as an expert witness a year ago. Mr Cameron who directed the 1997 hit Titanic has made 33 dives to the wreck of the famed ship in the North Atlantic Ocean, near where OceanGate's Titan craft imploded with five people on board in June 2023. Mr Cameron made the comments in a 60minutes interview on Sunday and claimed he has been left out of the ongoing investigation by US Coast Guard officials. 'I've volunteered to the investigative committee at the Coast Guard,' Mr Cameron said. 'They should be inviting me but they're not. Why listen to a scientist?' he said. 'I think they want to do things their way and frankly I think they've kind of got egg on their face and they don't want outside opinions. 'That's just my interpretation.' Film director James Cameron (pictured) said the OceanGate mission should never have taken place Mr Cameron said rescuers were never going to find the men who died in the submarine and he said false hopes were raised that there were going to be survivors (pictured debris recovered from the Titan submersible) The Titan submersible vanished two hours into its journey en route to the wreck of the Titanic. On board were OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush, billionaire explorer Hamish Harding, Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his teenage son Suleman, and legendary Titanic expert Paul-Henri Nargeolet, who is also Mr Cameron's friend. Mr Cameron said the entire OceanGate mission should never have occurred in the first place. 'These guys broke the rules,' Mr Cameron told 60 Minutes on Sunday. 'It's that simple. They should not have been legally allowed to carry passengers.' Despite several investigations, the families of the victims still do not know how the tragedy happened. Mr Cameron said OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush (pictured) should have heeded the safety warnings before the submersible was deployed The disappearance of the submersible sparked a massive, multi-day search effort by the US Coast Guard with the assistance of Canadian authorities. Remnants of the sub, including its tail cone, were found about 490m from the hull of the Titanic on June 22, with the presumed human remains recovered days later. Mr Cameron said instead of relying on his expertise, investigators don't seem to be inclined to consult the knowledge he has obtained from visiting the shipwreck 33 times. The adventurer slammed the official response when the sub lost contact, especially talk of a rescue effort, revealing his theory that an 'implosion event' heard by navy ships at the start of the multi-national operation had already confirmed those aboard had died. 'I mean my jaw literally dropped open farther and farther each day that they never cautioned everybody,' he said. 'Everybody running around with their hair on fire when we knew right where the sub was. 'But nobody could admit that they didn't have the means to go down and look. 'So they were running all over the surface and the entire world waiting with bated breath talking about 96 hours of oxygen. 'We all knew they were dead. 'We'd already hoisted a glass, you know, a toast to our fallen comrades on Monday night.' The Titanic-bound tourist submarine (pictured) only had 96 hours of life support installed Mr Cameron, said he hasn't been consulted by investigators to assist with their inquiries, even after he volunteered (pictured debris from the submersible recovered after it was found on the ocean floor) Mr Cameron said he doesn't believe the Coast Guard was dishonest about their search efforts but they were 'unnecessarily' withholding information to the families involved. 'I don't think they lied,' he said. 'I think they went by a procedure that was torturous for the family. 'They just didn't disclose. They were informed by naval intelligence that an implosion event was tracked to the co-ordinate of the Titanic wreck site.' Mr Cameron said he believed charges should be laid but he thinks the main person responsible died in the submersible disaster. 'I think that there should be some changes,' he said. 'They didn't have classification. Theoretically, they should not have been legally allowed to carry passengers. 'Yeah, I think the tragedy is (Mr Rush) took others with him. 'He should have listened to the warnings.' Mr Cameron said he plans to honour his late friend, Mr Nargeolet, by returning to the Titanic one more time. 'We have plans to build a sub that can go to 4000m, and we will, and I may even go back to Titanic in that sub, just to prove the point that if it's done right, it can be done safely,' he said. A coveted spot on the doomed Titanic trip cost the passengers $US250,000 each. A professor at Yale Law has claimed Trump is not a convicted felon despite his recent guilty verdict in New York. Jed Rubenfeld, 65, made the statement this week on his podcast, 'Straight Down the Middle.' Citing state law, he said the ex-president is not a convicted felon until a judge enters a judgment of guilty at his sentencing. The 2024 Republican presumptive nominee is set to be sentenced on July 11, potentially sending him to prison right in time for the Republican National Convention. In the meantime, Rubenfeld described several 'avenues' Trump's attorneys could take to make that not happen - like suing in federal court to stop the conviction. Scroll down for video: Jed Rubenfeld, 65, made the argument this week on his podcast, 'Straight Down the Middle.' Rubenfeld is a legal professor at Yale Law School Citing state law, he said the ex-president is not a convicted felon despite the jury's verdict - that is, until a judge enters a judgment of guilty at his sentencing. The presidential perp is seen in Manhattan Criminal Court last month before the jury's verdict 'If you've been reading about this case - that Trump is already a convicted felon, the jury has convicted him, he's a convicted felon - well, guess what: that's not true,' the legal expert began. 'You're not a convicted felon because of a jury verdict. You're not convicted unless the judge enters a judgment of guilt against you.' He reiterated: 'The judge still has the power, as I told you before, to throw out that verdict and enter a judgment of acquittal. 'You are not convicted until the judge enters that judgment of guilt.' 'Now, in New York, it's very likely that Judge Merchan will enter that judgment of guilt against Trump on the same day that he issues sentencing,' Rubenfeld explained. 'That'd be July 11.' Outlining the effort, he said that 'in this federal action, Trump would sue District Attorney [Alivin] Bragg and other state actors [involved in the case].' Then, he would 'ask the judge, the federal judge, for an emergency temporary restraining order, halting Judge Merchan from entering that judgment of guilt until the federal courts have had an opportunity to review and rule out the serious constitutional arguments that exist,' he said. Rubenfeld went on to claim it's a 'bad look for this country' to criminally target ex-presidents for 'unclear' crimes, before pointing to what he painted as problems with the seemingly resolved hush money case. Trump, far left, watches as a jury foreperson delivers guilty verdicts with Judge Juan Merchan listening in on May 30. The 2024 Republican presumptive nominee is set to be sentenced on July 11, potentially sending him to prison right in time for the RNC in Wisconsin The decision will be left up to Judge Merchan (pictured) - that is, unless Trump's legal team takes it out of his hands He explained: 'Going after, criminally, a former president of the United States and somebody who is running for president now, that's a very bad look. 'It's an especially bad look when the folks bringing the case and the judge deciding it are members of the opposing political party,' he continued. 'And it's an even worse look when the crime is so unclear that the state is hiding the ball about what the actual charges are right up through the trial and indeed into the trial. 'Even now, we don't know exactly what the jury found Trump guilty of,' Rubenfeld further claimed. Pointing to the case's origin, he insisted those who criminally target members of opposing political parties, especially a 'poll-leading candidate' like Trump, 'better have the goods.' 'You better not be pursuing some novel legal theory where you have to hide the ball [and] it's not even clear what the charges are.' That, he said, 'could [set] a very dangerous precedent for this country,' and is the reason 'why it's so important for a federal court to review the constitutionality of this prosecution. Only then, can they truly discern whether the case was 'constitutional or was it not,' he said. 'The only way to achieve that before the election takes place is for the Trump team to file an action in federal court and ask the federal court to temporarily hold off the entry of the judgment of guilt,' Rubenfeld, and expert on constitutional law, said 'The only way to achieve that before the election takes place is for the Trump team to file an action in federal court and ask the federal court to temporarily hold off the entry of the judgment of guilt,' he continued. Then, 'the federal courts, and maybe the Supreme Court itself, can, on an emergency basis, adjudicate the likelihood of success of these constitutional arguments.' If that doesn't happen Trump, 77, could challenge the conviction with an appeal through the New York Appeals Court system as a means to move the Supreme Court, but 'would take years' to work in his favor, the Constitution law professor said. It would also not address the 'irreparable harm' done to the politician's reputation and chances in what is amounting to a contentious election, where he is barely ahead of incumbent Joe Biden in most polls. 'Of course, that would take years, and that's a problem here,' he said of the likely drawbacks of such an action. 'It's a problem because the election will have taken place if this conviction is unlawful and unconstitutional, it could have an effect on that election,' he said. Is the conviction was to be reversed years later, 'that effect could not be undone.' 'In legal terms, that's called irreparable harm,' he said If that doesn't happen, Trump could challenge the conviction with an appeal - but that would not address the blow to not only his reputation, but his election chances. If the restraining order does through, 'the nation could get a ruling from the federal courts... before the election takes place,' Rubenfeld said That said, if the restraining order does through, 'the nation could get a ruling from the federal courts, even the Supreme Court of the United States, before the election takes place,' Rubenfeld disclaimed. 'Maybe that's what the nation needs, and maybe that's what the law requires here,' he added, as he honed in on how Trump's legal team might control the damage already done. Last week, at a trial in Manhattan, Trump was found guilty by the jury on all 34 counts of falsifying business records related to a hush money payment administered to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the buildup to the 2016 election. He is now set to be sentenced July 11, after which he could be sent to prison. If so, it would happen just days before the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, throwing a monkey wrench into this year's cycle. The decision, in the end, will be left up to Merchan - unless Trump's team is able to take it out of his hands. A New York City celebrity stylist was arrested for attacking a prominent rabbi and using vile antisemitic slur outside the swanky Chelsea hotel. Aleksander Janik, known as a personal shopper to the stars including Celine Dion and Rihanna, allegedly violently assaulted Rabbi Chezky Wolff, knocking him to the ground with his massive duffel bag in front of a crowd. Janik, 52, was charged with assault as a hate crime and was released without bail on Friday after pleading not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court just hours after he was arrested. Wolff claimed the clash allegedly began when Janik's dog approached the doors of the Chelsea Synagogue, which he runs. Wolff asked Janik to leash the dog but Janik refused and questioned why he should. Aleksander Janik, known as a personal shopper to the stars including Celine Dion and Rihanna , allegedly violently assaulted Rabbi Chezky Wolff, knocking him to the ground with his massive duffel bag in front of a crowd Video footage from the incident shows Janik striking the father-of-six in the head - knocking him to the ground, causing his glasses and yarmulke to be thrown off Janik then allegedly muttered 'dirty Jews,' prompting Wolff to start recording him. Upset that the rabbi was recording him, Janik then attacked the Wolff in broad daylight in front of many onlookers. Video footage from the incident shows Janik striking the father-of-six in the head - knocking him to the ground, causing his glasses and yarmulke to be thrown off. Janik disputes the facts offering a different version of events to The Daily Beast. He stated that his dog was resting in front of the synagogue to avoid the heat when Wolff approached and demanded they move. Janik alleged that Wolff used derogatory language toward him and denied using any offensive language. He then boldly claimed that he in fact identifies as being 'half Jewish' himself and mentioned that his grandmother had a connection to Auschwitz. However, he did not specify whether she was a worker or a prisoner at the concentration camp. He did, however, admit to physically attacking the rabbi. Janik's social media accounts are filled with pictures of him posing with celebrities including Celine Dion, Rihanna, Brooke Shields, and Mayor Eric Adams Janik, 52, was charged with assault as a hate crime and was released without bail on Friday after pleading not guilty in Manhattan Criminal Court just hours after he was arrested 'Yes, I pushed him. I pushed him with my bag,' he told the New York Post Tuesday. 'I protect my dog and myself. A stranger man who's following me with their phone in my face, I ought to protect myself. I don't know him,' Janik said. 'I support the Jewish community. I'm a very huge fan of every religion,' Janik added. In response, Wolff's lawyer, Cary London said: 'We have no response to an antisemite's lies. Again the Jewish people just want peace.' The tote bag was apparently stuffed with hard objects including books or a laptop, which left a mark on the Rabbi's head, London told the Post. Janik's social media accounts are filled with pictures of him posing with celebrities including Celine Dion, Rihanna, Brooke Shields, and Mayor Eric Adams. Wolff claimed the clash began when Janik's dog approached the doors of the Chelsea Synagogue, which he runs. Janik then muttered 'dirty Jews,' prompting Wolff to start recording him One witness wrote his account in a Daily Beast article, stating, 'I was sipping a margarita and eating tapas with a new colleague at an outdoor restaurant on West 23rd Street in Manhattan, when I heard an unfamiliar thud.' 'This thud was followed by the sound of a body hitting the ground, and the clattering of eyeglasses on pavement. I turned to see a bearded man quickly stand up, put his yarmulke back on, and chase after an assailant who was walking a golden retriever,' Ben Sherwood, publisher and CEO of the Daily Beast, who happened to witness the attack wrote on Saturday. 'Immediately, customers in the restaurant jumped to their feet ... There was a real sense of indignation on the terrace,' he wrote. 'This is New York City, the British woman said, and theres antisemitism all around us.' Three of the Israeli hostages rescued yesterday by the IDF were kept in a Hamas terrorist's family home, it has been revealed. Hostages Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov and Shlomi Ziv, along with Israeli Noa Argamani, were take by Hamas on October 7 during the terror group's deadly incursion. Jan, Kozlov and Ziv were all found in the home of terrorist Abdallah Aljamal, who lived in central Gazas Nuseirat, according to the IDF. Noa Argamani, 26, who was abducted from the Supernova music festival when Hamas launched its October 7 attack on Israel, meanwhile was kept in a neighbouring home. The Israeli military cited this as 'further proof that the Hamas terrorist organization uses the civilian population as a human shield.' Aljamal once wrote a column for news outlet Al Jazeera, which prompted unfounded rumours that he was a correspondent for the well-respected broadcaster, which denied the claims. Jan, Kozlov and Ziv were all found in the home of terrorist Abdallah Aljamal (pictured), who lived in central Gazas Nuseirat Noa Argamani, 26, (pictured) was held captive in an apparent child's bedroom at an apartment in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza, it has emerged She was one of the most widely recognised hostages after being taken, with video of her abduction showing her seated between two men on a motorcycle as she screamed, 'Don't kill me!' Argamani, along with Almog Meir Jan, 22; Andrey Kozlov, 27; and Shlomi Ziv, 41, was rescued on Saturday after Israeli forces raided two locations at once while under fire. The hostages were taken to a hospital in Tel Aviv and reunited with their families. A photograph made public since she was freed from captivity shows that the 26-year-old was held in what appears to be a family's home. The Israeli military said the four hostages, who were in 'good medical condition', were rescued from two apartments in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Argamani was kidnapped along with her boyfriend Avinatan Or from the Supernova festival on the morning of October 7. Her boyfriend is still believed to remain in captivity. The images of Argamani, a Chinese-born Israeli citizen, being kidnapped on the back of a motorcycle became symbolic of the horrors faced by civilians at the festival and across southern Israel when the violence erupted. She later appeared in a chilling hostage video in January, speaking to camera alongside fellow captives Yossi Sharabi, 53, and Itai Svirsky, 38. The two men were later reported to have been killed, with Argamani forced to announce their deaths. She was rescued on Saturday, along with the three other hostages, in an operation by Israeli special forces. A video of Argamani receiving a telephone call from Israeli President Isaac Herzog was distributed by his office. 'I am so happy to be here. Thank you for everything, thank you for this moment,' said a smiling Argamani, sitting with her father in a hospital room. Noa Argamani, then 25, was seen kidnapped on the back of motorbike during the horrifying terrorist attacks Her boyfriend, Avi Nathan, distraught and helpless, was also seen on video being kidnapped on October 7. Her boyfriend is still believed to remain in captivity Noa appeared in a chilling hostage video in January, speaking to camera alongside fellow captives Yossi Sharabi and Itai Svirsky. The two men were later reported to have been killed In another video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Argamani said, 'I am very moved. I haven't heard Hebrew for so long.' Netanyahu in a statement vowed to continue the fighting until all hostages are freed. The operation was 'daring in nature, planned brilliantly, and executed in an extraordinary fashion,' Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said. Argamani's father, Yaakov Argamani, first met her after a military helicopter carried her back to a hospital in Tel Aviv. 'Today is my birthday, and a gift like this I never believed I would get,' he said. Her mother, Liora, who has late-stage brain cancer, had previously released a video pleading to see her daughter. Israel's Channel 13 said Ms Argamani was taken to the hospital where her mother is being treated. Yaakov told Army Radio the reunion with her mother 'very difficult' as Liora was 'just unable to express her feelings and could not say what she was really waiting to say to Noa.' Rescued hostage Noa Argamani embraces her father, Yakov Argamani, after being saved In a video, speaking on the phone with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Noa said, 'I am very moved. I haven't heard Hebrew for so long' Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage 4 brain cancer and has repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again Noa Argamani was able to celebrate her father Yaakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity Military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari said the hostages were being held in two apartments, about 200 metres from each other, in the heart of the Nuseirat refugee camp. He said the forces had trained repeatedly on a model of the apartment buildings. Hagari said the forces moved in simultaneously in broad daylight on both apartments, believing this ensured the best element of surprise. But he said the rescuers came under heavy fire as they moved out, including from gunmen firing rocket-propelled grenades from within the neighbourhood. He said the military responded with heavy force, including from aircraft, to extract the rescuers and freed hostages. Israeli foreign minister Israel Katz lashed out at critics of the operation, saying 'only Israel's enemies complained about the casualties of Hamas terrorists and their accomplices'. Of the 250 hostages abducted on October 7, about half were released in a week-long ceasefire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. Survivors include about 15 women, two children under five and two men in their 80s. Saturday's operation brought the total number of rescued hostages to seven, including one who was freed shortly after the October attack. Israeli troops have recovered the bodies of at least 16 others, according to the government. The IDF has released images of the Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant (in black) approving the operation to rescue the hostages together with top military chiefs A view of Israeli helicopter, carrying four Israeli hostages that were retrieved after a military operation in the area Almong Meir Jan, 22, is seen crying as he is greeted by his close relatives at the Sheba Tel-HaShomer Medical Centre, after his rescue from the Gaza Strip by the Israeli army on Saturday Shlomi Ziv, 41, who was captured while serving as a security guard at the festival, was seen hugging and kissing his loves ones and in a tearful reunion at the hospital on Saturday. His sister Revital Nasi and cousin Liat met him at the hospital Andrey Kozlov, 27, had been working as a security guard at the music festival after immigrating from Russia to Israel alone a year and a half earlier. He is seen crying at the hospital as he connects with his loved ones via telephone The latest rescue lifted some spirits in Israel as divisions deepen over the best way to bring hostages home. Many Israelis have urged Netanyahu to embrace a ceasefire deal US President Joe Biden announced last month, but far-right allies threaten to collapse his government if he does. Netanyahu, whose support has fallen, rushed to greet the freed hostages on Saturday and his office released a stream of photos and videos of him meeting the families. But thousands of Israelis again gathered on Saturday evening for the latest anti-government demonstration and calls for a ceasefire agreement. Peter Neal posted a touching message to wife Naomi Biden after she was ambushed on the witness stand in her father Hunter's federal gun trial and amid speculation she is pregnant. 'I love you,' Neal wrote on his Instagram stories. The text was posted over a picture of Naomi smiling, her back to camera but her head turned to face its lens. Her stomach is not visible. The duo appear to be on a weekend getaway. Naomi is standing at door with a number on it, appearing to be some kind of hotel room. The next photo in his story is of a peacock standing in front of a hotel room. The two married in November 2022 in a White House wedding. Peter was in the courtroom this past week to support his wife as Naomi was ambushed with devastating text messages that blew a hole in the her father's defense in the federal gun trial. Peter Neal posted a sweet message to his wife Naomi Biden Naomi was there to testify on her father's behalf, where she painted a rosy picture of Hunters sobriety in the lead-up to his October 2018 gun purchase over which he is charged. But, in its turn to question here, the prosecution read text messages between her and her father that contradicted the picture she painted. Naomi faltered under the ambush, saying: I dont remember any of this. She looked on the verge of tears, wiping one eye as she walked out after hugging her father. She was dressed all in black, with a black jacket over dark, baggy clothes, for her appearance. There has been speculation that she is pregnant with her now-husband Peters child. The couple have made no formal announcement but it was the talk of the state dinner last month, according to sources in the room. Naomi, 30, is said to be due before the November election. The East Wing did not deny the speculation in mulitple inquiries from DailyMail.com. Kathleen Buhle, Naomis mother, didnt deny the speculation when contacted by DailyMail.com. She responded: 'I dont talk to the press, thank you.' It would be the first great-grandchild for Joe and Jill Biden, who have seven grandchildren. Naomi, who is known for wearing fitted clothes to her slim figure, has donned loose fitting gowns to the last two formal occasions at the White House and would make President Joe Biden a great-grandfather at a time when age is under the microscope. As she and Neal entered the state dinner for Kenya in late May, Neal appeared to be gesturing at his wifes stomach as they posed for photos. As she leaned into him, what appeared to be a baby bump was seen in her long, roomy pleated metallic cape and dress set from Diana Ayad. Naomi Biden, in black on the left, is followed out of the Wilmington, Del., courthouse by husband Peter Neal The speculation is that Naomi Biden - seen with husband Peter Neal at last week's state dinner - is pregnant Online speculation about her condition began last month when Naomi wore a loose-fitting gown covered in cherry blossoms to a state dinner for Japan. It has only ramped up since then. Naomi has been coy about the matter. She posed for photos with her handbag placed strategically over her stomach at the Japanese state dinner. She repeated the pose when she attended the White House Correspondents Association dinner a week later. The baby would be the first Biden great-grandchild, giving President Biden the moniker of great-grandpa as he heads into the November election. The grandkids call him Pops. The news comes as voters have expressed concern about Biden's age as he seeks a second term. Speculation began at the April state dinner for Japan (left) and Naomi and Peter at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner (right) Peter Neal and Naomi Biden have been married two years President Biden turns 82 in November. He is the oldest American ever elected president. 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. Naomi Biden is the eldest daughter of Hunter Biden and his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle. She and Peter Neal married in an opulent ceremony on the White House lawn on November 19, 2022. She was the first presidential grandchild to be married at the White House. A woman in her 40s is in hospital with life-threatening injuries after a funfair ride malfunctioned and sent revellers flying through the air. An 11-year-old girl and man in his 50s were also injured in the horror incident at Lambeth Country Show in south London yesterday, the Metropolitan Police have said. A man in his 40s is being treated for 'potentially life-threatening injuries', the force added. Emergency services were called to Brockwell Park at around 6.20pm on Saturday after the ride 'ripped apart', catapulting a carriage into the crowd. The London Ambulance Service said the injured were all taken to major trauma centres. Lambeth Council has confirmed the second day of the Lambeth Country Show is going ahead as planned amid an investigation into the horror incident yesterday. But fairground rides were not open when the show kicked off at 1pm. People attend the Lambeth Country Show on June 9, a day after four people were taken to hospital when a ride malfunctioned Lambeth Council has confirmed the second day of the Lambeth Country Show is going ahead as planned amid an investigation into the horror incident yesterday Fairground rides were not open when the show kicked off at 1pm A police spokesperson said: 'Emergency services responded at around 6.20pm on Saturday June 8 to a fairground ride having failed at the Lambeth Country Show in Brockwell Park. 'Four people have been taken to hospital. Following a full assessment by medics, a woman in her 40s remains in hospital with life-threatening injuries. A man in his 40s, is also receiving ongoing treatment for potentially life-changing injuries. 'The man in his 50s and the 11-year-old girl have both been discharged from hospital. Officers have attended the scene today alongside the Health and Safety Executive as inquiries continue to establish the full circumstances.' Kareen Swaby, 41, had gone to the event for 'just a nice family day out' with her loved ones before things took a terrifying turn. She witnessed the shocking incident and told MailOnline how she saw the carriage 'come off its hinges', injuring a man standing next to her on the head. Ms Swaby said: 'Blood was pouring from his head. He got back up and he just collapsed again. At this time, I didn't know if he was conscious or not.' The woman described how as the situation unfolded, she heard a 'little girl screaming at the top of her lungs'. The Metropolitan Police confirmed 'enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances' and that 'the Health and Safety Executive will be informed'. New witness accounts described the situation. One woman said: 'I have never seen anything like it in my life. I feel sick thinking about it. Four people basically flew through the air off the ride. 'It was dreadful. I will never forget it. The screams from them and everybody was dreadful. 'How on earth could it happen? 'I am shocked to see the event itself has reopened. I am very glad the fair has been closed.' Emergency services were called to the scene in Brockwell Park yesterday and four people were taken to hospital The Metropolitan Police confirmed 'enquiries are under way to establish the circumstances' and that 'the Health and Safety Executive will be informed' The rides stopped soon after the incident, according to an eyewitness A spokesperson for Lambeth Council said this morning: 'Very sadly a funfair ride at the country show malfunctioned yesterday evening (June 8) injuring four people. They are being cared for in hospital and our thoughts are with them. An investigation into the incident, led by the Met Police and Health and Safety Executive, is underway. 'We thank the emergency services for their swift response at the country show yesterday and for the support they are providing to the affected families. 'Following this incident, and to allow a full investigation, funfair rides at the show will be impacted by closures for the second day of the country show. 'The safety and well-being of our attendees remains our top priority, and we are committed to providing a secure and enjoyable experience for all visitors.' Hundreds have gathered in a small village to mark the 80th anniversary of D-Day by driving World War Two-themed military vehicles and dressing up in the style of the 1940s. One participant in the nostalgic celebration in Southwick, Hampshire even played the role of Winston Churchill, smoking a cigar and making a V for Victory gesture with his fingers. The commemoration of the momentous landings in June 1944 has long been a summer highlight in the picturesque south coast village, which played a pivotal role in the decision to send an invasion force to Europe. Southwick House became the headquarters of the immense operation to target Normandy while top officers, including US General Dwight D Eisenhower, often enjoyed a pint at the nearby Golden Lion pub. This year the event, known as the Southwick Revival, turned back the clock 80 years with locals driving old Austin motorcars and khaki armoured vehicles through the streets. A history enthusiast pictured playing the role of Winston Churchill at D-Day commemorations in Southwick, Hampshire today A man pictured manning a machine gun in the re-enactment this weekend The historic recreation contrasted with modern-looking spectators who lined the pavements, holding their smartphones in the air hoping to get a good shot of the display This year the event, known as the Southwick Revival, turned back the clock 80 years with locals driving old Austin motorcars and khaki armoured vehicles (pictured) through the streets Locals pictured dressed in old-fashioned clothing and wheeling 1940s-style pushchairs in Southwick today Others dressed in old-fashioned clothing and dusted off vintage pushchairs as families and friends enjoyed food and drink and basked in the warm June sunlight. Union Jack bunting covered people's homes and cars while an American flag could be seen on the bonnet of a US-themed WWII vehicle. The historic recreation contrasted with modern-looking spectators who lined the pavements, holding their smartphones in the air hoping to get a good shot of the display. Shortly after, a motorcade of bikes came riding past with one even boasting a sidecar, where a child dressed in khaki gear operated a machine gun. And there was even a role for the instantly recognisable Winston Churchill, played by a history enthusiast, who wore a black bowtie while puffing away on a cigar and waving to the adoring crowd. This year's celebration, which spanned the entire weekend, also involved a panel discussion featuring Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of General Eisenhower, as well as homemade cakes and guided trips to some of the town's historic wartime spots. The Southwick Revival website says that, as of 2023, the events have raised 229,000 and the fundraising continued this year. The nostalgic scenes in Southwick round off an emotional week of ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The commemoration of the momentous landings in June 1944 has long been a summer highlight in the picturesque south coast village, which played a pivotal role in the decision to send an invasion force to Europe A US flag pictured draped over the bonnet of a US WWII armoured vehicle in Southwick A motorcade of bikes pictured riding past with one even boasting a sidecar, where a child dressed in khaki gear operated a machine gun A man dressed in wartime military gear pictured enjoying darting along the streets of Southwick on a motorcycle At one point, Winston Churchill arrived in the village, smoking a cigar and making a V for Victory gesture with his fingers Union Jack bunting covered people's homes and cars in the south coast village today Churchill, played by a lookalike actor, waved to the hundreds of spectators in Southwick This included hundreds of beacons being lit in communities across the UK on Thursday night as part of the campaign Lamp Lights of Peace for D-Day 80. Accompanied by buglers and bagpipe players, bright lights shone out around the UK in tribute to the fallen soldiers who stormed Normandy's beaches in 1944. The network was organised by ex-Royal Pageant Master Bruno Peek, with the beacons intended to remember those who died on the five beaches as well as those who came home wounded. Talking about the campaign, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urged communities to support the cause. On Thursday, world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, gathered to mark the sacrifice made by troops arriving on the Normandy beaches in 1944. But the UK was represented by Foreign Secretary, Lord Cameron while Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer also rubbed shoulders with international politicians. Rishi Sunak was forced to issue an apology over social media and repeated it in an awkward exchange with broadcasters during an election campaign event in Wiltshire. He suggested it had always been his intention to leave before the international ceremony on Omaha Beach, even before he called the General Election. Earlier, D-Day veterans had been left in tears as the memories of decades past came flooding back while they were honoured for their service by world leaders and royals. Churchill pictured in a black jacket and black bowtie acknowledging locals in Southwick This year's celebration, which spanned the entire weekend, also involved a panel discussion featuring Susan Eisenhower, granddaughter of General Eisenhower The commemoration also boasted homemade cakes and guided trips to some of the town's historic wartime spots The Southwick Revival website says that, as of 2023, the events have raised 229,000 and the fundraising continued this year Wartime sandbags also appeared in the streets to add to the historical re-enactment An armoured vehicle pictured driving through the picturesque village for the yearly show The nostalgic scenes in Southwick round off an emotional week of ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of D-Day. Soldiers who took part in the Normandy landings 80 years ago wept as they remembered their fallen comrades and were given standing ovations by the grateful younger generations at a series of touching commemorative events in northern France. At the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer, tribute was paid to the 'remarkable wartime generation', before wreaths of poppies were laid in memory of the more than 25,000 soldiers who lost their lives in the first stages of the invasion of Nazi-occupied Europe. The number of veterans in attendance was only a few dozen, as the numbers of survivors dwindles with each year that passes - at the 75th anniversary five years ago 255 travelled to France, compared to the 50 who have made the journey this time around. Senator David Pocock has slammed the Coalition's pledge to remain committed to the Paris Agreement but scrap Australia's legally binding climate targets. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said he would dump Australia's 2030 target to cut emissions by 43 per cent from 2005 levels, should the coalition win the next federal election. 'Walking away from Australia's Paris commitments at a time when more action rather than less is needed would be an extraordinary act of vandalism against the future of the people and places we love,' Senator Pocock said. Under the Paris Agreement, members must increase their emissions targets every five years and cannot water them down. It commits countries to taking measures that limit global temperature rises to 1.5C and to keep them below 2C. Opposition Leader Peter Dutton said if the coalition won the next federal election he would dump Australia's 2030 target to cut emissions by 43 per cent from 2005 levels Opposition communications spokesman David Coleman dodged questions on whether the coalition would have a 2030 target. 'We're committed to the Paris Agreement,' he told ABC's Insiders on Sunday. 'We're committed to net-zero by 2050 and we'll have more to say about targets well in advance of the election.' Climate groups warn going back on Australia's targets could hamper investment as the nation transitions to a cleaner economy. Such a move could risk Australia's membership of the Paris Agreement on climate change. Energy Minister Chris Bowen described the coalition's explanation of its policy as a 'rolling disaster'. 'The fact of the matter is the Paris accord is crystal clear, there can be no backsliding,' he said. 'If you reduce your target, then you're in breach of the Paris accord.' Mr Bowen said forecasts released in December showed Australia on track for a 42 per cent emissions reduction, just short of the 43 per cent target. The coalition is proposing to introduce nuclear energy as the pathway to reducing emissions. Under the Paris Agreement, members must increase their emissions targets every five years and cannot water them down The first nuclear plants would not be achieved until 2040 at the earliest, the CSIRO reported in May. Australia's ban on nuclear power would also have to be overturned in a lengthy process. Nuclear reactors in the country would contribute to worse climate outcomes, according to Solutions for Climate Australia. 'Nuclear is a worrying distraction from getting on with the urgent job at hand: replacing polluting coal and gas with the sun and wind technology we have right now,' the group's senior campaigner Elly Baxter said. The Paris Agreement and its emissions targets had mobilised billions of dollars towards new clean and job-creating industries, Investor Group on Climate Change managing director Erwin Jackson said. 'Back-flipping on these commitments and withdrawing from the Paris Agreement would corrode investor confidence at a time when Australia is competing for funding for new technologies and clean industries, local jobs and training opportunities,' he said. A structure is built along the train tracks in Redwood City, Calif. San Mateo County tallied 2,130 unhoused people count during a one-night count in January 2024, a roughly 18% increase from the 2022 survey primarily among people in homeless shelters. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle The number of people experiencing homelessness rose in San Francisco over the past two years, but new data shows it surged even more in a nearby Bay Area county. Officials tallied 2,130 unhoused people in San Mateo County during a point-in-time, or PIT, count in January. That reflected a roughly 18% increase from the 1,808 people counted during the 2022 survey, growth that stood in contrast to what appeared to be a much smaller uptick region-wide. The bulk of the increase in San Mateo Countys homeless population was among people in shelters. The county, which roughly runs from Pacifica to Pescadero, said in its report that it has opened two homeless shelters since 2022, totaling nearly 300 beds. Advertisement Article continues below this ad With most of the Bay Areas preliminary data from the biennial one-night count now released, researchers will soon start looking at trends to see how the homelessness crisis is changing. Officials will also use results from the count to guide their decisions about where to allocate funding for services. Here are three more takeaways from the 2024 point-in-time count: Bay Area homelessness sees small uptick San Mateo County was one of only two Bay Area counties that have reported rising homelessness so far, with San Francisco seeing a 7% increase. Alameda, Marin, Contra Costa and Napa counties all saw declines from 2022 to 2024. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Those six counties collectively counted about 24,600 people experiencing homelessness in 2024, a 1% increase from the 23,700 tallied by the same counties in 2022. From 2019 to 2022, the homeless population grew by 13%. Without data from the three remaining Bay Area counties, its unclear how homelessness in the region has changed overall. Sonoma and Solano counties hadnt released their results as of June 7; and Santa Clara County, which typically reports more than a quarter of the regions homeless population, conducts its count on odd-numbered years. Still, David Amaral, director of research and evaluation at Bay Area nonprofit All Home, said its likely that the alarming homelessness surges of previous years have slowed. It seems like theres some evidence of stemming the curve, Amaral said, though he added that its difficult to talk about incremental progress when theres such a crisis. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Homelessness experts warn that the point-in-time count greatly underestimates the true number of unhoused people. Californias Homeless Data Integration System, which counts the number of people who access shelters, benefit from street outreach or receive other services, indicated about 4,900 people received services in San Mateo County in 2022. Thats far more than the 1,800 people tallied in the point-in-time count that year. More homeless people are in shelters The growth in the number of sheltered homeless people in San Mateo County was driven by the opening of two new shelters, including the 260-person Navigation Center in Redwood City. The shelter, which offers private units, opened in 2023, replacing a nearby 75-bed congregate shelter thats now being developed into affordable housing. Besides offering clients their own rooms, the shelter allows people to bring their pets and hosts on-site services, including dentistry and support for sexual assault survivors, said Sarah Fields, director of community engagement at LifeMoves, a nonprofit that runs the shelter. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We were able to see clients who had historically been averse to coming inside a congregate shelter be more open to coming in, Fields said. San Mateo County wasnt the only part of the Bay Area that saw a substantial increase in its number of sheltered homeless people. There were about 9,800 people in homeless shelters across the six counties in 2024, a 29% jump from the 7,600 counted in 2022. The number of unsheltered homeless people declined by about 8%, from 16,100 to 14,800. Jamie Chang, an associate professor of social welfare at UC Berkeley, said its hard to know the exact effects of new shelters. Thats because people experiencing homelessness often move in and out of shelters multiple times, and even between regions. Advertisement Article continues below this ad People like to attribute changes in those numbers to things like increases in shelters and increases in housing, and I think thats a fabulous outcome if we can actually prove that, Chang said. But I dont actually think thats provable through that narrow of a lens. Some cities see sharp increases in unsheltered homelessness Oaklands unsheltered homeless population rose by 10% from 3,337 in 2022 to 3,664 in 2024 but some smaller cities also saw notable increases. The number of unsheltered homeless people in Alameda jumped from 180 to 300, while Antiochs count rose from 334 in 2023 to 413 in 2024 (Contra Costa County didnt publish city-level data for 2022). There were somewhat fewer homeless people counted in some wealthier cities. Berkeleys unsheltered homeless population fell by nearly half, from 803 to 445, while Fremonts dropped from 866 to 614. Shannon McConville, a researcher at the Public Policy Institute of California, said that since there are more pockets of poverty in cities like Oakland and Antioch, residents are more vulnerable to becoming homeless. Those cities also have higher populations of Black people, she added, who are more likely than people of other ethnicities to become homeless. Amaral, the All Home director, said that though homelessness is growing more slowly in parts of the Bay Area, one of the biggest drivers of homelessness housing unaffordability has improved little. Preventing homelessness, he said, will reduce the number of people in need of temporary shelter. Hopes that missing Mail columnist Dr Michael Mosley would be discovered alive after going missing were tragically dashed with the discovery of his body just 260ft from a holiday resort after a desperate five-day search. Dr Mosley is believed to have died just over two hours after leaving his wife from the beach at St Nicholas on the Greek island of Symi last Wednesday at 1.30pm. New CCTV footage by the Agia Marina beach restaurant, which emerged tonight, showed the 67-year-old gingerly picking his way down a slope close to a fence then falling out of view at 3.44pm that afternoon. His wife Dr Clare Bailey had waved him off after they had spent the morning at the idyllic beach with friends after arriving just the day before for a week's holiday. Setting off with a single small bottle of water but crucially no phone, father-of-four Dr Mosley said he was heading back to the three-bedroom Merchant House apartment in Symi where they were staying with friends. They had only arrived the day before on what was Dr Mosley's second trip to the tranquil Dodecanese island, having first visited eight years ago. Dr Michael Mosley's wife earlier today paid an emotional tribute to her 'wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant' husband after his body was found. Dr Michael, whose death aged 67 has been confirmed, was last seen last Wednesday His body was discovered here this morning on the Greek island of Symi after a five-day search Local residents raised the alert after Symi's mayor spotted something he called 'unusual' The walk from St Nicholas to Pedi is about one and a half miles and took Dr Mosley no more than 15 minutes, with him spotted by CCTV at several points as he walked down the waterfront. Police were able to track him thanks to a distinctive umbrella he was carrying, after being informed by a worker at the St Nicholas beach bar. He was spotted on CCTV at 1.42pm that day walking past the Kamares coffee bar, then five minutes later he was seen by cameras at the Katsaras restaurant. Then at 1.52pm he was pictured walking past the Blue Corner Cafe, before the final CCTV image at 2pm showed him walking past the house of a supermarket owner. Two security staff looking out on to a high-speed inflatable boat caught him as he walked past and made his way to the start of the trail to Agia Marina. With temperatures nudging 40C and with an excessive heat warning in place from the Greek meteorological service, Dr Mosley set out for Symi but made the mistake of trying to take a difficult mountain route. Once in Pedi there was an easy option of getting back to Symi, following the main road - while not as scenic, it offers shelter and places to stop for rest and water. Instead Dr Mosley decided to press on and take the inland route which climbs up from Pedi to a height of about 60m before dropping down towards a man-made beach at Agia Marina. Greek police have confirmed that the body found today is that of Dr Michael Mosley (pictured) He is thought to have set out for Symi but made the mistake of taking a difficult mountain route This map shows the different paths across the Greek island which were available Police believed Dr Mosley was seen on CCTV in the town of Pedi before making a wrong turn along a path heading north, on the island of Symi It was here that sadly Dr Mosley's body was found face up in a rocky area just after 10am on Sunday, after mayor Lefterios Papakalodoukas spotted something 'unusual' from the sea while sailing away following media interviews. At around 2.09pm local time, firefighters arrived at the marina by boat and carried an orange stretcher and large black bag to where the body was found. Other people wearing plain clothes got off the white speed boat and took briefcases up the rocky hill. After around half an hour a party of six firefighters carefully gathered Dr Mosley's body and placed it onto the orange stretcher. It was then taken down to a jetty and loaded onto a small white tender and taken away to a mortuary on the island of Rhodes for a postmortem. Two forensic officers remained at the scene examining the area where the body was found and the refused to comment as they left. It earlier emerged that Dr Mosley's grown-up children Alex, Jack, Dan and Kate were just 350ft away from where the body was found when they retraced their father's steps yesterday. It appeared the Mail columnist had walked around the perimeter of the beach bar at Agia Marina and was heading towards the sea. Temperatures at the time were around 37c and though he had a bottle of water with him the heat would have made it incredibly difficult. A coroner has now said an initial examination had ruled out foul play as there were 'no obvious injuries' to Dr Mosley's body - yet further tests would have to be carried out at a hospital in Rhodes to firmly establish the cause of death. A spokesman for the coroner said: 'It looks like it was a fall but we need establish whether he had a medical episode before that and it will take time.' Sophie Laurimore, director of The Soho Agency, which represented Dr Michael Mosley, described him as a 'wise, wonderful and lovely man'. She said: 'It is with such profound sadness that we say farewell to our dear friend and client, the wise, wonderful and lovely man, Michael Mosley. 'Michael loved what he did and found it a pleasure and a great privilege to work with his colleagues in TV, radio, publishing and at his business, The Fast 800. 'He was immensely grateful for how receptive the public were to the ideas he had the privilege to share and to the many scientists whose work he had the honour to help popularise. 'Our hearts are with Clare and the children. Michael was unique. The work he did was important. We will miss him dreadfully.' Claire Bailey (right) has paid tribute to her 'brilliant' husband Dr Michael Mosley (left) - they are seen together here appearing on ITV's This Morning in June 2019 Tributes have been paid after the death was confirmed of Michael Mosley, pictured here appearing on ITV daytime show Loose Women on February 2 this year Dr Mosley was staying on the Greek island of Symi, his second visit there Dr Michael Mosley, who went missing on Wednesday, with his wife Clare Bailey Mr Papakalodoukas was talking to reporters on the beach as he stood just yards from where Dr Mosley's body would be found minutes later. After ending the interviews, he had got back into a boat and was heading back to Pedi when he turned round and something 'unusual' caught his eye. Greek TV crews zoomed in, telling him it looked like a body, and he immediately alerted a nearby restaurant whose waiter Ilias Tsavaris was sent to investigate. He rushed over and was struck by the sun glinting off Dr Mosley's watch - and as he got closer he realised with horror it was the missing health guru. Journalists were just behind him and captured the look of horror on the waiter's face as he ushered them away and then called police who arrived twenty minutes later. The body was close to the perimeter fence of the beach restaurant and not more than 30m away from where holiday-makers had been enjoying the sunshine. In another twist, a police officer at the scene suffered a suspected broken leg as he jumped from a wall close to the body and had to be carried away on a stretcher. Customers continued ordering lunch while others swam or played beach volleyball as forensic teams and emergency services set about their grim task. Pictures were taken of the body and the scene by officials wearing gloves and face masks, while it appeared that his rucksack had been found away from his body. Local cameraman Antonios broke down in tears when talking about the body's discovery Agia Marina bar manager Ilias Tsavaris was also among those who raised the alert this morning Dr Mosley is thought to have taken a walk along treacherous mountain terrain on the island Dr Mosley's TV series include one called Inside The Human Body, on a dying man's 'final breath' A Hellenic Coast Guard vessel transporting the body is seen docked at the island of Symi A female investigator could be seen clearly picking up the khaki rucksack and holding it up about 20ft up the slope away from the body. What investigators will now try and piece together now is how and why Dr Mosley ended up where he was and why he his body had not been seen during searches. The doctor was with friends at Agios Nikolaos beach on Wednesday before going alone for a walk to the centre of the island. It is thought that he had managed to climb the slope from Pedi to the top of hill overlooking Agia Marina - but what is not clear is why he then decided to skirt the edge of the restaurant. A more obvious route would be a signed path down to the restaurant, which looks on to a small island, before continuing the hike to Symi port. Guide books describe the walk as going through a 'desert mountain landscape' with much of the path being 'stony to very stony underfoot'. One describes 'false trails which can mislead' while being 'stony and uncomfortable', adding that there is 'little vegetation' along the route with only sheep and goats for company. Dr Mosley's wife Clare Bailey, who shares four children with the TV doctor, said: 'I don't know quite where to begin with this. It's devastating to have lost Michael, my wonderful, funny, kind and brilliant husband. 'We had an incredibly lucky life together. We loved each other very much and were so happy together. I am incredibly proud of our children, their resilience and support over the past days. Claire Bailey said of her husband Dr Michael Mosley (pictured): 'He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn't be easily seen' Dr Mosley was on holiday with his wife in Symi (pictured) after they completed a nationwide tour together called: Eat (well), Sleep (better), Live (longer) Terrain near the pathway to St Nicholas Beach, where Dr Mosley set off hiking on Wednesday Dr Mosley (pictured) and his wife landed on the 25-square-mile island on Tuesday and were due to stay for a week with a couple who have a house in Symi Town People known to Dr Mosley and fans of his work have taken to social media to share their heartbreak at the news 'My family and I have been hugely comforted by the outpouring of love from people from around the world. It's clear that Michael meant a huge amount to so many of you. 'We're taking comfort in the fact that he so very nearly made it. He did an incredible climb, took the wrong route and collapsed where he couldn't be easily seen by the extensive search team. 'Michael was an adventurous man, it's part of what made him so special. We are so grateful to the extraordinary people on Symi who have worked tirelessly to help find him. 'Some of these people on the island, who hadn't even heard of Michael, worked from dawn till dusk unasked. We're also very grateful to The Press who have dealt with us with great respect.' Dr Bailey, who was married to the TV doctor for nearly 40 years, added: 'I feel so lucky to have our children and my amazing friends. Most of all, I feel so lucky to have had this life with Michael. Thank you all x.' Ted Verity, Editor of Mail Newspapers, said: 'Everyone at the Mail is absolutely devastated to hear of the death of Dr Michael Mosley. 'Michael wasn't just a unique and unmissable columnist. He was part of the Mail family. 'Since he first wrote for us in 2011, we have published hundreds of his weekly columns and serialised many of his best-selling books - from the ground-breaking fast diets to others on gut health and sleep. 'It's no exaggeration to say that over the years Michael's insights - especially his revelation that you CAN reverse type two diabetes - will have extended, and even saved, the lives of countless readers. 'In person, whether warning of the perils of skimmed milk or enthusing about his latest madcap experiment on his own body, Michael was as electrifying as he was in print and on TV. Dr Michael Mosley and his wife Claire Bailey were married for 40 years Firefighters on a beach during a search for Dr Mosley yesterday on the Greek island of Symi A member of the search team is stretchered away at Agia Marina in Symi, Greece Friends and volunteers in Symi, Greece, where a search and rescue operation has been under way for Dr Mosley 'What shone through was his irrepressible curiosity - he was always hungry to learn about the very latest, cutting-edge science and medicine and then explain it to readers in a way that was both engaging and comprehensible to a mainstream audience. 'Michael was also extremely kind, not hesitating to be one of the first to offer his home as sanctuary to a Ukrainian family. 'And he always spoke with enormous love and warmth of his wife Clare, his co-author on many projects, and four children Alexander, Jack, Daniel and Katherine. 'Our hearts go out to them all.' The question for investigators is to try and understand why he was found where he was. Did he slip and fall as he tried to reach the water? Did he have some form of attack? Why did a helicopter that flew over several times on Saturday not spot him? What is clear though, is that tragically it looks like Dr Mosley tragically passed away within two hours of setting off. One waiter at Agia Marina told MailOnline: 'I just can't believe it. He was so close to us for all these days. 'They searched the area on foot and the helicopter flew over on Saturday - how was he missed?' But for now those questions will be far from the heartbroken family's mind as they come together and grieve for a devoted father and husband. Vice President Kamala Harris lashed out at a pro-Gaza protestor on Saturday after mourning the loss of civilian lives in Gaza during the war with Israel. Harris spoke about the ongoing conflict during her speech at the Michigan Democratic Party Legacy fundraising dinner in Detroit. When the vice president said that she and the president were working to end the war between Israel and Hamas, a woman stood up and started screaming at Harris. 'I'm speaking right now,' Harris said sternly as the security moved quickly to push the protestor out of the room. 'I value and respect your voice, but I'm speaking right now.' Harris celebrated the news on Saturday that Israel had rescued four hostages, but recognized that many civilian lives were lost during the operation. US Vice President Kamala Harris speaks during a campaign event in Michigan 'Thankfully four of those hostages were reunited with their families tonight,' she said. 'And we mourn all of the innocent lives that have been lost in Gaza, including those tragically killed today.' Israelis celebrated after four of the hostages who were captured and held by Hamas on October 7th were rescued as part of an Israeli military operation. The hostages released were Noa Argamani, 26, Almog Meir Jan, 22, Andrei Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 41. The Gaza health ministry said the Israeli hostage rescue operation killed 274 Palestinians but the Israeli estimated the casualty list was less than 100. Harris was defensive of the Biden administration's approach to the Israel/Gaza war. 'We have been working every day to bring an end to this conflict in a way that ensures Israel is secure, brings home all hostages, ends ongoing suffering for Palestinian people and ensures that Palestinians can enjoy their right to self determination, dignity and freedom,' she said. President Joe Biden and Harris are struggling with support from Michigan Arab-American communities, who are angry with the way the administration is supporting Israel during their war with Hamas. A pro-Gaza protester is escorted quickly out of a fundraiser dinner with Vice President Kamala Harris Pro-Palestinian demonstrators continue to disrupt campaign events with Biden and Harris The Biden campaign also continues struggling with disruptions from protestors at campaign events calling the president 'Genocide Joe' and the vice president 'Killer Kamala.' Harris was also heckled by pro-Gaza protesters during an appearance for a taping of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show on Tuesday. 'You're a f***ing murderer! How many babies have you killed?' one protester screamed as the show began. The protests were edited out of the show when it aired, but anti-war activists from Code Pink published them on YouTube. Thousands of angry pro-Palestine protesters gathered at the White House on Saturday demanding that Biden push for a cease-fire in Gaza. One protester in a Hamas headband held up a bloody face mask of President Biden as they shouted for an end to the war. Other protesters defaced a statue in Lafayette park with angry messages directed at Biden. The president was in France during the protest. During her dinner speech, Harris praised Biden's negotiations with Qatar and Egypt to pressure Israel to offer a cease fire in Gaza and withdraw from the area entirely. 'As a President Biden said last week, it is time for this war to end,' she said. Actress Octavia Spencer campaigned with Harris in Michigan on Saturday Harris spent the day in Michigan, attending a fundraising event in Ann Arbor, where she mocked former President Donald Trump. Actress Octavia Spencer joined Harris for her events, including a stop at a book store in Ypsilanti, Michigan. Spencer praised Biden and Harris for helping the black community, pointing out that they sent them direct payments from the government as part of the coronavirus relief bill. 'One of the first things Joe and Kamala did when they took office was delivered checks directly into the pocket of millions of Americans,' she said. '$1,400 checks from the American Rescue Plan and another $300 a month per child per family.' Harris took shots at former President Donald Trump, referring to the New York jury's verdict of 34 felony convictions in the 'hush money' trial. 'You know why he complains? Because the reality is, cheaters don't like getting caught,' she said. Harris criticized Trump for attacking the verdict as politically motivated. 'Simply put, Donald Trump thinks he is above the law. This should be disqualifying for anyone who wants to be President of the United States,' she said. A Minnesota transgender high school student had her jaw broken in two places after she used the men's bathroom. Cobalt Sovereign, 17, says she was assaulted by a fellow student as she left the bathroom at Hopkins High School on May 30. She said the student looked over the stall and called her a 'f****t' and then punched her in the face as she was leaving. Sovereign, who uses she/her pronouns, told KARE: 'I was hit in the jaw and at the time one of my teeth exploded, pieces in my mouth.' She was rushed to hospital and had three titanium plates fitted in her jaw. The school took disciplinary action against the alleged assailant and Minnetonka police are investigating. Cobalt Sovereign, 17, says she was assaulted by a fellow student as she left the bathroom at Hopkins High School on May 30 She said the student looked over the stall and called her a 'f****t' and then punched her in the face as she was leaving Sovereign said she was using the men's restroom in between classes when a fellow student peered into the stall she was in. She told KARE: 'In the bathroom, he had looked over the stall directly where I was attempting to use the bathroom, and that is where he initially called me a f----- in the first place.' She said she then left the stall and walked out of the bathroom, where he was waiting. He then allegedly punched her in the face, breaking her jaw in two places and shattering a tooth. She said: 'He had no reason to have anything against me, I've never talked to him, never done anything negative to him. 'And I was insulted and then eventually hit in the jaw.' Sovereign was rushed to hospital where she underwent a long surgery to fit three titanium plates in her jaw. The school has gender neutral bathrooms but they are often busy or out of the way. Sovereign said she had never been afraid to use the men's restroom before, but that it makes her 'incredibly uncomfortable.' She said: 'I would rather be uncomfortable than make other people uncomfortable by using the women's bathroom.' The school has gender neutral bathrooms but they are often busy or out of the way After the assault she said she has had nightmares and will require months of further treatment and surgeries. A spokesperson for Hopkins Public Schools told NBC News that the school district and police 'are investigating an act of violence that occurred last Thursday and involved a student who identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community.' They added: 'Hopkins Public Schools is an inclusive community that values diversity and inclusion. 'We will address any issues that compromise the safety and inclusivity of our school environment. 'We support and stand by any group that is marginalized, including our LGBTQ+ scholars and staff.' A second-grade teacher and her ex-husband were found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in suburban Illinois last week. It happened after 64-year-old Real Estate Broker Matthew Moore illegally entered the home of Amy Moore, 46, in the early morning hours of May 29, cops said. He went on to confront and shoot her 'multiple times', a Normal Police Department's news release said - before dying himself 'from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.' The incident has left the former couple's three sons - aged 12, 11 and seven - without a mother or a father. Amy's family have expressed their fury over supposed oversights made in the buildup to the single mom's death, during which she was allegedly harassed by her old spouse. Second-grade teacher Amy Moore - seen here with her three kids - was found dead in an apparent murder-suicide in suburban Illinois last week It happened after 64-year-old Real Estate Broker Matthew Moore (seen here with his now orphaned kids in 2022) illegally entered the home of his old spouse in the early morning hours of May 29, cops said 'There were many red flags, many phone calls, many trips to lawyers to try and address this,' her older Thomas told WGLT this past Sunday - before concluding, 'I think for sure the entire system let her down.' 'This is something that, with the number of incidents we've had over the years, they should've never been in the same room at the same time, ever. It should have been impossible for that to happen.' The same station reported the day after the murder that the couple - who appear to have gotten married in 2013 - had divorced. The outlet reported how the paperwork for the divorce included orders of protection filed by a teacher at Unit 5s Grove Elementary against Matthew, who worked as a broker for Berkshire Hathaway Home Services in Bloomington, his LinkedIn shows. They showed how the couple's split was not a clean one, and took nearly two years. The final filings to end the marriage, moreover, happened just a week before cops say Matthew orphaned the pair's three children, shooting Amy. Court documents go on to detail alleged accounts of toxic behavior on the part of the patriarch, whose social media shows him enjoying days out with his brood as recently as 2022. Some of the evidence was seen on social media and systematically documented by Amy, while others were left on a court-mandated app meant to expedite communication between the dueling parents. One such post read: 'Follow the case and you will know the truth. I don't like to start fights but I will never lose one. I have to protect my kids and myself against malicious attacks even if it cost me and Amy $100,000 in attorney fees.' He went on to confront and shoot her 'multiple times', a Normal Police Department's news release said - before dying himself 'from a self-inflicted gunshot wound' The divorce case was filed July 28, 2022 - after which, in 11 different occasions, the presiding judge dealt with orders of protection involving the parents. All were filed against Matthew and approved, with one even lifted following an agreement by the two parties. The basis for the first order surrounded an incident four days before divorce proceedings began, after which Amy - reportedly living paycheck to paycheck - consistently documented her husband's actions. It claimed Matthew had gotten drunk during a family outing in Wisconsin and left, taking the family vehicle in the process. This left her and the children to rent a vehicle to come home, the case filing states - before revealing how the first emergency petition for protection in the case came less than two weeks later. It also cites two emails in early August of last year that Amy painted as erratic - and ones that also made her feel concerned about her old husband's stability. 'Petitioner claims respondent has reverted to previous behavior of harassing, discussing divorce case with kids,' this section reads, not offering more detail. The file did not indicate whether Amy interacted with police in Normal during these alleged incidents, and Normal Police Chief Steve Petrilli on Wednesday said he was unaware of a pattern of abusive behavior. Pictured: The home where the apparent murder suicide occurred. It remains unclear if the children - aged 12, 11 and 7- were home at the time of the incident But in the court docket, more alleged incidents of harassment and orders of protection are detailed. This includes a felony arrest of Matthew in 2022 for allegedly damaging Amy's vehicle, an outburst that allegedly came after he arrived uninvited to the home where the murder would eventually occur. There, he took a series of unspecified items he was supposed to stay away from, documents filed by Amy' attorneys state. The documents also show the frequency of the protection orders - with a long-term one lifted in August of that year, and another filed just six days later. 'The respondent has sent numerous rambling, nonsensical, and threatening messages to the petitioner,' read one of these petitions, as others cited threatening social media posts from the suspected killer. 'See you in jail, you nasty woman,' one Facebook post left on the teacher's profile read. Then, in another emergency order, Amy claimed her ex stole cash from her wallet when she was out of the house, and used an app to remotely change the house's thermostat setting while she was at home. The father - seen posing in a photo with his kids while in a shirt that praises his parenting - also allegedly installed a doorbell with a camera in the house, while she was away teaching and the children were at school. The incident has left the former couple's three sons - aged 12, 11 and 7 - without a mother, and the woman's family irate They're mad over supposed oversights made in the buildup to the single mom's death, during which she was allegedly harassed by her old spouse, seen here The victim also claimed he put sex toys and condoms into the family Amazon account cart so that they could be seen by the children, and that Matt at one point claimed in one message to have initiated a fraud investigation against her at a local bank. Despite all of this, the record reflected the two were still in the midst of working towards some sort reconciliation, as recently as February of last year. There was court-ordered mediation at one point, after which Matthew's erratic behavior persisted - leading to more orders of protection. Finally, on May 20 of this year - nine days before the alleged murder-suicide - the court docket suggested the former couple had come to an agreement on financial and co-parenting matters surrounding the case. On May 22, the last papers in the lengthy split were filed, and a week later, in the middle of the night, police say Matthew snuck into the home to fatally shoot his wife. Later that morning, cops surveyed the scene as neighbors gathered in driveways, with the kids nowhere to be seen. It remains unclear if they were home at the time of the incident. After her death, faculty at Grove Elementary remembered Amy as an 'outstanding mother, daughter, educator, and friend', after 19 years of loyal service. After her death, faculty at Grove Elementary remembered Amy as an 'outstanding mother, daughter, educator, and friend', after 20 years of loyal service at the neighborhood school Following the incident, cops were seen surveying the scene as neighbors gathered in driveways, with the kids nowhere to be seen 'A graduate of Unit 5 Schools, Amy was a gifted educator who impacted the lives of thousands of students,' principal Sarah Edwards wrote in a statement. 'She was a beloved second-grade teacher at Grove Elementary for almost 20 years, and lived her life to serve others, especially her three children.' Her older brother added to WGLT that Amy was 'essentially a single mother at the end of her life, working full time, living paycheck to paycheck,' after starting a GoFundMe to help with his now-orphaned nephews. As of writing, the fundraiser has surpassed its $400,000 goal, meant for the Moore Boys 'to help fund their future,' he said. 'Please consider donating... Thanks for your love, support and prayers.' An investigation into the incident is underway. Cops this week said it is still being treated as a murder suicide. Narendra Modi has taken the oath of office today as he was sworn in for a third term as India's Prime Minister after worse-than-expected election results left him reliant on coalition partners to govern. Modi's Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ruled outright for the past decade but failed to repeat its previous two landslide wins this time around, defying analysts' expectations and exit polls. He was instead forced into quick-fire talks with the 15-member coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), which guaranteed him the parliamentary numbers to govern. Modi, flanked by top BJP officials and party leaders of his coalition, vowed in a ceremony marking his formal assumption of power to 'bear true allegiance to the constitution of India'. President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Modi at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, the president's palace in New Delhi, attended by thousands of dignitaries, including the leaders of seven regional countries, Bollywood stars and industrialists. India's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Narendra Modi (right) takes the oath as India's Prime Minister during the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi today Narendra Modi (left, front) signs after taking oath as India's Prime Minister during the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, India on Sunday Honour guards lined the steps of the presidential palace where thousands gathered to watch Modi, dressed in a white kurta and with blue waistcoat, take the oath. South Asian leaders from neighbouring Bangladesh, the Maldives and Sri Lanka attended the ceremony but neighbouring rivals China and Pakistan had notably not sent top leaders. The cheering crowd also included adoring BJP loyalists, as well as celebrities such as Bollywood legend Shahrukh Khan and billionaire tycoons Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani, key Modi allies. But with Modi yet to announce his new cabinet, the line of lawmakers also taking the oath of office was keenly watched as an indication of who will be in government. Modi was followed immediately by top BJP aides Rajnath Singh, Amit Shah and Nitin Gadkari - the defence, interior and transport ministers in his last government respectively. Tenth to take the oath, and first among the BJP's coalition members, was H.D. Kumaraswamy from the Janata Dal (Secular) party. Larger coalition parties have demanded hefty concessions in exchange for their support. Other coalition leaders to take the oath included Ram Mohan Naidu of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the largest BJP ally with 16 seats, and which India media reports has extracted four cabinet positions. Narendra Modi arrives to take the oath as India's Prime Minister during the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, India Amit Shah, Nitin Gadkari, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, Nirmala Sitharaman and Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, (left to right) wait to take the oath as cabinet ministers during the swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi, India, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi gestures during a swearing-in ceremony at the presidential palace in New Delhi Rajiv Ranjan Singh also took the oath, from the BJP's next biggest ally the Janata Dal (United) with 12 seats, which has reportedly two minister posts. Modi described recent days as 'very busy' in an article published on his website Sunday ahead of the ceremony, saying he was in the 'midst of preparations of government formation'. Indian media reported widely that the top jobs including the four most powerful posts of the interior, foreign, finance and defence would remain in the BJP's grip. The Hindustan Times described days of 'hectic talks', while the Times of India said the BJP had sought to 'pare down' their partners' demands. Modi's previous cabinet had 81 ministers. But analysts said that the coalition will shift parliamentary politics and force Modi's once domineering BJP into a somewhat more conciliatory approach. 'In the past, the BJP has had confidence because of its sheer majority,' said Sajjan Kumar, head of the Delhi-based political research group PRACCIS. 'The coalition will now force the BJP to engage in more consultation.' Political analyst Zoya Hasan of Jawaharlal Nehru University told AFP that Modi faced potential challenges ahead - warning he may be 'meeting his match' in the 'crafty politicians' of the TDP's Chandrababu Naidu and JD(U)'s Nitish Kumar. A Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporter lights a firecracker as others shout slogans celebrating Narendra Modi's taking his oath as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term, at the BJP office in Srinagar, the summer capital of Indian Kashmir Supporters carrying portraits of Narendra Modi, leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) burst firecrackers in Varanasi on June 9, 2024 As Narendra Modi is sworn-in as the Prime Minister of India in the Indian capital New Delhi, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) supporters light fireworks outside their office in Srinagar, Indian controlled Kashmir Supporters carrying portraits of Narendra Modi, leader of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) burst firecrackers in Varanasi on June 9, 2024, to celebrate after he was sworn-in as India's Prime Minister for a third term Modi's chief rival Rahul Gandhi was nominated on Saturday to lead India's opposition in parliament, after he defied analysts' forecasts to help the Congress party nearly double its parliamentary numbers. It was Congress's best result since Modi was swept to power a decade ago, rescuing the party from the political wilderness. Gandhi is the scion of the dynasty that dominated Indian politics for decades and is the son, grandson and great-grandson of former prime ministers, beginning with independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru. If elected, as expected, he will be recognised as India's official opposition leader when the new parliament sits, which local media reports suggest will happen as early next week. This is the moment a bungling burglar on a crime spree was caught red-handed by police as he cowered behind the counter of a restaurant. Stephen Clark, 49, had broken into two town centre restaurants in Sevenoaks within the space of half an hour but was quickly tracked down by officers. In CCTV, Clark can be seen smashing the glass on the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the Kent town, and forcing his way inside. Bodycam footage of an arriving Kent Police officer shows him announcing to the dark restaurant: 'If there's anybody in this building, please come to the front and make yourself known.' But the officer receives no answer and only discovers Clark hiding behind the counter when he shines his torch on the cowering criminal. Stephen Clark, 49, had broken into two town centre restaurants in Sevenoaks within the space of half an hour Bodycam footage of an arriving Kent Police officer shows the moment Clark is discovered hiding behind the restaurant counter The repeat offender was sentenced to 12 months in prison for the burglary Clark targeted Venezuelan restaurant Budare (located down the street) in The Shambles, between 10.30pm and 11pm on May 31, 2024 The officer says 'hello sir' when he uncovers Clark, before going ahead and arresting him for burglary which Clark appears at first to accept meekly. But when the officer and Clark step outside the restaurant, Clark attempts to flee from the officer and his partner - but they react quickly and tackle him to the floor. Clark targeted another restaurant in Dorset Street, and Budare in The Shambles, between 10.30pm and 11pm on May 31, 2024. He forced open the doors at both venues, damaging glass panels, frames, and locks in the process. Clark was later charged with two counts of burglary and remanded in custody. He attended a hearing at Sevenoaks Magistrates' Court just three days later on June 3, where he was sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment. He was filmed forcing the door open, damaging glass panels, frames, and locks in the process In CCTV, Clark can be seen smashing the glass on the door of Budare, a Venezuelan restaurant in the Kent town, and forcing his way inside Police Sergeant James Page, of the West Division Victim Based Crime Team, said: 'Clark caused considerable damage to both premises and stole cash from local business owners, causing them inconvenience and placing them under undue financial stress. 'I am thankful to the officers who responded quickly to the initial emergency call and arrested Clark swiftly. 'It is down to their teamwork that Clark, a repeat offender, didn't avoid arrest.' A 'bogeyman' burglar has been jailed for two-and-a-half years after he was found hiding under a boy's bed wearing nothing but the child's pants. Ahmad Hassan, 28, has been dubbed a real-life bogeyman by police officers after he left the youngster in fear of going to his bedroom alone, while his brother was so traumatised he vomited. Canterbury Crown Court heard the shocking discovery was made after the young siblings had returned home from trick or treating with their mother on October 31 last year. Despite finding doors and windows open at the property in Folkestone, Kent, and the interior ransacked, the family believed the intruder had left. But then one of the boys was greeted by the terrifying sight under his bed. Ahmad Hassan (pictured) has been dubbed a real-life bogeyman by police Police were alerted and found Hassan, by now in another bedroom, lying on the floor stretched out in a starfish position and still wearing the boy's orange pants. Hassan later denied burglary with intent to steal but was found guilty after a jury deliberated for just 40 minutes. He did not give evidence at his trial but Canterbury Crown Court heard he had been under the influence of drugs at the time. During the trial a police officer described Hassan to jurors as 'the bogeyman'. A judge has told Hassan she could not 'begin to imagine' how his young victim must have felt when he found the intruder under his bed on Halloween last year. Prosecutor Alex Matthews told the sentencing hearing on Wednesday that the family returned home at about 9pm to find toys all over the floor, wet clothes in the hallway, and some of their own clothing and bedding disturbed. She said: 'It was thought no one was in the house but, to the shock of one of the children, it transpired the defendant was hiding under the child's bed. 'Obviously, the family was rather distressed. 'The defendant was ultimately found in another son's bedroom and was clearly under the influence of drink or drugs.' The court heard it was accepted Hassan had not forced entry as the homeowner believed she may have left a door open, and nothing was actually stolen. In her victim impact statement, made a few hours after the burglary, the mum revealed how she and her sons had been affected. They decided not to stay in the house that night and are believed to have since moved. She told police: 'I'm still shaken, feeling extremely anxious, in shock and ultimately scared. I know the house is now safe but I'm scared to go home. 'My children are mortified. One will live constantly thinking someone is in the house. He didn't want to go back to his bedroom without me. 'My other son threw up as a result of the fear he has been put through.' Hassan, who has no previous convictions, was said to have lived in the UK for 11 years but was homeless at the time of the offence and leading a 'chaotic' life. It is believed he changed into the boy's underwear as his own clothing was wet. Canterbury Crown Court (pictured) heard the shocking discovery was made after the young siblings had returned home from trick or treating with their mother on October 31 last year Alexa Le Moine, defending, told the court the defendant was 'genuinely remorseful' for his actions. She said: 'One cannot understate the intrusion into one's home - a safe place and refuge for this family. 'It is hoped this has not impacted in the long term on her and her children. 'This is, perhaps, a more unusual case in that he was found on the scene, made no attempt to escape, was asleep on the floor and plainly under the influence, which may be an explanation why he entered the premises and remained as he did.' Her argument that Hassan could be spared immediate custody was rejected by Recorder Christine Wilson who jailed Hassan for two-and-a-half-years. Recorder Wilson said the intrusion into the family's 'safe space' and his subsequent behaviour had resulted in significant psychological harm to all three victims. She told Hassan: 'In this case, you didn't break into the property by damaging any door or window, and you didn't take anything away. 'But you entered the property and ransacked a number of toys and garments, including the householder's underwear. 'You took off all your clothes and put on a pair of orange underpants belonging to one of the small children in the family and then you hid under a child's bed. 'I cannot begin to imagine what it must have been like for that child, on returning home on Halloween from trick or treating, finding a person naked, apart from that child's own underpants, under their bed.' Hassan, who is of no fixed address, was also handed a 10-year restraining order. Iran's firebrand ex-ruler Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been barred once again from running for president after the 'Butcher of Tehran' Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash death last month. The middle eastern country's Guardian Council approved six names, including hardline parliament speaker, to battle for the role at the election on June 28. But Ahmadinejad's name was not on the list, drafted by a panel of clerics and jurists ultimately overseen by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The Holocaust-questioning former president is known for the crackdown that followed his disputed 2009 re-election and increasingly challenged Khamenei toward the end of his term. He was also disqualified in the last election by the panel. The council's decision represents the starting gun for a shortened, two-week campaign to replace Raisi, a hard-line protege of the Supreme Leader once floated as a possible successor for the 85-year-old cleric. Iran's firebrand ex-ruler Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (pictured, on June 2) has been barred once again from running for president after the 'Butcher of Tehran' Ebrahim Raisi was killed in a helicopter crash death last month Rescue team members pictured working at the crash site after President Raisi's helicopter went down on May 19 Iranian media declared President Ebrahim Raisi dead on May 20, 2024 after his helicopter crashed in a mountainous northwestern region The former president was on board the aircraft alongside the Iranian foreign minster Hossein Amir-Abdollahian when it crashed into a mountain range on May 19 after it got into difficulty while travelling in heavy fog. Rescuers said there was 'no sign of life' when they managed to reach the wreckage with the search effort hampered by bad weather conditions. The Council's selection suggests Iran's Shiite theocracy hopes to ease the election through after recent votes saw record-low turnout and as tensions remain high over the country's rapidly advancing nuclear program, as well as the Israel-Hamas war. The Guardian Council also continued its streak of not accepting a woman or anyone calling for radical change to the country's governance. The campaign will likely include live, televised debates on Iran's state-run broadcaster. Candidates also advertise on billboards and offer stump speeches to back their bids. So far, none of them has offered any specifics, though all have promised a better economic situation for the country as it suffers from sanctions by the U.S. and other Western nations over its nuclear program, which now enriches uranium closer than ever to weapons-grade levels. Such matters of state remain the final decision of Khamenei, but presidents in the past have leaned either toward engagement or confrontation with the West over it. The most prominent candidate remains Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf, 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. However, many remember that Qalibaf, as a former Guard general, was part of a violent crackdown on Iranian university students in 1999. He also reportedly ordered live gunfire to be used against students in 2003 while serving as the country's police chief. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi (pictured, on June 3 registering his presidency candidate), Raisi's vice president, ran in the 2021 presidential elections and came in last with just under 1 million votes Mostafa Pourmohammadi, a former minister of justice, pictured registering as a candidate Tehran mayor Ali Reza Zakani also withdrew in 2021 to back Raisi The most prominent candidate remains Mohammed Bagher Qalibaf (pictured), 62, a former Tehran mayor with close ties to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard Other candidates include Saeed Jalili (pictured, registering on May 30), former senior nuclear negotiator, who ran in 2013, and registered in 2021 before withdrawing to back Raisi Masoud Pezeshkian (pictured) is the only reformist candidate among a slate of hardliners, and is not seen as having much chance Qalibaf ran unsuccessfully for president in 2005 and 2013. He withdrew from the 2017 presidential campaign to support Raisi in his first failed presidential bid. Raisi won the 2021 election, which had the lowest turnout ever for a presidential vote in Iran, after every major opponent found themselves disqualified. Khamenei gave a speech last week alluding to qualities that Qalibaf's supporters have highlighted as potentially signaling the supreme leader's support for the speaker. Yet Qalibaf's role in crackdowns may be viewed differently after years of unrest that have gripped Iran, both over its ailing economy and the mass protests sparked by the 2022 death of Mahsa Amini, a young woman who died after being arrested for allegedly not wearing her headscarf, or hijab, to the liking of security forces. Other candidates include Saeed Jalili, former senior nuclear negotiator, who ran in 2013, and registered in 2021 before withdrawing to back Raisi. Tehran mayor Ali Reza Zakani also withdrew in 2021 to back Raisi. Mostafa Pourmohammadi is a former minister of justice. Amirhossein Ghazizadeh Hashemi, Raisi's vice president, ran in the 2021 presidential elections and came in last with just under 1 million votes. Masoud Pezeshkian is the only reformist candidate among a slate of hardliners, and is not seen as having much chance. The Guardian Council disqualified Ahmadinejad, the firebrand, Holocaust-questioning former president. Ahmadinejad increasingly challenged Khamenei toward the end of his term and is remembered for the bloody crackdown on the 2009 Green Movement protests. He was also disqualified in the last election by the panel. It also blocked former speaker of parliament speaker Ali Larijani, a conservative with strong ties to Iran's former relatively moderate President Hassan Rouhani. It was the second election in a row in which Larinjani was barred from running. Former Iranian Central Bank chief Abdolnasser Hemmati, who ran in 2021, and Eshaq Jahangiri, who served as vice president under moderate President Hassan Rouhani, were also disqualified. Drone footage shows the site of the crash in May which saw Raisi killed Raisi is seen looking out the window of the helicopter prior to the crash Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian was also found dead in the crash The election comes at a time of heightened tensions between Iran and the West over its arming of Russia in that country's war on Ukraine. Its support of militia proxy forces throughout the wider Middle East has been increasingly in the spotlight as Yemen's Houthi rebels attack ships in the Red Sea over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and others were killed in the May 19 helicopter crash in the far northwest of Iran. Investigations are continuing, though authorities say there's no immediate sign of foul play in the crash on a cloud-covered mountainside. Raisi was the second Iranian president to die in office. In 1981, a bomb blast killed President Mohammad Ali Rajai in the chaotic days after the country's Islamic Revolution. The OnlyFans model who threw a banana milkshake over Nigel Farage has refused to apologise and has instead insisted: 'I made my point.' Victoria Thomas-Bowen, 25, claims she has pocketed 40,000 from extra subscribers to her channel since she was arrested for drenching the Reform UK leader with the thick, icy, flavoured beverage as he launched his bid to be voted in as Clacton's MP. The blonde bombshell, though, denies it was a publicity stunt and says she only plotted to chuck milkshake over Mr Farage an hour before he exited the Moon and Starfish Wetherspoon pub in the Essex seaside town. Thomas-Bowen spent eight hours in custody before being released and charged with assault and criminal damage. The former catholic school student will appear before Colchester magistrates' court on July 2 to answer the charges, but has refused to back down and apologise to Mr Farage as she says 'it was only milkshake'. Victoria Thomas-Bowen, 25, who threw a banana milkshake over Nigel Farage has refused to apologise and has instead insisted: 'I made my point' She claims she has pocketed 40,000 from extra subscribers to her channel since she was arrested for drenching the Reform UK leader with the thick, icy, flavoured beverage in Clacton The model has racked up an extra 2,000 followers to her two OnlyFans pages since the 'milkshaking'. Thomas-Bowen, who studied law, math, sociology and business at college, has been involved in politics since the age of 15 and has 'hated' Mr Farage since his Brexit campaign. Speaking to The Sun, she says once she heard he was visiting her home town she knew she wanted to go see him and hear what he had to say. 'I have never agreed with his views on immigration or his approach to women,' she said. 'I hadn't had any breakfast, and I was feeling quite lightheaded so I stopped at McDonalds on the way to the pier and got a banana milkshake.' Thomas-Bowen had to elbow her way through the crowds to hurl the drink at Mr Farage as he made his way down the steps. She told the newspaper she couldn't believe it when she saw it all over the news when she was released from custody. Thomas-Bowen faces the prospect of being jailed for a maximum of six months for the assault charge, and three months for criminal damage. She says: 'I know people are saying that it could have been something else and he might have been scared, so I do hope he wasn't scared. Thomas-Bowen, who studied law, math, sociology and business at college, has been involved in politics since the age of 15 and has 'hated' Mr Farage since his Brexit campaign Thomas-Bowen will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on July 2nd to answer the charges Victoria Thomas-Bowen pictured after she was charged with criminal damage and assault Mr Farage was flanked as usual by burly security as he left a pub, but they could do nothing as the contents of what appeared to be a McDonald's cup is flung towards him The OnlyFans model struck as Mr Farage stepped out of a Wetherspoons pub in the seaside town 'I made my point and I don't regret that.' Some people have sent Thomas-Bowen 'nice' messages in support since the splattering with men signing up to her OnlyFans page 'so I could buy a new milkshake'. Although there have been negatives too, with online trolls targeting her by saying they would put her in a 'cage' and abusing her about her job. The Labour party member since 2019 now wants to cancel her membership as she is unsure who to vote for in the upcoming general election. The incident led to wide condemnation from MPs all across the political spectrum including Labour's Yvette Cooper who called it a 'disgrace' and 'completely unacceptable and wrong'. Reacting to the incident, Mr Farage told ITV: 'I don't know what was thrown at me but it hit me in the face fair and square. Quite frightening.' He went on to say he thinks he keeps having the dairy drink thrown at him because he goes 'out to meet the public and nobody else does'. The incident has echoes of 2019, when he fell victim to a similar stunt in Newcastle. Home Secretary James Cleverly led condemnation of the attack, saying it was 'unacceptable' against any politician. Reform allies branded the assailant a 'juvenile moron' and said it would only boost their support. It came after the Brexit champion told a huge crowd of local voters the Tories had 'betrayed' their trust and warned Rishi Sunak would pay a 'big price' at the general election on 4 July. Shouts from the crowd included 'get 'em Nige' and 'we love you Nigel' as huge numbers of Mr Farage's supporters gathered near Clacton pier. It caught him full in the face, although he merely wiped his eyes and continued Mr Farage made light of the episode, buying a round of banana milkshakes for the snappers Essex police said: 'A woman is due to appear in court following an incident Clacton. 'Victoria Thomas Bowen, 25, will appear at Colchester Magistrates' Court on Tuesday 2 July to answer charges of assault by beating and criminal damage. 'The charges relate to an incident in which a drink was thrown at a man in the area of Marine Parade East, Clacton, at around 2.10pm on Tuesday 4 June. 'A 44-year-old man who was arrested on suspicion of assaulting an emergency worker has been released and will face no further action.' Europeans voting in EU elections today are expected to lurch further to the right, as Germany's leading party suffers losses and French hardliner Marine le Pen is set for a massive win over Emmanuel Macron. The election, which has been held across the continent over the last three days, is the first since Brexit, the pandemic and Russia's invasion of Ukraine. On top of these, many voters have been hit by the cost of living, have concerns about migration and the cost of the green transition and are disturbed by geopolitical tensions, including war in Ukraine, and hard and far-right parties have seized on this and offered the electorate an alternative. So far, France has fallen to the right, with le Pen's National Rally party, headed by young upstart Jordan Bardella, set to achieve its highest ever finish at a nationwide election. It is projected to take home 31.5% of France's votes, while Emmanuel Macron's coalition party will register the second-lowest EU election finish ever for a party in government in France. Alternative for Germany (AfD) party co-leaders Alice Weidel and Tino Chrupalla react to results after the polls closed Socialist Party leading candidate for EU Parliament Marta Temido talks to journalists after casting her ballot for the European Elections in Escola A voter search for his polling station during the European Parliament election, in Moralzarzal, Spain Brigitte Macron and President Emmanuel Macron casting their ballot for the European Parliament election at a polling station in Le Touquet, northern France In Germany, Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SDU) was projected to come third, taking just 14% of the votes, a historic low for the party according to German broadcasters who commissioned exit polls. Far and hard-right parties in Germany, meanwhile, have been projected to take the lead. A conservative alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Christian Social Union (CSU) took home 29.5% of the vote. The far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), took second, with 16.5% of the votes - a massive 5.5% increase compared to the 2019 EU election. A similar result was seen in Austrian exit polls, with the far-right FPOe party leading the vote count. If confirmed, it would be the first time the group has topped a nationwide ballot in the Alpine country. The Freedom Party (FPOe) gained 27 percent of the votes, ahead of the ruling conservative People's Party (OeVP), according to the polls released by the country's main media outlets. The EU Parliament, which will be made up of 720 seats after the election finishes, is made up of multi-party factions. While centre-left and centre-right factions have largely dominated the bloc's parliament since its last election in 2019, these parties are broadly expected to lose seats as more and more Europeans turn to more extreme parties in the hopes that they may solve their problems with the EU. Vice-President of the European Parliament and top candidate for the European elections Katarina Barley (C), Social Democratic Party (SPD) co-chairman Lars Klingbeil (L) and Social Democratic Party (SPD) co-chairwoman Saskia Esken (R) arrive to deliver a statement during the European elections A woman in a folk costume receives her ballot papers at a polling station during the European Parliament and the local elections in Vizslas, northern Hungary German flags are pictured on a table during the Electoral evening of the far-right Alternative Fur Deutschland (AfD) European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during an event at the European Parliament A projection by Europe Elects pollster on Sunday showed the centre-right European People's Party (EPP) could gain just five seats compared to the last parliament to win a total of 183. The Socialists, who include German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's party, are seen losing four seats to get 136. In contrast, the poll said the national-conservative European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) was likely to get five more deputies for a total of 73 and the far-right Identity and Democracy (ID) group could get eight more seats for a total of 67. More deputies could join the right and far-right groups from among the so far non-affiliated deputies of whom there would be 79, the poll said. Meanwhile, the European Greens, facing a backlash from hard-pressed households, farmers and industry over costly EU policies limiting CO2 emissions, look set to be among the big losers with the poll on Sunday giving them only 56 deputies, a loss of 15. Forecasts for the liberal group Renew Europe are also grim, given the expectation that Marine Le Pen's far-right Rassemblement National will trounce French President Emmanuel Macron's centrist Renaissance in France. The Sunday poll put the Renew group's losses at 13 seats, forecasting it will end up with 89. The European Parliament will issue an EU-wide exit poll at around 7:30pm BST and then a first provisional result after 10pm when the final votes, in Italy, have been cast. A rescue swimmer pulled two 16-year-olds from the water near Kellys Cove off the northern end of Ocean Beach on Sunday afternoon after they were caught in strong currents for about 20 minutes, San Francisco Fire Department officials said. The teens were reunited with their parents and evaluated by paramedics before they were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries that were not life-threatening, officials said. No further information was immediately available. This is the moment two planes nearly collided with each other as one flew onto the runway at Mumbai Airport while the other took off. The two planes, run by Air India and IndiGo, were seen on the tarmac of the single runway at Mumbai Airport, in India, at the same time on Saturday. Footage shows the Air India plane, which was flying from Mumbai to Trivandrum taking off as the IndiGo plane, which has just flown in from Indore, touched down. The single runway at the airport sees around 46 departures and arrivals per hour. In India, air traffic controllers are allowed to clear up to two departures and two arrivals in the space of three minutes, but this separation time can be reduced if the visibility is good enough. The country's aviation watchdog, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, said it was probing the incident, and has already suspended the air traffic controller who was on duty at the time of the incident. The two planes, run by Air India and IndiGo, were seen on the tarmac of the single runway at Mumbai Airport, in India, at the same time on Saturday Footage shows the Air India plane, which was flying from Mumbai to Trivandrum taking off as the IndiGo plane, which has just flown in from Indore, touched down The two airlines involved are conducting their own investigations 'We are conducting a probe and have already de-rostered the ATCO involved in the incident', a spokesperson said. The two airlines involved are also conducting their own investigations as well. An Air India spokesperson told local media: 'AI657 from Mumbai to Trivandrum was on take-off roll on June 8. 'The Air India aircraft was cleared by Air Traffic Control to enter the runway and subsequently cleared for take-off. 'The Air India aircraft continued with the take-off roll in accordance with laid down procedures. 'An investigation has been initiated by the authorities to find out more about the clearance given to the airlines.' An IndiGo spokesperson, meanwhile, said: 'On June 8, IndiGo flight 6E 6053 from Indore was given landing clearance by ATC at Mumbai Airport. 'The Pilot in command continued the approach and landing and followed ATC instructions.' Nigel Farage has come under fire today for claiming Rishi Sunak doesn't understand 'our culture' after the premier left the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations early. In an interview with the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Mr Farage said: 'It shows the man doesn't understand. He is not patriotic, he doesn't care about our history, our culture.' The Reform UK leader insisted his comments were about class rather than race after he faced heavy backlash from across the political spectrum as he was accused of 'dog whistle' politics. Work and Pensions secretary Mel Stride was left feeling 'uncomfortable' by Mr Farage's remarks, while shadow justice secretary Shabana Mahmood said they were 'completely unacceptable'. Mr Sunak told local newspaper The Northern Echo he was 'deeply sorry for the hurt he had caused amid his constituents living in Catterick Garrison previously saying his decision to ditch the commemoration on June 6 was 'disgusting'. Nigel Farage has come under fire today for claiming Rishi Sunak doesn't understand 'our culture' after the premier left the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations early Rishi Sunak issued a grovelling apology in front of TV cameras for leaving D-Day commemoration events early On BBC One this morning, Ms Kuenssberg said viewers 'might imagine that you are trying, not very subtly, to emphasise the prime minister's immigrant heritage'. Mr Farage said: 'I know what your question is leading at - 40 per cent of our contribution in World War One and World War Two came from the Commonwealth. 'He is utterly disconnected by class, by privilege, from how the ordinary folk in this country feel. He revealed that, I think spectacularly, when he left Normandy early. 'Out there now there are millions and millions of people who were Conservative voters, traditional Conservative voters, not the red-wallers, who are now thinking 'Do we go on supporting the Conservatives or do we support Reform?' 'This is going to be, I think, the acid test of this election.' Asked about Mr Farage's original comments, Work and Pensions Secretary Mr Stride told the same programme: 'I think they are suggesting things - I'm not going to go any further than that because I didn't want to stoke this whole thing up - but it just seems to me that that's an ill-advised thing to have said. 'I feel very uncomfortable with that. We've had in our country, and it's a source of great personal pride - as somebody who supported the Prime Minister, wanted him to be the leader of our party and our Prime Minister - that I've sat around a Cabinet table that's the most diverse in history. 'I'm very proud of the fact that we have a British Asian who is right at the top of our Government.' Mr Sunak's early departure from Normandy left Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to join US President Joe Biden, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Olaf Scholz on Omaha Beach Mel Stride, the Work and Pensions Secretary, dismissed suggestions the PM could quit amid the outrage at his early departure from Normandy commemorations In a social media post this morning, Mr Sunak admitted 'it was a mistake not to stay in France longer - and I apologise' Ms Mahmood suggested Mr Farage's comments were a 'dog whistle' attack - that would be heard by the intended recipients in one way while appearing otherwise uncontroversial. She said: 'I think this is a classic Nigel Farage trick, lean just enough to signal a bit of a dog whistle and then lean straight back and sound perfectly reasonable and say something good about the contribution that Commonwealth soldiers, ethnic minorities made towards the war effort. 'We can all see exactly what Nigel Farage is doing, he's got form, it is completely unacceptable. 'This is a man that has a track record of seeking to divide communities who just wants to do it with a veneer of respectability whilst he's at it.' Mr Sunak, who is the Member of Parliament for Richmond, Yorkshire, yesterday issued a grovelling apology as he told the Echo: 'The itinerary had been set a while ago, but it was a mistake not to stay after the British events and after the engagement with British veterans, and for that, I am deeply sorry.' He added that he had been 'privileged to attend' a number of events in Portsmouth and France. Mr Sunak had been scheduled to speak to journalists from the national media shortly before mid-day but this huddle was cancelled by his team due to 'timing issues'. The under-fire Tory leader was also blasted by fellow Tories and military veterans for snubbing the final D-Day event in Normandy by flying back to London to conduct a pre-recorded interview with ITV. The move prompted a fierce backlash from political rivals and some Conservatives already nervous about their party's electoral prospects, with the outrage swelling after it emerged Mr Sunak had returned to the UK to record a General Election campaign TV interview. Mr Sunak, pictured, had a disastrous week on the campaign trail having been forced to apologise for returning early from Normandy on Thursday It later emerged that Mr Sunak had given a broadcast interview following his return from Normandy, a clip of which was shared by ITV journalist Paul Brand Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said people were 'flabbergasted' by the Prime Minister's decision, which was 'such a letdown for our whole country and our history, particularly for our brave veterans'. 'I share the concerns of veterans and people across the country who feel really let down and are upset, and indeed some very angry,' he told the PA news agency during a visit to Newbury. Labour's Sir Keir Starmer said it was his 'duty' to thank veterans at the D-Day event the Prime Minister skipped. Mr Harper repeated the Prime Minister's suggestion it had always been his intention to leave before the international event on Omaha Beach, even before he called the election. The Transport Secretary told BBC Breakfast on Saturday: 'I don't know what the detail was of putting the Prime Minister's schedule together, which, as he said, was done some time ago before the election campaign was called. 'But look, it was a mistake. People make mistakes. The Prime Minister has made a mistake. He's apologised for it. And he's apologised to those that would have been particularly hurt by it.' The ex-assistant city attorney of Atlanta who was jailed for defrauding the federal government out of $15 million in COVID relief loans also made a donation to the local DA. Shelitha Robertson, 62, donated $1,000 to Fani Willis's Democratic primary election campaign around the time she got the massive payouts - obtained after declaring inflated businesses to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), filings show. A few years later, the Georgia jurist would charge former President Donald Trump with racketeering following a 13-count indictment accused him of trying to illegally overturn the 2020 election. Trump is one of 19 indicted in the sprawling case, which was halted Wednesday as a result of Robertson's arrest. Also a life advice podcaster, Robertson used the funds meant for small businesses to buy a 10 carat diamond ring, a Rolls Royce, and a motorcycle, while Trump, 77, continues to deny any wrongdoing. Shelitha Robertson, the ex-assistant city attorney of Atlanta jailed for defrauding the federal government out of $15 million, made a donation to the local DA, Fani Willis, shortly thereafter The donation, moreover, was dished out May 22, 2020, less than two months before the PPP program was frantically rolled out. Around that time, Robertson - who has remained on bond since pleading not guilty to the five charges of fraud in December 2022 - claimed she needed the cash to support four businesses she owned. The request was granted, even as she erroneously claimed she presided over a workforce of more than 400, meaning she was entitled to millions in emergency handouts. In reality, she was falsely inflating those numbers and monthly payrolls with false supporting tax documentation, fed said at her sentencing. There, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan decried Robertson for her actions, citing her pedigree as a former police officer and attorney for the city of Atlanta. 'Motivated by greed, Robertson deceptively obtained funds that were designated to provide emergency financial relief to struggling small businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic,' he said of the fraudster, who was also a successful businesswoman. 'Today the defendant in this case was held accountable for fraudulently obtaining millions of dollars through the Paycheck Protection Program and using those stolen funds to enrich herself, while small businesses were struggling,' added Kyle A. Myles, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Office of Inspector General, Atlanta Region (FDIC OIG). Filings show how the disgraced jurist donated $1,000 to the Democrat's primary election campaign in 2020, around the time she got the massive payouts, She got them after providing inflated businesses to the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP), meant for small businesses 'The FDIC OIG remains committed to working with our law enforcement partners to pursue and bring to justice those who took advantage of such pandemic relief programs and threatened the integrity of our Nation's financial institutions.' He went on to describe how Robertson and confirmed accomplice Chandra Norton submitted fraudulent applications on behalf of four businesses Robertson actually owned, resulting in $7,020,779 in PPP funds deposited into her bank accounts. Robertson then used the proceeds for her personal benefit, he said - citing the purchases of luxury items like a 10-carat diamond ring and the transferring funds to family members and Norton, feds said. the Rolls and other items were bought as well, and officials traced three wire transfers made in the month of May 2020 alone. They amounted to more than $5million - a third of the outrageous sum secured by Robertson and her co-conspirators. It is not yet known whether Willis - the DA of Fulton County - will be included in that class when all is said and done, as officials look into the extent of their relationship. In the interim, Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee last week told the court the the case will be on hold indefinitely - until a panel of judges rules on whether Willis should be disqualified. After receiving Robertson's donation, Willis went on to defeat her boss - who was also plagued by scandal - in longtime district attorney Paul Howard, following a contentious Democratic primary and runoff in August 2020. Snippet from the criminal indictment of Shelitha Robertson that show the fictitious companies into which millions of dollars were paid through government funds Court documents filed in federal court show how millions of dollars were distributed to Robertson's inflated firms As for Robertson, she was sentenced to 849 days in prison Friday, with 637 days credit served and 212 days of good time credit. That amounts to sentence of about seven years, after which she also will be on probation for 44 months. She served as assistant city attorney for the city of Atlanta in the early 2000s, after working as a police officer for more than decade. She went on to complete law school, and build up up several successful businesses. Among them was her and her influencer daughter's podcast 'Mommy and Me', in which the pair discussed 'navigating life's challenges' and provide advice. In one segment from October 2023 ironically billed as 'integrity over dollars', Robertson advised followers to 'chase their dream' because ' money will come'. 'When you have a passion for something that you love, you can do it for free. Don't ever chase the money,' she says in the resurfaced clip. 'The money will come. Chase your passion, Chase your dream. The money will come.' Her daughter, Brii Renee, posted a glowing tribute to her mother just a few weeks ago - well after the fraud allegations came to light and as evidence against her piled up. Robertson - seen her providing financial and life advice on her podcast - was sentenced to 849 days in prison Friday, with 637 days credit served and 212 days of good time credit Willis's office has yet to comment on the sentencing or the donation, as her case against Trump remains temporarily called off as officials vet her and Robertson's relationship Trump is one of 19 indicted in the sprawling case, which was halted Wednesday as a result of Robertson's arrest 'I wouldn't be who I am today without the amazing mother, example, hustler, you are!', she wrote at the time, sharing the post to her more than 600,000 Instagram followers. 'Thank you for every sacrifice you made and every dream you pushed me to achieve!' A few months earlier, a federal jury convicted Robertson of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, wire fraud, and money laundering - the same charges that saw her sentenced Friday. There, Northern District Court of Georgia, Robertson broke down in tears upon hearing she would spend the next seven years behind bars. She told the court she was dead broke,' and that her 'business is gone. 'My (law) license is gone. My assets are gone.' she continued. The only thing I have left is my family and my faith in God, she said. Robertson will get credit for the six months shes spent in custody since December, which along with the good behavior credits, shed 20 months off her sentence. Willis's office has yet to comment on the sentencing or the donation, which was first reported Sunday by The New York Post. Robertson's sentence, meanwhile, is already underway. A California shopper, who was trying to help two people raise funds for their community, was allegedly scammed out of nearly $1,000 after using Apple Pay. Hannah, a TikToker who posts under the username @mamaahannaa, claimed that she was coming out of her local Target in Tustin when she spotted two men selling chocolates to raise money for their Christian community college. To help their cause, she claimed that she bought $10 worth of chocolates from the men and began to pay for it with Apple Pay on her iPhone. In a viral video, she told her followers that one of the men, who was wearing a black sweater, quickly placed his own phone on top of hers to confirm the transaction. But instead of charging her $10, they allegedly emptied her bank account of $975. Hannah, a TikToker who was trying to help two people raise funds, was instead scammed out of nearly a $1000 after using Apple Pay Surprised by how quickly she received a notification for the transaction, Hannah said that she promptly asked for a receipt of the payment. 'I have my Apple Pay out ready to go when this guy with the black sweater literally just tapped his phone onto my phone without showing me anything. 'I think he was just hoping I'd just walk away to my car with my chocolates and not ask any questions,' she said in her video. As soon as she demanded a proof of payment, the man in the black sweater began to profusely apologize and saying that he accidentally overcharged her. 'Oh my God, I'm so sorry. I overcharged you. Let me refund you this. Hold on, I'm sorry,' he allegedly said to which Hannah replied, 'OK, how much did you overcharge me?'. In a now viral video, she revealed that one of the men, who was wearing a black sweater, quickly placed his own phone on top of hers to confirm the transaction and charged her $975 instead of $10 She had spotted both men selling chocolates to raise money for their Christian community college outside of her local Target @mamaahannaa I want to clarify I used an @Apple Pay credit card! I would think they have better fraud protection! They were claiming to be a part of Christian Community College in Redlands. Dm me if you have any info on these guys, I do not stand for people scamming people like this. I know Im not the only one theyve done this to! #applepay #fraud #scammers #scammeralert #findhim #greenscreen original sound - Hanna By this point, she had checked her notifications and realized that she had been charged $975 instead of $10. Despite realizing that they had allegedly stolen money from her, she still tried to keep her calm and gave them an opportunity to return the money. 'At this point, I still wanted to believe him because he seemed very apologetic, and I was very naive. I had had a very long day, and I didn't wanna have to deal with this right now,' Hanna said in her video. Once the man said he had 'initiated the refund', Hannah reached out to Apple and explained what had happened. 'My money should be protected. I trusted Apple,' Hanna said. Apart from not receiving help from the tech company, she also allegedly never got her money back from the men. The woman, who has 19,500 followers on TikTok, said that she filed a police complaint with the Tustin Police Department in California - and she asked her viewers to call the cops if they spot the two alleged scammers. Hannah told her viewers that Apple said they could not help her since she did not have enough evidence to prove that she didnt intend to pay $975. In another video, she also clarified that she had paid the men using an Apple credit card - which is monitored by Goldman Sachs. 'I feel like any other credit card company should have taken care of this, so Im super annoyed, and I feel very taken advantage of,' she said. Hannah told her viewers that Apple said they could not help her since she did not have enough evidence to prove that she didnt intend to pay $975 @mamaahannaa Replying to @mlwatson17 Answering some of your questions! Hopefully on route to winning that dispute! Call tustin PD if you see these boys. Thank you! original sound - Hanna Hannah also said that when she reached out to Goldman Sachs, they allegedly told her that the resolving the dispute would take about three months. According to the Apple website, transaction warnings are presented when an attempt to send money via Apple Cash to someone outside of saved contacts or if Apple considers a transaction risky. It is unclear if Hannah received any such warning before the transaction happened. DailyMail.com has contacted Apple, Goldman Sachs and Tustin Police Department for comment. South Korea has resumed blasting out 'unbearable' noise at North Korea in response to their communist neighbour dropping balloons filled with faeces and rubbish. Seoul announced today that it will restart its broadcasts of anti-North Korean propaganda after the 330 balloons dropped 15 tonnes of rubbish in South Korea throughout the weekend. There have been three waves of balloons filled with sewage, manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth and other pieces of rubbish coming into the south since last month, with around 1,000 balloons being sent in total. South Korea's security council said: 'The measures we will take may be unbearable for the North Korean regime, but they will send a message of hope and light to the North's troops and its people.' South Korean soldiers wearing protective gears check the rubbish from a balloon presumably sent by North Korea, in Incheon, South Korea There have been three waves of balloons filled with sewage, manure, cigarette butts, scraps of cloth and other pieces of rubbish A worker dismantles loudspeakers that set up for propaganda broadcasts near the demilitarized zone separating the two Koreas in Paju, South Korea, on May 1, 2018 South Korea announced Sunday, June 9, 2024 it would resume anti-North Korean propaganda loudspeaker broadcasts in border areas in retaliation to the North sending over 1,000 balloons filled with trash and manure over the last couple of weeks South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff confirmed that the military conducted a loudspeaker broadcast on Sunday afternoon. It did not specify the border area where it took place or what was played over the speakers. 'Whether our military conducts an additional loudspeaker broadcast is entirely dependent on North Korea's behaviour,' it said. The move is certain to anger Pyongyang and could trigger retaliatory military steps as tensions between the war-divided rivals rise while negotiations over the North's nuclear ambitions remain stalemated. Hours after the South resumed loudspeaker broadcasts, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un warned that the South created a 'prelude to a very dangerous situation'. She said South Korea would witness an unspecified 'new response' from the North if it continues with the broadcasts and fails to stop civilian activists from flying anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border. A South Korean military vehicle with loudspeakers is seen in front of the barbed-wire fence in Paju, near the border with North Korea, on Feb. 15, 2018 A visitor looks at the North Korean side from the unification observatory in Paju, South Korea, Sunday, June 9, 2024 A balloon presumably sent by North Korea, on the Han River in Seoul, South Korea pictured today South Korea's military said it detected North Korea launching what appeared to be more rubbish-carrying balloons on Sunday night A balloon believed to have been sent by North Korea, carrying various objects including what appeared to be trash and excrement, is seen over a rice field at Cheorwon, South Korea on Wednesday. 'I sternly warn Seoul to immediately cease its dangerous activities that would further provoke a crisis of confrontation,' Kim Yo Jong said in a statement published by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. In her statement, Kim Yo Jong claimed the North used about 1,400 balloons to drop 7.5 tons of rubbish from Saturday night to Sunday morning. She also complained that anti-North Korean propaganda leaflets flown from South Korean activists had been discovered in border areas in recent days. She said the North had initially planned to halt its balloon launches on Sunday but decided to send more because the South restarted loudspeaker broadcasts. The South's military, which has mobilised chemical rapid response and explosive clearance units to retrieve the North Korean balloons and materials, alerted the public to beware of falling objects and not to touch balloons found on the ground but report them to police or military authorities. In North Korea's previous two rounds, some balloons were popped and scattered on roads, residential areas and schools. No highly dangerous materials were found and no major damage has been reported. South Korea's military said it detected North Korea launching what appeared to be more rubbish-carrying balloons on Sunday night. South Korean soldiers collect balloons presumably sent by North Korea, found at a hill in Pyeongtaek on Wednesday. Some 200 such balloons have been discovered nationwide so far, military and police sources said, adding that they contained mostly trash and other waste. Image shows unidentified objects believed to be North Korean propaganda material attached to balloons on a street in Chungnam Province. The military did not immediately confirm the number of suspected balloons or whether any of them had already landed in the South. The South had withdrawn loudspeakers from border areas in 2018, during a brief period of engagement with the North under Seoul's previous liberal government. At an emergency meeting led by national security director Chang Ho-jin, South Korean officials berated Pyongyang for attempting to cause 'anxiety and disruption' by sending the balloons to the South and stressed that North Korea would be 'solely responsible' for any future escalation of tensions. The North said its balloon campaign came after South Korean activists sent over balloons filled with anti-North Korean leaflets, as well as USB sticks filled with popular South Korean songs and dramas. Pyongyang is extremely sensitive to such material and fears it could demoralise frontline troops and residents and eventually weaken leader Kim Jong Un's grip on power, analysts say. South Korea has in the past used loudspeakers to blare anti-Pyongyang broadcasts, K-pop songs and international news across the rivals' heavily armed border. In 2015, when South Korea restarted loudspeaker broadcasts for the first time in 11 years, North Korea fired artillery rounds across the border, prompting South Korea to return fire, according to South Korean officials. No casualties were reported. Last week, as tensions spiked over the rubbish-carrying balloons, South Korea also suspended a 2018 agreement to reduce hostile acts along the border, allowing it to resume propaganda campaigns and possibly restart live-fire military exercises in border areas. In her statement, Kim Yo Jong (right) claimed the North used about 1,400 balloons to drop 7.5 tons of rubbish from Saturday night to Sunday morning. Pictured, Kim Jong-un and his sister South Korean defence minister Shin Won-sik in a meeting with top military commanders called for thorough preparation against the possibility that the North responds to the loudspeaker broadcasts with direct military action, his ministry said in a statement. A South Korean civilian group led by North Korean defector Park Sang-hak said it launched 10 balloons on Thursday carrying 200,000 anti-North Korean leaflets, USB sticks with K-pop songs and K-dramas, and one dollar notes. South Korean media reported another activist group also flew balloons with 200,000 propaganda leaflets towards North Korea on Friday. Kim Jong Un in recent years has waged an intensifying campaign to eliminate South Korean cultural and language influences. In January, Mr Kim declared the North would abandon its longstanding goal of a peaceful unification with the South and rewrite its constitution to cement the South as a permanent enemy. Experts say Mr Kim's efforts to reinforce the North's separate identity may be aimed at strengthening the Kim family's dynastic rule. Israeli cabinet member Benny Gantz has resigned from Benjamin Netanyahu's government, just weeks after threatening to leave over a potential ceasefire deal with Hamas. Gantz, a minister without portfolio, accused Netanyahu in a televised statement of 'preventing us from approaching true victory.' Despite his harsh criticism of the Israeli prime minister, he added: 'Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision.' The statement he gave today was delayed after Israel announced the IDF had rescued four hostages from the Gaza Strip. In May, he publicly gave Netanyahu a deadline of June 8 to form a clear day-after plan for what to do with the Gaza Strip once the bloodiest conflict in the Middle East in decades came to an end. Netanyahu called on Gantz yesterday not to resign, saying via a Telegram channel: 'We must remain united within ourselves in the face of the great tasks before us. I call on Benny Gantz do not leave the emergency government. Dont give up on unity.' Benny Gantz (pictured) said in a televised statement: 'Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision.'Gantz, a minister without portfolio, said in a televised statement: 'Leaving the government is a complex and painful decision.' Benjamin Netanyahu (pictured) ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, claiming he wanted to hand power to the people living in the enclave Gantz called for an international, Arab and Palestinian administration to govern the Gaza Strip, and was joined by defence minister Yoav Gallant at the time. Netanyahu ruled out any role for the Palestinian Authority in Gaza, claiming he wanted to hand power to the people living in the enclave. He added that he was ruling out any such plans until Hamas has been defeated, and has long been opposed to Palestinian statehood. Netanyahu said following Gantz's ultimatum in May that his political rival's plan would amount to 'defeat for Israel, abandoning most of the hostages, leaving Hamas intact and establishing a Palestinian state.' Netanyahu added, however, that he still thought the emergency government was important for Israel's war effort, and that he 'expects Gantz to clarify his positions to the public.' Gantz, the head of the Israel Resilience Party which he founded in 2018, holds just six out of the 120 total seats in the Knesset, Israel's parliament. But the centrist party has become a keystone in Netanyahu's already-precarious coalition government, which, including the IRP, controls 64, or just over half, of the seats. Netanyahu may now have to rely on the political backing of the ultra-nationalist parties that remain in government, whose leaders have angered Israel's international allies for their extreme stances on what to do in the Gaza Strip. Gantz announced he was joining the war cabinet shortly after October 7, when Hamas terrorists launched a surprise incursion into Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people, mostly civilians, claiming he was putting political differences aside to help his nation. Hamas took some 250 hostages during the October 7 attack that killed about 1,200 people. About half were released in a week-long ceasefire in November. About 120 hostages remain, with 43 pronounced dead. At least 36,700 Palestinians have been killed in the fighting, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between fighters and civilians. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled for a virtual probation interview on Monday after a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in his 'hush money' trial. The former president will participate in the hearing from his home at Mar-a-Lago, according to the report, citing 'three sources familiar' with the matter. The probation interview is a normal process for Trump's pre-sentencing report. The interview is the next step in the sentencing process as Judge Juan Merchan is scheduled to sentence the former president on July 11, just days before the Republican National convention begins in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The interview will be conducted by a probation officer with Trump's lawyer Todd Blanche present and will be followed by report delivered to the judge. Former President Donald Trump was seen waving to supporters while on the phone as he left his Beverly Hills estate for a fundraiser. Trump faces up to four years in prison after the conviction, but it's also possible that he could get probation. A successful appeal to the higher courts from the Trump legal team, however, could set the sentencing decision further back. Trump continues railing against the verdict, appearing at a Turning Point PAC rtown hall in Arizona on Thursday to rally supporters behind him. 'I just went through a rigged trial in New York,' he said. 'With a highly conflicted judge where there was no crime, it was made up fabricated stuff, they didn't want to bring the case, they could have brought the case seven years ago but it's only when you run for office they bring cases,' he said. Trump celebrated that he and the Republican party had raised nearly $400 million in donations since the verdict was announced. Former U.S. President Donald Trump attends his criminal trial at Manhattan Criminal Court Republican presidential candidate, former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Arizona 'They know it was rigged. They know it's a corrupt, they know all about it,' he said, adding that 'those appellate courts have to step up and straighten things out or we're not going to have a country any more.' The conviction could be affected after Judge Juan Merchan informed the prosecution and Trump's defense attorneys Friday of a post on the New York Unified Court System's Facebook page. 'My cousin is a juror and says Trump is getting convicted [heart emoji] Thank you folks for all your had work!!!!' the message posted by Facebook user Michael Anderson read. If the post is found to be a result of a juror discussing the case before the verdict, it could be grounds for a mistrial. From wherever in Scotland you are reading this, Id like to enlist you in a small experiment. Think about where you live, be it a bustling city, an overflowing commuter town, or a sleepy little village. Picture the high street or the village square, the community centre or the industrial estate, a favourite park or a cherished heritage site. Are any of these places doing so well that they would knock back the offer of additional investment? I cant think of anywhere in my area that would, and I suspect you cant either. A little pot of money here or there could transform our surroundings and make our lives measurably better. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has insisted the cash is being spent That is what European structural funds are meant to do. They make cash available to support small businesses, pay for youth training, build much-needed infrastructure and help us to get a bit greener. Even though the UK is no longer a member state of the European Union, we still benefit from this financial boon because of the rule under which Brussels allows three years for structural funds to be spent. So allocations from the 2014-2020 funding tranche, the final one the UK will have access to, could still be spent up until December of last year. Could be spent, but, in Scotland, wasnt. At least, not fully. As the independent Scottish Parliament Information Centre confirms, Scotland was allocated 941million (800million) in 2014, with half coming from the European Social Fund and half from the European Regional Development Fund. All the Scottish Government had to do in return was distribute the money, usually to local authorities or quangos who would spend it on approved projects, then provide certified statements of expenditure to the European Commission. Spend the money and hand over the receipts. It doesnt get much simpler than that. But its the SNP. They couldnt walk in a straight line if you painted a guide in the road for them. That 941million allocation has been revised down to 783.4million (666million) because Scottish ministers failed to meet spending targets within the necessary timeframe. As a result, Scotland has missed out on 157.6million (134million). There is also an outstanding 280.4million (238million) which ministers hope to claim for later this year or early next year. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes told Holyrood last week: It is being spent. We have until 2025 in which to continue to spend it. It is being spent currently, it will continue to be spent and there has been no point at which it has not been being spent. We will continue to maximise the funding that is available. That will be cold comfort to people whose communities are crying out for resources. For the SNP government to sit on a mountain of cash during times of real need will strike them as perverse. If theres one thing politicians are good at its spending money, but the Nationalists cant even do that properly. This underspend might be forgivable if the SNP was new to government and still getting to grips with the machinery of the state. But it has been in power since 2007. There is simply no excuse for such a wanton dereliction of duty. The SNP believes in a union of nations across the continent just not one closer to home and used to cite EU structural funds as a benefit of pooling and sharing resources with other European countries. As ever, though, the SNP was too busy preaching to get round to practising. While loudly declaiming against Brexit for having deprived Scotland of the financial benefits of EU membership, it was depriving us of those very benefits. Not only that, but how many times have we heard SNP ministers plead poverty and demand yet more money from the Treasury to top up Scottish government coffers? Their begging bowl is overflowing but its never enough. And their failure to invest European funds should serve as a cautionary tale to devolutionists who say Holyrood must have proper borrowing powers. Anyone who surveys SNP ministers handling of structural funding and concludes they need more financial responsibility might as well pile up taxpayers cash on Calton Hill and start a bonfire. However, this is not a story of mere incompetence, but one of profound cynicism. The Nationalists lambast the UK Government for its austerity policies and accuse it of failing to do enough for the worst off, yet their government chose not to pass on to Scotlands most deprived communities funding that could have made a meaningful difference. Money that might have got more young people into training or an apprenticeship and on their way to a stable, well-paying job, or that could have helped insulate social rented homes at a time when energy bills are crippling family finances. This is not some fiscal abstraction: its real people with real needs who missed out because the Scottish government didnt do its job. This is the latest breach of trust between Scots and the party that claims to represent them. I have frankly lost count of how many such breaches we have seen lately. The SNP seems incapable of doing anything right. Everything it touches turns to scandal. This is where Forbes ought to come in. In appointing her as deputy first minister, John Swinney signalled that his government would cut a different path to the one that preceded it. But the public have to see the government getting its act together before they can believe it. Forbes should put economic competence at the heart of the government and work to gain the publics trust by making sure there is no repeat of the structural funds debacle. Scots must have confidence in their governments ability to manage money. It is among the most basic duties of ministerial office. If you cant get that right, you have no business demanding the full powers of independence. On July 4, voters will be asked to reflect on the performance of the UK Government and express a judgment, but many will also have in mind the SNPs chaotic stewardship of the Scottish government and wish to articulate their frustration over 17 years of ineptitude, distraction and brass neck. They are fed up with incompetence and missed opportunities. The failure to spend structural funds fully and to the maximum benefit of ordinary Scots is another betrayal, another indication that this government is simply not up to the job. SNP ministers should not be surprised if voters take July 4 as an opportunity to send them a message: get your house in order or you will be sent packing in 2026. I suspect the time for a course correction has long since passed and the SNP is at the mercy of the political weather. That apocalyptic wave washing over the Tories right now? Its heading your way next. The number of Scots getting appointments with their family doctor has slumped amid concerns over a crisis facing GP surgeries. Official figures show a sharp fall in the number of appointments taking place in surgeries, on the telephone or by video. The number of consultations taking place per month has slumped by 146,000 compared to three years ago. The decline has been even steeper in the past 12 months, where there has been a reduction of nearly 250,000, or 14 per cent. Critics have warned the decline in appointments is down to a deepening workforce crisis Critics claim the decrease is down to a deepening workforce crisis which has left some areas dangerously short of GPs, particularly in rural Scotland. It follows growing concerns from patients about long waits for GP appointments, little availability and difficulty getting through to their local surgery on the phone. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: GP services across Scotland are in crisis on the SNPs watch. This damning data reveals the number of GP appointments has plummeted by almost 10 per cent since the last Holyrood elections. Successive SNP health secretaries have completely failed to address a deepening workforce crisis in primary care which has left many areas dangerously short of GPs. Under the Central Belt-focused SNP it is rural communities who are bearing the brunt of these cuts. Public Health Scotland data on in-hours general practice visualisation show there were 1,462,302 direct encounters with GPs in March 2024. This figure was down by 9 per cent compared to 1,607,927 in June 2021, which was the first full month of the current Holyrood term and a period when some pandemic-era restrictions were still in force. It was also a decrease of 14 per cent, or 246,123, compared to March 2023, when there were 1,708,927 direct encounters between GPs and their patients. The figures include appointments at surgeries, telephone conversations, video calls and home visits. Surgery appointments declined from 1,114,198 in March 2023 to 993,965 in March 2024. Office for National Statistics research published in January found 19 per cent of respondents in Scotland said their mental health had been negatively affected in the past month by waiting too long for a GP or hospital appointment. Ms Gallacher said: Unlike the SNP, we have a plan to fix this crisis. Our health paper would put a stop to vital local facilities closing, recruit 1,000 extra GPs, guarantee appointments within a week and give a greater share of the health budget to health care. The Scottish Government highlighted that Public Health Scotland had described its data as exploratory and does not represent all the work happening within a primary care setting. A spokesman said: The government is committed to supporting GPs and the GP multi-disciplinary team. General practice, as part of integrated primary care, is the bedrock of the NHS. Since 2018 we have enabled the recruitment of over 3,000 MDT (multidisciplinary team) staff to underpin the GP contract. These key professionals work alongside GPs to deliver critical community based services to the public and any data or research has to take a wide view of service reform and delivery. Jon Stewart has said that former President Donald Trump has given America a 'gift' by 'exposing' political and corporate corruption. Speaking on his new podcast, The Weekly Show, the comedian discussed Trump, the election and democracy. He said that Trump's conviction and ongoing trials have lifted the lid on 'a reality of crony capitalism, a reality of transactional corruption that is the heartbeat of corporate and political America.' Trump's exploits have revealed the flaws and shady deals culture of US politics and business, Stewart said. He said: 'In some ways, he is doing us a service in that he is likeyou know how they employ a white hat hacker who will go into a system and find its vulnerabilities.' Speaking on his new podcast, The Weekly Show, comedian Jon Stewart discussed the election and democracy Stewart was speaking with chief Washington correspondent for the New Yorker magazine, Jane Mayer, and President of Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Noah Bookbinder. He asked them if Trump's recent criminal conviction on more than 30 felony counts related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels are 'exposing a reality' of widespread and deep corruption in America. He said: 'Is he exposing a reality? Im not saying hes not pushing the limit of it. 'Im not saying hes not exploiting it, but isnt he exposing at some level a reality of crony capitalism, a reality of transactional corruption that is the heartbeat of corporate and political America?' Mayer responded: 'What Ive seen is the money has become bigger and bigger and bigger, and it is corrupting the government but it wasnt always this way. Its not the whole story. 'There are incredible numbers of people in Washington who are really dedicated to doing the right thing for the right reasons, both Republicans and Democrats.' Stewart asked if Trump's recent criminal conviction on more than 30 felony counts related to a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels are 'exposing a reality' of widespread and deep corruption in America Stewart argued that even if there are good, dedicated government workers, Trump has demonstrated 'vulnerabilities' in the system. He said: 'Hes identifying though a dissatisfaction and two things can be true. One is there are a lot of really good, dedicated policy people and good-hearted with great integrity people working in Washington everyday to make the country work better. 'And number two is the system is so removed from the needs of its people and so insulated and isolated within the Beltway and within that very peculiar system within the Beltway, that it cant actually accomplish the goal even those good-hearted people of integrity want it to.' He then called for the system to be 'reverse engineered' given the issues Trump has demonstrated. He said: 'Now hes not doing it for our benefit, hes doing it to exploit it. But what Im saying is, what if we take the information that hes delivering us which is, here are the vulnerabilities in your system that I can exploit, cant we reverse engineer that?' A cyclist descends Twin Peaks Boulevard against the backdrop of the Pink Triangle on Saturday. The symbol, once used by the Nazis in concentration camps during World War II to identify and shame homosexuals, is now embraced by the LGBTQ community as a symbol of pride. San Franciscos Pink Triangle, organized by founder Patrick Carney, was installed Saturday morning on Twin Peaks with the help of more than 600 volunteers. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Chrissy Cronin, wearing a triangular earring, helps install the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Volunteers Luca Lin, left, Morgan Riley and Richie Sander embrace for warmth during the commemoration ceremony for the annual Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Gaelle Tjat holds a bundle of balloons as volunteers prepare for the commemoration ceremony for the annual Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Juan Davila leaps for a photograph after helping install the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Honey Mahogany, left, director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives, San Francisco Pride President Nguyen Pham and Pink Triangle founder Patrick Carney celebrate the installation on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Thick fog hung over the top of San Franciscos Twin Peaks on Saturday morning, blanketing the peaks with moisture and obscuring the hilltops city views into a dull gray wall. But that didnt stop hundreds of volunteers from descending on the Twin Peaks slope at 7 a.m. on their yearly mission: installing the Pink Triangle on the side of the hill, where on less foggy days it will be visible from across the city. Its slippery even without this moisture, said Chrissy Cronin, who has been volunteering to create the symbol for more than a decade. People got a little muddier than planned, he added, gesturing to the several volunteers chatting in the area, their shirts and pants splattered in mud. Advertisement Article continues below this ad But the fog didnt put a damper on the morning, he said. Volunteers install tarps Saturday to form the Pink Triangle on San Franciscos Twin Peaks ahead of LGBTQ Pride Month. The symbol, once used by the Nazis in concentration camps during World War II to identify and shame homosexuals, is now embraced by the LGBTQ community as a symbol of pride. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Its a way to give back to the community and those who came before us, he said. Its so much fun and an honor to be a part of. The Pink Triangle, which has gone up annually for the past 29 years, has become synonymous with Pride Month in San Francisco. Representing the pink triangle used to identify homosexuals in concentration camps in Nazi Germany, the display is a reminder of the hatred and intolerance the LGBTQ community has endured, as well as a symbol of pride, said Patrick Carney, founder of the San Francisco tradition. While Carney and some friends initially set up the Pink Triangle in the cover of night to avoid being arrested, the annual event has come into the mainstream, with more than 600 people signing up to help build the display this year, a number Carney called truly mind blowing. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Were the only city in the world with a giant pink triangle hovering over its Pride festivities, Carney said. Volunteers prepare for the a commemoration ceremony for the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday morning. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle Donning new pink triangle dangly earrings from the Artgasm art fair in the Castro, Cronin explained that the work for the display began a week earlier, when more than 100 volunteers did an initial hillside cleanup, picking up broken glass and other debris. Then, on Thursday, a group picked up the supplies from a storage facility in Oakland before another cleanup Friday. That makes Saturdays work quick. With hundreds of volunteers, each rectangular piece of tarp becomes the Pink Triangle in just about an hour, Cronin said. Once it starts, its like a big migration of pink tarps down the hill, he said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The work is hard. In addition to pinning down each piece of tarp strategically to prevent them from being taken by the wind, volunteers have to move agilely, staying steady in the slippery mud while avoiding other hazards, including poison oak. Michelle Pappe, left, and Holly Reese repair a tear on a tarp while installing the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle But the payoff makes the early morning and the cold worth it: As the volunteers wrapped up, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band, now called the SF Pride Band, played joyous music, from artists including Abba, Freddie Mercury, Lil Nas X and Lady Gaga, before the annual commemoration ceremony began. The ceremony was attended by Mayor London Breed, Supervisors Rafael Mandelman, Matt Dorsey, Ahsha Safai and Myrna Melgar, state Sen. Scott Wiener and several other San Francisco elected officials, drag queens and Pride organizers. As in years past, speakers described the joy that such events bring to San Francisco, but also of the battles that the LGBTQ community has fought and continues to fight for its rights. Juanita More, a drag queen and activist, explained the pink triangles origin and noted that homosexuality is still criminalized in 70 countries. In an era when the LGBTQ community is targeted again, she said, the Twin Peaks display is as important as ever. Advertisement Article continues below this ad First-time volunteer Alejandro Padron repositions a brick under pink tarps while preparing for the commemoration ceremony of the annual Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle We must be reminded of the hatred and the prejudice of the past to help educate others and prevent it from happening again, she said. So as we celebrate, lets also solemnly commemorate. Suzanne Ford, executive director of SF Pride, shared a similar sentiment, adding that todays political landscape has echoes of when the LGBTQ community was one of the groups blamed for societal and economic problems in Nazi Germany. As problems have mounted in the United States and across the world, social problems, economic problems, economic despair, theres been groups that have come up and said, Theres only one problem in this country. Its trans people. They are the problem, she said. Well, were here to say that that is not true. San Francisco, she said, stands against that, as a place of radical inclusivity. Advertisement Article continues below this ad San Francisco Mayor London Breed speaks during the commemoration ceremony for the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle We are going to march down Market Street, we are going to be fabulous, and we are not going to apologize, she said. Breed said in her remarks that she was proud to be the mayor of a city that can take a symbol of hatred and make it one of resilience. What was meant for harm is now being used for good, she said. We will be loud, we will be proud, and we will make sure that everyone, not just in San Francisco, feels the energy of San Francisco across the United States so they can know what it means to persevere despite the hate. In a surprise moment during the ceremony, Sister Vina Sinfurs of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence bestowed sainthood on Carney, crediting him with 29 miracles for each year he organized the Pink Triangle display and dubbing him St. Patrick the Pink. Sister Vina Sinfurs of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence speaks during the commemoration ceremony for the Pink Triangle on Twin Peaks in San Francisco on Saturday. Stephen Lam/The Chronicle This is the highest and only civilian honor given to those who lift our communities with their words and actions, Sinfurs said. Taking that symbol, putting it up, making us remember, making us talk about it thats 29 miracles. She has never been known for her tame fashion choices. In fact, Tilda Swinton has become almost as well known for her eclectic sartorial statements as her award-winning acting prowess. But the Scots star of We Need to Talk About Kevin opted to show her wild side in a pair of shoes which resembled a bears claws as she attended a fashion show with her daughter. Tilda Swinton with her daughter Honor, and her wild clawed loafers Ms Swinton, 63, wore a pair of Moccasin Moggies by the Scottish designer Charles Jeffrey, known for his punk-inspired creations, as she attended his show at London Fashion Week on Saturday night. The Charles Jeffrey Loverboy loafers which sell for around 800 - feature fearsome claw detailing and the designers website states that nobody will mess with you in these. The actress teamed her unusual footwear with slicked back pink hair and an oversized grey checked suit, also designed by Jeffrey, 33. She took her place in the front row of the fashion show at Somerset House alongside her daughter Honor Swinton Byrne. The 26-year-old, who has followed her mother into the acting profession and has appeared in The Crown, also kept her outfit in keeping with her Scottish roots with a demure red tartan kilt. People living next to a womens prison face being forced to sell their homes at a loss because of noise from inmates. Owners in the upmarket Forth Park Estate at Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, say the racket has been non-stop since the 85million HMP Stirling Prison opened last year, replacing nearby Cornton Vale jail. Karen Sommerville, 52, spokesman for the residents association, is among a number of owners who have complained to the Scottish Prison Service (SPS). She confirmed that one couple on the estate are selling their house at a loss to find somewhere quieter to live. The new jail is next to the housing estate Ms Sommerville told the Daily Mail: They dont want to raise their daughter here and theyre going to have to disclose that there are disturbances. The SPS are doing nothing to address our concerns. The main thing is the noise, the screaming, the incessant swearing, so loud that you would think someone was being attacked. It is having a real impact on peoples day-to-day lives. There are fears that other owners could be forced to follow suit and put their houses up for sale, even if it means making a loss. One father told Ms Sommerville that his two young children had been traumatised by the foul-mouthed rants coming from the jail. She said: His daughter has nightmares and thinks the prisoners are escaping and theyre going to come into the house. They have to wear ear plugs because of the noise. It emerged in April that residents were being kept awake at night by female inmates fighting, swearing and singing. Alexander Stewart, MSP for Mid-Scotland and Fife, has urged the SPS to take action. He said: The situation is intolerable for some of the community. Some of these women really became very distressed because they may have been coming down from a drug overdose and the behaviour and the noise became a real problem. The SPS has admitted noise issues with the jail. In a letter to a local councillor, deputy chief executive Linda Pollock said fencing had been installed to reduce visibility and landscaping to create sound barriers. Some residents are now considering taking legal action against the SPS. An SPS spokesman said: We fully understand the disruption noise can cause. We remain committed to being a good neighbour to everyone in the community. We will continue to engage with both local residents and elected members as we progress a number of short-term and long-term measures in terms of how we manage the establishment and the wider estate. There are around 80 properties on the Forth Park Estate. Silicon Valley appears to be turning on Joe Biden and the Democrats as a major fundraising event raised millions for Donald Trump in San Francisco on Thursday. The event, hosted by prominent venture capitalist David Sacks and investment firm founder Chamath Palihapitiya, shows a major shift in sentiment within an industry once seen as staunchly liberal - potentially causing worries for the Democrats. Sacks, a partner of Craft Ventures and former COO of PayPal, opened the doors of his Pacific Heights home for the fundraiser, where tickets sold for a hefty $50,000 per head, with an exclusive $300,000 tier offering perks such as a photo opportunity with Trump - and $500,000 per couple. The event was expected to rake in a staggering $12 million for Trump's campaign, a success for the Republican candidate, despite his recent legal troubles. Palihapitiya, known for his advocacy of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and co-host of the popular All-In podcast alongside Sacks, helped plan the sold-out event. The event, hosted by prominent venture capitalist David Sacks (pictured) and investment firm founder Chamath Palihapitiya, shows a major shift in sentiment within an industry once seen as staunchly liberal Palihapitiya (pictured with his wife) known for his advocacy of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) and co-host of the popular All-In podcast alongside Sacks, helped plan the sold-out event Tickets sold for a hefty $50,000 per head, with an exclusive $300,000 tier offering perks such as a photo opportunity with Trump - and $500,000 per couple While Sacks had previously donated to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, he has since thrown his support behind the Republican Party, publicly endorsing Trump as the preferred candidate. Palihapitiya, a former Biden supporter who donated over $250,000 to his campaign in 2020, also now stands alongside Sacks in support of Trump. 'When we agreed to do this event, we started off the question was whether we could just raise $5 million, and that was the goal because as you well know, the Bay Area, is sort of a liberal bastion, and so we thought that $5 million might be a big lift,' Sacks told Fox Business on Friday. Sacks said the event had a 'tremendous turnout' with around 100 attendees. 'We couldn't fit one more seat in the place,' he added. 'We were completely sold out.' He said the 'enthusiasm' could be felt 'outside the room.' Protestors also showed up the night of the event. Sacks, a partner of Craft Ventures and former COO of PayPal , opened the doors of his Pacific Heights home for the fundraiser While Sacks had previously donated to Democrat Hillary Clinton in 2016, he has since thrown his support behind the Republican party, publicly endorsing Trump as the preferred candidate Palihapitiya, a former Biden supporter who donated over $250,000 to his campaign in 2020, also now stands alongside Sacks in support of Trump 'Even with the protesters, there was a tremendous enthusiasm gap between the pro-Trump side and the pro-Biden side,' Sacks said. 'And if that's in liberal San Francisco, what does that tell you about the rest of the country?' Among the notable guests in attendance were Cameron and Tyler Winklevoss, founders of a prominent crypto exchange, and Jacob Helberg, who serves as Commissioner for the US-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Venture capitalist Shervin Pishevar, CEO Tom Siebel of C3.ai, and Joe Voboril, a partner at 1789 Capital, also attended. According to guests, Trump gave a 45-minute serious-toned speech, where he began by reminiscing about his late uncle, John G. Trump, an esteemed engineer and MIT professor. He reportedly joked that he should have followed in his uncle's footsteps, the New York Post reported. The event was expected to rake in a staggering $12 million for Trump's campaign, a success for the Republican candidate, despite his recent legal troubles He was introduced by Senator J.D. Vance from Ohio, and spoke about foreign policy, emphasizing the perceived threats posed by leaders like Kim Jong Un and Vladimir Putin. He also spoke of Russia's post-office economic and military prowess, contrasting it with his time in office. The event's location in the liberal-leaning Pacific Heights neighborhood, was located near Rep. Nancy Pelosi's residence. Sources revealed that Trump, unusually, made use of prepared notes during his speech, the Post reported. This is the shocking moment a shopper trashes a phone store in west London and racially abuses a worker because they 'refused' to give her a refund. The woman pulled dozens of phone cases off the shelves and threw them on the floor during the angry rampage at ElectTronex on Market Square in Uxbridge on Saturday. Horrified onlookers watched on as she repeatedly swore at the store worker and used a racial slur. Separate footage then shows the woman - who was wearing a black gilet, cream-coloured hoodie and a pair of black Mary Jane shoes - being handcuffed by three police officers inside the store. Police told MailOnline a 19-year-old woman was initially detained when officers attended the scene, but wasn't arrested after the victim said he didn't want to press charges. However, the force said it will speak to staff at the shop again having since seen video footage of the racist comments and threats. Do you know who the woman is? Email tips@dailymail.com This is the shocking moment a shopper trashes a phone store in west London and racially abuses a worker because they 'refused' to give her a refund The woman pulled dozens of phone cases off the shelves and threw them on the floor during the angry rampage at ElectTronex on Market Square in Uxbridge on Saturday Horrified onlookers watched on as she repeatedly swore at the store worker and used a racial slur She can be heard telling the worker that she is trashing the store because they 'refused to refund her' for a phone she bought three months ago. The phone was reportedly new when she bought it but she now 'needed money to buy something' so wanted to return it. The worker tells the woman: 'You are making an idiot out of yourself.' But she replies: 'I don't give a f*** - you should have just given me my f****** money back then, p****' The woman then threatens to spit in the worker's face as she asks him where her bag is. She also said she would 'come back to the mobile phone shop every single day'. Members of the public and security guards blocked the woman inside the shop as the Metropolitan Police were called. She can be heard telling the worker that she is trashing the store because they 'refused to refund her' for a phone she bought three months ago Members of the public and security guards blocked the woman inside the shop as the Metropolitan Police were called. Separate footage then shows the woman being handcuffed by three police officers inside the store The phone was reportedly new when she bought it but she now 'needed money to buy something' so wanted to return it The video has been shared on TikTok and Instagram with social media users reacting with horror to the clip. One person commented: 'I'm speechless.' Another said: 'She should be made to pick everything up and put it back exactly how it was.' Others asked: 'How did you [the store worker] stay so calm?' A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: 'Police were called at 1.09 on Saturday, June 8, to a shop in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Uxbridge. 'Officers attended and detained a 19-year-old woman who was said to have thrown items in the shop and been abusive towards staff. 'The victim stated to the attending officers that he did not wish to provide a statement or make any criminal allegations. The woman was not arrested. 'Officers are now aware of video subsequently published online, which includes racist comments and threats. This will be reviewed and officers will again speak with staff at the shop.' An imprisoned Native American activist is set to face a 'last chance' parole hearing after murdering two FBI agents in 1975. Leonard Peltier, now 79, is due for a parole hearing on Monday- his first in 15 years after spending more than 47 years behind bars. He was arrested on February 6, 1976 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after Special Agents Jack Coler and Ron Williams were gunned down while searching for a suspect at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota on June 26, 1975. While the two agents looked for Jimmy Eagle, a suspect wanted for stealing a pair of cowboy boots and assaulting two local ranch workers, the pair called in and said they were involved in a 10 minute shootout, according to the FBI. Officials said that Coler and Williams were both shot at close range, and that Peltier was identified as the only suspect in their deaths because he was in possession of a gun whose bullets matched those used in their murders. Imprisoned Native American activist, Leonard Peltier, now 79, is due for a parole hearing on Monday- his first in 15 years after spending more than 47 years behind bars. (pictured: Peltier handcuffed, being led by officers) He was arrested on February 6, 1976 by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police after Special Agents Jack Coler (right) and Ron Williams (left) were gunned down while searching for a suspect at the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota on June 26, 1975 On Monday Peltier is expected to attend what may be his last parole hearing at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Florida as mounting speculation and support from others to set him free has followed him. 'He wants to go home and he recognizes this is probably his last chance,' Peltier's attorney, Kevin Sharp, told NBC News. 'But he feels good about presenting the best case that he can.' Along with Peltier, other Native American activists involved in the incident, Robert Robideau, Darrelle 'Dino' Butler, and Frank Blackhorse were arrested. During the trial, Robideau and Butler were acquitted after claiming self-defense while Peltier and Blackhorse were extradited to the US from Canada. Charges related to the shooting were dropped for Blackhorse, while Peltier was tried separately in 1977 in Fargo, North Dakota. He was found guilty by a group of jurors of killing the agents and was sentenced to two consecutive life sentences. Numerous doubts have followed Peltier's trial and conviction as Sharp said that the way it was investigated and conducted was not always fair. Several witnesses in the initial trial have gone on to recant their statements, while one witness, Myrtle Poo Bear, who claimed to be Peltier's girlfriend at the time, placed him at the scene of the crime. On Monday Peltier is expected to attend what may be his last parole hearing at the Federal Correctional Complex Coleman in Florida. (pictured: Peltier see in his mugshot) Since he's been in prison, Peltier has caught the attention of well-known public figures who have advocated for his release, including his son Chauncey Peltier (pictured), the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Pope Francis When the trial came around, the FBI deemed Poo Bear 'unfit' to testify in court, citing mentally unstable health issues. During his last parole hearing in 2009, the FBI argued that time he spent in jail did not shrink 'the brutality of the crimes.' An official also said that even though Peltier has maintained his innocence, 'he has resorted to lies and half-truths in order to sway public attention from facts at hand.' Since he's been in prison, Peltier has caught the attention of well-known public figures and common people who have advocated for his release, including his son Chauncey Peltier, the Dalai Lama, Nelson Mandela, Bishop Desmond Tutu and Pope Francis. On Friday, FBI Director Christopher Wray said that the agency 'remains resolute' in its opinion on his release. Wray added that previous appeals have been denied and that Peltier managed to escape from a California prison in 1979, but was captured three days later. 'We must never forget or put aside that Peltier intentionally murdered these two young men and has never expressed remorse for his ruthless actions,' Wray said. Although the FBI has said that Peltier was 'rightfully and fairly obtained' and found guilty by 'multiple courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court,' others are not as convinced he killed the agents. James Reynolds, a retired federal prosecutor who was involved in Peltier's appeals and post trial, took it upon himself to reach out to President Joe Biden in 2021 to try and commute the activist's sentence. 'He has served more than 46 years on the basis of minimal evidence, a result that I strongly doubt would be upheld in any court today,' Reynolds wrote in a letter to Biden. During an phone interview with NBC News in 2022, Peltier said that he hoped the pressure from Democrats in Congress would convince the president to reduce his sentence or set him free. 'I have a last few years, and I got to fight,' Peltier previously said. 'I have a last few years, and I got to fight,' Peltier previously said in a phone interview from jail His lawyer said that because of Peltier's good behavior in jail, his age, and medical issues, including partial blindness brought on by a stroke, diabetes, hypertension and multiple bouts of Covid, he should be a great candidate for parole Peltier's case can be petitioned for parole because it occurred before November 1987, when Congress got rid of federal parole for inmates who committed offenses as part of new sentencing guidelines. During the parole hearing, examiners will be in charge of reviewing his case before making a decision and handing it over to the parole commissioner who can either agree or disagree with their decision. If the commissioner does agree, then Peltier will be set free. If they do not agree, a second commissioner would step in and agree with either the examiners or the commissioner. Sharp said that during his client's case, medical and re-entry experts will be called to support Peltier's parole case. He added that letters from the community and well-known figures will also be given to the parole commission. His lawyer said that because of Peltier's good behavior in jail, his age, and medical issues, including partial blindness brought on by a stroke, diabetes, hypertension and multiple bouts of Covid, he should be a great candidate for parole. Sharp added that the federal Bureau of Prisons 'does not say he is a danger,' and that the case is now about if 'they extracted enough retribution.' One of Peltier's supporters, Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz, said: 'Mr. Peltier deserves the dignity to live the rest of his life outside the confines of a federal prison cell, it is not too late to grant him the remaining years of a life that the federal government wrongfully stole from him so many years ago.' A mudlark has discovered a 'very rare' medieval doll believed to be the only complete example in the country. Sarah Brackstone, 47, found the lead figure, pictured, in February with her metal detector. She said: 'I was out in the brook and my pinpointer was going off. I was wrenching her out. It must have taken me nearly 20 minutes.' 'When I pulled her out and she was complete, I thought, 'Oh my God, no way'.' Sarah Brackstone, 47, (right) pictured holding the rare doll with Megan Gard The rare medieval lead doll pictured, found by Sarah Brackstone Ms Brackstone, from the East Midlands, has been a mudlark for five years searching muddy river banks for treasure. Her previous finds include the torso of a similar doll. But to find a complete one is 'very rare', according to Michael Lewis, head of the Portable Antiquities Scheme (PAS), which records archaeological finds. He said: 'It's interesting it survives because it's made from lead, a metal that's likely to break.' Mr Lewis added that the PAS has recorded around 20 parts of similar dolls but this is the only complete example. He suggested that loops near the doll's arms could mean it was used as a children's string puppet. Ms Brackstone plans to loan the doll to the British Museum. The family of a late RAF sergeant honoured by King Charles for her heroics against the Taliban has claimed the cancer that killed her was caused by toxic fumes from the Chinook helicopters she served on. Anna Irwin died from lung cancer at the age of 38 in October 2017 after serving eight three-month tours in Afghanistan. She was exposed to more than 2,000 hours of toxic fumes whilst onboard RAF Chinook helicopters. Now her father Mick Irwin, has called for an inquiry after he read that almost 40 troops diagnosed with cancer are suing the Ministry of Defence (MOD). At least three of those affected are already understood to have died, with their heartbroken families left fighting for justice. Anna Irwin (pictured) died from lung cancer at the age of 38 in October 2017 after serving eight three-month tours in Afghanistan She was exposed to more than 2,000 hours of toxic fumes whilst onboard RAF Chinook helicopters. Pictured: Her coffin is carried by troops at her funeral Pictured: A file photo of an RAF Chinook helicopter returning to base Testimonies from sick personnel and their families claim the MoD knew about the potential dangers of helicopter exhaust fumes for more than 10 years but failed to act on them. Mr Irwin told The Times: 'Why did my daughter have to go through what she went through? It could have all been avoided if they had taken action. 'As far as I can see this is still happening and no one is doing anything about it.' Mr Irwin described his daughter as a 'fighter' who 'wanted to live' and 'fought all the way through'. Ms Irwin was a Chinook crewman who was first posted to 18 (B) Squadron at RAF Odiham in 2007 but was later deployed to Afghanistan. She was presented with the award for 'Most Outstanding Airman' by King Charles at The Sun's Military Awards in 2013 after she helped rescue eight soldiers after a suicide bomb attack on their base. Ms Irwin was diagnosed with a rare form of lung cancer in 2016 despite never being a smoker nor there being any other obvious environmental causes. Since the initial report in The Times was published, lawyers from Hugh James solicitors said they have had 100 more people contact them who have either been diagnosed with cancer themselves or seen a family member suffer after serving on British military helicopters. Some former service personnel have been handed out-of-court settlements, including former flight sergeant and helicopter winchman Zach Stubbings, who trained Prince William. Documents exposed amid legal fights have revealed the government was aware of the dangers of the Sea King's exhaust as long ago as 1999. Mr Irwin described his daughter as a 'fighter' who 'wanted to live' and 'fought all the way through'. Pictured: Anna Irwin's coffin is carried at her funeral Ms Irwin was a Chinook crewman who was first posted to 18 (B) Squadron at RAF Odiham in 2007 but later deployed to Afghanistan She was presented with the award for 'most outstanding airman' by King Charles at The Sun's Military Awards in 2013 after she helped rescue eight soldiers after a suicide bomb attack on their base Zach Stubbings trained with Prince William and has received a payout But it carried on allowing aircrew to fly in the helicopter without safety precautions regardless of the risks. Leading barrister at Normanton Chambers, Jonathan Dingle, said engine jet efflux gases - containing benzene carcinogens - 'were apparently being sucked through the cabin and out again through the cockpits - mixing as the air which everyone onboard the aircraft was breathing'. Mr Dingle said: 'The Germans knew about it roughly the same time and installed longer exhaust options on some of their aircraft to draw the exhaust away.' However, those aircrew serving in the British military 'were not provided with masks or filters or purified air or any form of filtration system. They were not warned about the whole system,' he said. An MoD Spokesperson said: 'We hugely value our service personnel and veterans and owe a debt of gratitude to all those who serve, often with great personal sacrifice. 'We continually review our policies to ensure they are aligned with good practice and protect our people from harm. 'Service personnel and veterans who believe they have suffered ill health due to service from 6 April 2005 have the existing and long standing right to apply for no-fault compensation under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.' A 'bruised' Rishi Sunak returns to the campaign trail today as Nigel Farage triggered a race row over the PM's D-Day fiasco. The Prime Minister spent a low-key weekend regrouping after a storm of criticism at his decision to return early from last week's 80th anniversary commemorations, for which he apologised on Friday. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride was forced to quash speculation Mr Sunak could resign before the election. He said the Prime Minister was 'deeply patriotic' and had taken the criticism 'very deeply, personally' but there was 'no question' of him quitting. As one ally said the PM was feeling 'bruised' by the furore, Tory sources said he would return to the forefront of the campaign, including a major BBC interview on prime-time TV tonight. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata Murty with 98-year-old D-Day veteran Alec Penstone at the 80th anniversary of the Allied landings in Normandy Mr Sunak with the King and Queen and The president of France, Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte at the commemoration Yesterday Mr Farage tried to capitalise on the row, accusing Mr Sunak of being 'not patriotic'. But the Reform leader was accused of 'dog whistle politics' code for subtly appealing to racist sentiments when he suggested the Prime Minister does not care about 'our culture'. Mr Farage told the BBC Mr Sunak 'should have known in his heart, that it was right to be there'. He claimed the Tory leader 'doesn't really care about our history, he doesn't really care frankly about our culture'. Challenged over the comments, he insisted he had been talking about Mr Sunak's 'class' rather than his heritage as the son of first-generation immigrants. Mr Farage denied any racial element, saying that '40 per cent of our contribution' in the two world wars 'came from the Commonwealth'. He added that the PM was 'utterly disconnected by class, by privilege, from how ordinary folk feel. He revealed that, I think spectacularly, when he left Normandy early'. Mr Stride said he was 'very uncomfortable' at the 'ill-advised' comments, adding: 'I'm very proud we have a British Asian right at the top of our Government.' Labour's justice spokesman Shabana Mahmood accused Mr Farage of 'dog whistle' politics. 'We can all see exactly what he is doing, he's got form, it is completely unacceptable,' she added. 'This is a man that has a track record of seeking to divide communities who just wants to do it with a veneer of respectability.' Mr Sunak attended D-Day commemorations in Portsmouth and Normandy, France, last week. Nigel Farage speaking at the BBC's seven party debate. The Reform leader has accused Mr Sunak of not being patriotic But he left Foreign Secretary Lord Cameron to represent Britain at an 'international event' attended by Emmanuel Macron, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky and other world leaders. The Prime Minister apologised the next day, saying he 'deeply regrets' his decision to leave early. The backlash has deepened the gloom around the Tory campaign which has so far failed to dent Labour's huge poll lead. Former Cabinet minister Nadine Dorries suggested at the weekend the PM could even 'fall on his sword' but senior Tories dismissed this. One said: 'In the words of Churchill, he has got to keep buggering on there isn't any other option. He just needs to stop buggering up.' Mr Sunak told The Mail On Sunday: 'We all make mistakes. We're all human. But I'm motivated to do what I can for this country to the best of my ability. That's what keeps me going.' He hopes to reboot the Conservative campaign tomorrow when he is expected to unveil the party's manifesto and focus on the political divide over tax. Mr Stride told Sky News that Mr Sunak will 'absolutely' lead the Tories into the election and denied that 'all is lost'. Lecturers at a top university say they've been 'pressured' into signing anti-transphobia pledges and declaring their pronouns. Exeter University asked its staff last week to sign an 'inclusive practitioners commitment' to demonstrate 'allyship' with transgender students, the Sunday Telegraph reported. The online document requests staff make six pledges to prove they are 'the kind of person that LGBTQ+ people can confide in and feel safe around'. These include promising to 'affirm trans staff and students' as well as outside experts, by using chosen names and pronouns. Staff are also told to seek LGBTQ+ people's contributions to their teaching subject. Pictured: Dr Edward Skidelsky, a philosophy lecturer at the University of Exeter Exeter University asked its staff last week to sign an 'inclusive practitioners commitment' to demonstrate 'allyship' with transgender students They are encouraged to 'educate' themselves about how 'micro-aggressions, dog whistles and talking points' can be harmful to LGBTQ+ people. Staff are told to display 'allyship' to the community by sharing their pronouns where appropriate. And they are also asked to be 'firmly against' transphobia and 'acephobia' - defined as discrimination against asexual people. Exeter - part of the Russell Group - said the document was drawn up by the campus LGBTQ+ 'colleague and student group' and is not affiliated with any other scheme. However, Exeter is a member of the controversial Stonewall Workplace Equality Index, which ranks employers on LGBTQ+ friendliness. The Stonewall scheme has been criticised for pushing highly-contested gender ideology in public organisations and companies. Yesterday, academics said the Exeter pledges would make gender-critical staff vulnerable to being targeted by activists. Dr Edward Skidelsky, a philosophy lecturer, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Schemes like this are coercive and intended to put pressure on people who are gender-critical. 'You will be made visible if you sign up because a badge will be displayed on your staff profile. So if you don't sign it can be easily identified and mean you'll possibly targeted by student activists. They are encouraged to 'educate' themselves about how 'micro-aggressions, dog whistles and talking points' can be harmful to LGBTQ+ people. (Stock Image) 'Also, gender-critical people will want to be free to be able to refer to trans people by their biological sex in certain cases. If someone is a rapist then it is ridiculous that you should say 'she'.' The Committee for Academic Freedom said the 'point of the exercise' is 'to smoke out and put pressure on dissenters - those who, by implication, LGBTQ+ people will not 'feel safe around'.' It said staff are likely to feel they have to sign the pledge 'because not to would make you a bad person in the eyes of your colleagues'. A spokesman for the University of Exeter said: 'This initiative is entirely voluntary, driven by our independent staff network and coordinated by the University in order for colleagues to show their support for members of our community. 'It has no links with any outside programmes, is not coercive or exclusionary, and colleagues are not asked to sign up but are free to if they so choose. 'This is similar to other allyship initiatives supported at the university.' The Conservatives last night pledged to recruit 8,000 extra police officers by increasing visa fees for foreign visitors and workers. As both main parties go toe-to-toe on law and order, Rishi Sunak vowed to bring back neighbourhood policing while Labour said they would speed up prison building and tackle the court backlog in rape cases. Under the plan, the Tories pledged to introduce an additional police officer for every ward in England and Wales. They will be given new tools to catch criminals, including greater use of facial recognition technology and tougher powers to seize knives. The party said the plan would be paid for in part by removing the student discount to the immigration health surcharge and increasing all visa fees by 25 per cent. It means the 'Standard Visitor' visa will rise from 115 to more than 143, while a skilled work visa could increase by 400 to 2,000. Rishi Sunak visits a community garden project during his election campaign Under the plan, the Tories pledged to introduce an additional police officer for every ward in England and Wales. They will be given new tools to catch criminals, including greater use of facial recognition technology and tougher powers to seize knives The Tories have simultaneously pledged to slash migration and introduce an annual cap on visas. But the party last night insisted that as visa numbers go down, the funding for the new police officers would increasingly come from a crackdown on tax avoidance. Some 20,000 extra police officers have been recruited since 2019, but it follows a fall in numbers over previous years. Labour has pledged to boost police numbers by 13,000, including 3,000 additional officers, 4,000 additional PCSOs and 3,000 additional specials. The figure also includes 3,000 officers ringfenced from the Government uplift. Over the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer's party pledged to relieve pressure on prisons by unblocking the planning process and boosting the building programme. Labour said the prison estate is 'bursting at the seams' due to inaction and mismanagement by the Tories. Chief constables were urged earlier this year to take fewer suspects into custody amid overcrowding. Labour also wants to set up 80 new specialist rape courts across England and Wales to fast-track cases as part of plans to tackle violence against women and girls that will be included in its manifesto. It will also comprise a pledge to introduce specialist rape units in every police force, where staff trained to deal with domestic abuse will work with victims. Mr Sunak said last night: 'Our 20,000 new police officers since 2019 have made a huge difference, with neighbourhood crime down 48 per cent as a result. We will now go further by hiring 8,000 more police officers, each one dedicated to their local community. The Tories have simultaneously pledged to slash migration and introduce an annual cap on visas (Stock Image) 'People deserve to feel safe in their neighbourhood. More bobbies on the beat and increased powers will give police forces the tools they need to drive down neighbourhood crime even further.' The Prime Minister said Labour 'has no idea how to fund more police officers', adding: 'Without a plan crime will only go up, as we've seen in areas with a Labour Police and Crime Commissioner.' Home Secretary James Cleverly said the Tories will 'always back our brave police and security services', adding: 'The Conservatives will take bold action with a clear plan to build a more secure future for people up and down the country. 'Unlike Keir Starmer's Labour Party who have no plan to keep the country safe. You only have to look to London where crime has risen under Labour rule to see the real damage the Labour Party can do to your community.' Despite the racial reckoning and Black Lives Matter protests of 2020, anti-Black hate crimes remain the most common hate crimes in California, and according to state data, hate crimes against Black people have been increasing in number during the past few years. Noah Berger/Special to the Chronicle Eileen Fischer of the Mill Valley Force for Racial Equity and Empowerment holds a sign at the citys Depot Plaza in February 2023. Members of the group spoke to community members and handed out flyers in an attempt to combat racial profiling. Santiago Mejia/The Chronicle It was in one of San Franciscos busiest tourist spots that Bay Area native Maya was called the n-word by a stranger. Maya and a group of friends, several of whom were Black, were in a crosswalk near Pier 39 one afternoon two years ago, when a car almost barreled into them. Words were exchanged, then Maya said the driver threw a water bottle that hit her shoulder and shouted, I should have hit you ns. It took me a long time to process what happened, said Maya, who lives in San Francisco, works in tech and asked that I only use her first name. It felt like something that would happen in the South, not in California. Advertisement Article continues below this ad New data show anti-Black hate, which has plagued California for more than a century despite Black people never totaling more than 8% of the population, is growing. A report published last month by the Public Policy Institute of California says anti-Black hate crimes almost tripled between 2019 and 2022. This tracks with California Department of Justice data, which as far back as the 1990s shows Black people as the most common target of hate crimes. Hate crimes motivated by racial bias rose by 11.4% from 1,165 in 2021 to 1,298 in 2022, according to state DOJ data. Most victims were Asian, Latino or Black. After reaching a 20-year high of 247 in 2021, anti-Asian hate crimes fell to 140 in 2022, which is still a higher total than any year between 2001 and 2020. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Anti-Latino hate crimes increased from 197 in 2021 to 210 in 2022. Anti-white hate crimes rose from 83 in 2021 to 103 in 2022. Add together all of the anti-white, Asian and Latino hate crimes in 2022, and the total is far less than the number of anti-Black hate crimes that year 652, a 27% increase from 513 in 2021. Californias fraudulent image as a bastion of racial diversity belies the treatment of a Black community that government census data show has been shrinking for decades. Whats true for California is true for America, said University of San Francisco political science professor and leading San Francisco reparations advocate James Taylor. Anti-Blackness is the baseline of hate in the U.S., he said. The idea that California is some kind of liberal bastion that is above pedestrian racism is wrong. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Slavery was never officially sanctioned in California, but the California Fugitive Slave Act in 1852, which allowed slave owners to recapture their slaves that had escaped to California, shows the state was more of a haven for white slave owners than a sanctuary for Black people seeking freedom. In the 1920s, Ku Klux Klan chapters throughout California influenced housing policies and law enforcement practices. Fast-forward to 1966, a century after the abolition of slavery, when the Black Panther Party emerged in Oakland to combat the kinds of oppression Black communities had faced since the countrys founding. The partys struggle for equality was reignited in 2020 in local George Floyd protests, along with movements to reimagine policing and to provide reparations. Its important to note the Black struggle in Californias history. But because of that past, racism discussions too often get veiled in euphemisms like systemic, structural and institutional terms that belie the seriousness of anti-Black hatred in present-day California. A Black dog walker in San Francisco made headlines last month when his home caught fire after he told police he had been receiving racist threats. Increasing anti-Black incidents at schools in San Francisco this year prompted the citys NAACP branch to call for firings and boycotts. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Local tech leaders rushed to defend former President Donald Trump after he was found guilty of 34 counts of falsifying business records last month. Trump, who recently said Black voters like him because of his criminal history, also infamously called for the execution of five Black and Latino teens wrongfully accused of beating and raping a white female jogger in New York City in 1989. Because so many white residents in affluent Mill Valley unjustly called the police on Black and brown people, the city mailed flyers to residents last year to educate them on racial bias. Local Black homeowners cant get even fair appraisals for their homes. Even Black real estate professionals wonder if their faces on yard signs will hurt their ability to sell homes. The quiet kind of racism can be really loud in California, Shawneequa Badger of the Badger Real Estate Group in Oakland told me. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The first time Tinisch Hollins heard the n-word was in the late 1990s as a seventh grader in San Bruno. She was walking home with her brother, and a school bus filled with non-Black students pulled up next to her. The kids on that bus put the windows down and started throwing paper at us and calling us ns, said Hollins, the co-founder of San Franciscos SF Black Wall Street, an organization that focuses on improving Black economic mobility. That experience felt like an exception at the time, but its far more common now. Its why we have to literally curate safe spaces for Black people to exist and just be Black. Earl Spencer has hired the same high-profile divorce lawyer who lost his sister Diana's HRH title when she separated from the then Prince Charles. The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed yesterday the Earl's relationship with his third wife the Countess of Spencer had broken down. He has now moved to hire 550 per hour 'demon negotiator' Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia to represent him, reported The Sunday Times. Known as the 'Steel Magnolia' for her charm and determination, Fiona Shackleton, 67, advised Charles during his bitter divorce battle in 1996, which saw Princess Diana lose her HRH title. Such was her devastation at the loss of the title, Prince William, then 14 years old, reportedly told her: 'Don't worry Mummy, I will give it back to you one day when I am King.' She has previously represented A-list stars such as Paul McCartney, Liam Gallagher and Madonna during their expensive and heavily spotlighted splits. The Mail on Sunday exclusively revealed Earl Spencer's relationship with his third wife the Countess of Spencer had broken down He has now moved to hire 550 per hour 'demon negotiator' Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia to represent him Earl Spencer's 13-year marriage to Karen Gordon, a Canadian philanthropist, broke down amid the strain of writing his harrowing memoir detailing the physical and sexual abuse he suffered at boarding school, it is understood. The couple announced their pending divorce to staff at Althorp, the Spencer family estate in Northamptonshire, in March. 'It is immensely sad,' Earl Spencer, 60, told the MoS last week. 'I just want to devote myself to all my children, and to my grandchildren, and I wish Karen every happiness in the future.' The couple married in June 2011 within the grounds of Althorp, where Diana is buried. The couple had met the previous year on a blind date at a restaurant in Los Angeles. Speaking to The Sunday Times in 2020, the Earl said: 'Karen and I both appreciate what the other does and look after what we have. Neither of us has found happiness like this before.' His wife was notable by her absence at events held at Althorp and Spencer House in London in mid-March to launch the Earl's book, A Very Private School. Charles Spencer told the MoS that the five years of work on his memoir has deeply affected him and led to him undergoing residential treatment for trauma late last year. He is understood to have been particularly traumatised by his discovery of his 1976 schoolboy diary, in which the assistant matron, who he alleges sexually abused him, had written a long-forgotten message. Fiona Shackleton advised the then Prince Charles during his divorce to Diana in 1996 (Charles and Diana pictured on the Balmoral Estate before their wedding in 1981) Charles married his second wife Caroline Freud in 2001 but the pair got a divorce in 2009 Charles and his first wife Victoria Lockwood got married in 1989 and then divorced in 1997 The diary was discovered on the high shelf of a room at Althorp that was being refurbished after he completed the main body of his book. Earl Spencer wrote he was 'rocked' by the discovery and described how the woman, who The Mail on Sunday identified as 67-year-old grandmother Sally Jane Carr, has simply written 'Me' along with her address and telephone number. A lawyer for Carr said she 'vehemently denies all allegations of any abuse being carried out by her to the Earl and any other individual whatsoever'. 'There is something about the word, 'Me', that strikes me now as not only wildly inappropriate, but intensely intimate and, of course, slyly anonymous.' Baroness Shackleton negotiated a 17 million settlement for Diana and the Princess agreed to cover the legal costs of her divorce. It was also agreed that Diana would see William and Harry every five weekends. Her successful handling of the case earned Shackleton praise and Charles continued to utilise her services until 2005. 'The terms of the divorce were severe,' says Seward, whose new book, My Mother and I, based on the relationship between King Charles and his late mother, is published by Simon and Schuster. 'If Diana wanted to leave the country on anything that could be described as official business, she had to get special permission. 'Her movements were restricted and she wasnt allowed to take an ordinary job to earn money.' Baroness Fiona Shackleton is a divorce specialist. Her most notable clients were King Charles in 1996 and Prince Andrew in 1996 Charles and Fiona Shackleton appear in high spirits while attending an exhibition in London, 2000 Prince William and Prince Harry both continue to use Shackleton as their Personal Solicitor Baroness Shackleton also represented Prince Andrew during his divorce from Sarah, Duchess of York that same year. Andrew paid out 3 million in a divorce settlement in May 1996. Baroness Shackleton attended the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 with her husband, fellow Exeter alumnus, Ian Shackleton. In 2010, Queen Elizabeth II made Shackleton a life peer, giving her the title, Baroness Shackleton of Belgravia. She sits as a Conservative member in the House of Lords. A three-month-old baby has died from the critical injuries he suffered in a horrific car crash that took his mother's life two days earlier. Emergency services rushed to Caboolture River Rd near Tinney Rd at Upper Caboolture, north Brisbane, about 2.30pm on Friday following reports a car hit a tree. The 33-year-old mother, from Caboolture, was declared dead at the scene and her baby boy had critical injuries after being thrown from an approved baby seat. The three-month-old was taken to Queensland Children's Hospital, where he died on Sunday afternoon. Burpengary Forensic Crash Unit Sergeant Greg Price told reporters on Saturday the cause of the crash is still under investigation. A three-month-old baby has died from injuries he suffered in the crash (pictured) that claimed his mother's life in Upper Caboolture on Friday The 33-year-old mother was declared dead at the scene after suffering catastrophic injuries from her car's (pictured) collision with a tree 'At this stage the investigations indicate the vehicle was travelling eastbound on Caboolture River Rd near Tinney Rd and has left the road, colliding with several large trees,' he said. 'The vehicle suffered extensive damage as a result of the crash. We are seeking any witnesses to the crash or any dashcam from the crash. 'We are seeking what the actions of the driver were prior to the crash. Most of the people that called in [on Friday] have come across the crash, they weren't witnesses.' Brightly dressed in the blue and yellow of Ukraine, they are children of war given new hope in the towns and villages of Britain. And these battle-scarred youngsters are being taught to 'dream again' in all corners of the UK - with thanks to Mail Force. They were given sanctuary here after fleeing the hell of Russia's invasion of their homeland. Many were deeply traumatised, either through experiencing the fighting or by suffering the misery of being torn from their homes and rushed to live in a new country. Pictured: School manager Irena Creeger with pupils and staff at the open day event on Saturday Pupils hard at work at St Mary's Ukrainian School on Saturday This weekend, they came together for lively events to help them settle in the UK St Mary's has set up schemes all over the country to pay for bilingual Ukrainian teachers Events were also showcased in Glasgow , Richmond, Hillingdon and Amersham This weekend, they came together for lively events to help them settle in the UK. In Woking, Berkshire, refugee children danced the hopak - a Ukrainian folk dance - played games of chess and created colourful artwork. In Tunbridge Wells, Ukrainian refugees spread around the county of Kent came to meet one another and play games. Events were also showcased in Glasgow, Richmond, Hillingdon and Amersham. They were organised by St Mary's Ukrainian School which is partly funded by generous Mail readers who donated to our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal. Mail Force is helping to fund its 'I Can Dream Again' initiative to provide psychological help to Ukrainian schoolchildren. They were organised by St Mary's Ukrainian School which is partly funded by generous Mail readers who donated to our Mail Force Ukraine Appeal In Tunbridge Wells, Ukrainian refugees spread around the county of Kent came to meet one another and play games Mail Force is helping to fund its 'I Can Dream Again' initiative to provide psychological help to Ukrainian schoolchildren Headteacher Inna Hryhorovych said: 'This weekend's open days were dedicated to nurturing the wellbeing of children who have experienced displacement and war. They were held to celebrate happy childhoods and foster a space where dreams can be rekindled.' St Mary's has set up schemes all over the country to pay for bilingual Ukrainian teachers, known as educational support workers, to go into classrooms and help refugee children to settle into British schools, although not all local authorities have signed up to it. Mrs Hryhorovych said: 'Tunbridge Wells and Woking are doing a fantastic job, each supporting up to 100 children. Woking, in particular, has united the Ukrainian community, and it would be immensely beneficial to have educational support workers in mainstream schools to support these children, provided we can secure some funding. Unfortunately, the local authority has not yet agreed to cooperate. 'In Tunbridge Wells, children are travelling up to 25 miles to attend school due to a lack of closer options.' At the event in Woking, attended by Mail Force Charity trustee Hamish Webb, young mother Victoriia, who fled from their home near Kiev with her children aged nine and 15, said: 'St Mary's gives a chance for my kids to meet with other children who are facing the same fears and challenges. After two years, we don't know when we can return.' The Labour Party has been urged to reveal its pension tax plans amid fears it could raid the retirement savings of up to nine million workers. The party has not publicly ruled out cutting tax relief on higher-rate earners, even as it faced growing speculation in recent days. Analysis suggests millions could have to work for four years longer to build up their pension pot to the same level if tax relief was cut. Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves's spokesman told the Financial Times last week that she had 'no plans' for a cut. However the move has been floated by her a number of times, including in 2018. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves holds a Q&A with staff at RBS on June 4 The party has not publicly ruled out cutting tax relief on higher-rate earners, even as it faced growing speculation in recent days (stock photo) Investment platform AJ Bell calculates that a higher-rate saver putting away 500 a month could generate a pot worth 389,927 after 20 years (stock photo) Workers paying into pension savings currently receive tax relief on them at 20 per cent for basic-rate tax payers and an additional 20 per cent if they pay tax at the higher 40 per cent rate. But there are fears Labour could limit relief for those in the 40 per cent bracket. Investment platform AJ Bell calculates that a higher-rate saver putting away 500 a month could generate a pot worth 389,927 after 20 years. But if that relief is cut to 20 per cent the sum would be 292,445 a difference of almost 100,000 which would take four more years of contributions to make up. Israeli hostage Noa Argamani revealed she had not seen daylight for 245 days before she was rescued in a daring raid by special forces deep inside Gaza. The 26-year-old, who was reunited with her ecstatic family on Saturday, had become the face of the October 7 massacre after video emerged of her screaming 'Don't kill me' as she was kidnapped from a music festival by Hamas terrorists on motorbikes. But serious questions have been raised over the human cost of the rescue mission which also freed another three captives with the Hamas-run health ministry claiming it left 274 people dead and 698 wounded. While it is unclear how many of these were civilians, horrific images from the aftermath of a gun battle during the raid in the Nuseirat area show scores of dead and wounded women and children on the streets. The terror group claims that the fatalities include three other hostages, one of whom holds US citizenship which an Israel Defence Forces (IDF) spokesman dismissed as a 'blatant lie'. The raid on Nuseirat was the biggest hostage rescue mission since the war began, and news of its success prompted wild celebrations across Israel. Israeli hostage Noa Argamani being hugged by her father after being rescued by an Israeli special operation Ms Argamani meeting Israeli president Benjamin Netanyahu. The 26-year-old, who was reunited with her ecstatic family on Saturday The terrified hostage became the face of the October 7 massacre after video emerged of her screaming 'Don't kill me' as she was kidnapped from a music festival by Hamas terrorists on motorbikes Noa was kidnapped from the Nova music festival on October 7 and taken into Gaza As a picture was released of the squalid room where Noa was found, she has revealed she was held by a 'well-to-do' family but kept under armed guard, was rarely allowed to wash and never saw daylight as she was moved from house to house at night while dressed as an Arab in a bid to evade detection. Noa was saved along with 21-year-old Almog Meir Jan, Andrey Kozlov, 27, and Shlomi Ziv, 40, who were also at the Nova Festival when Hamas militants struck in October. All are said to be in 'good medical condition' but as a precaution are being kept at Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv, for monitoring. Noa's friend Amir Moadi, 29, said: 'She's good mentally good and healthy. But Noa lost a lot of friends on October 7. I think it will take time to understand everything. It feels like she's in shock. 'Because of all the people around her now, she's smiling and very happy. She told us on the phone before we saw her, 'I'm coming home.' When you hear it from her, all our hearts melted.' Mr Moadi hopes she will be discharged in the coming days. He said: 'I told her it doesn't matter when, what, where, we're going to be with you. We are not going to leave her she is going to be with us in every moment.' She was able to celebrate her father Yakov's birthday after spending more than seven months in Hamas captivity Noa Argamani (in pink top, jeans and helmet) is seen being helped into an IDF helicopter to escape Hamas after being rescued Images from the scene showed a group of around 11 running along the ground in Gaza and into the waiting helicopter to escape after the daring raid Noa's mother Liora Argamani has stage four brain cancer and had repeatedly expressed her desire to see her daughter again Noa was one of just 19 women that are still being held by the terror group Noa's mother Liora, who is terminally ill with stage-four brain cancer, had previously said she feared she might never see her daughter again. After being reunited on Saturday, Professor Ronni Gamzu, the director of Ichilov Hospital in Tel Aviv where she is being treated, said he 'believed that Liora understood' her daughter was safe, adding: 'She simply couldn't express her feelings and say what she was really waiting to say to Noa.' Describing the reunion yesterday, Noa's father, Yaakov, said: 'Unfortunately her mother is in a very difficult condition. They met, but it was very difficult.' Last night European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the reports 'of another massacre of civilians are appalling,' adding: 'The bloodbath must end.' In response, Israeli military spokesman Peter Lerner hit out at Hamas for holding hostages in civilian areas and said the IDF had been forced to call in air support after its squad 'came under fire from 360 degrees'. Hamas has warned that conditions will now worsen for the remaining captives. 'The operation will pose a great danger [for] the prisoners and will have a negative impact on their conditions,' spokesman Abu Obaida said. After a week of gripping testimony and debate, listeners to the Mail's pioneering podcast, The Trial of Lord Lucan have delivered their verdicts. From 6am today, a special episode of the chart-topping series will reveal whether the 7th Earl of Lucan is guilty or innocent of the murder of his children's nanny Sandra Rivett and the attempted murder of his estranged wife Veronica. At the end of the trial on Friday, audience members were invited to join an online jury to decide whether the peer was responsible for the horror attacks nearly 50 years ago. The response was staggering by the deadline of noon yesterday, many thousands had cast their votes, underlining the runaway success of the podcast which stormed to number one in the Apple and Spotify true crime charts after its launch. It has also established itself in the top ten for all podcasts in the UK. It has been almost 50 years since British aristocrat Lord Lucan, 39, vanished without a trace The Earl disappeared after his children's nanny Sandra Rivett was murdered in the family home The blood-soaked basement with Sandra Rivett's body inside a mail sack beside a cast-off shoe Barrister Max Hardy (right) is prosecuting Lord Lucan in the trial, while Edward Henry KC is acting for the defence The podcast series is inspired by a world exclusive police report, obtained by the Mail, which spelt out the case against the infamous earl, who vanished within hours of Mrs Rivett's murder on November 7, 1974. Every day last week, new episodes chronicled how an Old Bailey trial involving Lord Lucan, pictured, may have unfolded had he been caught. Two of Britain's most eminent barristers presented the prosecution and defence cases as the earl stood trial over Mrs Rivett's death and the attack on Lady Lucan, with whom he was involved in a custody battle over their three children. After decades of speculation, the evidence was laid bare after the Mail obtained a previously confidential Scotland Yard report from 1975 which detailed the Crown's case. The story shocked Britain when, allegedly aided by his powerful friends, Lord Lucan went on the run after the family nanny, Mrs Rivett, 29, was bludgeoned to death with a lead pipe in the basement kitchen at his Belgravia mansion. Lady Lucan believed to be the intended victim sustained serious head injuries. As Max Hardy, for the prosecution, laid out, Lucan alone was responsible for the grisly attacks. He planned the murder down to the last detail, he says, even discussing dumping his wife's body in the River Solent. For the defence, Edward Henry KC urged jurors to judge the case on 'the evidence alone', saying Lord Lucan 'has been vilified'. The Trial of Lord Lucan: The Verdict is available now, wherever you get your podcasts. EXCLUSIVE A Jewish woman who attacked a 7-Eleven customer over an alleged racial slur has walked free despite her victim dying after the fatal fight. Sarah Franklin, now aged 53, had a four-month prison sentence overturned after a County Court of Victoria judge found the sentencing magistrate had no right to jail the thug. In a surprising plea deal offered by Victoria Police, Franklin was instead allowed to admit one charge of common law assault over the deadly attack. Two videos showed the moment Sarah Murphy, 52, lost consciousness while Franklin ignored her pleas for mercy inside the Caulfield service station, in Melbourne's south-east on February 8, 2021. She had taken offence to an alleged racist comment by Ms Murphy moments earlier when she allegedly said 'Die, Jews!', Moorabbin Magistrates' Court was told last October. Franklin and her mate Andrea Madigan had gone to the store to grab a coffee when Ms Murphy appeared to object to a man cutting in front of her. Shocking footage of the attack has been revealed. Franklin pleaded guilty to common law assault An argument ensued before Franklin was seen tossing a cup of coffee over her victim. In harrowing footage captured on CCTV video, Ms Murphy was seen bolting away from Franklin around an aisle before she was tackled. The court heard Ms Murphy bit Franklin as they fell to the ground, grappling with each other. 'Are you calm now?' Franklin asked as she continued to hold Ms Murphy down for two minutes as her legs flailed about desperately. Video captured by a witness showed Ms Murphy repeatedly pleading for help as Franklin knelt on her back. 'I can't breathe!' she screamed. 'Help, help me.' CCTV footage showed Franklin and Ms Madigan grab their possessions and leave the service station. The court heard Ms Murphy lost consciousness during the attack and died days later without ever waking up again. The women were seen wrestling in the 7-Eleven A court heard the fracas began after victim Sarah Murphy allegedly said 'Die, Jews!' The two accused had faced manslaughter charges after initially being charged with recklessly causing serious injury. Those charges were dropped while forensic doctors worked to find out exactly how Ms Murphy died. The court heard the coroner struggled to work out Ms Murphy's cause of death due to the eight-day delay in receiving her body and a range of pre-existing ailments. The decision was further hampered by the coroner's inability to work out if bruises to Ms Murphy's body were caused by Franklin or the paramedics who tried to save her life. Ms Murphy had traces of methamphetamine in her hair and had also suffered from asthma and other health issues. When the charges returned to court they had been reduced to common law assault - a charge that carries a maximum sentence of just five years behind bars. In October, Franklin pleaded guilty to the charge after accepting another deal from police prosecutors. Ms Madigan had her charge struck out altogether on the same day. She had been charged after allegedly holding Ms Murphy's arm down as her friend of 20 years pinned her victim with a knee. Despite the harrowing footage, Crown prosecutor Pranaven Pathmaraj asked Magistrate Stephen Lee not to jail Franklin. Sarah Franklin threw hot coffee over her victim before pinning her down. She tried to hide her identity at the Moorabbin Magistrates' Court last year Andrea Madigan leaves court on October 31 after having her charge struck out When asked why, Mr Pathmaraj claimed Franklin had lived a faultless life before she was racially vilified by her victim. 'Ms Franklin comes before the court at her age with no prior convictions, no prior form for violent offending whatsoever and of course there is that aspect to this case that she first reacts as a result of apparent racial taunt by the deceased,' he said. 'Essentially it explains why someone who hasn't previously been in trouble with the police whatsoever comes to be engaged in such violent conduct.' Mr Pathmaraj described the shocking attack as a 'couple of minutes of bad behaviour' on a single day. Magistrate Lee continued to express concern about the prosecution deal that saw Franklin plead guilty on the day she planned to run a contested trial. The court heard prosecutors made the deal on the provision Franklin accept the last two minutes of her assault against Ms Murphy was not self-defence. Mr Lee pleaded for information on the dead woman, who he heard had all but been abandoned by her family and society. Mr Pathmaraj revealed Ms Murphy had suffered from a variety of mental issues, including a borderline personality disorder and schizophrenia. She had lived alone on a disability pension, was estranged from her two brothers and both of her parents were dead. The 7-Eleven service station in Caulfield (pictured) where the tragic incident happened Forensic officers are seen at the service station after Ms Murphy was assaulted Mr Pathmaraj said the decision to pursue a mere common law assault charge came down to not being able to prove beyond reasonable doubt Ms Murphy died because of Franklin's actions. '(Ms Murphy) did arrive at the hospital in an unconscious state but whether she was in that state as a result of the assault or some underlying condition, we cannot say,' he said. Mr Pathmaraj conceded Ms Murphy endured a 'terrifying experience' during her last moments awake. 'Especially when her calls went unanswered. But beyond that, beyond the emotional impact that could be readily inferred from that matter in terms of physical impact of the crime, your honour can't unfortunately make much of it,' he said. Franklin's lawyer Greer Boe maintained the magistrate should make no consideration of Ms Murphy's death in sentencing her client. 'There is no evidence she caused the death of the victim,' she said. Ms Boe claimed her client had acted in self defence even as her victim begged to be released. She has called for Franklin to be released on a good behaviour bond without conviction on the basis the attack was a 'momentary lapse'. On Thursday, County Court Judge Michael Tinney overturned Magistrate Lee's sentence, allowing Franklin to walk free on a two-year good behaviour bond with conviction. Getting scammed online is something many Aussies try to avoid, but one Shark Tank judge purposely let himself get scammed 100 times. Sabri Suby, 38, is like every other Australian who gets targeted with telemarketers, scam ads on social media. And while they are many who fall for these scams unknowingly, Mr Suby wanted to find out what these scams were like and where they came from. 'It's getting out of control. I (usually) have a little bit a fun with them but this time I decided to just go all the way and just see what rabbit holes of the internet that would lead me down, and what lengths people go through in order to scam people,' he said. 'And I think that with everything that is going on with AI and with Robo calling and all of that stuff is going to become more prevalent. So myself being a man of the people, I have put myself to the task.' Shark Tank Australia judge and marketing expert Sabri Suby allowed himself to get scammed 100 times in order to investigate how these scam ads work and still fool people. Picture: Supplied According to the digital marketing mogul, it took very little effort to find them thanks to the algorithms on social media - they found him. 'The algorithms are very smart with basically you things once you click on one and you click on one scam. And that's it. You fall down a ferret hole of just constant never ending ads for all different types of scams and whether it's organic content or it's ads itself,' he said. 'I just picked the weirdest and the wildest, wackiest things that I could find and I thought 'let's try that'. One of the ones that he came across that he classified as a 'scrammy product sold in a scrammy way' was the Pure Himalayan Shilajit Resin. 'It's this black tar substance that comes up from the Himalayas and from India, and basically it says it contains all of the essential minerals,' Mr Suby said. 'And they market it in a way where it's gonna double your testosterone, it's going to quote unquote increase your pencil size and it's going to do all of these outrageous things for you. 'Crazy AI ads for this one. The ad starts off with like 'this is what would happen to you if you ate nothing but Shilajit for seven days'. And they just go on to make completely false claims, baseless claims.' But the worst type of scams he came across were ones that used AI deep fakes of popularity celebrities and influencers to give false endorsements. 'You've got ones that are like AI deep fakes of Mr Beast and they're selling iPhones for a dollar. And because he's got such young audiences or there'll be like a sweepstake app where it's a gambling app, they're gonna use Mr Beast to promote it,' Mr Suby said. 'As soon as you enter your credit card, that's it they're gonna be whacking that thing, taking your money out and that's just a straight up scam.' These two ads show people bragging about making money by AI generated scams It's not just the popular US YouTuber who's image has been used for these scams, as Mr Suby said he came across ones showing Elon Musk, Scarlett Johansson, Joe Rogan and even Robert Irwin. 'They take somebody who is a credible figure that has a relationship with their audience. And they just completely steal their identity,' he said. Beyond using smarter tactics with AI, Australian Association of Psychologists' president Sahra O'Doherty says scams target people's emotions to trick them. 'When we're talking about scam products, or even legitimate products that are sold in quite a scrammy marketing way, it's often because it can feed into our sense of insecurity, or anxiety about ourselves,' she said. 'So when we're buying something that we probably don't need, but it's being sold to us as though we need it. It's usually playing into our insecurities that we're not good enough, or that we don't fit in with a particular image that we wanted to step in. And it's often being sold as a quick fix.' Ms O'Doherty advises people to do their research before they buy anything they see on social media. Psychologist Sahra O'Doherty said scammers prey on people's insecurities 'We do have access to some form of research at our fingertips. We can go through the process of not just trusting the ads or the influencers. We can do a bit of a Google search, we can read reviews, if we have an inkling that it might be too good to be true,' she said. 'We can search for that product with the word scam next to it and we can see if there have been other people reporting something similar.' And while it might be easy to put the blame on social media companies for the presence of these scams, Mr Sudy said it's up to people to use their common sense. 'You can't put guard rails on the internet,' he said. 'You need to operate with intelligence and you need to be highly sceptical of everything you see online, and you need to apply critical thinking.' With how easy access kids have to the internet, Mr Sudy also advises parents to talk about scams with them in order to prepare them for the future. 'I've got three daughters, they're all under the age of seven and already I'm teaching them about this,' he said. 'When we're in the car and I get a robo call, or I'll pick it up in the car and I will show my daughter's first-hand what these people are going to try and do. And then they'll ask me a million questions about it. 'It's that critical thinking that you need to arm them with that is going to serve them for the rest of their life.' The King is 'doing fine' but 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told', the Queen revealed on Saturday, as she opened up about the monarch's health while he continues treatment for cancer. Camilla provided the update on King Charles's health to author Lee Child, who attended a reception ahead of his appearance at the Queen's Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace in Surrey. The Jack Reacher writer, 69, wryly added: 'Sounds to me like a typical husband.' Charles recently returned to public-facing duties while still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Also at the event on Saturday, actress Miriam Margolyes told the Queen 'how much I love the King'. The King is 'doing fine' but 'won't slow down and won't do what he's told', Queen Camilla revealed at a reception for the Queen's Reading Room Literary Festival at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday She made the remarks to Jack Reacher author Lee Child, 69, who was appearing at the festival Charles recently returned to public-facing duties while still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. Pictured: The King and Queen mark D-Day in Ver-Sur-Mer, France Speaking after she met Camilla on Saturday evening, Margolyes said the royal family has had 'a hell of a time recently'. She said: 'I just told her how much I love the King, because I do. 'He's an absolute darling, and he's brave as a lion and he's warm and kind and he cares and they've had a hell of a time recently so I just wanted him to know that I love him very much. 'She said she would tell him.' Margolyes said she first met the King about 10 years ago and that she is 'very fond of him'. The actress added that she was 'chuffed to b******' to be at the Queen's Reading Room Festival at Hampton Court Palace and it was 'an incredible honour'. Camilla's candid update on the King's health comes just days after his first public speech and most high-profile appearance since his cancer diagnosis. On Wednesday, King Charles urged Britons not to forget the 'service and sacrifice' of the heroes of D-Day at a special event marking the historic date. The monarch, 75, joined the Prince of Wales, leading UK politicians and veterans in Portsmouth to mark the 80th anniversary of the landings. Actress Miriam Margolyes told Camilla 'how much I love the King' at Saturday's reception Queen Camilla spoke to actors, authors and supporters of literature at the event, including thriller writer Harlan Coben Queen Camilla was spotted sitting next to her son, British food writer Tom Parker-Bowles The pair seemed to enjoy the event, which was at Hampton Court Palace on Saturday He told the crowd: 'The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity we have heard today and throughout our lives cannot fail to move us, to inspire us and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation.' Charles, who received a standing ovation as he walked onto the stage accompanied by Queen Camilla, is understood to have been 'adamant' he would attend the commemorations as he continues his recovery from cancer. On Thursday, King Charles was seen out and about again, where he told a D-Day veteran he is 'doing well' as he and Queen Camilla met heroes of the Normandy landings. After attending the national commemorative event in Ver-sur-Mer today, Charles and Camilla visited a marquee where veterans had tea and cakes. On one table, the King sat beside Ronald Hendrey, 98, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, who asked him about his health. Mr Hendrey said: 'He was very nice, he listened to what I was saying and took it in. 'I asked him how he was doing, he told me he is doing well.' King Charles is expected to take part in the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony, but will inspect the soldiers from a carriage rather than on horseback, it is understood. He has previously taken part on horseback but it has been deemed prudent, given the length of the ceremony and the unpredictable weather, for him to be seated in an Ascot landau. The monarch was recently given permission by his doctors to undertake more forward-facing public duties, although officials have stressed they need to carefully review each potential engagement, with adaptations made where necessary to prioritise his recovery. Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales was unable to attend a planned military review ahead of Trooping the Colour as she continues to recover privately following her cancer diagnosis. Camilla's candid update on the King's health comes just days after his first major public appearances since his cancer diagnosis, including a D-Day commemoration in France The event would have seen her take the salute as the new Colonel-in-Chief of the Irish Guards. In a letter to the Irish Guards, who are presenting their colours to the King this year, the Princess of Wales apologised for her absence and said: 'I hope I am able to represent you all very soon'. Elsewhere at the Queen's Reading Room Festival, Child addressed the audience and spoke about how indebted he is to his female readers, who make up an estimated 65 per cent of buyers of his Jack Reacher books. He told the audience: 'I think you go into it imagining that women readers are going to want something more soft and human but the reverse is absolutely true and it's an age thing as well... the most fearsome readers are older ladies. 'I call them the killer grannies. 'They absolutely love the mayhem and the blood and the broken bones and all of that, which took me by surprise, really... Reacher... wouldn't think of himself as specifically a feminist, but he would regard himself as a rational human being. 'And that makes you a feminist, in my opinion, that if you look at the world, like it really is, you see people as completely equal until proven otherwise.' Child, whose real name is Jim Grant, said his series is post-feminism as it does not matter if the bad guy is male or female because the lead character, a former US army officer, 'will break their neck'. 'Male readers are so frustrating because there's a huge demographic of men that are, first of all, rich enough to afford to buy books, and secondly, literate enough to read them,' he added. 'But they have a terrible bias against fiction. 'They prefer to read about some president who died 200 years ago and so getting through to those people is difficult.' The Coventry-born writer also said he sets his books in America as he can take advantage of scale of the country, such as in Die Trying, which sees Reacher 'thrown into a van and driven 1,500 miles to a remote mountain hideout' while still being in the US. He added: 'What really attracted me to writing about America was, as I say, the audience, they're very into crime fiction, they're into thrillers, they will take a chance. 'And Britain is much more reserved about taking the chance on new things I find.' Camilla spoke to actors, authors and supporters of literature at a reception for the festival on Saturday, including Helena Bonham Carter, Harlan Coben and Ian Rankin. She was also spotted engaging with her son, British food writer Tom Parker-Bowles. King Charles III and Prince William are closer than ever amid friction with other members of the royal family, sources have claimed. The King is said to have dispelled any notion of a rivalry with his elder son, who was front and centre at D-Day commemorative events this week as both the monarch and Kate, the Princess of Wales, continue with their respective cancer treatments. Duties are being spread amongst an increasingly small number of working royals due to health issues, the departure of Harry and Meghan from the UK for the US after and the withdrawal of Prince Andrew from public life amidst scandal. As a result, William has found his diary full of public engagements, not least in France this week where he joined leaders from across the world including US president Joe Biden to remember the D-Day fallen. Sources have suggested that Charles might once have disliked allowing his son to be more visible in public - but with cancer treatment and the ever-smaller number of working royals to hand, he has been happy to change his thinking. A friend of the King says that in recent years, Charles has consulted his son on tricky family issues involving the likes of Prince Andrew and Harry and Meghan. Their joint efforts to tackle these issues is said to have boosted both their personal and working relationship. King Charles III and his son Prince William, Prince of Wales, as William was named Colonel in Chief of the Army Air Corps last month William has been front and centre representing Britain during D-Day commemorations in France this week (pictured with US president Joe Biden) William is thought to have been a source of counsel for the King on family matters concerning his brother Andrew (left) as well as son Harry (right) Prince William, King Charles III and Queen Camilla during the UK's national commemorative event for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, in Portsmouth on June 5 The King and Queen then attended the early part of an event in Normandy on June 6 - before returning home to the UK William was in his element deputising for his father, speaking to veterans in northern France after Charles went home 'If there was ever a green-eyed monster or a sense of rivalry between the two, that is a chapter of the past,' the friend told The Times. 'The King sees his son as a useful ally on family matters and increasingly in discharging the duties of nation and state.' A source close to William added: 'He very much wants to support his father. That isnt something new, but of course with everything the King is going through with his treatment, he will continue to support him as much as he can.' Charles was not completely absent from this week's commemorative events in Normandy. He and the Queen attended a memorial ceremony on Friday at Ver-sur-Mer alongside French president Emmanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte. But William was front and centre as colonel in chief of the Army Air Corps - whose tie he wore. Ironically, the AAC trained Prince Harry as an Apache helicopter pilot. The younger son of the King was not, however, present in France for the memorial services, despite his widespread and heavily publicised support for military veterans through the Invictus Games and associated charitable enterprises. Observers have suggested there is still a rift between Harry and his father as well as the rest of the royal family following his decision to quit frontline royal duties. Frictions were only exacerbated with a number of TV interviews featuring slights towards the family, and Harry's autobiography Spare, which contained details about his fraught relationship with his older brother. Harry did not see his father when last in London in May for an Invictus Games ceremony, despite being a stone's throw from Buckingham Palace, where a garden party was being held at around the same time. He did, however, see the King briefly in February shortly after the monarch's cancer diagnosis was made public. William looked every part the statesman as he deputised for his father in Normandy (pictured) Prince Andrew was seen riding this week with a groom in the grounds of Windsor Castle. He is thought to be resisting attempts to evict him from the Royal Lodge Andrew has largely retreated from public life following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal (pictured in 2022) Harry (pictured here last month) did not see his father on his last visit to London William, meanwhile, was seen speaking with D-Day veterans on June 6 - telling one hero Kate 'would have loved' to have attended the 80th anniversary ceremonies. The Prince of Wales is also believed to have been a valuable source of counsel for the King as Charles has sought to address the other elephant in the room - his younger brother Prince Andrew. Charles is currently at loggerheads with Andrew over his residency at the Royal Lodge. The Duke of York has been living in the 30million household largely removed from public life following the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. He is thought to be resistant to the idea of moving out into the smaller Frogmore Cottage once called home by Harry and Meghan. But Charles is thought to have threatened to sever ties with Andrew altogether unless he acquiesces - with William believed to be lined up to move in in his place. Such a falling out would see Andrew charged with paying for his own security, accomodation and lifestyle without a royal allowance. Recent images have suggested the Royal Lodge has fallen into a state of disrepair under the Duke. With William there to serve as a sounding board, and with his cancer treatment continuing, it is of little surprise that the Prince of Wales is playing a larger part in senior royal duties on behalf of and alongside his father. He will ride behind his father's carriage in a modified review of the troops during Trooping the Colour; later this month he will also join his father at the garter service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, and at Royal Ascot for a day at the races. He will also attend the upcoming state banquet thrown for the emperor and empress of Japan on June 25 - giving him, as his father had before him, further training in the world's most high profile apprenticership. MailOnline sought to contact Buckingham Palace for comment. The San Mateo County Sheriffs Office arrested two men, both convicted of felonies, on suspicion of possessing firearms. San Mateo County Sheriffs Office Two men with felony convictions were arrested Sunday on suspicion of possessing firearms, according to the San Mateo County Sheriffs Office. Deputies responded just after midnight to a report of a party at a home, where they said dozens of people were reportedly disturbing neighbors. The sheriffs office did not provide a location or immediately respond to a request for more information. After arriving, officers spotted a vehicle linked to a separate crime, the sheriffs office said. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Deputies approached the car and arrested the two men inside for reportedly possessing loaded firearms, the sheriffs office said. Both had been convicted of felonies and one had an active warrant from the Los Angeles Police Department, authorities said. A diabetic woman who was forced to buy Ozempic online due to a shortage of the drug has revealed how she fell victim to a scam that could have killed her. Lexi Ortanez, 26, purchased the product from someone who claimed they were connected to the medical industry, but she immediately realized something was off when the package arrived. 'When I opened the box up, it didnt look or feel right. The packaging felt flimsy, and the pen looked quite different from the one I had been using,' she told DailyMail.com. It turned out to be an insulin pen, which Ortanez said could have been fatal if she injected herself with it because even tiny doses can lead to diabetic shock. Her story is just one of many as criminals use the rocketing demand for Ozempic and Wegovy for money making schemes, which also including stealing patient data. Lexi Ortanez, 26, told DailyMail.com she was forced to search for Ozempic online when the drug's stock ran out at the height of the boom fell victim to scam that could've cost her life Online protection company McAfee has identified a staggering 176,871 phishing emails and 449 risky websites advertising counterfeit goods this year alone. 'Realizing that I had almost injected myself with the wrong substance, thinking it was Ozempic, was terrifying and could have been fatal,' said Ortanez. 'Its really scary to think about what could have happened if [my mother and I] hadnt done a careful double-check. 'Even if someone is desperate to find Ozempic, its not worth risking your life.' Bad actors are offering the discounted obesity drugs without a prescription - and some are even cheaper when customers pay using cryptocurrency. Along with fake websites and phishing emails, cybercriminals are also using popular websites like Facebook and Craigslist to spread weight loss treatment scams. Scammers have created fake profiles to advertise discounted drugs on Facebook Marketplace, with many fooling unsuspecting shoppers by claiming to have surplus stock or foreign Ozempic alternatives requiring no prescriptions. The shots for sale on the social media platform range from $0 to $500 for a one-month supply - and anyone can find them with a quick search. Her story is just on of many as new data from Antivirus maker McAfee shows that criminals are using the Ozempic and Wegovy demands to steal money and personal information from victims. Pictured are off-brand shots being sold on Facebook Marketplace Scammers have created fake profiles to advertise discounted drugs on Facebook Marketplace, with many fooling unsuspecting shoppers by claiming to have surplus stock or foreign Ozempic alternatives requiring no prescriptions DailyMail.com found several off-brand injections on the website, along with reviews that confirmed the sellers' products are fake. Cybercrooks have even pretended to be doctors to improve the authenticity of their scams. For example, one scammer claimed to be a Doctor Melissa from Canada and advertised non-prescription Mounjaro and Ozempic treatments on Facebook Marketplace. Customers were asked to pay using non-traditional methods such as Bitcoin, Zelle, Venmo and Cash App, which McAfee described as a major red flag.' Craigslist is not only touting fake shots but also offering people money to join an Ozempic study. In April, researchers detected 207 Ozempic scams had been posted on the classified advertisements site within just 24 hours. This proves victims are more susceptible to website-based weight loss scams, McAfee researchers said. McAfee only uncovered a Telegram channel promoting a weight loss scam in March, which increased from 13,362 to 15,599 members within a matter of weeks. Abhishek Karnik, head of threat research at McAfee, told DailyMail.com that people may encounter these scams after typing phrases like weight loss solutions into social media platforms, and they are also prevalent on messaging apps. Victims are often deceived by seemingly positive user reviews that are typically fabricated,' he warned. McAfee identified a staggering 176,871 phishing emails and 449 risky websites advertising counterfeit goods in just the first four months of this year As these people seek more information, they are gradually lured into the scam, and with each channel possibly having thousands of subscribers, the potential scale of these scams is tremendous.' According to Karnick, there are three main factors behind the rise of weight loss scams - the first capitalizes on the popularity and shortage of Ozempic. This has created a perfect storm for scammers, who see an opportunity to exploit people desperate for the drug by offering counterfeit versions or alternatives that may not meet safety standards,' he explained. The second sees crooks target people looking to bypass the conventional medical system for reasons of convenience or cost by offering non-prescription drugs. They even deceive users by masquerading as legitimate online pharmacies or resellers.' Finally, because these drugs can cost as much as $1000 per month, many people are scouring the web in search of cheaper alternatives which scammers claim to offer. Karnick said cyber criminals use fake online reviews to make deals look more trustworthy' and financially advantageous.' Unfortunately, this also leads to people being deceived by seemingly reliable sellers purporting to offer the drug at what these people believe to be bargain prices,' he continued. Many of these fake reviews are developed with AI tools, which Karnick said also boosts the scale, effectiveness and speed of scams.' These scammers are dedicated opportunists who can pivot quickly when an opportunity like heightened interest in weight loss drugs like Ozempic rises, to meet consumers where their interest is, he explained. In April, researchers detected 207 Ozempic scams posted within just 24 hours. This proves victims are more susceptible to website-based weight loss scams, McAfee researchers argued. Pictured is a screenshot of an injection being sold on Facebook Martketplace DailyMail.com found several off-brand injections on the website, along with reviews that confirmed the sellers' products are fake They may use a range of digital platforms and techniques to reach potential victims, spread the word about fraudulent offers and gather personal information from victims. Falling for one of these scams can severely impact the finances, health and wellbeing of victims, said Karnick. He explained that the financial losses can range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per transaction, with scammers ranking in millions on Telegram alone. Additionally, victims risk losing sensitive personal information like health details to cyber criminals, he said. This can result in additional fraud and identify theft.' But aside from financial and personal data loss, the McAfee researchers has warned there are serious health risks.' 'Scammers often market these drugs without a prescription and bypass safety checks, potentially causing harm,' he explained. In extreme cases, they can negatively affect the users health a real risk since unauthorized sellers typically do not disclose potential side effects and may sell products that have not undergone safety testing, continued Karnick. It is important for consumers to understand that prescription medications should only be purchased through trusted providers, with a prescription, and any claims that seem too good to be true likely are. Craigslist is another popular website for these scams, which is not only touting fake shots but also offering people money to join an Ozempic study. Victims of weight loss scams should report financial losses to their bank, block their credit cards and file a crime report To avoid such scams, Karnick said people should only purchase weight loss treatments with a prescription from a trusted, licensed medical provider. Other tell-tale signs include products advertised on platforms Craigslist and Telegram, sellers who ask for cryptocurrency payments, as well as discounts that are too good to be true,' he said. Victims of weight loss scams should report financial losses to their bank, block their credit cards and file a crime report, he adds. Jake Moore, global cybersecurity at antivirus provider ESET, has also witnessed an uptick in scammers capitalizing on the Ozempic craze. Scammers will target any new fashion or trend in the hope to catch people out who are new to the idea, he told DailyMail.com He has advised careful due diligence prior to buying a weight loss drug but admitted this can sometimes be hard. It remains very difficult for people to research into a brand or account on social media sites and they may even have similar branding to legitimate companies, concluded Moore. It is therefore vital that people make sure they buy from reputable and genuine sites and do their research into the companies fully before handing over their sensitive and financial information. Despite what UFO enthusiasts might claim, virtually every scientist agrees that humanity is yet to receive a message let alone a visitor from beyond our planet. But in the vast scale of the universe containing an estimated 2 trillion galaxies scientists say there is a '100 per cent chance' that there is life somewhere apart from Earth. This raises a intriguing question: If alien life truly is common in the Universe, why haven't we heard from them? From the 'Dark Forest Hypothesis' to the inevitability of nuclear war, the answer to this question may offer a chilling glimpse into the future of our own civilisation. Professor Frederick Walter, a galactic astronomer from Stony Brook University says: 'Life is a biochemical process, it's going to happen, but as you go further down the chain things become more uncertain.' Despite the high probability of alien life existing humanity is yet to encounter any real evidence of life beyond the stars. The Fermi Paradox is a puzzle which asks why this might be the case Despite the likelihood of alien life, none of the Earth's satellite arrays such as the Very Large Array in New Mexico, have detected any signs of intelligent life Professor Walter says he would guess there is a '100 per cent chance' that life exists in some form in the Universe. Yet, on the other hand, scientists also face the absolute absence of any evidence of the existence of life - intelligent or otherwise. The so-called 'Fermi Paradox', named after physicist Enrico Fermi, asks how we can balance the likelihood of life's existence with our lack of evidence for it. Or, as Fermi famously asked his friends one afternoon in 1950: 'Don't you ever wonder where everybody is?' Everyone is hiding Given that the Universe is 13.8 billion years old, if only a handful of civilisations emerged they would have plenty of time to become extremely advanced. When Fermi's paradox was first presented, some scientists argued that the age of the Universe suggests there should be super-advanced civilisations in our galaxy. And while science fiction like Star Trek imagines that civilisation may become more peaceful as it advances, some scientists disagree. Dr Walter says: 'It could be that the Universe is teeming with life but everybody's hiding because we're scared.' To understand why this could be the case, imagine that you are a hunter creeping through a dark forest. Scientists suggest that the conditions on Earth which allowed life to develop are not unique, this means there is a very high chance that alien life should exist somewhere If you saw another hunter lighting a fire, would you light your own to say hello? You don't know who else is out there, whether they are armed, or what their intentions might be. However, what you do know is that if you stay quiet and don't make any light, no one else is going to be able to find you. The so-called Dark Forest hypothesis argues that, if you really want to survive, the only smart decision is to stay quiet and shoot anyone you can see. Popularised by Liu Cixin's Three Body novels and their recent Netflix adaptation, this theory suggests that the universe could be in a similar state with civilisations taking the role of hunters. Stephen Hawking (pictured) warned about the dangers of contacting aliens which could be far more advanced than our own civilisation So, while humanity is doing its best to reach out to the stars and make contact, other more powerful forces might be waiting silently beyond our sight. If this is the case, it might explain why our efforts to communicate with any other civilisations have so far gone unanswered. Dr Walter says: 'You have no idea if other civilisations are friendly or hostile and remember, you're the new kid on the block. 'They've been around for thousands of millions of years and are probably much more advanced, you don't know what to expect so the safest thing is to remain silent.' In Netflix's Three Body Problem (pictured), it is suggested that the universe is like a dark forest in which civilisations are quietly hiding to avoid being killed No one wants to speak to us However, the picture of the universe painted by the Dark Forest Hypothesis may be a little too pessimistic for some to believe. Professor Walter points out that, while the theory is popular with science fiction authors, he isn't 'that paranoid'. Instead, if we want to explain why nobody is responding to humanity's messages, we might have to accept that we are the problem. If life is as common in the Milky Way as some calculations suggest, aliens could be spoiled for choice for planets to try to communicate with. In 1977 the 'Golden Record' was sent out on the Challenger spacecraft as a sign of humanity's intelligence. But some experts suggest that aliens simply might not be impressed enough to speak with us As 2022 paper argues, if this is true then humanity simply might not be interesting enough for aliens to bother with. Rather than trying to speak with every planet where life could exist, aliens are more likely to be looking for signs of technology and intelligence. Although life started on Earth almost as soon as the planet cooled enough for liquid water to form, humanity only developed radio technology in around 1880. Even then, it wasn't until 1974 that scientists would send the first deliberate high-power broadcast to aliens with the Arecibo message was sent to the globular star cluster M13. This means that Earth may simply not have given off any signs of intelligence that an alien civilisation would consider worth investigating further. Humanity's use of radio waves only began in earnest during the 20th century with the construction of structures like the Wardenclyffe Tower. That might not give aliens enough time to detect our intelligence On the other hand, aliens might be very well aware of humanity's level of technology and still not want to talk with us. Dr Gordon Gallup, a biopsychologist at the University of Albany, has argued that aliens might be scared of visiting humans. In an paper published in the Journal of Astrobiology, Dr Gallup wrote: 'If [alien life] exists it may have found us by now and discovered that humans are dangerous, violent and ceaselessly engage in endless bloody conicts and war.' 'It would also be obvious, that as a byproduct of increasing pollution, habitat destruction, coupled with endless wars, pillage, death, destruction and the desire for conquest, that humans pose an unparalleled and unprecedented risk not only to other life forms on Earth but to life on other planets.' If Dr Gallup's arguments are true, it may be possible that the Galaxy is full of life but that humanity has made itself a social outcast of alien society. Humanity's reckless pursuit of nuclear weapons (pictured) might have also put aliens off from ever wanting to speak with us We're too late One of the core assumptions of the Fermi Paradox is that the development of alien civilisations is fairly common on the cosmic scale. And many scientists do agree that it is likely for some communicative alien life forms to have emerged. In fact, one 2016 study estimates that humans are only likely to be alone in the Universe if the odds of civilisation developing on a habitable planet are less than about one in 10 billion trillion. However, that impressive statistic obscures a very important caveat: civilisations might have emerged in the past but that doesn't mean they will stick around. Instead of assuming that aliens are staying silent for some reason or another, the 'Great Filter' theory suggests that we might have already missed them. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, humanity came extremely close to destroying itself with nuclear weapons. The Great Filter theory suggests that all civilisations might ultimately destroy themselves in a similar way To understand how this might happen, we need look further than the short history of our own civilisation. 'Ever since we've developed technology we've been on the brink of wiping ourselves out,' Professor Walter explains. During the Cold War in particular, humanity seemed to teeter on the edge of nuclear annihilation on more than one occasion. As technology advances and planetary resources diminish, perhaps nuclear war and self-destruction are the fate of all sufficiently advanced civilisations. And, if nuclear weapons don't seem dangerous enough, there are plenty of other ways that civilisations might destroy themselves. Recent years have seen the shockingly fast development of AI systems that are becoming increasingly integrated into every aspect of our lives. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk (pictured) has warned that AI could pose an existential threat to humanity But in a paper published this year, Professor Michael Garrett of Manchester University argued that AI 'presents a formidable challenge to the survival and longevity of advanced technical civilisations, not only on Earth but potentially throughout the cosmos'. Since AI develops so quickly, it might always get out of control before species have a chance to become a multi-planetary civilisation which could survive the challenge. This means that advanced civilisations may have already destroyed themselves long ago. 'As Professor Walter puts it: 'Our capabilities exceed our wisdom, and maybe other civilisations do that too.' Experts warn that the rapid development of AI through companies like OpenAI could outstrip our ability to control, creating a great filter which ultimately destroys our civilisation We're too early Compared to the 14 billion years the Universe has been around, humanity is extremely young. And, like a toddler on Christmas Day, some scientists suggest that humanity might be up and running about before the adults have woken up. If there are very old civilisations out there, they may have already spread out into huge galaxy-spanning empires. But in a paper published in 2017, researchers from the Future of Humanity Institute argued that these massive civilisations might be patiently waiting out of sight. Since quantum computers like this one need to be extremely cold, a smart alien civilisation would be better off waiting for the universe to cool to start using its resources So why could aliens be potentially biding their time like this? Researchers point to the fact that computers get more energy-efficient as they get cooler. Quantum computers, which exploit the strange behaviour of quantum particles, need to be even colder - requiring temperatures close to absolute zero. If you're an advanced race looking to get the most computing power out of your energy, you need to get things as cold as you possibly can. Rather than spending lots of resources creating vast cooling systems, the researchers suggest that aliens would be better off waiting for the universe itself to cool down. That could explain why we can't see any of these massive civilisations that the Fermi Paradox suggests should be out there. There might be alien civilisations out there among the stars, but they could be in a state of hibernation and will remain hidden until just before the end of the universe There's no one to talk to However, Professor Walter explains, the 'simplest answer' to the Fermi Paradox is simply that nobody else is out there. The reason many people think there may be intelligent alien civilisations out there for us to speak with comes back to a formula called the Drake Equation. Proposed in 1961 by Frank Drake, the formula is a way of reaching a very rough estimate of how many communicative advanced civilisations could exist in the Milky Way. Depending on what your assumptions are for various factors, Professor Walter says the number of civilisations you reach ranges between 'zero and millions'. But whatever the number is, the vast majority of life in the universe could be unintelligent. In our own solar system, some scientists hope to find traces of ancient life in Mars' Jezero Crater (pictured) which is believed to be a dried-up lakebed. But even then the best hope is merely to find microscopic life. 'Is there life out there? Yes. But when people ask "Is there life out there" they're imagining something different,' says Professor Walter. 'There's life but it may be bacterial, microscopic life; slime mould and things like that.' And, to make matters worse, even if there is intelligent life out there it doesn't necessarily mean that we could communicate with it. Professor Walter says: 'There are lots of species on Earth that can communicate, at least with each other, but they don't build radios. 'Dolphins might be more intelligent than we are but they live underwater, they don't have hands, they can't work with electricity; so you're not going to communicate with a creature that's on a water world.' Do they come in peace? The question has hung over the UFO mystery forever, but a new study comes closer to an answer than ever before. Since the United States detonated its first atomic bomb at the Trinity test site in 1945, dozens of accounts of UFOs have been logged by military witnesses and government scientists working with America's sensitive nuclear arsenal. Skeptics have often turned to questioning the veracity and the memories of these military witnesses, or blaming faulty equipment. But the connection between UFOs and nuclear sites has persisted in India, Russia and elsewhere across the globe, leading many to wonder: are aliens stopping us from exterminating ourselves? UFO sightings over America's nuclear arsenal appeared to shift their interest from the making of the bombs to silos and bomber bases as the Cold War arms race grew (above) Now a new, decades-long study has analyzed over 500 of the best supported UFO cases from the heights of the Cold War and hauntingly concluded: 'This intelligence understands atomics, and they understand atomic weaponry.' UFO reports over America's nuclear arsenal appeared to shift from sites where the bombs were made to missile silos and US air bases as the Cold War arms race grew. That's one of the key findings from the new work, a series of three studies led by a retired US Air Force staff sergeant, Larry Hancock, and a data analyst affiliate with Harvard's UFO-hunting Galileo Project, Ian Porritt, along with their research team. The group focused their analysis on official military and police reports of UFOs from 1945 to 1975, avoiding poorly supported accounts and ambiguous newspaper stories, to focus on cases with multiple witnesses and signals evidence, like radar. Their study, which only covered US cases, also used reports of UFOs spotted above non-nuclear army bases and nearby civilian centers to act as control groups to test against their findings of any UFO trends at America's sensitive nuclear installations. Their qualified, but haunting conclusion: Data from this three decade-long period lends credence to the idea that extraterrestrials, or some other intelligence, has methodically surveilled America's rise to a nuclear power. 'This intelligence understands the developmental cycle. They have some contextual knowledge of what they're looking at and what they're looking for,' Hancock told DailyMail.com, given these shifts in reported UFO sightings over time. Hancock and Porritt's most recent report on the connection, 'UAP Activity Pattern Study 1945-1975 Military and Public Activities,' was published in March and presented before the Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies this past weekend. Above, an officially 'unexplained' UFO case from the Air Force's Project Blue Book files, a July 16, 1952 encounter photographed by Coast Guard seaman Shell Alpert of four UFOs seen through the window of a photographic laboratory near Salem, Massachusetts Among the hundreds of cases included in their analysis was the infamous March 16, 1967 Malmstrom case in which Air Force witnesses reported that ten nuclear missiles were switched off by a UFO, confirmed by a US Strategic Air Command report. It is the third study by Hancock and his coauthors, who told DailyMail.com that future work on this connection between UFO sightings and nuclear sites is on the way. A Strategic Air Command document released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) says 'all ten missiles in echo flight at Malmstrom lost strat alert within ten seconds of each other' and notes a 'grave concern' about the case From 1948 to 1952, as America's production of atomic weapons first ramped up, waves of UFO sightings began cropping up over Washington state's Hanford nuclear production complex, as well as Los Alamos and other sites for the Manhattan Project. 'What we know now is that, inside the Air Force for the first seven to 10 years they sincerely believed it was the Russians,' Hancock told DailyMail.com. 'And when they couldn't prove that,' he said, 'it became very political.' This phase of the Air Force's official UFO investigations, when paired with that era's police UFO reports, documented over 40 cases of UFOs seen near these facilities. In one illustrative case from May 21, 1949, Hanford personnel spotted a 'silvery, disc-shaped' UFO hovering over the plant, whose B Reactor had generated the plutonium used in the first atomic bomb test at Trinity. The UFO was simultaneously tracked on radar by nearby Moses Lake Air Force Base, which scrambled an F-82 fighter jet to 'intercept it in hopes that it might be a disk,' according to a now declassified Air Intelligence Information Report. 'UFO's were faster than jet,' Air Force investigators noted of the failed pursuit. These patterns in the historical UFO record, according to the researchers, was also accompanied by another clear trend: As the UFOs appeared more and more over armed and ready nuclear weapons sites, the apparent craft also started to appear more at night (above) In one illustrative case from May 21, 1949, Hanford personnel spotted a 'silvery, disc-shaped' UFO hovering over the plant, whose B Reactor had generated the plutonium used in the first atomic bomb test at Trinity. 'UFO's were faster than jet,' Air Force investigators noted (above) These years of strange encounters were much more likely to have occurred in broad daylight than later years of UFO sightings and often involved multiple UFOs in formation performing dazzling maneuvers, Hanford and his co-authors found. And, for each of the four major US nuclear weapons-making facilities, they also collected and tracked UFO reports from nearby cities and non-nuclear military sites as control groups. These control regions Santa Fe, New Mexico, for example to contrast with the Los Alamos nuclear site helped ensure that any spike in sightings they was not a misinterpretation of their data. 'This period, here, we've got only four sites, that would be the key stuff that you would focus on,' Porritt told DailyMail.com. 'And they are the four sites they [the UFOs] focus on. You get the same sort of pattern with with all four sites,' he said. Above, documents from Project 1794: a Cold War-era US Air Force effort to build a supersonic flying saucer in collaboration with a Canadian defense contractor But as the Pentagon began arming Air Force squadrons with its new nuclear bombs, and installing missile silos in the American heartland, UFOs appeared to follow the action there. 'If you're wanting to do a survey of the US nuclear complex, that is what you would see,' Porritt noted. 'You would see this interest in these sites at these times, and then the activity would drop off. And that's what we see.' From 1952 onward, their study found, cases of UFOs probing near active US nuclear weapons took precedence, with a wave of sightings around America's new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) starting in the 1960s. 'When you get to those ICBM bases, from about 1965 to 1975, these things are occurring at night,' Hancock pointed out. 'And they are they are much more intrusive. They're very low altitude, they penetrate the security perimeters of the base,' he added. Several of these UFO sightings, including incidents at Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana in which Air Force witnesses say UFOs deactivated ICBMs, have become central to demands in Congress for wider declassification of military UFO data. During the first public hearings on UFOs in over half a century, back in May 2022, Congress grilled Pentagon officials (pictured) over UFOs and America's nuclear weapons security. Air Force witnesses were 'shocked' to see those Pentagon officials plead ignorance on the events During the first public hearings on the topic in over half a century back in May 2022, Wisconsin Congressman Mike Gallagher grilled Pentagon officials over Malmstrom. Robert Salas, who was the on-duty commander for the base's underground launch in March 1967, told DailyMail.com he was 'shocked' to see those Pentagon officials plead ignorance on the events. The Strategic Air Command document released under the Freedom of Information Act, for example, has long publicly documented that 'all ten missiles in Echo Flight at Malmstrom lost [strategic] alert within ten seconds of each other.' The declassified report, much like Salas and his fellow veteran witnesses, noted 'grave concern' about the case. Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence and Security Ronald Moultrie, according to Salas, 'didn't seem to know anything about it or if he did, he was wanting to avoid the topic.' While skeptics of the Malmstrom case, led by the son of a former Echo Flight commander at Malmstrom, have long worked to poke holes in the veil of mystery over this incident, cases eerily similar to it have continued to surface. Just this February, a bombshell report revealed that an ex-Pentagon UFO investigator had privately briefed Congress on a similar 1964 incident where a UFO blasted an Atlas missile carrying a dummy nuclear warhead out of the sky. Both Hancock and Porritt were surprised to see that these witnesses or records failed to make it into this past March's unclassified report on 'historical UFO cases' put out by the Pentagon's UFO-hunting All-Domain Anomaly Resolution Office. 'When they issued their most recent report, I was really excited because there was an index item for "atomic warfare,"' Hancock told DailyMail.com. 'But when I went to that and there was no entry,' he said, to his confusion. 'It was just in the index. Like, 'Okay?'' Hancock, Porritt and their coauthors hope to extend their analysis on the connections between UFO sightings and nuclear sites from 1975 to the modern era, although that work faces some hurdles. First, rigorous case reports from official sources drops off at around this point, due to the closing of the Air Force's Project Blue Book in 1969 and the a drop off in unsorted military UFO cases released under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). 'We could probably do a public study to extend it into current contemporary times,' Hancock said. 'The problem is the military domain is just not accessible to us. Or,' he suggested, 'it would require a team of people to launch a totally new wave of FOIAs.' But from just the 1945 to 1975 studies, Hancock believes that reasonable conclusions or theories can be inferred about these airborne mysteries: that they appear to show intentional study of America's most sensitive weaponry. 'I mean, focus implies intention. And focus obviously implies intelligence,' he said. 'The way it progressed from one type of facility to another type I mean, it starts with manufacturing plants, moves on through assembly plants, storage, deployment, it's hard to read that as anything other than someone having an agenda,' according to Hancock. His research partner, Porritt, ventured even a little further: 'They may have a better understanding of the future, our future, than we do.' Instead of forking out a small fortune for lunch, get your fancy food fix here. A foodie has lifted the lid on what dining at one of California's most fashionable restaurants is like, with high prices, artsy food arrangements and a spacious bathroom among the offerings. YouTube creator Jacob Cruikshank booked into the Gucci Osteria, which is housed within a Gucci boutique on Rodeo Drive, and it boasts one Michelin star with Italian chef Mattia Agazzi at the helm. Jacob explains to his fans that he opted for the five-course tasting menu, which comes in at $170 per person, and an $8 bottle of still water. This brought the grand total to $230.51 once the tax and service charges had been applied. YouTube creator Jacob Cruikshank booked into the Gucci Osteria, which is housed within a Gucci boutique on Rodeo Drive Jacob explains to his fans that he opted for the five-course tasting menu, which comes in at $170 per person and an $8 bottle of still water The creator said he was a little worried about not looking fashionable enough, but when he arrived, he was treated like an 'important person' with a fleet of staff showing him to a table Jacob said he got a 'welcome gift' in the form of a bread selection. The items included a croissant with truffle butter, and some more breads with honey butter and ricotta cheese For the first course from his tasting menu, he was then presented with a salad called 'Spring is Here to Stay' Next up, Jacob had a seafood salad with seasonal greens, which he said was his least favorite The creator said he was a little worried about not looking fashionable enough, but when he arrived, he was treated like an 'important person' with a fleet of staff showing him to a table. Jacob sat at a table that was 'half indoors, half outdoor' in the 50-seat restaurant. Detailing the interiors, he said: 'It really reminded me of if you had a grandma that lived in Italy, who had like a $100 million and you were eating in her backyard. 'Something about it really reminded me of old ladies. 'There was Gucci furniture around the restaurant and I did notice that I think everyone working there was wearing Gucci sneakers.' Moving on to the food, Jacob said he got a 'welcome gift' in the form of a bread selection. The items included a croissant with truffle butter, and some more breads with honey butter and ricotta cheese 'with some pepper on top.' For the first course from his tasting menu, he was then presented with a salad called 'Spring is Here to Stay.' The medley included fennel, sturgeon, persevered asparagus and nori (dried edible seaweed). Offering his verdict on the course, Jacob said: 'It had sturgeon, which I actually had to Google what that is. If you're going to eat that type of fish you should Google it before you eat it because it's the type of fish that kind of grosses me out. 'With the salad, they gave me these taco type things and they told me that you could use that to put your salad in... but I just ended up crunching it into the salad to add a crunchiness factor. 'Definitely not the usual salad that I have but I did enjoy this course. It tasted lemony and there was little pieces of some type of creamy cheese in it, which was tasty. 'It was good. Did it remind me of Gucci? Not necessarily, but it did remind me of fancy people food.' For the second course, Jacob had a seafood salad with seasonal greens, which he said was his least favorite dish. He mused: 'It didn't look edible to me... but I appreciated the uniqueness of it. I just didn't really like the taste that much but then again I did finish the whole thing so of course like still liked it.' After a disappointing second course, Jacob said he was excited for the next offering: a 'risotto disguised as pizza' Jacob tucked into his final savory course which was cod Milanese with a farmer's market tomato terrine Rounding things out, Jacob's menu finished with a dessert called the Charlie Marley, which contained chocolate, hazelnut and wild rice Before indulging in more food, Jacob took a trip to the bathroom and he described it as 'luxurious' and 'very spacious' with a chair in the corner At the end of it, despite spending the most ever on a lunch for himself, he 'still wasn't full' After a disappointing second course, Jacob said he was excited for the next offering: a 'risotto disguised as pizza.' He explains that chef Mattia Agazzi was inspired to make the top of the risotto look like pizza, and the servers told him that he should try each of the colors - red, white and green - individually, before mixing it up. His expectations didn't disappoint, and Jacob said the risotto course was 'delicious' and he would have eaten 'four times the portion they gave me.' Before indulging in more food, Jacob took a trip to the bathroom and he described it as 'luxurious' and 'very spacious' with a chair in the corner. Back at his table, Jacob tucked into his final savory course which was cod Milanese with a farmer's market tomato terrine. Jacob described the creation as 'basically fish that's been put in batter and fried.' As a result, he said 'there's no way this can't be good' and it was 'glistening with greasiness.' Like the risotto, he said the cod was 'delicious' and he would 'cut a little bit of the fish off and then add some of the tomato stuff in each bite.' Rounding things out, Jacob's menu finished with a dessert called the 'Charlie Marley,' which contained chocolate, hazelnut and wild rice. He noted that the presentation was 'cool' and it reminded him of a building because of its tower-like shape. As a 'goodbye gift,' Jacob was presented with a 'fruity gummy and a chocolate circle with salt on top.' Overall, Jacob appeared to be satisfied by his fancy lunch, with 'very attentive' staff and good flavors. However, he said at the end of it, despite spending the most ever on a lunch for himself, he 'still wasn't full.' Suri Cruise looked every bit the carefree teenage girl as she rode a bike through Central Park on a sunny summer Saturday. The high school graduate, 18, wore a white crocheted tank top with funky red and white print pants as she steered the bicycle through the urban oasis. The daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise wore her brown hair down her back and had a smile on her face. A blue tote bag lay in the basket of the bike she rented from New York City's Citi bike program. Suri has the summer off before heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the fall to study at Carnegie Mellon University. Suri Cruise, 18, looked every bit the carefree teenage girl as she rode a bike through Central Park on a sunny summer Saturday. The high school graduate wore a white crocheted tank top with funky red and white print pants as she steered the bicycle through the urban oasis A blue tote bag lay in the basket of the bike she rented from New York City 's Citi bike program A few days earlier, Suri was spotted going for a run through the park. Despite hailing from two of the biggest stars on the globe, Suri does not seem to want to go down the path that so many Hollywood nepo babies have trod by forging her own career on the big or small screen. Instead, she is determined to remain 'private,' an insider dished to DailyMail.com exclusively back in April. Suri will be graduating from high school this month and then preparing for college at in the fall where she's reportedly leaning towards studying fashion. Carnegie Mellon's School of Design is one of the oldest and most highly ranked programs in the country. One insider told DailyMail.com: 'She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature young woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.' But though Holmes is proud of her daughter's stellar achievement, sources say she is 'overwhelmed' at the thought of sending her little girl off to college. Speaking recently, one told DailyMail.com: 'Katie takes great pride in her but is also extremely overprotective.' Suri has the summer off before heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the fall to study at Carnegie Mellon University The daughter of Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise wore her brown hair down her back and had a smile on her face Despite hailing from two of the biggest stars on the globe, Suri does not seem to want to go down the path that so many Hollywood nepo babies have trod by forging her own career on the big or small screen Instead, she is determined to remain 'private,' an insider dished to DailyMail.com exclusively back in April Suri will be graduating from high school this month and then preparing for college at in the fall where she's reportedly leaning towards studying fashion The day prior, Suri's mom Katie Holmes, 45, was seen attending a Chanel event in NYC While Suri may not have crystalized all of her plans for the future just yet, one thing about her future is clear: her dad scientologist Tom, 61, will have no part in it. 'Suri will not have any contact with her father, despite being 18, and even if he called, she would not answer,' a source previously told DailyMail.com. 'He does not exist to Katie or Suri, and his daughter does not want to rely on him for anything. She feels that she has one parent and that is her mother.' Suri celebrated her 18th birthday in April, which means the Top Gun star will no longer be required to pay child support to Katie, a sum that reportedly amounted to a hefty $400,000 a year. Ruth Langsford's friend has 'revealed the real reason' she split from her husband Eamonn Holmes, according to a new report. The Loose Women presenter and the broadcaster, both 64, announced their plans to divorce last week after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together. Now, it has been claimed a pal of Ruth's has said she was left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on Eamonn's laptop. A source told The Sun: 'Ruth was completely taken by surprise when she saw the messages. 'She had no idea what had been going on between them. She was devastated.' Ruth Langsford's friend has revealed the 'real reason' she split from her husband Eamonn Holmes , according to a new report (pictured on May 29) Now, it has been claimed a pal of Ruth's has said she was left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on Eamonn's laptop (pictured in 2021) The Loose Women presenter and the broadcaster, both 64, announced their plans to divorce last week after 14 years of marriage and 27 years together (pictured in 2009) They added: 'Not only was she very upset but she was also angry.' The publication previously reported Eamonn had grown close to a younger female friend over the past year - a blonde divorcee and relationship counsellor - who he has been on a 'string of outings with', according to The Sun. MailOnline has contacted Eamonn's representative. Ruth's representative declined to comment. On Thursday, Ruth's friends reportedly insisted that there is 'no chance' she will reunite with Eamonn. She has reportedly been left hurt and is taking an extended break from Loose Women after discovering he is being consoled by woman in her forties amid their split who he's befriended. Eamonn and the blonde divorcee reportedly struck up a friendship over the past couple of years and the publication claims the presenter has taken her on a safari park trip, to a Manchester United game and a Beyonce concert. This week, a pal of Ruth's told The Mirror: 'Ruth was hurt when she learned about Eamonn's friendship with another woman but she is strong and she will be back soon with a smile on her face, putting her best foot forward, as she always does. 'She needs a bit of time to regroup after everything that's gone on, which is understandable, but she plans to return to Loose Women, with renewed vigour, in July.' Now, it has been claimed a pal of Ruth's has said she was left 'devastated' when she discovered 'messages from another woman' on Eamonn's laptop (pictured in August 2023) Ruth has been taking an extended break from Loose Women amid the separation and has recently found out Eamonn is being comforted by a younger female pal, according to The Sun The friend also insisted there was 'no chance whatsoever' the pair would ever get back together. Reports claim Eamonn and the woman made contact through social media after both being involved with a mental health charity. A spokesperson for Ruth has said: 'Ruth had holiday time booked from Loose Women and has extended her leave. She's looking forward to returning to the show in due course.' Eamonn and Ruth recently revealed they are headed for divorce after work commitments 'took their marriage in different directions'. While Eamonn's new friendship is not said to be a reason for the marriage breakdown it is understood that Ruth was unaware of her until recently and has decided to take time off work. The souce said: 'Ruth was obviously aware that her marriage was crumbling, but as details emerge, her upset has turned to anger. 'Eamonn's friend is bowled over by being lavished with attention and kindness from him.' The pair met via Twitter after the woman commented on a post and it sparked a conversation between the pair. Friends explained that the woman's counselling skills include coping with 'feeling sad' and 'separation and divorce' therefore it seems fitting she will be supporting Eamonn at this time of uncertainty. MailOnline have contacted Eamonn's representatives for comment. Friends of Eamonn's said he was 'angry and baffled' at her decision to share the news they were divorcing. . He learned of her plan just hours before the statement was released via Ruth's spokesman on Saturday afternoon, saying: 'Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes have confirmed their marriage is over and they are in the process of divorcing.' The announcement was described as a 'joint statement'. A friend of Eamonn's told the Mail: 'Eamonn was left blindsided, it was awful for him. 'He literally found out about it a very short time before it was published you're talking hours. 'It all seems a little bizarre given that the statement said they were hoping to keep it amicable. 'Eamonn wanted no part of it, he couldn't see any reason why you would release that statement. 'It was wholly written and signed off by Ruth and her team. In the end he had no power over it whatsoever.' The Mail also revealed that Eamonn had been confiding how 'very bad' things have been with his wife in recent weeks, while his colleagues at GB News said they have been concerned for him of late. They said that he had been 'down' but put it down to him being in pain. The couple tied the knot in 2010 after dating for 13 years - and say that despite their separation, they are 'determined to stay friends'. They are parents to son Jack, 22, while Eamonn also has sons Declan, 35, Niall, 31, and daughter Rebecca, 33, from his previous marriage. Eamonn and Ruth have reportedly been holding heartbreaking talks over who will get custody of their beloved dog Maggie following their split. Chris Pratt shared a sweet tribute to his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger for their five-year wedding anniversary on Saturday. The 44-year-old actor took to Instagram to post a throwback photo of them together to mark the special milestone and penned a gushing note to his wife, who he referred to as 'my honey.' In the snapshot, the Guardians of the Galaxy star who said he 'asked' his wife to appear on screen with him before as he praised her for being 'a very good actress' zoomed in on what appeared to be a group photo and cropped it to focus on his and his wife's contagious smiles. 'Happy Anniversary to my honey!' Pratt wrote in his caption. 'Five years has flown by.' To the 34-year-old author he married in 2019, he added: 'Thank you so much for the joy, stability and fun you've brought to my life. I thank God for you every day.' Chris Pratt shared a sweet tribute to his wife Katherine Schwarzenegger for their five-year wedding anniversary on Saturday. The 44-year-old actor took to Instagram to post a throwback photo of them together to mark the special milestone and penned a gushing note to his wife, who he referred to as 'my honey' Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion. She posted a photo of them staring into each other's eyes and both with bright smiles plastered across their faces. In the picture, Pratt and Katherine were a stylish pair in chic suits, which they wore to the Hollywood premiere of his new flick The Garfield Movie last month. '[Five] years of laughs and love. I love you! Happy anniversary,' she wrote alongside a white heart emoji. The Passengers actor and Schwarzenegger met through church in 2018 and started dating after her mother set them up. After a year of dating, the lovebirds tied the knot on June 8, 2019 in a lavish wedding ceremony at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California. The couple share two daughters three-year-old Lyla and two-year-old Eloise. The Jurassic World alum also shares his son Jack, 11, with ex-wife Anna Faris. Katherine, who is the daughter of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver, also shared an Instagram post to commemorate the special occasion Pratt and Schwarzenegger met through church in 2018 and started dating after her mother Maria Shriver set them up; seen in November 2023 After a year of dating, the lovebirds tied the knot on June 8, 2019 at the San Ysidro Ranch in Montecito, California; seen in May Just several weeks earlier, he shared another gushing post dedicated to his wife for Mother's Day Pratt and Katherine share two daughters three-year-old Lyla and two-year-old Eloise He also shares his son Jack, 11, with ex-wife Anna Faris Katherine was spotted in Santa Barbara this week with her mother Maria Shriver (left) Just several weeks earlier, he shared another gushing post dedicated to his wife for Mother's Day. In the caption of his post on May 12, he praised Katherine for being a great mother to their daughters Lyla and Eloise as well as being a stepmom to Jack. He made no mention of his ex-wife, which divided his fans once again as they called him out for publicly snubbing her like the previous year. In his note, he wrote: 'Happy Mother's Day to all the mamas out there!' He also thanked his mother Kathy Pratt, who he said 'set a high bar for her love, patience, humor, and the joy in motherhood.' 'And a special thank you to my darling Katherine for all you do,' he gushed over his wife of five years. 'Witnessing you be a mom to Lyla and Eloise and a stepmom to Jack makes me fall more and more in love with you every day. 'The 24/7 job of scheduling, transporting, loving, nurturing, managing calendars, planning activities, the nutrition, the boundaries, the rules, the patience, the gentleness, the firmness, the wisdom, and grace. It's truly a marvel.' Bijou Phillips has moved on with her love life and for the 'last two months,' has been 'dating' Jamie Mazur - nine months after filing for divorce from Danny Masterson following his prison sentence. The Almost Famous actress, 44 - who recently enjoyed a lavish girls trip with BFF Nicky Hilton - is 'very affectionate all the time' with the entrepreneur, 43, a source told Us Weekly in an article published on Saturday. Phillips was married to the That '70s Show actor from 2011 until she filed for divorce in September 2023 after he was sentenced 30 years to life in prison upon being found guilty of raping two women between 2001 and 2003. 'Jamie is a great guy and has been there for her through this difficult time,' the insider continued in regards to the pair's budding romance. Mazur was previously engaged to supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio until their split in 2018. The former couple share two children: Anja, 15, and Noah, 12. Bijou Phillips, 44, has moved on with her love life and for the 'last two months,' has been 'dating' Jamie Mazur, 43 - nine months after filing for divorce from Danny Masterson after his prison sentence; seen in May in L.A. The Almost Famous actress is 'very affectionate all the time' with the entrepreneur, 43, a source told Us Weekly in an article published on Saturday; seen with ex Alessandra Ambrosio in 2015 in Hollywood Bijou and Danny began dating in 2004 and five years later, became engaged. The two tied the knot during a romantic ceremony at a castle in Ireland in 2011 and welcomed their daughter, Fianna, 10, in 2014. However, after 12 years of marriage, the Raising Hope actress filed for divorce from Masterson - the same month as his prison sentence. She cited 'irreconcilable differences' as the reason for the separation while claiming they had been living apart for five years. Her ex-husband has since agreed for Bijou to have full custody of Fianna. 'Ms. Phillips has decided to file for divorce from her husband during this unfortunate time,' her lawyer, Peter A. Lauzon, told TMZ at the time. 'Her priority remains with her daughter. This period has been unimaginably hard on the marriage and the family. 'Mr. Masterson was always present for Ms. Phillips during her most difficult times of her life. Ms. Phillips acknowledges that Mr. Masterson is a wonderful father to their daughter,' Lauzon continued. Shortly before his guilty verdict, the mother-of-one penned a letter to the judge and labeled the actor as a 'life-saving partner' as well as 'an amazing father' to their daughter. She also added that 'Danny has always been against drugs and helped so many friends and colleagues get sober...' 'Jamie is a great guy and has been there for her through this difficult time,' the insider continued in regards to the pair's budding romance; Mazur seen in March in West Hollywood Phillips was married to the That '70s Show actor from 2011 until she filed for divorce in September 2023 after he was sentenced 30 years to life in prison upon being found guilty of raping two women between 2001 and 2003; seen in 2015 in L.A. Shortly before his guilty verdict, the mother-of-one penned a letter to the judge and labeled the actor as a 'life-saving partner' as well as 'an amazing father' to their daughter; former couple seen in May 2023 in L.A. In conclusion, Phillips wrote, 'We need him more than you can imagine. I know he has been convicted of serious crimes. But the man I married has only been an extraordinary husband to me and a devoted father to our daughter.' Danny is currently serving his prison sentence at the California Men's Colony located in central California. He was moved to the medium security California Men's Colony earlier this year in February after initially serving time at the maximum-security Corcoran State Prison - where Charles Manson had also notably served his own sentence. And in March, both Bijou and her daughter visited Masterson at the prison on his 48th birthday. A source had previously told DailyMail.com that Phillips had found Danny serving time in a maximum-security prison that had also housed Charles Manson 'very triggering' and 'stirred up past emotions that she is still trying to deal with.' 'She has been able to go out and also vacation which has been a stress relief to get back to a somewhat normal life, but it still hurts her inside that her life is forever changed.' 'It is going to get better but also it will take forever to heal from it all. She has had a very stressful life dealing with this and what her father has been accused of,' the insider added. 'It has been an emotional toll that has taken her to places of extreme stress and heartache. That is going to continue for a long time.' The two tied the knot during a romantic ceremony at a castle in Ireland in 2011 and welcomed their daughter, Fianna, 10, in 2014; Mazur seen with daughter above However, following Masterson's sentence, Bijou has since sparked up a new romance with Jamie Mazur - although it is unknown how the new couple first met. She has also been keeping busy and enjoyed a luxurious girls trip last month in May to London and France with close friend, Nicky Hilton Rothschild and fashion designer Rebecca Vallance-Gasan. The sister of Paris Hilton took to her own Instagram account to share special moments from the getaway. In one image, both Bijou and Nicky posed in front of an iconic, red telephone booth while exploring the city. She has also been keeping busy and enjoyed a luxurious girls trip last month in May to London and France with close friend, Nicky Hilton Rothschild and fashion designer Rebecca Vallance-Gasan And while in France for the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Phillips glammed up while attending the Kilian Paris Sunkissed Goddess Party Another snap showed the actress donning a pink and white-striped minidress as she sipped on a refreshing drink by the sandy shore. And while in France for the 77th Cannes Film Festival, Phillips glammed up while attending the Kilian Paris Sunkissed Goddess Party. She wowed in an eye-catching, gold dress that shone under the bright lights as she stopped for a few photos upon arriving to the glitzy event. Bijou also attended the Le Comte De Monte-Carlo red carpet event amidst the star-studded festival. Kenya Moore spoke out amid claims she shared adult images of her new Real Housewives of Atlanta castmate Brittany Eady at a party during filming of the reality series. 'I would never engage in revenge porn, I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone, nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail,' the former beauty queen, 53, tweeted on Saturday. 'I have always been vindicated. I can't talk about STORY even with people planting fake news #sweet16,' she added. On Friday, Page Six reported Bravo cameras were rolling when Kenya 'shocked party attendees at her Kenya Moore Hair Spa Thursday night with posters of series newcomer Brittany Eady allegedly performing oral sex.' Kenya also appeared to address the speculation on her Instagram Stories on Friday night, posting: 'Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. The truth always comes to light.' Kenya Moore spoke out amid claims she shared adult images of her new Real Housewives of Atlanta castmate Brittany Eady at a party during filming of the reality series; (pictured 2023) On Friday, Page Six reported Bravo cameras were rolling when Kenya 'shocked party attendees at her Kenya Moore Hair Spa Thursday night with posters of series newcomer Brittany Eady (pictured) allegedly performing oral sex.' Brittany seemingly reacted to the report as well, taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday to write: 'It's never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED by someone I thought would embrace me into a new circle, that I never met.' The RHOA newbie also appeared to respond to a source telling Page Six that Kenya's provocative photo display happened after Brittany allegedly made threats with a gun towards Kenya before the spa soiree. 'For the record, I've never once had possession of any weapons or threatened anyone ever,' Brittany wrote on her IG Stories post. 'I've never been to jail, in fight, or even had as much as a speeding ticket. That's not my character.' She added, 'I am hurt by the narrative that's being displayed. Wrong is wrong.' An insider close to the Bravo production denied the gun rumors, telling Page Six, 'At no time was Kenya ever threatened with a weapon, nor was there ever a weapon present during the course of production.' The reactions come as Kenya and Brittany are on their fourth week of filming the Bravo franchise, as reported by RHOA alum Cynthia Bailey, who is returning for Season 16 as an official 'friend.' 'I would never engage in revenge porn, I have never distributed private images or footage of anyone, nor solicited images owned by others to use to threaten or blackmail,' the former beauty queen, 53, tweeted on Saturday Kenya also appeared to address the speculation on her Instagram Stories on Friday night, posting: 'Believe none of what you hear and half of what you see. The truth always comes to light' Brittany seemingly reacted to the report as well, taking to her Instagram Stories on Friday to write: 'It's never a good feeling being targeted or HAZED by someone I thought would embrace me into a new circle, that I never met' 'We're on Week No. 3 and already, these girls are jumping right in getting their hands dirty,' Cynthia told Us Weekly on June 1. 'I think you guys are in for a treat. I think three of them bring just the right amount of new blood that we needed for season sweet 16.' She added: So, it's gonna be sweet and maybe bittersweet but I think you guys will be entertained.' Kenya joins Porsha Williams and Drew Sidora as returning RHOA vets for the latest season, while Brittany debuts withs newbies Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley. Shamea Morton Mwangi, on the other hand, earned a promotion to a full-time Housewife status following her earlier guest appearances. Meanwhile, Kandi Burress said she is looking forward to watching The Real Housewives of Atlanta's new cast. This follows her announcement of departure from the long-standing Bravo series after her 14-year tenure on the show. 'I'm excited for Shamea [Morton Mwangi], who is our friend. I'm glad it's announced so I don't have to keep secrets anymore,' Kandi shared with E! News. She emphasized, 'I'm gonna be watching because my friends are still on the show.' The RHOA newbie also appeared to respond to a source telling Page Six that Kenya's provocative photo display happened after Brittany allegedly made threats with a gun towards Kenya before the spa soiree Kenya joins Porsha Williams (pictured) and Drew Sidora as returning RHOA vets for the latest season, while Brittany debuts withs newbies Kelli Ferrell and Angela Oakley Kandi appeared on the Bravo series for 14 years before announcing her exit The Scrubs songwriter also dished on Porsha's return. 'I already knew she was going back before she announced it,' she revealed. 'We both had talked about our decisions, what we were thinking about doing. I was telling her I didn't know if I was going to go back.' She added, 'She was telling me how she was thinking she might go back. So we knew. I am excited for her.' Roxy Jacenko has released a new statement after her former business partners said they regretted going into business with the PR guru. The Singapore-based Australian publicist, 44, made headlines last month when she promised to personally refund all 7,000 people who had signed up to her online business course Roxy's Brand Bootcamp. The promotion, which Jacenko had launched with business partners Youssef Tleis and Kassim Alaouie, included a number of prizes, including a luxury Cronulla home. Entrants paid between $29 and $499 for a chance to win the extravagant prizes, but faced uncertainty after Jacenko called in liquidators to the trios ailing company, Roxys Bootcamp Pty Ltd. In a joint statement released on social media earlier this week, Tleis and Alaouie expressed their regret and apologised to those affected. Roxy Jacenko, 44, (pictured) has released a new statement after her former business partners said they regretted going into business with the PR guru 'Our primary concern has always been you, the public, and especially those who have participated and purchased an entry into this promotion,' they stated. 'We filed a cross-application seeking orders so that we could run the promotion and award those prizes,' they continued. 'We sincerely apologise to you all. We fought as hard as we could and were even willing to give personal undertakings to support our fight,' the pair added. 'We want to express our deepest regret for entering into this partnership with Ms Jacenko. It has been an incredibly challenging and eye-opening experience. We sincerely apologise,' the pair added. The Singapore-based Australian publicist (middle) made headlines last month when she promised to personally refund all 7,000 people who had signed up for a promotion, which Jacenko had launched with business partners Youssef Tleis (right) and Kassim Alaouie (left), included a number of prizes, including a luxury Cronulla home 'We thank you for your understanding and continued support,' they concluded. 'We are deeply sorry for any inconvenience or distress. We will do our best to keep you informed.' Meanwhile, in a statement released on Saturday morning, Jacenko revealed she will be personally refunding those with tickets. 'In life, we can all make mistakes. We are only human. This "partnership" was a mistake and is a life lesson. I want to make it clear that I never did anything other than act in the interest of the consumers who purchased the course to try and deliver,' she wrote in an Instagram statement. In a joint statement released on social media earlier this week, Tleis and Alaouie expressed their regret and apologised to those affected 'It became apparent that this wasn't going to end well and so l had to seek a court injunction in the Supreme Court of NSW which was granted on June 5, 2024.' Prior to this legal action, Roxy revealed she took proactive steps to settle outstanding bills and ensure the $250k prize fund's integrity for the eventual winner. Highlighting a lack of control over the company's financial accounts, including the $253k held within, Jacenko expressed frustration at the prolonged legal process, now extended until July 5, 2024. Taking personal responsibility for the situation, Jacenko reaffirmed her commitment to issuing refunds 'As such, I am taking matters into my own hands. l am offering the refund personally as per what I stated, on my personal Instagram some 3 weeks ago. Life lesson - don't go into business with strangers,' she concluded. Warren Winiarski stands outside Stags Leap Wine Cellars in 2019. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Warren Winiarski, who put California wine on a global stage after winning a famous 1976 contest, and whose Stags Leap Wine Cellars set a new standard of quality in modern Napa Valley, died on Friday of natural causes. He was 95 years old. Winiarski will forever be remembered for his role in the 1976 Judgment of Paris, a competition that pitted the most prestigious French wines against new efforts from California then disregarded in Europe as little more than hillbilly juice. French wine experts, in the blind tasting, judged Winiarskis 1973 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon superior to the Cabernets from Bordeaux. The event catapulted Napa Valley, and Stags Leap in particular, to stardom. A former humanities professor, Winiarski often referred to the Judgment of Paris as a Copernican revolution a turning point after which nothing in Napa Valley was the same. Advertisement Article continues below this ad His young winery would go on to become one of the marquee names in Napa Valley, a requisite stop for visitors traveling along the Silverado Trail. Eventually, in 2007, he sold the business to a joint venture of Italys Marchese Piero Antinori and Washington states Ste. Michelle Wine Estates, for $185 million. (Antinori is now the sole owner.) Winiarski cited his intention to retire as the reason for the sale, but he never retired completely. Through the end of his life he remained a farmer, growing grapes at the 85-acre Arcadia Vineyard in Napas Coombsville area. Warren Winiarski, seen in 2019, holds a bottle of his 1973 Stags Leap Wine Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, which triumphed at the Judgment of Paris. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle In his later years, Winiarski became a philanthropist, endowing a position for a curator of food and wine history at the Smithsonian Institution; donating to the UC Davis library collections; and funding a revision of the Winkler Index, a groundbreaking study of wine and climate, at UC Davis. He was known as a passionate conservationist, advocating for environmental causes in Napa. Hes always had a strong environmental bent, said Opus One winemaker Michael Silacci, a onetime employee of Winiarskis, in a 2019 interview. What was important to him was to protect the land and preserve Napa Valley. Warren Winiarski was born in Chicago on Oct. 22, 1928, to Polish American parents. His last name, which translates to from a winemaker, may have sealed his fate. His father, Stephen, made wine at home from dandelion, honey and other fruits. Advertisement Article continues below this ad Winiarski attended St. Johns College in Annapolis, Md., whose Great Books-based curriculum surveys the Western classics. While enrolled, he met Barbara Dvorak, whom he married in 1958. Winiarski returned to his hometown to earn a graduate degree from the University of Chicago, joining its influential Committee on Social Thought under the scholar Leo Strauss. A year abroad during graduate school brought him to Italy, where he truly fell in love with wine, he later said. After returning to the University of Chicago and working as a lecturer in pursuit of his doctorate, Winiarski and Barbara decided they wanted to leave the city to raise their two young children in a more rural area. By then, Winiarski had become engrossed in the idea of making wine himself, and in 1964 the family drove to Napa Valley for a new start. Warren Winiarski drives his tractor in a section of the Stags Leap vineyard known as S.L.V. Block No. 2 in 2008. Craig Lee/The Chronicle At the time, the region was still rebuilding its wine industry after Prohibition, and only a handful of wineries were operating. Winiarski secured a job with one of the best: Lee Stewart at Chateau Souverain on Howell Mountain (now the location of Burgess Cellars). It was a small, two-man operation, but the gig was impressive enough to get Winiarski another job at a new winery that was just starting out: Robert Mondavi Winery. In 1966, Winiarski became its first hired winemaker. But Winiarski didnt want to work for other people. In Napa then, the impulse to perfection was absent, he said in a 2022 interview. We were making, for the most part, common wines, wines that lacked the structure and the contours of beauty. He had a vision for something greater. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He and Barbara had purchased a 3-acre parcel on Howell Mountain, but in a 2019 interview he called that vineyard a complete failure. Instead, he set his sights farther south. The best Napa Valley wines he ever had had, he decided, were from a vineyard owned by Nathan Fay, in whats now known as the Stags Leap District. In 1970, a prune orchard near Fays land came on the market, and Winiarski scrambled to assemble a team of investors to buy it. He removed the prune trees, planted grapes and made a little bit of wine in 1972. But it was the wine he produced the following year that would change Winiarskis life. In Paris, two wine merchants, Steven Spurrier and Patricia Gallagher, were looking for a way to commemorate the American bicentennial in 1976. Gallagher, an American, proposed a blind tasting of American Cabernet Sauvignons and Chardonnays alongside French versions. The merchants selected the 1973 Stags Leap Cabernet Sauvignon as one of the American entries. George Taber, left, the Time Magazine writer who broke the story about the Judgment of Paris in 1976, with Warren Winiarski in 2006 at Copia in Napa. Craig Lee/The Chronicle To everyones surprise most of all the French judges Winiarskis wine prevailed against wines like Chateau Mouton Rothschild and Chateau Haut- Brion. A journalist happened to be present and immortalized the event in a Time magazine article. Advertisement Article continues below this ad The full sense of what had happened didnt emerge immediately, Winiarski said in a 2016 interview. Eventually, he continued, what emerged was a breath of freedom, of liberty, a dimension of liberty that had not been expressed before. It was a paradigm shift: From that moment on, American wines might be seen as comparable to the great wines of Europe, and worthy of the same consideration. Winiarski did eventually manage to buy Nathan Fays vineyard, in 1986, and produced a Fay Cabernet Sauvignon from it each year. He had been active in the creation of the Napa Valley Agricultural Preserve the first agricultural preserve in the nation in 1968, and never wavered in his commitment to its principles of preserving Napa as a rural area, free from the development pressures that had overtaken the Santa Clara Valley. Winiarski was the first to put vineyard land into the Napa Valley Land Trust, in 1990, over time committing about 200 acres and ensuring that land can never be developed. Practically every environmental initiative of the subsequent decades, successful or otherwise, had Winiarskis name attached, from the hillside ordinance in 1990, which limited vineyard plantings in the mountains to prevent erosion, to the failed Measure C in 2018, which sought to curb the removal of oak forests. Advertisement Article continues below this ad He wasnt the only vintner advocating for the environment, but in many instances he was the most influential, said winemaker John Kongsgaard, who worked for Winiarski in 1977 and remained his friend afterward. When Warren raised his voice, everybody paid attention. Winiarski sold Stags Leap to the Ste. Michelle-Antinori partnership in 2007, but continued to live in a house overlooking the winery. He continued to teach summer classes at his alma mater, St. Johns, for many years, and typically spoke about wine in ways informed by his studies of the classics; Fay Vineyard, for instance, was an example of Euclidean geometric concepts. Warren Winiarski walks through Arcadia Vineyards, the property in the Coombsville section of Napa that he devoted himself to after selling Stags Leap Wine Cellars, with UC Davis professor Beth Forrestel. Winiarski funded Forrestels research on the Winkler Index, a measurement of wine climates. Carlos Avila Gonzalez/The Chronicle In 2017 Winiarski was inducted into the California Hall of Fame, and in 2019 he was the first winemaker to receive the Smithsonian Institutions James Smithson Bicentennial Medal, an honor previously bestowed on Stephen Hawking, Pete Seeger and Walter Cronkite. In 2024, the Julia Child Foundation for Gastronomy and the Culinary Arts awarded him its inaugural Trustee Medal of Honor. He supported the Smithsonian for more than 25 years, and his involvement in the creation of a food and wine history program was transformative, said Anthea Hartig, director at the National Museum of American History. Its impossible to imagine the food history program without him. Winiarski will be remembered for the Paris tasting, the philanthropy and the conservation work, but he was also, until the end, a teacher. In addition to teaching at St. Johns, he mentored many winemakers of later generations in Napa Valley. I think he would like to be remembered for his students, said Kongsgaard. He believed thats how you keep your spirit alive to have that live on in the people who learn from you. If asked why he or any human being, for that matter loved wine, Winiarski was known to give a consistent answer. Wine, he would say philosophically, could achieve a sense of completeness. It wasnt until later that I realized why completeness is important, he said in 2019. And then I realized that its because human beings are incomplete in themselves. And so this experience of something complete, I think, is pleasant. Jennifer Hudson and her rapper boyfriend Common are going strong. The 42-year-old talk show host who shared a throwback snap from her American Idol elimination 20 years ago told People at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday that she felt 'wonderful.' 'Everything is wonderful,' Hudson gushed to the outlet, 'That's all you need to know.' The couple initially sparked romance rumors back in 2022 after a decade of friendship. They confirmed their relationship to the public back in January when Common appeared on The Jennifer Hudson Show. During the episode, Common came in with a bouquet of flowers for the raven haired beauty as they chatted up their love lives. Jennifer Hudson and her rapper boyfriend Common are going strong; seen in January 'I'm in a relationship with one of the most beautiful people I ever met in life,' the rapper said without naming a specific person. 'She's smart, she loves God, she has something real down-to-earth about her, she's talented,' he went on before joking that he would prefer his partner be an EGOT winner something Hudson has already accomplished. Common then asked Hudson how her relationship was going, to which she responded saying she was 'very happy.' 'This relationship is a happy place for me,' Common then said of his own. 'Seeing her happy actually makes me really happy. 'So, I'm very grateful. I thank God each and every day, and I'm just letting God guide this relationship,' he said in reference to Hudson. He later sat down on Today with Hoda & Jenna to discuss their tight knit and 'private' relationship. 'We had a little fun,' the rapper said of being on his partner's talk show. 'I felt like, why not just be loving and honest with who I am and who we are. And it felt good, it was fun, we had a good time.' He noted that he is 'very private' person when it comes to 'things that are sacred,' but shared that they 'had a good time' filming together. The pair first sparked dating rumors October of 2022 when they were spotted enjoying time together in their hometown of Chicago after filming Breathe (2022). The 42-year-old talk show host told PEOPLE at the 2024 Daytime Emmy Awards on Friday (pictured) that she felt 'wonderful' The couple initially sparked romance rumors back in 2022 after a decade of friendship; seen in 2017 'Everything is wonderful,' Hudson gushed to the outlet, 'That's all you need to know'; the pair seen in 2014 Back in January the three-time Grammy winner raved that he has 'grown' a lot and 'the work' he's done on himself 'has allowed' him to see himself as 'a marrying type. 'I am the type that, I'm capable and I have the capacity, and if at some point in my life I may want to do that, I would know when the right time is,' he gushed during the interview. 'For me, everything is divine,' he said. 'I work from that discernment that God speaks when He speaks into your stomach and you feel it in your heart and your spirit, so when I would feel that, I will communicate with that person and if she's feeling that, then why not?' Celeste Barber has documented the moment she was left red-faced after posing alongside a billboard advertising her standup show in Las Vegas. The Australian comedian, 42, took to Instagram Stories on Saturday night with the embarrassing clip following her Backup Dancer comedy show at The Summit Showroom at The Venetian Resort. The video began with Celeste standing awkwardly next to a screen flashing with her poster outside Las Vegas' Palazzo casino and hotel. Dressed in a red bikini top, blue button-down shirt, matching shorts and sunglasses, the internet sensation began looking around to see whether anyone noticed that she was the woman in the picture. Sadly no one seemed to care, as plenty of people were seen strolling past Celeste, unaware that she is famous. Celeste Barber, 42, documented the moment she was left red-faced after posing alongside a billboard advertising her standup show in Las Vegas on Saturday Eventually the screen flashed to a different poster, prompting Celeste to sheepishly walk up to the camera and sigh: 'Not my demographic.' Taking the cringeworthy experience in her stride, Celeste captioned the video: '2 rules of comedy: timing, reading the room.' It comes as Celeste continues her Backup Dancer tour of North America Dressed in a red bikini top, blue button-down shirt, matching shorts and sunglasses, the internet sensation began looking around to see whether anyone noticed that she was the woman in the picture Sadly no one seemed to care, as plenty of people were seen strolling past Celeste, unaware that she is famous She will next travel to Denver, Colorado, to perform at the Paramount Theatre. Backup Dancer 'promises to tackle a range of big political topics from freeing nipples and inappropriately texting therapists, to what it would be like to be Taylor Swifts backup dancer,' according to a press release. 'I'm excited to tell some jokes, relive some awkward memories and high kick my way across the stage with my new show,' Celeste said. Celeste is set to take her tour to New Zealand and Australia in August, first performing at Christchurch Town Hall, Christchurch on August 2. Jenna Dewan showed off her baby bump during an outing with her mother and fiance Steve Kazee in Los Angeles on Monday. The 43-year-old actress who recently celebrated her daughter Everly's 11th birthday is currently pregnant with hers and Kazee's second child. Dewan cut a casual figure in an oversized white button up shirt with a black tank underneath. She dressed down the look with a pair of black leggings and black sandals. The Step Up star's dark brown locks were let loose as she threw a black purse over her shoulder, matching with her comfy ensemble. Jenna Dewan showed off her baby bump during an outing with her mother and fiance Steve Kazee in Los Angeles on Monday She accessorized with a dainty gold necklace and carried a piece of candy as she enjoyed time in the sun with family. Her hunky fiance Steve opted for a black T-shirt with cuffed sleeves and a pair of light jeans. He added a black cap and threw a matching fanny pack over his shoulder to make for a trendy ensemble. The 48-year-old Tony Award winner walked ahead of his bride-to-be and her mother Nancy Lee Bursch, who wore a white button up dress. Nancy had her blonde locks tied up into a messy bun as she chatted with Dewan. The outing comes as the actress is set to give birth to her third child. Dewan welcomed her son Callum back in 2020 with Steve, just a year after finalizing her divorce from Magic Mike star Channing Tatum, 44. The actress shares daughter Everly with her ex-husband Channing Tatum who she was married to from July 2009 to November 2019. 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. The 43-year-old actress is currently pregnant with hers and Kazee's second child. Dewan cut a casual figure in an oversized white button up shirt with a black tank underneath Her hunky fiance Steve opted for a black T-shirt with cuffed sleeves and a pair of light jeans 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 48-year-old Tony Award winner walked ahead of his bride-to-be and her mother Nancy Lee Bursch, who wore a white button up dress Jenna and her mom chatted during their walk to the car 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 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.' Barry Otto's daughter Gracie has shared a heartbreaking update on her father's health. The 82-year-old star of Strictly Ballroom, Australia, The Great Gatsby and The Dressmaker was diagnosed with Alzheimer's six years ago. Gracie who has been documenting her father's life since his diagnosis, recently celebrated the premiere of her documentary, Revealed: Otto by Otto, on Saturday. The 37-year-old said she treasures the moments they share, even if he no longer recognises her. 'I was asking him a lot of things and then it got to be a huge rush to ask him while he was still alive. And he is still alive, but barely,' she told Stellar Magazine. Barry Otto's, 82, (pictured) daughter Gracie has shared a heartbreaking update on her father's health 'He has moments of absolute clarity that happen very rarely and are usually about someone or something from the past.... it's like he's trying to remember who he is, and that's quite beautiful in a way,' she continued. Her documentary, set to premiere on Stan on June 16, captures her father's journey. However, she doubts he will ever watch it. 'Dad doesn't really watch things anymore, that's the sad part,' she told the publication. Gracie, 37, (left) who has been documenting her father's life since his diagnosis, recently celebrated the premiere of her documentary, Revealed: Otto by Otto, on Saturday. Pictured with sister Miranda Otto 'I'll show him some things. When I put Strictly Ballroom on, I kept pointing at him onscreen; I don't think (he understood) until the end, and I turned around to see him clapping when his character was on, and he had tears in his eyes when they played 'Love Is In The Air' as the curtain came down,' she shared. Gracie's documentary has been described as 'absorbing' but not a traditional biopic of her father and Aussie icon Barry. Rather, it is 'a deeply personal reflection on her relationship with her father shot over five years, in the twilight of his career and as his health deteriorates'. The film sees Gracie take her father to Brisbane to relive his childhood, his poor upbringing, and his first foray into theatre in touching scenes. Gracie said she treasures the moments they share, even if he no longer recognises her: 'I was asking him a lot of things and then it got to be a huge rush to ask him while he was still alive. And he is still alive, but barely,' she told Stellar Magazine The documentary also reveals Barry's health struggles after he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. The family kept Barry's diagnosis quiet for a while, partly so he could keep working, but he felt that the film might help others dealing with the disease. Barry has enjoyed an impressive film and theatre career spanning more than 50 years. Revealed: Otto by Otto premiered at the Sydney Film Festival and will stream in Australia on Stan from June 16. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill and Aussie actress Heather Mitchell briefly dated after meeting in 1985. And the pair, who maintain a 40-year friendship, have now opened up about their short-lived romance for the first time. Interviewing each other for the latest issue of Stellar Magazine, New Zealand-born Neill, 76, and Mitchell, 66, said they are both still confused about why they split all those years ago. 'Heres a more important question: why did we break up?' Neill queried Mitchell, revealing that the pair had never broached the topic before. 'Well, Ive got my version, and you have yours... Ive always wanted to (discuss it). I think I did something that upset you. I cant remember what it was,' Mitchell said. Jurassic Park star Sam Neill, 76, (right) and Aussie actress Heather Mitchell, 66, (right) briefly dated after meeting in 1985 and have now opened up about their short-lived romance for the first time 'Well, I remember it differently. We were both invited to a party and you were upset with me for some reason,' Neil replied. 'So I turn up thrilled to see you and you wouldnt talk to me. You wouldnt even look at me,' he added. Frustrated, Neill left the party and flew to England. Mitchell said she believed Neill was upset with her. Interviewing each other for the latest issue of Stellar Magazine, Neill and Mitchell said they are both still confused about why they split all those years ago 'I thought you were mad with me... we might still be together if we had talked about this earlier,' she added. Mitchell, unaware of his departure, went to Neill's place to resolve their issues but found out he had left the country. Weeks later, she received a painting from Neill that symbolised their miscommunication. 'Heres a more important question: why did we break up?' Neill queried Mitchell, revealing that the pair had never broached the topic before Their romantic chapter may have been short-lived, but both Neill and Mitchell found happiness in other aspects of their lives. Mitchell married cinematographer Martin McGrath in February 1992, and the couple share two children together. Sam Neill shares a son with Kiwi actress Lisa Harrow, whom he met in 1980. He later married make-up artist Noriko Watanabe in 1989, and they have a daughter. Neill also adopted Watanabes daughter from her first marriage. Neill and Watanabe announced their separation in 2017. Bianca Censori was seen covering up alongside husband Kanye West in Japan during the couple's first public outing since his ex-assistant filed a bombshell, sexual harassment lawsuit. The Australian-born architect, 29, and the Heartless rapper, 46 - who both 'bragged about having a five-person orgy' - were seen making a grand arrival to Narita International Airport. Censori donned a nude-colored ensemble that fell down towards the ground and contained sleeves that stopped past her elbows. She added a black headpiece that covered her locks and followed Kanye through the crowded airport while scrolling through her smartphone. Bianca is known for sporting racy ensembles - and recently wore a barely-there, white bodysuit during a meeting in Italy. Bianca Censori, 29, was seen covering up alongside husband Kanye West, 46, in Japan during the couple's first public outing since his ex-assistant filed a bombshell, sexual harassment lawsuit Censori donned a nude-colored ensemble that fell down towards the ground and contained sleeves that stopped past her elbows West also dressed down upon landing in Japan, and wore a pair of loose-fitting, white pants as well as a white shirt on top. The music artist layered the look with a comfy, white robe while also donning a pair of white sneakers for a finishing touch. Bianca and Kanye - who tied the knot in December 2022 - were guided through the Narita airport before heading to their next destination. Earlier on Saturday, the pair were seen wearing the same outfits as they arrived to the Florence Airport to depart Italy, according to TMZ. Last summer in July, West notably met his Australian in-laws during a trip to Japan with wife Bianca. Earlier this month, Kanye's ex-assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. She also accused the star of wrongful termination as well as breach of contract. Following being sued by his former employee, the rapper - who also goes by Ye - notably hit back and claimed she was fired due to 'lascivious and unhinged' conduct and had also demanded a whopping $4 million salary. He also denied her claims, calling them 'baseless' and accused her of 'blackmail and extortion.' He declared he would file a countersuit but has yet to do so. Bianca is known for sporting racy ensembles - and recently wore a barely-there white bodysuit during a meeting in Italy West also dressed down upon landing in Japan, and wore a pair of loose-fitting, white pants as well as a white shirt on top Bianca and Kanye - who tied the knot in December 2022 - were guided through the Narita airport before heading to their next destination In the lawsuit, Lauren has also claimed that both West and Censori bragged about having a five-person orgy in one of many sexually explicit phone calls. Pisciotta claimed in the complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court that West frequently sent her explicit text messages and images. These included video of himself having sex, and extreme oversharing about his sex life in what she claimed was an effort to get her to join in, it said. The lawsuit explained that part of her duties - which involved being at West's beck and call 24 hours a day - was to organize transport for women to meet him. 'On one such occasion, in August 2022, after [Pisciotta] had arranged an Uber ride, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye and Bianca Censori called [her] wanting to discuss the orgy (five-some) they had participated in the day before,' the lawsuit claimed. Pisciotta claimed the same month, West required her to take off her cardigan while she was in the Yeezy/Gap office 'because he said "it was covering too much."' 'Later that evening at the office, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye asked Bianca Censori and other female guests to perform oral sex on him and his male guests in the office changing room,' the lawsuit claimed. 'During this same time period, Kanye West a.k.a. Ye asked design assistants at the Yeezy/Gap office why [Pisciotta] would not want to have sex with him. '[West] was extremely upset and angry that [Pisciotta] would date or have sex with someone else, but not him.' Earlier this month, Kanye's ex-assistant, Lauren Pisciotta, filed a sexual harassment lawsuit against him. She also accused the star of wrongful termination as well as breach of contract In the lawsuit, Lauren has also claimed that both West and Censori bragged about having a five-person orgy in one of many sexually explicit phone calls; seen in February in Milan Pisciotta claimed West told her he was turned on by the sound of her voice and often pleasured himself while on the phone to her, asking her if she could 'hear or guess what he was doing.' Her lawsuit claimed her also did this in person one time on a flight to the Yeezy Fashion Show Paris on a private jet with other employees. She claimed he texted her asking for a 'hug' but she declined. West, she claimed, previously sent her a photo of a couple embracing during sex, writing 'when I say I need a hug this is what I mean.' The photo and alleged text message were attached to the lawsuit. Pisciotta claimed after she refused the 'hug' on the plane, West came out of his room and said he needed to talk to her inside. They went into his room, and he closed the door - trapping them inside together as the door couldn't be opened from the inside, she claimed. West then lay down on the bed and masturbated under the covers until he fell asleep as she sat across from him in a chair, the lawsuit claimed. Pisciotta in the lawsuit claimed West 'constantly asked about her current and past sex life' and insist on knowing intimate details. She claimed that on another occasion at the Soho Warehouse in Los Angeles in early 2022, West asked a male guest if he could have sex with the woman who arrived with him. Pisciotta claimed that other times West asked to have sex with her included when he followed her to the restroom at a work dinner and asked her to have a threesome with him, and when he FaceTimed her at home with a friend and asked to have phone sex with the friend. Pisciotta claimed in the complaint filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court that West frequently sent her explicit text messages and images Lauren has also claimed West sent her many graphic text messages and videos about sex, and incorporating scenarios involving raceplay and cuckoldry. 'See my problem is I be wanting to f**k but then after I f**k I want a girl to tell me how hard they been f**ked while I'm f**king them. Then I want her to cheat on me,' one allegedly read. Shortly after the lawsuit was filed, Kanye hit back and claimed that she was fired due to 'lascivious and unhinged' conduct. A legal representative for the music artist claimed to TMZ that Pisciotta's allegations are 'baseless' while also accusing the media personality of 'blackmail and extortion.' 'In response to these baseless allegations, Ye will be filing a lawsuit against Ms. Pisciotta, who actively pursued him sexually to coerce employment and other material benefits, then engaged in blackmail and extortion when her advances were rejected.' Kanye's rep also alleged that Lauren stole the star's phone in order to try to delete evidence that would contradict claims in her own lawsuit. West claimed that his former employee was terminated due to various reasons, including Pisciotta not being qualified for the position, allegedly asking for a $4 million salary and also accused her of 'lascivious, unhinged conduct.' His team further alleged that along with the large salary demands, she had also requested for expensive and extravagant items, such as a Birkin bag and a Lamborghini. Lauren has also claimed West sent her many graphic text messages and videos about sex, and incorporating scenarios involving raceplay and cuckoldry; West and Censori seen above A legal representative for the music artist claimed to TMZ that Pisciotta's allegations are 'baseless' while also accusing the media personality of 'blackmail and extortion' His rep also claimed to TMZ that Lauren had sent nudes to the rapper and 'solicited' the star for sex. When Kanye refused to follow suit with what she had demanded, his rep told the outlet that Lauren tried to allegedly extort and blackmail him, such as asking for large sums of money before choosing to file the lawsuit. 'It is evident that Ms. Pisciotta leveraged her association with Ye and his company,' the rep continued. 'And her proximity to him, to seek material gains, clout, and employment through inappropriate means,' his teamed said, further claiming that Lauren has not been truthful in terms of her claims. The family of Hallmark Channel star Mamie Laverock shared a new photo of her amid her recovery process after falling from a fifth-floor balcony. In a Facebook post on Friday, the 19-year-old actress' hand is shown hooked up to an IV and holding a small teddy bear as she lay in a hospital bed. The When Calls The Heart star is wearing bright red nail polish and a blue-and-white hospital gown in the close-up snap. This comes after Mamie's mother Nicole Compton shared a series of images on Facebook with the caption: 'Flashback Friday.' 'Just looking at some pictures today. Thinking about you Mamie every minute,' the heartbroken mom added. Mamie Laverock, 19, fell from a fifth-floor balcony on May 26 after being hospitalized on May 11 and has undergone multiple extensive surgeries In a Facebook post on Friday, the 19-year-old actress' hand is shown hooked up to an IV and holding a small teddy bear as she lay in a hospital bed She shared eight photos of a young Mamie, showing pictures of her posing on vacation and some other family snaps. The 19-year-old star was first admitted to hospital on May 11 after suffering an undisclosed medical emergency. She then suffered 'life threatening' injuries on May 26 after falling from a fifth-floor balcony walkway located in a hospital. Her family said Mamie's body had been 'shattered' following her fall, and she had undergone multiple extensive surgeries, adding it was an 'absolute miracle' she was alive. 'We are deeply saddened to report that on May 26th, Mamie, who has been in intensive treatment for the past two weeks, was escorted out of a secure unit of the hospital and taken up to a balcony walkway from which she fell five stories,' a GoFundMe page created by her family said. 'She sustained life threatening injuries, has undergone multiple extensive surgeries, and is currently on life support.' Speaking with the Los Angeles Times on Thursday, Mamie's mother said her daughter had just 'opened her eyes.' 'Let's just hope this is the turnaround and she's going to get through this now. I couldn't be happier that people reached out and cared. The story will be told,' Nicole said. Her mother said the fall was not 'intended' and was not a suicide attempt. Nicole added Mamie was 'alive and is showing signs of improvement,' however her recovery remained unclear. She noted her daughter was in 'tremendous pain' - but was 'aware' and able to squeeze her hand. This comes after Mamie's mother Nicole Compton shared a series of images on Facebook with the caption: 'Flashback Friday' 'Just looking at some pictures today. Thinking about you Mamie every minute,' the heartbroken mom wrote in a Facebook post Mamie suffered 'life threatening' injuries on May 26 after falling from a fifth-floor balcony walkway located in a hospital Her mother said the fall was not 'intended' and was not a suicide attempt Mamie played nursing student Rosaleen Sullivan for the first two seasons on When Calls The Heart Mamie needed sedation to remain still as she healed from her surgeries, her mother added. Nicole also said the family is looking to take legal action against St. Paul's Hospital, the hospital she was at during the fall. She categorized the possible legal action as a 'negligence-type case.' 'We have a case. All we care about is that Mamie can make a recovery and that she's alive and that she's fighting and that she's strong. It's unbelievable that she's with us,' her mother added. Mamie played nursing student Rosaleen Sullivan for the first two seasons on When Calls The Heart, she also returned for season 10. Married At First Sight's Davina Rankin has lifted the lid on her mental health battle after splitting from husband Jaxon Manuel. The former bikini model shocked fans in May last year when she and Jaxon announced their divorce after just one year of marriage. Posting to Instagram on Sunday, the wellness entrepreneur shared a lengthy about how she coped with the breakdown of her marriage and has since finally found happiness once again. 'The last few months have been filled with so much connection, love, travel, joy, opportunity, bliss & expansion,' she wrote next to a video montage documenting her travels to locations like Fiji and Bali. 'It wasn't all too long ago that I honestly felt like my whole world was falling apart. I had no idea what I wanted to do career wise - I woke up every single morning with the worst anxiety of my life after the breakdown of my marriage,' she admitted. Married At First Sight's Davina Rankin (right) has lifted the lid on her mental health battle after splitting from husband Jaxon Manuel (left) 'I had lost touch with my spirituality - I felt super lost, embarrassed, sad and basically like I was just failing - massively.' The single mother-of-one said that things are now looking up, however, and reminded her fans that sometimes starting afresh can lead to a better life. 'Sometimes what seems like rock bottom can honestly be the best thing that could ever happen to you. Sometimes things have to completely burn to the ground so you can start fresh, and create something even more spectacular,' the podcaster wrote. Posting to Instagram on Sunday, the wellness entrepreneur shared a lengthy about how she coped with the breakdown of her marriage and has since finally found happiness once again 'I can wholeheartedly say my life FEELS SO BEAUTIFUL. All the things that felt so hard before have worked themselves out in perfect alignment.' Davina, who in January hit a year of celibacy, said it is 'truly incredible what can happen when you pour all your energy into yourself for a while'. 'When you give yourself the love you've always needed & when you show up for yourself in big ways. When you make boundaries, when you get clear on your vision, when you dedicate time for your self development, when you look after your body, when you eliminate distractions,' she continued. 'The last few months have been filled with so much connection, love, travel, joy, opportunity, bliss & expansion,' she wrote next to a video montage documenting her travels to locations like Fiji and Bali 'Sometimes the slower you go, that faster you arrive and that's been this journey for me to a T.' Davina concluded by telling her fans that she had 'stopped pushing' and had instead 'started flowing and following her heart'. [This] has lead me right here. In the perfect place. And I'm so f*cking grateful. Today is not too late to start,' she finished. 'It wasn't all too long ago that I honestly felt like my whole world was falling apart. I had no idea what I wanted to do career wise - I woke up every single morning with the worst anxiety of my life after the breakdown of my marriage,' she admitted. (Davina and ex Jaxon pictured in happier times) Davina rose to fame on Married At First Sight in 2018, during which she married Ryan Gallagher and was involved in a cheating scandal with groom Dean Wells. Shortly after the show she began dating Jaxon, and the couple welcomed their daughter Mila-Mae in November 2019. They married in 2022 but announced they had split a year later in May 2023. She issued a statement confirming the break-up 'after fans noticed she had quietly unfollowed her husband on Instagram. 'Relationships are hard,' the reality star wrote. 'Given the recent speculation, I feel like I need to confirm that Jax and I have separated. 'I will at some point discuss this further, but my current focus is learning to navigate my new normal while providing a seamless and loving transition into co-parenting for our daughter.' Kylie Jenner put on a leggy display in a white mini dress as she enjoyed a girls' night out with Anastasia Karanikolaou in Los Angeles on Saturday. The beauty mogul, 26, turned heads in her skin-tight outfit as she strutted through the streets to head out in California. She accentuated her toned legs with a pair of stylish white heels and shielded her shoulders with a black leather jacket. Meanwhile, her close friend Anastasia, 27, dazzled in a gold sequin mini dress for the outing. She showcased her enviable curves in the bodycon garment and carried a black denim jacket. Kylie Jenner, 26, put on a leggy display in a white mini dress as she enjoyed a girls' night out with Anastasia Karanikolaou in Los Angeles on Saturday Meanwhile, her close friend Anastasia, 27, dazzled in a gold sequin mini dress for the outing The beauty mogul turned heads in her skin-tight outfit as she strutted through the streets to head out in California Kylie's outing comes after she flaunted her summer-ready body in a stylish ensemble as she posed in an assortment of new Instagram snaps. In another picture, The Kardashians star turned away from the camera to reveal a bow that was at the back of the bikini top. The spontaneous photo shoot took place on the side of a yacht as she leaned against a silver railing while floating on the wavy, blue water. In the caption of the latest post, Kylie penned to her nearly 400 million fans: 'wishin i was still hereee .' While having a blast on the Spanish island, the beauty kept her followers up-to-date amidst the tropical vacation and shared additional eye-catching snaps. Earlier this month before the Majorca trip, it was revealed that Jenner and Timothee Chalamet's romance is 'still going strong' after the pair recently enjoyed a romantic double date in New York City late last month in May. A source told People that the pair prefer to keep their relationship 'low-key' and mainly out of the public eye. The couple's latest outing comes shorty after Kylie debunked pregnancy rumors when speculation swirled on social media following comedian Daniel Tosh alleging the reality star was expecting their first child. She accentuated her toned legs with a pair of stylish white heels and shielded her shoulders with a black leather jacket Kylie looked incredibly glamorous in her summery white dress She showcased her enviable curves in the bodycon garment and carried a black denim jacket She appeared in high spirits as she enjoyed a night out with best pal Kylie It was also revealed that Kylie's loved ones are concerned that she may get her heart broken, a source told DailyMail.com exclusively. 'Kylie is trying to hold onto her relationship with Timothee, but those around her fear it is becoming evident that he's just not as invested in their relationship as she is anymore.' The insider added, 'Kylie is madly in love with Timothee and she put so much into this relationship. She went so public with their romance because she was sure it would last.' 'But those closest to her feel he doesn't make her a priority and her sisters are now telling her to walk away, but she can't.' However, a separate insider recently told DailyMail.com that Chalamet has plans to save their romance and also reached out to Kylie's sisters ahead of the beauty mogul's 27th birthday on August 10. 'He is on such a rise in Hollywood right now and he is nurturing that as much as possible - but he has no plans to allow that to ruin his relationship with Kylie.' The source added, 'He is thinking so much about the future with her and one thing he is looking forward to is her birthday.' 'He has been talking to her sisters about plans for a multi-level birthday for her. He wants it to be both a low-key affair dinner alone and also wants a big bash with family and friends, and to do something that incorporates her kids.' Kylie's outing comes after she flaunted her summer-ready body in a stylish ensemble as she posed in an assortment of new Instagram snaps The beauty mogul gave a glimpse of her toned midriff wearing a fitted, white bikini top that was held up with thin straps that wrapped around her shoulders Earlier this month before the Majorca trip, it was revealed that Jenner and Timothee Chalamet's romance is 'still going strong' after the pair recently enjoyed a romantic double date in New York City late last month in May 'The final cherry on top? He wants to take her on a tropical getaway, where they can just be alone,' the insider expressed. 'Once he ends filming, he wants to go somewhere exotic and just enjoy the summer together. The wheels are in motion to make it all happen. 'Kylie's sisters' concerns over her relationship are mostly falling on deaf ears because Kylie sees the true Timothee.' 'He has made it clear that Kylie is very important to him and he would like for her to not listen to any outside noise, even if it comes from her own family, because he is being as genuine in his intentions with the relationship as possible. He loves her.' Stormy Daniels has revealed that she hopes to visit Australia soon to embark on a comedy tour. Daniels, 45, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, told Fox 101.9's Fifi, Fev & Nick on Thursday that she has plans to travel Down Under to expand her career. 'I am hoping some of the comedy clubs over there will book me as well, because I seem to be popular with some of the Aussies, shall I say,' she said. Daniels also hopes to attend Sexpo, an annual Australian convention described as 'the world's most iconic adult event' which frequently attracts famous adult stars. 'I am hoping they have me over for the convention in November, the big porn, sex convention over there,' she said. LISTEN: Everything I Know About Me with Stormy Daniels Stormy Daniels (pictured) has revealed that she hopes to visit Australia soon to embark on a comedy tour 'I have never got to go and have always wanted to go,' the adult entertainer added. Elsewhere, Daniels opened up about her reaction to the news that former President Donald Trump was found guilty on 34 counts of felony. Daniels revealed she was only hoping for a single guilty charge against Trump, but was overwhelmed when the judge announced he was guilty on all 34 counts related to the hush-money scandal. 'My 13-year-old daughter was with me. I was just crying in her lap,' she shared, her voice breaking with emotion. Reflecting on her infamous night with Trump, Daniels didn't hold back. 'I am hoping some of the comedy clubs over there will book me as well, because I seem to be popular with some of the Aussies, shall I say,' she said 'You say that I reminded you of your daughter that night. Is this how you want her to be treated? Do you not want to be an example to your children? Speak the truth. Do the right thing. Leave my family alone,' she said in words directed at the former President. The adult film star added, 'I wished I had stayed out of that hotel room.' Daniels was in the midst of directing a mainstream movie when she heard the news of the verdict. 'I had talent on a horse. My phone started ringing over and over, and I got like 17 text messages in a row that just said, "Verdict." Elsewhere, Daniels opened up about her reaction to the news that former President Donald Trump (left) was found guilty on 34 counts of felony 'I shut down my entire production just like you did your show. We all came running into the living room of the house we were shooting at and put it on.' Daniels stated, 'I did it for my family. I did it for my daughter. I did it for everybody, not just women. And I have been called every name in the book, but you know, one name that no one could call me, but I can call him: convicted.' Trump was found guilty of 34 felony counts over falsifying documents to cover up a payment to silence Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. He has denied any wrongdoing and has vowed to appeal his 'scam' conviction. Trump has used his conviction to step up his fundraising efforts but has not otherwise sought to mobilise his supporters. Some Trump supporters have hung US flags upside down in the wake of the verdict. The inverted flag has been a symbol of distress or protest in America for over 200 years. In an earlier interview with the Daily Mirror, Daniels called for Trump to be blocked from running for the presidency after last week's shocking verdict calling the loophole which would allow him to be in office from a prison cell 'crazy.' Trump has denied ever having sexual relations with Daniels in 2006 while Melania was at home with their then-new born son, Barron. Oakland Animal Services kittens Mango, left, and Lemon play while being fostered at Chronicle columnist Nuala Bisharis home in Oakland. Jessica Christian/The Chronicle Regarding Bay Area kitten season is getting longer and harder to handle. Heres what to do if you see a litter of strays (Opinion, SFChronicle.com, June 5): Nuala Bisharis column misrepresented the real danger that the vast numbers of cats represent. While it touched on that danger by saying, Cats kill millions of birds in the United States each year, they pose a threat to wildlife and biodiversity that cannot be understated. Cats have been linked to the extinction of 63 species. Cats are an invasive species. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature has called domestic cats one of the worlds worst invasive species. They are the primary means of human-caused wildlife death. Advertisement Article continues below this ad There are 100 million domestic cats in the U.S. They kill an estimated 2.4 billion birds every year in the U.S. alone. Cat predation is by far the largest source of direct human-caused mortality to birds. Feral cat trap, neuter and release programs do not keep the population down the column states. Studies show they fail to reduce feral populations while keeping the cats outdoors where they can kill birds (and endanger public health). For these reasons, its imperative that cat owners keep their pets indoors, or, barring that, on a leash or within an outdoor enclosure. Nancy Arbuckle, San Francisco Light sentence Regarding He claimed to fast track projects through S.F. permitting. Clients say jobs turned into nightmares (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, May 31): I thank the Chronicle for exposing the fraudulent and criminal behavior of John Pollard. Advertisement Article continues below this ad This includes the purposeful triple ramming of his car into a vehicle in which my son, Yarrow Kurbrin, was sitting, causing the need for shoulder surgery and long-lasting post-traumatic stress disorder. This attack, captured on video, included Pollards verbal threat to kill Yarrow. Pollards assault with a deadly weapon and threat earned him a mere two-year extension of his probation for previous convictions and an order to take anger management classes. The punishment for attacking Yarrow suggests Pollards supposed clout extends beyond the San Francisco Department of Building Inspection to the citys criminal justice system. David Kurbrin, San Francisco S.F. great to visit I am a Los Angeles native, and Ive visited San Francisco every year since I was 8 until the pandemic. I recently visited again. Advertisement Article continues below this ad We drove and walked everywhere. I was pleased to see that the news reports about the city have been wrong. While San Francisco faces the same crime challenges as other cities, it looks and feels great. We saw parents walking their children to school and people going to work. The sidewalks are clean. The situation with the unhoused is similar to what the other major cities and small towns are facing. About Opinion Guest opinions in Open Forum and Insight are produced by writers with expertise, personal experience or original insights on a subject of interest to our readers. Their views do not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Chronicle editorial board, which is committed to providing a diversity of ideas to our readership. Read more about our transparency and ethics policies Thanks to San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the city staff. We will be back! Advertisement Article continues below this ad She's known for her racy photos, and famed 'nude artist' Dina Broadhurst has once again set social media ablaze with her latest post. The 46-year-old shared a series of snaps to Instagram on Sunday showing off her incredible physique in a daring bikini. The barely there swimwear featured a striking brown and white pattern and was adorned with shells. Dina is seen reclining on a lounge chair in two of the frames, basking in golden sunlight. She wore her hair wet for the occasion and added a cheeky pout for good measure. She's known for her racy photos, and famed 'nude artist' Dina Broadhurst has once again set social media ablaze with her latest post. Pictured The 46-year-old shared a series of snaps to Instagram on Sunday showing off her incredible physique in a daring bikini Her latest post comes after Dina finally confirmed her new romance with multimillionaire fridges heir John Winning earlier this month. The couple went Instagram official earlier in May when Dina posted a series of snaps to Instagram from a romantic getaway to New Zealand. It was not the couple's first trip away together as they also recently attended a rave in Pioneertown, California, and also went on a European vacation together. She was reported to have started dating the CEO and fourth-generation heir of Winning Appliances in March after knowing him for some time. Dina is seen reclining on a lounge chair in two of the frames, basking in golden sunlight. She wore her hair wet for the occasion and added a cheeky pout for good measure Her latest post comes after Dina finally confirmed her new romance with multimillionaire fridges heir John Winning earlier this month Dina and John are said to be 'quite smitten' with one another amid their budding romance, close friends recently told the Daily Telegraph. John took over as CEO of Winning Appliances in 2011 at the age of 22 and took the business in a new direction with Appliances Online, which is now Australia's largest online retailer for appliances. The family business was started by his great-grandfather Richard William Winning in 1906 with the trading name R.W. Winning & Co and has become a leading kitchen and laundry appliance specialist. As well as running Winning Appliances, John is also an experienced sailor who won line honours with his crew on board Andoo Comanche in the 2022 Sydney to Hobart yacht race. The skipper sailed the race alongside his father John Winning Snr, who previously won the Sydney to Hobart line honours back in 1976. In his spare time, John is an adrenaline junkie with a love for skydiving and often shares a glimpse into his daredevil sporting activities on his Instagram page. He is also a music lover and DJ and has performed his music for crowds on lavish yachts, in Ibiza clubs and even at Glastonbury's The Rabbit Hole. John reportedly lives in an eclectic Surry Hills bachelor pad featuring its own private nightclub, a see-through smoking room and a pool, according to the Daily Telegraph. Dina was previously in a relationship with Max Shepherd, 30, but it emerged in June last year that they had parted ways after four-and-a-half years together. Following the break-up, the socialite was briefly linked to millionaire property investor Tony Benjamin. Katie Holmes has revealed that her 18-year-old daughter Suri often steals her clothes as she spoke in a rare interview on Sunday. The actress and fashion icon, 45, - who shares Suri with her ex husband Tom Cruise, 61, - admitted that 'basics' in her wardrobe 'definitely disappear' sometimes. She added that although her teen will sometimes want to borrow some pieces from time to time - she still 'has her own sense of style'. When asked by The Times if she hopes to pass down her wardrobe to Suri she said: 'Um, sure. I mean, I've saved some things here and there. But she has her own sense of style and her own expressions.' She added of Suri stealing her clothes: 'Sometimes the basics definitely disappear. But that's fine.' Katie Holmes has revealed that her 18-year-old daughter Suri often steals her clothes as she spoke in a rare interview on Sunday She said that although her teen will sometimes want to borrow some pieces from time to time - she still 'has her own sense of style' (seen in 2017) Asked if motherhood changed her sense of style she went on to explain: 'I feel like, in some ways, yes. When my child was really small I was drawn to wearing a lot of dresses. 'You do go through these different phases of motherhood and they inform what you feel comfortable in and what you don't. So over the years my style has changed here and there.' Suri currently has the summer off before heading to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the fall to study at Carnegie Mellon University. Despite hailing from two of the biggest stars on the globe, Suri does not seem to want to go down the path that so many Hollywood nepo babies have trod by forging her own career on the big or small screen. Instead, she is determined to remain 'private,' an insider dished to DailyMail.com exclusively back in April. Suri will be graduating from high school this month and then preparing for college at in the fall where she's reportedly leaning towards studying fashion. Carnegie Mellon's School of Design is one of the oldest and most highly ranked programs in the country. One insider told DailyMail.com: 'She is a smart girl, and she is turning into a very intelligent mature young woman. She has a very close group of loyal friends, and she knows exactly where she comes from.' But though Holmes is proud of her daughter's stellar achievement, sources say she is 'overwhelmed' at the thought of sending her little girl off to college. Speaking recently, one told DailyMail.com: 'Katie takes great pride in her but is also extremely overprotective.' The actress, 45, - who shares Suri with her ex husband Tom Cruise , 61, - admitted that sometimes 'basics' in her wardrobe 'definitely disappear' (seen in 2011 with Tom) When asked by The Times if she hopes to pass down her wardrobe to Suri she said: 'Um, sure. I mean, I've saved some things here and there. But she has her own sense of style' Asked if motherhood changed her sense of style she went on to explain: 'I feel like, in some ways, yes. When my child was really small I was drawn to wearing a lot of dresses' While Suri may not have crystalized all of her plans for the future just yet, one thing about her future is clear: her dad scientologist Tom will have no part in it. 'Suri will not have any contact with her father, despite being 18, and even if he called, she would not answer,' a source previously told DailyMail.com. 'He does not exist to Katie or Suri, and his daughter does not want to rely on him for anything. She feels that she has one parent and that is her mother.' Suri celebrated her 18th birthday in April, which means the Top Gun star will no longer be required to pay child support to Katie, a sum that reportedly amounted to a hefty $400,000 a year. KSI is set to stand in for Bruno Tonioli on Britain's Got Talent next year in a bid to pull in a younger audience, according to new reports. The YouTube influencer and boxer, 30, is reportedly in talks with ITV bosses to be on standby when there is a filming clash. Auditions are expected to be held earlier than usual for the next series, which means Bruno's, 68, stint on Dancing With The Stars could clash with BGT. A source told The Sun: 'Simon Cowell knows KSI is a huge hit with the younger generation. 'He would be a great addition to pull in teenage fans, which is something the producers are keen to do. KSI, 30, is set to stand in for Bruno Tonioli, 68, on Britain's Got Talent next year in a bid to pull in a younger audience, according to new reports The YouTube influencer and boxer is reportedly in talks with ITV bosses to be on standby when there is a filming clash 'KSI is chatting to bosses in the hope of agreeing a deal that would also work with his hectic schedule.' It comes after reports claimed Bruno could be dropped from next years series of Britain's Got Talent. Next year's Britain's Got Talent judging line up could undergo a shake up and Bruno may lose his spot on the show. However Simon Cowell has shut down the rumours as he confirmed that the Italian choreographer will be returning next year despite scheduling clashes but admitted there will be some sort of stand-in. Appearing on Heart Radio on Wednesday, the music mogul, 64, explained: 'I would not replace him. I love Bruno on the show.' Simon explained that there is a problem with Bruno's schedule next year, therefore the star will be replaced for some of the auditions that he is unable to attend. Clearing up the rumours Host Jamie Theakston asked the star: 'I'm gonna read you a headline from one of the papers today Simon... "Britain's Got Talent set to drop judge, Bruno"' As Simon confessed the headline was false, Jamie pressed: 'Okay, well, what of that isn't truth? Auditions are expected to be held earlier than usual for the next series, which means Bruno's, 68, stint on Dancing With The Stars could clash with BGT A source said: 'Simon Cowell knows KSI is a huge hit with the younger generation. He would be a great addition to pull in teenage fans, which is something the producers are keen to do. KSI is chatting to bosses in the hope of agreeing a deal that would also work with his hectic schedule' It comes after reports claimed Bruno could be dropped from next years series of Britain's Got Talent Next year's Britain's Got Talent judging line up could undergo a shake up and Bruno may lose his spot on the show Simon explained: 'Seriously. I spoke to... I don't know where all this stuff comes from. I spoke to the producers literally two weeks ago about there is a scheduling issue with Bruno. 'Because we're doing the auditions... some of the auditions this year and he's going to be in America. 'So maybe there'll be a stand in for him. I don't know. But I love Bruno on the show. I think he's brilliant.' Fellow judge Amanda Holden agreed as she added: 'He brings such an amazing energy and he knows so much.' 'And he knows so much about what he's talking about. And actually, he's a brilliant, brilliant judge and the nicest person. So no, I would not replace him,' Simon added. 'So... Bruno's coming back?' asked Jamie as Simon confirmed once and for all: 'He's coming back.' Jamie then asked: 'Have you approached Alan Carr?' as Simon replied: 'No, Amanda wants Alan.' 'How much of a say does she have?' asked Jamie, to which Simon quickly replied: 'No' and Amanda cried: 'I have no say'. However Simon Cowell has shut down the rumours as he confirmed that the Italian choreographer will be returning next year despite scheduling clashes but admitted there will be some sort of stand-in Simon explained: 'Seriously. I spoke to... I don't know where all this stuff comes from. I spoke to the producers literally two weeks ago about there is a scheduling issue with Bruno' 'And he knows so much about what he's talking about. And actually, he's a brilliant, brilliant judge and the nicest person. So no, I would not replace him,' Simon added (pictured with Jamie Theakston) Speaking candidly Simon added: 'Can I be honest with you? I wouldn't change this judging panel, I think it is something... it's like your show, your number one. So why would I change BGT' (pictured Bruno, Amanda Holden, Alesha Dixon and Simon) Jamie then joked: 'Is Amanda coming back?' as Simon teased: 'Well, look, let's celebrate her past. 'I want to say how much Amanda has brought to the show over the years. I mean, seriously and it will be... it won't be easy to replace you but I just want to say publicly thank you.' Amanda added: 'Thank you, Simon. It's been an absolute pleasure.' 'We've had fun! I've had 18 years of you looking after the mortgage. So thank you.' Speaking candidly Simon added: 'Can I be honest with you? I wouldn't change this judging panel, I think it is something... it's like your show, your number one. So why would I change BGT.' Terri Irwin shared an adorable throwback photo featuring her late husband Steve and their daughter Bindi on Sunday. The touching image captures a cherished moment between the beloved wildlife conservationist and his young daughter, showcasing their mutual love for the ocean. The photograph depicts Steve and Bindi clad in wetsuits, ready for an underwater adventure. Steve, with his trademark grin, stands proudly beside a beaming young Bindi, both prepared for a day of snorkelling and exploring the reefs. Terri, 59, captioned the post, "Steve and @bindisueirwin loved exploring the reefs, snorkelling with underwater creatures, and discovering everything from starfish to sea turtles. So many beautiful moments and special memories. #WorldOceansDay." Terri Irwin shared an adorable throwback photo featuring her late husband Steve and their daughter Bindi on Sunday Terri, 59, captioned the post, "Steve and @bindisueirwin loved exploring the reefs, snorkelling with underwater creatures, and discovering everything from starfish to sea turtles. So many beautiful moments and special memories. #WorldOceansDay" The nostalgic post quickly garnered an outpouring of love and comments from fans around the world. Bindi responded to the post, writing, "Such a special memory." The post comes just days after mother-of-two Terri marked her 32nd wedding by sharing a sweet gallery of photos to her social media. Terri was married to zookeeper Steve for 14 years before his tragic death in 2006 and they share two kids, daughter Bindi, 25, and son Robert, 20. Taking to Instagram, the mother-of-two shared a photo of herself and Steve cuddled up as she held a joey. 'It was 32 years ago today that Steve & I said I do and began the adventure of a lifetime!' she captioned the post. Steve and Terri tied the knot in June 1992 in her home state of Oregon following a whirlwind eight-month romance. Friends and followers quickly offered their love and support to the beloved couple. Australia Zoo's social media wrote: 'Happy Anniversary to the greatest Wildlife Warriors. We love you so much, Terri and Steve! Thank you for your dedication to conservation and #AustraliaZoo.' Terri marked her 32nd wedding anniversary by sharing a touching tribute to her late husband Taking to Instagram, the mother-of-two shared a photo of herself and Steve standing together and smiling as she held a baby Kangaroo Bindi also paid homage, writing: 'Happy Anniversary to my incredible parents. I love you both beyond description.' Terri has been open about her romance with iconic wildlife warrior. Speaking to Anh Do on his Brush With Fame program, she recalled the moment she met Steve and wondered whether he was single. 'I wasn't even dating, I wasn't even looking,' Terri, who was then 27, said of Steve, 29, when they met in 1991. 'I was 27-years-old, and figured my life was going to be my work, and met Steve and fell instantly in love,' she added. 'It was 32 years ago today that Steve & I said I do and began the adventure of a lifetime!' she captioned the post Terri said she was impressed by how cool and calm Steve was while feeding a crocodile for a show. 'I thought this man is the most incredible guy I have ever seen. He's probably married. He's gotta be taken,' she said. It was then she plucked-up the courage to talk to him - but to her dismay Steve immediately said he wanted to introduce her to his 'girlfriend'. Steve and Terri tied the knot in June 1992 in her home state of Oregon following a whirlwind eight-month romance Terri (left) was married to zookeeper Steve (right) for 14 years before his tragic death in 2006 and they share two kids, daughter Bindi, 25, (middle right) and son Robert, 20 (middle left) 'I just felt utterly crushed, and then he called out, 'Hey, Suey!' And here comes this little dog, Suey. I went, 'Boom! No girlfriend!'' Terri recently insisted she has no plans to get back into the dating market as she sweetly described her relationship with her late husband as her 'happily ever after'. 'I totally got my happily ever after,' the American-Australian conservationist told Us Weekly earlier this month, before attending the Steve Irwin Gala in Las Vegas. Steve was tragically killed when he was barbed by a stingray on September 4, 2006, at Batt Reef near Port Douglas in far north Queensland. The tragic news sent shockwaves across Australia and around the world as his fans grieved the tragic loss. Steve's family has carried on his mission to promote and protect wildlife through Australia Zoo. Gavin And Stacey star Joanna Page has said she believes that the upcoming Christmas episode will be the last time she ever plays her iconic character. It was announced last month that the beloved show is returning for its last ever episode on Christmas Day. Show creators James Corden and Ruth Jones reunited in secret to pen the final episode after denying another episode was in the works just days before, nearly five years after the last episode aired in 2019. Welsh actress Joanna, 47, told her podcast Off The Telly podcast, which she hosts with Natalie Cassidy, that she believes it will '100 per cent' be her last time as Stacey. 'I mean there's so much they could do, isn't there?' Joanna said, as she admitted she didn't know what was in store for the characters. Gavin And Stacey star Joanna Page confirmed that the upcoming Christmas episode will be the last time she ever plays her iconic character on her Off The telly podcast (Pictured in April) James Corden and Ruth Jones revealed last month that they have written the last ever episode of Gavin And Stacey, set to air on Christmas Day The 2019 special ended with Nessa proposing to Smithy, a cliffhanger which left fans reeling. Of that script, Joanna said she thought at the time: 'I was like, "What? Oh my god, where's the rest?".' The Christmas special will take place five years after the last special, and 17 years after the show's first ever episode, which aired in 2007. Of the time passed since that first episode, Joanna added: 'I'm older now than Mel [Melanie Walters] was playing Gwen on the first series.' In May, Ruth and James took to Instagram to share a black and white photo of themselves holding up the script. Alongside the post, they wrote: 'Some news... It's official! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey. See you on Christmas Day, BBC One. Love Ruth and James!' Fans expressed their joy at the news under James and Ruth's post. Among those sharing their delight was Rio Ferdinand who wrote: 'I'm clearing the diary.' Other celebrities including Gordon Ramsay, John Bishop, Ferne Cotton and Amanda Holden all shared their delight. Show creators James Corden and Ruth Jones reunited in secret to pen the final episode after denying another episode was in the works just days before, nearly five years after the last episode aired in 2019 Welsh actress Joanna, 47, told her podcast Off The Telly podcast, which she hosts with Natalie Cassidy, that she believes it will '100 per cent' be her last time as Stacey Ruth and James wrote on Instagram in May: 'Some news... It's official! We have finished writing the last ever episode of Gavin and Stacey' Joanna Page, who plays Stacey, reshared James and Ruth's photo to her Instagram and wrote: 'Oh my God it's happening! So excited! Last ever Gavin And Stacey! Christmas Day @bbcone Can't wait to start filming!' Joanna also shared a statement with ITV's Loose Women that read: 'I'm very excited for the return of the Gavin and Stacey and can't wait to come back on and tell you all about it'. The actress also revealed she 'can't wait to find out what happens' next on the BBC show as she doesn't know what happens after the 2019 Christmas cliffhanger when Nessa proposed to Smithy. Speaking on Off The Telly on BBC Sounds podcast, Joanna said: 'Im so excited to see the gang again and start filming, and I cant wait to find out if Smithy has said yes. I cant wait to find out whats happening to everybody! 'Im going to have to keep that script away from your [Natalies] little paws but yeah we are going to be able to review it on our show at Christmas and I will be very cross if you arent sitting down on Christmas Day watching me!' Matthew Horne, who portrays Gavin, seemed excited for the reunion as he reshared the snap of Ruth and James holding up the new script, he wrote: 'Happy Christmas'. Others wrote: 'This has made my whole year'... 'Yes roll on Christmas, been waiting a very long time for this'... 'Stepping into Christmas 2024! Yay!' The critically acclaimed series follows the lives of the two titular characters Gavin from Essex and Stacey from South Wales, documenting key points in their long-distance relationship and events that bring the two families together It was previously reported that a new episode of Gavin And Stacey was in the works but Ruth Jones denied it, saying: 'It's sadly a rumour' One fan demanded the final episode be 'five hours long' to make up for the length of time it's been since the last special. Several fans said they finally wanted to know what happened on character Bryn's notorious fishing trip with his nephew Jason which they both refuse to speak about, a long-running joke on the series. It was previously reported that a new episode of Gavin And Stacey was in the works but Ruth Jones denied it. Reports circulated online claiming the cast was set to film a new episode over the summer with the plan to air it at Christmas, five years on from a dramatic cliffhanger. US outlet Deadline reported that the new special was in development/pre-production stages currently and that it will be produced by Steve Coogan's Baby Cow, Jones' Tidy Productions and Fulwell 73, which is co-owned by Corden. But Ruth insisted the speculation was 'sadly a rumour' during an interview on Irish station RTE Radio 1. Asked about the reports, she said: 'Apparently there's a bidding war going on between the BBC and Netflix and I love it because it says 'a source says', who is this source?' Fans, including Rio Ferdinand and Gordon Ramsay, expressed their joy at the news under James and Ruth's pos Ruth added: 'It's sadly a rumour... All I can say is, if there was something to say on that front, James and I would happily announce it, we would.' The actress said she thought the rumours were sparked after she was photographed having lunch with Corden a few months back after he returned to the UK from living in America. 'Then the next thing is 'Oh my god they must be writing more Gavin And Stacey', which is lovely,' she said. 'It's lovely that people are so desperate for it because imagine if it was the opposite and were like 'Oh, god, you're not bringing that back again'.' In March, Alison Steadman, who plays Pam, also shut down reunion rumours and insisted the cast were not getting back together. Speaking to The Mirror, Alison said creators James and Ruth had not reached out to the cast at the time. She said: 'If we did another series or episode, I would absolutely love it. But at the moment, as far as I know, it's not going to happen. 'None of us have been sent scripts, none of us, so until there's something definite and it's announced, then I'm not going to go along with anything, it might not happen. It's all up in the air.' Several fans said they finally wanted to know what happened on character Bryn's notorious fishing trip with his nephew Jason The critically acclaimed series follows the lives of the two titular characters Gavin from Essex and Stacey from South Wales, documenting key points in their long-distance relationship and events that bring the two families together. Gavin And Stacey first aired in 2007 and ran for just 21 episodes, spanning three seasons and two Christmas specials. The show's popularity was stratospheric with 2019's Christmas special garnering a whopping 18.49million viewers. At the climax of the episode, Nessa got down on one knee to propose to Smithy, played by Corden, but viewers did not get to hear his response. The pair had an on-off relationship during the series and in the special it was revealed they were successfully co-parenting their son, Neil. Fans have hoped the show would make a comeback following James' decision to move back to the UK after his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US. One of the show's most long-running jokes concerns Uncle Bryn (centre) and his nephew Jason (right) who went on a fishing trip they both refuse to speak about In March, Alison Steadman, who plays Pam, also shut down reunion rumours and insisted the cast were not getting back together (pictured in February 2024) Fans have hoped the show would make a comeback following James' decision to move back to the UK after his eight-year stint hosting The Late Late Show in the US (James and Ruth pictured together in April 2024) Gavin And Stacey first aired in 2007 and ran for just 21 episodes, spanning three seasons and two Christmas specials The show's popularity was stratospheric with 2019's Christmas special garnering a whopping 18.49million viewers During its time it graduated from BBC Three to BBC One and picked up multiple accolades including Bafta and British Comedy Awards gongs Stealing the show as much-loved character Nessa, Ruth portrayed the hilarious amusement park worker and 'original member' of All Saints, who becomes pregnant with Smithy's child after a one-night-stand. Co-writer James took on the role of Gavin's best friend from primary school, Smithy, who is interested in Stacey's best friend Nessa. Starring as Uncle Bryn in the hit series, Rob Brydon played the brother of Stacey's deceased father, a single man in his late forties. Stacey was played by Joanna Page, with Mathew Horne starring as the series' titular character Gavin, nicknamed Gavlar, or Gavala. During its time it graduated from BBC Three to BBC One and picked up multiple accolades including Bafta and British Comedy Awards gongs. Sopha Dopha is engaged in a war of words with her ex-boyfriend online. The 20-year-old TikTok star, whose real name is Sophia Begg, shared a video to TikTok this week in which she appeared to take aim at ex Jordan Menadue while lashing out at an unnamed ex. In the now-deleted clip, she dances while the words 'I have my own business, dream car, investment property, and its probably because I dont have to pay for everything for you anymore' appear on the screen. Jordan, who is a fellow influencer, appeared to feel the video was about him, and while in turn did not name Sophia, he hit back with his own clip posted to TikTok on Saturday. He accused an unnamed woman of 'using your platforms to talk about others/ put someone else down who you simply just didnt work with'. Sopha Dopha (pictured) is engaged in a war of words with her ex-boyfriend online 'Honestly ridiculous how long these comments/videos have gone on for without me saying anything,' he continued. 'It is a form of online bullying and you need to be called out for it. Be a good role model for your millions of young followers. Please leave me alone. Thank you'. Sopha was quick to reply to one of the comments, seemingly from a mutual friend, which read: 'People know how much of a good human you are Jordan'. She replied, in a seemingly now-deleted comment: 'Don't forget when we went to dinner when I first moved to Melbourne and you said don't date him everyone in Melbourne doesn't like him'. The 20-year-old TikTok star, whose real name is Sophia Begg, shared a video to TikTok this week in which she appeared to take aim at ex Jordan Menadue while lashing out at an unnamed ex. Both pictured In the now-deleted clip, she dances while the words 'I have my own business, dream car, investment property, and its probably because I dont have to pay for everything for you anymore' appear on the screen Jordan, who is a fellow influencer, appeared to feel the video was about him, and while in turn did not name Sophia, he hit back with his own clip posted to TikTok on Saturday Sopha further weighed in on Facebook, denying that her video was strictly about Jordan and was angry that he wanted to 'act like the victim' as she had evidence of 's**t he had done' to her. 'Upon reflection probably shouldn't have worded it the way I did because people said it looked like I was flaunting wealth (which was 100 percent not my intention),' she wrote on the Tea Time Facebook page. 'Bit I didn't name him and didn't think people would even think twice about it because it's a trend everyone has done.' She added: 'I definitely didn't mean any harm by it hence why no names were mentioned. I have multiple exes. Sopha was quick to reply to one of the comments, seemingly from a mutual friend, which read: 'People know how much of a good human you are Jordan' Sopha further weighed in on Facebook, denying that her video was strictly about Jordan and was angry that he wanted to 'act like the victim' 'But my first ex was actually a good person hence why no vids have been made in reference to him. So maybe be a good person and there wouldn't be any tea to spill'. Sopha also said she 'would rather stay single for the rest of her life' than 'go near that again' despite people accusing her of being 'obsessed' with her ex. It's unclear when the pair split, but it appears they have been quietly exchanging online barbs for some weeks. It's not the first time Sopha has captured attention for all the wrong reasons. Late last year, the blonde faced a humiliating interaction with host Tony Armstrong at the 2023 TikTok Awards. At the awards show, Sophia accused the ABC presenter of flirting with her despite the fact he just went public with his new girlfriend. 'How are you feeling? You look ecstatic and I'm pumped for you,' Tony said as he addressed Sophia who was nominated for the Creator of the Year award. 'Thank you. Wow! Stop flirting with me!' Sophia replied, prompting scattered laughter in the audience. Sopha also said she 'would rather stay single for the rest of her life' than 'go near that again' despite people accusing her of being 'obsessed' with her ex It's unclear when the influencers split, but it appears they have been quietly exchanging online barbs for some weeks Aussies erupted online and Sophia's fans turned on her when the embarrassing moment went viral. Days later, the embattled internet model was forced to deny claims she was rude to DJ Maddy Spencer at the TikTok Awards. The controversy began when Maddy posted a fiery video calling out a 'big creator' for allegedly snubbing her at the event. Dopha has additionally come under fire over claims she was 'rude' to a small business owner. Her 'sippy cup drama' began when the social media star shared a video of her Christmas shopping haul, which included a handmade strawberry sippy cup purchased from ceramic artist Shelby Sherritt at Sydney's Finders Keepers Market. She shared her shock over the price of the small ceramic double-handled cup, which was $125, and claimed she wanted to back out of the purchase but was unable to. However, in a since deleted video, Shelby hit back at Sopha and claimed the TikToker 'lied' about what really happened. 'It's also deeply upsetting to have someone not only question you as a business owner and lie about how I interacted with you, but to also have you question my pricing when you too also run a small business,' said Shelby. Lucy Mecklenburgh pulled out all the stops as she threw her fiance Ryan Thomas an incredible 40th birthday over the weekend in Portugal. The former TOWIE star, 32, organised an incredible party for her partner with celebrity guests including Ashley James and her boyfriend Tommy. Lucy looked stunning in a summery one-shoulder yellow dress and gold heels as she shared a glimpse at the celebrations on her Instagram. Lucy and Ryan posed for a snap with Tommy and Ashley who wore a beautiful light pink ruffled dress. Ryan looked jazzy in a multicoloured patterned skirt for the party which he teamed with beige chinos. Lucy Mecklenburgh pulled out all the stops as she threw her fiance Ryan Thomas an incredible 40th birthday over the weekend in Portugal The former TOWIE star, 32, organised an incredible party for her partner with celebrity guests including Ashley James and her boyfriend Tommy Guests at the bash were treated to a three-course dinner of oysters, steak and salmon before musical guests got the real party started with singing and dancing. The table settings were beautiful and personalised to each guest with their name attached to the napkin. Ryan's brother Love Island star Scott was also in attendance and shared images of the family lunch the previous day. At the dinner table were Lucy and Ryans's two children Lilah, two, and four-year-old Roman. Sharing her snaps of the big weekend Ashley penned in her social media caption: 'We came on our first childfree weekend away to celebrate @ryanthomas84 40th birthday and it was so much fun!. 'One of the funnest nights ever celebrating you @ryanthomas84 ! What an amazing bunch of people! 'You're very loved! @lucymeck1 you smashed every detail - please can you organise all parties going forward!' Other Instagram footage showed the crowds of guests enjoying drinks and canapes ahead of the dinner. Lucy looked stunning in a summery one-shoulder yellow dress and gold heels as she shared a glimpse at the celebrations on her Instagram Lucy and Ryan posed for a snap with Tommy and Ashley who wore a beautiful light pink ruffled dress Ryan looked jazzy in a multicoloured patterned skirt for the party which he teamed with beige chinos Guests at the bash were treated to a three-course dinner of oysters, steak and salmon before musical guests got the real party started with singing and dancing Lucy boosted her height with strappy gold heels and accessorised with a clutch bag and matching statement earrings Other Instagram footage showed the crowds of guests enjoying drinks and canapes ahead of the dinner It comes after Lucy opened up about her struggle with endometriosis and adenomyosis, which cause her to bloat '80 per cent of the time'. Endometriosis is a condition where tissue similar to the lining of the womb grows in other places, such as the ovaries and fallopian tubes. Meanwhile, adenomyosis is a gynecologic condition that causes endometrial tissue in the lining of the uterus to grow into the muscular wall of the uterus. Lucy opened up about having the 'severe' condition recently as she told her followers it has 'really affected her' since having Lilah. The mother of two said that she was surprised by the diagnosis because her symptoms didn't include period pain and fertility issues, which are typically associated with endometriosis. Sharing a picture of This Morning doing a segment on the condition, Lucy praised them for raising awareness on the topic. She wrote: 'Well done This Morning. For something so common in women there really isn't much information out there & as I'm realising now a huge lack of research! 'So amazing to see a lot more conversation around endometriosis. After over a year of test I've recently got the answer, which is quite severe endometriosis & adenomyosis. Revealing she is still finding her feet since the diagnosis, she said: 'Not fully ready to talk about it yet I'm just getting my head around it and processing it myself for now... 'But I didn't have the symptoms I associated with endo which was period pain and fertility issues so it was a huge shock to me but it has really affected me in other ways since I had Lilah.' Ryan's brother Love Island star Scott was also in attendance and shared images of the family lunch the previous day Guests were treated to performances from musical acts as the party really got started later int the night Ryan looked like he was having a great time as he moved to the front of the crowds to dance to the music Plenty of Ryan's male pals were in attendance at the bash (Ashley's partner Tommy seen far left) A few days later, Lucy shared a picture of her stomach and revealed she had been struggling with bloating as one of the symptoms of the condition. She said: 'The joys of endometriosis and adenomyosis. I'm actually fed up of trying to cover the bloating I get 80 per cent of the time. 'This is actually mild bloating for me. I've tried every spanx, every supplement (even though I knew they prob wouldn't work) eating well and exercising does hugely help. But the anxiety of spring/summer approaching and wearing swimwear and summer clothes in general is really getting to me. 'I know there's so many worse things but it's so horrible having zero control of symptoms like bloating even with a healthy lifestyle. Advice very welcome.' Anna Heinrich and Tim Robards enjoyed a delightful family outing at the Sydney Zoo with their two daughters on Sunday. The couple, who rose to fame on The Bachelor Australia, shared the joyous day with their fans on social media. Uploading a photo from their outing, Anna, 37, and Tim, 41, can be seen beaming with their daughters in tow. Anna looked effortlessly chic in a black long-sleeve top and wide-legged pants, her blonde locks cascading down her shoulders. Tim, meanwhile, kept it casual in a white t-shirt and jeans, his signature charm on full display. Anna Heinrich and Tim Robards enjoyed a delightful family outing at the Sydney Zoo with their two daughters on Sunday Their eldest daughter, dressed adorably in a beige dress and white sneakers, appeared to be having a blast, while their youngest was comfortably nestled in a stroller. The light-hearted moment came when a fan jokingly asked Anna on Instagram, 'Were you taking @mrTimRobards back home for a refund?' Accompanying the comment was a playful gorilla emoji. The light-hearted moment came when a fan jokingly asked Anna on Instagram, 'Were you taking @mrTimRobards back home for a refund?' Anna, known for her sharp wit, replied, 'You know me too well!' showcasing the couple's playful dynamic and sense of humour The family made the most of the trip, spending quality time together Anna, known for her sharp wit, replied, 'You know me too well!' showcasing the couple's playful dynamic and sense of humour. Tim met and fell in love with wife Anna on the first season of The Bachelor Australia and are considered one of the most successful couples of the series. They tied the knot in June 2018 during an intimate ceremony at the Masseria Potenti hotel in Puglia in south Italy. The lovebirds welcomed their first child, daughter Elle, on November 12, 2020, and their second child, daughter Ruby, in March 2024. Love Island's Paul Danan has revealed that he was brought back to life after his 'obsessive' vape usage caused respiratory failure. The former reality star, 45, - who appeared on the original 2005 series of Celebrity Love Island and has been in Hollyoaks - collapsed and had to be given CPR by his family after losing consciousness while at home. He was then rushed to hospital in an ambulance and ended up in the ICU with pneumonia as his family were warned he might not 'make it through the night'. Paul had smoked cigarettes for years before switching to disposable vapes which he candidly admitted he would even 'go to sleep with' for comfort. After waking up in hospital he told how the doctor was incredibly stern with him and said if he carried on smoking he risked having to be linked to an oxygen tank later in life. Love Island's Paul Danan has revealed that he was brought back to life after his 'obsessive' vape usage caused respiratory failure The former reality star, 45, - who appeared on the original 2005 series of Celebrity Love Island and has been in Hollyoaks - collapsed and had to be given CPR by his family after losing consciousness while at home (pictured in 2005 on Love Island) He told The Sun: 'I was dead it's a miracle I'm here. I'm upstairs puffing away on my vape then suddenly I lost my breath and collapsed. My family called for an ambulance and started giving me CPR, then police arrived and took over before paramedics took me to hospital. 'I was on a machine in ICU and ended up with pneumonia. My family were warned I might not make it through the night. I'm so lucky.' 'The doctor was so, so harsh with me. She told me, 'Paul, you don't know how serious this was and you are going to be in here for a while now, on this oxygen'. The reality star has had a history of addiction, battling drugs and alcohol in the past but he has said that he has been clean for more than three years. He said that the flavours and 'a YouTube video' convinced him that vaping was safer than cigarettes. Nicotine vaping is not risk-free, but it is substantially less harmful than smoking. In 2022, UK experts reviewed the international evidence and found that 'in the short and medium-term, vaping poses a small fraction of the risks of smoking'. Cigarettes release thousands of different chemicals when they burn many are poisonous and up to 70 cause cancer. Most of the harmful chemicals in cigarette smoke, including tar and carbon monoxide, are not contained in vape aerosol. He was then rushed to hospital in an ambulance and ended up in the ICU with pneumonia as his family were warned he might not 'make it through the night' (seen in Hollyoaks) Paul had smoked cigarettes for years before switching to disposable vapes which he candidly admitted he would even 'go to sleep with' for comfort (seen in 2001) It comes after Paul looked worlds away from his Hollyoaks heyday on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast as he detailed his near-fatal heroin overdose and bedding over 1,000 women After Hollyoaks, Paul memorably appeared on Celebrity Love Island (pictured with Lady Isabella Hervey on the show) People who switch completely from smoking to vaping have significantly reduced exposure to toxins associated with risks of cancer, lung disease, heart disease and stroke. Last month Paul looked worlds away from his old self as he appeared on The Dozen with Liam Tuffs podcast. The former Hollyoaks star revisited his past drug addiction, his near-fatal heroin overdose and bedding over one thousand women during the candid interview. The actor, who played Sol Patrick in the soap, sported thick blonde curly hair and looked noticeably different from his soap days when he sported a buzzcut. During the chat, Paul recalled overdosing on heroin shortly after he returned from a rehab stint in South Africa after his time on Hollyoaks. Speaking about the ordeal, he said: 'It took a bad route, a very dark route. Drugs, I had an overdose. I came out of rehab in South Africa. The psychiatrist had put me on all these anti-psychotics. I was there for months. 'I got back home and my parents were so proud of me. I was fat and horrible and didn't feel like myself.' Paul went out to get some cocaine but also ended up buying heroin which he had never taken before. He said: 'They gave me my keys and car and I detoured and got some gear, some coke. I got a bag of brown [heroin] which I'd never done before. 'I snorted it and shouldn't have snorted it because that's dangerous. I ended up having an overdose really bad.' Paul returned home and went to bed but his parents realised something was wrong and called an ambulance. He said: 'My mum found me and I couldn't breath, it was terrible. Apparently my mum heard me gagging on my last breath. She came into the room and couldn't wake me up. 'My little brother was next door which was the saddest thing about it because still to this day he's been traumatised by it. 'She called the ambulance and luckily they were parked down the end of the road. They came and said what has he taken and she said he doesn't do drugs. They knew they had to give me the antidote. F**k me, it was Pulp Fiction. He added: 'All I could see was my dad's face at the end of the ambulance. My mum said to me she'd already said goodbye to me. I saw my dad's face and could see this look of absolute disgust and hate, but relief, "Oh my God, he's alive." ' Elsewhere during the interview, Paul spoke about his many flings and estimated he has slept with over one thousand women. Asked how many women he has slept with, he replied: 'I don't know. I think we're definitely in the higher range. More than a thousand, yeah.' Paul admitted he misses his wild younger days, saying those types of casual flings don't happen as much for him anymore. He said: 'I really miss it. It don't happen like it used to. You have to be careful if you're looking at someone who is 25, is that wrong, is that right? 'Are you alright to fancy someone who's 25, 30? They're not on your level at 45. I am looking more at the 30 range, I need to be attracted.' Paul's battle with drug addiction first began after he left Hollyoaks in 2001 after four years playing Sol. He moved to Los Angeles in an attempt to make it in Hollywood but not having family or friends nearby caused him to use drugs frequently. He said: 'They were selling me as this young Jude Law type guy. You can't party and do well in Hollywood. You've got to be healthy. It was cool but I ended up getting into the wrong type of routine of using drugs. 'I can't handle rejection but I choose the one job that gives you more rejection than any other job. I'm auditioning for big, big movies. 'A lot of the time my life revolved around getting stoned, going to a gig, doing a pill or coke. There was always drugs involved. 'America is very drug orientated if you're young. I was in my twenties. The one thing I needed was family or friends around me and I didn't. It was like the drugs filled that void, they were my friend.' Paul also claimed during the chat he won a small role in the Hollywood comedy Cheaper By The Dozen before the casting agents ultimately decided on Ashton Kutcher for the part. The actor previously told how he relapsed during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020, and ended up homeless - but later turned his life around and is now helping others with addiction problems. He ended up spending three and a half months in rehab, after having previously spent 'about 1million on rehab and recovery' over the years. Paul told The Sun that he decided to move in with his parents in Essex, so that he wouldn't be on his own in Hertfordshire during the first lockdown in March 2020. He believed he'd be fine because he hadn't touched drugs in a year and a half. The Hollyoaks star revealed that - due to his dad being in the high risk category - he couldn't even meet people for walks, and couldn't she his son DeNiro, 6, who was in London with Paul's ex. Paul recalled getting 'really bad cabin fever' and began feeling 'frustrated' as if he was 'going mad,' but gave notice on his flat in May 2020 with no end in sight for the restrictions, because he didn't want to keep paying rent when he wasn't there. Unfortunately, when he went to clear out the flat, the soap star spotted an empty bag of cocaine, which 'triggered something' and left him wanting drugs again. He told the publication: 'I ended up bumping into someone outside and getting some cocaine from them. It was a moment of like, "F**k it, I'm not going to get another chance." Then I went back to my parents and used. 'I only had a few lines but it was enough to get the taste again. They say one line is too many, a thousand is never enough, and that's what it's like. 'I felt terrible, so guilty and ashamed. I reckon over the years I've spent about 1million on rehab and recovery, and yet there I was doing it all again.' Unable to cope living with his parents, Paul decided to attempt to detox by staying with a friend of a friend in Bournemouth. However, the pair fell out, with the friend 'dumping' paul - who 'wasn't really ready to get clean' - at the station and leaving him there. The actor couldn't get into a hotel because of lockdown, so ended up going for a walk along the beach 'and scoring some drugs.' Paul recalled meeting 'dodgy guys' who ended up stealing some of his belongings, and suddenly it was midnight, and he had nowhere to go. He admitted: 'It got scary. I just walked the streets trying to get into places but every hotel said no to me and I was in tears. I was basically homeless.' Despite wanting to be back under his parents roof, they were 'furious' at him because of having to deal with his relapses so many times before. Thankfully a kind taxi driver took him to a hotel owned by his brother, where Paul slept for a few hours before going back to London. There, he booked an assessment at the famous Nightingale Hospital, which treats addicts, but missed the appointment. Paul then 'blagged' a room at a Holiday Inn in London, and found another dealer. He started using every day from the hotel room. The actor revealed that he ate just a croissant per day: 'For two weeks, I didn't sleep and was just taking a few grams of coke all day... I was losing my mind.' Eventually, the star began hallucinating, believing that police were coming to get him and seeing things that weren't real, which he described as 'terrifying.' The actor previously told how he relapsed during the first Covid-19 lockdown in the spring of 2020, and ended up homeless (Pictured in May 2021) Thankfully Gladstones - a rehab facility in the Cotswolds - offered to take him within the week, with Paul admitted that it 'saved my life.' He stayed at Gladstones for three and a half months, where they put him on the right ADHD medication and got him a psychiatrist as well as a yoga teacher. While in the facility, Paul pitched his idea for therapeutic drama workshops to different drug and alcohol recovery centres. When he checked out of Gladstones he moved to Bristol where he began his The Morning After Theatre workshops, which has now grown into a charity with ten people working for Paul and his business partner. Glen Powell appeared on Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast to tell a story about a shocking and disturbing first date. According to the Hit Man star, a friend of his younger sister was on a first date when the man she met invited her back to his place and proceeded to give her a massage, which eventually led to the terrifying discovery that he was allegedly a serial murderer and cannibal. But even though many of Powell's fans reacted in shock at hearing the story, others wondered if it was just a tall tale, or if Powell might have fallen victim to a game of telephone. 'You want to hear a crazy story? My little sister was friends with a girl who went on a date with a guy. They're hanging out. He's super charming,' Powell began, pausing so that he could 'fact check' the story with his sister. 'They have a great night, and she goes back to his apartment that night and he's like, "Hey, can I give you a massage?"' The Top Gun: Maverick star whose parents trolled him on the Hit Man red carpet continued. Glen Powell appeared on Jake Shane's Therapuss podcast to tell a story about a shocking and disturbing first date; pictured May 15 in Austin, Texas A friend of his younger sister was allegedly on a date when the man invited her back to his place and gave her a massage, which eventually led to her discovering that he was a cannibal As she got back to his apartment, she started getting weird vibes. She's like, "Something feels off.'' Nevertheless, she agreed to the massage but kept getting weird vibes. 'So, he starts massaging her shoulders,' he claimed. 'Everything just feelin' odd. She's like, "I gotta get out of here." It's a little weird, he's like, "No, no. Please don't leave. I'm sorry." She leaves.' The Hit Man star went on to explain that the next day his sister's friend's skin started 'itching like crazy' so she went to the doctor. The doctor did a test and discovered the lotion her date had used on her was from the black market. 'He does a test on her skin,' Powell said. 'It turns out it's a black market lotion that breaks down skin for human consumption.' Shane gasped in genuine shock as Powell continued: 'This man was rubbing lotion on her body to eat her.' But that wasn't all. The doctor allegedly urged the women to share the man's identity and location. 'The doctor is like, "You have to give me this person's address and you should call the police,"' Powell claimed. 'They go to this guy's house, and he had several girls' bodies in the house.' Fans went wild after a clip of the interview was shared on X, formerly Twitter. 'You want to hear a crazy story? My little sister was friends with a girl who went on a date with a guy. They're hanging out. He's super charming,' Powell began, pausing so that he could 'fact check' the story with his sister The Top Gun: Maverick star said the woman went back to the man's home and accepted his offer of a massage, but she left in a hurry after he started because 'something [felt] off' The next day, her skin allegedly was 'itching like crazy,' so she saw a doctor, who told her the lotion used for the massage was a black-market substance to break down 'down skin for human consumption' 'This man was rubbing lotion on her body to eat her,' Powell claimed, before saying the doctor got the woman to give up the man's location Powell claimed police found 'several girls' bodies in the house.' But some skeptical fans wondered if the actor was fibbing, or if he may have been taken in by an urban legend or mixed the story up with the plot of the 2022 horrorcomedy Fresh 'my god i could not have expected the way that story ended like what do you mean there's a lotion that breaks down bodies for human consumption,' one person wrote. Still others were skeptical, bringing up an old Snopes story and the 2022 movie Fresh starring Powell's Twister costar Daisy Edgar-Jones. Fresh follows a woman who goes on a weekend getaway with man, whom she later discovers is a cannibal. 'Now why this story reminds me of this movie....,' a fan wrote, sharing a photo of the Fresh movie poster. Brittany Cartwright said she was 'taken back' when Lala Kent mentioned their nanny feud on the Vanderpump Rules reunion. The reality star, 35, who was fat-shamed by estranged husband Jax Taylor in The Valley season finale, told Taylor on their Reality Hits podcast Friday she wasn't sure why Kent had described the incident as 'World War III.' 'I'm just gonna say this short and sweet because I didn't know that she was gonna talk about that on the reunion,' Cartwright said. 'I was kind of taken back by that because at that point, she had already apologized to me, [and] I had already apologized to her. So, we were completely fine, everything was good so I was kinda thrown. Like, "Why is this being talked about at the reunion?"' 'I didn't really understand and I still don't really understand that part, but I do love Lala,' she added. Brittany Cartwright, 35, said she was 'taken back' when Lala Kent mentioned their nanny feud on the Vanderpump Rules reunion. Kent, 33, who is expecting her second child, said Cartwright had 'acted so out of pocket' on the same day as her gender reveal During the last episode of the three-part reunion, Kent, 33, who is expecting her second child, said Cartwright had 'acted so out of pocket' on the same day as her gender reveal. The outraged Kent continued, 'Do not text my mother the day that I find out that we're having a baby girl and say, "Did you really hire our nanny without our permission?"' 'First of all,' Kent said, 'you're in Kentucky with Cruz," referring to the three-year-old son Cartwright shares with Taylor. 'And she said, "I have Jax yelling at me." And I said, "Well, then you need to have Jax call me so I can eat him alive instead."' Kent explained that people often use the terms 'babysitter' and 'nanny' interchangeably, and that she had hired not tried to hire the nanny away from Cartwright, but wanted her to babysit. In the days following that revelation, Kent was taking part in an Amazon Live and answered 'TBD. I like that answer,' when question by a fan if the two former co-stars were still feuding. For her part, Cartwright admitted to her part in the drama, saying it was a 'mistake' to send the text on the gender reveal day. 'I would never be rude or mean to anybody, let me make that very clear,' she explained. Kent said she and Cartwright got in to 'World War III' when she hired the nanny to babysit on the day of her gender reveal and was upset Cartwright confronted her that day Cartwright, who shares son Cruz, three with Jax Taylor, said 'My mistake was writing the message on that day, I shouldn't have done that. I apologized immediately for that' on her Reality Hits podcast Friday 'My mistake was writing the message on that day, I shouldn't have done that. I apologized immediately for that,' Cartwright said 'My mistake was writing the message on that day, I shouldn't have done that. I apologized immediately for that.' She then explained the reason for her concern. 'It took us a long time to find somebody that we trusted with Cruz. He needs certain people that are constant in his life,' she said. 'We literally only have me, Jax and our nanny here. That's why it was important to me. It's not because of any other thing. If I would've known or asked, I would've been like, "Yes, of course, go for it. Use her for the day!" It was just more of the shock value.' Continuing, she said, 'Me and Jax were already in such a bad place, so I just kind of wrote a message on a day that I shouldn't have.' 'But we had already apologized to each other and gotten over it since then.' Kent, meanwhile, seems to be enjoying her pregnancy as she waits to meet her new daughter. She posted a series of snaps on social media Sunday displaying her growing baby bump. One was a sweet photo of Kent and daughter Ocean, three, wearing bathing suits by the entrance of their rented home flashing peace signs. The Estate actress wore a peach bikini bottom with a floral bikini bra top, while the tyke looked sweet in a ballerina style suit and a sun hat. Kent share Ocean with her former fiance Randall Emmet, 53. She used a sperm donor to become pregnant with her second child. Kent posted a series of snaps on social media Sunday displaying her growing baby bump. One was a sweet photo of Kent and daughter Ocean, three, wearing bathing suits by the entrance of their rented home flashing peace signs. 'We went to Palm Springs for Mamas Day' Kent shared a shot of her legs out by the pool explaining she had 'continued working out super hard with these bands from Amazon.' The model said she 'finally got compression socks bc I have mad water retention this pregnancy' The influencer showcased her belly in black pants and a multi-toned bra top and hoodie. 'Brought my bump out (again) for Lovers & Friends in Vegas which was cancelled last minute' 'Little moments: We went to Palm Springs for Mamas Day' the influencer wrote. She shared a shot of her legs out by the pool explaining she had 'continued working out super hard with these bands from Amazon.' A picture of Kent showcasing her belly in black pants and a multi-toned bra top under a multi-toned hoodie was explained as 'brought my bump out (again) for Lovers & Friends in Vegas which was cancelled last minute.' The model said she 'finally got compression socks bc I have mad water retention this pregnancy.' Tori Spelling celebrated her youngest child, son Beau, graduating from kindergarten over the weekend. On Saturday, the 51-year-old actress shared photos of her seven-year-old son proudly holding up his graduation certificate as they posed outside of his elementary school. In her caption, she gushed over him moving up to a new grade and wrote: 'Beau Beau is officially a 1st grader!' The Beverly Hills, 90210 star who brought along her kids for a sushi date earlier this week also added, 'Yesterday he had his end of the year Kindergarten party at school. So proud of this kid. My Baby. #kindergartenkutie.' In addition to Beau, she also shares Liam, 17; Stella, 15' Hattie, 12; and Finn, 11, with her ex-husband Dean McDermott, 57. Tori Spelling celebrated her youngest child, son Beau, graduating from kindergarten over the weekend; seen in Los Angeles on April 1 On Saturday, the 51-year-old actress shared photos of her seven-year-old son proudly holding up his graduation certificate as they posed outside of his elementary school In her snaps celebrating her youngest's kindergarten graduation, she was seen baring her midriff in a Led Zeppelin crop top and sported low-rise jeans adorned with zippers and grommet details. She also sported black Converse sneakers and accessorized with various chain necklaces. For the special occasion, she went for a casual-chic look as she threw up her platinum blonde hair into a messy updo and donned a pair of retro sunglasses. In one photo, she was seen staring proudly at Beau and throwing up a peace sign. The second image in her post was a solo shot of her son who wore a neon green T-shirt, black joggers and colorful sneakers holding up his certificate proudly. None of her other kids nor their father were seen in her post. This past Mother's Day marked her first as a single mom as she separated from her ex and officially filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' in March. McDermott first announced their separation in a since-deleted Instagram post shared in June 2023. Regarding their divorce proceedings, her estranged husband responded to her filing last month. In her caption, she gushed over him moving up to a new grade and wrote: 'Beau Beau is officially a 1st grader!' In addition to Beau, she also shares Liam, 17, Stella, 15, Hattie, 12, and Finn, 11, with her ex-husband Dean McDermott , 57; seen in June 2023 In legal documents filed the day after Mother's Day on May 12, McDermott opposed Spelling's bid for sole custody of their children. Instead, he requested joint physical and legal custody. The Due South actor also sought spousal support for himself while petitioning the court to end Tori's spousal support, mirroring her initial request. Both sides are also asking the other party to cover their respective attorneys' fees. In spite of their legal battle, the former couple appeared to be cordial, at least on social media. Last month, Spelling showed her support as McDermott went Instagram official with his new girlfriend, Lily Calo. She left a like on his post of him with his girlfriend, who is a senior account executive, as they enjoyed a date at The Magic Castle together in Los Angeles. However, she faced criticism from an internet troll, who McDermott then went after in defense of his ex. When a social media user called it 'mind-boggling' that she liked the post, McDermott praised Spelling and called the commenter a 'troll.' This past Mother's Day marked her first as a single mom as she separated from her ex and officially filed for divorce, citing 'irreconcilable differences,' in March Spelling and McDermott tied the knot in May 2006 and were married for nearly 18 years before their separation; seen in August 2019 He first announced their separation in a since-deleted Instagram post shared in June 2023; seen in February 2019 Regarding their divorce proceedings, her estranged husband responded to her filing last month. In legal documents filed the day after Mother's Day on May 12, McDermott opposed Spelling's bid for sole custody of their children, requesting joint physical and legal custody. The Due South actor also sought spousal support for himself; seen in October 2019 She was linked to advertising CEO Ryan Cramer who shares a great resemblance to her ex in terms of physical appearances, according to her fans late last year. 'It's because she is a highly evolved and compassionate, loving person, which is a lot more [than] I can say for the trolls commenting on this post,' he wrote. He added: 'Tori has a boyfriend. People get divorced and are better apart [than] together. That's life. I'll pray for happiness and all the haters.' Spelling and McDermott tied the knot in May 2006 and were married for nearly 18 years before their separation. Michelle Keegan found herself mistaken for Kim Kardashian after she shared a behind the scenes glimpse of her latest photo shoot to Instagram on Sunday. The actress, 37, looked nothing short of incredible as she slipped into a strapless body con dress for the snaps which hugged every inch of her jaw-dropping curves. Michelle let her long dark locks fall to her shoulders in loose waves leading many followers to think she was actually the American superstar, 43. Racing to the comments they gushed: 'Anybody else see Kim K at first?': 'It's giving Kardashian': 'Thought this was Kim K for sure': 'The most stunning and beautiful woman': 'I have no words'. Michelle told followers she was 'hitting the ground running' after returning to the UK after months filming series two of BBC's Ten Pound Poms in Australia. Michelle Keegan, 37, found herself mistaken for Kim Kardashian after she shared a behind the scenes glimpse of her latest photo shoot to Instagram on Sunday The actress (L) looked nothing short of incredible as she slipped into a strapless body con dress which hugged her jaw-dropping curves (R, Kim Kardashian pictured) Michelle let her long dark locks fall to her shoulders in loose waves leading many followers to think she was actually the American superstar, 43 Captioning the post: 'Hit the ground running 1st week back in the UK'. It comes just days after husband Mark Wright shared shared a sweet birthday tribute to Michelle 37 on Monday. The former TOWIE star, 37, has been married to actress since 2015 and was quick to show his appreciation in a sweet Instagram post. Mark posted a cute snap of himself and Michelle embracing outside the Smith's restaurant, no doubt after a romantic date night. He captioned the image: 'Happy birthday my queen @michkeegan' The former Coronation Street star responded by posting the snap to her own Stories, along with a slew of other birthday wishes from friends and family. In the snap posted by Mark, Michelle shows off her incredible figure in a pair of fitted black trousers and smart top. She teamed her look with a pair of red high heels, with one foot kicked out in delight while her signature dark locks are secured up into a ponytail. In another look she wore an chic turtle neck Her glam make-up accentuated her dainty features She shared a glimpse behind the scenes The setting was a luxurious home with jaw-dropping exterior Michelle told followers she was 'hitting the ground running' after returning to the UK after months filming series two of BBC 's Ten Pound Poms in Australia Just weeks ago, the couple seemed more loved-up than ever as they enjoyed a wine tasting and vineyards tour at Tyrrell's in New South Wales. In another photo, Netflix star Michelle looked incredible as she threw her arms in the air as she posed on a giant wooden 'Welcome to Wine Country' sign. She showed off her sensational figure in a beige long sleeved top from Nude Lucy which she teamed with a stylish pair of blue wide legged jean. The couple were seen sipping wine in the sunshine while snacking on crackers and a cheeseboard. The Hunter Valley is one of Australia's major wine regions, with a viticultural history dating back to the early 1800s. It comes just days after husband Mark Wright shared shared a sweet birthday tribute to Michelle 37 on Monday Michelle penned: 'On cloud wine in the Hunter Valley'. Mark and Michelle are currently back Down Under as she continues filming series two of the BBC drama Ten Pound Poms. Elsewhere during the trip, the couple enjoyed dinner in Sydney visiting Mikey's Pizza in Bondi with the owner sharing a snap of himself posing with the pair. Michelle looked effortlessly stylish as she flashed a glimpse of her trim midriff in a cropped lemon top and high-waisted jeans. Lila Moss was very much a chip off-the-old-block as she enjoyed a fun night with friends in Ibiza on Friday. The daughter of catwalk legend Kate Moss, 21, looked typically stylish in a white mini dress by Reformation with a yoke skirt. She teamed the number with black boots and carried the essentials in a white shoulder bag with studded embellishments, Lila sported her blonde locks straight loose as she was shot in company of a female friend. The fashion star's modelling career is flourishing, and her latest high profile shoot with Interview Magazine in April sees the rising star in a series of edgy looks. Lila Moss was snapped stepping out for a fun night with friends while in Ibiza, Spain The daughter of Kate Moss, 21, looked typically stylish in a white mini dress by Reformation with a yoke skirt as she was shot in company of a female friend She stunned in a sultry shot, posing in a low-cut white vest top while another sees her flaunting her legs in a slinky green mini dress. Lila's friend, influencer Devon Lee Carlson, interviewed her for the piece, and was keen to know if she always wanted to follow her mother, 50, into fashion. 'I used to want to be a teacher. Being around children makes you more fun and silly,' Lila confessed. While she was keen on taking a different path in her career, Lila admitted she has had a love of fashion since she was tiny, recalling how she and her school friends used to create their own magazines for her mum Kate. 'Me and Iris would make magazines together. I was always into it. Wed dress up, do a photo shoot, put it together in a Word document, and print it,' she laughed. Emulating her father, Dazed & Confused publisher Jefferson Hack, Lila added: 'Actually, we made it to give to my mom for her birthday. So theres a copy somewhere.' And Lila had the perfect closet to raid to inspire her, as she added: 'I was always dressing up in my moms closet.' 'I also looked up to my mom in the sense that Id want her black vests from Saint Laurent, or Id wear black leggings and all black and gray. I was so particular from day one.' The fashion star's modelling career is flourishing, and her latest high profile shoot with Interview Magazine in April sees the rising star in a series of edgy looks She stunned in a sultry shot, posing in a low-cut white vest top while another sees her flaunting her legs in a slinky green mini dress Lila's friend, influencer Devon Lee Carlson, interviewed her for the piece, and was keen to know if she always wanted to follow her mother into fashion 'I used to want to be a teacher. Being around children makes you more fun and silly,' Lila confessed 'We were actually talking yesterday, me and my mom, about how all the arguments we had when I was younger were about clothes and me not wanting to wear white socks.' Lila has long been compared to her famous mother with their similar striking looks and tall slender frames. And she is certainly discovering it pays to resemble one of the world's biggest supermodels as she has nearly tripled her earnings in one year. Accounts for Lila's own company Grace Grove Ltd, published recently, reveal her pay check jumped from 129,458 in 2022 to 359,433 in 2023. It is is evidence of a very successful year for Lila after she fronted campaigns for the likes of Pepe Jeans, an international denim brand based on Portobello Road in Notting Hill. She also starred in a campaign for the French brand Maje last year and is currently walking in several exclusive shows for Paris Fashion Week, or gracing the front row alongside Kate. After being signed to her mother's Kate Moss Agency when she was just 15, Lila became the face of Marc Jacobs Beauty in 2018. She went on to make her runway debut for the Italian fashion house Miu Miu in 2020, became an ambassador for YSL and made headlines when she walked the pink carpet for Victoria's Secret World Tour last year. Lila has been hit with her fair share of nepotism accusations - the most recent being when she appeared in Edward Enninful's latest edition of Vogue called Legendary alongside the likes of Oprah Winfrey and Victoria Beckham. On Thin Ice: Putin vs Greenpeace (BBC2) Rating: When part-time anarchists and trust fund socialists with private school educations glue themselves to the tarmac of the M25, to 'Just Stop Oil', I sometimes wonder why they don't go and do it in Moscow. After all, Russia's exports of fossil fuels are colossal, dwarfing UK consumption, despite international sanctions imposed after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine. A protest in Red Square is bound to be far more effective . . . isn't it? On Thin Ice: Putin vs Greenpeace is a first-hand account of what happens when eco-warriors provoke the Kremlin. It also emphasises why, instead of despising Western democracy, Left-wing professional protestors should be profoundly grateful for the freedoms they abuse because the alternative is ugly. On Thin Ice: Putin vs Greenpeace is a first-hand account of what happens when eco-warriors provoke the Kremlin One woman, a 27-year-old marketing executive called Alex, hadn't even told her mum and dad in Devon what she was up to Drawing on video shot by the crew of the Arctic Sunrise, a yacht with an icebreaker's bow, this series tells the story of the confrontation in 2013 between Greenpeace activists and Russian special forces. After trying to board an oil-drilling platform called the Prirazlomnaya, in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia, the environmentalists were taken prisoner at gunpoint. Two brave but foolhardy souls who tried to climb up the vast metal scaffolding intending to attach a rigid plastic tent to the side and claim squatters' rights were seized and held hostage. The rest of the 30 sailors retreated to their mothership and were unable to resist as masked gunmen abseiled down from a helicopter hovering overhead. 'It felt like being in the middle of a James Bond film,' said one activist. That's not a Bond film I want to see, where 007 is armed with nothing more than a vegan baguette and the Russians win. Most of the crew were not so much courageous as hopelessly naive. One woman, a 27-year-old marketing executive called Alex, hadn't even told her mum and dad in Devon what she was up to. Gradually, this documentary which continues tonight revealed why the Kremlin was so belligerent That's the difference between Britain and Russia: the Royal National Lifeboat Institute does not use high-explosive shells Doomed to failure from the start, this was a poor recruiting advert for Greenpeace. The middle-aged men in charge of the planning were far more interested in filming themselves trying to 'save the world' than they were in the safety of their crew. The Russians were under government orders to stop the protesters. That left no room for compromise. Violence escalated as warning shots were fired first from pistols, then from automatic rifles, then from gun turrets on the coastguard ship. That's the difference between Britain and Russia: the Royal National Lifeboat Institute does not use high-explosive shells. Gradually, this documentary which continues tonight revealed why the Kremlin was so belligerent. More than half Russia's national budget depends on the gas and oil giant Gazprom, according to the company's head of communications a man identified only as 'Igor'. An attack on the oil rig was tantamount to an attack on the president himself, he said, 'because Gazprom is Putin'. A bunch of adrenaline addicts with selfie sticks aren't going to win that fight. Dick and Angel Strawbridge have returned to TV with a new show following a bitter feud with the producers of their former series Escape To The Chateau. Last year the couple, who found fame as cameras followed them renovating their sprawling French home, were engulfed in a bullying scandal which led to Channel 4 cutting ties after an independent investigation into their conduct. Despite this their spin-off was already in the works and the new show has now hit screens and sees the pair exploring France away from the chateau in Dick and Angel's Secret France. The opening credits shows flashbacks of Dick, 63, and Angel, 45, as they got to grips with the huge challenge of renovating the 45-room property, with the voice over describing them as an 'intrepid British couple'. Looking through a huge folder of paper work in one awkward clip while touring the derelict chateau after splashing out on it, Dick told the camera grimly: '200 plus pages of reasons not to buy the house'. Dick and Angel Strawbridge have returned to TV with a new show following a bitter feud with the producers of their former series Escape To The Chateau Last year the couple were engulfed in a bullying scandal which led to Channel 4 cutting ties after an independent investigation into their conduct Despite this their spin-off was already in the works and the new show has now hit screens and sees the pair exploring France away from the chateau in Dick and Angel's Secret France Nevertheless fans were delighted to see the couple back on screens and quickly took to X, formerly Twitter. Writing: 'So good to see Angel and Dick Strawbridge back on screens!': Time for the brilliant Dick and Angel on C4': 'Will be watching as always Dick! Sending love to you all from the UK': 'Ready and waiting Dick, really enjoyed last week!'. In May 2023, sources claimed Two Rivers Media, the company that produces Escape To The Chateau, raised concerns about the presenting duo, per Deadline. A source said at the time: 'There has been a deteriorating relationship between Two Rivers and Dick and Angel's Chateau TV for various reasons and it all came to a head.' 'People who try to remote manage them from the UK, that doesn't work, or people who come into their house and boss them around, that doesn't work either,' the source added. 'Producers turn them into this perfect, brilliant, funny couple, they're that on camera, but that's about it.' Sources close to the couple told MailOnline that their behaviour on set was nothing like their 'gorgeous' on screen personas. A source said: 'Dick and Angel come across on screen as the most gorgeous and lovely couple, literally like butter wouldn't melt, but they're not like that off screen. Looking through a huge folder of paper work in one awkward clip while touring the derelict chateau after splashing out on it, Dick told the camera grimly: '200 plus pages of reasons not to buy the house' The couple who found fame as cameras followed them renovating their sprawling French home (pictured) Nevertheless fans were delighted to see the couple back on screens and quickly took to X, formerly Twitter 'It's a full-on show, production is with them at the chateau for weeks so they can't hide their real characters - they can't turn it on for two hours of recording and then not go back to their real persona. 'They're just spiky and volatile people and, as you can imagine, that's a nightmare to work with.' Concerns by the show's producers were laid bare after a filthy-mouthed rant by Angel saw her questioning producers about a delay to her schedule, before accusing someone of posting images on Instagram of a man who had a likeness to her husband, Dick. She said: 'Who is that inspired by when you're f*****g working at the chateau? Just tell me that and then you can f*****g leave and this is me f*****g angry because I think you're a f****d up little c**t. 'Do not work in this chateau and then post dark, weird pictures that I find quite insulting, and do not smirk. You know what, you can just f**k off.' The clip - which dated from 2021 and was recorded during one of the first four series of Escape To The Chateau - was obtained by Deadline in May 2023. Concerns by the show's producers were laid bare after a filthy-mouthed rant by Angel saw her questioning producers about a delay to her schedule, before accusing someone of posting images on Instagram of a man who had a likeness to her husband, Dick After the audio emerged, Angel and Dick took to Instagram to pay tribute to fans of the show, adding their future 'truly could not look more exciting' despite severing ties with Channel 4 Earlier in the audio, Angel can be heard saying her husband Dick talked to people like 's**t,' to which a producer replied: 'And I don't like that either.' After the audio emerged, Angel and Dick took to Instagram to pay tribute to fans of the show, adding their future 'truly could not look more exciting' despite severing ties with Channel 4. They wrote: 'Thank you for inviting us into your living rooms. You have watched our children grow up and shared our adventures. 'It was a Strawbridge Family decision early last year to conclude Escape to the Chateau, but we have loved every moment and, despite the many challenges, we refused to give up on our dream, and in doing so have filled the chateau with love and laughter, and, most importantly, have created the most wonderful home for our family. 'There are two sides to every story and from the incredible support we have received, most of you know that. 'We are proud of who we are, and we feel we must do what we believe to be correct, that is in fact what kept Escape to the Chateau unique, and whilst we have indeed parted ways with Channel 4, we are hugely grateful to them and their teams for their support and creativity over the years. 'The future truly could not look more exciting and we thank you for your continued love and support.' Dave Chappelle and his wife Elaine were spotted making the rounds in New York City on a rare public night out for dinner at the celebrity hot spot Sadelle's. The comedian, 50, kept his look casual with cargo pants, a burgundy T-shirt and white trainers. His wife of 23 years was dressed for the heat in a gray tank top and a skirt with a drawstring waist. She also wore white trainers and added a black crossbody bag to her ensemble. The former Chappelle's Show host who performed at Abu Dhabi Comedy Week last month also smoked a cigarette as he walked down the street. Dave Chappelle and his wife Elaine were spotted making the rounds in New York City on a rare public night out for dinner at the celebrity hot spot Sadelle's The comedian, 50, went casual in cargo pants with a burgundy T-shirt and white trainers. His wife of 23 years was dressed for the heat in gray tank top with a matching skirt The sighting comes after a performance last month in which Chappelle accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza. The comic, 50, had been performing in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, when he made the remarks. Chappelle, who is a Muslim, told the crowd that he believes Jewish people support Israel because of a rise in antisemitism. He said the Gaza Strip faces a 'genocide', and that by making Jews safer in America would make them realize they didn't need Israel as an ultimate protector. According to Middle Eastern outlet The National, he told the sold-out crowd: 'What is happening in Gaza is a direct result of antisemitism in the West. 'If you are in America, the best thing you can do is to make American Jews feel safe, feel loved and supported so they can know they don't have to support a country that is committing genocide just to feel safe.' Chappelle's comments come as Abu Dhabi has maintained its diplomatic relations with Israel even as it increasingly criticized Israel's conduct in the seven-month-long war. Chappelle had previously caused a walkout during a show in Boston last year after he slammed Israel for its 'war crimes' against Palestinians. The former Chappelle's Show host who performed at Abu Dhabi Comedy Week last month also smoked a cigarette as she walked down the street; seen Saturday in NYC The sighting comes after Chappelle performed in Abu Dhabi last month where he accused Israel of committing genocide in Gaza; pictured in 2023 Chappelle, who is a Muslim, told the crowd that he believes Jewish people support Israel because of a rise in antisemitism; seen in July 2023 in Napa, California 'If you are in America, the best thing you can do is to make American Jews feel safe, feel loved and supported so they can know they don't have to support a country that is committing genocide just to feel safe,' he said on stage; pictured in 2022 in Hollywood Chappelle has been widely criticized in recent years for a steady stream of jokes involving transgender people, which many critics have labeled transphobic. In his 2017 Netflix special, he spoke about pitching a movie idea to a Hollywood producer about a superhero who gets his power via raping women. Other critics have complained that some of his recent stand-up specials have featured long digressions that played more like airing of grievances than comedic routines. In Chappelle's new Netflix special The Dreamer, which debuted December 31, he makes jokes not only about the trans community, but the disabled as well saying, 'theyre not as organized as the gays. And I love punching down.' Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup walked down the aisle Saturday, again. The couple, who tied the knot in a simple courthouse ceremony last year, said 'I do' for the second time, almost a year to the date of their first wedding. This time around, the pair threw a lavish ceremony and reception for family and friends in Mexico City. Video shared on social media by Watts' brother Ben, shows the Feud star, 55, wearing a simple but elegant sleeveless off-white gown with a deep V-neck and a belted waist and she and the wedding party waved from the elevator on the way to the ceremony. The Watcher star carried a bouquet of white anemone. Naomi Watts and Billy Crudup walked down the aisle on Saturday, saying 'I do' for the second timein a lavish ceremony and reception for family and friends in Mexico City; pictured in Beverly Hills in January Her blonde hair was styled in a low bun with tendrils framing her face. The Oscar nominee's makeup looked camera ready with a soft pink lip. Crudup, 55, looked handsome in a traditional black suit. Watts' child Kai, 15, and niece Ruby were bridesmaids, and they wore strapless champagne colored gowns with ruching at the waist. Both teens styled their hair straight and pulled back in half ponytails. Also in the wedding party were Watt's son Sasha, 16, and Crudup's son William, 20. Both were styled in dark suits. Watts shares both her children with former partner Liev Schreiber, 56. Crudup shares William with ex-partner Mary Louise Parker, 59. Ben Watts shared an Instagram Story video showing proud mom Myfanwy Edwards Roberts getting emotional before the ceremony. The bride's best friend Nicole Kidman attended the lavish ceremony that appeared to take place at a museum. The Faraway Downs actress was spotted sitting with friends before the ceremony wearing a sparkling silver long sleeve top and a short black skirt. Her strawberry blonde hair was styled in loose waves. The pair announced they had wed in a simple courthouse ceremony in New York on social media June 10, 2023 Included in the wedding party were Watts' children Kai, 15, and niece Ruby, who served as bridesmaids. The actress's son Sasha, 16, and Crudup's son William, 20 also participated in the festivities (Pictured in Los Angeles in February) Other guests included Justin Theroux and girlfriend Nicole Brydon Bloom. Destination Wedding, Event & Travel Planner Billy Folchetti also shared some black and white photos of the reception hall before the guests arrived in his Instagram Stories. Video from the rehearsal dinner the night before shows Watts in a gorgeous yellow dress with floral print. During a speech, the bride-to-be held her groom's hand and told their guests, 'This is a reminder of what life's about, the affirmation of love. It's one of the simplest things, but one of the most important.' Christine Quinn is back on the market, gentlemen, and looking for her next baby daddy. The former Selling Sunset star, 35, filmed a cheeky video on her way to the White Fox Hot Summer Nights Party at LAVO in Hollywood this week. In the clip, she moves her head and hair around for the camera and then says: 'Do we got it, Daddy?' The person who was filming her replied, 'We got it.' The reality TV star posted the short clip to her Instagram and captioned it 'Now taking baby daddy applications.' The former Selling Sunset star, 35, filmed a cheeky video on her way to the White Fox Hot Summer Nights Party at LAVO in Hollywood this week Christine Quinn is back on the market, gentlemen, and looking for her next baby daddy The comment comes after her estranged husband Christian Dumontet filed for divorce on April 5 following a domestic violence charge. In photos from the same night, the mom of one declared it a hot girl summer in a figure-hugging, strapless gray dress that clung to her frame and fell down towards her ankles. According White Fox clothing brand's official website, the piece is currently priced at $59.99. While on the red carpet, Christine got in a bit of mingling with her former Selling Sunset co-star Davina Potratz, who was wearing the same dress as she. 'Whos ready for hot girl summer?' the reality star wrote in one caption, tagging the clothing brand White Fox. I am!" The statuesque blonde was also seen reuniting with her former Selling Sunset costars Mary Fitzgerald and Jason Oppenheim, along with newer cast member Nicole Young. Christine's appearance at the party comes just days after she accused her husband of violating the temporary restraining order she has against him by sending a friend to spy on her. Dumontet has been ordered 'to stay at least 100 yards away' from their former home after the double domestic violence arrest involving his son with Quinn. Christine may be indicating she's ready to start dating again In the clip, she moves her head and hair around for the camera and then says: 'Do we got it, Daddy?' The person who was filming her replied, 'We got it' The reality TV star posted the short clip to her Instagram and captioned it 'Now taking baby daddy applications' The comment comes after her estranged husband Christian Dumontet filed for divorce on April 5 following a domestic violence charge Christine's appearance at the party comes just days after she accused her husband of violating the temporary restraining order she has against him by sending a friend to spy on her Christine and Christian are parents to Christian Georges, 2 In photos from the same night, the mom of one declared it a hot girl summer in a figure-hugging, strapless gray dress that clung to her frame and fell down towards her ankles More than 18 calls have been made from Christine's home to the LAPD over the past five years, Us Weekly reported. 'Christine always had to walk on eggshells around him,' a source told Us Weekly. 'Christine always had to keep secrets from him in order to protect herself. 'She always had to hide things from him to avoid scary arguments,' added the source. 'They have had aggressive fights over the years that were alarming.' Love On The Spectrum star Michael Theo has nabbed his first big acting gig in ABC's new comedy series Austin. The reality star, who shot to fame after starring on the ABC series about neurodivergent singles finding love, plays the titular role of Austin, a forklift driver from Canberra with autism. Austin enters the life of lead character, British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller), who he believes is his father after the pair briefly met in London. Speaking to ABC about his new role, Michael applauded producers for casting someone who has autism to play a neurodivergent character. 'I think it [the script] was pretty spot on and I'm actually impressed they brought in an actor on the spectrum to play someone on the spectrum,' he told Lindsay McDougall on ABC Illawarra Drive. Love On The Spectrum star Michael Theo (pictured) has nabbed his first big acting gig in ABC's new comedy series Austin. Theo, who has long dreamed of becoming an actor, said he was thrilled to score such an incredible role a few years after Love on The Spectrum was filmed. He also revealed that the character of Austin was inspired by him, while his on-screen mother Mel (played by Gia Carides) was also inspired by his own mum. 'I'm used to myself saying lines like that because I also don't have a filter, like Austin doesn't,' he said. The reality star, who shot to fame after starring on the ABC series about neurodivergent singles finding love, plays the titular role of Austin, a forklift driver from Canberra with autism 'There are some actors who play deadpan characters on my favourite shows and they crack me up every time.' Love on the Spectrum followed seven young adults on the autism spectrum as they explore dating and relationships in the modern day world. Although Michael was unlucky finding a girlfriend on the show, he won plenty of fans and publicity opportunities. Austin enters the life of lead character, British children's author Julian Hartswood (Ben Miller), who he believes is his father after the pair briefly met in London In 2021 he appeared on the Ellen show, and a month later launched a podcast called Mr A+, in which he discusses topics such as mental health, fitness and dating. He also enjoyed a small cameo on TV series Hardball in 2019. Austin airs 8pm Sundays on ABC. June 8, 2024: The Ukraine War is very much an American war because Russia and the United States have been the major military powers, and opponents, since the end of World War II. In that time these two nuclear superpowers never fought each other. Instead, Russia and the United States supported smaller allies in a series of wars where the Americans were usually victorious, more, or less. This includes Korea (1950-53), Vietnam (1964-73), Kosovo War (1989-96), Gulf (Iraq) War (1990-91), Afghanistan War (2001-2021), Iraq/Islamic terrorists (2003-2011), Iraq Intervention (2014-2021), Syrian Civil War (ongoing since 2014). In addition to these wars that involved American forces, often mainly airpower, there were dozens of smaller interventions which also involved few American troops other than airpower or warships offshore. The United States has also been involved in wars where no American troops were directly involved. This includes the Ukraine War (ongoing since 2022) that began when Russia invaded Ukraine. Once more the Americans were heavily involved, but only via over many billion dollars worth of military and economic aid from NATO countries. Most of the NATO aid was supplied by the United States. This aid enabled Ukrainian forces to halt the Russian invasion and continue fighting. Meanwhile American armed forces have struggled to maintain their combat capabilities. For most of American history the military depended on volunteers. Conscription was used during the Civil War (1861-65), World War I (1914-18) where American involvement was primarily economic and military aid until 1917 when American troops were sent and fought until the Germans were defeated in 1918. This enormous conflict was supposed to be the war to end all wars. That didnt happen and in 1939 World War II began with the Americans getting involved in 1941, though conscription began in 1940. Most of the U.S. effort was against Germany, which surrendered 0n May 8, 1945. The Japanese fought on until September 1945, when the American use of two nuclear bombs on Japanese cities compelled the Japanese to forget about fighting to the end and instead did the unthinkable, from the Japanese perspective, they surrendered. Since World War II, Germany and Japan have prospered and become American allies. In Europe the United States was one of the twelve founding members of NATO (North Atlantic Treaty Organization). Along with the Americans, Britain, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal were the original members. American conscription ended in 1975 and its armed forces have since been all-volunteer. NATO has since expanded to 32 members, with Ukraine planning to join once the 2022 Russian invasion has been defeated. Currently the Russians are seeking a negotiated end to the war. Russian troops losses have been heavy, with over a million casualties and an economy wrecked by economic sanctions. The victory in Ukraine was unique for the United States because no American troops were involved. The United States is still a major military power, with the most powerful land, naval and air forces on the planet. Despite that the United States is having a difficult time maintaining its military forces. This is because American voters have to support American participation in a war. This support is often provided by the enemy attacking Americans troops or ships. This has been the case since victory in the Spanish American War that lasted from April to December 1898. The U.S. mobilized 307,000 troops for this conflict and suffered 4,300 dead. Only 385 U.S. troops died in combat, the rest of the losses were mainly due to disease. This was typical of all wars until World War I when, for the last time, combat losses of 53,000 were outnumbered by 117,000 non-combat losses. In World War II it was, for the first time, different. The United States lost 292,000 troops (including the Army Air Forces) in combat compared to 114,000 dead from non-combat causes. The U.S. Navy lost 30,831 men in combat with another 26,000 dead from other causes. Another interesting development was that U.S. Marine Corps personnel were less likely to die in combat during World War II than army troops. That was because marines were not constantly involved in combat as the army soldiers were. The marines were trained to take part in amphibious operations, which they did successfully throughout the Americans war in the Pacific. Because the Pacific War was mainly one of capturing enemy held islands, ground combat was intermittent and the various island battles did not last long because of the enormous fire power supplied by warships and combat aircraft. The Ukraine War has been unique in terms of casualties. By the third year of the war most casualties were caused by armed UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) or Ukrainian USVs (Unmanned Surface Vessels.) The American military is trying to adapt to these new realities. The U.S. Army and Navy are having a difficult time doing that because both the army and navy have been undergoing one crisis after another. The United States is having a difficult time building new warships and maintaining the ones it has. This is mainly because China now controls most of the commercial shipping market and has substantially more shipyards and trained shipyard workers than the United States. The Chinese fleet now has more ships than the U.S. Navy. The Americans still have the edge with the combined displacement of all its ships standing at 138,000 tons. This is more than all of the next 13 largest foreign navies combined. The U.S. Navy advantage here is due to eleven large aircraft carriers and their escorts plus over 60 nuclear submarines. The primary American problem is the increasing difficulty in recruiting enough soldiers and sailors. Fewer military age American men are willing to join. When conscription ended in the early 197os and was replaced by volunteers the military was able to maintain a force of 2.1 million active duty and reserve troops until the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. That ended the Cold War between the Russians and NATO that lasted 42 years. All NATO countries ended conscription and relied on volunteers. In the United States that meant military personnel declined to 1.4 million by 2024. With no credible military threat and lots of good jobs available outside the military, recruiters are having a difficult time. Extended periods of peace tend to do this. If there is a war, the situation turns around quickly but starting a war or joining one that is already underway, like in Ukraine, is political suicide and impossible. American voters support defense and the people in the military. The voters do not back looking for a war to get involved in. The American military also has problems with recruiting, training, and retaining competent officers. This is nothing new because the United States traditionally had a small armed force and many of the officers were supplied the army (West Point) and navy (Annapolis) military academies supplemented by officer training programs at colleges. The quality of these new officers has declined since the Cold War ended. With no real threat, like the defunct Soviet Union, it has proved difficult to get officer candidates to take their training and performance seriously. The military has become another civil service job. European militaries had this problem before the Cold War ended. For Europeans, the end of World War II marked the end of more than thirty years of horrendous combat and losses. In Ukraine the Russians have found that their military age men and those of European nations have similar attitudes and are now eager to get into another war. The Russians still have conscription but since the end of the Soviet Union Russian voters have demanded an end to conscription and Russia was in the midst of doing that when they invaded Ukraine. The hostility to military service, especially when Russian troops are ordered to invade a neighbor rather than defend Russia, has weakened the ability of the Russian army to prevail in Ukraine. Morale matters and the Ukrainians have better morale because they are defending their country from foreign invasion. Russian leader Vladimir Putin ordered his forces to invade Ukraine because he believed the Ukrainians would not or could not resist. Putin misjudged the situation and is now threatened with losing his job as the number of Russian troops killed in Ukraine keeps growing and the Russian people fail to see any justification for these personnel or economic losses. Most of Russias trading partners consist of Europe and the United States. That trade stopped when Russia invaded Ukraine and morale among the Russian population is low and getting worse as long as the war lasts and the economic sanctions remain in place. Formed in 1941 to supply vehicles to the American army, Jeep is renowned for its rugged off-road vehicles that guzzle gas. But that is changing, or at least the last bit - as the automaker announces its first fully electric vehicle for the US market. It doesn't come cheap. The Wagoneer S will start from $72,000 for the 'launch edition', with cheaper and more expensive models coming in the future. The Wagoneer S has two electric motors that produce 600 horsepower, and it goes from 0 to 60 mph in 3.4 seconds. It goes more than 300 miles on a single charge. While Jeep has already introduced the compact Avenger EV in Europe, the Wagnoneer S marks its entry into the US and Canada. The Wagoneer S will start from $72,000, and goes 300 miles on a charge. It designed for off-road like most of Jeep's models It is the first fully electric Jeep for the US market Even though off-road capability is in Jeep's DNA, there was no talk of that at the launch. But Stellantis, Jeep's owners, did reveal a concept called the Wagoneer S Trailhawk that has big, off-road wheels and a raised suspension. Since it is not needed to cool a combustion engine, Jeep's trademark seven-slot grille instead lights up at night to illuminate the areas around the SUV. The Wagnoneer S - which has a sleeker, more aerodynamic design that the previous gas versions - is designed to gauge consumer interest in a fully electric Jeep model. Stellantis - which also owns Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and European brand Citroen and Peugeot - is keen to roll out EVs, alongside gas and hyybrid models. Jeep's new model comes amid waning interest and enthusiasm for EVs, even as President Joe Biden pushes for gas cars to be banned. 'The launch of the all-electric Jeep Wagoneer S marks a new chapter in the storied history of the Jeep brand,' said Antonio Filosa, Jeep brand CEO. A traditional off-road Jeep - the Wrangler 'Building upon nearly a century of innovation and design, this first global EV will introduce a whole new generation of owners to an experience that is distinctly Jeep and 100% electric in every way.' In response to environmental concerns, the Wagnoneer S ditches wood, leather, and chrome. It is Jeep's first not to use Chrome. Synthetic materials will be used for the interior that feel like leather. Retirement accounts are an important part of the financial assets many Americans plan to pass on to family. But constantly changing rules mean that many people are confused about what is required of them if they inherit a 401(K) or an IRA. The regulations around inheriting retirement accounts are complex, and depend on the type of plan and the relationship between the beneficiary and the original owner. But it is crucial to understand these rules in order to avoid a shock tax bill, experts warn. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires that Americans who inherit retirement accounts withdraw the savings over a certain time period, in what is known as required minimum distributions (RMDs). Changing rules mean that many people are confused about what is required of them if they inherit a 401(K) or an IRA The rules around inheriting a retirement account depend on the type of plan and the relationship between the beneficiary and the original owner, said Peter Gallagher, managing director of Unified Retirement Planning Group 'The rules governing retirement plans - 401(K)s or IRAs - are designed to ensure that when accounts are inherited they do not benefit from tax-deferred growth indefinitely,' Peter Gallagher, managing director of Unified Retirement Planning Group, told DailyMail.com. 'The IRS wants to make sure that they get their money at some point.' The rules around these withdrawals have changed various times in just the last few years, leaving many people confused where they stand, said Gallagher. The original SECURE Act, which took effect in 2020, and more recently the SECURE 2.0 Act, have ushered in sweeping changes to those inheriting retirement accounts. Under these rules, most accounts inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries must be cleared out within 10 years of the death of the original owner. In the past, beneficiaries could 'stretch' the withdrawals over their lifetime, which potentially lowered the tax burden. For example, people were leaving an IRA to their grandkids and their life expectancy was so long that the IRS was not generating much tax from it, said Gallagher. The new law did make an exception though, allowing certain 'eligible designated beneficiaries' to continue to be eligible for the stretch IRA rule. These people include surviving spouses, minor children under the age of 21, and disabled individuals. In general, IRA owners must take their first RMD by April 1 of the year after they reach the age of 73. That date is called their required beginning date. Due to changes to federal law that took effect in 2023, the age at which Americans must begin taking RMDs can differ depending on the year they were born. The type of beneficiary of an inherited retirement account, and whether the original owner had begun taking RMDs at the time of their death, will determine the rules around withdrawals, explained Gallagher. Most accounts inherited by non-spouse beneficiaries must be cleared out within 10 years of the death of the original owner And under new rules introduced this year, if an IRA or a 401(K) holder passes away when they have already begun taking RMDs, then the new owner will have to take annual withdrawals for years one through nine of the 10-year term. This additional provision has been controversial and caused more confusion, so for the fourth year in a row the IRS announced earlier this year that there would be no penalty for failing to take these RMDs. The mandatory yearly withdrawal rule also does not apply to inherited Roth IRA accounts, regardless of the deceased's age. This means these accounts can grow tax-free, and be withdrawn tax-free in the future. Gallagher recommends speaking to a tax professional to make sure you understand the rules that apply to your specific situation before planning any withdrawal strategy. 'One of the most important things to keep in mind if you're a beneficiary is that when you take withdrawals, these are most likely going to be taxable to you,' he said. He recommends keeping an eye out for the IRS proposed changes and speaking to a certified public accountant (CPA), a tax advisor or a tax attorney. This is to make sure that the amount that you need to take in withdrawals - coupled with the other income that you receive - will not push you into a higher tax bracket. A tax professional may be able to offer strategies to help reduce your taxation each year and ensure that you do not take a big hit, he said. 'It can be mixed feelings for a lot of people because firstly they've lost a loved one, and secondly they have more taxable income. And people don't generally complain about that until they get their tax bill and they realize they had no idea of the implications. 'If you get the wrong advice it could be really catastrophic from a tax perspective.' Gallagher also warns Americans to make sure that they have someone listed as the beneficiary for their retirement accounts. Failing to do this can mean that someone's accounts go into their estate when they pass away, causing delays or a lengthy probate process for their family. 'I always tell everybody to just list someone as your beneficiary, and you can always change it,' Gallagher said. Alongside speaking to a tax professional, he suggests potentially electing 1/10 of the withdrawal each year. Although it is unknown what could happen to tax brackets in the coming years, he said, leaving it to be taken out in the ninth or tenth year could mean that you are taxed in a higher bracket. Electing to take out a smaller portion each year would mean spreading out the tax ramifications. For example, if you inherit a large IRA, you might decide to take out $200,000 a year for 10 years, rather than $2 million on the tenth year. Telecom gear maker GX Group expects its revenue to grow by 66 per cent to Rs 500 crore by financial year 2026, on account of growth in domestic business as well as exports, a top company official has said. The company makes Gigabit Passive Optical Network (GPON) gears that are required to run fibre-based broadband networks. GX Group also makes routers and switches as well as Internet of Things (IoT) devices in India. GX Group CEO Paritosh Prajapati told PTI that the company is looking to expand its manufacturing unit in India with an investment of Rs 100 crore in the current financial year. According to him, benefits from the telecom production-linked incentive (PLI) scheme are one of the key growth drivers for the company. We have achieved a 40 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in consecutive years, supporting us to grow from a Rs 300 crore to a Rs 500 crore company within the next two financial years. We are planning to build India as our Global hub, therefore, we are transferring technology and knowledge and investing in our new research and development centre in Chennai, Prajapati said. GX Group was the first telecom gear maker to meet PLI targets and receive the incentives from the government. We anticipate a 120 per cent export increase to major telcos in Africa, Europe and South East Asian countries, primarily by shifting from software to hardware export, Prajapati said. The recent elections in India show the BJP's struggle due to divisive talk and policies, highlighting the importance of diverse coalitions Coalitions naturally suit this diverse country, allowing all voices to be heard and leaving no room for hatred. The BJPs overemphasis on religion, anti-Muslim rhetoric and offensive language has backfired. The Lok Sabhas composition has shifted significantly for three States of Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal and Maharashtra. In Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, where the BJP excelled in 2019, it now faces significant setbacks. In West Bengal, it sank to 11 seats enduring conflicts with TMC workers even on polling day, the BJPs position has weakened. Democracy survives in this country because of the innate wisdom of the ordinary common people. The Samajwadi Party with 37 seats have emerged as the largest party. Along with six by its Congress ally, total UP tally is 43 for INDIA. The BJP which aimed at winning 80, is satisfied with a mere 34 with many of its central and State ministers losing. Voters in areas around Ayodhya have done the unthinkable. They voted against excesses for Ram temple construction by acquiring 64-acre extra land for the temple, demolishing thousands of houses, shops, temples and structures with impunity. Many homes and shops were demolished for the Ram Path in Ayodhya, leaving people questioning why the BJP Government chose to do so. Some wonder why the Government is involved in temple construction. Similar concerns arose in Varanasi, where PM Modi faced a close contest despite winning decisively in 2019. Even Sitapur connected to Sita, not far off Ayodhya, elected an unknown Congressman Rakesh Rathor. All these places had voted with vengeance against the highhandedness they suffered. Ganga remains as dirty as it was ten years before in Banaras. But the temple town which had varied temples of Shiv, Ganesh and other mandirs of several deities was razed for a beautification corridor that the locals never wanted. Even the main Vishwanath temple was not spared. It had images of other deities; they were all demolished to give it a new look. These 5000 temples and shops were the family livelihoods. They never expected to suffer from a Hindu party. Even a Muslim ruler did not do it. Asked if they were acting like Aurangjeb, some senior BJP leaders replied he was the ruler then, now we are and would do whatever we can. The electorate did what they could. Chitrakoot and Vindhyachal repeated it vengefully for similar beautifying corridors. The Ram mandir had limited influence. Allahabad, the city named after Vaivaswat Manus daughter Eela, from where Ram walked to Chitrakoot today is in a sorry State. For no rhyme or reason Eelahbad name was changed. Over 100-year-old houses were razed or partially demolished to create roads for toll or Kumbh Mela. Arbitrary actions have given the city a devaStated look. The BJP leaders told citizens, Modiji ne kaha hai to hoga hi - that was the guarantee. Most demolition agents were related to one or the other BJP leaders or their friends in a distant western State. The issue of Ram historically had never helped the BJP. In 1989, when BJP was agitating for shilanyas, it lost the UP State assembly elections. In 1992, when they demolished the temple structure as Hindus called it since 1949, which the BJP called a disputed structure, the BJP lost power for the next six years. As of now through a judgment based on continued occupation of a premises, the temple is coming up, the Pran Pratistha of not bal (infant) Ram but a balak (child) Ram is not taken kindly by Ayodhya residents. Residents in Ayodhya face confinement during celebrations, worrying about the missing infant Ram image. Locals resent security measures affecting their livelihoods. Temple visits are like airport security, requiring a long walk and Aadhaar. Footfall dwindles; people yearn for the original idol. Will the new one satisfy them? Kalighat takeover Even before the polls began, observers assessed severe losses for the BJP in West Bengal for unemployment, rapid price rises, agniveer and other issues. This was added by the frictions within the BJP fold. The BJP leaders were fighting more against themselves than with Mamata Banerjees Trinamool. It was not an easy challenge for Mamata Banerjee, to protect Bengali pride. She effectively did it launching her campaign for BJP-humiliated Mohua Maitra from Krishnanagar. The BJP tried to turn it into a VIP constituency by pitting an unknown Rajmata of Krishnanagar royal family of Maharaja Krishnachandra Roy. The Krishsnanagar ploy not only did not work, it also became Waterloo for BJP. Its tally came down from18 to 11. Many ministers like Subhash Sarkar, former State party chief Dilip Ghosh, Sandeshkhali supposed rape victim Rekha Patr lost at the hustings. Sandeshkhali was hyped up. It was busted by Mamata as fake and people believed her. The famous Kalighat temple, supposedly one of the 51 shakti peethas also became a poll issue. A business house from Ahmedabad has reportedly illegally taken it over. It hurts the Bengali psyche. Maharashtra was another waterloo where the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Thakre) emerged as the real Sena. Along with Uddhav, Sharad Pawar and the Congress, the opposition won 30 of the 48 seats. While BJP had to cut a sorry figure. Maharashtrians have proved that Uddhav Thakres is the real party. Even Muslims in large numbers did not mind voting Uddhav and Shiv Sena (UT) voted for the Congress. Their vote was against betrayal by the elected leaders Eknath Shinde, Ajit Pawar and BJP which rocked the BJP-Sena alliance. The recent polls prove that hatred, name calling and below the belt Statements by the mighty have no place in electoral fray. Nobody is an enemy. They are just rivals. In a democracy there is no authoritarian leader. All are equal. It also proves that coalition is more natural in this country than a one-party rule. (The author is a senior journalist; views are personal) India didnt have any moment at Cannes, says filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, stressing that the victory of independent filmmakers at the European gala is theirs alone and the government doesnt support that kind of award winning cinema. India won an unprecedented three awards at the 77th edition of the Cannes Film Festival last month -- Payal Kapadia became the first ever director from India to win the Grand Prix for her movie "All We Imagine As Light", Anasuya Sengupta was awarded best actress in the Un Certain Regard strand for The Shameless, and FTII student Chidananda S. Naik earned the best short film award at the La Cinef section for Sunflowers Were the First Ones to Know. I get very upset when it's said 'India@Cannes'. This is a boost a shot in the arm for a lot of independent filmmakers but their victory is their own," Kashyap told PTI in an interview here. India didn't have any moment at Cannes, not a single of those films are Indian. We need to address it the way it should be addressed. India has stopped supporting such cinema, the kind of cinema that was at Cannes, he said. He said Kapadia's "All We Imagine as Light", which was also the first film from India in 30 years to feature in the main competition at Cannes known for giving a platform to new voices, received funding from a French company. The Malayalam-Hindi feature, which earned the second highest award at Cannes after Palme d'Or, is an Indo-French co-production between Petit Chaos from France and Chalk and Cheese Films from India. There were several films at Cannes with either India-set stories or Indian talent at the helm, but most were co-productions with banners from other countries. Indian-British filmmaker Sandhya Suri's Santosh and Karan Kandharis Sister Midnight were funded by the UK, while Konstantin Bojanovs The Shameless was almost self-funded. However, Chidanand's "Sunflowers..." is a production of the TV Wing One-year programme under the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII). India just likes to take credit for a lot of things, they do not support these films, and they dont even support these films to have a release in cinema, Kashyap said. In 2021, Kapadia had won an award at Cannes for the documentary A Night of Knowing Nothing but that is yet to be released in India. "Stop taking credit for it. Lets stop this fake celebration... Even if the film is released, no one will go to watch it in the theatre, the 51-year-old said. He also cited the example of Shaunak Sen's documentary "All that Breathes", which won the Golden Eye award at Cannes 2022, that didn't release on Indian screens and went straight to a streamer. Then there were independent films such as "Jaggi" and "Pokhar Ke Dunu Paar" that won awards at festivals that will eventually find home in streamers. Kashyap was also critical of the spotlight on influencers on the famed red carpet. "This obsession India has with Cannes... More than Cannes, it's about the red carpet. That's on another level. I get more angry when I hear these things... Geetanjali Rao got three awards at Cannes (for Printed Rainbow) in 2003, I wrote an article on it, but it was not recognised, rarely anyone wrote about that here. Theres no support system here." Days after her win, Kapadia, also an FTII graduate, penned an open letter in which she pushed for a government fund for women filmmakers and under-represented sections to foster independent filmmaking while praising the Kerala government for starting a similar initiative. Kashyap, whose films such as "Gangs of Wasseypur", "Ugly", and "Kennedy" have screened at Cannes over the years across sections like Director's Fortnight and Midnight Screenings, said he was also surprised when former FTII chairperson Gajendra Chauhan took credit for Kapadia's win. Back in 2015, Kapadia was one of the students who protested against the appointment of "Mahabharat" actor-BJP politician Chauhan as FTII head. Kapadia was among the 35 students charged under various Indian Penal Code sections for offences related to unlawful assembly, criminal intimidation, and rioting. The chargesheet was filed in 2016, and the next court hearing is scheduled for June 26, according to the defence lawyer representing the students. "The worst part is that the man who put the case against her, and sent some students to jail, is the first man who took the credit for her and said, Im proud that I was the FTII (chairperson). What is his name? Yudhishthir ji (his Mahabharat role), Gajendra Chauhan said, Im so proud that she was the student when I was the head. You are the one who put the case against her," Kashyap added. The director, who will be seen in an acting role in the web series "Bad Cop", said the Indian film business focuses primarily on producing blockbuster hits. We have made many independent films, Ive seen how much support they get and don't get. At the end of the day, in India everyone is here to do business. No one wants to do good work, everyone wants to do hit work (success) he said. Asked about critically acclaimed smaller films like Joram and All India Rank not being marketed well to reach the audiences, Kashyap said such movies cant match up to the marketing of a big film. "The pressure is on a small film too; they cant spend much on the visibility of the film. To make a small film visible around big films is very difficult. Besides those films are unable to make the recovery, you dont get good show timings, as good show timings are covered by big films, he said, lauding the South movie industry for fixing marketing and ticket pricing for both big-budget and small movies. Directed by Aditya Datt, Bad Cop stars Gulshan Devaiah as Karan, a fierce cop, trying to chase down Kazbe (Kashyap), a villain more powerful and deadly than him and simultaneously managing his personal relationships. The action-drama series will premiere on Disney+ Hotstar on June 21. Several prominent faces of Modi Cabinet 2.0 have been dropped from the Cabinet in his historic third consecutive term beginning from Sunday. The list include Union Minister and BJP leader Parshottam Rupala, Anurag Thakur, RK Singh, Smriti Irani, Narayan Rane, Ravi Shankar Prasad, Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Ajay Mishra Teni, Arjun Munda, Ashwini Choubey, Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti, Kaushal Kishore, Mahendra Nath Pandey, former Army Chief VK Singh, Kailash Chaudhary. Rupala, who was given the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying in the Cabinet reshuffling of 2021, is likely to be dropped this time. During the election campaign, Rupala courted controversy by calling erstwhile maharajas being subjects of the British and foreign rulers, angering the Kshatriya community. The omission of Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur has surprised many as he was not among the leaders invited to meet Modi. The PM customarily interacted with new Ministers ahead of their swearing-in ceremony. Similarly Irani also could not get a call from the Prime Minister Office for about his place in Modi Cabinet. Irani had lost the Lok Sabha election from Uttar Pradesh's Amethi by over 1.6 lakh votes to Congress loyalist Kishori Lal Sharma. She was Women and Child Development Minister in the second term of the Modi Government. She had defeated Congress's Rahul Gandhi in his family bastion five years ago. Thakur, who won the general election from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur, held the Sports, and Information and Broadcasting portfolios. Thakur clinched his fifth consecutive term from Himachal Pradesh's Hamirpur constituency, securing victory over Congress' Satpal Raizada by a significant margin of 1,82,357 votes. "I am a party worker first. Being elected to the Lok Sabha for the fifth time is itself a great honour," he told reporters here when asked if he would be getting some key responsibility in Himachal Pradesh as he is not being inducted into Modi's new Council of Ministers. Thakur said "the BJP has given me the opportunity to contest the Lok Sabha polls five times. There cannot be a bigger opportunity than this for me". "I worked as a party worker in the past and would continue to work as a party worker in the future. Our entire effort is to take India on the path of progress. All of us will walk together because India is important, the Modi government is important and the country's progress is important," he said. Rane was Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Minister in Modi 2.0. He won the Lok Sabha election from Maharashtra's Ratnagiri-Sindhudurg. Former Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad has been dropped. Prasad has won Patna Sahib seat against Anshul Avijit of the Congress party. Chandrasekhar, who lost to Shashi Tharoor in a close contest, dropped the cabinet from the new government. He was the Minister of State for the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, and Ministry of Jal Shakti. Union Power Minsiter RK Singh has also been dropped from the cabinet. Singh had lost his Arrah seat to CPI (ML) candidate Sudama Prasad, by a margin of over 60,000 votes. Minister of State for Agriculture and Farmers' Welfare Kailash Choudhary not only lost, he finished third in Rajasthan's Barmer. Arjun Munda has also been dropped from the cabinet as he Munda lost the Khunti Lok Sabha seat to Congress's Kalicharan Munda by 1.49 lakh votes. Union minister Ajay Mishra Teni also dropped in the Modi government 3. 0. Former Union Minister and ex army chief VK Singh was also dropped. He was denied ticket from Ghaziabad seat. Union Minister Sadhvi Niranjan Jyoti lost to Samajwadi Party's Naresh Chandra Uttam Patel by 33,199 votes from Fatehpur. Union minister Bhanu Pratap Singh Verma was also dropped. Verma had lost to SPs Narayan Dhar Ahirwar in Mohanlalganj where SPs RK Chaudhary defeated Union Minister and two-term sitting MP Kaushal Kishore by over 70,000 votes. Scripting a history, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday took over as Prime Minister for a third consecutive term becoming the first non-Congress leader and second after first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru to don the mantle. With this Modi also becomes the only leader in the country to hold a constitutional post back to back for more than two decades which includes three term as PM and prior serving 12 years as Chief Minister of Gujarat. President Draupadi Murmu administered Modi the oath of office and with this he also become the only PM to have been administered the oath by three presidents, including Pranab Mukherjee and Ramnath Kovind. Modi also under his regime was part of the consecration of Ram Temple in Ayodhaya early this year and dedicated to the nation a new Parliament last year in September. If Modi completes his current five year term as PM leading the NDA regime he will have served a total of 27 years in office. He has been since leading his party to victory and power in 2002, 2007 and 2012 in Gujarat as CM and then in 2014 and 2019 at the Centre and again in 2024. It is though different this time as the BJP has lost majority on its own. Modis third term which has not come with a massive mandate will have to sail across the coalition dharma as the Congress led INDIA Bloc will keep a prey on the two major allies-TDP and JD(U) to seek an opportunity to dislodge Modi. The BJP secured however its third-best tally of 240 seats and the Opposition called it a "moral defeat". BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) has won 293 seats, which Modi has noted is the biggest success for any pre-poll alliance when a single party did not get a majority. Always being noticed for his apparels, Modi was dressed in white kurta and churidar with a blue chequered jacket as he took oath in the presence of top world leaders, the whos who of country from politics, industry and celebrity world. Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was also present with his wife. Former presidents Ram Nath Kovind and Pratibha Patil also attended the event. Several religious leaders also attended the ceremony. Along with Modi, senior BJP leaders Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Amit Shah, Shivraj Singh Chauhan also took oath as the Cabinet Ministers, while party president JP Nadda returned to the cabinet after five years, indicating the Prime Minister's focus on continuity and experience in his third term. Top leaders from India's neighbourhood and the Indian Ocean region, including Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu, Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' and Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe graced the swearing-in ceremony held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth, his Bhutanese counterpart Tshering Tobgay and Vice-President of Seychelles Ahmed Afif also attended the glittering ceremony held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. While Hasina and Afif reached Delhi on Saturday, Muizzu, Prachanda, Wickremesinghe, Jugnauth and Tobgay arrived on Sunday. Leaders of the BIMSTEC countries attended Modi's swearing-in ceremony in 2019 when he became the prime minister for the second consecutive term. Besides India, the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) comprises Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Thailand, Nepal and Bhutan. Bollywood actors Shahrukh Khan, Anil Kapoor and Rajinikanth, and industrialists Mukesh Ambani and Gautam Adani were among those who attended the swearing-in ceremony held in the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhawan. Actors Akshay Kumar, Raveena Tandon, Anupam Kher and Vikrant Massey were also among those present. Ambani was present along with his sons -- Anant and Akash -- and son-in-law Anand Piramal while Adani was accompanied by his wife Priti and brother Rajesh Adani. Also part of the event were actors Anil Kapoor, Anupam Kher, Raveena Tandon, Vikrant Massey, director Rajkumar Hirani and producer Mahaveer Jain. Actor turned politician Rajinikanth, actor and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan too were present. Ever since leading the BJP for the first time in the Gujarat assembly polls in 2002, held in the shadow of the riots in the state following the Godhra train burning incident, Modi has never looked back. While his detractors had written him off politically in 2002, Modi has gone become a winning mix of Hindutva and development for his party. However post the high voltage campaign of 2024 Lok Sabha and then results last week, Modi is now facing the strongest opposition within the party as well. His poll pitch particularly revolving around religious lines is being questioned as a failed strategy to set the political agenda after the opposition dented the BJP in several states including Uttar Pradesh where the SP-Congress INDIA bloc trumped the BJP-led combine. In a dastardly attack, a group of suspected Pakistani terrorists targeted a pilgrim bus which resulted in a fatal incident leading to the killing of at least nine pilgrims while 33 others also received injuries on Sunday at 6.10 pm. The gruesome attack coincided with the oath ceremony of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which was attended by heads of the neighbouring countries sans Pakistan. The bus was returning from Shiv Khori shrine towards the Katra base camp of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine when these terrorists hiding in the area opened indiscriminate firing on the pilgrim bus. The injured have been rushed to the district hospital in Reasi and Katra-based Narayana hospital for advanced medical treatment. SSP Reasi Mohita Sharma while sharing details of the horrific incident told reporters, "Initial reports suggest that terrorists fired upon the passenger bus going from Shiv Khori to Katra. Due to the firing, the bus driver lost balance of the bus and it fell into a gorge. So far nine pilgrims succumbed to their fatal injuries and 33 people were injured in the incident". SSP Reasi said the rescue operations have been completed. According to a statement of the Jammu and Kashmir police spokesman, a bus carrying pilgrim from Shiv Khori to Katra was targeted apparently by terrorists using firearms. With the help of local villagers, police evacuated all the passengers by 8.10 pm. SP Reasi supervised the evacuation and dispatched the injured to different hospitals. Eight deaths have been confirmed. The 33 injured have been referred to various hospitals. District headquarter hospital Reasi (13), CHC Treyath (5), GMC in Jammu (15). A joint security force temporary operation Headquarters by Police, Army and CRPF have been set up at the site and a multidimensional operation has been launched to get at the attackers. The identities of the passengers have not been confirmed yet. It appears they are from Uttar Pradesh, she added. Shiv Khori shrine was secured and area domination was done, SSP told reporters. Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva strongly condemned Senior AAP Leader and Delhi's Water Minister Atishi for writing to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Sunday, stating that it is based on incomplete data about the water being received from Haryana. Sachdeva stated that the Water Minister has been falsely blaming Haryana for Delhi's water crisis for several days, but on Sunday she has crossed all limits by writing a letter based on incomplete data. While making public the Delhi Jal Board's data from June 1 to June 8, Sachdeva stated, Delhi receives water from Haryana through Carrier Lined Channel (CLC) and the Delhi Sub Branch (DSB), and if there is a shortage from these two sources, the Delhi Jal Board, with the consent of the Haryana government, also draws water directly from the Yamuna River. Accusing Atishi of cleverly concealed the data of water drawn directly from the Yamuna River by the Delhi Jal Board to show a shortage, Sachdeva pointed that on June 1, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 607 MGD. On June 2, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 607 MGD again, he said. On June 3, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 613 MGD. On June 4, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 613 MGD. On June 5, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 613 MGD again. On June 6, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 613 MGD for the third day. On June 7, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 623 MGD. On June 8, Delhi was supposed to receive 547 MGD of water from Haryana but actually received 622 MGD, Sachdeva alleged. Further he stated, The Delhi Jal Board's own data makes it clear that Haryana is consistently supplying the full amount of water to Delhi. If the Delhi government feels that less water is being received, they should first prove wrong the daily data issued by Delhi Jal Board. Earlier in the day, Atishi requested Saini to ensure 1,050 cusecs water is released from the Munak Canal for the national capital, otherwise "Delhi will have a major crisis in next one to two days". In her letter, she said seven Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Delhi are dependent on supply from Yamuna and "due to the deficit of raw water, our water treatment plants are unable to run at their optimum capacity." Preparations for the swearing-in ceremony of the NDA government for the third time under the leadership of the world's most popular leader Narendra Modi are in the final stage. Newly elected MPs from all over the country are reaching Delhi. Along with this, thousands of workers including state officials of the party, state presidents of fronts, district presidents, in-charges, Lok Sabha, Assembly constituency coordinators, in-charges from all the states will witness the grand swearing-in ceremony of the Modi government for the third time on June 9. Meanwhile, the state BJP has decided to celebrate the swearing-in ceremony in all the organizational divisions of Jharkhand. In this regard, state president and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi, state organization general secretary Karmaveer Singh have given necessary guidelines to all the divisions. State President and former Chief Minister Babulal Marandi said that the people of Jharkhand have given a mandate in favour of the NDA. The workers had resolved to form the Modi government for the third time, which is coming true. He said that due to the hard work of the workers of the state, the corrupt, useless and appeasement-ridden Thugbandhan government will be shown the way out of power. The public is eagerly waiting for the assembly elections. Meanwhile, Marandi today attacked on Chief Minister Champai Soren for not dismissing Minister Alamgir Alam from the Cabinet. He said that despite Alamgir Alam's corruption being exposed, Champai Soren is unable to muster the courage to dismiss him from the cabinet. He said that the puppet Chief Minister has taken back the departments under the responsibility of Alamgir Alam but has not removed him from the post of minister. Marandi said that the last four and a half years have been tough for the people of Jharkhand, especially the youth. The youth of Jharkhand were waiting with bated breath for jobs but Hemant Soren tried to bargain for jobs by entangling the local youth in issues like employment policy, 60:40, outsider-insider and paper leak. He said that after Hemant Soren went to jail, the public was hopeful that Champai Soren would bring transparency in the appointment process, stop corruption, and rein in criminals, but the exact opposite happened. He said that now the public should decide what is the use of such a Chief Minister, who neither has the courage to take action against the corrupt, nor the courage to teach a lesson to the paper leak mafia, nor the will to provide employment to the youth. June 8, 2024: The IEA (Islamic Emirate Afghanistan) government praised neighboring Kazakhstan for accepting the current Afghan government rather than considering it a terrorist organization. At the same time the IEA continues its policy of limiting education for women. Currently girls must leave school when they reach 12 years of age. For the third year in a row, women were not allowed to take university entrance examinations. Women continue to be banned from working outside their homes. Over the last few decades many Afghan women have been educated and found jobs in the economy. Banning women from these jobs disrupted the efficient operation of the economy. IEA leaders refuse to recognize this problem, much less fix it. Pakistan continues complaining to the Afghanistan government about tolerating TTP (Pakistani Taliban) forces operating against Pakistan from bases across the border inside Afghanistan. The TTP not only attacks Pakistani soldiers and border guards, but also Chinese technicians supervising the construction of the Desu Dam as a major source of hydroelectric power. A recent TTP attack used a suicide car bomb, driven by an Afghan to kill five Chinese engineers and their Pakistani driver. Soldiers and police arrested eleven people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, where the attack took place. This sort of violence has become more common since August 2021 when the elected IRA (Islamic Republic of Afghanistan) collapsed and was replaced by the Pakistani-backed IEA. It was the Pakistani military that backed the Taliban and the Afghan heroin cartels. Over the last few years, Pakistans military has found a way to run Pakistans government without a coup and all the resulting criticism and foreign sanctions. The defeat of the IRA was accomplished via corruption, intimidation, disruption of the economy and a bungled U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The original withdrawal plan was for a thousand or more U.S. and NATO troops to remain to advise and train IRA security forces and monitor the corruption. The IRA wanted to survive but to do that they had to keep receiving billions a year from foreign donors, mainly the United States. Refusal to cooperate meant termination of aid and nearly all the foreigners would leave. The Americans got a new government in early 2021 and that led to fatal changes to the withdrawal plan. Everyone was ordered out but were given three additional months to do it. That gave Pakistan and the Taliban an opportunity to increase their pressure on the IRA, which now rightly believed the Americans were going to abandon them. The new IEA declared a great victory but found that few people, not even most Afghans, saw this as a win. Foreign aid ceased. Nearly $10 billion of IRA cash held in foreign banks, in an effort to reduce corruption, was frozen and no one would recognize the IEA as the successor to the IRA. By 2024 was clear that the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan government was as corrupt as its predecessor. Foreign aid was stolen and sold in markets rather than delivered to Afghans in remote areas who were starving because of poor harvests and bandits operating freely on most roads in rural Afghanistan. Since 2021 few rural areas in Afghanistan were receiving enough food aid to feed a population that was increasingly unemployed because of IEA mismanagement of the economy. IEA leaders attributed the problems to bandits or inept locals. Since the IEA took power, Afghanistans banks suffered a panic among their depositors, who rushed to withdraw their money before the new government imposed restrictions. The Afghan banks handled the distribution of foreign aid, which before 2021 accounted for 40 percent of the GDP. Countries in the region expected the IEA to collapse in a few years and leave the country a narco-state without any effective central government. Drug production in Afghanistan depends on the Pakistan military for support. The drugs are winning as they usually do wherever they get established. There are not too many narco-states because they all follow the same script. Eventually locals get fed up with the local violence and the growing number of addicts. That leads to more violence and the drug gangs are crushed although usually not completely eliminated. Eventually can take a long time and such is the case with Afghanistan. Compare that to how it worked in Colombia after 2000, and Burma after World War II and Iran in the 1950s. The only thing that nearly everyone in Afghanistan can agree on is that opium and heroin are bad. Nearly ten percent of the population is addicted to opiates and another ten percent profits from or even become very wealthy by managing the drug trade. Most Afghans consider drug gangs the biggest threat and these are largely run and staffed, like the IEA, by Pushtun tribesmen from four southern provinces. The Pakistani-backed Afghan Taliban want to create a heroin-producing Islamic terrorist and gangster sanctuary in Afghanistan. If you want to know how that works, look at Chechnya in the late 1990s and Somalia or Yemen in the early 21st century. No one has come up with any cheap, fast, or easy solution for that. Meanwhile, Afghanistan's core problem is that there is no longer a united Afghanistan, merely a collection of tribes more concerned with tribal issues than anything else. The IEA runs Kabul, the largest city in Afghanistan, but not much outside Kabul besides some major cities in other provinces. Since 2021 new resistance groups have formed and made it increasingly difficult for IEA forces to operate outside major cities, especially the capital Kabul. Those are the NRF National Resistance Front), the AFF (Afghanistan Freedom Front) and the ALM (Afghanistan Liberation Movement). The only organized opposition to IEA rule is a successor to the 1990s Northern Alliance. This new anti-Taliban group reassembled in 2022 as the NRF (National Resistance Front), and initially appeared to be a major threat to IEA rule. NRF leaders blame the United States and the former IRA government. Both misjudged and mishandled efforts to deal with the ISIL and TTP (Pakistani Taliban) presence inside Afghanistan. Now the resistance to the revived Taliban rule in Afghanistan is opposed by an updated version of the pre-September 11, 2001, Afghan resistance. This time the United States was not interested in trying to remove a pro-Islamic terrorist government in Afghanistan. Some of the NRF leaders are sons of successful Northern Alliance commanders. Iran threatened to provide more support to the NRF than they gave the Northern Alliance. By late 2022 the NRF dominated Panjshir province (northeast of Kabul) and believed they could resist any IEA attack. That was optimistic because IEA forces suffered some losses initially but soon turned that around and inflicted heavy losses on NRF in terms of gunmen, territory, and local support. Now the NRF is based in northern neighbor Tajikistan and only conducts raids into Afghanistan. This was not a repeat of the 1990s when the Northern Alliance dominated the Panjshir Valley (a 90-minute drive from Kabul) right up to the defeat of the Taliban government after September 2001. Northern Front leaders became members of the IRA government and now their sons reassembled as the NRF, which had some initial success but no staying power. Not enough Panjshir Valley residents are willing to die opposing the ruthless IEA government. The remaining resistance fighters have moved north to Tajikistan. During the Janata Darshan at his official residence here on Saturday, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath met hundreds of people and listened to their problems. He directed the officials concerned to find timely solutions to the problems aired by the people. Notably, the Janata Darshan witnessed the presence of women, men and youth from different parts of the state. The chief minister met everyone, heard their problems, and then directed the officials concerned to ensure that justice is delivered in every case. He said that any negligence in this regard would not be tolerated. During the Janata Darshan, applications for financial assistance for medical treatment were also received. The chief minister told the officers to complete the paperwork in the relevant districts and provide financial aid to the patients. Chief Minister Yogi assured those complaining about land encroachment that such incidents would not be tolerated under any circumstances. He instructed officials to take strict action on reports of land encroachment at the district magistrate level and to address them promptly. Youth also shared their issues with the chief minister, and in response, he assured them of quick solutions. He directed that all applications should be resolved within a set timeframe to ensure prompt justice to the affected individuals. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath expressed grief at the demise of Ramoji Rao, the chairman of Eenadu media group and founder of Ramoji Film City, on Saturday. On his X handle, Chief Minister Yogi wrote, I am saddened by the demise of Shri Ramoji Rao Ji, founder and chairman of Ramoji Group. His contributions to the media & film industry and his legacy through the Ramoji Group have left an indelible mark. My thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family. May Lord Ram give them all the strength to bear this monumental loss. Om Shanti! Ramoji Groups founder, renowned film producer, and owner of Ramoji Film City, Ramoji Rao, breathed his last on Saturday morning. Ramoji Rao had been ill for a long time and was admitted to the hospital on June 5. He laid the foundation of Ramoji Group, which includes the worlds largest film studio, Ramoji Film City, ETV Network, Dolphin Hotels, Margadarsi Chit Fund, and the Eenadu Telugu newspaper. Kshipra Tirth Parikrama will be organized on June 15 and 16 in the holy city of Ujjain on the occasion of Ganga Dussehra festival. A large number of devotees will participate in the Parikrama. It is noteworthy that as per the wish of Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, Jal Ganga Sanvardhan Abhiyan is being run for water conservation across the state from 5th June to 16th June. With this objective, for the last 20 to 22 years, a two-day Kshipra Tirtha Parikrama is organized from Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha Navami to Jyeshtha Shukla Paksha Dashami (Ganga Dussehra).In a meeting held at the Administrative Complex Bhawan on Saturday for the preparations of Ganga Dussehra festival, Ujjain Collector Neeraj Kumar Singh reviewed in detail. MLA Ujjain North Anil Jain Kaluheda, Municipal Corporation President Kalawati Yadav, Mayor Mukesh Tatwal, Chief Executive Officer District Panchayat Mrinal Meena, Additional Collector Anukul Jain, CEO Ujjain Development Authority Sandeep Soni, Additional Superintendent of Police Jayant Singh Rathore, Secretary of Kshipra Tirtha Parikrama Committee Naresh Sharma, members of the committee, district officers of the concerned departments were present in the meeting. Apart from this, MP Balyogi Sant Umeshnath Maharaj, Director of Maharaja Vikramaditya Research Centre Shriram Tiwari also attended the meeting virtually. Collector Singh reviewed the preparations of the program and directed that the Municipal Corporation should get the main event venue Ramghat cleaned and beautified. There should be better lighting and attractive lighting arrangements at Ramghat. Painting and artworks should also be done on the ghat. Similarly, water tankers should be installed on the Kshipra Tirtha route for drinking water by the Public Health Engineering Department. Which should move forward with the journey. Also install tankers of Sanchi water for cool drinking water.Preparation of Chunari Arpan should be done by Ujjain Urban Development Authority. Collector Singh directed that the Yatra route should not be blocked. Engineers should inspect the route of the Yatra route. Necessary repair works should be completed soon. Collector Singh said that various social organizations associated with Jal Ganga Samvardhan Abhiyan should also be invited in the main program organized on June 16. Honor those who have done notable work in the direction of water conservation. Director Maharaja Vikramaditya Shodh Peeth Shriram Tiwari told about the format of the cultural event to be held in Ramghat, Dutt Akhara area on the evening of June 15 and 16 that various popular artists will present bhajans and devotional songs. The program will be organized by Maharaja Vikramaditya Shodh Peeth. On this occasion, a special booklet giving information about the importance of Kshipra river and its cultural splendor will also be released. Sadaneera-centric audio video CD will also be released. It was told that satellite mapping of all major rivers including Maa Kshipra, water structures and traditional water sources (currently extinct) will be done and survey based documentation will be published with references of ancient literature, tradition. MP Balyogi Saint Umeshnath Maharaj said that Ganga Dussehra festival should be made a public campaign. This pious campaign started 20 years ago by Chief Minister Dr. Yadav should be organised successfully. All government, non-government institutions, public representatives, dignitaries, sensible people, journalists should take a pledge to purify Maa Kshipra. MLA Anil Jain Kalukheda said that the public should be made aware of the pious objectives of the Ganga Dussehra festival campaign by spreading wide publicity. Claiming the success of caste-based PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) social coalition, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday said that negative politics has ended and the peoples issues and concerns have triumphed. The Samajwadi Party also put up a hoarding at the gate of the party office, proclaiming Akhilesh Yadav as Ayodhya Ke Avadhesh. Talking to mediapersons after meeting the newly-elected MPs at the Samajwadi Party office here on Saturday, Akhilesh Yadav said: This is a victory of INDIA and the strategy of PDA. The Samajwadi Party has emerged as the third largest party of the country. The party has got the support of the people in a big way. At the same time, the responsibility of the Samajwadis has also increased like raising the issues pertaining to the public and keeping the interest of the public in mind, while putting up our views. The SPs endeavour in the parliament will be to serve the people at the maximum, he said. Negative politics has come to an end, while positive politics has begun. The issues pertaining to people have triumphed, said Akhilesh, who has been elected to Lok Sabha from Kannauj. In the just-concluded Lok Sabha elections, the Samajwadi Party won 37 out of 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh, while its ally Congress won six seats. The BJP managed to win 33 seats, and its allies RLD and Apna Dal (Sonelal) two seats and one seat respectively. Aazad Samaj Party (Kanshi Ram) won one seat, while the BSP failed to win even a single seat. Senior party leaders Shivpal Singh Yadav and Ramgopal Yadav were also present along with newly-elected MPs Dimple Yadav, Dharmendra Yadav, Aditya Yadav, Akshaya Yadav, and Afzal Ansari. After a string of poll reverses since 2017, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav has finally delivered with his party putting in its best-ever performance in the Lok Sabha elections to win 37 of the 80 seats in Uttar Pradesh and emerging the single-largest party in the countrys most populous state where it reduced the ruling BJP to 33 seats from 62 in 2019. The SP emerged the third largest party in the country after the BJP and the Congress. Yadav and his party, leading the INDIA bloc in Uttar Pradesh, dealt the biggest blow to the ruling BJP nationally as it overtook the NDA with the SP-Congress alliance winning 43 seats. The NDA secured 36 seats in the state. The SPs previous best Lok Sabha poll performance was in 2004 when it had won 35 seats in Uttar Pradesh. In 2024, the SPs strike rate was the highest among the big parties as it won 37 of the 62 seats it contested, while the BJP could win only 33 of the 76 it contested in Uttar Pradesh. Among all the political parties in the country, the SP took the biggest leap with a seven-fold increase from its five-seat tally in 2019. In 2004, when the SP won 35 seats, its founder Mulayam Singh Yadav headed the government in Uttar Pradesh. Now, the party has achieved success despite having been out of power in the state for seven years. The SP attained a 33.59% vote share in 2024 as against 18.11% in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls in Uttar Pradesh. In the 2022 Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, the SPs vote share was 32.1% and the tally went up to 111 from 47 in 2017, laying the foundation for the 2024 performance. In the 2022 polls, the SP began expanding beyond its MY (Muslim-Yadav) vote bank to stitch together a caste coalition of non-Yadavs, OBCs, Yadavs, Dalits, and Muslims. Latehar Police got a big success, the police recovered a huge consignment of opium and in an another case Ramgarh Cantt Police has arrested two opium smugglers on the information of Lucknow Army Intelligence Unit. On the basis of secret information received by Latehar SP Anjani Anjan, a police team was formed. The team was led by SDPO Arvind Kumar along with Chandwa police force and raided Subhash Chowk of Chandwa police station during a search operation and recovered about 5 kg 657 grams of opium. The police arrested this opium smuggler Rajkumar Oraon. The arrested opium smuggler is a resident of Lawalaung in Chatra district. It is known that the arrested opium smuggler was going from Chatra to Ranchi by bus, when the police conducted a search operation and recovered 5 kg 567 grams of opium tied in black plastic from the smuggler. SDPO Arvind Kumar said that Latehar SP Anjani Anjan had received secret information. After the information, a police team was formed and a raid was conducted and opium smuggler Rajkumar Oraon and opium was recovered. Along with the continuous raids against opium smugglers, opium cultivation is also being destroyed and the police campaign will continue in the future as well. In Ramgarh both the smugglers were dealing inside the Army Cantt. Meanwhile, Army Jawans and Police raided and caught one of the accused. The other accused was later caught by Ramgarh Police after chasing him. Army Intelligence received information on Saturday that opium deal is going to happen in the Cantt. Army Intelligence caught the Cantt smugglers in collaboration with the police. Cantt Inspector said that the Army Intelligence team caught Shankar Kumar, a youth who had come to sell opium, and informed the police. After this, in the process of interrogation by the officer, the accused made an excuse of going to the bathroom and escaped on a motorcycle with his acquaintance Santosh Kumar by dodging the police. Both the accused were caught by the police after chasing them. Police has recovered opium from the arrested accused. Police is also trying to identify other accused by interrogating the accused. Whos who from the nation and prominent leaders from neighbouring countries have been invited to attend the swearing- in ceremony of Narendra Modi, who is set to become the Prime Minister for a third consecutive term on Sunday. From Jharkhand BJP senior leaders including State BJP Chief Babulal Marandi, former State chiefs, Rajya Sabha MPs and newly elected Lok Sabha MPs, division heads and party veterans too have been called to attend the ceremony. However, the real star from Ranchi, ASP Tirkey, a locomotive pilot working with the Ranchi Railway Division will also be present on the occasion. Tirkey flew to New Delhi on Friday to attend the swearing- in ceremony of Prime Minister- elect Narendra Modi, which will take place on Sunday, June 9 at 7:15 pm at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. A resident of Ranchi, Tirkey has been serving in the Indian Railways since 1990. Known for his dedication and hard work, Tirkey is the only loco pilot to have been invited from the South Eastern Railways zone. Tirkey is amongst the 10 loco pilots who have been invited to attend the historic event of Narendra Maodi taking oath. I feel extremely honoured to have received an invitation to attend the swearing- in ceremony of the prime minister of India, said Tirkey who is a pilot of the Vande Bharat Express and is involved in operating trains connecting Howrah and Varanasi from Ranchi. It is a very proud moment for us, for the entire division and also for South Eastern Railways that one of our member has been invited to attend the ceremony. This will go a long way in motivating other employees. Just like he is known for his good work, it will inspire others to work hard as well, said Nishant Kumar, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager cum Chief Public Relations Officer of the Ranchi Railway Division. Trikey has also served as a pilot for Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains and has also received the Best Railway Worker Award. As per the information shared, Tirkey is an Intermediate and ITI Ghaziabad graduate. Five criminals who attacked the SIPL site in McCluskieganj, Ranchi and set fire to a container have been arrested. The names of the accused are Ravi Munda, Mahesh Oraon, Rupesh Pahan, Dinesh Oraon and Aneesh Kerketta. Police recovered a pistol, a country-made pistol, six rounds of bullets and other items from them. SSP Chandan Sinha gave this information in a press conference on Saturday. Sinha also said that the arrested criminals admitted before the police that extortion of Rs 2 lakh was demanded from the contractor after which it was decided to pay Rs 20,000 as extortion. The contractor did not give us that money either. Due to which the man got angry and carried out the incident. Many other criminals are involved in this incident for whose arrest the police is conducting raids, he added. The SSP said that the armed criminals opened fire and set a container on fire at the site of SIPL, a company laying optical fiber for BSNL, at Karam Kocha in Dulli of McCluskieganj police station area on May 28 late night. During this, the laborer hiding in the container was burnt alive out of fear. He was identified as Sanjay Bhuiyan (25), a resident of Chhallidohar village in Madanpur, Aurangabad district of Bihar. HDD machine, DG tracker and other items worth crores kept inside the container were burnt in the arson. After the incident, the criminals left the place shouting slogans, he added. Meanwhile, a gang running online gambling has been busted. On the instructions of Ranchi SSP, Chandan Sinha, the police team took action and arrested eight people including the mastermind. Those arrested include mastermind Deepak Tandon, Shubham Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Niraj Kumar Rajwar, Vikash Kumar, Sagar Kumar and Aditya Kumar. An illegal pistol and ATM cards of 13 different people were recovered. Mastermind Deepak Tandon was arrested near Morhabadi ground, on his information the rest of the people were arrested from different places. The SSP gave this information in a press conference on Saturday. The review covered the latest progress of public welfare schemes across multiple sectors such as Rural Development, Panchayati Raj, ITDA, Social Welfare, Social Security, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperation, Drinking Water and Sanitation, Mining, Revenue, Health, Education, Labour Planning and Skill Development, Urban Development, Roads, Tourism, and Art Culture and Sports. Discussions highlighted the achievements relative to previous targets and identified areas of deficiency, with directives issued to rectify issues promptly. Mittal reiterated the need for adherence to State Government guidelines, stressing that development and public welfare works must proceed at the expected pace. He urged officers to conduct field visits to gather accurate insights and devise strategic plans accordingly. "The timeline for each scheme is fixed. In case of delays, report the extent and cause of delay to the Deputy Commissioner's office," he instructed, ensuring that on-ground implementation and quality of work would be thoroughly verified. Specific emphasis was placed on the effective execution of schemes related to drinking water, housing, health, education, community forest lease distribution, and combating illegal mining. Mittal called for enhanced coordination among various departments to facilitate better implementation. He instructed district-level officers and all Block Development Officers (BDOs) and Circle Officers (COs) to conduct regular monitoring to promptly address any arising issues and ensure timely completion of schemes. Particular attention was given to the implementation of schemes related to drinking water, housing, health, and education. Mittal also highlighted the need for effective action against illegal mining of minerals and stressed the importance of community forest lease distribution. He directed that there should be seamless coordination between various departments to ensure better implementation of these schemes. The District Magistrate cum Deputy Commissioner called for regular monitoring by district-level officers, Block Development Officers (BDOs), and Circle Officers (COs). "Regular monitoring is essential so that if any kind of problem arises, it can be resolved promptly, and the schemes can be completed in a timely manner," he stated. The meeting also saw participation from Civil Surgeon Dr. Jujhar Majhi, ADM Law and Order Anant Kumar, ADM (SOR) Mahendra Kumar, Executive Magistrate David Balihar, District Panchayat Raj Officer Rinku Kumari, SDO Ghatshila, SDO Dhalbhum, District Education Officer, District Education Superintendent, and Executive Engineers from all technical departments. Mittal's directives during the meeting underscore the administration's unwavering commitment to fostering development and enhancing the quality of life for residents through efficient and effective implementation of public welfare schemes. The emphasis on timely completion, quality assurance, strategic field visits, and inter-departmental coordination reflects a holistic approach towards sustainable development. The review meeting marked a significant step towards ensuring that the benefits of various schemes reach the intended beneficiaries promptly and effectively. In a fatal accident in the national Capital, a 45 year old rickshaw puller died while another suffered injuries as a luxurious car on Sunday rammed into them at the Main Gate of Ramjas College in the North Campus. A senior police official said that the driver of the white Audi Q3 car lost control of the vehicle and banged the car into two people which were identified as rickshaw pullers. According to the police officials, the accused has been identified as 56 year old Virendra Mehta, a lawyer and a resident of Mukherjee Nagar, and has been arrested. A PCR call was received at the Maurice Nagar Police Station at 1:16 PM. One of the injured has expired during treatment at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital. Alcohol was not detected by the hospital in the breath of the accused, however, a blood sample has been taken for the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) examination, said DCP North MK Meena.While the victim who died by being hit by the Audi car was identified as Govind and Ashok. Both are rickshaw pullers. While both the victims were admitted to the Hindu Rao Hospital for the medical examination by the Investigation Officer as soon as he reached the spot, Govind was referred to LNJP hospital. DCP North Delhi said, Both the injured after the accident were sent to Hindu Rao Hospital for Medical Examination and the injured Govind was later referred to the LNJP Hospital. He further added that the accused Virendra, has been sent for medical examination and legal action is being taken. In a late-night operation on Friday, the district administration, under the directives of Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav, launched an extensive checking campaign against overloaded vehicles on the Dhanbad-Bokaro route. This operation was led by District Transport Officer (DTO) Vandana Shejwalkar at key checkpoints, including Pupunki Toll Plaza and ITI Mod. During the operation, vehicles without proper registration papers, permits, and reflective tape, as well as those found overloaded, were subjected to strict fines and penalties. Shejwalkar reported that ten major vehicles were fined a total of INR 2 lakh for non-compliance with these regulations. Notably Transport department officials, including Shejwalkar, inspected various vehicles such as trucks and mini-haulers. Over 50 vehicles were scrutinized, and several were fined for overloading. She emphasized that this rigorous checking campaign was initiated following complaints about overloaded vehicles and that such inspections will continue in the future. Additionally, compliance with permits, insurance, fitness certificates, pollution standards, and the use of helmets by bikers was also checked. To ensure safe road operations, the transport department has issued necessary guidelines, particularly for navigating foggy conditions. DTO Shejwalkar mentioned that these measures are vital for reducing road accidents. The campaign aims to enforce compliance with permits, insurance, fitness, pollution standards, and reflective tape. Offenders will face penalties and fines. The department is also running continuous awareness campaigns to educate the public on traffic rules and vehicle safety compliance. June 9, 2024: There are increasing incidents of Russian officers shooting their own troops for not advancing against the enemy, or trying to flee when the Ukrainians attack or employ missiles or armed UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles). The Russian government did not release any information on this nor has there been much coverage in Russian electronic or print media, and most of the details come from Russian social media. This usually consists of videos taken covertly by other soldiers, emails or video emails released by friends or family. No one knows exactly how many Russian soldiers have been shot dead by their officers for refusing to fight or for trying to walk away from the fighting. What is surprising to many westerners is that it is nothing new for the Russian army. There was a lot of it during World War II and even a few incidents when the Russian army was in Afghanistan during the 1980s and Chechnya in the 1990s. The current war in Ukraine is not popular inside Russia and that has made it difficult for the military to recruit new troops to fight there. Russia conscripts a quarter million young Russian men each year for one year of conscript service. The law stipulates that conscripts cannot be sent to a combat zone outside Russia. Putin tried to get around this by declaring Ukraine was actually part of Russia and Russian troops were there to put down an insurrection. Most conscripts, and especially their parents, did not go along with this and the government ceased sending conscripts to Ukraine. This forced the government to spend a lot more money to get more nominally volunteer contract soldiers by forcing men with prior military service, and many with none, into the military as better paid contract soldiers. This worked initially until reports of the high casualty rates of contract soldiers in Ukraine became widely known. This led to more illegal schemes to obtain volunteers. This included forcing or deceiving conscripts into signing contracts to serve longer as contract soldiers. Western sanctions on Russia caused an economic recession and good civilian jobs were hard to find. Pay for contract soldiers was competitive with similar jobs, which was not a bad deal when there was not a war going on in Ukraine. In 2023 Russia recruited at least 250,000 contract soldiers. Most of those got only a few weeks of training and so were generally useless in combat. Wagner Group was not restricted in how it recruited and it was able to recruit many convicts from prison. The deal was that if they survived their six month contract, they would be free to leave and would also get a pardon and not return to prison. The Defense Ministry later tried this but had little success as Wagner Group had few restrictions on how it handled convict contract soldiers. If any of these men disobeyed orders or faltered in combat, they could be killed on the spot. That was standard practice in the Russian military during World War II and was enforced by special NKVD secret police units and Zampolit political officers assigned to commanders of units company or larger on up. Zampolits could execute reluctant soldiers or commanders. Wagner Force is the only military organization in Russian that is officially allowed to use this older but now officially forbidden, leadership style. Its common knowledge that Wager Group operates this way and anyone joining knows it. Some Russians have called for the military to adopt the old-school disciplinary procedures and it now appears this is unofficially happening. Most Russians do not want that, or the Wagner Group, the war in Ukraine or Vladimir Putin. This has led to more popular opposition to the war and Putin and more of the opposition are resorting to violence because nothing else seems to work. Putin stays in power by oppressing opposition. That comes at a visible cost. Many Russians are getting out of Russia to avoid military service or unemployment or simply because of Putins autocratic rules. Putins response was to declare it illegal to leave Russia without official permission. Many are leaving despite the restrictions; via whatever way they can come up with. Putin always admired the Soviet Union and now he is turning Russia back into a totalitarian police state. Those who back Putin believe Russia will eventually prevail in Ukraine, even if it takes decades. Most Russians, Ukrainians and NATO members disagree and now consider Russia a threat to everyone. The Uttar Pradesh government will set up a waste-to-green coal plant to address energy and waste management challenge in Noida. The plant will have the capacity of processing 900 TDP waste per day where electricity will be generated from waste. The project will hugely compliment the Swachh Bharat Mission. The plant is expected to produce 200 tonnes of green coal and generate 1,000 MW of electricity on a daily basis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has lauded this project for its role in supporting the Swachh Bharat Mission, ensuring uninterrupted power supply, and achieving the dream of a self-reliant India. This project, led by Macawber Beekay Private Limited (MBL), is Indias largest green coal project. The plan for producing torrefied charcoal from waste began four years ago. NTPC Limited planned to make torrefied charcoal from municipal waste for about four years. Subsequently, its subsidiary, NTPC Vidyut Vyapar Nigam Limited, awarded the project to Macawber Beekay on an EPC (Engineering, Procurement, and Construction) basis. The total capacity of the green coal plant will be 900 TDP per day of waste management. With an input of 900 TDP municipal solid waste (MSW), the plant will produce 200 tonnes of green coal. Joint Managing Director of Macawber Beekay Gautam Gupta highlighted that this project is a key example of the Make in India initiative. We will establish the largest waste-to-green coal plant in Greater Noida with a capacity of 900 TPD. Our company has developed a leading solution to convert municipal solid waste into environment-friendly green coal. The indigenously developed technology transforms waste into a viable alternative to fossil fuels, addressing waste management challenges and revolutionising energy production, Gupta said. He highlighted that this solves the challenges of waste management. Benefits are achieved at every level by reducing coal-related costs, mining and health hazards associated with waste dumping. Senior General Manager (Projects) Brijesh Kumar Singh emphasised the environmental benefits, including carbon neutrality and economic gains. Using one kg of green coal as solid fuel in place of fossil coal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by about two kilograms per kg of fossil coal. In line with Chief Minister Yogi Adityanaths vision to improve transportation services and create more job opportunities, the Uttar Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation is set to recruit contractual drivers for various depots. Notable among these are Charbagh, Awadh, Kaiserbagh, Rae Bareli, Suburban, and Haidergarh depots in the Lucknow region. In addition, interested candidates aspiring to become contractual drivers can contact the assistant regional managers offices of these depots to submit their application forms. Selected candidates will receive a fixed amount based on kilometres driven, along with additional incentives. According to UPSRTCs Lucknow region manager RK Tripathi, individuals selected as contractual drivers will be compensated at a rate of Rs 1.89 per kilometre. Additionally, upon completing duty for 22 days and covering 5,000 kilometres, they will receive Rs 3,000 as incentive. Furthermore, upon fulfilling the stipulated two-year service requirement, individuals will receive a fixed amount of Rs 19,593, including allowances and incentives, for the excellent category, and those coming under the good category will receive a fixed amount of Rs 16,593, including allowances and incentives. The transport corporation has also set minimum qualifications for recruiting contractual drivers. Accordingly, only candidates with a height of 5 feet 3 inches or more will be eligible to apply for the position of contractual driver. Besides, the candidates must be at least 23 years and 6 months of age or more, as per the specified qualification criteria. Similarly, educational qualifications have been standardised, requiring a minimum of eighth-grade pass. Delhi Water Minister Atishi Sunday wrote to Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini, requesting him to ensure 1,050 cusecs water is released from the Munak Canal for the national capital, otherwise "Delhi will have a major crisis in next 1-2 days". In the communication, she said seven Water Treatment Plants (WTPs) in Delhi are dependent on supply from Yamuna and "due to the deficit of raw water, our water treatment plants are unable to run at their optimum capacity." Delhi is supposed to receive around 1,050 cusec water at Munak, but the supply has reduced, she said. "With the water from Munak Canal reducing to 840 cusecs, Delhi will be unable to produce adequate water from our seven WTPs." "If Haryana doesn't release the adequate amount of water by today, Delhi will have a major crisis in next 1-2 days. Therefore, I humbly request you to ensure that 1,050 cusecs water is released from Munak Canal for Delhi," she added. According to the agreement in the the 53rd meeting of the Upper Yamuna River Board, which was convened on May 2018, around 1,050 cusecs (i.E. 568 MGD) was allocated to Delhi at Munak through career lined channel (CLC) canal and Delhi Sub Branch (DSB) Canals, she said. "Considering the transmission loss, the allocation of 1050 Cusec at Munak corresponds to about 1,013 Cusec (i.E. 548 MGD). This is measured by Delhi at the Bawana contact point, where the water enters Delhi, where flow meters have been installed by Delhi. These flow meters have been checked by representatives of the Upper Yamuna River Board, last week itself," she said. On an average, the water received at the Bawana contact point even in the summers is between 980 and 1030 cusecs, she said, adding there has been a drastic reduction in this. "As you are aware, Delhi is dependent on water from Yamuna for our day-to-day needs. However, for the past few days, Haryana has not been releasing adequate amount of water in the Munak Canal. As a result of this, the people living in the national capital have been suffering unjustifiably," read the letter. Earlier in the day, Atishi said she has sought time from Lt Governor V K Saxena for an emergency meeting over the "inadequate" amount of water being released by Haryana through the Munak Canal, one of the primary sources of potable water for the national capital.